“So Darla’s at school?” I’d been asking nonstop questions since our food came. Jules had been mostly patient with me, except when I’d mentioned Darla’s last name.
She nodded as we walked back toward the Southern and her car.
“I still want to know more about her. What was she like as a baby? Demanding like now? Did you have help? Your mom?”
Jules shook her head. “Gah, this is all too much. Do we have to do this now? We’ve wasted almost the whole day with your information gathering. And I don’t even have your phone number.”
I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her close. “We have time on our side now, but I want to know every detail. In the meantime, give me your phone.” When she handed it to me, I punched in my number and called myself. “There.”
She pulled away from me and stopped. “We don’t have much time. Not now, not really any time. I work, and I have Darla. That’s been the story of my life for six years. I want more for her. College, a life. Speaking of which, I have to grab her from school soon and then work tonight. Bryce is letting me come in a little late because Dar’s teacher is letting her show me the class turtle today.”
“Great. Let’s go.” I put my hand on her back and encouraged her to move.
“I’ve been doing this a long time on my own, Drew. Six years, remember? My mom couldn’t commit to help either way, but it didn’t matter. I needed to leave Ohio and the memory of you.”
“It’s just a turtle.” I took her into my arms, circling her in a hug in broad daylight for everyone to see.She’s mine.
It was an invigorating feeling. Liberating. Something I hadn’t been able to do seven years ago.
“How do you propose we explain your being there?”
“Who cares?”
“Me. Darla. Her teacher.”
“We don’t owe anyone any explanations today, Jules. Darla, yes, someday soon. But let me just go meet the fucking turtle, okay?”
She nodded into my chest, and I silently pleaded for her to place a kiss there. She didn’t.
“You need to follow me there. I need to bring Dar home in my own car, though. I’m not changing my mind on that.”
“Okay, my queen.”
“Will you please stop with the cheese?” She punched my arm, but couldn’t hide the smile spreading across her face.
“You want cheese?”
I pushed her into her sedan and followed her, looming over her. My pelvis pressed against her stomach, my hardness making delicious contact with her softness.
I ran my tongue up her neck. “I’ll give you cheese anytime you want it. Just say the word and I can be as corny and cocky as you want.”
I’d said it laughing and gyrating, and even though it was a cornball move, Jules laughed too, her light giggle filling the air around us. Seeing her smile, I gave my pelvis another rotation.
“Okay, enough, enough, corny and cocky.”
I let her go and kissed the bridge of her nose. “As you wish, my queen.”
“Oh God.”
“No, king ...”
“Drew, come on. We have to go. Do you know the elementary school?”
I shook my head. How the hell would I know the elementary school?
“Follow me, okay?”
“Forever and ever.”
