Page 19 of Blackstone's Heart
“Hell Jenny, we’re all the old married mommies here. Kris is the only single one so we have to live vicariously through her.” Tina teased draping an arm around Krista.
“You are such a bitch Tina.” Krista laughed. “But I love ya anyway.”
“Of course you do.” Tina winked.
“Anyway, so back to you and Ethan. He says he’s not gentle, blah, blah, then what?” Tiffany said, getting back to the conversation.
“Right. So I tell him that I know he’s not the same. Then he pulls this whole, trying to be noble line toward dad and me. How when we were kids he was naive and shit and didn’t know any other way to be but sweet and gentle. How he has never messed around with a client. He’s saying that screwing my brains out is mild compared to the thoughts he was thinking. I just told him when he actually wanted to talk about those thoughts he knew where to reach me and I left.” Krista explained, getting all worked up yet again over the ordeal.
She looked around the table at her friends, her best friends, her sisters. All of them straight at her with wide eyes. Shifting a bit under the scrutiny, she grabbed her wine glass and gulped down the last bit before grabbing the bottle for a refill. Good think she wasn’t driving.
“Wow.” Tiffany gaped.
“And Ethan just sat there?” Jennifer asked.
“Pretty much. I mean he did follow me home after. But just because I’m a client and he had to make sure I got home.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, since he always seemed so smart back then, but Ethan Blackstone has got to be one of the biggest idiots in Austin right now.” Connie added.
“Right? I mean, what red blooded man is gonna turn down a blatant invitation of sex from an Amazon beauty like Kris?” Mindy exclaimed.
“Maybe he was trying to protect her.” Jenna stated.
“From what? Yeah she’s got a sicko after her, but this is Ethan we’re talking about.” Crystal argued.
Jenna sighed. “Yeah, yeah. What I mean is, what if he’s protecting you from him?”
Krista sat back in her chair. “What? Why would he protect me from him Jenna? He would never hurt me, hell he’d never hurt ANY woman.”
“I think I get what Jenna is saying.” Shauna said. “What if Ethan is into that whole BDSM stuff? You know, whips and chains and shit.”
“Mmmmm, I’d like to be tied up by him.” Jennifer giggled.
“I think that’s all of us at this table, Jennifer.” Krista agreed with an eye roll. “But maybe you do have a point Shauna. So what should I do then? Jerry said to let him make the next move.”
Jenny leaned across from Krista’s other side, opposite Tina. “And he’s right.”
“Yes, let Ethan decide what to do.” Tina nodded. “You told him in no uncertain terms what you want. Now he has to decide if he wants the same thing.”
“Look honey, you and Ethan have always had this sizzling chemistry. It’s off the charts. Now you two are being thrown back together after what, nearly a decade? You said yourself, you haven’t seen him since that Christmas after he joined special forces. Just be patient.” Tiffany replied.
Krista looked at each of her friends. These wonderful, smart and beautiful women had been at her side for over thirty years. Had been her shoulders to cry one, her listeners when she bitched. And tonight they just proved how no matter what they would always be there to help her.
“Thank you. You guys have no idea how much,” She broke off and swallowed the lump that suddenly appeared in her throat. “How much I love you guys and have missed you. You all have been there for me no matter what and no matter where I was. I don’t think there’s a woman alive who could ask for a better group of friends.”
A chores of awe’s, and don’t make me cry’s when up around the table. And just like that, Krista pushed all thoughts of Ethan Blackstone from her mind and instead focused on her friends and getting reacquainted with their lives and families.
Chapter 6
Krista worried the small red glass pendent around her neck as she shifted in the chair. Today she had three interviews with three different reports. At the moment she was sitting at interview number two with the Austin Chronicle. That morning Ethan had pulled up at her house. After she climbed into the cab of his truck, they headed for Jerry’s apartment. During the whole drive the insufferable man had said nothing. Not a single, you look good, kiss my ass, nothing. Krista was brought out of her fuming thoughts when the reporter walked over.
"Good morning Ms. James." The reporter greeted.
Krista plastered on a smile. "Morning Mr. Kolinski."
"Please, call me Stan."
"Alright Stan." Krista grinned. "So, how are we doing this?"
