JENNIE
Maybe it was the removal of the doubt in our relationship, but the next few weeks flew by. Before I knew it, it was the end of May and Lisa's tour was done. All of the guys came back to Seattle for a celebratory weekend before they had to disembark to L.A., to record their album. I was pretty surprised when Lisa had called and told me she was coming up. When she had first told me about the album, she'd made it sound as if she would be going straight there. I was even more surprised, and mortified, when she told me that Justin and his band were coming up with them. Apparently the two groups had really hit it off on the road. Not too surprising, I guess. Lisa was easy to get along with, for guys and for girls.
It was a Thursday night when they all strolled in. Talking with Somi and Kate at the counter, I flinched when I heard the front doors bang open. My eyes immediately snapped over to them and excitement flooded every part of me.
Jackson had just burst open the doors, just like he used to when the D-Bags were a fixture here. Seeing him, standing like a King before his court, wasn't what spiked my heart, though. No, it was knowing who would walk in a few steps after the egomaniac.
As the bar completely silenced, Jackson exclaimed, "Your master has returned…you may worship me now."
A chorus of laughter went around the room and the buzz of noise started again as people stood to welcome the returning rockers. Jackson was harshly shoved forward by Lucas. Scowling at his cousin, Lucas raised his hand in greeting to his name being shouted here and there around the room. He then immediately started heading to their old table, obviously wanting out of the spotlight.
Jackson frowned at Lucas, until he found a table of coeds to pester. Evan stepped through the swinging front doors with Lisa, the two of them smiling, mid-laugh. The crowd outright cheered once all four band members were in their midst again. Lisa glanced around the room, acknowledging them with a hand wave and a nod. Evan shook his head, like he still couldn't wrap his head around the whole thing. Then the gentle man spotted his girl.
The heavily tatted rocker with gauges in her ears and a new piercing through his eyebrow, melted when Somi jumped into his arms. There were squeals and giggles and lots of laughter as the two of them reunited.
I was giggling too as I left Kate by the bar to flood to my rocker, before the other girls around beat me to it. She was striding my way, her grin as wide as mine. When we met up, she grabbed my cheeks and pulled my mouth to hers. Her scent hit me just a second before her warm lips did. She held me to her as her mouth moved in sync with mine, her tongue just slipping in to brush against me. My fingers reached up to tangle into her tousled mess, twisting into the thick, light brown strands.
As her hands threaded back though my hair, her body inching forward to press against the length of mine, I slowly started to remember that we were in a very public place. I didn't stop the kissing though. I even managed to ignore the catcalls and whistles as people watched us. I really only decided to put a stop to it when Lisa's hands started drifting down my body.
When her fingers squeezed my bottom, I pushed back from her. Smiling, but breathless, I raised an eyebrow in warning. Equally breathless, she shrugged, like she just couldn't help herself. Giggling, I gave her a soft, public-friendly kiss.
"You're here," I breathed.
She matched my gentle kiss. "There was nowhere else I wanted to be."
Knowing that she had so much to do in the next few weeks, preparing her band's very first album, I shook my head and smiled. Maybe seeing that our intimate moment was over, regulars in the bar started coming up to Lisa, congratulating her on the band's success. She shook hands left and right, smiling and making conversation like she'd never been gone.
Smiling to myself, I left her to it. Lisa was getting a bear hug from Sam when the front doors opened again. I'd been standing right in front of the doors when they'd started opening and I hastily stepped back so I wouldn't get smacked. When I saw who'd just entered the bar, I wanted to freeze in place or run and hide. Knowing that I was overreacting, that people were just people, regardless of what they did for a living, I slapped on a smile and approached the second band of rock stars entering the bar.
"Hello, Justin. It's good to see you again." Scanning the five twenty-something guys standing before me, smiling as they looked around the bar, I asked, "Can I get you guys something to drink?"
Justin's pale eyes met mine, and she nodded. "Yeah, we'll take a pitcher of whatever you've got on tap. Thanks, Jennie." He tapped me on the shoulder as he walked by.
Immensely proud of myself for sounding more like an adult and less like a teenage schoolgirl, I watched the two bands meet up. Lisa and Justin shook hands and sat near each other at the guys' favorite table. The rest of the guys spread out near the table, talking to fans or to each other. Even with the addition of Justin's band, it was so natural to see the D-Bags here, and yet unnatural at the same time, since they'd been gone for so long. I loved having them back.
I repeated the order to Rita, who was staring at the combination of Lisa and Justin like they were both sitting at the table completely naked. Some things never change. As I waited for her to make the guys drinks blind, since she wouldn't take her eyes off the group, I felt someone approach me.
