by Liz Crowe
“Oh no.” It was barely a whisper, but she heard me, nodded and continued.
“My parents had to pry them apart. It finally became evident to them that Jason was out of control and needed help, but it was too late. James stormed out, covered in his own blood, and shortly after, so did Jason. That’s the last time we saw Jason alive. We searched for him all day and night. James still blames himself for it.”
“But he tried to help.” We were both crying as I couldn’t begin to imagine losing Cal like she lost Jason.
“We all know that, but he’s a stubborn, overprotective ass and thinks it’s his job to keep everyone safe.”
“I’m so sorry, Jane.”
“Thank you.”
“But, what does this have to do with Melissa and Dan today?”
She exhaled, “I don’t know what Dan told you, if anything…”
I filled her in on my visit with Dan.
She was turning red, “He’s a liar Cassidy. When I went to Melissa’s that night looking for Jason, Dan was with her, IN BED. She told me I had just missed Jason, but that he was fine. I suspect that Jason caught Dan, not James, in bed with Melissa.”
“Oh. My. God.” I put my head in my hands.
“Melissa and Dan were too strung out that night to even realize how far gone Jason was. He was head over heels for that tramp. We were all kids, but if anyone is to blame for what happened, well, it’s not James. Anyway. Cassidy, James’s biggest problem is that he has a huge heart, and people take advantage of that. The worst mistake he ever made was thinking Melissa had changed. And maybe she has, but Dan? Dan will always be a snake. He made some ridiculous speech at Jason’s funeral about them being best friends. Needless to say, he was escorted out. Melissa didn’t even show up.”
I was utterly mortified, “I didn’t know. God, I feel like an ass. I had no idea.”
“Cassidy, we all have ghosts in our closets. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. There’s more you should know.”
I didn’t know how much more I could handle, but asked her to continue anyway.
“Dan was dealing the night of the shooting.” She paused and waited for me to get her meaning. “The drugs found in James’s office were Dan’s. He swore to James he was clean and that’s the only reason James let his band play at the bar. Dan is dangerous. You need to stay away from him.”
“Jesus, I’m an idiot.” How could I have been dating a dealer? What the hell was wrong with me?
“James has been looking out for you ever since that night. He’s completely smitten with you, Cassidy. I’ve never seen him like this.” Just then there was a knock at the door.
“Who is it?” Jane went to the door, opened it and I saw James peek his head inside. He looked wretched. They exchanged a few whispers, “Cassidy?”
“He can come in.” Jane made her exit. “Thank you, Jane.”
“No problem. Oh, and by the way. Cal knew about Dan on Monday and James is your landlord, not my mom and dad.”
My head snapped up as I saw her smile at James and he in turn slammed the door in her face. “What?”
“Cassidy?”
“You’re my landlord, but I thought.” I let out an exaggerated screech, “Is there ANYTHING else?”
He was on his knees in front of me, clasping my legs, “Cassidy, I’m so sorry. I was just trying to protect you.”
“I’m sorry, too.” Placing my hand on his cheek, I ran my thumb over his scarred eyebrow and he closed his eyes. “This is all so stupid.” His head shot up. “We’re fighting over ridiculous shit.”
He relaxed and laughed, “You forgive me?”
Leaning my head to the side I smiled at him. There really wasn’t anything to forgive because we were fighting over things from his past that we had no control over. Dan, well, Dan could go to hell.
“You’re my landlord? This could get complicated.” I pursed my lips and raised my eyebrows.
“How so?”
“Um, need I go into the various complications that arise in relationships? For instance, the last hour we just went through?”
“No.”
I put my arms around his neck as he grabbed me tightly and stood with me clinging to him. “I won’t break, James. I’m stronger than you think. I forgive you. You can trust me, too.”
He pulled back and looked at me, “I’m starting to see that. I’ll try harder.”
“Thank you.”
“You should finish getting ready. Anthony and Lena pulled in just before I came up.”
