Hooked (42 page)

     “You’re just saying that because of my bikini
.
”
I swatted his chest laughing.

     “I won’t
lie,
your bikini is definitely having an effect on me
.
”
H
e laughed as he nuzzled my ear.

     I stood up and acted like I was getting out
.
“Hang on for a sec, I’ll just get my tank so you won’t have to suffer,” I said with a straight face.

     He grabbed my waist and brought me closer to him.  “I’ll deal.  We are going to enjoy ourselves down here and then we’re going back to our room so we can enjoy ourselves some more,” he said as he planted a sweet kiss on my stomach.  I giggled because it tickled and sat back into the water beside him.

     We stayed down there for about an hour.  It was great being able to be alone and just talk with him.  It was relaxed and I loved it when he was like this.  He was usually serious and intense
,
so it was nice to see him just chill with me.

CHAPTER
21

     The next morning while we were driving home, I was quiet in the car.  Eli and Cash kept up most of the conversation.  I couldn’t help my mind wondering.  It was so easy being with him and now he was becoming close with my brother.  I was glad they were becoming friends because Cash didn’t have many
,
but that was by choice.  He kept his guard up around most people
,
including myself at the beginning.

     When Cash parked the car in our driveway, I got out of the car and let the seat up so Eli could get out.  Eli grabbed his bag out of the trunk and walked around to Cash’s side.  He stuck his hand out to shake Cash’s, “Hey man, I had a good time, thanks for…everything,” he said looking at me.

     “No problem, I’m glad you came with us,” Cash said shaking his hand. 

    
Eli turned and walked up the sidewalk.  When he got to the door
,
he turned around to me and said,
“
MAD, you can keep your fifty.” 

    
Cash started laughing at his comment and pulled me into him.  I wrapped my arms around his waist.

     “What are you laughing at, punk?”

     “You and your brother, you guys are crazy.”

     “Well, if you had a brother like him you’d be crazy
,
too.”

     He smiled down at me and kissed the top of my head.  “I’m so glad you got to come with me and I know my mom was glad you came too.”

     “She looked so good
,
didn’t she?  Maybe she is finally dealing with everything.”

     “Yeah, she’s definitely different.  It was kind of weird
,
though.  I’m so used to parenting her
,
I mean, she worked and everything
,
but I had to do everything else.”

     “Hopefully
,
she will only get better when she gets home.”

     We stayed wrapped in each other’s arms for a moment, him with his chi
n
on my head and me listening to his heartbeat.  “You better go in before your dad comes out here.  I’ve already kept you away from home for two days.”

     “Tomorrow’s Christmas
and
we’ll probably start early
,
so just come over
when you get up and you can eat breakfast with us.”

     “Sounds good, I’ll spend the day with you because I’ll be working the rest of the week.”

     I pouted my lips out
.
M
an
,
it
sucked that we were actually out of school for a couple of weeks and I wouldn’t get to see him that much.  He kissed me lightly
,
but I wasn’t satisfied with that.  I kissed him and poured my whole soul into it.  I leaned into him and whimpered behind his lips. 

    
He broke the kiss and whispered in my ear, “Baby, you better stop that, remember I’m leaving right now.  I don’t want to start something we can’t finish.”

     I gave him a devilish grin and said, “I’m sorry
,
I wasn’t aware I was doing anything.”

     “You lie and just so you know, you suck at it.”

     I hit him playfully on the arm
and said,
“W
hatever.”

     “I’ll see you in the morning,” he said handing me my bag
.

     I walked inside and mom barely let me get through t
h
e door before her questions started.  I told her all about Mary and how well she was doing and I explained what the rehab looked like and how I had met her doctor.  “Mom, she absolutely loved the bracelet,” I gushed.

      “Oh
,
I’m so glad.  I’m really glad she’s doing so well, not only for her
,
but for Cash as well.”

    
“Me
,
too.
  I think Cash was a little surprised she was doing so
well
.  I can’t help but think he’s waiting for this to
somehow go south.”

     “Millie, you can’t blame him.  He’s never had anyone come through for him.  I see that he has some trust issues
,
but he has good reason.”

     “I know
.
I just hope he knows that he can trust me, trust us.  He has my family now even though he doesn’t have one of his own.”

