Chapter 15
Tuesday
“The annual rescue squad and fire banquet are coming up soon. Do you think Alex will take you?” Grace asks from her perch on the counter beside me at Cygnature Blooms.
I shared what had transpired after she called Alex to rescue me. Well, the abridged version. She doesn’t need to hear the naughty details. Heck, I barely believe that happened. “I don’t think he’s interested in a relationship with me.”
“What? Why?” she whines, tearing off the end of her red cherry Twizzlers.
“He had several reasons. For one, he isn’t ready to risk the wrath of my brother.” She rolls her eyes as if this is some sort of a cop-out. I admit I felt the same way before. “He’s honestly worried if something didn’t work out with us, he’d lose all of us. My brother, me, and my parents. They practically consider him a member of the family.”
Grace tilts her head as if she’s giving this serious thought.
“Plus, he is worried that if we did act on this now, Ainsley would retaliate.”
“Crap. I never thought of that. He’s right. She’s a witch.” She chomps down on her licorice vine once more. “So, are you going stag to the banquet? You better still be going. We’ve had dresses picked out for ages.” While Grace doesn’t volunteer at the rescue squad, she is friends with many of the people there and always manages to secure an invite from either a squad member or a firefighter.
I’ve given this a fair amount of thought since the debauchery in the bunk room. I’d never want to hurt Alex. But it took pushing the envelope with him to get him to respond to me. I’m sure plenty of people are afraid to take a risk on someone because of all the things that could go wrong. Yet, I’ve crushed on him for years. Watching him with other girls. I’m done waiting. “No. I want to find a date.” I say, chewing on my nail. “He needs to decide if I’m worth the risk once and for all.”
“Hot damn!” she squeals. “Well, I have just the date for you. Don’t you worry about a thing, Tuesday, my dear. I’ve got this handled.”
Uh oh.
* * *
It’s the night of the squad and fire gala. I’ve probably second-guessed my decision to go with a date about a hundred times. But I’m not getting any younger. I haven’t heard much from Alex beyond a few generic texts to see how I’m doing. It’s as if he’s at war with himself. Well, I refuse to be a casualty. If he decides I’m not worth it, then at least I can say I went down swinging.
Bzzz. Bzzz.
“Hello.”
“Hey, chicka. We’re here. You ready?”
I peer out my window to the driveway below and see a black, shiny Ford Explorer belonging to Gunner, Grace’s date.
“Yeah, I’ll be right there.” I still don’t know anything about my date for the evening. Grace just said she found him through someone at college, and he’s a very hot, funny guy. I have no plans to separate from Grace this evening, so I feel safe attending the event tonight with a blind date. Even if it’s a tad unnerving knowing nothing about him except ‘he’s cute, and he’s always up for a good time.’
“Bye, Mom. Grace and I are crashing at Ricky’s tonight after the gala while he’s away.” My brother managed to receive two offers for medical school and is in Norfolk, trying to secure an apartment before school starts at Eastern in two months.
“Okay, dear. You girls have fun.”
As I approach the car, I see Grace waving from the front passenger seat when the door behind her swings open, and a tall, dark-haired man with deep blue eyes steps out to greet me. Holy hell. Where’d she find this guy? He’s muscular but lean, dressed in a dark gray suit with a crisp white button-up and silver tie completing the ensemble. I dare say, if I wasn’t already smitten with the man of my dreams, this guy would certainly have my undivided attention.
“Hi. You must be Tuesday. I’m Gavin.” He holds out his hand to me, and I actually feel a little flushed.
“Hi, Gavin. It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for doing this.”
He gives me a deliberate look that starts from my heels and slowly drags up my body to my face. It feels as if he’s undressed me with his eyes on the way up. “The pleasure is all mine, beautiful.” Gavin extends his arm toward the open door, and I slide in, finding a corsage sitting where I assume he was moments ago.
“Is this for me?”
“Yes. Will you allow me to put it on?”
Is this guy for real? The most I’ve ever hoped for from guys I’ve dated at the rescue squad in the past was that their clothes didn’t reek of the girl’s perfume they dated before me.
