Tainted (Oh Captain, My Captain 7)

“You know, I think we could do a reality show. This is going to be great.” Gus starts laughing.

“Shut up, Gus.” I can feel all the blood draining from my body. What the hell is happening? Is this really happening? Am I going to meet his parents? “Fine. I’ll figure out dinner. Do they speak English? Do they eat normal food?”

“Yes, they speak English, and my mom is picky, so I’ll help you with what to cook. Don’t worry about it. They’re…pretty easy going.”

“Oh God, that means they aren’t.” I drop my head in my hands. Easy going is the universal sign they are going to difficult and I don’t know if I’m going to be able to hold my tongue. Gus is still laughing and I don’t even have the energy to tell him to shut the fuck up.

“Jade, it’ll be fine. It’s one day. Not even twelve hours. They’re flying in, having dinner, hanging out for an hour or two, and going to a hotel before they leave to go see my brother. You’ll be fine. They’ll like you.”

“Fine,” I mumble through the hands, which are still covering my face.

~

The guys are about to head home from their two-week road trip. It’s the longest Valo has left me. Valo, my boyfriend. I’m still not sure how I’m dealing with that. I mean, I like it. I had been pissed off with the friend title, but girlfriend gives me tingles.

“Okay, Honeybun, we need to get the food on the list for the parents.” They’re going to be here in twenty-four hours and I’m not sure if I should run away now or pray. Okay, praying never helps and Valo would search for me because I’m his girlfriend and he’s a bit stubborn.

I love driving this Porsche more and more, but the snow is about to hit and then it’s back to the truck. Ugh!

As I’m about to walk into the store, I notice the small restaurant in the plaza has a ‘now hiring’ sign up. It says it for part-time only. It never hurts to talk to someone about the position, right?

Thirty minutes later, I walk into the grocery store with a smile on my face. Why? Because I landed a job. It’s nothing major. It’s five hours on Sunday and seven hours on Wednesday as hostess. It’s small, but it’s mine and I don’t have to take off my clothes.

I walk up and down the aisles with a renewed spirit. I have a job, a boyfrien

d, and I think I may have gained five pounds. And above all, I’m happy.

I have to make two trips to bring in all the food and stuff I bought. Well, it’s still Valo’s money, but right now, I don’t care about that.

“Honeybun, what are you doing?” I yell at the cat who is walking on the counters. “Out of the kitchen.” She gracefully jumps to the floor and prances to the living room.

I put up the food, clean the counters to make sure it’s free of cat hair, and fix myself a cup of hot chocolate before I curl up and catch up on some Full House. I pick up the iPad because I’m becoming a master at Candy Crush when I see there’s a new email.

I’m sure it’s another letter telling me my great uncle died in Egypt and left me a million dollars and all I have to do is send them money to claim it. I roll my eyes at those every time. However, this one is different.

I sit up straighter when I see it’s from the beauty school. Oh shit. This could be good or bad and I don’t know which way it’s going to go.

I take a deep breath and hit the highlighted box. I start to read the words and my throat dries.

I did it.

I have been accepted into beauty school.

Holy fuck.

I can’t breathe. Hell, I can’t even think as I jump onto the couch in a Tom Cruise manner and scream with excitement. I’m not going to be a stripper. I’m not going to be a hooker. I’m going to be a productive member of society and with Valo.

It’s then I hear the keys turn in the door. Valo’s home. I race to the door and before he even crosses into the room, I leap into his arms.

“Don’t have sex with him on the stairs, Jade,” Gus chuckles as he walks around us.

“I’m not listening to you, asshat!” I yell back, but my face is buried in the crook of Valo’s neck. “Come with me.” I unhook my legs from his waist and drag him up the stairs. I slam the door and kiss him hard. “I’ve had the greatest day of my life.” My cheeks hurt from all the damn smiling I’m doing.

“What happened? Because it can’t be just because I’m home again.” His grin deepens.

“Well, that’s part of it, but I got a part-time job and,” I flip the iPad for him to see. “Look,” I point to the screen.

“You were accepted? Jade, that’s great! You really have had a great day. I’m proud of you. Congrats.”