“Ugh. Ok. I’ll be down shortly.”
“You might want to wear your boots. I’m taking you for a ride, probably the last one for the season.” It was then I noticed he was in his worn leather jacket, jeans and boots.
“James?” He turned to look at me, “Kiss me.”
He rushed toward me and attacked my mouth as I clung to his jacket while his hands cupped my face. He pulled away too soon as I stood there with my eyes closed catching my breath.
“You ok?”
“Mmm.” With a smile on his face he left the room. I let out a deep sigh and made quick work of finishing getting ready.
Chapter Nineteen
Excessive
~ CASSIDY ~
It wasn’t very long before I was heading downstairs and followed the chatter coming from the kitchen. Lena and Anthony were drooling over James who was chitchatting with them and Cal and Jane were nose to nose. Everything was perfect, almost. Glancing at the picture of Holly on the mantle, she was the only missing piece, and I wondered how long I would feel her void.
“There she is.” Cal rushed over and swept me into a big hug. “Everything good?” He set me down, looking concerned, and I slugged him in the chest. “Ow. What was that for?” He was rubbing his chest as I noticed Jane laughing.
“You know what that was for.” Jane walked over to him and whispered in his ear.
“Sorry, Cass.”
“I know.” Suddenly I was assailed by Lena and Anthony with hugs and gift bags. “You guys, you shouldn’t have. Thank you.”
Lena insisted I open her gift first so I did and found two travel coffee mugs and a box of coffee for my new coffee maker. “I fully expect you to bring me coffee from now on!” We both laughed.
Opening Anthony’s gift I grew nervous because of the way he was looking at me and I suspected that his gift would cause me and everyone else to blush. I pulled out a box and was greeted with tissue paper once I opened it. I glimpsed inside and before I could stop him Anthony pulled out a mass of purple satin.
“Whoa, hey now!” Cal was up in arms and Jane covered his eyes as they laughed and I knew I was as red as a tomato.
“Anthony!”
“Giiirl please. He likes it!” He was pointing his thumb at James.
I looked over just in time to see James blush. He blushed! We all started laughing. I snatched the lingerie from Anthony and shoved it back in the box.
“Here, Cassidy. This is from your brother and me.” Cal started to object and Jane elbowed him in the side.
“Thank you.” Unwrapping the package, I discovered a new set of purple king sized sheets with a very high thread count.
“I heard you got a new bed. Hope that’s okay?” She winked at me and I gave her a quick hug.
“It’s perfect. Thank you.”
Anthony passed around champagne flutes to everyone and started to make a toast, but James interrupted him.
“May I?” Anthony nodded approval. “To Cassidy. You’ve taught me more in the last week than I ever anticipated. I look forward to learning more from you in the years to come. Cheers.”
James didn’t take his eyes off me and I was already melting when he kissed my cheek. He said ‘in the years to come’. I accepted his kiss and pushed his words aside.
“Let’s go eat!”
“One more thing.” I turned to James who was holding a box of his own.
“James, you already got me a gift.” Pushing the box into my hands, he ins
isted I open it. I pulled out a beautiful purple leather jacket. “Wow. It’s gorgeous.”
“What’s with all the purple?”
It was a lot of purple gifts and we chalked it up to coincidence and that it was my favorite color.
“Here, let me.” I turned as James took the jacket from me and slid it up my arms. It was a perfect fit and I turned to give him another kiss. “You look great in it; almost as good as you’ll look in Anthony’s gift. Ouch!” I pinched his nipple and headed for the front door.
“Let’s go. We have some celebrating to do!”
We all stepped outside, Lena and Anthony decided to carpool with Cal and Jane while James and I got on his bike.
*****
Dinner was wonderful and full of laughs from everyone. James insisted on paying the bill and I seemed to be the only one objecting. We decided to head to a new bar down the street and once inside we found a corner booth in the back by the dance floor that we could all squeeze into. James and I ended up in the back with Lena and Anthony to my left, Jane and Cal to James’s right.
