Anything but Minor (18 page)

“I didn’t know she was your girl.”

He didn’t move his eyes from the game as he replied. “But you knew she was
someone’s girl.
The big fucking engagement ring she had on gave you that much of a clue.”

“It was her decision.”

“And she’s no longer my girl. Now shut the fuck up before you remind me of how pissed off I was.”

“You can fucking try,” I quipped with venom. Maybe it was thoughts of my father that triggered me to say the wrong fucking thing. Maybe it was my restlessness or guilt. Either way, with my next words, I knew what I was asking for. “Don’t worry. She meant shit to me. In fact, I don’t even remember her name.”

An hour later, two bruised knuckles (mine), two black eyes (his and mine), and a busted lip (mine again), Rodriguez and I sat in an utterly destroyed hotel room. We’d both swung with our weak fists to save our game arm and did a poor job of landing punches. It would have been funny if I wasn’t so fucking remorseful about it.

I looked over to him as he nursed his eye with ice from a dirty bucket. It was on the tip of my tongue. Simple words that could make the tension between us slightly better. I’d given him far more room to take me than I was comfortable, but I knew I deserved it. As he stretched his hand and studied the broken skin on his knuckles, he seemed satisfied. That was enough for now.

I decided to concentrate on Alice instead.

Rafe: You’re the only fucking thing good about my day, and you nearly burned me alive if that’s any indication of how bad this day was. I want you here. I want you mine, Alice. What do I have to do?

Alice: Make it worth my while.

I groaned and ducked as Rodriguez gave me an odd look.

Rafe: You’ll make a pussy out of me yet.

“All I care about in this goddamn life are me, my drums, and you,” I voiced along with Watts as I watched the movie
Some Kind of Wonderful
. The feeling in my chest almost matched the one I had every time my phone pinged with a new message from Rafe. He was wooing me by text, and I was letting him. I was tempted to drive down and surprise him, but I didn’t want to assume anything and seem like a stage-five clinger. I still owed him a proper apology, but it seemed he’d all but forgotten my arson outburst. I had, in my defense, soaked the shirt in water so it would smoke. But the fact that he still spoke to me after that crazy outburst still left me stunned. I meant it to be the end of us. Surely, he had a groupie in every city just waiting for a chance to pounce.

Any other guy would have run the other way, I’m sure. Then again, what did I know?

I sighed happily as I packed a bag for the beach and another text came through. It was of Rafe. Well, not Rafe exactly. It was a picture of his ball pants and his bulging and pronounced “teammate.” The one who’d helped to knock me out. It wasn’t graphic, just a flirtation, but I’d almost wished he’d sent the real deal. I was already flushed with thoughts of our night together. I’d never sexted so I went all in.

Alice: I want it everywhere, between my breasts.

Rafe: Holy fuck.

Rafe: Alice?

I glanced at my kitchen counter and went a step further.

Alice: I want you to come in my mouth.

Alice: I want to cover it in Nutella and lick it off.

Rafe: Are you fucking with me?

At work the following week, I frowned as I looked at the progress of the pilots. Half of them had failed the written spec examination about the aircraft. And it was the easiest part. I knew that reflected poorly on me as an instructor. I looked around the room at the tired, long faces and sighed.

This is so not what I’d hoped it would be.

“Gentlemen, if you learn to fly this aircraft, you are twice as likely to see a pay increase or get a better offer from a competing airline. That is the last incentive I will give you to do
your
job.”

I barely got a reaction and looked over to Trey, who eyed me with curiosity. I’d hastily dismissed our date to have a night of sex with Rafe. It seemed I had more than one sincere apology to give, and as soon as class ended, he was quick to approach.

“I’m sorry,” I said in a low tone. “I had something come up.” I was lying, and that was not okay. “I got...involved with someone.”

“That fast?” he asked as he stuck his hands in a black pair of chinos.

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry I didn’t ask you sooner. I’m pissed about that fact, actually.” I looked up to see he was close. He was truly a good looking man. Trey had full, kissable, lips, and boyishly handsome features. Even with his face lit by the dull lights of the classroom, he was quite alluring. If I wasn’t so wrapped up in a ballplayer full of “charm,” Trey would be ideal. Still, I could never ignore the way I felt with said ballplayer around. My heart was already declaring itself faithful.

