Just One of the Guys 3 My Someday...

by Kristi Pelton

  “Is that really truly what you want?”

  She nodded. “Yes. Now that I found you again, I’d fight for you too. Maybe just not using the same tactics…”

  The fact that I was even considering this bullshit…this possibility… was hard to fathom.

  After she was discharged, I had to sign a paper about declining a wheel chair for Em. But I was taking the liberty of carrying her to the car. And as we walked through the hallways and out the entrance, I couldn’t help but notice the various women pointing and smiling. Emma smiled too, which is all I cared about. Pride swelled inside me as I carried her. I wanted to shout to them but yet scared for her to know…this woman is going to be my wife!

  When we walked in the house, Sam had hung signs that read welcome home and they had fixed a nacho bar for us. Sam was a Mexican food addict. When she tried to hand off a margarita to Em, thankfully with my past football skills, I intercepted it before reception was made. Glaring at Sam, I took a sip and shook my head at Sam and Em. Then of all things, Dr. Long walked around the corner. Both my mouth and Em’s fell open.

  Chapter 23- Emma—Welcome home

  I pinched Sam when I saw Dr. Long and he smiled at me.

  “Hi. Dr. Long.”

  “Good to see you, Emma. Glad you’re feeling better,” he said with a Dos Equis in his hand. “It’s Gabe by the way. Not Dr. Long.”

  “Thank you,” I grinned. “How’d this happen?” I inquired.

  Sam waved her hand. “Well, clearly, after you shouted to the world that I was single, he took pity and asked me to dinner. And how better than to woo him with my fine cooking skills. Though he’s flipping old.”

  Dr. Long smiled. “Old huh?” He shook his head. “I’m 28.”

  “Just eat…then kiss me…so I’ll know.”

  He chuckled out loud and tipped his beer unsure how to take that. “You’ll know what?”

  She shoved a chip with queso in her mouth. “Why you’re single.”

  “What?” he nearly shouted, undeniably confused.

  Sam raised one hand out to the side like things couldn’t be clearer. “It’s easy,” she said downing her margarita. “You’re hot, single and a doctor residing in Orange County. Something is wrong with you! It has to be. Somebody would have scooped you up by now.”

  He nodded, now laughing out loud, completely amused with her hypothesis. Dylan shook his head and Zach and I just watched wondering what could possibly come out of Sam’s mouth next.

  “Just so I’m not confused on your little theory here, you’re assuming I’m single because I kiss badly?” Dr. Long…Gabe asked.

  She nodded with a sly smile.

  He handed Zach his empty Dos Equis bottle, cleared his throat, shoved Sam about a foot against the wall behind her and smashed his mouth to hers right there in front of us. Oddly I didn’t look away, I stared at their lips softly mingling together until Zach nudged me, then I looked away.

  When I heard Gabe ask… “So you think it’s my kiss?” I peeked again at an undoubtedly stunned Sam who was indeed speechless. She only shook her head. This kiss had clearly unmistakably knocked her flip-flops off.

  Gabe took her hand grinning from ear to ear and said, “let’s eat.”

  As they walked past me and Zach, Sam winked at me and whispered a little too loudly, “must be his penis size then.”

  Gabe shook his head, closed his eyes and turned to Dylan. “With all due respect to your sister, where’s the bedroom? I’ve got something to show her.”

  Dylan returned the smile. I think he knew he possibly had just met his sister’s match. He nodded down the hallway. The minute Gabe juked in a different direction, Sam balked.

  “Easy there Trigger. Let’s just get some food in you,” she suggested.

  He shrugged. “Oh I’m good,” he said, still pulling her down the hall.

  “Stop,” she said glancing at all of us, knowing she’d been called on her shit. We all laughed waiting for her response. “Well I better eat because that one margarita is getting to me.”

  Gabe nodded. “Uh-huh,” he said and he followed her lead back to the table of food. This time it was he who winked at us.

  Alone in the kitchen later, I finally asked her, “What happened with Hayden?”

