30. Dante
CHAPTER 30
Dante
I sat in the stuffy hospital room. I hadn’t left except to eat and take a piss for the past forty-eight hours. I’d met all the staff, fielded questions from Meemaw’s cast of cronies, did my best to avoid the only woman who’d ever broken my heart, and got a good start on some serious facial hair.
Dr. Cain kept telling me there was no reason for me to stay, that Meemaw wouldn’t wake up until they were ready to bring her back. But I knew how stubborn my grandmother could be and figured she’d wait until the minute I left to fight her way out of the drugs all on her own.
I wanted to be there when she woke. She’d do the same for me. Hell, she’d done so much more than that for me over the years. To think that I might not get the chance to tell her how much she meant to me. I ran a hand over my scruffy chin and rubbed my eyes.
For the past two days, I’d survived on strong coffee and bad cafeteria food. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve. Meemaw would be so pissed she was missing a holiday. The senior center would be fine without her, even though she was convinced they couldn’t function in her absence. Several of her friends had checked in with me. I’d been told they were stocking her freezer at home with casseroles and lasagnas. As if she’d be able to eat a quarter of it.
I flipped on the television. Nothing but holiday-themed shows: how to cook your Christmas turkey or best gifts to give your parents. I didn’t need any of that advice. My finger stilled on the remote as It’s a Wonderful Life played on the screen.
Damn, that reminded me of the night I spent with Faith and the way she’d come on to me in my room. I’d enjoyed the whirlwind hook-up, no doubt about that. But I’d also gotten a glimpse at the woman behind the wall she’d put up.
Thinking about her made me wonder what she was doing at that exact moment out in California. Whatever it was, it had to be better than sitting bedside with a loved one. A little banter with Faith would surely take my mind off Meemaw, even if it was just for a few minutes. Sending her a text wouldn’t necessarily violate our rules of engagement, right?
Me: Hey, hope you had a good flight. Just caught the end of It’s A Wonderful Life and made me think of you. Merry Christmas.
I stared at the phone for a full two minutes. No response. Just as I was about to stand up and stretch, my phone pinged.
Faith: Arrived safe but am being blindsided with a black-tie function tonight. Like my dress?
I clicked on the image and sucked in my breath. A picture of Faith rocking a satiny red dress filled my screen. Her breasts strained against the deep “V” neck and her lips puckered into a sexy kiss.
Me: No fair. You’re playing dirty. If I was there, that dress would be on the floor by now.
Faith: I’d hate to waltz across the dance floor naked.
Faith naked. Shit. My cock twitched to life.
Me: Now you’ve got me all hot and bothered.
Faith: Too bad you’re not here. I’d figure out a way to take care of that for you.
Me: Fuck me.
Faith: Exactly. Gotta go.
I shifted in the hard vinyl chair, needing a distraction. Even though Faith and I had made up and figured out a compromise on our deal, she wouldn’t be back until winter break ended. Wouldn’t do me any good to spend the next week and a half with blue balls. Grabbing my backpack, I rummaged through, looking for something to work on or take my mind off my favorite redhead in that tempting red dress.
My hand closed around the book the woman at the salon had given me. I slid it out of the bag and took a long look at the cover. Carnal Knowledge by Chastity Austen. What the hell kind of name was that? Couldn’t be worse than watching infomercials and reruns on TV. Maybe those women at the salon were onto something, and I could pick up a few tips or tricks. I kicked my feet up on the edge of the bed and flipped open the cover.
Faith
Snowflakes fell from the sky, their delicate forms catching the light of thousands of twinkle lights woven through the fake pine trees. Stepping into the ballroom, I couldn't help but catch my breath at the magical atmosphere. Raising my hand, I reached out as if to catch a falling flake.
“Almost looks real, doesn’t it?”
Startled, I turned around to face a tall, good-looking stranger. I tried to hide my embarrassment with nonchalance. “Yes, they do. It’s amazing how they can do that.”
“Special effects. It’s all on a video loop.” He gestured toward a large projector in the corner of the room.
“Don’t I feel silly—” I began, but his grin stopped me short.
“You’re Faith, right?”
“Yes.” I tilted my head slightly. “Who are you?”
He extended his hand. “I’m Carter. Claire told me you needed a date tonight.”
I rolled my eyes, already frustrated with my mother's meddling hand in this. “I bet she did. Nice to meet you, Carter.” After shaking his hand, I turned away, scanning the room for the bar—a welcome sanctuary.
“Allow me to show you the way.” Carter placed a hand on the small of my back, guiding me across the ballroom to the bar set up on the opposite side.
Reaching the tall counter, Carter turned to me. “What’s your poison?”
“Just a glass of red wine would be great.”
He signaled the bartender. “A glass of cabernet for the lady and Crown on the rocks for me.”
As we waited for our drinks, Carter attempted to start a conversation. “So, Claire tells me you’re teaching at a school in Indiana?”
I glanced up at him. “That’s right. I’m an adjunct professor at Tempest, working on tenure. What else has she told you about me?”
A slight blush tinged his cheeks. “I’ve had the pleasure of spending quite a bit of time with your mother and Clem. I’m finishing up my JD and Masters of Philosophy over at SC. Clem has been serving as somewhat of an informal adviser to me.”
“Interesting. Did you do your undergrad there too?” I found myself intrigued despite my initial reservations. He had a killer smile and looked pretty damn good in his tailored tux.
"No. I'm a Midwestern boy at heart. I got my bachelor's at the University of Kansas."
"So how did you end up in California?" I asked.
The bartender set our drinks down in front of us, and I wrapped my fingers around the stem of my wineglass.
"It's a long story. Let's just say there was a girl." The corners of his lips curled up in a bashful smile.
"Was?" I took a sip of my wine and peered at him over the rim of my glass.
"Yes, was." He picked up his drink. "Should we go check our table assignments? Looks like people are starting to sit down."
I glanced across the room. Most of the guests were settling at tables. We made our way back to the entrance and located our name cards. I'd be willing to bet my entire collection of Bront? sisters' books that my mother had arranged for the two of us to be at the same table.
He picked up his card. "Table three, how about you?"
I lifted the tented card and feigned surprise. "Well, would you look at that? Table three for me too."
Carter gave me another dazzling grin, and I took a good long look. Out here in the light of the hallway, I could make out his features better than I'd been able to in the dim ballroom. With sandy blond hair and a natural tan, I could see how he might be mistaken for a native Californian. His longer surfer hair alone made him look like he'd be more at home on the beach than on the plains of Kansas.
He offered me his arm. "May I escort you to our table?"
I linked my arm through his, willing to play along for a bit. Spending the evening chatting with Carter would be better than sitting back at the house… alone… fantasizing about Dante.
"Absolutely. It would be my pleasure."