Switching it Up

Chapter Four-2

“Well, teaching wasn’t exactly the path that I thought I would be on, but here I am. I actually spent the past two years interning at my parents’ psychiatric clinic. That was their last stab, I guess, at convincing me to join the family business and start my PhD. But I was bored to tears with it. I mean, I find it mildly interesting, but the thought of spending the rest of my youth with them in an office just did not appeal to me at all. So their plan kinda backfired. And as far as being far from home, yes, I guess I did go out of my way to reach beyond their umbrella of influence so I can really experience the world. They have enough connections in our hometown that they could have gotten me a job at a local university, but then I would just be in their shadow again, doing their bidding. Is that thorough enough for you?”

It certainly was a little more complicated than I anticipated, but in a good way. This girl isn’t afraid to get out and try something new. That could prove useful later. I press on after taking a sip from my drink.

“Siblings? What was it like growing up in your house?”

“Yes, I do have an older brother, also a psychiatrist, also works with my parents. He’s been molded into their image, but he does have a mind of his own and genuinely enjoys being alongside them. We were really close growing up and still are. He’s probably the reason I had the strength to finally tell my parents that enough is enough as far as following in their footsteps, you know? He was the scholar athlete and I was more of the aloof, artsy kid. And I was fat up until puberty.” Of course, this girl is a late bloomer and probably still doesn’t even know just how hot she is. “I did track, some other sports in high school. My folks forced me to do a lot of that and the obligatory piano lessons to expand my repertoire, like they did with my brother. I was just never too crazy about academics. I’m still not crazy about being in the books but I do love to teach people. I guess I’m a little strange that way.”

“No way, that’s not strange at all,” I assure her, hoping I’m not interrupting her train of thought. “I think it would be strange if you didn’t like traditional learning and also didn’t enjoy teaching. Then I would think you’re weird.” She gives me a polite chuckle.

“What about you, Chris? How did a guy with movie star looks wind up teaching physics at Greenville State? You seem like more of a big-city kind of guy to me, even now with your blazer and your little pocket square. GQ...” her voice trails off with a smile as she waits for my answer.

“Well, first of all, flattery will get you everywhere with me. Um, well, I got out of the Army a couple years back...”

“Oh really? Thank you for your service,” she says.

“Don’t mention it. Seriously, hush! But yes, I did that for four years, realized I didn’t want to make it a career, and then took them up on an offer to transition me into becoming a teacher just because I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. Then I wound up here and learned there’s a local indoor football league that’s owned by one of the pro teams and sort of used as a feeder team, almost a development league kind of thing. I tried out for the team and made it, so that’s what I do in most of my spare time. Practice and play, kinda hope the big guys come out and notice me at one of these games. Pretty boring, eh?” I ask only half jokingly, as I’m sure the football part bored her to tears, though she still looks engaged. Hmm, she might be so wrapped up that I could have told her I was a lawn manicurist and she’d be interested.

“On the contrary, that’s really awesome! What position do you play?” Her voice is full of energy as she brings her drink to her lips and downs a few sips. Excellent. I inwardly smile.

“I’m a safety,” I reply, keeping it simple as I gesture toward the football program that we have not even looked at for one second. Glancing toward the bartender, I motion that we’d like another round.

“Feet are strong.”

I look back at her. Over the deep bass of the song on these speakers, I am still fairly certain that’s what she said. That made absolutely no sense, but I grin and nod ...and realize this young lady might be a lightweight. That’s no fun; no one wants to hook up with a sloppy drunk. Her eyes are widening as if she’s asked me a question. s**t.

“I said free or strong? Which kind of safety are you?” she barks over the volume of the music. Whoa, what? Did she really just ask me that? It takes me a moment to readjust and answer.

“Oh, sorry about that. I play both positions, but I prefer strong safety so I can defend against the run more often.” That flowed smoothly, but I’m still stunned. So, this girl is smart, has wicked sense of humor, is smoking hot, AND she knows football? What the f**k did I do to deserve this? “How do you know so much about football?”

“My brother, remember,” she says matter-of-factly. ”He basically treated me like the little brother he never had when he was younger, so we played it together sometimes, played the video games, and he taught me all about it. A boyfriend in college also played, but he was just a place kicker.” I can barely contain my laugh and keep the look of shock off my face. Just a place kicker?! What woman says that? This is amazing. Game over, I’m going full-bore honesty from here on out.

“Meg, that’s so hot...I don’t even have a witty line. That’s just hot. You have no idea...”

She coyly smiles at me as I stare at her, my mouth still slightly agape in awe. There’s no way for me to know how much time has passed as we sit here silently approving of one another. At this point, I doubt I’m even able to disguise that I’m eye-f*****g her and I don’t even care! Every time she “sizes me up” with her eyes from shoulder to toe, I return the favor simultaneously. I’m snapped out of my stare by the shout of the bartender as the music volume is lowered by half.

