Chapter 5 #2
“I’ll replace the groceries when I go to the store after work today,” she said, as we both sat down at the same time.
“Don’t be silly. We can share. Hell, if you’re willing to cook for me, I’d be happy to keep the fridge stocked.”
She smiled. “I’ll cook and shop, too. It’s the least I can do for you letting me stay here.”
I forked some eggs and groaned when I took a bite. Damn, she was a good cook. “Is there anything you’re not good at?”
She took a bite of toast and thought it over. “There are several things I’m not good at. That’s what I was thinking about on my run today. You know how Georgia lives that YOLO life? That might be something I should try.”
“What do you mean?” I devoured a piece of crispy bacon.
“I’ve been talking to Delilah, Sloane, and Rina about it, too. They think I should do sort of a bucket list while I’m home.” She raised a brow at me. “You know, things I haven’t done before that I’d like to start trying.”
What the hell was she talking about?
“What types of things do you want to do while you’re here? Maybe I can help? Because if you keep cooking like this, I’m never going to let you leave.”
She smiled and reached for her glass, taking her time with the fresh-squeezed juice. I watched the way her slender neck moved as she swallowed, and I had the sudden urge to kiss her there. To lick the sweat right from her body.
“Well, Bear, if you must know. Two nights ago, I got drunk for the first time. I’d never allowed myself to do anything so frivolous in the past, so that was a first.”
“Getting drunk is overrated. But everyone needs to experience it at least once in their life, I guess.” I chuckled. “So you’ve already got one checked off the list. What’s next?”
“Well, the most important thing is to get my dad into a program while I’m here.
I’ve been researching this for a while, and I’ve talked to him about it.
He’s open to it. We’ve tried everything else.
Fighting, crying, more drama than anyone needs in one lifetime, and that hasn’t worked.
So, it’s time to try something new. A Hail Mary of sorts, and I found a place on the outskirts of town that has really great success stories. ”
I nodded. I didn’t want her to get hurt, but Tate James had yet to show any desire to get better.
But I wouldn’t say that. I wouldn’t take that from her.
Because if I were in her shoes, I’d do whatever it took for anyone in my family.
So, I understood her need to keep trying.
Travis was far past believing that his father could change, but it didn’t mean that she had to be.
“All right. Sounds like you’ve got a plan for that one. What else do you have on this list, Snow?” I took a long pull from my glass.
“I’d like to lose my V-card while I’m home.
” She shrugged, and orange juice sputtered from my mouth all over the table.
Did she just bring up her virginity so casually, as if she were discussing the weather and not the fact that she’d never had sex?
That no man had ever had the pleasure of rocking her fucking world?
Her head fell back in laughter before she looked at me as I tried to clean up my mess. “Have you never met a virgin, Hugh?”
“What? No. Of course, I have. I just—I didn’t know.” I cleared my throat, trying to think of the right thing to say.
“You didn’t know I was a virgin?” She chuckled. “I mean, it’s not something I advertise. That’s why I’ve been avoiding Mrs. Runither. The woman can sniff out a virgin as fast as she can spot a manwhore.”
“I hope you aren’t looking at me because you think I’m either one of those,” I teased, trying hard to change the tone of my voice.
Did it just get really fucking hot in here?
“I don’t know, Bear. Are you a virgin, or are you a manwhore?”
“Well, I lost my virginity when I was sixteen, so that’s out.
I suppose I’ve had some years where I could possibly have been considered a bit of a manwhore—mainly through college.
But I’ve never lied to anyone about who I am or what I wanted.
And lately, that shit has gotten less appealing to me.
So, honestly, I don’t think I’m either.”
She watched me with complete fascination. “Obviously, you’re very experienced. Maybe you could teach me a thing or two.”
“I don’t take things that I don’t deserve, Lila. And I don’t know that this should be something you put on a bucket list.”
And I’ll be a motherfucker if my dick wasn’t hard as a rock again. Hell, I’d just gotten off less than twenty minutes ago, and here I was, talking virgins and whores with the hottest girl I’d ever laid eyes on, and my dick thought it was time to party.
“Why not?”
“Because. It shouldn’t be something you just check off a list. It should be special. It should happen organically.” I shrugged, hoping I was making sense, even if my voice was gruffer than usual.
Thoughts of Lila James coming apart beneath me flooded my head.
“Did it happen organically for you?” She raised a brow, her voice teasing. “At the age of sixteen, did you find yourself a loving soulmate and share that special moment surrounded by candlelight and romantic love songs?”
