A Modern Love Story

by Jolyn Palliata

  “Really?” She let loose a little squeal. “God, I love you. You’re the best, Luc!”

  He chuckled.”Love ya too, Squirt.”

  The drive to Luc’s apartment was short, and when they got there, Luc took her duffle bag and let her lead the way. She eyed up the building as she approached and could barely believe everything worked out as it did. Thank God Luc moved out of the Powell’s and had gotten his own place when he turned eighteen. Thank God Luc dropped out of high school—despite Robbie’s fierce protests at the time—and got his GED. Thank God Luc found full-time work in construction. Thank God, and thank Luc.

  “The L’s called. They want you to call them tomorrow to let them know you’re okay.”

  Robbie started climbing the stairs to the second floor. “I’m surprised they didn’t insist I call right when we got home.”

  “Well, they did. But I convinced them to wait until morning.”

  “And they agreed?”

  “Only if I agreed to call if there was any trouble.”

  She laughed as Luc unlocked the door. “God, it feels good to laugh about this all. I can’t believe it’s over.”

  Luc gestured her in. “I can’t believe the L’s agreed not to report anything until after you got out.”

  “We didn’t really give them much of a chance, did we? I thought Leah was going to strangle me through the phone for keeping them in the dark so long.”

  He set her bag on the floor as they flopped onto the couch. “Not much we could’ve done about that. It’s not like they would’ve let you stay there, even though I had the situation under control.”

  “You knew what I needed.” She leaned against him.

  “Yeah. I knew.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and rubbed her arm. “And it worked out.”

  “Yup.”

  “All right. Let’s get you settled in. I set the alarm for you in the bedroom.” Luc stood and scooped her bag off the floor.

  “Luc. That’s your room. I’ll just sleep on the couch.”

  “Not having it. You have school in the morning.”

  “You have work.” She pushed off the couch and followed.

  He tossed her bag on the bed. “You have a scholarship to earn, and therefore, need more sleep than I do.”

  “Like I could sleep, anyway. I’m too excited.”

  “Try.” He tried to look stern, but the corners of his mouth twitched as he pulled her into a hug. “Humor me. Just tonight, okay, Squirt?”

  “All right. But we’re gonna figure something out tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  *****

  Robbie raced home after school the next day. Not only because she was excited to have a home again, but because her and Luc were going to celebrate. Together. Alone. That night.

  It was foolish, she knew, to continue abusing herself this way, but she was willing to make one last ditch effort to get Luc to see her as an actual girl, rather than just Squirt. Now that she was legally an adult, and out of a bad situation, it was time to see what they had between them. Correction. What they could have between them. He no longer had to worry about her, or watch her back—both things she had seen as obstacles to be overcome. Now she could just be her—a girl, a woman, in his life and one that didn’t need guidance or protection. She only needed him. And she had waited, held back, for him. He was the only one she wanted.

  Okay, so she hadn’t really been saving herself for Luc, per se. The opportunity had never presented itself with anyone else, given the Frank situation and all. But, she had to admit, she always wanted her first time to be with Luc. Could she get what she wanted now?

  By the time Robbie heard Luc’s boots on the stairs after his shift, she had worked herself into a full-blown tizzy. Grabbing her magazine off the counter, she launched herself onto the couch and whipped it open in an effort to look casual.

  “Dammit,” she mumbled, turning the magazine right-side-up as Luc’s key slid into the lock.

  “Hey, Rob.”

  “Hey, Luc.” She glanced up, casual-like, as he kicked the door shut behind him. “Oh, you got pizza!” She flew to her feet.

  “That’s not all.” He set the pizza down, and pulled a brown paper bag from under his arm and handed it to her.

  “What is it?” She opened the bag, pulled out the bottle. “Champagne?” No, she thought, liquid courage!

  “I told you we were going to celebrate. Guy at work hooked me up.”

  “Pizza and champagne?” She laughed and threw her arms around him. “That’s awesome!”

