"Indigo says you're going to be a cop? Seems like a perfect choice. You do have the masculine build for it." Her voice rose.
Mine deepened. "Anytime you want to step outside, let me know. I'll show you how close to a guy I can be."
Her neck snapped, but she made a quick recovery. "So, where are you from, Jewel? Some upstate farm?"
"I've never lived on a farm, but last time I passed one, I thought I saw you grazing with the cows."
Her mouth tightened so drastically, she looked lipless. "Speaking of cows, do you shop at a feed store? Is that where you found jeans with an all elastic seat?"
I angled my head. "Speaking of elastic. Are you wearing one of those binding bras for added support, or are you intentionally trying to look like a boy?" Waiting for her comeback, I stared.
Her face pruned, and she started to stutter. "I ... you ... Did you pull that sweater out of a dumpster? Because it's pilling."
"Is that the nose you were born with, Vanessa? Or did you have it surgically extended so you could crawl further up Elizabeth's ass?"
She stiffened and moved so close to the edge of the cushion, she almost fell off the sofa. "I hope you pass the Police Exam, Jewelia. I've heard applicants need to know the alphabet."
"Was that slobbering goon in The Prestige your ex, or are you still dating him? Wasn't that you over in the corner, hanging all over him?" I winked. "Hold onto him. You make a stunning couple."
The look on her face turned to shock, and her mouth went pencil thin again. Had I hit a nerve? Was there really something between them? I burst out laughing at the thought, then wondered if she'd had him deliberately bump into me to start a fight.
"You should medicate whatever it is that's spreading across your chin, Jewelia, or is it razor burn?" Crossing her arms, she relaxed into the sofa, her face smug, as though she'd landed the best punch.
"Brunettes don't tend to bald so easily ... or young." I strained to see the crown of her head.
She huffed and pulled away, then slugged her drink.
"Well, would you look at that?" I said with amazement as I reached for her chin. "What do you know. A silky goatee! And you are a natural blonde!"
I heard the bathroom door open, and caught a whiff of fruity steam. I had to taunt her one last time before Indigo entered the room. One way or another, she was going to pay for what she'd done to me ... including any future transgressions.
I extended my neck, my head inching toward her, and whispered behind my hand. "Did you step in something hidden in the hay ..." my secretive tone was virtuous, "or are you wearing an experimental deodorant?"
With slanted eyes she scowled. I was ready to throw up a hand to protect my face.
"I'm a pro, Ness. You'll never outrank me." I showed her my dimples.
Before she could open her mouth, Indigo strode into the center of the living room, pausing before the three ceiling-to-floor windows. "You found your way around the kitchen, I see."
With his hands on his hips, Indigo appeared relaxed, and entirely refreshed. His hair was still damp and curling at the ends. His shirt wasn't completely buttoned, and his jeans fit just right. God, he looked amazing. I noticed Vanessa's eyes trail him from head to toe, then she bristled. Ha. She blew her game.
"Jewelia seems like the perfect little housekeeper, Jim Jim. Your mother tells me she's looking for help." She arched her brows and smiled, acting so serious and accommodating. "Why don't you give her Jewelia's work number?"
Indigo's head angled. Did he seriously think she was trying to be helpful?
"Jewel's working on a promising career, Ness." He winked at me. "You'd better stay on her good side. She might help keep you out of the slammer some day." He chuckled. "Remember when we were kids?"
She glared at him. "That was an initiation."
"I don't care what it was, you've got a record." He attempted to chuck her under the chin, but she jerked away, repositioning at the far end of the sofa.
"You have a record deal? You can sing?" My eyes widened more than the stretch of my lips.
Indigo burst out laughing, almost doubling over.
"My record's sealed. And it was kid stuff. Could've happened to anyone." Her glare turned on me. "What sorority were you in, Jewelia?" Her eyes narrowed.
"I hate to break this up, ladies. But it's getting late." Indigo pulled me to my feet and rested an arm around my shoulders. "If we're going to have dinner, we should get a move on." He shot me a questioning look, and shrugged his eyes toward Vanessa.
"We're having Italian food. Would you like to join us, Nessie?" I hoped my contorted face looked angelic.