The waitress came and took our drink order. Cal and James ordered water while the rest of us ordered drinks before Lena and Anthony headed to the dance floor.
“Are you having fun?” His arm was around my shoulder as he whispered in my ear.
“I am. You?” I turned to him and ran my hand dangerously high up his thigh as he nodded.
“Do you want to dance?”
I shook my head and pursed my lips, “I’m good for right now.” I slid my hand up higher—he didn’t stop me—and soon I pressed my hand against the bulge in his pants as he bit and sucked on my ear and neck.
“Hey, lovebirds.”
James and Cal struck up some dialogue as Jane moved around to my side of the table so we could chat. We both rolled our eyes at James and Cal who were now oblivious to us as we heard mention of bikes, cars, and trucks.
“They’re meant to be,” I smirked as she laughed even louder.
“I guess so.”
“So, you and Cal?” I had to ask, I couldn’t help it. She smiled while shrugging her shoulders. “He likes you, I can tell.”
“Feeling is mutual.” We smiled at each other.
Before we were aware of what happened, Lena had pulled Jane to her feet and Anthony pulled me and led us to the dance floor whether we wanted to or not. I looked back to Cal and James who just smiled and waved us on.
A few songs later we were all laughing, jumping and gyrating to Pitbull. I was turning into a sweaty mess and having a blast, having not let loose like this in so long, and it felt great. The four of us were being inappropriate with each other and laughing our asses off.
Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke then came on and you could hear the cheers fill the club. The crowded dance floor became packed as the four of us were pushed aside, now dancing right in front of our booth. James and Cal were doing their best to ignore us so Jane and I upped the ante. We were dirty dancing with one another and now our men were fully entranced with us. James eyes were hooded as he watched me sashay my body back and forth. I motioned my finger at him, bidding him to join me, but he just shook his head and smirked, clearly enjoying the show I was putting on for him.
As another song ended I looked around, realizing I was alone and my friends were gone. I looked to the table and saw Anthony and Lena gulping down water, but I didn’t see James. Before I had a chance to look for him, I was grasped from behind and I started to pull away when I heard ‘Blackbird’ whispered in my ear.
His hands were on my hips as he pulled my back tight against him. I leaned my head back to his chest, recognizing his scent. Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon began playing overhead and I smiled as I let him guide me to the music. I hadn’t taken him for a dancer, outside of the slow dancing we did at the masquerade and the auction, but he was good.
I felt the heat of his erection just above my ass and pushed back against him, raising my arms above my head. I found his neck and rested my hands there as he ran a hand across the exposed flesh of my belly and I shuddered.
He dropped his head to my neck as his other hand ran up my side and just under my breast. I was sure we must have been quite the spectacle, but so were other couples on the dance floor. He reached up, grabbing my hand, and spun me out as the tempo picked up and I laughed as he pulled me back to him. Face to face, he positioned his solid thigh between my legs as we continued to sway to the beat. I briefly placed my head on his chest while my hands clutched his biceps as his hands traveled just under the hem of my sweater and spanned across my lower back and down to the curve of my ass. I gazed up to him and his lips took mine; the kiss didn’t last nearly long enough, it never did.
He whispered in my ear, “You’ll be lucky if I don’t drag you to the bathroom, baby.” Pressing his thigh into my crotch I gasped, “I have a feeling you wouldn’t object.”
I squeezed his biceps and before I knew it the song was over. He hauled me back toward the table and everyone was there, but before I could sit, Jane seized my hand and dragged me to the ladies room. I was relieved and took the first available stall. When I emerged to wash my hands, Jane was still standing by the door.
“Everything okay, Jane?”
“Don’t panic.”
“Ok.”
“Dan is here. We have to get Cal and James out of here before they spot him.”
“Shit, agreed. What is he doing here?”
