Head Over Wheels (Spicy Young Romance)

by January Valentine

  Me: So are U Jimmy Miss u

  Indigo: Miss you more Gotta run, babe

  Me: Laters :o)

  Indigo: Sooner xoxo

  I stared at his text, almost melting, then hugged my phone, wishing it was Indigo sharing my pillow instead of an electronic gadget. Ugh. I hated how I missed him. But loved how he made me hate to miss him.

  Without class, I utilized my free time reviewing the regulations for the Police Exam, which I hoped I to ace in early June. The test was given on a first come first serve basis. I wanted to be guaranteed a spot in the testing center, so being an early entrant was important. Getting the highest grade was essential.

  To be one of New York's finest, I'd need a good memory, which I wasn't too concerned about, because I'd never had a problem remembering the exact dates designer clothing went on sale in my favorite shops, and I always paid my bills early, even before reminders hit my inbox.

  I had outstanding writing and comprehension skills. One of my professors said I could have published my essays and short stories, and if I wanted to pursue a career in literature, he'd hook me up with an influential editor.

  I'd always been sensitive to those in need, and I could speak two languages, English and Spanish, which would look good on my application. So those requirements were filled.

  I was sure I didn't have to be worried about spatial orientation, because since I was ten I could find my way around the Poughkeepsie Galleria blindfolded.

  I'd always been a great problem solver, finding the most reliable distributors of baking needs, and my father relied heavily upon me to accurately predict the types of pastries our customers would enjoy most. After days of test-tasting new recipes, even bringing a variety of samples to school, I had it down to a science.

  Being a middle child had its advantages: I was the perfect peacekeeper when my siblings argued, preventing and if necessary, handling altercations without black eyes or bloody noses.

  With my keen sense of fashion insight, visualization would be a walk in Central Park. That, and my knowledge of the tastiest takeout restaurants, took care of yet another requirement. And I could reason as good as the next guy, maybe better, so with all things taken into consideration, I felt I should have no problem flying through the computerized part of the police test with ease.

  I'd be bright, energetic and intelligent during my interviews. I'd never done drugs, and had been professionally analyzed by Emma on more than one occasion, so failing a psych test was an absolute impossibility.

  I never got winded, because dancing kept me in tip top shape, but I started jogging up and down the stairs anyway, instead of riding the elevator. I had excellent observation skills, and had learned a lot from scores of detective movies.

  Pete had filled me in on the physical requirements, so I knew I was more than prepared to become one of the academy's most enthusiastic recruits. I'd compete my way to the top of my class and be in uniform in less than the normal twenty-eight weeks. The thought was so exciting.

  Emma and Bill had fallen into a routine of either chatting every evening or going out, so I had a lot of time on my hands, in general, especially since Pete and Casey had all but tied the knot.

  I knew Indigo and I would never have that much time together, but hearing from him, even once or twice a week, was enough to keep me satisfied. Besides, our main focus had to be on our careers.

  With school winding down, I could put more hours in at work, and my supervisor approved my request, telling me I'd better keep an eye on things when I wore my future blues, which gave me even more butterflies than my stomach could suppress.

  I ate a lot of Tums, dressed down, and kept looking over my shoulder. Since my surprise visit from Mother and Vanessa, I'd lost the lighthearted, comfortable feeling I'd always enjoyed at work.

  Casey and Pete, or Peter as Casey referred to him, dropped by now and then. We'd watch a movie, grab dinner out, or bring in takeout.

  Since I had to transform myself into a major athlete, like overnight, I spent endless hours at the gym. And that's where my cell buzzed one morning when I was sweating bullets on the stepper.

  "Jewelia?"

  "It's me, Ma." You're calling my number. Who else did you think I'd be? "Is everything okay?"

  "Daddy hurt his back."

  "Oh no." I panicked. I loved my family dearly, and being away was hard enough without having to worry about them getting sick or suffering accidents.

  "He'll be fine. We could use you here."

  My heart flipped inside my chest. "Is he in the hospital again?"

  "He was, but they sent him home with medication and a wrap after they took x-rays. It's the same two discs that always give him a problem."

  "I'm sorry I can't be there."

