Seeking Karma (11 page)

     “Are you hungry?”  I ask her, as I hold the truck door open for her.

     “A little.”  She climbs in, and I make my way around the front of the truck.

     I start the truck, and slip it into gear.  “Where do you want to go?”

     “Anywhere but the diner.”  She mutters, as she clicks her seatbelt.  Ah fuck that!  She shouldn’t be the one giving up everything she likes.  She’s done nothing wrong.  Aaron’s the one that needs to be constantly looking over his shoulder, and I’m going to make sure that happens.  I just need to come up with a plan.  It’s time he started paying for his actions.

     “Trent, why are we here?”  Her eyes are wide
, as she stares out at the diner.  “I don’t want to eat here.”

     “Yes you do.  You’re just scared.”  I grab her hand and tug her towards me.  “Come on.  It’s time you started living again.”

     “I am living.”  She says, as I help her out of the truck.

     “Living in fear, is not living, Karma.”  We step inside the diner, and I glance over at the bulletin board.  Several businesses have their cards posted, and there are a couple fliers about missing pets.  One ad catches my eye.  “Check this out.”  I tear off the number.  It’s an advertisement for self defense classes.  I point it out to her.  “Is this something you’d be interested in?”

     She steps up and reads the flier.  “I’m not sure, maybe.”  Maybe hell!   She’s definitely going to enroll.

CHAPTER 30

KARMA

     “Are you sure we won’t get a Mrsa Infection in here?”  Dusty has his nose scrunched up, looking around at all of the floor mats, scattered around the worn linoleum.  We’re in an old building, ready to begin our first self-defense class.  There was no way in hell I was going to do this alone, so I talked Anna and Dusty into joining with me.  Trent also signed up, but he didn’t need convincing like the other two did.  Hell, he was the one who talked me into it.

     I can hear Dusty and Anna muttering be
neath their breaths and giggling - when our instructor walks in.  I refuse to look at them.  They’ll make me laugh, and I need to take this seriously.  Even though our instructor has a comb-over and a handlebar mustache.  I glance up at Trent - even he has a smile plastered on his face.  I nudge him with my elbow, and throw him a look.  He quickly drops his smile and takes on a more serious expression.

     “Good afternoon
,” the instructor begins in a booming voice.  “My name is Timbo, and I’ll be teaching you different ways to defend yourselves, without using weapons.”  I hear Dusty snort, bringing Timbo’s main focus onto him.  “I believe we have our first volunteer.”

     I look over at Dusty
, and all of the color has drained from his face.  “Wha…why me?”  All traces of his humor have vanished.  His eyes are wide, and his mouth is hanging open.

     Timbo eyes him from head to toe a couple of times.  “You’re gay, right?”
  I snap my head up to Trent.  He has his head dropped, shaking it back and forth.

     Dusty turns his head from side to side
, looking at all of us.  “What does that have to do with anything?”

     Timbo folds his muscular arms across his broad chest.  “Well, I assume you’
ve been bullied and picked on over the years, haven’t you?”

     Dusty closes his mouth
, and his expression changes from one of total shock and fear, to one of sheer determination.  “Fine, I’ll go first.”  He crosses the room, and faces the instructor on a blue floor mat.  “What now?”

     Timbo turns his back to him.  “Come after me.”  Dusty looks over at me with a – what the hell – expression.  I shrug my shoulders.  I’ve never taken a self defense class before.  I don’t have a clue what he should do.   “Try to attack me.”  Timbo says
, exasperatedly.  Dusty raises his arm above his head - but before he can do anything - Timbo grabs his wrist, pivots, and body slams Dusty over his head.  I cup my hand over my mouth, to hide my gasp.  Wow, poor Dusty looked like a rag doll.  Timbo reaches his hand out to Dusty.  “That’s one way to handle an attack from behind.”  He pulls Dusty up onto his feet.

     The rest of the night Timbo takes turn
s using us all, showing different techniques, for defending ourselves in different situations.  I’m pretty sure we’ll all be black and blue in the morning.  This thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.  I thought I was done with bruises.  Oh well.  It will be worth it, to have peace of mind.

     “What movie are we going to watch?”  Trent asks, as we walk out of the old building.

