Lingus

by Mariana Zapata

The thing about Nicole was, she didn't make empty threats.

My awkward social skills weren't a problem when I was around people I knew.

"Put the bat signal up in case you get lost trying to find the restroom again, and I'll come to the rescue, okay?"

"Nah, but my husband will," I said, with a straight look on my face. Green eyes immediately drifted to my left hand, which was resting on the table. He shook his head as he let his eyes drift back to my face slowly. "You got me, little gold digger."

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

I was an only child; I didn't know how to share, and I wasn't willing to learn.

A pitiful whimper slipped out of his dry, chapped lips. "Kill me now," he moaned.

Sick drama people are the bestest

"Will you rub my head for me?"

"You," Zoey emphasized by pointing at me with her fork. "Spent three days at Tristan's house taking care of him because he had the flu?"

Then you'll just be bored with me there.

I'm never bored with you. Come over. I'll order a pizza and think about letting you choose a movie.

"Kat? I can go buy you some panties and tampons from Target if you want,"

This wasn't exactly the way I'd envisioned myself having my panties off in his house, but this was my luck.

slowly aware of three things: One, I could not feel my hand. Two, I was unusually warm. Three, I was not on my bed.

"Well, precious, let's find us a dog."

His hand trailed down from my shoulder, over my arm until it slipped right against my own, before interlocking his fingers with mine.

"This one? You're sure? I was thinking more about a small one. You know, maybe like a terrier or a Yorkie." I had to snort at the idiot behind me. "You want me to buy you a carrying bag for your Yorkie, Miss?"

I'd learned over the years that when you genuinely loved something, it left an impression on you forever.

"Did you put my key back up there?" Tristan was walking backward as he made his way toward the stairs slowly. "Nope." I raised an eyebrow while turning the lock. "Where is it then?" "On my keychain," he answered slowly, like I should have known that.

"You're my favorite person in the world. Goodnight."

Professional Tristan was way too much for my eyes and hormones,

A slight panic clawed its way up my spine, reminding me of the time my dad forgot to pick me up from school right after my mom died, and I got stuck being taken home by my principal.

"Goldie," he whispered. He sighed too loudly and wrapped his arms around me, one over my shoulders and the other across the middle of my back. His warm lips pressed against my temple, making it the first time he'd ever put his lips directly on my skin without the excuse of sleep, and the hairs on the back of my neck prickled in response to his affection. He brushed those full lips against my other temple while tightening his hug. "You're my favorite person in the world, Kat. I could never forget about you."

"Were you planning on stabbing me, Goldie?"

"What do you think? That I was going to kiss my potential attacker to death?"

"If you were going to kiss me to death, I'd be okay with it."

He never asked for more than my mouth. My mouth on his mouth to be specific, and I kind of liked it a lot.

"I just want you to know that I'm dead serious about what I told you last night, okay? You're all I want, and I don't want anything to make you think otherwise."

I'd been extremely fortunate in my life to have such amazing parents, then three friends later in life who filled my life with love, and now this dorky, beautiful man who bought me posters for my classroom. Posters. For. My. Classroom. The gesture tugged at my insides and my head.

"You're like my moon. Pretty pointless according to other people, but without you, the world is pretty much over. I wouldn't have any stability, there wouldn't be any cool things like tides; if you broke into a million pieces, you'd kill everything on the planet,"

"I'm glad you think I'm funny."

"I'll never get tired of laughing at you."