“Yeah I’m just riding down with the girls but I’ll drive all of you home.”
“Phew.” Gio wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead then shouted. “Ok everybody mount up!”
When everyone started to file out of the kitchen Tracy hung back a little she watched Eric trap Sara against the counter and steal a kiss. Not noticing that Tracy was over hearing everything as she lingered in the door way; Eric with his nose nudged Sara’s neck.
“My marks completely gone, I guess I’ll just have to give you another one.” He playfully nipped at her neck. “I love your hair curled and loose like this.” He then moved a hand down and placed it on her thigh and started to move his fingers under the hem of her skirt. “I love this skirt to. You look so beautiful.” He moved his hand around and palmed her ass and gave it a good squeeze.
“Eric please we need to leave” Sara breathed her voice almost inaudible
“I’m just playing with what’s mine baby.” His pressed himself against her so she could feel his harden length that was trapped in his jeans.
“Mmmmm” she moaned.
Eric leaned in again for another kiss then he stepped back.
Sara’s closed eyes opened when Eric stepped back. She pouted. “You can’t start me up then back away.”
Eric snickered “Just giving you something to look forward to later. Now come one they’re waiting for us.”
Hearing that they were leaving the kitchen Tracy hurriedly walked outside to not be caught eavesdropping.
Chapter 28
As everyone was climbing into the cars Gio shouted out to Jo Ann. “Make sure to follow me and keep up I don’t drive like an old lady.” That comment made Matt and Eric laugh and it earned a scowl from Jo Ann who then with a very bright smile on her face flipped him off. Getting in the car Jo Ann was now on a mission. “Ok ladies seatbelts, now who’s for teaching those smug guys a lesson.”
Almost as if they had practiced their response all the girls called out “I am.”
Jo Ann turned toward “Sara what bar are we supposed to go to first?”
“I think it’s called Whiskey Girl.”
“Ok I know some shortcuts.” Jo Ann put the car in drive and took off leaving the boys behind.
Immediately Sara’s cell chimed with a text.
From: Eric Morales
What are you guys doing?
Brianna sitting behind Sara leaned forward to look over her shoulder.
“Is that Eric?”
“Yeah he wants to know what we’re doing.”
Jo Ann laughed “Making them eat our dust.”
Sara teasingly texted back.
To: Eric Morales
Beating you there ;)
From: Eric Morales
It’s on
“Ok Jo Ann I laid down the gauntlet you better get us there first.”
“No worries.” She assured them
Sara twisted to look at Brianna as she spoke. “So Bri, Eric said we were meeting at his place since you were coming straight from work. I didn’t know you worked I thought you were a full time student.”
“I only pick up a few shifts here and there at a coffee shop when I want some blow money.”
“Do you get all the free coffee you want?”
“We get a free cup at the end of our shift, but free coffee is nothing to the freebies you guys get.”
Sara smiled “I don’t get freebies Jo Ann does and if she doesn’t want it she graciously gives it to me.”
Tracy curious cut in “Freebies what kind of freebies? Where do you work?”
“Jo Ann is a fashion buyer, I’m her assistant.”
Jo Ann looking back at Tracy through her rearview mirror asked. “What do you do Tracy?”
Sifting a little in her seat Tracy answered. “I’m a Customer service rep. for AT&T.”
Looking at Tracy through her mirror every so often Jo Ann continued. “That must pay nice.”
“More than minimum wage.” Tracy hedged, trying to steer the conversation away from her and wanting to make Sara uncomfortable. Tracy turned her attention to Sara. “So Sara you’re divorced?”
Brianna shot Tracy a hateful look for asking such a question. Jo Ann also gave her a scathing look through her mirror. Clearing her throat trying to seem unperturbed by her question Sara answered her with as bare minimum as she could.
“Yes I was married for ten years I divorced a year ago.”
Tracy with fake sympathy touched Sara’s shoulder with one hand and her heart with the other. “It is so sad when marriages fall apart.”
