Page 14 of Drifter
“What? Huh?”
“I knew you weren’t paying attention.” She laughs.
“What do you think they’re talking about out there?” I ask.
“Probably about making sure you never have to see that asshole doctor again. And I’m just going to say that I’m onboard with that plan. I’d like to grab him by the nuts and cut off his dick. He’s nothing but a pedophile and should be locked up, not walking free and maybe doing this to other girls,” Etain says angrily.
“Etain, I love you like a sister, and I love that you care about me the way you do, but no one needs to go to jail over a man like that,” I tell her.
“Who says I’ll get caught?” she quips with a shrug.
“Etain!” I gasp.
“What’s Ginger done now?” I hear. I spin around and see Hawk and Drifter coming to join us.
“I threatened to cut off Dr. Sutton’s manhood,” Etain says without missing a beat.
Hawk chuckles, then moves to his girlfriend’s side and tugs her close to his body. “No need, babe. We’ve got this covered. Besides, the only dick I want you near is mine, and without a sharp object in your hand,” he teases. Etain bursts out laughing, and I can’t help but join in.
Drifter puts his arm around my shoulders. “It’s good to hear you laugh, babe. I want to hear more of that. I’m going to make it my mission to see it happen,” he says, dropping a sweet, soft kiss onto my lips.
I want to hook my arms around his neck and keep his lips glued to mine. I feel the tingle from our kiss. I’ve never felt that with anyone else. With Drifter, it’s easy to be me. I feel a huge sense of relief knowing he’s aware of the part of the past that haunts me. I was terrified he’d look at me differently. Drifter called me strong and resilient. I never saw that in myself, but he’s right, and in that moment, I resolved that I won’t allow myself to be dragged down again.
“What’s your plan for the day?” Drifter asks.
“Yoga, a little time in the garden, then I have a remote meeting with an IT director who wants some work done on a project. You?” I return.
“I’m at the shop for most of the day. I have some business at the club, then back here with you,” he says with a sly grin. “Tonight, I’ll bring dinner. Do you like Mexican?”
“Love it.”
“Bring enough for four,” Etain chimes in. Drifter’s gaze moves past me and straight over to Hawk and Etain.
“I wasn’t planning on a double date,” he retorts. Etain sticks out her tongue. Drifter chuckles and concedes, telling her, “Better text your order to Hawk. I’m not going to be responsible for screwing up your order.”
“We gotta go,” Hawk announces. “We have shit to do.” He turns to Etain. “Get ready, Etain. I’ll drive in with you this morning and ride my bike back tonight with Drifter.”
Etain looks over at me, gauging my reaction to being left alone. It’s nice that she’s worried about me, but I was alone for a long time before Etain moved into town. I’m used to it, and I need to move forward. What happened at the party happened, and I can either stay paralyzed by fear or forge forward with a normal day. I choose to look ahead.
“I’m good.” She’s not buying it, so I tell her the truth. “Years ago, I would have locked myself in my bedroom and pretended the rest of the world didn’t exist. But I choose to live life, and I’ve heard it all from my father. I won’t lie and say it doesn’t bother me, but I can bounce back and keep on going. You have a job to do, and so do I. I just have the luxury of having the morning to do my yoga routine and putter in my garden.” I glance over at the kitchen. “Who knows, I might even surprise you with dessert.”
Etain still doesn’t look convinced, but Hawk leads her toward the door, whispering something in her ear. She murmurs a quick goodbye, leaving Drifter and me alone.
“Have a good day, handsome,” I say, lifting up to my tiptoes and kissing his cheek. He grabs my waist and presses my chest to his.
“If you need me, you call,” he murmurs.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, I can see my sassy Sasha has it all together, but if that changes in any way, I expect a call.”
“You can’t be by my side twenty-four seven. Cars are waiting for you at the shop. Hawk needs you, and I have plenty to keep me busy today.”
“Okay, but text, not because you need me, but because I like hearing from you,” he counters.
“Works for me.” His mouth comes down on mine in a long, soulful kiss. This time, I run my finger through his soft brown hair. Drifter moves his mouth over mine, taking more from our kiss, which I gladly give him. When he tears his mouth away, we both take in a much-needed breath.
“I’ll be here for six. Will you be done by then?” he asks.
