by JL Paul
I covered my eyes as he did indeed turn on the light. He crawled back to me and eased me gently upright while he propped the pillows behind me. “What are you doing?” I asked as he moved away again.
“I want to give you your birthday present.”
I dropped my hand and squinted, locating him near his dresser. He opened a drawer and withdrew a square, wrapped box. Returning to my side, he stuck the box in my hands. “Lucas,” I protested. “Luke, this is not necessary.”
“Please,” he snorted. “Um, I’m not trying to make you feel guilty but I … well, hell.” He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. “I bought this for you and I had planned to give it to you on your birthday. And, um, I was going to tell you that I loved you then.”
My heart broke. Oh, the pain I must have put him through. “Lucas, I’m so sorry.”
He pressed a finger against my lips. “No, don’t be. Things happened and it’s in the past. We’re starting over, remember?” I nodded, his finger still on my lips. “Now, open it.”
He dropped his hand as I tore the paper off the box. Lifting the lid, I gasped. Nestled in a bed of velvet was a beautiful gold necklace with a gold, heart-shaped charm. Tiny diamond chips sparkled in the light and I held it closer to read the words engraved on the front. In fancy font it simply said ‘I love you.’ “It’s beautiful. I love it, Lucas.”
I touched the charm gingerly, admiring how simple yet beautiful it was. “Will you put it on me?” I asked. He removed it from the box, moved my hair, and fastened it around my neck. He kissed my jaw when he finished and I shuddered, sparks of desire shooting through the fog from the pain meds.
“It looks great on you, Irelyn,” he grinned. He fixed my hair and eased me forward again so he could put the pillows flat and help me to lie down. “Now you really need to sleep. I’ll take care of you all weekend and get you fixed up.”
“You don’t need to do that,” I said around a yawn.
“Yes, I do,” he said as he shut off the light and joined me in the bed. “I want to.”
I longed to snuggle up to him but it was just so hard to be comfortable that way with the aches. I had to settle for scooting as close as I could and placing his arm over my stomach. He kissed my cheek as sang that old song I loved so much quietly, making me smile, until I drifted off to sleep.
***
Lucas kept to his word as he insisted on waited on me hand and foot all day Saturday, despite my protests. Collin happily ignored my pleas and joined Lucas in the pampering. Even though I was sort of embarrassed, I secretly enjoyed the attention Lucas bestowed on me. As much as my body hurt, my heart was healing. And it was full of love.
When he drove me home Sunday, I was ecstatic. It was outstandingly wonderful that I didn’t have to hide him – that I could proudly take him in my home and officially introduce him to my mother as my boyfriend.
But, of course, something had to ruin my shining moment. As Lucas parked in front of my house, I noticed a fancy car in my driveway.
“Damn it,” I cursed.
“What?” Lucas asked anxiously.
“That’s my grandfather’s car,” I said as I deflated. I took Lucas’s hand and allowed him to help me out of the truck. He grabbed my bag, kept hold of my hand, and led me up the walk. “Please, don’t leave.”
“Not on your life,” he growled, his eyes narrowed. His hold tightened as I opened the door. Tommy rushed to me and wrapped his arms painfully around my legs.
“I’m glad you’re home,” he said, his eyes full of fright. My grandfather’s shouts echoed off the walls.
Lucas dropped my bag to hoist Tommy in his free arm as if Tommy were a toddler. “Don’t worry, buddy, it’s fine.”
Tommy wrapped his arms gratefully around Lucas’s neck and offered a weak smile. “I remember you. You let me play on stage.”
“That’s right,” Lucas said.
“Let’s get this over with,” I sighed as I squeezed Lucas’s hand and dragged him toward the kitchen.
“…allow your daughter to prostitute herself, Willamina! What are you thinking?”
“She’s an adult and can live her life the way she wants,” Mom shouted back. I dropped Lucas’s hand and rushed, as much as my sore body would allow, to her side.
“Leave my mother alone,” I said, grinding my teeth. “She didn’t do anything.”
