Текст книги "Gemini"

Автор книги: Penelope Ward

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supposed reason for coming here in the first place—on the passenger seat.

Shit.

Should I go back in? I wasn’t sure I trusted myself seeing her for another second again tonight. But Mom would be pissed if I had forgotten to give it to her and how would I explain that?

It took all of my willpower to leave her there in the first place. The chemistry between us was unstoppable and would have led to things she probably wasn’t ready for. I didn’t want to fuck this up, especially because of her working relationship with Callie.

I had decided I was going to drop it off in front of her door and text her that it was there after I left.

I grabbed the gift and made my way back up the stairs, but before I could place the gift on the ground in front of her apartment, Allison opened the door, startling me.

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“Hey…I heard footsteps. Back so soon?” she said softly, blinking her beautiful long eyelashes.

“Forgot to give you this.” I smiled, handing her the present. “Mom would have killed me.”

“Thanks.” She grinned taking the small wrapped box from me, but not taking her eyes off mine.

I stood with my left hand in my pocket and since my right hand was still covered in gauze, I placed it firmly behind my back.

My hands needed to be in a good safe place

…away from her where they would inevitably cause me trouble.

Coming back was a bad idea.

Already, I was finding it hard to walk away and stood there frozen.

“Cedric…um,”

she

said

before

hesitating.

“Allison…I…really…should go,” I said, staring at her lips and not moving an inch.

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That was it. My last attempt to leave, but my body stayed in place. So help me God, if she says anything about staying now, I am a gon-er. I can’t seem to leave this girl tonight. I can’t even think about how I am going to spend the week in ll.A. not getting to see her until Friday.

Then, Allison reached for my arm.

“Cedric, I don’t want you to leave. I don’t want to be alone tonight. The second you left, I regretted it…and then you came back and I just—”

I cut her off pulling her mouth toward mine and backed her into the apartment, slamming her door shut behind us with my foot. I. had. no. control.

She walked backwards as I kissed her fiercely on the neck falling back onto the couch and I laid on top of her. Her body felt so good. Her breasts were pressed against my chest and I could feel that they were soft, definitely not fake, like Karyn’s.

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Allison smelled like citrus and her erratic breathing was driving me nuts. I have never felt so out of control with a woman before, never wanted anyone this badly.

She pulled back and looked at me. We were both panting and I caressed her face, but I knew what she was thinking, why she pulled back, so I broke from her.

“Allison, you know we don’t have to go there tonight, right? I could just stay and we can do…you know… this…without… that. I don’t want you to think I expect anything more than just being with you tonight. I know we haven’t known each other for very long…but I just…love…being with you.”

“I love being with you too, Cedric. Yes, I think it’s best if we don’t go there tonight.

It’s too soon…but I am really glad you came back.”

Allison hugged me and I buried my nose in her neck, breathing in the scent of her skin deeply.

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I lifted her off the couch and pulled her into the bedroom. We both collapsed onto the bed, exhausted from earlier. I laid down behind her and breathed in her fruity scent mixed with shampoo. She smelled amazing. I kissed the back of her neck softly until she fell asleep in my arms, the sound of her breathing my lullaby .

This girl is going to be the end of me, I thought before drifting to sleep.

*** I woke to the smell of eggs, bacon and coffee coming from Allison’s kitchen.

I got up from her bed and snuck into the bathroom off the hallway to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and take a leak, before meeting her for breakfast.

I looked like ass, so I wet my hair down and rubbed some toothpaste over my teeth with my finger. I lifted the toilet seat 325/727

and peed, careful to return the seat to its original position. I sure didn’t need to be making that mistake so soon.

I had slept in my clothes, which were now wrinkled but would have plenty of time to go home, change and pack before my flight to ll.A. tonight.

I snuck down the hallway to the kitchen, catching sight of Allison. She hadn’t noticed me yet. She had talk radio on low and was cooking at the stove, her long hair cascading down her back. This beautiful woman was making me breakfast and I was tempted to sneak up behind her and kiss her neck, but I just stood there staring, amazed at my willpower last night and amazed at how lucky I am to be here. There was no doubt in my mind that she was too fucking good for me, in every way.

