Save Me From Me (22 page)

She extends her hand and I gladly take it. “It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Reynolds.”

She waves a hand at me. “Please, Doll, call me Linda.”

We walk through the front red door into the entryway that has stairs along the far side.

“You guys get cozy. I’ve just got a few more things to finish up, then dinner will be ready,” she says with a smile before turning to walk towards the back of the house. There’s a table against part of the wall along the stairs that holds a lamp and a few frames. The wall above it is covered with frames of all sizes and shapes, but all contain the same thing—pictures of Holden. By himself, with his family, in the Navy, graduation, and more than a few with the same girl from what appears to be when his high school years.

“Who is this?” I ask as I point to a picture that I’ve stared at a bit longer than I should. He’s in a suit, and she’s in a fancy, sequined dress. I can only guess it was from prom. It isn’t the professional picture that they take as soon as you arrive, the one where they place you under the plastic, flower filled arch and have you pose all weird. No, a friend must have taken this one because it’s of them dancing. They look happy.

He pulls the frame off the wall and stares at it a bit. “This is Jesika. She was my best friend.” He gives me a weak smile before placing it back on the wall. I start pointing at all the other people, wanting to know who they are, and what they mean to him. I just want to know more about him, and the things he cares about. “This one is Jake. He’s my cousin. Was my cousin.” He corrects himself.

“What happened to him?” I ask as I pick the frame up of him and Holden off the table. They look happy.

“He died in a car wreck about two years ago.”

I place the frame down and then grab his hand. “That’s horrible. I’m sorry to hear that. Were you two close?”

He nods. “We were at one time.”

I look back at the pictures of him and Jesika, and I can just tell. “It was her. She’s the one you loved.” It’s not a question. I’m simply stating a fact, and he knows he doesn’t need to reply.

Dinner is amazing. Linda knows how to cook like no other. She even made dessert. Some kind of peach cobbler, I think. I’m not usually into fruit filled desserts, but the scoop of vanilla ice cream she threw on top had me changing my mind.

We sit on the porch, watching the sunset over their pond in the backyard. Yes, the wraparound porch wraps around the entire house. It’s a must have, and it’s definitely on my
‘to have’
list. More and more shit keeps getting added to that list. The longer and more I get to know Holden, the more something else pops up. It’s a good thing. We should always want more out of life. I’m slowly learning that I shouldn’t settle.

“Now, Danielle, how did you and Holden meet?”

I try to keep from laughing as the image of him against the wall comes into play. I look over at Holden who’s eyeing me curiously. He’s trying to hold back a laugh as well. The look on his face is priceless. Can you just imagine her reaction if I were to say,
“Well, Linda, the first time I ever saw your son, he was outside of a bar getting a blowjob.”
Yeah, that would not go over very well. So, I just keep it simple and pretty close to the truth. “I met him at work.”

Holden relaxes back into the porch swing.

“Where is it that you work, Dear?” she asks before taking a drink of her tea.

“I work at a convenience store in town.”

“Oh. Well, isn’t that nice,” she replies, and I can’t help but watch her face, waiting to see a look of disappointment like maybe that isn’t good enough for her boy, but it never comes.

“So, when’s the last time Dad came home?” I ask, looking to change the subject. This subject is surely one that will quiet my mother up, seeing as my father rarely comes home.

“Oh, you know your father. He’s a very busy man, and running that business isn’t something he takes lightly.”

“You’re telling me. It’s his life.”

“It’s not a bad thing, Holden.” She shifts uncomfortably as she tries to take up for him and his absence.

“When it becomes more important than your wife and family, I’d think it’s a bad thing.” I’ve never seen eye-to-eye with my dad about the whole, family business. I know it’s been passed down generation to generation and means everything to my father.
Everything.
He’d give his left nut in a heartbeat if the well-being of the company depended on it.

“Well, I’m gonna go in and clean up.” My mom stands with Dani quickly following.

“Let me help you,” she says.

My mom places both hands on her shoulders and smiles. “No, Hun. You just stay out here and keep my boy company. I’ve got it covered.”

Dani sits back down and curls up next to me on the porch swing. I sling my arm around her, bringing her in tighter. “I just love your mom. I just love it out here, period. It’s so peaceful. It’s like there’s no worries.” She lets out a sigh of contentment.

I kiss her on her forehead. “I don’t think it’s always the place, or the shit going on in life. Sometimes, I think they just don’t seem as bad or important when certain people are around.”

She pulls her head back from my shoulder and looks up. “You’re a genius.” She smiles as she pulls my face to hers.

Bringing Dani to meet my mom was a decision I made weeks ago, one that I was very nervous about since I’ve never brought a woman home. I wasn’t nervous if my mom would like her or not, because I knew my mom would love her. I was nervous about how Dani would take the whole thing.

