by Amy L. Gale
Beep beep. I gasp and jerk my head back as the noise pulls me back into reality. Dean’s here to pick us up.
Brooke hops out of her room, trying to put her shoe on as she walks.
I laugh. “If you keep that up, we’ll be at the hospital instead of the bar.”
“I always think I have more time than I really do,” Brooke mutters as she grabs her purse and heads outside.
Yeah, I know exactly what she means.
Wildcat’s is hopping tonight. I turn sideways and trudge through the crowd, brushing against the sea of bodies. Dean snags a table by the stage. Cool! An eighties band is playing.
“We need nourishment before we hit the dance floor.” Brooke looks over the menu that we should have memorized for all the times we’ve been here.
“Let’s go old school like we used to and split a bunch of appetizers,” Dean suggests, looking over her shoulder.
“You’ve got a smart man.” I wink.
Brooke gives Dean a quick kiss on the cheek. “I definitely do.”
“Be right back girls.” He heads to the bar as the waitress takes our order and returns with a small tray of shots. “Ready to celebrate?” He passes us each a drink and raises his shot glass. “First, an apple pie shot to commemorate Lexie’s new job and achieving her all American dream.”
We burst out laughing. Is Dean really attempting to tie his choice of drinks to the reason for our celebration? He’s actually doing a pretty good job. How clever. We compose ourselves, hold up our glasses, and down our shots.
“Next is a layered astro-pop shot, to commemorate Brooke and me moving in together and taking our relationship to the next level.”
We both laugh again as we ponder Dean’s analogy, then we down shot number two.
Good thing Dean’s used to our appetites. We devour our food as soon as it hits the table while the lights brighten on the stage. The drum beat vibrates in my chest, followed by the guitar’s catchy melody. Ah, some familiar tunes. Time to let our hair down and celebrate!
I glance around the room as I twirl my body around the dance floor. My muscles freeze. Please, let my eyes be playing tricks on me! I rub them and refocus. Nope, just my luck. Jesse and the blond he cheated on me with are at the table next to ours. Dean waves hello, but Brooke and I don’t even give him a second look. Oh crap! He spots me, staring at my face as he gropes the blond, making out with her.
“He’s the epitome of an asshole. Like I really give a shit what he does.” I roll my eyes and shake my head.
Really? He’s opening his eyes to see if I’m watching him. Jeeze, someone has issues; I know for a fact he’s not fond of PDA but if he wants to put a show on for me, more power to him. I’m just counting down the seconds until noon.
“You ready to get out of here? It’s almost two a.m. and you have a big day tomorrow.” Brooke tugs at my arm, leading me toward the door.
“Yep, I’ll need all the rest I can get.” I stand tall with my head held high and walk toward the door, my heels click against the concrete floor.
Finally, time to hit the sheets and sleep. Morning will be here soon, thank God. I set my alarm for ten a.m. and lay out my red dress and hot new lingerie. Everything has to be perfect. Why can’t I stop giggling? I lay and watch the clock as time passes slowly. Finally, I drift off.
The alarm sounds like an angel’s choir. I leap out of bed and head for the shower. After a few final touches, I grab my keys and run out the door.
∞
Luck is on my side, I’m a half-hour early and Van’s flight is on time. I twirl my fingers around my hair as I stare at the gate. Seconds seem like hours. Finally! The flight attendant grips the intercom and makes her announcement. Flight 947 has arrived! My heart races and my hands shake. Why am I so jittery? Van and I are far from strangers. The first few passengers walk out of the gate. My heart pounds out of my chest and my palms sweat. I wipe them against my dress, take a deep breath, and continue to stare.
Van runs his hand through his hair as he walks out of the gate. He stops for a minute glancing around the terminal, and then spots me. I’m frozen. A smile forms and spreads across my face as our eyes lock. He walks up to me, drops his bag at his feet, and grabs my face with both of his hands. I let out a low moan as he steps forward and slams his lips into mine. I pull him close, gripping the hem of his T-shirt with both my hands. My heart palpates as the familiar tingles surge through my body. I blush when a few people clap.
