Up & Out - Ariella Papa [20]
“So how was your date last night?” Kathy asks when we’re on the subway to Queens. We had to hit the outer boroughs to get the best deal on dresses. Kathy claims she is thinking of us, but, honestly, time is also money. We are all looking pretty tired and I’m still a bit off. “Did you already give Lauryn the details?”
“Not yet,” Lauryn says. Beth is supposed to meet us there, she made this last-minute change by leaving a message on Kathy’s cell.
“Well, it was interesting.” The train is pretty crowded and only Kathy has a seat. I dread telling tales on the train, I feel like I’m going to get caught. I give them the dirt on dinner, which they tolerate politely.
“I heard you come in late, though,” Lauryn says. “What happened next?” I fill them in on his amazing place, leaving out my musings on them, of course. By the last stop in Manhattan we get to sit together. Kathy moves over so I can be in the center.
“So, did you kiss him?” she asks. She is getting really excited.
“I did,” I say, looking up at a sign in Spanish for help with STDs.
“Did you fuck him?” Lauryn asks, following my eyes.
“Oh, I hope you used a condom,” Kathy says, like a health teacher.
“Relax, all. The box stayed closed.”
“Really?” Lauryn asks.
“Was he a good kisser?” Kathy asks.
“You guys, it was strange. He is a good kisser, but I haven’t kissed anyone else in so long it feels weird. I kept opening my eyes to make sure it was really happening. Kissing is a strange thing, and kissing someone new is downright scary.” Lauryn shakes her head and Kathy makes a little “humph” sound and smiles in a way that I interpret to mean, thank God, I’ll never have to kiss anyone else. I have found my soul mate unlike my pathetic friends.
“Did he kiss you anywhere else?” Lauryn asks.
“Laur—” Kathy yells. Then she lowers her voice and her eyes. “Well, did he?”
“Um, yeah. Somehow, he maneuvered me down on the couch and his hands were everywhere. He opened up the buttons on my shirt. My chest was so hot, I think from the wine. It felt good. Except his nibbling—I’m used to biting. Tommy used to play this game, too. Tease me until I would scream ‘Bite me!’ Of course, I couldn’t do this with a new guy because he might think I am a freak.”
“That is pretty freaky,” Kathy says. “I didn’t know you were into that. It’s almost like S and M.”
“A light bite never hurt anyone,” Lauryn says, coming to my defense. “No judgments. Continue.”
“And he is talking a lot. He’s moaning and saying ‘yes.’ I’m used to making all the noise. It’s sort of funny, although I don’t want to laugh. You can’t laugh—that would be the worst.”
“You definitely can’t laugh,” Lauryn says.
“They’re very sensitive about that stuff,” Kathy adds, from what I gather is experience. “Then what happened?”
What do I tell them? I pulled his face up to me and he smiled. His cheeks were flushed, too. He kissed me again. Okay, this is good, I remember thinking. I can do this. I can do this. I am single. I am not dating Tommy anymore. It’s not weird that my boobies are all over the place or that I’ve had too much wine. I know what I’ll tell them. They want the good stuff.
“‘All the protein makes me so hot for you,’ he says.” My friends are howling. “Okay, that’s weird. But in the heat of the moment, people say weird things. He likes food, I like food. Protein is in food. That’s fine.
“Then he starts working his way down. Okay, this is good, I think. I like this. He looked pretty expert with those crab legs, I’m sure it’s going to be fine,” I reason.
“I’ll say,” Lauryn says, elbowing me. It’s almost our stop.
“Wait! He started grabbing my ass. I don’t think Tommy ever—”
“Oh, fuck! I can’t believe you,” Kathy says.
“Tell me about it. I’m retarded. ‘I can’t do this,’ I say, sitting up. He looks up at me. My lipstick is all over his face. I shouldn’t see him like this yet. I barely know him.”
“What did he say?” Lauryn asks.
“‘What? Wait. Relax. Are you okay?’ ‘I’m fine,’ I say. ‘I’m just—I need to go. I can’t stay.’ At this point I’m buttoning