Everything But Love

Chapter 8- Smithereens

The next moment could only be described as bliss. Pure fucking bliss. It was like I completely lost control of my limbs and let my instincts take full control. It felt animalistic, yet delicate – and soft. She tasted better than I ever could've imagined. It felt like I had finally stumbled upon the oasis and taken my first sip of crystal clear water after the endless mirage of the desert – and I was parched.

I let my hand slide up the nape of her neck, my fingers gently intertwined in her soft locks. She held onto my collar and pulled me closer. We were intertwined like two dancing flames, growing stronger despite the everlasting damage and devastation caused by our union.

She pushed me flat on my back. I looked up at her, towering over me like Venus de Milo. She interlocked her fingers in mine and pinned them above my head. I tried to catch my breath for only a moment before she stole it once more. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins so vigorously I thought I might explode at any moment. If I were to die right now, it wouldn't be so bad. No, I wouldn't mind at all. My soul would slip away in a sudden wave of euphoria. I would float in the air like a balloon, weightless, careless. Not a single care in the world.

Suddenly, my paradise was interrupted by a dreadful sound.

Ring! Ring!

We both froze at the sound. She looked me in my eyes, with a look of discontent, only an inch away from my lips. Without moving away, Janna's hand swiftly entered my pocket and pulled out my cell phone. Her eyes studied me cautiously. "Answer it."

Ring! Ring!

The phone, now in my hands, rang with a certain urgency. My stomach twisted itself into a knot and I felt the back of my neck begin to perspire. Does she really want me to answer it? There was only one person who ever called me. She knew.

Ring! Ring!

Janna brushed a strand of hair out of her face and leaned back. She might have even looked a little nervous. She's testing me. I swallowed my dread and held the device cautiously to my ear.

"Hello?"

"Dante! What took you so long to pick up, buddy? You really had me thinking you were still asleep or something."

I wiped a bead of sweat off of my brow. "Sorry, I was just – I didn't hear it ringing."

"Bullshit. You ignored me on purpose because you're playing hard to get," Emilio joked. "Can I swing by sometime today? My folks were supposed to come visit but they got a flat tire right off of the 5. They said they ran over a screw or a nail or something. My dad was so pissed! They called Triple-A, but I figured they would probably skip out this week and go home instead."

"Oh, that's too bad."

"Yeah but it's not too bad because the apartment is a mess and you know how my mother gets when the dishes are all out. So anyway, I was thinking maybe we could grab a drink or something? Janna isn't picking up her phone, probably in the shower or something," My heart sank. "You home?"

"Not at the moment."

"You out buying cigarettes again?"

"Yeah."

"I knew it. I could smell you through the goddamn phone. You shouldn't smoke so much, you know?"

"Yeah everyone tells me that." I let out an unconvincing laugh. Janna watched me with conviction.

"Has Celeste told you that?"

I could feel the smirk in his voice.

"Yes."