Hooked (31 page)

     “I still wish you would have called me.  I feel like I wasn’t there for you.”

     “Millie
,
you are a great friend.  Honestly
,
I didn’t even tell Jake or my
parent’s
right when it happened.  I guess I just had to go inside myself for a little bit and I actually feel ok
ay
right now.”

     “Alright then, let’s party it up!”

     We all walked to a table and Cash got us some drinks.  One of my favorite songs came on and I was ready to dance
,
so I walked over and grabbed his arm.  “Cash, let’s go dance!”

     “Sorry
,
sweetheart, I don’t dance.”

     “What?  You mean you won’t even dance for me?”  I ask sticking out my bottom lip.

     “Sorry
,
but I actually can’t dance.  I don’t know how.  Go have fun with your friends and I’ll just watch from over here.”

     “Alright, your loss then,” I said as I winked.

     Cara and I started out to the dance floor when we spotted Jess and Jake.  “Oh
,
my
gosh
!”  Cara pulled my arm and I followed her gaze. 

    
There stood Jess in a strapless black mini dress with a hot pink satin belt.  Her hair was curled and pulled halfway up with these cute braids sporadically throughout.  She had no jewelry on except small diamond studs that I know for a fact she didn’t have the last time I saw her
.  Her legs were bare and she had on strapless heels.  She looked so beautiful.  Cara and I ran over to them.

     “Jessica
,
you look gorgeous!” I said hugging her.

     “Thanks girl, y
’
all look great too.”

     “I’m so happy you’re in a dress,” Cara said almost tearing up.

     “She does look gorgeous doesn’t she?  My girl looks pretty in whatever she wears
,
but I
am enjoying
the legs tonight.”  Jake joked. 

    
He leaned over and whispered something in her ear and I’m sure it would have burned my ears and I would have been the color of Cara’s dress if I could have heard it because Jess slapped his arm and said, “
S
top it or I’m going home to change.  I only
came to this stupid thing to see Cara get her crown and maybe laugh at a few desperate girls that are so obvious with their cleavage
,
that Millie somehow feels so sorry for them by the end of the night
,
that she starts giving them advice on how the can improve their self
-
esteem.” 

     “That’s so not true,” I tried to defend myself while everyone else laughed at her obscured sarcasm.

     “Sorry
,
Millie, but I’m
gonna
have to go with Jess on this one
,
” Cara said.

     Jake hugged Jess from behind and I couldn’t help but notice how comfortable they were with each other.
  He nuzzled her neck and whispered to her again like they were in their own world.

     “This is what I have to put up with everyday,” Cara added.  “I know for a fact that Jason and I weren’t this
lovey
dovey
.  They are sickening.  He carries her everywhere like she’s some helpless maiden that can’t pick up her own body weight to move from his room to the kitchen
.
”
S
he laughed.

     Jess rolled her eyes and Jake looked at his sister. 

     “Well sis, I
gotta
tell you…you won’t have to put up with it much longer because as soon as Jess graduates
,
we are getting our own place.”

     “What?  Are you serious?  When did you guys decide this?”  Cara asked.

     “Well, I actually asked her last week and she said yes.  She is going to go to art school in Jackson, so we will probably move close to the city.  I will drive back and forth to school.  I only like three semesters before graduating
,
so it won’t be that bad.  As soon as I graduate, we are getting married.”

     “Yeah, for some reason, Jake is in the biggest hurry to have kids.  I told him that he’s going to have to settle for a dog while I’m in school
.
”
Jess laughed.

     “I’m not in a huge hurry, I’m just ready for us to start our own family together
,
”
h
e said like it made all the sense in the world.

     Cara and I just looked at each other.  I could not believe that first, Jake was actually saying all of this out loud to Cara and
I
and secondly, that Jess was not kicking his ass right now for being a pansy
,
as she would call it.

     “Cash is holding down the table for us Jake, we are going to dance for a little bit
,
” I said moving to Jess.

     “Yeah, Jake you
gotta
sit this one out.  I already came to this dance stag, I can’t be out there dancing with my brother, then I’ll be the biggest loser here
,
” Cara said.

     “Alright
,
you girls have fun
.
”
H
e kissed Jess’ temple and headed for our table.

     “Wow, y
’
all must be doing pretty good if you got him to not only come to a high school dance
,
but
also agree to move near Jackson
.
 
