by Blood, Joy
“Now what was it you were trying to steal?”
Embarrassment floods my face I look at the floor and rub my foot in circles on the mat. “Tampons,” I say so very faintly but she must hear me because she only nods and we take off to her house. When we get there I go up to Cristal's room and let her in on the events of the night. Later Brinn comes up and pulls me out of the room handing me a box of tampons. “You ever need anything, anything at all sweet girl you tell me.”
“Okay, Mrs. Trill,” I say taking the box from her.
“No sweetheart you call me mom from now on if that is alright with you that is.”
“It is, thank you… Mom.”
It seems like that was forever ago, I think while fingering my puzzle piece necklace Brinn had made for the three of us for graduation. They all fit together like those friendship heart things that say ‘best friends’ ours don't say anything but the fitting together says it all. We are all very different but we all fit together perfectly. I really don't know where we all would be today without that woman she truly is one of a kind and the best mother I never asked for.
Shana gets home around supper time so we order take out, seems to be a trend. Shana is the cook of the house so when it is Cristal's turn or mine we both turn to a take out menu and a phone. Tonight it is BBQ and yes cornbread muffins. Probably the best thing ever invented, well that paired with honey butter.
“Did you have fun?” I ask Shana when we get sat down with our paper plates filled with saucy yumminess.
“We had so much fun, Linnie. We went to the coast, Pike place, the museum, the needle, oh and this really awesome donut place.” Dear dad pulled out all the stops.
“You see anyone over there with the last name Grey?” had to ask.
“Meridith or Christian?”
“Ha! Either one would be cool.” We just laugh.
“What did I miss?” Cristal asks coming to sit down nibbling on a rib bone. Her face is slightly covered in sauce. Shana and I just laugh harder.
“What the hell is so funny?” she asks dropping her bone onto the plate.
“You got a little something on you face hun.” I get out between laughing fits. She gets up and runs to the bathroom, prim little shit.
“How the hell did I get it on my forehead?” She shouts from the bathroom, I hear the water running and laugh even harder. God, I love these girls.
“Can you please tell me where we are going I hate surprises.” I'm whining I know but I really don't care, I'm really not a surprise kind of person.
“No screamer, you keep that blindfold on, spoil the surprise and you won't get any of my cock tonight,” Lee says with a chuckle.
“Oh, you think I want your cock? Maybe I don't need your cock anymore.” This makes him laugh even harder. Then I feel his hand on my thigh.
“Oh you want it babe, and yes you do need it.” He drifts his hand up further. I'm wearing a pair of jean shorts and a Kelly green tank top. Oh and a damn black bandanna for a blindfold. Knowing he is going to keep going and feel that I do indeed want his cock I slam my legs together.
“No, you don't get to do that if I have to wear this.” I gesture to the offending piece of material tied around my face. “You will just have to suffer through, just like I do.” He takes his hand away and I can feel the vehicle slowing down.
“Doesn't matter we’re here.” Oh, thank god. I go to reach for my blindfold but he stops me.
“Oh no, you don't, we aren't completely there yet.” I can hear people chattering and smell wonderful food of all kinds. I think I also smell some kettle corn too. My mouth starts to water.
“Oh please, I really can’t take it any longer.” I hear him get out of the jeep and then he is opening my door lifting me out to stand.
“Ready?” He asks. Oh, he is so frustrating.
“Yes Please can you take this damn thing off now?”
“You know I'm really liking this whole begging thing, it’s really turning me on babe.” Ass, that’s it, I reach up and pull down the blindfold, then shield my eyes from the bright sun. It’s a hot day, I didn't notice much when we were driving but now that we aren't moving it really is very warm.
“Where are we?” I ask looking around. There are small booths set up and food trucks everywhere, all in a long line that loops around a once cleared out piece of land.
“It's a festival of sorts, people selling their crafts, antiques, and there are even food trucks. You like funnel cake?”
