Page 56 of Bronx

“You kissed me less than an hour ago,” he says, as if he’s accusing me of a traitorous act.

“Correction, you kissed me.” I throw my hands on my hips. “And not that it’s any of your business, but I’m not pregnant.”

“You’re not?” He rakes his hand back through his hair.

“Why on earth would you think I’m pregnant?”

He sits back in his chair, looking more relaxed than he did earlier.

“A dumb rumor.”

“So Ray told you that?” I ask in disbelief.

“He alluded to the possibility.”

“There is no possibility.”

“That sounds like magical thinking. Of course, there could be a possibility.”

I press my lips together because I feel silly telling a man I basically just met, and then shared the most intoxicating kiss of my life with that I haven’t had sex in over three months. There’s no way I could be carrying Ray’s baby and not know it.

“No,” I say earnestly.

“You going to tell me why you’re so sure, or are we back to secrets and lies?” He asks, picking up the remote again.

“Well, first off, I’m a grown woman and I think I’d know if I was pregnant or not. I know my body better than anyone. But more importantly, I haven’t been with Ray in months.”

Bronx’s attention is back on me, and a seriousness stiffens every muscle in his body.

“You haven’t slept with him in months?”

“No.”

I don’t know what garbage Ray put in Bronx’s head tonight, but I think he believes me now and he seems, for lack of a better word, pleased.

“That’s good news,” he says.

“And why is that?”

We stare carefully at each other for a few moments before he answers. It’s only then that I notice the small crescent-shaped birthmark by the side of his left ear.

It’s kind of sexy.

I bet Bronx’s body is like a treasure trove of little sexy surprises.

“I’d hate for you to be linked to someone like that for the rest of your life.”

Agreed.

Maybe the fact that Ray and I had sporadic sex and I take my birth control pill religiously (for cramps) has worked in my favor. I’ve never wanted kids, but even accidentally sharing a child with a man like Ray would have been a nightmare.

“Good thing I won’t be then.”

“Good thing,” he says without cracking a smile.

He holds my eyes in place with a look that I can feel inside of my chest, forcing my heart to beat faster.

“So… um, we never had that chat about Lev,” I say, trying to break the tension between us.