Grabbing my arm, Kate pulled me over to her. "Do you know who that is with Lisa, Jennie?"
Smiling at her overwhelmed face, I nodded. "Yeah, I've met him a few times…he's nice."
Her topaz eyes widened as far as they could go. Staring at the pitcher that Rita was slowly putting on my tray, she stammered, "You have to introduce me…seriously."
I nodded at the tray, indicating with my head for her to take it. "No problem, follow me."
I grabbed Lisa's bottle of beer, since she preferred her beer bottled, while Kate followed me with the pitcher and glasses. With a confidence that surprised even myself, I led Kate back to the rock stars and introduced her to the visiting band. She was as much of a nervous, babbling wreck as I'd been when I'd first met them. It made me smile as I sat on Lisa's lap, completely comfortable.
An hour or two later, everyone in the bar was comfortable, and the laughter and conversations were flowing as freely as the drinks. Someone put some fast songs on the jukebox and a group of girls grabbed Justin and his band mates to dance with them. It didn't take Rita long to ditch her duties at the bar and join them for a song or two. The grinding that the over-tanned, over-bleached, middle aged, married woman did with that rock star made me horribly embarrassed. Lisa was right—some women really would do anything for attention.
Lisa and I were taking a moment to twirl around the end of the crowd when I felt a tap on my shoulder. Seeing Jackson standing there, I instantly got a ball of ice in my stomach. He wasn't trying to cut in, was he?
Sniffing, a disgruntled Jackson looked around the bar. "Hey, where's your sister?"
Holding Lisa's hand, I bit my lip. Once Jisoo had learned that the guys were coming up here for a few days before heading to Los Angeles, she freaked out. She was definitely showing now, and she wouldn't have been able to hide it from Jackson. And since she still hadn't told him, she hadn't wanted to see him. She'd hopped a flight back home. Yeah, she'd rather tell our parents, than her boyfriend.
Lisa glanced down at me and raised an eyebrow. I knew she wanted Jackson to know, but we'd both agreed that Jisoo had to tell him. To Jackson, I shrugged and said, "Sorry, she had to go back east for a few days, to see our parents."
Jackson frowned, then tucked his chin-length hair behind his ears. "Really? Now?" He shook his head, his light eyes confused. "I told her we were coming up this weekend. She couldn't wait?"
I sighed, hating that I couldn't tell him. "Sorry, family thing." Jackson rolled his eyes, seemingly disappointed that his f-buddy, as he referred to Jisoo, wasn't available. Hating that he sort of used my sister, even if she was completely willing, I muttered, "Well, I'm sure you could find someone else to…hang out with this weekend."
Jackson shrugged, still looking forlorn. "Yeah, sure…but Jisoo's the best, though. She knows just what I like." His sullen expression took in the clumps of girls around the bar. "These girls, they're all too…giddy. It can be annoying…sometimes."
Surprised that those words would ever cross Jackson's lips, I said words that I never, ever, thought would cross mine. "You could hang out with Lisa and me?"
I instantly wanted to take the words back. Lisa snapped her head to me, equally surprised by my invitation. Her brow furrowing, she minutely shook her head. I clearly heard the question she wasn't asking—why the hell would you invite Jackson into our weekend? Are you crazy?
I bit my lip, thinking maybe I was. Jackson, though, scowled at Lisa. "Nah, no thanks." Lightly smacking Lisa in the chest, he muttered, "I'd rather be alone than hang out with this jack-off."
Lisa blinked, her gorgeous face looking genuinely perplexed. "What did I do to you?"
Jackson narrowed his eyes, his thin lips tightening. "Jersey…those two hot girls?"
I raised an eyebrow but didn't let myself overreact to the statement. Everything Jackson said had to be taken with a grain of salt. Plus, Lisa wouldn't do anything to hurt me. That, I finally believed.
Lisa bit her lip, looking like she was struggling to not laugh in Jackson's face. "Uh, Jack…I was doing you a favor."
"Save it, man." Jackson poked her in the chest. "You were just jealous 'cuz you were doing the monogamous thing. Whatever. You didn't need to cock-block me! And right when things were getting interesting!"
A small laugh escaped Lisa. "Jackson…"
Shaking his head, Jackson turned and walked away. To his back, Lisa laughed out, "I tried to tell you…those weren't girls, dude." Jackson raised a middle finger in the air and Lisa laughed harder. Shaking her head, she looked back at me. "Maybe I should have just let him figure it out for himself?"
Laughing at the idiot, that was about to have a child with my idiot sister, I shook my head. Lisa gave me a warm smile, wrapping her arms back around my waist. "Monogamous thing?" I asked, tilting my head.
