Glenda came back with her coffee. She accepted it with a grateful "thank you", glad that she had something to concentrate on besides trying not to think about the way Daylin was concentrating on her.
"Have you decided what you'd like to eat sweetie?"
"A cheeseburger and onion rings please."
"It'll be right up. If you need anything else let me know."
"Hey," Daylin said as Glenda started to walk away.
"Yes Daylin?" Glenda sighed.
"What about me?"
“Yes Daylin?”
"Can I have more coffee please? And a slice of blueberry pie with ice cream. Put it all on one check. I'm paying."
"Yes Daylin," Glenda said.
Jess started to protest, but Daylin's attention was elsewhere suddenly. A good looking guy had walked in the door, practically holding up the pretty woman he was with who was wearing what Jess considered to be entirely too much makeup.
"Cam, over here," Daylin called out.
The guy looked their way. Jess almost groaned. Just what she needed she thought. More company when she hadn’t wanted any in the first place.
Daylin got up and slid into her side of the booth, giving her an amused look when she plastered herself against the wall.
"Hey Daylin," the guy said, helping the girl into the booth ahead of him. "Who's your friend?"
"Cameron, Lucy, this is my new friend Jess. Jess, this is my cousin Cameron and his girlfriend Lucy."
"Fiancé." Lucy gave Daylin a dirty look.
"Oh yeah," Daylin said. "I forgot he shelled out the big money for that ring." He winked at Cameron. Jess wondered why, but Cameron just looked away.
"Baby I'm starving," Lucy said. "Where's the damn waitress?"
Cameron looked over and caught Glenda's eye. She held up a finger. Lucy said "I have to go to the bathroom Cam. When she finally gets her sorry ass over here will you order me a patty melt and fries?"
"Of course." Cameron stood and held out a hand to Lucy. She was a little unsteady on her feet. Cameron held on to her for a minute.
"I'll be right back," Lucy said.
It was sad to Jess to see someone she could tell was normally as lithe as a dancer practically stumble to the restroom when it was only twenty feet away. But alcohol could tumble the best of them, she mused.
Glenda came back and refilled Daylin's coffee cup, asking what she could get Cameron and Lucy to drink and if Lucy was okay. Cameron nodded; looking embarrassed, and ordered coffee and the food that Lucy had requested, ordering a grilled cheese and fries for himself.
"Why do you still order off the kid's menu?" Daylin teased.
"I don't feel the need to prove my manhood with a fancy sports car or by ordering a T-bone every time Daylin."
Jess hid a smile.
Daylin scowled, and then his face softened into a concerned look. "I thought you said she was going to slow down on her drinking Cam."
"She has been until tonight. She had another fight with her mom."
"There's always going to be some excuse Cameron. A fight with her mom, she hates her job, she has PMS. When's it going to end?"
"She tries, she really does."
"No she doesn't. Every time you go out of town, she's out with her friends, flashing her tits at the bar. One of two things is going to happen. She's going to tease the wrong guy and end up getting raped and you'll end up in jail for kicking the shit out of some sorry scumbag. Or she's going to say yes and you're going to end up playing daddy to a kid that might not be yours. And she'll still be smoking and drinking while she's pregnant."
"It's not like that, and you know it." Cameron sounded very frustrated. Jess figured that this was a discussion they'd had before.
"It is Cam. And I thought you told her you weren't going to marry her unless she quit drinking. I told you not to give her that ring."
"You don't get it. I love her. I can't lose her."
"I do get it Cam. I've watched you moon over her since high school. She's still the same party girl now that she was when we graduated. She complains that all her friends are married and they haven't been with their men even half as long as she's been with you. But she's not doing anything to change."
"Daylin stop. I know what I'm doing. And you're the last person to give relationship advice."
Daylin scowled again and started to say something, but then Glenda returned with their food, telling Cameron that his and Lucy's food would only be another few minutes.
It had been over five minutes and even Jess, who felt very uncomfortable to be sitting with strangers in the midst of a family feud, was starting to get worried about Lucy.
