The Greatest Lie Part 12

"I’m sorry, I keep on forgetting how young you are, because you think and act like someone my age. It’s O.K. We’re not in high school anymore. Whenever two people feel that way about each other, I think that’s the right time, whether it’s the first date or whatever. I always liked you, even when we were arguing about that first case, and I really wanted to be with you, and I hope you feel the same way about me."

He embraced me, and I tilted my head back to invite a deep kiss. When I opened my eyes, still blurry with faux tears, I saw his eyes were locked on mine with a look that I had never seen before. I tried to catalogue the look that I saw in his eyes. I wondered: is this love that I’m seeing in his eyes?

"Anyhow, it was really sweet of you to make breakfast for us. I’m starving."

"Let’s eat," Alec replied, setting the table and serving me.

I beamed with satisfaction. I had manufactured a lover’s quarrel, and I had triumphed. I wondered how Tran was doing with Peter. Doing great, I speculated: she’s much more experienced, and lower maintenance than I am.

After breakfast, I felt a lot better. No food and too much booze the day before had left me really frazzled. Alec’s cholesterol feast had seemed to absorb some of the leftover ethanol byproducts.

I asked, "So, can I at least get a ride home."

Alec grabbed me playfully and asked, "Do you really have to leave, already?"

"I have homework. Don’t you?"

"Tons, but all work and no play makes Alec a dull boy." He pulled me down onto his rumpled bed and began fondling me. I decided to give in as a reward for his earlier penance and pulled the drawstring of his sweats. I let him pull my top over my head.

In that blind, vulnerable moment when the neckline of the sweatshirt was stuck on my head, he let go, leaving my arms pinioned above my head. He said, "Gotcha!"