South Row (14 page)

Talk?
“Really?” I halt my steps. Is he serious right now? I’m all hot and bothered and he wants to…
talk?

“Yes, South, talk,” he confirms. “I want to know all about you, everything I’ve missed. I wasn’t there for you before; I’m not missing anything now.” My heart flips and warms at his words. If Collin gets any sweeter, I just might get a toothache. God, I love him.

“But I can’t talk with you and give you my undivided attention if you’re topless. There’s just so much torture a man can endure,” he says picking up and handing me my shirt.

“Hey, if I have to put my shirt on, so do you,” I contend. “All of that,” I say gesturing wildly to his very well-defined chest. “Is distracting too, you know?”

Collin laughs heartily then holds his hands up in resignation. “Okay, Red, I’ll cover up all my sexiness.”

“Cocky bastard,” I mutter as I throw on my shirt.

Collin flashes me a wolfish grin and a dark, sexy look. “Yes, baby, very cocky.”

His pun is not lost on me. I would have thought it impossible for me to get wetter. Alas, I can and I do. Need to get back on offence.

“Allow me to change my panties. It seems I’ve soaked these ones through,” I say, shooting him a sly and sexy smile, before sauntering, hips swishing, off to my room.

I hear him groan as though in pain and flop down in the sofa. Collin, one. South…a million.

South and I ended up talking for hours, with her body stretched out on the sofa, her head in my lap and me stroking her hair. We talked about everything and nothing.

She told me about her Aunt Addy with a wide, reminiscing smile. How she took her aunt’s name after she was adopted, and how the woman taught her how to cook and to love food. That comment was a tad bit strange, but I let it go as I listen to her talk animatedly about a woman who gave her hope.

They had had fun times spent dancing and singing while they cooked. They had a lot of music in the house which made way for a lot of noise, laughter and great times. South even admitted that she learned some of her moves from the older woman, who had been known around their small town in Nebraska for her cooking and dancing.

South spoke with a lump in her throat as she recalled her aunt coming into her room to comfort her when she had nightmares – those she struggled with for years – and singing her back to sleep. She was all laughs when she recounted going on dates and how her aunt would greet the guy at the door with a fake shotgun just to scare them. Whoever ran just wasn’t up to standard
, and a lotta those fuckers ran. She spoke with such overwhelming love for her Aunt Addy that I wished I’d met the woman to thank her for keeping South safe.

She told me about growing up in Nebraska and all the guys she had dated, but didn’t pursue anything with – had to grind my teeth on that one. I couldn’t blame her, though. I wasn’t exactly the Virgin Mary while we were apart. I ended up telling her about all the redheads I’d dated because I was so wrecked for her. At this, she laughed, cupped my cheek and kissed me.

I let South cry in my arms as she talked about her mother and how she told South to leave to protect her from her dad. She wished she could have stayed and forced her mother to come with her so that they could have escaped together. I assured her that if she had, her father would have killed her as well, which made her cry harder. She stared at me as though she wanted to say something else, but buried her face in my chest instead.

When she pulled herself together, I listened as she fondly spoke about Trace and Totem Pole; not before grinding my teeth in anger at the job she had before Totem. The IRS and the police will be paying The Titty Kitty a visit very soon. I further understood her love for the place and softened to the idea of her dancing at Totem. She loves it there and she thinks of everyone there as family; family that she never really had.

I told her about my parents’ almost divorce a few months after she left. I told her that they got back together for one night and ended up having another kid that saved their marriage, my little sister Corrine, who is nine years old and living with them back in Texas. She asked about Dad’s and my relationship and I expressed that he and I mended fences after mom had Corrine. She wants to meet Corrine and catch up with my parents. They loved her and were devastated when she disappeared, so seeing her again will be as good for them as it will be for her. And I’m sure Corrine will fall in love with her the same way everyone else has.

After teasing her and calling her corn and Kool-Aid queen, we had a shoving match and she “accidentally” slapped me in the face. I didn’t believe her for a second, but let it slide anyway. We argued about sports – I will never understand how someone can be anti-Laker. She is a Golden State Warriors fan. We did agree on football though; Dallas Cowboys all day, every day. We argued about food. I tried to give her pointers about her routines and she punched me in the arm. What do I even know about dancing anyway? I just like riling her up. She’s so cute.

