Total Control (12 page)

“Okay. Thanks, man.”

I locked up, took some ibuprofen, hit the random button on the CD player, and laid on my bed. My face was throbbing. I wondered who told Vince about Gia’s personal past.
Who was this Jason guy he mentioned?

I rolled onto Gia’s pillow and took a deep breath. I closed my eyes and thought of her while I listened to the music she’d picked out the
other night while I was making dinner. I grabbed my phone and looked at her picture again. I stared at her and listened to the music until I fell asleep. My phone woke me up.

“What are you wearing?” I smiled when I heard her voice.

I looked down at my clothes, “Jeans and a t-shirt.”

“Mmm, sexy. You sound like you were sleeping.”

“I dozed off while I was staring at your picture. What are you wearing?” I asked her.

“I’m glad you asked
,” she said. “Check your e-mail.”

I pulled it up. “Jesus, Gia,” I whispered when I saw the picture of her in a black lacy bra and panties with garter belt and stockings.

“Should I buy it?”

“Where are you?”

“In a dressing room at Victoria’s Secret.” She giggled.

I chuckled at her. “I wish I were there to buy it for you.”

“I wish you were here to take it off of me.”

“I could be there in a few hours.”
I noticed another new e-mail.

“What would you do to me then?”
she asked.

I looked
at the new e-mail. She was standing with her legs shoulder width apart, left arm across her chest, hand over her right breast. Right arm was at her side with the bra dangling from her fingers. She had a very seductive look on her face. It was the sexiest picture I’d ever seen and I was getting turned on. “Tell me to come and you’ll find out.”

She giggled
. “We’re gonna have to finish this conversation when I get back to the hotel. I’m getting hot, and they’re gonna wonder what I’m doing in here so long.”

“Okay, Hotness. Thanks for the teaser, you made my night.”

“I’ll talk to you later,” she said. “Oh, and Ethan…”

“Yeah?”

“I would’ve asked you to come, but the girls planned this weekend, so I…”

“It’s okay, I understand,” I
said. “You just enjoy yourself and your friends. You can have all of me you want when you get home.”

“
Thanks for understanding, but if you let me have all of you I want, one or both of us could get injured.”

I laughed
. “I can handle it.”

“Talk to you later, Superman.”

“I can’t wait, She-Ra.”

I sat there, staring at the picture of Hotness. I
was completely in awe of her. Everything about her was everything I’d ever dreamed of having in my life. I smiled as I thought of her silliness, which pleasantly broke up the seriousness I’d been living for so long. She was a beautiful breath of fresh air and I was head over heels for her. I laid back down on my bed. My head was still throbbing, so I closed my eyes and tried to relax.

Chapter 11

Gia

I watched out the airplane window as the city got smaller and smaller. I turned and looked at Dana and Jo. They were both smiling at
me. I felt like a child.

“Gia, we’re so proud of you!” Dana squealed.

“Yes, and so happy to be able to come with you and spend a couple of days with you before you check in,” Jo added.

“Thanks for everything
, you guys. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.” Tears welled in my eyes. I was feeling rather emotional after having to say good-bye to Ethan.

“It’s okay, sweetie
. Let’s focus on having some fun. We can be serious Monday morning, but not until then!” Dana said.

“How about some wine?” Jo asked as she waved at the stewardess.

“A toast to Gia, may she get home soon feeling better than ever!” Jo said. We clinked and drank.

“So,” Dana started, “tell us about Ethan! We haven’t even had a chance to talk since the festival!” She was right, and I couldn’t wait to share my happiness with them.

I stared at the back of the seat in front of me, trying to find the words. “He’s…well, he’s the fantasy, every woman’s fantasy. Totally gorgeous, with a body that bulges in all the right places, kisses like the first time every time, smart, successful, thinks of my needs before his own, and makes me feel like the sexiest woman in the world.” I sighed and looked back at them.

“Wow!” Dana said, smiling.

“Gia, that’s so sweet! Is there anything you don’t like about him?” Jo asked.

“No. I mean, there’s one thing I didn’t think I cared about, but
I’m realizing now maybe I do.” They were both looking at me curiously.

I told them the whole story about how Ethan had seen me before and wanted to meet me. They both thought that was very cool. Then I told them about how Ethan has had a lot of sexual relationships with women, but not much more with them. Their faces were a little concerned
about that.

“He slept with Bridget Evans a few year
s ago, before she was married.” Their eyes grew big. “I don’t know the details, and I don’t want to, but I’m having a little trouble with it. It makes me wonder who else I’m gonna run into. There are a lot of women we know who have been going to shows up there as long as we have. And then, the fact that he hasn’t had an actual relationship with anyone scares me, too.” I was relieved to have said all that out loud. It was the first time I was facing the fears of allowing myself to fall for Ethan.

“I hate to admit it, but that scare
s me too, Gia,” Dana said. “I know he’s a great guy, and I can tell he really cares about you, but I’ve been with the ‘afraid of commitment’ guys and they’re tough to break.”

“Yes, but if he was too busy to have a relationship, and he told the women that up front,
not to mention the fact that he’s had his eye on Gia, you gotta cut the guy a break.” Jo came to Ethan’s rescue.

“That’s true,” Dana said, “but Gia, you’ve got to be careful. It’s one thing to hook up like you two did at The Lock, but turning that into a relationship
is something else. Especially with someone who’s never been committed to anyone before. He could break your heart and you’d never see it coming. Be careful is all I’m saying.”

“You and Trey hooked up at The Lock, and you’re still se
eing each other,” I said.

