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“You remembered.”
Gina stands on the tips of her toes to lean up and snag a small kiss. “I remember a lot of things, Jamie. I’m your one in a million, right? Hard to forget that when you engraved it onto my brain.”
It is my turn to be speechless. She backs away and gets into her car, where Lucas is already buckled in.
“Guess you changed your mind?” Andre smirks as he walks toward me.
“Get in the fuckin’ car,” I growl at him. I hate when he is right.
“Tell you what, how about we both get in the fuckin’ car so we can go take a nap. The kid wore me out.”
I laugh at him as we both walk to my car. “You’re getting old, Williams.”
“Nah. Remember, you’re older than me, so if I’m old, you’re ancient.”
“Bastard.”
We rag each other all the way to my house. They end when we both settle inside—him in the guest bed, and me in my own. Feeling a different calm when I lie down, I block out all thoughts and let my body relax into the mattress.
* * *
“She was cool, by the way. I think you should just give in to whatever you’re feeling and see if she follows suit. Not too fast; make sure she deserves you, bro.” Andre speaks through the door. He doesn’t wait for a response, leaving me to stew in his words.
“Deserves me…” I mumble. And that’s what my mind settles on.
11
It takes every ounce of my self-control to maintain my composure after that kiss. I’m not sure what is different, but it is different, and damn, the clumsy boy who kissed me at sixteen has turned into one damn good kisser. I wanted to devour him, cling to him, but I couldn’t. One, Lucas, was in the car right next to us. Grant it; Andre was entertaining him, but still. And two, we were in a public parking lot.
But… we have tomorrow night.
“Mama, I like them.” Lucas’s words bring me back from my thoughts.
“Me too,” I reply as I drive us home.
Lucas occupies himself with his toys in the back seat, and my thoughts wander back to Jamie. Oh Lord, what in the hell am I gonna wear? Realizing that tomorrow night requires something new, I look in the rearview mirror at Lucas and ask, “Hey buddy, do you mind if we stop at the store?”
“A toy store?” he asks with a huge grin on his face.
“No, not this time. This is a mommy store.” His grin turns to a frown as I glance back at the mirror.
Disappointed, he replies, “I guess so.”
“This is important for mommy, but I promise I’ll make it up to you. ‘K?”
“K.” Sometimes, I am just in awe of what an amazing kid I have. I know that sounds so biased because I am his mom, and I am supposed to think my kid is amazing, but I know others see it too, like how Andre quickly warmed up to him and entertained him as if he had known my son for years. People gravitate toward Lucas. Just like they did with Hawk.
He was the most likable member of the club. The other members were pleasant, but you had to get to know them. They came off hard and unapproachable. But not Hawk. He was kind. He was the shoulder everyone could count on. There are days that I still think of him and miss him. But I believe he was brought into my life for a reason. One, I wouldn’t have Lucas without him, and I can’t even imagine my life without Lucas. And, two, leaving Hawk brought me to Norfolk and, hopefully, back to Jamie.
I pull into the mall parking lot and luckily find a parking spot right by the door to Macy’s. Getting out of the car, I help Lucas out. “I promise, buddy, I won’t be long.”
We walk up to the door and step inside. The men’s department, figures. We wander through the store until we find the ladies' semi-formal wear. I don’t want to be too dressed up, but I also want to be dressed up. I know; it makes no sense—my goal: sexy as hell.
I spend almost two hours looking for the perfect dress when I realize semi-formal is going way overboard. I need to look casual, like I don’t care. Casually sexy, that’s more the look I need. Something that says, “I may not be sixteen anymore, but I am still hot.” And I know just the outfit.
“Mommy, can we go home now?” Lucas asks.
He has been a champ. He has not complained, asked for anything, and has just been an all-around good boy. I look at my watch; it’s almost lunchtime.
