Breathless (161 page)

He patted me on the back. “Why the hell did you get into a fight? I thought you were the one who kept his nose clean while Andy started brawls just for the hell of it.”

“They called me trailer trash and threatened me.”

“Whoa. What the hell?”

“Yeah. Three of them cornered me. They didn’t realize that being trailer trash has a few perks. For example, I can apparently beat the shit out of two spoiled assholes at once while sending the other one running.”

“That place has to be hell.” Tony shook his head. “I have no idea why your mom wants you to go there. Fuck college. I know for a fact that Rick would hire you on here while you do your apprenticeship. You’re like a second son to him.”

“She wants
better
for me. She just doesn’t understand that I want
this
, not some fucking college degree and a desk job.”

“Did you tell her that?”

“How can I? She thinks she’s doing what’s best for me. If I told her I was okay with this life, it’d break her. She’s spent her whole life trying to make up for the way my dad left us.”

“You’re a good guy, Jesse. You’ll figure it out.”

“I hope so.”

“Besides those ass-wipes, how is school going?”

I thought of Emma and smiled. She’d made that place bearable. Actually,

I kind of missed school today because I couldn’t see her. “It’s not too bad.”

“Why are you grinning like you just got laid? Oh shit, are you screwing one of the Barbie dolls at that school?”

“I’m not screwing her, but—”

“But what? If you’re not screwing her, why the hell are you smiling like an idiot?”

“I don’t know. She’s just…different. She doesn’t look at me like I’m trash. She looks at me like I’m a whole new world she can’t wait to explore.”

“If you start spouting off poetry, I’m going to throw up. You have it bad.”

“Says the guy who is married and has a kid.”

“Okay, you’ve got me there. I just never saw you as the kind of guy who wanted a relationship. Besides Andy and Ally, you keep to yourself a lot. I mean, you hang out with all of us, but you’re not into it like the rest of our group.”

“I don’t know. I just don’t get close to people.” “Because of your dad?” Tony asked.

I wasn’t sure where all this heart-to-heart bullshit was coming from, but it was starting to make me uncomfortable. “Are you trying to get a psychology degree or what? I feel like I should be lying on a couch while you take notes.”

“And he deflects. Smooth move.”

A customer walked in, effectively ending his interrogation. I checked the guy in while Tony went back to set up for him. The guy was a regular, and this was his third and final session with Tony. They’d been working on a sleeve piece for him. It was a dragon that started at his shoulder and wrapped around his arm. The head of the dragon stopped on top of his hand. I wasn’t big on dragon tattoos, but this one was sick.

Tony took him back to get started, so I decided to clean up the place before we had any more customers. The schedule book said that we had only one more client tonight, so it was sure to be another slow one. I finished cleaning up and sat back down in my stool to wait for the rest of my shift to go by.

Rick left around seven, leaving me alone with Tony for the rest of the night. The last appointment came and went not long after, so we spent the rest of the night playing cards on the counter. He had taken the hint, and he didn’t ask about Emma again.

Tonight was dragging by especially slow. It was probably due to the fact that I was waiting to meet Emma after work. I seriously hoped that my mom wouldn’t make it home on time. I knew that made me an ass, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about the two of them meeting. Emma and I had jumped into this all of a sudden, and it felt like things would be different, more real, if she met my mom.

When the shop finally closed, I flew home. I almost beat my head on the steering wheel when I saw both Emma’s and my mom’s cars sitting in the driveway.
So much for hoping that Mom wouldn’t be here.
Emma was still in her car when I parked in the yard beside her. At least, she hadn’t decided to go in and meet my mom on her own.

She was out of her car before I even shut off my Jeep. She surprised me by opening my door and leaning in to kiss me. She hadn’t been shy about it either. It was like she’d actually missed me during the day, and she was trying to make up for it with a single kiss.

I slid my tongue between her teeth as she crushed her lips against me.

The moan that escaped her had me adjusting my pants.

“Hi,” she said as she pulled away.

“Hi.” I stepped out of my Jeep and pulled her into my arms. “That was a nice hello.”

“I missed you today. School was boring without you.”