     “Are you freaking kidding me?  I’ve just had my ass handed to me, by an old man named Timbo.  I’m going home to lick my wounds.”  Dusty says, being over dramatic.

     Trent turns to me and Anna.  “How about you girls?  Are you still up to seeing a movie?”

     Anna shakes her head.  “Ah, hell no.  I’m going home to take a soak.  My back is killing me.”

     Trent cocks his brow at me.  “Yeah, I should probably go home too.  I’m pretty tired.”

     “Oh, okay.  Do you want to ride with me?”  Trent had a late class, so he met us here.

     “Thanks, but I think I’ll ride with Anna and Dusty.”

     He nods his head.  “Okay, I guess I’ll talk to you later.”  I know what he’s doing.  He’s fishing to see if he can call me tonight.

     I smile at him.  “Yeah, I’ll talk to you later.”  He gives me a cocky grin, and starts walking towards his truck.  I can’t help myself, I watch him walk away.  There’s something about the way he walks.  He has this stride, and I swear, it’s sexy as hell.  I hear Dusty laughing, and I look over at him.  “What?”

     He plasters an innocent expression on his face.  “Nothing, you just seemed to be really enjoying the view.”  I slap him on the arm.  “Hey, don’t get me wrong.  It’s a great view.  I was enjoying it myself.”

     “Shut up
, Dusty!”  I shake my head at him.  “Can we please just go?  I’m tired.”

     “Sure, let’s go.”  He drapes one arm around my shoulder, and his other around Anna
’s.

CHAPTER 31

TRENT

     I know Karma said she wasn’t up to seeing a movie, but I’m not ready to call it a night.  I want to spend more time with her.  I came up with a plan on my way home.  I pull my phone out of my pocket, and dial her number.  I hold my breath, hoping her phone is turned on.

     “Hello…” she answers on the fifth ring.

     “Hey, I was just checking to make sure you made it home safely.”

     “Yep, I’m safe and sound tucked into my bed.”

     Fuck yeah!  I close my eyes, and picture her lying on her stomach, with her perfect ass in the air.  “What are you wearing?”  This is not the way I intended for this conversation to go, but when it comes to her, I can’t help myself.  “Are you naked?”

     I hear her sharp intake of breath.  “Trent!  What’s gotten into you?”

     I laugh at her.  She’s such a good girl.  “Hey, a guy can dream.”

     “I’m wearing a
white t-shirt.”  She completely floors me with her answer.  Maybe she has a wild streak, after all.  I wasn’t expecting her to answer the question - at all.  Now, I’m wondering if she’s serious.  “Is that all you’re wearing?  No underwear?”  She has me panting like a dog.

     “I’m…hold on.  Someone’s at the door.”  Yep, I know
.  It’s me.  I really hope she was being honest - about what she was wearing.

     She opens the door, and her mouth falls open when she takes me in.  I’m holding a bag of microwave popcorn, and my Psycho
DVD.  My jaw nearly hits the floor, when I take her in.  She wasn’t lying.  She’s wearing a white t-shirt, that barely covers her ass, and even though she didn’t answer my last question - I’m pretty sure there’s nothing underneath.  I think I’ve just died and gone to Heaven.

     “Hi,” I slip my phone back into my pocket - and hold up the DVD - so that she can see what it is.  “I thought we could have a mini movie night.  What do you say?”

     She blinks up at me.  “Um…okay…sure.”  I’ve caught her completely off guard.

     I step around her and close the door.  “Do you want to make the popcorn, or start the movie?”

     “Um…make the popcorn. I guess.”  She takes the bag and heads towards the kitchen.  When she’s out of the room, I actually fist bump the air.  All of our small steps at getting to know one another, are becoming so much more.  She’s starting to trust me, and knowing that is mind blowing.  I will make her mine.

     “Hey Trent,” she calls out from the kitchen.

     “Yeah…”

     “What do you want to drink?”

     “Do you have any Pepsi?”  I walk into the kitchen, and watch her moving around.

     She pulls a bowl out from underneath a cabinet.  “Yeah, sure do.”  She looks up at me
, as she pours the popcorn into the bowl.  “Help yourself,” she motions to the fridge.

     “Do you want one?”

     “Yeah, thanks.”  I reach in and grab two cans.  She grabs the popcorn, and we head to her bedroom.

