by Beth Rinyu
“It was nice meeting you, Renee,” he said with that crooked smile that made me melt. I hoped that it was having the same effect on my sister.
“You too,” she said again in her sickening sweet voice.
“I’ll be right there,” I said to Dailan as he was quickly whisked away by Ryan.
“Well, he’s certainly good looking, but he has a kid!” she said with disgust in her voice. “Honestly, Nicole, why would you break up with someone as level-headed as Drew to go out with someone with baggage? Oh, let me guess – because he’s hot,” she said as if she was mocking me while she rolled her eyes.
“You are unbelievable, you know that, Renee?”
“Oh, come on, Nicole, we all know you’re not mother material. It takes a lot more to being a parent than taking a kid ice skating,” she said in a very condescending tone.
“First of all, Renee, that’s not his son; it’s his nephew. His brother and sister-law died last year, so he’s taking care of him.”
“Oh, I didn’t know.” She became quieter and I could almost see some regret wash over her face.
“No, you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you? Because that’s what brothers and sisters are supposed to do for one another – be there for you when you need them the most, something you know nothing about.”
She stood there speechless as I bent down to give my nephew a kiss goodbye. “See ya, Christopher; give your brother a hug for me.” I walked away, saying nothing more to my sister.
I knew she was probably on the phone already telling my mother all about Dailan and how I was so mean to her. For the first time in my life, I had stood up to my bossy older sister and it felt good!
Chapter 27
I awoke with a smile on my face when I took my phone from my nightstand to read a text message from Dailan that said, Happy Birthday, beautiful. He had been in Boston for the past four days. I only had brief conversations with him while he was gone because he was super busy. I stretched out in my bed and smiled upon thinking he would be back tomorrow. I was mad at myself for missing him, but I couldn’t help it. I knew that I had feelings for him, but I planned on keeping them inside and never to let him know. My heart sank when I thought that this was how it would be in a few months anyway – Dailan would be gone for good.
I flung my legs over the side of the bed, grabbed my phone, and replied, Thanks! Miss you. I instantly regretted my words after I sent the message. I didn’t want him to know that I missed him. I didn’t want him to think that I needed him, even though deep down inside I was beginning to feel like I did. I got out of bed and jumped into the shower. The warm water relaxed me and helped to clear my head. I stayed in for a little longer than I should have, causing me to have to rush around to get ready for work once I had gotten out. I planned on ignoring my ringing phone as I ran around my bedroom in search of the matching shoe to the one that was already on my foot. But I decided that I would risk being late when I saw Dailan’s name flashing on the caller ID.
“Good morning,” I answered, finally finding the shoe I was looking for.
“How’s it feel to be another year older?”
“No different; catching up to you!” I walked into the bathroom to put on my make-up while I was talking to him. I realized just how hard it was to apply blush when you were unable to stop smiling.
We talked for a few minutes longer. I filled him in on the last few days and gave him an update on Ryan.
“Well, I have to go into a meeting. Have a good day,” he said.
“Thanks, I’ll try.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said.
“Okay.” Another huge smile stretched across my face just thinking about tomorrow.
“And, Nicole?”
“Yeah?”
“I miss you too.”
I hung up the phone and beamed. He missed me too! That was the first time that Dailan had ever given me any type of insight as to how he felt toward me. I was going back on my plan of not wanting him to express any feelings for me, but I figured today was an exception - it was my birthday after all!
The school day was uneventful. We eagerly worked on our class bulletin board for the spring fling, even though it was a month away.
Ryan’s Aunt Lisa was coming to pick him up from tutoring. At this point Ryan was doing so well, he really didn’t need to be staying after school anymore. But he looked forward to it every week and I found that I did as well. So, we continued our Wednesday schedule just like we had in the beginning of the year. Ryan would spend that time finishing up homework or helping me out around the classroom. Ryan excitedly told me about his skiing trip that he was leaving for tomorrow morning with his Aunt Lisa, her husband, and his cousin. He was even more excited because he was missing two days of school to go.
“Do you like to ski, Miss Morgan?”
“Umm, kind of, I’m not really good at it, though,” I said as I stapled shamrocks to our March bulletin board.
“Well, you should have my Uncle Dailan teach you; he’s really good,” Ryan said proudly.
“Is he?” I asked with a smile. Somehow, just hearing his name made me smile today.
Ryan nodded. “Him and my daddy used to go all the time. My daddy always said that he was better at it than Uncle D, but I really think my Uncle D was better,” he whispered like there was someone else in the room. We both started giggling.
“Well, it sounds like you guys are having way too much fun,” Lisa said as she walked through the door. Ryan got up and started gathering his papers.
“Today’s Miss Morgan’s birthday,” Ryan said.
“Oh, happy birthday!” Lisa said with a warm smile.
“Hey, thanks.” I smiled back.
“Are you doing anything special?” Lisa asked.
“Going out to dinner with my best friend and her fiancée.”