She smiled wider, resting her head against mine. "Yeah, see, I told you I was being good."
Giggling, I gave her a soft kiss. "I know you were." Sighing, I shook my head. "Who knew I'd ever find a conversation with Jackson comforting?"
Grinning crookedly in a way that made me wish my shift was over, Lisa murmured, "Life's little mysteries."
Threading my hand back through the perfect mess of hair, a style that only Lisa could successfully pull off, I sighed. I searched her face as her eyes searched mine. The rare shade of her brown eyes, the perfect arch of her brow, the slant of her nose, the seductive curve of her lips, the strong angle of her jaw, her height, the lean cut of her body—physically, she was the epitome of what the ideal person would look like. But her heart, her soul, her pain, her humor, her music…that's what made me ache for her.
I wanted to give her everything. I wanted to give her the world. I couldn't, though. I didn't have that kind of power. But there was one thing I could do…one thing that I could help to give her. And I knew it was something she wanted, even if she fought against wanting it.
I'd done something this morning. Something that I knew she wasn't going to like. But I'd had to do it. And I also had to tell her that I'd done it, even if it made her really angry.
Clearing my throat, I glanced around the bar full of witnesses. Well, at least she couldn't kill me after I told her. "Um, Lisa, since we're doing the honesty-at-all-costs policy, I have something to confess."
She grinned at me, her hands around my waist tightening. "Rob a bank while I was gone?"
Smirking at her, I shook my head. "No."
She leaned in, raising an eyebrow. "A sex shop?"
Flushing, I looked away. "No, I didn't rob anyone." Laughing, I looked back at where she was still giving me a devilish smile, probably still envisioning me in a sex shop. My cheeks heating, I smacked her chest and spat out, "Stop picturing me…where you're picturing me."
Laughing, she kissed my cheek. "Okay, what is it?"
Feeling seriousness fall around me, I bit my lip. "Okay, it's going to make you mad, but hear me out before you start yelling."
The smile immediately fell from her face and she narrowed her eyes. "What did you do?" she asked cautiously.
Swallowing, I started tracing the letters of my name on her shirt. Following the tattooed lines hidden beneath the fabric, I subtly reminded her that she loved me…just in case she forgot in about three seconds. "I invited your dad and his family to the graduation party at Pete's."
Lisa instantly pushed me away from her, frowning. "You what? Jennie, I told you I didn't want any contact with him. Why would you do that?"
Sighing, I stepped back up to her. "Because you need them, Lisa."
She immediately started shaking her head, but I cut off her objection. "No, you don't believe that you do…but you do, Lisa." Putting my hand back on her chest, I shook my head. "I've heard you talk about your sister. You care about her. And your brother? You've never even met him…don't you want to?"
I raised my eyebrows and waited for a second. Almost imperceptibly, Lisa nodded and feeling victorious, I continued. "And your dad…how do you know what you'll feel towards him, if you never give him a chance." Putting my other hand on her cheek, I stroked my thumb over the smooth skin. "You could be missing out on something really good…because you're scared."
She looked down. "Jennie…"
I lifted her head, making her look at me. "I saw you on Christmas morning, Lisa. You wanted that bond, that family bond… and you can have it. You just have to be brave." I smiled that me, the one most pervious to nerves, was assuring her, the one who rarely seemed to be self-conscious, to be brave. Smiling wider, I added, "You are a smart, perfect, rock star with a girlfriend who adores you. You have nothing to fear…ever."
She grinned at hearing variants of her words being repeated back to her. Gazing at me with adoration, she shook her head. "When did you get so wise?"
Smirking, I shrugged. "I am a college graduate, you know."
Lisa smirked right back. "Not yet."
Laughing, glad that she wasn't too mad, I slung my arms around her neck. "Close enough."
Tilting her head at me, she bunched her brows. "How did you get my dad's number anyway?"
I gave her a blank look. "Are you kidding, that number has been burned into my brain since December."
Sheepishly, she grimaced and looked down. "Yeah, sorry about that."
Leaning up, I kissed her. "It's okay…I get it now."
Noticing bar patrons starting to examine empty glasses, I figured I'd probably had a long enough break and should get back to work. Grabbing Lisa's hand, I pulled her with me back to the bar. Since Rita was still dirty dancing with Justin, maybe Lisa could be the bartender?
Joking around, I asked Lisa if she wouldn't mind taking over for Rita. Eyes lighting up, she hopped up on the bar and scooted around to the other side. She looked like I'd just given her the keys to the Kingdom as she stared at all the bar supplies. I wondered if she knew how to make anything? Well, she had helped me study for this job, back when I'd first gotten it, so she must have picked up a thing or two.
