Then the screen goes black.
“Wha—” I squawk in shock. My eyes are hoping that there's a loose wire, my fingers still hoping they can drive in the dark. I look at the kid quickly, and back to the TV. Then I feel a hand go under my hair and get goose bumps.
“I think Jamal was done playing, Robin.”
“Well, I was not. Did you see that? I was doing so good, I didn’t even run into any poles that time.” I sigh and toss the controller to the tray. My eyes meet Jamal’s and I glare. He drinks his water and acts like I’m not there. He turns off the light by the bedside control and we hear his bed going down in the quiet. Batty pulls me by my neck toward the door, but I turn around.
“I’ll be back next week, Jamal, and I’m beating you.” I hear a soft snort and leave the room smiling.
In Batty’s car on the way home, I wind my hair around my finger and let it go, over and over. Finally, Batty looks over at me with raised eyebrows. “What?”
“I was just thinking about Mara.”
“She’s a little flirty thing.” I laugh.
“Yeah, she calls you Batattack, and she thinks we’re dating.” Batty looks back at me with a grin.
“Why does she think that?” Hmm. Well.
“She’s more observant than most, but she asked me about what dates we went on.” Batty doesn’t look amused anymore.
“What did you say?” I lick my lips and shrug.
“I just told a story. It was no biggie.” Batty shifts in his seat and rounds a corner.
“What happened in the story?” I bite my cheek and wind my hair around my finger again.
“I just said that we went to this Mexican place by my house and walked home. She didn’t ask for too many details. I thought I would keep it simple.” Batty is too quiet for too long, so I look over and watch his jaw muscles jump as he clenches his teeth.
“What details did you give?” he asks quietly.
“Just that we walked home and you kissed me goodnight. She’s thirteen.”
“Was it a good kiss?” I look over suddenly.
“Of course it was. I’m not a bad kisser!” He can’t stay broody at that and starts laughing. My chest unclenches at the site of his teeth being lit up by oncoming traffic. Holy shit, I thought he was mad.
When we get to the house, I walk up the porch steps, but turn when I don’t hear him stomping behind me. It takes a minute for me to find him in the dark. He’s at his trunk, with his shirt off.
“What the hell are you doing, Finnigan Brennick?” I yell too loudly. He closes the trunk softly and covers his magnificent body with a grey Henley. Now he stomps up the stairs.
“Obviously, I changed shirts. Go change.”
“Why?” Batty rolls his eyes.
“Because I said so.” I eye him warily before moving up the stairs and grabbing a random t-shirt from my closet. When I get back downstairs, Batty leads me back out of the house and starts walking down the driveway. When he passes his car, I jog to catch up with him.
“Where are we going?” Batty looks at me and licks his lips before swallowing. Then he does something really weird. He grabs my hand. “What the hell is going on?” I ask, alarmed.
Batty looks at my panicked expression and starts laughing. “When I leave your place, most nights I stop at the wrap place down the street. We’re having dinner.”
I glance around like I’m being punked. “And this?” I gesture to our hands.
“I’m not going to have you be a liar, Sadie. Popper was a liar.”
“So . . . this is like, a date?” I ask hesitantly.
“Yeah, stop freaking out.”
“I’m not freaking out. I’m fine.” He glances at my face before laughing again.
“You look like you’re about to shit your pants. Chill out.”
“Chill out,” I repeat slowly, fairly certain he’s never said that before in his life.
“Yeah, is that what all the kids are saying these days?” he asks lightly.
“Are you for real right now? The kids? Your guess is as good as mine. I don’t hang out with kids all the time.” I tell him, completely freaked out. He decides I don’t need an answer and we walk down the hill to a little strip mall I’ve never paid much attention to. I try not to move my hand too much in his. I don’t think I’ve ever held hands before. It’s awkward at first. I feel like my hand is sweating in the cool air. I want to pull it from his and wipe it on my jeans, but I don’t. When I feel his thumb move over mine in a gentle stroke, my arm breaks out in goose bumps. I look over at him and he gives me a little grin that makes me scowl. What the hell is happening?