“Do I like funnel cake? What kind of a question is that? Of course, I fucking do. Who doesn't? But I do smell kettle corn right? That is definitely a first stop.” He laughs then points over to the entrance which isn't too far from where we are parked. There is a big white and red trailer that says Kettle Corn on it. Yep, that is where we are headed.
An hour later we haven't even gotten through the whole place, there is just too much to look at. People and their crafts just amaze me sometimes. Reminds me of going to them with my mom. We come up to an exhibit that has all kinds of things made out of wheat. Everything from Christmas ornaments to little place mats and a few wreaths made out of just the heads of the wheat, with a big bow in front. Sort of like a Christmas wreath would be.
“My mom made these before she died,” I tell Lee pointing to the wreaths. “She did all kinds of them not just Christmas ones. I didn't get to keep any, when she died Dad burnt all of her crafts, said we didn't need the shit laying around anymore.” I brush my hand across the soft tops of the wheat. If you go up the stem it will be smooth if you go down you will get snagged. I can hear my mother say.
“You want to go to the next one?” Lee asks sensing my sadness. I nod, I almost feel bad for the guy. He has in his hands all of the bags that are filled with all of the stuff I have bought. Oh yes, and my half ate bag of kettle corn. We move on and find a jewelry exhibit, looking around I see that it is all very unique.
“Hey, babe give me your wrist,” Lee says. Turning around I hold out my hand. He has a small bracelet in his hands, having abandoned the bags on the ground next to him. After he clasps it around my wrist I hold it up and look at it. It’s a small silver chain looped around with an anchor holding it together.
“It’s cute, thank you. Reminds me of your boat.”
“Yeah kinda what I was going for, it makes me think of our first date for some reason.” With a smile, he takes my hand and kisses the inside of my wrist. “Think of me when you look at it.”
“I will,” I say then go up on my tiptoes and give him a kiss. “Thank you,” I tell him again.
“I think I got way to much sun today.” I groan. I didn't even think of bringing any sunscreen with today and I got burnt to a crisp.
“You are looking a little red babe, here let's take off your shirt, you lay down and I will be right back okay?” I don't really even answer I just give a grunt and with a chuckle, he is out the door.
We are back at his place and I am now laying face down, sans shirt and bra, in his soft bed. My back feels like it is on fire, and yes I'm a little bit of a baby because it really might not be all that bad. Doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt any less.
Lee must be gone for quite a while because I doze off and when I wake I feel something cool touch my back which of course jolts me awake.
“Fuck that’s cold!” I shout out.
“Shit sorry I didn't think you were sleeping I thought I heard you say something when I came in. I have some after sun care stuff, hold still and I will put it on. You’ll feel better.” He starts applying after I tell him to get on with it. It really does feel good. After he has my back done he covers it with something soft and has me to roll over so he can get my front. He starts applying the white cream to my chest it feels so good I let out a moan.
“Feel good?” I just smile at him, then he bends down and takes one of my nipples in his mouth, dirty bastard. This makes me moan a little but more. He takes his hands away for a moment and wipes them off on a towel he has next to the bed. “Th
ere you’re all doctored up, now a little something for the pain.” He tells me then starts to unbutton my shorts. Oh, I like Dr. Lee. I lift my hips just enough for him to get my shorts and panties off in one pull. My legs aren't as burnt as my back and shoulders are so when he touches them it doesn't hurt.
He goes down toward the bottom of the bed and gets on his knees with is hands on my ankles and slowly starts making his way up to the juncture of my thighs. When he gets there he starts slow and before too long I'm falling over the edge into bliss. Yes indeed, best medicine ever.
“Drop it !” Burning my tongue on the hot spinach and artichoke dip I drop the spoon I was using to sample the goods onto the floor.
“Damn Shane you scared the hell out of me!” I tell her bending down to grab my discarded fork then throwing it into the sink.
“I told you to stay away from it, you little shit, it’s too hot.” Well, ain't that the truth.
