Bump and Run (Wide Open #6)

Chapter Fourteen

Jones

The next morning, I woke up pressed against Charlie, and memories began to flood my brain. The way he had called me a good boy in the shower. My first time giving him a blowjob. The way he attacked me the moment we got to his room by shoving me onto the bed and climbing on top of me to return the favor. My penis twitched between my legs at the memory. He had said he was mine. My Charlie .

I wanted to keep him. Forever.

I stared at Charlie while he slept. The way his dark lashes brushed against his skin, his mouth slightly agape, and I couldn’t resist moving closer to brush my lips against his, over the mole I had become so obsessed with. My heart thumped loudly against my chest. I knew Charlie wasn’t going to stay here forever. He was going to go back home, go to school, but he said I was his, too. He wouldn’t lie about that, would he?

Tears stung my eyes. Shucks, this was silly. I couldn’t get so attached to Charlie if there was a chance I would lose him. But I knew it was already too late. I buried my face in his neck, inhaling his beachy scent, and when Charlie wrapped his arms around me, a soft laugh escaping his throat, I felt content again .

“Are you always so snuggly in the morning? Because I’m here for it.” His voice was tinged with sleep. Throaty and husky, but sexy as heck. Just like he was. When I didn’t answer, he combed his fingers through my hair. “Everything okay, Bashful? You’re not having second thoughts about last night, are you?”

I sniffed softly. “No, of course not.”

Charlie pulled back and tipped my head up. “Are you crying?” He dragged his thumb under my eye to collect the moisture. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re going to leave, Charlie. Go home and leave me behind.”

“I am, but we can text. Call one another. FaceTime. I’ll come back for the wedding, Christmas, or maybe you can come and visit me. You’ll love Christmas in Boston. There are so many amazing things I can show you there, Bashful. I promise you won’t even know I’m gone.”

I nodded. “Okay.” But doubt niggled into my head, anyway. That girl was waiting for him. Other boys who were more experienced than I was.

Charlie swiped at the tears that continued to fall. “Jonesy, beautiful, you’re breaking my heart.” He wrapped his arms around me and crushed me against his chest. “How can I make this better for you?”

I hated crying in front of Charlie. I didn’t want to appear weak or for him to think I was obsessed with him—which I kind of was, but I liked him too much to lose him now. There wasn’t much I could do about him leaving. I couldn’t stop him from going home or our parents from getting married or the fact that we were going to be stepbrothers .

“I d-don’t know,” I stuttered over myself as I tried to gather everything together. All of this was messed up, and if I could just gather myself together for maybe five minutes, I might feel better.

“You know what I think?” I glanced up to find Charlie watching me with a look I had never seen before. His brown eyes were soft and kind, making me want to curl up against him. “We should go make something to eat. You can call Mr. Richardson, then we’ll go for a swim.” He tucked a wayward curl behind my ear.

I nodded. “That sounds nice.” My stomach growled in agreement.

“We can swim in the pool, so we can be alone, since the beach will be packed, and then I don’t have to share you.” Charlie nuzzled my neck before pressing a kiss against my skin. “God, Bashful, you’re so sweet. I’m not going to want to leave. I hope you realize that. You’re so fucking perfect.”

That made me feel a little better. “Do you promise to call me every day?”

“Cross my heart.”

“And text me?”

Charlie nodded before he tickled my sides. “You’ll get so sick of me, you’ll be begging me to leave you alone. ‘Charlie, why are you so obsessed with me?’ ‘Charlie, another present?’ ‘Charlie, did you really send me a dildo mold of your cock?’

I blushed at the last one, but he only tickled me harder, his fingers digging into my skin until I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt. Then he pushed me onto my back and stared down at me.

“I don’t think I could ever get sick of you, Charlie,” I whispered.

He smiled at me, his eyes twinkling and dancing with happiness. “Me neither.”

***

Charlie banished me from the kitchen while he was cooking us something to eat. He told me to call Mr. Richardson and set up a meeting with him. Which is how I found myself standing outside in the warm sun, holding my phone in one hand and the business card Mr. Richardson had given me in the other, sweating like a whore in church.

Oh, that was bad. I shouldn’t think something like that.

“Come on, Bashful. Be brave like I know you can.” Charlie’s words echoed in my ears, and I found myself dialing the number, my fingers shaking slightly as I did.

“Richardson Motorsports, Callie speaking. How may I help you?” A quirky, friendly voice answered on the first ring, and I nearly dropped my cell.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Um, hello, I was asked to call and schedule a meeting with Mr. Richardson.” I closed my eyes at how na?ve I sounded.

“Sure, wonderful. May I have your name?” Callie’s voice was cheerful. I could hear her typing into her computer in the background.

I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “Sure, it’s Jones Matthews.”

More typing before she spoke again .

“I see that Mr. Richardson has put your name into the computer already, so that’s a good sign.” Callie giggled. “Don’t tell anyone, but we get a lot of people that call here saying he wanted them call and schedule something when he really didn’t. Okay. Mr. Richardson is available this Wednesday at ten o’clock. Would that work for you?”

Sweat broke out on my skin. “This Wednesday?” That was hardly time to prepare myself for a meeting with one of the biggest racecar owners in NASCAR.

“Well, he has something on”—Callie stopped for a moment—“the thirtieth, but that’s a couple of weeks off. But if you wanted to wait...”

“No!” I exclaimed. “I mean, no. I can do Wednesday.”