Dang girl, that boy fe
l
l hard
,
huh?”  I joked.

     “Girl please, he didn’t even give me the opportunity to come alone.  After what happened at the party
at his house
, he told me he would bring me himself.”  We all started laughing. 

     “I’m really happy for you guys
,
Jess.  Y
’
all make a perfect couple.  My brother really loves you.  I’ve never seen him like this.  I really want to make fun of him
,
but I
can’t because I’m happy for you,
” Cara joked.

   
“Thanks girls, I’m really happy.  Look what he got for me last week,” she said as she pointed to her ears.  “I really love him and I’m a little scared about leaving you guys and my sister
,
but I know I’ll be well taken care of with Jake.”

     “They are beautiful
,
” I said.

     “Yeah, he showed me when he got them.  I know he probably spent a good chunk of his savings on them, so you better like them.”  Cara laughed.

     “I almost forgot to show y
’
all too, look at what Cash just got me,” I said pointing at my necklace.

     “I love the inscription.  I won’t ask what it means because I think that’s what makes gifts like that special.  It is something that people can see
,
but none of us know
what it means.  It’s like a secret between you and him,” Jess added.

     I loved her perspective on things.  She always thinks outside the box.  I decided right then
,
that I would never tell anyone what the date on my necklace meant.

   
“It’s beautiful
,
Millie.  He did well
,
” Cara said while looking at it.

   
We all headed out to the dance floor.  It was a fast dance so we all just circled each other.  “Alright
,
Millie, let me see
ya
shake
whatcha
momma gave
ya
!”  Jess yelled.

     We dance
d
like that for t
wo
songs before they started playing a slow song.  We headed back to the table for some water
,
when a guy stopped Cara and asked her to dance.  She looked up at us and Jess and I both started
nodding
our heads yes and pushing her towards him.  He was alright looking and seemed nice.  I figure if a guy has enough nerve to actually ask for a dance
,
she should give it to him. 

     Jess and I walked over to our table and sat down.  We talked lightly with Cash and Jake until another song started.  “Will you please dance with me?
  I
really love this song.  It’s one of my favorites,” I begged.  How could U2’s
,
With
or Without You,
be playing right now and I’m not out there
,
I thought.

     “Mil, I told you I’m not any good.”

     “Please, I’ll teach you.”  I put my head down so he could see that I was disappointed.

     “Ugh, alright
,
but if I step on your feet, don’t blame me.”

     “
Yay
, let’s go!” 

    
I drug him out there and put my arms around his neck.  I was about to put his hands on my hips when he completely encircled my waist.  He held me so tight.  I looked up at him puzzled.

     “No
,
sweetheart, if I’m going to have to be out here with you
,
then I’m holding you however I want
.
”
  H
e winked at me.

     “Fine with me, I like it like this anyway.”  I looked up and met his gaze.

     “Millie
,
I love you so much.  I know this isn’t really the place to tell you this
,
but I can’t imagine my life without you and I don’t want to.”

     “You don’t have to.  I want to be with you forever, nothing will change that.”

     “I’m so scared that you’re going to wake up one day and realize that you can do better than me.  I’m afraid your dad was right about me.  I don’t even know about my own future, let alone, our future.  I’ve got so much going on right now and I’m afraid I can’t stop it all from ruining what I have with you.  I’ve never had anyone else to worry about other than my mom and the only thing I managed to figure out in that scenario was getting her to California when I went into the military.  I thought if I could get into the Army
,
I could live on base where I wouldn’t have any bills so I could help her out.  You are still going to be in college
,
so that’s a long time for us to be apart.”

     I hugged him to me and placed a kiss on his neck giving me time to let everything he said sink in.  “Cash, I believe we are meant to be together.  I don’t want you rethinking your future for me, it will all work out.”

   
“I mean, I guess I could go to a trade school or something.  I just, I don’t think college
is
a good idea for me.  I don’t want to go.”

   
I stopped moving my feet.  I couldn’t believe he was going to give up the military for me.  “Listen to me sweetie, you can’t do that.  You need to follow your plan.  We will get through it.  I trust you
,
ok
ay?
  It will work out, I feel it here
,
”
I said pointing to my heart.

     “Alright baby, I trust you too.  If you say it will be alright, then it will be
.
”
H
e laid a soft kiss in my hair and I put my head on his chest.