Van pulls away, picks up his bag and wraps his arm around me. “You’re certainly a sight for sore eyes. I can barely control myself.”
“Good thing we won’t have to control ourselves for much longer.” I place my head on his shoulder and slide my arm around his waist, trying to get as close to him as possible as we walk out of the airport.
“I know this isn’t nearly as luxurious as a limo, but your chariot awaits.” I point at my powder blue used Chevy and chuckle.
“The heartbeat of America.” Van slides into the passenger side while I start the car. He touches my keychain, noticing the addition. “I hope you need this one a lot.” He glides his hand across the keys to his house key.
“One of my favorite places to be.” I brush my fingertips along Van’s thigh. God, it’s great to touch his body.
Apparently it’s possible to make the short ride from the airport even shorter. I step on the gas and breathe deeply, trying to slow my heart rate. Van rests his head back against the headrest and exhales deeply. He turns his head toward me, his eyes burning through my flesh. I gaze into the emerald hue that can bring me to my knees, and then my eyes descend to the dark gray shirt clinging to every muscle in his torso. A bead of sweat forms on my forehead. Is it hot in here?
He runs his hands down against his jeans. Oh, that lucky fabric! I’m in severe withdrawal. The heat radiating off my body can rival a thousand suns. Is it wrong to pull over and have my way with him?
At last, we’re here. The driveway resembles the Garden of Eden. I slam on the brakes and jerk the shifter into park. “We’re here. You ready to come inside?”
“I’m more than ready.” Van clutches his bag and high-tails it to my front door.
Damn it! I fumble with the keys. My hands shake uncontrollably. I take a deep breath and steady them, finally unlocking the door. I take Van’s hand and guide him past the kitchen and living room and directly into my bedroom.
“Make yourself at home.” I close the door behind us.
“Oh, I plan to.” He drops his bag to the floor and places his hands on my waist, pulling himself against me.
My breathing is erratic. He presses harder, growing as we kiss. Can that thick denim fabric keep him from bursting through it? He slides his arms up to my neck, tugging at my zipper. He pulls down the thin metal tab and lets the dress fall to the floor, revealing my new undergarments.
“Sorry if I stare, but I want to burn this image into my mind.” He takes a step back.
“You never have to apologize for staring at what’s yours.”
I pull my bra straps down so they’re hanging over my arms then unhook my bra, letting it fall to the floor. His lips part and he continues to stare. I kick off my heels and walk toward him. Goosebumps erupt over every inch of my body. My heart pounds and my skin becomes ultra-sensitive. I run my fingers along the hem of his shirt and yank it over his head. God, his body is perfect. I gently glide my fingers down his chest and abs, following all the peaks and valleys, stopping at the waist of his jeans. He reaches up and caresses my breasts, rubbing and fondling them in exceptional ways. I tug at the button of his jeans, finally releasing him from the thick denim fabric and slide my hand over the front, rubbing and grabbing every inch of him. How can someone be so impressive?
I walk backwards, urging Van toward me, until the edge of the mattress meets my legs. He gently eases me onto the bed, removing my underwear and garter belt, and kicking off his jeans in one smooth motion. His talents are endless.
My body is hot. I moan
as he presses against me, causing me to move my hips back and forth to allow him to enter me. I gasp and groan in ecstasy as he fills me, igniting sparks through my body. We move at a slow, steady pace, and gradually increase. Wow, my headboard is really banging against the wall. What a glorious sound!
I groan, yelling out Van’s name as I climax. I exhale, catching my breath and roll on top of him. He deserves this same pleasure.
Our animal instincts take over, leading us to explore different positions and find new ways to pleasure each other. I find my release once more before he finds his. We’re both dripping with sweat as we lay on the bed, catching our breath.
“You never cease to amaze me, and you’re much wilder than I give you credit for.” He runs his hand through his sweaty hair, slicking it back.
I bite my lip and wink. “I can be as wild as you want me to be.”
“If all of our reunions are this great, maybe the next few weeks won’t be so bad.” He rolls me over on top of him, gently kissing my lips.
