Watch Me Walk Away (12 page)

“So did you save us any?” John asks sitting down next to Jodi.

“There’s a little left,” she says. “But didn’t you guys just eat?”

“Always room for more,” says Brad patting his stomach. “We’re growing men.”

I laugh. “You keep eating two dinners and the only thing growing will be that stomach.”

Soon all the food is gone and a fight ensues over what to watch on Netflix. Jodi and I want to watch the latest Twilight movie which we’ve seen before and the guys want to watch the newest Bond movie. We finally settle on the Avengers since the guys like the action and Jodi and I can drool over the men. About half way through my phone rings and it’s Bobby. I excuse myself to my room so we can talk and not interrupt the movie.

“So you want to tell me why he is there again?” Bobby asks.

God he is getting so jealous of Brad. Hopefully it’s just because he can’t be here. “He went out to eat with John and they both came back here. It’s no big deal. Please just let it go.”

“I just hate that he gets to be with you when I can’t. I feel like he’s trying to move in on you before we even get our shot,” his voice is tight and edgy.

“Well you’ll be home tomorrow and we are spending all of Sunday together right?”

“Actually the plane just landed at MacArthur and I was hoping to see you tonight.” He laughs when I squeal.

“Really? So you’ll be here in a few minutes?” I am practically jumping up and down.

“If you want me to be,” he sounds a little scared that I will tell him no.

“Do you have a ride or do you need me to pick you up?” He’s here! I can’t wait to kiss him after talking to him all week.

“Arthur is here and I can be at your place in fifteen minutes,” now he sounds excited too. “Please say yes.”

“Yes. Yes. Yes. Of course I want you here. I missed you.” God did I miss him. I run into the bathroom to see what I look like. Oh need to do a little primping. “I will see you in fifteen minutes. I can’t wait”

“You could talk to me while I’m in the car you know.” He is laughing at me.

“No I have to tell everyone your coming. I will see you in a few.” And I hang up on him. Probably not the right thing to do but I put my phone down and brush my teeth. I wash my face and put eyeliner and a little lipstick on. Not that I plan on it staying on my lips long but hey a girl’s got to look good. I brush my hair and then look at what I’m wearing. I press the button on my phone to see how much time I have left and decide not to change clothes.

I rush out into the living room and get a strange look from everyone. “Bobby’s plane just landed at MacArthur. He will be here in five minutes.” I start cleaning up the food cartons and paper plates.

“So you’re cleaning for him?” Brad asks with a look of disgust on his face.

“Stop it right now, Brad. If you can’t handle seeing us together than you can leave now before he gets here. I am excited to see him. Please don’t ruin this for me.” I know deep down that Brad is still holding on to the hope of us getting together but I don’t have time to deal with his issues now.

Jodi helps me take the garbage into the kitchen. “You look happy,” she says. “Happier than I’ve seen you in a long time.”

“I am. I know it’s stupid because we aren’t even officially together yet but I can’t wait to feel his arms around me.” I can’t stop smiling like a loon.

We walk back into the living room but I am so amped I can’t sit down. I am tapping my fingers on the back of the couch and am rocking back and forth with nervous energy. I hear his car pull up and am out the door like a bullet. I wave to Arthur in the front seat and the back door open and he is here. I freeze and just look at him. God he looks good enough to eat. He shuts the door and walks up to me and stops. I want to throw myself at him and shove my tongue in his mouth.

“Hi, Beautiful.” He lifts his hand to caress my cheek. “God you look good. I missed you.” And that’s it. I grab his hair and pull him down for a kiss. We both groan when our mouths touch. His arms go around me and he picks me up and holds me close. Our mouths open at the same time and our tongues battle for dominance. All thought has left my mind I just want to get closer to him. I wrap my legs around him and use my thighs to push up so my mouth is above his. One of his arms goes under my ass to hold me up. Both my hands are now in his hair my elbows resting on his arms. He nips on my lower lip and I counter by sucking on his tongue. I press my core into his abs and rub myself up and down. He groans against my mouth and squeezes my ass. Finally I need to take a breath and pull away.

“Hi, Handsome,” I pant. I release the pressure of my thighs a little so I am more eyelevel with him.

