One Simple Memory (9 page)

Sean was sitting on the bed when Jenn came out of the bathroom, her eyes were puffy and red. Her skin was pale white and she looked tired. Her short jean shorts were rumpled and her blue tank top was damp, probably from the tears she shed. She walked over and sat beside Sean on the bed and leaned against him. Resting her head on his shoulder and sighed in defeat.

“I’m sorry, Sean.” She whispered.

Sean tipped his head down to her, reached up with a hand and raised her head up by the chin with his index finger to meet eye to eye. “What do you have to be sorry for, babe?”

Jenn blinked several times to hold the tears back and bit her lip. With all the emotions swimming deep inside of her of the past events they shared and the present situation, she wasn’t sure how to handle everything. She wanted to be strong. But she also wanted to trust and depend on this man, her first love. When she heard ‘babe’ her heart melted just a little. That piece of endearment helped her see the man in front of her. Her friend. She relished in that feeling.

“This is just so much to take in, Sean.” Jenn sat up, but sustained to keep eye contact with him. Taking a deep breath, she continued. “I never thought my father could be the man that you are saying. Being the cause of such damage and hurt in my life.” She crossed her arms across her chest and squeezed as if trying to hold herself together. “Why would he do this? I just don’t understand.”

Jenn looked at him with an expression of pain. She laid her feelings out there, freely for him to see, hoping he understood. She hadn’t felt so lost since her mother died.

Placing his hands in his lap, he let out a slow breath. “I wish I could answer every single question you have, babe, but I only know what I know.” Sean licked his lips and continued. “Once your father got into the drugs, he just seemed to, you know, change.”

Jenn suddenly scrunched her eyebrows together in a quick rush of rage. “I fucking know he changed Sean! I just didn’t think it was because of drugs.” She yelled. She moved herself back from him and put her hands on her thighs. “I just want to fucking know how he could do this to his fucking wife, to me!”

Sean reached out and took her hands in his. “Shh baby, try and calm down.” He moved closer to her on the bed and reached one arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him. “I can’t answer for him. I wish I could. All I can do now is try and help you through it all.” He tucked her head down to his chest and kissed the top of her head. He began to rock them slightly back and forth on the bed.

The soothing action was something she used to like when she was younger, and she could feel the tension leave her body. She was glad Sean remembered the little tidbit about her.

“Babe?”

“Yes?”

“You hungry?”

“Little bit, yeah.”

Sean chuckled and ease Jenn from his grip. She was sitting up and facing him, he leaned in and kissed her forehead.

“Let’s get some grub then, yeah?” Sean smiled.

“Sounds good. Can I just freshen up first?”

“You look great, babe.”

Jenn scowled at that. She knew she did not look anywhere near good, not nice, not even close to looking alive. She knew her clothes were a mess, and her face-well she could only imagine.

“Don’t start fucking lying to me, Sean. I know I look like shit.” She snarled and waltzed to the bathroom to get ready.

When Jenn came from the bathroom, she wore a purple, low cut, three quarter sleeve shirt that was formed to her body and blue jean Capris’. She was refreshed and ready to eat. She looked up at the sound of Sean clearing his throat and smiled while moving towards him.

“You ready?” He asked.

“I am.” She stopped right in front of him and looked into his eyes. She noted the glimmer of desire in his eyes, and she bit her lip. She began to feel a slight tingle in her groin, something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Sean reached up and released her lip from her teeth, gently caressing her bottom lip with his index finger. He reached with his other hand, around her torso and pulled her closer to him. His eyes never leaving hers. “Jenn….”

Jenn put her arms up between them, on his chest, her breathing and heart rate increasing as lust surged through her body. “Yes?” She breathed out.

He leaned in and crushed his lips with hers. He reached his arm around her neck, dug his hand into her hair.

Jenn felt his tongue teasing her lips, seeking an opening, so she gave it to him and gave her all in return. When his tongue met hers, she moaned and the kiss went deeper. She felt Sean pull her tighter to him, and it was as if every cell in her body came to life. A fire was ignited within, a heat she never felt before. Every wisp of the tongue, every nip of the lip, every moan, every groan, she returned with ignited fire. She couldn’t get enough of him. She had wanted this kiss since she was a teenager.

His lips slid to the corner of her mouth, to her chin and proceeded with open mouth kisses down her neck.

Jenn tipped her head freely to give access and went limp in his arms momentarily, enjoying every second of it.

Sean’s hand moved from her back down to her ass and squeezed. His kisses moved along her collar bone.

Feeling the ass grab, reality sunk in, and the lusty fog lifted. She gave him a nudge back mid moan. “Sean.” She exhaled and rested her arms on his chest.

Sean stepped back a little. He moved his hands to her shoulders and took a few slow deep breathes. “Wow, sorry.” He shook his head. “I just couldn’t help myself there Jenn, you look amazing, and…..” He shut his eyes tight and opened them, blew out a puff of air. “Fuck, I have wanted to do that for years, and I just couldn’t let the moment pass.” He gave her a pathetic excuse of a puppy dog eyed look.

Jenn just chuckled, gave him a light thump in the chest, and turned. “Let’s just go eat.”

Sean grabbed her wrist in mid turn. “Seriously, Jenn, I am sorry.”

“It’s okay, Sean.” She bit her lip, looked away shyly and muttered. “I wanted it, too.” She walked over to the table by the door, grabbed her purse and the key card. “Coming?”

