Page 18 of Use Me

Clark was the opposite. He hadn’t played pro, and he hadn’t played in college either. He got into sports journalism for the same reason I did. He loved the game. His dark hair was always spiked in a way that looked like he just rolled out of bed, and when we’d joke with him that he rolled out of bed with a woman, he’d smile his crooked smile, and his azure eyes would shine deviously. He was a ladies man because he looked like the boy next door with his sweaters and shit, but I knew the truth. He’d let the women borrow some sugar in exchange for somesugar.

“Did you order us a round?” I asked them.

Jett chuckled. “Nope.”

“Asshole.” I raised my hand to get Tommy’s attention.

He came over. “The usual or seven and seven?”

While a seven and seven sounded delicious, I needed to pace myself. “The usual.” Tommy grabbed a pint glass and started to pour me a Miller Litefrom the tap.

Kenny nudged me. “Your girl’s here.”

I turned my head in the direction he was facing and smiled when I saw her ass moving to the beat of the song playing in the background.

My girl was here all right.

Dear Ashtyn,

Just when I thought I knew all about you, you surprised me.

I read this quote and thought of you:

Wine is bottled poetry. - Robert Luis Stevenson

-SA

After the weekend I’d had, it was nice to get my weekly roses. It felt good to know someone admired me, except this note made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.“Just when I thought I knew all about you, you surprised me.”What did that mean? The thought of some random person sending me flowers each week was now starting to feel weird, though I was sure actors, models, and authors received gifts from fans all the time.Didn’t mean anything, right?

The week passed, and you’d think that each day would get easier, but I caught myself thinking about the one-time Corey told me he loved me.

The warm wind whipped through my blonde hair as Corey held my hand, leading me to Navy Pier for dinner. I was starting to feel things for him. I loved spending time with him, and I looked forward to Saturday morning when I could wake up next to him. I knew I loved him. I wanted to tell him, but I was waiting for him to tell me first because I wasn’t sure how he felt. We’d only been dating for five months, but I knew we could last forever. I could envision myself walking down the aisle in a white dress I’d pinned on Pinterest with all of our friends and family there. I wanted that. I wanted that with Corey.

“Where are we going to dinner?”

“Riva Crab House.”

I smiled. Crab was one of my favorite things to eat.

We had a view of the water as we ate, and afterward, we decided to take a walk to the end of the pier. “I had my prom there.” I pointed to the glass windows that housed a giant ballroom at the end of the pier.

“Me too.” Corey chuckled. We went to different high schools, and were four years apart, but I knew it was a common location for proms. “I was Prom King.”

“You were not.” I slapped his arm playfully and chuckled.

“I was.”

“Why have you never told me that?”

“That was nineteen years ago.”

“You make us sound so old.” I groaned. I wasn’t far behind him in age, but it had been fifteen years since my senior prom. Just then there was a loud boom, and when I looked up, glittery silver showered the sky. After some time I said, “I love fireworks. They’re so beautiful.” I looked over to see Corey watching me.

“So are you, Ashtyn.”

“You don’t have to woo me. I’m already yours.” I leaned into him, still looking up at the show.

Corey wrapped his arm around my waist and chuckled. “I’m not trying to woo you. I’m stating facts.”