“Star Wars,” Chloe called back to us over her shoulder. “The force is definitely with him right now.”
“I guess I should be getting back,” I sighed. “Our order will be up any minute. I’m going to need some food to absorb this alcohol.” Grabbing my drink, I wiggled my brows at Mike and JT. “Let’s see if he notices my new drink.”
“Hey. No lying about which game he’s playing,” Mike called after me. “You’re a crappy liar so don’t think I won’t know.”
I slid into my bench seat and discreetly cleared my throat. Zachary’s head popped up at the distraction. Was that disappointment I read in his eyes? A wide grin spread across my face as a thought dawned on me. He found my company equally as boring. Priceless. The thought made me burst out in laughter. Of course the alcohol wasn’t helping any. Other than it made me bolder than usual.
“What’re you playing?” I asked after I gained control of myself.
“Why,” he asked with lifted brow. “Do you play?”
“Oh sure.” I shook my head vigorously and pumped my fist up in the air. “Super Mario Brothers all the way. I haven’t played in many, many, years, but I know my way around a DS.”
“Figures,” he scoffed and crossed his arms lightly over his chest. “You’re a girl. My buddies and I are into Modern Warfare 2 these days. The special effects are killer. Do you want to see?”
He phrased it more as a challenge than as an invitation. Zachary offered it to me but I shrank back at the idea of touching the DS after the booger episode. He hadn’t washed his hands yet. JT walked up in time to save me from having to accept the DS and endure a lesson in Modern Warfare. He quickly set down our food.
“I have a grilled chicken sandwich for the lady and macaroni and cheese for the dude. Can I get you another glass of milk? I mean Coke?” he stammered and then apologized profusely with his eyes darting between the two of us. “Sorry. Really. I just came from a table with a family of four kids. I’ve been fetching milk all night.”
I giggled and thanked JT for the food. Mistake my ass! I took another sip of my margarita and frowned when air whistled through the straw. JT was just keeping it real for me. I kept the dinner conversation light and focused on topics that were sure to be of interest to Zachary…the latest movies…his favorite games…work. After finishing our meal and placing our dessert order, Zachary stood and turned to me.
“Pull my finger,” he said in all seriousness.
My head buzzed heavily from the effect of the triple shot. I had sucked up the sweet drink way too fast. Had I heard him right? Was he trying to be funny? Oh what the hell. I gave it a solid tug and was horrified when he lifted his left leg and let a juicy fart rip out. I wanted to crawl under the table when the couple next to us looked over in disgust. But the booger was hanging out under the table so I stayed put.
“Definitely a number two on the way,” he said and made his way to the restroom with an undeniable pep in his step.
My jaw dropped and I stared after him in wide-eyed horror. This one had definitely failed to launch out of boyhood and into manhood. Pull my finger? Grabbing hold of the edge of the table, I carefully stood and made my way back to the bar. I definitely needed another drink to make it through dessert.
“Give me another triple strawberry margarita, Mike.” I ran my hand through my long hair in frustration and resumed my seat at the bar. With any luck I wouldn’t remember the whole date come morning. That was my new goal.
“That bad?” Mike pushed another glass in front of me. “I saw you heading over and took the liberty of making you one. What did he do to top the present he left under the table?”
I rolled my eyes and reached for the drink. “You have no idea.”
“Whoa,” JT said as he walked up and leaned in to remove my drink. “You need to slow down Jordan. You’ll never make it home if you keep this up. Christ I don’t even know if you’ll make it home already. You’re such a lightweight.”
“He made me pull his finger and then went to the restroom to take a dump.”
Mike roared with laughter and shook his head as he walked to the other side of the bar to serve a new guest. I pushed past JT’s arm and reached for the drink.
“Fine.” His shoulders shook with his repressed laugh. “You deserve it after that. Wait at the bar for another hour after your date and I’ll drive you home. Keep an eye on her Mike.”
