Cam

I was nervous to have that conversation with Jacks about what are we doing?

I wasn’t prepared, but I feel we have a better understanding of where we’re going now. I could tell he wasn’t pleased that I asked him not to discuss our status with my brother, but I need to make sure that whatever is happening between us isn’t a fleeting moment and ends up being something more substantial. I wouldn’t want Jacks and Mal’s friendship to become awkward because Jacks and I are hooking up and then we stop.

I wasn’t lying when I told him I haven’t been in any boyfriend/girlfriend relationships. But what I didn’t disclose to him was that I haven’t been in any romantic relationships, period. He was the first person I ever slept with, on the night of the wedding. I know I should have told him, but I’m not sure how he would have taken it. He is apprehensive about Mal finding out about us without us telling him first. If I also tossed in that he took my virginity, he might rethink whatever this is that we’re doing. It’s not like he can give me my virginity back. Besides, after all the mind-blowing sex we’ve been having, I wouldn’t want to give it back even if it were a possibility.

I know that I should be completely honest with Jacks about exactly what he means to me. My first relationship. The first person I’ve been intimate with. Someone I’ve known for years. But I'm scared of how he would react.

Before Jacks went to the gym, he mentioned that he was heading to the club early to do some final paperwork for a new hire. I have the day off and made no plans, so I’m lying on the couch watching mindless television in a pair of Jacks’s boxer briefs and one of my shirts. I intended to do nothing today.

My cell phone pings and I reach over to the coffee table to grab it.

Beck: Lunch?

Me: I could eat.

Beck: I’ll swing by Jacks’s place to pick you up? Be there in 10

Looks like I’m doing a little bit of something rather than a whole lot of nothing. Reluctantly, I pull myself off the couch and drag my feet into the bedroom, the one where all my clothes live, but not where I sleep anymore. I'm in the bathroom brushing my teeth when Beck comes into the house and starts calling for me.

I poke my head out of the bathroom and, with a mouthful of toothpaste, shout my location. A moment later, she appears in the mirror reflection as she smiles warily at me from behind. She looks tired and her eyes are red as if she's been crying. I can tell that her smile is forced and she's struggling with something.

I spit and rinse, wipe my mouth on the towel and then turn to her with a smile.

“How did you get in?” I ask.

“I have a gate code, and a house key. I couldn’t tell you how many times during the last year that I’ve had to come over here to grab something for Jacks that he forgot.”

“Don’t you guys have an intern or something to run errands for you guys?”

“We’re not some cocky billionaires. We’re business owners, and sometimes business owners are forgetful.” She shrugs. “You ready? I was thinking we can just go post our asses on a bar stool at Applebee’s?”

“Yep, definitely not cocky billionaires. Let me get my shoes.” I walk around her, into the bedroom and then almost run into her in the doorway.

“This room looks bare. You need to add some personal touches.” She looks around.

“I don’t think I’m a permanent roommate here.”

“You’ve been here long enough. Plus Jacks won’t kick you out. He likes you. You’re family.”

If she only knew.

* * *

“I mean, have you seen his ass? That catcher seriously has a nice one,” Becks slurs. She’s had three drinks to my one.

We’re watching the baseball game between San Diego and some team in Colorado.

“How can you even tell? That umpire is always in the way and there’s really no views from the back.”

“You can tell when he’s batting that his ass is nice. Plus, from the side, you can see how rounded the shape is when he’s on his haunches,” Beck says, watching the screen above the bartender’s head. The bartender is eying us as we discuss asses and eat the remaining french fries on my plate. I give him a smile and signal for the check.

“There is some scandal about this guy being used by the chick he’s dating.”

“Well, he is a hot baseball player. I would use him and his baseball bat too,” Beck says, as if that explains everything.

“Seems she’s, like, dating a bunch of guys and using him as her payday. At least according to the tabloids,” I argue.

“I’m pretty sure the media is blowing that out of proportion. That’s what they do. I’m sure she’s a nice girl and he’s just a player.”

