Fever Pitch (16 page)

“Don’t be silly.” Her lips turned up at the corners, but I knew she didn’t mean her tiny gesture. She was faking it, like me. A faker knows a faker, a con. “Notting and I are working through some things. Trying something new.” She paused and sighed. “I don’t want this to affect you, Jake.”

I huffed, disturbed by her ridiculous concern. “Stop it already. You can’t be serious.” She had to be kidding. Was she trying to milk me for attention? “I’m really not sure what the problem is. I want you and Notting to finally be together, and it’s obvious that you’ve had a problem with me knowing about it for years.”

She leaned against the counter as her eyes diverted from mine and snatched a nearby dishtowel up, holding it to her face.

Fuck, she got all sensitive. “I can’t do this, Jake.” Her muffled voice squeezed through the rag. “We can discuss this later.”

I gulped. Holy shit, she
was
crying. I hadn’t seen her cry in a long, long time. Like a time warp, I felt six years old. “Mom, what’s wrong?”

She removed the towel from her eyes, which continued to pool, and she sniffled. “I wanted to tell you, not have you find out like this. I’m sorry,” she said, holding back more tears. “It’s just very emotional for me, moving on.” Then she laughed ironically, tossing her head back. “I’m supposed to be the parent, and here I am crying to you. It shouldn’t be this way.”

She shook her head and her forehead creased with sadness. She shouldn’t be sad, she should be happy to be moving on with her life.

“But it is this way,” I remarked. I wanted to go to her, but I stood, paralyzed. I wanted so badly to tell her not to be sad, that she deserved better than my father and his going with another women behind her back.

She smiled and put on a brave face, tucking the stray hair behind her ear. “I want you to be happy, Jake, and successful. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you. It seems you’re about to have everything you’ve ever wanted. That’s all I could ask for.”

I laughed to myself. She was the master at diversion.

“I just wanted to love you and provide for you the best I could, in memory of…” she paused, sucking in her tears, “your father. To not having anything in my personal life affect you in any way, and it could have many, many times. So I made you my number one priority, and I still do. I’ll do it until the day I die.”

Oh geez,
why
was she always so melodramatic.

I sighed. “I know, Mom, I know you did.” Now it was getting really heavy, and I couldn’t take it. This was her issue, she was right. I needed to go. I wanted Aly. I scooted to her side and gave her a gentle hug. “What time do you want me back?”

“Seven.” She turned going to the fridge. “Jake. Please stay here. There’s no reason to spend money on a hotel.”

I laughed. “Mom, there are other reasons I want to stay in a hotel.” I hoped she’d get the hint as I turned and walked out of the kitchen. “I’ll be back.”

3

Alyssa

              The warm afternoon air spun around my face as I held Jake’s hand in mine, walking into The Shade, our town’s local boutique hotel. I prayed that the person at the front desk wasn’t someone we knew. I was relieved that I didn’t recognize the lady with short brown hair and gold sparkly earrings, standing there and punching away at a hidden keyboard. I glanced around for any familiar faces. Just what I needed was for my mom and dad to hear they saw me with a boy, checking into the hotel down the street. My heart raced like I was gonna get in trouble or something.

I wondered if this paranoia would ever go away. I mean, I was eighteen after all. I’d traveled all the way across the globe and back, and my parents knew about it. What was my problem? This lady obviously didn’t recognize either of us. I breathed a soft sigh of relief as I waited quietly behind Jake, keeping my head bent down, as if that would thwart anyone noticing me.

***

My fingers traced the sweeping dark blue and black lines permanently etched onto Jake’s left forearm–he’d gotten more ink work done. I tried to make out what he was going for; the only markings I could make out were the little musical notes. He told me it was a surprise, so I stood there wondering, waiting for the elevator door to open. Walking through the hallway, I could barely feel my feet hitting carpet. I was tingling all over and could hardly contain myself as he swept me up into his arms and walked me through the hotel room door. 

“Honey, we’re home.” He smiled seductively.