Mike nodded his head in acknowledgement from across the bar and they each took turns keeping me occupied for the remainder of the evening. I hadn’t even bothered to go back to say goodbye to Zachary. JT boxed up the dessert and split the bill in half but, to everyone’s utter amazement, Zachary had paid the whole bill and left the standard 18% tip. Apparently he wasn’t a complete dweeb.
“Shut the front door.” Chloe stared at me with eyes bulging out of her sockets just as JT walked up to collect me and drive me home.
“What’s up?” he asked with a raised brow.
“Jordan was just telling me her stupid date brings in eighty thousand per year testing out flipping video games. He’s made a career out of playing with a joystick all day and he’s rolling in the dough doing it. Excuse me while I go home now and cry myself to sleep.”
“Damn,” JT said in a drawn out voice. “Seriously? The kid’s not as dumb as he seemed. I’m not even going to start out on that salary after obtaining a five year college degree.” He ruffled my hair. “All right kiddo—it’s time to get you home and do some explaining. I called your mom earlier and told her I’d be bringing you home.”
***
J.T.
I wrapped my arm around Jordan to lend her support as we walked to her car. She stumbled along the way in her high heeled shoes but somehow managed to make it to the car without significant incident. It was a good thing she didn’t weigh much though. I’d have no problem catching her if she fell.
“Did I tell you his mom still puts cut up hot dogs in his mac ‘n cheese?” she said, giggling. “Too bad you don’t serve hot dogs.”
I chuckled along—because I found her giggle so funny. “No. You didn’t mention that fun fact. Where are your car keys?”
“In…my…pocket,” she slurred and then giggled when my hand reached around her from behind and slid into her jeans pocket. “That really tickles, JT.”
“You’re drunk,” I whispered in her ear, enjoying her lighthearted mood.
“I know.” She leaned back onto my chest to snuggle her head into the crook of my shoulder. The sweet smell of the strawberries in her margaritas lingered. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d spilt some on herself in her inebriated state. Mrs. Billette was probably going to tan my hide for letting Jordan get this drunk.
“You smell so good,” she said, turning around in my arms and smiling sweetly up at me. She buried her nose in my chest for a moment and inhaled deeply. “I like the way you smell, JT.”
I stared down at her and felt utterly entranced. “I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
The corner of my mouth curved up as surprise registered in her wide-eyes. I held her close to me and could feel the thunderous beat of her heart through my thin shirt. It mirrored my own. I loved the feel of her warm body pressed tightly against mine; it was soft and moldable.
“I didn’t get to kiss a frog tonight,” she whispered while gazing at my parted lips. Her hands reach out tentatively to rub slowly across my chest and I felt a slow burning heat settle into my veins. Walk away. It would be the gentlemanly thing to do. But I couldn’t resist her.
“Is that so?” I chuckled, letting the flirting continue just a little longer. A little flirting never hurt anyone.
“Mmm…hmm,” she said in a hoarse voice before running her tongue along her bottom lip. “Maybe you’d like to show me again how it’s done.”
“Are you sure?” I asked while I slid my hand into her thick hair at the base of her neck and tugged until she was forced to meet me eye to eye.
“Use your tongue this time.”
Every ounce of blood drained from my body and flooded to that traitorous appendage between my thighs. I knew the second she felt my need. “God help me,” I sighed and crushed my mouth down on hers, immediately seeking entrance with my tongue and boldly claiming what she so casually offered. She met me stroke for stroke…feeding my momentary frenzy. She tasted every bit as sweet as I knew she would. With a herculean effort, I pulled back and set her aside knowing that it was wrong of me to take advantage of the situation. She was three sheets to the wind. Yet I had no excuse.
The little moan that escaped her throat was almost my undoing. Closing my eyes I took a deep, cleansing breath to clear my mind of the vision that her moan had conjured. A vision of Jordan lying on my bed beneath me, head thrown back in pleasure, flashed in my mind. I resolutely unlocked the car and opened her door.
“Get inside.” It came out sharper than I had intended and I cursed under my breath. I got behind the wheel of her car and adjusted the seat to my much longer legs.
