Seth's Cravings: An Endless Series: Book 2 (33 page)

     He smiled displaying an excessive amount of male
arrogance to my way of thinking. The only reason I didn’t punch him in the gut
was that he wisely kept his mouth shut. He did lean forward and gave me one
more peck on the mouth before shifting my legs inside the truck and shutting
the door.

     Getting in the driver’s side he started the engine. “So
how did the poker game go?”

     “I made a little over three thousand.”

     He smiled. “So it looks like tonight was a success.”

     “Only because you made yourself scarce.” I countered.

     His mouth twisted. “So as long as I’m not in the same
room you will be able to focus.”

     “It helped to know that your eyes were glued to a video
game and not some blonde.” I said covering up my insecurity with a smirk.

     His hand reached for mine. “The only blonde I’m
interested in has light red streaks in her hair that go with the slight temper
she displays when she gets perturbed.” 

     I snorted. “Perturbed?”

     “She’s adorable as shit when she loses it.” He grinned.

     I rolled my eyes.

     “She also makes me hotter than hell.”

     My cheeks flushed. “Yeah, well, I don’t see why you
couldn’t accompany me again, but you’re still on probation.”

     “Whatever you say.” He agreed. “What are your plans for
the weekend?”

     I shrugged. “Nothing specific.”

     “How about we all go to the movies tomorrow; you, me,
Luka, and Issy?”

     I couldn’t help my smile that he included Luka and Issy,
and that I would be seeing him again so soon. “I’ll ask, but I don’t foresee
any ‘no’s’ from anyone, only a long dispute on what everyone wants to watch.”

     Seth smiled and rubbed his thumb over my palm. “We’ll
figure out something.”

Chapter Twenty

SETH

     I walked down the stairs toward the kitchen to get some
breakfast before my Friday classes to find Nic, Carrie, and Evan already there
eating bowls of cereal. I was not a believer in cereal as a food group. I went
to the refrigerator and grabbed six eggs and six slices of bread and began
frying up the eggs for sandwiches.

     “Seth, have you talked to Landon recently?” Nic asked
from the table.

     I turned from my cooking eggs with a frown. “No, I’ve
barely seen the guy this week. He’s rushing out of the house in the mornings,
and I haven’t seen him at night because I’ve been hanging out with Nadia.”

     I’d spent the last seven nights at Nadia’s house. When
I wasn’t taking her to a poker game I found myself going over to her apartment
chilling on her couch with her, Luka and Issy for a few hours at night. On Monday
and Tuesday I’d shown up pretending I thought it was a poker night. She’d given
me a raised eyebrow but allowed me in. The third non-poker night she’d text me
asking if she should save me a dessert. I’d replied with a ‘hell
da
’.

     It was different hanging out in a family atmosphere,
but not altogether disagreeable. Issy would go to bed around nine while Luka
stayed up until nine-thirty leaving me around thirty to sixty minutes of make-out
time with Nadia before she needed to go to bed. She got up at six in the
morning so I didn’t want to stay too late. The nights she played poker she
missed out on a lot of her sleep. I wasn’t going to add to it.

     It had been hard for both of us to control our couch
sessions when the chemistry between us was so strong, but knowing that Issy and
Luka were in the house and could walk in on us at any time added some restraint
to our activities. Consequently, we were stuck around the first and second base
stage.

     I was getting the worst case of blue balls ever, but
our first time together wasn’t going to be inside my truck. I wanted free
access to her body, and I also wanted to hear her scream.

     “I’ve seen him a couple of times in the exercise room,
but there have been other people in there so we haven’t been able to converse
freely.” Evan declared

     “I’ve seen him a couple of nights this week. He’s been
coming in late looking tired as shit. I asked if he was feeling alright, or if
he needed to talk about anything, but he just shook his head and informed me he
was dealing with some personal family shit that he didn’t want to talk about.” Nic
detailed. “Has Nadia said anything further about what was said?”

