She looked over her shoulder at me. “What the heck does that even mean?”
“This guy that I kind of know asked me to dinner, but just as friends. Then I stupidly invited him here instead because I didn’t want to go out, and because I didn’t want the pressure of a date. So I thought since it was casual, that it wasn’t a date. But it clearly is, and I’m not ready for that. I don’t want to date anyone,” I rambled.
“Then it’s not a date. Plain and simple,” Letty replied.
“Huh?”
“If you don’t want it to be a date, and he knows you’re just friends, then it’s not a date.”
Her simple explanation left me speechless in the middle of the room. Just like that, she was able to bring me back to reality. What did I ever do before I had Letty in my life?
“Gotta go,” she said.
“Thank you,” I told her as she ran from the room.
The two of us probably made the oddest of friends since we seemed so different, but I liked having her around. She was different, and for some reason, I seemed to be a magnet for all things different.
***
Once I had it in my mind that the visit from Tex was anything but a date, I was able to get more comfortable. I didn’t bother fixing my hair, and I wore a pair of comfy sweatpants and a tee shirt.
At about a quarter after seven, there was a knock on the door. I opened it up to let him in. He had his arms filled with brown bags, and that damn cowboy hat on his head. If I hadn’t seen him take it off in class, then I’d think that thing was glued to his head.
“Hey,” he said before placing the bags on the desk.
“Hi.” I tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. “Food smells good.”
He smiled at me. “It should. I cooked it.”
That caught me by surprise. “Seriously?”
“Yeah,” he nodded. “I cook supper at my house all the time because my parents are unable to.”
I tilted my head to catch sight of the hidden meaning behind what he said, but his facial expression was emotionless. “Is there anything you can’t do?” I asked, because I had yet to figure out what that was.
I watched as he tilted his head back like he was thinking. “Hmmm.”
“Really,” I swatted his arm. “There has to be something you can’t do.”
He smiled. “There are plenty of things.”
He pulled out a couple of paper plates and started dishing out the food onto them. There were mashed potatoes, some kind of chicken, and green beans. It looked as good as it smelled.
I pulled up the other desk chair and made room so that the two of us could eat side by side. When he sat down I noticed that his knees barely fit under the desk. He was a big guy, much bigger than I ever noticed before. I knew his hand swallowed mine up when he held it that night at the party. I knew that I had to look up at him when we were standing side by side. But seeing him sitting at that tiny desk made him look like a dinosaur in size compared to me.
Lifting the fork carefully to my lips I tasted the first bite. “This is good.”
“I had no doubts. My momma taught me well,” was his response.
I rolled my eyes, before taking another bite. Trying not to seem like a pig, I ate slowly. What I really wanted to do was shovel it in like it was my last meal. My own mother couldn’t cook that good.
Trying not to pry too much, I had to ask. “How come your parents don’t cook?”
“My parents are much older. My Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s last year, and my Mom has recently gone blind in her left eye. She has diabetes, and it’s caused her a lot of problems. We just found out last week that she’s showing the early signs of Alzheimer’s as well.”
“That’s awful, Jude.” I shook my head. “You’re the only one there to take care of them?” I wondered.
He waited to speak until his mouth wasn’t full. “We hired a couple of nurses to sit with them most of the time, but there are many nights when it’s just me.”
There it was. There was the hidden emotion that I was looking for. The cloudiness behind that dimpled face. I wondered if he was ever unhappy, and seeing that expression I had my answer.
“It must be so hard on you.”
“Sometimes.”
“I remember when my grandpa had dementia. It was one of the hardest things I’d ever seen a person go through. I couldn’t imagine it being my parents.”
His body lay slack against the chair and there was a distance in his eyes. The moment felt slow and heavy, and I wished I’d never brought up the subject. Then again, maybe talking about it would ease is state of mind. I couldn’t be sure.
Switching the subject, I asked if he brought any dessert. “Surely you’re a baker, too?”
His face lightened. “I think you found something I’m not so good at,” he ventured. “However, I did bring a tub of ice cream. Do you like plain old vanilla?”
“Who doesn’t like vanilla?” I countered.
That cute little dimple appeared once again on his cheek. Besides his seventy-five watt smile, that dimple was the cutest thing I’d ever seen.
The two of us finished up our food and talked a little more. He asked me how I liked school, and to be honest I loved it. I told him to ask me again in a few weeks, though. I’d only just made it through day one. There was still one more professor I hadn’t met yet.
“Can I ask you a question?” I’d wanted to ask him since the first time we really spoke.
He reached into another bag and pulled out a giant carton of ice cream. “Yeah, shoot.”
“Would it bother you if I called you Jude instead of Tex?”
He snickered. “That’s your question?”
“Well, yeah. Quit laughing.”
“You can call me anything you want.” There was that grin. I swear he must attract flies with that honey. It’s the sweetest grin ever. It gives him a boyish charm.
I playfully snatched one of the spoons from his hand. “Good, because I feel funny calling you Tex. It’s a bro kind of nickname, and it doesn’t sound right coming out of my mouth.”
As soon as I said it, I caught Jude with a sidelong stare at my lips. “Let me hear it.”
