I own none of the characters from October road or the song Commitment by Leann Rimes
What I'm lookin' for is a love that's forever
Someone who can capture my soul in a heartbeat and stay for all time
What I'm praying for is a match made in heaven
Someone who will worship my body and still put his heart on line
Commitment
Someone who will go the distance
I need someone who will stand power
Who will make me go weak in the knees.
Commitment
And everything that goes with it
I need honor and love in my life from somebody
Who's playin' for keeps
What I'm searchin' for is a man who will stand by me
Who will walk in the fire and be my flame in the night
I don't settle for less than what I deserve
A friend and a lover who will love me for the rest of my life
Commitment
Someone who will go the distance
I need someone who will stand power
Who will make me go weak in the knees.
Commitment
And everything that goes with it
I need honor and love in my life from somebody
Who's playin' for keeps
Yeah, I've had promises broken, three words left unspoken
They just left me achin' for more
But I've found temptation, I won't be impatient
There's one thing that's worth waiting for
Commitment
Someone who will go the distance
I need someone who will stand power
Who will make me go weak in the knees.
Commitment
And everything that goes with it
I need honor and love in my life from somebody
Who's playin' for keeps
Janet Meadows moaned into Eddie Latekka's mouth as he kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hoping to keep this kiss going on as long as possible because she knew what would happen when they broke apart. After a few more minutes of kissing, Eddie slowly pulled away and got out of bed
"Why don't you stay?" Janet asked.
"Cause Phyz is worse than my mother." Eddie told her as he got dressed. "He'll give me the third degree if I don't come home"
"So why not answer his questions?"
"Don't start and ruin the wonderful night that we had." Eddie finished dressing and then kissed Janet goodbye. "I'll you tomorrow."
"Yeah. Sure."
"Janet, don't be angry."
"Make sure you lock the door."
As Eddie walked out of her bedroom and then her house the convicted feelings that have been bubbling inside of her began to rise to surface, as they do every time Eddie walks out of her bedroom. She couldn't understand how she could feel so happy and disappointed at the same time. Janet's life began to spiral out of control six weeks ago.
She was home one early evening after her shift at Sully's when Eddie stopped over to plant some flowers that she had ordered. Her door was opened and Eddie just walked in, something he had done on numerous occasions, yelling for her as he went. Stepping out of the shower she heard Eddie yelling for her. Thinking that something is wrong, she quickly wrapped a towel around her body, stepped out of the bathroom and followed Eddie's voice until she found him. "Eddie, what the hell is wrong?" He turned around and his eyes widened when he saw her.
"Hey Janet."
"What are you…Eddie. Eddie?" Janet snapped her fingers in front of his eyes, bringing him back to the present. "Latekka."
"Oh sorry. I…uhh…wow." He managed to mumble as his eyes traveled up and down her practically naked body.
"Why are you here?"
"Uhh…I…flowers."
"What about flowers?"
"The flowers you ordered came in. I came over to…my God Janet, you are beautiful." Feeling flattered but uncomfortable at the same time, Janet attempted to cover herself with her arms.
"Maybe you should…maybe you should go and plant…" Eddie walked to her until he was standing in front of her. Slowly, he reached out and ran his hand over her bare shoulder.
"Why are you trying to hide? You've got nothing to be ashamed of."
"You should go plant those flowers and I should get dressed."
"No I shouldn't and no you shouldn't."
"Eddie this isn't right."
"We've been dancing around this for months Janet."
"Flirting is one thing Sex is another. We haven't even been out…"
"Stop talking." Before Janet could respond Eddie crashed his lips to Janet's and she couldn't help herself. She responded to his kiss eagerly. Without breaking the kiss, Eddie pushed Janet to her room, losing her towel along the way, Before Janet could process what was happening she was naked on her bed with a naked Eddie on top of her worshiping her body with his lips, tongue, hands and penis until they both were groaning with orgasmic bliss.
After making love, they ordered and at pizza in bed with some beer to wash it down with. Janet was surprised at the tenderness that Eddie was showing her. His kisses were tender, his caresses were tender and his voice was full of emotion when he told her she was beautiful, something he did over and over. After they made love a second time, Eddie kissed her and then climbed out of bed.
"Where are you going?" She asked
"Home."
"You don't have to leave. You are welcome to stay. In fact, I would like it if you would stay."
"I can't Janet. I have to be up early in the morning and all of my clothes are at home."
"Right." Eddie could hear the hurt in her voice. He threw his shirt over his head and sat back down on the bed next to her.
"Tonight was amazing Janet." He told her, hoping like hell she believed him.
"Then why are you leaving?"
"I already told you why." He leaned down and kissed her. "I hope that this isn't a one time thing Janet. I want to continue to see you."
"I would like that."
"Good." He kissed her once more. "I'll stop by Sully's tomorrow. Goodnight Janet."
"Goodnight Eddie. I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
"Me too."