  He chuckled as he gave her a quick squeeze. “Let’s eat up before it gets cold, then pop this sucker open.”

  *****

  The pizza went fast, but the champagne went even faster. Luc watched with satisfaction as Robbie drank her champagne, talking about her college plans and the roommate she was assigned to live with in the dorms—Lizbeth something-or-other. He was happy to have her there. She was finally fucking safe, with no Frank to worry about, and nothing left to scare her.

  He obliged when Robbie held out her glass for a refill, but felt the need to warn her. “I hear this shit sneaks up on you, Squirt.”

  “So be it. Fill ‘er up.”

  He laughed and poured. “That’s my girl.” And she was his girl, in a fashion. Six years they had known each other, and other than the L’s, she was the only person he gave a flying fuck about.

  Tipping back her glass, Robbie leaned against his shoulder and snuggled close with a giggle.

  “What’s so funny?” He slung his arm around her shoulder and began stroking her hair—just as he had done hundreds of times before.

  She gestured with her glass towards the end table. “Juicy Fruit.”

  “Are you drunk already?”

  “Ha! No. On the table.” She gestured again.

  “You…want a piece of gum?”

  “Uh uh. Did I ever tell you… Naw. Forget it.”

  “What? You can’t do that. You know that drives me nuts.”

  “Yeah, I know.” She giggled again. “It’s just that whenever I smell Juicy Fruit, or see it, I think of you.”

  “Really?” He took a long swallow of champagne. “Why’s that?”

  “Remember when we kissed?”

  Jesus Christ. How could he forget? The girl could fucking kiss! “Ahh…yeah.”

  He felt her shrug under his arm. “You were chewing Juicy Fruit at the time.”

  “I was?” He smiled with a swell of arrogance that she’d even remember. “I must have really made an impression, huh?”

  She nodded and drank more, emptying her glass in a couple of gulps. Leaning forward, she put the glass on the table and then twisted to face him. “Remember what you said to me afterwards?”

  Who could’ve had a single coherent thought after a kiss like that? “Not really.”

  Her green eyes narrowed. “You told me to let you know any time I wanted to practice.”

  “That’s right! I did say that.” He laughed, but it faded as he saw the look on her face. “What? Why are you bringing that up now?”

  She tipped her head to the side, slid her face closer. “You helped me out when I needed you. What if I said I needed your help again? But of a…um…different variety.”

  His mouth went dry as his brain caught up, his arms dropping away from her. “Robbie.”

  “I want you to be my first.” She circled her arms around his neck. “I love you, Luc.”

  “I, ah, love you too, Robbie. Which is why I won’t take advantage of you.”

  “You wouldn’t be taking advantage.”

  She was so close. Right there. He could almost taste her. “You’re drunk.”

  “I know what I want.”

  “Yeah, maybe in the moment, but tomorrow—”

  Her mouth slammed into his, cutting off all further words, and—if he was going to be totally fucking honest—all further brain function as well. Her tongue sought his and he felt the sparks ignite behind the kiss.
Without a rational thought, his hands dived into her hair, pulled her close as she scrambled onto his lap to straddle. The heat was all he could think about as his hands slid down to grab her hips. The heat consumed, spurred him on, clouded his thoughts. He felt the lust curl and bunch in his belly, ready to lash out to take, possess and own. But he kept it restrained, strapped down—painfully so—when he remembered just who he was holding.

  Gripping her hips, he broke away and lifted her straight off his lap to set her back on the couch beside him. “No.”

  Her eyes went wide as her cheeks flooded with color. “But—”

  “No.” He dodged her reach by pushing to his feet. He tried not to look at her…deliciously mussed up hair, green eyes blurred with need, her skirt riding dangerously high to showcase her gorgeous legs. “Sleep it off, Rob.”

