Fallen Too Far

I ducked my head and walked over to the garbage to dust the bread crumbs from my fingers while I gathered my thoughts. I did not want to continue this conversation while Rush listened. It made me seem all too interested in him. Something he did not want.

"Good morning, Rush, thanks for letting us crash here last night. Grant had drank entirely too much to drive all the way back to his place," the girl said.

Oh. So that’s the story. Crap. Why had I let my curiosity get the best of me?

"Grant knows he has a room when he wants it," Rush replied. I could see him shove off from the doorframe and walk over to the counter from the corner of my eye. His attention was on me. Why couldn’t he let this go? I would leave quietly.

"Well, uh, I guess I’ll run back upstairs then," the girl’s voice sounded unsure. Rush didn’t respond and I didn’t look back at either of them. The girl took that as her cue to leave and I waited until I heard her footsteps on the stairs before glancing over at Rush.

"Curiosity killed the kitty, sweet Blaire," Rush whispered as he walked closer to me. "Did you think I’d had another sleep over? Hmmm? Trying to decide if she had been in my bed all night?"

I swallowed hard but didn’t say anything.

"Who I sleep with isn’t your business. Haven’t we gone over this before?"

I managed to nod. If he would just let me go I’d never speak to another girl that showed up in his house.

Rush reached out and wound a lock of my hair around his finger. "You don’t want to know me. You may think you do but you don’t. I promise."

If he wasn’t so dang gorgeous and right under my nose then it would be easier to believe this. But the more he pushed me away the more intrigued I became.

"You aren’t what I expected. I wish you were. It’d be so much easier," he said in a low voice then dropped my hair then turned and walked away. When the door leading to the back porch closed I let out the breath I’d been holding.

What did he mean? What had he expected?

That night when I got home from work, Rush wasn’t there.

I opened my eyes and turned to look at the small alarm clock on the nightstand. It was after nine in the morning. I had really slept in. Stretching, I reached up and turned on the light. I’d showered last night so I was clean. I had made over one thousand dollars this week. I decided I could start looking at apartments today. This time next week I should be able to get a place of my own.

I ran my hands through my hair and tried to tame it before getting up. I was going to go lay on the beach for a little while this morning. I hadn’t done that yet. Today I would enjoy the ocean and sunshine.

I pulled my suitcase out from under my bed and searched inside for my white and pink bikini. It was the only one I owned. To be honest, it had been used very little. The white lace pattern and pink piping looked good with my coloring.

Pulling it on I decided it was skimpier than I remembered. Or my body had changed since the last time I had worn it. I pulled a tank top out of the suitcase to slip it on over the bikini and grabbed my sunblock. I had bought it after my first day of work. Sunblock was a must for my job.

I turned my light off and stepped into the pantry and then into the kitchen.  "Holy hell. Who is that?" a younger guy asked startling me as I stepped into the light. I glanced from the stranger sitting at the bar gawking at me to the fridge where Grant stood smiling.

"You come walking out of that room dressed like that every morning?" Grant asked.

I hadn’t expected anyone to be in here. "Um, no. Normally I’m dressed for work," I replied as a low whistle came from the younger boy at the bar. He couldn’t be any older than sixteen.

"Ignore the hormone ridden idiot at the bar. That’s Will. His mother and Georgianna are sisters. So in some screwed up roundabout way he is my younger cousin. He showed up here last night after running away again for the hundredth damn time and Rush called me to come get him and take his crazy ass home."

Rush. Why did the sound of his name make my heart race? Because he was unfairly perfect. That was why. I shook my head to clear my Rush thoughts.  "It’s nice to meet you, Will. I’m Blaire. Rush has taken pity on me until I can get my own place."

"Hey, you can come home with me. I won’t make you sleep under the stairs," Will offered.

I couldn’t help but smile. This kind of innocent flirting I understood.

"Thank you but I don’t think your mother will appreciate that. I’m fine under the stairs. The bed is comfortable and I don’t have to sleep with my gun."

Grant chuckled and Will’s eyes went wide. "You’ve gotta gun?" Will asked in an awed voice.

"Now, you’ve gone and done it. I better get him out of here before he falls anymore in love," Grant replied, taking the cup he’d just filled up with coffee. He headed for the door saying, "Come on Will before I go wake up Rush and you have to deal with his ornery ass."

Will glanced at Grant then back at me as if he were torn. It was cute.

"Now, Will," Grant said in a more demanding tone.

"Hey, Grant," I called before he got to the door.

He turned back to look at me, "Yeah?"

"Thanks for the gas. I’m paying you back as soon as I get my check."

Grant shook his head, "No, you’re not. I’ll be insulted. But you’re welcome." He winked then shot Will a warning glare before leaving the kitchen.

I waved goodbye to Will. I’d deal with how to pay Grant back without insulting him later. There had to be a way. Right now, I had another plan. I made my way to the doors leading outside. It was time to enjoy my first real day on the beach.

I stretched out on the towel I’d borrowed from the bathroom. I’d have to wash it tonight. It was the only one I had to dry off with and now I was getting it covered in sand. It was so worth it.