“Meh. Whatever. Oh, look at that pitcher. His arms! Are these men made in a lab? Are they real? My God!” Her eyes bulge as they show the player stats on the pitcher next to a full body photo.

The pitcher's hand is gripping a baseball as he flexes then he turns his body into a wind-up for a pitch for his stat card on the screen.

I laugh to myself and reach for the bill that the bartender placed in front of me.

“You got to go to work today, Beck?” I ask her.

“Um.”

“You do, don’t you? You’re drunk! You can’t go to work like this!” I whisper shout at her.

She hiccups. “I’ll be fine by the time we get there. I’ll need you to drive me though. I’m pretty sure I should be sitting in the not driver’s seat.”

“You mean the passenger seat?”

“Yup, that one. Or laying down in the back. Would that be too Driving Miss Daisy for you?”

“Girl, you do you. If that makes you less drunk, then the twenty-minute nap you get from here to the club may be worth it.”

She smiles, her eyes glassy as she stands and wobbles on her feet. My arm reaches out to her and we get out the restaurant and into her car. Once she’s horizontal in the back of her car, I jump into the driver’s seat.

“You know what I think should happen? I think you and Jacks should hook up, do a wedding, make some babies and then give me one. That way we can all be a family.” I angle the mirror down to see her. After her pronouncement, she covers her face and falls asleep before I pull out of the parking lot.

I pull into the club parking lot and note several of the vehicles. I look at Beck and tell her I’ll be right back, even though I know she’s passed out and can’t hear me.

This is the first time I've been in the club during the day. The lights are on, and it looks like any other place. There are several people, fully clothed, practicing a routine together and Jacks is standing in front of them. His arms are crossed and his finger taps his chin as he observes. He claps his hands and yells to take it from the top. He pulls out his phone, presses a button, and the sultry music stops and then starts over again as it fills the space as I approach and tap him on the shoulder.

He turns his head and smiles then turns back to the stage. It takes him a moment to realize it was me tapping him on the shoulder. He turns back to me, his jaw slack with surprise.

“What are you doing here?” he asks quickly.

“Is Mal here?” I ask.

“No, he’s out looking for Beck. What are you doing here?” he asks again.

“Beck is passed out in the back of her car. Why is he out looking for Beck?”

“Why is Beck passed out in the back of her car?”

“Quit returning my questions with questions.”

“Mal and Beck got some bad news today, Beck took off a few hours ago and hasn’t been replying to Mal’s calls or text. Now why is she passed out?”

“We went to lunch and she may have over indulged. I was hoping Mal was here and could take her and then drive me home. She said she had to be at work, and was going to rally, but she is super passed out, dead to the world. I left her in the backseat and opened a window to vent some air in the car, but yeah.”

Jacks shakes his head and tells me to call Mal to ask him to meet us at Jacks’s place as he goes out to the car.

I follow him out after talking to my brother.

“Take her home, put her in your old bed – the spare bedroom. Tell Mal I’ll figure out the new hire stuff and to take the rest of the day off.”

“That’s a long day for you.” He’ll be at the club all day and all night.

“I’ll manage. You may want your brother to explain some of this.” He waves in the direction of Becks. Then he reaches out and runs his hand down my arm before grabbing my hand to pull me into him. His other hand wraps around me and grabs onto my ass as he trails his nose from my ear across my cheek to my lips.

“Jacks. Not here,” I say.

“I’ll kiss you wherever I want and whenever I want,” he mumbles against my lips.

His tongue licks my bottom lip as I open up to him. His tongue and mine meet and the kiss is powerful as well as sweet.

“I won’t see you tonight, but you’ll still wake up to me beside you,” he assures me. With one final kiss, he pats my ass and then retreats back in the building.

I slide into the front seat of Beck’s car and start it. As I’m pulling out of the parking lot, I hear Beck move around a little. She slowly pushes herself up to a sitting position.

“So, I may be drunk but I could have sworn that I just saw you and Jacks make out.”