ncluding her number, I shoot Travis a text telling him it'd be a good time to call Frankie. The concert's in a week and he still hasn't grown the balls to call and invite her yet. Their hatred for each other is almost comical, but it's getting old and I wish they'd just get along. Or at least be able to stand being in the same room as each other. They're the two most important people in my life right now. I know it seems fast, but Travis and I are becoming inseparable. If we're not together, we're texting or on the phone.
"I'm here, bitch!" Frankie yells, slamming the door behind her. "With beer and Chinese food." She drops something on the counter.
"An entire case of beer?" I grin, standing from the couch. Gus is on my heels as we walk into the kitchen.
"It's been a long week. So yeah." She starts to say something but her phone rings and I hear her groan in annoyance then mumble, "Your perv is calling me."
"Hmm, so weird. Are you gonna answer it?"
"Yes?" she clips, obviously annoyed already.
"Hi, Trav!" I yell. "Put him on speakerphone!"
Frankie grumbles something and set's the phone hard on the counter.
"Hey, Blue," his voice croons over the phone and Frankie groans.
"Gross. I'm not sitting here for phone sex," she bitches and I laugh.
"Franklin," he says sternly. "Funny, I dialed six six six and it called you."
"Funny, I knew this conversation would be as long as your dick," she growls and, knowing Frankie, she's about to hang up so I snatch the phone off the counter and fumble with it, but at least she didn't hang up on him.
"Travis doesn't have a small dick, Frankie. And Travis, stop poking the bear. We all know you're allergic to them." I laugh, holding the phone still.
"Frank?" Travis asks, making sure she's still around.
"Yes, Perv?"
"Would you like to go to Sam Hunt with me and Charlie next week? If not, that's cool, burning this hundred and thirty dollar ticket I bought you is almost better than you coming along."
"You bought me a ticket to go see Sam Hunt?" Her voice is full is hesitation. "What's in it for you, Perv?"
"For me?" Travis belts out. "What the hell would be in it for me? Other than the fact once Sam starts playing, I won't be able to hear your pterodactyl voice."
"I really want to hate you right now for comparing me to a fucking dead bird," she grumbles. "You're not gonna put me in a car and pay the driver to kill me are you?"
"Wow… I never thought about that, Frank. Blue, you need some new, less insane friends," he calls out to me, then says, "Why, no, Frank, I'd never dream of your demise."
"I don't believe it," she whispers then takes a breath and lets out a groan as she exhales. "I'd love to go see Sam Hunt next weekend, Perv."
I let out a squeal and laugh when Frankie growls.
"What do you tell him, Frankie?" I ask, waving the phone at her.
"You're still a perv."
"No," I warn.
"Thank you," she mumbles.
"Good jo-" I start but she cuts in.
"Perv," she blurts, grabbing the phone and ending the call.
" ready to go yet? Why is this taking you so long? We're going to miss half the fucking concert." Frankie's whining from my bedroom door only makes me move slower.
Honestly, I was ready ten minutes ago. Now I'm just fiddling and trying to piss her off. "Travis isn't even here yet. The concert doesn't start for two hours and the venue is twenty minutes away. Do some math, it'll be fine."
Just then a knock comes over the door and she groans. "Finally!"
After some bickering between the two of them that I'm starting to block out, we make it to the venue with enough time for Frankie to down at least three frozen margaritas before the opening band even starts.
"I'd never peg you for a country music type of man," I say to Travis, sitting on the blanket with his arms wrapped around me.
"To be honest, I never listened to country until I moved here. Bev kind of beat it into my head. It took me a few months to invest in headphones and an upgraded phone that I could store music on, but by then it was too late. I'd already learned the words to one too many country songs. There are only a few I like though." He kisses my temple.
"Why'd you move here anyway?" The music from the opening band starts and it's nothing but twangy country. I'm all about Sam Hunt, but please don't force me to listen to these fiddles. I spin in Trav's lap and rest my hands in his. "You never talk about your life before Bev. It's like there isn't one."
"There isn't." I feel his shoulders lift in a shrug. "I told you, the man I am now is the only one that matters. Bad kid, prison, shit I'm not proud of."
I sigh and lay my head on his chest. "Well, whatever brought you to Oregon, I'm happy it did. I'm slowly becoming addicted to you." I close my eyes as the band finally moves on to the next song. "Who is this?" I ask Frankie, who plops down next to us.
"No fucking clue. They suck," she bitches. "Who wants more drinks?" She slaps me on the arm and I laugh. "Travis?"
"I'm driving, not drinking, Frank."
"Well," she spits. "I'm getting another one. I'll be back."
"She's going to regret this at work tomorrow." I laugh.
"You sure you don't want a drink? You think you'd let me take advantage of you drunk?" His hands start to make their way to inappropriate places for a public place.
"I can do that just as easily sober," I hum, pushing back into him.
"Yeah?" He chuckles. "And how far will you go sober, Blue?" he whispers in my ear as his slow moving hand passes my belly button.
"Is it dark outside?" I whisper, already wet from his touch.
"It's dusk," he says, his fingertips slipping just under my waistband. "No one's looking though." His voice is quiet and deep in my ear but I can hear the humor like he's waiting for me to stop him. When he's this close to me though, I don't own the ability to stop him. "Don't move," he whispers and his hand suddenly leaves me.
