by K. C. Harper
I knew at that moment I wanted to find a new place as soon as possible. “I don’t think I can live here knowing this happened.”
He sensed that I was uncomfortable and afraid to be here. “We can look for another place for you to live tomorrow. Just forget about it for right now, don’t let it get to you. I’m here with you, and nothing is going to happen to you. I promise” He kissed my cheek and pulled me into his arms.
“How am I supposed to sleep tonight… with this?” I pointed to the light and the door lock.
He looked at his watch. “It’s still early, we can go to Home Depot and get you a new light bulb and a new lock. I’ll change it out myself if it makes you feel better.” He’d already spent most of the afternoon driving me around. I didn’t want to bother him again for this, and I felt bad.
“Are you sure?”
He kissed me again, a quick kiss, but one that was reassuring of him being ok with doing this for me. “Of course Danielle, come on let’s go. We can go to the Home Depot in Huntersville.” We were almost at Home Depot when something occurred to me.
“You know there is a Lowe’s store in Mooresville right?”
He shook his head and laughed. “Yeah, I know.”
“So don’t you think this is a bit of a drive for a light bulb and a new door lock?” He looked over at me and shrugged, not caring about the drive. “I’m a more of a Home Depot kind of guy, I guess.” Men and hardware stores, is all I could think. They were all the same to me.
“What do men love about this store?” I asked as we walked into the store.
He looked around and back at me like if I couldn’t see what he saw. “What is there not to love? You have almost everything here.”
I looked around, I just didn’t see what the big deal was.
“Come on, Bob Villa, let’s get your door lock.”
I was laughing, holding back a little because of the pain, but it was hard not to laugh. “Did you just call me Bob Villa?”
He nodded, giving me a playful grin. “Yep, sure did. Follow me Bob.”
“Wow, TJ. You’re so romantic, no one has ever said anything so sweet to me.” He tugged me over to the next aisle of doorknobs and locks pulling me close to him and leaned in to my ear. “If you think that’s romantic we can go over to lawn and garden and get romantic on the patio furniture.”
The butterflies started again in my stomach just at the`thought of getting romantic with TJ in Home Depot. His lips were brushing against the skin of my neck and I felt his tongue slide across my skin. I heard a low moan escape my mouth as he bit down gently on my ear, sending waves of pleasure down my body.
“Can I help you guys find something?” A store attendant saw us and came over to help. I backed away from TJ quickly.
“No thanks, we are just looking for a door lock, but I got it,” TJ said, and looked down at me and smiled, pulling my hand close to his thigh.
“Well, let me know if you guys need help with anything.” The store attendant looked at me for a second longer, almost with a confused look on his face. I was about to ask him what his problem was if he kept staring.
“Danni? Danni Bryan?” he said.
I felt TJ pull me closer to him. He seemed familiar, but I wasn’t sure of where I knew him from. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”
“It’s me, Jackson.”
Jackson Wright.
“Jackson, how are you?” He moved closer now, hugging me and I could feel the sharp pain shoot up my side and winced. TJ saw the pain in my face and pulled me away from Jackson.
“She has a broken rib, man, be careful.” I could sense the anger in TJ’s voice. We weren’t in high school anymore, and I knew TJ wouldn’t hesitate to knock him out if he had the chance. Jackson looked at me, and then back at TJ.
“Oh shit! I’m sorry, Danni. What happened? Are you ok?” I wasn’t ready to have to explain everything so I went for the easiest explanation.
“It was just an accident. I’m fine. No big deal.”
Jackson was checking me out, I could tell because he was mostly staring at my breasts. “Wow, you look great Danni, it’s been what… five or six years since we last saw each other?” The last time I saw Jackson was in the parking lot at school when we broke up.
“Yeah, something like that. How have you been?”
“Good. I’m not playing pro like I wanted to since I got hurt, but I can’t complain, things are good.” I could feel the tension coming from TJ and I don’t think Jackson actually realized who he was.