Her body lifted stiffly. She gathered her purse and her lips, ignoring my sarcasm, which went right over Indigo's head. He stood beside me, grinning at my courtesy.
"Pasta might put some meat on those bones." I reached to swipe her arm, pretending to be playful.
"Not for me, thank you." She walked toward the door. "Eat an extra Cannoli for me, will you, Jewelia?"
"What was that all about?" asked Indigo after Vanessa closed the door. He looked me square in the eye, lifting a brow. Then a smile slid across his face. "Did you two actually hit it off?"
I choked back a laugh. "Eh. We just shared girl talk." Reaching up, I kissed his cheek.
"I'm happy you made her comfortable. This is the anniversary of her parents' deaths. She gets pretty upset this time of year." He frowned.
"I can imagine." I shook my head, then squeezed his arm. "She's lucky she has you and your family to lean on." Beneath my smile, I boiled. She had Indigo – probably everyone – snowed.
Then and there I knew Vanessa would always be like a glob of chewing gum that stuck deep inside the grooved soles of running shoes. Sticky, annoying, and never completely gone.
GRADUATION SURPRISE
Some of the best restaurants were a stone's throw from Indigo's apartment, so we walked in the chilly night air, which was delightful, cooling my emotions, my anger. We strolled, fingers locked, hands swinging in an arc, now and then pausing to kiss. By the time we reached the restaurant, it was almost closing time.
We sat side by side in a very private corner booth. A Tiffany chandelier colored one side of Indigo's face pale blue, the same color his glistening eyes appeared beneath the spray of artificial light.
Over glasses of wine, Indigo took one of my hands in his, kissing the back, nibbling each finger, burying his lips in my palm.
"It's so good being with you, Jewel," he said in a soulful tone, which made me worry. Although his words were soft, honest, I felt no closer to the secret place inside him. Why did I always feel that cliff's edge ... impending doom? "You lighten the weight of the world." There it was again ... the brooding look I'd first witnessed at Kelly's.
I smoothed his cheek, gazing deep into South Seas blue. But his eyes weren't cool or calm. They were turbulent. His stare burned into mine.
"What's on your mind, baby?" I asked, bringing him close for a kiss. "If something's bothering you, tell me."
"It's nothing, honey. I've got a hectic scheduled for the next few weeks, and won't be able to see you as much as I'd like."
My heart sank, but I understood where he was coming from. We both had crazy workloads and had to focus on finals, careers, family.
"We can meet for lunch. And text, and phone ..." I laced my arms around his neck, holding on for dear life. My chin was buried in his shoulder, my words falling lightly into the air beside his cheek. "And we'll have free time in June ... and part of July to be together, right?"
"I'm looking forward to a break ... and being with you." His lips brushed my cheek, nibbled on the lobe of my ear. "I'm sorry about tonight, baby. Thank you for understanding ... and for being kind to Vanessa. I know she's not the easiest person to be with at times."
Duh. Didn't I already know that, firsthand? I tried to smile, but my lips felt like they'd coil into a spasm at any moment. I hated being dishonest with him ... but would he be acting as such if he'd heard
us ragging on each other as we squared off in his living room? I highly doubted it. He was elevating me onto a pedestal. I loved the height, but I didn't belong there. I'd have to be kinder to Vanessa ... Earn my place.
"I don't have a problem with Vanessa." Wide-eyed, I lied.
"Of course you wouldn't." He curled a shaft of my hair around a finger, freeing my diamond cut silver hoop earring, tapping it gently with his fingertip. "You're one of the kindest people I've ever known. And you're very special to me. You've become a big part of my life, and I hope the feeling is mutual."
Uh oh. My heart thumped. Here it comes. I braced for his confession of love.
He was so sweet, it almost tore my heart out. Sweet and sensitive was the best kind of sexy in my book. Although, he had everything else to go along with it. And was he about to tell me he would always be mine?
"You're important to me too, Jimmy," I said, my words featherlike. "Very important."
His eyes searched my face and his lips closed over mine, but all too soon his mouth slid free. "I'm happy we had this conversation. And we know where we stand."
We do? My neck almost snapped back with surprise. My reserve had almost evaporated, and he was – happy we knew where we stood? Was I missing something? The only thing I knew was that I was special, which I'd picked up on, anyway. Men ...
