Lennon's Jinx (30 page)

After
they eat, Clive says, “We’re going back. Can we get you anything?” His hand
lands on Lennon’s shoulder.

Lennon
shakes his head. “Thanks for coming. I’m okay.”

“I
think I’m going to stay.” I worry how Lennon and his family will react to this.
“I brought my schoolwork.”

Lennon
smiles. “Are you sure?”

I
nod, not feeling really confident about this.

“You
can use Lennon’s room in our suite,” Jonathan says. “He’s not using it.”

“Thanks,”
I say. That solves one problem.

Susan
walks over to me and whispers, “Are you sure about this?”

My
leg starts shaking involuntarily. “Not really.”

“Stronger
women than you have succumbed to the seductive powers of Lennon Tyler,” she
jokes.

“It’s
just that. He helped me out…with my stepdad and all. I can’t leave him alone with
them.”

Susan
glances around at Lennon’s family. “You’ve got a point. I don’t blame you for
wanting to help.”

“I
thought you didn’t like Lennon.”

“I
would never date him, but if Danny and I have kids, and that’s a long way off, we’ll
ask Lennon to be the godfather of our firstborn. He’s great with Currie and
Zoe.”

And
all this time, I thought they hated each other.

“Call
me if you want to talk or anything. If you go for the infamous you-know-what,
make sure he’s wearing a body glove.” Susan makes a face and shivers.

Clive
gets up to leave. “Jinx, if you need a ride back this weekend, knock me up.”

I
guess that’s British for call him. “I will.”

Danny
pats my back on the way out. “Call Susan or me if you need us.”

“Yes,
do that.” Susan gives me a hug and whispers, “Good luck with the Addams
Family.”

I
chuckle but try to hide it with a cough. They head out, and I’m left with the awkward
silence until the doctor comes by.

“Currie’s
not showing any more rabies symptoms. We’re going to take her out of the coma
tomorrow afternoon.”

“I
thought she still had the virus,” Lennon says.

“Her
counts are down today. It’s just hard to say how far the virus progressed because
when Currie came to us, she wasn’t exhibiting many symptoms like our other
patients.”

“She’s
going to be all right?” Lennon asks.

Yeager
pats Lennon’s back in a fatherly way. “We’re doing our best for her, but I
think she’ll be fine.”

The
relief that washes over Lennon fills me with happiness. I’m not sure what would
happen to Lennon if she didn’t make it. Lennon picks me up and twirls me around,
knocking off an empty cup on the rollaway tray.

A
really pretty nurse walks into the room. She sees us. “I’m not interrupting
anything, am I?”

“No.”
Lennon gives her that famous grin all the girls love at school. It’s beginning
to seep under my skin as well.

“We
were wondering if it would be too much trouble for you and your father to give
the children a little concert tomorrow morning,” the nurse says. “Some of them
are really sick, and it would lift their spirits.”

I
can see “No” on Lennon’s lips, but his dad stands up. “We’d love to. What
time?”

“Is
nine too early?” the nurse asks. “We could bring many of them to the lobby in
the cancer ward.”

“That
would be fine,” Jonathan says.

I
wonder what they’ll play. I’m sure Lennon knows all his dad’s songs, but will
they play those or some from Indigo Blues?

“In
that case,” I say to Lennon, “you need sleep, food, and you really need a bath.
I’m surprised Currie hasn’t woken up from the stench.”

Lennon
leans his elbow on my shoulder. “Are you offering to wash me by hand? If so,
I’m ready to go now.”

I
scowl at him. “Don’t be like your dad,” I say in a low voice.

“You
certainly know how to kick a guy in the balls,” Lennon whispers in my ear.

His
breath tickles my neck, and I don’t want him to stop.

Lennon
stares at Currie. “I promised her I wouldn’t leave.”

“You
go,” Denage says. “We’ll stay here tonight.”

“Trust
me,” I say. “Currie would want you to have a bath.”

Lennon
gives me a wicked smile, which makes me a little nervous. “I’m looking forward
to that.”

When we get to the hotel, Lennon
kicks off his shoes and socks, shucks his shirt and jeans.

“That’s
where you’re stopping, right?” I ask, thinking that I possibly made a mistake
coming up here and staying. I’ve never tested out my theory, but I believe
Lennon would respect me saying no.

