What's Left of Us
Page 11
“Truth,” she teases. “What are you thinking about?”
“That is the truth. I saw your rings and it made me think about our wedding day and, of course, your beautiful smile.”
“Is that so?”
I feel her smile into my shoulder. “Yes.”
“That was a good day.”
“The best.”
“You know what will be even better?”
“Hmm?” I don’t know what could top that day.
She lowers her voice so only I can hear. “The day we bring home our baby.”
“I can’t wait for that day, Aundrea.”
“Hey, um, I hate to break up this love fest you two have going on, but, Dre, you’ve yet to give me an answer about next Saturday.”
“Hmm?” She breaks away from me, turning to face Genna.
Saturday. I ponder the word, thinking about what next Saturday is, but nothing comes to mind. I see Aundrea trying to recall the same thing, and see the realization cross her face the moment she remembers.
“I already gave you my answer. No, Genna, I am not volunteering at your school’s prom. No. Way.”
Genna stopped substitute teaching two years ago when she was hired as a full-time English teacher.
“Please, Dre. I’m begging you,” Genna pleads. “Don’t make me get on my hands and knees.”
“No.”
“Please?”
“I’m not doing it.”
I shake my head at them and take another bite of my sandwich.
“Come on. Think of how much fun we’d have.”
“I don’t want to go to your prom, Genna. I’m sorry.”
Genna lets out a long, heavy sigh. “Fine. But will you at least go dress shopping with me, then? Jean said if I go to the cities she’ll be able to hook me up. There’s some big trunk show tomorrow.”
Trunk show? What the hell is a trunk show?
“I don’t know …” Aundrea bites her lip.
“Dreeee,” Genna whines like a two-year-old.
“Whaaaat?” Aundrea mocks in the same annoying tone.
Genna laughs. “Please.”
“Okay, okay. I want to see Jean anyways.”
“Oh thanks.”
Aundrea giggles. “What time in the morning?”
“Nine okay?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe text Amy and see if she wants to come with? We could make it a girls’ day?”
Girls’ day. I know what that means. It’s when women gather around with drinks and talk about their husbands or boyfriends, then come home and say they didn’t.
“That’s a great idea! I’m sure she’ll love that.”
Once Genna leaves I ask Aundrea, “What’s this about going to prom?”
Aundrea explains that the school is short on volunteers to chaperone and Genna has been trying to get her to help. “That sounds like fun. I’d even go with you. You know, as your date.”
“That is exactly why I didn’t mention this to you.”
“What?” I give her a sinful grin.
“I knew you’d be all for it.”
“And that’s a problem why?”
She ignores me, walking into our bedroom. I follow quickly on her heels, stripping my shirt off as I go. When she turns around, she shakes her head, smiling.
“What are you doing?”
I wiggle my eyebrows and she swallows. Thoughts of finishing what we started earlier have taken over.
Slowly I pull off my remaining clothes.
“Parker.”
I take a few painfully slow steps toward her. “Aundrea.” Reaching her, I wrap my arms around her tiny waist, yanking her against me. “Go.” Kiss. “To.” Kiss. “Prom.” Kiss. “With.” Kiss. “Me.” Kiss.
She exhales, breathlessly. “It’s not our prom, Parker.”
“Who says it can’t be? You can’t be a college graduate next month without ever having experienced prom.”
“Says who?”
“Me. I won’t allow it. Now, will you please be my prom date?”
“I have to admit the gesture is sweet.”
I push my naked body against hers. “What do you say? I’ll pick you up you at six thirty and have you home by eleven,” I tease.
She throws her head back, letting out a light laugh. “Are you trying to persuade me with your nakedness?”
“Is it working?”
“As tempting and delicious as that sounds, I’m going to respectfully decline your offer.” Her eyes soften. “But I’d be happy to finish what we started in the living room.”
I scoop her up, throwing her light frame over my shoulder. Sex now, prom planning later.
“Parker!”
“You asked for it!”
Opening the shower door, I step inside. I have to shift her weight to turn on the shower, and she screams in shock at the sudden coldness as I accidentally put her in the way of the water.
Carefully, I release her and soon enough the water becomes warm. Her clothes are drenched, molding to her curves, and I nod in approval.
“I said the living room. To finish what we started in the living room.”
“But this is more fun.”
She rolls her eyes as I press my lips to the corner of her mouth.
“I can’t believe you’re mine,” I murmur.
