Page 26 of Summer Sweethearts
“Yes, okay. Am I upset you kissed? No. I am, however, upset that you kept it from me, even if only for a short time. I love you, but this won’t work if you keep things from me. I knew eventually, something would happen. I just thought I’d be there, or at least be told. Now I will have a talk with Mike ‘cause he can’t just go around kissing other people’s girlfriends, drunk or not.”
“I really am sorry. It wasn’t meant to happen. He just kissed me, and I reacted as soon as I realized what was happening. I stopped it.” She leans forward and grabs my hand.
“I want you to be honest about your feelings so we can figure out what to do. What you want,” I tell her as I adjust my body so I can cup her cheek in my hand. “You need to think about what you want, Loretta. No denying things just cause it’s not ‘normal’. Look at Cara. She is happier than shit with her two guys; plus, they have kids, and it just works. If you want to be with Mike, then we need to discuss how that will work, and if he actually wants to try, or if he was just drunk rambling.”
She looks up at me through her tear-soaked lashes. “ You’d really let me have another lover? What about you? Are you gonna want someone else? Are you gonna want Michael?”
“I’d hardlyletyou do anything. You’re a grown-ass woman, and if you want another lover and we are open and honest about it, I am open to sharing. I don’t like secrets or sneaking, but I can handle it if everything is out in the open, like Cara, Walker, and Waylon. I don’t want anyone else but you. Do I want Michael? He’s sexy as sin, but I’m not attracted to him beyond that. I thought when we went on those dates that it could be something more, but it ended instead. Could we have something someday? Sure. But I am happy just being with you, and if more transpires, you’ll be the first to know. Or, hopefully, be there,” I tease, wagging my brows at her.
I lean in to kiss her lips softly, and she whimpers against my mouth. I tangle a hand in her blonde hair, holding her to me. Pulling away from her, I look between her eyes, just taking her in. “I guess we need to have a chat with Mike then, huh?”
“Yeah. But let’s wait till after the wedding. I don’t want anything to happen that could throw a wrench in Aiden and Cain’s big day,” she says, and my heart skips a beat at how much she cares for her friends.
I coax Loretta from the bed and send her to take a shower while I call my mom to tell her what the insurance company said. I don’t mind staying here, but this definitely feels like Loretta’s place and not mine. Which it should be, obviously, but if we continue to live together, then it needs to feel like home to me too. The phone rings twice before my mom answers. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, baby,” she answers.
“So I just got off the phone with the insurance company about the fire,” I tell her, rubbing my forehead with my palm.
“What did they say?” she questions.
“Well, the whole building is a loss and nothing is salvageable. They said I could arrange a time to go over there and see if, by chance, there was anything I wanted that could be saved, but I kept all my important or sentimental stuff at your house.”
“Oh, Honey, I’m so sorry. Do you need to move home for a while? You know you can. You’re always welcome to come stay with me,” she tells me, and I can hear her already getting up and moving around.
“No, I’m staying with Loretta, but thank you. I should have the claim check next week, they said. Then I need to get a few things that were lost; more clothes, blankets, and things like that. Loretta said I can stay as long as I want, and I’m happy living with her. I just wish when I look around I see more of myself, you know?” I calm her so she doesn’t start readying my old room for me.
“I totally understand, Jess. Have you brought this up to her? Maybe she doesn’t know you’re feeling like this. It’s only been a short while since you’ve been there. I doubt the thought has even crossed her mind. She’s always seemed like a well-thought-out and kind girl. I bet if you spoke to her, she’d let you add some ‘Jessica’ touches,” she laughs.
“You’re right, Mom. I’ll talk to her, promise. I better go. I still have to work today, ya know,” I jest, and she laughs before we say ourI love yousand hang up.
* * *
Tomorrow is the big day and Loretta is running around this place like a chicken with her head cut off. She’s not even the one getting married, but the way she’s acting, you’d totally think it was her wedding. “Where are my heels?” she yells from the bedroom.
“You packed them already, babe!” I call back, and she sighs, although I can hear her mumbling under her breath.
Cain and Aiden are getting married down at the lake in town, but the park has cabins you can rent for weekends or parties or whatever. A few of us decided to rent cabins instead of trying to drive home after the reception. Cara was adamant that her ‘pregnant ass’ needed her own bed, so she’s not staying. But Cain and Aiden, Loretta and I, and a few others each rented a cabin.
I just thought it would be a fun little overnight trip for Loretta and me. Plus, we both like to drink when we are out, so it’s just a wiser option overall. Also not helping the cause is the open bar Aiden insisted on, so the drinks are free and will flow. I already know that.
Tonight is the rehearsal dinner, so we snagged our cabin an extra night since the dinner is at the beach beside the lake. We won’t have to wake up super early to travel or get to the lake in the morning. I just have to make sure Loretta is up by nine, so she can meet the hair and makeup lady at ten. Cara is coming to the cabin for her hair and makeup too, so I packed a little cooler of orange juice and champagne. So we can have Mimosas, or in Cara’s case, virgin cocktails.
I load the trunk of the car with everything we will need for the wedding and the weekend. Heading back into the house, I fill Macaroni’s feeder so he will be happy all weekend, give his litter box a good scooping, and take the trash out. Loretta comes bursting out of the bathroom with her toiletry bag in hand and her groomswoman dress in another, along with her flip-flops. “Please help me,” she calls, making me smile as I head toward her. “This is a mess. I’m a mess. I’m sure I’m forgetting something.”
“Good news, babe. If you did forget anything, I can run back here and get it for you, no problem. It’s the benefit of them getting married in town. The rest of the car is packed, so if you’re ready, we can get this stuff in the car and head out,” I tell her as I take the shoes and toiletry bag from her.
“I think this is it. Did you feed his royal highness?” she questions with a laugh.
“Yes, his royal highnASS is fed for the weekend. He will be one very happy cat,” I jest, turning and walking out the front door.
Loretta trails behind me with her dress, closes the door behind us, grabs the keys from her pocket, and locks our place up for the weekend. I set her shoes and bag in the backseat next to my overnight bag, and she opens the back door on her side, hanging her dress on the little handle on the ceiling of the car.
Sliding behind the wheel, I wait for Loretta to get in and buckle up before putting the car in reverse and backing out of the drive. Loretta turns the radio on, andMarry Youby Bruno Mars fills the car. Loretta claps her hands together in excitement before she sings at the top of her lungs, and I can’t help but laugh at the irony of the song as we head to our friend’s wedding.
MICHAEL
I’m Standing at the end of the aisle, waiting for the groomswomen to come down, my breath catches when the music starts and Etta appears at the end. She is stunning; her blonde hair is up in a messy yet classy way, and her signature thick-rimmed glasses were not removed, only enhancing her blue eyes. The way her bright blue dress hugs her hips and breasts has my cock twitching in my khaki pants.