“Yeah.”

She opened the door and walked out.

They ended up staying in the hotel to eat. The bar just off the casino had just what they both were craving, wings. Hot, mild, buffalo style, you name it, they had it, and Jenn was going to make sure to have her fill.

They sat in a booth overlooking the casino. The lights and sounds were very intriguing to Jenn. She never had been overly adventurous in her adult life. Jenn was eager to try something new. “After we eat can we go test our luck?” She raised her eyebrows and bit her lip on a smile while looking at Sean hoping he would agree. They may be on the run and in hiding, but a little fun, wouldn’t hurt, at least she hoped.

Sean looked over his shoulder, then back at her. He scratched his chin, then smirked. “Sure we can, babe.”

Jenn squealed in delight. She had never been to a casino before, and if she could escape the shit storm they were in for just a moment, then she would.

After a dozen hot wings and the large order of garlic bread between them was gone, they used the facilities and entered the casino for their so-called fun times.

A few drinks in, Jenn was having a blast on the slots. She had spent only about twenty dollars and was up ten. She had never felt such a thrill in her dull life. Taking another sip of her cherry vanilla coke, instilled with sweet flavored vanilla vodka, she slotted a few more coins and pulled the lever.

Ding, ding, went the bells, winning the small jackpot again. Sean turned from his machine and laughed. “I sure wish I had your luck, babe. I haven’t won a damn thing.” He leaned into her and kissed her on the cheek. Jenn blushed bashfully, or it was just the alcohol, she wasn’t sure.

“You just need to try a different machine.” She giggled. Now that was definitely the alcohol. Jenn didn’t have much to giggle about lately, but with the alcohol running through her system, she felt like the stress of the situation was lifted from her shoulders. She felt safe and free at the moment and was enjoying it.

“You okay for a few minutes, babe? I need to take a leak?” He set his bucket of coins on her side table.

“Yes, sir.” She looked up at him and gave him a serious look. “Remember, if you shake it more than twice, you are playing with it.” She couldn’t hold the serious look for long, a giggle busted out.

Sean smirked and let out a small laugh, then looked at Jenn pointedly. “The only playing….” He narrowed his eyes at her and a sexy smirk arose on his mouth. “The only playing will be with you, in our room, babe, not in the bathroom.” He turned and left her to her slots.

Jenn was shocked at how blunt he was about the sexual innuendo, but it didn’t really bother her. She wanted that more than anything. All the old feelings stirred deep inside of her with the alcohol flowing, making her inhibitions weak and her desire for him stronger. She turned back to her machine and slotted more coins.

She had just pulled the lever on the machine when a chill went up her spine. A strange feeling like she was being watched. Slowly she looked around, but didn’t see anyone looking in her direction. Not that it was easy to tell, with the casino being as busy as it was at the time.

She tried to shake off the feeling and resumed her game, but the feeling got more intense. Goosebumps rose on her neck and arms. She looked up and around the room again a little slower. This time she did notice someone looking at her and she gasped. She didn’t know the man, but there was just something about him that was semi familiar. The man had an evil glare on his face, his eyes were dark and he held a snarl on his mouth. He was a few machines away sitting at a table. He didn’t move; he just stared at her.

Jenn quickly looked around for Sean. He was nowhere to be seen. Fear crept through her. She wasn’t sure why the man was staring at her, and she didn’t want to wait around to find out.

She grabbed both buckets of coins and her purse and headed in the direction of the restrooms. She hoped she would run into him along the way. The feeling of creepy eyes watching remained while she tried to walk calmly. She wasn’t going to get rid of that feeling until she was locked in the room with Sean.

Jenn was scared, and with the alcohol in her system, her limbs were trembling while she walked. She bumped into people as she went and when a pair of strong arms grabbed her she just about freaked out.

“Jenn, whoa, where you are going, babe?” Sean looked around and back to her. “Babe, you are safe. What happened?” He pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head.

“A ma…man.” She stuttered.

“What man?”

Jenn pointed back to where they were playing slots with her free hand, her other hand and arm holding the buckets of change. “Back there. He was staring at me.”

“Babe, he was probably looking at something else.”

Jenn looked up at Sean, tears brimming her eyes. “No, Sean, he was looking at me. He looked somewhat familiar too. I don’t know from where, but he was creepy. He just stared.” A chill ran through her body. “It freaked me out, okay? Can we just go back to the room, please?” She pleaded.

Sean curled her into his body, walked with her over to cash in their coins and they went to their room.

Once in their room, Jenn was a little calmer. Sean released his hold on her and looked down at her with a concerned expression. “Are you okay now?”

Jenn took a deep, calming breath, licked her lips and nodded at him. “It’s just with everything going on.” She stepped back from him. “My emotions are so jumbled about the situation, and about you.”  She turned and walked toward the bed. She sat on the edge and removed her shoes while still trying to get her thoughts out. “I just don’t know what to do, or what to say, or even how to react. Everything is just… I don’t know what or who to trust.” She bit her lip and looked up at him through her long lashes.

He walked to her and knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his. He looked up at her. “Please, I beg of you, Jenn.” He pulled her hands up to his mouth and kissed them. “I beg for your forgiveness. I went about this all the wrong way. I have been locked in my father’s grasp for years, and when you, or rather your file, was presented to me, I faltered. I didn’t know what to do, how to fix it.” He bowed his head in her lap and took a few deep breathes.