Cameron took a sip of his coffee, looked at his watch and gave Jess an apologetic look. "Would you mind checking on Lucy please?"
"Sure."
Daylin had started to get up to let her by when Lucy appeared from the direction of the bathroom. She still looked a little unsteady. Cameron jumped up, helping her back into the booth.
"Is our food done? This place is always so slow."
"It'll be another few minutes baby."
Cameron gave Lucy such a look of adoration that Jess turned away, and ended up looking straight into Daylin's eyes. Which was a mistake in her mind because he was doing it again. He was looking at her like he knew what she needed, and what he thought she needed was obviously him.
Why hadn't she kept driving she wondered again? She could be sleeping right now in some anonymous motel room instead of here with strangers feeling like she was eavesdropping on a private discussion.
"So Jess," Cameron said. "Are you new in town or just passing through?"
"Um.” Jess wasn’t quite sure what to say. This was the town her father had grown up in, so it was her destination at least for the moment, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to admit to Daylin that she was going to be staying in town. Though Welton seemed like such a small town that she figured she might as well tell them the truth. “I’m going to be staying in town for a while at least. It might only be a day or two though.”
Daylin gave her a disappointed look. "All the good ones are just passing through. Then again, there's not much to attract someone to this shithole."
"Asshole," Lucy muttered.
"Not an insult to you Lucy," Daylin said.
"Right," she muttered.
Daylin rolled his eyes. "Why does she still not like me after all this time Cam?"
"I don't know Daylin. There couldn't possibly be any reason for a woman in this town not to like you right? I mean like the one woman that you're not related to that you haven't been to bed with," Cameron said.
Something passed then between Daylin and Lucy, so brief that Jess barely caught it and was glad that Cameron didn't.
Daylin said. "Do you really need to discuss my past in front of Jess?"
Cameron snorted. "Your past? Last week you were with what's her name? Luce what is her name? The chick with the big nose that you used to work with."
"Dolla." Lucy glanced impatiently towards the kitchen where Glenda was picking up two plates of food.
"Yeah Dolla. The week before it was Jane, and we certainly can't forget the fiasco from last summer when you almost got arrested now can we?"
Once Glenda had dropped off their food and left again, Daylin muttered "We didn't almost get arrested. That old bat just threatened to call the cops. And I asked you to shut the hell up about this stuff in front of Jess. How can I impress a girl when you're dragging my rep through the dirt?"
"Your reputation is very well earned Daylin." Lucy dipped a French fry in the huge pool of ketchup she'd dumped on her plate.
"And yours isn't?" Daylin shot back.
Cameron gave him a look that could kill. "There's no need to bring up shit that happened like eight years ago."
"There's no need to bring up shit that happened last summer either."
Cameron grinned. "I'm sure Jess would like to hear the story Daylin. She looks like she could use a good laugh. Don't you want
to hear about what Daylin got caught doing with our high school English teacher in the park Jess?"
Now it was Daylin that gave Cameron a look that could kill.
Cameron went on “She was pretty fine in high school. But she's had a couple of kids since then, really put on some weight. What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that my cousin has a really big mouth that he should know when to keep closed." Daylin gave him a tight smile.
Cameron laughed. "I learned from the best man. You remember when we were sixteen and my little sister found those rubbers that I didn't know you'd shoved into my backpack?"
Daylin sighed. "Yes Cameron. You remember when we were twelve and you almost got caught with my brother's nudie mag until you decided it was a good idea to shove it at me when my mom happened to open the door?"
Cameron snorted. "I remember, but it wasn't Russ's magazine. It was mine. I traded Jason Anderson for it at school. Three weeks allowance, two packs of baseball cards and a chewed piece of Mary Latrell's gum."
"Cameron." Lucy reached to snag a fry off of his plate. "That's disgusting."
Cameron said "Who ever said twelve year old boys weren't disgusting was obviously lying."
