Never Enough: A New Adult Romance (15 page)

“Right,” I replied grabbing my bag and walking toward him. I stopped in front of him and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “You did the right thing.”

His eyes darkened as our gazes locked. A moment later, his lips slanted over mine and before I could even protest, I was pressed up against the wall.

Let’s just say I was late to class.

***

“You’re late,” Maggie hissed as I slid into my desk chair. I glanced at my phone, knowing I was well over twenty minutes late to class. It had been worth it, I thought as my skin flushed.

“I know. I was preoccupied.”

“You crazy girl. You need to tell me all about it after class,” she whispered to me.

I shook my head. “Can’t. I have to go home. Damien’s sister showed up.”

Maggie’s eyes widened and she leaned closer to me, not caring that Professor Howe was eyeing us. “He has a sister? Since when?”

I glanced up at the teacher and pretended to listen until he looked away. Turning back to Maggie I replied, “Since forever, and she’s his half sister.”

“Holy fuck. Who would have known? So you’re going home to do what exactly?”

“To help him talk to her. I guess they’re not close.”

Maggie tapped her fingers against her lips as she thought. “I wonder why.”

I opened my mouth to explain why when Professor Howe stopped lecturing. “Magdalena and Temperance, if you two would see me after class.”

I flinched as Maggie bit down on her bottom lip in frustration. She hated her given name, hated that now everyone knew what it was, and probably hated Professor Howe even more for insisting on calling her that despite her request that he call her Maggie.

“Fucker,” she bit out quietly and I scooted a little my left, distancing myself from her. I didn’t want to get into more trouble.

We were quiet the rest of class and as the rest of the students made their way out of the lecture hall, each giving us pointed stares, we made our way down to Professor Howe.

“Magdalena, Temperance,” Professor Howe said, pulling his glasses away from his face and rubbing a hand over his large mustache. “We need to talk about your participation in class. You two have been incredibly disruptive and I won’t tolerate it. I can drop you whenever I want.”

I glanced at the floor, feeling incredibly bad despite hating my major. Even so, it didn’t give me the right to disrupt class for others.

I felt Professor Howe’s eyes on me and I glanced up. Disappointment flickered through his eyes and I knew what was coming.

“Temperance, you’re not doing well in my class. I suggest you pay more attention to lectures rather than gossiping with your friends.”

I nodded.

“If you don’t do well in this class it could set you back a semester. You need this as a prerequisite for the next music theory class.”

“I know. I’ll make sure I try harder,” I said softly.

Professor Howe nodded, appeased by my remark. “You do that and next class please be respectful of everyone else. No disruptions.”

I nodded as Maggie crossed her arms over her chest defiantly. She did nod after I nudged her in the ribs, however. She needed this class to continue on in our major. I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to be attending school next year. Every class I attended just seemed to solidify the fact that this program wasn’t for me.

After being thoroughly chastised by Professor Howe, Maggie and I made our way outside towards the parking lot.

“So just give me a quick update,” Maggie said, her eyes meeting mine. “You and Damien are still together?”

I nodded happily. “Yeah, we are.”

“So you decided to keep it casual then? You won’t be breaking it off anytime soon?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’m not ready to end it and we made some rules.”

Her eyebrows rose. “Rules? Like what?”

“Like we keep the sex exclusive. We can’t go off screwing other people, but we can date if we want.”

Her eyes widened. “So you can’t have sex with other people, but you can date other people. What if you date someone you want to have sex with?”

“I won’t want to have sex with anyone else,” I muttered, my cheeks warming. “I like being with Damien.”

She placed a hand on her hip. “Yeah, I know you do, but you need to keep your options open. He has issues and probably isn’t going to be able to make a commitment to you.”

My eyes lowered to the pavement. “I know.”

“Well, I’ll keep my eyes out for a hottie you can go on a date with, okay? Promise me you’ll at least date other guys even if you won’t sleep with them.”

I kicked a piece of gravel and it bounced across the parking lot. “Okay. Deal.”

Maggie pulled me into a hug. “Good. Then my work is done.”

I met her gaze and saw concern flash through her eyes. I knew she was worried for me. Sheesh. I was worried for me. But I wasn’t ready to give up now. I’d just gotten Damien. I wanted a little time with him before we went our separate ways.

“Oh yeah, before you go could you put this up at work?” Maggie reached into her bag and pulled out a sheet of paper. It was a flyer for piano lessons with her name and phone number on the bottom.

My eyes widened. “You’re going to teach piano?”

“I have no choice. One of my scholarships didn’t go through, so I need the extra cash.”