“So, you need a new door lock?”
TJ put his arm around my waist and looked at Jackson giving him a back off stare. “I’m changing it out for her myself. Thanks for the offer, but we don’t need your help.” Jackson looked at TJ, annoyed with him, and looked back at me.
“It was nice seeing you Jackson.” I wanted to end the conversation and get out of there before TJ blew up on him.
“Well, if you need anything, let me know. I live here in Huntersville now, and would love to see you again.”
I knew this wasn’t going to end well.
“Dude are you fucking blind?” TJ moved in front of me, never letting go of my hand as he looked at Jackson.
“Man, what is your deal? Who is this whack job, Danni?” Jackson said.
“Whack job?” TJ was shouting and I was sure people two aisles over could hear him. I put my hand on his shoulder to calm him down.
“TJ, please.” I looked over at Jackson, who was looking just as pissed off as TJ, both of them ready to throw a punch.
“Obviously you don’t remember TJ from high school.” I knew he wouldn’t remember anyone by that name. He looked TJ up and down, giving him a fuck off look.
“No, I don’t remember anyone by that name.”
I looked at TJ and back at Jackson. “Timmy,” I said, and felt TJ squeeze my hand a little.
Jackson laughed. “You have got to be kidding me,” he was laughing at TJ now. “I remember now. I remember kicking your ass on a daily basis and don’t think I won’t do it again.”
“Yeah, try me.” TJ said, pushing me back a little further out of the way in case they started to fight. They were both staring each other down now, seeing who the bigger man was. I knew Jackson didn’t have a fighting chance.
TJ was in better shape and a few inches taller, about twenty-five pounds heavier, and built with more muscle. He wasn’t the same scrawny boy from high school. Jackson looked at TJ again, and then at me, and realized TJ just wasn’t a friend helping me pick out a door lock. TJ was holding my hand and he obviously saw TJ whispering in my ear and the grin on my face. He couldn’t be that much of an idiot and not put two and two together.
“Are you and this nerd a thing, Danni?” His voice was low trying not to speak loud so other customers wouldn’t hear.
TJ let go of my hand and looked Jackson down one more time. “Yeah, we are a thing, what the fuck do you care? You had your fucking chance and blew it like the asshole you are.”
“Wow, Danni, I knew you always had a soft spot for the dork, but I never thought it would lead to this.”
I didn’t say anything to Jackson in high school when he made fun of TJ but I had enough already. “You are such a jerk, Jackson. TJ, let’s go, we obviously have more important things to do right now than this.”
TJ puts his arm around my waist, staring Jackson down. He kissed my cheek and was grinning just to piss Jackson off as he said. “Let’s go.” We were starting to leave and Jackson made one last comment. “You’re still the same pussy from high school.”
TJ pulled back a little. “Yeah, if you say so, man.” TJ leaned over and whispered something in Jackson’s ear. I couldn’t hear what he said, but Jackson took a step back and ready to spit nails. He was pissed. TJ patted Jackson on the shoulder, a he leaned behind me to say something to Jackson so that no one else in the isle would hear him. friendly gesture that was more of a fuck you buddy. “Have a nice night,” TJ said, giving him the middle fi
nger as we walked to the next isle. I turned back, giving Jackson one more glance and could see how angry he was.
“Wow, he is still the same douche bag. I never really understood what you saw in him.”
At that moment , I didn’t even know what I saw in him “TJ, it was high school. I can see he is an asshole now. He seemed pretty upset back there. What did you say to him before we left?”
TJ was laughing, I could see the tension leaving his body. “You don’t want to know, it’s nothing important.”
“Oh, I want to know. It was something, because he looked like he could spit nails.”
He was grinning from ear to ear now. “I’m sure that’s not what he wanted to do , but it doesn’t matter now.” We paid for the door lock and the light bulb and were walking to the car now. The tension from inside was gone now and TJ was back to his mood from earlier.