“I’m sure it was.”

She elbowed me as I threw my arm around her, and we started walking toward my house.

“It was. Although, you were a hot topic today.”

“Why’s that?”

“Everyone was talking about the fight. Half of the school is either terrified or in awe of you while the other half hates you.”

“Let me guess. The half that hates me are all part of your circle of friends.”

She looked away. “Yeah, they are.”

“It’s a good thing you’re keeping me your dirty little secret then,” I teased, but it bothered me.
What chance do we have of making this work when everyone she knows hates me?

“You’re hilarious,” she grumbled as I held the door open for her.

As soon as we walked inside, we were bombarded with the smell of food cooking. I’d recognize my mom’s famous chicken casserole anywhere. She’d really gone all out to meet Emma.

“Oh, wow. Something smells good,” Emma said as I closed the door behind her.

My mom stuck her head out of the kitchen, and she smiled when she saw

Emma. “Just in time! I’m just taking dinner out of the oven.” “You guys eat dinner at nine thirty?” Emma asked.

“Well, I usually work late shifts, so Jesse has to fend for himself.” “Oh, I see,” Emma said politely.

“Mom, this is Emma. Emma, this is my mom,” I said as I gestured between them.
This is so weird.

“It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Daniels.”

My mom wiped her hands on her apron as she walked out of the kitchen.

“It’s nice to meet you, Emma. Please call me Trish.”

“I can do that.” Emma smiled at my mom. She was bouncing her weight from foot to foot as we all stood in the entryway, staring at each other.

“Why don’t we all head into the kitchen to eat?” my mom asked.

“Sounds like a plan,” I said.

I placed my hand on the small of Emma’s back as I steered her into the kitchen. It didn’t go unnoticed by my mother. I watched her try to hide a grin when we walked past.

Emma and my mom sat across from each other at the table while I was in the middle. Emma was trying to hide her nervousness, but she kept fidgeting in her chair. I supposed I should have warned her that my mom might be home, but I never thought about it. My mom was rarely home, and I hadn’t expected her to actually be here.

My mother made me say grace tonight. I knew there weren’t a lot of families who said it anymore, and I didn’t want Emma to think we were strange. She didn’t seem to mind though as she bowed her head right along with us. Everyone was quiet afterward as we filled our plates with food.

It was starting to feel awkward, and then my mom finally spoke up. “Has my son been behaving himself in school?”

Emma glanced at me and smiled. “He has with the exception of yesterday. He’s actually pretty quiet.”

“He always has been. Even when he was little, he’d keep to himself rather than play with the other kids.”

“He’s a hard nut to crack, but I think I finally managed to get him to like me.”

“I’m glad. You just take care of my baby, okay?” “Mom, really?” I asked as I rolled my eyes.

“Yes, really.”

Emma laughed. “I will. You have nothing to worry about.”

“I’m glad to hear that. So, what do you like to do in your spare time? My son kept quiet about you until last night, so I know nothing about you.”

“I’m pretty boring. I don’t do much besides school and cheerleading. Jesse has been
trying
to teach me to surf. Keyword there is
trying
. I’m not very good at it.”

“It takes time. I don’t know how many times Jesse had come home bruised and discouraged before he finally got the hang of it. Don’t let him give you a hard time, or I’ll bring out baby pictures, so we can laugh at him together.”

“I have no words for where this conversation is going,” I groaned before I started shoveling food into my mouth. I needed to get Emma away from my mom fast.

“Oh! I’d love to see those sometime. I might even make copies and pass them around at school.” Emma stuck her tongue out at me.

“I like this girl, Jesse. You need to bring her around more often.”

“So that the two of you can embarrass me? No, thanks.”

“Oh, hush. We’re bonding,” Emma said as she squeezed my knee under the table.

“So, what do your parents do?” my mom asked.

“Well, my dad is part of the band, Seducing Seductresses, and my mom is a retired model. They’ve been divorced since I was little, so I don’t get to see my dad that often.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. At least you have your mom around though.” Emma snorted. “I wouldn’t go that far. She’s not much of a mom.”