  “Nothing really. We never really committed. Just hung out. I need to tell him now though,” she said rinsing the dishes

  “Tell him what?” I asked intrigued and putting the rinsed dishes in the dishwasher.

  “That I can’t see him anymore.”

  “The kiss was that good, huh?”

  She looked at me, and I saw Gabe step into the kitchen behind her smiling.

  “Emma. It was the best kiss I’ve ever had. I…can’t even put it into words. I felt it in my freaking toes…and some other places too,” she laughed.

  “What other places?” Gabe asked leaning against the doorframe with a body that his scrubs didn’t do justice. He looked way better than a body had a right to.

  Sam threw the dishtowel at me and spun around stomping toward him. “Look Mr…”

  “It’s Dr.,” he interrupted.

  “Dr. Whatever! You white coats are arrogant enough and now that’s just gonna make your head even bigger just like my brother in there and…”

  She shut up the minute he lifted her and plopped her on the granite countertop wedging himself between her legs then kissing her again. I turned off the light and left the kitchen. Wow…someone who could shut Sam up! I giggled.

  Chapter 24—Zach

  The night on the beach was our first walk alone in the sand.

  “Do you remember the night that you found out that I had slept with Estelle?” I chuckled.

  She smiled. “You mean the night that I outran your ass on the beach, don’t you?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, something like that,” I chuckled. “I was crazy in love with you even then. I think I knew that night. Watching Ryan take care of you, then Grant when you needed to breathe!” I squeezed her hand. “I wanted to be your air. Even then Em…I knew what I wanted.”

  She smiled up and leaned into me. “I think I knew too but I was young. I didn’t think so at the time though. I thought we would be forever then.”

  “I have a question for you if you don’t mind.”

  “Sure…but let’s swing, OK?” she asked, navigating us toward the three swings on the beach. She slid into the rubber seat and I gave her a push. I couldn’t have dreamt this better. “What’s your question?”

  “I know it’s been years ago. But do you remember right after you learned of our scoreboard and you IDIOTICALLY decided you were going to sleep with 17 guys so that you could catch me?”

  She laughed out loud. “Yes. I remember. Grant was fuuuurrrrious!”

  “He wasn’t the only one and that’s only because he wanted to bone you,” I teased.

  “Probably so,” she said softly, still smiling.

  Taking hold of the thick, heavy chains, I twisted them until she faced me and I pulled her in for a quick kiss. “So…” I untwisted her and pushed her again. “I was thinking about that number 17…and I was kind of wondering…” God, how do I word this?

  “Have I made it to 17?” she asked, reading my thoughts.

  The wind blew and I closed my eyes literally bracing myself for the number. She didn’t say anything so I answered her. “You know what I’m asking.”

  Her hair blew beautifully behind her as she swung through the air. “Well, I didn’t get too far,” she said softly. “Stop me, please.”

  I was confused by her request unsure if she meant stop her from talking or stop her from swinging. But I slowed the chains. “What’s wrong?”

  Stepping up into the swing, she smiled because she looked down at me by about two inches. I stood close so I could catch her if she lost her balance. I wondered if she knew what waiting did to me inside.

  “Is this a deal breaker?” she finally said.

  “What do you mean?”

  H
er eyes gazed into mine and she seemed worried. “What I am going to tell you…is it a deal breaker? Does it matter who I’ve been with?”

  I closed my eyes for a short second taking in the salty air and trying to let it relax me. Unsure what she was going to say, I knew I had to control my reactions. “The only deal breaker would be if you were with someone now, I suppose. That would crush me.”

  Her hand released one of the chains and cupped my face, which forced me to grab the chain to keep her in place. “Zach. I will be as loyal to you as you are to me. But as far as my past goes, there’s only been one other person besides you.”

  I knew who it was without her saying and I respected that she didn’t say. It was written on his face that night…he knew what it felt like to love and to lose her; I didn’t envy him for having that pain right now. My pain was gone and I had my girl with me. That’s all that mattered.

