I survived my first week in Reed's employ. I also passed my written and driving tests with little difficulty. I now had a driver's license and not just a state issued identification card. The picture was awful, but I didn't care. The three by four inch card gave me a sense of freedom I'd never had.Maggie was waiting at the house when I returned from the motor vehicle department. She handed me a remote to one of Reed's other cars. It was a black Cadillac Escaladebright, shiny, and new, worth more money than I'd made in my entire life. It was parked next to my old trailer and was in the garage when we moved in. I checked the registration just in case Reed pulled a fast one on me, but he'd purchased it six months before I tried to burglarize his home. I was afraid to drive it, but figured I needed to get over that fear.I was just leaving the garage, forgoing the temptation to take it for a drive, when my phone sounded. Reading Reed's text made me smile.Congratulations. I know you pa
I worked the Saturday afternoon shift at Tasty Burger and then stayed with Bitsy that night while Jon went out with his friends. One of them had a car and Jon promised to wear his seat belt, not let anyone drink and drive, and if there was sex involved to cover up. I ignored all his eye rolls.There was a city curfew and he managed to get in with two minutes to spare. We didn't need any trouble, and CPS would find out if he was caught by the cops. The next morning, I gathered our laundry. Jon was sleepy and grumpy; he sat on the couch while Bitsy ate a bowl of cereal. I picked up the basket and carried it to Reed's house to wash.I started the first load and heard the front door open when I walked toward the front of the house. Expecting Jon or even Bitsy, my mouth dropped open when I saw Reed standing there. He looked exhausted, rumpled, and absolutely delicious. I was wearing my oldest threadbare sweatpants and a tight secondhand t-shirt that said "whales blow" on the front under a
We were back in Reed's bed, his arms around me, my back to his front. His breath blew over my damp hair across my neck. I listened as his breathing slowed, and he fell asleep holding me. We needed to talk. I had so much I wanted to say, but he needed sleep. I'd seen the exhaustion in his eyes. We could talk later.His tightening arms woke me up. His stomach growling made me laugh. I could feel him hard against my back."I'm hungry." His rough, sleepy voice was precious."There's a frozen lasagna in the freezer that I can heat up."He turned me so I was on my back and moved down my body while he spoke, "That's not what I'm hungry for."How could I not laugh? I'd heard his stomach. "You're such a liar.""Okay, so I'm hungry for two things. Stay still or I'll tie you down.""What if I want to be tied down?"He did what I least expected. He stood and pulled me off the bed. After opening a dresser drawer, he handed me one of his t-shirts. I wasn't sure what just happened."If I'm t
Bitsy stayed the night at Maggie's on Friday and Jon was going out with his friends. He did his laundry and packed his bag for our trip before he left, but I needed to wash for Bitsy and me and then pack for us too. I had a hamper full of clothes and was almost to Reed's front door when a shiny, very expensive car pulled up. It didn't take any imagination at all to figure out who the impeccably dressed woman stepping out after the driver opened the door was.Oh my hell.The glare she gave me should have turned me to stone. I looked about the same way that I had when Reed surprised me when he showed up Sunday. Mrs. Tyler could have stepped from a fashion magazine. Every died-brown hair in place, her skirt and blouse perfectly adorned with refined jewelry, and her face having been through subtle tightening, so, God forbid, no wrinkles marred her well-moisturized skin. I stood waiting for the attack."I've come to speak with my son. I'm assuming you're hired to do-something and forgot
I waved over Bitsy and Jon and then we followed Beverly down the long ramp to the plane."You can place your bags in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of where you'll be sitting and then I'll introduce you to the captain."We quickly stored our bags and I noticed the wider seats and more luxurious accommodations in the front of the large plane. Reed continued to take care of us.Beverly knocked on the open cockpit door and the captain turned. "Welcome to my plane. I'm Captain Montague. Reed told me this is your first airplane flight and a certain young lady might want to see the controls and ask a few questions."Oh God, how could I not love Reed Tyler? Bitsy's questions started up again, but this time almost every one was answered. Jon and I got situated in our seats, him across from Bitsy and me. The captain finally explained to Bitsy that the cockpit door had to remain locked and closed during the flight and it was time for her to find her seat. With a shiny se
I didn't even breathe, just spoke. "Your mother came to see me."He dropped his hand. "Ah fuck. I'm sorry. I should have known and warned you. I can only picture what she would do and say. Were Jon and Bitsy there?"Of course he would worry about them too. That was Reed. "No, and I'm glad. Jon could handle her, but she would have scared Bits.""I've dealt with her for years, Jaycee, and I can tell you she'll lie and manipulate to get exactly what she wants."I gave him a slight smile. "You mean you don't have a fianceé heading into town?"He lifted his hand again and smoothed my hair, using his other hand to trace my lower lip with his finger. "I want a fianceé, but that's a talk for later. What else did she say?"My heart rate picked up, but I refused to give into what Reed offered. "It doesn't matter what she said. I know a little about your family history. I know your mother married your dad for his money." I reached my hand up and covered Reed's. "I know your dad died loving
We left the hotel at noon and found ourselves at a medium-sized ballpark, with Bitsy and I dressed in our number eight jerseys. Jon didn't wear a jersey, but he wore a t-shirt with the team colors, blue and white. He still did the whole dark-eyed sinister thing, but he managed to carry it off and not look ridiculous. I couldn't remember the last time he wasn't wearing black outside of the swimming pool. He gave me the cold shoulder and answered with one word whenever he could get away with it, but he'd made his point. I know he didn't think I would listen or take advice from him, but he had managed to break through the wall I'd put up since Reed's mother's visit. Tickets were waiting and our seats were above the Bandits' dugout.Chi Chi ran toward us when she saw us approach. "Hey, girlfriend. Long time no see. I figured you didn't make your flight because of the bad mood your man's in." Something must have shown on my face because she followed her statement up with, "Ah, ooh." She
Sal, Chi Chi, Clare, and Dustin joined us for pizza. If I thought Reed was a little boy when playing with Jon and Bitsy, he took it to an entirely different level with his friends. It was worse than playing horse on Reed's basketball court. The guys were ruthless unless Bitsy was in a game. It didn't matter what they played; if she was in it, she won. Jon had to fight for every inch because they treated him as an equal, and I figured it was a man thing.We made it back to the hotel late. Reed helped me tuck Bitsy in, said goodnight to Jon, kissed me on the cheek, and walked to the front door. I stood in confused silence. He was leaving me alone again tonight. Jon watched me with an evil grin as I stormed into my room. If it wasn't for my exhaustion after two nights of no sleep, I don't think I would have passed out the way I did. Bitsy landed on my bed the following morning dressed in a different Disney shirt ready to hit the amusement park. I showered and walked out to a full break