Page 18 of Save Me
"I'm not third-wheeling on your date. I still have some self-respect left."
"This has nothing to do with self-respect," I laugh, trying to keep the smile from my face.
"It has everything to do with it. I'm a grown woman who should be able to get her own dates and not take handouts from her widowed sister and niece. I mean goddamn, how sad does my life have to be?" She runs a hand through her hair.
"Would you stop? You're not sad. You're in between men. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Why are you taking this so hard?"
She doesn't say anything, but she pours herself a glass of wine and looks out at the backyard before she turns to me, glass in hand. "Back when you first came to live with me, it was like I was the center of your universe, and it was nice. When you moved, and got married, we had very separate lives. It was hard, but I was okay with it." She shrugs. "Then you and Rosa cameback and it felt like I had a bit more purpose again. It felt like you and I were closer. I don't want to lose that with you."
There's a part of me that knows exactly what she's talking about. It's scary putting myself out there again because I don't want to lose the little family I've built in this house either. "You're not going to lose it with me, Eve. You were one of the only people that were there for me after Nathan died," I remind her. "Rosa and I wouldn't have made it without you. Those were dark days."
"They were, which is why I'm pissed at myself for even having those thoughts. You deserve happiness."
"So do you," I insist. "Maybe we can find you a hottie firefighter too, once I figure out what the hell is going on between Gunner and me. What I do know is that I want you to be a part of mine and Rosa's life. Me being or not being with Gunner isn't going to change that. I know who held me up when I was at the lowest point of my life, Eve. That was you."
Her bottom lip quivers as her eyes meet mine. "You would've helped me too."
"I would've," I confirm, nodding my head. "There's nothing that could've kept me away, but the fact is, you stepped up when so many others didn't. You'll never know what a difference you've made in mine and Rosa's lives. So what I'm saying is, if you want to come with us, please come with us."
She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. "I do want to come, but I don't want to be in the way. So I'll drive myself, and then when Rosa's tired, I'll bring her home so you and Gunner can enjoy some time alone. How's that?"
It doesn't seem fair to her, but I'm beginning to understand this is just who my sister is. It's who she's grown into being. "Sounds amazing. Thank you. Now what should I wear to this shindig?"
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
GUNNER
As I watch Eve and Rosa leave, I know that the lock I've had on my libido goes with them. Amy glances at me as we're left alone. "So, what do you want to do?"
There are a lot of things that go through my mind as I think about what I'd like to do to her and with her. Most of them are x-rated, but they're the truth. I do know, however, I'm going to have to ease into this with her. I don't know what her marriage was like before her husband died and I'm too scared to ask. It's hard to live up to the memory of a man who has passed. In my experience, no matter how much of a dick they were before they died, we tend to remember all the good things, and none of what we hated. I can't compete with that, and I don't feel like trying. "Wanna go ride some adult rides? Don't get me wrong I love the Ferris Wheel, but I also love a Tilt A Whirl."
She laughs, the dark tone of it going all the way down my middle to my cock. "Let's go."
I reach out, grabbing her hand with mine, and together we weave our way through the people in the crowd. It's still packed, but not a mass of bodies that it was earlier in the night. When we get to the Tilt A Whirl, there's a small line. "Are you having fun?"
Amy looks up at me, her arms reaching to twine around my neck. It's natural as fuck for me to wrap mine around her waist. "Yeah, I am. It's weird not to be looking around for Rosa, but I'm excited to be spending time alone with you."
Leaning in so that my nose touches hers, I give her a grin. "Same for me." I've wanted to take her lips since the first moment I saw them, but it's never felt like the right time. Maybe that time is now. Just as I'm tilting my head to the side, we're bumped from behind. Turning around, getting ready to bitch at the person, I stop because it's Ash.
"Line is moving, motherfucker."
I flip him the bird, while the two ladies giggle at us. "It won't kill you to be a little patient."
"Oh it will," Emma says, smacking him with the back of her hand. "He's lost his patience in the last few weeks."
"It's all this wedding bullshit," Ash mumbles. "Either way, let's go. We're holding up the line."
I purposely move us over to where we won't be near the two of them, and claim one of the passenger cars. "She's right, he's grumpy," I tell Amy as I turn to face her. "If that wedding doesn't come soon, he's going to be a pain in the ass for everyone."
"Why's he so grumpy?"
I chuckle. "Because Emma has told him they aren't having sex until the wedding night."
She whistles. "That seems rude to both of them. Especially if you're getting it on a regular basis."
Which I am not, and now that Amy's got me thinking about it, all I can imagine is the two of us tangled up in blankets with sweat pouring down our bodies. "It is pretty rude."
The attendant comes over, and puts the lap bar down for us. Amy taps her feet on the ground. "I haven't been on one of these in such a long time. I'm so excited."
