Free Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend by S.N. Garza

door frame with a smirk on her face.
    “Am I interrupting something, kids?”
    Dax whipped around to face Nana, with me still over his shoulder. With strength I know I didn’t have from laughing so much, I lifted myself as much as I could so I could at least see half of her.
    “Hi Nana, this is my friend, Dax. He was making sure I got home in one piece.” Then to Dax, “Say hi, Dax. This is my Nana.”
    He slowly brought me down over his shoulder and set me on my feet. I turned to Nana and shrugged my shoulders when she looked over at me with questions in her eyes. I didn’t know what to tell her. Dax was my friend.
    My hot friend. Who didn’t think I’m his type. Who was freaked out by the fact that I’m a virgin. Who made me laugh harder than anyone I’ve ever known.
    “Hi, Mrs.-
    “Just call me Nana. Hi, Dax. Scarlet? Would you like to invite your friend inside?”
    I could feel his eyes on me. I didn’t know if I was ready to let him in my world. This home had been my sanctuary ever since I was four. Was I ready?
    I looked back at Dax. With fear. Shyness. Confusion. Apprehension. He leaned in and whispered in my ear, “If you don’t want me to, Pixie, it’s okay. I won’t have a problem with just leaving tonight like this. I had a great time. Best time I’ve had in a while, or probably ever. So if you don’t want me to go inside-
    Whispering back, “It’s not that I don’t want you to. I just don’t know if I’m ready. You’re the first person I’ve ever brought here.”
    “Hmmm, sounds serious then.” He shifted away from my ear and just stood there. Looking right at me, keeping me ensnared in his crystal-blue irises. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him. His eyes were intent on mine. I knew he was waiting patiently. Letting me think it over in my head. When I couldn’t look anymore, (his stare was really intense and probing), I turned back to Nana.
    My eyes were burning with pressure to tear up. I didn’t know what to do.
    I felt at an impasse. I looked passed Nana and over the house. The only home I’ve ever had. The one place I felt safe and secure. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t ready to share that yet. I could feel Dax’s eye’s fixed on me. I knew he hadn’t looked away when I did. I just knew it.
    I had noticed throughout the rest of my shift and sometimes at IHOP that he would just stare at me with this fierce look of concentration on his face. Like he was memorizing every inch of my body.
    I felt bad that I couldn’t let him in. I hoped he understood. I turned back around and I felt something stopping me from letting the words come out. Something told me to be brave and let go of my fears. That it was okay to let him in. I felt my eyes blur and I shook my head as a tear escaped from my eye.
    “I’m sorry.”
    He cupped his hand around my neck, laid his forehead against mine and massaged the small kinks in the back.
    Gently, he said, “What for? You said you might not be ready. It’s okay. I’m not pressuring you. We can go at your pace. Remember? I’m new to this friendship, too. This is a boundary for you. You’ll let me in when you’re ready. I’m okay with leaving this as it is. Right here.” He broke our connection to kiss my forehead. “Just breathe.”
    I let out the breath I was holding and nodded. “Thank you, Declan.”
    “My pleasure, baby.” He let me go and walked a few steps to Nana and held out his hand. She gripped his hand in a firm handshake.
    Something she told me Grandpa taught her to do when she wanted to know a man’s character.
    “Ms. Nana, it was nice meeting you, but I need to go ahead and head home. I was just making sure Scarlet got home safely.”
    “Why, how nice of you, honey. You be safe.” He turned her hand and kissed the back of it.
    “Bye, ma’am.” He made his way back to me and just looked over my body one more time. Felt like he was taking his time going from my head, down to my feet and slowly grazing his way up.