     I shook my head. “I told her that I wouldn’t ask unless
Landon looked like he was getting too far down the rabbit hole. She feels
conflicted, but she agreed to spill if it looked like he was coming to that.
Whatever she told him she feels it is too personal to share indiscriminately.
She wants Landon to make the decision to share on his own.”

     Nic nodded while still looking troubled. “I understand
her point of view, but I don’t like how he’s looking, and he’s not acting like
himself at all. I’ve talked to a few guys so I know he’s back in his classes,
but I’m concerned on how well he’s doing in them.”

     I sighed as I slid my eggs onto the bread. “He’s a big
boy, Nic. We can’t call his teachers to find out if his school work is getting
done. We just need to be good friends and be here for him when, and if, he
decides to talk. At the moment he seems to be dealing.”

     “Yeah…I guess.” Nic consented. I saw Carrie’s hand
sooth over his arm in comfort.

     I sat down at the table with my plate and milk and she
turned toward me with a curious smile. “So you and Nadia are seeing each other
officially then?”

     “Or have you been babysitting for her?” Evan asked with
a grin.

     I gave him a dark scowl. “Nadia has had more
responsibilities than most people since a very young age, so watch how you
phrase your jokes.”

     Evan’s brows rose. “Sorry.” But then he grinned. “But
it has to be difficult finding some alone time with her with her siblings
always under foot, especially the younger one.”

     I took a bite of my sandwich, chewed, swallowed, and
then answered. “Somewhat.” I answered briefly taking another bite.

     They all grinned and I scowled.

     “Nic and I could babysit sometime if you need some
alone time.” Carrie offered. I saw Nic grimace slightly before covering it up
quickly not wanting Carrie see his reaction to her offer. The guy would do
anything for her without one single complaint.

     I gave her a smile of appreciation. “We’re okay for
right now, but I’ll keep you on speed dial. Luka’s actually old enough to watch
his sister, but there’s also her work and her side job we need to work around.”

     Carrie frowned. “She has a second job?”

     I swallowed my eggs and bread. “Her poker games. She
plays to save money for Luka’s and Issy’s college fund.”

     All three of their brows rose in surprise.

     “Wow, I knew she played, but I didn’t realize she was
doing it for her sister and brother. Does she make a lot?” Carrie asked.

     “She plays at least twice a week, and wins every time.”
I opted not to mention that one time since it had been a fluke. “She has to
make at least five thousand a week, if not more.”

     Shit! That’s the first time I’d thought about how much
she was raking in. If she started around the beginning of the summer then she
must have around fifty to sixty thousand dollars saved up. If she kept this up
for a couple years she would have no problem paying for her sibling college
years. Hell, with financial aid and possible scholarship money she might even
have extra.

     “Damn, man. You’ve got like the most awesome
girlfriend…no offense Carrie.” Evan said with a grin her way.

     She gave a wave of her hand. “No offense taken. I think
she’s incredible as well.”

     Nic curved her closer to him kissing her cheek. “No
one’s more incredible or awesome than you, baby.”

     Carrie grinned. “Back at you, babe.”

     Evan gagged. “Gah.”

     “Don’t be jealous man, you’ll find someone eventually
who can put up with your ugly mug.” Nic ribbed.

     “Why have one, when I already have many.” Evan
countered with a smirk. Standing up he took his bowl to the sink and then left
the room.

     Carrie shook her head but made no comment. She wasn’t
one to judge someone else on the way they lived their life. She was probably
the most non-judgmental person I’d ever met.

     “So what are your plans tonight?” Nic asked. “Up for a
double date?”

     I finished off my second sandwich. “We haven’t made any
concrete plans. I can text her and find out.” Nadia and I still hadn’t had an
actual date yet. We’d gone to the movies but that had been with her siblings,
and last Saturday all four of us had gone shopping for a homecoming outfit for
Luka and a dress for Issy for some kind of social afterschool dance. I had then
taken them out for dinner and then for a walk through Theater Park. They’d been before but there were always new acts popping up.