“Wow that was some welcome.” He smiles at me. His hand is rubbing my ass sending shivers through my body.

One of my hands releases his hair and I caress the five o’clock shadow on his cheek. “Well I missed you too.” I smile back.

I kiss him again. I can’t stop. My whole body feels like an electric current is running through it. My hands alternate running from his neck down his back. He is all muscle and I feel his reaction to me as his skin shivers as I go over it. His hand is on my neck holding our mouths together as his tongue searches my mouth. His other hand is kneading my ass almost between my legs. I want his fingers on me, in me. This time it’s him who breaks the kiss and I moan as his lips move away. We look at each other both breathing hard.

“You have two choices” he pants. I raise my eyebrow in question. “Either we go inside or I have Arthur drive us back to the city.”

As he is talking my hand moves from his back up over his shoulder and is now unbuttoning the top of his polo shirt. Just as he ends his ultimatum my hand moves against his skin between his pecks. His eyes flare and his pupils are so dilated I can’t see any blue at all. It makes my panties even wetter knowing that I’m affecting him like this. He grabs my left leg to get me down and I surprise him with hooking my right leg between his and using his body like a pole to slip down until I’m standing.

I haven’t answered him yet and he’s just about to say something as I grab his hand and take a step back towards the house. “We’ll go inside. But we’re going to have to be social for a few minutes. We were watching a movie.”

He stops walking and releases my hand. “You have to give me a minute if I have to be around other people.” He looks down with a sheepish look in his eyes and my eyes follow his. I can see his problem bulging out in the front of his pants and I give him a small giggle. “Not funny” he growls. At that I break out into a huge laugh. He looks at me like I’ve lost my head.

When I’ve calmed down enough to talk I say, “So nothing’s changed since high school. How many times were we caught together where I had to stand in front of you to block someone’s view?”

Now it’s his turn to laugh, “I guess you’re right. But you’re not going to be cruel and wiggle your fine ass against me while we stand there now are you?”

I give him an evil grin, “Now why would I do that? It’s not like I enjoy torturing you.”

He rolls his eyes and grabs me. “God I’ve missed you. No one else teases me or makes me laugh. And I have never wanted to spank anyone else.” He whispers that last line into my ear and my whole body quakes. “I will swat that sweet ass if you don’t behave.”

I look up at him and he is smiling like a kid on Christmas morning. I have to admit it feels so natural this banter with him. I’ve never been this relaxed and turned on at the same time with anyone else. I have to smile back at him because I just feel happy. “I’ll be good. I promise” and this time I mean it.

He kisses my forehead and takes my hand. I take a step then stop and go up on my tiptoes to kiss his jaw. Oh I love stubble. I turn and start pulling him along. I open the door and pull Bobby through and we are still smiling like loons. I stop a few feet into the living room and Bobby nearly knocks me over when he bumps into me. He grabs my waist and hauls me back against him and I smile up to him. When I turn around Brad is scowling at us, Jodi is smiling and John has gotten up to extend his hand to Bobby. “Hey man how was your trip?”

Bobby releases my hip with his right hand and moves his left around my stomach holding me to him as he reaches across me to shake John’s hand. A feeling of security moves through me and I relax against him. “Okay, glad to be back. How’s everyone?” He looks over at Jodi and Brad.

“Hey, Bobby.” Jodi is still smiling at me.

Brad gets up and steps towards us. His face is still hard as he watches us interact. “Bobby,” he holds his hand out. I don’t know why he is being such a pill he knew this was happening. I smile at him hoping if he sees I am happy that it will cool him off a little. Right now he looks like he wants to punch Bobby.

“Brad, how’s it going? I hear you’ve been taking care of my girl.” I am going to kill him! What is he thinking taunting Brad like that?

I pull out of Bobby’s arm and stomp to the kitchen. “Both of you in here, now.”

Chapter Fifteen

I open the fridge and take out a bottle of wine, grab a glass and fill it. I drink almost half in one gulp. When I turn around they are both there staring at me. “Let’s get something straight” I start. “You are both important in my life but if you don’t learn to get along you know where the door is. The choice is yours.”