I took his face in my hands, feeling the slight roughness of his unshaven cheeks, and kissed him deeply. I wanted him so badly I couldn’t feel any other part of my body except my lips and tongue blending together with his, and the intense ache that radiated through my hips and down my thighs. It was as if he was my life’s breath, and I would die if I didn’t inhale every bit of him. He laid me gently on the bed and lingered above, pressing into me. Sliding my hands up underneath his shirt, his skin felt like silk at my fingertips. I pulled the shirt over his head, and he stared down at me with his dreamy blue eyes. He was now firm against me, and it made me wet with desire.
Wow
. I wrapped my legs around him, wanting us to melt together for eternity.

We feverishly yanked at each other’s clothing, peeling each piece off one by one and tossing them across the room, giggling and laughing. Was it nervous laughter? Mischievous laughter? Maybe it was both. It’d been so long since I’d been with him, and my insecurities were looming over me. Would I be able to satisfy him again? My irrational thoughts were stifled soon enough when his loving words filled my ears.

“You’re the end-all, Aly,” he whispered, looking at me intensely. My breathing was erratic, and I was ready to explode. His words continued, caressing my ears like silk. “I love you. I wanna show you how much I love you. I’ll move mountains to be with you. Nothing’s gonna keep us apart now.” His hand caressed my thigh and he kissed me softly, licking my lips. He moved down my neck, sending chills over every inch of my body. Tender, warm, wet kisses covered me all the way down to my stomach, then to my thighs, and he took me into his mouth. Toe-curling doesn’t even describe how he made me feel. I was in a complete pleasure blackout, and it ended way too soon. I’m sure the whole universe heard me, but I didn’t care at that moment. All I wanted was more of him.

“Oh my god,” I said, breathless, covering my face. “Mmmm.” I closed my eyes, reveling in the sensations that were still flowing through me.

“I love drinking you up. You’re so fuckin’ hot.” His voice was husky with desire.

“I still ache for you,” I whispered sitting up, and pulled him up to me. I took him into my hand, and he was as hard as a rock. I stroked him. “I need more of you.”

He smiled softly. “You want more, huh?” His eyebrows raised in amusement.

“I wanna make your eyes roll into the back of your head.” I purred, giggling, and poked him in the chest.

I wanted to feel him. I wanted to be as close to him as I could. I wanted to be a part of him. I wanted him inside me. I prayed that it wouldn’t hurt like it did the first time. I wanted to get off with him inside me; that hadn’t happened my entire time in London. My lady part wouldn’t allow it.

“You drive me crazy, you feel so good,” he moaned in my ear, moving my hips as close as they could be. The fullness of him filled me. I only wanted to wince the first several thrusts. The pain ebbed and didn’t return. Only warm, pulsing goodness ebbed through me, and watching the pleasure-filled-pain wash over Jake’s face made me feel something I’d never felt before. For the first time, I felt like a woman.

Our blur of lust was finally satisfied, leaving us spent and curled up in each other’s arms. “Do we really have to go to dinner at your house?” I whined.

I wanted to stay in bed with him for the rest of the night before I had to face my father. He’d been acting like Jake didn’t exist, talking like I would be around all summer. He conveniently forgot that I would be in New York during our annual family vacation.

Jake propped his too-handsome head up in his hand and stared at me with his devastating blue eyes. I melted into him, kissing his chin and neck over and over again. “We don’t have to. But I don’t wanna be a dick. I left my mom crying and all emo.” He collapsed onto his back and rubbed his face, staring at the ceiling, and pulled at his hair.  His muscular arms made his new tattoos beyond hot. Was it possible for him to get hotter? I guess so. What a little ink wouldn’t do, right? “Notting moved in.”

“What?!” The news propelled me to sit up, pulling at the sheets to cover my boobs.

Jake smiled. “You know, you don’t have to cover them. I think they like being naked, and me admiring their perfectly round perkiness….and me playing with them.” He reached out, squeezing one.

“Stop it,” I giggled, hitting his hand away. I crossed my legs, thinking more of Notting and his mom. “You know, I never thought anything of him being around without you there. But now that you say it, his truck was
always
parked at your house.”

“Yep. My mom didn’t tell me. I found out because I asked and she got all tongue-tied.” He laughed, getting out of the bed. His butt was perfectly round, like an athlete’s. His legs were strong, and I admired his bare behind as he disappeared into the bathroom.

