Chasing the Wild Sparks (21 page)

She rolls her eyes. “Just do it, Hadley. Come on. Show me what Wilder loves to suck on.”

I faux giggle. “Hell, Morgan, when you put it like that…no.”

“Fine. I’ll tear off the pieces and you put them above, on and under your nipples.”

“Shit. How am I going to get through tonight with tape on my boobs?”

“You won’t even remember they’re there, but you’ll be glad they are.” I sit on the toilet lid and turn away from her. She hands me the pieces of tape from behind me.

“So, since we’re girl-talking, tell me something about Finn that you haven’t told me before.”

“Like what?” There’s so much I haven’t told her.

“Is he a good kisser?”

“I’ve answered that one before. Yes.” The best. His kisses are soul-confirming.

“How big is he?”

I scoff, “Wow, Morgan. I’m not answering that.”

I turn to take another piece of tape from her. She tries again. “Fine. What’s he like in bed then?”

I can’t hide my smile this time. “Good.” Indescribable. I don’t want to get too personal about us with her. I don’t want her teasing me about him or worse: her telling him what I said.

“That’s all you’re going to give me?”

I turn my back to her again. “He’s sweet.”

“Boring.”

“
Not
boring.”

I grab another piece and she asks, “Rod said Finn gets horny when you call him
Finnigan
?”

I look away from her. “Sort of.”

“What is it, like a grenade? You say it and he has so long before he explodes all over you?” I never thought of it like that before, but that’s exactly what it’s like.

“No.” I don’t want to talk about this with her. It was supposed to be Finn’s and my secret. So much for that.

“What about him calling you Hadley? Does it do it for you, too?”

“He doesn’t call me
Hadley
.”

“Ever?”

“Nope.”

“Or does he call you Finnatic #100295?”

“Thanks a lot, tramp!” I pick up a tube of mascara and throw it at her, but she dodges it and laughs.

I glance at the door before whispering, “What about Ivan?”

“I’ve told you everything. I don’t keep things to myself like you do. He’s a wrecking machine.”

“Damn.”

She giggles. “I know.”

“I guess so if you’re already pregnant. You’re on the Pill, though.”

“I know. It can still happen, so you be careful, too.”

I nod and look away from her to grab the heels I picked out to wear. “Okay.”

There’s a knock at the door and I jump. “Hadders!” Rod yells through the door.

“Yeah?”

“Your man is on TV.” Morgan opens the door and he pops his head in. “You need to—
Hot damn, woman!
Is that Hadley Beckett? What happened to
you?
”

“Yes, Rod. Did he already start his broadcast?”

“Yeah. He was talking to that one blonde chick at the desk with him before it. He’s probably on now.”

We walk out of the bathroom and into the guest room, where I’m staying. Morgan flips on the TV and puts Finn’s channel on.

“Man, he looks pissed,” Rod says, crossing his arms.

“Yes, he does,” Morgan agrees with a grin.

Rod snickers. “At least he covered up his hickey.” Pam had to have covered it for him.

“He’s smiling,” I mumble, defending him and not commenting on his horrendous fake smile. To his viewing audience, he might seem determined or in a somewhat serious mood. I know him, though. I can see right through his façade. He’s mad.

“What all did you say to him on the phone?” Morgan asks, turning away from the TV to look at me.

“I told him what you said.” She raises an eyebrow at me and I shrug, at the TV. “I told him that I feel like I’m his whore.”

“Holy fucking shit!” Rod screeches. “Like 'Pretty Woman?'”

Morgan’s face turns sour. “Don’t tell me. You watch it while painting your toenails and talking to your mom on the phone.” Dumbstruck, Rod gapes at Morgan while she turns to me and asks, “You actually told Finn that?”

I nod as I watch my boyfriend, who is dressed in a gray suit with a gray, blue and black plaid tie—a tie that I gave him for his birthday.

Rod interjects, “No. Last time I watched it, I was folding laundry, Mortgage; probably talking to Hadders.”

She leans her head back and looks up at the ceiling. “Shut up, Nimrod.”

Rod moves closer to me. “He said he was going to do a big dare this week.”

I whip my head to him. “What?”

He shrugs. “He told that chick that he has ‘a big dare planned this week, so
stay tuned
.’”

“Who dared him? He usually says who the dare is from.”