The following day, Eddie sent Janet a few text messages throughout day just saying "Hi" another one said "Thanks for last night" and one that told her "Thinking about you", and those simple words gave her confidence in this relationship, that she had lost when he left her alone in bed the night before but that confidence failed when he walked into the bar later that night.
Janet expected a kiss or at least a hug when they saw each other but she got neither. He acted like nothing had changed. He sauntered in, like he always does, said "Hi", ordered a beer and then took it over to a table with Ikey, and Owen. Janet let this roll off her back, thinking that he was just looking forward to hanging out with his friends but his attitude towards her didn't change as the night wore on. He wasn't treating her badly. He was treating her as he always did, a good friend that poured his beers, not the woman he slept with, twice the night before.
Eddie stayed at the bar as it closed down. He helped Janet sweep the floor and put up the chairs, like he always did. Once Janet finished all of her closing duties Eddie grabbed her, pushed her back to the bar and began to kiss her in earnest. Any plans that Janet had about confronting Eddie went right out the window the second his lips touched hers. They probably would have had sex on the bar if Janet hadn't come to her senses because things were pretty hot and heavy. The managed to pull themselves away from each other, long enough to drive back to Janet's house and when they got there they barely made it to her bedroom and when they did, there was a trail of their clothes that followed them there. They made love again, and like the previous night, Eddie left her when they were done cuddling.
So for the past six weeks, Eddie and Janet's relationship continued as friends during the day and in public to lovers for a few hours at night. During the day, Janet was disappointed in herself because she felt like Eddie was using her and was embarrassed to be seen with her but at night, when she was in his arms, she felt like the most treasured woman in Knights Ridge, until she was left alone in her bed. As she lay alone in her bed again, she made the decision to change her life. She couldn't continue to live like this and she was going to stand up for herself and tell Eddie that it was time to make his choice, even if it meant that his choice wouldn't be her and she would lose him. It's what was best for her future.
"Come on. Let's go back to your place." Eddie whispered huskily in her ear the following night. Janet had to bite back a moan as his thumb expertly flicked her nipple over her bra.
"Eddie…"
"Yeah baby?" Janet gently pushed him away.
"I'm sorry. I…we can't do this tonight." Eddie looked at Janet, disappointment evident in his eyes.
"If it's because you are on your period, I can use a condom. I just really want you."
"Do you really want me?"
"What the hell does that mean Janet?"
"I can tell that you want me at night, in the privacy of my home but during the day I don't have that same feeling."
"Janet I…"
"Let me get this out Eddie." He nodded. "We have been great friends for the past few years, something that I cherish. Six weeks ago we took that friendship to the next level and began sleeping together. Call me old fashioned, but when I sleep with someone, I expect some type of acknowledgement of that sexual relationship outside of the bedroom, in public. When we are having sex, you are the most caring, attentive man that I know. When we are in public, like here at the bar, you act like nothing has changed and it makes me feel used."
"I'm not using you Janet. I really care about you."
"I think that deep down you do and have no problem admitting that when we are alone. I like you and I really care about you as well Eddie but I can't continue this relationship like it is because it makes me feel like your dirty little secret." Eddie opened his mouth to tell her that she wasn't his dirty little secret but she held up her hand to stop him. "I am a great woman who deserves a man who will love her everyday and everywhere, not just in bed. I know that there is a man out there who is my everything, a man that I can love with my whole heart. Maybe that's you, maybe it's not but I need to find him. I deserve to be someone's everything and I refuse to settle for less than what I deserve."
"I'm sorry that I have made you feel like that. I don't think of you like a dirty little secret."
"Maybe not, but that's how I feel."
"What can I do?"
"Make a choice Eddie. Me or your reputation."
"My reputation? What in the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"You know what I mean. I'm asking you to make a choice Eddie. Do you want me all of the time or just when the sun goes down? I want a relationship with you; I think that we could be something good so I'm leaving it up to you. If you want an honest to God relationship then on Friday, three days from now, I want to see you at Sully's with flowers, candy or hell you don't have to have anything. I just want you to be at Sully's so you can kiss me, in public in front of most of the residents of our town. A public declaration like that will prove to me, more than words could that you want to be with me, that you want to make a commitment to me, to us. If you decided that you don't want a relationship there will be no hard feelings. I will have the memories of six weeks of amazing sex and hopefully we could still be friends."
"Janet I…"
"Please don't say anything. Hopefully I've given you something to think about so go home and think."
"Can I kiss you goodnight?"
"I don't think that's a good idea. Goodnight Eddie." He nodded and slowly left the bar. As soon as the door shut the brave façade that Janet had been portraying crumbled as tears slid down her face. She knew she did the right thing, for herself but the fear that she not only lost the best lover that she had ever had but one of her best friends as well terrified her.
Janet told Eddie that she had hopefully given him something to think about but he knew that there really was nothing to think about. He knew what he had to do and he was going to do it. Even though he hated to admit it, Janet was right. There was a small part of him that was afraid of his friend's reaction to his new relationship with Janet but now he doesn't care what anyone thinks. If his friends are really his friends then they will support him. Janet's was the only thoughts he cared about and he hated that she felt like he used her but he couldn't blame her. He basically did treat her as if he was ashamed of her. At first, he was trying to hide their relationship, hiding it until he knew what it meant. He now knows what she means to him, he's known it for a few weeks. It was just a lot easier to keep things as they were instead of changing because it was working for them, or at least he thought it was.