“Last call!”

That was fast. I glance at my watch I realize that it’s late and I didn’t even notice what time it was when we sat down for drinks.

“You wanna roll out of here? We both have class tomorrow. Or you could come over to my place and watch a movie?” I toss in the extra suggestion with a sly smile, knowing she’ll be a lady and decline somehow.

“Slow down there, cowboy; I just met you,” she answers, playful but with a dab of truth. “I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

“Hmm!” Whipping out my wallet, I leave $25 near my glass and stand up to allow Meg out of the booth. Goodness, I can’t help but look at her thighs as she slides to the end of the bench, causing her dress to hike up a few inches. On auto-pilot, I extend my hand to her and help her stand while giving her yet another once over, noticing sparkly finishes on her heels and following the contours of her legs, hips and waist before finally looking her into her eyes, which were probably locked onto me all along. s**t. Oh well...

We make our way toward the front and get warm goodbyes from the hostess and bussers. There’s no way I’m driving home after two strong drinks; it just isn’t worth risking the DUI. Plus, I don’t want tonight to end without getting a hug from Meg...or a little more.

“Great thing about being in a college town is these cabbies always loiter at the popular bars around closing time,” I say to her as I keep our bodies close under the auspices of keeping her warm on a cool, crisp fall night. On cue, a taxi pulls up to the parking lot without us flagging it down. “I think you mentioned to Jay that you live in Fish Hawk Apartments, and that’s barely a mile away from me—IF you don’t mind sharing a cab with me? It’s up to you.”

“Sure, let’s do it.”

“Okay. I’ll pick up the tab.”

“Hmm, that was a given, Chris,” she says and smiles back at me, almost incredulous. This girl is ballsy! I love it.

She steps inside the cab and slides over, telling the cab driver where to take us as I enter behind her. The driver pulls out onto the street. Fish Hawk is barely six minutes from here...if I try to make a move on her now, suddenly we’ll be pulling up to her place and I know she isn’t going to want me to stay over tonight. How do I work this? I decide to slide a few inches closer to her, spreading my knees to my left leg touches hers. She chuckles at my not-so-subtle attempt at contact. I look at her and then look away, whistling some made-up tune out of nowhere while sliding my hand towards hers. Finally, I make contact with her hand. It’s so warm.

“Seriously, Chris?” she says and laughs at me.

“What, me? What’s going on?” I don’t even try to keep a straight face at this point and I swear she’s undressing me with her eyes now. “Mind if I get your number? If you want to hang out sometime later we can link up somewhere—”

“That’s a good idea,” she says. She reaches into my left pocket, pulls out my phone, and has her number on the main screen before I can even flinch. That was outstanding. We pull up to her building in the apartment complex.

“Driver, give me just a second? I live another couple blocks away.”

“Sure.”

Meg slides out of her side and I jump out of mine, though I play Joe Cool and lean up against the side of the trunk as she comes around the back of the car.

“Well, thanks for the company and the ride, Chris.” The words are smooth like silk as they leave her mouth.

“The pleasure was all mine, truly.” I try to match her tone, but I’m pretty sure I failed miserably. Come on, Chris! The doubt and anxiety are creeping in. Don’t let it show. Don’t let all that progress tonight be for nothing, man. I reach toward her and we share a platonic hug. She feels so good against my chest and I know I won’t be satisfied with this alone.

I grab her jawline in both my hands. Please, please tilt your head to the left...Yes!! I plant my lips on hers. Wow...the tingles are running through my lips and down my spine. I can’t remember a kiss feeling this good since my first kiss behind the bleachers in middle school. Am I that drunk? This can’t be...it’s...intoxicating. We devour each other’s tongues and lips as I move my hands to her waist, pulling her midsection into mine. My hands slide just a smidge lower so I can feel that delicious contour of her hips where they become the top of her buttocks and it feels divine as she explores my tongue passionately. Seconds turn into minutes as I am suddenly aware that the cab driver is still waiting on me as we’re leaning against the back of his vehicle.

“Wow”, I breathlessly whisper. “I’ll...be seeing you soon, yeah?”

“Yeah,” she answers faintly, her head definitely spinning as well. “See you tomorrow.” She turns and walks up the path to her building.

A long, deep breath finally escapes my chest as I slump back inside the vehicle and replay that kiss. Gosh, I can still smell her. My fingers graze my upper lip and encounter the sweet stickiness of her lipstick. My c**k is aching to escape these briefs! He’s rock solid and folded onto himself! We’re almost home, buddy. We’re almost home. Tonight was awesome.

My head is still on Dream Street when my phone double buzzes with a text message. No way is that her. I look down at the screen.

01:27

Tonight really was great, hotness. Hope to hang out with you more really soon, maybe see a game. (^o^)

This is awesome. And even her emoticons are absurdly cute! I message back with swiftness.