"I'm not sure about this Mari." Carla whined into the phone. "What if he…"

Carla's mind was still a mess from taking her little sister to the doctors. Then helping her mother because her father had been kept late at work. Carla had a large family who she loved, but her caring nature made it difficult to stick to any plans she made with her best friend or boyfriend.

"Don't be stupid." Marisol encouraged her best friend. "He'll love it. Go out there and get him!"

"What if I kept him waiting too long? What if he's not in the mood anymore?"

"You made a late dinner reservation right? And he's running late too. You'll be fine."

"Thanks." Carla said, shrugging into one of Skippy's hoodies. It was too cold for ripped jeans and a shirt so she hoped he would arrive soon.

Carla got into place, sprawled as sensually as she could on the bed. Her wavy hair damp and curly from the shower. She wore nothing but his hoodie, as a tease. Hearing thumping on the stairs, she switched off her phone, stowing it in the pocket of his hoodie. It (the hoodie) was enormous on her despite the fact she was an inch taller than her boyfriend. Carla managed to stifle her giggles in the sleeves. The room was plunged into darkness.

"I'm sorry I'm so late for our date." Skippy apologized. He probably looked as dishevelled as he felt in his sweatpants and one of his spare hoodies. His other hoodies seemed to disappear. Skippy lowered his voice in case his girlfriend was asleep in the dark room. "Nevermind. It's not important. I'm here now. If you ...um...If it's too late for you, we can cancel our reserva-" Skippy was cut off as the lights flickered on. Light poured over Carla's glimmering latino complexion. Her body laid bare like a five course meal. Skippy's heart pounded. His thoughts dashed away like startled bucks in a meadow. Skippy's jaw almost hit the floor as his brain scrambled to process what he saw.

"Let's skip dinner and get straight to dessert." Aka me. Eat me. Carla crooned the pick-up lines Marisol texted her.

"N-n-no. We have been planning this for weeks. Dinner and then…"

"Okay. Now you know what you're missing out on." Carla winked, slipping out of the hoodie.

Carla slid down off the bed, giving her boyfriend almost predatory bedroom eyes as she threw on her ripped jeans and shirt, preening her hair and face to look even more delicious for Skippy.

"Something to look forward to." Skippy managed to respond, earning a giggle from his date.

The two of them walked to a local restaurant. Skippy held the door for her, pulled out Carla's chair and paid for their drinks, entrees and meal. They stared longingly across the table at each other in the candlelight. The band changed from slow, ambient music to high-energy dance music. Skippy was taken aback by Carla as she guzzled down the last of her drink and offered her hand to her date.

"Would you like to dance with me?"

"You can dance?"

"I'm full of surprises. You'll have to find out."

"You're lying." Skippy laughed, quirking his brow. Carla pouted, covering her mouth with her hand.

Carla leaned in, her arms embracing Skippy awkwardly. Skippy wanted to taste that lipstick. Did Carla taste as sweet as her lipstick looked? He wanted to run his fingers through those luscious curls. His libido had been slumbering all day. Now it was awake and hungry for Carla.

The pair gathered a crowd as they danced together, spurred on by the buzz of alcohol and the joy of being together. It seemed almost too perfect. Like nothing changed between them except for the empty title. Now upgraded from 'just friends' to lovers. It felt nice. Skippy couldn't help but adore the way Carla's carefree expression lit up under the lights on the impromptu dance floor. This was not a side of her that he saw. She was always busy doting on her family.

"Wooohooo!" Carla cheered, jumping up and down. Fist pumping the air until her legs gave out and she fell over with an exasperated cuss. Skippy was there to catch her with a concerned look.

"I'm fine. That was fun!" Carla pushed her hair back out of her face with an idiotic grin. "Too bad you can't dance half as good as you catch me."

"What are friends for?" Skippy laughed.

"Boyfriends." Carla smirked, as if trying out the word for herself. "You are my...boyfriend!"

It was hard to tell if this giddy feeling was the alcohol or her proximity with Skippy that made her heart backflip.

"Umm…" Skippy gulped. "On second thoughts, we should ditch this lame dancefloor for dessert. You're not hurt are you?"

"I'm sure you can kiss it better."

"Oh I will kiss more than your ankle when we get home."

"Is that a promise?"

"You'll have to find out." Skippy waggled his brows. That will make two of us.

"Stop!" Carla giggled, pushing her boyfriend in his firm chest, "You are a tease."

Her breath hitched. Her blood froze. The whole world flipped upside down the moment Skippy's lips crashed down, devouring her lips. His fingers tangled in her hair. His grip on Carla's waist tightened. The energy between them went from awkward static to a strike of sexual lightning.

Wow! Where did this come from? He's always the one that I tease. Well, kinda…

The next few minutes blurred together. The couple managed to pull themselves together for the cab ride. They couldn't walk with Carla's intoxicated staggering and the ravenous gleam in Skippy's usually controlled eyes. The cabbie looked into the rearview mirror to see both of them sitting as far apart as possible. The cab driver was worried the two of them had an argument so he was surprised when the two of them got out at the same stop and walked hand in hand through the front door.

The instant the door clicked closed, Skippy pounced, lifting Carla onto the arm of the sofa. Carla could have undressed Skippy in the dark. Skippy only ever had a handful of clothes for as long as they knew each other. How could she remember that, but not hours of their dinner conversation?

Carla fumbled for the light switch, panting as Skippy's eyeline lowered and he caught the latina's nipple between her lips. The sudden nip caused Carla's voice to escape in a desperate moan. Her legs parted eagerly. Skippy slipped the triangle of lace down to Carla's knees while Carla struggled out of his hoodie and her tight jeans. The two of them clawing and moaning like animals.

"Skippy! Please! I'm going to...Ah!" Carla covered her blushing face with her delicate hands.

"No. Don't hide your face. I want to see that cute smile." Skippy teased with a hoarse voice.

"What's gotten into you, Carla? Are you drunk?"

"A little." She hiccupped. "Probably."

"I like this side of you. I'm surprised you are still conscious. You got ballsy with the cocktail menu. I thought that maybe, you...were trying to forget something. Was it...about me?"

"What?! Nonono. It's not like that! I...wanted to forget my nerves. You're always so cool and I…"

"Shut up and kiss me."

"How about a round two, Skippy?"

"Somewhere other than the living room please. This couch was not designed for sex."

Skippy rolled his eyes and stood up, offering his hand to her best girlfriend. What a way to start the holidays after all of the things that happened between them. Carla hoped summer would last forever. That the two of them would never have to return to their chaotic, empty, separate lives.