“So, I take it this means no to the patio furniture,” I said, nudging him with my hip.
“You mean that was a possibility? Let’s go back! But first let me find Jackson so he can watch and really get pissed?” he said, with the biggest smile I’d ever seen on his face. I still was curious to find out what he said to him and I wanted to know.
“What did you say to him in there, TJ? I want to know?”
He hesitated, not wanting to tell me. “Oh, God, Danielle, fine. You heard him call me a pussy again, so I just kindly agreed but told him the only difference is that I would be getting yours,” he pointed to my body down there. “You know, tonight while he was at home thinking about it.”
It was hard not to laugh, it was such a guy thing to do, to prove who was better. “TJ, he looked like he was ready to kill you. You sure are confident, aren’t you? I don’t believe I made any such promises of you getting my, what is it that you called it... pussy tonight.”
He stopped walking and looked at me, “I didn’t mean it literally, I just wanted to piss him off. And can you please not say that word in the middle of the Home Depot parking lot?”
I looked around to see if anyone heard me. “Why not? You and Jackson said it inside Home Depot.”
“Yeah, but that’s different.”
“Oh, really? How so? Because I’m a girl?”
He laughed, shaking his head as he put the things in the back of his car. “No, Danielle, that’s not why. It’s just that when you say it… it sort of turned me on.”
“Are you kidding me?” Me saying the word pussy was a turn on? This was news to me. I had no idea saying that word would turn anyone on.
“Can we just go now, please? This is crazy, Jackson is an ass. Can we please just forget about it and go?”
“TJ Porter, are you getting embarrassed at the thought of me using the word … pussy?”
He ran a hand down his face looking embarrassed. “I really hate Jackson Wright.”
I was standing by the car door now, enjoying seeing TJ turn red and uncomfortable.
“Are you getting in the car or not, Danielle? Or are you going to stand out here and make fun of me some more?” I almost laughed, but didn’t want to make him more uncomfortable. “I am not making fun of you, trust me, but I must say you are kind of cute when you’re embarrassed.” He shook his head and tried holding back his smile as he got in the car.
Sixteen
I thought we were going back home, but TJ was going the opposite way on the highway. “Where are we going? Shouldn’t we be going North?” I had no idea where he could be going. He didn’t even give me a hint, just a quick smile as he continued to drive. He finally broke his silence after we got off the exit on the highway.
“I told you I would get you a new pair of boots. The mall is just down the street here.” He remembered the night in Asheville when my zipper got stuck on my boot. I thought he was just kidding when he said he liked my boots. “TJ, you don’t have to get me a new pair.”
The look he gave me, I knew I wouldn’t win this argument, so I just sat there as he drove.
We had dinner at the food court and walked around for a little while. It was only seven so we weren’t in a hurry. It felt nice to be with him and forget about the past couple of days.
“Wait, let’s go in here.” He pulled me into a store.
“They don’t sell shoes here, you know that right?”
He looked down at me, grinning. “I know that. I am fully aware of what they sell at Victoria’s Secret.”
I still wasn’t sure why we were in this store. “Ok then, so why are we here? I thought we were buying me new boots.”
He nodded, agreeing that we were still going to buy the boots, but he had other plans in mind too. “Come on, Danielle. Let’s just go look. If you don’t like anything we can leave and we will go get the boots.”
He had no idea what he was saying, because a girl could always find something she liked in Victoria’s Secret. My credit card and wallet flinched every time I walked into this store. If I had the money, I would buy everything in here. We walked around for a little while, looking at bras with matching panties and sleepwear.
“This is weird, buying underwear with you.” He looked at me, not quite understanding why it would be hard to buy underwear with him. He is a guy, so I didn’t try to explain.
“Ok, how about this? I’ll go wait outside, over there on that bench. You shop and come get me when you’re done. I’ll pay.”
