Page 78 of Beneath the Blue Moon
“No.I’ll help in whatever way you want me to, and I won’tkeep you out all night again.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
***Ethan***
My poor baby.She’s so strong yet so fragile.I’d give mylife to take away her pain.Her guilt about her mother and her sense ofresponsibility toward her father undoubtedly weigh her down.She bears it andcarries on.I’ll do my damnedest to alleviate, if not eradicate, her worries.Pullingmy jacket tighter around her shoulders, she lays her head on the truck’s window.
“Come here.”She looks over at me like a hurt child beforesliding closer.I curl my arm around her as she rests her head on my chest.“Iwant you to meet my family.”
“You do?”
“Of course.Next week, my whole family is coming to my placefor a Fourth of July barbecue.You’ll get to meet everyone then.”
“Okay.”
“They’re all going to love you.”
“You think so?”she asks.
“I know so.”
“I don’t know… Your parents look a little intimidating.”
“My mother is a little… difficult, but you’ll probably winover my dad without a word.”
“How do you figure that?”
“Because you’re a beautiful minx who gives me mini heartattacks when I see the way guys look at you.”My heart jumps at the sound ofher soft giggle.She hasn’t even smiled all morning.A small victory, but avictory nonetheless.“You’ll have my brothers eating out of your hand.”
Draping her arm across my stomach, she sighs, making noattempt to move when I park in front of her house.
“You’re home.”
“I know.”
“Look at me.”She turns her face toward mine and blinks upat me innocently.
“I’m here for you.Letme be here for you.I’m notgoing anywhere.”
“I know.”She nods.“I know.”
***Casey***
I’m not going anywhere.The words echo in my mind.Idon’t want him to go anywhere.I want him to stay right here… with me.Fun timeis over; this is serious business.I want him, and not just for the amazingsex.I wanthim.I want this smart, kind, caring, jealous,overprotective, domineering, beautiful man.He’s mine, and I’m not letting himgo.I tried to keep him at bay, from getting too close.Here I was trying toprevent him from getting under my skin, not realizing he’s been there this entiretime.
“Oh, you two!”Clara shrieks as we walk through the door.
“Good morning, Clara.”
She comes rushing toward us, waving the newspaper, a hugesmile on her face.
“You made the society page!Named couple of the night!”
She shoves the paper at me, and I look down at my faceplastered across the page.A number also jumps out at me from the text below it.I turn to him in utter shock.
“You paid $10,000 per plate?”I exclaim.He responds with a nonchalantshrug.Yeah, it was no big deal.“We could have stayed home, and I wouldhave cooked for you… for free!”
