Learning to Live (18 page)

The next few hours go by with us hanging out with his family at
the house and then at the beach. When lunch time approaches, Jax
takes me to Pensacola with the Jeep’s top down. He’d said, “If you’re
going to do it, then do it right.” As we drive around with my hair
blowing everywhere, he shows me the sights and tells me stories of his
childhood and what is was like growing up here. I love listening to him
and watching his expressions while he talks. I can’t see his eyes under
the aviator sunglasses, but I still feel the heat in his stare when they
land on me.

When we park in town, I notice the place is crowded with people
of all shapes, ages, and sizes in beach attire. I have on my green bikini
from yesterday, but I’m not brave enough to walk around without my
cover-up yet. Maybe I will one day, just not today.

We walk down the strip for a while, and I’m enjoying the sounds
of the wind as well as the ocean when I notice the Ferris wheel ahead
of us. It’s a huge white wheel, and the buckets are enclosed by tinted
windows. I’m so caught up in watching it spin that I don’t notice
we’ve stopped until I hear Jax ask for two tickets.

That gets my attention so I look at him and he’s smiling and
showing his dimple again. He’s paying the man already, so I put my
hand over his and tell him. “I can buy my own ticket.” I unzip my
purple and green chevron pattern wristlet to grab some cash. “How
much is it?” I ask and take out a twenty to hand over to the man, but
Jax takes it and sticks it back in my wallet.

“I got this.” I’m about to argue but he places his fingers on my
lips. “It our first day as a couple and I’m paying.” He replaces his
finger with his lips and smiles because he’s won. “Now it’s time to see
Pensacola the right way.”

I’m shaking with excitement as he takes my hand and leads me on
the gondola. Yes, I’m thrilled to ride the Ferris wheel, but the real
reason flutters dance in my stomach is because he had called us a
couple. Inside I’m doing a cheer and singing “Jax and Trudy sitting in
a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G” in my head.

After I’m seated Jax sits beside me and places his arm around my
shoulders to pull me closer. I immediately relax into him. He kisses my
forehead and says, “If you get too scared just hold on to me.”

“I will,” I say as the gondola starts moving. I love the warmth and
strength of his body when it’s close to mine. I feel safe and that is a
rare feeling for me.

I watch the stunning view from the windows on either side of us. I
see cars and the people walking around outside start to get smaller in
size the higher we get, and soon they resemble bugs. When we reach
the top, I look toward the horizon and see the blue water covered in
boats, and I can see the bridge that leads back toward downtown. I see
people parasailing and smile because I feel as though I could be flying.
I have to continue to hold his hand as I lean to look out the windows
because it’s scary, even if I am surrounded in a safe glass bubble.

“Wow, I have never been this high before. I bet it’s amazing at
night too.” I know from the pain in my cheeks my smile is super wide,
but I couldn’t care less because this is so much fun.

“Yeah, it’s something alright. It’s cool seeing all the lights from
the buildings, and if you catch it just right, you can watch the sunset.”
He gets his iPhone out of his pocket, smiling. “Come here.”

“Why?” I ask as I scoot back toward him on the bench seat.

He holds his camera out in front of us and brings me closer. “Say
cheese.” He snaps a picture before I’m ready, and I’m sure I blinked
and my mouth was open.

“I wasn’t ready,” I laugh because one bad picture can’t ruin my
good mood.

“Well let’s try again.” He sets his camera down as I get in a decent
pose, and he snaps another picture. This one is perfect and I know I
want one too.

We repeat the picture on my phone and then the ride is over too
soon. After we exit our gondola, we decide to grab some ice cream
before we head back to his Jeep. I notice it’s starting to get late, and
we still need to pack up before we head back to school. “What time do
we need to head back to Mobile?”

He looks at the time on his phone. “We still have a few hours. You
want to go ahead and take that jet ski ride?” he asks, wagging his
eyebrows. Just the simplest things he does causes those flutters in my
stomach to start.

“Yeah, but I’m still scared. What if I fall off and a shark is
around? What if seagulls fly in front of us blocking our view and we
run into a boat? And if I fall off, how will you know if I’m not behind
you anymore?” I ask and notice he’s smiling, but these are serious
questions.

“You’ll be fine. I promise. And if a shark does try to get you, I’ll
just kick his ass because he can’t have what’s mine.” He kisses me
then helps me into the Jeep. “And you, Tru, are mine.” I buckle up
wondering how I got to be here and out of all the people in the world
why would he choose me? I will probably never know, but I won’t
argue.