  "We miss you. How have things been, Jewelia? We don't hear from you often enough."

  "Things are fine. I'm just busy, and I miss you guys too." Without me there to help organize things, I worried. "Can Tony help out at the bakery? Maybe Teresa can come in after school without eating all the cookies?" I chuckled.

  "Your brother and sister have been helping, and Teresa's been dieting, so all cookies stay on the shelves till sold." She returned my chuckle.

  "Really? Why's she dieting?" We'd all been chubby kids who'd slimmed out in high school, so I didn't see why Teresa was concerned. I hoped she wasn't idolizing Tony's girlfriends, trying to grow up too fast.

  "You'll see when you come up. She wants to surprise you, so I can't say."

  "Soon Mom. May's almost over. I'll have free time soon." Then I thought of my obligations at work. My loyalty was to my family, but I had to finish school, and keep my job.

  "I took on more hours, Mom."

  "Don't jeopardize your studies, Jewelia. You've worked too hard for this."

  "I'm doing fine." I couldn't wait to show my parents my final grades. My 3.8 would be almost as good as my older sister's 4.0 GPA. "How about I come up on Sunday? Early and I'll stay till the last train. Maybe Dad will be better by then and we can go to the park like the old days. We'll have a nice time."

  While growing up, besides picnics and planned outings, we'd have family basketball days as often as possible. I missed those times.

  Then it hit me. Why not ask Indigo to come to Poughkeepsie? I'd met his mother, he could meet mine. I was proud of my family and dying to share them ... not to mention, show Indigo off to them.

  "I may bring a friend, Mom. Would that be okay?"

  "You don't even have to ask. Emma's always welcome. I'll make a big pot of chili and rice that she loves. Tacos too."

  "I wasn't talking about Emma."

  Silence then Mom's giggle. "Is there a man in your life?"

  The sound in her voice set me off and everything gushed out – well, almost everything – with me telling her how handsome and sweet Indigo was. She almost fainted when I told her he was going to be a doctor.

  "We'll have everyone over to meet him."

  "No, please don't, Mom." I could see it all. The fiasco of the entire Delarosa clan in action. "I don't want to overwhelm him."

  "Oh, Jewelia. Angelina will kill us if she finds out we didn't invite her."

  "Whatever." I'd have to tell Indigo to sedate himself before leaving the city.

  After hanging up, a wave of nostalgia washed over me, and I worried. My parents weren't getting any younger, and had always been strong. I didn't want things to change. And the thought of losing them some day was incomprehensible.

  Then my thoughts shifted to Indigo, wondering how he'd react being bombarded by my overzealous family. Although he was down to earth, his mother was uppity. I had no idea what his father was like, and hoped for Indigo's sake, he was warmer than she appeared. If not, he must have had a lonely time growing up. I wanted to hug him, right then, right on the spot. But my only option was to text him, hoping he wasn't on rounds or in a patient's room.

  Me: Taking temps, doc?

  It was a half hour before he got back to me. By then, I had
moved on to free weights.

  Indigo: Hey you

  Me: How's it going?

  Indigo: Good U?

  Me: Great U working Sunday?

  Indigo: Nope

  In moments, my cell phone rang.

  A breath caught in my throat when I heard his voice on the other end. "Texting's okay, but I'd much rather hear your voice."

  "Oh, so would I ... Your voice I mean." I giggled. "Are you on a break?"

  "I have a few minutes and couldn't think of a better way of spending them than talking to you."

  "You're so sweet." I clasped my phone tighter and settled on a bench.

  "But I'd much rather be right there with you. Where are you, by the way?"

  "At the gym."

  "So that's the secret to those killer curves."

  I giggled.

  "What's going on Sunday?"

  "Poughkeepsie. Wanna come?"

  "Meet the folks, huh?"

  "You wouldn't be nervous, would you?" The thought he might be was astonishing.

  "All guys are." He chuckled. "Does your dad – maybe your mom – keep a bat behind any of the doors? Under beds?"

  "Funny you should mention bats." I laughed.

  "Uh oh. I might be busy on Sunday, after all."

  "They may jump you, but in a good way."

  "I'll wear my football padding."

  "And helmet. My little sister likes to roll around on the floor."