He shakes his head and glances down at me. “He didn’t say this time.” I search his face, looking to see any hint of him lying to me. Rod’s usually pretty forthcoming, though.

Morgan’s eyes widen. “A big dare? Do you think he’ll propose to you on the Air?”

Crinkling my lips and nose at that, I say, “I hope not. He’d sooner fly a kite.” Rod purses his lips and I roll my eyes. “I told him I would say no anyway.”

“Why? I thought you wanted to marry Wilder?” Rod asks in confusion.

I shake my head, looking away from him and to the TV. “Not like this.”

Morgan smacks Rod in the stomach. “He told Hadley they could get engaged, but she doesn’t think he’ll ever marry her.”

Rod swiftly looks at me. “Really? You think he’d go out and buy a diamond ring for you, propose, but then not seal the deal?”

I stare at the reason for all of my riotous feelings in my heart as he does his job at a news desk. “No. He won’t. He’ll never marry me.”

Morgan rests her chin on my shoulder. “Make him go out and blow a hunk of change on a ring for you, at least. I know that would make
me
feel better about the whole shitty situation.”

I close my eyes for a few seconds. “No. I don’t want to wear a constant reminder of his rejection.”

Rod laughs and says excitedly, “You should tell him you want the biggest one they have and throw it in his face! I mean, literally, use one of those autographed baseball bats, you said he has, and whack him in the face with the ring as the ball!”

“Shut the hell up, Dick Rod.”

Rod unfolds an arm and points at the TV. “He looks like he wants to rip someone’s throat out. I bet it’s Morgan’s!” he singsongs, leaning over to her.

Morgan lifts her chin from my shoulder. “Why me?”

Rod giggles. “For kidnapping his woman!”

Morgan steps away from me as I watch TV. “Oh, well!” she says. I hear a faint snapping sound, but can’t look away from Finn. Is he that mad at me for going out tonight?

“Say cheese!” I turn and Morgan takes my picture with her phone.

“Hey! No pictures!”

“Just one nice one. Please?”

“Smile purty, little lady!” Moving to stand behind Morgan, Rod crosses his eyes, sticks out his tongue and puts his index fingers together into an
X
behind Morgan’s head. I laugh and Morgan snaps the picture.

She says, “I’m going to go throw something on and then we can get some dinner before hitting the club.” I nod and swing my head back to Finn’s voice as he reports hockey scores.

Rod nudges my arm with his. “Hey. I talked to him after you left.”

I don’t look at him. “About what?”

“You.”

That spurs me to look at Rod. “What? How ridiculous I’m being?”

He frowns at me. “No. I asked him if he loved you.” I blink at him, waiting for him to continue. He rolls his eyes. Trying to imitate Finn’s voice, he says, ‘I love her with all my heart.’”

“Oh.” I look down at the cream-colored carpet. I can’t cry. My mascara will make a mess and Morgan will scrub my face and force me to sit through that torture again.

“I told him I didn’t want him breaking your heart.”

“What did he say?” I mumble to the floor.

“Not much. He wants to make you happy. I think he was too stunned to say more.”

I nod as I raise my head to look back at the TV. The camera shows Finn again and he closes his report. Sheena comments some about the scores and he answers her without any witty banter. Definitely pissed. And he still has another broadcast to get through at 11.

I glance at Rod and finally notice what he’s wearing, now that I’m not distracted. Gone are his bandana and Britney shirt. He’s currently wearing a smoky black, worn-looking, fitted, button-up, short-sleeved shirt with two breast pockets that is unbuttoned almost halfway. He has on a different pair of blue jeans than he had on at the festival. These are darker and tighter. His hair looks freshly washed and like he scrubbed his hand through it with styling gel, so it’s pieced in random directions. He’s also wearing black suede hi-tops with thick, white soles. Rod looks hot. That’s one thing Rod has: good fashion sense. The weekends are usually a different story since he only wears concert T-shirts and jeans, or a weird bandana and a Britney Spears shirt to a kite festival.

Rod sneers, “So what’s with the prostitute get-up?”

“Morgan thinks I need to dress like this to have a good time.”

He nods and implicitly smirks. “Oh, we’ll have a good time alright.”

“Do you think I’m going to let you dance with me?”

“It’s a given.”

I bite my lip, most likely screwing up my lipstick, to stop my grin. “We’ll see.”

His eyes fall to my legs. “Nice shoes.”

