“I couldn’t type anymore. I want to hear it!”
“Hear what?” I giggle.
“THAT! Oh, you like him. I recognize that giggle! It happened with that kid in middle school. Devin?”
“Kevin. That guy was a dickhead, though. James is…he’s…”
“Everything all the other people weren’t. Yeah, that happens when you get out of the bubble and away from the queen dragon mother. You should cover him in fake tattoos and leather, send a pic to mom, and watch her spiral through her own private hell.”
“So, about that, uhm, he already has tattoos. And he kind of, uhm, met mom.”
The line goes silent for a while, and I give her the time she needs. Mom and I are blissful best friends compared to her and Bex, but Bex will be the first to admit that she never made it easy on Mom. Bex never thought she deserved anyone going easy on her, and someday, I’ll admit she’s right.
“How?”
“We’re working on this project for work I told you about and when we got back from the convention last night, I invited him upstairs. It was innocent and at that point, I’d already told him I wasn’t interested. We were just going to go through pictures and brochures.”
“Please tell me you didn’t give her a key?”
“No, but she was there waiting for me, I guess. She kind of stormed the apartment and played it off like she had no idea he’d be there. She might not have seen him come up, I’m not sure. Either way, he got a front-row seat.”
“Was the asshole Jesus freak with her?”
As bad as my mother is, her holy roller husband is a thousand times worse. She needs a therapist and help; he needs jail time. I hope someday he gets it, too. I would give my life savings for a front and center seat to watch his cult collapse around him.
I miss Bex. She is my sister and my best friend. She didn’t have a choice when she left, if she had, she wouldn’t have left me behind. She tried convincing me to come with her, but I’d started my job at Sam’s by then and I thought that would be the light at the end of the tunnel. She has always felt indebted to me since I couldn’t continue living in our shared apartment and had to move back with mom for a few years.
“No. I would have sent James out of the fire escape or something if he were there.” I search the lot to see if he’s headed back, but nothing yet. “She went full rage on him, called him a lot of terrible things, called me a lot of terrible things, then she tried to hit me. James stopped her. Told her to leave and then he took me out for pie.”
“Is that a?—”
“NO! We went to the Pie Hole. That doesn’t sound any better—fuck—it was just pie, Bex.”
“Okay. Well, either way, I like James. You seriously need to think about a restraining order and cutting contact,” she seethes through the phone. “I get that you want to see the good in her still. You like to think it’s there somewhere, buried under all the bullshit, hate, and religious crap, but it’s not. Even before dad died, she was a shit mother. I love you, Lex. I love you so fucking much, and I hope someday you get that through your head. Even Dad couldn’t help her.”
“She’s been worse lately. Calling me at work and practically stalking me. She keeps telling me to get my priorities straight and saying my job is pointless. She wants me to move back in with them.”
“Not fucking happening. Next time we talk, it better be less about that bitch and more about how big his dick is and how many times he made you?—“
She’s still talking, but I’ve stopped listening. I watch James walking down the parking lot and I have to wipe the drool off my face. The sun chose just this moment to come out and glisten off his shirtless chest. I had no idea the sun did that outside movie sets. He has muscles. His muscles have muscles. He’s got that deep V in his hips that makes me shudder. God I want to lick him like a fucking lollipop. And the tattoos. He doesn’t have tattoos all over his torso, but the few he has complement his physique.
“Yo, Lex? Are you still there?”
“I gotta go, Bex.”
“I love you, now go get your man,” she laughs and the call ends. I hate hanging up, since I’m never sure when I’ll hear from her again. I’m trying to count his abs when he opens my door.
“So, the dickhead at the bike shop had this,” James says as he holds up a medical kit like he just won it at a fair. “Little shit also wanted me to remind you that you have great tits. I still hate him, but he’s still right. Mind if I take another peek?”
“At my tits?”
“I meant your leg, but I’ll take either.” He blushes and smiles like a little boy who just told the girl next door he loved her. Fucking adorable.
I have no control over my eyes as they bat. “Absolutely, Doctor Barton. I’m all yours.” I shift for him, spreading my legs and letting the short skirt spill between them. His eyes grow dark as he watches, mesmerized by the motion.
He pulls his eyes away and crouches in front of me. I can tell he’s trying not to stare, trying to be a gentleman. I, however, have no plans to be a lady.
“I, uhm, I’ll just…” he stutters until I take his hand, guiding it up my leg and under the skirt. His chest is already heaving when he glances up at me, then drops his eyes. “I guess you were right. You might not be shy after all.”
