15. Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
"Babe, it's time to wake up," a rough voice murmurs, stubble brushing against my cheek as soft lips kiss me.
"I don't want to," I groan, squeezing my eyes shut, kissing him back.
Jordan laughs, hands wrapping around my naked body. "I know. I don't either. But if we don't try to wake up, we'll be late for work."
I manage to open one eye, gazing at him. "What time is it?"
"It's a little after eight. But on the plus side, it's Friday."
Groaning again, I squeeze both eyes shut. We've probably only been asleep for less than three hours, my body exhausted from last night's activities. "I guess I can sleep tomorrow."
Jordan laughs, humming. "Maybe. It depends."
"Depends on what?" I ask gingerly.
"If you're going to come back tonight."
Opening my eyes, I stare at his face. He's so close to me that I can see every freckle, every little line of age. "Do you want me to?" I question, warmth spreading through me.
He smiles. "Absolutely. I'd love to take you out to dinner tonight. An actual dinner this time. No funny business, I promise. But then we could come here and hang — watch a movie, relax."
Laughing, I raise an eyebrow at him. "Really? No funny business at all?"
"Hm," he starts, pressing his lips to my shoulder. "As much as I enjoy your body, I also love your mind and spending time with you. You could stay the weekend if you like. I don't have any plans."
He wants me to stay the weekend?
"I'd really like that," I murmur with a smile. "Just as long as you aren't sick of me already."
"I could never get sick of you," he says, pulling the blanket over us. "I could just stay with you forever. You make it easy to be with you."
My heart does a little weird flippy thing. "I feel the same," I admit. "Even if you did share me last night."
Jordan tilts his head, watching my face carefully. "Was it okay?"
"It was more than okay," I tell him. "Mind-blowing. I just didn't expect it. People usually aren't okay with sharing."
"Oh," he says, face pulled up in thought. "Well, Kaden is a very close friend. And it was just some fun. But as for sharing you in other ways, that's not something I am keen on doing. And we don't have to do that again. I just wanted you to enjoy yourself. You've had a rough run lately."
"So it was solely just for my stress relief," I tease.
Jordan nods. "And it might have been a little hot watching you ride my best friend's dick. But as long as only I get this," he pauses, motioning to us in bed. "Then I'm happy."
I put my hand on the side of his face, holding his cheek. "Can I ask an awkward question?"
"There's no awkwardness between us," he says genuinely. "I've never felt at ease with someone like I do with you. But ask away."
Swallowing, I do my best to remain confident — even if I'm not. "What are we?" I ask sheepishly. "I mean, what do you want to be? We don't have to be anything or put a label or things, but I just wanted to ask. What do you want?"
Jordan smiles, laughing as I stutter over words. "I just want you, Skylar. In every way possible. But the better question is: what do you want?"
I shrug, looking away as the nerves creep in. "I don't know. I just thought it would be nice to have something to call you, other than my rescuer or oyster friend."
He bursts out laughing, burying his face into the crook of my neck. "You're adorable. How about this? Why don't you call me your boyfriend?"
"Really?" I ask, my voice higher than normal. "You're okay with that?"
Jordan pulls back, a crooked smile on his face. "I'm more than okay with it, if you are."
"I'd really like that," I tell him. "I feel really strongly about you. There's just this connection between us that I haven't felt before."
He nods. "I feel it too. And I'd love nothing more than to call you my girlfriend."
"So, it's settled."
"It's settled," he says, laughing. Throwing the blankets back, I groan as the air hits my naked body. "But if we don't get up, we're going to get in trouble. Come on, I'll drive you home."
"I can take an Uber," I offer but he cuts me off.
"What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't make sure my girlfriend got home safely?"
"I know I'm late!" I yell, barreling through the front door. "I'm sorry! Please don't fire me."
Blaise looks up, startled from the living room as I rush in. "Jesus, woman. Slow down. I'm only one coffee deep for jump scares."