“Well, enjoy! Once you get to my age, you don’t want to celebrate anymore!” Lisa said.
I looked at Lisa trying quickly to gauge her age. I knew that she was older than her sister. If her sister was the same age as Dailan’s brother, I was guessing Lisa to be somewhere around forty, hardly old at all.
“Are you all ready, Ryan?” I asked.
He smiled and nodded. I let Lisa know he had worked on the assignments that he would be missing over the next two days, so he’d be pretty much caught up when he got back on Monday.
“Have a great time, Ryan,” I said, messing up his hair.
“Oh, Nicole, if you happen to talk to Dailan, would you mind telling him that we’ll be home around eleven on Sunday? He had asked me if he could pick up Ryan early, since he hasn’t seen him all week,” Lisa said.
I nodded, still feeling a little uncomfortable with her knowing about mine and Dailan’s relationship. But I didn’t try to deny it. I knew that Ryan probably told her everything.
“Have a great time,” I said.
“Thanks and have a great birthday!” Lisa said as she and Ryan headed out the door.
I arrived home and quickly checked my e-mails before jumping in the shower. Five new messages, but the only one I cared about was from Justin Morgan.
Happy Birthday to my favorite sister (don’t tell Renee or I will deny it…lol). Hope you are doing something fun for your birthday! How are things going with your, do I dare say – boyfriend? I can’t wait to be properly introduced to him and set the record straight on whose idea it was for the sick lie…lol. Well, I hope you have a great day and have a drink for me.
Love your favorite and only brother,
Justin
Dear Justin,
Thanks for remembering! You are the best! I will have two drinks for you!!
Love and miss you lots!! xoxo
Nicole
I hit the send button and closed my laptop. It amazed me that the only family member who wished me a happy birthday was probably a million miles away. I shook my head and fought off the sadness, thinking how my mom hadn’t even bothered to call me today.
“Happy birthday!” Michael said in his normal cheerful voice.
“Thanks,” I said. I was so appreciative of Donna and Michael; because of them, I wouldn’t be spending my birthday alone.
We entered the restaurant and Donna led us right to the bar. “We have to have one drink before dinner, this is the one and only day you will be turning twenty-six, you know,” Donna said.
“Okay, but just one, I have to go to work tomorrow and somehow I don’t think dealing with twenty-one kids and a hangover would be that much fun!”
“Fine, party pooper,” Donna said.
Michael ordered himself a beer and Donna and I each a glass of wine. I excitedly listened as they told me all about their honeymoon to Italy that they had just booked. Michael was ordering another round of drinks before I could stop him, as Donna continued talking about the honeymoon. I felt my phone vibrating from my coat pocket and pulled it out while still trying to stay focused on what Donna was saying. I totally tuned her out when I saw that it was a text from Dailan and opened it up to read it.
Getting older suits you; you look beautiful tonight.
“What?” I said out loud.
“What’s the matter?” Donna asked.
I quickly turned around and was unable to contain the smile that stretched across my face when I saw my fella, Dailan O’Maley, right in front of me, looking just as handsome as ever.
Chapter 28
I stood up and threw my arms around him. “I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow.”
“Well, I figured you were worth rearranging my schedule for,” he said.
Donna was smiling in delight. “You see, Michael, I was able to keep a secret from her.” I was quite sure that she had orchestrated this whole thing.
“Dailan, we almost got her drunk waiting for you,” Donna joked.
“Sorry, there was a lot of traffic coming from the airport,” he said as Michael handed Dailan a beer. He had come straight from the airport just to celebrate my birthday with me. That thought made me want him even more than I already did tonight.
Donna and Michael were deep in conversation with the bartender, who had just returned from a trip to Italy and was giving them all sorts of tips.
“Thank you so much for being here,” I said
“No problem.” He took my hand in his and kissed it.
“Dailan, you are alive! My God, I haven’t heard from you in ages.” I looked up to see a skinny, familiar-looking redhead with a very handsome man. She leaned down to give Dailan a kiss on the cheek and it finally dawned on me where I had seen her before. She was the girl that Dailan was with the day I was having lunch with my brother.
“Hey, how are you?” Dailan said, not sounding as enthusiastic about their meeting as she did.
“I’ve been good,” she said, finally looking over at me.
“Oh, Jenna, this is my girlfriend, Nicole,” Dailan said, taking me a little off guard with the word girlfriend. Sure, we were seeing each other quite a bit over these past few months and it was probably perfectly safe to assume that I was his girlfriend. But to hear him actually say it to someone sounded weird.
“Oh,” she said as she raised her eyebrows, looking surprised as if to say she finally got why she hadn’t heard from him.
“It’s really nice to meet you,” she said. It was hard for me to gauge if she was being sincere or not.
“Jenna, come on, our table’s ready,” the man she was with said.
“Well, it was nice seeing you again, Dailan,” she said. She gave me a quick smile and headed off to her table.
“Who was she?” I asked.
“Just some girl,” Dailan said, sounding as if he didn’t want to talk about it.
