Chapter Seven
Ω Bronx Ω
I walk outside to my driveway. The fresh air on my face shakes me out of the spell Blakely had me in. I need to get a better handle on myself. Just because we were that close in high school doesn’t mean that she’d want to be that way again.
I’m going to give her a few minutes for her phone call, and then I’ll go back in. It’ll give me enough time to get a handle on myself.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I typically keep it off while I’m not on shift so that I can relax. With Blakely coming over, I didn’t want her to get lost and need me.
I look down at the caller ID and debate actually answering it. It’s Alex. He could just leave a message.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I answer the call.
“What’s up?” I answer before heading to Blakely’s car.
“Hey, Charlie told me to call you. I don’t know what for. What did you do?” Alex doesn’t skip a beat.
I laugh and open the car door. “You really do everything that woman says, don’t you?” I taunt him. “Aren’t you the one that always said you wouldn’t let any woman tell you what to do?”
Alex chuckles. “When you love a woman as much as I love Charlie, you’ll learn to give in more. We both know that I don’t get bossed around, though.”
“Says the man who’s calling me for no reason,” I remind him.
I grab the small box of cookies and shut Blakely’s car door. It’s a Mazda. Why does Blakely have a freaking Mazda?
“What is your professional opinion about Mazdas?” I blurt out.
“Eh. Not my favorite car to work on. They’re not awful, but when they have issues, the issues are headaches most of the time. Why?” Alex asks. “Are you looking to get rid of your Supra? What happened to your 4Runner as your daily?”
“I would never drive a Mazda. I don’t care if I had to walk everywhere.” I laugh.
Me in a Mazda. Yeah right. I look up and see Blakely standing in my living room looking at me.
My heart skips a beat. I used to fantasize about this in high school.
“I’ll text you later.” I hang up with Alex and pocket my phone.
Nothing is more important than this moment… I need to memorize every inch of this. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to see it again.
Blakely opens the front door and pops her head out of the door.
“Honey, you’re home!” she says dramatically.
I laugh before walking up the steps. “You’ve missed me this much, butterfly?” I ask, opening my arms. She runs to me. “You know where I work. You could’ve come to see me.”
Blakely laughs after hugging me. “So you’re telling me that you want me to start visiting you at work?”
I shake my head. I would love that. Especially after some shifts… Seeing her there would help a lot. “I don’t think your dad would like that very much.”
“Why would he…” she starts before she pauses. I can see her brain working. “Oh. He’s the Crew Chief.”
I lead her back into the house so we could sit down. “We can go up to my room to watch something if you want. My living room is a bit under construction…” I laugh nervously.
I don’t want to talk about how her dad is my boss. Or how her dad has always hated my guts ever since he’s met me. It’s like I annoy him just by breathing. So, I’m changing the subject.
She goes to open her mouth. I know what she’s going to say before she even says it. “You’re not helping me move furniture.”
Blakely smiles at me and closes her mouth.
“Good girl. Show? Or are you still hungry? Or do you need to leave soon?” I ask. “We can go outside. I’m pretty fine with anything.”
“It’s up to you.” She looks up at me with those eyes of hers, and I groan. “I’ll do anything you want me to.”
I have to look away from her. I breathe in deeply. She didn’t mean it the way she said it. I groan again. That’s going to keep me up tonight. Blakely laughs before taking my hand.
“I knew I had you right where I wanted you.” She giggles. “It’s always been so easy to get you going.”
I laugh it off. “You’re the only one who knows how to get me going.”
She grabs my hand and leads me to the stairs.
“To answer your question. I cleared out my whole day to spend with you. You have work tomorrow, right? I figured you’d want a calm day before you had to go to work.
I can even cook for you,” she offers. “I’m going to put together a delivery order since you have no food here at all. ”
I smirk. “I’ve been busy,” I say defensively. “I kind of get caught up in things, and I forget to place orders.”
“Yeah, and somehow you still look like you live at the gym.” Blakely lets me show her to my bedroom. “Obviously, you need no pointers, and I’m not complaining.”
I grin. “You like what you see?” I ask her before opening my bedroom door. She walks in first. “I’m glad. You’re the only one I want that compliment from.”
Blakely stares at me like I’ve gone insane or something.
Maybe I’ll bring up how I refused to let anyone be with her in high school.
That I was so obsessed with her, I couldn’t stand the thought of anyone touching her but me.
But I was so scared of her dad that I kept freaking myself out instead of telling her my true feelings.
Or maybe I won’t. I like having her here.
I don’t want her to go anywhere.
I just don’t know what I’m going to do.