I walked over to her and gave her a peck on the cheek. She jumped at the surprise of seeing me.

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“Good morning.” She smiled.

“Good morning. Thanks for doing all this.” I wrapped my arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head. I couldn’t help myself.

“It’s the least I could do after what you did last night for me,” she said sweetly.

Allison separated the eggs onto two different plates and placed three slices of bacon onto each one. I grabbed two mugs from the cabinet to start pouring the coffee.

“Oh, do you mind grabbing that one for me?” She gestured to a different mug that had a picture of J.J. from the show Good Times on it. I shook my head and laughed out loud.

“This is your favorite mug?” I asked surprised.

“It is…I don’t know why, it puts me in a good mood.” She laughed.

That smile…Allison’s not J.J.’s…made me wish I wasn’t going to ll.A. tonight.

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I poured the coffee into the mugs, placed them on the table, then sat down.

Allison grabbed cream and sugar and two pieces of toast and joined me.

“These are the best scrambled eggs I have ever tasted,” I said, devouring them. It was the truth.

Allison grinned. “The key is to not mess with them too much when you’re cooking them and I add a dash of milk. I am glad you like them.”

I inhaled the breakfast and helped her clean up the table. We walked over to the couch and sat down, our bodies turned toward each other.

“Do you have to work at all today or just get ready for your trip?” Allison asked.

“No work—the office is closed until tomorrow. I wish I didn’t have to go to California.”

“Me too.” Allison grabbed my hand and I entwined my fingers with hers.

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She gestured for my other hand, the one wrapped in gauze.

“We should take a look at that,” she said.

“I guess you are right.” I removed my good hand from hers and started to unwrap it until Allison stopped me.

She took over, unwrapping it carefully. It looked a lot better than I expected, but was still a little red and bloody.

She got up and returned with peroxide and cotton and began cleaning my hand.

She then did something that blew me away. Before wrapping the hand back in fresh gauze, she took my nasty looking hand up to her mouth and kissed it gently right on the wound, closing her eyes.

I closed my eyes, too, overwhelmed by the raw emotion I felt from that gesture, but didn’t do or say anything, just watched her as she wrapped my hand in gauze again.

“Thank you, Allison.” I whispered.

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She couldn’t possibly imagine how much I needed to have her right now.

“You’re welcome.” She moved in toward me and placed her head on my shoulder. I pulled her close to me and we sat like that for a minute.

“Do you have to work at the diner today?” I asked.

“No, I would have been there by now.

I took today off and go back tomorrow.” We sat in silence for about a minute, then I turned to her and kissed her on the forehead when she looked up at me.

There was so much I wanted to say to her. I didn’t know where to begin.

“Allison…if you don’t mind my asking, was Nate your last boyfriend? Is there anyone else?”

She straightened herself up as if to prepare to answer my question.

“No, there isn’t. I haven’t dated anyone since Nate. The whole thing was just 330/727

such a huge disappointment. Everything was so normal in the beginning with him. Alcoholism is a real beast.”

“Yeah, but not all alcoholics are violent. Had he tried anything like that before?” My body cringed at the thought.

“He never tried to rape me, but he did hit me, like I said, the one and only time before last night. That was it. I broke up with him the second he put his hand on me.”

“I am so sorry, but I am glad you were smart enough to leave,” I said, suddenly wanting to find Nate again and finish the job.

“Yes. I had never experienced violence in my life. It was just Mom and me since forever. A peaceful existence, until she died.

Everything seemed to fall apart after that.” Allison looked down.

I hated seeing her sad. “Things fell apart in ways other than Nate?” I asked.

“Well, Nate happened and that’s also when I dropped out of school. My whole life 331/727

just changed. I felt like I didn’t have a purpose and overall I just missed my Mom. It’s strange to not have her around to talk to anymore, to be alone. But I have been doing my best.”

I put my hand on her knee. “You’re not alone and I know she is watching over you. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if she had a hand in my showing up last night.” She smiled. “I would love to believe that, Cedric. Lately things have really turned around, especially since I met Callie and Lucas.”

I loved hearing that. “I wish I didn’t have to leave tonight,” I said.

Allison abruptly changed the subject.

