Don't Turn Back (Coming Home Book 1) (18 page)

Before we head to the checkout, he turns the buggy around and heads down a particular aisle. Not sure where he’s headed, I follow behind. Brian stops at the family planning section, and we are both amazed at the variety of condoms available. There are so many different choices; pleasure for her, pleasure for him, ribbed for stimulation, sizes, colors, flavors… I could go on and on.

“Well, is there a certain one you would like to try?” He asks me, and it’s taking all he’s got not to burst out laughing. 

This moment is so embarrassing, but I know it happens to everyone.
Why can’t there be just one option?
Instead of reading each box to see what it offers, I pick up a purple box and toss it in the buggy. “Let’s just try this one.”

As I unload the groceries, I still feel funny about buying the condoms. I try hiding them underneath something, but the clerk doesn’t even hesitate as he scans the box across the monitor.

Brian bags everything and offers me money to help with our purchase once the clerk gives us our total. “Just give me twenty.” I tell him, knowing it’s nowhere near half the amount we’ve spent, but given his financial situation, I know he just spent a good bit on his new clothes along with paying for our meal last night. I simply can’t allow him to contribute more right now.

“Are you sure?” He offers more, but I know it’s going to be another two weeks before he’s paid again.

“I’ll let you help more next time. How’s that?” He seems satisfied with my offer, and we put everything away in the trunk of the car. This time, I hand him the keys and let him drive us back to the apartment. 

After everything is put away, I fix us a light snack, and we settle down on the couch. I know I need to be studying, but at the moment, I want nothing more than to curl up beside Brian and lay my head on his chest. He finds a show he’s interested in on television, so I close my eyes and relax.  It’s amazing to me how we’ve gotten so comfortable with each other over the weekend. I’m not complaining; it actually feels natural. There’s no better feeling than to be shown affection from someone you are starting to care about.

I see the peace all over her face as she sleeps soundly, her head in my lap. I try to sit as still as possible so as not to disturb her. I swear, when I first arrived in this town, I had no preconceptions to meet someone so quickly. I definitely didn’t expect to be moving in with a girl, but it has all happened again, just like it did with Macy. I make a promise to myself:
this time I will be a better person
. I can’t go through another bad relationship like I did with Macy.

Macy and I had started off on the right path, but I know she kept getting frustrated with me because I was changing jobs so often. Plus, I never had any money. To top it off, that stupid stunt I pulled with keeping the rent money was the most ridiculous thing I could have done. And to make matters worse, I really can’t tell you what I did with all of that money. 

Macy never suspected I was having the guys over during the day while she worked. Or, if she did, she never let on. There came a point where I really didn’t care to even look for a job anymore. She continued to take care of everything until the end whether I contributed or not, so maybe it was her own fault that our relationship blew up, right in her face. At some point, she should have put her foot down instead of letting me continue on like that.

Jennifer is such a good-hearted person. I knew this about her from the first night I met her at the hotel, when she gave me money. She never even gave it a second thought. I am going to try my hardest to be as good to her as I can.

The next morning, Jennifer packs my lunch and surprises me with it as I am getting ready to walk out the door. “What’s this?” I ask as she hands me the bag.

“Just a little something I made for you. I know you mentioned you had a microwave at work.” She reaches up to kiss me on the cheek, and I return one to her forehead. It saddens me that my own mother never did anything like this for me, a simple gesture so small, yet so meaningful.

I get to work in plenty of time, and it’s another busy day. Jared comes out to check on me mid-morning, and I greet him with a handshake. “Hey man, how’s it going?”

We make small talk for a moment while the cars continue to line up for service. I start to wonder if there’s even going to be a chance for a lunch break today.

It’s nearing one in the afternoon when Jared finally lets me stop long enough to eat. I grab my lunch bag from the car and head inside, eager to warm the meal Jennifer has packed for me. Inside the bag, I see a sandwich on top of a container of soup. I start to microwave the soup and finish emptying the rest of the bag. Near the bottom, I find a yellow post-it that says:
Thinking of you. Hope you are having a good day
. My heart swells with pride. It feels so good to know I’m not alone in the world anymore. I wish I had a way to call or text her, just to tell her thanks.