Daylin chuckled, turning to Jess, who was trying not to listen. "So has my wonderful cousin scared you away from me?"
She looked up at him, thinking that she'd been scared away as soon as he started picturing her naked. And again when he'd first sat down across from her and his eyes kept drifting back to her chest, and again because he was a red blooded American male. In her life males tended to end up hurting her one way or another. But she said nothing of what she was thinking, and instead let out a big yawn.
"I think you'd better get your girl to bed Daylin," Cameron said.
"I'm not his girl," Jess said.
"You could be." Daylin gave her a wide grin.
She sighed. "I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"Daylin I don't think the girl's interested in being your flavor of the week," Lucy said.
"Did anyone ever tell you that your fiancé’s a bitch Cameron?" Daylin said.
"All the time," Cameron said.
"Hey," Lucy said. "The fiancé is sitting right here and has ears."
"Sorry babe. But you know it's true."
"Yeah, okay, but just because I'm a bitch doesn't mean that Daylin's not a player."
"I've mended my ways Lucy." Daylin gave Jess an innocent look.
"What, in the like two seconds since you met Jess?" Lucy said.
Daylin looked at his watch. "It's been more like an hour Luce. But your intoxicated brain probably can't quite grasp the concept of time."
Lucy gave Daylin a look and started to reach across the table.
Cameron put a hand in her way. "Enough. I love you both and need both of you to live through the night. Jess, where are you staying?"
"I don't know. Is there a motel close by?" She yawned again.
"Which do you prefer?" Lucy said. "Mice or cockroaches?"
"You're kidding right?" Jess said.
"I'm afraid not."
"Where's the nearest decent motel?" Jess said. It was almost a plea. She didn't know how much further she could drive safely.
"It's about thirty miles to the nearest decent place to stay on the interstate."
"Shit," Jess said.
"You can stay at my place," Daylin said. Lucy gave him a dirty look. “It'll save you $50 or so, and I won't have to worry about you falling asleep behind the wheel and killing yourself. You look really beat Jess."
She felt really beat. She hadn't slept well the night before.
Still, she couldn't stand the thought of staying at Daylin's house.
"I'll behave, I promise," he said. "I'll sleep on the couch. Scout's honor."
Cameron chuckled. "You quit scouts when you were like nine man."
Jess could imagine Daylin pretend sleepwalking naked into his bedroom claiming that he forgot she was there. "Is there a convenience store nearby?" Though she dreaded the idea of having to stay at a motel out of town when Welton was where her destination anyway.
"C'mon Jess. I'm trying to be a gentleman. Give a guy a break."
Glenda returned then, saving her from having to answer for a minute. "Can I get you guys anything else?"
"Just the check," Cameron said. "Give ours to Daylin too."
"Hey," Daylin said. "I'm doing lunch tomorrow."
"We're trying to save money for our trip."
Daylin sighed. "Fine, bring me the check."
Glenda laughed. "You owe me a big tip too, for putting up with you all night."
"Yes Glenda," Daylin said.
Glenda walked away. Daylin turned back to Jess. "So, what do you say Jess? My place is five minutes away. It's clean and I've got a nice comfortable bed."
"Since when is your place clean Daylin?" Lucy said.
"I guess since you called yours clean Luce. Though I'd hardly call empty pizza boxes, overflowing ashtrays and panties under the kitchen table clean."
Cameron blushed. "Shut up Daylin."
"I didn't put them there. Though I think panties under the kitchen table are a notch up from walking in on you trying on Lucy's bra."
Now he was really bright red. "You weren’t supposed to mention that again Daylin."
Daylin gave him a sly smile. "And you said you'd shut the hell up about Mrs. Nelson. So I think we're even."
"Yeah, okay," Cameron said.
Glenda returned with the check. Daylin handed her a credit card. "I'll meet you outside," he said. "Don't you dare leave Jess."
She turned away from him, following Cameron and Lucy to the door.
Cameron held the door for her and then put an arm around Lucy's waist, pulling her with him to a blue sedan.
