"Jordan." I ignored the voice, wanting five more minutes of sleep. "Jordan... Mary!" My eyes shot open and I looked at the Major in his dress uniform that Sunday morning. "Get up."
I yawned, looking at my alarm clock. "It's six o'clock."
"Your going to church with us today."
I sat up, raising a brow. "In case you haven't read my file thoroughly, I'm Catholic while you folks are mediocre Christian."
"It's a denominational church. Now stop arguing with me and get up." I sighed, swinging my legs out of bed and wincing. The Major looked at me, off guard. I pulled my blankets off and saw blood sprayed sheets. A long scrape ran down the inside of my right thigh, fresh. I bit my lip, swearing. I cut myself sneaking into Jake's room last week and I probably tore the cut back open in my sleep. "Dee, get in here!"
Denise walked in, combing her head in her bathrobe. She saw my leg and widened her eyes as Jeremy came up from behind her in, shirtless. I bit my lip in annoyance at the crowd.
"Jeremy, go get my first-aid kit. I don't think it'll need stitches. How did you get this cut, Jordan?" The woman put her brush on the floor, bending down between my legs.
"The fence at the court." I lied, wincing as she felt the tender flesh. "I'm a klutz."
An hour later, my sheets were in the washing machine and my entire thigh was covered in gauze and bandage. I put on a knee length skirt that barely covered my wraps and a blue blouse. I pulled my hair into a French braid and grabbed blue heels as I walked out into the living room to meet up with the family. I bent down to pull on my shoes and I saw both Sherwood parents jaws drop. Jeremy blushed as if a big secret had been told.
"What?"
"Is that a hickey?" The Major barked as his expression went tough, causing Jeremy to tense.
Crap. A purple bruise was on my collarbone, teeth marks still visible. "The ball hit me."
"Do I have stupid printed on my forehead?" The blond demanded as I stood up.
Yes, since he was juts now noticing hickeys on my body. "Do you really want me to answer that?"
"Frank, we're late!" Denise told him, grabbing his arm. She gave me a pleading look, begging me to back down. I looked in the Majors eyes, making it clear I was standing my ground. "Sports cause injuries, we all know this."
"If I were you, I would listen to your wife." I told him, crossing my arms over my chest. That would be a major masculinity booster right there.
His face was in mine in five-point-two seconds, his breath hot on my face. I almost flinched, thinking he was actually going to hit me this time.
"I don't give a damn how Bianca ran her house, I will not tolerate lip or whores in my house!"
"Obviously you tolerate them in your bed or you wouldn't have screwed-my-mother." I spat the last three words, seeing his eyes widen. The veins in his corneas looked like they were about the burst. "Save the military-bad-ass act for someone who'll bow down to it. Like your son and wife."
"Cover that God damn thing up!" The Major turned and headed for the door, probably to keep from completely waylaying my ass. "Car, now!"
Denise followed him out, her face white. Jeremy stared at me, shaking his head. "'Pick your battles wisely'. What part of that don't you get!"
I rolled my eyes, pulling foundation from my handbag. "Jeremy, mind your own business and I'll give you the same respect."
He pursed his lips, pale. If I was going down, he would go with me.
"Jordan!" I turned around and saw Emmalin running towards me after service. Her parents followed her slowly, their hands locked. She smiled at me. "Oh my God, I officially love you!"
"Emmalin, you can't break DADT while on base! Wait until we get to Dillon!" I punned, making her blush. The Major glared at my comment, like I expected. I was pretty sure by now that Denise didn't marry him for his sense of humor. "What did I do now?"
"Denise, she out sang Mary Campbell on the high notes!" I raised a brow as the Holden parents showed up, smiling at Denise and the Major. Claudia Joy looked like she was about to lose her juices from excitement. "Alana wants Jordan to join the choir!"
"Not happening." Denise and the Holden wife looked crestfallen as I turned the offer down. I'd done the Catholic version of the congregational choir, which was three times harder than the mess they ran here, in Meridian. There wasn't very much excitement to standing for thirty minutes to sing an overly drawn out gospel, written by a Bible Thumper on religious high.
"Why not?" General Holden asked. I noticed the Major had gone blank face in front of his boss. "You have a lovely voice, Jordan."
"Indeed she does!" A tall, Russian looking Major walked over with a short, solid brunette. He held his hand up in salute and the Major and General Holden returned it. "General Holden, Major Sherwood."
"Major Williamson, lovely Sunday." Holden returned. I glanced at the man and noticed he was a mustache short of the version hanging on his living room wall. "How was Vancouver?"
"Lovely! The nightlife is so eccentric!" Ms. Williams smiled widely, her teeth obviously bleached. There were too many tea products in her kitchen for them to be so white. "So, you're the lovely lady who's been helping Jake with his shooting? He's really improved his aim."