“Only yours.”
“Always.”
“That is the truth. I saw your rings and it made me think about our wedding day and, of course, your beautiful smile.”
“Is that so?”
I feel her smile into my shoulder. “Yes.”
“That was a good day.”
“The best.”
“You know what will be even better?”
“Hmm?” I don’t know what could top that day.
She lowers her voice so only I can hear. “The day we bring home our baby.”
“I can’t wait for that day, Aundrea.”
“Hey, um, I hate to break up this love fest you two have going on, but, Dre, you’ve yet to give me an answer about next Saturday.”
“Hmm?” She breaks away from me, turning to face Genna.
Saturday. I ponder the word, thinking about what next Saturday is, but nothing comes to mind. I see Aundrea trying to recall the same thing, and see the realization cross her face the moment she remembers.
“I already gave you my answer. No, Genna, I am not volunteering at your school’s prom. No. Way.”
Genna stopped substitute teaching two years ago when she was hired as a full-time English teacher.
“Please, Dre. I’m begging you,” Genna pleads. “Don’t make me get on my hands and knees.”
“No.”
“Please?”
“I’m not doing it.”
I shake my head at them and take another bite of my sandwich.
“Come on. Think of how much fun we’d have.”
“I don’t want to go to your prom, Genna. I’m sorry.”
Genna lets out a long, heavy sigh. “Fine. But will you at least go dress shopping with me, then? Jean said if I go to the cities she’ll be able to hook me up. There’s some big trunk show tomorrow.”
Trunk show? What the hell is a trunk show?
“I don’t know …” Aundrea bites her lip.
“Dreeee,” Genna whines like a two-year-old.
“Whaaaat?” Aundrea mocks in the same annoying tone.
Genna laughs. “Please.”
“Okay, okay. I want to see Jean anyways.”
“Oh thanks.”
Aundrea giggles. “What time in the morning?”
“Nine okay?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe text Amy and see if she wants to come with? We could make it a girls’ day?”
Girls’ day. I know what that means. It’s when women gather around with drinks and talk about their husbands or boyfriends, then come home and say they didn’t.
“That’s a great idea! I’m sure she’ll love that.”
Once Genna leaves I ask Aundrea, “What’s this about going to prom?”
Aundrea explains that the school is short on volunteers to chaperone and Genna has been trying to get her to help. “That sounds like fun. I’d even go with you. You know, as your date.”
“That is exactly why I didn’t mention this to you.”
“What?” I give her a sinful grin.
“I knew you’d be all for it.”
“And that’s a problem why?”
She ignores me, walking into our bedroom. I follow quickly on her heels, stripping my shirt off as I go. When she turns around, she shakes her head, smiling.
“What are you doing?”
I wiggle my eyebrows and she swallows. Thoughts of finishing what we started earlier have taken over.
Slowly I pull off my remaining clothes.
“Parker.”
I take a few painfully slow steps toward her. “Aundrea.” Reaching her, I wrap my arms around her tiny waist, yanking her against me. “Go.” Kiss. “To.” Kiss. “Prom.” Kiss. “With.” Kiss. “Me.” Kiss.
She exhales, breathlessly. “It’s not our prom, Parker.”
“Who says it can’t be? You can’t be a college graduate next month without ever having experienced prom.”
“Says who?”
“Me. I won’t allow it. Now, will you please be my prom date?”
“I have to admit the gesture is sweet.”
I push my naked body against hers. “What do you say? I’ll pick you up you at six thirty and have you home by eleven,” I tease.
She throws her head back, letting out a light laugh. “Are you trying to persuade me with your nakedness?”
“Is it working?”
“As tempting and delicious as that sounds, I’m going to respectfully decline your offer.” Her eyes soften. “But I’d be happy to finish what we started in the living room.”
I scoop her up, throwing her light frame over my shoulder. Sex now, prom planning later.
“Parker!”
“You asked for it!”
Opening the shower door, I step inside. I have to shift her weight to turn on the shower, and she screams in shock at the sudden coldness as I accidentally put her in the way of the water.
Carefully, I release her and soon enough the water becomes warm. Her clothes are drenched, molding to her curves, and I nod in approval.
“I said the living room. To finish what we started in the living room.”
“But this is more fun.”
She rolls her eyes as I press my lips to the corner of her mouth.
“I can’t believe you’re mine,” I murmur.
“Only yours.”
“Always.”