  He walked away. What the fuck else could he do? And shut the door to the bedroom behind him. Frustration mixed with anger, which mixed with a fierce urge he had never felt before. He sat on the edge of the bed, pulling his fingers through his hair as he took a deep breath. So she just decided she wanted him? Right out of the fucking blue? Like the champagne had nothing to do with it? Fuck that! Shit! Why couldn’t he be that fucking guy?! The kind that just takes what he wants?!

  Because, he thought after another deep breath, it was Robbie.

  That was why.

  *****

  Robbie shifted, and immediately groaned from the bass drum thundering in her head. “Make it stop. Turn it off,” she mumbled.

  “How you doing, champ?”

  She peeled back her lids, squinting against the light, and struggled to focus. “Stop yelling.”

  Luc chuckled. “I’m not.”

  She laid there a minute and took stock. She was on a bed—Luc’s bed, she assumed—and had one arm and one leg hanging off the side. Her head—heaven help her—felt like it was going to explode at any moment.

  “How did I get here?” She winced at the sound of her own voice.

  “I carried you.” He set a glass of water on the bedside table, a loud, sharp sound that threatened to burst her eardrums. “Of course, that was after you drank nearly an entire bottle of bubbly.”

  “The champagne,” she groaned. It was all coming back to her now. The nerves, the celebrating…the kiss, his hands, wanting to devour him. She groaned again as she closed her eyes and slid a pillow over her head.

  She felt Luc lift up the corner. “I see it’s all coming back to you now, Squirt.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “I’ll put some Advil on the table for you. Drink all the water, if you can. You have to get rehydrated.”

  He started to lower the pillow again, but stopped when she spoke. “Luc?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m sorry about last night.” She braved opening her eyes, looking at his expression. It was completely closed off.

  “Don’t worry about it.” He let the pillow go and she listened as he walked away.

  “Kill me now,” she mumbled.

  *****

  The rest of the weekend wasn’t as awkward as Robbie thought it would be. She apologized again—more to get him talking about it than anything else. But he blew it off. She could tell he sincerely believed she had only come onto him because she was drunk. How was it that the guy could normally be so perceptive, but this he couldn’t see? However, since it was an easy out for her, she took it…for now. Or, at least, until she could figure out another way to circle back around. She still wanted him. Still loved him.

  There had to be a way.

  On Monday, Robbie was so distracted by her thoughts at school, she finally gave up and signed herself out as sick. Luc was at work all day, so she’d have the apartment to herself to sit, veg, and think about things.

  The door was unlocked and popped open when she reached it. She hesitated just outside the door. Had she remembered to lock it when she left? Thinking back, she decided she had. Had someone broken in? She backed up a step when she heard a female laugh. Curiosity got the better of her as she slowly pushed the door open with one finger to step inside. What she saw froze her in place.

  From her vantage point she could see into the bedroom. She could see some blonde whipping her top off while she straddled Luc. She could see his hands on her, all over her, as she unbuttoned his pants. Sounds of pleasure and urgency flooded Robbie’s head to blend with the images she knew she would never shake. Tears stung her eyes as rejection speared through her. He’d rather have some bimbo than her. Rather touch someone, anyone else, than even consider…

  She bit back an angry sob, slipped back out the door, and began easing it shut behind her. And then, at the last minute, fury rang true as she yanked the door closed with everything she had, slamming it so hard it shook the frame.

  Even as she flew down the stairs, she heard the scrambling from above. And as she ran through the parking lot and around the neighboring building, she heard Luc yelling her name.

  *****

  “Serves me right,” Robbie mumbled, taking the offered can of Diet Pepsi from Lizbeth.

  “How do you figure?”

  “I knew he didn’t feel that way for me, but I pushed anyway.”

  “You said he kissed you back.”

  “He did.” She pressed a hand to her belly. “Oh, God. He certainly did.”

  “But you figure that since he’s a guy…”

  Robbie shrugged, agreeably. “Yeah. What guy wouldn’t respond to a drunk girl throwing herself at him?”

  “Ha! Apparently, when it came down to it, this one.” Lizbeth set her own soda aside and flipped over on her stomach, crossing her legs behind her.

