clopening - Tumblr blog

clopening · 5 hours ago

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Beat the Heat

“It’s like half the city's going to the beach,” I said, groaning. The traffic on the highway hadn't moved an inch.

“Uh huh,” Tyler said, tearing a piece of jerky between his teeth. “Shoulda taken the train?”

“Well, that guy did pull a knife on me last time…”

“Shit. Really?”

“Yeah. I mean, I was fine. But not exactly a great experience.”

“Well, uh, thanks for driving, then.” Tyler chewed on the jerky, his jaw popping. He was stretched out in the passenger seat, hands behind his head, bare feet on the dashboard.

I fiddled with the AC. It struggled to cool the car in the sweltering heat. A bead of sweat rolled down my forehead.

Tyler wasn’t faring much better.

“Ugh, it’s fuckin’ hot!” He pulled at his tank top, already darkened with sweat.

For as long as I’d known Tyler, he never did well in the heat. He came to our first date looking like he’d just showered. And when he helped me move into my new apartment in the middle of summer, the entire place smelled like him afterward.

It was salty. A little sweet. Manly - like some musky cologne. Was it because he worked out so much? Tyler did work out a lot…

“Uh, dude? I think I got the spicy jerky. Not the mild…” His face was red. Sweat dappled his skin like morning dew. He lifted his arm and took a deep breath. “Aw, shit, I’m reekin’ already!”

Tyler pressed his fingers against the thick strands of blond hair. They came out glistening.

He held them to his nose and inhaled deeply.

“Uh...don't think I put deodorant on this morning, either. Was kinda in a hurry...”

Tyler smirked as his scent filled the car.

It was going to be a long drive.