The Redemption (11 page)

“Rochelle, you deserve dates and flowers, romantic dinners, and for me to show you that I’m good enough to spend time with your family.”

“You’re good enough, Dex. It wasn’t about you not being good enough for me or my ki—” He kisses me, ending my plea. As soon as our lips part, I continue, “Kids. So please don’t think otherwise.”

Chuckling, he runs his finger down my nose and lingers on my lips, stopping me from talking. “Here’s the truth of the matter. If we do this… again, there’s no going back to square one tomorrow. Not for me. I won’t be able to act like I don’t care about you, like I haven’t thought about you every day since we were together last. So it’s easier to stop now than later.”

With a discouraged sigh, I say, “You’re stronger than me, Dex.”

“No, I just know my greatest weakness is the woman beneath me right now.” He rolls over sighing in a way that shows frustration has set in. Turning his head to me, he says, “I want to fuck you so bad, but I also want to do all that making love stuff too. And if we do that, I can’t pretend it didn’t happen.” He sits up and walks to the other side of the room, leaning his back against the wall.

I prop myself up on my elbows, caught by the heaviness of the emotions I’m suddenly feeling for him.

“Go to sleep tonight. Fly home tomorrow.” He walks into the shadow of the entryway. “I’ll see you in a few weeks.”

I hear the door open as I fall back on the bed, my own sexual frustration setting in. But just when I hear the door close, the weight of his body lands on top of me and he kisses me hard. Surprised, my eyes fly open, but then I go for it just like him and kiss him back with just as much passion. He pushes off of me again and stands between my legs. “I make very few promises in life, but this one I can make to you. Rochelle Floros, I’m coming for you. It’s our time, so get ready for me.” He turns abruptly and leaves me sitting there stunned… and tingly… and then smiling, my heart full of happiness and so much more for that man.

Lara came back to the room this morning and found me asleep. She’s been giving me a hard time on our morning flight back to LA ever since. “That grin on your face sure was unexpected.”

“I wasn’t grinning. I was sleeping.”

“Well, whatever you were dreaming about had you smiling like a fool in your sleep.”

I roll my eyes. “And what did you do after the concert last night?”

She looks away briefly before she says, “Met some friends at the bar downstairs. Once you texted me you were going to bed, I thought it best not to bring the party up to the room.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now what brought on that smile? It was polar opposite of what I expected to find when you left the show.”

I figure the truth will hush her up. “I had three orgasms last night.”

Her eyes go wide. “Eh, er… wow. Umm, okay. Huh.” She adjusts in her seat and says, “I’m impressed. Did you have these on your own or did someone special, someone like Dex, induce these?”

“All on my own.” I just don’t mention that Dex was the inspiration behind each one. Seems every time I close my eyes, I can still feel his lips on me and the gentle sucking he did to my collarbone.

“Ew, are you gonna cum again right now? Wipe that expression off your face.”

I burst out laughing and slap her arm. “Stop teasing me. You wanted the truth. Well, you got it.”

“I love a great masturbation session.”

“Oh my God, keep your voice down, Lara.”

An older woman in the seat in front of us peers back through the crack between the seats. When my eyes meet her judgy ones, she frowns and turns back around quickly.

Lara shrugs not caring if she’s heard by everyone on the plane or not. “Wouldn’t it be hot to have sex with the pilot while he was flying the plane?”

Shaking my head, I say, “I’m not really partial to planes.”

Her hand covers mine on the shared armrest. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“So maybe you’re more a mailman type of gal. You know, a guy who can really deliver his package?”

My head goes back and I scrunch my nose. “What 80’s porn have you been watching?”

“Not porn, just my imagination… Okay, some porn, but we all watch porn every now and then.”

“Maybe I should watch some,” I say, actually considering the idea.

“If you had three orgasms all by yourself, I don’t think you need porn. Your dirty thoughts are good enough.”

“I have some good references.”

She leans closer. “Do tell.”

“No, I think I’ll hold onto them a little longer.”

“If it makes a difference, I saw how Dex looks at you over the last few days. You could have him if you wanted.”

Looking out the window of the plane into the great blue yonder, I reply, “It makes all the difference in the world.” Three more hours on the flight left to go, so I lean my head against the window and close my eyes. “I’m gonna try to get some sleep.”