After a while, we fell into a comfortable silence where I ran my fingers through her hair and she stroked my knee. Hunger eventually called and we ordered pizza. On advisement from South we ordered three large ones – didn’t know why, but when the pizzas were delivered, I soon found out. Scott first, then Lydia and Luke swooped on us like vultures. We all sat down to watch
Van Wilder
, laughed our asses off and listened to the girls…and Scott…talk animatedly about Ryan Reynolds’ “bodacious bod”. Feeling left out, Luke and I gave them a show by stripping our shirts off and flexing our muscles. We quickly dove for the safety of South’s room when Scott charged at us.

It was an amazing day, which brings me to right now: saying goodbye to South. It is so much harder than I anticipated.

“Baby, we’ll see each other tonight, remember?” she assures me.

I am holding her face in my hands outside her door, not wanting to let go. I know I have to get back before Kaylee gets suspicious, but it’s like an internal struggle to put my feet in motion. I peck South’s lips and inhale her green apple scent. Now I’m hard.

“Let’s go back inside and have sex,” I suggest, trying to herd her through the door. She forces me back with her hands on my chest, shaking her head with an amused smile.

“We said we were going to wait, remember?” she reminds me. “Well, you said should wait and I begrudgingly agreed.” She’s rubbing it in deeper. “We’re not going to change now. If you’re serious about me, about us, I’ll be waiting for you.”

Why do women have to make so much sense, and do things like…give you something to think about? Am I serious about her? I snort internally at any insinuation that I’m not. I’ve waited ten fucking years and in those ten fucking years, I’ve tried to forget her and failed. Miserably. So, hell yes, I’m serious about her.

“Tonight, Red,” I warn. “Don’t plan on getting much sleep.”
Oooohhh, the things I’m gonna do...

“Never planned to.”

Her glazed, lustful swimming pools of blue make me shiver in anticipation. If I don’t leave now, I’ll renege on everything and fuck her against this wall. Kissing her hard, hot and heavy one last time, making her knees weaken, I take off without another look back. If I see those kiss-bruised lips of hers, I’ll be a goner.

As I start my car, I think about all the ways I’m going to pleasure South tonight. Maybe I’ll start from the car ride home, build up her need for me. Yeah, that sounds sinisterly good, but, I need to focus. How do I break up with my fiancée without getting fired? Fuck me, this is going to be hard.

**********

I get home and, thankfully, no Kaylee. Nerves are eating me up. I don’t know how I’m going to break this engagement without a fallout. Advice, that’s what I need.

After showering, I pick up the phone and dial the one person I know can help.

“Yello,” a small, sweet familiar voice answers.

I smile. “Corrine, what are you doing answering Dad’s phone?”

“Collin!” she screeches excitedly through the phone. I have to pull my cell away from my ear so it doesn’t bleed.

“Hey, Short Stuff, what’re you up to?”

Corrine proceeds to talk my ear off. She tells me about her sleepover coming up next week and her dance recital – that I promise to go to, since Connor has also promised.

“So, how are you and…
her
?” Corrine asks. I chuckle because Corrine is not a Kaylee fan. She thinks Kaylee is fake.

“She’s…she’s…
I don’t know.” I don’t want to lie to my sister.

“Are you guys breaking up?” she asks with hope in her voice.

I laugh. “Maybe.”

The phone thuds and I assume she’s dropped it, if hearing her clap and squeal is any indication.

“Okay, okay, I’m good now. Talk.”

Am I speaking to a nine year-old or a thirty year-old? I needed to talk to somebody, right? So, what the hell?

“I’m having second thoughts,” I confess. “Hell, more than second thoughts, Cor. I thought I’d be excited, I thought I’d be sold to the idea of getting married, but I’m not.”

“Is it an issue of being sold to the idea of marriage, or just marrying Kaylee?” she wisely asks. Who is this girl?

“To be honest, marrying Kaylee,” I reply with a sigh. “I think I rushed into this. No, I
know
I rushed into this. I thought there’d be some sign by now that I’d made the right decision, but all I’ve been is miserable.”

“Collin, I’m not saying this because I don’t like her,” she starts. “Okay, that’s a big, fat lie. Let’s just say I’m not
totally
saying this because I don’t like Malibu Barbie.” I snicker at that. My sister’s a trip.