  When she let go of the second chain and leaned into me, I braced myself and lifted her off the swing. She wrapped her little legs around me and melded her mouth to mine. Ah…her kiss. Magical. The moan that echoed up from her throat made me want to take her on the beach right then and there…as I hardened in my pants. It was clear her thoughts weren’t too far from mine.

  She broke free from the kiss. “Zach you are all I want. I said coming down here…was because of your mom. But deep down, I needed to know. To be honest, I read a text you had sent to Ryan and all it said was ‘how is she’ but it stirred something inside of me. Then I bumped into your mom and…I don’t know. It was like these little signs were screaming at me.”

  I sat on the beach, cupping her butt to keep her in place around me and using one arm to catch myself. “You mean like that’s a sign,” I asked grinding myself up against her.

  She grinned. “Exactly like that, it’s a nonverbal calling,” she giggled.

  “Take me home with you,” I blurted out. “I can fly back but can I ride back with you?”

  She smashed her lips to mine taking possession of my mouth. Her velvety tongue met mine and she moaned—echoing into my mouth. Never…never would I tire of her kiss…her mouth…her anything. Slowing the kiss, she pecked my lips twice then my nose.

  “Really? You’d come home with me?”

  Was she kidding? I’d go absolutely anywhere with her. “You’re right about my family. It would make my mother very happy.”

  “And me,” she said smiling, “but you know what would make me happier?”

  “Tell me.”

  “You doing me right here on the beach, right now,” she whispered into my ear, the heat in her voice sending chills through me.

  God, the things she asked of me sometimes. I would DO her anywhere, but the possibility of someone seeing any piece of her drove me bat shit crazy. As I looked around the beach she was unfastening my pants. There was a devil inside this little angel of mine and I fucking loved it. Thank God for her sundress. Not wanting her to get up since my Johnson was out and fully alert, I grabbed her panties and ripped them off. A throaty groan echoed up from her throat. Her dress lay perfectly over us and she rose up then lowered herself on me…slowly…taking all of me until her hips lay flush to mine. Her head rested on my shoulder. A long, slow breath forced its way out of me as if I was a pressure cooker ready to explode. I hated when I didn’t last…but damn she was sexy as hell and looking out at the ocean, her lazily moving up and down, then the unknown if someone was watching me make her mine.

  “Em…I’m not gonna last,” I murmured and she slowed her vertical movements. Arching her body into me and leaning her head on my shoulder again, she was coming in from a different angle and I knew she was working on herself. I leaned back allowing her to come forward a little more and she groaned. Letting her set her pace and navigate this show, I kept my eyes up and noticed two guys walking toward us. A growl rose in my throat…even though I was pretty sure they were gay. I think she thought my growl was one of pleasure and she started moving just a bit faster.

  Her heavy-lidded eyes found mine, slightly rolled back then she said, “ba-by,” a little too loudly causing the guys to glance this way.

  I whispered in her ear, ‘that’s right baby, let go…but do it quietly if you can.”

  A breathless moan echoed in the wind right before her teeth bit down on my shoulder, and that, of course, was my undoing. As I felt her clench around me, I released inside of her getting a wink and a thumbs up from the two guys holding hands. I couldn’t’ help but smile as her body relaxed draping over mine.

  Chapter 25-Emma—Oregon bound

  Today was going home day, but Zach insisted on resolving this one last issue. We sat together at the table and he held a death grip on my hand. His hand softly bounced and I glanced under the white tablecloth to see his knee keeping the same rhythm. He looked so handsome in his long sleeved polo and khakis and had the attention of most the patrons, even the male ones. He was stunningly handsome. He was mine.

  “Mr. Owens?” A man asked extending his hand to Zach and he stood greeting the man who looked maybe Middle Eastern and very handsome as well.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m Adil Quasim,” the man said sitting and he had a heavy accent.

  “Where’s Sophia?” Zach asked sternly.

  “She is in an inpatient facility for 60 days. Admitted yesterday. Then she will be returning to live with us for a while.”

  Zach nodded.