Grinning at the adorable image of Lisa tying a half-apron around her waist, I shook my head. She was going to get so many tips. Good thing we pooled them all together at the end of the night. As I started helping my thirsty customers, Pete came out of his office, tucked behind the kitchen.
The weary, older man looked over the chaos of the bar on a night that usually wasn't this bustling, and smiled. Seeing his bartender on the floor with the rock stars, he frowned, then his silver head looked back at the bar. I knew Pete liked Lisa, since they'd had a working relationship for years, but I wasn't sure if he'd be okay with Lisa serving his customers. But Lisa had already attracted attention in her newfound position. A line was formed at the bar as Lisa smiled and flirted her way through order after order.
I smiled and shook my head at her. Really, there wasn't too much Lisa couldn't do well, and serving drinks was no exception. I could easily picture an alternate life for Lisa, one where she wasn't about to be a famous rock star. I could easily picture her here, working alongside me, serving drinks every night. It was an intriguing idea, but I knew that Lisa's heart lied with music. The path she was on was the right one for her.
I watched her flip a bottle into the air "Cocktail" style, then watched as she nearly missed catching it. When she juggled the bottle into submission, just keeping it from crashing to the floor, the girls screamed and clapped. Always the showman, she bowed dramatically.
Pete shook his head, but I saw a small smile on his face as he watched the bills being tucked into the register. I figured he was fine with Lisa doing just about whatever she wanted to after that.
Lisa met my eye, laughing a little at the attentions she was receiving. I laughed at her, then blew her a kiss. I would place my order later…at her place…our place, since I'd moved my stuff in last weekend.
Just as I was remembering Somi, Kate and Irene helping me carry box after box into Lisa's house—my sister only "supervising" since she'd suddenly embraced her condition, claiming she was supporting a life, so she couldn't manhandle cardboard—a familiar face walked into the bar.
I smiled wide at seeing Taehyung stroll in. I was used to seeing him in here now, since he usually stopped in a couple of times a week for dinner. He'd been mysteriously absent this week though; I hadn't even received a phone call from him. As I noticed him holding hands with someone who was entering the bar a step behind him, I suddenly understood why he'd dropped off the face of the earth.
I waved at Taehyung and his girlfriend, Abby, who must have finally made it over from Australia. Taehyung slung his arm around her waist and beamed with pride. Happy beyond belief for him, I motioned to a free table in my section. Nodding at me, he led her that way.
Turning back to a trio of college girls at one of my tables, I handed them a second round of margaritas. Straightening, I quickly told them, "There you go. Enjoy, and let me know if you need anything else."
One of the girls had her eyes glued on Lisa as she sipped on her straw. "Can we get her to go?" she slurred as the other girls at the table giggled.
I glanced over at Lisa, still behind the bar. She'd noticed Taehyung's entrance too and was staring at Taehyung while she filled a mug with ale. I couldn't read Lisa's expression, so I had no idea if she was okay with my ex and I still having a friendly relationship or not. But Lisa could see Taehyung's companion too, and if she still had any qualms about the matter, seeing the blonde on Taehyung's arm should have squelched it.
Looking back to my customers, I shook my head. "Sorry, no…she belongs to me." They all stared at me, shocked, and I felt a flutter in my stomach that I'd confessed such a personal thing to complete strangers. I tended to avoid attracting attention to myself, and now I had the table's complete attention. I felt the warmth of embarrassment as they stared at me, but the immediate surge of love flattened it.
Smiling, I lifted my promise ring and flicked it with my thumb. "She's off the market."
They all stared at my ring then over at Lisa. Finally, the drunken one slurred, "Well, damn…" She looked up at me and smiled. "Nice catch."
Rolling my eyes, I giggled and shook my head. Yeah, Lisa was a nice catch. Even if it wasn't always easy with her, it was always worth it. I was very lucky. Excusing myself, I headed over to see her. She pulled her eyes away from Taehyung as I neared her.
Purposely putting my back to Taehyung, just so Lisa would know what she should already know—that I was hers and hers alone—I leaned across the bar. Giving me a crooked grin, Lisa leaned over her side. My eyes lingered on her deep red shirt, her glorious chest impossible to hide underneath the fabric. Lazily, I let my gaze wander up to her eyes, drinking her in just as eagerly as the college girls had slung back their margaritas.
Her gaze was fond and peaceful when our eyes locked. Nodding her head over my shoulder, she told me, "I should go say hi. The last time we saw each other, I wasn't exactly…nice."
