"Sean? Wow. I didn't expect--how are you?" Emma was, quite frankly, stunned.
"I'm okay. Um, what about you?"
"Fine. Thanks. I--I'm a little surprised to hear your voice," she admitted. "I mean, the apology on the beach was nice and all, but I thought you'd want to stay away from us entirely. Not that you should. I mean..."
"Emma. Calm down, okay? I'm not calling to declare my undying love or anything like that, so don't worry." He hesitated. "So, um, how's Ellie doing?" His voice was decidedly too casual.
"Ellie?" Emma supposed she should have known what he was after. "We don't really know each other. But from what I hear, she had a date with Spinner tonight. So, I'd say she's doing well, which I'm sure you'll be happy to hear."
"Yeah. Uh, thanks." He threw his shoe at the door and made some more random noise. "Emma, sorry, I have to go. My parents are getting home." He hung up without waiting for a response.
--------------------
Ellie made them lasagna and a salad, and squares for dessert. She only picked at her portion of the meal, and chuckled as Spinner dove into seconds--and thirds. He did, however, wrinkle his nose and decline the salad.
When they were done with their main meal, Ellie dipped a finger into the icing on her square, took a lick, then narrowed her eyes slightly and held it toward him. He very happily did away with the remainder of the icing, not even complaining about Ellie germs, as he had the night before.
She hesitated, then brought her lips against his, and tugged at his shirt. He immediately grabbed her hands. "Okay, I can't believe I have to say this, but what are you doing? We've gone out once. Manny, I could expect this from. But you?"
"Even you don't want me," Ellie said. "Of course. I just thought that since we'd known each other casually for awhile, it wouldn't be a big deal. But of course it is." She shook her head and turned away, and as she expected, he reached for her.
"If you don't mind, I don't mind," Spinner insisted. "Sorry. I'm still used to Paige. Hey, where are you going?" She was headed toward the kitchen, and ignored his question. She returned a moment later with a bottle of wine, and two glasses--regular ones, not wine glasses.
"Sorry," she said laughing. "It's the best I can do." He raised an eyebrow, but accepted the glass. "Before we do anything, though," she said, "we need to have the typical 'how likely are you to have an std' talk." She rolled her eyes. "If school taught me anything, it's that. So, I've been with Sean, who's been with Amy who had been with no one. Got checked out awhile ago and everything was fine. And for you, it's been Manny. Anyone else?"
He made a face that she couldn't quite read. "Not Manny," he admitted finally. "No one. But I swear if you tell anyone..."
"As if I would," Ellie said. She took a sip of the wine, then resumed kissing him. He didn't need much encouragement to reciprocate. In between kissing and nibbling (he seemed to have a strange fondness for her left ear) and drinking, she managed to tug his shirt off. Sean had been all muscle; Spinner was very obviously not. She tried unsuccessfully to shove the image of Sean out of her head. She hadn't been having much luck with that lately. She suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
"Wow," she said, pulling away from him. "It's late. Um, your parents might..." He glanced at the clock and groaned.
"Yeah. Great. Way to get my hopes up," he said.
"Friday, okay? And I'll see you in school, anyway. So that should help take care of the getting to know you thing. We'll see what happens." She picked his shirt off the floor and tossed it to him. "I promise."
"Is this about Sean?" he guessed. "Because he's gone. I'm your guy now. Your my girl, okay? Not his."
"It's about you," Ellie insisted, lying through her teeth without even realizing it. "If you get grounded, I don't see you for a week at least. And that just doesn't work for me. Come on, I'll walk you to your car." He hesitated, then nodded and pulled on his shirt. Ellie was careful to keep her eyes well above his waist.
He gave one longing look back at the couch before exiting. She forced herself to give him a peck on the cheek and a wave as he left, then headed back inside, shivering, and disgusted with herself. She poured herself another glass of wine and tried to forget.