“Cedric, what about you? Were you and Karyn serious?”

“No. I mean, we dated for a while exclusively, but the chemistry wasn’t there. To be honest, we couldn’t have been more different. I really want to settle down with 332/727

someone who shares my family values, but mostly those feelings you need to have to want to be with someone forever, were not there for me with Karyn.”

“I see,” Allison said trying to process my answer.

I suddenly felt the urge to be honest with her. She deserved at least some honesty, seeing as though I didn’t have the balls to tell her the real reason I even met her in the first place.

“I have dated a lot of women, Allison, I am not gonna lie. Most of the women I have dated have been about sex and nothing more. I want more than that out of life now.

Karyn was the closest I had come to a serious relationship, but that didn’t hit the mark, not by a long shot.”

“How many women are we talking?” Allison laughed nervously.

I hesitated, but I wanted to be up front.

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“A lot…well into the double digits. But I was protected each and every time, with them, don’t worry. I always used, you know, condoms and get myself checked regularly. I wouldn’t put myself at risk like that or put anyone else at risk. I don’t want that life at all anymore though. I had gotten hurt after a relationship when I was younger and I vowed never to let that happen again. So, I let myself think that sex was all I wanted. But I am realizing more and more lately that it’s not all I want anymore.”

I stared at her trying to give her a sub-liminal message that she was what I wanted.

I couldn’t tell her that yet in so many words.

“What do you want, Cedric?” Her blunt question startled me.

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to process my answer.

“I want it all. I want to wake up in the morning next to someone who rocks my world in every way. Someone who I am so 334/727

physically attracted to that I can’t keep my hands off her but who at the same time ful-fills me in other ways, emotionally, on a deeper level. I want to be with someone who makes me never want to be with another single soul and someone who makes me want to be a better person.” I want to be with you, but I don’t deserve you.

***

Allison and I spent a couple of hours on her couch, getting to know all that we missed in each other’s lives up until now.

She told me about growing up in the Roslindale section of Boston, how she used to dance and sing in the Boston Latin School show choir and how she almost married her high school boyfriend before realizing he wasn’t the one.

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She opened up to me that her mother came out to her as gay when she was a teenager and that her mother’s longtime partner had died when Allison was only five and that her mother never met anyone else or fell in love after that. She floored me with her openness and she seemed to trust me enough to tell me anything. That warmed my heart and hurt at the same time.

I told her about growing up in Dorchester with my family, showed her my bullet mark from the accidental drive by and we found out that we both used to go to Castle Island a lot as kids.

I told her as much as I could…up until Chicago. That was the point I had to stop or rather skipped right over. She opened up to me about everything and I gave her only half of myself. But it was too soon to tell her everything and I wasn’t ready to lose her just yet.

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As a matter of fact, I couldn’t wait to see her again after my trip and I hadn’t even left her yet.

“It’s 1:00, you better get going if you need to pack,” Allison said.

“Shit. I do.”

I got up and she walked me to the door. I embraced her as hard as I could, pulling her mouth toward mine one last time. I could have stayed here all day, so I had to physically rip myself back with force and step away.

Allison stood in the doorway. “Bye, Cedric.”

I stood staring at her just shaking my head in awe of her beauty. “I can’t wait to take you out Friday night,” I said.

“Me too. Text me when you get there, okay?” she said.

I was touched that she would be worrying about me. I knew I would be thinking about her every second of this trip.

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CHAPTER 19

ALLISON

Smelling him on my shirt for the hundredth time, I tried to imagine that he was still here. I still couldn’t believe everything that had happened in less than twenty-four hours, on Christmas, no less.

I had spent the day cleaning my apartment and doing laundry downstairs in a daze, replaying every moment since he burst through the door and saved me from Nate.

Sitting on the couch, I looked down at the two Alex and Ani charm bracelets that Cedric’s mother had given me for Christmas, admiring them for being the reason that Cedric came to me. Each silver bracelet had a single charm, one saying “Thank You” and 339/727

the other had the Virgin Mary, an ode to both of our Catholic upbringings.

I looked down at my watch. Cedric’s flight was at 6:00, so he should be in ll.A.

sometime before midnight. I wanted to stay up to see if he would text me when he landed. I know that’s lame, but I couldn’t help myself. It was only 11:00, so I decided to watch the Sex and the City marathon to occupy my mind.

