Redemption(11)

Burying my head in Evan’s chest, I tried so hard to stifle my laughter, but it was way too hard…especially with Tara now virtually falling about on the floor.

“Well,” she said after calming a little, “you will always be our hero for that. I’m sure Jessica made sure you knew how eternally grateful she was.” Tara winked and I looked at Evan with a knowing smile.

That night, Evan sulked for a good half-hour after we left him in the lurch. After the fire brigade had gone and Evan apologized for the hundredth time, I was left licking the wounds. It took a while to get him to come around, but the promise of a strip tease and a blow job was all it took to finally have him where I needed him. I suppose Ian was right in a lot of ways, despite being the world’s worst best friend and the scumbag of the universe. Women could very easily get what they wanted by using what God gave us. I had to admit it was something I used to my advantage from time to time.

I still thought about Ian now and then. I even still cried a little over losing him, but not because he was gone. Because of the betrayal and what our friendship had obviously represented for almost thirty years. It wasn’t going to be something I would get over easily.

“So how about it, girl?”

Tara looked at me like an eager child. She was still very much a single girl, and she liked it that way. Sure, she met men, but it was always a casual thing. She admitted that she found it hard to trust any man after what happened to her. It broke my heart a little because not every man out there was like her ex but, at the same time, I totally understood where she was coming from.

“I’m in!” We both laughed and Evan tightened his hold on me a little. “Oh, come on, Evan. It won’t be that bad.” I smiled at Tara and she winked back.

“You’d better tell me when you go so I can keep my phone on all night. It might also be a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher by my bed.”

We laughed again, then Tara looked at her watch. “I’d better go. I’ve got a lot to do. I’ll try and pop by later, though.”

I smiled as Tara leaned in to kiss me on the cheek. “Have a good one.” I winked at her and she winked back.

When she was out of earshot, Evan looked at me with a heated stare. “Where were we?”

I came close to his lips and stared at them for a moment. “I think we were right here.” I pressed my lips to Evan’s as he moaned into my mouth. The kiss grew fierce as his grip around my waist tightened. But just as quickly as it began, Evan pulled away. “If I don’t get going now, I’ll end up taking you to the nearest closet to do something a doctor shouldn’t be doing at work.”

The thought suddenly thrilled me. This was a little unlike Evan. “Why don’t you?” It was a challenge because I knew we couldn’t really do it. I had Jeremy to think about. It didn’t harm teasing him a little, though.

Evan groaned. “Jessica, don’t tempt me.”

I smiled. “Sorry, Doctor Connor. I’ll behave now.”

Evan nuzzled his nose into my hair. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a tease?”

I gave him my best offended look. “Me? No!”

Evan smiled, then looked at his watch. “Shit, I’ve got to go. I’ll just pop back in and say goodbye to your parents.”

I nodded and we both walked back into Jeremy’s room. Jeremy looked a little brighter with my mum sitting on the bed, holding his hand. His cheeks were a little flushed, which was great considering he had looked so pale.

“I’ve got to get back to work. Again, it was lovely meeting you.”

My mum and dad smiled and said, “Likewise.” Evan then kissed Jeremy on the head and left.

“Well, he seems nice.” My mother smiled, but I think she could tell what that meant to me. By now, she knew I didn’t do nice.

“Mommy doesn’t want to marry Evan because he’s not my daddy.”

I looked at Jeremy in shock. I had never said anything to him about this. Sure, he knew Evan wasn’t his father. It somehow felt wrong if I didn’t tell him the truth about that, but I never once told Jeremy I didn’t want to marry Evan.

My mum saw my shocked expression and cleared her throat. “I think Mummy just wants to take care of you, Jeremy.”

Jeremy suddenly looked sad. “But I want a daddy. They take you to the park and play ball with you. They tuck you in at night and read you stories. They come to school plays and buy you ice cream. Brandon told me so.”

My heart hurt. I didn’t have any idea Jeremy felt that way, but it was hard when you were a kid. Most kids Jeremy knew had Mums and Dads. It was only natural that Jeremy would want the same. I had been so blind to the fact.