***
Late Saturday morning, I knocked twice before Cain answered by which time my teeth were chattering from the cold. Spring couldn’t arrive soon enough for me. Instead of opening the door to let me in, he stepped out and shut it behind him. He didn’t even have a coat on.
“Hey.” I eyed him suspiciously.
“Hey.” He looked out across the parking lot. Not exactly how I imagined this morning’s greeting. I thought there would be some definite lip smashing, maybe a little tongue. “Ah, my mom and sister are in there.”
“What?” I started to smile because he seriously looked nervous. Maybe he’d even throw up.
“Yeah, they just showed up. They do that once in a while to make sure I’m not living in squalor.” His place was always pretty clean as far as two guys sharing an awesome apartment went making me suspect they were checking up on more than his living conditions.
“Ok.” I still didn’t understand why we were outside in the cold. “Wait, I’m confused. You said to come over.”
“Yeah…”
Then it sort of hit me. He’d wanted me to come over before his family showed up. Apparently since they were there, things changed. I wouldn’t ignore that but right then wasn’t the time to talk about it. Between the anger welling in my chest and his company on the other side of the door, I had to get out of there.
“I guess I’ll see ya later, then.” I turned to leave, dejected and embarrassed to some extent but Cain grabbed my arm to spin me back around.
“I don’t want you to leave. I just didn’t want you to go in there without knowing. They can be…chatty.”
My face broke into a smile and my shoulders shook from silent laughter. Couldn’t help it.
“You do know I’m a girl, right? And girls talk to other girls, so yeah, I know about chatty. Hello. Kendra is my best friend.”
He pushed the door open and pulled me over the threshold. As he took my jacket, voices and movement came from the kitchen. I also toed my shoes off because they were pretty wet from the snow then Cain grabbed my hand, tightly I might add, and led me to the kitchen.
Inside I got my first glimpse of Cain’s family. Or part of it anyway. His mother and sister looked quite similar. Same blond hair, brown eyes, nose, and mouth. Their movement around the room was even the same. I grew up with only my mother, looked nothing like her, and we couldn’t have been more different. It was weird to see. Like watching some oddity on National Geographic. Though I don’t know if they’d appreciate that comparison.
“Guys, this is Flannery.” They turned like he surprised them. Their eyes and smiles too wide. “My sister, Adele, and my mom.”
“Nice to meet you,” I offered.
They descended. Dear lord they were huggers. Both women wrapped their arms around me squeezing as if they’d known me my whole life. Awkward. Of course, Cain found it incredibly funny in all his sexy glory leaning against the counter.
And the questions. I almost couldn’t keep up with what they wanted to know. My major, where I was from, until Cain stepped in putting a stop to it. Then the baby cried which got their attention off me.
“Told you,” he whispered before kissing my temple.
Although she tried not to be obvious it, Adele watched us out of the corner of her eye and I could see the half smile on her face as she talked to her mom.
“Cain, we’re going have to get back—” His mom started.
“What so soon?” He asked.
I used my hand to try to cover the smile because his tone said he was more than ready for them to leave.
“What I was thinking,” she continued with a pointed gaze on him. “Is that we could order lunch before we go. Would you mind picking it up?”
“Fine,” he sighed. He went to grab me to go with him but the women had other ideas.
“Flannery’s fine with us,” Adele said.
Cain said I could go with him if I wanted and I did but also knew the societal norms of dating which included getting to meet the family. So, I stayed. They couldn’t have been nicer. Linda, as she insisted I call her, set out getting things ready for lunch. And Adele asked if I wanted to hold the baby.
I’d spent a lot of my teenage years babysitting. Newborns weren’t anything new to me and the minute Vaughn made a noise when I first got there, my uterus started slamming into my abdominal muscles. I loved babies. Not that I wanted any for a long, long time.
The baby settled in comfortably and even nodded back off after a few minutes. I sat in a chair at the table reveling in the new baby smell when Cain brought the food in. He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.