I raise my eyebrows “Next one might be better.”
“I don’t know if that’s even possible.” He grazes his fingers along my back.
We hold each other for a while, making small talk about the tour and the details of my new job. I sigh, two more weeks until I see Van again. It sucks that he has shows the next few weekends.
“Next time we see each other we’ll be at the halfway point, only three more weeks until my tour ends.” He rubs his nose along my neck, and then gently nibbles my ear.
A plethora of tingles engulf my body. “Hopefully I’m busy at work these next two weeks so my mind can be occupied with something other than missing you.”
“It’s not possible to get you off my mind.” He runs his tongue along my lips.
Time for round two. Umm, it’s probably better just to stay in bed.
We certainly worked up an appetite. Van throws on jeans and greets the pizza delivery man at the door.
“Next time, I’ll make sure there’s food in the house.” I slide up on the bed.
Van places the pizza box between us and hands me a beer. “I’d rather order in; why spend all that time cooking when we could be here instead?” He twists off the cap and takes a slug.
“You’ve got a point there.” I raise my eyebrows and pull a slice from the box.
He sets down his beer and rubs his hand on my thigh. “So, when do you plan on using your new key?”
There goes my appetite. My mouth becomes dry and my stomach flutters. Ugh, please don’t let this turn into an in-depth discussion. “After the tour ends. It’s easier for you to come here than it is for both of us to go to your house.” I slug my beer.
“Yeah, that makes sense.” He bites his pizza. “My tour ends on October 12th so I’ll make sure you have a plane ticket to Kansas.”
“Make sure there’s plenty of food in your house because I’m not leaving those satin sheets.” I reach over, kissing Van’s neck, then ear, gently rubbing my tongue across his lobe.
“The fridge will be stocked.” He places the pizza box onto the floor, leans over, and again gives me the pleasure only he can provide.
∞
I open my eyes and glance at the clock. Oh my God, its noon. Wow, I must have been exhausted from the night’s festivities. Van’s phone rings and buzzes, sliding across the night stand. He answers.
“It’s Jenna for you.” He stretches and rubs his eyes.
I sit up and hold it to my ear. “Hello?”
“Hey stranger, I want to talk to you really quick. I’m sure you’re preoccupied.”
“Actually, I am.” I run my hand up and down Van’s arm.
“I’m sure. Anyway, I want to plan a welcome home party for the guys when their tour ends. Are you coming to Kansas? Just say yes or no.”
“Yes.”
“Great. I’ll fill you in on the details later.”
“I’ll talk to you soon Jenna.” I hand the phone back to Van. So much for spending my next trip to Kansas in Van’s bed.
He brushes his hand against my cheek. “I hate to say it, but we better get moving. My flight is at two.”
I sigh and lower my head. “Ok. I guess you’re right.”
Why can’t I erase this frown from my face? I can be depressed after Van leaves. No need to ruin these last few minutes. This will be the longest time we’ve ever been separated. How am I going to do it?
Van lifts my chin. “Don’t look so sad. Next time we see each other, we’ll be halfway through this.” He gently slides his lips across mine. “Please start thinking about what you want to do. October will be here before you know it.”
I nod.
Good ole, déjà vu. We head through the terminal and to the gate. I squeeze Van with all my might, kissing him and running my hands over his perfect body. Does security see me? If they do I may be arrested. I wave and watch him disappear through the gate as the final boarding call is announced.
Tears well up in my eyes, flowing down my cheeks on the short drive home; I can’t be without Van! This is torture. How much more can I endure? What if I give up this dream job and he decides he doesn’t want me? It seems like that wouldn’t happen in a million years, but I don’t have the best of luck with relationships. I wipe my eyes and take a deep breath as I park in the driveway. There’s only one person that will understand. I dial the phone. Please be alone Jenna!
CHAPTER 22—UNCERTAINTY
“Jenna Crane, party planner extraordinaire.”
I sniffle and swallow hard. “You got a minute?”