As I watched the character Samantha put sushi on all over her body to surprise her boyfriend Smith, my phone chimed and I grabbed it.

Cedric: Just landed. Can’t stop

thinking about you.

My heart fluttered and I typed.

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Allison: Me too. I miss you

already. Get some rest. I know you

must be tired.

Cedric: I am. Will you be

around tomorrow night?

Allison: Yes. What do you have

in mind?

Cedric: I’d like to Skype with

you. Do you have Skype?

Allison: I do. Send me an invite.

My

Skype

name

is:

AllisonAbraham1984

Cedric: Awesome. “See” you to-

morrow night.? Look for me about

10:00 your time. I should be done

with my meetings by then. Good

night.

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Allison: Good night, Cedric.

I put the phone down and sighed. Oh, God…I had it bad for this man.

A few minutes passed and my phone chimed again. My heart melted at the single and last text from Cedric.

Cedric: ?

*** It was a miracle that I was able to stop thinking about him long enough to sleep last night. When my alarm sounded, I jolted out of bed with a newfound zest for life. I hope I wasn’t setting myself up for heartbreak.

Cedric had told me he had been with a lot of women sexually. That sort of intimidates me.

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I told him last night the truth, that I had only been with three men my entire life: my high school boyfriend Trent, my mid-twenties boyfriend Sean…and Nate. But at the same time, I couldn’t wait to experience what every one of Cedric’s women had.

*** “Allison, you look like you have something up your sleeve.” Delores turned to me as she wiped the diner counter.

“It’s that obvious, huh?” I smiled, not being able to contain the fact that I was on cloud nine.

“Is it a man?” Delores asked.

“Yes…It’s

Cedric,

actually,”

I

whispered as I poured a cup of coffee for a man at the counter.

“Cedric? The Cedric? Blue Eyes? I thought he had a girlfriend?” 343/727

“No, apparently, they had broken off after that picture I showed you was taken.

It’s a long story.”

I tried to condense it as best I could and relayed what happened Christmas night to Delores.

“Honey, I don’t know how you resisted doing the deed with him. That guy is the hottest thing on two feet and he rescued you, at that. I have to give you credit. I would have been all over him like Ben Gay on an old person.” She laughed.

“Yeah, tell me about it. Believe me, it wasn’t easy. I am not sure how much longer I’ll be able to behave.” I winked.

*** Nervous anticipation consumed me at home that night. I brought home takeout sushi and forced it down, my excitement taking away my appetite. A glass of wine was 344/727

definitely needed, so I opened a bottle of cold Pinot Grigio and poured myself a large one.

After I had loosened up, I wanted to feel sexy for my Skype session with Cedric, so I perused my closet for something cute to wear. I decided on a pale pink tank top that had a thin border of pink sequins on the top.

My house was warm, so the tank top in the middle of winter wasn’t totally inappropriate. I put on a tighter sexy pair of jeans and left my feet bare.

In the bathroom, I ran a blow dryer through my already dry hair to touch it up, did up my eyes and put some lip-gloss on.

It was only 8:53. I decided to go onto Skype to see if Cedric had sent me an invitation to be added as a contact. He did. His user name was CedricCallahan99. I accepted the invitation, of course and could see that he was not online yet.

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I finished my glass of wine and sat on my bed, breathing in and out slowly to try and relax and put on some soft music, closing my eyes.

As it got close to 10:00, my nerves started to act up again.

It was 9:55 now. I began to wonder if I was supposed to call him or him call me. I decided it was best if I waited for him to call me. The minutes dragged on.

When 10:00 rolled around, my heart really started pounding.

Jesus, what is wrong with me? I wasn’t even going to be with him. We were thousands of miles apart. I couldn’t stand the anticipation.

At 10:05, I jumped at the sound of Skype telling me that CedricCallahan99 was online. Ahhhh!

My excitement was short-lived because it was 10:08 and he still hadn’t called, so I convinced myself that maybe he was 346/727

waiting for me to call, since he appeared to be online. I impulsively hit the ‘call with video’ button.

