“You didn’t force me to hold your hair. I did it because I wanted to.”
Classic. He managed to flex his tough guy muscle and dodge answering my question at the same time.
Some of my hair fell forward and Nick situated it into a ponytail on top of my head held in place by his fist. I was certain anyone walking by would have thought he was impersonating a caveman holding on to his woman.
I took some deep breaths and felt like I could finally lift my head without yacking. Nick let go of my hair as I straightened up and I looked for a place clear of partially digested pizza and Long Islands so I could step out of my car.
I was sure I looked like hell with mascara raccooning under my eyes, but I just couldn’t bring myself to care. “I’m getting in the backseat since Jessie is driving.”
He moved back so I could step over the puddle of puke. “You could at least be honest about it. You’re getting in the backseat so you can pass out.”
I could see that I would never have to wonder what this guy was thinking. We could be dangerous for another. He opened the back door behind the driver’s seat and motioned with his hand like a chauffeur. He was honest so I guess I would be, too. “Okay. I’m getting in the backseat so I can pass out, but I don’t need you to stay with me. I’ll lock the doors and you go back inside. I’ll be fine.”
“I’m not leaving you out here alone.” He shut my door and then got into the driver’s seat. “I’m moving your car to a different parking space so Jessie doesn’t unknowingly wade through your puke to get in. That would not be cool.”
He pulled my car around to the back of the club and then turned on some music before he got out and slid into the backseat next to me. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to try anything with you.”
“I wasn’t worried.” I had done a bang up job of preventing this thing with Nick from going any further tonight because no one wanted a post puke kiss, no matter how hard up they were.
I shut my eyes as I leaned my head against the cool window and felt Nick grab my upper arm and gently tug me in his direction. “Here, put your head in my lap. You’ll be more comfortable and you’ll sleep better.”
“Thanks, but I’m okay.”
“Put. Your. Head. On. My. Lap. Stubborn. I’m not going to try anything with you,” he promised.
I hated being bossed, but I did as he said and lay on my side, putting the side of my face against his thighs. I told myself I did it because I was tired and needed the sleep so I wouldn’t be so hung-over the next day, not because it was what he ordered me to do.
My favorite Amos Lee song was playing and it helped me relax. As I lay there with my eyes closed, Nick began to stroke my hair and it felt really good. I began to relax more and was almost on the verge of nodding off when he asked, “What song is this?”
I loved his interest in my music. “It’s ‘Southern Girl’ by Amos Lee.”
“You’re really into music, aren’t you?”
Amos was singing about Mississippi mornings and angels in flight. “Yeah, you could say that I’m musically slutty. My taste in music gets around.”
“I like this song because Amos got it spot on. There’s definitely something about a Southern girl that makes me feel right.”
“Listening to Amos while you stroke my hair like that is going to put me in a coma if you’re not careful.”
“I’m not leaving so you can go to sleep if you want. It’s probably a good idea for you to sleep because you’re going to feel like shit tomorrow and I’m guessing Jessie and Claire aren’t leaving the club anytime soon.”
I probably needed to rest, but my current curiosity was stronger than my need for sleep. “I will, but I want to ask you something first.”
“Sure.”
I wanted to turn onto my back so I could see his face, but I was too scared so I stayed on my side. “Why do you call me Doll Face?”
He was quiet for a long time and I decided he wasn’t going to answer, but then he shocked me. “Because I think you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that coming from him. I had been told my whole life how beautiful I was, but there was something different about the way he said it. It felt intimate, like he was talking about more than my physical appearance and I suddenly felt completely bared to him.
He didn’t say anything else and I didn’t either as he sat with my head in his lap but things felt different between us. Neither of us voiced recognition regarding it, but we both knew that we had made a connection.
He continued to stroke my hair and I have no idea how long he did it because I eventually dosed off but not before I heard him whisper, “Sweet Dreams, Doll Face.”
6 Brotherly Advice
Nick
I could sit forever with this beautiful girl’s head in my lap and stroke my hand over her long silky hair as she slept. I leaned over to sniff the fruity scent of her hair. My shift of position caused her to stir and then she turned onto her back to face me.
Her breath was slow and steady, assuring me that she was sleeping deeply, and I couldn’t resist my urge to touch her face. I stroked the back of my fingers against her baby soft cheek and she turned toward my hand and nestled against it.
This couldn’t be the last time I was with this amazing girl. I had to see her again because I would go crazy if I didn’t.
Jessie had already made his stand on the issue clear and I couldn’t count on him to help me out so I started brainstorming on a way to get her digits. I looked over at her opened purse within my reach and knew what I had to do. I was going to get her number by calling my own phone from hers. It felt wrong to ramble through her personal belongings, but it didn’t stop me from doing it.
I found her cell and pushed the power button. Shit. I should have known she’d have it on lockdown with a pass code. I put her phone back in her purse without a minute to spare as Jessie, Claire and Dane walked toward her car at the back of the building.
Jessie angrily slung the car door open and immediately tore into me. “This isn’t where Payton’s car was parked. What have you been doing with her?”
I recognized his unspoken accusation and knew he was insinuating that I moved the car behind the building so I could screw Payton in the backseat. Any other time he would have been right, but not tonight, not with her.
“Chill out, Boone. I had to move the car because she puked a river by the driver’s side door. I didn’t want you to have to walk in it and this was the only parking spot open.”