Keep It Safe

by Olivia Snow

  “No, Ava, I—”

  “It’s okay, Mr. Gallagher, I’ll see you later.”

  I turned, almost running out the building as a new sensation overwhelmed me. Rejection.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Vanessa

  After a week of obsessing about Diesel, I had avoided spending time with Stellen, which he didn’t seem to mind. Instead, I hung out with my best friend and my cousin. We met up for lunch at Blush while Ava killed time waiting for the kid she babysat to get out of school. Mallory, Ava, and Ava’s coworker Jade and I sat at a table that faced the window to the outside, giving us a clear view of the walking pedestrians.

  “Is it me or is cum really hard to swallow?” Mallory asked, her expression deadly serious.

  I closed my eyes, palming my forehead as she said the words. Jade spewed the water she was drinking, and Ava moved with the speed of a ninja, handing her a napkin with one hand and patting her back with the other.

  “How do you mean?” Ava asked as if it was the next logical thing.

  “Well, every time I swallow it feels like it takes forever to go down. I have to constantly clear my throat.”

  “Oh, jeez, Mal.” I laughed, shaking my head.

  “What? I’m amongst friends, and it’s an honest question. I mean, come on, I can’t be the only one with this issue. Right?” She looked around the table, and I threw my hands in the air.

  “Don’t look at me, I have zero experience. Remember?”

  She nodded, focusing her attention on Ava and Jade.

  “I’ve never swallowed,” Ava said, and both Mallory and I gasped in disbelief. “Screw you, bitches, just because I’ve slept around doesn’t mean I swallow.”

  “Why? There’s nothing wrong if you have,” Jade said in her defense, Mallory agreed.

  “I’ve never done anything without any form of protection and that includes oral sex.”

  “So, wait, do you use like a dental dam when a guy goes down on you?” Mallory asked.

  “A what?” Confused, I waited for an explanation. I guess my sexual knowledge is limited to medical conditions.

  “It’s basically an oral condom,” Jade explained. Hmm, I’m going to have to Google that.

  “I’ve never had a guy go down on me.” Ava seemed almost embarrassed, and now we all gasped in surprise. “Fuck off.” Ava flipped us off, but it was all in good nature.

  “Never?” we asked.

  “Never.”

  “Never what?” Christian asked, coming from the back of the bar and surprising us all.

  “Don’t—” Ava pointed her finger, threatening us, but she was cut off by Mallory.

  “Ava’s never had the joy of experiencing cunnilingus.”

  “Cunni-what-ngus?” I asked.

  “Eating pussy,” Mallory clarified.

  “I’m going to kick your ass,” Ava mouthed to Mallory. Mallory smiled mischievously while Jade and I were on the verge of falling off our chairs and rolling around on the floor in laughter.

  “Is that right, baby?” Christian cooed at Ava. “I can rectify that for you, if you’d like.” He leaned into her, closing in on her neck, but before he was able to kiss her skin, Ava planted her palm on his face, pushing him back. It surprised us all because Christian is what you call tall, dark, and handsome—or should I say smoking hot. I don’t know anyone with ovaries who would be able to say no to those sexy dimples of his.

  “Chris, I love ya, doll, but not in that way.”

  Christian laughed, turning his attention to me. “What about your baby cousin?”

  My gaze flew to his perfectly shaped lips; I had no doubt he knew how to work them.

  Ava chuckled. “Christian, you have no shame.”

  “Not yet, but I’m hoping.” He winked, tapping the end of my nose as he walked away. I liked him.

  ***

  Mallory and I hugged goodbye, and after kissing my cousin on the cheek I waved to Jade. Throughout the meal, I was getting small cramps and I knew either today or tomorrow I would get my period. Yay for being a girl!

  I crossed the street to get to the pharmacy that was next to our apartment building, then noticed a group of construction workers. I instantly thought about Diesel. Focusing my sights on the door of the store I tried my best not to look over. I wasn’t sure I could handle him right now. I had seen him here and there the past week, but he was always busy working. He would just smile and wink at me, making my stomach flutter. Letting out a sigh of relief once I was inside the store, I made my way to the feminine aisle.

