Wheels of Steel, Book 2 (49 page)

Joyce stared at him, her expression changing to something that was much less easier to read.

“One day I’m going to call Raymond and we’re going to sit down somewhere and we’re going to talk. And hopefully we’ll be friends after. But he won’t be my therapist again.”

Joyce’s jaw clenched and she looked away. “When are you going to schedule your surgery?”

“After I get fitted for my braces. It takes 4 to 6 weeks for them to come back so I want them soon after I get the pump replaced.”

“Am I allowed to be there during surgery?”

“Of course! But just know that Dad will be there, too.”

Her body seemed to deflate. “Okay. I’ll…turn over your child support money to you asap. You can pay your bills and handle your finances yourself, I guess.”

“That would be nice.”

She looked at him and then glanced at Robin. “I’ll let you two get back to the studio.” Jason followed her to the door.

“Mom.” He cleared his throat. “Come over Sunday after church, for dinner. I’m going to ask Robin’s mother to come over here. I thought that maybe Robin and I could make a nice dinner for you two.”

Robin smiled in surprise having just heard this for the first time. Joyce nodded her face relaxing even more.

“I’ll be here. Just let me know what time.”

Once she was gone Robin hugged Jason. “God that scared me. But you handled it so well!”

Jason gave her a crooked smile. He kissed her. Jason and his mother were both volatile personalities. This was his life…though usually it was him that backed down. It felt good to be the one in control; and it was necessary since it was his life that he was fighting for control of.

“Sweetheart, we need to get a Christmas tree fast. Since you’re going to be in the Bahamas on Christmas, I think you and I should celebrate early.” Christmas was in two more weeks and Robin would be leaving next Wednesday and returning New Years Day. It suddenly loomed so close whereas before it seemed a million years away.

***

There would come times in Robin’s life, even years later, where she would think that this very day is the day that everything could have been saved. Yes, events had been put into play long before that Friday, but it was really Friday that marked the first day that everything would end.

After classes Robin and Jason went Christmas shopping and found a small Christmas tree that already had lights and pretty red buds on it. They loaded it in the back seat along with a small wreath for the front door.

“What do you want for Christmas?” Jason asked.

Robin reached for his hand. “You mean I get you and something else, too?”

“Whatever you want.”

“I want…a Barbie penthouse apartment, a new Barbie outfit, and a Barbie pink Cadillac!”

“Jeez you really wanted that kind of stuff for Christmas?”

“Yep. What about you?”

“Computer, CD’s, games, gaming systems, my own credit card so I could buy shit online without clearing it with my Mom first.”

“Did you always get what you wanted?”

“Pretty much.”

“What do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas this year?”

“Hmmm…a lapdance from my sexy girlfriend.”

Robin laughed. “You gotta be kidding me.”

Jason laughed. “Wearing a garter and heels. No! Boots, fuck-me-boots! That’s what I want for Christmas.”

“Jason,” she said dryly. “You’re getting yourself all worked up before your therapy session and this new guy is going to think you find him sexy when he sees you with a raging hard-on.” Jason quickly adjusted himself.

The new guy turned out to be an old white haired man with Popeye the Sailorman forearms. He pulled and stretched Jason’s limbs until he cried out repeatedly. And then painful charly horses would develop that needed to be massaged away. Even Robin could see the way that he manipulated Jason’s limbs differed from the way Raymond had done it. This man pulled and stretched until he injured Jason. Raymond seemed to know just when to stop, before a charly horse developed.

As the torture session continued he repeatedly chided Jason for allowing his muscles to atrophy so badly. “You are definitely going to need surgery, young man. I don’t know who you were seeing before this but the damage is fairly extensive! This should have been surgically corrected long ago.”

“I’m about to get the Baclofen pump.” Jason responded.

“And that helps your spasticity. What about your atrophied muscles? You need surgery.”

“I don’t want surgery-”

“Well who in their right mind wants their muscles clipped, son?! It’s painful, but it’s what’s best for you!”

Robin didn’t like the new therapist. He said things that were totally different then what Raymond said, and he was mean! He squeezed Jason’s sore joints when he measured him for the body brace. When Jason said that he didn’t want his upper body covered the doctor disregarded him and kept showing him the full body braces. Jason finally just demanded to be measured for the lower body brace and the therapist spent the rest of the visit chiding him on his decision.

By the time they left, Jason was in a foul mood and in pain. His face was pale and pinched. He had Robin drop him off at the studio and when she offered to go inside and listen for a while he told her no it was fine and then he wheeled himself inside leaving her on the sidewalk.

She saw Amberly’s car in the lot and almost went inside just because she was there, but then knew that it was stupid to feel that way. Peter and Belinda showed up just as she was about to pull off. Belinda waved at her. She looked so cute in black suede boots, mini skirt and a shearling coat. But she seemed so pale.

Well there was Christmas shopping to do, so she decided to waste away the time in the mall. Jason called her at about nine. There was so much noise in the background that she could barely make out his words.

“Sweetheart, we’re done!”

“What?” She covered up her other ear and hurried out of the doors of the mall. They were getting ready to close anyways.

“Finished! Caput! It’s over!”

“What’s over, babe?”

“The song! We finished it!” His words were more slurred than ever.

“Babe, it’s finished?! What is all that racket?!”

“James brought over some people and we’re partying it up!”