“God, Mags. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well, what was I supposed to say? You have enough shit to deal with at the moment.”

“Yeah, but Mags, you’re my friend. I want to be there for you.”

She shrugged and pushed her hair behind her ears. “It will be fine. I’m sure I can make this work.”

“Well, I’ll help in anyway I can,” I said. “I promise to redirect every customer to the board. You’ll have students in no time.”

Maggie didn’t look as hopeful. I knew she had a lot on her plate. I was fortunate. My parents paid for my school. Maggie’s parents weren’t able to do that. Sometimes I wished my parents would use their money on a more worthy subject instead of forcing it down my throat. Maggie would have loved to have help through school. Even though she didn’t show it, I knew the financial pressures were getting to her.

“I’m parked over here,” Maggie said before adding, “Let’s hang out soon, okay?”

“Yeah,” I replied. “I want to hear about you. I feel like all we do nowadays is talk about me.”

“Well, that’s what friends are for. We each have our seasons. This season it’s all about you, soon it’ll be my turn.”

I nodded, feeling bad, knowing I wasn’t being a good friend. “Thanks for understanding.”

“No problem. I’m happy you’re finally living, doing things for yourself. For a long time it was all about me. I’m glad I can be there to help you.”

I pulled her into a hug. “You’re the best.”

“I know,” she said with a smile as she flicked her hair over her shoulders. “Now go home and rescue your man from his evil sister. And make sure to tell me about it later.”

I walked as quickly as I could to my car, shooting Damien a text on the way.

I’m on my way home right now. How’s it going?

Almost as if he’d been waiting for my response, he texted me back immediately.

She just got here. This is fucking awkward. What am I supposed to do?

Make small talk.

Jesus. This is terrible. I shouldn’t have listened to you.

You will be fine.

How much longer will you be?

Five minutes. Now stop texting me and talk to your sister.

Shit -_-

I smiled widely at the emoticon he sent me as I pulled out of the school parking lot. I liked how honest he was over text. I’d probably have to text him more often. Maybe then I’d finally know what was going on in that head of his. 

Chapter Thirteen

Damien

I glanced over at my sister who was sitting awkwardly on the couch, alternately biting her fingernails and bottom lip. She looked guilty as hell, which made sense. She had betrayed me in a big way. If Temperance hadn’t made me feel like a total tool, I wouldn’t have even called Deidre back. I would have let her deal with her shit on her own, just like she’d left me to deal with mine. But now she was in my house, examining the floor while I stared at my phone. What the fuck was I supposed to say to her? Good to see you? Hell no. I wasn’t going to pretend with her.  

I don’t know what had compelled me to ask Temperance to help me through this awkwardness, but just the thought of having her here lessened my anxiety. I just wanted her to show up already so I could breathe again.

“Look Damien, I’m really…really…sorry about everything,” Deidre finally said, her eyes flicking up to meet mine. She glanced away quickly, guilt infusing her features.

“Sure you are,” I muttered, turning my eyes to the time on my phone. Temperance should be here any minute.

“I really am. I made a mistake. I chose Dad over you. I didn’t realize…”

I clicked my phone on and off. Jesus, the time on my phone hadn’t even changed. What a terrible time for my clock to stop working.

We sat in awkward silence for a minute before Deidre swallowed audibly and asked, “How’s Sophia?”

My heart stuttered in my chest and I took a deep breath. “She’s dead.”

Her face paled. “What? Oh my God…what happened?”

“You don’t know?”

She glanced at the carpet, blinking rapidly. “Do you think I’d be asking if I knew?”

I shrugged. I didn’t know my sister well at all. In fact, the more I sat there staring at her I realized she looked tired, and not in an I-got-no-sleep-last-night way, but a I’m-tired-of-life kind of way. It made me feel a little better.

“Brain cancer. She died a year ago.”

“Oh my,” she whispered, obviously thrown off guard. I hadn’t realized she wouldn’t have known what happened to Sophia. Three years ago I hadn’t bothered to divulge the reasons why I was dropping out of school, and since I’d lost contact with my dad and Deidre, they had no way to know what had happened. “I had no idea.”

“Yeah well, you wouldn’t because you chose your side. And that money dad took away…” I couldn’t even finish that sentence. Just thinking about it made my chest constrict painfully.

“Oh my God,” Deidre said, her voice cracking. “You could have used it for her, for treatments.”

I nodded, swallowing back the anger and hurt welling up within me. We had both been young and naïve. I had no clue how much alternative treatments would cost that weren’t covered by insurance. It was a whole hell of a lot more than what I made working odd jobs. In any case, Deidre had chosen the wrong side and based on the fact she was here and not with Dad meant that something had happened between the two of them. I should have asked, it would have been the decent thing to do, but I couldn’t bring myself to care that much. Not yet. I needed time to get over everything that had happened between us first.

