Cassie snorted. “Yeah, let’s hope that doesn’t happen again.”
“Touché.” I took another bite of my pizza. “I hope we’re both done with getting shot, to be honest.”
“Me too.” We finished our pizza: four slices for me and two for Cassie. “So what did you think?”
“Of the pizza?” I asked.
“Yeah, the combination. I know people sometimes hate pineapple on pizza, but I love it. I also prefer pepperoni because it’s crispier than ham.”
I took a sip of water. “It wasn’t bad. I’d eat it again, but you know what would make it better?”
“What?”
“Jalapenos.”
“And bacon.”
I grabbed my chest. “A girl after my own heart.” Cassie blushed and turned her head away. I grabbed her hand. “Hey, don’t get shy on me now.”
“I’m not,” she whispered but didn’t turn her head back to look at me.
“Actually, let’s talk.”
“About what?”
“Us.”
“Us?” She finally turned her head back.
I smiled slightly, hoping to put her at ease. “I don’t know what the kids are calling it these days, and honestly, I’ve never done this before, but do you wanna be my girl, princess?”
“Your girl?” I nodded. “You mean your girlfriend?”
“Yeah. You wanna be my girlfriend and make all the other girls jealous?”
She laughed and bobbed her head. “Yeah, I do.”
“Good.” I stood and pressed my lips to hers. “Do you want to try taking a shower? I can wash your back.”
Cassie slapped my arm. “You just want to see me naked.”
I grinned. “And?”
“And I think I can shower on my own.”
“Well, if you need me, you know I’m not going anywhere.”
I kissed her again before helping her out of bed and to the shower. Mom had brought her clean clothes and pajamas to wear since she was now roaming the halls.
Cassie left the door unlocked while she showered just in case. The entire time I pictured her naked—of course—but I also thought about the fact that I had my first girlfriend. Maybe it was time for both Cassie and me to be truly happy.
Time would tell.
After ten days in the hospital, I was finally able to go home—well, to Shannon’s home. She only had one spare bedroom and told me she made up the room for me to stay in, saying that Brad would sleep on the couch, but I didn’t want him to sleep on the couch. Now that I was his girlfriend, I wanted to know what it felt like to sleep in his arms and wake up next to him. I was excited, to say the least.
I wasn’t able to see Keith before I left. I wasn’t even sure if he was still in the hospital or if he was in jail. I was told that he would be transferred back to Vegas and charged for the robbery. Once that took place, I would be contacted to be a witness. So far, I was in the clear, and I had to think that was Seth’s doing. Maybe I would be charged eventually, but the important thing was that I was free now—free from Keith, free from the law, and free to do whatever I wanted.
“Something smells so good,” I stated as Brad and I walked into the house.
“I hope you like chicken and dumplings,” Shannon said from the kitchen.
“I’ve never had it.”
“You’re in for a real treat,” Brad advised.
“What is it?”
“It’s like a chicken soup with dough in it,” he answered.
I arched a brow. “With dough in it?”
“It’s boiled,” Shannon confirmed. “The dough I mean. It’s like round biscuits, but I’d say it’s more of a stew than a soup.”
“Well, it smells delicious. I can’t wait to try it.”
“Why don’t you wash that hospital off of you, and then it will be time to eat,” Shannon suggested.
I nodded and made my way down the hall. The last time I showered in that house was before everything went down.
“Just yell if you need me,” Brad stated, handing me a towel.
I grabbed it and asked, “Are you going to tell your mom that we’re dating now?”
“Probably. If that’s okay with you?”
I lowered my voice. “What about your, um … job?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, it’s on pause until I see where this goes.”
“Really?” I beamed.
“We can talk more about it later, but yeah. I called Mark the other day to tell him what was happening.”
I rushed into his arms, overjoyed because a part of me thought I would have to be okay with him fake dating for money. “Thank you.” I groaned as pain radiated through my stomach.
“Easy there,” he said, and I pulled back.
“I just didn’t know how it would work, and I was worried I would have to deal with other women or something.”
“Well, you’re my first girlfriend, and I want to do this right. I figured dating other women, even if it were for my job, wouldn’t be a good thing. Most women don’t understand that it’s just a source of income and no feelings are involved.”
“Yeah, I don’t think I’d like it. My only other boyfriend cheated on me in high school.”
Brad pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around me gently. “Don’t forget that I’m a grown-ass man and not a teenager. I know right from wrong, and we’ve been through too much for me to chance hurting you.”
And then, he kissed me.
Making my way down the hall toward the kitchen, I tried to be as quiet as I could so I wouldn’t wake Brad as he slept on the couch. I couldn’t sleep, but it wasn’t because I was in pain. My brain wouldn’t shut off. I kept thinking about the last time I was in that house and everything that had happened, so I got up to get a drink of water.
“Everything okay, princess?”
I jumped slightly as Brad spoke. “Just getting some water.”
I heard him move, and then he turned on the lamp next to the couch. “Need some help?”