“This
is okay, isn’t it?” Lennon stands in the middle of the living area in boxers.
They’re striped with little pink hearts. If he didn’t make me so nervous, I’d
think they were cute. He’s lost weight but otherwise, has a solid, lean build.

His
hand goes under the boxers’ elastic band. “Unless you’d rather I went au
natural.”

His
ribs are showing, which makes me want to fatten him up. “That’s fine right
there. Aren’t you going to eat?”

He
shakes his head. “I’m exhausted. I’ll order a big breakfast.” He scans both
bedrooms, chooses one, pulls back the covers, and crash lands on the bed. “You
go ahead with dinner. If you need money for a tip, take it out of my wallet.”

Not
me, I’m not tired at all. I’m starving though, and Jonathan said to order room
service on him. I glance at the menu. This is a five-star hotel with two
restaurants. I order filet mignon, medium rare, with a baked potato and
everything on it, a salad, and a pricey bottle of wine. So this is what it’s
like to be rich. Now that I’m homeless, this may be my only chance to live the
highlife.

Room
service arrives and opens my bottle of merlot, lets me sniff the wine, like I
know what I’m doing, and offers me my napkin, then he waits. Oh yeah, tip. I
scrounge through Lennon’s jeans, which are on the floor in the living room. I shuffle
through his wallet unsure how much to give the guy. The meal was sixty with the
wine. That’s twelve bucks, I think. I hand him that. He seems satisfied and
leaves.

Lennon’s
wallet is still open in my hands. It’s rude to snoop, but he’ll never know. He
has mixed bills, including a couple Ben Franklins, a platinum Visa, his
license, and a triple “A” card.

A
recent school picture of Currie and Zoe peeks through the plastic window and
another picture of Lennon holding Currie when she was an infant is stuffed
behind the other one. He must be eight or nine. His face looks so much younger,
sweet and innocent. No photos of Mom or Dad. There’s a stack of Lifestyles
condoms crammed inside, extra-large. He’s prepared for anything.

I
don’t find any little black book filled with girls’ numbers, so I take out his Galaxy.
It’s not locked. I shuffle through his contacts. Currie, Zoe, Yellow Taxi, the
Nowaks, Rena, the boys, my number, which makes me grin, and the Humane Society.
I let out a laugh at the last one.

Lennon
really doesn’t have a girlfriend or any girl he considers close, not even
Bailey. His two faves are his sister and Zoe. Everyone needs someone. There’s
no doubt that Currie will grow up and go off on her own. She’s already a free
thinker and bossy.

After
putting everything back, I dig into the meal. It’s so good I let the juice from
the filet run down my chin before wiping it away. I feel like a princess in her
castle, like the bride Katie Winthrop without the litter of male suitors.

When
I’m finished, I pick up Lennon’s clothes, neatly fold them, and put them in his
room. He’s out cold. I pull the sheet over him. He’s so long his feet hang off
the bed. Oil sheens his longish, thick hair, very Johnny Deppish.

I
check out the rest of the suite. Two big bedrooms, a bar, a living area and two
bathrooms, one of which has a Jacuzzi tub. I’m so there. After soaking myself
into a raisin, I brush my teeth and put on pajamas. Fuzzy Happy Bunny bottoms
with a matching pink tank. Definitely not the camisole Gabby bought for my
birthday.

The
beds are made where Jonathan and his girlfriend sleep. Denage’s luggage is
flapped open. On top of her clothes are a few photos. I pull them out. I may as
well go all the way. The top photo shows Currie, Jonathan, and Denage in front
of the Cinderella castle at Disney Land. The rest contain all three of them at
parks, museums, restaurants, traveling to San Francisco.

Not
the Jonathan that Clive and Lennon describe, but a sober middle-aged man having
fun with his daughter.

I
can never forgive Step-monster for what he’s done to me, so I’d understand if
Lennon can’t either. I shouldn’t have judged Lennon and told him what to do. Though
it makes me sad, how hard Jonathan tries to be a parent. Maybe Lennon should
loosen up a little, though addicts often repeat their own history. It’s a hard
choice for him to make.

Currie
probably doesn’t remember the bad things because she’s nine. It seems unfair to
her not to spend more time with Jonathan when Heather has little interest in
her. I don’t remember seeing any photos of Heather and her at the house, only
ones of Lennon and Currie. They travel and do a lot together. It’s obvious from
the pictures on their end tables and walls.