I pull out my cell, checking the time. "It's five past nine."
"I know how to read time," he laughs. "Don't stress about it. It's only five minutes."
Dropping my bag in the doorway, I walk into the living room, throwing myself down on the couch. I cover my eyes, groaning. "There's coffee, right? I think I only had about three hours of sleep."
Blaise laughs. "Yes, there's coffee. Why did you only have three hours of sleep? You naughty girl."
My cheeks blush as I look at him slowly, my face blank. "We stayed up late talking."
"Sure. Talking."
"Among other things," I mutter, confessing what we both already know.
Blaise grins, tapping the keyboard on his laptop. "I'm really happy for you. And at lunch, I thought we could go pick up your car."
"That would be amazing," I tell him. "I really owe you."
He waves me off, turning his attention back to the laptop. "It's nothing. Now, go get your coffee and your laptop. We'll pump you full of caffeine and hope for the best."
Rohan hands me the keys, a large grease mark up the side of his face. "She's all ready for ya! We even managed to get her completely dried inside."
"Thank you so much," I respond gratefully. "I really appreciate it. I was so worried she was a goner."
"Nah," he says, waving his hand. "We're the best. Blazer knows that."
Blaise rolls his eyes playfully from my right. "Sure. Keep telling yourself that."
They exchange some more friendly banter as I walk over to my now-converted submarine. Opening the door, I'm greeted with the fresh scent of floral tones and grease, but as I pat the seats, I'm ecstatic to find she is very dry.
There's not a single mark on her from the barrier damage and the inside is probably the cleanest it's ever been since I've had her. I give the men a quick wave to indicate I'm about to climb in and drive off, the two of them giving me a curt nod back as they continue their chitchat.
I drive home, relaxing in my seat. Life is finally starting to feel good and make sense again. I did it — I survived and came out the other side. I guess that's just what we have to do. Take what life throws at us and push on until it's over.
I've weathered the storm — quite literally — and now I was in a sun-filled bliss.
I had a boyfriend.
I had a new job.
And my car survived.
While I had never intended to not survive the great clusterfuck, I certainly didn't expect to come out like this. Jake was a fleeting memory now — a life lesson. I didn't need an immature coward when I had a boyfriend who adored me, and a best friend who supported me through everything.
I suppose it's a lesson we all need to have sometimes. We shouldn't accept the bare minimum for the sake of it. We deserve better, and there will always be someone ready to give you what you need.
With my newfound happiness, I realized I should make more of an effort to those who mean something to me. It's only a short drive home, but I quickly phoned my Mom from the car, realizing it's been too long and I miss her voice.
"Hey Moon," she greets warmly down the phone line. "We've been wondering when we'd hear from you."
I scold myself, immediately apologizing. "I'm sorry, Momma. It's been quite a rough few weeks. How are you and Dad going?"
"Oh, you know," she starts. "Dad is better with work. I've been helping your uncle. He's sick at the moment."
"Uncle Logie?" I ask, frowning. "Is he okay?"
We come from a small family. I'm the only child to my parents — much like Dad. But Mom has one brother. He never married or had kids, so I don't even have any cousins to torment. But given how small our family was, we're quite close knit. Uncle Logie was always there for events, supporting me like his own.
"Yes, just some problems with his heart. But you know what it's like. You can't slow him down," Mom mutters, and I can hear the frustration in her voice.
"I know," I agree with her. "Is he okay though? Can I do anything?"
She lets out a tiny laugh. "It's all fine here. We're okay. I'll let him know you called. He'll be so happy to hear that. He's always asking how you are doing. We miss you."
"I miss you guys too," I say sadly. "I'll have to come for a visit soon."
"Please do," she responds. "Your father and uncle are driving me mental. Now, tell me about you. What's happening in your world?"
I fill her in on work and Jordan, and I'm delighted that she's as thrilled as I am. I hear Dad's voice in the background, Mom relaying the news to him before I hear the line ruffle and my Dad's voice comes through.