She grimaced and I did too. Yeah, that hadn't been the best reunion after so long apart from each other. But it could have been so much worse. If Lisa had been a little angrier, if Taehyung had done a little more to provoke her, Taehyung could've ended up with the broken arm this time.
Looking back at Taehyung seated at a table with Abby, I nodded. "Yeah, I should talk to him, too. I haven't had a chance to meet Abby yet."
Taehyung glanced up at the bar and frowned. Saying something to Abby, he started to stand, like he wanted to come over and talk to us, too. I supposed there were a few things that we all needed to discuss. Abby glanced up at me, smiled briefly, then put her hand on Taehyung's arm. He looked back at her and sat back down.
I twisted back to Lisa, right as her butt was pinched. Lisa had been watching Taehyung and Abby and hadn't noticed Rita sidling up behind her. She startled at the unexpected contact, taking a step away from her. Rita, giddy from her illicit dancing with Justin, wrapped her arms around Lisa's waist.
"I knew I'd get you back behind this bar again, sweetheart," she purred, her voice scratchy from way too many cigarettes.
I flushed at her reference to their one night together, then surprisingly laughed. Lisa was trying to disengage herself from her, but every time Lisa moved one hand away, Rita moved the other one right back. The annoyed frustration on Lisa's face made me giggle and she narrowed her eyes at my enjoyment of her predicament. When Rita laid her head on her chest and contently closed her eyes, Lisa sighed. I shook my head at her and gave her a, hey, buddy, you reap what you sow, expression.
Noticing my look, she smiled. There was a time when another woman snuggling on her would have had me in a jealous tizzy. I guess I finally trusted her, too. Gathering herself, Lisa firmly grabbed Rita's shoulders and shoved her back.
Rita's eyes flashed open at the unexpected movement and she stared at Lisa with her mouth gaping. Hunching down to look her in the eye, Lisa quietly said, "I know we had a thing once, but that was years ago and I've moved on, we've both moved on." Rita's eyes flashed down to her wedding ring. "But I'm with Jennie now and your constant flirting isn't appropriate. Neither is your gossiping about things we did together. I would appreciate it, if in the future, both of those things would stop…please."
Rita blinked at her as she released her shoulders. I blinked at her, too. Lisa had never, ever told someone to back off like that. Not that I'd ever heard, anyway. Lisa didn't say another word as she scooted around the bar to meet me on my side. Untying her apron, she handed it to a still-stunned Rita. "Thank you, Rita, it was fun."
I had no idea if Lisa meant filling in for her at the bar, or the time that they'd shared together, but her tone clearly implied that both things were done. Rita took the fabric from her, her face glum. I felt a little bad watching her, but I supposed this had been a long time coming. Rita had always harbored a desire to sleep with her again, but that was never going to happen. Not while she was with me. And I planned on her being with me for a long, long time.
Warmed that she'd stood up for our relationship, I grabbed her hand and started to lead her back to Taehyung. That was when I nearly ran into Taehyung. He'd finally decided to come up and talk to us. He was holding Abby's hand, much like I was holding Lisa's. I laughed as Taehyung and I stumbled, trying to avoid colliding. He laughed, too.
Recovering, Taehyung smiled and put his arm around Abby's waist. "Jennie, Lisa, this is my girlfriend, Abby."
As Abby extended her hand to me, I subtly checked her out. She was adorably cute, with full pouty lips and twin dimples when she smiled. With her long blonde hair and pale gray eyes, she was almost the opposite of me, appearance-wise. But she was roughly my height and build so I felt on equal footing as we shook hands.
"Hello, Jennie, it's nice to finally meet you."
Her accent was just as charming as Taehyung's was. I instantly wondered if Taehyung and Abby found each other's accents endearing. Or maybe, since they sounded alike, they didn't even hear it. Seemed like a shame if they didn't notice that marvelous inflection.
I watched her absorbing me as carefully as I was absorbing her. Her eyes took in my plain jeans and red Pete's shirt as mine took in her cute gray skirt with a matching, tailored jacket. I couldn't help but think that I'd be so wary and suspicious of me, if our roles were reversed. Regardless of how much she trusted Taehyung, he'd been alone with his ex for months, an ex that he'd been considering marrying one day. That had to strain even the strongest relationship. It was one of the reasons that I'd never told Lisa that Taehyung was home. But Abby only gave me a warm, carefree smile. She completely trusted Taehyung. That fact made me trust her. If she had complete faith in him not cheating on her, then she had to have complete faith in herself that she'd never cheat on him.
"You too, Abby. Taehyung talks about you all the time." Taehyung flushed a little after I said that, and I grinned at him.