  Soon I had a box of tampons in each hand. Once I made my decision, I tossed the box in my basket, then froze as I saw Diesel round the corner.

  Ah, crude. Diesel chuckled and I wondered if I had said that out loud.

  “Fancy seeing you here.” He grinned.

  “Did you follow me in here?” I glared at him, staring into his dreamy green eyes.

  “If I tell you the truth, can I walk you home?”

  “Uh, no.” I turned around, walking in the direction of the painkillers.

  “No, you don’t want me to tell you the truth or no, you don’t want me to walk you home?”

  “Don’t you have a building to construct somewhere?”

  “Do you always answer a question with a question?” he countered.

  “Do you?” I bent down to grab the Midol, but Diesel grabbed it before I could.

  “Ouch, time of the month?” Heat must have rushed to my face. Before I could speak, he added, “Don’t look so embarrassed, I’m not some common redneck, I went to school, ya know. I know your vagina bleeds, it’s only natural.”

  My eyes widened, my jaw dropped. I was mortified. He kept talking.

  “Unless you don’t have a vagina, and all this stuff is for Ava.”

  I felt as if my eyes were going to burst out of my head. Diesel looked stunned by my lack of response, and his face changed from surprised to horrified in a matter of seconds.

  “Aw, shit you don’t have a vagina, do you? You have a penis?”

  “Yes, no…ugh, stop talking about my vagina, all right?” Was he serious? My question was answered when he grinned; the jerk was playing me all along.

  “You’re a pain in my ass, you know that?” Snatching the pill bottle from his hand, I pushed by him, making my way over to the register.

  “Is that right?” He followed.

  “Yes.”

  “Well, in that case. Can I have your number?”

  “What? No. I have a boyfriend, or did you forget?”

  “I haven’t forgotten, have you?”

  I stopped abruptly, almost causing him to crash into me. Angry, I swung around, coming up inches away from his chest. His musky spicy smell was intoxicating, and I completely forgot what I was going to say.

  “You talk as if this boyfriend of yours is going to stop me from going after what I want.”

  Oh dear God. Diesel lowered his nose to my neck and inhaled sharply.

  “What do you want?” I whispered.

  “You.” And with that he lightly kissed my neck, causing my skin to pebble. “Mmm, you smell good.”

  “Ahem.” The cashier glared at us. I was next in line.

  “Oh, sorry.” Snapping out of my trance, I placed all my items on the counter. While she rung up the total, Diesel stuck out his hand and paid for my girlie items.

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I know, you can repay me by letting me walk you home.” He smirked.

  “Do you always do chivalrous gestures in order to obtain something else?”

  “Again with answering a question with a question.”

  “Well?”

  Diesel opened the door of the store for me. “Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t.” He smiled and winked.

  As I started walking toward the apartment building, he fell in line. He didn’t say anything, just took the plastic bag from me without breaking his mischievous smile.

  “So?” He stopped when we rea
ch the front door of the apartment.

  “So?”

  “Your number?” He grinned handing me the plastic bag.

  “No.” I unlocked the door.

  “Don’t make me steal it from your dad.” I turned to glare at him, gasping at his nerve. I wasn’t sure if he was kidding or not.

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “Try me, darlin’.”

  Calling his bluff, I opened the door, turning slightly. “Thank you for this,” I said, lifting the bag. “Bye, Diesel.”

  I closed the door before he had a chance to say anything else.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Vanessa

  That night, I wasn’t thinking about forest green or electric blue eyes or overbearing parents, I was in too much physical pain to think or notice anything until I was finally able to fall asleep.

  The next morning I opted not to go to class, then texted Stellen letting him know I wasn’t going. Waiting for a reply, I quickly dressed, pulling on my black The World Is My Cloyster t-shirt with a picture of Cloyster—a peal-like Pokémon—in the middle and a pair of black baggy sweatpants.