     Every Sunday Nadia went to church. I normally went to
church with my family when I was at home, but I hadn’t kept it up in college.
Issy was the one to ask me if I wanted to go, and while I thought it would be uncomfortable
going to a different church I’d said ‘
yes’
. While she’d seemed surprised
that I’d accepted Nadia had informed me that her church was small,
contemporary, and that I should dress casual.

     She hadn’t been kidding about the small aspect. My
family’s church had about two thousand members. Nadia’s had maybe seventy.
Instead of singing old gospel songs from hundreds of years ago, they had contemporary
Christian music downloaded on a small personal computer that they attached to inexpensive
speakers. Everyone in my church wore their Sunday best, and while everyone at
Nadia’s church had on clean clothes, it had ranged from khaki’s with polo’s, to
shorts and a nice t-shirt.

     After the service there had been a potluck lunch
outside behind the church with volleyball, horseshoes, and Frisbee golf while
the kids had played on the jungle gym. While I hadn’t known anyone they’d all
been extremely friendly and outgoing, but I also hadn’t missed the thwarted
looks of several single males when they’d seen me with Nadia.  

     It had been an enormously different experience from my
family’s church, and we’d ended up staying there for two surprisingly enjoyable
hours. Two of Nadia’s coworkers went to the same church and she’d informed me
that was how she ended up there, but she’d only been going for several months.
The experience had given me more insight into Nadia’s life, and I’d been able
to talk to her two coworkers, Billy and John, who had gone on and on about
Nadia’s virtues. Those two guys had enormous love and respect for her, as well
as for Issy and Luka.

     Afterwards I’d driven the three of them home because
Nadia had laundry and house cleaning while the kids had school work. While I
could have easily spent the whole day with her, which was something I’d never
wanted to do with Melissa or anyone else, I also had laundry and school work so
I’d dropped her off with a circumspect kiss before she exited the truck.

     “You guys have any idea of what you want to do?”
Finishing my third sandwich I stood to take my plate and glass to the sink.

     “Well, there’s always bowling.” Carrie said.

     “Or live music or comedy club.” Nic suggested.

     I nodded thinking about the choices. The only thing I
wanted was to spend time with Nadia; I didn’t care what we did. “I’ll ask what
she wants to do then get back to you.”

     Slipping my phone from my shorts I brought up her name.

     Me:
Nic and Carrie were wondering if we wanted to do
something with them tonight. What do you think?

     I grabbed my pack from the hallway and headed out to my
truck. Getting in I started the engine and headed for my first class. My phone
pinged a couple minutes later.

     Nadia:
What something?

    
Waiting until I arrived at the school I parked
and messaged back.

    
Me:
Bowling, live music, and comedy club were
brought up. But you can add your own ideas.

    
Nadia:
Not really good at bowling. Music and
comedy sound more interesting.

    
I grinned. Nadia definitely wasn’t one of those
indecisive girls saying ‘whatever you want to do is fine with me’. Hated those
types of girls.

    
Me:
Will your sister and brother be fine
alone tonight if we stay out late?

     Nadia:
Yeah. So is this our first official date?

    
Me:
I guess so. Do you want me to buy you
flowers and chocolates?

    
Nadia:
Come on, you can do better than that.
Break from the norm.
 

    
I grinned.
         

    
Me:
A new Derringer wrapped in a pink bow?
 

     Nadia:
HA! You remembered. Nothing so extravagant
though.

   
 Me:
I would like to have dinner with you
before we go someplace where it will be difficult to talk. Can I pick you up at
six?

    
Nadia:
Okay
.

     Me:
See you tonight then
.

     After a quick text to Nic confirming tonight I put the
phone in my back pocket.

     I’d only been kidding about the flowers and chocolate, but
now I felt the need to get Nadia something noteworthy after she basically
challenged me to break from the norm.