I study the small restaurant through the window and see the little booths and hand written menu. “You eat here?” I ask him.
“Yeah.” He opens the door for me. I walk in slowly, not able to imagine the man in a suit, or batman cape, choosing this little hole in the wall.
A little round woman behind the counter looks up as the bell jingles on the door and smiles at us with raised hands. “Finn! You are early. I never expect you until late. And who is this beauty?” she says loudly in the empty room. I look back at him and do a double take. His smile is wide, warm, and genuine.
“I couldn’t wait another second to see you, Corin. How are you, beautiful?” I watch in fascination as he leans over the counter to kiss her cheek. I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.
“Oh stop, your girl will get jealous. This is your girl, right?” Corin holds a hand out for me and I shake it with a slight smile.
“Corin, this is Sadie.”
“It’s our first date,” I share, cutting my eyes to Batty with a more genuine smile as he shifts uncomfortably.
“And you brought her here, Finn?” she asks in exasperation.
“Only the best for her. I want to start off with a good first impression.” He winks and the little old lady practically melts into a puddle.
“Well, we’ll have to make sure she’s treated right. What can I get you, honey?”
My eyes move to the board and read my choices. Everything is done in burrito wraps.
“I usually get the Turkish special. It’s amazing,” Batty offers. I shrug and nod, so he orders and actually pays. For some reason, that surprises me. I don’t think my brain has moved that far ahead. We take seats at a corner booth away from the front of the store to wait for our food. I fidget with my straw, and see Batty studying me. It’s so weird. This whole thing is weird and I don’t know what to do.
Batty takes a deep breath and stretches his arms out on the back of his side of the booth. The action makes him slouch farther in his seat, and I feel his knees trap mine under the little table. The knee that I didn’t realize was bouncing stops abruptly with the contact.
“What’s your middle name?”
“Huh?”
“What’s your middle name? You never answered when I asked before.” Batty asks again.
I open my mouth and close it several times before asking, “What are you doing?”
Batty tilts his head and I get a glimpse of one dimple when he grins. “Have you ever been on a date before, Sadie?” he asks softly. My foot tries to bounce again, but Batty squeezes my legs between his so it can’t.
“I . . . I . . . I didn’t think that’s what we did,” I finally get out.
“We didn’t, tonight we are. Is this your first date, Sadie?” he asks again. I roll my eyes and decide to admit it.
“Yes, you’re popping my date cherry.” Batty rests his head on the back of the booth and laughs quietly as he looks at the ceiling.
“Well, we’ll have to make it especially good for you then, since it’s your first time. And since you don’t know how these things work, I’ll help you out. We’re going to ask questions, and the other answers. That’s what you do on a date,” he tells me with that little smirk still on his face. It’s not a patronizing smirk, more amused.
I take a deep breath and convince myself that it won’t be that bad.
&nbs
p; “Black.”
“What?”
I shrug. “Black is my favorite color, I guess.” Batty frowns.
“Why?” My mind reels.
“Why?”
“That’s what I asked.”
“Because . . . that’s what I wear.” It almost comes out as a question. Batty studies me seriously until I break. “What’s yours?”
“It’s not one color in particular. More of a hazel, really. Greens and golds mixed together,” he answers immediately, like he was waiting for the question. I’m thrown off guard after I gave such a fight.
“What’s your middle name? You never answered that one either?” I ask, stealing his question again.
“I don’t have one.”
“Me neither,” I answer before he can ask again. I know he is going to ask again.
“Huh. Something we have in common,” he murmurs. I shrug.
“We have a lot in common,” I say without thinking.
“Like what?”
“We both go to the hospital to volunteer, we’re both involved with the music industry sexually we seem to think on the same level.” Batty squeezes my knees with the last remark.
