Page 39 of When the Smoke Clears

“There’s a vibe to sex in a public restroom?”

“Stop shrinking me.”

Her grin explodes. “You think I’m shrinking you?”

“I think you like fucking with my head.”

Everleigh bats her eyelashes at me, just like her mom did. “Let’s go home. I’ll have sex with you.”

She’s proving my point. Why would she say that? She’s not serious. And she can’t really think I’d agree to such a ridiculous suggestion. Sure, history repeats itself, but smart people learn from their mistakes and don’t make them twice. I’m too old not to be smart.

“My dick still has PTSD from eleven years ago. Sorry.”

“Maybe I want to apologize.”

“You already did.” I slide my hands into my jeans’ back pockets.

“I apologized to you, not your penis.”

“Please don’t call it that.” I cringe.

“That’s what it is.”

“Maybe if you’re diagnosing herpes or circumcising it.”

“Well, I can do both while I’m down there apologizing to it. But I thought you were circumcised. I don’t recall for sure. You never let me get a good look at it.”

There is nothing normal about this woman. And I don’t know if that’s frightening or endearing.

“Have you ever performed a circumcision?” As soon as the words are out, I internally berate myself for continuing this absurd conversation.

She glances to the side. “Hmm. No. But I observed a pediatrician performing the procedure. Looked pretty simple.”

“Everleigh, go home. I don’t need any medical procedures. I’ll tell my dick you’re sorry. Let’s just leave it at that.”

She deflates, and we have a brief stare-off. “Do you remember that kiss standing outside of the cab after you crashed my kite? I think about it every day. Do you think that’s weird?”

“Do you think this is weird?” I glance around and chuckle. “You have a fucking medical degree and, by all measurable standards, are a genius. You make a lot of money. You’re still in your twenties with endless potential. Yet, you’re standing outside of a run-down bar in downtown Missoula with a smoke-eating man-whore who graduated high school with a three-point-one GPA. There are a million guys with fancy degrees, impressive financial portfolios, and knowledgeable views of the world who would love to spend the evening in your company. Do you not see that?”

She keeps a poker face. After I lose and look away first, she turns and walks toward the street. “I’m going to IHOP.”

Chapter Thirteen

Eleven years earlier . . .

I never needed a woman to look at me with any sort of wonder in her eyes. I was a guy with simple needs.

Food.

Beer.

Sex.

Everleigh Reichart made me question my priorities because all she had was wonder in her eyes when she gazed at me.

Our first night together ended in gaming. Sure, I slid my fingers into her panties while she served me breakfast the following morning, but that ended with her gripping my shoulder and the edge of the table as her knees buckled and her mouth fell agape with a long “Oh god . . .” filling the air. When she opened her eyes, there it was, sheer wonder.

We had yet to have sex. But for the first time in my life, I didn’t care. There was something about Everleigh that made sex feel like an afterthought. While we were on our way back to Everleigh’s apartment following the kite incident, Tyler called me. The guys were having drinks, and after skipping lunch with his parents, I couldn’t weasel out of anything else.