After three times, the ringing stopped and I could see the video start to load. My pulse raced at the unexpected sight of what I was met with.

CHAPTER 20

CEDRIC

I sat by the Santa Monica Pier, taking in the sights and the ocean as I ate some of the best Mexican food I have ever tasted. It was nice to be in California in December, but I wished she were here with me. I have another couple of hours before my afternoon meeting at KLAG-TV and decided to drive down here to clear my head first.

It hasn’t even been two days and I was falling harder for her than I could have imagined. I missed feeling her next to me, sleeping next to her. Immense sadness came like a wave crashing in the ocean nearby when I realized that I was tricking myself into believing that she might not leave me if she found out the truth.

I wanted to stay in denial forever.

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I needed more time with her; I would regret it forever if I left her behind and wasn’t ready to leave her, even though it might be the right thing to do.

I needed a cigarette, but am trying to make a commitment to be a better person for her. She doesn’t strike me as the type to appreciate me blowing smoke in her face…or for that matter, what I am really doing, I suppose, blowing smoke up her ass.

Amusement ride music and the sound of children laughing faded into the distance as I walked to my rental car and sped onto the freeway back toward Los Angeles.

*** I arrived just in time to meet the news director and general manager at KLAG.

After a station tour, we went over some new theme music tracks for their 349/727

shows and they showed me footage of their on air talent.

I met with a few of the top personalit-ies one on one to critique each’s presentation individually behind closed doors.

The last meeting was with news anchor Brandi Brady, an attractive petite redhead who anchored the 5:00 newscast. After viewing her demo, I have to say, I was very impressed with her top-notch look and deliv-ery and asked her who represented her.

“I’m a free agent right now, actually.

Do you know any takers?” Brandi crossed her legs in front of me and licked her lips flirtatiously. I could tell when a woman was sending me signals.

“Actually, J.D. Westock is always looking for new talent to represent. It would be a conflict of interest for me to entertain representing you myself, since I am a consultant for your employer KLAG, but I am 350/727

sure one of our other agents would be happy to set up a meeting with you.”

“I was hoping to set up a meeting with you, Cedric,” Brandi replied firmly, her eyes glancing down, sizing me up, slowly.

“Oh?” I said, knowing full well what she was getting at from the way she looked at me and licked her lips.

“I am very impressed by your knowledge and would love to hear more about what it is you do at J.D. Westock. You have quite the reputation. I was hoping you’d let me show you around tonight. I could meet you at your hotel after my shift is over.” Well, fuck, could she be more direct?

“That’s nice of you Brandi, really it is, but I’m going to have to pass. I have another meeting tonight.”

“Ok, Cedric. Well, I better be going, I need to get ready for the broadcast.” Brandi exited the room, looking back at me flirtatiously.

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“Bye, Brandi.” I watched her walk away. If this were three months ago, Brandi would have likely ended up naked in my bed tonight. It wasn’t that she wasn’t appealing, but I was so wrapped up in Allison, I had no desire for anyone else.

*** After a sushi dinner at Koi with the station management, I finally made it back to my hotel room.

All day and night, all I could think about was Allison and lying in bed talking to her on Skype tonight.

One day in Cali was enough; I couldn’t get back to Boston fast enough and I had two more days here, with meetings at two other stations.

I logged into Skype to turn my status to online and figured I had a few minutes to jump in the shower before calling Allison.

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I took off my suit jacket and was about to unbutton my shirt when I hear a knock at the door. I stupidly opened it without checking the peephole and was surprised to find Brandi Brady standing there in a tight red dress with ample cleavage.

Shit.

She pushed her way in before I could tell her I was not interested.

“I heard your meeting wrapped up. I thought I would come over and keep you company.” She started touching my shoulder suggestively and I instinctively moved back.

“Brandi, um… I appreciate that, really I do…but—”

Brandi cut me off. “Look…I am going to be direct with you, Cedric. When you walked into the station today, I couldn’t believe how hot you were, that I could be so attracted to someone. I have never wanted to fuck someone so badly in my life. I want nothing more than to experience that with 353/727

you tonight. There I said it. This isn’t about business; it’s about pleasure. No strings attached. No one has to know.” Tell me how you really feel.