I want you to be mine.

“I’m not doing well at this,” I said as I motioned to the empty classroom in an attempt to change the subject. “I’m not doing well at all.”

“Alice, it’s not your job to motivate them. It’s your job to make sure they can fly the plane.”

“And I’m failing.”

“One week and you’ll have a new batch of pilots. I have to say, this was a tough room. And you didn’t fail. I’m not failing.”

I gave him a smile. “Thanks for that apple.”

“Anytime, teach.” He paused in the doorway. “If you change your mind, you have my number.” I nodded again as he gave me a heated look. “I hope you use it.”

I answered the phone with a smile. “You won.”

“We did. I wish you were here. I pitched—”

“A perfect game. I really wish I was, too.” I sat on the beach that Saturday, counting down the hours until Rafe came home. He assured me he wanted me in his bed tomorrow night when he got there. He’d even told me where he hides a key, so I assured him I would be waiting.

“You could’ve come.” Rafe’s voice was as deep and soothing as the ocean I was staring at.

“You didn’t invite me.” I smiled as I realized he wanted me there just as much as I wanted to be there. Still, my current view was a great consolation.

“Something wrong?” My smile deepened because he was becoming in tune with me and my tones.

I’d spent the better half of my day thinking about my career choice and wondering if I should stay. Trey was right. I had a new class of pilots coming and “a tough room” didn’t even begin to describe my current one.

“It’s just...my job. It’s not what I thought it would be. I think I’d be happier flying.”

“So then fly.”

“It’s not that simple. I don’t want to give up just because it’s tough. I have a contract with Boeing for a year I have to see through. It’s just...I feel like they
hate
me.”

“Just a bunch of arrogant assholes, huh?”

“Maybe I’m not cut out to be an instructor. I just don’t think they
like
me.”

“
I
like you.”

“I know,” I said with a sigh. “There’s that.”

“And it’s not changing. Tomorrow, Alice,” I heard the need in his voice and my stomach knotted with excitement. Just as I was about to respond, I felt the sting in my legs as I smacked my hand on my thigh and looked at it, sure I’d just killed a mosquito. The next sting came as I stood and looked below me for an ant pile.

“Yeah, tomorrow, Rafe—Ouch!” I said as I twisted my body, looking for any sign of life and got nothing.

“Alice, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know. I think I sat in an ant pile at the beach.”

“There are no ant piles at the beach.”

“HOW...OW, Oh my God,” I jumped out of my skin as I swatted around me like I was being attacked by a swarm of bees.

“Alice, what the hell is going on?”

“Rafe, something’s biting me! I have to go.” I hung up and began swatting furiously at the air around me as one soft pinch after another ravaged my body. Onlookers stared at me as I furiously waved my hands around me to ward off the unseen enemy. The sun was setting, and the sand was cool on my feet as I grabbed my bag and made my way toward my car, enraged by the disruption of my Zen. Realization struck as I remembered my neighbors warning.

No-see-ums!

God, I had crappy luck. I fought the invisible killer sandflies the whole way to my car and turned on the AC full blast, still feeling the sting of their harmless bite.

Alice: Just the darned no-see-ums. God, that was awful. Seriously, this state should come with a warning.

Rafe: Hang in there, baby.

Alice: Baby?

Rafe: Be mine, Alice.

My heart hammered at his term of endearment. I’d told him, but I wasn’t sure if he knew just how many firsts he’d really given me in just a few weeks. We spoke for hours every night, either by text or phone. Endless hours of talking with Rafe had somehow made him able to read my voice, my thoughts. I’d never had that type of connection with a man,
ever.

Our conversations were always entertaining. I smiled and sighed so much. He alone made up for the years of my youth as a teenage girl who’d missed out on the fun parts. He was quickly becoming etched inside of me. His voice, his words, his way of letting me know just how much he wanted me, it was surreal and beautiful and all mine.

Though my week had turned to crap, I had someone to look forward to, and I’d never had that. I quickly texted Rafe a picture of Nutella.

If he didn’t think I was serious, then he would definitely know when he got home.