“She let you turn into a whore – just like her,” Grandfather said, his eyes burning.
I cringed a little, knowing Tommy and Lucas both heard my grandfather’s words, but anger burned in my already sore body. I knew Lucas was ready to fight – I could actually feel his tension – and I stretched a sore arm back to stop him.
“You know, I’m really tired of hearing that word.” I dragged a huge helping of oxygen in my lungs, releasing it slowly. “Maybe I’m not perfect and maybe my mother isn’t perfect but we are humans and we feel. You and your country club friends don’t feel. All you do is sit on your pedestals and judge people who have less money than you. I doubt you even love your wife. You only married her because you thought it would be a good match. At least my mother and I have the capacity to love. I don’t care if Lucas doesn’t have the money or the clout or the damn law degree that Dustin will have – he loves me. He loves me for me. And I love him for him. That is something your money will never, ever buy. And I thank God for that.”
My mom smiled at me, tears shimmering in her eyes, as she moved next to me to wrap an arm around my shoulders. “And I’m damn proud of my daughter.”
My eyes grew as my jaw fell at her words before a laugh escaped. Mom never spoke that way – especially in front of her father. I kissed her cheek.
“And,” she continued. “I’d rather her have a sordid affair with Lucas than marry Dustin because at least it’s honest and at least she is doing what she wants and not what you want her to do. I made the mistake of bowing to your wishes and I lost the love of my life. I’ll not let that happen to my daughter. Your money means nothing to us. If you’re ashamed of us then leave and don’t come back. We don’t need you – we have each other.”
“I am through with you all then,” Grandfather said as he grabbed his coat off the back of a chair. “You’ll not get another dime from me.”
“We don’t need it,” Mom said as she lifted her chin. “We’re fine without you.”
“You’ll change your mind. You’ll be sorry.”
“No, we won’t,” Mom said a little sad. “The only thing I’ll be sorry for is that you’ll miss all the wonderful things my children do. You’ll miss Irelyn’s wedding. You’ll miss Tommy’s graduation. You’re the one who will be missing out – not us. And all the money in the world can’t replace what we have in this little house.”
Grandfather paused, staring at my mother for a moment before brushing past Lucas and storming out the door. Once I heard it slam shut, I took my mother in my arms and held her as tight as I was able.
“I love you, Mom, and I’m sorry for all this,” I told her.
“Oh, Irelyn, it’s not you,” she said. “He’s always been that way.”
When Lucas set Tommy on his feet, he ran to me and Mom to join in the hug. Mom kissed the top of his head and pulled back to smile tearfully at Lucas. “I’m so sorry, Lucas. Sorry you had to see all that.”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I’m glad you told him off, Ms. Colby.”
Laughing, she kissed his cheek. “Call me Mina, please, and trust me – it was a long time coming.”
“Are you okay, Mom?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she said as a thoughtful frown crossed her face. “I am. I feel good. I only wished I would have said this to him a long time ago.”
“It’s never too late,” Lucas said as he bestowed one of his crinkly-eyed smiles on her. I loved him even more.
Swiping at her face, she blushed. “Why don’t I fix us something to eat and then we’ll get to work on Irelyn’s college and funding for Tommy?”
“I�
��ll go grab a pizza,” Lucas offered, kissing my cheek. “Then I’ll help.”
When he walked out the door, my mom hugged me again. “He’s your Lonnie. Hold on to him, honey. Don’t let him go.”
“I won’t,” I promised.
Later that night, after both my mother and Tommy had retired for bed, I walked Lucas to the door. Holding me, he kissed me like he was afraid if he let me go, I’d vanish into thin air.
“Hey, Irelyn,” he said.
“Yes?” I asked as I kissed him.
“What do you think about … well, maybe this summer…you might want to…I don’t know…find a place? Together?”
I froze, trying to grapple with his words. “You mean – move in together?”
“Yeah,” he said as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “If you want.”
“Are you sure?” I whispered.
“Positive.” His eyes were hopeful and his lips a straight line.