I
glance around at Jonathan’s and Denage’s bedroom. It’s too creepy to sleep in
their room. I pad into Lennon’s. He’s dead to the world, so I crawl into the
bed.

It’s
ice cold. At least my side is. I know I shouldn’t, but I slide next to the bear
snoring beside me. It’s like sleeping next to the sun he’s so warm.

When I wake, Jinx is curled into
me so that we’re spooning. It’s quite a pleasant surprise. My good morning
hard-on pokes her little butt. The scent of her hair in my face and her soft
skin brushing against mine unglues me. The cute snuffling sound she makes as
she burrows her face into the pillow makes me chuckle.

I
would so love to wake her up and have sex, but instead, I sigh and get out of
bed. Why I’m behaving myself with a hot chick in my bed I have no clue. She
joined me, but I’m guessing Jinx probably didn’t want to sleep in Jonathan’s
bed in case they decided to return in the middle of the night. I also can’t do
it because of what her stepfather did to her. No girl should have to put up
with that. I dread the day Currie goes on her first date. Good thing I own a
gun.

When
I step into the shower, I’m fully aware of how bad I stink. I’m surprised Heather
didn’t say anything. My hair could trap insects it’s so sticky with grease.

After
a shower and shave, I feel almost human again. It’s six-thirty, plenty of time
for our big debut as father and son. I’m not looking forward to that at all, but
the concert’s for the kids, and Currie would want me to do that.

I
order everything on the menu because my stomach growls so loud it could wake
the dead. Jinx is still sleeping. She looks peaceful and cute. When her head
moves, the mass of copper tendrils sweep onto her pink cheeks.

I
know I shouldn’t, but I bend down and give her a long, sweet kiss. Her lashes
flutter open. The good news is her first reaction isn’t to slap me silly or
push me away.

She
rubs the sleep from her eyes. “What was that for?”

“For
being my friend. It was nice of you guys to come up after I didn’t return your
calls. It was even nicer that you stayed.” I’m beginning to like having her
around.

Jinx
stretches her slender arms above her head. “Clive’s your friend, and I’ve never
seen you kiss him. You must give him tongue behind my back.”

I
grin at that. “He does look good without a shirt. Kissing him isn’t near as
sweet as kissing you,” I tease.

A
smile filled with warmth spreads across her face. I can’t believe it’s for me.

“Now
I know why all the girls say you’re such a good kisser,” Jinx says.

Using
one hand, she draws me closer to her. Her lips brush against mine. She’s
kissing me. She must still be half asleep.

“Glad
to know I live up to my reputation.” My hand reaches behind her neck to dig my
fingers into her soft hair. She doesn’t flinch and presses against my caress. I’m
so into her right now, and amazingly enough, she’s into me.

Her
eyes glitter from sleep and the sun peeking into the bedroom through the
partially opened drapes. “You cleaned up,” she says. “You smell a lot better.”

“I’m
going to the hospital. You can sleep in if you want.”

“No.
I want to go. I’m just cold.”

I
slowly ease my way into bed next to her, half expecting to receive a pushback.
Instead, she nuzzles against me. It’s a good thing my dick is corralled in my
pants because he’s feeling rather cheerful.

“God,
you’re warm,” she says, trembling. She could be cold or it’s the aftershock of her
stepfather. Either way, I’m gentle and slow with her.

I
wrap my arms around her. It feels good to hold her next to me. “I’m good for
something.”

She
rolls over to face me, one hand caressing my waist. “We’re not going to…”

“No.
You’re not ready.”

“Thanks.”
Jinx’s mint green eyes peer into mine. She presses her mouth against my lips.
Her teeth nibble on my lower lip before her tongue encourages my mouth to open.
Her tongue then explores my lips and teeth as she kisses me more deeply.

“What’s
that for?” I ask, using her words, not wanting her to stop.

“I
may actually like you.”

I
grin. “That’s a shock.”

“It
is.” Both of her hands cradle my neck. “Your dad’s trying really hard. What’s
up with that?”

I
shrug. “He didn’t for eighteen years, at least with me.”

She
presses closer to me so that the length of her body touches mine. “It couldn’t
be all that bad. He must’ve given you music lessons. You’re incredible. How old
were you when you started?”