The food was excellent, the conversation great, and by the end of the afternoon I found that I liked his mother and sister. But it didn’t make me sad when they left either.
Cain and I went to the couch where I could curl my body into his and lay my head in his lap because whenever we were alone, I wanted to be touching him. I could see where that was leading and for the first time, I was more than ok with it. Even though Cain remained patient with me, stopping when I needed to, I knew that soon I wouldn’t tell him to. I’d even beg him not to.
“Your mom and sister are nice. What about your dad and brother?” He’d turned the TV on but I wasn’t paying attention, completely distracted by the light touch of his fingers as they caressed the side of my head and into my hair.
“Glad you thought so. I was worried while I was gone. I drove like a maniac to get back here.” His hand ran down my arm then hip and part of my leg. “Dad and Jack are ok, too. Sometimes intense but pretty cool.”
“Lucky.” Cain pulled my chin so I could see him and the confusion on his face. “You have this great family. You’re lucky. I just have my mom.”
“You seriously don’t know anything about your dad?”
I shook my head. “I guess there were three or four guys it could’ve been but she doesn’t remember.” His mouth dropped open slightly as his eyebrows shot up in shock. I had to laugh. “I don’t mean she slept with them all that night but she said there were three or four she could have. She doesn’t remember which. And said that none of them would’ve had a positive influence on my life.”
We grew quiet again. Mom never hid anything from me. Not the truth about Santa or her promiscuous past, telling me about the party just after I turned eleven and asked about my dad. All the other kids in my class had dads even if their parents were divorced. Those dads showed up to things. Except Eric Debruce whose father had been killed in an accident during Army training when we were in second grade. He and I hung out together during things that revolved around Fathers, making some of the craziest crafts instead.
“Hey, what are you doing over spring break?” I asked, breaking out of my memories.
“I’m supposed to go to Florida with the family, why?”
I shrugged. “Just curious.” Since I wore the necklace he got me every day, my new nervous habit was to slide the charm back and forth along the chain.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, since it seems everyone else is going away my guess is reading. And not that crap for class either. Something fun.”
He watched me for a minute. I could tell when he was working something out before talking to me. “Why don’t you come with me?”
I bolted straight up almost hitting his chin with my head. His good reflexes were the only thing that saved him. I’d definitely become more clumsy since meeting him. Hormonal imbalance maybe?
“What?”
“Yeah. Come with me. Sam’s family is going, too.”
So many thoughts crossed through my head. First, that he asked me to go on vacation with him meant something. This was real. Second, what he might expect while away and thirdly, the fact that I’d give it to him. But then considering losing my virginity sent butterflies everywhere and made my face blush as he watched me.
“I see what you’re thinking.” My eyebrows shot up. “Just because I want you to go doesn’t mean I�
��ll let you take advantage of me.” He knew me too well. “Flannery, I don’t want to go the week without seeing you. I think you’ll have fun and I promise nothing will happen unless you want it to.”
For the briefest moment, I got excited. And then reality set it. I couldn’t go to Florida. I worked my ass off over the summer, saving every penny possible and had a bit of a stipend left from my scholarship to make it through the school year without having to work. Even then, I barely made it. At the end of the year, I’d be flat broke and starting over. And, I absolutely refused to let Mom send anything because she couldn’t afford it either.
“I can’t go,” I said sadly. “But you and Sam should have a lot fun.” Trying to look on the bright side, I could tell he wasn’t buying it.
“Why not?”
“I just can’t.” Laying back down, I positioned myself in such a way that he couldn’t see the disappointment on my face.
“You don’t have a job, school will be out, and everyone will be gone. Which means you don’t have plans with Kendra, Ava, Adam, Casey, or anyone else you know. What gives?”
“Cain, I can’t. Leave it at that.” He didn’t say anything. I rolled my eyes and said, “And no it’s not because I’m afraid I’ll take advantage of you.”
He sighed. “Let’s go get dinner.”
