Alluring Turmoil (12 page)

“Yeah, I know. But man. Be cool, ok? I’m glad y’all are back together or whatever you are, but just be cool. I know I’m your band mate, but I’m also your friend and that shit you went through last time… it wasn’t cool, man. It hurt you, and you hurting hurts us. Even after all of these years, with all of our success, you’ve never gotten over it. You’ve never been the same guy. But you seem good. You seem, shit I don’t know man, you seem
alive.
I don’t want to see that go away. So, just… be cool. Ok?”

I clap Cruz on the back because I know he loves me, hell all of the guys do, but he’s right. Before… yeah, before wasn’t cool. But I’m not going back to that guy. I’m also not going to lose Lexi again. Not this time. “I know man. I’ll be cool. Thanks, Bro.”

As Cruz walks off stage towards the dressing room, I walk to Lexi. She’s waiting for me.

Yeah, things are going down differently this time.

“Hey, Babe.” I run my hands up her arms and kiss her on the mouth. “All done. You ready to get out of here and grab some dinner? What are you in the mood for?”

She smiles and leans in to kiss me, like one kiss just wasn’t enough for her either.

Her eyes have a decidedly naughty sparkle. I like it. “Hey, yourself. I am ready and I’m in the mood for a lot of things, but as far as dinner goes… I’ll let you pick.”

“Oh, really? Well in that case I’ll see what I can do.” I squeeze her ass and run my hands lightly up her back. She shivers and I smile. “Are you open to a surprise?”

Her brows rise with question, but also with intrigue. “Yes. I’m open to a surprise. Will I like it?”

“Well, I’m not sure. I’m not you. But I hope so. We’ll grab some food on the way.”

Taking her hand, I entwine our fingers, and lead her towards my bike, all the while praying that I don’t scare her off with my surprise.

Lexi

O
nce again I find myself on the back of Jude’s bike as we take to the Baton Rouge streets. He leaves Downtown and turns onto the River Road, heading towards the LSU campus. My arms are wrapped around his waist and I’m burrowing into his back, enjoying the feel of him in my arms.

As we ride through campus, people are everywhere. Its 8:30 on a Thursday night and Homecoming is this weekend. The range of college attire amuses me. I’m used to college students. The majority of customers at the shop are students here, but I still always find it humorous the choices some people make with their clothing.

We stop at a red light and I look around. I notice a guy in Superman pajama bottoms with a Green Lantern t-shirt and Spiderman slippers walking next to a girl in a short denim mini-skirt with a tight fitting Twilight Takes Over Baton Rouge t-shirt on and flip flops. Across the street is a group of girls who are obviously heading out since their dresses are short and tight, their shoes are sky high, and their faces are accented with loads of shimmery makeup. Leaning against the street light is a young man in ripped jeans, frayed at the bottom from dragging on the ground, with chains hanging from his belt, and a black Bayou Stix t-shirt. He’s bobbing his head with his eyes closed as he listens to his music player.

I tap Jude’s waist to get his attention and point to the guy as he turns around, towards me. We can’t speak through the visors on the helmets and over the sound of the bike and all of the other traffic and noise. He nods his head in acknowledgement and squeezes my hand.

I wonder what he’s thinking. Being back home, seeing a fan wearing his band’s logo on his clothing, and more than likely listening to his music on his music player… it’s got to be an amazing feeling to know that you’re appreciated by the people who live where you did.

The light changes and we take off again, leaving campus behind. He pulls into a small shopping center near Tiger Town, takes his helmet off, puts his sunglasses and a baseball cap on, and says he’ll be right back, leaving me on the bike.

I sit outside just listening to the night sounds and the raucous college students while I wait for him. A few guys cat call to me while I’m on the bike, but no one approaches me. It’s a badass bike, so I’m sure they are worried about who might own it. The thought makes me giggle.

Ten minutes later, Jude comes back out, hands me a bag that smells like grease and fries, and hops back on. He settles back against me, pulling my arms around him with the bag between us, and off we go back into the twilight.

We ride for a bit more, before he slows down. I’ve been drifting in my mind, so I haven’t really been paying attention, but I realize that the area is familiar. Jude passes a track that leads back to a place I remember. I remember
very
well. My mind starts racing with questions as he turns into a gated driveway a bit farther down.

Where are we? What is this?

He stops at the gate and punches in a code, and then pulls into the property as the gate opens. The driveway winds a bit and then he stops in front of a gorgeous ‘plantation style’ home.

There’s a wraparound porch on the ground level and huge, towering columns that go from the ground to the top of the two story house. The top floor has two matching French style balconies made of wrought iron, coming off of matching French doors to the left and right of the front door. Oak trees and Crepe Myrtle trees of pink, fuchsia, and purple surround the house. They’re casting lovely shadows from the old fashioned lantern style lights placed around the perimeter of the front of the property.

You can tell the house is new, but it perfectly captures the look of
Old Louisiana.

I’m staring wide eyed, taking everything in. This house is beautiful. Completely gorgeous. It’s a dream house, but what are we doing here?

Jude has been watching me take in the house. “Do you like it?”

I turn my eyes from the house and look at him. “I love it. It’s breathtaking. But what is this? Why are we here? Who lives here?” Confusion is written all over my face.

He smiles and shrugs before replying, “Well, no one lives here, yet. But this is my house. I bought it. I’ll live here.”

I gasp and take in the house again, before whispering in disbelief,
“You bought this house? You’re going to live here? So it is true.”