"Moon? What's this about you having a boyfriend?" he asks.
I laugh. "Hi, Dad. It's new — so be nice."
Dad scoffs. "I'm always nice, sweetheart. But he's better than that Jake fella, right? I never did like him."
"Dad!" I scold, at the same time as Mom reprimands him as well.
"What?" he groans at both of us. "I'm allowed to not like people. And you're my daughter. I'll be having words with this new guy."
I grumble, putting my head on the steering wheel once the car comes to a stop in front of my house. "I beg you — please don't. I really like him. Don't scare him off."
"I won't scare him off," Dad says proudly. "I'll just show him my collection of rifles."
Leaning back in my seat, I shake my head. "He's a good one, Dad. I just know it."
"He better look after you," Dad warns. "Or he'll have to face your Dad and Uncle."
I manage to make up the lost time from morning before Blaise trudges back in. I can't help but snort at the giant streak of grease on his face.
"What happened?" I ask. "Did you have to change a tire or something?"
Blaise wipes the side of his face, checking his hand before letting out a half-assed sigh. "That asshole Rohan wiped his finger down my cheek."
"Why did he do that?" I question, amused.
He grumbles, sitting down and reaching for his laptop. "He was trying to be funny. He has a weird way of trying to make people laugh."
"It sounds like it," I agree. "Why was he trying to do that?"
I hear Blaise stop typing and it forces me to look up from my own screen. His jaw is tight and for a moment, I'm worried. I stress that I'm asking too many questions on work time, but he just lets out a breath, before typing again.
"Nathan and I are on the verge of breaking up," he says finally in a monotone voice.
"What?" I mutter in disbelief. "Why?"
Blaise gives me a comforting smile. "We're just not handling the distance anymore."
"Oh," I reply sadly. "Can he move over this way?"
He laughs, scaring me from the change of tone. "He could. But he doesn't want to. He wants me to move there."
"And you don't want to?" I press.
"Not particularly," he snarls. It sounds like he's annoyed, but I know it's not at me. "Plus there's other issues as well."
I can see his jaw straining as he clenches his mouth. I don't want to push him too much and ask, worried that we will cross boundaries or get distracted. He's always there for me when I need him, and I want to do the same. But at the moment, we're working. And it's his business. I don't want him to suffer anymore than he already is.
"What do you need from me right now?" I ask quietly. "What can I do?"
Blaise looks up, smiling at me. The warmth is back in his eyes as he looks over my neatly tucked frame on the couch. "Let's just finish this work and we can talk about it tonight. We can have a drink and order in if you like."
I nod, before remembering I have plans. I already know that I'm going to reschedule my time with Jordan, but it must be written all over my face, because Blaise catches on.
"You have plans," he says simply. "That's okay."
"No!" I start, pulling out my cell. "I can change them. Honestly, it's not a problem. I was planning on staying the weekend with Jordan so if I postpone tonight, I can just go over tomorrow."
He gives me a sympathetic smile. "You don't have to do that, Sky. I'm not going to break — I promise. Go have your fun."
"Absolutely not," I mutter, typing out a quick text to Jordan. "You were there for me when I needed you after Jake. I'm going to be there for you. You're practically my best friend. Not even just here, but in general. If Jordan cares for me like I care for him, he'll understand."
I quickly glance over the text before hitting send.
Me: I'm really sorry. Something has come up tonight. But if it's okay with you, I'd love to come over tomorrow still and stay.
Jordan: Of course. Is everything okay?
Me: Yeah. Blaise just needs a friend and I want to be there to help him. Particularly after everything he's done for me recently.
Jordan: That's more than okay. I hope he is doing alright. Give him my best and I'll see you tomorrow xx
"See," I mutter in relief, looking up at Blaise. "He's fine. We're going to smash this workout, and then we'll give our livers a work out."