Charlotte was a heck of a drive from here, but if Mama let me borrow her car, I could probably make it. My beat-up old Ford was in no shape to drive that far.

More typing. “Wonderful. I have you scheduled to meet with Mr. Richardson this Wednesday at ten o’clock. We’ll see you then, and if something should come up, if you can’t make it, or you need to reschedule, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.”

“Thank you. Thank you so very much.” I hung up and turned around to find Charlie standing on the porch watching me.

He smiled. “Jonesy, I’m so fucking proud of you. Wait. Why do you look like that?”

“I just... This is a lot. I don’t know if Mama’s car will make that long of a drive, because mine certainly can’t. I don’t even know if I have something nice enough to wear, and what if I mess this up? What if I say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing? I shouldn’t... I should cancel.” I started to hit redial on my phone.

Charlie reached for my hand to stop me. “Take a deep breath. You can borrow my Jeep, so that solves the vehicle problem, and I’ll take you shopping to find the perfect suit.”

“I can’t let you do that.”

“Too bad, because I want to.”

I stared at him, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth. “Charlie—”

“Nope, it’s happening. Just come here.” He held up his arms. “Come on, come on, or else I’m going to have to tickle you again.”

I giggled, then moved into Charlie’s open arms for a hug. He held me so tight and close he picked me up off my feet as he swung me around.

“Thank you. You’re too good to me.”

“This is just the beginning, Jones. I want to spoil you, because you deserve it. You’re so damn talented. You’re going to sign with Richardson, you’re going to go NASCAR, and you’re going to become a huge star. You’ll forget all about me in no time.” Charlie placed me back on my feet. “Let’s go eat before the food gets cold.”

I followed him inside the house, his words echoing inside my head. “I won’t, you know,” I told him as I noticed the eggs, bacon, and potatoes spread out on the breakfast nook.

“What’s that?” Charlie handed me a cup of coffee. “I wasn’t sure how you took it, but if you tell me now, I’ll memorize it for next time. ”

“Black, but wait, I’m not going to forget you,” I assured him. “Before, you said I’d forget you. If I sign with Richardson, you’re still my boyfriend. I’m not going to suddenly want someone else.”

He smiled at me, then dropped a kiss on my nose. “If you say so.”

“Charlie, no, I mean it. Why would you think that?” I was super emotional this morning. “I only want you.”

I didn’t like how this conversation was going. Did he change his mind between then and now? Had he decided he wanted that girl waiting for him in Boston instead?

“Eat, Jonesy.”

“I don’t want to.”

Charlie scowled at me. “Don’t pout. It’s not very becoming.” He pulled out one of the chairs and waved at me to sit down.

“I wasn’t pouting, Charlie. What’s going on right now? This morning you were sure that we were going to stay together, but right now you’re convinced I’m going to forget about you. Did you change your mind about us? Because if you did, just tell me.” I slid into the chair as tears stung the backs of my eyes.

He placed his coffee cup on the table, moved behind me, and tipped my head back to slant his mouth over mine. “No, Bashful, I haven’t changed my mind.”

“Then what—”

“I want you. I’m just saying you might meet someone else. Another driver, someone who might work for another team or even yours. Someone you can spend a lot of time with.” He peppered kisses against my jaw and cheeks. “I would be heartbroken, but I wouldn’t blame you. I won’t be able to spend a lot of time with you until I finish school.”

I grabbed his hands. “Charlie, I would wait a million forevers for you.”

He searched my eyes. “I know you would.” He released me and sat down so we could stare at one another. “Is this too much too soon? Is this lust, Jonesy, or is this more than that? I’m fucking terrified.”

“Me, too,” I admitted, but my stomach fluttered at his words.

Did Charlie feel the same way I did? Did he think maybe he could have fallen in love with me? I would never say this early because it was crazy, but I knew it could happen. I’d read the books, met people, had seen the movies.

Charlie’s brows dipped. “My father called while you were outside.” He pushed the plate of food toward me, but when I shoved it away, he scowled at me. “Eat your breakfast, or I’ll feed you myself.”

“What did he say?”

“The wedding, Jones. Beverly is going to be here. She’s the girl I’m supposed to marry.”

I shook my head. “Charlie, no.” Tears filled my eyes and slid down my cheeks faster than I could stop them. “I won’t watch you with her.”

“I told him no, Bashful. I said I wouldn’t dance with her or be seen with her.” Charlie climbed to his feet. “I’m so fucking sorry. I knew I should have stayed away from you, but I couldn’t.”

I jumped up. “Is that why you said I would find someone else? Because you’re going to end up with her?” When he didn’t answer me, I felt my chin start to quiver. “I think I need to leave.”

“Jonesy, wait!” I heard Charlie call after me as I headed upstairs for my shoes.

My fire suit sat in a crumpled ball on the floor, along with my compression clothes. I was currently wearing a pair of Charlie’s swim trunks and shirt.

“I’ll get these back to you.”

“Are you breaking up with me?” he asked when I met his sad eyes. When I didn’t answer, he reached for my hand. “Jonesy, please, I’m sorry. I told you this was complicated. That it wouldn’t be easy.”

I dropped my gaze. “I have to go.”

I needed my friends. I needed to get away from Charlie and the thoughts of him with this Beverly girl. It made me sick to my stomach to think of having to watch him with her.

“Jones, please don’t leave me,” he whispered. “I know you’re upset, but I care for you. We can work this out.”

“I can’t do this right now, Charlie,” I told him and rushed from the room without looking back.