  Playfulness left his voice. "Sounds like a lot of fun. Of course I want to come. Gotta run. I'll call you tonight to firm up the details. It may be late, though. Is that okay?"

  "Any time, any place, baby." With my sexiest voice I teased.

  "I'll make sure to take you up on that." His chuckle was teasingly sarcastic, and very sexy. "Later then."

  "Sooner ..." I spoke too late, because he'd already disconnected.

  WHEELIN’ TO POUGHKEEPSIE

  Indigo and I decided to rendezvous at Grand Central Station at eight a.m. to catch an eight-twenty train. I arrived at seven-forty-five and waited in front of one of my favorite breakfast stands.

  I'd told Indigo to dress very casual, as I wasn't sure of what we'd be doing. Watching him stride into the terminal, I almost fell over, my senses reacting the same way as the first day we met. He wore relaxed jeans, a pale blue tee covered by a long-sleeved plaid shirt that lay open, the flaps rippling as he moved.

  At my request, he'd been letting his hair grow, and it curled over the collar. Whether or not he'd shaved I couldn't tell, but a hint of shadow highlighted the area of his face where a man's beard usually grew.

  "You made it on time." I walked toward him, my lips spreading into a slow smile. By the look on his face, I knew he could read my every emotion. Regardless of the time of day, the location, our eyes transmitted a mutual electricity, relaying a powerful message.

  "Of course I'm here on time, babe. I wouldn't miss this for anything. In fact, I've been gearing up for this visit since you invited me." He winked, then his lips touched my forehead. "Didn't have a chance to grab my morning coffee, though."

  "No problem." I swept an arm across the front of a glass case overloaded with mini pies and pastries. "Pumpkin? Apple? Cherry?" I stared up at him with concern. "I hope you're not counting calories today. These are nothing like you'd find in my Dad's bakery, but like they say, make do with what you have and don't bitch cuz things could be worse."

  He chuckled. "You can take the girl out of the bakery, but not the bakery out of the girl." He slipped an arm around my waist and squeezed. "You're the expert. You make the selection." He had the sexiest habit of burying his cheek against my hair, the way a snuggling kitten would when it purred and burrowed against its human's chest.

  "One pumpkin and one apple mini, please, and throw a plastic knife in the bag. And a lot of napkins, and two mocha lattes, extra foam. Not in the bag." I joked with the guy behind the counter. Deepening my dimples, I faced Indigo. "I can never make up my mind. We'll share." I ran my tongue over my top lip.

  His eyes were as soft as the touch of his fingers as he stroked the side of my face and lifted my chin. "Does that statement apply to everything?"

  "That's something you'll have to keep guessing about, smarty pants." Staring up at him, I crinkled my nose.

  He kept outdoing himself, making my legs go weak, my stomach drop. Would the way he made me feel ever stop? I didn't want to know the answer. Then a voice brought the flow of blood back into my limbs as it shot through the PA system, announcing the number of our train and its departure time.

  "Ooh." My shoulders jerked with excitement. "Train's almost ready to pull out. Let's hoof it." I grabbed the bag off the counter, and Indigo snatched the lattes. We fell into a perfectly timed trot.

  Mounting the steps, I noticed a rolled up magazine sticking out of his back pocket, not quite hooded by his shirttail.

  "What's this?" Standing in the aisle I pulled it out and let the glossy pages unravel. I arched my brows. "Cycling?"

  "I thought I might read it on the train." He grinned.

  I took a swat and the magazine connected with the wallet in his other back pocket, resounding with a loud crack. "No way. You've got me to keep you occupied for an entire hour and forty minutes." I pouted. "No reading."

  "That long, huh? I don't know if I can take it." He shook his head.

  "Me or the ride." I smacked his arm. "Well, maybe not that long if this train's an express, which it might be. Okay, I've got your undivided attention for at least an hour then."

  "Yes, ma'am. Now can we take a seat? Unless you want to lap your latte off this disgustingly dirty floor." He faked a scowl. "Because this train's about to pull out of the station."

  "You silly." I bumped his hip with mine. "You ride the subway, don't you? What jerks the bum bum more than that?"

  "Actually, I don't ride the subway."

