Chapter 7 #2
We make small talk about easy stuff, nothing heavy like pasts and families.
Though, my family is anything but heavy, I sense there’s a little more weight to hers, based on the few things she’s mentioned.
So, we talk about our jobs mostly, and I find it fascinating to hear her talk about nursing.
She doesn’t go into any specifics, thanks to the HIPAA laws in place, but the occasional nameless funny story is appreciated.
“He was six, and he asked me if his mommy was going to poop out his baby brother like she did him,” Oaklee states through her giggles.
The sound is…refreshing, and a little erotic.
“Classic,” I reply with my own chuckle.
“Anyway, that little guy was a handful. I’m pretty sure the mom wanted to crawl beneath the table and hide. The moment the doc sent in her prescription for an antibiotic for her chest cold, she hightailed it out of there, practically dragging him behind.”
Our plates are empty and so are the glasses of margaritas. “Kids say the darndest things.”
“That they do,” she confirms, standing up to collect the empty plates. “Do you want more?”
“No, I’m full, thanks. It was delicious.”
“You’re easy to impress,” she quips as she throws our paper plates in to the trash can and moves to put the leftovers in the fridge.
I get up and move to the blender. Instead of pouring what’s left in the blender into our glasses, I decided to pour two shots of tequila.
Since she only has one shot glass, I pour a shot and dump it into my glass and refill the tiny glass with liquid for her.
Carefully, I take the glass, shot, and bottle and head for the living room.
There are still a few boxes stacked in the corner, but for the most part, she has everything set up from her move. I set the items down on her coffee table and smile when she joins me, a hesitant look on her face.
“I thought we weren’t doing shots?”
“The margaritas were for the easy stuff,” I tell her, holding out the shot glass for her to take. Now, if she tells me no, I’m not going to press or force her. She doesn’t want to do it; she doesn’t have to. But sometimes you need a good stiff shot of liquid courage to say what’s on your mind.
She joins me on the couch, sitting toward the front. She looks a little stiff, even after the margarita, and I understand that. She doesn’t really know me, even if she did allow me into her house.
“So, what’s the hard stuff?” she asks as I take my glass with my own shot and hold on to it.
I lean back, kicking an ankle over my knee. I’m trying to show her I’m not threatening in any way, and she holds all the cards. “First off, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, including drink that shot. Understand?”
She nods, her beautiful eyes laced with nervousness. “I understand.”
I pull out my phone and press a call to one of my first contacts, putting it on speakerphone. “What’s up, numbnuts.”
I hold Oaklee’s gaze as I answer my brother. “I’m at a friend’s house. I’m gonna send you a pin drop location. Come pick me up in fifteen minutes.”
“Uhh, why?”
“Because I’ve been drinking and shouldn’t drive.”
“Oh, gotcha. See you in fifteen.”
“Thanks,” I reply, disconnecting the call and firing off my location. “There. Now you don’t have to worry about me overstaying my welcome or trying something hinky.”
Her eyes dance in humor. “Hinky?”
“It’s a word,” I counter.
“I know it’s a word. I just haven’t heard it used since 2004.” Her smile stretches across her face, almost rendering me speechless.
I take a deep breath and down my shot. The tequila burns as it goes down, but it’s definitely smoother than the cheap shit. “All right, I’ll go first. I’ve never had a long-term girlfriend.”
Confusion mars her features. “What? Not one?”
“Nope. Not unless you count the woman I took to my senior prom. We hung out a bit before and after, but there were no titles given. She knew I was going into the military after high school and had no plans for any entanglement back home.”
She nods. “That makes sense. At least you didn’t give them false hope.”
“Nope, I’d never do that,” I tell her. “I’m honest to a fault when it comes to women. I’d never say something just to get someone into bed.”
She watches me, gauging my sincerity, I’m sure. “So, why not now? You’ve been out of the military for a while, right?”
“I have, but I guess, I’ve just preferred to keep things light.”
She cracks a slight smile. “Is that a polite way to say it’s just sex?”
I lift a shoulder, holding her gaze. “Perhaps. Sometimes, that just makes life easier, you know? But I’m always up front about it. I’d never tell a woman something just to get her into bed, remember?”
She nods in understanding before she takes a deep breath and downs her shot. She makes a face and sticks out her tongue. “Smoother, but still kinda gross,” she says, making me chuckle.
Then, she takes another deep breath and levels me with an intense look. “I’ve dated Lance off and on for six years. Last Friday, I went to his apartment to surprise him, and a woman answered the door. He has been cheating on me.”
I try to keep my face neutral, but I already know I fail.
Anger washes through me in a way I rarely feel.
The last time I wanted to hit someone this badly was when some asshole wouldn’t take no for an answer with Charli and tried to get a little handsy.
Before I could even take him outside and give him the proper ass-whoopin’ he deserved, she kneed him in the balls and dropped him like a bag of hammers.
“I broke up with him immediately and dropped all his shit I had at my place on his Welcome mat.”
“Fuck him.”
She nods and gives me a small smile.
“I’m sorry you’re going through that.”
“Thank you, but I should have seen it coming. He was always…distant. Never had time for me, and I always made excuses for him since he was in med school.”
“Fuck him,” I state a second time with a little more heat.
Her grin widens. “Fuck him,” she repeats.
“Atta girl,” I say proudly. “Anytime you find yourself starting to make excuses for the cheating bastard, I want you to repeat after me. Fuck. Him.”
A giggle slips from her mouth, making my cock twitch in my pants. “Fuck. Him.”
I nod and stand up, watching as she does the same. “Lock up behind me.”
Confused, she asks, “You’re leaving?”
“Yep. My brother will be here in a few minutes to pick me up. My truck is parked on the street, so it shouldn’t be in your way. I’ll grab it tomorrow night after work, if that’s all right.”
She looks even more confused. “How will you pick it up?”
“I’ll have someone drop me off.”
Nodding, she follows me to the front door. “Thank you for dinner,” I tell her, pulling open the door.
“You’re welcome. Thank you for the tequila. Do you want to take the bottle with you?”
“No, I’ll leave it here. You never know when we’re gonna need some liquid truth serum again,” I state with a wink.
Smiling, she steps up to the door as I exit her house. “Thank you for the company.”
“I’m always available to keep you company, Oaklee,” I say. “All you have to do is call.”
The ball is in her court.
Again, she nods just as my twin’s vehicle pulls up to the curb and parks behind my truck. “That’s my ride. Lock up behind me.”
“I will.”
“Sleep tight, sweet Oaklee.”
“Thanks to the tequila, I think I’ll sleep like a baby,” she informs me with a little giggle.
“See ya soon,” I say, and without waiting for her to reply, I head for my brother’s truck, hands shoved in my pockets. I don’t look back, even though I want to. I mean what I said. The ball is in her court. What happens next is her decision, and whatever that is, I’ll honor it.
Even though I’m really good at dropping little nuggets of persuasion…
Ideas are already forming as I climb into the truck cab and close the door.
I’m smiling from ear to ear as he backs up and pulls away from the curb. “So…Oaklee…”
I lean my head back, visions of the beautiful nurse filling my mind. “Yeah…Oaklee.”