“No, I can do it.” I went into the kitchen and got a bottle of water from the fridge. He followed.
“Feeling okay?”
“Yeah. Thank God for pain meds.”
He grabbed a bottle too. “Try to get some sleep. Rest is best for healing.”
I started to leave the kitchen, but then stopped. “Would you lay with me until I fall asleep?”
He gave me a small smile. “Of course.”
I started for the bedroom, but then stopped and turned back again. “Wait. Is your mom going to be okay with this?”
“What have I always told you?”
I tilted my head because I was confused.
He grinned. “I’m a grown-ass—”
“Man.” I nodded with a smile. “But it’s her roof.”
“True.” He draped his arm around my shoulder and started for the bedroom again. “But this will make her happy. She’s already ecstatic you’re my girlfriend.”
My heart fluttered. I liked hearing him call me his girlfriend, but as we lay in the bed with his arms around me, I realized that I wasn’t just his girlfriend. I was his virgin girlfriend. And not only was I his virgin girlfriend, but he was my previously-an-escort boyfriend. I had no idea what I was doing in the bedroom because I’d never done anything before, and now I was dating someone who probably knew every kama sutra move there was. What if he dumped me because I didn’t know what to do? What if I was so horrible that I repulsed him?
“Brad,” I whispered. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea.”
He rose onto his elbow, but I didn’t turn over. “My mom won’t care.”
“Not about that.”
“Then what about?”
I took a deep breath and then turned onto my back. I could barely make out his face in the darkness, but I knew he was looking down at me. “I was just thinking that …”
“Hey, it’s okay. You can talk to me about anything.”
I took another breath and figured that since we were in the
dark and he couldn’t see my face, I could lay it all out there. “I’m a virgin.”
“Yeah …”
“And, well, you’re not.”
“And you’re worried because you think I care?”
“Or that I’ll suck.”
I heard Brad chuckle. “Sucking is part of it.”
“What—”
“I’m kidding, princess. Don’t worry about it.”
“Why not?”
He cupped my cheek. “Because when the time comes, I’ll teach you everything you need to know.” We were silent for a few moments, and then he asked, “Are you wanting to wait until marriage?”
I thought for a moment. I never imagined I would get married, not because I didn’t want to, but because I never thought I would let anyone in again. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Well, don’t get worked up about it. You’re still recovering from surgery. How about we play it by ear and see what happens. How does that sound?”
“Yeah,” I agreed.
Brad laid back down and wrapped his arms around me again. Finally, I was able to fall asleep.
A few days later, I was sitting on the couch watching a marathon of Chopped on The Food Network when Brad walked in.
“Ready?”
I eyed him curiously. “For what?”
“Fresh air,” he continued as he walked toward the kitchen.
“I sat in the backyard yesterday.”
“I’m taking you somewhere.” He called from the kitchen.
“Where?”
“You’ll need to get dressed to find out.”
I stared at the doorway that led to the kitchen and then turned off the TV. “Can’t I go like this?”
He stuck his head out and looked at what I was wearing, which was a tank top and cotton shorts. It was almost October and still hot as hell during the day. “Yeah, that works.”
“Okay, then I’m ready.” He walked out of the kitchen with a paper bag. “What’s that?”
“Lunch.”
“Lunch?”
“Just come on. We’re going out.”
“With our own lunch?”
He grabbed my hand and turned me to the door. “Yep.”
“Wait, I need shoes,” I protested, and he stopped momentarily for me to slip my flip-flops on that were by the door.
“Ready?”
“Should I pee first?” He seemed to be in a hurry, and I was just messing with him.
“There will be trees you can pee behind.”
“What?” I screeched, and he started to laugh.
“I’m joking. If you need to go, go.”
“I don’t need to go.” I grinned.
He didn’t let go of my hand as he rolled his eyes and led me out of the house.
“Where’d you get that?” I asked, pointing at an old beat-up truck parked in front of the house. When I was in the hospital, he had returned the rental car and had been using his mom’s car.
“Borrowed it from a friend.” He opened the passenger side door.
“Why?”
“Because you’re going to drive today.”
“What?” I halted just before I climbed in.
“Don’t worry. It won’t be on the open road.”
“I can’t drive,” I protested.
“Cass.” He turned to me after placing the bag on the bench seat in the cab. “Yes, you can. We’re going somewhere where you won’t hit anything.”
My palms started to sweat. “I haven’t been behind the wheel since I was in driver’s ed.”
“So, you know how to drive?”
“Yes,” I stated in a hurry, hoping he would let that settle it.
“Then you’re good to go.”
“Please don’t make me do this,” I begged.
He bent slightly so he was looking directly into my eyes. “I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to, but I’m telling you that you can do this. Think of the millions of people who drive every day.”
“And some crash and die.”
“We’re not going to crash. We’re going to be on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. The worst that could happen would be running out of gas, but I filled up the tank, and we’re good to go.”
I stared into his brown eyes, knowing he was right, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t scared.