I couldn’t believe it had gotten so late already. Whenever we were together the time went by far too fast. I was getting too used to going out to eat with him and I realized that night he never allowed me to pay. Not once when we went out. Which explained the slightly higher bank account balance. We went for Chinese. The noodles were some of the best I’d ever tasted, not that I was an aficionado or anything. But they were delicious.
“You know,” I said halfway through. “I avoided the freshman fifteen by staying busy. If you keep feeding me it’ll be the sophomore thirty.”
He laughed but not in his usual easy way, the smile didn’t reach up to his eyes. Clearly he was still mulling over what I’d said earlier. He countered with “Junior forty? Senior fifty?”
“Exactly. I’ll be a house by graduation.” Usually we fell into comfortable silences but this one wasn’t comfy. “What’s going on?” The nothing answer he tried to give didn’t fly. “Come on, spill it.”
He put the fork down propping his elbows on the table and folding his hands. “I’m a little curious as to why you won’t go on spring break with me and why you won’t tell me the real reason.”
“It’s embarrassing, Cain. It doesn’t have anything to do with you or going. Why isn’t that enough of an explanation?”
He shrugged. “It isn’t.” He went back to eating. I noticed none of the food made it to his mouth. He moved it around his plate.
“Fine.” Damn it if I didn’t feel the burning behind my eyes that happens before tears form. I wouldn’t cry though. “I barely get to stay here, Cain. I’m not you or Ava or Kendra. I just can’t afford to go.”
Reaching into his pocket, he slid his finger over his phone and chose a contact.
“What’re you doing?”
“Calling my Mom.” I threw him a questioning look. “To let her know I’m not going to Florida. Hold on a sec.” He waited for her to answer and I hoped he’d get her voicemail so we could discuss him not going a little more. He should go. He said he always goes. Being with me shouldn’t change that.
“Please don’t do that. Please.” Pleading wasn’t one of my favorite things to do but I didn’t want him forgoing time with his family, a family I became increasingly jealous over every day, or a sweet vacation because I was broke.
He ended the call without ever talking and shoved it back into his pocket. I wouldn’t be eating anything more at that point so I pushed my plate away and wanted to leave. Cain got the drift and paid the bill. He hadn’t responded to what I’d said, maybe because he didn’t have one or maybe because I made him feel bad. I didn’t know which.
“My parents have money.” Finally he said something as I turned to get out of the car and run into the dorm. Throwing my blanket over my head sounded like a great idea right then.
Duh. I couldn’t help but smirk. “I figured that out. Linda kinda gave you away with the talk of new marble flooring in the kitchen.”
“So, come with me.” I didn’t know it but I already started shaking my head. “They’re paying for it anyway. We’re staying at our house down there.” He growled. I felt bad as his frustration grew but there wasn’t a thing I could do about it.
“No way. You’re dad’s not paying for me. I’ve never even met him.” This conversation wasn’t going to end quickly. “Come on. If we’re going to keep this up, let’s go inside.”
Before the discussion could progress any further in my dorm room, his cell rang. Being Cain, his side of the conversation gave nothing away. While he talked, I pulled my hair back into a ponytail.
“Ha.” He dropped his phone on my desk.
“What?”
“That was Mom. She called to suggest that I invite you down to Florida for spring break.”
“She did not.” My arms crossed under my breasts. He wasn’t pushing me around on this one.
“Swear. Listen.” Cain leaned against the desk taking my hands in his to pull me closer, my legs between his. “Our house is on the beach. Sam’s family has the one next door. It’s completely private. I mean there’ll be other’s around because his family is giant. Lots of sisters.” My will started melting. The defense I put up disintegrating. Damn him and his sexiness.
“Fine.” I finally gave in. If I was honest with myself, a week without him wasn’t something I wanted to deal with. So, I’d dig into my meager savings and face the consequences later.
Cain looked like a kid in a candy store. He swooped me up in his arms, spinning while planting kisses all over my face. Such a dork.