We are having a party tonight and Shana made her awesome dip along with a bunch of other things, potato salad, some kind of jello thing and the boys are coming over to grill meat or something. And by boys, I mean Lee, Rick, and Dez. Cristal has no idea Dez is going to be here but I ran into him the other day and asked him to come. It’s not a huge party just the six of us. Shana’s idea, I guess it’s her way of making me introduce Lee to her since Cristal has already met him.
“You ready for this? Any second thoughts?” Arranging the food once again on the counter she looks over at me with that I-dear-you-to-back-out look.
“Nope I'm ready, I can’t wait for you to meet him. And I also kind of invited someone else too.” I tell her with a smirk.
“Oh no, what did you do Linnie? I swear if you invited Alex I will kick your ass.” Oh, Alex, forgot about that little fiasco, should have asked him to come over, that would have been the cherry on top for sure.
Alex, age 24, ridiculously gorgeous and completely anti-commitment. While he and Shana were together, all of three months, he managed to stay faithful to her. Still wasn't good enough for Shana though I guess because she dumped him and said nothing else of it afterward no matter how many times I tried to pry it out of her. This was back home and I heard it through the grapevine he was living here now, I do believe miss diva chef also heard the rumor.
“Heard he was in town,is that true?” Goading her really isn't the best thing to do but I'm bored and well she did cause me to burn my tongue.
“Don't even start Linnie, I'm not in the mood to go down that road with you tonight. Just leave it be, we broke up, end of story. Leave. It.” She punctuates the ‘t’ a little too hard and a drop of spit lands on my nose, classy.
“Gross Shane say it don't spray it.” I laugh whipping my nose of her unwanted saliva. She just laughs and goes to pick up her phone that is now ringing out the Jaws music alerting us that it is her mother calling.
“Hello, mother.” She says answering her phone in a sing-song voice. I can slightly hear her mom on the other side of the phone but I do make out the words ‘disaster’ and ‘help’ oh great what tragedy has Rita cooked up this time.
“Mom you need to slow down” pause “well what am I supposed to do about it?” pause with more screeching on the other end “I have guests coming over tonight I can’t just” her mom interrupts with more screeching and for what seems like forever rattles on until Shana, like always, concedes. “I will be over there as soon as I can okay?” without even saying goodbye the line is dead and Shana has that damned defeated look on her face that only her mother can give to her.
“What does she want you to do now?” she just stands there for a minute unmoving then looks over at me. Putting on the damn it’s-all-good smile on her face.
“Some tragic thing with the damn wedding and something about Kyle, I don't know. She is freaking out I guess and wants me there for god knows what. So I guess the entertaining falls on you.”
“It’s all good do what you gotta do.” I lie to her. Her mom always has done this shit to her over and over again.
“Sorry we will have to do it again, I can’t wait to meet this Lee guy.” She tells me while grabbing her purse and car keys. “See you later Linnie.” I slightly catch the hint of tears in her eyes but don't say anything. She deals with things in her own way and when she gets home tonight she will vent it all out then it will be over. That’s just how she works.
“Love you,” I call out to the now shut door. Well, now I guess I can sample that dip without interruption this time.
Three hours later everyone is here, well everyone except Lee that is. I'm starting to get worried he is going to stand me up again. He is now almost three hours late and I haven't gotten a call or a text telling me he wasn't coming or would be late. I really don't think he would stand me up like this again. At least I hope not.
“I can’t freaking believe you invited him, Linnie,” Cristal says breaking me from my thoughts of Lee. When Dez came through the door he immediately locked eyes with Cristal and her to him. She quickly disappeared after that busying herself in the kitchen with the food while the guys went outside to set up the barbecue.
“Oh don't be so dramatic I saw the way you looked at him when he came through the door.”
“He has a girlfriend or something, I'm not interested in complicated or really anything at all. Besides, I know his type. He uses until he is bored then moves on to the next one and I don't want to be in that long line of women for him.” She huffs out.
