Those emerald gems glance over, and then she presses play on the DVD and Date Movie begins to play. I bite my lower lip and stare back at her. “Don’t read anything into the title, it’s slim pickings around here.” I laugh at her declaration.

“You telling me this isn’t our first date?” I ask her.

“You catch on fast,” she remarks.

“I couldn’t agree more. Our first date will be one you’ll never forget.”

“Who said I would say yes,” she quickly retorts. This back and forth banter has my dick twitching.

“You will,” I say confidently.

“So cocky and sure of yourself, buddy.”

“Buddy?” I cock both my eyebrows at her, and she stifles a giggle. “I most certainly am not your buddy.”

“What would you prefer me to call you?” She’s sitting up now, facing me with her legs crossed. The television becoming long forgotten.

“I don’t know, how about stallion, lover, or tiger? Yeah, I like that one, Tiger Trey,” I laugh aloud at my own stupid joke. How lame is that? She instantly quiets me, pointing to the back hallway. I imitate the elementary school teacher motion of zipping my lips and tossing the key, making her own giggle explode out.

“I’m not sure about any of those.” She smiles, obviously starting to relax. “What about tat-boy? I kind of like that one.” She grins over to me. I’m not sure if she’s serious or joking, but I imagine her calling me that when we’re a ripe old age when my tattoos are all saggy and faded.

“Take Me Now Boy?” I jokingly counter, but she shakes her head no and pursing her lips.

“Nah, tat-boy. That’s my name for you.” She stands up and walks in the kitchen. Following her, I admire her ass and how she walks so stealthily and quiet, similar to a cat.

“If I’m lame ass tat-boy, you can be my cat-girl.” She turns around and scrunches her eyes and nose in confusion. She’s in the doorway of the pantry, so I lean closer, cornering her against the wall. “You move with the graceful finesse of a cat. Mixed with those mesmerizing green-gold eyes of yours makes you my very own little kitty cat.” If it’s even possible, I feel her body draw closer and pull away all at the same time.

“Kind of a cliché, don’t you think? You want me to purr for you too?” She grabs a bag of popcorn and starts pouring it into a bowl.

“You can purr for me anytime.” I wink. “Give me a break, it’s been a long day. Not to mention, tat-boy, how did you come up with that?” I tease, and she cocks her head silently saying touché.

She grabs two drinks out of the fridge without a word, and goes back to the couch. She points to the cushion furthest away from her. “You sit over there,” she instructs. Then she places the bowl between the two of us on the vacant cushion, the same cushion I wish I was currently occupying. “So, what’s the most important part of a first date?” she asks, crossing her legs, which only brings my attention back to her body. When she leans forward, her breasts squeeze together allowing me a glimpse of her black lace bra. For a second I let my imagination go wild thinking about what’s not only hiding under that sweater, but exactly how her small tits would feel as I manipulated them with my hands.

I tilt my head, giving her the flirtatious eyes to hint at the sexual tension, “Do I really have to tell you?” I chuckle.

Surprisingly, she joins in with the humor. “Come on, tat-boy, think with something else other than...” Her eyes veer down to my crotch. I like those cat eyes focused there. Come pounce on me, kitty. “Trey?” she questions, and I bring myself back to our conversation. Then the light bulb clicks on.

“Getting to know someone,” I finally answer.

“Ding, Ding, Ding. One for tat-boy.” She holds her finger up, making a line in the air. Man, I think I just found the female version of me.

“Aren’t you funny, cat-girl? So, what’s the point of this, other than making Trey seem insensitive and stupid?”

“Cute, third person.” She smiles, and I let out a breath. “Okay, okay, sorry. Get a piece of popcorn in my mouth and you can ask me anything, and I’ll answer.” I’m surprised, she’s so willing to grant me permission to ask her anything I desire. “I must warn you, though, I played basketball. So, you’ll be answering a lot of my questions.” This playful, almost light-hearted Kailey has me reeling more than earlier. Looks like I just peeled back the first layer of her hard shell.

“Oh you did, did you?” I ask her, surprised.

“I was always good at handling balls,” she smirks over at me. Jesus, I’ll definitely be rubbing one out tonight.

“Then we’re a match, I’ve always been good at getting it in the hole,” I say right back, and her lips press in and turn up on the side as she tries to hide her amusement. “You do know what they call a three pointer in basketball?” I ask her, knowing she probably doesn’t.

“Oh funny, tat-boy. Yes, I know–tre.”

“So, you up for playing one on one sometime?” She nudges the popcorn my way. I grab a popped kernel and prepare it in my hand, practicing my throw.

She leans back and opens her mouth. My hand stops midair. “Don’t lose your concentration, the only thing getting in this mouth tonight is popcorn.”

“Don’t worry, you don’t have your mouth open wide enough anyway,” I tease, practicing my throw again. I throw it and bang, it lands right on her tongue.

“Hot Shot Tat-Boy,” she says. “Shoot.” She chomps on her piece of popcorn, waiting for me to ask her.

“One on one?” I ask.

She laughs to herself. “I can definitely arrange a friendly game of horse.” I chuckle at her comeback.

We continue this game of popcorn truth for a while and before I realize it, it’s three in the morning. She’s found out about two brothers, my lovely sister-in-law, and my very happily married parents. I tell her how I grew up in Oberlin, and she says how she grew up in Western. She has a sister, brother-in-law, and two nieces and a nephew, who all live there as well. Her roommate is a clean freak, who’s never home and constantly has new boyfriends. For a second I pray I’ve never slept with her roommate. It’s a perfect situation since she believes one should never live with their friends because before it’s all over you definitely won’t be friends anymore. So, of course, she finds it odd that I live with all my best friends.

It’s been forever since I’ve taken the time to get to know someone. The last thing I want to do is leave, but now she’s yawned five times in the last two minutes. I pray one night I’ll curl up with her in bed, but that’s definitely not tonight. Standing up, I hold my hand out for her, and she takes it and rises to her feet. She’s warm from the blanket she’s had wrapped around herself for the last hour. Pulling her to me, I encase her in my arms, squeezing tight. I lean back, keeping her close, and assess the situation. That first date moment debates in my mind, kiss or no kiss. Her body leans closer, my lips, so close I can smell her popcorn breath. I would kill to taste that salt and butter from her mouth, but I don’t want to destroy my chances either. “Call you tomorrow?” I ask her, and she nods her head, giving me no signal of disappointment or relief. Better safe than sorry.

Entwining our hands, I lead us to the door and when the cold air rushes in, I can’t stop myself. I lean in, kissing her on the cheek, before whispering, “Goodnight, my cat-girl, sweet dreams. Get inside and lock up,” I instruct her before jogging down the steps.

Starting the van, I flick the windshield wipers on and look out the window. Kailey’s peering back at me with the blanket clutched around her shoulders. For the first time, in God knows how long, I wish I could warm her up with only my arms wrapped around her, instead of my dick inside her.

Chapter 3

Kailey and I have hung out together every night since we arrived in Breckenridge. After I finish dinner with my friends, I usually spend my time with Kailey until the sun is about to rise, and then I make the dark drive back over to Jessa’s parents’ house. I’m pretty sure they all know what’s going on, but I’ve kept my mouth shut. I don’t want Kailey viewed as some booty call. I’m not ignorant to my reputation within this group.