CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Cruise
Mid-December
“Sorry I couldn’t come and pick you up,” I apologize as Ruby meets me outside the only Baptist Church in town.
I had been cutting it close, working overnight. As it is, I’ve made it with ten minutes to spare, after going home, taking a shower, and changing into a pair of khakis and a button-down. My hair is still wet, and I didn’t have time to shave, but they’ll have to take me how I am.
“It’s okay, I had Mom and Dad pick me up so I could ride back with you.” She smiles up at me, leaning in for a kiss. She’s wearing a modest dress with a cardigan over it, her hair half up in braid across the crown of her head, her curls a little unruly, just the way I like it. I like this buttoned up version of her; it makes me want to mess her up.
It’s been a few days since I’ve seen her, and if I let myself, I’d take what she’s offering right now way too far for the church parking lot.
“You look tired.” She runs the palm of her hand against the stubble on my face, her eyes concerned.
“Been up for about fifteen hours, will probably pull a full twenty-four by the time we hit the parade,” I admit. “But I’ve got a couple of cans of Red Bull in the Jeep, and since school’s out for the break, I’m hoping I can convince you to take a nap with me when we get done.”
“In your bed?” she asks. “It smells like you.”
God, this woman. “If that’s what you want.” I rub my thumb against her pink lips, before leaning down to take another kiss from her.
“It’s definitely what I want.” She tilts her head toward the two doors that are starting to close. “We better get inside before the service starts.”
Her hand in mine, she leads me up the steps and through the doors, directly to the pew her family sits in. We exchange quiet greetings, before having a seat. I get comfortable, putting my arm around her shoulders, pulling her hand with my free one onto my thigh. She crosses her legs toward me and leans in, as we both look ahead and pay attention to whatever’s being preached today.
I’ve done my best to keep my attention focused on the pulpit at the front of the church, but I’m having a hard time not wanting to close my eyes for just a few minutes.
“He’s almost done,” Ruby assures from beside me.
“Now we have an update on Tanner, a young teenager that was hit at Halloween. We’ve been praying for him, and I heard from his mama the other day he’ll be heading home at the end of next week. We’d like to get together, provide them with meals for the their first couple of weeks back, along with some gift cards to help with day-to-day purchases. I’ll post something about it in the church’s Facebook group tonight,” he finishes off.
“Oh thank God,” Ruby whispers. “I was worried about him, and we hadn’t had an update in a while.”
Leaning in, I kiss her on the forehead. Knowing that she’s relieved, makes me relieved too.
* * *
“Are you all coming to the parade?” I ask her mom and dad as we stand outside the church, waiting for Ruby to change into something warmer. It’s colder today than it has been in the past few weeks, and it rained last night, leaving a chill to the air. I’ve changed into some jeans, a long-sleeve shirt, grabbing an old hunting jacket and put a beanie on my head.
“Nah, too cold for us.” Susan smiles as she takes Phillip’s hand in hers. “But hopefully we’ll get to see you again soon, young man?”
“I hope so too,” I tell her as she leans in to give me a kiss on the cheek. Phillip gives my hand a shake, and they are off.
Going over to my Jeep, I lean against the passenger side door, waiting for Ruby to come down the steps. When she does, I can’t help but smile at the picture she makes. She’s wearing those jeans I like, with the rip in the thigh, and a North Face jacket, along with a beanie on her head too.
“I love those jeans.” I pull her into my arms, looping them around her waist. My hands itch to reach down, and palm her ass cheeks, pull her so close to me that there’s no space between us. My mind warns me that this isn’t the place for that.
“Just like I love this chain you wear.” She reaches down, grabbing the wallet chain I have.
“Yeah? You never told me that.”
She shrugs. “Always kinda been my little secret. Here’s the thing though, for most everyone else you’re this officer of the law, you uphold all the rights, punish all the wrongs. All of that inherently makes you this really good guy, but for me? You’re a bad boy, you make me do all the things I always told myself I would never have the courage to do. You make me drop all my inhibitions and encourage me to trust you. So the tattoo on your arm” – she runs her fingers along where she knows the ink is – “and this chain you wear” – she tugs on it, and for some reason that tug goes to my groin too – “they’re some of my favorite parts of you. I consider them mine.” She leans up on her tiptoes, circling her other arm around my neck, pulling me down.
Before our lips meet, I let her know the truth. “They’re completely and totally yours. No one else gets this side of me.”
“Good.” I can feel the smile against my lips. “No one else gets this side of me either.”
There, in the parking lot of the church, I take the kiss I’ve wanted all morning. Tongue, nipping, even a little teeth involved, and for the life of me, I can’t help but think since God knows what’s in our hearts, he’s probably, definitely okay with this little public display of affection.
