Collapsing onto the bed, I took a few seconds to catch my breath. "Well, that was fun. I felt like I was ten years old again. You know, I can only do these things with you, Jared. Everyone else would look at me like I'm crazy."
"Was jumping on the bed like a favorite pastime when you were a kid?" Shit, I should've known better than to mention my childhood. I wasn't one who liked to answer questions about the past. It's funny, all of the time we've been together, I've somehow managed to mostly avoid talking about my family and growing up. Other than a mention here and there of my sister Kim, he never really asked, and I never offered any information. Unfortunately, at some point it was bound to come up, it always did. I love Jared, but some secrets need to stay in the past where they belong. He lay on his stomach, resting his chin on his palm as he patiently waited for my response.
"Well, like every adventurous little kid, I always wanted a trampoline and a swimming pool." Swallowing hard, I looked away, breaking eye contact. "Sadly, I never got them. My parents were rarely home, and never bothered with what I wanted. I know I sound like a bratty kid, still angry with her parents for not giving her everything she ever asked for, but I swear, it's not like that. Kim was stuck with me most of the time and she in some ways, was my parent." My emotions told me that I needed to connect with him a little more, but shit, why did I share that much? Since he'd be leaving to go back on the road before my sister and her family would even arrive on Saturday, I reasoned that opening up to him a little wouldn't hurt. Hell, it's not like I ever had any intentions of Jared meeting my family anyway.
"I'd love to see some photos of her."
I grabbed my phone and began scrolling through my pictures, stopping at the one I had been searching for. "This is Kimmie."
I handed him the phone and watched his brows arch. "Wow. I can clearly see a resemblance here. You have the same eyes and nose. You are more stunning though." The pic I had chosen was from around Christmas time and she was all dressed up for their annual Christmas Eve party. From her professionally styled hair to her designer duds, she was the epitome of class and sophistication, and my polar opposite. It's hard to believe my beautiful sister was turning fifty one this year, she could have easily passed for thirty something. Everything about the photo was perfect. Her home was absolutely magnificent and totally immaculate, just like her life. "Where does she live?"
I bit my lip, eyes everywhere but on Jared. "She lives in Portland with her husband Steve and their sixteen year old daughter, Lola." I could already feel the lump in my throat, making it difficult to swallow.
Boy, he was extremely talkative tonight. I expected a little playfulness that turned into some hot sex, but he was surprising me by wanting to carry on a conversation. "Do they ever come and visit?"
My heart clenched with this question and I took the phone back, shoving it on the nightstand. "Not often." Shifting so that I could lay next to him, he turned onto his side, making room for me. I turned my face away from him, placing my head on my arms as I stretched out against his warm body.
Immediately, his hand slipped under my top and began caressing my skin. "What about your parents? Where do they live?"
"Bakersfield." That's all the information I offered about Marilyn and George Taylor.
"Really?" His tone changed. "Carrie, Bakersfield is only a few hours from here. Why don't we drive over one weekend?"
"No!" I didn't mean to snap at him and lowered my voice. "I'm sorry. You don't understand the dysfunctional family I come from."
Slowly, his fingertips moved even higher on my back, gliding beneath the strap of my bra and massaging around my neck. "So then explain it to me. My mother absolutely loves you by the way. I'm always getting messages from her asking when we can make it over for dinner. We really need to do that one day when I'm home, Carrie."
"Your mother is very sweet and I'd love to have dinner with her." This is exactly why I never really pressed the matter of meeting his mother, because I knew that once I did, he'd want the same from me. Well, this reason and the fact that I was screwing both of her sons. How do you bond with someone when you're in a twisted three-way relationship with both of their sons? "Jared, I don't know how to explain it. My parents and I just don't get along and I'd rather stay as far from Bakersfield as possible."
"When was the last time you visited with them?"
Swallowing hard, I bit the inside of my cheek, hard. "It's been a few years. They don't like LA and I specifically moved here because of that.. Well, that's not entirely true. I followed Sara here, but.. part of my reason was because I knew how they felt about Los Angeles. I knew they'd stay away, and I'm fine with that."
"You wanted the dream that lots of people have. Nothing wrong with that," he leaned down to kiss my lips. "They must be proud of you, even if they don't show it. You've certainly proven yourself successful in your career. There are a lot of people who can't say that, you know?"
My eyes began to fill up, I couldn't help it. "They aren't like that. You don't understand. I failed to become a doctor or a lawyer and then I certainly didn't marry one, so, in their eyes I am anything but a success. Kim is the golden child, she married a doctor, remember?"
I watched him clench his jaw before wiping the tears from my eye with his thumb. "That's such bullshit. You did even better than your sister, you have me."
I know he was trying to lighten the mood and I couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, they'd love you! You're the one they always warned me about, you're the heartbreaker. The wild one that cannot be tamed. A fucking musician! But... you're so deadly charming I could never resist you."
"Like a moth to a flame." There was something about the way his lips moved just then that had me hypnotized. The whole mood changed and the feelings of unease simply melted away.
"I knew I was completely and utterly fucked the first time I looked into your blue eyes at that bar. God, you were so fucking hot that night."
"Were?" He shrieked, sounding offended as he sat all the way up, giggling.
"I'm sorry Jared, I meant are. You are fucking hot."
"Uh-huh. The truth comes out. You're really not attracted to me. I see how It is." He pouted, turning away from me.
"Oh my God, you're such a drama queen!" I hit him with my pillow. "As if you'd ever have a problem getting a woman. They're throwing themselves at you at your shows."
He yanked the pillow away and began tickling me. I screamed loudly and he finally settled down. Just when I thought I was in the clear, he asked another question. "What about your sister, does she ever visit you, or do you go to Portland to see her?"
I felt it was safe enough to tell him that she was coming for a visit. He would be out of town and I wouldn't have to worry about an awkward meeting. "Actually Kimmie and Steve are coming for some big conference this weekend. They'll be here until Wednesday I believe. It's a shame you'll have to miss them, but I realize these tour dates have been planned for a while now."
"Yeah, if there was any way to change it, I would, but I can't, I'm so sorry." He appeared genuinely disappointed and I hated lying to him.
"Another time then." I knew that was a complete lie. I'd make sure that never happened.
"Absolutely. Hey, we should invite them to the show."
Not wanting to open another can of worms, I simply nodded. Kim was a lover of eighties music and I couldn't imagine her actually listening to any of today's music. Even in the late nineties, she was still listening to her favorite Night Ranger and Journey albums. I grew up on that stuff too, but you learn to roll with the changes over the years.
Jared got to his knees, lifting one of my legs so that he could situate himself between mine. "Enough talk about family for now. I thought of something much more fun we can do."