“Yes,” I said. “Most definitely. That would be…great.”
His face relaxed as he kissed me. “Good because I can’t stand it when you’re not in bed with me.” He winked. “I like it when you cook me breakfast.”
“Yeah?” I said, playing along. “And I like it when we shower.”
He groaned and kissed me again. “Don’t talk about the shower until you’re well enough to join me.”
“Deal,” I said as I wrapped my arms around his waist.
“Do you realize that your story just came true?” he muttered in my hair. He tipped my chin and kissed me soundly. “The bad guy got the girl.”
I smiled but I didn’t correct him – he wasn’t the bad guy after all. But who cared? I had him now – even though I might have ‘acquired’ him the ‘wrong’ way. He was mine and that was all that mattered.
Chapter 23
I wiped the sweat off my brow as I leaned against the cooler doors, catching my breath. The lunch rush was nearly over and I was grateful for that. Fridays were always our busiest days.
“Irelyn, someone is at one of your tables,” Jessica, a fellow waitress, called. I blew at my hair, tugged my ponytail a little tighter, and grabbed my order pad.
I’d been working at Moe’s Dinner since March and usually enjoyed it. The people were nice, the pay good, and the tips outstanding. Moe, the ancient owner, was flexible and happy to work around my school schedule – especially after I worked my tail off to prove that I was worthy to be his employee.
Since school had ended, I worked early shifts Tuesday through Saturday, which suited me fine. Lucas was usually off weekends so we spent Sundays wrapped in each others’ arms.
Four grimy construction guys were glancing at menus as I approached. They appraised me fully – something I’d grown used to- before ordering. I handed my order back to the cook, my leg constantly jiggling in anticipation.
“What’s with you today?” Jessica asked. “You can’t sit still.”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Lucas is playing tonight and I’m just anxious to see him I guess.”
“I thought he played every Friday?” she asked.
“He does and they just signed an agreement with Rusty to play all summer,” I said with a fond smile. I filled a couple glasses with ice tea. “This is our first weekend in the new apartment,” I whispered. “We’ve been going over there every night after work to clean and get stuff ready but tonight is the first night we’re actually staying there together.”
“That explains the twitchiness,” Jessica smirked.
Rolling my eyes, I delivered the iced tea to the construction workers. I smiled politely and asked them if they needed anything else while I absently played with the necklace Lucas had given me months ago.
“No, thanks, honey,” the older one said. The worst part of the job was the constant nicknames: honey, sweetheart, darling, and cupcake. Ugh. But I usually just smiled, enduring it the best I could, and most times get a big tip.
As I walked away, an arm shot out and snagged my waist. I jumped, startled, and turned to peer into the beautiful brown eyes of Lucas. “Hey,” he whispered as he dropped a quick kiss on my cheek.
“Hi,” I blushed. “Are you eating lunch?” I frowned as I glanced at my watch. “I thought you took lunch earlier.”
“Was busy,” he said as he dragged me to a table. “This your station today?” I nodded. “You remember Jerry and Gene, right?” he asked, pointing to the two men behind him.
“Yes. Hi, guys.”
They greeted me as they fell into chairs. I grabbed three menus from behind the counter and brought them back. As Lucas studied the menu, I couldn’t help but study him. It never stopped amazing me how beautiful he was – especially in his work clothes. I loved the backwards hat, too. Maybe I was a freak but I didn’t care.
And the sex – well, that hadn’t waned in the least like I feared it might. It only got better. And tonight we’d have the apartment totally to ourselves…
He lifted a brow. “Did you hear me love?”
Blushing, I hid a smile but he caught on immediately and winked. “Sorry, um, what are you guys having?”
They repeated their orders and I turned them in to the cook. Jessica clucked her tongue at me. “You always get all starry-eyed and red in the face when he comes in. Wish I was that way with my boyfriend.”
I just shrugged, secretive smile on my face as I watched him converse with his co-workers.
