Chapter 9
Kelly
The server returned to our table, glared at me as she put our drinks on the table. How rude. She didn’t even ask if there was anything else we wanted.
“Quick service.” I picked up my cocktail. “Should I be worried that she poisoned my martini.” I was only half serious but sniffed it just in case.
“If she did, I’ll kill her,” Gideon replied in a serious voice.
My heart stopped and I gasped. “You’re joking, right?” He’d better be joking. How could anyone say, so casually I might add, that they would kill someone?
“Nobody gets away with hurting my friends.”
I faced forward and slowly drank my lemon drop martini. What was I to say to that? I couldn’t tell him what popped into my head, you’re insane and need help. What if he was mentally unhinged? Telling him could trigger him.
But as I sat with my thoughts for a moment, my gut told me that Gideon wasn’t an evil man or someone I needed to be afraid of. And I always trusted my gut.
“Are you seeing anyone?”
His totally random question made me choke on my drink.
“No, not seeing anyone.” I covered my mouth and tried not to die coughing.
This was so the Gideon I remembered back in high school.
He liked to catch people off guard with wild questions.
It was how he amused himself and it appeared he still enjoyed it.
“Me either.” He set his beer down. “I can see that I unnerved you with my comment about killing Shelley if she poisoned you. You can relax. I would never kill someone for funsies. They would have to be actively trying to hurt someone I loved. I mean, I’ve never even hit a chick.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” I twisted around in my seat to better see him. “I don’t know much about your MC, but from what I could tell last night, it’s not a hobby. You’ve hurt people before, right?”
“Yes. Just like I’ve been hurt when an enemy stole a garbage truck and ran me over.” He jugged his beer and I sensed I’d hit a nerve.
“Tell me more about your injuries.” I peered at him with a small smile. My God he was handsome. Far more attractive than I ever thought he’d grow up to be.
In a way, I was curious about how we might be together. I wasn’t the type of girl to have a one-night stand, but I would love to get laid. An orgasm would release the built-up tension in my body. If it was epic enough, I might come back for more.
“Well, I was hit from behind and dragged across the asphalt. My right leg was broken in two places and my pelvis was fractured. I’ve had four skin grafts on my chest. Basically, I’m a mess.” His sad gaze met mine and my heart broke for him.
“I’m so sorry that happened to you. Are you still in therapy?”
“Nah. Once I could walk on my own, I stopped. It felt like a waste of time.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “It’s been the mental stuff that’s taken longer to heal than the physical ones.”
“That’s usually how it goes.” I’d had patients who’d been through a traumatic event a decade earlier and were still dealing with PTSD from it. The memory was long. “Have you seen a psychiatrist.”
“No.”
“It could help.”
“Not with my biggest concern.” I turned his gaze to his beer.
“What’s your biggest concern?”
“Impotence.”
I stared at him for a long beat, trying to read his expression. Was he joking or serious?
“I’m being serious. I haven’t been able to fuck since before the accident. Since you’re a medical professional, I thought I could mention it. But if you don’t want to discuss it.”
“No,” I replied quickly. “I’m happy to help you anyway I can.” And I meant it. It took a lot of guts for him to bring up something so personal, and I wouldn’t make it weird for him.
“Do you have a magic pill I can take so I can resume sexual activities?”
“That depends on what the issue is. Do you feel nothing? Can you get an erection?”
“I just feel numb most days. This probably more TMI than you’d like, but nothing happens to me when a club girl tries to suck me off.”
“Well, what medications are you taking? Sometimes those can kill your desire.”
“I’m feeling a lot of desire right now, sitting next to you.” His green eyes smoldered as he stared at me. “I haven’t felt like this in a very long time.”
“Interesting.” My face heated and spread down my neck to my chest. I shifted nervously in my seat, hoping to make it stop. His words made me excited, a little hot and bothered.
But how horrible of me to get turned on by a guy who was being vulnerable about his impotence issues? Jeez, Kel. Focus on Gideon and not yourself.
“It is interesting.”
“Have you changed anything lately? Did you stop taking any meds? I’d need to know what you were taking to help me help you.”
“Just oxy the last few months. I stopped the muscle relaxers in the spring.” He hung his head as if ashamed. “And I drink a lot.”
“And I assume that you know it’s not a good to drink while taking meds”
He nodded. “Yes. But I haven’t taken anything today and this is my first drink of the day. I’m literally the most sober I’ve been all year.”
