Page 40 of Shameless
It had been a few weeks since I’d gotten home from Mexico. When I spoke to my brother the day Stacey dropped the bomb she was pregnant, he explained he and Jason were looking into expanding to Las Vegas. Right away, I wanted to jump on the plane and go. I didn’t care if it would technically be a work trip; I wanted to see Sarah again. Of course, I couldn’t because of other obligations, like making sure the Houston club was still standing after my absence. Brandon had set up some locations for me to check out and once I had my dates, I started counting down the days until I would get to see Sarah again.
We texted and chatted on the phone every free moment we got, but it wasn’t the same. I wanted to see her green eyes shine as I stared into them. Feel her fingers in my hair as I kissed her lips. Smell the shampoo she used as I buried my face in her blonde locks. Touch every inch of her naked skin as I tasted a path across her body, and hear her moans as I made her come. I was tired of phone screens and miles between us.
“Blake Montgomery?” I looked up to see a nurse standing in the doorway and looking straight at me, since I was the only man in the room. I sent another text to Sarah as I walked toward the woman waiting for me.
Gotta go hand over my DNA now. Call you later
The nurse took me into an exam room. Once again, I felt out of place as I caught a glimpse of the female reproductive system and breast exam posters on the wall.
“We’ll get you in and out,” the nurse said as she shut the door and enclosed us in the room. “Just need to swab your cheek, and then you’ll be on your way.”
“All right. Cool.”
She motioned to the chair instead of the exam table. “If you want to have a seat, you can, but I can get the sample while you’re standing up too.”
“This works,” I replied and didn’t sit.
The nurse took a long cotton swab from a tray. “Open up.”
I did as instructed, and once she was done grabbing my DNA, she slid the swab into the tube, sealed it up and said, “All right. We’ll get this to the lab ASAP. Once all samples are collected and the tests are run, you’ll be emailed the results.”
“Do you know how long that will take?” I asked.
“It can take anywhere between three and ten days.”
I nodded. “All right. Thanks.”
“Have a great day.”
I exited the room, and walked past the front desk on my way outside. The receptionist didn’t stop me for payment or any of that crap and I didn’t bother to ask. Maybe Stacey paid for it, since she was the one who got us into this mess.
* * *
I couldn’t rememberthe last time I had been so excited to be flying into Las Vegas. Actually, it was probably my twenty-first birthday. I was already drunk and looking for more booze by the time my friends and I landed at the airport. That was a trip I barely recalled because of all the alcohol we consumed, but this time, I was hoping for a different experience. One I would remember every second of.
I sent Sarah a text as soon as the wheels touched down on the tarmac.
Landed
A few moments later, my phone buzzed with a reply.
In the cell phone waiting area. Text me when you get to baggage claim. I’m in a blue Jeep Wrangler.
It felt as though it was taking the passengers in front of me hours to unload as I waited not so patiently to get off.
Since Sarah had to work most of the days I was in town and I needed to check out the potential locations for Club 24, I planned something special for when I arrived. I didn’t want to waste a second. Thinking of her while lying in bed alone one night, I had searched on my phone for the best places to watch a sunset in Las Vegas. The thought of watching her take in the last few seconds of a day made me blissful. It was her happy place, and it was becoming mine too, and I’d caught myself watching the sun go down almost every night I could back home.
Once off the plane, I practically pushed my way through the people meandering up the jetway. I power walked through the airport, following the signs to baggage claim, and once I saw it, I sent her a text saying I was almost outside. All I had was my carry-on and didn’t need to wait for anything. Once I was outside, I every car pass until I spotted the bright-blue Jeep Wrangler.
Sarah saw me and waved excitedly. She pulled up to where I stood on the curb, put the SUV in park, and jumped out, practically flying over the hood to throw her arms around my neck. I returned her embrace and, with no hesitation or care that a million people were around, pressed my lips to hers and devoured her mouth.
“I missed you,” I admitted, pressing my forehead to hers as we broke apart after our kiss.
“I’ve missed you too.”
“Let’s get out of here.”
We separated, and I put my bag into the back of her Jeep. Once we were inside and she drove toward the exit of the airport, I asked, “After we eat lunch, will you let me drive?”
