Hooked (44 page)

    
He put the ring on my middle finger and said, “I got
it
in this size on purpose, so it would fit this finger because I don’t want you to ever have to take it off.  One day
,
when you wear your wedding band, I don’t want anything taking this one’s place.”

     “I love you, you don’t know how much this means to me,” I said wiping my tears and hugging him at the same time.

     “Trust me
,
sweetheart, I do.  It means the same thing to me.”

     We hugged for a long time just holding each other.  It felt so good
.
I wish this feeling could last forever.  “We better get back to your house before your parents get upset for you being gone so long on Christmas day.”

     “You’re killing my buzz.”
I pouted because I didn’t ever want to lose this feeling.

     “I’m sorry
.
I just don’t want to end this great day with your dad pissed at me
.
”
H
e smirked.

     “Just so you
know
,
you totally out did your
s
elf.  I don’t know how you’re
gonna
top this,” I said holding my hand out to look at my new ring again.

     “I’ve still got a few tricks up my sleeve.”

     “
W
ait, before we go I still have one more gift for you,” I said already smiling to myself.

     He took the box looking at me curiously.  “What is it?”

     “Just open it and find out.”

     He ripped the paper off and opened the box.  “You got jokes, huh?”

     I started laughing
.
“You know there was no way I could pass those up.”

     “Come here
.
”
H
e motioned for me to sit down on the couch.

     “I don’t think so,” I said backing away.

     “Come here
,
baby, I want to kiss you.”

     I watched him to see if his face would falter any…it didn’t.  Could I trust him?  M
y
gut was telling me no
,
but he was keeping his face clear of emotion and I did want to kiss him.  I walked over to the couch and before I could sit
,
he wrapped his arms around me and threw me under him on the couch and kissed me so sweetly my toes curled.  He broke the kiss and ran his right hand up my thigh, over my hip and halfway up my ribcage so slowly that all I could do was hold my breath.

     “Now, what did I tell you was going to happen when you pulled that kind of stuff
,
sweetheart?”

     “Cash
,
no!  Don’t tickle me.  I mean it, this isn’t fair you
a
r
e
bigger than me, I can’t defend myself!” I screamed.

     “Yes, it is fair.  You
’ve had multiple warnings,
yet you keep doing it,” he said while bringing his hand up to my neck.

     “No!
  Please
.
”
I was laughing so hard I could hardly breathe.

     Finally, he stopped and snuggled with me.  “I love it when you laugh like that.”

     “Well, I’m glad it amuses you.”

     “You feel so good.”

     I sighed
.
“You do
,
too.”

     I played with his hair absently while he laid his head on my chest.  After about thirty minutes
,
he raised his head up and said, “So
,
you’re hooked on me
,
huh?”

    
“Yup.”

     “You know I’m wearing these every other day and I hope someone sees them out of the top of my jeans because I’m going to tell them you got them for me,” he said smirking.

     “You probably will do that and you know what?  I don’t care, I’ll tell them it’s true
,
” I said calling his bluff.

     “Good, then we’re on the same page.  It’ll help keep other girls away if they know we’re far enough along that you buy my underwear.”

     Ugh, one of these days I’m going to make this boy speechless.  I’ve yet to figure out what I need to do in order to make that happen though.  He laughed to himself all the
way out to the car.  I just shook my head.  I couldn’t even stay irritated at him.  As I got in the car, I looked down at my ring and sighed.  I couldn’t wait to show Jess and Cara.

     CHAPTER
22

     Cash didn’t leave my house on Christmas night until ten o’clock.  He was tired and so was I.  I think after getting up early and eating so much throughout the day
,
it had finally caught up with us.  He was working so much over the two weeks we were off from school
,
that I was planning on visiting him at work every chance I got in the afternoons.  I made plans
with Jess and Cara
to watch our Sr. High boys play
in a
basketball
tournament they
made the finals in
tonight
.
  I was ready to hang out with them for a little while.  I missed them because we had all been busy with our own stuff here lately.

     Jess and Cara came to pick me up at seven.  Eli answered the door when they knocked, “Hey, com
e
in
,
Millie’s upstairs.”