  “He thinks of me as his sister.” Robbie groaned, lying on her back to stare at the ceiling. “Jesus. I didn’t even realize that until now.”

  “He’s an idiot,” Lizbeth decided. “From what you’ve told me, you two have had nothing that even came close to a brother-sister relationship.”

  “I don’t know. What I do know is that he thinks it’s his job to take care of me.”

  “Oh.” Lizbeth smirked as Robbie glanced over. “So he thinks of you as a daughter too. Kinky.”

  Robbie grabbed the nearest pillow and swung it over Lizbeth’s head as they both burst into laughter.

  “Shut up, Lizbeth. You’re not helping.”

  “I got you laughing. That’s helping.”

  Robbie rolled and looked at the clock. Eleven.

  “You heading home?” Lizbeth asked, pushing up to her knees. “Ya know, my parents wouldn’t mind if you just crashed here tonight, even if it is a school night.”

  “Tempting. Very tempting. But I better go home.”

  “Yeah, I guess.” Lizbeth hopped off the bed, and grabbed her keys off the dresser. “I’ll give you a lift.”

  “Thanks. I wasn’t looking forward to walking across town in the middle of the night. And I sure as hell don’t want to call Luc for a ride.”

  They made good time since there was hardly any traffic, and they joked easily about college and what they imagined dorm life was going to be like. When they pulled into the parking lot of the apartment building, Robbie glanced up to see all the lights on in her apartment.

  “Well…dammit.”

  Lizbeth craned her neck to get a good look herself. “He’s waiting up for you, isn’t he?”

  “Looks like.”

  “Do you think he’s pissed or worried?”

  “Probably a little of both.”

  Lizbeth patted her on the shoulder as she straightened. “Good luck with that.”

  “Yeah, thanks.”

  Robbie took her time walking across the parking lot, not all together eager to face the wrath of Luc. But by the time she made it to the door, all cowardice had shifted to annoyance. After all, she had done nothing wrong. She was eighteen and could live her own damn life however she chose. He could do whatever—and whoever—he wanted, and so could she!

  The door swung open before she even touched t
he knob. “Where the hell have you been?! Do you know how fucking worried I was?!”

  Robbie stared him down, temper now licking at the edges of her annoyance. For one brief moment, seeing Luc as pissed as he was, she swore she could almost see smoke coming out of his ears. The idea had her smirking as she shoved past him.

  “Don’t you walk away from me, Rob! I’ve got shit to say to you!” He grabbed her arm, spun her around.

  The anger ignited and flared, turning her tone flat and calm. “Don’t touch me.”

  Luc immediately let go and she stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. She could hear the string of profanities streaming from the living room as she got ready for bed. She was still shaking with anger by the time she was done, and opened the door to find Luc leaning against the wall right beside it.

  “I want to talk to you,” he said, pushing off to follow her into the living room.

  “Well, I don’t want to talk to you.” She pulled the blankets off the back of the couch and started to arrange them across the cushions.

  “What are you doing?”

  “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m making my bed.” She felt a small measure of satisfaction at his exasperated sigh.

  “We talked about this before. You take the bedroom, and I’ll sleep out here.”

  “Forget it.” She fought to keep her tone level, simply because she knew it would tick him off more than if she’d shout and scream.

  “Robbie. I’m not gonna fucking have you sleeping on the couch. Now get your ass in there.”

  She dropped the blanket and turned, slowly and purposefully. “Fuck you.”

  It had the effect she was looking for. Exactly what was she was looking for. Just that one four-letter word had Luc’s mouth dropping open, rendered him speechless, and had the anger sparking in his dark eyes altering into something closer to fear.

  “Fuck you, Luc.” She stepped closer, jabbed a finger at his chest, and watched as he actually backed up. “Do you think for one second that I want to crawl into the same bed I saw you and that skank making out in? Do you think for one second that I could curl up there, drift off, and not think about what I saw? Knowing I was laying on the same bed? The same sheets?”