All the guys were sitting around talking while the women were playing with the kids.
�So, that�s the girl you were at Christini�s with?� Tino asked.
�Yeah.�
�She�s nice.� Gary threw out.
He looked over at her, �Yeah, she�s a nice girl.�
�That�s not what he�s talking about.�
He looked over at Jorge. �What are you talking about?�
Jorge simply stared and when Derek looked around he noticed they were all staring at him, �What?�
�She�s beautiful man.�
He shook his head at Alex, �Its not like that. Really. We�re just friends. No kissing, no touching, no sex, nothing.�
Tino nodded, �And how long do you think that�s going to last?�
�She doesn�t see me like that.�
He saw the doubt on their faces, �Not every woman wants me. I�ve been rejected before, you all know that.�
�Tino�s right. Even though I wanted more from the beginning, Cynthia was more about being friends but the more we were around each other the more we got to know each other the feelings developed. The more you two are together, the more you laugh together, the more you listen to each other�s problem��
Alex trailed off and ended his speech with a shrug. He knew Alex was the right. The more they did those things the more he was going to look at her and wonder why he wasn�t with her.
�She�s never given any indication that she sees me that way.�
�What about you? Have you ever had thoughts about her?�
Alex put him on the spot with that one and he didn�t respond quick enough.
�So basically you haven�t made a move because you don�t want to be rejected not because you couldn�t be down with her.�
He smiled, �That�s not the case at all. Its just never entered my mind to try and make a move. I have enough on my plate.� He shook his head, �It�s just not going to happen.� Besides, it was hardly fair. He was a man. What attractive woman hadn�t he had thoughts of. Hell, they did it. They had thoughts of other women, made jokes and references to how hot some chick was and they were some of the most faithful men he had ever known.
Thankfully he was rescued by Maria, �Derek, did you get the honey?�
He groaned, �I forgot.�
�I can�t make the BBQ sauce without it.�
This was his opportunity to escape the inquisition, �I�ll go. How many do you need?�
�Get two bottles.�
�I�ll be back guys.�
He walked towards the house and saw Maleeyah sitting with Ben and his girlfriend. �Maleeyah, I need to go to the store real quick. Want to ride?�
�Sure.�
**
There was verbal silence as they drove. The only sound was that of the music. It didn�t escape him that she was beautiful but she was such a carefree part of his life. The moment a woman and man delve the area of relationship or even possible relationship, things just automatically changed�and most times for the worst. He loved women and he loved being around them and satisfying that desire without stress felt good. She was that for him, beautiful woman, no drama.
He was singing along when Maleeyah screamed out in laughter, �Did he just beat that�up?�
He laughed at her shock and the fact she couldn�t say the word, �Yeah.�
�Derek.�
�What? I didn�t write the song.� It was the Ying Yang Twins� Whisper Song.
�Yeah but you�re singing all the words.�
He countered, �You were nodding your head to it.�
�I was nodding my head to the beat. I figured you for the pervert type.�
He laughed, �I�m not a pervert. Everything in that song is natural.� He knew that would get a rise out of her.
�Natural?�
�Sex is natural.�
She rolled her eyes, �I know sex is natural�and overrated.� She mumbled at the end.
The last part of her comment sparked his interest. �Overrated? Who have you been with?�
�Sex just isn�t as great as people say it is. Or maybe its just me.�
�Maybe it�s the men you�ve been with. Sex is great.�
�Oh yeah, sex is great for the man, you put in your two minutes and you get satisfaction and the woman is left there wondering what the hell just happened and is that it.�
�Two minutes and satisfaction?�
She rolled her eyes, �Oh let me guess. You�re the one exception. The man that dispels the falsehood of the selfish quick lover. You can go on all night and the woman always has an orgasm with you.�
�No, I�ve got it down to an exact science. Three and a half minutes. That�s all it takes.�
She laughed, �Three and a half minutes?�
�Yeah, anything over that is just showing off.�
She laughed, �I bet that�s the truth and you�re just trying to play it off with humor.�
�You never know.� He winked at her.
They pulled into a parking space and entered into the store, �So what do you need to get?�
�Honey.�
�Pervert.�
He smiled, �For the BBQ sauce.� They wandered through the store, �Besides, honey is too much of a mess. Ruined my sheets.�
She looked over at him; he knew she was checking to see if he was kidding. He merely winked at her and kept walking.
050 | No Ordinary Girl