mean,” he admitted. “Anyway, we were taking things slow but I was really starting to fall for her. She told me she wanted me to be her first and that she wanted her first time to be special. For obvious reasons, I had tried to keep the contact between Cara and Eddie to a minimum. He was as much of a player then as he is now, maybe even more so.”
Daniel bit his bottom lip again and then continued. “One night, I invited Cara over. Eddie was supposed to be at a party. I got tied up at the crisis center, where I was working, and was late meeting her. When I got back to my room, Cara ran out crying. Eddie had never made it to the party. He seduced Cara and the two of them had sex. Her first time was with him instead of me. He didn’t even care about her. She was just another score for him. Cara was so embarrassed that she didn’t want to see either one of us again.”
I could feel my heart breaking for Daniel. Even though words could not adequately describe what I was thinking or feeling, I still managed to tell Daniel I was sorry that happened to him.
“I haven’t dated much or very seriously since then,” he admitted.
“Why are you still friends with Eddie?” I wondered aloud.
“That’s a good question. And I don’t have a good answer. I never had a brother and I always thought Eddie was like a brother to me. Or maybe I just wanted him to be. He’s kind of a jerk, isn’t he?”
“Jerk is really a nice word for what he is,” I said and we both laughed.
I stopped walking and turned toward Daniel. He stopped and turned to face me. Our eyes met and we both looked at each other for a long moment. “I hope you know you’re the only one I want.”
Daniel swallowed. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “I want to be with you. Tonight.”
Daniel stroked the side of my face lightly with his fingers. He didn’t take his eyes from mine. “You really want to be with me?”
“Yes,” I insisted. “You and only you.”
A smile crossed Daniel’s face and his eyes gleamed. He leaned down and touched his lips to mine. His kiss was gentle at first, but as I responded with a little more heat, his kiss became more intense and urgent. “Tonight,” he said breathlessly. “I can’t wait for tonight.”
***
By the time Daniel and I returned from our walk, the three other guys were starting on the beers.
“We need to think about doing a grocery run for dinner,” Ricky said. “I’m starving already.”
“The usual?” Joey-G offered. “Burgers and brats.”
Daniel and I took seats next to Ricky. Joey-G was on his other side and Eddie was seated across from us.
“And what does Alexandria like to eat?” Eddie asked as he glanced in my direction.
Daniel grabbed my hand and held it tight. “What would you like for dinner, Lexie?”
I turned to Daniel. “Whatever you guys are having is fine.”
“Burgers and brats it is,” Joey-G said. “Let’s head for the supermarket in ten.”
When I snuck a glance at Eddie, he was scowling. Then he jumped to his feet. “I’ll meet you guys at the car.”
“Going to see Cyndee with a ‘y’ and two ees?” Ricky teased.
Eddie didn’t respond. He just hurried toward the concession stand.
***
Ten minutes later, we stood at Joey-G’s SUV. Daniel pulled Ricky aside and said something quietly on his ear. Even straining, I couldn’t make out exactly what he was saying.
“Yeah, sure, man,” Ricky said as he walked to the back of the car and hopped into the seat behind the driver, the one that had been occupied by Eddie on the way up.
I slid into my seat next to Ricky and Daniel sat next to me. Joey-G took the driver’s seat. We only had to wait a minute before Eddie ran over to the car. I could see Eddie furrow his brows as he noticed that Ricky had taken his previous seat. He let out a barely perceptible sigh, then hopped into the passenger seat in front of Daniel.
“Okay, kids,” Joey-G said. “Food shopping time.”
ELEVEN
True Wind
The drive to the food superstore was quiet. I assumed everyone was tired and as lost in their own thoughts as I was. Daniel gently caressed my thigh with his fingers and played with my knee, which was quite sensual. Even though we were in a crowded car, I would feel myself getting