Brianna getting pissed on Sara’s behave cut in squeezing Sara’s shoulder. “But she has Eric now and he’s totally in love with her and does lots of romantic things for her.”
Sara smiled as she heard Brianna; Tracy on the other hand didn’t like it at all and using what she overheard in the kitchen made a barely veiled jab at Sara. “Yeah Eric is very romantic, when we were together he used to do the sweetest things; He would always tell me that I was his and leave love bites on my neck so everyone would know. I’m sure he’s different with you though.”
Sara visibly paled and her mind jumping from one thought to another. “I’m not special. He does this with every girl, he doesn’t love me.” Her only response to Tracy was a nodding of her head and an “Mmmmm Hmmmm”
The tension in the car thickened real quick, you could cut it with a knife. From that moment till they pulled into the parking lot no more personal topics were shared. They quite literally talked about the weather. Thanks to Jo Ann’s driving with a lead foot and her short cuts they did beat the guys to the bar. They all got out and went in to put their name on the list for a table.
Sara thumbing over her shoulder to the restroom sign spoke up. “I’m gonna run to the ladies real quick.” She turned to leave when Jo Ann piped up. “I’ll come with you.”
Once in the bathroom Sara went right for the sink. She was going to splash water in her face to try and hold back the tears; then she remembered all the make-up she was wearing. Jo Ann walked up to her grabbed her by the upper arm and turned her around so she would face her while they talked.
“Look I know what you’re thinking, but you can’t listen to that bitch. She’s just trying to get under your skin Sara don’t let her.”
“But you heard her everything he has said to me he’s said to her, what if he says it to every girl he dates. You warned me, not to fall so fast, that he might not feel the same, that he was hiding something.”
“I know I did, look I don’t know what the right answer is or what the truth is, but you can’t freak out right now. Lets just have some drinks relax, leave the drama for tomorrow and you can confront Eric in a less public place.”
Sara was chewing on her lip nodding in agreement
“Don’t let that bitch get to you that’s what she’s trying to do ok?”
“Yeah, ok.”
Chapter 29
Sara and Jo Ann left the restroom to rejoin the group. When they got to the hostess stand they saw that the guys had finally made it. Jo Ann trying to be upbeat and hide the drama unfolding started to tease the guys. “Well look who finally decided to show up, guess you do drive like an old lady after all Gio.”
“Ha Ha Ha.” Was Gio’s reply.
Eric walked up behind Sara and kissed the top of her head then leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Ready for some fun baby?”
Sara patted his hand that was splayed on her belly. “Yeah let’s get some drinks.”
They informed the hostess that they were just going to sit at the bar and order appetizers there. No one really wanted to eat they just want something to nibble while they drank. Tonight was Friday so they had live music to dance to. They ordered some easy finger food appetizers, one of Sara’s favorite foods was potatoes; potato salad was her favorite but not having that here she ordered the loaded potato skins. Jo Ann and Brianna went for the mozzarella sticks. Tracy said she wasn’t hungry and the guys all ordered hot wing
s. When it came to drinks the guys of course ordered beer but Jo Ann and Sara wanted to try a drink called a gummy worm martini it was made of mango and raspberry vodka blue curacao and sprite. Jo Ann got everyone’s attention and told them all. “I’m driving so I can’t have more than two drinks ok, so if I go for another switch it for a Coke.”
Brianna being the DD stuck to a Roy Rodgers which is made of coke and grenadine with a cherry garnish so basically a cherry coke and Tracy started out heavy with a long island which is pretty much one of the strongest drinks you can order. It’s made with vodka, gin, rum, triple sac, tequila with a splash of coke and sour mix. And with no food in her stomach she was most likely gonna get real drunk real fast.