“That’s great. I’m confident you’re resume your normal activities the more the drugs get out of your system. And I’d lay off the hard liquor.” I winked at him and smiled.
“You really think that’s all it will take? It’s humiliating not being able to get hard. Although…” His words faded and wiggled on his butt. “I’m feeling a little something right now. Is it my imagination? It’s only been a day.”
“I don’t know. Everyone is different. I’m sure in a couple of days you’ll notice more improvements. You might want to experiment with one of your club girls.” Instantly, I mentally chastised myself for suggesting he get his freak on with a club girl.
“I’m not interested in them anymore. Haven’t been for a while. When they saw my scars, I could tell it disgusted them.”
“Jeez, that’s rough.”
“Yeah, but the way I see it. It’s for the better. Having a near death experience makes you take stock of your life and the people in it.”
“I know something about that.” I felt tears burn behind my eyes. “When my parents died two years ago, the perfect world I’d created for myself came crashing down.”
“Jesus, Kel. I’m so sorry.” He took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Is that why your brother lives with you?”
“Mhm. I was the only family he had to care for him. I’d tried to make it work in San Francisco, but my boyfriend at the time, wasn’t keen about having my brother with us.
Kevin had issues. He’d been in the car with my parents, and surviving when they didn’t hit him hard.
Moving him out of San Diablo and away from the only life he’s ever known wasn’t the best for him. So we moved back.”
“And the boyfriend isn’t in the picture anymore?”
“No.”
“It’s been challenging doing everything on my own. But I’ve seen some improvement in Kevin. He’s happier here than in the Bay Area.” I took a sip of my drink. “What about your family? They still around?”
“Shit, are you joking? They never wanted me around. The week after we graduated, they moved to Florida. Haven’t seen them since.”
“Oh, Gideon. That’s awful. Do you at least talk to them?” Again, my heart ached for him.
“Hey, I’m better off without them. My MC family is the best. We really care about each other. Got each other’s backs.”
“They sound great.” And from what I saw yesterday, they were very protective of each other. Perhaps Gideon was right about being better off without his family.
Back in the day, Gideon didn’t have a good life.
His parents were never around, and his dad would beat him for the dumbest reasons.
I felt sorry for him and would invite him over to our place for dinner.
His mom never cooked and my mom always made a ton of food and she liked Gideon.
Sometimes, we would hang out in my dad’s garage, tinkering on the old 1968 Mustang my dad was restoring.
Thinking about the car made me blurt out, “Do you remember Michelle?”
“Hell, yes. Whatever happened to her?”
“She’s in storage. After my parents died, I had to sell the house and most of their possessions. But I couldn’t let her go.”
“Does she run? I remember your dad was close to getting her running the summer after we graduated.”
“She runs. I just haven’t been taking her out. She’s actually in town. I never took her to San Francisco.” And now that I thought about it, I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t. Weird.
“Man, I can’t believe you have the Stang.” He whistled. “She was a beauty.”
I tossed my head back, laughing and took my phone out to show him a picture. “She was not. She needed a lot of work. Paint and new rims. But now Michelle is a gorgeous baby blue. See…” I held up my phone.
He took my device for a closer look. “She doesn’t even look the same. Yeah, there are hints of the old girl that I see, but she’s breathtaking now. Much like her new owner.”
“Stop it.” I elbowed him playfully. “Michelle’s transformation is way better than mine.” But I could tell he meant what he said.
“Believe whatever you want.” He gave me back my phone. “Think you might want to swing by the club tomorrow? Cassandra was asking about you this morning. She’d love to meet you. You’d like her and since you’re sort of new in town, it might be nice to make a new friend.”
“Maybe. I’ll think about it.” I smiled at his suggestion and sipped my drink. “Maybe we could pay Michelle a visit.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” He gave me a brilliant smile. It was so intense and genuine, I melted.
I hadn’t felt this relaxed in a long time, or comfortable in my own skin. But it was nice being here with Gideon and getting reconnected after so many years. Sure, we’d both changed, but the easiness we’d always had when we were together was still there.
I had to admit, I liked it.
I liked the way he looked at me.
I liked the butterflies in my stomach, swirling about as our shoulders touched.
But mostly, I liked being with my old friend. They guy I used to trust more than anyone. The person who knew my parents and seemed saddened by their deaths.
I didn’t know what the future would hold for me, but I hoped Gideon would have a spot in it.