She stood watching them for a minute, undecided. Finally she pulled out a cigarette, and lit it leaning against her car, feeling the weariness sweep over her again.
Her eyes closed at the sudden sound of Lucy's loud retching. She almost jumped when Daylin's voice suddenly appeared right behind her. "Hey," he said.
"Hey." She dropped her cigarette and put it out beneath her foot.
"Sorry you had to hear that. I hate to be an asshole to Lucy, but Cameron is so blinded by his infatuation with her that he can't see that she needs help."
Feeling uncomfortable, Jess nodded. She could see that Daylin cared about Lucy almost as much as he cared about Cameron. She wondered what had gone on between the two of them before she and Cameron were an item.
"I wouldn't have taken you for a smoker. You smell so fresh and clean."
"Um, thanks I guess." She hid a smile. "For telling me that I don't stink."
"I didn't mean it like that Jess. Will you please come to my house? I swear I won't do anything you don't want me to." He grinned.
Ugh, she thought. "I don't think so Daylin."
"I'm sorry Jess. My mouth gets in the way a lot. I promise that I will be a perfect gentleman. I'll even cook you breakfast, or lunch whatever. You can sleep as long as you want."
"Um, I. . ." Then she yawned again.
"Really Jess. You're tired. Please, for safety's sake come with me."
She knew he was right, but she really hated to admit it. "Okay."
He grinned like he'd won the lottery, and she almost took it back. "I'll be right back. You wait right here."
She shook her head at herself, watching him join Cameron and Lucy. He had an incredible butt. She didn't feel anything but a little stab of guilt when she looked at it.
He had what seemed like a heated conversation with Cameron because once they were done, Cameron squealed out of the parking lot. She caught a glimpse of Lucy with her head against the passenger side window, eyes closed.
She lit another cigarette as Daylin came her way. "It's only a few blocks away. We'll have you there and tucked into my bed in no time."
"Yeah.” Never mind that he obviously wanted to be tucked into his bed with
her.
He walked towards the sports car that she'd seen when she'd first pulled in, turning around when he was halfway there and grinning at her. Could he tell that she was looking at his butt again she wondered? Or was he thinking about how he was going to talk her into sleeping with him?
She questioned her actions again as she unlocked the car and got behind the wheel. What the hell was she getting herself into she wondered? She knew what he wanted her to get into. But what was she thinking following a stranger, no matter how attractive, back to his house?
She took a deep drag off of her cigarette as she started the car. She heard the engine of Daylin's car start. Very manly she thought. She rolled her eyes and followed him out of the parking lot.
Chapter 2
They pulled up to a small, white, one story house a few minutes later. The front yard was small and neat. She parked behind him in the driveway and took her time getting out of the car.
He was already standing by her car. She grudgingly accepted his hand to help her out, but pulled away as soon as she was on her feet.
He grinned at her like he had felt what she had when their hands had touched so briefly.
"Let me get the door, then I'll come back for your bag," he said.
She went around to the trunk and pulled out her duffel bag, wondering if she could get away with taking her dad's old leather bomber jacket in with her and not looking too weird in front of Daylin. Sometimes when she couldn't sleep, she'd put her head on her dad's old jacket and be able to fall asleep right away. It had long since stopped smelling like him, but it still comforted her.
She put her hand on the old jacket briefly and decided to leave it there. She shouldn't have much trouble falling asleep with the way she felt right now. She pulled out her bag and shut the trunk, almost jumping when she realized Daylin was standing next to her again.
She looked away from the questioning look in his eyes, and practically shoved the bag at him, pushing the button to lock the car.
He was silent as she followed him into the house. The living room was cramped but neat, filled with electronic equipment. There was a huge TV, a stereo system, a desktop computer on a desk in the corner, and a closed laptop on the coffee table.
He opened the door to a small bedroom. She caught a glimpse of him tossing clothes into a hamper and smiled. While he put her bag away and got his pajamas and stuff to make up his bed on the couch, she glanced at the pictures on the walls.
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