A few seconds later, his arms come around me again and the cool, refreshing breeze is blocked by the blanket he wrapped around us and his hand is sliding back downward. When I don't stop him, his fingers slip inside my thong and immediately find their way to my clit before slowly slipping inside me. His breath is warm on my ear and he quietly groans while nipping my earlobe.
"Shit," I gasp, trying my hardest to appear unaffected. If people are watching, they're about to get a damn good show.
"Shhh." He quietly laughs in my ear. "Bite your lip and close your eyes, Blue." His fingers start to pump faster and his palm presses against my clit.
I do as I'm told but it doesn't help the moans that keep escaping. I'm so wet I wouldn't be surprised if anyone else around us could hear it, but I pray they can't.
Fuck, this feels good. A low chuckle rumbles from him when I push against his hand harder. He brings me to the brink of orgasm right here in the grass, and just as I feel it start to course through me, I tuck my head and clamp my teeth onto his arm that's wrapped around me. His lips land on my neck before he starts to chuckle as I throb around his fingers still inside me, rubbing at that damn spot.
Suddenly he lifts his head and says, "Double fisting it there, huh, Frank?"
"Two for the price of one!" I hear her slurp something and shake my head, attempting to right myself and catch my breath. The blanket falls off us and the cool breeze starts to calm down my heated body.
"Are you drinking both at the same time again?" I grin.
"Again? This is a normal behavior?" Travis asks, laughing.
"It was her signature move at parties in college. They called her Double Fistin' Frankie." I laugh way too hard, my body still attempting to recover from that orgasm.
"I can't say I'm surprised." He moves away from me and stands then bends and kisses the top of my head. "I need to find a bathroom." He touches the tip of my nose and my wetness transfers from his fingers and I gasp.
"Awwww, you two are so fucking cute together! I love it so much!" Frankie blurts from the blanket next to me and my eyes go wide. "You got a little somethin' on your nose, Chuck." She tugs the blanket and wipes my nose off as I freeze in mortification.
By the time Sam gets on stage Frankie's three sheets to the wind, singing, and apparently breaking out some fancy dance moves. The crowd erupts in cheers and Sam moves straight into his first song, breaking only for a short 'welcome to the show'. By the fifth song, Body Like A Backroad comes on and Frankie's screaming almost louder than him.
"LET ME HAVE YOUR BABIES, SAM! I LOVE YOU!"
"She's not going to have a voice tomorrow," I say, laughing at her. "It's been a while since she's let loose this hard."
"What about you, Chuck?" Travis says and his arms that were just around me let go. He moves to stand in front of me and squats, taking my hands and putting them on his shoulders.
"What are you doing?" I blurt, but get no answer as he grabs my leg.
"Come on, Chuck."
Suddenly I'm being forced onto his shoulders with Frankie's help.
"Hold on, Blue," he says standing to his full height that feels a hell of a lot taller than I thought. "LET FRANKIE HAVE YOUR BABIES, SAM!" he screams toward the stage as she squeals next to us.
It takes me a moment to adjust to being so tall. How does he do this every day?
When House Party, one of my favorite songs, comes on I belt out the lyrics right along with Frankie and, surprisingly, Travis. He knows them all! At the end of Raised On It I'm no longer worried about Travis letting me fall and Frankie and I are singing along at the top of our lungs. Granted, Frankie's lungs are out of tune and slurred, but it's still the best time we’ve had together in a while and it's all thanks to Travis.
Sam takes a break to talk to the audience and Frankie takes the opportunity to scream at him, "TAKE MY PANTIES HOME WITH YOU, SAM!"
I die in a fit of laughter then hear Travis curse and move to frantically let me off his shoulders.
"TAKE THEM!" she yells.
"Frankie, put your damn skirt down," Travis says, sounding like he's struggling. "Keep your underwear on! For the love of God! Charlie, please, do something!" he begs like he's wrestling with her to stay dressed.
"I can't!" I laugh, attempting to catch my breath. "THROW THEM, FRANKIE!"
"Oh…Jesus," Travis mutters like what he just saw scarred him for life. "Those just landed on some huge bald guy's head. Time to move, girls." His arm wraps around my stomach and he's pulling me away while Frankie's hyena laughs are at my side; I'm assuming he's dragging her too.
"He'll have fun rubbing off to those, tonight!" She cackles as we come to a stop and the music starts again.
"Hey, it's your favorite song, Travis," I smile, squeezing his hand when Take Your Time starts.
"You know why this is my favorite song?" He moves closer and pulls me against him as his hands grab my waist, slowly moving us to the music.
"Because the way Sam sings it makes you swoon?" I grin, wrapping my arms around him and sway to the song he insists on singing to me at least once a week.
"I do swoon for Sam. After this performance, I decided he's my boyfriend. But no…one day I saw you in that little bistro you love by your apartment. This song was on the speakers and I couldn't stop watching you, thinking I'd like to recite these words to that fine peace of Oregon ass at that table ignoring the shit out of me." He grins against my lips.
I laugh and slap his chest. "Why didn't you come say hi? When was this?"
"This was a while ago. The day after our first encounter when you confused me for your friend Steve. But I didn't recognize you because you wore fucking spectacles in the bar, Charlie. I kept trying to catch your eye. You weren't having it." He laughs and I nudge him. "Hey, I've always wanted to ask…do you really have a friend named Steve?"
"I don't." I wrap my arms back around him as the song comes to an end. "Thank you for tonight, Travis. It's been perfect."
"I haven't had this much fun since I can remember, and Frankie wasn't that bad," he mumbles before softly kissing me. "But I'd do anything for you, Blue."
