by Ryan, Syd
I get a giddy feeling of excitement in my stomach as I go to meet Gavin at work. Gold Dust is coming home. Maybe my bond with my car is a bit too much; I’m not saying anything either way. I love her and, hopefully, with the repairs, I will get a few more years out of her. I will admit I did enjoy my time with the Charger. I could quickly get spoiled with this beaut.
Arriving at the last possible minute, I see Gavin placing his sprinklers in the yard. The grass is minimal because the heat kills it off and wasting water is not an option down here. Gavin’s pure athletic build is on full display for me, and I could easily get distracted by all the man’s yummy goodness. I mean yummy.
“Hey, good looking.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Gavin gives me a flirtatious wink. “Ready to get Gold Dust?” He’s trying not to laugh. I know her name is crazy, but she is all mine.
“You know it.” I feel a little awkward after the conversation we had earlier today on the phone, but I make a conscious effort not to show it.
“Let’s grab something to drink, and we can go to Jared’s and pick it up.” Relief takes over as we get our drinks and head out on the road.
Gavin texted me earlier letting me know that since neither of us were available until later, we could pick it up at Jared’s since the school will be closed. Jared’s house is about thirty minutes away from Gavin’s. We ride in a comfortable silence listening to the radio; he spared me sports radio. The area is a little rougher with older houses, not like the new construction Gavin lives in. I spent time living in all kinds of shitty places, so I hold no judgment—only gratitude. Jared makes enough money to move, but I think he likes living in the trenches of the city. Gavin is the one most of out of place, but you couldn’t tell. Another mark in the positive column for him.
We pull up in front of Jared’s place. It looks like a car shop; he has cars all around the house. He has no fear of people tampering with his stuff; my guess is that he is the neighborhood mechanic who charges little or nothing. I hop out of the car, going straight over to Gold Dust. Gavin gets out of the Pilot, chuckling as he walks over to Jared.
“Oh my God.”
“What is wrong?” Gavin asks.
“They detailed her and patched a rust spot on the side. She looks brand new. You guys didn’t have to do all that extra work.”
“It was good for the boys. They needed something to keep them busy and not fighting with each other. It was no bother.”
“How much do I owe you?”
“Gavin paid for your tow. The parts come to $175.00.”
I’d gotten four hundred out of the ATM, even though Gavin estimated the price would be around $175. If I’d paid for it in a shop, it would have cost around $1500.
“I’m so freakin’ happy, Gavin. I thought my day was going to be crap, and it has been something entirely different.” I hug him tightly and do the same with Jared. “Jared, thank you so much. I’m going to give you two hundred and fifty. The extra seventy-five is to order pizza for the boys a couple of times. Please tell them thank you.” I can’t walk away without giving Jared another hug.
He hands over the keys with the nurse angel keyring. “Jamie, you have a warranty on the work for the first ninety days. If something is going to happen, it will happen way before then.”
“Sounds good.” I can’t get to the car fast enough.
I walk around Gold Dust doing a final inspection, and everything looks like a beaut.
“Oh...I forgot to tell you. We did an oil change and checked your fluids. You will be due for an oil change in another three to four thousand miles, by the looks of it my guess is it will be in about six weeks.”
“Got it, thanks!”
Gavin walks behind me as I do a final inspection.
“I can’t wait to see how it runs,” I say.
Gavin pushes me up against the driver’s side door, holding me in place. “I’ll tell you what I can’t wait to do.”
“What is that?” I say breathlessly.
“I can’t wait to fuck you on the hood of Gold Dust, hearing you scream my name as you orgasm off my cock.”
I feel my body go slack as he says it. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“You are in luck. I can arrange that for you. Follow me home and park Gold Dust in the garage. I will park in the driveway. And Jamie?”
“Yes?”