“Some girl who you use to –”
“Some girl I use to know and let’s just leave at that,” he said as he pulled me close and gave me kiss on the cheek.
I couldn’t believe I was finding myself getting jealous over coming face to face with some girl who was clearly one of his ex - whatever you call someone that you have casual sex with.
Dailan was quick to jump in the conversation that Donna and Michael were having with the bartender. I wasn’t quite sure if it was because they were now talking about the bartender’s trip to Ireland or because he just wanted to change the subject of his recent encounter.
We sat down to dinner and talked non-stop, or should I say Donna and Michael laughed non-stop at the stories Dailan was telling. I grabbed his hand under the table and stroked the top of it with my thumb. I just couldn’t wait to be alone with him. I missed him so much these past few days, and I wanted to show him just how much. I couldn’t control myself any longer. I made sure that my hand was discreetly covered by the tablecloth as I began to slide my hand up his leg and slowly unzipped his pants halfway. He stopped talking mid-sentence, being caught off guard by my uncharacteristic behavior. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye and smiled slightly, continuing with his story. I slid my fingers under the flap of his boxer shorts and began to caress the shaft of his penis. I was impressed with the way that he maintained his composure even as I felt his erection beginning to form. He took a sip of his beer as I continued with my pleasurable assault. He finally removed my hand when it must have become too much for him. Donna and Michael were clueless as to what had just transpired, as they both were talking over each other with their playful bickering.
I finally got myself temporarily under control, but I was counting the minutes until I could be alone with Dailan. I was so happy when the check finally arrived. Dailan graciously paid for everyone, ignoring Donna’s protest that she and Michael pay for half.
We walked out to the parking lot and I gave Donna and Michael a hug and kiss goodbye. Dailan wrapped his arm around me as we walked to his car. “What did you do with this girl Nicole that I use to know?” he joked.
“Well, I thought that you of all people would like the new version better.”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong; I loved that girl inside the restaurant, but I’m quite fond of the old version as well.”
“Well, then, maybe tonight, you’ll get a little bit of both.”
He stopped walking for a brief second and looked at me with his sexy crooked smile. “Don’t look at me like that,” I said.
“Why?” he laughed.
“Because I may just have to tear your clothes off right here and do some things that I’m sure would be at the top of the inappropriate list.”
“I don’t know what the hell got into you, but I like it.” He waited for me to get into the car, closing the door once I was in.
He got into the car and started it up. “Hey, Dailan?”
“Yeah?”
“When you introduced me to that girl tonight as your girlfriend, did you mean pretend girlfriend like at your Christmas party or did you mean real girlfriend?”
“Whatever kind of girlfriend you want to be.”
I smiled and pretended to be deep in thought. “Hmm…I think I like real girlfriend better,” I said with a smile.
He smiled back at me. “I was hoping that’s the one you’d pick.”
And just like that…..Dailan O’Maley had gone from being my fella to my boyfriend.
Chapter 29
We arrived at my apartment. I felt like I couldn’t get out of the car quick enough. I took off my seatbelt and had my hand on the car door. I looked at Dailan, who was still sitting there with the car running.
“What a
re you doing?” I asked.
“Would you be really pissed off at me if I just went home? I’m really tired.”
“Are you serious?” I was feeling myself becoming even more sexually frustrated by the second.
“Yeah, I am. I’m sorry, Nicole. I promise we’ll get together tomorrow.”
Tomorrow? What the hell? Tomorrow my body wouldn’t be aching for him uncontrollably. Okay, maybe it would, but I’m sure it wouldn’t be nearly as bad as tonight.
He kissed me goodbye, but I pulled away before it became too intense. I didn’t want to make my situation any worse. “You won’t be mad if I don’t walk you in, will you? I’m just exhausted.” I shook my head and got out of the car.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” he said.
I nodded and shut the car door. I couldn’t believe he was choosing sleep over sex. If he thought there was a new version of me tonight, there was definitely a new version of him as well!
I was halfway to my steps when I heard his car door slam. He came running up behind me. “Ha, I got you,” he laughed as he effortlessly picked me up and flung me over his shoulder.
“Dailan, put me down, you’re going to drop me,” I said as I hung over his shoulder while he carried me up the stairs.
He finally put me down once we reached the top. I dug around in my purse, looking for my keys. Dailan looked up at the unlit porch light and shook his head.
“Be quiet,” I said. I finally found the key and opened the door.
“The look on your face was priceless.” Dailan laughed as he closed the door behind him.
“Yeah, well suddenly I’m not in the mood anymore,” I said.
“Okay, that’s fine. Let’s go watch TV.” He took off his coat and began to walk toward the living room.
I wasn’t able to pretend, even for a second! I quickly removed my coat and pulled him toward me. I grabbed his face and began to kiss him mercilessly. He held up his hands, signaling for me to calm down but I couldn’t. I wanted him so badly. I ran my hands up and down his body, longing for him with each passing second.