"Thank you." I nodded politely. His aim on the court wasn't the only thing improving. "Where is Jake?"
"Talking with Lieutenant Lynette's daughter, she's such a lovely girl. Oh Claudia Joy, that sweater is lovely! Where did you find it?"
My eyes shifted back on the church entrance as Jake came out with the black haired girl. Lax smiled at him, leaning against the side railing of the steps and giggling as he spoke. I felt my blood boil as he pushed a strand of hair out of her face. Emmalin bumped me, catching the scene and shaking her head in disbelief at the boy. His mother looked at me, her smile even.
"We're having a dinner party to celebrate Jake making the Varsity squad this evening. We'd be honored to have you all join us, especially your family, Jordan. Jake's mentioned his success is to be accredited to her doing."
"I'm so sorry, but my parents are coming in!" Claudia Joy told them, looking seriously apologetic. I instantly envied that Army Wife Nazi.
"I think we're free." Denise looked at the Major, who confirmed it, and Jeremy who also agreed. "What time is it?"
"Man, can that girl talk!" Jake came over, laughing as he moved between me and his Mom. He brushed my hand and I pulled it away sharply, knowing Jeremy and the Major caught my move. The boy looked over at me, keeping his face blank to the crowd. "Mom, did you ask them?"
"The Sherwood's will be coming. Hello Ilene, nice day, isn't it?" Another officer and his wife walk by and the adults focused on them. Jake gave me a confused and hurt expression, then his face filled with worry. Emmalin looked at me and went pale.
"Jordan, you're bleeding!"
Jake pulled a tissue out of his pocket and handed it to me as the adults looked back at me. I held it to my face, feeling my stomach double-turn over the attention. Jeremy excused us and took me back to the car, rolling the windows down to air it out.
"For someone who can turn a hickey into a sports injury with a straight face, you're pretty bad at hiding your jealousy. Especially when you start bleeding like a pig whenever you get upset."
"If the Major wasn't so proud of your service, he could see you go zero to sixty when you get on the whiskey." I snapped, silencing him instantly.
The Major and Denise entered the car seconds later, both of them looking at me cautiously.
"Didn't the doctor give her medication to stop this?" The man asked as we pulled out to head for lunch. Because drugs could fix everything! Stupid ass, typical man.
"She said it wouldn't stop the stressed triggered reactions." The blond male suddenly looked guilty and focused on the street in silence.
We decided to have lunch after my nose stopped dripping and finally made it home around three o'clock. Jake had sent me twenty texts in the past hour that I ignored. If he wanted to chat so much, he could text Lax. As I exited the car, I sent Emily details on the encounter and she replied as I expected her to. 'No one can keep a claim with Lax around. Sorry the fairytale ended so soon.'
I found myself running to the bathroom as soon as the front door was open, spewing my guts into the toilet. Jeremy's hand was on my back seconds later, rubbing in comfortably. "What the hell was in that sandwich, Dad! You're the one who recommended it!"
"I think they may have peppered the corned beef." I heard Denise answer as I sat up. Jeremy put a wet wash cloth on my forehead and laid my head on his lap. I looked at the Major, knowing he thought he was unintentionally killing me by now. "Get her to bed, Jeremy. I'll call the doctor."
Doctor Nicolis checked my vitals when she arrived, sighing.
"Her blood pressure and pulse is high. Have you been eating, Jordan?" I nodded, feeling as if my pride was being stoned in a town square. "I'm requesting she see a therapist and take stress classes... why is her leg bandaged?"
"She cut herself. I cleaned it and wrapped it this morning." Denise told her.
The doctor asked them to all to leave the room and closed the door, undoing my wraps. Nicolis looked at the cut and shook her head. "It doesn't look infected. How did you get this again?"
"I was playing ball." I told her.
"Huh-huh. Give me the version you didn't tell your parents. Everything's confidential, Jordan." I told her about the nail on Jake's windowsill and she nodded. "I want you to get a tetanus shot just in case. Besides that, just stay home and relax."
The entire house ended up staying in that night. I laid in my room with the lights off, listening to the Major and Denise talk.
"Frank, you just have to stay patient with her. These things are all normal for kids her age."
"Denise, I can't ask her 'how long have you been anorexic'? Or 'what little bastard's trying to eat your flesh?'!" The Major told her, sounding hysterical. "I bet it's Williams son! That son-of"-
"Hush Frank, you'll wake her!" My phone vibrated with another text from Jake and my phone sent out a 'Full In-box' warning. "I'm not suggesting you let her get away with it, I just don't think pushing her is the bets option. After this morning, it's obvious Bianca allowed her to build a tolerance to confrontation that will not be broken down easily! To add to that, we can't intentionally trigger the bloody noses and vomiting either."
I silently applaud Ms. Joneses for finding the balls to state the obvious to the military man. My phone vibrated, signaling a phone call from Jake. I ignored it, listening to the Majors next words.