It's been a few weeks since that night, and I've seen a change in the way Frankie reacts to Travis. Of course, she'll never let us know, but I think he's growing on her. It's about damn time, because he's officially grown on me and I don't plan on letting him go.
He's been busy at the orchard lately, being peak season and all, and summertime always amps up the dating sites so work on my end is piling up. Tonight we're heading to a bar just down the street from my apartment to finally take a break from work. Of course Frankie's coming along, so when Travis asked if it'd be okay if we met up with one of his friends, I was all over it. Maybe it'll take some of Frankie's attention off me and direct it to something that can help relieve her stress.
"So what's his name again?" I ask, sliding into the booth right before Travis pushes in next to me.
"Jeff. He's a good guy, but can be annoying, okay? Just…just give him a chance."
Holding his arm, I feel he's tapping his fingers on the table nervously and I reach over laying my hand on his.
"Hey, I have a Frankie. You have a Jeff. We gotta love our friends, right?" I give his hand a squeeze. "Speaking of Frankie, she should be here any minute. I thought she left before us."
"What the fuck kind of bar is this?" She huffs immediately after I finish my sentence. "Why's it so gross and…smoky?"
"Fuck! You brought the hottest bitches I've ever seen in here!" A boisterous voice gets closer to the table right after Frankie's tantrum.
"Dude," Travis huffs. "Just, shut up and sit down."
"I'm Frankie," she says. "Single. Successful. Sexy. And I hate assholes…and Pervs."
I take a breath and let it out, shaking my head.
"You loved me a few weeks ago, Frank," Travis says, laughing.
"I don't recall such a thing. I remember you purchased someone else a ticket and needed me to take it. I remember getting drunk, and then I remember waking up in my own throw up. Nothing about loving you."
"Convenient," Travis mutters. "Jeff man, this is Blue."
I start to extend my hand and he grabs it. It starts to raise, but just as quickly, Travis yanks it out of his hand. "Don't put your nasty mouth on her, man," he snickers.
"Dump the loser and I'll show you a real man," Jeff says.
I take a deep breath and remind myself this is Travis's friend. I think maybe his only friend ‘cause he never mentions others. Besides that, he puts up with Frankie being a bitch. I can put up with his friend being a pig.
"Nice to meet you, Jeff," I say, resting my hands in my lap, safely away from his lips.
"Let me get you a drink, Blue. Frank, I know you want one for each hand." Travis stands before I can say anything and I hear Jeff 'oomph' like he was just punched before I feel the breeze of Travis walking by.
"I didn't realize this was a double date, Charlie," Frankie hisses at me. "I would have shaved more…precisely!"
"Please don't talk to me about shaving precisely, Frankie." I laugh. "You're fine. It's not a double date. I think Jeff's recently divorced. Anyway, is he cute?" I grin across the table at her.
"I mean, he's good looking yeah. They're coming back! Not a word about it, Charlie."
"Wouldn't dare." I smile. Maybe she'll finally be able to get laid. When Frankie goes a long time without sex she turns even bitchier than she normally is.
"Frank," Travis's voice says and I scoot over to give him room. "And for you, Blue, Cherry Wheat." The mug clanks when he sets it in front of me and he chuckles, kissing my temple.
"You would. If I hate this I'm kicking your ass." I laugh and bring the glass to my nose, smelling it. "You're lucky tonight," I take a swig of the Blue Moon.
"Thank you, Perv," Frankie says.
"Ha! Perv!" Jeff blurts and I slightly startle, not prepared for his loud voice. Travis's hand clamps to my thigh. "You're fuckin' funny and cute. Those lips real?" he asks and my eyebrows shoot upward.
"All natural," Frankie purrs and I roll my eyes. "Wanna touch em?"
"This is a time I wish I drank," Travis mutters and I feel him shift to face me more.
"This is a time I'm happy I'm blind." I laugh, bringing my hand to his cheek and tracing his jawline.
"You want me to describe it to you?"
"No," I blurt.
"Come on, Blue, you love when I describe things to you. So, Frankie has managed to get her top even lower, just a few more centimeters and we'll have nipple. And right now Jeff's boner is practically lifting the table while he gently," he whispers the word and moves closer. "Softly," he breathes in an attempt at a disturbing, sultry voice. "Strokes her lips that are always yapping more than anyone likes to hear. She's single. Successful. And ssssexy," he whispers against my ear.
"Stop!" I blurt, hating that this entire thing is turning me on. "Frankie, Jeff, hands above the table and off each other!" I inch away from Travis and shudder before taking a huge gulp of my beer.
Travis starts to laugh then says, "Frank, you're a fucking perv."
"You're a fucking perv, Perv! You've probably got a chub just looking at these ladies!" She cackles and I groan, ready to head home. "Why aren't you drinking anything, Perv? Too good for us?"
"You're not drinking? It was your idea to come here." I cock my head at Travis and wait.
"Well." He shifts.
"That lame ass don't drink!" Jeff blurts.
"I don't drink and drive," Travis corrects him. "I'm driving, Chuck. I'm not going to drink tonight."
"I live right around the corner. You guys can crash at my place." I slide my hand to his lap and push closer to him, leaning up to his ear and whisper, "Drunk sex would be crazy fun." I slide my hand between his legs and rub him, nipping his earlobe.
