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She bites her lip.

“Now I need to know. You got me all curious.”

She reminds me of a cat—reserved, curious, graceful—and I want to make her purr.

Blurred images of asses and tits come to my mind, but I spare her the details.

“My friends got me drunk. I advise against that.”

“Yeah, after last night’s fiasco, I have no inclination to be drunk, not that I’ve ever been.”

“Never?” I ask.

It surprises me.

“I’ve tasted champagne and wine, but I didn’t like them. Alcohol is bitter. I don’t understand why anyone would drink to the point of losing control.”

“Sometimes, losing control can be a good thing.”

Her eyes widen, and it tells me that behind the innocent face hides a dirty mind. I didn’t intend my words to sound dirty, but somehow, she went there. I like that. I like that a lot.

“And I’m not twenty-one yet,” she counters.

“Not being of legal drinking age wouldn’t stop most people.”

Our eyes linger on each other for several seconds and it’s not awkward.

I hesitate for a moment and then think, what the hell, just go for it.

“Would you like to celebrate your birthday with me?”

“With you?” she repeats.

“Yes, with me. I have next Saturday off, and I don’t get many since I work on a rotation, and being one of the youngest and single, I usually let the guys with kids have the weekends so they can have family time. But it just so happens that I’m free this Saturday, and I’d love to take you somewhere for your twenty-first birthday.”

“You would?” Her eyes widen.

“Yes.”

“Me?You want to takemeout?”

There’s something unsaid between ‘me’ and the words that follow. Like she can’t believe I want to spend time with her.

“Yes, I do.”

“To celebrate my birthday?”

“Yes. Is that so hard to believe?”

A shadow crosses her eyes, but she doesn’t deny it.

“Why?”

Her simple question comes out in a whisper. I find it troubling that so many unsaid words can be conveyed in just three letters. Doubt, insecurity, and even some fear flash in her eyes. It tugs at my heart, and that’s an unfamiliar feeling. I'm truthful. Well, partially truthful. I can’t exactly say everything that’s running through my mind right now.

“There’s something about you I’m drawn to. I like you.”

She’s silent for a long moment, and I wait. I give her time to get used to the idea of my being attracted to her. She seems to have a hard time wrapping her head around the concept. When she answers me, there’s still doubt in her voice.