     “Looking good little man, I’m beginning to wonder if I went the wrong way with boys.  Maybe I should
have gone
younger instead of older,” Jess said as she strolled in patting Eli on the chest.

     “
You’ve still got time,
” Eli responded.

     I came downstairs and caught the tail end of all of this.  Cara started laughing at them, “Y
’
all are silly.”

     “Eli, you couldn’t handle it,” I said getting irritated.  I don’t know why
,
it was just weird.

     “Maybe not, but it sure would be fun to find out,” he said winking.

    
“Except, you won’t get the opportunity right
,
Jess?”
I said raising one eyebrow.

     “Umm, yeah sorry
,
E, I guess your sister is hell bent on you having a mediocre sex life.  It could’ve been
fantabulous,
you would have seen stars my friend.”

     “Oh
,
my gosh Jess, your gross
,
” I said wrinkling my eyebrows.

     “Oh
,
calm down
,
mom before that vein in your forehead pops, I’m joking.”

     “Let’s just go before Millie freaks, Eli’s imagination runs wild and I puke from the picture that is now in my head,” Cara said.

     We all started laughing because that was most definitely something she would never say in a normal circumstance.  Eli just shook his head and headed back up stairs.

     While driving to the game
,
I showed the girls my ring.  “That’s so sweet, I mean
,
he had to really think about that,” Cara said while keeping her eyes on the road.

     “That rocks, Mil!
  Was he nervous when he gave it to you?”

     “No, not at all, I was definitely more nervous than he was.  He doesn’t ever get nervous and it sucks.”

     I didn’t mention
C
ash’s speech and the meaning behind his name inside the ring.  I usually tell them everything
,
but it just felt too private to share.

     “What did Jake get you guys?”
I ask.

     “He got me some movies and gift cards,” Cara answered.

     “He got me a new cell phone, diamond earrings and
get
the shit…sorry
,
this is so freaking cool it warranted a cuss word
.  He got me one of only two hundred black and pearl Kurt Cobain signed guitars!”  S
he squealed.

    
“Wow, that’s an awesome gift.  He knows you well
,
” I said.

     “He knows you well too
,
Cara, he knew to go with the gift cards because you usually return everything anyone gets you.”

     “I do no—umm, yeah
,
I guess I do.  It’s not personal, I’m just picky
,
I guess.”

     “Picky and classy, which usually translates to expensive,” Jess added.

     “I’m not into expensive things,” Cara tried to argue with Jess
,
but she got shot down quick.

     “Dude, you wouldn’t be caught dead in jeans with a whole in them that was actually worn out because you’ve had them for 3 years
.
I
nstead
,
you pay
$150.00 for jeans that are made with them like that.” 

     “It’s true Cara, you would never shop at the goodwill or Wal-Mart,” I chimed in.

     “Well, it’s not that I look down on people that do, I just have certain taste I guess.”

     “We totally get it Cara, that’s what we love about you.  You’re our rich friend
,
but you slum it with Mil and I so we get the benefits of your money and your friendship,”
Jess
said laughing.

    
By the time we made it to the game
,
the
boys were winning their game and the crowd was crazy
.  I love playing ball when everyone’s excited.  Car
a
and I went to get some popcorn at half time and while we were at the concession stand
,
we met two
guys.  One of the guys was about 5’10’’ and had light blonde hair.  He was cute enough and he seemed very outgoing.  The other guy was a little taller and had brown hair and brown eyes.  He had a nice body though
,
if I’m being honest.  He was pretty quiet though and sort of stood behind his friend. 

    
“Hey
,
how are y
’
all doing?” 
T
he blonde guy asked as we stood in line in front of them.

     “We’re doing great, thanks,” Cara answered.

     “What team are you here watching?” he asked.

    
“Ri
ver
dale
.”

     “
Ahh
, I see.  We’re here supporting the Tigers.” He smiled at us.

    
Great, they are with the team we are playing against.  I hope they don’t turn out to be punks.

     “Well, we’re
gonna
beat you guys it looks like,
”
Cara added.

     “Feel like backing that up with a bet?” he asked.