Page 74 of Driving Beats

“Excuse me?” Kieron materializes at my side.

“No, not you,” I say, correcting him. “I was having a conversation with myself.”

He leans down to my ear. “I don’t want you to leave, for sure. I was lonely sitting over there, so I decided to join you.”

I allow Kieron to guide me around the dance floor. I do a modified shake and shimmy and swirl, in deference to my stupid ankle. While I enjoy my time with him, UC’s actual guitarist is preventing me from indulging in a quick tryst with the guitar tech. Damn him!

Soon, the all-too-predictable question arrives. “Want to go somewhere a bit more private?” He kisses my neck.

I love sex. I still need to make up for my dry Oklahoma teen years. Yet, no man ever came close … stop it. Kieron is the one asking me now. I should climb him like a tree.

My earlier negative opinion of him swirls with confusing ones surrounding Coop. I can’t get out of my mind enough to be able to enjoy anything, let alone sex.

“As awesome as that sounds, I better not. I have to catch an early flight tomorrow morning.”

“Are you sure? I could make the flight go by with a nice ache inside you.”

Alright, that’s simply nasty. What a line! “I’m positive.” I step backward. “I gotta leave if I’m going to get any sleep before the long flight tomorrow. Good night!” I wave to him, kiss my girlfriend, and exit the club, arranging for a car service to pick me up.

What the hell just happened?

21

COOP

It’s seven o’clock. I tossed and turned all night, waiting for Nese to return from wherever she went, doing whatever she did, with whoever she wanted. I punch my pillow. I know exactly what she did. I only wish it were me she was doing it with.

Stop it. I can’t let myself get swept up in that sort of whirlwind again. No matter what Nese said about Lillian or sex, I’m just fine living as I have been. I have my UC brothers and my family. I’m not cut out for anything more.

After a fast shower, I check my closet for the best possible outfit to drive her to the airport. Out of my life. The next time I see her, it’ll be as UC’s stylist. Nothing more.

I flip through hangers, filled with new clothes she selected for me. I can hear her talking about each piece and end up selecting the dark wash jeans. My fingers linger on the purple shirt I wore for the Tumi photoshoot but decide against it. Instead, I choose the green one that she said brought out the green in my hazel eyes.

Matching my shirt to my eyes? What the fuck am I doing?

I put on my new watch, stuff my old wallet into my pocket, and walk into the kitchen, prepared to make her breakfast for the road. Considering…

“Good morning!” Nese greets me at the stovetop, stirring something in a pot. “I’m making pancakes.”

My throat tightens. I really want to know when she got home. Instead, I ask, “How on earth did you have time for this?”

“It takes no time to whip up pancakes, Grandpa.” She pours some onto the griddle. “First batch will be right up!”

She’s super cheerful this morning. Probably because she got some last night. Something I wasn’t willing to give her.

She hums, adorably off-key, as she bakes.

Turning, I make a beeline for the coffee maker. “I’ll handle the coffee.”

She chirps, “Extra sweet, like me!”

Don’t I know it.

Pretty soon, we’re sitting at the dinette with dirty plates. “Your pancakes rival the best I’ve ever had.”

“Thanks! I learned how to make them in some of the top diners in Georgia. Remember, I worked in several before UC swept me away.”

“Kudos to the chefs, then.” I pick up my mug. What’s the right thing to say to someone who gave up their vacation to help you out? “I want to thank you for everything you did for me. I think my new clothes do the trick.”