Chapter 26
Sam
The windows are down, music blasting, and I can’t take my eyes off of Jameson. I didn’t think you could be attracted to the way someone drives a car, yet here we are.
The only time his hand isn’t on my thigh is when he’s shifting gears. He handles the car so smoothly I can barely tell how fast we’re going.
We take a sharp turn, his grip on my thigh tightening, and I instinctively grab onto him, steadying myself.
“Goddamn, this car!” Billy yells from the back seat.
I close my eyes, letting the music wash over me and the wind hit my face, then turn to the window, cranking it down all the way. Shifting in my seat, I slide toward the door and lean my upper half out the window. Jameson keeps his hand on my leg, tethering me to both him and the car.
The world whips past me, my hair flying all over the place. I feel so fucking free. So alive.
I don’t know how long I stay like this, probably not more than a couple of minutes, before I’m moving back into my seat.
Jameson looks over at me, his eyes bright. “You’re crazy.”
He shifts his attention back to the road, taking a turn that makes me squeal. The sound pulls his gaze back to me.
“You love it,” he says. “Don’t you?” He starts to move his hand on my thigh, slowly drifting back and forth. “Going fast.”
“It’s such a fucking rush,” I shout over the music.
“If I didn’t promise your brother, I’d show you how fast this thing can really go.”
I catch his hand on my thigh, intertwining my fingers with his, and we keep driving until the back roads eventually lead us into town.
Jameson slows his speed as the signs of fast food restaurants light the street.
“You hungry?” he asks.
“I could eat.”
He raises his voice so Billy can hear, repeating his question.
“Hell yeah,” Billy answers, drumming his hands against the back of my seat. “I’m starving.”
We pull into a McDonald’s, and Jameson orders for us, already knowing what we like, then drives up to the window.
I reach for my purse but stop when he says, “Not a chance, baby. I’ve got ya.”
Billy tries to push money into his hands, telling Jameson that he can’t pay on his birthday, but Jameson only waves him off.
He shifts, grabbing his wallet from his back pocket, and I try not to think about what he’s done to get the money. I push the thought down into the place I always bury it and accept the bag of food and drinks he hands me.
We find a spot in the nearly empty parking lot, the streetlamp above us flickering. Jameson cuts the engine and it’s suddenly quiet.
I open the bag, handing out our food, before excitedly popping the top off my milkshake and dipping a fry in.
“I still don’t believe that tastes good,” Jameson tells me.
“You’ll never know if you don’t try,” I respond, dipping another fry and holding it out to him.
“Yeah, that’s still a no, baby.”
The first time he saw me do this, he had the same reaction. Although he was a bit more dramatic that time. I told him to try it, and he refused.
Billy takes a bite of his burger. “Sorry,” he says, “but I’ve gotta side with Jameson on this one.”
“Whatever,” I grumble. “You guys don’t know what you’re missing.”
I pull my own burger from the bag, unwrap it, and stifle a yawn.
“You’re tired,” Jameson says.
“I’m fine,” I answer, not wanting to be the reason the night ends, but my body betrays me, and I yawn again.
“Let me take you home,” he says softly. “Let you get some sleep.”
Reluctantly, I nod.
We start toward my neighborhood, but this time Jameson drives slowly, like he’s dragging out our time together.
I relax back in the seat as the low rumble of the engine calms me. Letting my eyes close, I feel Jameson trace slow patterns on my leg, his callused finger gently skimming over my skin.
Eventually, the car slows, and I blink my eyes open. We’re idling on the street, a few houses down from mine. When I look over at Jameson, he explains, “Figured you were sneaking in, and with the engine being so loud, I didn’t want—”
I drop my hand on top of his. “Thank you.”
He nods as I collect my purse from my feet, handing him the presents Billy and I got him.
“Was it a good birthday?” I ask.
“Best one I’ve had.”
I smile at that.
“Text me when you get in, okay?”
“I will,” I tell him before leaning in and sweeping my lips against his.
I push out of the car, and Billy swaps seats with me. “See ya later,” he says through the open window.
I give them both a small wave then turn to walk home. When I get to my driveway, I look back and see the car still sitting in the same spot.
I climb up and through my bedroom window, but it isn’t until I send Jameson a text that I finally hear his car drive past my house and down the street.
By the time I wake up, it’s already close to noon. I stretch my arms overhead and squint my eyes against the brightness filtering through my window.
I’m surprised nobody woke me.
I move through the motions of showering and getting ready before padding downstairs.
Everyone is in the living room, watching TV, and their eyes all flick up to me when I walk in.
My father looks me over. “What’s wrong with you?” he asks. “Slept half the day away.”
I quickly shift my gaze to Johnny, who subtly shakes his head. He hasn’t told them anything, so there’s no story for me to contradict.
“Sorry,” I mutter. “I couldn’t sleep.” I clear my throat, trying to look embarrassed. “Woman troubles.”
My father drops his eyes as Carson groans, “Jesus, we don’t need to be hearing about that shit.”
They make it so easy. All I have to do to get them to stop asking questions is bring up my period.
I move into the kitchen and start another pot of coffee. I’ve just poured myself some when Johnny walks in.
“You want a cup?”
“I’m good,” he answers then lowers his voice. “Just wanted to check in; see how last night went.”
“Oh.” I bring the mug to my lips. “It was really fun.”
“Good.” He smiles. “You should be going out, having fun like that.”
“So should you,” I tell him. “You work too much.”
He ignores my statement altogether and asks, “How’s school going? How was that test you were studying for? What was it? Science?”
“History,” I correct. “And it was good.”
“Come on,” he says. “I can tell you aced it by your face.”
I roll my lips to hide a smile.
“Don’t be modest; what’d you get?”
I take another sip of my coffee before telling him, “A ninety-eight.”
“Couldn’t get a hundred?” he teases.
I shake my head, the smile I tried to hide breaking through.
“Promise me you’ll stick with it.”
“With what?”
“School,” he says. “You’re too smart not to graduate.”
Both him and my sister dropped out before they finished, and Johnny’s always made it clear he didn’t want that for me.
“You could even get a scholarship,” he adds.
I snort. “College?”
“Why not?” He shrugs. “If anyone could get out of here, it’s you.”
He says the words like he really means them. He’s always had more faith in me than I’ve had in myself.
I wonder what my life would be like if I didn’t have at least one person rooting for me.
“I promise,” I tell him. “I’ll graduate.”
“I’m gonna hold you to that.”
I nod before turning in search of something to eat. “I’m making your favorite for dinner tonight,” I say. “I thought we could—”
“Shit, Bug.” He rubs at his jaw. “I’ve got work tonight. Probably gonna be a pretty late one.”
“But it’s Saturday, the shop closes …” I catch the look on his face and realize how na?ve I’m being. “Is Jameson going, too?”
He shakes his head.
“Do I need to be worried?”
“What have I told you, hmm?” He takes a step forward, “I’m always careful.”
I nod, trying to believe him. “Okay,” I say. “I’ll save you a plate for when you get home.”
He wraps his arm around me, dropping a kiss on my head. “Thanks, Bug.”