Jayded (30 page)

“
Yes, I freaked out before, but not this morning. Did you really stay home because you were upset with me?
”
she wonders.

I chuckle.
“
Yes and no. I was ready to barge into your office and call you out on your bullshit, but I knew that wouldn
’
t go over very well. So, I stayed home. I needed the rest anyways. I was feeling a little under the weather, regardless,
”
I confess.

“
So you were ready to barge into my office like I just barged into your apartment just now?
”
she questions, beginning to laugh.

I laugh also.
“
Yeah, I guess you
’
re right. Just please don
’
t leave me again without saying goodbye. I don
’
t care how awesome I look sleeping, okay?
”

She smacks me in the abs, and we both laugh.

“
Okay, I promise.
”

“
Are you hungry?
”
I ask.

“
Starving.
”

I lift her up and place her standing on the floor as I get up from the couch.
“
Then let
’
s go out and grab something. I
’
m sick of being in the house.
”

Her smile is sexy as hell.
“
Okay.
”

We head out in my car. I stop at a little burger joint that
’
s connected to a strip mall. I figure we can eat and then go window-shopping.

I order the bacon cheeseburger, which is the best burger on earth, and she orders the same. I love a girl who can eat like me. We share some onion rings, and we both get a strawberry shake. We are in and out right before the dinner rush.

It
’
s pretty cold out. Who am I kidding? It
’
s fucking freezing out! I slip on my beanie, slide on my gloves, and wrap my arm around her. She pauses momentarily.

“
What
’
s up?
”
I ask, confused.

“
We probably should keep it casual just in case we run into anyone we know,
”
she suggests. I can
’
t say I don
’
t agree, because she
’
s right
—
we could run into anyone from work at any second. I was just too caught up in the moment.

Thank goodness we leave next week to a whole other state. We won
’
t have to act and pretend about anything. We can just be.
“
You
’
re right. I wasn
’
t even thinking,
”
I agree.

We walk by an Old Navy and a couple of other clothing stores. When we get to Pier One, Max jumps up and down.
“
I absolutely
love
this store! I
’
ve been dying to see if this store carries anything different than the one back home.
”

I shake my head.
“
You
’
re really this excited over a home store?
”

“
A home store? Let
’
s go,
”
she demands, holding the door open for me to enter first.

The first thing I notice when I walk in is the smell. It
’
s an earthy sweetness that seems to calm and help center the surrounding energy. It
’
s comforting, relaxing. Then I notice all the shiny, glittery glasses along the shelves. I
’
m nervous to even walk around, afraid of shattering them. There are incredibly unique knickknacks that fill the crevasses of each and every space. This style is sophisticated and sassy. I can see how this store can get addicting.

I look at Max, and she is in her glory.

“
So, what do you think?
”
she questions.

I nod in agreement.
“
It
’
s nice. I like it. I guess I know where to go now if I need to decorate. Maybe you can help me out one day and be my personal decorator?
”

She giggles.
“
Maybe I could. That would be fun, making your apartment all girlie,
”
she taunts.

We look around for a bit longer and then exit the building. Target is down a ways. I have to grab a few items for the apartment. Just before we
’
re about to enter, Jonathan comes out of the exit. We
’
re too busy laughing to notice.

“
Maxine? Kyle?
”
he says, a little taken aback.

Max greets him first.
“
Oh, hey Jonathan.
”

I just nod.

“
What are you two up to? You seem to be feeling better, Kyle,
”
he states, eyeing me suspiciously.

“
Yup, I took some medicine and got some rest. I
’
m feeling much better,
”
I say proudly.

Max clears her throat.
“
Well it was nice running into you. We
’
ll see you tomorrow.
”
We begin to walk toward the doors.

“
Yes, okay. We
’
re still on, right?
”
Jonathan asks, raising his voice.

She turns.
“
Yes, we
’
re still on!
”

He smiles, then turns away. My face hardens with disgust, and jealousy boils through my veins. I try to push it down, but it just seeps out. I need to slip away for a moment to calm down.