“That stinks. I had a rocky relationship with my mom when I was a teenager. Hopefully, you two can learn to get along,” my mom said.

“I doubt that. She isn’t worried about being a mom.”

“Well, you’re welcome here anytime. I mean it. Even if Jesse is in one of his moods, I’ll let you hide out here.”

“That’s very kind of you. Thank you.”

“Of course. I swear that I’m not one of those mean moms who make the girlfriends miserable.”

Emma laughed. “I’m glad. I could use a nice mom once in a while. Speaking of nice moms, I have a question for you. I’m not sure if Jesse told you or not, but my dad is flying me over to London to see him this weekend. He told me that I could bring a friend, and I was hoping that I could bring

Jesse with me.”

“To London?” my mom asked as her eyes widened.

“Yeah, it’s only for the weekend, and we won’t be on our own either. We’ll be in the same hotel as my dad, so you don’t have to worry about us getting in trouble.” Emma looked at my mom hopefully.

She was pleading with her eyes, and my mom had to say
yes
to that look.

Hell, I’d give the girl anything if she gave me that look.

“London. Wow. I don’t know. It’s so far.”

“Oh, come on. You’ll be working all weekend anyway. You won’t even miss me,” I said.

“What about a passport? You don’t have one, and those take weeks.”

She had a good point. I looked at Emma, hoping that she could help us out.

“It does take weeks unless you’re the daughter of a rock star who has a friend that can expedite the process. I brought the forms with me. If you fill them out tonight, we should have it by Thursday.”

My mother’s mouth dropped open even farther. “Wow, I’m not even sure what to say to that. I guess you can go, Jesse.
But
, and this is a big but, you have to call me as soon as you land and at least once a day for every day you’re there.”

“I’ll make sure that he does,” Emma said. She was grinning from ear to ear. “This means so much to me. Thank you!”

“You’re welcome. Just make sure that you’re both careful.”

Emma and my mom kept a steady flow of conversation as we ate. With the two of them together, I never had the chance to get a word in. I hadn’t been sure how the two of them would get along, but it was obvious that they already liked each other.

We finished dinner, and Emma tried to help my mom do the dishes, but she shooed Emma away. “Go help my son with his homework. I think I can handle a few plates.”

“If you’re sure…” Emma seemed unsure of whether or not to leave.

“I am. Now, go.” She glanced over at me. “And leave the door open,

Jesse.”

I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t fifteen. If I wanted to have sex with Emma in my room, I would. I wouldn’t care if the door were open or not. “I’ll try to remember to keep it open.”

Twelve-Emma

I grabbed my bag full of books and followed Jesse back to his room. I was nervous about being in there alone with him when his mother was only a couple of rooms away. He did leave his door open, which I was thankful for.

His mom seemed really nice, and I didn’t want her to hate me.

“So, what all did you bring me?” he asked as he sat down on the bed.

“A little bit of everything. I wasn’t sure about all the classes you’re taking, but I got the work from the classes we have together and the ones that I know you are taking.”

“I’m sure they thought you were nuts.”

“Nah, your teachers like you. Ms. Mason was even cool with me taking your work, and someone said she was the one who caught you guys fighting.”

“Well, that’s good to know, I guess.”

I pulled a notebook out of the bag and handed it to him. “All of your assignments are in there. These are my books. I need your locker combination, so I can borrow yours. I never even thought to ask you for it.”

He smiled as I pulled the books out of the bag and set them on the wornout table where he had scattered other books.

“Thanks.”

“No problem. Also, Ms. Mason had us partner up for a project. Since I’d told her that I needed your homework before class started, she put us together. It’s a paper on any war of our choice, but it’s not due until the end of the month.”

“That’s fine. I can do research while you write it if you want. I’m good at looking up stuff, but I can never put it down right on paper.”

I smiled. “Well, I hate researching, so that sounds perfect. I have your passport paperwork with me, so we just need to fill it out and get a picture of you. I’ll scan it and email it all to my dad’s friend when I get home.”

He shook his head. “You’re something else.”

I wasn’t sure what he’d meant by that. “Why?”

“You just blow over the fact that your dad is a famous rock star and that you have all these friends in high places.”