We were tired now, though. I’d found a large beach towel in the pool house and wrapped us both in it as we lay on a lounge chair with her nestled against me. I had so many questions for her, about what she did and where she spent her time and when she wanted to go out again, but she seemed to be half-asleep and I was right behind her.
“You can dump coffee on me anytime, venti macchiato,” I whispered as I started to doze off.
“Ditto.”
I wanted to take her inside where it was warm and we could sleep on a bed, but maybe if we cuddled here for a little while, I’d be ready to move. It was just so damn nice having her in my arms like this and I didn’t want to break the spell. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t anxious to get rid of a woman and get home to my own bed. Hell, I’d take her with me as soon as I rested a little.
I thought I heard her whisper my name but I was already asleep. And when I opened my eyes at dawn, she was gone.
5
Brianna
* * *
I’d probably dodged a bullet.
I repeated that to myself as I drove home and got into my own bed. A guy like Declan had probably been with thousands of women and who knew what I might have gotten myself into if I’d stayed until morning. It wasn’t like he really liked me. Someone like him was never going to get serious with someone like me, and as a woman who didn’t drink, smoke, or do drugs, I probably didn’t fit into his world at all. I felt a little guilty about sneaking out, but it was better for both of us not to make it weird. It had been a nice ego boost that he’d shown interest at all, but I knew better than to open myself up to that kind of heartache.
I had enough of that in my life with my family. I didn’t need a gorgeous rock star to continue rocking my world until I started to feel something and he was ready to move on. Besides, once he realized I wasn’t all that much fun, he’d find someone who liked to party with him.
But he didn’t party at all, a tiny voice in my head pointed out.
I closed my eyes and forced myself to sleep for a few hours. When my alarm went off at eleven, I dragged myself out of bed and cleaned up, steeling myself for the inevitable questions from Kiki as I padded into the living room.
“Hey.” She looked up from where she was perched on the couch, her eyes wide. “I cannot believe you spent the night with Bash James!”
“No big deal,” I said, shrugging. “You’ve had a million one-night stands; it was my turn.”
“He seemed really into you. You sure he’s not going to call?”
“He can’t. I left without giving him my number.”
Kiki groaned and rolled her eyes. “Why do you do this to yourself? He sounds like a dream. He probably wanted to let you sleep and was going to wake you up with great oral or something.”
I shrugged. “It’s all right. I mean, a guy like him was just being nice so—”
“Just being nice? Girlfriend, he spent half the night staring into your eyes and then asked you to go home with him. He sounds dreamy as fuck and you didn’t even give him a chance to ask you out again? You’re a dumbass and that’s all I’m going to say on the matter.”
I stared at her in surprise. Kiki was always warning me about guys that hit on us at catering events, so to have her chastising me for cutting out was surprising.
“There’s nothing worse than sitting around waiting for a guy to call,” I said, my feelings a little hurt. “So I just made sure that didn’t happen.”
“You’re a mess,” she said, shaking her head. “But I love you anyway.”
“Good to know.” I headed for the bathroom. “Anyway, I’m going to shower and then go see my parents. Haven’t talked to them in a few weeks, so I’d better check in.”
Kiki nodded. “You want me to come?”
“Nah. I’ll call if I need anything.”
“Okay. Tell Noah I said hi.”
“I will.”
Even though it was after noon, my parents’ house was closed up tight. Curtains drawn, everything quiet, as if everyone was asleep. Of course, that was because they probably were. My family was a mess and though I tried to stay away from them on a daily basis, I still worried and felt the need to check on them.
“Mom?” I unlocked the front door with my key and slowly walked through the house.
Meow.
The family cat, Dunkin, named after the donut place, rubbed against my legs.
“What’s the matter, girl? Has anyone fed you?”
We went into the kitchen and sure enough, both her food and water dishes were empty.
“Mom!” I was louder this time and shook my head as I went through the cabinets and pantry looking for cat food. I’d left Dunkin here because I worked so many hours and thought it would be cruel to leave her alone all the time, but obviously that had been a mistake. She looked malnourished and hadn’t left my side since I arrived.
“All right, let me get you some water and then I’ll have to go out to get you food.”
“Hi, honey.” Mom padded into the kitchen looking like death warmed over and I sighed.
“Mom, do you have any cat food?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. I just woke up and need coffee before I can function.”
“I didn’t see any of that, either.”
She met my gaze guiltily. “You think you could go pick up a few things for us, hon?” She pulled a ten-dollar bill out of her purse. “Coffee and cat food and maybe a frozen pizza?”
“I’ve got it.” I pushed the money away. “I’ll go to the store now. You should…shower.”
“Mm, I guess so. Thanks, sweetie.” She padded back toward the bedroom and I figured there was a fifty-fifty chance that she’d shower. It was either that or she’d go back to bed.
* * *
I was back forty-five minutes later with groceries, cat food, and bleach. The kitchen had been disgusting and I figured it was time to deep clean it. I did it a few times a year because they would live in filth if I didn’t, but it was still annoying. Especially when I had to work tonight and had only gotten four hours of sleep.
“Oh, you’re the best,” Mom said, coming into the kitchen in a bathrobe that had seen better days. But she’d showered and looked alert and somewhat awake.
“Dad still asleep?” I asked her.
“Yeah. Noah too.”
Noah was my younger brother.
“Is he still working?” I asked as I put the groceries away.
“He got fired. He kept calling out.”
“He’s twenty-two. It’s time for him to get off his ass and do something.”
“I know.” Mom sighed as she made a pot of coffee. “He’ll sleep and party until the money runs out and then find another job to hold him over for a while.”
“You should make him pay rent,” I muttered, wiping down the counter.
“Did you get any beer?” Mom asked, looking in the refrigerator.
“No. I’m not made of money. I spent seventy dollars on groceries. I got a case of Top Ramen so you guys don’t starve to death.”