With the drinks flowing and food in their stomachs everyone was starting to really relax around each other; the tension from the car temporarily forgotten. The live band was great; playing songs you could move and dance to. After their second round of drinks the girls were the first to hit the dance floor. When guys started to dance their way up to them, Sara in particular that’s when Eric hit the floor. He got right up behind her put his hands on her hips and moved in sync with her. Gio seeing that Jo Ann had repeatedly tried to move away from a guy that just kept trying to dance with her, decided he would save the day. He got on that dance floor grabbed her hand and pulled her in front of him. In a move that basically said to the other guy that she was taken.
“Looked like you needed someone to bail you out” Gio was trying to talk loud enough for her to hear but not so loud as to scream in her ear.
“Yeah I did thanks, that guy just couldn’t take a hint.”
Matt had worked himself up; he was dancing with a pretty blonde in a strapless mini dress. Brianna was still sitting at the bar talking up a bartender in between him making drinks. Tracy was dancing in between Gio and Jo Ann and Sara and Eric trying to get the two couples to dance more as a circle group then in pairs. And of course not one to leave an odd man out they did. Now Sara like to dance and she was a decent dancer, but as she watched Tracy’s already short mini skirt go up to where it barely covered her cheeks; moving and dancing like a stripper without a pole she really wanted to put as much space between them as she could.
And of course every male within sight of her had their eyes locked on Tracy’s ass. And thou he tried not to Eric’s eyes gravitated there every so often. It didn’t help that she was almost always in front of him or next to him acting like Sara wasn’t even there. Sara wasn’t the only one who noticed Tracy; Jo Ann dancing with Gio was watching everything. Gio seeing that Jo Ann was watching Tracy and that she was scowling as she was turned her around so that her back was now to Tracy and told her. “Just ignore Tracy she’s always been an attention seeker, especially Eric’s.”
“Is there something going on between them?”
“No he’s with Sara.”
“You probably wouldn’t tell me if he was.”
“I would, it would be breaking the bro code but Sara is to sweet I’d tell her cause I wouldn’t want to see her being used.”
“Then is he blind? Doesn’t he she what manipulator she is and what she’s trying to do?”
“I think he chooses to not to because of everything she did for him. He wants to think the best of her.”
“I understand she saved his life but what does he have to do and how long does he have to repay her. He needs to start opening his eyes you should have heard her talking to Sara in the car.”
That caught Gio’s attention real quick, so much so that he stopped dancing right there on the floor. Jo Ann followed suit and stopped dancing too.
“Come here.” Gio took Jo Ann’s hand and lead her off the floor to the restroom hallway where it was the quietest.
“Now what were you saying?”
Putting her hands on her hips in the standard position women took when they were pissed off or making a point or just trying to seem tough in general. Jo Ann imparted on him what happened in the car.
“First she brought up Sara’s divorce and acted sorry for her like she was someone to pity, then she starts talkin’ ‘bout when Eric and her were together; how he did romantic things for her and how he would call her his and so on. Basically covering everything Eric had ever done with Sara.”
Gio was taken back he wiped his hands down his face in exacerbation. “That is such bull shit; Eric would hit her up every so often when he just wanted to fuck. She’s been obsessed with him since we were kids. I honestly think that yeah she saved him from the bullets of the drive by but she only took the wrap for the drugs because she was hoping it would prove her love and make him love her.”
Jo Ann was confused now. “Drugs? Sara said nothing about drugs.”
“Shit” Gio thought she knew the whole story since she knew about Tracy saving Eric. Now he had to explain everything that happened that night and how Eric used to be with girls especially Tracy to try to reassure and show her how much he’s changed. Eric didn’t like people knowing or talking about it but Jo Ann wasn’t just anyone she was Sara’s boss and close friend and she was worried for her. The scowl Jo Ann had on her face only intensified after hearing everything Gio told her.
“Does Sara know all this?”
“I don’t think Eric would have kept it from her.”
“Ok I’ll give him that he has cleaned up his act, but how do you know that he isn’t a player anymore?”
“Ok look he isn’t a saint he’s hooked up with his share of women but he’s different with Sara.”