“Hi.” Temperance’s voice floating through the house had the tightly coiled tension in my muscles slowly ebbing away. It was amazing how important she had become to me in just a few days. It was more than just the sex too. I didn’t want it to be more, but there it was. I was starting to rely on her. I pushed the thought and guilt away as Temperance joined Deidre and me in the family room. I could worry about all of that later.

“Hi,” she said, smiling sweetly at Deidre who visibly relaxed in her presence. “I’m Temperance. Damien’s roommate.”

“I’m Deidre,” my sister said, giving her a small wave. I could see the question in Deidre’s eyes and I wondered if she could tell that Temperance and I were involved. I wasn’t going to offer that information freely. She’d have to ask me and even then, I probably wouldn’t tell her.

Temperance lowered herself next to me and placed the hands that had jerked me off earlier in her lap. Just the thought of that had me shifting on the couch. Temperance seemed to understand the reason for my sudden movement because her eyes twinkled and her smile widened. She rarely bestowed that smile on me and I loved it.

“So you’re Damien’s sister,” she asked, her eyes moving back to Deidre.

“Half sister,” she corrected, biting her lip.

“That’s so cool. I had no clue he had a sister, but then again Damien doesn’t share much.”

My eyes narrowed at Temperance, but she didn’t seem to care. She merely diverted her gaze and focused on Deidre.

“So where are you staying?” Temperance asked, feigning like I hadn’t shared anything with her.

Deidre shrugged and glanced at the floor, almost as if she was ashamed. “I don’t have a place to stay…”

Temperance reached over and patted my knee like I was her damn grandpa and not the guy she was fucking. I needed to talk to her about that. “Well, there’s no question about it. You’ll stay here with us. In fact, you can have my room.”

“What…no…” Deidre began to protest, but was cut off by Temperance.

“I insist. Just until you find a place to stay.”

Deidre seemed shocked at the kindness she found with my roommate. She had to know it had nothing to do with me. It was all Temperance. I wouldn’t be this nice to her.

“Where will you stay?” Deidre asked. “I don’t want to intrude.”

“Oh, it’s not a problem. I’m sure I can make something work,” Temperance said sweetly, turning to glance at me. My cheeks flushed, quickly feeling guilty once again. But before I could dwell on it, Temperance stood up, grabbing Deidre’s hand and pulling her to her feet.

“Come on. I’ll show you around. Do you have anything with you?” When Deidre merely nodded, Temperance pointed to me. “Could you grab it, Damien? And bring it up to my room?”

“Um…you don’t have to…I can get it…” Deidre stammered, but I cut her off.

“It’s fine. I can get it. Your keys?” I said quickly.

Deidre shoveled around in her purse for a moment and handed me her keys. I was thankful for the reprieve. As I made my way out the door, I turned to see Temperance smiling at Deidre like she was her new best friend. I wish I could be that open, but things were weird between my sister and I. She had made sure of that. I wasn’t really pissed anymore, just weary. All I wanted to do was wrap myself around Temperance and lose myself in her for a while.

Then maybe I could figure out what the hell I was supposed to do with my sister back in my life.

***

“You’re a life saver,” I told Temperance as she snuck into my room that night. Deidre was apparently tucked away in her room, oblivious to the fact that Temperance and I were sharing a bed next door. We’d have to make sure we were extra quiet when we did it. To be honest I was getting tired of keeping it down because of unwanted guests staying over. I liked Temperance loud.

“I try,” she whispered, pulling her pants off quickly. I watched as her long legs made an appearance before they disappeared beneath the sheets. It was pretty cold in the house, which meant Temperance would most likely end up sleeping on me tonight. Not that I minded. I was coming to find that I loved her near me.

Temperance’s head rested on the pillow next to mine, her eyes on me. “So what happened between you two that made it so weird? And any details would be appreciated since I totally saved your ass today.”

I stared at the ceiling. I didn’t want to tell her too much. It would make everything way too personal. I preferred to keep it as casual as possible. Plus I hated sharing my story. It exhausted me.

“My dad set up trusts for me and my sister. He was a dick, but he did do that for us. I needed the money, but when my dad found out I was dropping out of college, he pulled it. I couldn’t figure out how he found out about my plans because I didn’t let many people know, but then I realized it was Deidre. She told him. He pulled his money. Having that would have made everything a lot easier.”

Her brow furrowed. “So this is over money?”

