Page 93 of Strings

I hold out my hand and he places a key inside it. “What’s this?”

“It’s a key to my apartment.”

I jump and drop the key onto the floor like it’s hot. He bends to pick it up.

“You dropped your key.”

“No. I droppedyourkey. That’s not mine.”

“I’m giving it to you.”

“No you’re not.” I shake my head and back away from him like he’s a wild animal.

“Is it bad that I want my girlfriend to have a key to my place so she can come and go as she pleases?”

“Bash, stop. I’m not your girlfriend. You must be ill. You’re being ridiculous.” I walk away from him and back toward the elevator. I don’t see a button, so I run my fingers along the doors. “How do I open this thing?”

“Do you always run away when you’re scared? There’s a definite pattern.”

I spin to face him. “Me, scared?” I laugh. “You don’t scare me.”

“But having a key to my apartment does?”

“I’m not scared of your key. I just think you’re taking this mommy thing too far. But hey… if you think my having a key I’ll never use will make us look more real, then I’ll take it.” I hold out my hand. He smirks but doesn’t give me the key. I snap my fingers and hold my hand out to him again and he laughs.

“Can you give me the stupid thing so we can go?”

He clears his throat. “Alright. Let me try this again. That didn’t go the way I’d hoped.”

I watch him for a moment. He plays with the key in his fingers and looks as if his brain might explode from thinking too hard. “You’re overthinking this.”

“You’re right, I am. Here’s my freestyle. Talia, I don’t want you to be my fake girlfriend anymore. I want you to be myrealgirlfriend so that I can continue to kiss you even if no one is watching. So I can take you out on real dates for no one else’s benefit but our own, and so I can continue to sleep with you and shower with you as often as you’ll have me. Now…I’d like you to take this key to my apartment because not only do I want you to be here all the time, but I also look forward to coming home from work one day to find you naked in my Jacuzzi tub.”

Did I gasp?

He steps toward me and places a finger under my chin, pushing it up so that my mouth closes. “What do you say?”

“You have a Jacuzzi?”

He shakes his head. “That’s the part you’re going to focus on?”

I wring my hands and stare past him as I think.

“So, is that a yes?”

“Yes to what?”

“Any of it? Or maybe all of it?”

“You know you don’t have to do this just because we had sex.”

His lips form a fine line as he presses them firmly together and crosses his arms.

“I mean… I’m not the kind of girl that guys give keys to. I know last night was good… really good… and I get that you like screwing me and all, but you don’t have to say romantic things and make crazy decisions about me or us, just because you had fun.”

“That’s good to know. Thanks.”

I sigh. “Okay, can we go now?”