“Indeed.” Corin slides our plates onto the table with a bright smile and leaves us again. Batty unwraps the foil on his wrap and then asks, “So how are your parents?” before taking a bite.
I stall, taking a huge bite then get distracted. I moan. The flavors explode in my mouth, feta cheese, lamb and a dill sauce that comes together to equal an orgasm in my mouth. When my eyes flutter open after I swallow, Batty is watching me with hungry eyes. My smile is slow to form, all knowing at what that look meant.
“They’re still in Oregon. I’ve narrowed the search for a place to move them. How are your parents?” I volley back to him. He shifts in his seat and clears his throat.
“My mom died a long time ago. My dad is still going strong. I see him all the time.” He doesn’t look as uncomfortable to tell me as I thought he would divulging personal information.
“I’m sorry about your mom,” I say, not knowing what else to say. He shrugs self-consciously and moves his eyes around the room before coming back to me.
“I’m glad your parents are getting moved. How was it seeing them?”
“It was fucking weird.” I shake my head. “I haven’t seen them in forever, you know? So they were hostile. I don’t blame them for that. My dad isn’t doing so good. He’s got dementia and early signs of Alzheimer’s. He didn’t remember me,” I admit quietly.
“I’m sorry, babe.” I ignore the little hitch in my stomach as he calls me that. It’s always been in the heat of the moment, but never without sexual context.
“It’s whatever. I’m dealing with it.”
“With Jack.” It’s a statement.
“Yeah. With Jacque. Is it just jealousy that has you mispronouncing his name?” I wonder.
“Or something.”
“Right.”
“So what do you do if you aren’t at the hospital? Do you sit in that house all day long?” I see by his expression that he really wants to know.
“I stay in the house a lot. It’s peaceful, quiet.”
“But it’s not really quiet. The waves are constant.” I nod.
“That’s true. It’s soothing, though. My own form of therapy, I guess.”
“It calms you.” I nod again, more slowly as I eat a french fry from my plate.
“Yeah. It calms me.” I change the subject. “So I know you have a brother that used to run the record label. Is that your only sibling?”
“Aiden. He’s my older brother by six years.” That’s all he says.
“So what happened to him? One day he was CEO, the next he vanished.” Batty’s eyes shift and flicker with emotions I can’t keep up with.
“He had some personal stuff he had to take care of. He’s . . . fragile.” I lean back in my chair.
“How so?” I’m thinking someone who started one of the biggest record labels from the ground up can’t be that unstable. Batty shrugs.
“Aiden has always felt deeply. Eventually he burnt himself out.”
“And little brother saved the company,” I finish. Batty shrugs uncomfortably.
“I did what had to be done. Are you finished?” I nod and push my plate away. Batty leaves a hefty tip on the table for Corin before putting his hand on my lower back to usher me out of the restaurant.
This time when his fingers intertwine with mine it feels erotic, almost sexual in the glide of skin on skin, and I’m forced to think ahead. Batty and I have always ended Sundays with sex, aside from the one and only time I wasn’t up for it. But this is a new Sunday. Nothing followed our routine, so is it time to change it? This is a first date.
When we climb the steps of my porch, I’m actually nervous. Batty turns to me and waits for me to unlock the door, but I stop with my key in the lock, not turning it as I face him again.
“I had a good time tonight. Thanks for making an honest woman out of me,” I say with a shaky smile. My body is trying to revolt against my brain and do what it knows we do best and throw myself into his arms. Why am I purposefully giving up what I want right now?
Batty’s eyebrows rise in surprise before he pulls me closer with arms around my waist. “You didn’t have fun. You were awkward and overthinking things, but I think that’s the classic first date of all first dates stigma, so you passed with flying colors. Congratulations.” He shifts me with his hands, kind of swaying me from side to side. I think it’s his slight attempt at comforting me or something.
“So you’re saying it gets better?” I ask, putting my hands on his biceps and stepping closer. Batty grins, giving me dimples that make him look boyish and sexy at the same time.