  Stellen texted back almost instantly.

  Are you all right?

  Yea just a major headache

  I didn’t want to tell him that I was on my period and just didn’t feel well, so I figured a headache sounded a little more visually pleasing.

  Do you need anything?

  No I’m good thanks. TTYL

  OK, honey, take care.

  I smiled at the endearment, his insistence on calling me honey because he said my eyes reminded him of it. He also insisted on my ringtone for him: “American Honey” by Lady Antebellum. I thought it was sweet. I spent most of the morning curled up on the couch, watching TV, and catching up on some reading. I had recently purchased a new dystopian novel and I was itching to get sucked into a world that wasn’t this one.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Ava

  I walked into the apartment after finishing up some of my nanny duties for the Gallagher’s, and using some of my inheritance to buy a new fully loaded black Nissan Pathfinder. Aidan is going to freak.

  The ride was awesome. I was so relieved to get rid of the toy car that I drove the Pathfinder for hours after buying it. Then I went grocery shopping and stopped by the apartment to drop off the purchases.

  Upon entering, I was confused to find the curtains drawn closed in the middle of the day, the only light inside the apartment coming from the blue glimmer from the TV. Stepping farther inside, I could hear low moans and groans. I stopped, my ears perking up to listen to the sounds. I looked like a damn pervert, but I wanted to make sure it wasn’t actual moans of pleasure I was listening to. Then I realized it was Vanessa, and she wouldn’t be moaning like that since she was still a virgin, unless, eww…unless she was masturbating. The visual made me a little sick.

  “Ava?” she called out. I hustled over to the living room, dropping my keys and purse on the table.

  “What’s the matter, Van?” I hurried over to the couch were she was in the fetal position, rocking in pain.

  “Cramps.” She groaned.

  “Aw, I’m sorry, sweets, I’ll make some tea, yeah?” She nodded into her pillow.

  When I brought over the mug of hot chamomile tea, she sat up, her hair a mess and her eyes red-rimmed from crying.

  “That bad, huh?”

  “I never see you complain about cramps. Why is that?”

  “Birth control. Helps with pain and the bleeding. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I bled or had any—” I stopped when I saw the glare she was giving me. “Right, sorry.”

  “Ugh, this sucks ass.” She groaned into the mug, closing her eyes. “Buy me some chocolate and tell me I’m pretty.”

  I chuckled. “You’re pretty. How about I bake you a chocolate cake? I have time before I have to pick up man-cub from school.”

  “I’ll heart you forever and ever.” She placed the tea on the coffee table and laid back down. I chuckled, kissing the top of her head as I made my way over to the kitchen to bake her chocolate cake.

  “I’m getting on birth control!” she yelled.

  “You do that,” I called back.

  ***

  Aidan freaked out. He couldn’t believe that this was our, I mean, my new car.

  “You like it?” I asked for the twentieth time.

  “It’s so cool, Ava.” His little eyes were rounder than normal as he jumped into the back, buckling himself in his booster seat.

  Later, we were finishing up Aidan’s homework when Mr. Gallagher showed up. Hmm, he’s early.

  “Is that your car in front?” he asked, placing his briefcase on the dinner table.

  “Yes, sir, I hope you’re not against Aidan riding in it.”

  He frowned a little before answering. “No, not at all.”

  Smiling tightly, I rose from the chair and started gathering my purse and keys.

  “Can you stay for dinner?” Aidan asked, and I looked up at the professor, his eyes giving nothing away.

  “Um, maybe some other time, buddy. Your dad probably wants to spend time alone with you.”

  “Please,” he begged, grabbing my pinky and curling his little fingers around me.

  “Ah—”

  “Stay, Ava.” His deep voice rumbled, getting my attention. I saw something unusual pass ever so slightly through his eyes; he looked hurt, disappointed even, but not in me. In himself?