"I don't know if I can do this anymore. I will not have a starving, slut in my home that I can't discipline because she gets sick every time she gets stressed out."
"A hickey does not instantly turn her into a slut, Frank, so stop insinuating it!" Denise stated, her voice stern but mellowing. "Jordan may be a sixteen year old with some issues; but she is also your daughter! Bianca is gone, her maternal family refuses to take her and we're the only thing she has left! Accept the fact for her sake, if not as a being you gave life to, but as a human being."
My phone stopped ringing and I checked my voice mail, listening to the message.
"Why aren't you texting me back, All-Star? Did I do something to piss you off? Your step-mother said your sick. Are you okay? God... Hold on, Mom! I have to go back to this dinner thing. I wish you were here, it's so boring. Bye."
I snorted, turning my phone off. I was sure Lax could have kept him just as entertained, if not more.
***
"Hey Jordan, come eat! Dad cooked breakfast!"
I moaned, feeling sick already. I rose from my bed after reading Wuthering Heights, heading for the kitchen. I smelled turkey bacon and peppers and decided to give the Majors culinary skills a chance.
"You two are absolutely disgusting." Jeremy stated as he and Denise stared at the Major and I.
"Why?" He asked, a brow raised.
"Syrup, turkey bacon, egg whites and peppers in a burrito?" The black haired woman shook her head in disgust, sipping her coffee.
The Major looked at me and I him, not realizing we'd done the same thing to our plates.
"You put syrup on your burritos?" I asked cautiously. This was a new category of creepy that not even Steven King could touch.
"Since I was seven." He replied back, staring at his coffee as he spoke.
"Me too." I put my food down, losing my appetite as the atmosphere thickened.
Jeremy rose, checking his watch. "Then we need to talk to Obama about passing a bill saying 'syrup shall only go on waffles and pancakes'. Ready to go, Dad?"
"I'll clean up." I offered, remembering Denise had to go grocery shopping today.
"Thank you dear, that helps out a lot." The woman smiled, patting my hand. "I'll be back in a few hours. Call if you need anything."
I had the leftover food put away and began washing dishes when the doorbell rang. I dried my hands and answered it, my stomach dropping as I faced Jake. "Hey, All-Star."
"What are you doing here?" I asked, looking behind him to see if anyone was watching us. "You should have called me first to make sure they weren't home."
"Well they're not." He pointed out to me cheekily. I crossed my arms over my chest, fuming. I was starting to wish they were. "How are you feeling? Holden said you were sick Sunday."
"I'm fine. It was just bad reactions from a sandwich I ate." I lied.
"Hmm..." I was about to question the look on his face when he grabbed my waist and kissed me. I pulled him inside, the nerves in my body reacting to his touch despite my anger. Jake closed the door behind him and pinned me to it in seconds, his cinnamon spice scent filling my nostrils. "I missed you."
I bit on his bottom lip and he winced as I pushed him back. I grabbed his neck, digging my nails into his skin while still attacking his mouth. The fact that I was pissed at him and the familiar strain in my stomach were obviously combining forces.
He kissed me harder, pulling at my hair roughly. I wondered if he was oblivious to the feelings causing my rough behavior and figured I'd find out. When we were back in my room I shoved him on my bed, pulling my shirt off. Jake raised his hips to grab his wallet and pulled a condom out. I straddled him, pulling his shirt off and pinned the arm going for his belt beside him. I rubbed my hips against his, causing him to shake. His head fell back in bliss and I put my mouth on his neck and bit him, hard. Jake winced but didn't push me off. I felt him rock my hips as the nails on my free hand slid inside his jeans and gripped his ass. Who would have guessed he liked it rough?
"Jordan, have you seen my wallet?" Denise called from the kitchen.
We both swore. How the hell she'd made it inside without me hearing the door was beyond me! I slid off him and motioned for him to keep quiet while I handled this. I grabbed my shirt, pulling it back on. I walked to the kitchen, looking as natural as I could.
"I don't think so..." I looked around the room, hoping she didn't notice my bottom lip was bleeding. I spotted it on the living room coffee table and grabbed it, handing it to her.
"Thanks. Hey, if you hurry with dishes, you could come with me and we could start clothes shopping for school?" Denise looked excited about it. Normally I would have done it just to keep her happy, but I wasn't in that position. There was a boy with a boner as erect as a skyscraper in my bedroom and my own libido was determine to use it to my benefit.
"No thanks. Maybe some other time."
She nodded and left. I looked out the window of the kitchen and waited until Denise's car was out of sight and returned to the dishes, shell shocked. That was really close. I was rinsing the last dish fifteen minutes later when I felt Jake's body pin me to the sink.
"What are you doing?"
"Dishes." I told him, not reacting to his bare skin surrounding me.