“I know, but Trey has been married before and has had a couple of other long relationships, so he knows what it’s all about. I’m also not as fragile as
you are, Gia, no offense, but you haven’t really been in the dating game, it’s brutal.” She took my hand. “You’re my best friend and I love you. Take care of you first, don’t lose yourself again. That’s all I’m asking.” She smiled.

Jo was sha
king her head. “I think Ethan’s the real deal,” she said. “I’ve never seen you like you were when you were with him last weekend. Most guys who have commitment issues don’t tell someone they love them like he did to you the other night. I’ve talked to him about you, he’s crazy for you. Dana’s right, you do need to be careful, but don’t miss out on something great because you’re holding back.”

“I’ll keep in mind what you’ve both said. Thanks for be
ing honest with me, even if it was something I didn’t want to hear,” I told them. I looked out the window and wondered if I was misinterpreting Ethan’s and my relationship. I didn’t think Dana was right about Ethan being afraid of commitment. He wanted me to stay with him longer at The Lock, and he said he wanted to take care of me. He wanted to meet my family. If anything, it was like he was the opposite, like he was going too fast. I wondered if that should be a red flag.

I turned back to the girls
. “What about a guy who goes too fast? One who seems like he wants you with him all the time, right away?”

“Ah, the control freak
,” Dana said. “Wants to plan everything, pay for everything, needs to know where you are and what you’re doing every second. Keeps close tabs on you and basically suffocates the shit out of you until you can’t even breathe without asking him first.”

Jo looked worried. “Why? Gia, do you think Ethan is like that?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “Maybe.” I thought about it a while longer. “I’m having such a good time with him. I don’t want to screw it up by jumping to any conclusions. I’m going to keep enjoying him and see how it plays out.”
Yes, have fun and whatever happens, happens.

“You’re having fabulous sex, aren’t you?” Dana asked, knowing the answer.

“Unfuckingbelievable,” I said, emphasizing every syllable.

Jo giggled
., “Good for you, Gia. Good for you.” She sat back in her seat with a satisfied look on her face. It made Dana and I laugh.

“Would you ladies like another wine? It’s the last drink call of the flight
,” the stewardess said.

“Yes, please,
” I said.

The rest of the flight was fun as hell. I filled them in on some of the hot sex I’d been having for the first time in my life and Dana told us about
some of the crazy shit she and Trey had done.

“He’s absolutely uninhibited,” she said. “He insisted on going down on me the other night, even though I told him I was having my period. He gave me one hell of an orgasm, so I’d almost forgotten my situation when he came back up to kiss me, but I took one look at him and asked, ‘Who the fuck do you think you’re going to kiss with that clown mouth?’”
Jo and I got wide-eyed, but then we about peed ourselves laughing.

“Dana, that’s some nasty-ass story!” Jo told h
er.

“I know,” Dana said. “He’s an animal, what can I say? Besides that
, I’m loving every second of it!” I loved her raunchy stories. She didn’t leave a thing out, not one detail.

“You two are making me want to get some action this weekend!” Jo said. “Maybe I’ll have to go up and pay Vince a visit
when we get home if I can’t find any elsewhere!”
Oh, no! Don’t even go there, Jo!

***

I called Ethan while we waited for our luggage. He said he was just thinking about me. It made me feel good and I couldn’t wait to ta
lk to him again after we got settled in our hotel.

I figured we’d take a hotel shuttle from the airport, but Jo and Dana had a surprise for me. We were staying at a five sta
r hotel and a limo was there to pick us up! Dana said she was going to touch base with a couple of her clients while we were there, so the trip was a write-off and we were going all-out. I never quite understood what people meant when they said that, but hey, she wanted to treat us, so I was in. There was champagne in the limo, so we drank as we checked out a little piece of California on our way to the hotel.

When we pulled up, I was in awe. I’d never stayed at such a swanky place! I looked at Jo and she was just as
wide-eyed as me. Dana was her cool self, smiling as she watched our expressions.

“Holy shit, Dana! You rock!” Jo told her.

“Yes, you do!” I added. “Thank you!”

“You’re welcome. Now, let’s go have an amazing weekend.”

Some guy opened the door for us while some other guy got our luggage out of the trunk. Then he passed it off to yet another guy who put it on a cart and followed us inside. Dana checked us in while Jo and I looked around.

“This place is so
nice!” Jo said. “Dana told me she was gonna hook us up this weekend and surprise you, but this is way beyond what I imagined.”

“I’ve
never stayed anywhere this nice,” I said, still in awe as I watched the huge fountain in the lobby.

“You two ready?” Dana asked. We nodded and followed her to the elevators. The guy with our luggage pushed the button and
made small talk as we waited. He was very good looking and smelled fantastic. When we got on the elevator, I stood beside him and took a deep breath. He looked at me and smiled. I smiled back and got butterflies.

“You smell fantastic.
” I couldn’t believe I’d just said that!

“Thank you,” h
e said as Dana and Jo giggled. His face turned red.

Dana leaned up so she could read his name tag. “Sorry,
Sean, you’ll have to excuse Gia. She just recently got laid and now all her senses are alive for the first time in years.” We giggled and I rolled my eyes.

Sean looked at me
. “Congratulations, Gia.” We all laughed, he was a good sport.

“Thanks, Sean
.” I winked at him. I loved being a flirt, and just because I was seeing someone, it didn’t mean I couldn’t have fun. I was buzzed and the fun-loving Gia who lived in the moment had emerged.