Love and Sorrow (Small Town Secrets Book 5), стр. 44
I knew my schedule, so I didn’t even have to check. “Friday night, yes, but I have work and school on Saturday, and I work Sunday night.”
“I was just wondering if you wanted to get together, maybe go out to dinner. Friday night would be great.”
He could provide distraction from my Justin problem. “Sure. My son will be at his dad’s, so I’ll just need to see if I can find someone to watch Sarah.”
There was another pause, and I tried to picture what expression was on his face. “If it’s a problem, we can do it some other time. Or maybe we could bring her along, too. Might be good for her.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know.” When I hung up, I thought he must be a pretty good guy. After all, how many men would not only ask a woman out on a date—but then offer to have the kid along, too?
When I called my mom, now that I was trying to limit Noreen’s time with my kids (especially if I were on a date), my mother said that she’d not only be happy to babysit but also offered to drive Sarah back Saturday afternoon. While that seemed unusual, I wasn’t about to question it.
The next day, near the end of Sarah’s psychologist appointment, Rebecca came out and sat next to me. I was the only person in the lobby, so it wasn’t a big deal.
But it was strange.
I asked, “What’s going on?”
“I wanted to let you know we’ve made some incredible breakthroughs today. She’s talking. I’m not at the root of the cause yet, but I think I’m close. I’m still not pressuring her. I think if I do that, we won’t get anywhere.”
“Do you think she’s bipolar or schizophrenic or anything like that?”
“Oh, no. Absolutely not. What’s happening with her doesn’t seem like a disorder. She’s displaying behaviors that indicate trauma.”
“Trauma? What do you mean?”
“Something has definitely happened to her. I just need to find out what.”
“What do you think it could be?”
“I hate to speculate. I could guess, but if I were wrong, I could be planting suggestions, so I’d rather just wait until Sarah is ready to tell us. We are getting there. We’ve had some good conversations so far.”
I thanked her but wondered how long this whole process was going to take. And, while Sarah might have been talking to her psychologist, I could barely get two sentences out of her on our trip home—not to mention, the copays were adding up with nothing to show for it thus far.
In my classes that night, I could hardly concentrate. And I was so pissed at myself when I automatically found myself looking around for Justin when I left the building. As I walked toward the parking lot, I pulled my jacket tighter around my frame, noticing how much cooler the air had grown since I’d arrived.
When I got closer to the van, I spotted Justin standing by my parking spot, wearing a black leather jacket and not appearing to be bothered by the chill like I was. “Howdy, Rascal. How’s it going?”
“Not much new.” After I unlocked the doors, he got in the passenger side and I threw my backpack in the back. Even though it was cold outside, I still rolled the windows down a little to pull the smoke out. Then, after lighting a cigarette, I handed the pack and lighter to Justin.
“Nah. I’ll pass this time.”
“Suit yourself. They’re bad for you anyway.” After taking a long, soothing drag on my smoke, I asked, “By the way, what the hell was that little visit Friday night all about?”
“What? Chelsea?”
“Yeah…”
“She wanted to watch a movie—and Redbox didn’t have shit.”
“Bullshit. You have cable, don’t you?”
“Yeah. A thousand channels and nothing to watch.”
“Hmm.” I took another drag on the cigarette and then blew the smoke through the crack in the window.
“Don’t tell me you’re jealous, Rascal.”
“Nope.” I was proud of myself, because my tone of voice made the lie believable. “Why should I be?”
“Good question.” Leaning over toward me, he brushed my hair to behind my shoulder with the back of his hand. As I looked in his eyes, I steeled my jaw. Hell, yes, I was jealous and upset—but damned if I’d ever let him know.
Without warning, he plucked the cigarette from between my fingers and tossed it through the crack in his window. Then he leaned over again so that his breath was on my cheek—and I was struck with how good looking he was in that dim light. When he kissed me, my blood bubbled with all those feelings I couldn’t let go for this man. Gone as quick as a kiss were the hurt, anger, and jealousy—and even faster came the feelings of desire. Before I could even register it, I’d sat up while he’d lifted me so I was straddling him in the passenger seat.
The parking lot was almost deserted now, but I wouldn’t have noticed if it hadn’t been anyway. Lowering his lips to my neck, I leaned enough that my back was pressing into the dash, and I pulled my pants down just enough to allow him access. Quickly and quietly, we fucked. It was unceremonious. Animalistic. Uncontrollable.
But necessary.
As our breathing slowed, Justin said, “I think I could use that cigarette now.”
Feeling like a fool, I sat up and shimmied my pants over my hips before moving back to my seat. How had that even happened? “They’re around here somewhere.”
As the words escaped my mouth, though, he already had two cigarettes in his mouth, lighting both before handing one to me. I wanted him to hold me, but it was impossible in the front of the van. “Fuck, woman, how do you do that?”
“Do what?”
Then he laughed. “Nothin’.” Trying to feel my way through my emotions, I sucked on the cigarette but said nothing until he finally asked a question.