I twist my ankle. “Aren’t they?” My high heels are silver, strappy and glittery. They’re a pair of my shoes that Morgan threw in my bag, without me realizing she already had my outfit picked out in her head for me tonight.

“They look like hooker heels. Will you be able to dance with me in them?”

I struggle not to laugh. “I don’t think you’ll fit into these.”

He rolls his eyes and leans into my face. “Very funny. Ha ha. I forgot how funny you’re not.”

I shove him away. “It’ll be a piece of cake.”

“I’d rather see you slip than eat cake. That’ll be hilarious,” he teases, I think. Then again, it’s Rod. He probably would laugh…and snort.

“Why did you drive? Morgan is going to be our DD.”

He smirks. “I’m not getting plastered tonight.”

“
Nobody
is going to drink with me?”

“Don’t worry your skanky little head.” He snickers and I pinch his arm. “Hey! I’ll drink a few with you, but it takes me quite a few to feel anything.”
He rubs his arm and whines, “Shit that hurts!”

I can’t help but laugh and he elbows me. “I can’t wait to dance with you, Hadders.”

“Aw, you’re sweet.”

“Yeah. I can’t wait to see your skanky tits pop out of that top!”  He giggles
, and I turn off the TV, shoving, Rod out of the room. He shouts down the hall. “Ooh! Call me
Gregory
again! Damn, you’re making me so hot, baby!”

I’m going to push Greg Rodwell into busy traffic.

It’ll happen soon.

CHAPTER 13

“I need gum.”

“What for?”

“So I can put it on the bottom of my shoe, Hadders. I ate garlic. Help a dude out.”

“Honestly, Dick Rod. Here.”

He grins and pops two white rectangles in his mouth. “Thanks, Morgasm.”

I ask, “Why don’t you just drink a beer to get rid of the taste?”

He chews the white mass between his front teeth unnaturally fast before saying, “Because I want minty fresh breath.”

She waves him off. “Whatever. Ivan and I are going to head over to a booth for now. What are you two going to do?”

Rod shoots his fist into the air. “Get crunked, bitches!”

My face crumples. “Don’t ever say that again, Rod.” I look around the club. “I didn’t think it’d be this crowded for a Sunday night.”

He giggles. “It’s spring break, you silly skank!” I turn to glare at Rod, making him thoroughly laugh and choke on his gum. Morgan smacks him hard on the back and he irritably frowns at her. “Christ, Morgan! I think you dislodged my fucking lung!”

She lamely says, “Oops. Sorry.”

“Yeah.
Real
sorry. Shit! You women are beating the hell out of me tonight. I’m just going to go home.”

“Tell your teddy bear we said nightie, night!” Morgan laughs and walks away to the booth Ivan is sitting at.

“Devil woman,” Rod mutters. I follow him to a metal beam that he leans his shoulder onto. He peers around the club. The shiny, black floor is flecked with colorful glitter. The actual dance floor is clear with thin, colorful lights placed sporadically underneath, blinking and changing colors with the beat of the music. Above, the ceiling is covered with a variety of multicolored light fixtures that are used at different times depending on the mood, the song and the theme, if there is one. There’s even a disco ball up there that is lowered when needed. The bar takes up the entire wall at the end of the room. Mirrors are placed intermittently on the walls, interspersed with colorful lights. The seating areas have small light fixtures either on the tables or hanging above the booths to create a soft glow in the otherwise vibrant room.

I softly smack his arm. “Why don’t you try to score a dance with some college co-ed?”

In a very deep voice that is scarier than it is sexy, Rod asks, “Why? Do I intimidate you, Hadley Beckett?”

I exaggeratedly shudder. “Did Morgan dislodge your voice box as well?”

“Shut the hell up.”

I lean against his arm and nod to the other side of the room. “There’s a girl over there you could ask to dance. She’s pretty.”

He shrugs, moving me with him. “Maybe later.”

“Why aren’t you on the prowl? You are in fertile fishing waters, Rod. Prime harvesting time. It’s spring break. Go have some fun.”

Still scanning our surroundings, he retorts, “I’m not a fucking salmon.”

I giggle and prod his arm. “Get laid or something.”

He turns his head to look down at me. “Or something? What’s
that
mean?”

“I don’t know. Whatever it is that you guys want.”

He scoffs, “You’re totally unaware of what we want? Come on. You have a sex-hungry man. You know what
he
wants.”

