Can't Let Go (16 page)

“Chrissy, we’ve been over this. It’s fine.” His exasperated annoyance clear in his words and deep release of breath.

“I know that. It’s just I guess I’m trying to tell you why I woke up this morning and snuck off to find a job.” I’m not even sure why I think he cares that he woke up without me there.

“We fell asleep on the couch. It’s not like I fucked you and poured my heart out to you or something,” he says, wheeling around to his dresser.

“Yeah … well … um … I know. It’s just you looked upset when you came home.” I bite my lip, apprehensive to what’s wrong with him.

“I’ve got a lot on my mind, Chrissy. But it’s got nothing to do with waking up this morning to an empty couch.” Dex kicks off his shoes and shrugs off his socks. His frigid tone and uncaring demeanor has me standing up, ready to flee the room.

“Okay, well, I’ll leave you be then.” I begin to depart the room.

“Wait,” Dex instructs, but before I give him my attention, Sadie’s in the doorway.

“Hey, you two. We’re going to the drive-in tonight. Want to join us?” She bounces on her toes in excitement. “Don’t worry, Dex, it’s not a chick flick.” She smirks.

“Eighties flick?” Dex inquires, still no change of inflection in his voice.

“No. It’s a guys’ movie. G.I. Joe or something with that dose of testosterone level,” she confirms, and I take sanctuary in the doorframe with Sadie.

“What about the second?” I softly ask Sadie, and she snickers.

Glancing at a disinterested Dex and back to me. “50 First Dates,” she whispers, and I smile, shaking my head.

“You know I’ll see what the second show is when we turn into the drive, right?” Dex hollers over his shoulder.

“So that means you’re going?” Sadie asks, raising her eyebrows his way.

He sharply turns around and fixes his gaze on me. “Yeah, we’ll go,” he answers for both of us, and I’m not sure if I like the fact he assumes I’ll go. But, a small of part me does like that he considers us a package deal.

“Now, get the hell out of my room so I can shower.” He throws his sweaty shirt at us, and it drops right in front of our feet. While I’m admiring his bare back, Sadie’s smiling over at me. Dex glances over his shoulder, and I jerk my vision to Sadie, who begins giggling uncontrollably.

“Going,” Sadie answers and pulls me out of the doorway, down the hall.

CHRISSY SHUTS MY door, and I berate myself for allowing my anger to show. I wish Sam had answered the phone, because I need to unleash this damn anger somehow and I was really hoping it would be by stroking instead of punching. Then Chrissy knocked on my door, and it confused me further. What the hell is happening to us? Why did I try to clip Rob when I pulled into the driveway? I need to get these feelings in check before something happens that I’ll regret. It’s been a fucking day, and already she’s occupying my mind, just like when I was fourteen.

Getting out of the shower, I shrug on my jeans and a t-shirt, debating if I should cancel this night. Maybe Chrissy is about to get the wrong idea. Hell, maybe I’m getting the wrong idea.

When I walk into the hallway, all those doubts are obliterated when Chrissy emerges out of her room in the shortest shorts I’ve ever seen, showing off one of her best features, long as hell legs.

Turning around upon hearing me shutting my door, a smile creeps across her glossy lips. “Hey, you,” she says and stops at the top of the stairs.

Walking toward her with my eyes seeing nothing but her gorgeous face, I stop right next to her. “Hey, you.” I copy her greeting.

She hesitantly takes the first step down, allowing me a great visual of her ass. “Are we all driving together?” She glances over her shoulder and then abruptly stops. “Dex?” she questions, and my eyes fly up to meet hers. She has a small smirk across her face.

“Sorry.” I apologize for devouring her body with my eyes, but she doesn’t seem to mind too much from the flirtatious smile across her face.

“Do you think we’ll drive together?”

“No way. There’s no way I’m going to be witness to Brady and Sadie spit swapping more than I have to.” I climb down the stairs to keep pace with her. “We’ll go in the truck,” I inform her.

“Sounds good,” she says. “Should we ask Rob?” she asks, enticing an urge to pin her up against the wall to claim her with my mouth. What the hell? I’ve got to stop these feelings of ownership when it comes to her.

“I’m sure he’s busy, but if you want.” I walk past her without regard, a little annoyed that she doesn’t want to just be with me.

Of course, when we enter the kitchen, there’s Rob, sitting at the table reading a manual. Then the guilt that he’s fixing Chrissy’s car and here I am jealous of her admiration to him. I put them in that position, didn’t I?

“Hi, Rob.” I swear Chrissy’s mood increases ten notches. She practically skips over to him, claiming the seat to his right.

“Hey, beautiful,” he greets her, and my footsteps stop for a brief second until Rob eyes me. In order for him not to think he’s getting a rise out of me, I keep moving. “You do know your fuel gauge wasn’t working, right?” He briefly looks at Chrissy before burying his head in the book again.

She giggles and crosses her legs toward him. Why doesn’t she just twirl her hair around her finger? “I know, I would try to keep track of the miles,” she responds.

“Did that always work?” he asks, leaning back in his chair, placing the neck of his beer bottle to his lips.

“Not always,” she giggles, sweeping her hair around the back of her neck to one side.

“I can’t imagine you’d have a hard time finding someone to pick you up, though.” Rob smirks, his eyes flash to mine and then Chrissy again.

She doesn’t respond, but just pushes him lightly on the shoulder, laughing. It’s like I’m in the middle of some first date, and I’m the third wheel. “Do you want to come to the drive-in with us?” she asks, and Rob’s line of sight turns to me. I shrug my shoulders, appearing indifferent, but his eyes laugh at my reaction.