He could be such a sap, and after recovering from the shock that Abby had been delayed for a few more weeks, He'd started talking to me about her whenever we got together. And he'd gushed about her whenever he did. Taehyung sort of had a point when he'd said that our disastrous breakup was a blessing in disguise—he was madly in love with the woman standing next to him, and I was immensely happy for him.
When Abby and I broke apart, Lisa extended her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Abby." Abby surprisingly didn't eye Lisa with the open appeal that most women eyed her with. Sure, her eyes flicked over Lisa's face, but that was about all the notice she took of her appearance. And with her, I had a feeling that she wasn't ignoring Lisa's looks because of me or because of Taehyung. With her, I more felt that she just wasn't interested.
As she tentatively took Lisa's hand, she looked back at Taehyung. This must have been a weird moment for her, shaking hands with the person that had come between her current boyfriend and the ex love of his life. I couldn't imagine what she was feeling, except maybe grateful that she'd never hurt Taehyung like I had. I was grateful for that, too.
Taehyung nodded slightly and Abby looked back at Lisa. "It's nice to meet you, too, Lisa. Taehyung says…good things about you."
Lisa's mouth dropped open in surprise as their hands separated. Bunching her brows, she shook her head at Taehyung. "You do? Why? I was an asshole to you…"
Lisa seemed genuinely bemused at why Taehyung gave her the time of day, let alone talked nicely about her. Taehyung stared at the floor for a second, before looking back up at the person he'd once been very close to. "And I nearly killed you." Taehyung sighed, running a hand through his hair. "In the end…whose crime was greater?"
Lisa shook her head and looked away. Feeling a tension building, I put my hand on Lisa's stomach. She looked down on me before shifting her attention back to Taehyung. "I still took something that wasn't mine. Even if you feel guilty for the fight…you really shouldn't ever talk to me again."
Lisa's eyes drifted to her boots, unable to keep Taehyung's gaze. Mutual guilt flooded me and I lowered my head as well. Happy ending or not, Lisa and I were jerks.
Taehyung surprisingly started laughing. Lisa and I both looked up at him. Grinning, he squeezed Abby tight and looked between the two of us. "You should see the looks on your faces right now." His accent curled around the words as he gave us a goofy grin.
Lisa and I glanced at each other, equally perplexed, and Taehyung laughed a little more. Clapping Lisa's shoulder, he shook his head. "Look, I know your life was hard, and I realize that Jennie must have been a…salve…for you." He raised his eyebrows. "I get it. I didn't like it, but I get it."
Lisa gave her a small smile and Taehyung shifted his attention back to me. "And you…" He bit his lip and sighed. "I know I put my job first." I shook my head and Taehyung cut me off. "No, I did, Jennie." He pointed to the ground. "I was coming to Seattle, with or without you. I was going to Tucson, with or without you. And, I may have panicked and come back to Seattle when I'd thought I'd lost you, but…my head was still on my job…not you."
Swallowing, he shook his head. "And I'm so sorry for that. And I don't blame you anymore, for falling for someone who could give you the attention you wanted, the attention you deserved."
I swallowed and nodded, slight tears in my eyes. A silence built up around our foursome. Finally, Abby was the one who broke it. "Oh my God, will the three of you just hug already?"
We all looked over at her and grinned. Wiping my eyes, I stepped up to Taehyung, giving him a warm, friendly hug. He wrapped his arms around me, and we both muttered apologies. Lisa sighed, then circled her arms over the both of us.
Nestled in the safety of the two person who'd nearly torn me asunder, I felt a piece of myself healing. I felt the guilt slowly leaving. We were all fine. We had all survived. And surprisingly, we were all still friends.
As the three of us pulled apart, Lisa and I rejoined. Smiling, she kissed my head. Abby rejoined with Taehyung and I smiled over at her, pleased that Taehyung had found someone as warm, caring, and trusting as she appeared to be.
Lisa pointed back at where Taehyung and Abby's table had been taken over by a group of boys that barely looked legal enough to be here. "Someone nabbed your spot." Running a hand back through her hair, Lisa shrugged. "The band's table has a couple of spots open…if you guys want to join us?"
Taehyung and Abby glanced at each other for a second, then Taehyung nodded. "Yeah, sounds nice…mate."
Lisa smiled, gave me a final kiss on the head, then clapped Taehyung's back. As they started walking back to where Lucas and Evan were talking with each other, all smiles over being back home, I heard Lisa lean down and mutter, "Hey, sorry for being an ass a few weeks ago. That was a…misunderstanding."