Feeling like Rod sees something I don’t or he’s doubting my ability to satisfy Finn, I suspiciously ask, “Sex-hungry? Says who?”

“Well, he only gets it on the weekends. So, he’s probably a little malnourished.”

“I think he’s happy with what I give him.”

“Oh, so you’re full-service?” He grins.

“What?”

He raises both eyebrows meaningfully and nods his head to the side. “You know. You give him some oral action.”

I stand straight. “Um, no.” Why did I tell him that? There is seriously something wrong with my man. Well, obviously.

Rod’s eyes pop open as he pushes off the pillar. “Hadders! No?” He shakes his head and his mouth now matches his eyes. “What the hell?
That’s
why he’s pissed!” He laughs.

I shrink away from him. “Shut up. He’s never complained.” That’s a lie. Finn has tried to covertly push me down to his lap several times. I don’t think I could ever do it, though.

“Why would you deny him? Guys love that!”

“Are you speaking subjectively or objectively?”

His face scrunches. “Huh?”

I sigh. “Are you speaking from experience or just about guys in general, since
you
seem to know what guys want.”

“Hey! I’ve never blown a guy, so just stop your mouth right there!”

“I thought I wasn’t supposed to stop my mouth. Isn’t that the whole point?”

He instantly grins. “That’s crude, Hadders. I like it! Well done!” He puts his palm out for me to give him five. I roll my eyes and slap his hand; however, he grips onto it and yanks me out to the colorful dance floor.

“Come on, chickadee! Let’s dance!” Rod yells over his shoulder as he drags me toward the crowd. The song is nearing the end, so we just focus on finding a good spot. We settle on the outer edge where we can still see Morgan and Ivan. They wave as Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” loudly fills the club.

Rod grabs me by the waist and jerks me hard to him. He has his game face already on. No smiles. I always tell him he looks pissed. He says he has to concentrate.
Oh, Rod.

We hastily sway and quickly fall in sync to the fast rhythm. As the beat picks up, he pushes me away and spins me around. While still holding my hand, I slink around him, dragging my other hand around his waist, until I return to my spot in front of him. Pulling me to him, we then we sway again. I then hitch my leg up on his hip and he grabs onto my outer thigh, bending me backward. I have to remember that I’m wearing an extremely short skirt, though. Being close up against him hides me from flashing someone. Hopefully. Oh, shit! I hope he can’t see my boobs hanging out! I swiftly stand back up, expecting him to be gawking at my chest, but his eyes are on my face. On the fly, I spin away from him, stretching our arms out until he reels me rapidly back in, slamming me against his chest. He whirls me around so that my back is to him. He winds his arms around me as we enthusiastically swing together.

Rod can fucking dance.

He bends me only marginally forward, mindful of the short skirt I’m wearing, and gyrates his hips against me, which is the move that Rod is known for doing to me at our office Christmas parties. It always gets Val squealing with glee at us. It’s also the one that will get him killed if Finn ever sees him do it and I’m on the receiving end.

With his hand on my stomach, Rod raises me up and we sway back-to-front the rest of the song.

We dance a few more. He then leads me away from the crowd by my hand and makes a drinking motion with his other. I nod over to Morgan’s table and he nods back at me. I let go of his hand and make my way over to Morgan and Ivan.

“Wow! You two are something else!” Ivan says with an odd gleam in his eyes.

“Thanks.”

“Where’s Nimrod?”

“Getting us beers.”

“You two keep getting better and better,” Morgan discerns while keeping an eye on the bar. She would not want to be caught giving Rod a compliment.

“Thanks. He’s the dancer, though. I just do what he wants me to.”

“If I didn’t know you both, I would’ve thought you were a hot couple,” Ivan observes.

Morgan sticks her tongue out and cringes. “Eww!”

I laugh. “No way. It’s just Rod.”

Ivan shakes his head with a laugh. “I don’t know. You have some kind of chemistry going on.”

“Ugh, stop, babe! You’re going to make me puke!”

I say, “It’s just an act, Ivan. Dancing just brings out different sides of us, I guess. Rod’s like my brother.”

“I will say that I never have, and never will, dance with
my
brother like that,” Morgan maintains before taking a sip of her Sprite.

“Well, since he’s not actually my brother, there’s a line I can cross with him by dancing like that. It’s just dancing. Nothing more.”

Morgan grimaces. “From here, it looked like he was fucking you on the dance floor.” My entire face explodes in horror.

