“I’m not so sure about that. Let me put these groceries away. I’ll make us a grilled chicken Caesar salad, then we’ll play some games and do our usual before I have to leave for work. That sound okay?” I notice she’s holding a couple of bags in her hands.
“Yeah, I shouldn’t need your help to shower, unless you’re offering to get in with me?” I joke.
“In your dreams, Drake. How’d you sleep though?” It’s like she doesn’t realize that her questions are allowing me to insert my one-liners. Fuck, I’m as bad as Bridger these days.
“Do you really want me to answer that?” I tilt my head to the side for added emphasis.
“You’re right, I don’t. Get up off your ass and keep me company in the kitchen, then I’ll change your bandage.” She turns around, giving me the best view a man could ask for. That luscious ass of hers is at eye level, making me want to take a bite out of it.
“Come on, slow poke.” She must realize I’m not behind her. It takes some careful maneuvering, but I get myself up to follow her.
“I’m coming. Jesus, woman. Busting my balls already, and you haven’t even kissed me.” Giana’s placing the bags on the island in the kitchen when I finally catch up to her.
“I’m not kissing you. Not yet. We’ve discussed this, Drake. You haven’t even taken me on a proper date. Though I’ve already seen the goods, and I must say, I’m impressed.” Her hands are on the countertop, giving me a hint of her cleavage with the way she’s standing. I’m going to be in a permanent state of a hard-on with Giana around.
“When’s your next day off?” I question, my own voice gruff.
“Tomorrow. Why?”
“We’re going on a date. It won’t be what I’d like to do. We’ll more than likely stay in, order some food, and hang around the pool.” The thought of her in a bathing suit… Yep, I’m going to be completely fucked.
“I’d like that. I can come around eleven, or is that too early?” she asks.
“Pretty sure you could come any time, day or night, and I’d be ready,” I offer.
“Has anyone told you your mouth is filthy?”
“Maybe, but I’d like to see how dirty you can make it.” Giana stops in her tracks.
“You don’t play fair, that’s for sure. I’ll be here though, and instead of ordering in, we can cook together. I really don’t mind. Plus, when you live at home with your parents, you’re kind of forced to eat what they cook, and after so many casseroles, it gets a little old. No judging.” She points at me with the knife she grabbed out of the kitchen drawer to cut up the lettuce.
“I’m not,” I tell her, not doing so in the least.
“I figured why move out when I wasn’t there enough? Now that I have my bachelor’s degree, I may start apartment hunting.” Not if I have my way. She’ll be living with me sooner than later.
“It’s smart, plus safer.” I nod my head agreeing with her.
“So, yeah. We can cook like we’ve been doing, and with you off pain medicine and only on over-the-counter meds, we can have a couple of drinks and hang out. I haven’t even seen your pool. Did I mention this place is huge?” she jokes.
“You might have mumbled it a few times,” I reply.
“Well, it’s true. Anyways, let’s eat. My time is flying by. Before too long, I’ll have to leave. Ugh,” she grumbles to herself.
“Waiting on you, angel.” The soft smile she gives me lets me know we’re on the same page.
“I guess I better get my rear in gear, then.” That’s how we spend the rest of her time here, we eat, play a few games of Uno, she helps rebandage me, and then we say goodbye. The hug she leaves me with is a tease. A tease of what I’m hopeful tomorrow will bring.
Eight
Giana
I hated like hell to leave Drake yesterday. The coy glances we shot at one another, the way he would touch me in the smallest of ways, and the way he spoke to me. It made me thankful nothing eventful happened on last night’s shift. I got off at eleven last night, went home, took a shower, and crashed hard. The highlight of leaving yesterday, which still sucked, is that I’m off for the next three days, and there hasn’t been a steady flow of new patients coming in, making overtime nonexistent. For the first time since I started work, I’m okay with that. If everything goes right, hopefully that will mean more time with Drake.
Now, I’m up and moving around in my parents’ two story home, in the same childhood room I’ve had all of my life.
My parents are out and about their day, both of them still working. My dad at the local high school as a shop teacher, and my mom still works right beside him. Well, not really. She is the nurse there. They ride in together and ride home together. It’s the cutest thing ever. Seeing their relationship growing up, how they nurtured it, it’s taught me a lot. They still go on dates and do small nothings for one another. It showed me the type of relationship I want when I ever find a man, my one and only. I’d want the exact same thing, and if I continue to have these feelings for Drake that seem to only grow deeper as the days go by, he’ll be the man for me.
I throw on a sundress, slide my feet into sandals, grab my bag with my bathing suit, hat, and sunblock in it, then head towards the front door, locking it because let’s face it—if my parents came home and I forgot to lock the door, Daddy would go crazy. It happened one time when I was in high school. I got the lecture of a lifetime, not that I blame him. He and Mom have always wanted the best for me. This is another way to make sure that I’m well taken care of. It took them years of infertility treatments, and those not taking. Then one day, out of the blue, my mom took a test while they were in Arizona on vacation, and there I was nine months later.
I’m sliding into my car when my phone beeps, alerting me of a text message. I start the car before looking at the alert. There’s no way I want to be stuck in the heat. It’s been one for the records this summer, heat wise. The air conditioner is on full blast when I look at my phone. Drake’s name appearing on the screen puts a smile on my face.
Drake: Good morning, angel. Let me know when you’re on your way.
Me: Good morning. I’m heading over now. Do you need me to stop and pick anything up for today?
Drake: Just you. Travis and Raelynn picked up my order. It’s you and me, food, drinks. Just the two of us. Drive safely.
Me: Can’t wait and always.
The entire time to Drake’s place, I dance in my seat, sing to music off key, and within fifteen minutes, I’m pulling into his driveway. After the first day I was there, he gave me a gate key. It kind of looks like a garage door opener. From some of the few things Drake’s told me about his time in the military and now with working at Nighthawk Security, his privacy and safety are things he won’t budge on.
His home really is beautiful. The fact that he wants to fill it with love and a big family only makes me fall for him more. I pull around to the side of his house where the garage is located, park behind it, turn my car off, grab my phone, throw it in my bag, and turn in my seat to open the door.