Brad’s mouth is gaping, really he could catch flies. Bobby starts to walk towards me. I put my hand up to stop him. “Don’t. You guys need to talk. I’m going to my room. When you get your shit together and decide not to treat me like a bone in a dog fight maybe I’ll come out. Got it?”

They both nod, looking like they’ve never seen me before. I take my wine and walk right past them to my room. I call Jodi’s name and sit on my bed. This is not how I thought this night would go just five minutes ago. What the hell is wrong with them?

Jodi comes bounding in with a smirk on her face and fist bumps me. “Did you see their faces? Holy shit girl, way to take them down. I can’t believe you just did that!” She laughs.

Neither can I. “Are they talking at all or is Brad’s mouth still on the floor?” I am laughing now too. The expression on their faces was priceless. “Do you think it did any good? I mean we were not even in the house a minute and the two of them are going at each other. What the fuck? How old are they?”

“John will explain it to them once he stops laughing. We’re proud of you. A little surprised but damn that was better entertainment then the movie.” She sits next to me. “Do you really expect them to be friends?”

“Friends, no but at least be civil to one another. I am not going to be the rope in a game of tug-of-war. I just get them both back into my life and now their acting like assholes!” I sigh. God why are men so difficult. You would think since they both know my feelings they would try to be considerate of them. I realize that Brad started the whole thing with the look he was giving us and the tone of his voice but Bobby didn’t need to make it worse with that comment. “Maybe I should just go to sleep and let them stew for the night.”

“Is that really what you want?” she asks me.

“No. Five minutes ago I figured Bobby and I would make small talk with you guys for fifteen minutes and then move in here to finish what we started outside.”

“What happened outside?”

“Oh, Jodes, I can’t remember the last time I was kissed like that. And then the playful banter we had going on when we walked in. It just felt so natural with him. Is it really possible that I met my soul mate when I was fifteen? Because that’s how it feels like he is the other half of me. Am I crazy?” I lie back on my bed and stare at the ceiling.

“Hell no, John and I have been together almost that long and I can’t imagine my life without him. But I do think you need to take things slow. You both have a lot of history to get through and I do worry that he has problems from the Army that you don’t know about yet. Just don’t rush into this with blinders on, okay?” She lies back with me and we’re quiet for a moment.

Then she starts laughing again. “I can still see the looks on their faces. You missed the initial reaction. They looked at you then looked at each other and I didn’t know if they were going to start swinging or crying. Then they turned at the same time with their heads down like they were caught smoking in the Swamp and going to get reamed at Mr. Mollinari’s office.”

Now I am laughing, I have to sit up so I don’t spill my wine. “So how long do you think I should give them before going back out there?”

As I say it there is a knock on my door. I look at Jodi and she cocks an eyebrow. “Do you want me to let them in?”

“Yeah let’s see what they have to say for themselves.”

Jodi gets up and opens the door then takes a step back. Bobby comes in first and when he sees me I can see the desire in his eyes. Not the reaction I thought I would be getting from him. Brad walks in and his head is bent like he is going to an execution. Bobby comes over and squats down in front of me taking my hand. “I’m sorry, baby. I know I shouldn’t have made that comment and I will try to get along with Brad.” I think he’s sincere but the fact that he looks like he wants to eat me makes me think he would say anything to get back to where we were a little while ago. I nod at him and turn to Brad.

He is just standing there watching us not realizing that I am waiting on him. Bobby clears his throat which brings Brad around. “I’m sorry too. I just lost it for a minute. I just don’t want to see you get hurt again but I will try to get along with him too.”

“I guess that is all I can ask of both of you. I don’t want to have to separate my life to keep you both in it. I would love for us all to be able to hang out together.” Bobby squeezes my hand then stands up and offers it to Brad.

“How about we all meet for breakfast tomorrow?” he asks.

Brad takes his hand and says, “Airport diner?”

“Sounds like a plan” says Bobby turning back to me. “Is that good with you? Jodi you and John are welcome to join us.”

Jodi looks at me and I nod. “Sure but Lisa and I have hair appointments at ten thirty so it will have to be early.”

“Meet there at nine? Will that give you enough time?” Brad asks.