We proceed to the venue, a downtown Richmond hotel, and I choose to remain quiet for now, watching the evening’s scenery pass by the window. I don’t want to use up all of my small talk with Gavin before we get there.
Once we park and take the skywalk from the garage to the hotel, Grace and I quickly check our coats and head into the ballroom. It’s set up as usual, with multiple large circular tables accommodating ten people placed throughout the large room. This year’s theme is black and gold, with the fire and EMS logos attached to decorative centerpieces on each table. EMTs and firefighters are mingling about in formalwear, waiting for dinner to be served. I’m a little sad that Ricky had to miss this. He always looks forward to these events, probably because he can always count on winning some award for responding to the most calls or the most volunteer hours logged.
I look about the space and don’t see Alex. I do see Ainsley, however. She’s all decked out in sequins, hanging on Curt’s arm. He’s a relatively new member to the rescue squad but already quite popular. He’s a shoo-in to get into medical school with his grades and charisma. I’m sure latching herself onto his star will benefit her in the long run. I could definitely see Ainsley parading around as a doctor’s wife.
An overhead announcement is made that dinner will begin shortly, followed by an awards ceremony, then dancing. In my few years attending, this is the usual routine.
Leaning into Gavin, I say, “This is going to get real boring, real quick.” I laugh.
“Yeah, most of these things are all the same.”
“Do you mind my asking how old you are?”
“I’m twenty. How about you?” he asks.
“I just turned twenty-one.” I would’ve guessed he was much older with the way he carries himself. “If I forget to say it later, thank you. It was really nice of you to come here with me. I really owe Grace one for this.”
He returns my smile with a curious smirk. What’s that about, I wonder.
We sit down to the usual banquet food of rubbery chicken floating in some sauce I can’t identify, a vegetable medley, and a baked potato that could second as a doorstop. Luckily, the banter about the table keeps the dinner moving along, and the awards ceremony is short. As the plates are removed, and the DJ begins spinning dance numbers, I take another look around. Still no sign of Alex. Perhaps he decided to skip this year’s gala with Ricky being away.
“Would you like to dance?” Gavin asks.
Wow. Guys never seem to initiate dancing. I have to drag them onto the floor. I might as well enjoy the rest of the evening. “Sure. Why not?”
Alex
I hadn’t planned to attend this banquet. Ricky’s away, and I can’t bring the one girl I want to spend the evening with. But I’ve been able to think of nothing but her since that night in the bunk room. My sweet, innocent Sunny had shocked me. So bold and unashamed, calling my bluff. She knew how much I wanted her, and now I’m tortured by the very clear visual of what I can’t have.
Tuesday always seemed to come alive at the yearly squad and firefighter banquets. As with most girls, I’m sure it was a great reason to get dressed up and dance. I hadn’t confirmed she was going, yet with the ticking of the clock, morbid curiosity had me putting on my suit, hopping in my truck, and driving downtown.
Only to find her all dolled up and dancing with another man.
There was no missing where Tuesday was in this crowd. Wearing an evening gown that makes her look like a Hollywood starlet, she stands out from all the rest on the dance floor. It’s a beautiful jade form-fitting, floor-length dress. The color matches her eyes. There aren’t any flashy sequins or a lot of skin showing as Ainsley would wear. It’s sophisticated and timeless, just like my girl. Her hair tumbles over her shoulders in waves, and my hands itch to run my fingers through it.
Who is this guy? I know all of the players from fire, rescue, and the police department, for that matter. Word travels quickly in this town, making it nearly impossible to hide the romantic conquests that occur. The married police officers who are hitting it with the dispatchers. The brothers in the fire department from different stations who are unknowingly being played by the same fireflies. And don’t get me started on the soap opera drama of EMS. But this guy is new.
Keeping my distance, I sip on a scotch and watch. He’s respectful of her personal space but still entirely too close. Is this the kind of shit I’m going to have to succumb to for the rest of my life? Watching the girl who got away dance with someone else because I pushed her into their arms?