His hand grabs my wrist and he turns toward my ear. "If you could see what I'm being tortured with right now, you wouldn't have done that." His sentence finishes at the same time I hear Frankie's carried out giggle she only does when she's trying too hard to get laid.
"So grab a drink and focus on me," I whisper, pushing my lips to his cheek. "Please. Let loose for once."
"I can't leave Jeff on his own or he'll show up at his ex's and get the cops called on him again." As he says that, Jeff whoops out what's probably his version of a mating call and I smirk because I think Jeff has become Frankie's problem tonight.
"I have a feeling we won't need to worry about Jeff tonight, Travis. It's been too long since Frankie's been laid." I grin and laugh when I hear Jeff curse and mutter something about Frankie's tits.
"I've stayed over four nights this week, Blue. You sure you're not sick of me?"
"Gus likes when you stay over." I shrug. "I guess it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world." I grin and his deep chuckle does something to my brain that makes my stomach flutter and my heart turn to mush.
"Yeah? So, I should stay for Gus's sake then, huh?" His nose circles the shell of my ear and I turn my head to kiss him until a loud slap hits the table and I jump.
"Alright, pussies! Let's get shots!" Jeff demands.
"Shots!" Frankie belts out.
"Shots, Blue," Travis mutters unenthused.
"SHOTS!" I yell, laughing as Frankie keeps chanting her 'shots' song.
By four rounds of shots and however many other drinks Frankie's had, she's dragging Travis from the table and his hands are grabbing for me to follow. I roll my eyes and take the few shaky steps to find them. It's not hard. Frankie's cheering about her Perv being a badass, and soon the entire bar erupts in cheers. I love they're getting along so I try to hang back and give them space. Travis doesn't let me get far, but hearing his laughter right alongside my best friend's is the best thing I've heard in a long time. She hasn't insulted him in the past hour, but she won't drop that Perv nickname for him.
The band in the bar starts up and the place grows louder right as Frankie starts yelling for more shots. Travis's arms wrap around me and I melt into him. His normal, sweet scent mixed with whiskey invades my senses and I sigh.
"You having fun?" I ask, bringing my hands to his smiling face.
"You make life complete, Blue." His lips land on mine and I hum, giving in when his tongue asks for entrance.
"Trav, Trav. Whoa, Trav," Jeff says and his hand is on my shoulder as he tries to push us apart. "Wait, just wait," he utters when he effectively separates us. "Dude, listen. I like you, Blue." His slurred voice projects the strong stench of beer toward my face. "But this guy has a girlfriend."
"What?" Travis blurts and my heart sinks.
"A girlfriend, huh?" I back away from Travis and clench my fists as they start to shake.
"Dude, I'm sorry, Travis, but you know Gina cheated on me and no!" he snaps. "I'm sorry, Blue." Jeff's arm wraps around my shoulders.
"Jeff, what the fuck, man?" Travis grabs my hand but before he pulls me toward him, I pull it away. "Jeff! What the fuck!" Travis's voice raises and people around us start to quiet down.
"Yeah, I'm sorry, he's dating some blind girl named Charlie too," Jeff says and I let out a huff, pushing Jeff off me and shake my head at the drunk bastard.
"What?” He’s so lost right now. “You're not dating her no more?" His confused, drunk voice starts to trickle out laughter. "Hey, hey. A blind girl walks into a bar… And a table… And a chair." He barks out laughter and I want to laugh because he's such a fucking idiot. A rude, dense, drunken idiot.
"Aw, man," Travis huffs and I feel his hands on me as he moves me from my spot. "You know you fucking deserve this right?" he says right before I hear the crack of flesh on flesh and wince as the sound of someone hitting the floor quiets down even more patrons in the bar.
I let out a quiet gasp as Travis's hand finds mine. Stepping forward, kicking a chair out of the way, I kick Jeff's foot and kneel down. "Hi," I say, smiling and pushing my hand out towards where I think he is. "I'm Charlie. Travis's blind girlfriend."
He grunts and groans and I stand up as Frankie's voice rings out loud and clear, "Oh my God! What the hell happened? I leave to take a piss and miss the fight!"
I turn into Travis and smile. "Are you about ready to head out?"
"Fuck yes. He's Frankie's fucking problem the rest of the night." His tone is laced with anger but he's slowly calming down. "Frank, get his dumb ass up and let's go!" he snaps toward her while she sounds like she's babying Jeff.
"He's too heavy!" she whines and Travis's hand leaves mine briefly to help get him up.
"You're dealing with him tonight, Frankie," I tell her.
"No fucking problem," she purrs and I groan. Gross.
The walk back to our apartment, Frankie is too busy fondling over Jeff to worry about bitching at Travis and Trav's hands won't leave my ass alone. I'm sure we look like a hot damn mess walking down this street. I feel like it takes triple the amount of time it took to walk here but we make it, and let me tell you something, walking up stairs after all the alcohol and being unable to see them isn't the easiest. I'm proud to say I made it up with only one trip and Travis, as inebriated as he is, was right there to make sure I didn't fall.
Frankie and Jeff slam the door to her apartment while I fumble with my keys and Travis chuckles but he doesn't step in to take them away from me. He waits, letting me do this myself, and when we step inside he says, "I'm sorry about Jeff tonight. This is kind of why I didn't want you to meet him." He chuckles. "And if Frankie wakes up with crabs, she can't fucking blame this on me."
"Gross!" I laugh. "He wasn't horrible. He's just different." I grin, pulling my tank top over my head and dropping it to the floor. "Do we have to talk about your friends, though?"