“Well, you just got me pegged don't you little girl.” Dex’s roughed up accent comes from the side of the kitchen. Damn she has it coming now.
“She’s all yours Dezzy,” I tell him ignoring the look he gives my for the name and pat his shoulder. I walk out to the back yard. It is not big by any means but it’s very nice. There are privacy fences up for all the units and we all have a decent place to have a grill for all of our outdoor cooking. Which we never ever do, but for some reason or another Shana decided that we needed a grill. This will be the first time it gets used.
“How is everything?” I ask Rick who is attempting to set up the grill. He has been at it since he got here, on time I might add.
“Fine, I guess. This really isn't my strong suit, setting things up, hell I might just end up blowing us all to smithereens. Haven't ever used a propane grill before.”
“Have you even used a charcoal grill before?” I ask him skeptically.
“Well… no. Where did Dez go? I asked him to get a wrench or something.” Laughing loudly I squat down next to him and try to assert my professional opinion.
“I really couldn't tell you if we have a wrench or something, and he is in there telling Cris what’s what and hopefully getting through to her.” This makes him laugh.
“You playing matchmaker Linnie?” I just smile and cock my head to the side. “Damn meddler, you are, you know that?”
“Yep sure do.” The door opening catches my attention and I look up to see Lee. He has a red mark on his face like someone has punched him and I notice his knuckles are skinned up. Is this why he is late?
“What happened?” I gesture toward his hand he looks down at it and shrugs.
“Nothing to talk about.” He sounds annoyed. “What’s going on?” nodding toward Rick and I squatting down in front of the unassembled grill.
“Not much man just trying to put this together and probably taking it apart more in the process. I'm not much of a handyman.” Rick tells him getting up off the ground. Lee comes over to me and holds his uninjured hand out. I take it and he pulls me to my feet fast. Wrapping his arms around me and snaking his hand into my hair to his favorite spot he plants one big wet kiss on my mouth that takes my breath away. That was unexpected, and totally marking his territory. Why didn't he just come in and just piss on me? That would have gotten his point across just as easy.
“Sorry I'm late babe, go get me a beer please and I will fix this shit okay?” All I can do is nod my head and go inside to the fridge to grab him a beer. I also grab one
for Rick, noting that Cris and Dez aren't inside anymore. That’s weird, I quickly go peek in her room but the door is open and she isn't in there. I hope she didn't chase the poor guy off.
When I get back outside Lee has the grill already set up and lit.
“Linnie you better marry this man he’s handy.” This makes me flinch and I think Lee catches it but plays it off like he didn't.
“Just a grill.” He deadpans. “Where’s the meat? I may not know my way around the kitchen but I can man a grill.” He tells me with a wink. The Awkward moment gone, thank you universe.
“Got it here man.” Dez appears from inside with the plate of raw burgers all seasoned up and ready to be seared. Cristal trails behind the tattooed god with a slight blush to her face. What the hell? Did my innocent little best friend run off and get some nookie? Shit I will need some details letter. Demand them in fact.
“Thanks, man. Lee.” Lee extends the opposite hand grabbing the burgers and shakes Dez’s hand.
“Dez.”
“Shane isn't here she had to run off and help her mom with some predicament or another. Happens a lot.” I shrug.
“too bad I was looking forward to meeting her. Linn talks about you two all of the time sounds like you have some fun together.” He says to Cristal and she pinks right up.
“That blush looks good on you butterfly but damn I'm getting a little jealous it’s not directed at me.” I vaguely hear Dez lean over and whisper into her ear from behind. I do believe she is about to burst.
“Cris, come with me to get the rest of the food, we can set up the table. I'm sure it won't be long before the burgers are done.” I turn to Lee. “Right?” he just nods to me and we take off inside.
“What the hell Cris? You need to stick your head in the freezer or something? You look like you are about to burst into flames.”
“Oh my god that man! Why the hell did you invite him you little bitch? Some kind of warning would have been nice.” Her language catches me off guard but I let her little outburst roll on past and go right for the questions.