After thanking Janice for keeping my kids, I drag my suitcase into the bedroom. The boys follow me in and we all lay on my king size bed together, cartoons on the large flat screen hanging on the wall. Despite that they were engrossed in the show, I’m instantly smothered in kisses and hugs and I love it. My boys take the opportunity to bounce on the bed, and despite the no jumping rule usually in place, I let them. Their happy faces are worth the potential for broken springs.

“Mama, I love you,” CJ says, and I grab him mid-jump and snuggle him to my side.

“Come here, buddy,” I say to Neil.

He bounces to his knees and then drops to my open arm, which I close around him. I kiss each of their heads and smile. “I missed you guys so much. Did you miss me?”

“Yes,” they say in unison. Then Neil adds, “You were with Uncle Johnny on tour?”

“Yes,” I reply, wanting to reintroduce them to Dex soon hopefully. “And Dex, the drummer. Do you remember him?”

“He gave me the drumsticks.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I don’t member,” CJ says.

I rough up his hair. “You’ll see him soon and you’ll remember. You’ve met him many times.” I reach over and declare, “Ticklefest.”

After lots of giggles and catching up on their days while I was away, I start dinner. I want to make something that shows how much I love them, warming their souls while filling their tummies. I decide on homemade lasagna, which they devour, making me happy. We read books and then I tuck them in.

When I lay down in my bed, I turn on the TV. My mind drifts away from the match-making show and I think of Dex, wondering what he’s doing tonight. It was a travel day for them and no performance, so I don’t know if he’s going out or staying in and resting up. It makes me realize that I don’t really know him—his habits, his hobbies, his routine—at all. But I want to and this time I don’t feel bad for that.

I roll to my side and smile before catching up on the show, my nightmares a little less this night.

Why does a simple text seem monumental right now? This should be easy, I tell myself as I pace my kitchen. Looking down at the phone in my hand, the screen glows bright white waiting for me to type something. I feel like I’m asking Dex out on a date. Wait,
am I
? What seemed like a casual get-to-know-you-better plan has suddenly turned into a big date. Oh no. I turn my phone off, not ready for this at all.

Two hours later while lying on the couch, I kick my feet up on the arm and go to my message app again. This time I’m determined. I start to type
:
Hi Stranger, just wondering if…
Ugh! Delete. Delete. Delete.
Stranger? Really?
Ugh!

Hi, hope you’re doing well. I know you probably need some down time when you get home next week, but I was wondering if you want to come over for a meal. I can cook for you. I’m sure it’s been a while since you’ve had food not delivered by room service. I’ll deliver it to the table though and all you have to do is show up. We can hang out, maybe play a board game with the boys. Tag is also a big favorite of theirs. Anyway, let me know.

I hit send before I can chicken out. Staring down at the rambling message, I’m so embarrassed. If there was a way to take that back, I would.

My phone buzzes in my hand when a message appears. It’s a lot sooner than I expected.
Long time, no talk, Stranger. It’s good to hear from you. What day?

I laugh at the ‘stranger’ then type:
You get back on Monday. How about Wednesday?

Dex:
How about Tuesday?

I might be blushing that he wants to see me as much as I want to see him.
Tuesday is great.

Dex:
What time?

Me:
5 p.m.?

Dex:
I’ll be there.

Me:
See you then.

Dex:
Feel free to text me anytime, dollface.

Dollface?
Now my cheeks really heat.
Me:
Text soon, champ.

Champ!!!
What the hell am I doing?
He’s making me senseless.

Dex:
Lol. Okay, champ is interesting…

Me:
Ignore me. Just carry on with your day like that never happened.

Dex:
I’ll try, but it’ll be hard.

My eyebrows rise up when I read ‘It’ll be hard.’

Dex:
Did I just type that?

Me:
You did.

Dex:
I’ll forget about champ, but you need to forget about things being hard over here in Dallas.

Me:
Now that will be ‘hard’ to do.

Dex:
Are you sexting me?

Me:
You’re the one sexting I believe. You started it first.

Dex:
I’ll be happy to finish it too. See you next Tuesday.

Me:
Another funny. Like C U Next Tuesday.

Dex:
Let’s stop while we’re a’head’

Me:
You’re right. Stop.

I laugh and set my phone down on the couch cushion next to me, but it buzzes again. I look at the screen and read:
Just in case I wasn’t clear, I’m really looking forward to seeing you again.