When we left the restaurant, we made out in an alcove beside the building. It was a lot like the first night we kissed outside The Prestige, minus the arguing. Indigo's lips were so soft and plush against mine, my body ached for more of the thrilling experience they had offered in his apartment. How would I ever overcome the appetite he'd created?
While we waited for an empty cab, he made a promise.
"I'll keep in touch with you, text you every day, okay? And make sure you call me ... maybe we'll even have phone sex," he teased, tweaking my nose. "Once the heat is off and finals are over, I hope to be seeing a lot more of you."
"After tonight in your apartment, I'm not sure what you mean by seeing a lot more of me, because you pretty much saw it all." I giggled.
He pulled me close, burying his lips in my hair. "I can't believe Vanessa's timing."
"I can," I mumbled. "It sucks, but for now, phone sex will have to suffice."
"Oh, so now you like it?" he breathed the words into my ear.
"I've got a good teacher," I nibbled his neck, "and feel I could become an expert."
"You'll have to show me ... soon ... because after tonight, I tell you, Jewel, you're killing me."
"We'll see if I can drive you as crazy as you drive me." My whisper was so hoarse, my throat burned.
Just before a cab pulled to the curb, he let out a load groan.
* * *
As the days dragged by, I moped around the apartment, missing him like mad, complained of boredom to Emma, and wondered how I'd feel with my handful of close friends stuck in our apartment while Indigo partied hardy at the Hamptons after graduation, with Vanessa, no less. Each time I thought of it, I grit my teeth. I should be there with him! It was so unfair!
My only salvation was that I had a date for my computerized Police Exam. As I studied, I could barely wait for the arrival of summer, free time, and Indigo.
Indigo texted as often as he could, which could never replace being with him. Still, I knew he was thinking of me. We held hands during stolen lunch hour dates, and even managed to fit in a movie. We sat in the back row of the dimmed theater, his arm around my shoulders the entire time, whispering, unable to concentrate on the flick. Our kisses grew so demanding, he tried to remove the barrier between us – the armrest – but it wouldn't budge. I strained so close, my hip was imprinted with a red welt when I returned home.
Pete and Casey visited often, and on the Saturday after graduation, they brought over several cases of beer and bottles of booze. Emma and I had shopped for snacks, and had brought home tons of drink mixes, as well. We piled bagged ice in the shower, stocked up on paper goods, and were set to give it hell for at least twenty-four hours straight ... or so I was led to believe.
Rocking out on the coffee table, I fanned my diploma with one hand. In my other hand, I gripped a bottle of beer, the liquid sloshing each time I toasted.
"To Jewelia," Pete's voice rang out, "Manhattan's next meter maid."
Everyone laughed.
The doorbell rang. I was so hyped, I sprang off the table to buzz in Yvonne and Derek, aka Spartan the Warrior King. Before I could slug down my remaining beer, they burst through the door, rowdy and ready to riot.
I grabbed Yvonne and started dancing around the room yelling, "We made it, baby! We're gonna get soooo shit faced!"
"You're already there, sweetie," she said, and threw her arms around me. We swayed to rap. "Congratulations to us. I wasn't sure I'd make it. How'd you do?" Her lips caught in my hair.
"Better than I expected, and the best part is, we are done!" I swung her out and she revolved like a wobbling top. "We'll be wagging our asses in blues pretty soon, baby girl."
Lifting her arms, she snapped her fingers, rolled her hips, then started dancing around Derek. "Not me, baby. I'm gonna be a paralegal."
"That's my courthouse doll," said Derek with a thousand watt smile. "Defend and protect; is that what they say about cops, Jewelia?"
"To protect and to serve more drinks," Pete yelled from across the room as he passed out ice-cold bottles of beer.
"Emma. Where's Emma?" I called to Pete.
He shrugged, then Casey pointed to the bedroom.
I burst through her door. "What are you doing in here? Where's Bill? He's coming, isn't he? You didn't break up, did you?" I felt my face tense at the thought.
She put a hand over her phone and pointed to the door. "I'll be right out," she said, her voice uncharacteristically firm as she shook her head and grimaced at me.