"We're just gonna undress right here, are we?" He chuckles, pulling me against him. "And that sounded like you pluralized the word friend. You're definitely drunk." His mouth starts to travel my jaw.
"Was that word really hard for you to pronounce? Pluraalllli- Plueerraliz—" I giggle when he tickles my sides. His mouth nips my shoulder and I melt into him, my head slightly spinning.
"Let's see how hard it is for you to pronounce the word Travis while I fuck you senseless." He starts pulling me down the hall and when we make it to my bedroom, his hands are at my back, unhooking my bra. I don't waste time, pushing his pants down and in an instant all our clothes are thrown around the room and our mouths are devouring each other. I crawl back on the bed and he's right here with me, hovering over me, his mouth tasting every inch of my skin.
That's when I hear it. Gus's collar bells. But I'm too late. His nose made it to the only spot he prefers sniffing. I mean, he is a dog.
"Shit!" Travis yells, almost flinging his body off mine and I erupt in a fit of laughter.
"He get your ass again?" I laugh as Gus pushes his body between us and snuggles under the covers.
"Why don't you lick my ass as much as Gus does?" He pokes at my stomach and I squirm away. "I'm gonna take him out before he pees in the bed." His lips messily kiss me before he scoops Gus from the bed, minutes later, his collar jingles all the way out the door.
I sigh and pull the covers over me when I start to cool off being left alone.
God, this bed is so comfortable.
Between both of our jobs we work ninety plus hour weeks making as much time as we can for each other a few week nights and weekends when he's not working the farmers market.
It's Friday night and Travis has been insisting on taking me line dancing, so here I stand, confused and scared that I'm going to fuck shit up tonight.
"What the hell shoes do you wear to go dancing?' I mumble, shuffling through my closet.
"Why haven't you ever gone dancing with me?" Frankie bitches, squatting down next to me and pushing my hand away. "Here," she blurts, shoving a pair of cowboy boots into my hand.
"Well, for one you never asked. And for two, I hate dancing. It's not that easy with my condition." I slide my thirteen-year-old boots on and still remember the day my mom got them for me. I hated them at the time, but I'm happy I have them now.
"So you're letting Perv take you," she says, following me into the kitchen.
"You're coming along too. Get your panties un-wadded and let's get a move on. Travis is picking us up soon."
She huffs and I hear her grab her bag before opening the front door. "Perv," she mutters.
"You ladies ready for this shit?" Travis's voice is headed for me and then his hands are on my face, tilting my head back to kiss me like we haven't seen each other in so long. It's been two days, but feels like a week.
"So ready," I say with a hint of sarcasm.
"Your girl doesn't think she's a good dancer," Frankie says from the hallway. "I knew her back when. She used to have some sweet moves!" She cackles down the hallway as her feet start to pound down the stairs and I shake my head.
"I'm gonna be all left feet awkward tonight, Travis. I hope you understand this."
"I'll be your right foot, Blue." He kisses the corner of my eye as we head down the steps.
"You always know the right thing to say." I take his hand and the entire drive to Wild Country, the bar Frankie insists is the best line-dancing place around, he doesn't let go of it.
"How busy is it?" I ask Frankie when Travis hops out of the car to open my door.
"It's fine. It's totally fine," she blurts, and if I'm not mistaken, there's worry in her voice but I try to shake it off. My door swings open and I take a deep breath.
Here goes nothing.
"You nervous?" Travis's playful voice asks as he guides me to the door. "You know I won't let anything happen to you."
"I'm fine." I smile and give his hand a squeeze.
"Ever since the accident she's been leery of big crowds," I hear Frankie say and roll my eyes. "Can ya blame her?"
"I've had her in a couple crowds already, Frank. I'll take care of her," Travis says, his tone is on the brink of annoyance because Frankie is so defensive for me.
"I'm fine, guys!" I blurt. "Totally fine! Now where's this line I need to dance in?"
Travis starts to laugh and his hand cups my waist. "We're going to have a couple beers first." Now his voice is on the brink of nervousness.
"Right. So then you take me out to the floor and show me how it's done. You've done this, right? I mean, you…I don't know what to do out there. But you do, right?"
"Nope. Shots?" He blurts Frankie's favorite word.
Well shit.
We danced and tripped over each other all night, but at least it wasn't just me making a fool of myself. I think Frankie won the award for most un-coordinated and I only ran into three people all night. Travis's blunt curse words grunted every time he screwed something up was one of the more comical parts of the night. That and when Frankie had to fight off some drunk with grabby hands. I didn't think that'd be as fun as it was, but Travis can make every nerve-wracking situation a blast.
I've spent the last two months with a man I never would have given a solid chance past a one-night stand had I still had my vision. His bad boy looks tell nothing of the man he is. Travis is the best of the best when it comes to men. Period. The way I used to judge people by looks almost makes me hate who I used to be. If a guy wasn't a preppy doctor wannabe, I wouldn't even consider spending my valuable time with him. It hurts to think I would have missed my chance with Travis.
I'm happy now. He is and will always be my happy place. He's shown me that I can be independent but still ask for help. He's shown me love, unconditionally. And he's somehow taught Frankie to accept that I'm a grown adult that doesn't need babied. God, the first night I slept over at his place without telling her I thought she was going to have a coronary. It's gotten better since then, thankfully.
