“You need to decide soon, because if you’re not going, I need to get a replacement.”
“I’m going.” This will be good for me. “I need some Jenna/Cate time.”
“You sure about this? You’ve been stuck to Drew’s side since Thanksgiving. Sometimes I think you’re his third arm.”
Once again, I can’t argue with that. “I know? but I can’t help it. When I’m not with him, it’s like a part of me isn’t here.”
“Jaysus. You’re kidding, right?”
“No! I’m not. I wish I were.” I hang my head.
“Well damn girl, there’s no need to be down about it. Be happy you found your one! Not many people can say that.”
“I know, but it seems like forever until I graduate.”
She thumps me on the side of the head. “Get a hold of yourself, you fucknut. It’s not like you’re in school in China, for Pete’s sake. You’re an hour away from him. Of all people I know, you’re the last one I thought I’d be having this talk with. You, Cate Forbes, pining away for your guy.” She shakes her head. “Remind me never to fall in love. You look like a damn fool.” Then she makes a funny face and pokes out her tongue and I can’t help but giggle.
“It is ridiculous. I can’t argue with you there. But one day, you’ll see what I’m talking about. It’s like something takes a hold of you and won’t let you go.”
Jenna gives me this priceless look and says, “Girl, you know what that is, don’t you? It’s the damn sex spell. Your slut gene has been activated and you’ve gotten a taste of that orgasmic DNA. That’s all it is.”
“Do you believe there’s only one person on this earth for you?”
“What? Hell no!”
“Drew doesn’t either, but he does think it’s difficult to find one that can make you happy.”
“Yeah, I’ll go with that. But I think the sea is loaded with tons of fish. You just have to use the right bait.”
Jenna and Drew are probably right, but whatever the case, I’m glad Drew and I found each other.
“So, Key West with me then?”
“Yeah.”
“No surly Cate?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, but if you do, I swear I’ll kick your ass.”
And she almost ends up doing exactly that. The first couple of days I’m fine, loving the warm temps and the beach, but after day four, I’m over this place. Every day and night we do the same thing and Jenna’s agenda is completely different from mine. All I want to do by this time is go home. To Drew. I want to get away from all the partying because I’m not into it at all. The sticky floors where everyone has spilled their sugary drinks, or worse, and the gooey seats, where you’re afraid to sit, make me cringe to think about. And then I have to fend off drunk and horny dudes, who are kind of sad and pitiful, but completely annoying with the way they pour their drinks all over me. Each night when we get home, I immediately jump in the shower, while Jenna promptly passes out. By day five, I’m doing a mental hourly countdown until I can leave this horrible place.
Saturday morning, I practically have to beat Jenna to get her to wake up. Of course, she didn’t go to bed until five a.m. Our flight is at ten, so we need to leave for the airport at eight. After four attempts, I finally get her going. When we land in Indy, Drew is waiting at the baggage claim and Jenna looks like a worn out hooker.
“Don’t ask,” she says as she walks straight past him and takes the first seat she finds.
“Is she okay?” he asks.
“Hung over. I had to beat her up to get her out of bed. I’m so glad to be home. I’m never leaving you again.”
“I like the sound of that,” he says.
“No, I’m serious. It was awful. I never should’ve gone. It was not my scene at all.”
He turns to me and runs his finger down my cheek. “I’m so sorry. I was hoping you’d have a great break.” Then his arms are around me and I bury myself in his embrace.
The luggage starts dropping and I reluctantly pull myself away. Drew collects our bags and Jenna, and we head to his car.
“I think we need to stay here tonight. Jenna’s not in any shape to drive and needs sleep and so do I. With you.”
“That can be arranged.”
When we get to Drew’s, he takes Jenna to the extra bedroom and she crawls into bed. That’s the last we hear from her until later that night. Drew and I sit in the living room and catch up for a while. I tell him all about my awful week, but instead of feeling sorry for me, he laughs. He thinks it’s funny that I hated the clubs and bars, and hated staying out late with Jenna.
“Why is it so funny?”
“Selfishly, because you weren’t looking for other guys.”
“So, you are happy I was miserable?”
“Uh, yeah.” And his smile speaks a million words. Drew McKnight may have been a little jealous before I went to Key West. But now, he’s a happy guy, knowing I was miserable there. And it’s my turn to smile. I lean over and kiss him. Then he adds, “By the way, I wanted to wait until you got back to share this news with you.” He’s almost rubbing his hands together.