Soul Mate (The Mating Series) (41 page)

“Unfortunately, I like you…I like you a lot. You seem like a nice kid. You don’t fit in the fucked up Kim family.” Cho sighed. “You remind me a lot of Stephanie. I fo
rced her to fit in, and it ended terribly.”

I paced.
“Just because your relationship didn’t work, doesn’t mean ours won’t.”

“You know what I’m saying is true.”

“Jimmy has problems, but I can make it work.” I pleaded. I couldn’t live without Jimmy in my life. Two weeks without him almost killed me.

“You can’t change a man. That’s the biggest mistake most women make.”

“I don’t need relationship advice from you.” I hissed.

Cho gave a sad smile towards the wall.
Look at me!
“I’m the last person to give advice, but I don’t want you to be surprised. The best thing you could do is let Jimmy go home. If he loves you as much as he says, he’ll come back.”

“Are you questioning Jimmy’s love?”

“I have no doubt he loves you. That’s why he’ll leave. He thinks it’s better for you, but then he’ll come back because he loves you. You two are addicted to each other.”

The conversation angered me
. If Cho tried to make me doubt Jimmy, it worked. I didn’t want to, but I doubted everything. I wanted to trust Jimmy. I wanted do whatever I had to do in order to keep us together. I began to shake with frustration. It made me mad that I couldn’t control my emotions. I didn’t want Cho to see me react. I wanted to prove him that I was stronger than he estimated.

“I know
I’m upsetting you.” Cho said, not looking at me. “You don’t have to hold back. Cry and let it out.”

“I won’t give you the satisfaction.” I sneered.
Cho wanted me to cry.

“It doesn’t give me satisfaction. I hate it, but
I’m tired of sugar coating the situation.” Cho lit another cigarette. “Want one? It will calm your nerves.” I took it. “Kiddo, it doesn’t give me pleasure to hurt you…piss you off? Yes…I like that, but not intentionally hurt you.”

“You like to piss me off?”

“Of course I do.” Cho laughed. “You should see your face when you’re pissed. I love getting a pissed reaction out of you. You’re fiery. I want to control that fire.”

“Sounds kinky
,” I said.

“It’s not sexual…I promise
,” Cho said.

“Are you sure?”

“I don’t find you attractive.”

“You don’t find me attractive?” I questioned.

“Not like that. You’re gorgeous, but not my type,” Cho said. “You’re not mature enough for me. I like women, not little girls.”

“
I’m not a little girl!”

Cho put up a hand. “You’re a little girl to me
,” he said. “Don’t take it as an insult.”

“You flirt a lot.”

“I like getting reactions out of people. I love to see Jimmy’s reaction when I flirt with you. I don’t mean anything by it, but he doesn’t get that.”

“You’
re a jerk, you know that right?”

“I never claimed to be a nice guy.”

“I think you enjoy being a dick.”

“I do.” Cho smiled. “I can’t help it. Jimmy has always been the golden boy, so I had to invent myself as the asshole.” Cho shrugged. “I’m good at it. I’m terrible at being
nice.”

“Would an asshole take care of his brother
, like you do?”

“I didn’t say I didn’t love Jimmy. I love everything about him, and I care about you too. I like to get a reaction from those I care about.”

“I think there’s more to you, and, like your brother, you try to keep people from knowing you. Only you do it by being shitty.”

“What was your major in college?” Cho asked.

“Psychology.”

“Did you flunk?” Cho smiled and finally looked at me.

“Funny.”

“Trust me you c
ould write your thesis on Jimmy…and me…well my whole family.” Cho laughed. “We have our own category of fucked up in the psych books.” Cho reached over and gave me a great big hug. “You’re a good kid.”

“Thanks
,” I said.

“I hope we don’t mess up your life too much. I
have enough on my conscience without you.”

“Like what?” I asked. I remembered what Jimmy told me about how Cho fantasized about women.

“Nothing you need to know about,” Cho said. “When you’re an attorney, you tend to walk on the dark side.”

“Like defending people you know are guilty?” I asked.

“That’s part of it. I took an oath to protect the rights of everyone. Sometimes that means doing things that I don’t morally agree with, but I’m bound constitutionally.”

“Sounds difficult.”

“It’s not for me. You should see me in court. I’m ferocious,” Cho said.

“I think I got a taste of that earlier.”

“You brought it on yourself,” Cho said. “You fought back. You should have been an attorney. You would have made a good one,” Cho said. “I would love to spar with you in a court room.”

“Jimmy said
you’re all about the conquest.”

“
I am.” Cho agreed. “I’m that way with everything in life. I like a good challenge. That’s why you drive me crazy. You challenge the hell out of everything.”

“I don’t intentionally, but when it comes to Jimmy I would kill for him.”

“I hope someone feels that way about me someday.”

“You’
ll have someone like that.” I assured. “I get the feeling your friend is like that.”

“I don’t think so.” Cho said
, wistfully.

I finished my cigarette and went to bed. I considered
everything Cho said. I wasn’t mad at him anymore, but I didn’t like his assessment of my relationship. I decided to talk to Jimmy about what he wanted before I made my decision. Maybe I should let him go home for a while. I’m sure he wanted some time to patch things with his parents. My presence wouldn’t make the situation any easier.

CHAPTER 20

The next morning
a phone call made my decision easier. Tom Jenkins reinstated my position. The Board wanted me to start on the Monday of the next pay period. That way, I would get a complete paycheck. As much as I wanted to be with Jimmy, I had bills to consider. I accepted the reinstatement, with out hesitation.

