Stay for the rest of my life is what I wish he’d say.
I give him another kiss because he’s so damn sweet.
“I’d love to meet them. And I most definitely can stay.”
Driving to Sonoma
RILEY
I apologized to Jennifer for being an ass in Vegas.
I try not to be a jerk, but on the rare occasion I am, I usually make it up to the girl with sex. But since I’m stranded on second base with Jennifer, that wasn’t really an option.
I try not to think about the last time I felt stranded on second base, way back in high school when I was dating Ariela.
Jennifer makes me feel like I’m an awkward teen, who isn’t completely sure what to do. But she makes me feel alive in ways I haven’t felt in a long time.
And that makes it worth it.
I’ve fucked a lot of women, but none of them made me feel anything in my heart.
When Jennifer cried in Vegas, I felt it in my heart.
I hurt her.
And it didn’t feel good.
I knew how I could make it up to her. Instead of flowers and an apology, I showed up at her house unannounced, handed her my keys, and told her she could drive my car. I said the Hamptons were a little far, but we could go up to Keatyn and Aiden’s house in Sonoma County. Dallas had mentioned that I should join them earlier this week. And if we timed it right, we’d be there for one of Marvel’s wonderful dinners.
Jennifer jumped into the air, threw her arms around my neck, and kissed me.
Making things feel right again.
“Shit,” she yells, hitting the brake as the radar detector goes off and we fly by a highway patrol car.
“How fast were you going?” I ask her.
“A hundred and thirty. Shit. Shit. Shit. Look behind us. Is he coming after us?”
“We’re almost to their house. Speed up.”
She turns and looks at me. “Are you freaking nuts?”
“It’s not like he can catch you if you speed up.”
“No, but he can call ahead to all his patrolman friends. Then I’m fucked.”
“It’s about two miles. He can’t get any one here that fast. And he sure as shit can’t catch you.”
She beams at me as she drops the pedal. “If you’re wrong, you’re bailing me out of jail.”
“Deal,” I say.
“Shit! One fifty! This is nuts!”
“The road splits up ahead, get ready. You’re gonna go to the right. Nice easy curve. Slow it down. You’re doing awesome. Only about another half mile.”
She slows down to ninety.
“Okay, see that street light up ahead? Turn left there.”
She brakes hard and makes the corner.
“Okay, now I need you to go really slow. Dallas’ kids are here and they may be running around playing Ghost in the Graveyard.”
“Oh, I used to play that with my friends! Was Keatyn excited we are coming?”
“I didn’t tell her. She loves surprises.”
After we park in the driveway, Jennifer pulls me into a kiss.
A good kiss with lots of tongue.
“That was so much fun, Riley! And, for the record, I forgive you.”
“I was going to bring you flowers, but I thought you’d like this better.”
“You already know me so well. Will we have a place to stay?”
“Yeah, but we’ll probably have to share a bedroom.”
She gives me a wicked smile. “I’d like to share more than that tonight, Riley.”
“Really? Hell, I should have let you drive my car sooner.”
“You’re bad, Riley Johnson,” she says, playfully slapping my arm.
Knowing it’s going down tonight, I flirt, “You have no idea just how bad I can be.”
Saturday, October 4th
Keatyn & Aiden’s home - Asher Vineyards, Sonoma County
KEATYN
The front door bursts open and Riley and Jennifer bound into the dining room, causing all of us to stop our conversation.
“What's up?” Riley says. “We were in the neighborhood. Thought we’d stop by.”
“Riley let me drive his car up here and, ohmigawd, I was freaking out,” Jennifer says animatedly. “I cruised by this cop doing well over a hundred. Riley’s radar detector blared and I hit the brakes. I figured he was turning around and coming after me. But Riley told me to go faster! That there was no freaking way he could catch us! And I did! And he didn't! And, yay! We're here!”
I stand up, being polite, wondering how in the hell this is going to work out. I purposely didn’t invite Riley because Ariela would be here. “That sounds like quite the exciting trip,” I say to Jennifer, giving her a quick hug. “We’re so glad you joined us. Let me introduce you to everyone.” I turn back toward the table. “Everyone, I’m sure you all recognize Jennifer Edwards. She and Knox are going to be working together in a Captive Films project.”
Jennifer sees Knox and waves excitedly at him.
“Jennifer,” I continue, pointing around the table. “This is my fiancé, Aiden Arrington. This is Logan and Maggie Pedersen, they’re our friends from school and run the vineyard. These are my grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa Douglas.”