“Fine, smart-ass. It wasn’t organic. It was with Eileen Johnson, who was two years older than me, and she climbed me like a fucking spider monkey.” I barked out a laugh. “But, you’re different.”
“How so?” She rolled her eyes, assuming what I was going to say was going to annoy her.
“You’re special. Always have been.”
“So are you, Hugh. But that doesn’t mean it has to be this big deal. At this point, I’d just like to get the deed done, you know?”
Was she trying to kill me?
“Hello?” a voice shouted, startling me from my fucking raging erection about Lila James’s untouched pussy. I was a bastard for fantasizing about my best friend’s virgin sister while staring at the bacon and eggs she’d just made me.
“Hey, Trav,” Lila called out, before waggling her brows at me mischievously. She knew what she was doing, and she was enjoying herself.
“What the fuck happened to your face?” Travis barked, moving close to his sister and placing his hand beneath her chin, turning her cheek so he could inspect it.
“I told you that I fell last night,” she said, looking away, because he looked like he wanted to kill someone.
“You didn’t mention that you got hit in the face on your way to the ground. I thought you tripped. Did Dad do this?”
“Of course not,” she said, her voice angry now. “It was an accident. Some guy was there arguing with him. I got in the way. But Hugh hit him enough times that he won’t be walking straight for days, so you can calm your ass down.” He reached for a piece of bacon on her plate and took a bite.
“Well, thank God someone was thinking clearly.” He held up his fist, and I bumped mine against his.
“No problem, brother. She’s going to stay in the casita. That’s the deal. And she’s willing to cook, so I’m not complaining.”
“Good. Whatever it takes to get you out of there.”
Lila studied her brother and glanced over at me before speaking. “I’ve been looking into some programs for Dad, Travis. I’ve agreed to stay here at Hugh’s, but I’m not going to give up on Dad. You get that, right?”
He nodded and shook his head. “I think I know you well enough to know that.” He reached for a piece of toast. “Damn, don’t tell Shay that this is the best breakfast I’ve had in months. I love her, but she can’t cook for shit.”
Lila and I both laughed. I’d had Shay’s cooking, and he wasn’t wrong.
“I won’t say a word.”
“You want to come over tonight, and I’ll pick up takeout?” Travis asked Lila.
“Del’s meeting me at Cottonwood Cafe when I get off work tonight. We’re having dinner,” Lila said. “How about tomorrow night?”
“Yeah, sure. Shay’s starting to show, so I’m sure she’ll want to talk babies with you.
But it’s good for you to spend time with friends while you’re here, so I’m glad you’re doing that.
What else do you want to do while you’re home aside from saving a man well past being saved?
” Travis asked as he studied his sister.
I loved the dude like a brother, but he could be an asshole when he wanted to be.
Lila squared her shoulders and sighed. “I’d like to just be a normal person, if that’s all right with you, Trav? Go on some dates… have some fun. You know… things you’ve always done.”
“There’s no sense getting attached to anyone when you’re leaving at the end of the summer.
And the casual thing isn’t really your style, is it?
” he asked, and she pushed to her feet and got him a fork, as if she knew he wanted to dive into her eggs next.
He smiled and did exactly that once she returned to her chair and handed him the utensil.
“I don’t know what my thing is because I’ve been too busy chasing one goal after the next my entire life. How about you just let me live and stay out of my business while I’m home?”
“You’re my little sister. Of course, I’ll always be in your business.
” He chuckled. “Have some fun with your friends while you’re home, but there’s no one worth your time here.
That fucker, Kline, was asking me about you yesterday when I ran into him at the gas station.
I told him to fuck off, and I’m telling you, he’s not a guy you should be hanging out with. ”
“Oh, really? Why? Because he’s not a freaking saint?
News flash: Neither are you. So, stop judging everyone else so harshly.
I’m an adult. Back the hell off, Trav.” Lila pushed to her feet and walked to the sink to rinse her plate before her phone rang, and she waved at us and walked out of the kitchen after answering the call.
She pulled the door closed behind her as she went into the casita.
“She’s acting insane. Thank God she’s staying with you, buddy. You’re the only person I trust with my sister. Hell, the way Brax keeps talking about her means I need to watch that fucker now, too.”
I chuckled. “I got you, brother.”
That was a promise I intended to keep.
No matter how tough it was, I’d keep my promise to him and look out for his sister.