There was a lot more to it than that, but I didn’t feel like getting into it. “Yeah, basically.”

“Did you ask why she’s here?”

I rolled onto my side so I could face her. “No. Didn’t get that far. I’ll ask later.”

Temperance’s head shook slightly and she said with a hint of sarcasm, “Yeah, sure. I’m sure you’ll do that.”

We laid there like that for a few moments, letting silence wash over us. I was coming to realize that I liked just looking at her. She was incredibly beautiful, even when she was hidden in the night’s shadows. I wanted to wrap my arms around her, but that would have broken the moment. Because once I started touching her, I’d inevitably end up inside her.

Finally Temperance’s voice broke through the darkness. “You sure you’re okay with me staying here with you tonight?”

“Yeah, it’s fine.”

I could feel her eyes on me. “You don’t think this will make it weird between us?”

“You slept over here last night.”

“Yeah, that’s because Nik was in my room.”

I rolled to stare at the ceiling. I really didn’t like that guy. I hated that she brought him up when she was half naked in my bed. “Don’t remind me.”

I heard her giggle softly. “You make no sense to me, Damien.”

The way she said my name all soft and sweet caused my heart to constrict painfully in my chest. I wanted her to talk like that to only me, not to anyone else. But that wasn’t possible right now. I was already crossing a line by letting her sleep in my room for a while. It would make this whole thing harder to end, but at the moment I couldn’t bring myself to care. I was sure I’d find a way to justify it away.

My phone vibrated on my bed stand and I reached over to see who was texting me. I glanced down and saw Jonathan’s name and text message flashing across the screen.

“Jonathan wants to know if you and I can make it to band practice tomorrow,” I asked Temperance after reading the message.

“What time?”

“Five to probably around seven,” I replied.

“Sure, yeah I can do that. I can come straight over after class.”

I texted Jonathan back before turning to Temperance. “So you still thinking about quitting your major?”

She sighed heavily. “Yeah, but I haven’t built up the courage to tell my parents yet. It’s scary to think of having to be all on my own.”

“Well, you won’t be all alone,” I replied before I could stop myself. “You’ll be living here with me.”

Her eyes shot to meet mine and she looked a little sad. “Yeah, probably, but you never know what life’s going to bring. By next semester I may be living somewhere else, dating someone else, working somewhere else.”

Just the thought had my stomach churning. We both knew it couldn’t last. I mean, we’d discussed this. Why the fuck were we keeping this up? I knew the answer. Because the sex was too good to end it just yet. We were both relatively smart, but we weren’t thinking with our brains at the moment. And that was okay with me. I could do this for a little longer before we went our separate ways. Right?

“But I don’t want to think about that,” Temperance said quietly, scooting over to me. She rested her hand on my thigh, slowly sliding it up, up, up. My heartbeat quickened at her soft touch. I had been waiting for this moment all afternoon and now that she was here I was going to take full advantage of her presence until we were both spent. 

***

I drove to meet the guys at our usual practice spot. It was a warehouse in Santa Cruz that Asher’s parents had purchased a few years ago. Recently they had given it to him to use for whatever he wanted. He’d decided to pad the walls to make it soundproof so that we could practice whenever we were able to get together, even if it was late in the evening. It was a lifesaver because for the longest time we had been practicing in Jonathan’s garage. Much to the neighbors’ dismay.

I parked my truck in the parking lot out back before grabbing my guitar and striding into the brightly lit room. Equipment and instruments were set up in a somewhat organized fashion in the corner of the room. This place had become a catalyst for my creativity and a facet for my thoughts. Just knowing that my words were going to be sung tonight had my chest expanding with pride. But a part of me shook with fear. Temperance was going to hear what I’d created. Would she like it? Or would she think I was a joke?

“Hey man, wasn’t sure you’d make it,” Asher said dryly as he plugged in a large amp, pulling my thoughts away from Temperance.

“Why’s that?” I asked, setting my guitar down. I’d known Asher for a little over a year, but I liked him. He was straight to the point and an incredible drummer. He had more tattoos than I did and a few piercings in a few places I didn’t ever want to see, but he was a super nice guy once you got past his sarcasm.

“Because Jonathan says you have a girlfriend now and have been banging it up with her all day and all night.”

I glanced over to the doorway as Jonathan and Jude made their way toward us. Jonathan might have been my best friend, but he could be a total dick sometimes. Recently he’d been enjoying sharing my personal life with everyone we knew.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” I said loudly, causing Jonathan’s blue eyes to meet mine. He shrugged his shoulders, like he hadn’t meant to let it slip that I was seeing someone…or as Asher put it “banging it up” with a girl. I knew better.