I smile and wash my hands, trying to shake off the nerves from today, then pet Peter as he wraps himself around my legs. Slowly I make my way down the hall, following the walls to where Travis is waiting for me. I've been here a few times, but I'm still getting the lay of the place.
"I never even thought about getting a tattoo." I nervously chuckle, gripping the back of a chair.
Every week for the last two months Travis has mentioned taking my tattoo virginity and I finally broke. I don't think I'd let anyone else ever touch me or do that to me. I wouldn't trust them. But Travis? I trust him with all my heart.
"You don't have to do this," he says.
"I want it!" I blurt. "I do! I'm just scared, you gotta walk me through this shit!"
"First sit your jumpy ass down." He guides me to a chair that reclines. "Next, stop bouncing." His hand lands on my knee.
"So what am I getting?" I grin, crossing my ankles and trying to shake off the nerves. I'm not nervous about the tattoo itself. Having one doesn't bother me a bit. I'm excited about that, but I really don't like pain.
"A Walrus," he answers with a tone to his voice that tells me he's joking.
"Funny. Can you make him blue?" I grin at my joke.
"No," he clips, suddenly going serious and he gets in 'the zone' as I call it. I've sat in on him tattooing someone else, and he becomes very quiet and concentrated while he works. "This is gonna be cool. And here." He shifts my arm so it's positioned and I close my eyes, laying back in the chair. "So I'm starting with just shaving the area, then I'll clean it and get to work. Good?"
"Shaving my inner forearm? Am I a beast or something?" I giggle.
"No beast, just precautions. Shut up and let me work my magic." He plants a kiss on my lips and I smile, relaxing into the chair. "Did you decide what you want yet? You've got less than five minutes, Chuck."
"I want you to decide. Surprise me. You're the artist. Make something beautiful."
"I don't do surprise tattoos, Blue. Too dangerous. You're getting my initials."
I let out a laugh and his chuckle rumbles while he starts to prep my arm. The cool cleaner almost numbs my arm, weirdly, and when the buzzing starts I can feel my nerves amp up.
"Wait!" I blurt and hear the tattoo machine turn off.
"What's wrong?"
"How bad will this hurt?" I blurt. "Don't answer that. You have them on your head right? Forearm's too, right? Right? I'm not gonna like, gonna cringe then instinctively pull away then ruin… Oh God, maybe I shouldn't be doing this." I shake my head, chickening out.
"Because why? Because you don't want permanent ink on your body? Or because you're worried about the pain?"
"I'm not big on pain. Shots at the doctor's office freak me out. I want the ink. But how much am I going to want to cry?"
"A shot and a tattoo are two completely different pains, Blue." He kisses next to my eye. "Shut up so I can permanently put my face on your arm."
I laugh and nudge him. "Okay. Let's do this before I for real chicken out."
"If it hurts too bad, we stop. Cool? But I promise, I'm fast, and I know what I'm doing. I made a lot of money doing this in prison."
I yank my arm away and blurt, "You tattooed in prison?"
"It was a joke, Chuck. Settle down. I didn't tattoo anyone in prison. No prison tattoos. Ever. Okay? Promise me you'll never get tattoos in prison." The machine starts to hum again and his gloved hand gently lands on my arm. Pulling the skin taught he whispers, "Just breathe."
It doesn't hurt near as bad as I thought it would and he was right when he said he's quick. In no time at all he's turning the machine off and wiping my arm down. I let out an excited giggle, anxious to find out what it is. It was damn near impossible to tell what he was doing when he had it to my skin.
"What is it?" I blurt, unable to wait any longer.
"I don't think I'm done yet." He chuckles and there's a small sting as he wipes my arm down with a damp paper towel. "It starts right here." His still gloved finger gently lands on my forearm. "Stem," he softly says and traces his finger downward before going back to the top. "Another stem." He traces. "Cherry." His finger draws a circle over my numb skin. "Another cherry."
"Are they red?" I can't stop grinning.
"The stems aren't, but the cherries are except for one part." His finger lands on my arm again and without words he traces a small swoop, like he's spelling something out. C maybe? Then he lifts his finger and silently lays it down again, this time a short, straight line down then back up and crosses the top.
He put our initials on my arm.
"You put our initials in my cherries?" I ask, somewhat shocked and yet still giddy over the fact that he put his initials on me. Permanently.
"Am I done, Blue? Or you want me to fill those in?" he quietly asks, almost like he's worried I'll be pissed. I find his hand and move my fingertips up to his face, sliding them through his hair and smiling.
"You're done," I whisper, then press my lips to his smiling lips.
He takes me home after he finishes cleaning up. I can't stop smiling. Something like this, it's permanent. I mean, I guess I can always get them filled in, but the cherries are a part of me now. Just like Travis.
When Travis leaves, I take Gus out then make it to the top of the stairs, and as I'm opening my door, Frankie swings hers open. "Sup, babe?" she says, closing her door.
"It's like you have eagle hearing or something," I mutter, grinning to myself as I walk inside my apartment with her on my heels.
"You want pizza tonight? Or past—" She pauses and grabs my arm and I smile. "What the fuck is this?"
"I really, sincerely hope it's a walrus," I quip, laughing at her.
"He fucking put his initials on you, Charlie! Did you know this? Did he… I'm gonna fucking kill him!" She drops my arm and I can feel her anger. Protective anger.
"Chill, Frankie. I told him to. I love it. Is it perfect?"
"It's cherries with your initials. Both of your initials," she growls. "It's only been a few months, Charlie. Don't you think it's way too soon for this?"