All because I was too chicken shit to go after what I wanted?
The dance number ends and is replaced by a slow song. Great. A Bruno Mars tune. As if on cue, her date pulls her in, and she sways to the music, her hands resting on his chest. At one point, she tosses her head back and laughs, and he smiles down at her. Fuck, does he have two dimples to my one?
I take another sip of my scotch, my jaw feeling so tight my teeth could start popping out of my face at any moment. Observing them, I’m unsure what to make of this. Has she already moved on? I’d have it coming if she did. Sure, I have a lot to lose if things go south with her, but isn’t that the risk you take when you find the right girl? I’m twenty-five fucking years old. I can’t keep ping-ponging from one meaningless relationship to another because I’m afraid of what might happen. It’d just be so much easier if the first time I was interested in a relationship, it was with someone else. Not my best friend’s little sister and the daughter of the coolest parents ever.
All of a sudden, I see Tuesday’s date tuck her hair behind her ear, leaning forward to whisper something, and I snap. Tossing back the rest of my scotch, I place the glass on a table and charge in their direction.
“Excuse me. Tuesday, I need to talk to you for a moment.”
She barely pulls her eyes away from her date to answer me. “What about? I’m kind of in the middle of something.”
“It’s private. And it can’t wait.”
When did this girl get so sassy? She just fucking rolled her eyes at me.
“I’m sorry, Gavin. I’ll be back.”
Once we’re in the hallway, I reach back for her hand and can’t help muttering, “No, you won’t.” I continue walking down a long corridor toward the restrooms when I hear her say from behind me.
“What’s this about, Alex? I haven’t heard from you in─”
Unable to hold back any longer, I grab her arm and pull her behind an ornamental tree, pushing her up against the wall. My lips crash onto hers, and my body hums in appreciation of the much-needed connection. My tongue darts through her lips, her taste equal parts sweet and sinful as I devour her. Tuesday Palmer feels like the very air I need to breathe.
“I can’t fight this any longer, Sunny. I surrender. Your brother will probably pummel me into the ground once he finds out, and your family will shun me. But you’re all I think about. And the notion of another man’s hands on you is driving me to the brink.”
“What are you saying?”
I lean in so close you can’t slide dental floss between us. Her gorgeous body fits me perfectly, her unique floral scent entrancing me like a drug. I’ve never felt this way before. So out of control. Is this what it’s like when you’re falling in love?
It’s now or never, you idiot.
“I want it all with you, Sunny. If I have this chance and it doesn’t work out… if I lose Ricky and your family when it’s all over. It’ll all be worth it. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to see that. I was just scared.”
“Are you sure, Alex?” She crosses her arms over her chest, pushing her incredible rack further up her strapless gown, taunting me. “The Katy Perry hot and cold routine is getting old.”
“I know. I’m sorry. We need to keep things under wraps a little longer to ensure Ainsley doesn’t come after you. Plus, your brother leaves for medical school in a few months. I’d like to have a chance to spend time together before we break the news to him.”
She pulls back from me, and my heart is suddenly in my throat. Is it too late? I’ll fucking beg if I have to.
“You sound like you’ve given this a lot of thought.”
“Baby, I think about little else. I never want you to think you aren’t worth the risk. It’s just a big step for me, committing to a long-term relationship. It’s not just the fear of losing all of you. I needed to be sure I wouldn’t hurt you. I know I’m going to screw this up. Look at what I’ve done to you already.” I hang my head in shame, praying she’ll have mercy on me and give me a chance.
I barely get the words out, and my sweet girl is flinging herself at me. Her kiss nearly knocks the lighted ornamental tree beside us to the ground.
“Come home with me?” I moan against her plush mouth.
“Yes.”
“Get your things. I’ll have the car waiting at the front.”
“Okay.”
“And, Sunny…”
“Yes.”
“You better keep a chair between you and that date of yours when you say goodbye. If I see one more man with his hands on you, there will be no keeping our relationship secret. Because my fucking mug shot will be plastered all over the evening news when I’m arrested for murder.”