Jack & Tammy: First Kiss

Tammy & Jack’s First Kiss

The date was over and Jack had walked Tammy to her door. She stuck her key in the brass deadbolt and had held it there for several moments. Jack folded his arms across his chest and leant his head against the wall, smiling warmly. It was now evening at 7:00pm sharp, because at that moment the timed lights in her apartment building lit up in a synchronized effect.

Jack’s smile crinkled even further. Tammy took a step closer to him, and he shifted in his step, lining his face up with hers. He lowered his eyelids as Tammy raised to her toes to reach him. In the soft brief darkness behind closed eyes, her mouth searched for his lips and found them. The kiss was warm and the stubble on Jack’s jaw bit into her skin. It was hard, scraping, moist and abrasive. Later that night when she would take off her makeup in the bathroom, she would see how raw her face had become from making out with him. Skin pink and soft, like a baby pig.

Tammy felt a wave of electricity wash over her. It buzzed from her shoulders to her toes and then all the way back up. She thought she might fall over, but felt some support keeping her in balance. Jack’s strong hands had pressed into the small of her back, suddenly bringing his hard torso into hers. Her exhale was sharp. His breath was hot against her neck, and some of his warm exposed skin collided with hers. There was a hunger there. His lips were softer than they had looked, pressing gently into hers as his tongue lingered in her mouth. Tammy began to sway again, but Jack caught her with his arms and steadied them both. He broke away from the kiss, slightly breathless.

“Are you OK?” he braced her by the shoulders, examining her face. Tammy nodded her head and it flopped back and forth like a ragdoll.

“Yeah, I’m fine...I just get dizzy sometimes.” she leaned in closer to Jack’s chest. He stroked her cheek.

“Sweetheart. Do you have anemia?” Jack’s face became more rigid with concern. Tammy nodded into his chest, soaking in his warmth. His sweater was so soft.

“Do you want me to order you some soup broth or something? Or a steak? You hardly ate this morning and we’ve been walking around all day, you’re probably exhausted.” He stood upright with one hand on her waist, the other retrieving his phone. “I can Doordash you something.” he tapped fingers over the glass of his phone.

“No, no, don’t worry about it.” Tammy protested weakly, pressing the back of her hand into her brow.

“Hey, look at me.” His eyes met her with sincerity. “You look a little bit weak, I’m worried about you. Don’t be embarrassed--”

“It’s fine, this happens all the time, I just get sleepy.” Tammy shook her head.

“It’s 7:15pm,” Jack chuckled. “I don’t have anywhere to be right away, and nothing has to happen beyond us sharing a beautiful first kiss and me ordering you food so you don’t eat shit in front of your doorstep on a Friday night... Sorry, poor choice of words.” They both vibrated with immature laughter. “Come on, let me order you some food.”

Tammy sighed in defeat and wobbled as she stepped towards the door, finally turning the key in the lock and letting them both inside.

She hung up Jack’s heavy leather jacket on the hook by the door and shook off her furry black coat, settling it over a chair. She strode to the kitchen to fetch them both water. The ceiling light was out in the kitchen, but Tammy had her friend, Michelle, who ran a custom neon sign business rig her setup with very strong LED Taco truck lights. She’d usually keep them on during the night as she slept, in case she needed a well-lit path towards a midnight snack. The brightness cast a strong space-ship glow over her apartment. Jack enjoyed this and commented it made him feel like he was at a bar in some other galaxy.

The kitchen was small and had a curved retro diner-style breakfast counter. Jack sat gap-legged on the leather stool, examining Tammy’s decor. Small skulls and little figurines of pink flamingos were at nearly every corner of her kitchen. They neighbored appliances, wine bottles corked with melted candles, and from where he was sitting, Jack could spot that Tammy had at least three separate glass jars of organic cayenne pepper. He didn’t say anything, only smiled a little private smile to himself as he watched her pour them both chilled water from a filter.

She set his glass, a vintage pink juice glass, of water on the counter. She drank out of a smaller cup, with an enamel painting of the Snorks cartoon on the front. They eyed one another in between taking big healthy hydrating gulps. Tammy stepped around the bar and pulled up the other leather black stool to Jack’s. She held her head on her hand, elbow resting on the counter.

“Thank you for ordering me food.” Tammy tapped a finger on his knee. The denim on his jeans was warm. From that small tap, Tammy could feel he had a firm and muscular lower body. Jack wore a pleased grin and fiddled with a salt shaker.

“Well, we can’t have you fainting outside your door.” He touched the rim of his glass. “And I’m gonna try not to let it go to my head that you fainted after kissing me.”

“I did not faint.” she pushes his arm playfully. Firm, she noted to herself.

“Yeah, well you almost did.”

“Whatever.” she scoffed. The two sat in silence grinning and catching each other’s glances. The phone in Jack’s pocket buzzed.

“Hmm? Yes, 7026 Maple Blvd...I think that’s the address?” he looked to Tammy to confirm, she nodded and departed to grab some bowls from the kitchen cabinet. “Yes, thank you, I’ll come outside.”

***

Tammy spooned hot helpings of broth into her mouth. The salt from the soup ran into her system and some of the fuzziness in her head dissolved. Jack sipped his water, sitting across from her.

“You look like some of the color is coming back to you.”

“Yeah? I’m feeling pretty colorful.” Tammy winked. Jack laughed and served himself and Tammy more water from the filter. “How long have you lived here?”

“About two years now. The landlord is this old guy who looks like he could be related to Jeff Goldblum.”

“Is he?”

“No, well I’m not sure. It’s gone beyond the point where I feel like it would be polite to ask.”

Jack laughed softly, an affectionate smile settling over his face. Tammy blushed and continued sitting by Jack in silence, finishing her soup. The metal spool clinked against the bowl.