     “Yes, he does.  I think he realizes that now.”

     “
W
ell
,
I’m beat mom. I’ll see you in the morning.”

     “Goodnight, Mil.”

     Mom woke me up early the next morning so I could help her with breakfast.  Christmas breakfast was a huge ordeal at our house.  We made everything from crepes to eggs and biscuits and gravy.  I called Cash to come over around eight.

     “Merry Christmas
,
sleepy head
,
”
I said smiling into the phone.

     “What time is it?” He asked huskily.

     “Seven.  I figured an hour would give you time to shower and stuff.”

     “Alright,” he groaned.

     “Stop groaning, I’ve been up since five-thirty,” I teased him.

     “Your excitement baffles me.”

     “Well, I am excited and I can’t wait to exchange gifts.”

     “Oh, I didn’t realize we were getting each other anything,” he teased
.

     “Whatever
.
”
I laughed.  “Get your booty up and over here, I want a Christmas kiss.”

     “Now that’s motivation
.
S
ee
,
sweetheart, you just have to put it in terms I’m familiar with.”

     “Okay, I’ll see you in a little bit, be careful.”

     “Love you.”

     I went upstairs to change out of my pajamas.  I met Eli in the hallway and I noticed he had some clothes in his hands walking towards the bathroom.

     “Oh
,
no you don’t, I was going in there.”

     “Looks like you were a little too late
,
sis
,” he said winking
me
as he walked toward the bathroom.

     “Eli, I’m serious.  Cash is on his way over here, I need to get ready.”

     “Oh
,
well if it’s for lover boy, then
,
by all means, let’s make it happen,” he said sarcastically and kept on walking shaking his head.

     “You are such a brat sometimes.”

     “Yeah, that’s what you keep telling me,” he said as he shut the bathroom door in my face.

     I stomped off to my room and got my clothes together.  One good thing
about
having a brother was that he didn’t stay in
there
very long…usually.
  Thirty minutes later
,
he came out smiling.

     “I’m returning the present I bought you,” I told him.

     “It’s
cool,
I’ve already burned those CD’s from Ben’s collection.”

     “How did you know?  You little sneak.”

     “I didn’t
,
but you just told me.”

    
“
Yep
, you are d
efinitely a brat.  Well, it’s only fair
that you tell me what I got
,
now that you know what you’re getting.”

     “Mil,
you’re
worse than a five year old.  Just wait an hour and you’ll get to open it,” he said going into his room. 

     Dang it, he was right.  I couldn’t help it
,
I loved surprises
,
but didn’t like waiting on them.  Cash finally showed up thirty minutes later.  I was still ge
tting dressed thanks to my
dill
hole
of a brother.

     “MAD, Cash is here!” Eli yelled from downstairs.  I rolled my eyes at his nickname that he uses every opportunity he gets.

      I came downs stairs to see Cash sitting on the couch with Eli.  They were talking about who knew what and I didn’t mind interrupting because I was irritated with Eli and I wanted to hug Cash.  I sat down in between them.

     “Hey
,
sweetheart,” Cash said as he wrapped an arm around me.

     “Hey, I missed you,” I whispered.  He squeezed me from the side.  “Breakfast is almost ready so let’s go in the kitchen with mom and dad,” I said pulling him up with me.

     “Merry Christmas,
Cash,
” my mom said cheerfully as we walked in the kitchen.

     “Merry Christmas to you guys
,
too.”

     “How was your mom?  Millie said she looked fantastic.”

     “Yeah, I think she’s doing great.  It will be a change when she gets home
, b
ut I think it will be much better.”

     I could tell Cash was a little uncomfortable.  I don’t think it was my family, just the whole holiday thing.  I know for a fact that he has never had a Christmas breakfast like we were having.   He was alone on Christmas and every other day too.  I’ve tried to make it easier on him
,
but I don’t know how much I’ve truly helped.  He’s not
the
kind of guy that wears his heart on his sleeve
.

     We sat down at the table and talked with my family.  Dad was asking Cash what hours he was working this week at the garage.  “I’ll probably be there
ten
hours a day.  I’m trying to save up some money for when my mom comes home.”

     “I can’t believe Dave’s giving up that much pay as tight as he is,” dad said laughing.