“
I have to use the restroom. I
’
ll be right back,
”
I announce.

“
Okay. I
’
ll be by the books.
”

I should have figured that
’
s where I
’
d find her. We have to keep up with the trends in our industry. It
’
s our job to figure out what
’
s hot and what will sell. But it
’
s kind of like playing blackjack. We all try to guess what card will be dealt next, but ultimately it
’
s the cards themselves in control.

I hate when my temper gets the best of me. The last thing I want to do is direct it toward Max. She doesn
’
t deserve that. I finish up in the bathroom and head out to find her. She
’
s exactly where she said she would be, by the books.

“
Did you find anything good?
”

“
Just my own authors up on the shelves. I know how to pick them, huh?
”
she brags.

I can
’
t help but laugh. She
’
s too adorable when she gets this way.

“
So, what time will you be done with dickface tomorrow?
”

She elbows me in the gut. I pretend it hurts.
“
I
’
ll be done with Jonathan around five or so. What time will we be meeting Elise and Jeff?
”

“
I think about seven. They want to grab a bite to eat before the show.
”

We head over to the cleaning aisle.
“
Okay, I
’
ll probably be starving by then. I have a feeling Jonathan
’
s going to try to suck me into dinner.
”

I immediately respond,
“
If he does, just tell him you already have plans with me.
”

 
She shakes her head.
“
Oh no. I most definitely won
’
t be saying that. It
’
s enough he saw us out tonight. If I tell him I
’
m spending another weekend with you, he
’
s going to think something
’
s up,
”
she explains.

I grab some products and candles from the shelves.
“
Who cares? Let him think whatever he wants.
”
We walk back toward the registers.

She slows down.
“
Um, we agreed that this was going to stay between us. If Greg and Connie find out that I
’
m banging their son, shit
’
s going to go down!
”
she screeches in a whisper.

I chuckle.
“
Okay, okay. Take a joke, woman! The girl I
’
m with has to be pretty special in order for others to think I
’
m with her.
”
I wink, just playing with her.

“
Ha, ha! You
’
re too funny for your own good.
”

I pay for my things, and we head back to the car. My phone rings; it
’
s my mother.

“
Hey, Ma.
”

“
Hi honey. Are you feeling any better?
”
she asks, clearly still worried.

I unlock the car doors.
“
I feel much better. I slept it all off.
”

“
Okay, well I
’
ll check up on you later.
”

“
You don
’
t have to. I
’
m fine. I have plans anyways that I couldn
’
t break, so I won
’
t be home,
”
I lie. I
’
m taking Max back to my place, and I
’
m holding her hostage until the morning. This time we
’
re stopping by the hotel to get some of her belongings. That way she has no excuses in the morning.

“
Okay. I
’
ll talk to you tomorrow.
”

I end the call and start the ignition. The leather seats are freezing this time of year. I flip both our seat heaters up to high. I catch her glancing over at me.

“
I know; I
’
m too hot. You just couldn
’
t resist a peek, could you?
”

“
Oh. My.
God! You are just full of it today! I think you got way too much sleep,
”
she says.
“
So, what are these big plans of yours?
”

I head out of the parking lot toward her hotel.
“
I
’
m kidnapping you tonight. First, I
’
m taking you to your hotel so you can grab some clothes, and then we
’
re locking ourselves in my apartment for the night. I have many, many things I want to do to you.
”

She sucks in her breath and bites her bottom lip. Panic has not entered her thoughts yet. They
’
re too filled with dirty images. I can tell I
’
ve just excited her by the way her leg rocks back and forth. She
’
s ready for me now. I should just find a place to pull over and have her ride me like she did last night. She was unbelievable.

The best part was watching her come undone. She starts with little cries while biting her bottom lip, doing her best to hold it all back. Her curves and her silky skin are like a piece of beautiful fine art that you can
’
t help but stare at. I study her every move, burning them into my brain. She
’
s just so mesmerizing. I can
’
t get enough of her. Man, I think I
’
m in big trouble.

“
So what are you waiting for? Step on it!
”
she demands.