     By the time I g
et the DVD in, Karma is lying on her bed - beneath the covers - with the popcorn sitting on her lap.  Unlike all of the other times we’ve hung out, I don’t hesitate.  Hell, I don’t even ask permission.  I jump in next to her, and pull the covers over me.  I hear her laugh when I grab a fist full of popcorn, and cram it into my mouth.

     “What?” I ask around a mouth full of popcorn.  This just makes her laugh that much harder.  God, I love the sound of her laughing.

     She shakes her head.  “Are you hungry?”

     I force the popcorn down, and debate on whether or not to try Jude’s

approach – brutal honesty.  Because honestly, I’d much rather be tasting her, but I take the high road instead.  “I’m starving.”

     “I’m sorry we all skipped out on dinner.  I really was tired.”

     “Don’t worry about it.  We can do that some other time.”

     She nods her head and looks over at the T.V.  “Is this movie really scary?”

     “Nah, it’s not that bad.”  I pick up her remote and hit play.  I keep stealing glances at her through the entire movie.  Her gray eyes are large, as she focuses all of her attention on the movie.  “Karma…” I reach over and brush a strand of her hair off of her cheek.  I can’t seem to help myself around her.  Being so close to her, and not being able to touch, kiss, and feel her is pure torture.

     “Um huh,” she leans her head towards me, but doesn’t take her eyes off of the movie.

     I chew on my bottom lip.  “How do you like the movie, so far?”  Not what I wanted to say, but hell, I get so tongue tied when it comes to talking about my feelings.

     “I like it.”  She brings the Pepsi up to her mouth, and takes a drink.  I want to kiss her so badly - but when I do - I want to be sure she wants it, too.  We finish the movie in silence.

     “Well, I guess I better get going.”  I swing my legs over the bed.  It’s time for another cold shower.  “Hey, what did you think about the self defense class?”  I take out the DVD and put it back into its case.

     “I like
d it, but…”

     I look over my shoulder at her.  “But what?”

     She sucks her bottom lip into her mouth.  “I just hope that if the time ever comes, I can actually do it.  You know, not panic.”

     “I think you’ll be fine.  You just need to have the mind-set that you can
do it.”

     She nods her head a couple of times.  “I guess you’re right.”

     “I’m always right, Karma.”  She gives me a shy smile.  I love that smile.  “Well, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” 

     “Trent, wait.”  I turn to look at her.  She has her pillow cradled against her chest
, looking all nervous.  “You don’t have to go.  I mean, you can spend the night - if you want.”  She rolls her eyes looking all irritated.  “Please, don’t get the wrong idea.  We’d just sleep, but I just don’t feel like being alone tonight.”

     I cannot believe I actually have to think about this.  But I’m not so sure I can just sleep
, in her bed.  I’d much rather spend the night getting to know her body - much better.  I’m scared I’ll attack her in my sleep.  My dreams have gotten a lot more vivid, since she’s came back into my life.  Hell, they’re full-blown fantasies.

     “I can do that.”  I hope.  My mouth feels like the Sahara Desert.  I really hope my dick behaves himself, because I could never refuse anything Karma wants.  Even if she asked me to say away from her.  As much as it would fucking kill me, I’d do it.  For her.

CHAPTER 32

KARMA

     When I open my eyes, I find myself nose to nose - with Trent.  His long arm is draped across my waist.  He’s sleeping soundly, and his fresh scent is surrounding me.  I can’t help but to smile.  He is so handsome, and somehow he manages to make me feel safe.  I didn’t think that I would ever feel safe around any guy - ever again.  I still can’t believe I invited him to spend the night.  I’ve never spent the night with any guy - except for Dusty.  He’s always my one exception.  Dusty and I have a very close relationship.  Over the years he’s become more like a brother, than a friend.  As long as I dated Aaron, I never spent the night with him.  We had sex - well he’d force me to have sex with him - after he beat me.  He always wanted to be sure that I forgave him.  He was a sick and twisted bastard.  I shake my head to clear my thoughts.  I don’t want to think about Aaron, especially while I’m staring at Trent.  Wow, I feel like a school girl with her first crush.  I really need to get up, before he wakes, and catches me memorizing every single one of his sharp features.