Defend

“What is it?” I ask.

She stands and walks over to the refrigerator. She points to one of the pictures from a family vacation last year. “Who are these people?”

“My kids: Kayla and Gregory. Why?” My muscles tense and coil, ready to spring into defensive mode if necessary.

“Your daughter is Kayla Murphy?” She releases a short breath before looking over at me. “I have a class with her this semester.”

Brent stares at me for so long that I blurt out, “You need to kiss me again.” His brows furrow. “We need to get rid of the weirdness because so far, we like us and kissing will easily get rid of the weird.” He doesn’t seem so convinced. “I recognized her, that’s all. We did a project together earlier this semester. We aren’t friends. Does that help?”

He shakes his head. “Come sit down and eat.”

My stomach sinks. This is already going to hell in a handbasket. I shouldn’t have said I knew his daughter, I guess.

“Why are you here?” he asks.

“You invited me.”

“Jamie, why are you here with me?”

“I told you already.” But he looks confused, so I add, “Last night. I said you’re hot and sweet. Why not see what happens? A fling, a relationship, even heartbreak. I’m okay with it all because that’s life and if not you, it’ll be someone else. But I wouldn’t mind if it’s you. Your age doesn’t bother me. Neither does the fact that I know your daughter who is a little younger than I am. Age is just a number and all that, yadda yadda. If it works, it works, right? And will you please interrupt me because I’ll just keep rambling unless you do. I don’t even know what I’m actually saying anymore.”

Brent reaches over and takes my hand. I relax with his touch. Just like that. “You realize why this is a bit different for me.”

“Yes, of course. I’d probably worry if it didn’t freak you out at least a little. If you just want sex, I can do that. If you want to see what happens, I can do that too.”

We eat in silence for a bit, Brent eyeing me every so often. By the time we finish, he says, “Let’s see what happens. In the meantime, I don’t plan to let my kids know.”

I nod in agreement. Sounds perfectly fine with me. One bump in the road conquered, an unknown number to go. “When you retire, will you move to Florida like your parents?” I ask, not sure why that question popped into my mind.

Brent laughs. “I don’t plan to retire. Well, I don’t want to think about retiring. Either way, I doubt I’ll move unless something comes up to make me change my mind. This is where I grew up and I love it here.”

“You really are a workaholic.”

He shakes his head. “It doesn’t feel like work for me. Even when I’m there all day and half the night, I don’t once feel like I’ve been at work. Now, when I have to do paperwork and bookkeeping and all that mess, that feels like work. It’s why my brother Ronnie is in charge of overseeing that and I only help out when needed.”

“Sounds like a true workaholic to me,” I tease. “I hate to eat and run, but I need to get back to campus. Thanks for breakfast.” Brent stands as I do. He holds out his hand and I take it. We walk through the house, out the front door, and all the way to my car.

“I think,” he says as he opens my door, “that today will be better than yesterday for you.”

“It’s off to a better start.”

Brent smiles. “Good.” He leans forward to kiss me. It’s short and simple, but two seconds after he pulls away, our mouths collide once again. This man? He kisses better than anybody I’ve ever kissed. I didn’t realize it was possible for it to feel as if someone was reaching all the way into the depths of my soul with his kiss. I always feel a little exposed and vulnerable in the best way possible after a kiss. I didn’t know feeling good about those things was possible.

“Even better now,” I mumble when Brent releases my lips. That’s all he lets go of. His arms are still fused around my waist.

“You’re trouble, aren’t you?” he asks with a grin.

“With a capital T.”

He laughs and lets me go. “I’ll talk to you soon. Have a good day, okay?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“What is wrong with you? There’s a smile on your face and we’re in class. That never happens,” my closest friend, Erin, whispers.

I wave my hand to dismiss her. I was thinking about my kiss with Brent. I wonder when I’ll see him again. Unfortunately, I have to work tonight and tomorrow. One of the best decisions I made since being in college was getting a job. Some may not be impressed with a job at a department store, but I enjoy it. Sure, standing for hours on end isn’t fun, but I get to talk to all sorts of people as I check them out.

It’s way better than sitting in this class while the instructor drones on about accounting. The last degree I should’ve picked was a business degree, yet here I am. Daydreaming about marching into my parents’ house, demanding they listen to me, and then telling them I’m done. I’m dropping out and I won’t endure this hell any longer! I want to work some “crappy” job for the rest of my life because I thoroughly enjoy it.