I finish my lunch and return back to work. The afternoon goes by so quickly, I don’t even realize that it’s time to get off.
Wouldn’t it be nice if every day went by this fast?
I’m anxious to get home to Jennifer. I know next week she will be back in school for her finals, but once she’s finished, we will have a whole month before her classes resume in the winter following Christmas break. I hate knowing I will have to spend my nights alone, since she will be working, but at least I can look forward to spending the weekends with her.

I get home from work, and we eat tacos for supper. Rebecca came over to spend the afternoon with Jennifer until she had to be at work, and I’m glad she didn’t have to spend her day alone. I certainly had her in my thoughts the majority of the day. 

I help her get everything put away in the kitchen, and we both relax in the living room. I’m dreading her having to leave for work later on tonight, leaving me here alone. Sadly, I will be heading out just as she is coming in from work in the morning. I would love to be able to accompany her to work tonight just to have someone to talk to, but for now, I will settle for sweet dreams of her instead.

I also hate not having any way to get in touch with her. Jennifer has a cell phone, but that’s all. She didn’t see the need to have a phone here at the apartment, saying it was an unnecessary expense.

I plan to see about getting a cell phone of my own very soon. Even if it’s one of those pay as you go phones, at least I would be able to call or text her at any time. Maybe when I get my next paycheck, I will check into it. 

Jennifer gathers everything she needs for work and stands at the door. “I’m going to miss you tonight.” I can see the sadness she feels written all over her face.

“I’m going to miss you too, babe.” I embrace her, lightly kissing the tip of her nose.

“If I don’t see you in the morning before you have to leave, maybe I can swing by and meet you for lunch.”

“That would be awesome. I would really enjoy that. Be careful tonight.” I don’t want to let her go, but I know she needs to leave to make it on time to relieve Rebecca.

Once she is gone, I try to relax in front of the TV, but it’s not the same being alone in her apartment. I walk to the kitchen to get a glass of water and glance through the cabinets. I’m not really hungry, but I need something to help pass the time. Finally, sleep takes over and I am out for the night.

The next morning, I wake up and make a pot of coffee, drinking two cups before heading out the door.

The weather is definitely changing, and there is a slight chill in the air. Clint shows up a few minutes after me, and we immediately get busy washing cars. Once again, the customers are tipping quite well today. The way it works, Clint and I place all our tips together in one container. The last one here turns it in at the end of our shift, and at the end of the week, Jared divides them up between us. I feel that’s fair, and last week I made an extra hundred bucks. I plan on taking Jennifer out for a nice Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, and the extra money will come in handy.

I know Jennifer is sad that her parents won’t be here for the Thanksgiving. Rebecca has invited both of us to spend the day with her family, but I told Jennifer I felt a little uncomfortable since I still don’t know Rebecca very well. She was a little sad at first, but I think she understood the way I felt. I then told her my plans to take her out for a nice meal, and she said that would make the day perfect.

Shortly before noon, I notice Clint checking out someone walking across the parking lot. “Check out that hot, pretty momma.
Mmmm, mmmm
.” 

I see that it’s Jennifer, and I don’t like the tone he used one bit. I make introductions between them both, Clint not seeming to care at all about his previous remarks, then finish up so she and I can grab lunch. The more I think about it, I really don’t like the way Clint kept staring at her. If she had heard his earlier comments, surely she would be uncomfortable standing here beside him now.

Jennifer suggests we grab a burger and fries at one of the nearby places in the shopping center. “What was up with your friend?” She asks me after we sit down to eat.

“That’s the first time I have seen that side of him. He’s usually pretty quiet, but he was definitely checking you out.”

“I kind of felt funny about it.” She tells me. “Oh well, some guys are just assholes.”

We finish up our meal, and I’m sad that she has to go. “Jared’s only keeping the shop open for half a day tomorrow, so I should be home around lunchtime to spend the afternoon with you. I’m not sure about Friday yet but at least we will have all of Thanksgiving Day to be together.” 

I walk Jennifer over to her car, and she kisses me goodbye.