Home to You (22 page)

 
“Who wants to play cards?” she asked, just as Jake stepped out of the kitchen.  

John took the cards out of the box, and I moved to my own seat, pulling in a much-needed breath.
 

“Blackjack. Deuces wild. Everyone know the rules?”
 

Silence confirmed that we did, and he continued. “What are the stakes? He looked around the table, but no one answered.
 

“Well, I’m broke, so don’t look at me,” I said.

“Okay, let’s play for clothes then.” His eyes twinkled as he looked between me, Em, and Grace.

I bit my nails and shook my head.

“Where’s your sense of adventure?” he teased.
 

Then Grace, who hadn’t said anything to us all night, chimed in from the other side of the table. “I’m in.”
 

Everyone turned in her direction, but she looked right at me. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”
 

I took a deep breath, sure she was challenging me in some way. Did she think
I
had something to hide? I turned back to John, mentally calculating my four articles of clothing. “Okay, I’m in.”  

“Why the hell not,” Em muttered, pulling her seat closer to the table. My jaw fell open in shock, and she shrugged. “It’s on my bucket list.”
 

Her answer sent me into a fit of manic giggles, and she elbowed me under the table.
 

“We’re not playing strip poker.” Jake’s voice cut through the night, and I turned to face him.
 

He stared at me, his eyes pleaded with me to stop.
 

“You don’t have to play if you don’t want to.” I wasn’t sure about the game a second ago, but in that moment there was nothing that could’ve pulled me away.

“Come on, Jake. Don’t be such a buzz kill,” John said, shuffling the deck.
 

He seemed to consider it for a moment, then finally agreed. “Fine. Deal me in.”  

The first round, I was dealt a six of hearts and a five of diamonds. Eleven. I was supposed to do something with that, but my head was too foggy to remember. I hit twice and busted.  

Grace won the round with twenty and earned the shirt from everyone at the table. I’d forgotten about the other side of the game. The fact that I would soon see Jake completely nude.
 

I only had three articles of clothing left. My bra, panties, and shorts. This made me even with Em and John. Though I was pretty sure John was cheating because he was the only one still wearing shoes. And Grace would have been ahead, but she’d made the mistake of wearing a dress that night, so we were even too. But Jake—he was at a greater disadvantage; at best he had only two losses left. This was going to be a quick game.  

“Damn!” John exclaimed. “I need another beer. Anyone else?” The red bucket was now empty, so he walked backward toward the house, waiting for a reply.
 

“I’ll take one,” I answered, even though I knew it was a bad idea.

A minute later John handed me another bottle then dealt the next hand.
 

I took a long drink and peeked at my cards. Sixteen. I couldn’t remember—hit or stay? Crap! “Hit.”
 

Three of diamonds. Good. “Stay.”

Jake won the round with twenty-one, and I began taking off my shorts.  

“Keep them on.”
 

I pretended not to hear him and stood to slip them down my legs. On pure luck I’d put on my good underwear that day, and inwardly smiled as I tossed my shorts over. There was no doubt in my mind he was mad at me now. The heat coming from his eyes could’ve melted steel.
 

I glared at him. “If you don’t want to see, turn around.”

“Now, kids…” Em warned, shaking her finger at us.  

I started to take another drink, but my head began to spin, and I set the bottle back to the table. I looked at my next cards. Seven of spades and six of clubs.
Twelve. No wait, thirteen.
“Hit me.” I placed both feet on the ground in an attempt to make the world stop spinning.
 

Three of hearts.
“Hit.” 

Queen.
“Crap.”  

John won, and I debated whether I should give him my panties or bra.  

“Okay, that’s enough.” Jake stood beside me. “Time for bed.”

Deciding on my bra, I began to fumble with the clasp.
 

“Keep it on, Katie.” Jake’s voice was quiet as he spoke only to me.
 

“Don’t tell me what to do,” I replied, finally working it free and throwing it to John.

The next thing I knew, Jake covered me with a towel and tossed me over his shoulder. I wanted to scream, but bile crept up my throat and I thought I might be sick. “Put me down,” I whispered through clenched teeth.
 

“No.” He stormed through the backyard, into the kitchen, and everything began to spin like a carnival ride.
 

When he finally put me on my feet we were in my bedroom, the bile had climbed higher, and I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I stumbled to the bathroom and barely made it to the toilet before my whole body began to convulse.  

“It’s okay, baby,” Jake said from behind me. “Just let it out.” He held my hair with one hand and stroked my back with the other. I vaguely heard someone knocking and Grace’s muffled voice, but Jake didn’t answer. He pressed a cool washcloth to my head, and I squeezed my eyes shut.
 
Even in my drunken state, I was mortified. There I was, wearing nothing but white lace panties, puking my guts out, while the one man I never wanted to see me like this held back my hair.
 

When I had nothing left, Jake grabbed my robe and draped it over my shoulders.
 

A cool glass was pressed into my hand, and I sat down to the tile floor. “Drink this,” Jake whispered, and for the first time that night, I didn’t argue.

He filled the glass again and handed me a couple pills. I vaguely heard the shower running as I tossed them back and took another drink.  

He lifted me to stand, pulled my robe around my shoulders, and held me close. His strong hand stroked my back, and I wondered how I could ever be mad at him. All he was trying to do was stop me from making a fool of myself.
 

“Why don’t you take a shower. I’ll find you something to wear.”

But I didn’t want him to leave me. It felt so good standing there like that. In the morning I knew things would be different. I wouldn’t be able to say I was drunk, to hold on to him as tightly as I did now.

