Page 58 of Betting on the Bad Boy
“I’m just really happy to see you. Thanks for the dress and stuff. I’m kind of looking forward to tonight. It’s been a while since I got all dressed up.”
She patted my hand. “I’m sure we’ll have a fun time.” Then she put the car in drive and we rolled out of the parking lot. “By the way, did I tell you Carter is one of Clem’s pastors-in-training? He’s just finishing up the grad student program at USC.”
“Really?” I shot my mother a look of disgust.
She either failed to see it or chose to ignore the frosty glare as she accelerated onto the highway. “Oh no. Look at the traffic. I’d better call Clem. We’re going to be late.”
As she dialed on the car’s Bluetooth speaker phone, I slumped down in my seat. Ugh. I should have known my mother had an ulterior motive. A pastor? I’d actually started to look forward to the evening. What the hell were we going to have in common?
CHAPTER 30
Dante
I satin the stuffy hospital room. I hadn’t left except to eat and take a piss for the past forty-eight hours. I’d met all the staff, fielded questions from Meemaw’s cast of cronies, did my best to avoid the only woman who’d ever broken my heart, and got a good start on some serious facial hair.
Dr. Cain kept telling me there was no reason for me to stay, that Meemaw wouldn’t wake up until they were ready to bring her back. But I knew how stubborn my grandmother could be and figured she’d wait until the minute I left to fight her way out of the drugs all on her own.
I wanted to be there when she woke. She’d do the same for me. Hell, she’d done so much more than that for me over the years. To think that I might not get the chance to tell her how much she meant to me. I ran a hand over my scruffy chin and rubbed my eyes.
For the past two days, I’d survived on strong coffee and bad cafeteria food. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve. Meemaw would be so pissed she was missing a holiday. The senior center would be fine without her, even though she was convinced they couldn’t function in her absence. Several of her friends hadchecked in with me. I’d been told they were stocking her freezer at home with casseroles and lasagnas. As if she’d be able to eat a quarter of it.
I flipped on the television. Nothing but holiday-themed shows: how to cook your Christmas turkey or best gifts to give your parents. I didn’t need any of that advice. My finger stilled on the remote asIt’s a Wonderful Lifeplayed on the screen.
Damn, that reminded me of the night I spent with Faith and the way she’d come on to me in my room. I’d enjoyed the whirlwind hook-up, no doubt about that. But I’d also gotten a glimpse at the woman behind the wall she’d put up.
Thinking about her made me wonder what she was doing at that exact moment out in California. Whatever it was, it had to be better than sitting bedside with a loved one. A little banter with Faith would surely take my mind off Meemaw, even if it was just for a few minutes. Sending her a text wouldn’t necessarily violate our rules of engagement, right?
Me: Hey, hope you had a good flight. Just caught the end of It’s A Wonderful Life and made me think of you. Merry Christmas.
I stared at the phone for a full two minutes. No response. Just as I was about to stand up and stretch, my phone pinged.
Faith: Arrived safe but am being blindsided with a black-tie function tonight. Like my dress?
I clicked on the image and sucked in my breath. A picture of Faith rocking a satiny red dress filled my screen. Her breasts strained against the deep “V” neck and her lips puckered into a sexy kiss.
Me: No fair. You’re playing dirty. If I was there, that dress would be on the floor by now.
Faith: I’d hate to waltz across the dance floor naked.
Faith naked. Shit. My cock twitched to life.
Me: Now you’ve got me all hot and bothered.
Faith: Too bad you’re not here. I’d figure out a way to take care of that for you.
Me: Fuck me.
Faith: Exactly. Gotta go.
I shifted in the hard vinyl chair, needing a distraction. Even though Faith and I had made up and figured out a compromise on our deal, she wouldn’t be back until winter break ended. Wouldn’t do me any good to spend the next week and a half with blue balls. Grabbing my backpack, I rummaged through, looking for something to work on or take my mind off my favorite redhead in that tempting red dress.
My hand closed around the book the woman at the salon had given me. I slid it out of the bag and took a long look at the cover.Carnal Knowledgeby Chastity Austen. What the hell kind of name was that? Couldn’t be worse than watching infomercials and reruns on TV. Maybe those women at the salon were onto something, and I could pick up a few tips or tricks. I kicked my feet up on the edge of the bed and flipped open the cover.
Faith
Snowflakes fell from the sky,their delicate forms catching the light of thousands of twinkle lights woven through the fake pine trees. Stepping into the ballroom, I couldn't help but catch my breath at the magical atmosphere. Raising my hand, I reached out as if to catch a falling flake.
“Almost looks real, doesn’t it?”