"Hm... I don't think so." He stuck his hands in the water and then brought them up to cup my chest, water soaking my shirt. I bit my lip as the hair on my arms stood up, my mind going blank instantly. Jake put his mouth to my ear, his breath ragged. "You're suppose to be doing me."
He removed his hands from my chest and eased me onto the kitchen floor. Jake put me on my back and straddled me, taking my shirt back off and pinning my wrists down. I bent my head to kiss him but he avoided it. I looked up at him, confused. His green eyes were dark but his expression tense.
"What?"
"Why are you so mad at me?"
"I'm not." I bit my lip, rubbing my hips to his. Jake grunted but kept his hold on me. "Really, I felt like crap Sunday. All I did was sleep for the past three days."
"Why don't I believe you?" He shot, putting his mouth closer to mine. I managed to brush my lips against his before he put his head next to my ear. So much for having control. "Just tell me."
"I'm not mad." I assured him, doubting he could keep this going much longer.
Jake sighed in frustration. "Jordan,"
"Jake," I mocked him. Come on, did he really think I was going to admit I was jealous of Lax? I had convinced the entire senor football team she was trying to start an AIDs pandemic our freshman year. Besides that, there was no emotion to this. We merely claimed each other to keep the drama down while having great sex. Admitting I was jealous might cause him to think I was going for something deeper. The results would either cause him to back off and leave me to fin for other horn dogs or want something I wasn't willing to embrace right now. He released my arms in surrender and undid his belt, pulling the condom out of his pocket.
An hour later, I was moping up a spill I had noticed while on the floor. The phone rang as I was rinsing out the rag and I turned the faucet off to answer it. "Sherwood Residence."
"Hey Jordan, it's Roxy. I have an emergency at work and my baby sitter's sick. I was wondering if you could watch Gil and Fin for a few hours? I called Dee and she said it was fine. Please... I'll pay you twice what I do Loren since it's last minute?"
"Sure. When do I need to be over there?" I asked as Jake came out of the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel.
"I'll pick you up in twenty minutes. Thanks Honey! I owe you more than a gambler who's just lost the high stakes in Reno!"
Okay, that woman was defiantly raised in a dysfunctional household. I put the phone down as Jake walked over to the breakfast bar, droplets of water on his bare arms. "Who was that?"
"LeBlanc's wife. She's picking me up in twenty, which means you need to be out of here in ten."
His eyes watched me as I cleaned out the sink. Jake walked behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He put his face into my hair, inhaling. "I love the scent of your shampoo. What is it?"
"Lilac." I answered back, my voice lower than I would have liked it to be.
"I couldn't get it out of my head Sunday night." The boy trailed his hand down to my stomach and sighed. He kissed my jaw, playing with the material around my waist. "My Dad sent nine girls over to 'cheer me up'. Hell, Lynette even offered to"- I went tense and he paused, noticing my movements. Damn it, he was onto me. "Is that what your mood's about? She said you two knew each other from Meridian... Are you jealous that I was talking to her at church?"
Why did he have to have a decent I.Q? I pushed him back and turned to him, my face hot. "You need to leave unless you want this entire base informed that you're getting regular booty calls from me. And trust me, LeBlanc will run her mouth."
"What the hell... look, I don't go for switch-offs, Jordan." Jake told me, following me as I picked his wallet and shirt off the couch and handed it to him. "They're messy and overly dramatic."
"Jake, I really don't care what you do when you're not with me." He pulled his shirt on, swearing at me.
"Damn it, Jordan! You are so out of Lynette's league... look, she's pretty, alright? But she runs her mouth and screams 'easy'."
"Jake, I-don't-care!" I spat, annoyed. What the hell was I? We slept together the day after we met! He watched my emotion, his expression hurt. "You need to leave, now!"
"Fine." I opened the door to let him out. He bent to kiss me but I pretended not to notice. Jake sighed, shaking his head. "Damn it, Jordan. I'm not leaving until you kiss me."
I gave in, knowing LeBlanc was probably blocks away. I tried to give him a simple, chaste kiss but he grabbed my arms and pulled my closer, biting on my lower lip. I gasped, buckling my knees as he cupped my face. A horn honked and I jumped, pulling away from Jake. I looked out and realized LeBlanc was messing with her kids in the back seat and hadn't seen the make out session. I closed the door and walked him to the back yard, letting him out that way.
"Call me the next time you come over." I told Jake, the warm heat going to my cheeks. He nodded, kissing me again. What was up with him today?
"Be sure to clean out your in-box then. Have fun with the twerps."
I nodded and closed the gate behind him. I grabbed my bag and shoes and was in LeBlanc's Mustang five minutes later. "Hey Honey, thanks for this! I so owe you!"
Two boys in the back seat stared at me. The brown haired one's eyes popped.
"Mom, she's as pretty as Emmalin! Are you as nice as her?"
Ah... "Define 'nice'?"