I know she worries, but Travis isn't just a normal guy. He's my one.
"I think it's perfect timing. Who says you have to be with someone for years before committing to them? We don't!" I laugh. "Blind date, bright future," I mutter our motto. "So…does it look good?"
"It's fucking beautiful," she mumbles. "Your parents are going to flip though." I hear her open the fridge and though the thought of my parents being mad should bother me, it doesn't. I like to think they'd have more of an open mind after everything I went through.
I've missed the last four Sunday dinners with my parents and I know I'm going to get an earful for bringing Travis along to this one, but I think it's time they meet him. I mean, he's a part of me now. Frankie warned me that they're not going to accept him, but I like to think my parents are a little more accepting than her. They know he's coming, but I didn't divulge any of his characteristics to them. All they know is how happy he makes me. That's all that should matter to them.
"You about ready?" I ask, knocking on his bathroom door. I hear him curse. He's not looking forward to this, but he's doing it because it's important to me.
"Just a minute, Blue," he calls through the door.
"How hard can it be for you to get ready? I got ready faster than you!" I laugh, walking back to the couch slowly and sit down before Peter curls up on my lap.
It's ten more minutes before Travis comes from the bathroom, releasing a heavy sigh.
"Babe," he blurts and I shift on the couch. "Black jeans and jean jacket okay? My shirt's black too. Maybe I should change it? Too much black?" he nervously rambles.
"You're fine." I laugh. God he's cute when he's nervous. "You have nothing to be worried about. You could show up in gym clothes and they wouldn't care. They don't judge as hard as you do," I say, grinning and standing from the couch, praying I'm right. I hear his steps on the hardwood and soon his hand is on my cheek and I'm grinning at him, resting my palm on his abs. "I'm sure you look fine."
"I look great! But I'm worried they won't like it. It's my tattoos. You know I'm worried about my tattoos. Parents don't like tattoos, Charlie.”
"Stop, Travis." I blurt. "Don't change who you are just to make them like you. They're going to like you because you're a good person, not because of what you’re wearing. If anything, they're going to freak when they see my tattoo." I bite my lip to stop my smile.
"They raised you, right?" he asks, exhaling heavily. "I'm sure they'll be fine."
"Yep." I smile, trying to hide my nerves because everything Frankie said about this evening keeps playing in my head. They're not going to hate him. They can't. They're my parents!
I give him the address once we're in the car and he puts it in his GPS. It's a thirty minute drive from his house to my parents’ driveway and he's silent the entire way, his hand firmly wrapped around my thigh. I know he's nervous, and I don't want to lie and tell him it'll be sunshine and rainbows if there's a possibility of it not, but I honestly am praying my parents aren't as big of dicks as Frankie thinks they're going to be.
The car turns into the driveway, the telltale bump going over the small curb the city installed to slow people down hasn't ever stopped pissing me off. It makes no sense to put something like that at the end of a driveway.
"We're here," he huffs, killing the engine.
"You ready?" I give his hand a squeeze and smile over at him.
"No." His lips connect with mine for a quick kiss. "But let's go." His door opens and I wait for him to open my door.
We walk hand in hand and he knocks on the front door when we make it to the porch. My parents' house is huge and brick. They've lived here my entire life and I have every room memorized because my mom won't allow any changes, especially after I lost my eyesight. The front porch is held up by bright white pillars that span the width of the house, and the deep blue front door still has a massive lion shaped door knocker that used to scare me when I was little.
The minute the front door swings open I give his hand a quick squeeze and plaster a smile on my face.
"Charlie," my mom's voice is raised a few octaves and I take a breath.
"Hey, Mom, sorry we're a little bit early. Just antsy to get here," I say with a nervous laugh. "Um, this is Travis. The guy I've told you about."
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. DeSoto. Beautiful home." His voice isn't the normal cocky toned voice, but somehow it has more of a polite ring to it. I hear my mother hum and am thankful I can't see the look on her face right now.
"Can we come in? I'm starving," I say, stepping into the house. No fucking way will she make us stand on the porch any longer. That's ridiculous.
"Charlie, can I get you something, honey?"
"I'm fine, Mom. Thanks. Travis, you want anything?" I give his hand another squeeze and smile up at him. The fact that my mother didn't ask him and directed that question to me makes me worry tonight won't go as I had hoped.
"No, I'm fine," he answers quickly and quietly before releasing a quiet huff of nervousness.
"Dad's just out back at the grill. Charlie, maybe you can help me in the kitchen," my mom calls from the other room.
"Of course, Mom!" I answer then turn to Travis. "Maybe you can go outside and get to know my dad?" I shrug and smile, still hopeful that tonight won't be a train wreck.
He hesitantly says, "Yeah, sure. Which way?"
"Through the kitchen. Walk with me, I'll introduce you two."
We move through the house and when I slide the back door open and step outside, Travis follows.
"Dad?" I say, smelling the food. My stomach growls for it and I smile.
"Hey, baby girl!" he says from across the yard. "I'll be right over!"
I smile and turn to Travis. "My dad loves yard work. He used to win prizes for his flower garden. Maybe he'd love to hear about the orchard?"
"Here I am," my dad sings, walking closer. "Well…uh… Hi? I'm…I'm Bill." He's talking to Travis but the tone in his voice isn't as chipper as it was just a moment ago.
"Travis, Charlie's boyfriend. Nice to meet you, sir."
"Mmm…yes…sooo, Charlie. Your mother didn't tell me you were bringing a friend."