  "Oh ... just climb in, will you?" I shot him another jolt of my hip, but when the train took off I boomeranged against him, laughing.

  We chose opposing seats in the rear of one of the last cars where we could face one another in comfort. With the exception of an older couple, and a few teens at the far end, we had the car to ourselves. As soon as the conductor clipped our round trip tickets, I tore into the bag.

  "I'm starving." I handed Indigo a fork and napkins.

  "So am I. Those pies look delicious. Here you go." He held out my latte.

  We sipped our drinks and dug into spicy pumpkin and juicy apples, stuffing our mouths as if we hadn't eaten in a week. Between bites we chatted, laughing as we wiped pie from each other's lips.

  I kicked off my flats, ran a foot up and down his calf. "I see you came prepared. I like your hiking boots." I stuck a toe through the loop of one brown boot, playing with the lace until it loosened and uncoiled.

  "You're a little brat." He snatched my toes, tugging on my foot, pulling me to the edge of the seat. "As soon as we finish eating, you can come over here and give me a real massage." He fluttered his brows.

  "Hey," I yelped when my butt all but slid off the slippery vinyl. "Is physical contact all you ever think about?" I shook my head, disguising my delight.

  "Look who's talking." He laughed. "I had a hard week. I could use a nice massage ... good company ... relaxation."

  "I'm afraid all you'll be getting today is the second of your three desires."

  "We'll see about that." He winked.

  The train picked up speed and we left behind urban areas, some isolated, some with graffiti decorated buildings. Then the ride smoothed out, along with the scenery, as serenity unfolded. We followed the Hudson River most of the way, now and then the car jostling on the track.

  "It's beautiful, isn't it?" I said, gazing out the side windows, watching blossoming foliage slide past my left, the quiet Hudson on my right, endlessly peaceful, but a murkier color than I would have liked. "Imagine how clear that water must have been before man got his hands on it?" My voice was wistful, but I couldn't help
but anger.

  "Next time we'll take my boat." Indigo smiled. "We can go tubing. Get all nice and sludgy together."

  "Let me guess, and a nice warm shower afterward." When my eyes bulged, he laughed.

  "I'm joking about the tubing, but the shower would be nice." He sipped, then licked latte foam from his lips.

  "Do you own a yacht?" My question was spoken with innocence, although I would have chosen a smooth sail over a noisy train ride any day.

  "I'm afraid not, babe." He almost choked on his last mouthful of latte. "I'm more the speed boat type."

  Just what I'd figured all along. Smug, I curled my lips. "Fourth of July on the Sound, right?"

  "Yes, and it's spectacular. So what am I in for during today's visit?" We sat knee to knee, near enough for him to reach me with his fork and shove pumpkin pie into my mouth, laughing when it smeared across my cheek. "You've got to help me with this. You stuffed me so full of apples ..." He flopped back against his seat, sliding the fork over his lips and tongue, then patted his flat stomach.

  "Umm," I put a hand over my bulging lips."You wait." I giggled, attempting to swallow without choking. "Payback in Poughkeepsie. And you may have to come over here and give me CPR if you keep trying to block my airway with pie." I snorted and he let out a burst of laughter.

  "How big is your family, anyway?" He compressed our cups and containers into the bag and folded it neatly.

  "Two sisters, one brother in law, a younger brother, and a soup de jour girlfriend might be there. One never knows when dealing with Antonio."

  "Your brother's Antonio."

  "And my father, but in this case, I'm talking about Tony."

  "I thought you said there were five of you."

  "There are."

  He shook his head. "So now two and two make five. Okay. Whatever you say." Reaching across the seat he grabbed my hand, pulled me over his legs, and plopped me down beside him.

  "Your seat's more padded than mine. Not fair." I snuggled under his arm, buried my lips in his neck. Coming up for air, I threw an arm around his chest, a leg over his, and squeezed. "You're so nice and cuddly."

  "And you are irresistibly huggable." Wrapping me in his arms he kissed me, his tongue gently parting my lips, but not entirely entering. When he drew back his eyes were heavy. "And you taste so much better than pie and latte." He gave me a big hug, then ruffled my hair, easing me back onto the seat. "Maybe you should give me a crash course on your family before we get there."