“What?” I questioned.
“I’ll be the judge. Say them both, and I’ll tell you which sounds better coming from you.” His narrowing eyes gazed into mine.
“You’re not serious.” I could feel my heart pick up. This was not a date. Everything always seemed to take a sexy turn when he was around.
“Oh, but I am.”
“Fine,” I paused. “Tex,” I said and he nodded. So I rolled my eyes. “Jude.”
His eyes were fixated on my lips and it gave me a warm, tingling feeling inside my stomach. “You’re right. Jude is better.”
“Told ya.”
For the first time ever, I realized just how sexual eating ice cream could be, and I momentarily wished I hadn’t suggested dessert.
I needed a subject change, and fast.
“Garrett had mentioned that you ride horses or something?”
His eyes lit up. “I compete in bronc riding competitions, and I love it. My Dad used to compete when he was younger. He taught me everything I know.”
“What do you actually do? I mean how does it work, I guess is what I’m asking. I’m not familiar with it. I’ve heard of barrel racing, but I’m assuming this is much different.” I dipped my spoon back into the container of ice cream.
His body language changed at the talk of bronc riding. It was obvious how much he loved it. Understandably since it was something he shared with his now ill father.
“It’s like this huge adrenaline rush,” he explained, turning his chair around so that he could face me. His hands were going a mile a minute. “The object is to try and stay on the horse for eight seconds, kind of like bull riding. Only there is a horse bucking under you instead of a bull. You’re inside the chute, and have just been mounted on your horse. You can feel the power raging off the animal,
so you want to get the tightest grip you can with your hand. Like this.” He had his hand palm side up in a tight fist between his thighs. Then he stuck his other arm way out into the air. “Your heart starts beating fast, and you’re sweating, and before you know it, the gate opens and horse comes barreling out of the shoot. It’s kicking wildly underneath you, and it takes everything you’ve got to hold on. Your heels are dug into the side of the horse and you’re just hoping the animal doesn’t throw you off.”
My eyes were as wide as saucers listening to him recount the steps. My heart was racing at the excitement of it. It sounded frightening but at the same time, I could understand exactly why he loved it. “Have you ever been thrown off?” I asked while sitting on the edge of my seat.
“Lots of times, but it makes me want to do it more.”
“Wow!” My hands were so tight on the edge of the chair that my knuckles were turning white. “That sounds exciting.”
“It is,” he replied. “Most of my competitions are in the summer, but you should definitely come and watch sometime. My parents can’t travel anymore, but my Uncle and Garrett come sometimes.”
“I’d love to come.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. After the way you described it, I’m thinking maybe I should take up bronc riding myself.”
“Noooo,” he shook his head. “You’d get hurt.”
“Well, I can’t wait to see you fall off, buddy.”
“Holy shit!” Jude yelled. “There is something alive in here, I just saw something crawl in front of that door,” he pointed at the bathroom. His eyes were wide.
I cracked up. I couldn’t help it. I was thinking about the first time I saw Shadow and how my face probably looked just like his, like I was scared shitless.
“That’s just the immigrant,” I explained through my laughter.
“What?”
“My roommate Letty has a cat. His name is Shadow.”
He leaned to the right to get a better look. “How the hell did your roommate get a cat inside the dorm, and no one found out about it?”
“I told you,” I shrugged. “The cat’s an immigrant. She smuggled him in, and I promised not to say a word, all though that little devil hates me. I never was a big cat person. Dogs are way better.”
“Do you have a dog? At home, I meant,” Jude asked.
I scoffed. “No. My parents would never let me have a dog. My Mom is like the female version of Mr. Clean. She’d flip if she ever saw a dog hair on her five thousand dollar couch.”
“You should come by my place sometime. I have a great big sheepdog named Zeus. He’s the biggest, hairiest dog you’ll ever see. He’s lovable, too.”
“Aw, I’d love to meet Zeus.”
Jude started to clean up the mess, and I stood up to help him.
“The cook never cleans you know?” I yawned. My first day of school must’ve really worn me out. It was still early, but I could feel the exhaustion setting in.
“Then you’ve never had dinner with a gentleman.”
I blushed and stared away. He certainly was.
Once the mess was cleaned up, we chatted for a short while longer. He told me more about his parents, and I told him a little about mine. The conversation was easy with Jude. I never felt nervous while he was there. I never felt pressured. It was comfortable, and a nice change of pace for me. My mind was clear of all the crap I’d been going through with Josh.
“I had a nice time,” I told him.
“Me too. I should get going,” he said.
With his arms filled with bags, I reached up and kissed his cheek lightly. “Thank you.” That deep dimple appeared on that cheek and I grinned. “It was nice to have dinner and get to know each other, and not worry about the pressures.”
“Maybe we can do it again sometime?” He had a questioning look in his eyes, or maybe that was a hopeful look.
“Maybe,” I smiled. “Goodnight, Jude.”
“Goodnight.”
I closed the door behind him, and let myself fall back onto my mattress. I realized how much I overreacted to what I thought was a date. Curling up under my blanket, I felt relief. It was a wonderful night, and I was overjoyed that I got to know Jude better. Nothing was going to wipe this smile off my face.
