Thought So

by Cecilia Tan

I have news for you, boys: there are horny women out there. There are women walking the streets, in bookstore aisles, riding trains, who are practically crying inside because they want it so bad. Either that, or I'm the only one. But I would put money on the fact that I am not the only one. Especially given what Jason has told me. It's because of Jason that I don't have to prowl those aisles, those trains, anymore.

I first noticed him in the bookstore, in the cookbook section. I was thumbing through a spiral bound volume on Thai cookery when I caught him looking at me. Or maybe it was he who caught me. By that point, I was frustrated. It was a summer evening, cool and breezy, and though I wore a brief, swishy dress, and had arranged my hair suggestively, I had not had good luck. The only mild interest I’d gotten was from people I had no interest in. And while I was starting to think I'd hump an aardvark if I had to, I knew better.

I was biting my lip and trying to decide if I should give up and go home, the book open in my hands but my eyes unfocused, when Jason stepped out from behind a tall bookcase. My eyes flickered up and then back down to the book. He was tall, a little underfed, blue eyes, light brown hair... and was he looking at me?

He was. I gave him a longer look, and a smile. He returned the smile in a knowing way. Thank goodness. The hook was baited. I put the book down on the table, and let my head fall back, some of my curls brushing my bare shoulders. I saw him gulp--hook swallowed.

He came toward me and said "Hi."

"Hi," I said, lowering my eyes with a shyness that wasn’t entirely unreal. I was accustomed to being the cute one, the desirable one--but Jason would have turned my head even if I hadn’t been having one of my horniest nights. Suddenly I wasn't sure what to say to him.

He saved me by speaking first. "I've been following you for a while."

"How long is a while?" He blushed, but kept talking.

"Since Alton Station." He reached his hand toward mine, and brushed his fingertips against my arm. I had to stifle an audible intake of breath. "Would you like to go somewhere?" he asked.

I nodded. "My place, if that would be all right with you."

There was that smile again. "Lead the way."

He orbited me with a crooked arm as I turned toward the door, but he did not touch me.

He waited until we were sitting on a bench at the station to do that. I was almost shivering by then, fantasizing his arm around me, waiting for it to happen--and then he slid close, his blue-jeaned leg touching mine, and his arm slid across...