* * *
“You want a hot chocolate?” I ask as we exit the Jeep and start walking to what will be the main thoroughfare of the parade. I’ve got my Red Bull in one hand, her hand in my other.
“Oh yes, that would be awesome.” She snuggles next to my body, allowing me to block the wind that’s coming between the buildings.
When we round the corner, there’s a line, but Leighton is working the hot chocolate booth. She sees my head over the sea of people and gives me a smile. “Officer Harrison, how many you want?”
I hold up one finger, and she sends Ransom over with one for me. “Mom says it’s on the house.”
“Tell her I said thank you.” I hand it over to Ruby.
“Come watch me play and we’ll call it even?”
The kid drives a hard bargain. There’s still a few games left in the football season, and I can’t tell him no. “Have your mom or dad text me your schedule, and I’ll be sure and make it to one.”
Ransom gives a smile and a thumbs up.
“You’re such a good guy, Caleb. You do your best to make time for everybody.”
“They make time for me.” I shrug. “So many times in my childhood nobody had the time to give to me, they didn’t care whether I had it or not. I do my best to let people know they matter. Even if it’s just showing up to some football game.”
She leans up, kissing me on the cheek. “Whether you want to admit it or not, you’re special. I’m so happy to be here with you today.”
And those words? They make me happier than anything else has made me in a long time. “C’mon, let’s go find Mom and Kels.”
After a text conversation and a little walk around where we are, we eventually find them.
“Bubba!” Kels greets me, running up to us and throwing her arms around the both of us. You would think she hasn’t seen us in months.
I give her a hug and then go over to where Mom sits in one of her camping chairs. “How’s it going?”
“Cold, why is it so cold?”
I laugh. “You’re from Philly, you should be used to this.”
“Nope, in the years I’ve been here, I’ve lost what I used to be able to tolerate. Now the temp gets below forty and it’s freezing.”
“Where’s Dad?”
“He’s at the roadblock, keeping traffic from coming down here. I’m surprised you made it, didn’t you work last night?”
“I went to church with Ruby and her parents.” I hold up the Red Bull. “And I brought reinforcements.”
Her gaze cuts to me, surprise across her face and in her voice. “You? Went to church?”
Somehow, I feel like I’m never going to hear the end of this. “I did. Can we drop it?”
“She’s more special than you want anyone to know, isn’t she? Damn, Caleb. You went to church. You know what that means, don’t you?”
That I’m completely and totally serious about her. Everyone saw us there today, together. It was the equivalent of giving her my letterman’s jacket in high school.
“Yeah, I know, and I’m good with it.”
Her mouth is hanging open as she reaches in and grabs my hand. “I’m happy for you. I’m so happy that you’ve finally decided to let someone else in. I know with the fear your mom put in you about people leaving.”
“You’re my mom,” I remind her. “And you gave me zero fear.”
She knows by the way I’ve spoken that I don’t want to talk about the woman who gave birth to me any longer.
“Then I’ll just say I’m happy for you, and we’ll leave it at that?”
“That I’ll gladly take.”
The crowd shifts as the parade is about to start. Kelsea sits in her chair next to Mom’s and I have a seat on the curb, motioning for Ruby to come sit in my lap. She does so without hesitation, sitting sideways so that my arms go around her thighs. As we watch the parade, I play with that patch of bare skin, grinning when she giggles, burying her head in my neck.
“That tickles.” She kisses me softly on my Adam’s apple.
“Where?” I whisper.
We’re around hundreds of people, but it feels like we’re totally and completely alone.
“Everywhere,” she answers, those blue eyes of hers shining bright.
With her newfound boldness, I know I won’t lose the smile I have for the rest of the day.
* * *
“Why don’t you let me drive?” Ruby questions as we make our way back to my Jeep. I’ve already been through the two Red Bulls and I’m dead on my feet.
“You sure you can handle this big boy?”
“I can handle you, can’t I?”
Catching her around the waist, I pull her to me. “This mouth you’ve got.” I cup her jaw. “What am I going to do with it?”
“Kiss it, own it.”
Looking around, I see we don’t have an audience. My lips to her ear, I whisper. “Fuck it? Cause I think you’d kinda like that too.”
“You’ll never know until you try, hot stuff.”
With those words, she takes off at a run for my Jeep, sliding into the driver’s side.
“Be careful with him.” I hand her the keys.
“I’ll be as careful with him as I am with you,” she promises as I let my seat lay back.
Before we’re even out of the parking lot, I’m asleep. Content in the knowledge I trust this woman with everything.