Just as I closed my eyes, my phone made a pinging noise letting me know that I had a text. When I glanced at it, I noticed it was from Josh.
Crap.
I’d forgotten to call him.
When I opened the message it said-
Just checking to see how your date is going? -Josh
Shit.
It wasn’t a date. -Lee
I replied back quickly. Then sent him a quick goodnight text, telling him that I’d talk to him tomorrow. I was too tired, and I didn’t feel the need to explain myself. He’s the one who told me I should see other people anyway.
It wasn’t even a date for crying out loud.
I sat my phone back on my nightstand and turned off the lamp. All I wanted was a good night’s sleep. I’d deal with Josh later.
Fourteen
Josh
Lee refused to tell me any more about her date with Tex, and she swears it wasn’t a date. Which was total bullshit. I tried asking her about it every day this week. She got so aggravated with me asking that she told me next time she’ll record it so that I’ll have visual proof.
Sounded good to me. At least I’d know what his intentions were with my girl.
Either way, she’s been coming around more lately. I couldn’t ask for much more. That little hiccup we had left me feeling shitty, and nothing I was doing was working. I tried everything.
I should’ve known that a few days of picking at her would work.
“You coming over tonight for cards?” I asked her as we walked up to her dorm room. I waited for her outside of her last class so that I could walk her home. I wanted to invite her to card night in our dorm. The guys were getting together to play poker, and we had a few friends coming. I wanted her there. “Your boyfriend will be there,” I poked.
She squinted up at me with an evil smirk on her face. “The joke is old, little man.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t help myself.” I poked her side. “You coming or not?”
“I’ll be there, but can my roommate stop by later when she gets off work?”
“I don’t care.”
“Okay then. I’ll see you later.” She waved as she started walking into the building. “Oh hey,” she called out. “Do I need to bring anything?”
“Naw, Garrett has things covered.”
***
“How’s it going, man?” I held out my fist to Obi. We’d become pretty good friends since I’d started hanging out with the guys. The group of them hung out almost every weekend. I felt like I’d become one of them, since becoming roommates with Garrett. Fox was the only one of them that I didn’t know that well. He wasn’t around as much as the rest of the guys.
“Good. I’m ready to take your money.” He joked.
“I hear ya.”
Garrett managed to get a green felt table cover for our card table so that it looked like we were really in Vegas. It was pretty sweet.
We couldn’t fit everyone in our small dorm room, so we had to use the common room. Garrett bribed our RA to let us hold the card game there. Don’t ask me how he did it? The man was capable of pulling off things that no one else could. It was a gift.
The only stipulations the RA gave us were no loud music, and we had to use cups. Which in other words meant we couldn’t have alcohol containers visible. I could live with that.
We set up the poker chips and chairs, and turned the flat screen on to the football game.
I was just about to text Lee, when she came walking in through the door. She spotted me immediately when she came in, but Garrett got to her first. He picked her up and spun her around. It didn’t bother me the way it used to, so long as his hands didn’t land in places where they didn’t belong.
The rest of the guys came in behind her, so I had the chance to introduce Lee to the rest of them. Obi brought his girlfriend, and Bo brought his, so she wasn’t the only girl.
“I’m glad you came Lee.” I took her hand. “Come on, I’ll get us a drink.”
“I’ll be right there,” she said before walking off.
She was heading towards the door where Tex had just walked in. I felt my temples flex when my jaw muscles tightened. Garrett told me he was a nice guy, but I hadn’t been around him enough to know. It felt strange seeing how comfortable Lee was with him. You’d think they were old friends.
I won’t lie. It stung a little. Not for reasons that you’re probably thinking. It was only because she was my best friend, and my pride was enormous. I didn’t like sharing, but I was biting my tongue and holding it back. He’d just better hope he wasn’t an ass, or I’d put my foot in him.
“I know that look,” Garrett whispered from behind my shoulder. “Take a chill pill. We’re going to have a good time.”
I nodded and sipped my drink.
“Yeah,” I said. “And I’m going to take that boy’s money.”
He slapped my back. “God, I love poker.”
Fifteen
Paislee
“You look pretty,” Jude said. Who knew such a simple word could make you feel so good. “When you going to come over at meet Zeus? You should come this weekend.” Jude suggested. He was persistent. I’d give him that.
“We’ll see.”
I thought that after our dinner the other night things would be weird between us, but I was wrong. It was easy. We talked in class, and not once did he ever make me feel embarrassed or uneasy about the time we’d spent together.
“Come on boys, let’s play cards.” Garrett howled, his voice carried over the entire room.
“I think that’s your cue.” I pointed to the card table.
“I’m probably going to lose all my money.” His eyebrows rose in amusement. I wanted to say yes you’re probably going to lose because Josh was a card shark, but I learned to never underestimate Jude. He always had a way of surprising me. He was like King Midas. Everything he touched turned to gold. I was yet to learn his weaknesses, but there had to be some. No one could be that perfect. Right?
Do you love me? (Trinity Series Book 1) Page 9