“Are we driving?”
His body stiffened. “Ok, don’t freak out. But Dad charters a plane for us all to go down together. Hey, plus side, it costs nothing extra to add your ass to the plane. And I don’t think Adele will be going because the baby’s only a few weeks old.”
He had a point, and suddenly I was going on a spring break trip with my boyfriend and we were leaving in a week. Weirdest of all, even though I hated being in the situation where others were paying my way, excitement over going took over.
Chapter Twelve
“What?” Kendra’s mouth dropped after I told her I planned to spend spring break with Cain and his family in Florida. Last year she tried to get me to go with her. I couldn’t, of course, because I don’t usually get vacations. Money was a little harder to come by than for most of my friends. I also couldn’t visit her in New York over the summer although she came to Washington for two weeks which I loved. Mom adored Kendra and thought she might help me loosen up a little.
“I know. Weird, right?” The red shirt would stay home, I decided. Packing sucked when you didn’t know how to do it.
“Not weird, Flan. You deserve it,” she said watching me toss one piece of clothing on the floor after another. “Pack shorts for sure. It’s nice down there. Warm. Sometimes I feel like I forget what warm feels like. Oh, a bathing suit, too.”
I groaned. I would always be a pasty white Pacific North westerner. My body may reject the sun. We fell into a comfortable silence, her looking through my books and me attempting to put some order into packing. I only had an hour before Cain and Sam would pick me up and wasn’t even close to being done.
“Maybe you should pack some condoms, too,” she said easily. Me…I dropped my bag, which thankfully I’d already zipped up. “I’m just saying. You gotta wrap that shit up. Don’t want to be caught off guard.”
“I’m pretty sure he’d take care of that.”
“No. You do not leave it up to the guy because they’ll give you some crap about how it doesn’t feel as good. You know this, Flannery.”
I nodded. I did know it, but I also knew Cain. He’d take care of everything, I mean if he
thought we might jump to the next level. We both wanted to and came close a few times but were interrupted. But we would be around his family the whole time so who knew?
A text came in from Cain letting me know they were downstairs. Kendra walked me out, gave me a big hug, and whispered “wrap it up” in my ear. Cain made Sam ride in back even though I insisted I didn’t mind, which I didn’t, but he said he wanted me with him. The feminist inside mentally kicked my ass for liking it.
Every year when I fly into or out of Michigan I go through Detroit Metro but the part we arrived at wasn’t one I’d ever seen. Course I usually took normal commercial flights not some fancy corporate jet. Cain explained that when he said his dad chartered the plane he meant reserved the company’s. A perk of working for the company he did, Cain said. Mr. Dorsey preferred to travel this way because he could work during the flight a lot easier.
The plane was small, at least compared to commercial flights. No idea how it measured up to other private planes. It had couch seats lining one side and the other had three rows of captain’s chairs which could swivel allowing the passenger to face any way they chose. His parents were already on board, as was his brother. As Cain predicted, Adele wasn’t joining them this year because of the baby.
Sam flew with the Dorsey’s because his parents liked to make the drive over a couple of days and he said being stuck in the car with three sisters was the worst study in torture he could imagine. The girls were each a year apart, the oldest being nineteen and the youngest seventeen. How a person manages that I’d never understand. My mom had enough juggling me. Maybe enough money made everything easier.
Mr. Dorsey, who insisted I call him Paul, seemed nice enough. He shook my hand, said it was nice to meet me, and went up front to his seat where a laptop waited, already open. Cain’s brother Jackson gave me the heebie-jeebies. I don’t know what it was but the way he looked me over felt pretty slimy. Then again, it could’ve been that I had a distrust of guys in general and he didn’t seem off in any other way as far as I could tell.
Stepping into the Florida air, I could smell the ocean right away. I assumed we were close, though couldn’t be sure but I could smell it. We all piled our bags and ourselves into a rented SUV that Paul took the helm of.
Up for Grabs (Up For Grabs #1) Page 8