“Here you go.” Rod hands me a bottle and then slides in next to me.

I blink to get my face back to normal. “Thanks. Next round is mine.”

He gives me a self-righteous smirk. “I’ll hold you to that.”

Morgan reaches her arm out and taps the table in front of me. “I didn’t even mention how sexy you look!”

Embarrassed, I smile. “Thanks.”

“Yeah, Hadders. I forgot who I was dancing with!”

Morgan looks accusingly at Rod. “How do you not get a hard-on dancing with her like that?”

“Morgan!” I squeal and put my hands over my mouth. I mumble behind my hands, “I do
not
want to know that!”

“Easy.” Rod says, pulling his beer away from his mouth. “I wear a cup.”

Not what I had expected to hear, I turn my body to face him. “What?”

“Things happen.” He shrugs and takes another swig.

“I didn’t know I could…you know.” I promptly face forward in my seat. “Oh, my God. I can’t believe… I don’t know… Wow…” I can’t stop stuttering. I think I’m going to pass out.

He shakes his head. “It’s not you. It’s the moving like that. Any girl would make things
interesting for me down south.” He nudges my arm and smiles. “You’re like my sister. I don’t look at you in that way. I just use you to get my dance on.”

I glance up at him. “Should I be insulted then?”

“Shut up.”

Morgan leans on her elbow and yells at Rod, “Wow! You must have a really small dick if you can wear a cup
and
dance!”

“Hey now! It’s not the size of the boat; it’s the motion of the ocean, Morbitch!” Ivan laughs at one of Rod’s
pet
names for Morgan. Those two have always been rather colorful with each other in the name-calling department.

Morgan narrows her eyes at Rod. “Did you see Hadley’s tits when you bent her backward?”

He grabs his beer. “No comment.” Son of a bitch! I cross my arms over my chest. I’m not moving from here now!

Morgan shrugs. “You have to be gay. Straight men do not dance that well.”

Ivan scowls. “Thanks!”

She rubs his arm. “Except for you, babe.”

“I’m
not
gay! Shit, Morgasm!”

I lean forward and ask her, “So, how did you find out you were pregnant, and
when
?”

Morgan grins. “Last night after the race. I wasn’t feeling right and after checking my calendar, I noticed that I was late. Really late. So, I went straight to the store and picked up a test.”

“What did you think, Ivan?”

He beams and looks at Morgan. “I was shocked, but ecstatic.”

I ask Morgan, “Were you shocked when he proposed today?”

“Yes and no. Last night, when I showed him the pregnancy test, he got down on his knee and asked me right there. So, technically, we were already engaged when he did it at the festival. He went out and bought the ring, though, when I was in the shower this morning. I can’t believe how sweet he is!” She leans over and kisses him. I’m really happy for them. I am.

“I’m happy for you guys. Congratulations!” I elbow Rod in the side and he clears his throat.

“Me, too.”

Morgan genuinely smiles.

“That’s nice, Rod. Thank you.”

He twirls his beer bottle and says, “Yep. That’s my gift to you, so don’t expect anything else.”

“Ouch!” Rod suddenly glares at Morgan, who doesn’t stop smiling.

“Kicking! Mature! I hope your baby kicks the hell out of your uterus!”

Ivan interjects, “I was telling Hadley how great you guys looked out there.”

He shrugs his compliment off. “Oh, thanks. It’s Hadders that does the dancing.”

Ivan laughs and puts his arm around Morgan. “She said it was you!”

Placing a hand to his chest, Rod asks, “Me? No. I’m just there to make her look good, like a purse.” He leans into my side and giggles.

Morgan eagerly nods. “Yes. That about sums up your function in life.”

“Can Finn dance like that?” Ivan asks, nodding toward the dance floor.

“No. He doesn’t dance.”

“Not even slow dancing?” Ivan asks, doubtfully.

“No.”

Rod slides out of the booth and holds his hand out to me. “Well, come on, Hadders. Dance with me.” I look over at Morgan and she smiles. She loves Rod, too. I slide out and Ivan and Morgan do the same. I grip Rod’s hand and stand, making sure my skirt is not showing anything before we start walking.

When we reach the dance floor full of slow-dancing couples, Rod pulls me to him and I hesitantly put my arms around his neck. He’s slightly shorter than Finn, who is 6’ 1,” so I don’t have to stretch as far.