Vulnerable

Chapter 11

Billie spent the next night wining and dining me, taking me to her favorite vegan restaurant and putting us up at a private table in the back. The entire night felt like a haze, and I was surprised that I enjoyed being fussed over by her. But I enjoyed being in her presence more.

For me, Billie was the star of my show. I drank her in like air, loving every bit of her that I got to know each time we were together.

The ride back to her place was comfortable, familiar. And I loved how goofy and down to earth she could be as if she didn't just drop hundreds of dollars on some entrees and a hardy tip.

The Billie that was belting lyrics to a song I'd never heard while flying down the highway at a speed I was too afraid to know, was the version of her that I felt so lucky to know.

We were back at her place now, slowly getting buzzed on the dusty bottle of wine she had pulled from the back of her kitchen cabinets. We were sitting on the floor in front of her couch now, playing truth or dare for the past hour. The topics ranging from our death row meals to favorite sex positions.

Her answers being Thanksgiving and doggy. Both things I was glad to learn.

"My turn, truth or dare?" I asked Billie, grabbing my wine glass off of the coffee table and taking another sip.

"Dare." Billie said through raised eyebrows, also taking a sip from her glass.

"Hmmm." I taunted, looking around her living room. "I dare you to do a back flip." I laughed.

"I can't do a backflip, the fuck? Billie shouted at me, shoving my shoulder playfully.

"Damn, well...you know the rules." I reminded her, smacking my lips. She rolled her eyes at me before leaning over and placing a kiss on my lips. I smiled against her mouth, reaching a hand behind her head and pulling her into me.

After a couple minutes of our tongues swirling around each other, she pulled away looking at me with a grin, "You did that shit on purpose so I would have to kiss you, motherfucker." she joked, poking me in the chest.

"Damn right, and I'd do it again." I retorted confidently.

She rolled her eyes again, laughing as she spoke. "Alright your cocky ass is next, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

Billie took her time thinking of what to ask me, glancing out the window briefly and then back at me.

"How come you've never asked me what my body count is?" She asked hesitantly, tracing her finger along the rim of her glass.

The question caught me off guard, it wasn't something I had really thought about before.

I took a second to consider why I had never asked Billie about her past sexual partners, "I mean..is it weird that I haven't?" I questioned, trying to gauge where her mind was at with asking me this.

"No...I don't know, maybe?" She replied, running her fingers through her hair. "I mean, I asked you yours and was fully expecting to have the question tossed back at me. So when you didn't ask me the same thing...I don't know I guess it just threw me a bit." She admitted, chewing on her bottom lip.

"If you think I didn't ask because I don't care about you, then you're wrong." I said directly, picking up on her demeanor. She looked up at me expectantly, waiting for me to continue.

"I guess I didn't ask because it doesn't really matter to me. It doesn't change this." I said, leaning my head on my hand that was propped up on the couch and pointing between the two of us.

Billie's eyes flickered to her hands, a satisfied smile creeping across her face before furrowing her eyebrows together and pushing out her lips into a pucker.