"Friends is a great starting place. It's the foundation of a good, solid relationship, Easton. Tell me all about her."
"I will when I get back home. I'm going to shower and take her to a concert that I got us tickets for." I sat up. "I'm honestly a little freaked out about whether to take the friendship to the next level."
"Do you care about–” My mom was cut off and my dad's voice filled up the phone. I swear the two of them were my free counseling session on steroids.
"Will you miss her when you part ways?" My dad's voice was gruff.
"Yeah, like crazy."
"Have you had sex with her?"
"Dad, really?" I stood up, and waited for him to give me an out, but as per usual, he didn't. "That’s none of your business dad. Shit."
"Whatever. You're in love with her. Take the next step. Stop being a puss. Love hurts. You win, you lose, you grow up and get over it."
"Give me that phone," my mother's voice was shrill. "Don't listen to that gorilla, Easton. Take your time and court the girl. If she's the one, then don't rush into anything. She'd not appreciate that, and you won't either."
"And if she's not the one?" I walked to the bedroom, knowing very much that Vivian could be the one.
"Then it's okay to let her go. Until you figure that out, you need to protect your heart. Okay, baby?"
"Mom. You're the one waiting with baited breath for me to marry and have kids. Are you telling me to back off now?" I chuckled and started the shower, wishing Vivian would have stayed to take one with me. There was nothing more that I wanted to do than lather up my hands and run them all over her body, worshiping every inch of her until she begged me to stop.
"No. Yes. I don't know. I just hear something in your voice I haven't heard before. Just be careful. Your dad and I will see you on Sunday or Monday. Your brothers should be home for the weekend too. They're not headed back to school until later in the week."
"Okay. I love you." I pulled a towel from the cabinet and slung it over the shower door.
"We love you too. Good luck." She kissed the phone a few times, and I released the call before stripping down and getting into the shower. My mom and dad meant the world to me. If they could hear in my voice how much I'd fallen for the beautiful vixen that had stolen my breath, then I'd fallen for her.
She was going to push back against me, though. She had much more stock in protecting herself after what Jackson had put her through. I couldn't blame her, and I wouldn't push at all, but I did want to let her know that I wanted more. I could carefully tread through the waters of what that might look like.
I turned and lifted my face to the hot spray, letting everything else go. Vivian and I would have a great night tonight. And if sex was part of the deal, then I would lavish her generously in pleasure just to remind her of how good we could be together when she left me the next day.
*****
She was wearing a tight skirt that stopped about mid-thigh and a series of tank tops that make her look all of nineteen, but with her hair down and makeup dark and smoky in appearance, she was every bit twenty-one. I couldn't take my eyes off of her as I approached her, and something inside of me snapped as I reached for her, pulling her against me and lowering my face to hers.
"You look incredible." I let my eyes move from her lips to her gaze, which was wide and filled with curiosity. "I'm highly considering giving these tickets to anyone who wants them and inviting you back up to finish last night properly."
"Don't make promises you don't intend to keep." She brushed her lips by mine and moved out of my hold as Casey stared at us wide-eyed.
"Um. Wow. I'm gone for one night and you two are a thing all of a sudden?" She smiled and tugged a tall, Hispanic guy toward us. "This is Paul."
I ignored her probing and extended my hand, shaking the guy’s firmly. "I'm Easton. Nice to meet you man."
"Alright. This party train is leaving. I got us a cab." Casey moved in front of me and Vivian, before linking her arm with her date's arm. "That okay?"
I slipped one hand into my pocket, checking for the tickets and reached for Viv's hand with the other. "Perfect."
She squeezed my hand and let out a squeal as her beautiful face filled with excitement. "I love this band. They're one of my favorites, but it's always so damn hard to get tickets. Not to mention how expensive they are."
"Well, these were free, but I'd have bought you tickets if I'd known." I lifted her hand to my mouth and kissed her fingers softly as I glanced over at her. My mother's words washed through my mind, but it was my father's that stuck with me. I was being a puss. This woman was everything I wanted in my life, and yet the fear of losing her at the first turn in the road left me pulling back more than I should have.
"Stop being sweet. You'll have me regretting our time together." She gave me a cheeky grin and walked toward the cab, getting into the back with Paul. Casey was up front, already giving the poor cabbie full instructions on how to get to the amphitheater, as if the guy hadn't been there a million times.
I got in beside Viv and slid my hand down her thigh, gripping her possessively as my body woke up and desire riddled my insides.
"Are we eating somewhere or just grabbing a hot dog at the event?" Casey turned back to pin us with an inquisitive stare.