[chapter seventeen]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of
them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please.
;-)
**
Kick groaned at the insistent knocking on her hotel room door. Staggering out of bed, she meandered to the door and looked through the peephole before unlocking and opening the door.
"I thought you could use some room service coffee." Chad said sheepishly, proffering two enormous cups of coffee.
"Thank god for Folgers." She grinned, admitting Chad to her room and taking a cup gratefully. She followed him to the small settee and tucked her legs under her as she sat down.
"You know, it's always more interesting when you are around." Chad said by way of opening.
Kick laughed and shut her eyes tightly. "I'll say."
"Listen, I didn't come here to lecture or question or anything, but I gotta ask…what did…what did Junior tell you about his history with Jimmie?" Chad asked haltingly.
Kick inhaled deeply, the let the breath out. "He said that he was dating a really nice girl, and one night he found her and Jimmie…uh…nekkid." Kick said, blushing slightly. "I know he's your friend, but…"
Chad burst out laughing and Kick looked alarmed. "Okay, maybe you aren't good friends." She said, half to herself.
"I knew it. That lying fuck." Chad said, his laugh stopping short. "Kick, you trust me, right?"
"Yeah. Of course." Kick answered immediately.
"Listen to me." Chad said sternly. "Junior fucking lied to you. That's not what happened."
"What did?" Kick asked, her breath catching in her throat.
"Jimmie was dating a sweetheart of a girl named Lisa. They went out for like, 2 years. He was serious about her, I mean, thinking-of-settling-down serious. Until he found her fucking Junior's brains out in his coach one night."
Kick nodded dumbly and tried to speak, finding herself unable to.
"He lied to you, Kick." Chad repeated. "He's such a rotten guy. I was so proud of you last night. I really was. Don't go back to him."
Kick shook her head slowly and continued to watch Chad.
"Listen, this is totally going against the guy code, but I gotta tell you…Jimmie likes you. I know he comes across as an ass sometimes, but he's just shy and a little skittish about women since the whole Lisa thing went down. But he likes you. He does."
Kick nodded again, still unable to say anything.
"Anyhow, I just wanted to see how your hangover was, to tell you a little bit of the truth, and to see if you were going to be around later. We're all stuck here until the rain lets up." Chad said, standing up. Kick followed his lead and stood as well.
"Yeah, I'm around." Kick said slowly. "Is…is Jimmie still around?" She asked hesitantly. "I think I owe him an apology. Like, a big one."
Chad smiled gently. "He's next door to me, on the end of the hall. But uh…he might need a little extra sleep this morning." He winked as she tailed him to the door.
Kick smiled and nodded. "Chad…thanks. Really." Kick said sincerely.
Chad pulled her into a bear hug and kissed the top of her head. "Anything for you, Kick. You know that."
Kick shut the door, then looked around her litter-strewn room.
What does a girl wear to
deliver the biggest apology of all time?