Page 30 of Tinder B@ng

Fourteen

Their stares are obvious as we arrive at the polo club holding hands; I can feel every eye on us. Part of me wants to let go, but another is burning up with rebellion, and pulls Channing a little closer. I shouldn’t care two fucks about what these people think; who I date, hold hands with and umm — well, whatever we did last night— is none of their business. I show Channing Tala’s horses at the stables, and steal a very sexy kiss where no one can see us.

“What are you doing, Kalon?” she asks.

“Kissing you.”

“Everyone is already staring at me,” she says.

“Well, then they’ll have some gossip to add to their stares.” I hold her close to me, my hands on her hips. I would love to do much more than kiss, that saying ‘roll in the hay’ is literally playing through my head right now. “I don’t care, Channing. I want you, and I am not going to hide away from a bunch of bored housewives.” I kiss her again and she giggles. “What? They’re just salty because I won’t date any of them.” Soon our absence will be noticed. So I take her hand and we go find a spot on the bleachers next to the field to watch. Tala will be playing next. We haven’t been sitting for long when Sebastian Flynn comes up and throws his arms around Channing, greeting her in a very familiar way.

“Sebastian,” she says with a smile, instantly making my hackles go up with jealousy, “don’t you look cute in those pants.”

“Kalon, this is—”

“Sebastian, we’ve met. Tala’s had a few horses from his father’s stables.”

“Kalon, how are you?” He shakes my hand, and I want to rip his arm off for touching her with it. “Chann, I didn’t know you were a polo fan.” He jests with her, some sort of inside joke that I don't understand.

“Sebastian, I’ll throttle you,” she grits at him.

“Channing is my guest, I mean — my date — today.” In case he has any ideas. Boys his age still think with their dicks.

“Ooh, date. Impressive, Channing.” He winks at her. “I’m dating Oakley Thorne, Channing’s bestie and boss. She’s been keeping secrets from us.” Thank God, he’s taken. I don't have to strangle him.

“Not from Oakley, just you,” Channing says. I put a jealous arm around her, and turn my attention to the game that’s about to start. She says goodbye to Flynn.

“Are you the jealous type, Kalon?”

“No, why?”

“Bullshit, your mouth may not say it, but your face needs deliverance.”

I laugh. “Is it a bad thing that I don't want some young man-child putting hands on my girl?”

“Your girl, huh? I thought this wasn’t anything — serious?”

“It’s not, I just don’t share. That’s not my thing.” I don’t share, I don’t want anything serious, but I also don’t want any of those shitfaces that Flynn is friends with near her.

“Ooookay then.” We stop talking and watch the game. She cheers for Tala when I do, and her smile makes my heart do this strange thing. I might need to check my blood pressure actually. Because my body acts all sorts of strange when Channing is involved. After the whole day on the field, Channing is a little sunburnt and windswept by the time we get to dinner. If it’s even possible, she looks sexier than she did this morning. Tala, Emily, and she chat about the party and dresses. My daughter is quite taken with her, and even the boys are being nice — I’ll wait. A bomb will go off at some point.

The kids all disappear with friends, and we’re left alone at the table. I slide my hand up her thigh, under the table, and whisper in her ear. “Are you going to stay at my house tonight?”

“Your kids will be there, Kalon. I — I think it’s better if you drop me at home.” My children seem to bother her. But, I respect the fact that she respects them, and doesn’t want to make it uncomfortable. We finish a bottle of wine, before I switch to water. If I have to drive her home, I can’t drink anymore.

“Dad, we’re going to stay at Selene’s tonight. All of us.” Tala comes up to the table and makes it very obvious with winks and hard nods that she’s arranged for us to have the house to ourselves.

“You sure?” I ask her.

“Yes, Dad. We are going to celebrate our win.”

“No drinking and driving! And that boyfriend doesn’t stay where you are.” Eye rolls, Lord help me not to murder my daughter.

“Yes, Dad. You two have fun,” she says, winking before skipping off to where Emily is waiting for her.

“So, the kids are no longer a problem. Does that mean you’ll stay?”

“I don’t have clothes.”