“Absolutely no touching yourself on the way home. I want your pussy good and wet for me. I want you to think about how it is only me that gets you going off like a firework starting a brand-new year. Wondering if I’m going to lick you to orgasm first, or if I’m going to shove my cock deeper inside you than ever before. Oh, by the way, I want you wearing your bra, underwear, and heels.”
I nod. The thirty-three-minute drive feels like a sixty-three-minute drive. My focus should be on how the vehicle is running, but it is far from it. My thoughts consist of cock, tongue on my pussy, and me screaming in bliss courtesy of Gavin. I follow his directions explicitly, and he wonderfully delivers on all his promises.
Chapter 29
The next few weeks go by in a blur, but in a good way. Gavin and I have been taking turns spending the night at each other’s places. He is great about accepting the ways things are between us and not asking for more. The best news is that tomorrow is my last day of anger management. The hospital will no longer be riding me about it, and I will no longer have something over my head. Erin informed me that she will eliminate the write-up in Human Resources if I comply. I know that the E.R. is not going to be my end-all regarding my nursing career. Therefore I want my record without any blemishes.
My mom has emailed twice for money, and I quickly shot her down both times. She thinks I’m such a fool, but Julia has kept me in the loop regarding the family’s needs. I have flight arrangements to see them in two weeks. Someone is taking my E.R. call, and I’m spending five days in Kansas City. Gavin has insisted on going with me, but I have shot him down all four times it has been up for discussion. I need to see my family on my own terms. I love his offer of support and I plan to keep in close contact with him, but I firmly believe this is something I need to do on my own.
Today is the last day I have off before working a three-day stretch. It’s my day to get everything in order. Gavin dropped me off at home on his way to the hospital. I could have kept that yummy goodness of a man to myself all day. Some days, this whole concept of working a job seems highly overrated.
I just got done firing off an email to my mom, denying her request for money. Short but sweet. I send Julia a text updating her on all things Jodi Jenkins. Her response is very expressive with a laugh-her-ass-off emoji. Julia and I have been checking in with each other at least every other day. I will never take having her in my life for granted. I feel included in the family, and she doesn’t feel alone. I’ve missed the rest of the kids so much. Julia has allowed them to yell hello on the phone a few times. I think she keeps it minimal, so I don’t get upset. I cry every time I hear their voices, though I try to sound harsh and unaffected.
Finally, I have started the search for a new apartment. Gavin has gone with me to a few places and I have looked at others online. There are a few possibilities I like, but Gavin always comes up with a reason it wouldn’t work out. I’m not sure if he is being honest or hoping we move in together. I avoid the topic like a hot grease fire. Gavin never articulates any expectations but, nonetheless, they are unspoken. Meanwhile, I’m still in the apartment, not making it a home. I just keep telling myself it will work out when it is ready to work out.
Regan’s wedding is coming up soon, and I can’t wait to be her maid of honor. She spends much of her time in front of a toilet these days. “Baby Matthews” is killing her slowly, as Regan kindly informs me every day. Grayson looks like he’s the father of quads with all the worrying he has going on. He has, no doubt, aged a couple of years, but even I don’t have the balls to tell him that. Maybe I should suggest a trip to our favorite strip club when Regan is feeli
ng better. He didn’t get to have the Tandra experience the first time we went, when he showed up thanks to my helping him get his woman back. Tandra is the most exotic dancer in the club that invited me to do a threesome with her. I am liking the idea more and more. Gavin and I could have a lot of fun there, he is way too possessive to add a third in a little of fun. One hundred percent jealous of a woman’s hands on my breasts would set him off. I think a night out at Champagne’s will give the guys some perspective and gratitude they have us in their lives.
My to-do list consists of cleaning, organizing my closet, and getting ready for the trip. I pull some great pieces out of my closet to sell to help me recoup the money I sent to my mom. I might be able to make it out without being overtime’s bitch at work. God, I hope so. The emergency room has been so short that we have agency nurses helping until we get the new hires up and working. The nurses are from a little hole-in-the-wall town in Ohio. The Tampa nightlife is all I hear about from them. I have managed to keep my ass away from the bar except for a few times I went out with Gavin or Chris. My alcohol consumption has been within acceptable limits not by driving limits but by Jamie’s drinking until she suffers from alcohol poisoning.