He didn't need until Friday to make his choice. He has made his choice. He would have told her before he left the bar but she wants a public declaration then that's what she was going to get. On Friday Knights Ridge will know that he is in love with Janet Meadows.
Janet's stomach was in knots. These past three days have been the longest of her life. So much was riding on Eddie's choice. He hadn't been back to the bar since their conversation but he had sent her text messages to let her know that he was thinking about her which meant that he hadn't totally blown her off, something Janet counted as a positive.
"Janet, can I get you down here?"
"In a sec Brian." She called to her patron at the other end of the bar. She finished filling a couple of mugs, handed them off and then went to the opposite end of the bar. "What's up? Are you ready for a refill already?"
"No. Latekka brought in these flowers and told us to make sure that you got them." Janet's heart started to pound in excitement when she saw the vase full of wildflowers. It had to be the biggest flower arrangement that she had ever seen.
"Where is he?" She asked, her eyes darting around the bar.
"Not sure. He told us to make sure you got these and then he disappeared."
"Oh. I see. Well thanks." Janet took the flowers, found a spot for them on the counter and then pulled the card out. "You're right. You deserve so much more than what I have given you. Tonight that all changes" Janet read with a smile. Tucking the card in her back pocket she returned to work, anxiously waiting for Eddie to come out of hiding.
Meanwhile from his hiding spot, Eddie watched as Janet got her flowers, looked around for him and then read the card. He was so excited when he saw her smile. It made him so happy to know his words put that beautiful smile on her beautiful face. He continued to watch and wait for the perfect moment to tell her how he felt.
Janet was returning to the bar after delivering a pitcher of beer to a rowdy group of Duf students when a pair of hands wrapped around her waist and spun her around. "I love you." He whispered. Before she could respond his lips were on hers, kissing her passionately. When they broke apart, the bar was practically silent and everyone was staring at them. "What?" Eddie asked the crowd. "Have you guys never seen a guy kiss the woman he loves before?"
"You love me?" Janet asked, shocked by what just took place.
"I love you Janet." And to prove that to her, he leaned forward and kissed her again and this time when they broke apart the patrons in the bar were cheering.
"Can we go outside to talk in private?" Janet asked breathlessly.
"Whatever you want." Eddie took her hand and they walked outside together. "Was that public enough for you?" He asked her once they were alone.
"So much more then I anticipated."
"Janet I was a total ass who treated you like shit. I know that I made you feel like I was ashamed of you but that is so far from the truth. I am proud to be with you. I could go give you a number of reasons for my dumb actions but they aren't important. What's important is from this moment on I am totally committed to you and to what we may become if you'll have me."
"I'll have you Eddie."
"Look I know that I told you that I love you and just because I said it I don't expect you to say it back. I'll wait until you're ready. I don't want you to feel pressured to say anything until you're ready."
"I love you too Eddie."
"You do?" She nodded and this time it was Janet who initiated the kiss.
"Oh Janet." Eddie whispered placing his forehead against hers when they broke apart. "I can't wait to see where this goes.'
"I have an idea where this might go."
"Oh really?" Eddie pulled away and smiled at his girlfriend. "Care to enlighten me?"
"I think that we are going to be in each other's lives for a very long time."
"Is that so? Even though I love the thought of that is there a reason for this theory?"
"I'm pregnant Eddie."
"Huh? Did you just say that you're pregnant?" She nodded. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I took a pregnancy test on Tuesday morning. I had every intention of telling you but I needed to know where we stood as a couple first."
"Meaning?"
"I knew that if I told you about the baby, you would step up and do the right thing for me and the baby. I know that you would stay with me because of the baby and I don't want to be with someone who really doesn't want to be with me for the sake of a child. It's not a good environment for anyone, especially our baby and I love you too much to force you into an unwanted situation"
"I get that and I'm sorry that I put you in the situation that caused you doubt what we are."
"It doesn't matter. It's in the past. I know where we stand know and that's what's important." Janet wiped away the tears that were falling. "I know that we didn't have any plans for a baby so I gotta know, are you okay with this baby because if not, I am prepared to raise this baby on my own."
"What part of totally committed to you do you not get Janet?" He asked her with a smile. "Sure, I had no plans for a baby right now but since one is on the way I am ecstatic. I'm going to be a daddy. We're going to be a family and I have never been happier Janet." He placed a hand on her belly. "Hi baby. I'm your daddy and I can't wait to meet you." Janet linked her hand with Eddie's as tears rolled down her cheek. "I hope to God those are happy tears that you are shedding."
"They are. I love you."
"I love you too." Eddie and Janet closed the distance that separated them and shared the first of many kisses in their new relationship.
So what do you think? Send me a review and let me know.