The day has gone by way too fast and I hate leaving my family to
head back to school, but I’m not leaving empty handed. I look at Trudy
asleep in the passenger side and know I still need to go easy and not
push this relationship on her. I don’t want to smother her, but I want to
spend all my time with her. We hardly see each other during the week
because our class schedules aren’t the same, but I can walk her to class
in the mornings, and maybe I can drive her to and from work. Yeah,
that’ll show that dickhead Benji.

I silently argue with myself as I follow David and Jazz in her car. I
can’t act like a jealous asshole, and I don’t want her to get the
impression that I don’t trust her. I know Benji wants her though. And
now that she’s mine, I feel even more possessive than before. I rub my
face with my hand and exhale because just thinking of him touching
her causes my temper to rise and visions of me smashing his face in
cross my mind. The last thing I want her to think is that I’m a hostile
person, especially after that asshole Brad was.
Okay, that didn’t
fucking help
.

I start to think of the past weekend instead and remember Cohen
jumping in Tru’s arms to tell her goodbye with a kiss on the cheek.
Man, he was upset when he saw us kissing after dinner tonight. He
didn’t cry though. He just broke us up and occupied all of Tru’s time
instead.
Little bastard,
I think with a smile and start to laugh.

All too soon I’m parking my Jeep beside Jazz’s car, and after I cut
the ignition, Tru starts to stir. Man, I love her eyes when she first
wakes up. The sexy, hooded and glassy look is such a turn-on, but add
that feminine arch of her back as she stretches, and I can’t help but
have to adjust myself when I get out of the Jeep.

I walk to her side and open the door. Tucking a piece of hair
behind her ear, I just smile at her. “Hey, sleeping beauty. We’re here.” I
kiss her nose. “I had a great time today.”

Her mouth turns up but then she starts to yawn and covers her
mouth. “Sorry, I’m just so tired for some reason.” She looks around
like she’s in a daze as I help her down. “So, will I see you this week?”

“I have practice early tomorrow morning, but I want to see you
after I’m done. If it won’t cause you to be late for class,” I tell her,
even though I hate going that long without her.

She takes my offered hand after I take her bag from her arms, and
we begin to walk toward the doors.“Well, I only have early classes
Wednesday and Thursday and dance practice early Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday mornings. We could meet for coffee afterward.
What time does your practice end?”

“It depends on Coach’s mood, but usually we finish around nine
since we start at six.” We reach the door and I don’t want to say
goodbye, but I see David waiting in the Jeep for me and know we still
have our bags to unpack. “I’ll call you tomorrow morning when I’m
done.”

I look into her sea green eyes and feel like I’m drowning. They are
so damn hypnotizing and speak volumes of what she’s thinking. Her
arms slide around my neck. Then I feel her tiny fingers playing with
my hair, and it gives me chills.
Man, she drives me fucking crazy with
the simplest things.
Smiling, I bring my lips to hers, but the chills soon
vanish as the heat I always feel when we kiss returns. Her hands grip
my hair harder, and she moans as I slide my tongue against her lips
and taste some fruity gloss. It’s the taste of
her
that’s causing me to act
like a starved animal though. I push her against the building and stand
between her legs, feeling the heat from her core against my dick
through her shorts. Just as she starts rotating her perfect hips against
me, my sister decides to interrupt.

“Okay, you two. It’s illegal to get naked in public, and I’m sure
you don’t want the first time you do the nasty to be on this disgusting
ground.” I look up at her just as she shudders. “Can you imagine not
only all the germs but the road rash?
Ouch
!”

I reluctantly pull away because I know she’s right. I look at Tru
and even though it’s night time, I can see her blush. I bend down and
grab her bag just as Jazz tells me goodnight and goes inside.

“I really should go before a security guard walks up,” she says
softly and starts to move around me because I’m still blocking her.
I grab her arm and when she turns, I say, “Don’t forget this.” I
smile and hold out her bag for her, but when she reaches I wrap my
other arm around her waist. “And this,” I say and give her one last
kiss. “Night, Tru.” I pull away and she walks inside. I watch because I
can’t help but admire the view, then when she’s out of sight I head
back to the Jeep. On the way to the house, I listen to David
continuously calling me
whipped
and acting all pissed off at about it
.
I
don’t mind though, because I’m thinking he’s totally right.

The next few days Tru and I spend every available minute
together. I usually meet her for coffee after we both finish practice in
the mornings, and after class she comes to my place and we watch TV
while cuddling on my bed or study together. I always keep her away
from Craig though, because even if he’s calmed down in the asshole
department since he’s on probation from the fraternity, I still don’t
trust him.