I raise my eyebrows and smile. "Well, I told her. And told her again. She must have forgot. He's not a friend, Dad. He's my boyfriend." I smile wider. "I have to get inside to help Mom, so you two just…chat!" I clap my hands nervously because I see this entire night going downhill quickly. Walking back inside, I huff as I close the patio door behind me. "Ok, Ma, what needs to be done?"
"Is that a bird tattooed on his throat?" Is the first thing she blurts. "Christ, I don't know why I'm asking you, you can't see it. Charlie, have you had a description of this man? Do you have any idea what he looks like?"
"Wow," I huff. I knew she'd probably mention it, but like this? And right off the bat? "I have a pretty detailed description of him, Mother. Yes." I try not to sound defensive but when you attack the one man that's ever meant this much to me I'm going to get defensive.
"Charlie," she scoffs. "This is ridiculous. This is not a man you should be wasting time with. Let's just cancel tonight and you can get him out of here."
"What?" I shriek. "Why would you say something like that? Have you not been listening for the last almost four months about how amazing he is for me? That's so…just so mean." I take a deep breath and turn to storm outside, where hopefully my dad and Travis are getting along, but first I spin back toward her. "You raised me to love no matter what, Mother. You were excited to meet him, I could hear it in your voice. But then what? Ink on his skin made you immediately hate him? That's horrible. Really damn horrible."
"He has tattoos on his scalp, Charlie. If he doesn't respect his own body, why would he respect yours. He's the type of man that's only going to hurt you."
"I think more of someone like him, who chooses to permanently put his artwork and the artwork of others on his skin for the world to see than anyone like you, afraid to be yourself because of how you think society will look at you. And, newsflash, he treats my body very well," I hiss, tucking my arm in front of me so she doesn't see the tattoo. I don't have that fight in me right now. I'm not embarrassed by it, but seeing how she's reacting to him right now tells me the minute she sees the cherries she's going to fucking flip.
"Charlie!" she gasps. "Have some self-respect! And I know that bad boy type when I see it! He doesn't care about you. He just wants a pretty girl to keep him company for a short time. A successful, pretty girl!"
"I never knew you could be so nasty, Mom," I huff, holding back tears and spinning to open the door to go outside. Hopefully it's going better out here. "Hey," I say, putting on a fake smile. "Dinner's almost ready. Everything's going great in there, how about out here?"
"I heard your mom, Blue," Travis says quietly.
"Oh…" Well this is awkward. "I'm sorry. I just thought she'd take it easier. She'll come around!" I'll just be happy if we make it out of here tonight and he doesn't dump me for having such an awful mother. "Is Dad here?"
"Uh, no. He split the second your mom got going. Didn't say a word and just kind of walked to the back of the yard. Listen, I thought I could do this, but…not tonight, Charlie. I'm sorry."
My heart sinks for him and the fact he's apologizing. I wish I never even suggested coming here tonight.
"I'm so fucking sorry," I whisper. "She's never been so vile. Not in my entire life. I didn't even think she had it in her or I wouldn't have brought you. I'm not like them, I promise." Not anymore at least. God, obviously this is where I got that shitty attitude from. "And I'm sorry. I'm…I'm just sorry." I shrug, hating myself for putting him in this situation.
"Don't apologize for them. You didn't raise them, and I know what you're like." His thumb runs over my bottom lip. "I'm not going to make you leave, but I'm not gonna stay."
"You go, I go," I whisper, my hands going to his forearms. "We're in this together. I don't want to be here just as much as you don't right now."
He takes my hand and walks us into the house. "Just so you know," he says, and I know he's not talking to me and I wince, waiting for him to tell my mom off. "I more than care about your daughter. I love her." I feel him turn. "Hey, Chuck." His hand goes to the side of my neck and his thumb rubs over my jaw. "I love you." He sighs and his hand drops to mine before he continues. "And not because she's successful and pretty. I’d love her no matter what. Have a good evening, Mrs. DeSoto." He drops his hand from my face and I take hold of his arm before he has a chance to walk away without me.
"I'm sorry you couldn't open your eyes to how amazing of a person Travis is, Mother. It's a shame. Let's go, Travis." I start to walk and he leads the way, pausing to let me grab my purse before we're out the front door and letting it slam behind us. He's on a mission to get to the car but halfway there I stop and pull my hand from his.
"What are you doing, Chuck?"
"You really love me?" I grin, letting his words finally sink in now that we're out of that hellhole.
"Yeah." He quietly chuckles, but more like I'm dense for not realizing. "A lot." His hands grab my face.
"I love you lots, too. And not just for your good looks."
"God, but that's what hooked you at first, I know it. And my dick." His forehead presses to mine. "I'm sorry I made you leave, Chuck."
"Ew, why? Don't ever apologize for getting us out of something like that. Right now, I'm embarrassed those are my parents." I take his hand and we walk to the car. "Anyway, I really didn't want to have to eat her meatloaf tonight."
"Bev's making your favorite." I hear the grin in his voice as he opens my car door.
"Perfect," I whisper, smiling.
Travis isn't what I was expecting. He blew into my life and just wouldn't leave, and now, mere months into our relationship, I couldn't see myself without him. As messy as his previous life seems, he has a sturdier home front now with Bev than I seem to have with my parents. I'll make them come around, eventually. Until then it looks like my Sunday afternoons will be spent with two of my favorite people. My man, and his mother figure.