CHAPTER 19 #2
She withdrew from him. “You’re one of those touchy-feely drunks, aren’t you?” she suppressed a smile.
“Yes, I’m a lover,” he agreed. “But you, Miss, are a mean drunk.”
She gasped, “I am not! Why would you say that?” It really upset her more than it should have.
“Because when you need a ride home, YOU bite,” he chuckled and leaned in, kissing her neck again. This time he also copped a feel.
She pushed his hand away. “I will not be able to drive unless you stay on your side of the vehicle.”
He threw his hands up surrendering, “Yes, Ma’am,” he said, patronizingly. But he complied. He turned on the radio and cued up some seventies rock.
She put the truck in gear and pulled out of the parking lot. She sat up higher on the road than she was used to. His truck felt huge.
Robert was singing along to the chorus of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Tuesday’s Gone, tapping his knee to the beat.
“You’re in a good mood for someone who’s been drinking alone,” she said, hoping he’d open up as to why.
“I’m happy now, because the one person who could make me forget why I started drinking is here,” he said, reaching over and squeezing her knee.
“Hey Sergeant, hands to yourself,” she instructed, shooing his hand away.
“Yes, Ma’am,” he said sarcastically, relaxing back into his seat again.
They made their way to the highway and onto base. He lived on a second-floor walk-up. The building was old, but clean. The front door opened right into the living room. A small kitchen was beyond that, next lay the bathroom, then the door to the bedroom. Small and simple.
The living room had a large couch, an end table with a lamp and a chair facing a wall-mounted television. No pictures, no personal mementos, bare walls and clean surfaces. It barely looked lived in.
Robert dropped his keys on the kitchen counter and walked into the bathroom. She didn’t know what to do with herself. As she listened to him pee from behind the cracked door, she laid her purse on the counter next to his keys.
She heard the sink turn on and off, then he reappeared. He came up and embraced her. A smirk plastered on his face, and his green eyes glazed over as he looked at her face. He was truly pleased by her presence.
“Are you going to tell me why you drank so much tonight?” she asked kindly.
He ignored the question. “Who’s watching your daughter?” He realized for the first time, she’d had to secure childcare to come get him.
“My sister,” she said, letting her question go. “She and her boys are staying the night.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” He said remorsefully, yet the smirk was still in place. “I didn’t mean to disrupt her visit.”
“It’s fine,” Lainey rolled her eyes. “She’s watching this special on TV tonight about a senator’s daughter or something.”
Robert’s smile disappeared, and he let go of her. She felt his demeanor turn cold. He kicked his boots off by the door, then went to the kitchen. “You want something to eat or drink?” he asked, opening the fridge.
“Did I say something?”
“No, it’s not you. It’s just been a long day,” he said, not denying his sudden detachment.
“Did you have a fight with your daughter?” She would not let it go. There was something bothering him. A reason a simple phone call turned into her standing in his kitchen this very moment.
He scoffed, “No. We’re good.” He filled a glass with ice and water, then downed it.
She watched him fill it with water again. “I can get a rideshare back to my car. It’s not a big....”
“No. They can’t come on base, anyway. If you’re not in a hurry, I can give you a ride back.”
Lainey was stuck. But by her own admission, she didn’t mind.
She was worried about him. Truly worried.
Something was wrong. If he’d only tell her, maybe she could help.
She sighed, “I'm not in a hurry. I’ll text my sister that I’ll be a while.
” She grabbed her phone and leaned back against the counter to send a quick text.
“Tell her you’re with THAT Robert,” he smirked.
Lainey placed her phone back in her purse. “Listen, I don’t know why she said that. My sister has no filter sometimes. I’m sorry.”
He laughed. “It didn’t bother me. I think it’s cute. I imagine you’re like two schoolgirls talking about crushes.” He came to her, trapping her between his arms.
She looked into his green eyes. “It’s not like that,” she said.
His smile grew in a teasing manner.
“Well,” she rolled her eyes, “maybe it’s a little like that,” she admitted.
He bent his head and started kissing her neck again. “Mm-hmm,” he said, laying tender little kisses underneath her ear.
The rasp of his face tickled her skin, and his warm breath sent a jolt of heat up her spine. She liked this man. A lot. And though her brain said brake, her body had gone full-steam ahead again and again in the past. Not this time, though.
She nudged him away. “I don’t think this is the wisest way to spend our time waiting for you to sober up.” He let her escape his encapsulating muscular arm cage.
She went to the living room and claimed the chair instead of the couch, keeping her distance.
He sighed, but didn’t pursue her. “Awe. I almost forgot,” he exclaimed. “I got you something.” He went to a small coat closet next to the front door and dug something out. He closed the door, revealing a box with a picture of a coffee maker on it.
“Is that what I think it is?” she said, surprised.
He went to hand it to her, but then pulled it back when she reached for it. “Unless you already have a new one?”
She shook her head, smiling.
He looked relieved. “Good,” he said and handed it to her.
“Did you really get me a new coffeemaker?” She examined the box. It wasn’t flowers or chocolates, a traditional gesture of affection. Instead, it was something she actually needed.
He shrugged. “You needed one,” and he relaxed back into a pillow on his couch.