Stew had moved on, had been living with his piece in the trailer park but word was he was moving, with her, into an apartment in the ‘burg. He didn’t mind Gabby knowing it either, since he paraded the skank in front of Gabby at the game that night five times (Layne hadn’t paid attention, but Rocky had counted and shared this information). Gabby hadn’t liked this and made the unfortunate play of letting that show. She didn’t see the skank was a skank and Gabby was a better catch. But that was Gabby, always making the wrong decisions.
Layne and Rocky had dinner with Ryker and Lissa. In a social situation, Ryker was no less Ryker but Layne’s woman was enough of a nut to find him charming (this was Rocky’s word). She and Lissa had instantly formed a bond over some woman in the ‘burg who gave manicures that were so good, both declared the manicurist an “artist”. Before they left Frank’s, the women had planned to have back-to-back manicures the next Saturday followed by lunch at The Station.
The Bulldogs had won again and Jasper and Layne had talked for half an hour on the phone before the game about which visits to universities he was going to accept. He only had so many and they were stacking up. Purdue had been added, as had IU and Michigan. Jasper was leaning toward Ball State. It was his Dad’s alma mater and it was a good school. It just wasn’t Purdue.
Layne had allowed Ball State to be scratched on the list but the first visit was going to be to West Lafayette, Indiana. Jasper had agreed.
It was almost done, they were almost there. They just had to take down Rutledge and Towers and then life could be life.
His eyes turned to the bathroom when he caught movement there and his breath locked in his throat when he saw Rocky in a faded, red t-shirt with a peeling Ball State decal. It was the first one she’d confiscated from him twenty-one years ago. He remembered it because it was his favorite shirt and he’d known with an even deeper knowledge than he already had that he loved her when he gave it up without a fight.
She strutted to her side of the bed, pulled back the covers and slid in, her movements liquid, she shifted to him, reached across him and turned out the light.
Then she pinned him to the bed.
“Baby,” he muttered, his voice thick.
“Yeah?”
“The tee.”
She pressed closer.
“You weren’t the only one who didn’t let go,” she whispered.
Layne’s arm tightened around her, his hand giving her hip a rough squeeze, his other hand lifted and slid into her hair.
“Though, I should note, Jarrod wasn’t a big fan of me wearing this to bed.”
Layne’s body went still.
“Which I did,” she went on.
Layne stayed still and silent.
“A lot,” she finished.
Layne didn’t move nor speak.
Neither did Rocky.
Until she whispered, “I know it was a bitchy thing to do, Layne, but, I mean, he was a jerk and he kept throwing you in my face so, I figured, since he didn’t get over it and I never got over you, at least I should be honest.”
Layne kept his silence.
“He deserved it,” she muttered.
Layne’s body finally moved but it was against his volition. It did this to shake with laughter.
Her head came up. “He did, Layne, seriously. He –”
“Baby,” he forced out, his voice sounding choked.
“You think I’m a bitch,” she wrongly surmised.
“Baby,” he repeated but was unable to say more.
“Trust me, Layne, I’m not a bitch. He could get mean about you.”
He rolled into her, his hand in her hair moving over her mouth. “Baby, shut up.”
“Okay,” she said under his hand.
Layne moved his hand, dropped his head and shoved his face in her neck where he kept laughing softly.
“Are you laughing?” she whispered, finally feeling the way his body was moving, not to mention hearing his laughter.
“Shit yeah,” he replied.
“Oh.”
“You wore my tee to his bed,” Layne stated.
“I missed you,” she whispered.
Layne went still again. Then his head tipped back and he roared with laughter.
“Layne!”
“You wore my tee to his bed,” Layne choked.
“Okay, now I’m thinking it was bitchy.”
“You wore my tee to his bed,” Layne repeated, still choking on his hilarity.
“Stop laughing!”
“Wrapped yourself up in me and slipped into his bed,” Layne went on, his body shaking so hard the bed was moving with it.
He loved this, he loved knowing it, he loved that she did it, he loved everything about it and he didn’t fucking care what that said about him or about her. He just loved it.
“Layne!” she cried. “Stop laughing!”
“Dad!” They both heard Jasper shout and they both went still. “We’re home!”
“Right, Bud,” Layne shouted back. “Have a good night?”
“Yeah!” Jasper was still shouting.
“Hey Dad!” Tripp yelled.
“Hey Pal,” Layne yelled back.
“Hey Rocky!” Tripp kept yelling.
“Hey Tripp!” Rocky was now yelling.
“We’re hittin’ the sack!” Jasper shouted.
“Gotcha,” Layne shouted back.
“See you in the morning!” Tripp yelled.
“Right Pal, goodnight,” Layne yelled back.
“’Night, Dad, ‘night Rocky,” Tripp kept yelling.
“’Night Tripp,” Rocky yelled back and Layne’s body started shaking again.
“’Night Roc!” Jasper shouted. “Later, Dad.”
“’Night Jas!” Rocky shouted and Layne’s laughter became audible.
Still he managed to shout, “Later, Bud.”
He felt Rocky’s eyes on him in the dark and then she said in a horrified whisper, “Jeez, we’re the freaking Waltons.”
At that, Layne roared with laughter yet again.
*
Saturday, 2:32 a.m.
Tanner Layne slept with Raquel Merrick pinning him to the bed.
He was having good dreams.
*
Rocky’s eyes opened and she saw only dark.
Dark.
She felt it press into her, like it was physical, a weight, a heavy weight against her skin.
Her breath started to get heavy.
She saw only dark but she felt only Layne.
She let the heat from his body seep into her, feeling his strength under her arm, her cheek, her leg, down her torso.
She pulled in a deep, steady breath and stared into the dark, sucking in Layne’s heat, his strength.
She used him to beat it back, closed her eyes and slept, pinning her man to the bed.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Dark