I didn’t want him to think I expected him to buy me things. I did have a rather large selection of bras and panties at home. It was my secret thing to splurge on, and I did it often. “TJ, you don’t have to buy me anything.”
“I want to, Danielle.” He wasn’t going to give up, so I did.
“Alright, fine. I feel bad, making you wait on the bench.”
“You are a difficult woman to please. Do you want me in the store with you or not?”
“Yes. You can stay with me, but don’t follow too close. I want this to be a surprise.”
“A surprise?” he said, in a low sexy whisper in my ear.
“Yes. I don’t want you to see what I am buying. I want it to be a surprise for later.”
“Later? Does this mean I get to see it on you when we are alone?”
I tried pushing him away. He was so close to me and whispering in my ear that his lips brushed against my skin. It was making it difficult not to pull him into one of the dressing rooms and have my way with him.
“TJ, just go.” I was hot now and probably looking flushed. I could feel it and he noticed. He leaned in one more time to whisper in my ear.
“Make it pink. I like pink.” He nibbled on my ear before backing away, making me wet. The other women in the store were looking at us now; mostly at TJ because not often do you see a hot goy shopping in Victoria’s Secret. I walked around choosing a few bras with matching panties. Some of them were thongs and boy shorts. I was almost finished when I saw something pink and remembered what he said earlier.
“Did you find everything you wanted?” The lady at the counter asked.
“Yes, I did. Thank you.” I found everything and something special to leave TJ speechless.
“Did you buy anything pink?” He was anxious; I could tell in his voice.
“Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t. You will just have to wait and find out later.”
He was shocked at my forwardness and I was enjoying it. “You are going to keep me waiting? I might not make it that long. I’m already dying here wondering what’s in the bag.”
What was in the bag wasn’t the problem; it was what was under my dress that was going to kill him. “All good things come to those who wait.” I patted his chest, trying to make him more anxious.
“Nothing good ever came from waiting, that I can recall. I guess I have no choice. Let’s go get your boots.”
I really didn’t want to go shopping for boots now. What I wanted to do was get home and show him his surprise.
“I never understood what women loved about coming to a shoe store,” he said, as he looked around.
&
nbsp; “It’s kind of the way men like going to Home Depot. Look at it that way.”
He looked around trying to understand. “I guess you’re right, but they only sell shoes here. At Home Depot I can get just about everything I need for my house. How many different styles of boots can one person choose from? They all look the same to me right now.”
He obviously has never gone shopping with a girl before.
“They are different. This one has no heel. This one has a small heel. These over here have more heel and come in ankle, mid-calf and knee high.”
***
“You look tired. Are you in any pain?”
I was in some pain, but didn’t want him to worry so I hid it. “No, just a little sore, but I’ll take some Tylenol when we get home.” I was starting to get butterflies as we got closer to my apartment, knowing about my surprise I picked out. A short, light pink lace satin trim slip. It was soft and had a slit up the side. I told the lady in the store I was going to put it on under my dress and gave her the price tag so she could ring it up.
“You are up to something. I can tell by the grin on your face,” he said, as we stood in front of the door.
“What grin?” I tried to stop myself, but it was pointless. With each passing minute, I was getting a little more anxious.
“I’ll put this new lock in tomorrow, but let me change out the light. I’ll be right in.”
It was perfect, it gave me time to put on the matching pink thong. I was in the bathroom, slipping on the thong when TJ came back in the house with the rest of the bags. “I’m in the bathroom, I’ll be right out. I’ll help you put that stuff away.” He was in the kitchen putting away the groceries. I could feel the excitement building up inside of me as I walked into the kitchen
“Are you hungry? Did you take your pain pills?” He was always so concerned. It really was the sweetest thing.
“I’m going to take Tylenol. The pain meds make me sleepy.” I wanted to show him the surprise and I knew if I took any of the pills I would be too tired. “What I want to do is go lie down for a little while.”
“Ok, let me throw these bags away and we can go to bed.”