Mad Love by Colet Abedi Read Free Book Online Page B

us,” I whisper furiously. Erik swims up to the deck and Orie follows. He does not look apologetic. He grabs hold of the wooden railing on the stairs that sink into the ocean.
    “I have my reasons.”
    “Care to share them?” I’m annoyed and it shows. “He’s the best looking, most spectacular guy I’ve ever encountered in my life!”
    “I know. You’ve been eye-fucking him the whole time you’ve been sitting here.”
    I flush in embarrassment.
    “In your defense, he’s been eye-fucking you, too.” I flush again for all sorts of other reasons.
    “Really?” I’m so pathetic.
    “Sophie!” Erik is irritated and acts as though he’s speaking to a child. “This guy is the real deal. He’s got pussy flying at him from every direction.”
    “I resent that. I’m not that obvious!” I say to him even though I’m not quite sure. But how dare he even insinuate such a thing? Well shit, I was just daydreaming.
    “You got caught red handed with your fingers in the cookie jar. I can see it, smell it, a mile away.”
    I blush. “My version of the cookie jar is way different than yours.”
    “I know, babe. Your version is the G-rated one where you hold hands and peck, with a goddamn pre-school song playing in the background. But mine and Clayton’s is the X-rated one. Hard core. Straight up. Porn.”
    My heart is in my throat. Visions of Clayton’s hands, mouth, and tongue run through my mind.
    “Are you serious right now?” I ask in shock.
    They both look at me like I’m the crazy one. Erik raises a brow.
    “Fine. Since you prefer the lecture, I’ll continue.” And he does. “You’re in way over your head right now and I’m going to bring you back to reality before this turns into a shit storm. You need to play it cool, bitch. Cool as a cucumber.” Erik pauses a moment. “And Orie and I need to teach you what to do with that cucumber, by the way.”
    “Pronto,” Orie finally speaks.
    “Oh my God. I don’t need to know what to do with a cucumber. Actually, I don’t want to know what to do with one. Thank you for the offer, though.” I stand and put my hands on my hips as I stare down at the two of them.
    “Yes, you do,” Erik says as he climbs onto my deck. “You’ve been dying to know what sex is like since you set eyes on that man. And I don’t blame you. But I sure as hell am not going to let you go to him ready, willing, on a goddamn silver platter waiting to be taken. What kind of friend would I be if I let that happen?”
    I try to stay angry, but I can’t. Fine. He has a point. But what is all this talk about platters, and willing, and sex? Sex! I dated and knew Jerry for … how long? In fact, if I’m honest with myself, I probably could have pushed him into an intimate relationship. But now I think there was a part of me that just didn’t want it with him.
    And before Jerry there was only one other guy that I ever even came close to being intimate with and it was such a traumatic experience that it scarred me as an undergrad. His name was Adrian and I met him freshman year at UCLA. He was a junior and played for the varsity tennis team. We met at a party on campus and instantly hit it off. He was two years older, super charming, and boyishly handsome and had the cutest dimples. He asked me to go to the movies with him the next night and I agreed. The only film that wasn’t sold out was Toy Story 3 and since we were practicallythe only ones in the theater we ended up making out through the entire feature.
    When the credits rolled he invited me to his fraternity house for an after-hours party. I was too naïve to see the writing on the wall, but Erik later said there was no way I could have anticipated what would happen.
    It was a typical college party, everyone getting hammered, couples making out, and music blaring loudly.
    Adrian leaned down and had to practically shout in my ear, “Wanna see my room?”
    I desperately wanted to be cool so I agreed, against my better