My Boyfriends' Dogs by Dandi Daley Mackall Page A

discussed.
    â€œIsn’t it great?” He swooped his arm like a showman unveiling his prized sculpture. “She’s a designer. I mean, professionally. She designs and decorates people’s houses. That’s how she can afford this place. Do you like it?”
    The room we were standing in was all white except for dabs of red—a red vase with a single rose on a glass coffee table, a red satin pillow on a stuffed chair, also white. On the walls hung canvases of modern art, white with broad red stripes or funky circles.
    â€œWow!” I picked up Adam because he hadn’t done his business on the walk in, and I didn’t want him doing it now. I didn’t think I could have lived in such modern surroundings. I would have been afraid to touch anything. But I could still appreciate the beauty of the room. “It’s gorgeous, Went.”
    One of the paintings was long and narrow, occupying a good third of the whole wall. I stepped up for a better look and read the signature: Waslynski. I turned to Went. “Nuh-uh. Did your mother paint this?”
    Went nodded. “She’s got two paintings in a gallery right across from the Arch. “Come on. I’ll give you the tour.”
    I held Adam as Went led me from the kitchen and breakfast nook to his mom’s bedroom, her office, and an entertainment room with a giant television and a pool table.
    â€œThis place is too big to be an apartment,” I observed.
    â€œYou ain’t seen nothin’ yet, kid.” Went slipped his arm around me. “I saved the best for last.”
    At the end of the white-carpeted hallway was the spare bedroom. Went touched the door, and it opened to a room that had to be twice the size of my bedroom at home. Unlike every other room in the house, this one had color. The blue bedspread matched the curtains, and oranges, blues, and greens blended throughout, with live plants giving everything an outdoor feel. It was as if the color from the rest of the house had drained into this one room. “I love it,” I managed to say.
    Went took Adam from my arms and set him on the carpet. Then he leaned down and kissed me. The kiss started out soft as butterflies, then grew harder and more intense. I kissed back just as hard, losing myself in him.
    I felt his arms around me, moving up and down, making my whole body tense, then mush, then tingly, then light. With one movement, he swept me up into his arms. We didn’t stop kissing while he carried me into the bedroom and laid me on the bed. I closed my eyes and felt him on top of me, surrounding me, kissing me. His hand slid under my shirt.
    â€œArf!” Adam barked and barked. Then he pounced onto the bed.
    As if I’d been wakened from a trance, my eyelids flew open. Sunlight streamed in through the open curtains. I bolted upright, forcing Went off. His shirt was unbuttoned. My heart was pounding so hard I thought I might have a heart attack. I fought for words. When I could catch my breath enough to speak, I said, “Went, let’s go to Six Flags.”
    â€œNow?” He stared at me in disbelief.
    I nodded. “Could we, please? ”
    He took a deep breath and let it out. Then he sat back on his heels and started buttoning his shirt. “Now.”
    â€œI just . . . well, I thought it would be dark. And I have this little nightie thing in my bag that I spent my life’s savings on. Plus, I don’t want Adam to watch us.”
    Went burst into laughter that drained all the tension out of the room. He finished buttoning his shirt, then picked up the little dog. “Thanks a lot, Adam. You and I are going to have a man-to-man talk about this later.” He set Adam down and helped me up.
    â€œIs it okay?” I asked, afraid that I might have wrecked everything.
    â€œIt’s okay.” He hugged me to him, wrapping me in his arms so I felt safe . . . and loved, like I could do it. I could give myself to Went