“You survived a gunshot, princess. Think about that. You can do this.”
I sighed and whispered, “Okay.”
“Good.” He pressed his lips against mine, and I relaxed. His kisses were always my undoing.
Brad drove us about twenty minutes away from the house. I had no idea if it was closer to or farther away from Nashville, but once he turned onto a dirt road, there was nothing for me to crash into except trees in the distance. He pulled off to the side and cut the engine.
“Ready?”
I looked over at him. “Do I just drive straight?”
“Well, there will be a turn at the end. If you go left, it will loop back around. If you go right, it will take you to a small lake.”
My eyes widened. “A lake?”
“Yeah, that’s where we’re having lunch.”
“Oh?” I beamed. “I’ve never been to a lake.”
“Really?”
“My parents took us to places like Disneyland and Universal Studios when we were kids, and we went to the beach too, but we never went camping or anything like that.”
“We went camping for Gabe’s bachelor party. We can go to the same place. It’s fun.”
“I’d like that.” I smiled.
“Good. Now, are you ready to do this?” He motioned to the open road.
“What if I pass out while driving?”
“That won’t happen, but if it does, I’ll grab the wheel and steer us to safety.”
“You’ll sit right next to me?” I asked, looking at the space between us that had the paper bag on it.
“Exactly why I picked this truck to borrow.”
I took a moment to look at the road and then blew out a breath. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Brad got out on the driver’s side, and I slid across the seat until I was behind the wheel. My palms started to sweat again, and my heart was beating so fast that I could hear it in my ears.
He slid into the passenger side. “Do you need me to go over anything with you?”
“No. I just put it in drive and press the gas, right?”
“Yep, but don’t step on it hard. Ease into it.”
“Right.”
He moved to the middle and kissed my cheek. “You got this. I’m right here and can take over at any time.”
I swallowed. “Okay.”
I buckled my seatbelt and started the engine. After a good five minutes of staring at the road ahead of us, and Brad and I not speaking, I finally felt as though I was ready. And I did it. I put the truck in drive and eased onto the gas. I started off slow, going about five miles per hour, and then picked up a little speed.
“See, princess. You got this.”
I did have it.
I had it so much that I drove around and around, going left at the turn several times until I was ready to go right and have lunch.
I was so proud of Cassie.
Conquering a fear—a fear tied to her parents’ deaths—was huge. It also turned me on. It could be the fact that for the past few weeks, my hand had taken care of business. It could also be because sex was on Cassie’s mind since she’d been worried about performing for me. I’d been thinking about it since that night. I knew she needed time to heal, but because it was on her mind, it was on mine too.
I hadn’t been with a virgin in over sixteen years, but I knew that Cassie’s first time couldn’t be with my mom in the other room. I wanted Cassie to be relaxed and for us to take as long as we needed for it to be special.
Cassie parked the truck under a tree at the lake. Because school had started, the small lake was almost deserted. There were a few people in the distance, but no one close to us.
“It’s beautiful,” she gushed as she looked at the water.
“Yeah, I used to come here all the time in high school.” We got out of the truck, and I grabbed the bag and the blanket I had brought.
“You seem to know everyone here. Did you have a lot of friends?”
I nodded. “I did.”
“So the opposite of me …”
We weren’t going to go down that road again. I wanted Cassie to stop thinking about the past because she couldn’t change it. “I guess, but it doesn’t matter. None of them are my friends now. People grow up and move on. People change too. The friends I have now are who matter.”
Cassie helped me lay out the blanket close to the shore. “You mean the guys in Vegas?”
We sat on the blanket. “Yeah. Any of those guys would drop what they were doing if I was in need. They’re good people.”
“I really liked them and their wives too.”
“When we get back, we’ll have dinner or something with them.”
“I’d like that.” Cassie smiled.
I pulled out two sandwiches that I’d made before driving Mom to the diner for her shift. “Which, speaking of, are you ready to go home?”
She bobbed her head. “I am, but I’m not sure what my home will look like when I get there.”
“What do you mean?”
She took a bite of the turkey sandwich I’d handed her. “Keith’s friends were already living there for free. They never cooked, cleaned, or paid any of the bills. I’ll be surprised if the power is still on.”
“I’m sure we can evict them.”
“How do I do that?”
I shrugged. “Not sure, but I can ask Seth.”
“What if they’ve destroyed it?”
“Like burned it down?” I took a bite of my own sandwich.
“Oh God,” she groaned. “I hope not.”
“Yeah, that would suck.”
“I mean, what if they put holes in the walls, broke all the appliances, or yeah, burned the place down?”
“We’ll deal with it. If something is broken, we can fix it.”
“I don’t have money to fix it.”
“I do.” I took a sip of water.
“I can’t take your money.”
“Fine. We’ll make it a loan.” I wasn’t going to argue with her about it. I had plenty of money saved, and if I had to replace an oven or something, I would. We ate some more of our sandwiches and the chips I brought. “Have you considered selling it?”
Gin & Jewels Page 14