Smiling up at her, Taehyung clapped her back. "Don't worry about it. I'm used to you being an ass."
Abby giggled as she clung to Taehyung's hand. Lisa shook her head, but eventually laughed. The sight of them bonding again brought tears to my eyes. I'd really never thought that they'd get their friendship back. It took a pretty big person to see past the pain and betrayal. But Taehyung…was a pretty big person.
Taehyung and Abby left an hour or so later. Arms wrapped around each other, they seemed the picture of merriment. I smiled and waved as they disappeared out the doors to head back to the home that I'd helped Taehyung prepare for her. I wondered if he'd done what he'd said he'd wanted to do, and filled the house with flowers on the day of her arrival. Being the sap he was, I figured he had.
Justin's band and Lisa's band closed out the bar. In fact, Somi and I had to force most of the boys to leave. Justin in particular had seemed happy to stay put until morning. It was so typical of a guy his age that I instantly felt even more relaxed around him. He was just another drunk guy, like all the other drunk guys I'd ever met. And as Lucas and Jackson had to physically help him into Jackson's van, I wondered why I'd ever been nervous around him.
My own D-Bag was the last to leave. Sitting on the edge of the bar, Lisa chatted with the weary bar owner as I cleaned up the mess everyone had left behind. Clapping Lisa on the shoulder, Pete thanked her again for lining up a new band. Pete hated looking for talent, but liked the draw of a live act. And Rain's band was really starting to bring in the crowds—guys and girls alike. From what Irene had confessed to me one afternoon, her crush had now moved on to Poetic Bliss's drummer, Meadow. I was relieved that not only was she not crushing on me anymore, but that she hadn't fallen for Tuesday. I'd just never be able to keep a straight face during any conversations revolving around her.
When I was finished wiping spills and refilling salt shakers, I smacked Lisa's thigh and wished Pete a goodnight. Pete waved us off and grumbled something about me not letting Lisa tend bar anymore, since she technically didn't work here. By the way he said it, though, it was clear that he'd hire Lisa on the spot, if Lisa were interested.
Waving goodbye to Pete, Lisa ignored his comment and any implied offers of employment. She had a job, one that about to explode on her. Holding my fingers tightly in hers, Lisa hummed a song as she walked us to her car.
Loving the peace in her voice, the merriment in her eyes, I leaned into her side. Her eyes brightened when they came upon her "baby." As promised, I'd taken good care of her. I'd used only the best gas when filling her up and even had her waxed the other day, in preparation for Lisa's homecoming. The orange lot lights cast a glow over the car as it shined beneath them.
Running her hand over the polished black metal, Lisa gave me a boyish grin. "Thanks for not wrecking her."
Kissing her jaw, I murmured, "I know what she means to you…I was good to her." Releasing Lisa, I started walking around to the other side. "I only got her up over a hundred that one time."
Lisa's jaw dropped as her eyes flashed down to inspect the Chevelle more closely. Shaking my head at her, I got into the passenger's side. Lisa was frowning at me when she got into her preferred spot—behind the steering wheel. "Not funny," she muttered.
I grinned and leaned over to kiss her but she pulled back. As I frowned, she smiled. "Happy Birthday, Jennie."
I started to tell her that it wasn't my birthday yet, when I realized that it was. It was just a few hours into it, but technically, it was now my birthday. "Thank you, you're the first one to say it."
Smirking, she leaned into me. "I know, I planned it that way."
Her lips were on mine then, soft and teasing as she moved against me. her tongue slid along my lip and I shuddered, delighting in the sensation. Cupping my cheek, she angled her mouth to fully enclose me. My breath heavier, I parted my lips to let her in. I groaned when her tongue brushed against mine. It had been weeks since our last physical encounter. My body was burning for her to touch me.
Inhaling her wondrous scent into me, I pulled back from her mouth. Her lips parted, her eyes blazing, she stared at me intently, like she wanted to devour me. God…I wanted her to.
"Take me home, Lisa." Placing my hand on her thigh, I leaned over to breathe in her ear, "Take me to our home."
She groaned. Biting her lip, she closed her eyes for a second and stopped moving, stopped breathing. Pulling back, I tilted my head at her. "Lisa? Are…you okay?"
Peeking an eye open at me, she smiled around where she was still biting her lip; the grin was impossibly attractive. Nodding, she said, "Yeah, I just needed a minute."
Giggling, I leaned back in to kiss her.
She drove us back to her place faster than she'd ever driven us before. Kissing as we walked through our front door, she stripped off her jacket and blindly threw it towards the hook. I heard it land on the floor. she kicked the door closed with her boot, then grabbed the backs of my thighs and lifted me up. As her lips traveled up my neck, she murmured, "Hmmm, which room should we christen first?"
