want to teach music? Is that why you’re in school? ‘Cause I have to tell you, you’re too good to be around here. You should be doing this big time.” My questions pour out of my mouth faster than my brain can tell my mouth to slow the hell down and quit bombarding her.
Kori looks up from the Bronco and pushes a curl out of her face, leaving a greasy smudge. I would have looked like a douche with grease smeared on my face, but she somehow manages to look just a little bit hotter. Before I can stop myself, I reach out and wipe the smudge with my thumb. My hand lingers on her soft skin, and without thinking about it, I pull her head toward me and softly press my lips to hers. I feel her body shiver as she responds to my kiss. Then, just as quickly as it began, the kiss is over; she pulls away.
“I’m sorry, Kori,” I lie. I’m not sorry, not at all.
“No, it’s fine, Tuck. It’s just…I…well…” she stammers as she seems to be searching for the words to say to me. Her teeth press into her bottom lip as she chews on it. She clears her throat and says firmly, “I don’t do relationships, Tuck. I’m not that kind of girl.”
My face must show my confusion. What kind of girl doesn’t want a relationship? I thought that was genetically programmed into them at conception. Before I can ask her to clarify her statement, she explains further.
“I don’t need the drama in my life that comes along with a relationship. I fuck guys, but that’s just it – fucking. I don’t call anybody back, I don’t date, and I sure as hell don’t fall in love. Trust me, there is nothing I would like more right now than to strip you naked and let my girly parts become acquainted with your not-so-girly parts, but sadly, I like you too much. If we sleep together, we probably won’t be friends anymore. And for some reason, that would make me sad. I’ve never cared before, but I do now. And now that I’ve spewed all of this at you, you probably think I’m some type of slut.” Her voice dies off as she turns back to the part that she was working on.
I am completely floored. Brutal honesty like she has just shown me is not something that is found very often. She actually seems to be the female version of me. I wonder if her reasons for keeping herself emotionally unattached are anything like my reasons. I don’t know if I should be relieved or if I should be worried. I quickly make the decision that it doesn’t matter. I feel that I know Kori well enough at this point that I can be confident that she isn’t a slut. What’s wrong with enjoying sex? We are both consenting adults, and she can do whatever the hell she wants.
“No, I don’t think you’re a slut, Kori.” She looks up at me with those big beautiful green eyes. “I’ve never met anybody who is totally honest like that. Most people just lie and say what they think other people want to hear, but not you.” I decide that I was just going to bite the bullet and put myself out there. “I like you too, Kori. I really, really want to be friends with you, but I also really, really, really want those parts that you were talking about to become acquainted also. I think they could be friends. Hell, they might could even be best friends. I don’t do relationships either, so we have that in common. What do you say?”
“And we aren’t going to let things be weird between us?”
I watch as she cocks her head to the side and stares at me. I feel as if she is waiting on bated breath for my response, and our entire future friendship hinges on my response.
“No, I don’t think so. I mean, I don’t want