14. Fourteen
Fourteen
I told Erin she needed to talk to Mack again if she wanted to hear what she really said to me at the booth. Our time in the office was short and awkward, but I meant what I said. If Erin dates Mack after this, I need to take a step back.
Mondays are dark. The club is closed and I’m happy to be doing absolutely nothing. Erin hasn’t contacted me for two days, which I suppose should give me a clue as to where I stand with her. It’s possible my brain is in shock because the consequences of my gamble haven’t hit home just yet.
I’m standing in my bathroom staring at my ass in the mirror, trying to figure out if I should even bother sticking the needle in today. Maybe a good dose of pain will snap me out of my haze.
A deep sigh escapes my entire body. I’m tired and frustrated. If my family finds out what happened with Erin in my office, I will never hear the end of it. I can already hear Lucille’s scathing remarks in my head .
“What the fuck do you mean you told her you were stepping back? Are you a goddamn moron? Of course you are. Why am I even asking? Jesus, Amelia, how are we related?”
I assume it would be along those lines. Lucille doesn’t pull punches. I’ve spent hours questioning myself. Should I have told Erin what Mack said? I could have, but Erin deserved to hear the truth from Mack. They have to sort out their relationship; I can’t be in the middle. Well, not anymore.
“Do you need some help?” Erin’s voice is usually calming, but I wasn’t expecting her and I’m sure I just had a stroke out of fear.
“Shit,” I hiss, clutching the bathroom sink with one hand. The needle in my hand is shaking violently. How did I not hear her come in?
“Sorry,” she grins.
“Yeah, you look it,” I laugh. “Are you like a ninja or something? That’s twice you’ve come into the penthouse undetected.”
“I’m light-footed. Anyway, do you… need help?”
“Sure, thanks.” I might as well take advantage of her being here. Saves me poking myself in the wrong place. “You can see where it needs to go.” I have several red marks from previous doses.
The injection takes but a second. Erin drops the needle into the biohazard bin stationed next to my bathroom door. “Can we talk?”
I look at her for a second and nod. “Of course. Go grab a drink and I’ll be through in a second.”
Is she here to tell me she’s making a real go of it with Mack? It’s likely, I suppose. They were dating for months. Maybe Erin forgave Mack for her indiscretions, and they plan to live happily ever after. If that’s the case, I’m catching the next plane to Hawaii and will spend the days I have left with a coconut drink and white beaches .
Erin is sitting on the sofa when I enter. She has a beer in one hand. There’s one for me on the coffee table. I sit with her but leave a decent amount of space. “So,” I begin, because I don’t want to drag this out.
“I spoke to Mack.”
“And?”
“She stands by what she said. That it was a joke.”
“Okay.”
“That was until I told her we have cameras stationed at every VIP booth, with sound.” Erin, you crafty kitten.
“And did that influence her story?”
“Considerably. She told me what she said to you. Claims it was her insecurities, and that she’s sorry. Oh, and she loves me.” Wow!
“Quite the declaration. Should I be getting ready for a wedding invitation?”
Erin laughs. “No. I broke it off.” My heart is in my throat. “I can’t be with someone like that. And…”
“And?” I am dying to hear these next words.
“I don’t want you to let me go.” Holy shit! Did you hear that? My soul did because it’s doing the Cha Cha Slide right now.
“What do you mean by that, Erin?”
“Do you still want to date me?”
“Yes, but—”
“No buts. Do you want to date me? Just me?”
“You know I do. But—”
“I only want to date you, Amelia.”
“Then, I’m all in.” I am totally all in. “When can I take you out?”
“I’d like to take you out this time, if that’s okay?”
“Completely. When? ”
“Now?”
I want to lean over and kiss her, but I won’t. This feels like a reset, a clean slate, one devoid of Mack or anyone else. Just me and Erin. We’re just about to leave when the dark angel herself swans in. “Mother wants us all for dinner.”
“Hey, Lucille, how are you? How’s your day? I’m good, thanks for asking.” I snark.
“Erin, darling,” she purrs. “It’s wonderful to see you. Oh, you must come to the house. Mother would be furious if I didn’t have you come with us.”
“Lucille, we were just about to go out.”
“I’ll let you call Mom then,” she sniggers.
“It’s okay, we can go over. I’d like to see your family again.” There is nothing but sincerity in her voice and face. Erin is an angel.
“Fine,” I mumble, less than pleased our date is being commandeered by my mother.
“I came in the Porsche, so you’ll have to find your own way over,” Lucille calls, already leaving.
“Bike?” I ask Erin. I know she loved our trip to the beach.
“Yes,” she says excitedly.
Well, at least I get to have her anchored to my body for a few minutes before the Lochs kidnap her. I guarantee my parents will whisk her away, trying to pump her for information. Well, Mother will, that’s for sure.
We follow Lucille all the way to my parents’ house. That woman is a danger to everyone! “Lucille, you are a menace,” I screech at her when we pull up. “You nearly took out a parked car. How is that possible?”
“You’re so dramatic. Just like Trent.”