  “Sophia cares about you very much Mr. Owens. I believe in her fear of being arrested; she told me everything. I can’t say that I’m happy. I believe you are just as much to blame as she is for some of the things that happened.”

  A waiter came up and Mr. Quasim held up his hand before anything was said. “Nothing for me, but I will cover their ticket.” The waiter nodded and left us. “I take it you are Emma,” he asked me and Zach pulled me closer to him.

  “Yes,” Zach answered for me.

  “My apologies on behalf of my family for what happened.”

  “Thank you,” I added quickly and Zach squeezed my hand.

  “I will only say this to you Emma. Sophia has always struggled with our heritage. I am from Beirut and her mother from Dubai. Being Middle Eastern in America is sometimes a struggle and was especially so for my daughter. She did things to fit in not always thinking of the consequences. Somewhere along the way, I think she fell in love with this man and felt somewhat accepted for the first time.”

  “Sir…I never…”

  Mr. Quasim held up his hand again. “Son, I understand your feelings were not reciprocated. Sophia has taken full responsibility for her actions and I will simply say to you, Emma that not a dime of insurance money nor out of pocket money will come from you.”

  “Thank you. Please tell Sophia that I’m sorry too.”

  Zach tugged my hand closer to his chest and a low rumble reverberated through him.

  “You, young girl, have nothing to be sorry for. However you Mr. Owens.”

  I quickly shifted my leg over his hoping to keep him in place. Zach’s eyes shifted up to his.

  “You hurt my daughter and though she says you never promised her anything, please in the future, I caution you to take other’s feelings into consideration.”

  Zach nodded. “You’re right, Sir. I without a doubt should have been more respectful. I was not in a good place myself.”

  Mr. Quasim stood and pulled out a card, Zach met him standing as well. The man attempted to hand the card to me but Zach intercepted. They both stared at each other in a silent standoff and my heart throbbed. I touched Zach’s bicep and he offered me a tight-lipped smile then laid his hand over mine.

  “Mr. Owens,” Mr. Quasim said. “You are antiquated in a noble and protective way that you do not see much in America. I am not here to hurt her, but I respect your protectiveness and only wish the best for Emma. Given that you two are not married, she is responsible for her medical bills and I wanted to make sure she had my information if needed.”

  Zach held up
the card and nodded again. “We’ve got it now and if she’ll have me, we will be married someday.” My wide-eyes darted up to his and his held an unasked question. His Adams apple bobbed out and back in. Holy shit.

  “Well I wish you both the best of luck. I’ll be in touch,” Mr. Quasim said starting to leave.

  “Sir,” Zach said and the older gentleman turned back to us. “No need for you to contact us, we have your information.”

  “Very well. Take care Emma. Be well.”

  And like that he was gone.

  Once in the Rover and on the highway, he glanced at me from the driver’s seat and caught me staring.

  “What?” he asked.

  “Nothing. Just looking at you. Is it ok if a girl wants to stare at her freakishly hot boyfriend?”

  He grinned from ear to ear and shook his head. “You think I’m hot?”

  It made no sense that he was possibly oblivious to this. He captured the attention of every woman within a visual radius. I held up my fingers indicating about an inch. The grin didn’t go away and made me grin.

  I desperately wanted to bring up the marriage comment but decided that would be awkwardly weird and maybe he was just saying that to make Mr. Quasim leave us be. We still had at a minimum a year apart while I finished college and he finished at Stanford. Hopefully job opportunities would play out in our favor.

  “Does she know you’re coming?” I asked.

  “Mom?”

  “Yes,” I said.

  He shook his head. “No. I thought we could surprise her.”

  “YOU should surprise her.”

  “No way. You are with me. You are a part of me. She likes you better than she does me anyway.”

  I playfully punched his arm. “Shut up. She has missed you very much. This will be one of the happiest day of her life, I guaran-damn-tee ya.”

  He lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed my knuckles.

  “Zach…when I was at the hospital, you said seeing me like that was one of the worst days of your life or at least it ranked up there. What have been your worst?”