Callan has one hand on the steering wheel, gripping so hard his knuckles are white, and his eyes are closed, like he’s in total agony. My heart leaps, and I start to second-guess my actions.
“Callan?”
He exhales and slowly opens his eyes. My worry dissipates when he casts me a glance and slowly shakes his head. “Yeah?”
I laugh. “Are you okay?”
“Of course I’m not okay,” he says with a laugh. “You just gave me the best blowjob of my life, in a car, on Main Street.”
“So, you liked it?”
He chuckles, puts his hand around my head, and draws my mouth to his. “I loved it,” he whispers into my mouth before giving me a deep, passionate kiss.
“Good, because I loved doing it.”
“Tonight, I’m going to show you what I love doing,” he says, a promise in his voice.
“Ooh, can’t wait.”
“Although it might be weird having sex in your parents’ house with them in the other room. It’s like I’m a teenager again. Sneaking around for sex.”
“I’ve actually never done that.”
His brow quirks. “Really, well then we need to change that.”
“I think it will be fun.”
“I know it will be.”
With darkness surrounding us, he starts the car, and is about to pull into traffic when a police car passes us. I don’t miss the way the driver is glaring at Callan. I just know something bad is going to happen, and I don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know who’s behind it.
“Who the hell was that?” I ask and brace myself.
“He’s coming back,” I say, as the car spins around and the lights go on. “This is not good, Callan”
“It’s okay. We’ve not done anything wrong.”
“That still doesn’t mean you’re not going to be harassed. I’m sure Brad told his colleagues to keep an eye out for you.”
“I have no doubt.”
“This is why I just left, Callan. I didn’t want to face these kinds of things.” I grip my hands and wring them. “I’m so sorry. I never should have involved you.”
“Hey,” he says and covers my hands. “It’s going to be fine. I can handle a little harassment and at least he’s picking on someone his own size.”
Callan rolls his window down as the officer approaches. “How can I help you, officer?”
“Your taillight is out.”
Callan shakes his head. “I had no idea. It was fine earlier.”
“Can I see your license and registration?” The officer looks into the car. “Is that you, Gemma?”
“Hi Greg,” I say.
“Didn’t realize you were home,” he says. “Oh, wait, maybe Brad did say something about you guys hanging out this weekend.” I open my mouth, about to correct him, but Callan’s hand on my leg stops me.
“Here you go,” he says, and hands the paperwork over.
The officer looks it over. “I’ll be right back.”
He disappears to his car, and Callan casts me a glance. “Yeah, Brad’s behind this.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, I got this. You have nothing to worry about,” he says, but the tightness in his jaw, the hard set of his chin, tells another story. Callan thinks I do have something to worry about.
9
Callan
I keep a smile on my face when we step back inside the beachside home, and laughter reaches our ears. Gemma smiles up at me, but there is a new kind of tension in her body. She didn’t like being pulled over any more than I did. It was Brad flexing his muscle, that much I’m sure of. But what worries me the most is what else he’d do to prove he’s powerful and try to win Gemma back. No way in a million fucking years is she going back with him. Even if he did win her over, but she’s too smart for that, it’d have to be over my dead body.
“Looks like the board games have begun,” she says. We head back outside and the deck is lit with Chinese lanterns, creating a cozy atmosphere. The kids are all in bed at this hour, and the adults are sitting around the table with their favorite drinks.
“How was the shopping?” Amanda asks when she sees the bags in our hands.
“Good,” I say. “I got some swim trunks and a T-shirt for both me and my daughter. I also got her a seashell necklace that Gemma thought she’d love.”
Amanda’s jaw drops. “You have a daughter?”
I stiffen for a second. Is Gemma dating a man with a child going to be a problem for them? Not that we’re really dating, I remind myself. I almost forget there for a second that it wasn’t real.
“He does,” Gemma says. “Kaitlyn, she’s six, and goes to my school.” She smiles up at me. “And I’m going to be teaching her piano.”
Amanda glares at me and plants one hand on her hip. “Why didn’t you bring her? I would love to meet her and she could have played with the kids.”
“You’re right. I should have. But this is the week she spends with her grandparents. They’ve been looking forward to it.”
Amanda relaxes. “Okay, you’re off the hook.” She points a finger. “Next time, though.”
I laugh and hold my hands up in surrender. “Yup, next time,” I say, although I doubt there will be one. I just hope Brad eventually gets the message and backs off.
“Can I see what you got her?” Janice asks.
“Oh Mom, its adorable. She’s going to love it.” Gemma takes the bag from me and opens it. As the women all admire the delicate piece of jewelry, David catches my eye.
“Scotch?” he asks holding his glass up.
“Love one,” I say.
“Come give me a hand,” he says, and we head inside to the bar. I drop the rest of my bags on the kitchen counter.
“Ice?” David asks, and when I hear the remnants of his tinkling in his glass, I say, “Sure,” and wonder what this is all about. Am I going to get the big brother ‘talk’? If so, I’m wondering if he ever gave it to Brad.
“Amanda told me she remembers you from when you and Gemma went to high school together.” I nod as he hands me my glass.
“Yeah, we’re old friends.”
“I’m glad you’re here, Callan.”
I angle my head and take a sip from my glass. “Why is that?”
“I never liked that asshole Brad. I could never put my finger on it, but he always rubbed me the wrong way.”
Gemma never told anyone about his behavior, but clearly a few members of the household are intuitive. “You don’t have to worry about him, David,” I say.
He nods, and holds his glass up to mine. “Glad to hear it.”
We clink glasses and are about to head back outside when Gemma steps inside. Her gaze goes back and forth between the two of us. “David, you better not be giving him a hard time,” she says but there is a teasing, loving warmth between the two. He rubs his knuckles on her head and she swats his hand away.
“Just getting to know your new guy, that’s all.”