Page 20 of Black Flag

“Dana?”

“Never,” A shudder ranthrough me at the thought thinking of that peppy stalker close to me.

“Mariah?”

“Never,” My eyes methers again. “I wasn’t lying. I never slept with that woman regardless of whatshe tells everyone.”

“Anyone I may run intoat the track?”

“Not besides Ashley.The rest were just random fans I guess or afew women from bars around the tracks we stopped at. I wasn’t lying to you whenI said that woman in Vegas last April, was the last. And up until you, I’veneverslept with the same woman twice. Nor have I ever gone without a condom...besides with you.”

Sway nodded a tear sliddown her cheek. “I hate that you thought I would sleep with Mike again.” Hereyes dropped.

I hung my head inshame. “I’m so fucking sorry. That was...Idon’t even know what to call myself for that. I was a fucking idiot.”

“Did you really think Iwould do that?”

“No...butmy judgment wasclouded.”

“I would never cheat onyou, Jameson.”

I nodded, fearing thelook in her eyes because I knew once again; she’d forgiven me for being anasshole when she shouldn’t. “You deserve so much better than me, Sway.”

“Don’t ever accuse meof cheating on you,ever.”

“I won’t. Just don’tgive up on me just yet.” I leaned over, trying to maneuver myself to be able totouch her but it didn’t work. Instead, I groaned in pain. Sway of course,reached out to me.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I think Ijust need to go rest.”

“Okay, let’s go home.”

She started my car andthough no one had ever driven my Shelby GT 500 Mustang besides me, I knew shecould do it and amazingly I wasn’t having a heart attack when she missed secondgear.

Other than that oneslip, Sway could drive the car damn near as good as me. What really calmed medown was when Sway turned up the radio to a country song playing knowing I’dsing for her.

“You want me to singfor you?”

She didn’t sayanything, just sighed contently and leaned her head back against the seat.

My voice was gravelybaritone and I didn’t have that certain twine needed for country but I made upfor it with a drawl I knew she loved.

I was relieved to seeeveryone was gone when we got back to my parent’s house. I didn’t need anotherlecture from my dad and if I saw Spencer or Emma again today, I wasn’t sure howwell I’d deal with their shit when I had my own drowning me.

“This is nice.” Swaysaid getting inside the warm tub with me after lighting the candles I had inhere from the last time we took a bath. The only light coming in was theflickering of candles shadowed by the moonlight.

“Is this okay? I mean,can you still take baths?” I was already leaned against the side, covered to mychest in the water. My left arm rested on the side since I couldn’t submerge ityet.

“Yeah, I read that bookWhat to Expect when Expectingwhen you were in the hospital. It justsaid to be careful in like hot tubs and saunas.”

“But the salt is okay?”

“Salt?”She grinned. “What areyou doing below the water there?”

“Not my salt.” Ilaughed. “I poured Epsom salt in here. It helps when you have broken bones.”

“Oh, that. Yes, youcan.” Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “It’s actually really good to keepinfections away.”

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