Secret Rulebook of Cheating

Rule #20: Nicknames Are For Couples

A muffled sound reached my ears as I was resting on my back on the beach, recollecting last night's events. Mostly the event. I didn't really have much to compare it to, and I didn't really want to compare it or even think about the fact that I now had the ability to compare these things. But I couldn't help but notice - it had been way different than anything I'd experienced before. Like I-can't-have-you-fast-enough different. The intensity of it, the fire... He took me like he'd been starving for days and I was his feast. It was freaking hot.

It would have been so easier if it had been a disappointment. My body and I would be living in peace by now. Instead, I had a bigger turmoil to deal with. If at some point I had wanted it because I was curious how it would be, now I wanted it because I knew how it would be. Crap.

"Nicole?" I heard my name being called and I realized that the muffled sound I'd been hearing was more than just beach noise.

"Huh?" I lifted my head to look at Jason.

"I was asking if you wanted to go in the water," he explained.

Water sounded perfect.

"Sure."

We rose to our feet. Our friends were sprawled, half under, half out of the shade their umbrella casted, sun tanning. I could hear soft snoring, coming from Dan.

"Why don't you ever call me Nikki?" I asked as we were crossing the beach. It was odd. Rob and Dan constantly addressed me like that in his presence but he kept on using my full name.

"What, you don't like baby?" The face I made gave him the answer. He smiled and then added, more serious, "I thought I had to earn my right to." Like it made sense.

Okay, maybe it did make a little sense. My shorter name was mostly reserved for a closer circle of friends and acquaintances. But surely Jason wasn't that different. Actually, he was very different. I had no idea which circle I'd put him in, probably one of his own. But it would still be a circle that I felt sort of close to.

"And you don't think you have yet?" I inquired.

"I don't know, have I?"

He was watching me with questioning eyes and I thought I'd leave it hanging. He could call me however he felt like.

"Do people call you Jase?" I realized no one used a nickname for him.

"Not many. Why? You want to call me that?"

"I don't know. Have I earned the right to?" I teased.

An impish smile sliced his face. "I'd rather you call me handsome. Or stud."

I laughed. "Easy there, tiger."

"Tiger works too," Jason said with mocking reassurance.

"If I had to come up with a nickname that reflects your personality, it would probably be playboy or something," I retorted.

Jason threw me a disgruntled look. "Seriously? Is that how you see me?"

I felt a pang of guilt under the hard gaze of his eyes. Which was silly, because of course I saw him that way. He acted that way. Still, I receded. "Well, I have another one but it's too long," I admitted. And regretted it in that very second.

Too late. His features were already widened in curiosity. "Yeah? What is it?"

"Um, I don't really want to tell you." It was too embarrassing. Plus his self-confidence was as boosted as it gets.

"Come on, you can't start saying something and then not finish," he objected. "Tell me!"

We were already surrounded by water to the waist and as I remained silent he started splashing me.