“Nah, I gotta get your car going. Would hate for you to be stuck here,” he tells her, standing up from the table. I scoot over when he places his hand on the fridge and then staring directly at me he continues, “I mean, unless there’s another reason you’re staying.” He fixates on me while reaching in to grab a beer.

“Um … no.” She staggers because we both know she has nowhere to go. “As soon as you fix my car, I’ll be going.” Her voice shakes slightly as she rises to her own feet. That flirtatious side of her disappearing.

“Well then, maybe I should take longer to get it fixed,” Rob slyly comments. “It’s nice having you around, isn’t it, Dex?” He concentrates on me, and I finally catch on to what he’s doing.

“Let’s go, Chrissy,” I blurt out, throwing my empty water bottle in the recycling bin by the back door.

“See you two
friends
later,” Rob sarcastically kids and pushes his way out the back screen door, retreating back to the garage.

“Bye, Rob. Thank you again.” Chrissy follows him, calling out to him. Rob turns around to face her outside the garage doors.

“It’s no problem.”

Then a sharp pain hits my chest when she places her hand on his forearm, right by that damn guitar tattoo with Jessa’s lips. “Please, let me know how I can repay you,” she says.

“No thanks or repayment needed. I like to do things with my hands and—”

Before he can even finish, I grab Chrissy’s hand, spurring laughter from Rob. “We don’t want to be late to the movies,” I remind her, and she smiles at me, nodding her head.

“See ya, Rob,” I say with a wave of my hand, as I guide Chrissy to my truck.

Thank goodness, Brady and Sadie come out a second later, saying their own goodbyes to Rob before sliding into the Camaro. I insert the keys into the ignition and I hope it is my imagination that Chrissy’s quieter now, not around Rob.

“So, I have some blankets in the back and if I know Brady, he’ll stash some food in too.” I try to pull her into a conversation.

“Sounds awesome. I haven’t been to a drive-in for years. Of course, remember when boys only took girls to drive-ins to make those windows steam up?” She laughs.

“Why did you think I agreed? Are you telling me you’re not down with some heavy making out and a little touch and feel?” I joke with her because I’ve got to lighten the mood up between us.

“Sorry, bud, I don’t give it up on the first date,” she counters back, her own amusement in giggles.

“Technically, our first date was when we were eight. So, I think we’re already in grand slam territory.” I leer her way and cock my eyebrow, inviting a head shake from her.

“Then
technically
, you’ve never asked me on a date.” She raises her own eyebrows at me.

I don’t respond because what can I say? I should have a long time ago, or how about now? If only our situation was different.

We pull through the gates, and, although Chrissy tries to force money into my hand, I pay for the two of us, earning a huff of annoyance. Brady pulls in, and I back in so we can use the bed of the truck. Once I pull the keys out of the ignition, Chrissy’s out of the cab and climbing in the back.

“Eager?” I ask her, and she laughs.

“Kind of. I know it’s stupid and you probably do it all the time, but I always wanted to be in the bed of a truck at a drive-in,” she admits, and I climb in, laying the blanket down.

“I’ve never been here with the truck, or ever for that matter,” I reveal.

“Oh, well then it’s the first for both of us,” she says, straightening out the blanket and then sitting down cross-legged on it.

“Hey, guys!” Sadie says, following suit and climbing up. She takes her position next to Chrissy and they begin talking about the movies.

“I brought us some food.” Brady places a cooler down and positions himself next to Sadie. Since the sun has yet to fully set, we have a while before the movies will start.

“Great, I’ll be right back,” I tell him, hopping down from the bed of the truck. Pulling my phone out, three missed phone calls are displayed on the screen. Sam, my dad, and then Sam again. Redialing Sam, I wait for her to answer as the gravel crunches on my feet, passing by kids running around and couples snuggled together.

“Hey, sexy. Where have you been?” Sam answers, and her cheery mood is always nice to hear.

“Busy. What’s up with you?” I ask in return.

“Nothing really. I called earlier because I was reading this book and it got me all hot, but since you didn’t answer, my fingers had to do the walking all by their lonesome.” I can practically picture her fake pouting face. Like the time I told her there was no way I could do it again without having to seek medical attention.

“Sorry, but I’m sure they do a fine job,” I joke.

“Yeah, but they’re getting a little too used to you instructing them where to go,” she seductively whines. Silence fills the line because I’m not really into all this right now. For some reason I’m more eager to get back to the truck. “Anyway, Jessa’s almost ready to get that baby out, I’ll be there soon. Can’t wait to see you,” she continues. “I’d have you pick me up at the airport and maybe we could detour somewhere, but I’m flying in with my parents, boo.” She does that childlike voice with a small pout.

“I guess it will have to wait until after then,” I comment.

“Hmm. . .you’re grumpy. Thought you would be wanting to tear my clothes off,” she says, and a little guilt develops with the thought I’ve yet to tell her about Chrissy. Not that Sam and I are exclusive or that anything is going on with Chrissy. But, for some reason, I’m beginning to feel stuck in the middle of them.

“I’m at the drive-in. Gotta go take a piss and then head back before the movie starts,” I inform her, and she huffs slightly.

“Okay, well, have fun. Call me when you can,” she says and then hangs up. I’m relieved she’s so easy going with it all. Not like other psycho chicks I’ve actually dated, but maybe she’s cool because we aren’t dating.

I go into the bathroom, two little squirts are messing around with the paper towels and water. When they see me, they run away with frightened expressions on their faces. Once I’m done, I call my dad, praying he doesn’t need me again tonight.