“But, if you’re not happy, why force it? You can’t force something that was wrong to begin with. If she dies tomorrow what would be your first response?”

I don’t answer. I don’t answer because I’m ashamed to say that my first response would be relief, then elation, because I’d be free. Out of duty, I’d be the grieving fiancé to the public, but inside I’d be doing cartwheels.

“So, you have your answer.” Corrine’s tiny, mature voice breaks through my errant thoughts. “If she doesn’t make you happy now, she never will. You have to be with someone who, the very thought of them, puts a smile on your face.”

South.

A huge smile creeps across my lips and my heart beats triple time. Damn.

“You get me, bro?”

“Yeah, I get you, sis. Find someone who makes me smile, like I hear Bobby Mueller makes you smile,” I tease. Mom told me about the boy she’s been crushing on in school. I’ll have to give this boy a man-to-man chat.

“He does not!” she screams, and I imagine an embarrassed blush creeping over her cheeks.

“Corrine and Bobby, sittin’ in a tree,” I sing. “K-I-S-S-I-N-G…”

“Are you five?” she snaps.

“First comes love, then comes marriage,” I continue.

“I hate you.”

“Then comes Bobby with a baby carriage.”

She growls and I know she’s stomping her feet. Kinda like South does when she’s upset. I smile.

“Hey, it better be in that order, missy,” I warn.

“Oh, my God, shoot me now,” she mumbles. “I am so not thinking about Bobby that way. We just play video games.”

“Well, keep it that way. Play video games until you’re thirty.”

“You are a spaz,” she announces. “Did Mom tell you about him?”

“Maybe…
”

“Argh! Can’t I get a little privacy?”

“Hey, no private time with the douche,” I order.

“He’s not a douche, you are!” Corrine defends. “He’s sweet,” she admits in a small voice. I know she likes him.

“Okay, I’m sorry, he’s not a douche.”

Silence ensues between us, but there is nothing awkward about it. I suppose we’re both thinking.

“Hey, I hope everything works out for you,” she says after a while.

“Yeah, I hope everything works out, too,” I answer, thinking of South. Something occurs to me. “How did you get so smart, Cor?”

“Well, I did save Mom and Dad’s marriage, so I thought I’d become a marriage counselor when I grow up. You’re just practice.”

I can do nothing but laugh. My grown, little sister, so mature for her age, has more direction than I did at twelve! My cell beeps, indicating an incoming message.

“You’re a good kid.”

“Remember that when Christmas comes,” she says.

“I will,” I tell her distractedly as I swipe a finger across the screen to check the message.

It’s a message from Liam telling me to report to the firm urgently. I groan.

“Hey, kiddo, I gotta go. Work calls,” I inform her.

“No worries. Did you still wanna talk to Dad?” she asks.

“Naa, I’ll talk to him some other time. Give Mom a kiss for me and tell Dad I called.”

“Kk. Bye, Collie.”

I smile at her nickname for me. “Bye, Cor Cor.”

I hang up dreading doing any sort of work on a Saturday night. I just hope I finish with enough time to break up with Kaylee and to pick South up from work. I may need a new place to live after tonight.

**********

I am walking into Stone, Grisham and Lake, the law firm I have called home for the past two years, annoyed. Who calls someone for work at eight in the goddamn evening? Liam Stone does, because he has no regard for anyone. I’ll be glad to see the backs of him and his daughter; both of them self-centered as fuck.

Walking up to the main office area, I notice it is pitch black, save for the lights from outside shining in. Shouldn’t other people be here if it’s work? Maybe they’re in the conference room. Taking the elevator up to the fifth floor, I realize that my guess was right. The windows were frosted, but I could see the lights and hear voices coming from inside.

Bursting through the doors, I am greeted with loud cheers of “SURPRISE”. I am blasted with confetti, and noise makers sound out. It’s not my birthday, so what the fuck is going on here?

Kaylee comes over and plants a big, wet one on my lips, rousing another cheer from crowd. She hugs me and I take the time to survey the room. All my coworkers are here, including Luke, who shrugs guiltily when I give him a questioning look. Connor, Wyatt and Johann are also here, holding filled champagne flutes. Wyatt and Johann raise their glasses to me while Connor remains stoic.

When Kaylee finally releases me, I see Liam ambling toward me with two flutes of champagne in hand, smiling like a loon. He hands it to me and pounds me on the shoulder.