I told Jimmy to go without me. Jimmy promised he would be gone
only a short time. “’I’ll call you every day,” he said. I pushed the negative thoughts away. Jimmy would come back. I knew it. I trusted Jimmy. Jimmy needed to get his life together. I hoped that when he returned, we could get our relationship together.

Trisha Pennington called Cho to
schedule time on Thursday to remove the home detention equipment. Jimmy booked a flight later in the afternoon. Cho offered to move his flight to the same time, but Jimmy told him not to. “I don’t need a chaperone,” he insisted. “Besides you want to get home to your
girlfriend
.” Jimmy taunted Cho like a bratty little brother.

“She’s not
my girlfriend.” Cho snapped.

“I’
ll take Jimmy to the airport,” I said, “and make sure he gets home.”

Jimmy and I spent Monday and Tuesday making plans for his visit home. I agreed to stay with him until he left. We made love often and truly enjoyed being
together. Cho was even pleasant. The three of us dined out, and drank a lot. By Thursday night both men would be gone, the thought made me sad.

“Now remember
, Trisha will be here at eight in the morning to remove your monitor,” Cho said. “Don’t over sleep.”

“We won’t over sleep
,” Jimmy said.

“I’
ll pick you up in Chicago. Don’t miss your flight.”

“Cho
, quit worrying,” I said. Cho packed his luggage. I sat at the edge of his bed. Jimmy stretched across the bed wrapped around me. Cho fretted over us like a mother hen. 

“We’
re grown adults,” Jimmy said. “We can manage.”

“Are you sure?” Cho asked, rhetorically. “I see the two of you constantly making out like teenagers. I don’t know if I can trust you.”

We followed Cho to return his rental car and then returned to the condo to get his luggage. Jimmy would drive Cho to the airport alone. I declined to go. They needed privacy to say their goodbyes. “Are you coming?” Jimmy asked his brother.

“In a minute, let me say good-
bye the kid,” Cho said.

“Hurry it up
,” Jimmy said. “You never know what security will be like. I want to get there in plenty of time.” Jimmy took Cho’s bags, and headed to the car.

I
leaned against the wall watching the two of them. I fought tears. I didn’t want to say good-bye to Cho. I hated Cho at first, but he grew to be a friend. I’d probably never see him again. I’d miss him.

“Are you going to say goodbye?” Cho asked.

“I don’t want to say goodbye. How about, see you later?”

“Whatever.” Cho said waving it off.
Hard ass.
“You’re doing the right thing by letting Jimmy go tomorrow.”

“I hope
,” I said. My lip quivered.

Cho leaned into me against the wall. “
You’re the biggest pain in the ass I know,” he said. For Cho it was a compliment.

I smiled.
“You’re the biggest ass I know.”

Cho fixed his dark eyes on me. “
I’m going to miss you.” He wrapped his big arms around me and bear hugged me. Without warning, he kissed me hard on the forehead. It wasn’t a lusty kiss, but full of sorrow. It felt like he was saying goodbye forever. “I hope we can stay friends even if you and Jimmy…” Cho stopped. He avoided the words. “If it doesn’t work, we can stay friends,” Cho said, sadly. He acted like he knew it wouldn’t work. “When you meet that soul mate, don’t forget me. Got it Kiddo?” Cho brushed my hair like a little sister. “If my brother hurts you, I’ll kick his ass.”

“I’
ll keep in touch,” I promised.

“See ya Kid
,” Cho said as he left. I waved to him. I had to respect Cho’s honestly, even if I didn’t like it. Down deep Cho was a good guy, and the best brother a person could have. I’d miss him as much as Jimmy. I felt like my own brother left. My eyes welled with tears.

When Jimmy
returned home, we barely spoke. Cho’s departure hurt, but it’d to kill me to say goodbye to Jimmy. The air grew thick with anticipation. I sat on the couch absently watching TV.

“I will be back
,” Jimmy said, finally.

“I know
,” I said.

“Then why are you so sad?” Jimmy asked.

“I’m going to miss you so much.”

“Y
ou’ll go back to work soon. It will help keep you occupied.”

“I
hope,” I said. “There’s a new administrator, and I’m anxious about meeting him.”

“Why are you anxious?”

“Mary and I were close, but I don’t know anything about this guy...and it’s a guy.”

“Maybe he’
s really hot.”

“Oh, eye candy
,” I said.

Jimmy wrapped his arms around me.
“You can look, but not touch,” he said.

“You can’t look or touch
,” I said.

“What?”

“Nope.” I kissed Jimmy on the cheek. “I’m the only woman you’re allowed to look at.”

“That’s not fair
,” Jimmy said.

“I wan
t you to pine for me while you’re away.”

“I will.” Jimmy said
, pulling me up. “Give me something to think about.” He led me to the bedroom. “Our last night together for a while, let’s make it special.”

Jimmy pulled my hair out of its pony. He fanned it out over my shoulders. “I love your hair down
,” he said.

I ran my fingers through his hair. “I love your hair more
,” I said. “You better not cut it.”

“Never
,” he promised.

He began to undress me. “I want to be on top
,” I said.

“Oh no
,” Jimmy said. “I’m in charge.”

“You think.
” I laughed.

“Mhmm
,” Jimmy said. “Cho’s right, you need your ass spanked.” Jimmy playfully smacked at my back side. “I think you need to learn who’s in charge.”