My knees threaten to give out with all he’s saying, so I grab onto the bike seat to prevent myself from falling on my ass in front of this gorgeous house.

Jude’s gorgeous house.

“Well yes. I didn’t plan to buy something quite like this. But once I saw it today, I knew I had to have it. I wrote the check earlier. Lexi, are you ok? What’s true?” He’s rambling.

He bought a house. Here, in Baton Rouge. He IS staying. This is great. This is terrible. This is scary and confusing. What does this mean? Why did he buy a house this big? Is he going to live here alone? Geez Lexi, stop… just stop already. Stop overanalyzing everything. Yes, I need to stop. Ok, I’m ok. Deep breaths and oh wait, he said something, didn’t he. I need to answer him. What was the question?

I run through his rambling and attempt to formulate an answer.

Jude is staring at me like he thinks I’m going to freak out at any minute. “Lex? Are you ok, Lex? Shit, this is not ok. I shouldn’t have showed you this. Not so soon. I’m sorry…”

I cut him off with a lift of my hand. “No, don’t apologize. It’s fine. I’m fine. I’m the one who’s sorry. I was just caught off guard that you bought a house. That you bought
this
house. But I’d already heard you were house hunting. I’m just surprised you actually bought one I guess. And this… this is quite a house.”

“Why wouldn’t I buy a house here, Lex? This is home. Yes this
is
quite a house, but it just spoke to me, so well… I bought it. Is this ok? I mean I bought a house, so obviously I’m going to be around a good bit, Lex. Is that ok?” His beautiful hazel eyes are glistening, I can see the emotion in them as he waits for my response. My opinion really does matter to him.

Walking over to him, I take his hands and kiss his mouth. “Its fine, Jude. No, it’s good. Welcome home.”

His face lights up and he wraps his fingers around mine, swoops down to grab the food that has been sitting in the dirt, where I dropped it, and pulls me to the front door with a look of absolute glee on his face.

“Wait until you see the inside… and the backyard. Oh, and did I mention I also now own the two acres on each side?” He winks.

Wait, two acres. On each side. That means… he owns the trail we just passed. He now owns
our spot.

Jude

She had a mini freak out, but it was ok. She’s good. And now she knows I’m staying. Is this too fast? No, I mean I didn’t ask her to move in with me. Neither of us is ready for that. But she loves the house. This is the kind of house we always said we’d have. Does she know I bought this house with the intention of her eventually living here with me? Shit, slow down. I have to slow down and chill out. I have to drop it down a few notches. What if she leaves me again? Now I have a house. Well I have a lot of houses, but I have a house HERE. I have a house near Lexi. What am I doing? Until yesterday I hated her and I thought she hated me too. Well, I didn’t hate her. I could never hate her, but I hated what she did. I still hate what she did. WHAT AM I DOING? Dear God, if you’re listening, can you please help me out? I need to get a grip. Everything will be fine. Yeah, everything will be fine.

Lexi is looking around at the high ceilings and crown molding, taking it all in. Her eyes light up as she sees the crystal chandelier hanging in the living room. “Oh, Jude! Everything is so beautiful. It’s so perfect. Like something out of a movie.”

I like watching her enjoy my house. But my inner dialogue is distracting and I’m hungry. “Let’s go out back. There’s a gazebo and I’m starving.”

My stomach lets out a loud rumble as if in agreement. She laughs. “Oh forgive me. Let’s go feed the beast! Take me to the gazebo.”

Grabbing two waters I’d put in the fridge earlier in the day, we head into the back yard.

I laugh with her. This is so familiar. So comfortable. So… like home.

We settle on the benches in the gazebo and Lexi opens the bag to see what I’ve gotten us for dinner. She pulls out two cheeseburgers and two fries. Handing me one of each and keeping one for herself. Her legs are tucked under her and her hair is a tangled mess of sexy red waves.

She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

As hungry as I am, I can’t will my hands to pick up the burger. My brain is too focused on Lexi. I’m captivated. I watch as she takes a bite of her burger and my eyes follow her lips and tongue as she chews and licks a small crumb that’s stuck to the left side of her mouth.

Shifting uncomfortably, she blurts out, “What? Why are you staring at me like that? Is there food on my face?”

“Sorry, I just can’t help it.” I grin as she looks up. “What? I’m a man and you’re a gorgeous woman. Simply delectable. And I know for a fact, you are
not
wearing panties.”

Her face turns bright crimson and she sputters out, “Well, whose fault is that? I was wearing panties until some brute decided to rip through them.
In my kitchen.
”

I can’t control the laugh that comes out of my mouth. It’s deep and real. “Some brute, huh? Well, maybe you shouldn’t have looked at him and sent out vibes like you wanted to jump his bones
in your kitchen.
”

“I did no such thing.” She giggles. “Ok, well maybe I did.” Then she starts laughing and once she starts she can’t stop.

“Excuse me? What exactly is so funny, Miss Sloane?” I’m trying to control my smirk and feign indignation.

She’s doubled over with mirth and trying to wipe the tears from her face. “Erik! Oh God. His face when he walked in and saw us! He looked like a fish out of water. Oh my God.”

I can’t help it, I start to laugh too. Laughing with Lexi is almost like an out of body experience. It’s so freeing. “Yeah, that was funny. My ass all exposed. But he sure recovered fast. I thought he was going to kill me!”

“I thought he was going to kill you too.” She’s almost cackling she’s laughing so hard by this point. “What color would you say his face was? Magenta? Cabernet? Merlot?”