"What's up with you?" I muttered on my way out the door, hoping she and Bill weren't having problems. I had to know. I burst back into her room and landed on her bed on all fours. "Are you okay?" I knew my words were slurred.
She laughed. "Jewel. It's barely two in the afternoon. I thought this party was supposed to last for twenty-four hours? At this rate, you'll be sleeping by your usual bedtime. Or throwing up in the bathroom."
"I miss Indigo." I pouted. "I so want to see him. Why did I fold so easily, Em? Tell me. Come on, shrink me."
"Oh God," she whispered something and closed her phone. "Will you pull yourself together? Crap. I didn't want to tell you."
"Tell me what?" I felt my eyes bulge.
"You're being an enormous pain in the butt." She sighed. "Bill's on his way over now. He's got a surprise for you."
"Unless it's Indigo, I don't want it." My bottom lip rolled into my chin.
"That's all I can say. Now, out of my room. I need to get dressed." She shoved me out the door.
Running through the living room, I yelled, "Bill's bringing me a surprise. And it better have arms and legs and be wearing scrubs."
Pete and Casey had settled in front of the TV, and were watching sports. They nursed bottles of beer. But Yvonne and Derek were slugging shots, dancing like strippers in the middle of the living room. I had no alternative but to join them. And that's what we did until Bill arrived: we threw back shots and grooved until our bodies glistened.
When Bill walked through the door, I threw my arms around him, screaming, "Arkana," straining to look over his shoulder . "Crap. You're alone."
"Thanks for the warm welcome." He laughed. "Sorry to disappoint you, but it's only me."
"Where's your guitar? Let's liven up this party." I pulled him to the center of the room. "Everybody, meet Billy Arkana. He's a rock star."
Emma came out of her room, shaking her head. "This is what we're taking to the Hamptons?"
"The Hamptons?" I almost fainted. "We should stop at Indigo's house while we're there." I felt my eyes bulge at the thought and twirled around the room until I got so dizzy, I fell onto Pete's lap.
&nb
sp; "That's your surprise." Bill pulled me to my feet, hugging me like a sister. "Congratulations, Jewel. Indigo wanted to surprise you, so he asked me to bring you – and I suppose everyone else –" he looked around the room and rolled his eyes, "to his grad party. For obvious reasons, he's not driving, or he would've picked you up himself."
I had mentioned to Indigo that I was having a few friends over, so, per Bill, he was sent a bunch of first class tickets and orders to deliver everyone before the end of the day.
I almost freaked, screaming, "Madre de Dios."
Bill addressed everyone in the room. "Get yourselves together people – we're partying in the Hamptons – for the weekend."
Watching him, Emma wrung her hands, then pulled me aside. "Jewelia. You're about to meet Indigo's parents. Sober up, for Godssake."
She turned to Bill. "I'm not sure about this, Billy. A bunch of drunken party crashers? How do you think that's going to go over with the Ballous? You know them, what do you think?"
"It's Indigo's gift to Jewel. I'm following orders. I've got a van outside to drive us to the charter. Let's rock."
"You're not driving us to the Hamptons?" I asked.
"Hell no. With all you loons? We're taking a party bus."
"Let's rock!" The chorus erupted, rounding the room.
"Oh my God." I pulled Em aside. "What should I wear? What will I say? Oh my God. I'm actually going to meet Indigo's parents? I'll faint. I'll convulse. I can't do it. I think I'm gonna throw up."
"You can do it," Emma assured. "We'll sober you up on the bus. They've got snacks, even movies."
"Drinks?"
"Water for you, love," Pete said, slinging an arm around me, pointing me in the direction of the bathroom. "And I think you better hop into the shower before we leave."
Emma and I opened our closets to Yvonne, and we stuffed our backpacks and were out the door in less than an hour, all showered and ready to riot.
I was in heaven. I was with Pete and Emma, and on my way to see the guy I had fallen in love with.
THE HAMPTONS
We traveled to the Hamptons in less than three hours, raging on the bus as we would in any bar. Music flowed, along with drinks, but at Emma's insistence, I abstained from hard liquor. I wasn't even permitted to nurse a beer.
Head Over Wheels (Spicy Young Romance) Page 24