“You can invite me in and find out. I can make it a lot better for you if you want.” I sigh mournfully and shake my head.
“I may not know a lot about first dates, but I do know you’re not supposed to put out.” I bat my eyelashes. “Whatever will you think of me?” Batty throws his head back and groans while he laughs. He brings my hips into contact with his hardness, and it’s my turn to groan.
“I completely fucked myself with that one. As for what I think of you, I think you’re dynamite in the sack, babe.” He sighs. “Alright, how many dates are we talking?” I shrug.
“I have no idea. How many dates does it usually take?” I smile. “I’m deferring to your sage wisdom.”
“You’re asking the guy that wants to rip your pants off how long it takes to have sex with other women? This is a trap, right?” I laugh.
“No. I want to know how long it takes when you date women. There has to be a standard. I just don’t know what it is.” I look down and lick my lips, uncomfortable with my inexperience.
“Sadie,” Batty says quietly to bring my eyes back to his. He’s gone suddenly serious and my heart starts to pound.
“I don’t date, Sadie. Not in a long time.” I watch his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows thickly.
“How long?” I ask, my voice almost whisper soft.
“Over six years.” I blink slowly, absorbing how huge tonight was for him.
“Wow. You’re like a born again first date virgin. We should definitely do this by the book, then.” Batty smirks and lets out a chuckle. I’m so relieved I push my face into his chest and attempt to join in. I love his laugh and don’t want him freaking out the way I am. I feel his hands move to the ends of my hair and pick my head up when he tugs.
“Thanks for tonight, Sadie.” Batty says with his breath hitting my face. I nod and watch his lips as they descend to mine. At first contact, instead of closing my eyes, I keep them open and see that he did the same thing. This kiss is soft, sweet and intimate in a way that reminds me of the night we kissed for hours.
When we pull away, Batty puts a hand on the back of my head to bring it back to his lips and kisses my forehead more forcefully before he’s gone. As soon as he’s at his car, he looks back at me. “I think
three is the magic number.”
“For what?” I ask, confused. Batty smiles.
“Three dates until you give it up.” I scowl.
“Three freaking weeks?” I am not happy, but Batty must think it’s hysterical because he gets a good laugh out of my reaction.
“You don’t want Mara to think you’re easy do you?”
“You want me to tell a thirteen year old about our sex life?” He nods.
“You’re probably right. And besides, you are easy.”
“With you,” I say quietly. His face gets serious again.
“Yeah, with me.” I know we’re both thinking about Maury and his plans for me. “Sweet dreams, babe.”
When I close my front door behind me, I lean against it and shake my head. That was not how I saw tonight going. So many things could change because of what happened tonight, but would it be better if they stayed the same? I liked our arrangement. Working this new show and being in a relationship with my boss has the potential to be a paparazzi minefield. They would chew me up and spit me out faster than he could break up with me. On the other hand, things are evolving into something I feel like I might need. Batty is really the only person I can talk to freely, he knows about most of my life, and wants me to succeed.
As I take the stairs to my room and into my bathroom, I look in the mirror while I remove my earrings and take my hair down. That’s when I notice my eyes are green with flecks of gold. Hazel. Batty’s favorite color.
Chapter 16
TUESDAY
Jacque and I have come up with a good retirement home for my parents. It’s in Cabo and expensive as hell. But it’s by the beach, and has all of the medical requirements they need. Now I just have to get them there.
When I’m in Oregon, I make the long drive in a rental back to the small town I grew up in. I did remember a jacket this time, but something about the cold drizzle cuts straight through, anyway. When the doors swoosh open, I catch my reflection in the wide mirror right inside the door. I run a hand through my hair to squash the little droplets from being visible then frown at the greasy look it leaves and reach into my purse for the beanie I carried for this exact reason.
Forgetting Popper (Los Rancheros #3) Page 10