He turned me toward the shower and left the room. I stepped under the warm water, allowing the tears I’d been holding in all day to run down my cheeks. I rested my head against the cool tile, frustrated I’d let myself get so out of control.
This wasn’t me
.
 

I washed my hair and scrubbed my face, letting my tears rinse down the drain with the bubbles. When I stepped out of the shower, I saw my pink cami and boxers sitting on the counter. I brushed my teeth, quickly dressed, then found Jake sitting on the edge of my bed. Waiting.

He stood when I entered the room and fresh tears blurred my vision. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered.
 

He shook his head, and my heart squeezed from the look on his face. He looked tired, tormented—sad. “Let’s not talk about this now. Get some sleep.” He pulled back my covers, and I climbed into my bed.

“Thank you, Jake,” I said softly, then rested my head on my pillow and closed my eyes.

He pulled the sheet over my shoulders, and the mattress shifted under his weight as he sat beside me. His hand ran over my cheek, smoothing the hair from my face, and I felt like I did every other time he was near me—safe. He would never let anything bad happen to me. Or if it did, he’d be right by my side, holding my hand. I wouldn’t let myself think beyond that. Right now I just wanted to enjoy his closeness.
 

A few minutes passed and I began to relax. My breath turning shallow, and sleep threatened to take over. I felt Jake lean closer, and I inhaled the earthy scent of his skin.
 

“I’m sorry, Katie.” His soft lips pressed against my forehead, lingering for just a second before he stood.

 
I wanted to ask him what he was sorry about, but sleep was too close, and I finally let it take me.
 

MY EYES CRACKED OPEN, AND even with the soft light of morning the room was too bright. Em sat on the side of my bed, her short hair illuminated by the sun like a halo, and my chest filled with panic. “What time is it?” I croaked, my throat so hoarse it felt like I’d gargled sand.

“Quarter to eight,” Em replied.
 

I willed myself to sit, then pinched the bridge of my nose as my head threatened to split in two.
“The wedding is today.”
 

She nodded and handed me a glass of frothy orange liquid and a couple of Tylenol. “Are you going to be okay?”

I laughed a little. “I don’t have a choice.” Which was the truth. I needed this job. I threw the pills to the back of my throat, then downed them with a drink that tasted of tangerines. “What is that?”
 

She only shook her head and took the glass. “It’ll help with your hangover. Get in the shower. I’ll make you something to eat.”
 

A minute later, warm water ran over me as clips of last night played in my head. What the hell was I thinking? That wasn’t me; I didn’t get drunk the night before an important job. I was responsible! I chose the
blue
pill… didn’t I? What would’ve happened had Em not awoken me? Rick made it clear I had one chance, and the opportunity almost washed down the drain because of my decision to act like a sulky idiot. Like the idiot girl who made a fool of herself at every turn. That’s what I was doing. Making myself look like a fool.

Visions of Jake stroking my naked back and the way he took care of me consumed my thoughts. He’d called me baby. An endearment he’d never used before. He’d said he was sorry, but why? I let out a defeated sigh and quickly scrubbed my face. Normally a shower was rejuvenating, but not today. Today, I was so embarrassed I wanted to cry. But I didn’t have time to wallow in tears. I didn’t even have time to wash my hair.
 

When I entered the kitchen ten minutes later, Em stood at the sink, and a plate of scrambled eggs waited for me on the counter. “Thanks,” I said hoarsely.   

“No problem.” She loaded a dish into the washer and smiled.
 

“How do I look?”

She dried her hands, then tucked a wayward tag into the neck of my blouse and scanned from my messy ponytail to my black slacks. “Like you just spent the night with your head in your toilet.” Her eyes crinkled. “But in the cutest possible way, of course.”

I don’t know why, but even with the mood I was in, her honesty made me laugh. “Of course.”
 

I made myself a cup of coffee, then rested a hip against the counter and tested my stomach with a bite of egg. “Is Jake still sleeping?”
 

She shook her head, and the expression on her face made my stomach drop. “He woke me up before leaving and told me to take care of you.”

I cringed.
Take care of me.
It was always that. “What happened after—” But I stopped. So many questions lingering on my tongue, but I couldn’t ask any of them. I didn’t have time for answers, and I wasn’t sure I wanted them anyway.
 

“You mean after Jake threw you over his shoulder like a caveman?” Her brows were creased, and she shook her head. “The game ended. Grace left…”
 

I took a deep breath as guilt threatened to send me over the edge. I hadn’t thought about Grace, or how my childish behavior could affect their relationship. As jealous as I was, I didn’t want to be the reason for that.
 

“Is that where Jake went this morning?” I knew the answer, but I needed the confirmation. He took care of me last night because that was what he did. But today, he went to smooth over the conflict I created for him and Grace. She was his girlfriend; I was the girl he took care of out of obligation.
 

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure...” Her eyes filled with sympathy, and I nodded, stuffing more egg in my mouth as an excuse not to speak.
 

It was hard to believe someone like Em would ever be in a situation like mine. In love with a man I was destined never to hold. But the way she looked at me, in spite of her beauty, made me think she understood.

After eating all my stomach would allow, I downed the rest of my coffee and set my plate in the kitchen sink. “Thanks again for everything. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
 

“Don’t worry about it.” She bumped me with her shoulder. “I expect payback one of these days. With interest.”

“I promise.” And it was a promise I was determined not to break.