“Are you mad at me?” Jordan asked with her head leaning against the back of the car seat and her eyes shut.
Her voice had a dreamy quality to it. It was a bitter reminder to me that she was, in fact, drunk and would probably forget the entire evening ever happened. Maybe that was for the best. I’d be a fool to try and deny how badly I wanted her. The rock hard bulge in my pants was all the evidence I needed. But I simply couldn’t afford to go down this path with Jordan right now or maybe ever.
“No.” I stared at the steering wheel for a moment before glancing over at her. The sultry eyes gazing back at me took my breath away.
“Why didn’t you make out with me at the movie theater, JT?”
A deep chuckle reverberated in my chest. She was so stinking drunk. The fact that she’d probably forget the whole night ever happened suddenly made me bold too.
“Believe me Jordan, I wanted to so badly. I can’t tell you how many times I thought about pulling you onto my lap and making out like teenagers. But you’re my best friend’s sister.”
“Mmmm…” she murmured and a gentle smile spread across her face. “I like your way even better. I had you leaning over in my daydream.”
“Kind of like this?” I leaned over to kiss her soft lips.
She parted them immediately and slid her tongue into my willing mouth. Her tongue was pure silk on mine, sliding and licking and plunging. We made out better and longer than any teenage session I could recall.
“Yes,” she sighed when I pulled back for a breath.
I smiled and traced the outline of her closed eyes, letting my finger travel lower across her cheek and then along the edge of her jaw. She was quite beautiful. A delicate snort suddenly passed her open lips. She had fallen asleep. Shaking my head I leaned over and clasped the seatbelt over her shoulder. Great. What did that say about my kissing? I pulled out of the parking space and drove home in silence, with just my own thoughts for company.
I could feel the wad of cash tips in my back pocket and knew it would be just enough to pay the bills when added to the rest of my earnings from the week. If Derek and I put in enough hours this summer, we would be able to pay the running costs of the house and car while managing to eat cheap junk as we studied in the next school year. The five dollar Hot ‘n Ready pizza was a life saver. Just one more year; that’s all I needed to survive before I would start my career with the largest public accounting firm in the world. Then I would be able to afford to support a girlfriend…fiancée…or wife. But not now. I couldn’t screw up this last year of my studies. My life and Derek’s life literally depended on my success.
I pulled into the driveway and silently watched Jordan sleep. There was time. If the last few weeks had convinced me of anything, it was that the likelihood Jordan would find a fiancé in time for the wedding date was remote to none. Let her continue her harmless dates in an effort to fulfill Grannie’s wishes. There was still the small matter that she was my best friend’s sister. Jared. Yeah, that was going to be a problem but it wasn’t insurmountable. It would just require careful thought over the course of the next few months.
I jumped out of the car and opened her door, giving Jordan a little shake on her arm. “Time to wake up, sleepyhead.”
She groaned but otherwise ignored me. There was no help for it. I leaned in and gathered her up in my arms, grunting under the dead weight of her body. She was a lot heavier than I had thought just looking at her. But I was sober enough to know it would be best not to share that thought with her anytime soon. When I arrived at the door I found it being held wide open by Mrs. Billette. She flashed me an inquisitive brow. I grinned back and shrugged my shoulders.
“Meet me in the kitchen after you tuck her in,” she said with a soft chuckle.
I laid Jordan down on the bed and gently pulled off her shoes. The contented little sigh she let out as she snuggled into her pillow warmed my heart. I found the crocheted blanket that Grannie had made her hanging over the foot of the bed and fanned it out over her body being careful to cover her from head to toe. I leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek and then left to head toward the kitchen.
It was time to pay the piper and admit my transgressions. Well not all of them. But I would at least confess to my part in allowing Jordan to become inebriated during her horrendous date. Surely her mother would forgive me after hearing the gory details. How she would feel about the heated kisses in the parking lot of the restaurant I couldn’t be sure. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.