That evening, he beat me to the apartment and I could hear him in the shower, singing quite loud. I crept into the bathroom, stripped, and jumped in behind him.
“You are quite the little stalker, aren’t you?” he laughed as he turned around to take me in his arms. The shower in our new apartment was a little smaller but I would make due.
“I’ve always told you that you bring out the animal in me,” I said as I wrapped my arms around his neck, melding my body to his. A low growl erupted from his throat as he kissed me and pulled me under the water. I lifted a leg to wind around his thigh, sending him a message of what I really wanted. He was only too happy to oblige as he lifted me, gently pressing me to the shower wall. I groaned as he stepped back to push through the shower curtain and fumble around in the medicine cabinet behind the little mirror above the sink.
“Damn,” he said as knocked everything into the sink. He set me down to dig out a condom then returned to me. “Do you think it will frighten our guests if we just keep a stack of condoms in here?”
I laughed as I climbed back into his arms. “We’ll keep the shower curtain shut – they’ll never even see them.”
“I really like how you think,” he said, his lips on mine. He lifted me again and eased me against the wall, finally satisfying the need that had burned in my stomach all day.
Once I was temporarily satiated, we washed and dressed. I dried my hair, happy that new hair had finally grown enough to cover the bald spot that had marked my stitches and constantly reminded us both of my accident.
Morgan and Bailey were waiting for me at our usual table. I hugged them both and they questioned me about the new apartment. I was mildly surprised when Tori joined us - I didn't usually see her at Rusty's. She’d been a huge help when we were moving – often assisting me in getting Lucas packed while he and Collin were at the new place painting. She was sweet and witty and I absolutely adored her.
The boys began playing and halfway through the set, I was stunned to see Amber waltz in with her friend Holly. Bailey nudged me, laughing, pounding her hand on the table. I just smiled. Amber no longer concerned me because I had no doubts that Lucas loved me. And I didn’t have to worry about hiding my relationship with him – or worrying that she would say something to someone.
Bailey and Morgan – for weeks – had thought Amber that was the snitch and somehow told my grandfather about my affair with Lucas, but I really didn’t think she was. I still hadn’t discovered who had told him, but I had suspicions. My grandfather was on the Board for Dunne-Browling and several of the board m
embers had children or grandchildren attending the school. I was pretty certain one of them must have seen me leave with Lucas or maybe they were there the first night. I couldn’t be sure but I’d stopped caring. I wouldn’t be attending Dunne-Browling in the fall – I’d be attending Community College – and I had Lucas so what did it matter who ousted us? I was happy; Lucas was happy; Mom and Tommy were happy – that’s all that mattered.
Amber avoided our table and when the boys finished, she avoided Lucas. When he dropped next to me, draping an arm around my shoulders, I caught her quick glance in our direction. She didn’t glare hatefully or stare longingly – just watched us for a second and returned her attention to Holly. Perhaps she was confirming our relationship and if she was – good.
We sat around the table for an hour after they finished until finally Lucas whispered to me that he wanted to take me home. I shuddered as a shiver of anticipation shot up my spine and the muscles in my stomach clenched.
After we crashed into the bedroom and released all the sexual tension that had somehow managed to build since the shower – he held me close, peppering me with kisses.
“You should write a story about this, Irelyn,” he wheezed as his breathing slowly returned to normal. “It’s better than a fairytale. Just you and me and mind-blowing sex.”
Snorting, I rolled on top of him so I could kiss him properly. “No bad guys or dragons or anything like that? Just pure smut?”
He grinned, his eyes crinkling in the corners. “Yep. My favorite kind of story about you – pure smut!”
I rolled off of him and cuddled into his side. “I’m not writing that – you have porn you can watch.”
“But you’re not in it,” he whined.
Sitting up, I glared at him. “You want me to be in one of those movies?” I asked, incredulous.
He backtracked quickly, pecking my lips after each word. “No, not at all. I meant I wanted to read a story about you and me….” Even in the dark I could see the color flooding his cheeks. “Oh, never mind,” he said as he fell back to the bed.