“I don’t know, but he didn’t seem too happy with the show the two of you put on out on the dance floor.”
“This doesn’t make any sense. He’s acting more possessive of me now than he did when we were dating.”
“We’ll figure that out later. Right now we need to get out of here.”
We rushed out of the bathroom and back to our table. It was too late; Lena and Anthony were sitting there paralyzed.
“Where are Cal and James?” They simply pointed behind me, and as Jane and I turned, we cursed in unison.
Cal, God bless him, was trying to hold back James. Dan was laughing and spitting words back at James.
“We have to get them out of here.”
Anthony and Lena grabbed our purses and jackets and followed behind us. They had attracted a crowd and a bouncer had made his way over to them. The bouncer and James shook hands and exchanged some words. The bouncer then turned to Dan and escorted him out of the bar and Dan didn’t go quietly.
James was visibly angry as Cal patted him on the chest and they turned to see us making our way over.
“We’re good here. Show’s over.” Cal was talking to the spectators.
I noticed a few cell phone cameras flashing. How annoying. I curled up to James and placed my hands on his cheeks. “You okay?”
He pulled my arms down, kissed my forehead before taking my hand in his and nodded as he pulled me back toward our table. When we got there our table had already been claimed by other patrons.
“It’s getting late, we can just go.” He was teetering on the edge, I could tell. “Hey!” That got his attention, “Take me home, James.” I lifted up to my tip toes and whispered in his ear, “You can take your anger out on me.” I sucked on his ear briefly before I pulled away.
Chuckling at me, he smiled, “If you insist, lady.”
“I insist.”
We all made our way through the bar and as we stepped outside the cold autumn air assaulted us. James helped me into my jacket before taking my hand as we walked toward the parking garage. We only made it another ten feet from the bar before Dan popped out from an alley.
“Cassidy! You didn’t waste any time, did you? Got yourself the prized stallion.”
Jesus Christ. I heard James growl next to me as I stepped in front of him. I wasn’t sure who I was trying to protect; James or Dan.
“Dan, get out of here. You’re just asking for trouble.”
He started sniggering and inched closer. James gripped my shoulders as I noticed Cal stepping up next to us.
I
turned to James, “He’s not worth it, James.”
“He can have you. Tramp. You were a lousy lay anyways.”
Cal and James both stepped forward at the same time. Dan must have had a death wish, and before I could stop it from happening, James’s fist landed square in the center of Dan’s face. Jane, Lena, Anthony and I all flinched, though he had it coming.
Dan was knocked to the ground and when he picked his head back up blood was pouring out his nose. “You broke my nose.”
“You deserved it.” I looked to Jane and smiled at her as she had simply said what we were all thinking. Dammit. I saw some cops running over behind her and turned to Cal.
“Cal!”
He was busy holding James off Dan, but when James spotted the officers he backed off. In the meantime, we had attracted another crowd. Dan was on the ground cursing as I pulled James to the side and checked his hand.
“Are you hurt? You could’ve broken your hand. You need to start punching a bag instead of walls and faces!”
He smiled while rubbing his knuckles and said he was alright. I looked to see where Cal was and found him holding out his badge and shaking hands with one of the officers. That officer then made his way over to James and me.
“Take the lady home. We’ll see to him.” The officer pointed at Dan, and I thought I recognized the officer, but couldn’t recall his name.
“Thank you.” I dragged James away before anything more could be said or done. We all had to make our distance from the scene we had caused. When we reached the parking garage, James turned and apologized to everyone.
“Don’t worry about it. If you hadn’t punched him, I would have.” Cal shook his head, “They’re taking Dan to the station. He won’t be pressing charges. You okay to drive?”
“Yeah, man. Thanks again. I really am sorry.” He and Cal shook hands before we all said our goodbyes.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, sis. Noon?”
“Yes. Dad and Lisa will be here around that time.” He hugged me again and then we were off.