“I’m sure he is.” Jo Ann bit back sarcastically
“Because I’ve seen him with Sara he’s totally different with her, look let’s just go back to the bar; I’ll talk to Eric about how Tracy acted but we need to let him handle it. It’s between them.”
Jo Ann wasn’t happy about leaving it to Eric to deal with it; she thought that Sara should be present to make sure Tracy didn’t try to lie her way out of what she said. Jo Ann could defiantly see her doing that but she’d go along with Gio as long as Sara didn’t get hurt.
“Fine.”
Chapter 30
They got back to the bar where everyone except Tracy was sitting having another round; Matt even had the pretty blond joining them. Gio made eye contact with Eric and shifted his eyes to the side signaling Eric that he wanted him to go with him. Eric understood what Gio was signaling so he got up off the barstool, kissed Sara one the cheek. Sara looked at him questionably. “I’ll be right back baby I’m gonna run to the men’s room.”
“Ok, you want a fresh beer when you get back?”
“Yeah, thank you baby.”
With that he followed Gio to the restroom.
***
Sara got up and moved to sit at a barstool closer to Jo Ann.
“So where did you and Gio run off to?” Her voice was teasing with a sing songish tone.
Jo Ann didn’t want to lie to her but she didn’t want to tell her the truth. After all she was the one who said to forget the drama for tonight. So she gave her a roundabout answer.
“Well as we were dancing we were talking but we really couldn’t hear each other so we went to the hallway where it’s quieter.”
“What were you talking about?”
“I was talking about some resent events and he was telling me some stuff from when he was younger.” Jo Anna relaxed a little, she didn’t lie she just didn’t tell her the details.
“Oh ok, so you guys hitting it off?”
“I thought you said this wasn’t a set up.”
Brianna hearing the word setup cut in to their conversation. “Sara, were you trying to setup my brother with Jo Ann?
“No I just thought that they’d get along.”
“Ah huh, my brother does not like setups.”
***
Eric has no idea why Gio is signaling him to follow but he did, once they reached the men’s room he faces Gio.
“Ok man what’s up why are you being all secretive motioning with your eyes for me to come w
ith you? You could have just said Eric can have a minute.”
Gio ran a hand though his hair trying to think of the best way to approach this. “Tracy is still into you...” He was about to say more but Eric cut him off “Not this shit again can you drop the fucking subject she’s a good friend that’s all. Now if you’ll excuse I’m gonna dance with my girlfriend.”
Eric turned to leave, Gio stopped him grabbing onto his shoulder. “You didn’t let me finish.”
Eric turns back around to face him his eyes were throwing daggers at Gio, his jaw tight. He took in a deep calming breath. “Fine finish.” His voice was cold, harsh and gruff with anger.
“Tracy’s still into you and she maybe trying to cause trouble between you and Sara.”
Eric’s whole stance changed he wasn’t angry now he was confused. “What are you talking about?”
“Ok so I was dancing with Jo Anna and she had said something had happened in the car ride over here. So I pulled her off the floor so I can find out what happened.” Gio now got a little sarcastic with him. “She told me that YOUR (Gio emphasized on your and poked Eric in the chest as he said it) good friend Tracy started talking about Sara’s divorce and in a veiled that’s so sad was trying to make her feel pathetic for having been divorced.”
Eric shook his head disagreeing with Gio’s words “I’m sure she was trying to be nice and Jo Ann just took it the wrong way.”
“Fine I’ll give you that one but there’s no way she could have misunderstood this. Tracy started talking about how good you two were when you were together, how you did romantic things for her, how you called her yours and would mark her neck to prove it.” Gio now finished crossed his arms in front of his chest his face looked a bit haughty maybe even smug. He had told Eric about what he would refuse to see but know he it was right up front and center.
Eric was completely shocked his eyebrows had risen almost to his hair line and his eyes had gotten big and his mouth damn near fell open. “What the fuck!! Are you serious or you just trying to start shit cause you don’t like Tracy.”
Sara's Unyielding Lover (The Lovers Series) Page 14