“No, we’re horrified you have a license. For the love of all things precious, let your husband drive from now on.”
“Do you see the person you’re dating?” Lucille asks Erin. “She has the personality of a cabbage. I hope you know that.” I’m about to go all WWE on her, but the touch of Erin’s hand on my lower back pulls my attention. I turn to her, Lucille forgotten.
“It’s okay. I like cabbage,” she says with a sweet smile. One I can’t stop myself from mirroring.
“Gross,” Lucille mutters.
The door to the house swings open and out sweeps my mother. She makes a direct line for Erin, just as I knew she would. “Erin, how fantastic to see you. Come in, everyone’s here.” And that’s that. I won’t get five seconds alone with Erin until we leave. I hope there’s alcohol.
The house has been decorated. Floor-to-ceiling. “Is there a party I wasn’t aware of?” I call to anyone that will listen.
“Yes,” Jacob laughs. “And you’re not going to like it,” he mumbles in my ear.
“Erin,” my mother shouts. It’s her way of getting us all to listen. “I’m so glad you came. The dinner today was to discuss you.”
“Me?”
“Erin?” I ask. What is going on?
“Yes, a little birdie tells me it’s your birthday on Friday!”
“Is it?” I should know this, it’s on her personnel file.
“Um, yeah it is,” she laughs nervously.
“Well, all this,” Mother says, waving her bejeweled hand about. “It’s for your birthday party.” I groan internally. I knew they wouldn’t be able to stay out of it.
“For me? What? Why? ”
“Because you’re special to Amelia, therefore special to us,” my father chimes in. Thanks Dad. Erin looks at me and my very red face. It’s amazing how, even as an adult, your parents can embarrass you on the turn of a dime.
“I don’t know what to say,” Erin stutters.
“Nothing to say. We’ve already contacted your friends and family.” Oh Christ, they’ve done a deep dive into her personal life.
“My family?” Erin parrots.
“Yes, your mom and dad will stay with us for two nights. We want them to feel welcome.”
Erin is nodding along. I can see she is overwhelmed. That’s my cue. “Excuse us for a second, please,” I say, not stopping to wait for anyone to object. Scooping Erin gently by the elbow, I take us outside. “Erin, I’m sorry about them.”
“They did all this for me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I like you a lot, and this is how they show their support. It’s a lot. They’re a lot.”
“Wow.” Erin sits on a lounger. “You like me a lot, huh?” she smiles.
“Yes, I do. But I think you know that already.”
“Hum, not sure. Maybe you could prove it?”
“And how would I do that?”
Erin shrugs one shoulder, her eyes smiling mischievously. I sit next to her, our bodies touching. “Maybe a kiss would prove it?”
“Maybe?” Oh this woman. Two can play that game. I lean in. Her eyes flutter shut, but I don’t kiss her lips. Instead, I let my breath tickle her neck ever so gently. I ghost my lips across her skin. The goosebumps tell me how affected she is. Slowly, I make my way to her ear. “I can think of many ways to show you how much I like you,” I whisper, and then I pull away.
Erin is in a trance, a very sexy, horny trance. I’d bet all my clubs and bars that if we were within ten feet of a bed, we would be in it, doing very naughty things to each other. A small gasp escapes her perfect lips. And my heart soars.
Then my family does what they do best. Ruin the mood. The shouts and wolf whistles through the French doors catch us both by surprise. Erin laughs and buries her face in my shoulder, which I love. I shoot a murderous glare at my family. They couldn’t care less. Great.
“Come on, let’s get back inside,” I say. It’s with great reluctance that I stand and pull Erin up. We were quite happy on that lounger. Ugh, families.
“Can we pick this back up later?” Erin nuzzles her nose into my neck again and ruins my underwear.
“We can sneak out right now if you want,” I say, only half joking.
“But I have a party to help plan.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with it? Don’t be scared to say if you’re uncomfortable.”
“It’s a lovely gesture. I’ve never had a birthday party as an adult, so it’s really nice. Should I ask how they got my friends’ and family’s contact info?”
“Probably not,” I laugh. “They mean well. Sometimes they just go overboard.”
“Well, as a single child of parents who live hours away, I’m thrilled they went overboard.”
“What would you like for your birthday? ”
“I don’t need anything.”
“I didn’t ask what you needed, Erin. I want to get you something. We’re dating now.”
“Oh, of course, sorry. Dating protocol, right?” She’s mocking me and I don’t care. I want to spoil her.
“Exactly. So as your dating buddy—”
“My dating buddy,” she snorts. “Is that what you call yourself?”
“For now,” I wink. “So, what do you want from your dating buddy?”
“Just to spend time with you. That would be perfect.”
“ That is a given.” Our faces inch forward. I’m so close to her lips, so close to feeling them on my own—
“Will you two get in here? I’m starving,” Lucille yells. Erin chuckles, stepping back. She grabs my hand and pulls me to the house.
“Later,” she whispers. Does that mean she wants to, you know… take things further or does it mean she wants to flirt a little more, with a make-out session?
Whatever it means, I’m ready.