“Watch your language, Squirt. You wouldn’t want to make Mommy and Daddy upset with you. Sweet dreams tonight.” I kissed her on the cheek, hearing her suck in a quick breath.
“Stop calling me Squirt! And while you’re at it, go to hell, asshole!”
Chapter Twenty-Six – Jeff
The graduation was over, and my mother didn’t show up. Thank the fuck. I watched Ellie with a smile as she hugged and congratulated all her friends. Every now and then, I’d glance over to Ari. The speech she gave was amazing. She wasn’t just beautiful; she was smart as hell, and I was so damn proud of her. Not that I would tell her. I should . . . it’s what a good friend would do. But today I needed to keep her at bay. If I got friendly with her today, tonight she would expect the same thing. Ari in my house was not going to be a good thing.
A few teachers who had remembered me approached me to talk either about Ellie or just small talk in general.
“Jeff, you’ll be joining us for dinner, correct?” Sue asked as she brought me in for a hug.
“Yes, of course. Ari was amazing with her speech.”
Sue and Mark beamed with pride.
“Where’s Matt?” I asked, noticing he wasn’t there. I adored Ari’s younger brother.
“He wasn’t feeling well so he stayed at home with the sitter. I’m not sure how he would have done with the crowd and how long the graduation was,” Sue said.
Ari’s brother had a genetic condition called Fragile X syndrome, and I knew the large crowds here today would have made him very anxious. He was a great kid, though, and loved Ari like no other.
“He hasn’t been home the last few times I’ve stopped by. I’d love to come by and hang out with him sometime.”
Sue smiled from ear to ear. “You know he would love that, Jeff.”
Ellie finally made her way over to me. “Is it okay if Ari and Heather ride to the dinner with us?”
My eyes drifted past Ellie and landed on Ari. She was laughing at something her father was saying. When he pulled her in for a hug, I forced myself to look away.
“Of course it’s okay.”
The entire drive to the five-star restaurant Sue and Mark had picked was filled with three girls going on about everything from what so and so had on under her robe to how much fun they were going to have tonight.
I pulled up and valet parked. When the kid went for my keys, I held them back. “Don’t put a scratch on this truck.”
He grinned. “No, sir. Wouldn’t dream of it.”
By the time we got to the table, I was ready for a beer. Being this close to Ari with her in a tight, short dress was playing havoc on my poor confused dick, not to mention my even more confused brain.
When we all took our seats and I was left to sit next to Ari, I almost moaned out loud. How in the hell was I going to be able to sit next to her and not touch her?
“What’s wrong? The thought of sitting next to me repulse you that much, Johnson? There’s a seat next to your sister.”
“Huh?” I said, looking at her as she looked up at me. “What are you talking about, Ari?”
“Jeff, what’s wrong? You don’t look very happy. Do you want to sit over here by me?” Ellie asked.
If I said yes, then Ari would think I didn’t want to sit next to her. If I sat next to her, I’d drive myself fucking crazy all night.
“No. No, I’m fine here.”
When I sat down, my leg brushed against Ari. She moved slightly away from me, and that bothered me more than I wanted to admit.
Did she do it because the idea of touching me made her ill or made her crazy . . . like it did me?
I tried like hell to ignore the story she was telling about Heather nearly tripping when she walked up onstage. The sound of her voice had my dick in a constant hard-on, and it was beginning to hurt.
Then it happened. The little prick a few tables down from us who kept staring at Ari stood and made his way over to the table. Who in the hell was this guy?