  I looked down at Aidan once again, who was patiently waiting for my response. I was a goner when I looked into his dark eyes, so much like his father’s.

  “All right, but only under one condition.”

  “What’s that?” he asked.

  “I cook.”

  The professor snorted; his snarky attitude was back. “Making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches doesn’t constitute dinner.” He crossed his muscular arms across his impressive chest.

  “No, D.B. is a real authentic Sicilian dinner.” I crossed my arms across my chest as well, mimicking his stance.

  “Ooh, I want to help, I’ll go wash my hands!” Aidan clapped his hands before running off to the bathroom. Mr. Gallagher’s gaze slowly fell on my chest, the energy in the room drastically changing into something thick and steamy. My stare wandered down to his lips, the dark hair from his beard a contrast to the pink flesh.

  “Did you just call me a douche bag?” he asked, his lips curving into a small grin.

  “Me?” I gasped in mock horror. “I think you misheard professor, I would never call you a douche bag.”

  I turned around to hide my smirk and to open the fridge to see what I could whip up. He always had the fridge well-stocked so I knew I would be able to make something adequate.

  I stood there with my hand on the edge of the refrigerator, looking over the contents, when I suddenly felt a massive hard body press against me. My breath hitched, and I bit my bottom lip in an attempt to keep a whimper inside. I could feel his hard chest on my back, and something else hardening against my ass. Good God.

  He whispered in my ear. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t rejecting you. I was a jerk.”

  Oh, God…the damn cannoli, why did I have to let it play out on my face? I couldn’t find my voice so I just nodded.

  “I’m ready!” We heard Aidan running down the hall, and the professor moved away from me. Instantly, I missed his warmth. But then guilt set in and I was instantly wondering what the hell Professor G. was up to. I could play this game. Hell, I invented this game. I could handle his advances and not give in.

  Nothing was ever going to happen between us. Nothing.

  ***

  The professor had everything I needed to make Pasta alla Norma—tomatoes, eggplant, ricotta cheese, and basil for starters. I spent forty-five minutes cooking a dish that would have probably taken me twenty if I weren’t teaching Aidan how to grate the cheese and overseeing him chopping the vegetables. Mr. Gallagher just sat at the table watching us, laughing ev
ery time Aidan asked a silly question. When it was ready, I scooped each of us a proportioned amount, then set the plates in front of Mr. G. and Aidan. While we dug in both boys let out mmms of approval.

  “This is delicious, Ava. Where did you learn to cook like this?”

  “Thank you. I was in Sicily for a while, that’s where I learned.”

  “How long were you there?” he asked.

  “Eight months or so,” I replied, taking a sip from my glass.

  “Why?” Aidan blurted out.

  “I was on vacation.”

  “For eight months?” Mr. Gallagher raised an eyebrow, looking directly at me as he chewed.

  “Yes.” My discomfort increased as I twirled my fork around the pasta, sensing the stares from both of them. Mr. Gallagher cleared his throat before speaking.

  “Well, it’s delicious, nicely done.”

  “Yes, nicely done,” Aidan repeated.

  I smiled as best as I could. “Thank you.”

  We spent the entire time eating and asking Aidan about his day at school. After dinner I cleaned up, after persuading the professor to let me. I told him he should probably get Aidan ready for bed instead of cleaning up, so he reluctantly agreed. When I finished, Aidan barreled into me, giving me a hug goodnight. Shortly after that, the professor entered the kitchen.

  “He hit the bed and knocked out.” He reached into the refrigerator, taking out a beer. I stood there staring at him, the way his body moved so effortlessly. I knew I shouldn’t be thinking this way.

  “Well, I should get going.”

  He turned to face me, nodding as he set his beer down on the counter next to the refrigerator where my keys were. He reached for them and laid them on his palm, stretching out his fingers. I swallowed hard, looking at my keys in his hands, his eyes empty of expression. I could do this, I told myself. He’s just being a jerk.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.