“You need to get some sun. I don’t recall you ever being this white,” I shouted, smiling. I heard the shower turn on. “What? Doesn’t the sun shine in the city?”

I heard him laugh. “Not like it does here! Come rinse off,” he hollered.

I jumped out of bed, pulling at the sheet for it to come with me. I peeked around the corner. I could see him through the steamy glass shower door. He was facing the faucet, and his head was bent down underneath the water. As much as I wanted to get in with him, little sprouts of embarrassment tickled at me. Holy crap, he had me so outta control, what must he think? This time was so different than London.

He turned facing me, shouting my name, making me jump. “Alycat!” he called out again. He didn’t see me; his eyes were closed.

“I’m here,” I said, walking to the shower door, clutching the white sheet tighter around me.

“Drop that thing and get in here,” he ordered, squinting and smiling. He took a little bottle into his hand. “Come on.”

“I’m just fine watching you,” I flirted, walking over to the vanity mirror, keeping my eyes on Jake. My insides bubbled. I was the luckiest girl in the world. We’d really made it, hadn’t we?

***

              I sat staring at Jake, not believing what I was hearing. Are you kidding me? He
still
had a girlfriend, and she had no idea that he was essentially leaving her to move in with me, into a brand new apartment.

              “I seriously can’t believe you,” I said, flabbergasted. I couldn’t think of anything else to say at that moment, and paced back and forth with my mouth hanging open. I should have been angry, but instead I felt overwhelming sympathy for what was to come for Sophia. “Are you fucking kidding me?” I shouted.

              He breathed in deeply. “You’re not mad?”

              “I don’t know what I am!” I really didn’t know what to feel. “I guess, yeah, I’m pissed, but I’m also sad for Sophia! What the fuck are you thinking?”

              He shook his head and looked at the ceiling in frustration. “I didn’t want to deal with it, I’d been blowing her off and not seeing her as often, and I guess I hoped it would just go away.”

              “It? You mean
she.
You sound like you’re ten years old, Jake,” I sneered. Now I was getting truly angry, and I huffed. “You need to call her. I don’t wanna show up somewhere and have her there, not knowing what’s going on.”

              “I can’t do this over the phone. I told you that. I promise I’ll take care of it as soon as we get there. I promise you won’t have to deal with any of this.”

              “I sure hope so,” I squeaked out, already convinced that this was not going to go over easily. Scenes from the Rachel episodes flashed in my head. “This is gonna be a repeat of Rachel, you just watch.”

              “No, no it’s not. Sophia already
knows
about you. She knew we were together in London. I’m telling you, it’s not like Rachel at all. Please don’t worry. I’m sorry for dragging it out.”

              This made me feel worse for her, and I stared at Jake, wondering what else he was going to spring on me.  I sulked into the bathroom to take a shower without another word. I wanted so bad to ask if he’d still been sleeping with her, but I was too afraid of what the answer would be. I didn’t want to hear
yes
. He was mine now. Sophia was just a formality.

4

Jake

              Aly had her damp hair pulled into a tight bun. Her face was luminous against the setting sunlight streaming through the car windows. She was the most precious thing in my life, and I’d never been happier. Everything I’d ever dreamt was happening. I was alive and healthy, my band was whole, and everybody in my life was right where they wanted to be. Dump seemed on the mend, from his sickness and he’d given up smoking. He and Sienna were happily set up in Tribeca. Devon, our fill-in guitarist and now sometimes drummer, still toured with us even after Bobby returned, and Bobby and Marshall were still together. Now that Marshall was graduating with Aly, they too had their own plans.

              Even with all of it ostensibly falling into place, uneasiness churned in my stomach. Aly didn’t seem as excited about coming to New York as I thought she’d be, even before I sprung the whole Sophia debacle on her. I squeezed her hand and she smiled, leaning her head back against the headrest and looking out the window. I turned the corner into our neighborhood and my nerves itched at me.

              “How you doin’?” I rattled her hand.

              She sighed deeply. “I’m just nervous about everything. I don’t think I’ll be able to eat.” 

              “Don’t be,” I said reassuringly, but I also worried how it’d go over.