Page 21 of Easton
“Nope. Haven’t even kissed him. You can let the dogs off the leash. And it’s late. Are burgers okay with you?”
I unhook the leashes, nervous they’ll do something Archer doesn’t like and it will make him not like me…or me not like him… Though it’s not like he truly likes me anyway.
“East?”
“It’s food, so they’re fine.”
He chuckles. “Man after my own heart.”
I follow him into the kitchen while the dogs sniff around. He washes his hands, puts a bowl of water down for the dogs, then pulls ground beef from the fridge.
I’m in Archer Thorn’s house, and I can’t figure out how I feel about that.
“Do you like to cook?” he asks.
“Yeah. I’m good at it too.”
“Hmm. Next time you’ll have to make me dinner, then.”
I shake my head. He keeps talking like he’s going to keep wanting to be friends with me. “You say that like there will be a next time.”
“Damn. I’m lucky I don’t get my feelings hurt too easily.”
Fuck. “I didn’t… I’m not good at this.” Whatever this is.
“You’re fine, East. I’m bustin’ your balls.”
Yes, why can’t we do that? Not the busting part, but playing with balls. That’s a whole lot easier. Sex I understand. We can fuck and be done with it. He can get his enjoyment out of my body, and I’ll get mine out of his.
“Have a seat.” Archer nods toward the chairs at the bar.
“No.” I walk to the sink and wash my hands. If I’m going to be here, I should at least help.
We stand there together in his kitchen, making hamburger patties. I’ve never done this with anyone. Archer seems used to it, though. His heart probably isn’t beating too fast. He’s probably not sweating, his mind not racing as he tries not to talk in his head to someone who isn’t there.
Once we’re finished, he puts them on the stove, and then we wash again before we begin cutting vegetables for a salad.
He talks about his sister, Cora, whom he’s close with, and he mentions her wife. I figure most people know she’s married to a woman, but I didn’t. I don’t pay attention to people around town. I wonder how many other things I missed.
That reminds me that Archer sleeps with men and I haven’t fucked anyone in so damn long.
I’ve never fucked someone I’m…this with either.
“What?” he asks.
“What, what?”
“You made a weird sound.”
“No I didn’t.” I probably did, but I’m not going to tell him that.
Archer lets it go. He talks and I listen while we finish with dinner and then sit down and eat together.
Pretty Girl and Casanova stay at my feet while we eat, and I must admit, I’m glad Casanova seems to know I’m his person. Maybe he’s just by me because Pretty Girl is, but then earlier, with Cass, Casanova had taken comfort in me.
“Why do people call TrippCass?” It’s something I do because everyone does.
“Actually, I started that when we were in high school. We were doing the last name thing because we thought we were little badasses. He called me Thorn, and I called him Cassidy, but then ended up shortening it to Cass, and it stuck.” My stomach gets that unfamiliar tight and twisty feeling again. “His family calls him Tripp, but most everyone else calls him Cass.”