I giggled, dropping my head to the side so she could fully explore the sensitive skin. "We've never done much in the laundry room?"
She instantly started heading for the hallway that went past the kitchen and into the small space where her washer and dryer was. I squirmed and laughed, rubbing against her in the process. "I was joking! Bed, Lisa… " I cupped her cheeks and softly kissed her. "I want to explore you in a bed."
Giving me a look filled with love and wonder, she swung us around the other way and started heading upstairs. I kissed her neck as we walked. She rubbed circles into my thighs with her thumbs. She set me down once we were before the three doors on the second floor of her house—two bedrooms, one bathroom. All three doors were open. A rarity, since the room I'd shared with Taehyung was usually kept firmly closed. I'd cleaned it out, though, while Lisa was gone.
Pulling on her arm, I decided to take a second to show her. She frowned at me, then followed. As we stepped into the doorway, I leaned back and let her look in. She smiled when she saw it. I'd gotten rid of the furniture of Joey's—the bed, dresser, nightstand—all of it. I figured, if she hadn't come back in nearly two years to collect it, she never was going to. And it held too many bad memories anyway. I wanted it gone, to cleanse the home.
What I'd filled it with wasn't what you'd expect in a second bedroom. There wasn't a bed, there wasn't a cabinet holding winter clothes. There wasn't a TV. There was however, a bookcase, crammed full of every notebook of Lisa's that I'd ever come across. My old futon was here, folded up as a couch and Lisa's first guitar, the one she'd had as a little, was hanging from the wall now, a nostalgic piece of art. I'd added a small desk under the window, highlighted in warm curtains. A CD player rested on an old coffee table in the corner, some favorite discs of Lisa's scattered around it. All in all, it was the perfect place for her to relax and dream up new masterpieces for her band.
Shaking her head, Lisa murmured, "Is this for me?"
Placing my hands on her chest, I nodded. "Yeah, since you don't need to have a roommate anymore, I thought I'd give you a better use for the spare room." Placing a kiss on her strong jaw, I added, "It's all for you, for your art."
She smiled peacefully at me and I frowned and jerked my thumb over my shoulder. "Except the closet. I needed somewhere to put my clothes." And I also hoped that I could one day tuck a playpen in there. If Jisoo decided to keep her baby, I wanted to be ready.
Laughing, Lisa squeezed me tight. "It's perfect, thank you."
Pulling away, she frowned at me. "Wait, it's your birthday. Shouldn't I be doing something for you?"
I smiled at her pout. "Well, we missed celebrating your birthday last month, so you can think of this as belated birthday present." Biting my lip, I nodded over to the other bedroom door. "But there is one thing you can do for me." I started pulling her across the hall.
Grinning, she eyed my body up and down, making me tingle all over. "Yeah? And that would be?"
Once she was inside our room, I closed the door behind her and pressed her up against it. Her mouth dropped open as I melded the slight curves I had into her body. With our hips flush together, I could feel her responding. Picturing the way she would tease me, I ran my nose up her jaw. She swallowed and her hands clenched my hips, pulling me into the rigid ache she had.
Dropping her head back as I reached her chin, she gasped when I quickly leaned up and flicked my tongue along her upper lip. Breath heavier, she moaned my name. "Jennie…"
Squirming against her body, I trailed my mouth up her jaw. I had to stand on my tippy toes, to reach her ear. I quickly darted my tongue inside and she hissed in a sharp breath. I felt invincible in her arms, like I could do anything wrapped in the warmth of her love. Lisa had always lifted me up, encouraged me to feel like the person she saw when she looked at me. And sheltered in her arms, I was starting to feel that way.
Knowing it was something that would have normally had me huddled in a corner, mortified, I whispered something to her that I finally felt confident enough to whisper. It implied so much of how much I trusted her, how safe I felt with her, and even though it seemed dirty, it wasn't. It was beautiful and honest.
"I put some handcuffs under your pillow…if you want to use them on me."
Her eyes were huge when I pulled away from her. She'd joked, she'd teased, but I don't think she ever thought I'd actually concede. Honestly, I was surprised at myself. But I…trusted her. And I loved her. And I knew she'd never hurt me, or debase me, or make me feel anything but loved and comforted…and satisfied. Besides, it was one more thing I could cross off my bucket list.
My, how I'd grown since meeting Lisa.
Lisa's eyes softened as she understood just what I was offering her. Gently kissing me, she murmured, "I love you, Jennie. Happy Birthday." I nodded, eagerly finding her lips again.