Gavin and I decided to have a casual early dinner date tonight. He understands that on the days I work I’m only up for eating, sleeping, and taking a shower. I can still schedule time for him to fuck me; I’m never too tired to enjoy that man’s large cock. I get all giddy thinking about it, and that is not a good sign. But time to fantasize about his cock is not on the schedule today, as I need to finish a few things before we go out.
When I go to the mailbox to get my mail, I see Doug and Karmen. “Hey guys.”
“I didn’t know you lived this close to Doug,” Karmen says. Doug looks at me very carefully.
“Yep, I’m looking to move. My lease is up this month, and I spent some time looking at new places. How was Vegas?”
Karmen and Doug look at each other, and big smiles take over their faces. “You know the saying what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?”
“Umm...yeah?”
Karmen puts her hand out there and shows me a two-carat princess-cut diamond with a matching wedding band.
“Oh my God, oh my God!” I yell as I hug them both. I couldn’t be happier about this news. My stalker is now enjoying his exotic wife, and probably being dominated by her. I don’t know if it is fair to call him a stalker—maybe a little aggressive. I’m grateful that I’ll never have to find out.
“We are going to have a wedding reception on our one-month anniversary. I never wanted a big wedding, but I love an excuse to party.” Karmen seems blissfully happy about her newly married status.
“Let me know, I would love to come. Congrats again.”
“Do you want to tell Gavin or should I, when I go back to work on Monday?” Karmen says.
“We are going out to dinner tonight. If you don’t mind I would like to tell him,” I say.
“He probably suspected something was up when I asked him for a couple more days off,” Karmen says.
“I want to keep her in bed at all times, I could keep devouring her over and over.” After a few more good laughs and promises from Doug not to keep me updated on his sex life, I go back into the apartment to go through my mail before Gavin gets here.
I open the door like a kid getting ready to tell on a brother or sister. Gavin is going to laugh his ass off at this news. The image that comes to the front of my mind is Doug eating Karmen out as she whips his back, telling him he can do it better. With a big belly laugh, I start to dial Gavin’s number.
“I know I’m going to see you in a couple of hours, but I have big news.” There’s a moment of silence between us.
“I’m waiting.”
“Doug and Karmen got married in Vegas.”
“I should have seen it coming when she asked for a couple more days off.”
“Doug clearly informed me he needed to keep his wife in bed and never wanted to let her out.” We start laughing, and I explain to Gavin the image of Doug and Karmen in my head. He laughs even more, and I am even more grateful that everything is looking up for me. I end the call making a promise I will be ready when he gets here.
As I go through my mail, discouragement takes over as my credit card bills numbers are higher than ever. I grab my phone and pay them one by one, so they are not overdue. The junk mail gets tossed, even the pizza coupons because I’m pissed. I hate giving my money away. The final piece of mail has no return address. I open it to see an invoice and warranty information for my car. The invoice states the cost of repairs was $2,206.37. A copy of the credit card and receipt are attached. Gavin’s name is on the credit card. That fucker lied to me. He paid it behind my back.
I love Gold Dust, but I could never afford that much money to fix her. I would have sent her to the junkyard or sold her for parts. How could he do this behind my back? What other lies has he told me? Fuck the dinner. Gavin Rodgers will be lucky if I ever speak to him again after today. I don’t need any liars in my life; I have been surrounded by them since my birth. I never expected Gavin to be one of them.
I make the final decision that I’m not going anywhere with Gavin. I’m too pissed. I know no explanation from him will be good enough. I decide to tell Regan for two reasons: she is my BFF and it is her job to listen to me bitch and complain. Our relationship works that way.