“Who is James? And are you drinking?”

“Well I had a few glasses of champagne. James is Mr. Edelson.”

“Oh.” She hefted her packages up as she hurried to the car. “Okay, well I’m on my way over.”

“Okay, babe! I’ll see you soon!”

Robin put everything in the trunk and realized that she wouldn’t be able to get the wheelchair back there. She’d have to swap it out to the backseat later and there was already a Christmas tree and wreath back there. Seeing her car loaded with Christmas stuff was really putting her in the Christmas spirit. She drove to the complex excited that the song was finished and couldn’t wait to hear it. But she was also a little surprised that Jason had allowed himself to get drunk. She had never even seen him take one drink so hearing him drunk was strange. But everyone deserved a celebratory drink after a hard won victory and Jason and Link had worked very hard for this one!

Once she got to the office complex she could hear the party going on even as she stepped off the elevator. Through the glass entry into the suit she could see dancing bodies and hear rap music blasting. She almost felt as if she was back at the Omicron house!

There were nearly thirty bodies crammed into the two rooms and a couple making out against the glass wall of the recording area. Robin squeezed past dancing bodies until she found Jason in his wheelchair chugging back a beer. She scowled, not because of the beer but because Amberly was perched drunkenly on his lap and they were laughing like two hyenas. She headed for them and waited almost an entire minute before Jason even saw her. When he did he smiled happily.

“Robin! There she is! Hi babe. We finished the song!” Wow he was drunk, truly drunk. She only knew what he was saying by the process of deduction.

Amberly was holding a plastic cup of champagne and she hefted it up. “Robin we should toast the guys success!”

“No. I think I’m the designated driver tonight.”

“Nooo…” Amberly exclaimed. “James got us limos! We’re going to a fancy hotel after this to finish the party! Come on Robin, let’s all dance!” Amberly tried to stand but she fell on her butt back onto Jason’s lap. They continued to laugh. Robin looked around, hoping that Peter had enough sense not to be totally wasted.

No such luck. He and Belinda were in the corner making out in his wheelchair. Both were drunk and spilling cups of champagne all over the place as they kissed. Well at least he was making out with her and not some mystery skank; that was progress. Robin scratched her neck uncomfortably and then Mr. Edelson was there holding a cup of champagne for her.

“Here luv, join the party.”

She waved it away. “Oh, no, I don’t drink.”

“Not even one?”

“No. Thanks.”

“Well there is smoke if you prefer that…or a little snort.”

Robin tried not to look shocked. “No, thanks.” She searched her mind for a way to politely get away from Mr. Edelson but then the music changed and one of the dirtiest songs that she had ever heard came on. Belinda screamed and leaped to her feet. Robin almost ran for cover. But Belinda began to dance in a very suggestive manner.

“That’s my song!!!!” Then a bunch of girls began to dance along with her while the guys watched. Belinda was belting out the lyrics loudly to a song called Fuck The Pain Away.

Amberly had even gotten up and was sashaying in front of Jason rubbing on her teeny breasts and non-existent butt. She looked more pathetic than sexy. But the point was that Jason was watching her. Robin began to feel sick to her stomach. She needed to get out of there and she needed to get Jason out of there.

She moved through the crowd towards him and slid onto his lap. His focus moved to her happily. “Babe,” she crooned. “Can we go home?”

He pouted. “I want to stay. This is fun!”

She kissed his ear seductively feeling his body instantly respond. “I can do that thing for you that you wanted for Christmas.” She cajoled. Jason leaned in towards her, his lips finding her neck his hands possessively roaming her body.

She placed her hands on his wrists and gently stopped him. “Let’s go home. We can finish there.”

His eyes were glued to hers. She slipped off of his lap and backed away, beckoning him to follow. He wheeled forward but bumped into several dancers. Robin moved to take control of his chair and began wheeling him out of there as if the place was on fire. But before they had made it out the door Peter saw them.

“Top! Where you going, man?”

Belinda turned to them and danced her way to the couple. She hugged Robin lovingly. “My girl! You came. Jason said you were busy. He’s such a liar!”

Peter joined them. “You can’t leave yet. The limos are on their way. We’re getting ready to go to the hotel and swim naked.”

“Yeah. Now everybody can see how big Top’s dick really is!” Belinda screamed.

Peter frowned seeming to sober and Robin was thankful. “The only dick you’re going to be looking at is mine, young lady.” And then he burst out laughing. Robin’s hopes crashed.

“James, where is the limo?!” Jason bellowed. Robin cursed under her breath. She was absolutely not allowing her boyfriend to go to the hotel and drunkenly swim nude with a bunch of strangers…and one particular non-stranger by the name of Amberly.

“You guys are drunk.” She said, trying to be the voice of reason. They all guffawed at her words. Amberly had found her seat back onto Jason’s lap and Robin was almost fit to be tied.

“Jason.” She finally said, trying not to show her anger. “I thought we had an agreement that no other girl would be sitting in your lap except for me.”

Jason pouted. “I’m sorry, babe. I forgot. Get up Amberly. My baby wants to sit here.” Amberly made a face but got up. Robin crossed her arms in front of her but made no move to sit on his lap.

“Jason. Can we leave now?”

“Robin, why don’t you have a drink and relax? We’re playing some good music and having fun.” Jason slurred his response.