Was it too fast?

Would it scare her off?

Those were a few of the questions that I battled in my mind before finally growing a pair and just asking her.

Having her here at the place where I grew up feels natural. I thought it might feel a bit awkward, but nothing with Dani is. That’s the weird part. Ever since we first met, it’s been like hanging with an old buddy I grew up with, except she is hot and I want in her pants. I’ve always been able to bullshit with her and talk to her about anything that’s on my mind. After telling my mother bye, and promising her that I’ll bring Dani back soon, we make our way to the truck.

“Thanks for coming with me.” I kiss her forehead.

“Thanks for asking me to. I feel special.”

“You are special,” I say matter-of-factly.

“Can I stay the night with you?” she asks as I open the door for her to get in.

“I thought you’d never ask.” I lean in, giving her a smooch before heading back.

This feels like the good ole’ days. The days when you had ninety-nine problems, and they all pertained to high school shit, not the grownup shit that you have no choice but to deal with. Back then, things were so much simpler. Being an adult sucks sometimes. Sitting here playing video games in his hotel room brings back memories of my brother’s friends and me all crowded around the T.V. trying to whoop each other’s asses. Like I said, the good ole’ days.

“Ahh.” I let out a frustrated sigh. “Why do these remotes have to be so complicated? What happened to the A, B, C buttons on one side and the plus sign on the other? I seriously miss the 90’s.”

Holden laughs at me. “You can’t pawn off your losing streak on the remote, Dani. That isn’t really fair to that poor remote.” Why does he have to be right, and hot? Just looking at him is distracting me.

“Whatever! The 90’s were just better all the way around. Especially the music.” I lean back against the bed. “There’s nothing better than driving around, and then all of a sudden one of your favorite songs from the way back when comes on, and you instantly crank it up and start jammin’ out, knowing every single word to the damn thing. You could be in the worse mood ever and for those three minutes, it’s total bliss.” I let out a satisfied sigh. The freaking power of music can be intense.

“Please tell me you aren’t referring to BSB and ‘N Sync,” Holden says as he stretches his legs on the floor and leans back against the bed, touching our shoulders together.

“I’m not even going to ask how you even know who they are.”

“Bye. Bye. Bye,” Holden sings as he does the arm part of the dance like they do in the video.

“You’re fired,” I say, laughing at him.

“You can blame that on me being best friends with a girl,” Holden says as he stretches his toned arms over his head, places them behind his neck, and rest against them. “This is what I don’t get. Girls go bat shit crazy over all boy bands, right?”

“Right,” I say, agreeing with him.

“Okay, well, then why is it that if a guy knows who they are, their songs, or for some God awful chance actually likes their music, said guy is all of a sudden thrown into Queerville?” I sit quietly and he continues. “Hmm? Because if I had to bet, I’d say the actual guys in the band happen to like the music, and they aren’t considered gay… Well, for the most part.” He shrugs.

“Huh, I’ve never really thought of it like that.”

“Exactly!” Holden exclaims. “And that’s why you, my dear, are fired.” He looks at me sideways. “Well, go on, now. Get out of here.” He motions with his thumb.

I pout my lip out. “But, but, but…” I stutter as I turn towards him on my knees. I push myself into him and let my finger drag down the front of his shirt. “But there has to be something I can do to redeem myself.” I look up, batting my lashes at him.

“There is something you can do.” The corner of his lip lifts up into his sly, cocky smile.

“Oh yeah? What’s that?” I ask playfully.

“It’s a little something, something called sexual harassment. Maybe if you showed me a lil, I’ll rehire you.”

“Ahh!” I clasp my hand over my mouth dramatically. “You mean you want me to take advantage of you?”

“You can’t rape the willing, Darlin’.”

I lay wrapped in Holden’s arms after we take advantage of each other’s bodies. I snuggle up to the side of him, as he lies flat on his back with his hand softly playing with my hair.

“Just to clear the air.” He fakes a cough. “I totally have my man card intact.”

“I’d say so.” I giggle into his hard chest.

He snickers. “I’m not into boy bands. I mean, there isn’t anything wrong with them, but you won’t find me buying their cd or putting up a poster anytime soon. I respect what they do and all, but I will not be programming my radio station to their stuff.”

“Awe, I was really hoping we could get matching shirts and go to a concert.” I sarcastically tease him, causing him to tug on my hair. “Do that again,” I say and he does.

“Now, I’d be all about getting you tickets if you ever wanted to go, but there is no way I’ll ever be experiencing any
JT 20/20
. The movie you took me to is where I draw the crazy line.”

“Again, I’m not even going to ask how you know what that’s called. But since we are on the subject, his concert is totally coming close to us around my birthday.”

“That’s good to know.” I can hear the smile in his voice, and I already have an idea of what’s going through his mind.