Chapter 14 – Josie
Chapter Fourteen
JOSIE
My mind should not be on whether Bam is going to stay over another night.
There are bigger things to focus on. It’s hard, though, when he puts so much attention on me.
I never thought I’d be one to preen because of a man, but here I am.
The attention is addictive, and I find that I’m enjoying every damn second of his compliments.
He makes me feel seen in a way no one else does.
“You need to eat.” Bam rests his hand at the nape of my neck as we walk down the sidewalk. The hold is only gentle but firm. I didn’t know such a thing could be erotic, but it’s oddly turning me on. It makes me feel a sense of protectiveness that has me relaxing.
“Yeah, people have to eat to live.” I shrug. I’ll get around to it.
“And it’s my job to keep you alive.” He turns us.
“Where are we going?” My house is a few blocks in the other direction. I was debating if Bam was going to come in or kiss me at the door, but he can’t kiss me at the door because my nosy-ass dad will see.
“To this little store on the corner.” He nods up ahead.
“For what?”
“Food order.”
“Food order? That’s a liquor store.” I point out the obvious.
“It’s where I had someone do a drop.”
“Do a drop,” I repeat. “That sounds so cool.”
“I’m glad you think our groceries are cool.” He chuckles. Our groceries? Why do I enjoy the sound of that so much?
“Wait, are we really getting food in there? There is a store right there.” I point to the grocery store across the way. It’s not a big fancy one, but you can make do and get the essentials there.
“They don’t have everything I wanted.” Bam opens the door for me. I pause.
“I’m only eighteen,” I whisper. Which he knows, but still. “Wait, can you get us fake IDs?” Now a million and one names I could choose for myself pop into my head. Once I met someone named Plum. Weird but interesting. Now I want a plum. I might be hungry after all.
“We don’t need them. You don’t have to be twenty-one to go into a liquor store, just to actually purchase the liquor.” Bam guides me inside.
Why did I not know this little fact? I mean, I’m not sure why else someone would go into one if not purchasing alcohol, but I learn something new every day. I can’t help but take in all the details. There is so much more to this place than alcohol.
“Bam.” A short man pops up from behind the counter, breaking me from all the thoughts running through my mind. He must have been sitting down. “I’ve got your drop.”
“Thanks, man,” he tells him. The man’s eyes bounce over to me. He’s going to ID me, I knew it! Bam just didn’t want me to be nervous coming in. “Don’t look at her. She doesn’t exist.” The man’s eyes snap away at record speed.
“Sorry,” the man sputters. He has to be twice my age. He’s got flecks of gray in his hair coming in on the sides of his ears.
“Bag?” He quickly reaches under the counter and comes up with two of those reusable bags that are packed full of food.
“We’re square,” Bam tells him before taking them off the counter. The second we are out of the store, his free hand is back on the nape of my neck.
“Why did you tell him you were square?” I ask as we walk back toward my house.
“He owed a little debt to the Riders that I took care of for him. In return he let me use his place to get these delivered.” He lifts the two bags in his other hand for effect. “A favor for a favor. It’s not something I do often.”
“You mean you usually don’t get groceries delivered to liquor stores?” I ask, unsure of what he means by not doing it often.
“No. I usually don’t trade favors. You either pay me or…” Bam trails off, not finishing his explanation.
“You can’t leave me in suspense.” I stare up at him. “Or what?”
“They’ll pay. No one wants the or.” The or? What is the or? Then it hits me.
“Ohh!” I nod. “The or.” I run my finger across my throat, being overly dramatic, and stick my tongue out to the side of my mouth. Bam shakes his head.
“I never know what you’re going to pop off and say.”
“I don’t want to burst your bubble, Bam, but you’re not the first person to tell me that.”
“That’s all right. I’ll get other firsts.” He winks at me, and I almost trip over my own feet. “Watch your step, rebel.”
“You’re making flirty, dirty jokes with me.
It’s hard to walk and be horny.” Shit. Didn’t mean to say that last part out loud.
So I talk fast so maybe he’ll miss it and skip over it.
“Box jellyfish have at least twenty-four functional eyes of various degrees on their bodies despite having no centralized brain.” I’m rambling.
“Four of its eyes always peer up out of the water regardless of the animal’s body position.
” Bam’s brows pull together. “Just saying I don’t think you can really wink with twenty-four eyes.
Bet they all blink at different times.” He thinks I’m crazy now.
“Also, I should note they are the most venomous jellies to humans, so maybe avoid them.”
“I’ll do that,” Bam replies as we make our way up the stairs to my porch so I can open the door. I pause at the Ring camera.
“We got food. I bet it’s all that diabetic healthy crap.
” I make a goofy face for my dad to see before unlocking the door.
Bam’s hand goes to my stomach, guiding me to step back so he can go in first to make sure it’s safe, but we have an alarm.
“See, Dad, he’s all gentleman—” I flick my eyes over to Bam, “-ish,” I add before following in after him.
Bam totally missed the horny comment, I think to myself with confidence… I was wrong.