Chapter Five
Graduation Party
Jordan
I rolled onto my back and released an exaggerated yawn as I stretched my arms and legs out across the bed, but immediately regretted the movement. It produced an excruciating pounding in my head. Thank goodness I had eaten a full meal to mitigate the effect of the alcohol at least a little. Mike’s suggestion to throw back a raw shot had seemed like a good idea at the time. Not. If only I could forget the whole thing. Except for the kisses I had shared with JT. Or was that a dream?
I cautiously opened one eye to peer at the alarm clock. It was already ten o’clock in the morning. A glass of water and two aspirin awaited me on the nightstand along with a hastily written note: “Don’t forget you promised to come by at noon! Take this. I’m sure you’ll need it. JT” A slow smile crept over my face as I swallowed the pills, recalling one of Grannie’s favorite quotes from Ernest Hemingway which she shared with me on my twenty-first birthday.“Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.”
I should’ve listened to JT and slowed it way down last night. Today was Derek’s high school graduation party. Jared was coming along as well to help set up the tent, tables and chairs and I had agreed to be in charge of decorations. I had to get up and shower if I wanted enough time to stop by the grocery store first to pick up fresh ingredients for the dishes Grannie and my mom planned to bring to the party.
Everyone had gladly offered to bring a dish to pass knowing that JT would be hard pressed to throw a lavish graduation party for his brother on his own. Although I was certain he’d have figured out a way to afford the party if my mother hadn’t come up with the idea of the pot luck style menu. JT was proud of his brother and did everything in his power to ensure Derek had as normal a life as possible under the circumstances.
It was hard to believe that Derek had graduated from high school. I had always thought of Derek as a little kid as we were growing up. But he wasn’t so little anymore. In fact he stood well over 6’ 3” with broad shoulders and thick muscles that had earned him a partial scholarship to play football at Wayne State University. Yet he was still JT’s ‘little’ brother—by about an inch.
A warm flush flooded my cheeks as my thoughts drifted to JT’s tall frame and the way he’d held me tightly against him the night before in the parking lot of Big Ben’s Brewery. No doubt I had been drunk. But not drunk enough to forget the bold challenge that had passed my lip
s nor the hungry response I had received in return. My tummy tingled with the memory of his velvety tongue rubbing against mine. God help me. The words reverberated clearly in my head.
In this one respect I gladly accepted the consequences of my drunken folly. Alcohol had fueled my behavior, giving me the courage to do that which I would only dream of sober. There was no doubt in my mind now. JT wanted me as badly as I wanted him. What I didn’t know is whether his wanting me transcended physical desire; and whether he would potentially risk damaging his friendship with my brother to find out.
God help me! I thought with my heart hammering in my chest. I truly hoped so. JT was everything I could ever want in a husband: open-minded, caring, loving, hard-working, intelligent, empathetic and funny. Not to mention he set my panties on fire. When had the cute guy from high school grown into a drop-dead gorgeous man? And while I had always liked my brother’s best friend, it was our bonding over the past four weeks since I’d started my dates at Big Ben’s that made me appreciate just how wonderful JT really was.
I sat up slowly and gingerly swung my legs over the side of the bed, hoisting myself into a standing position. The throbbing in my head was now a dull ache. Quite manageable; and likely much better than I deserved. I switched the showerhead onto massage mode and reveled in the hot water pounding on my neck and shoulders, erasing the remnants of my headache.
Sunshine streamed into my bedroom, warming my exposed skin as I gazed out the window. It was going to be a perfect day. I couldn’t be happier for Derek. He deserved it and Mother Nature apparently agreed. It would be a casual affair so I threw on a pair of dark wash jeans and clingy cowl neck sweater. The mid-length sleeves were perfect for the late spring weather and the shade of light blue contrasted nicely with my dark brown hair, which lay straight down to nearly the middle of my back.
“My, don’t you look pretty this morning,” Grannie said from her seat at the kitchen table, her coffee cup perched at her lips. A delicate snort shook her shoulders. “I’m glad to see you decided to join us for the party after all. I heard you had a rough date last night.”
Date Night (Wish Come True Book 1) Page 5