“What’s wrong? Am I going to have to beat Van senseless when he gets back?”
I sigh and wipe the tears from my face. “I’m just having a hard time being apart from him.”
“I know it sucks, but pretty soon you’ll be together. Maybe we’ll plan something fun for Halloween.”
I clear my throat, trying to hide the fact that I’m starting to cry. “I’m nervous. I just landed this dream job which I’ll have to quit if I move to Kansas. What if he decides he doesn’t want to be with me anymore? Then I’m left with no job, no friends or family around, and nowhere to live.”
“Wow, don’t hold back the theatrics,” she pauses, “I’m only kidding, I understand. I never did the college thing, but I did drop everything to be with Marcus. It happened to be the best decision of my life, but you need to do what’s best for you. Don’t worry about Van breaking up with you. He’s like a lost puppy. It’s actually pretty pathetic. I’ve never seen him like this before.”
A small smile creeps over my face. “Is it wrong that I’m a little happy about that?”
Jenna chuckles. “You’re a smart, independent woman. You can probably land a dream job any place you go. Did you talk about all of this with him?”
“I don’t want to bring it up until I decide what to do. It’s a big decision.” I twirl my fingers around my hair.
“You’ve already got matching tattoos and a house key and I know you can get any other commitments you need from him. He really, truly loves you.”
My smile widens. “Thanks Jenna, I appreciate the pep talk. It’s what I needed to hear. I miss you. I’m sure the party you plan for the guys will be epic.”
“I really miss you too. The party will be way over the top. I’ll fill you in on all the details.”
I hang up the phone and wipe a few stray tears from my eyes. What am I thinking? I didn’t even start working yet and I’m already acting like I’ve landed the best job in the world. What if I hate the job? I need to wait and see how everything plays out before I stress myself. I guess I needed to hear it from someone else.
I take a deep breath and shake my head. Ok, time to focus. I need to clear my head and catch up on some chores. Have I really neglected the laundry for this long? I stare at my overflowing hamper.
∞
Finally, all finished! I push the dresser drawer closed and collapse onto my bed. The soft cotton sheets envelop my body. I press my head onto the p
illow, inhaling deeply. Mmm. The aroma of Van is imbedded in the fibers. I breathe in deeper, trying to capture his essence. These next three weeks without him are going to kill me. What did I do to deserve this torture? My cell phone will be my lifeline, the only connection I’ll have to the one I love. I exhale deeply and close my eyes. He’s the last thing I think about before I go to bed and the first thing on my mind when I wake up. No doubt, Van Sinclair is my one and only soul mate.
The alarm sounds, jolting my body awake. I rub my eyes and launch myself out of bed and into the shower. First impressions can make or break you. The warm water trickles down, soothing my nerves as it consumes my body. I wrap my hair in a towel and proceed to the closet. What should I wear? Uh huh, I pull out my black pencil skirt with a thin belt, a gray blouse, and a black blazer. Perfect! Some chunky silver jewelry and I’m all set. Professional, with an edgy flair.
Ding dong.
Who could that be? My heels click across the tile floor. I pull open the door and find a large bouquet of pink and white roses; the note attached reads:
Have a great first day. Love, Van
A few tears escape my eyes as I inhale the enchanting fragrance of the fresh cut roses. Ah, Van’s a romantic at heart, even if he doesn’t realize it. My fingers dance across the buttons as I send him a quick text.
Thanks for the flowers. So far my day is perfect!
I’m twenty minutes early, so I take a slow walk to Owen Jenkins’s office, trying to soak in the golden rays of sun before I enter the building. My heart beats faster as I wait in the reception area. My palms are actually starting to sweat. I quickly run my hands down my skirt. Owen walks toward me carrying a newspaper.
“Good morning, Alexis. It’s nice to know you’re punctual. Please, come inside and I’ll brief you on our plans for the day.”
I follow Owen into his office and breathe in the aroma of leather and wood. My eyes travel across the impeccably organized space and scan the room for a place to lay my purse. I never want to be too far away from my cell phone. “Is there somewhere special I should leave my personal items?”