I call her twice without getting an answer, but I don’t leave a message because I have no intention of adding any more stress to her life. The baby is wiping her out so much. I utilize a coping skill that doesn’t involve alcohol or sex. I gather up my cleaning supplies. The bathroom is about to receive the brunt of my frustration but, at the end of the day, at least it will be clean.
The next thirty minutes go by in a blur as I focus on the offending bathroom; then my cell phone rings. Ripping off my cleaning gloves, I see it is Regan calling me back.
“Hey.”
“Why didn’t you leave a message?”
“I was afraid you were puking your guts up again.”
“Of course, I was doing that. The queso dip I have been eating for three days in a row finally came to an end. Too good to be true. So, what do you need?”
“I caught Gavin lying to me, Regan.”
“About what?”
“I went through my mail today. I got an invoice from the mechanic for over two thousand dollars.”
“Do you still owe him?”
“No, Gavin went behind my back and paid for it. He let me believe the auto mechanic class was providing the labor for free.”
“Maybe there is a reason why he did it,” Regan says sheepishly.
“My entire life I have been surrounded by liars. Regan, you are the only person in my life who doesn’t lie to me. I finally break my rule of one and done, and it backfires in my face. I should never have believed the things he said to me. I thought this was going somewhere, and it’s just another failure in my life. I’m so tired of being disappointed in my life. But I don’t know why I should expect anything different, this is exactly what I deserve.” Tears are rolling down my face.
“How are you going to handle this?”
“Regan, I’m done. I can’t keep going through this with another person in my life. Gavin is coming over to go to dinner, and the plan is to tell him that I’m done. I’m not going to see him anymore, Regan. There is no fixing this, and I can’t keep putting myself through this. I don’t care if he thought he was helping me, but I don’t need people in my life lying for any reason good or bad. My parents kept me in the dark, and Gavin is acting no better than them.”
“James, I think rushing into a decision is a mistake. You need to think about this more. I don’t want you having any regrets. Once you make this decision, you can’t change it. I hope you get that, Jamie.”
“Thanks for listening to me. My decision is made. I’m just done with this, Regan.” I want to steer the conversation in a different direction so the guilt
I’m feeling can go away. “I saw Doug and Karmen at the mailbox today. They got married in Vegas.”
Regan screams something that resembles a “hell no” and laughs. “Wow, that is crazy. I would never have seen that coming. I have all these images in my head of her dominating him.” Regan sounds excited.
“I’m as shocked as you. Grateful that I’m not the object of his stalking.”
“Jamie, I’m glad this is one area that is clearing up for you. I can stop worrying about Dickhead Doug.”
“Glad to hear you have one less thing to worry about now. Gavin will be here in a little bit, and I need to deal with him.”
“Call me if you need anything.”
I end the call thinking one area of my life gets in check just as another begins to fall apart.
I finish up the bathroom with plans of taking a long bath later with some wine. Gavin texted me earlier letting me know he would be on his way. I make no attempt at getting dressed. The dressing I will be doing will be undressing to get into the tub. I clean my face up, not wanting Gavin to see the tears I shed over him. I want a glass of wine, but I don’t need or want Gavin’s judgment. I grab water and sit on the couch, trying to focus on the story I’m reading until he gets here.
A few knocks on the door let me know that he is here. I take a deep breath trying to center myself before answering the door. I can immediately tell Gavin came from work. He is wearing the same clothes he dropped me off in this morning. “Hey, why aren’t you ready? We agreed on six-thirty, right? What’s wrong, is something going on?” Gavin says as he walks in. I close the door, hoping none of the neighbors hear this conversation.
“What in the fuck could be wrong, Gavin? You tell me!”
“I have no clue what you are talking about,” Gavin says. I go over to the table and grab the invoice, and I shove it at him with unnecessary force. Gavin looks at it and shuts his eyes a second.
“Well, you tell me! I never asked for you to pay this for me. Dinner is one thing; a two-thousand-dollar car bill is another.”