I wasn’t really sure what to say to her as she sat on my bed looking up at me. I actually felt sad for her. I hate to think that I would have taken advantage of her a few months ago, but I probably would have, as pathetic as this situation was. But now, tonight…I really only felt sorry for her and there was no way I would fuck up my situation with Allison for a cheap thrill.

“Brandi, wow. I am so flattered, believe me. If this were a few months ago…things might have been different, but I am sort of involved with someone right now, so…”

“You have a girlfriend?” Brandi interrupted.

Allison wasn’t technically my girlfriend—yet—but I felt like my heart belonged 354/727

to her from that very first day in the diner. I lied to Brandi anyway.

“Yes, I do, Brandi. I am sorry,” I said.

“Okay, Cedric. From what I had heard about you, I didn’t think you were the girlfriend type. But if you say so, that’s all I need to hear. If you change your mind, you know where to find me. You won’t regret it.” Brandi kissed me on the cheek, handed me her card and walked out the door.

I had lost track of the time. It was past ten.

I looked at myself in the mirror and realized I had a lipstick mark on my cheek.

Even though it was time to call Allison, I ran into the shower and took a quick one, washing my face vigorously and wetting back my hair.

When I got out, I wrapped a towel around me and immediately heard the computer ringing on Skype. I knew it was Allison, probably wondering why I was online, 355/727

but not calling, so I ran to the laptop, out of breath, but excited and picked up. It took a few seconds for the video to load and when it did, she took my breath away.

“Hey, beautiful,” I said softly.

“Cedric! Oh my God…you are practically naked!” Allison laughed.

I truthfully was so excited to hear the phone, I had forgotten I was only in a towel and dripping from the shower.

“Yeah…about that. I was just getting out the shower, but I didn’t want to not pick up, so, yeah…I am only in a towel.” I laughed at myself as Allison chuckled along with me.

Her laugh was wonderful.

“Hold on, okay?” I said as I got up and returned to the bathroom, coming out in baggy flannel pajama pants and a white wife beater shirt.

“You didn’t have to get dressed on my account,” Allison said.

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“Well, I figured you already had enough of a show for one night.” I laughed.

“I didn’t mind. You have a nice body, Cedric and I like your tattoo,” she said.

“Thanks.”

I was hoping she would drop the subject of the tattoo. I didn’t want to have to lie to her about its meaning.

“What does the tattoo mean? I actually first noticed it when you were changing that light bulb in Callie’s room. It’s some sort of cross and the word ART?” Allison asked.

Fuck.

Her

inquiry

was

innocent.

She

couldn’t have known the meaning of the tattoo. I hated lying to her.

“Yeah, it was just a stupid thing I did one night. It’s kind of grown on me, but it better because I am stuck with it, right?” I attempted to avoid having to explain the meaning of ART.

“What does ART mean?” she asked.

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Here we go.

“Ugh…it’s kind of a long story. I’ll explain it to you some other time.” My heart pounded hoping she would drop the subject of the meaning. It seemed the Gods were on my side tonight when she playfully asked, “Can I get a closer look?”

“I don’t know about that. If I show you mine, you might have to show me yours.” I hoped she knew I was joking.

“Okay. I mean if that’s what you want, we can do that.”

Holy Shit. She wanted to play.

Allison gave me a look that was an exact cross between innocent and naughty and I could tell she was half serious.

She was wearing a tight tank top with nothing underneath and I could feel my dick getting hard from the mere thought of seeing her bare skin. Lying in bed and being this close to her, even just on Skype, was driving me mad.

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“Okay, you want a close up of my tattoo?” I said mischievously.

“Yes, please.” Allison smiled.

I lifted my shirt and moved the laptop camera, so that she could see the side of my torso. “What do ya think?”

“I think it’s gorgeous,” she said.

“Well, I think you’re gorgeous,” I said as I pulled my shirt back down and repositioned the computer.

“Thank you,” she said sweetly.

After another moment of us just starting at each other smiling had passed, Allison spoke. “Cedric, tell me something about yourself that would surprise me.” My eye twitched as the irony of that question hit me.

God she had no idea, but I wasn’t going to let my mind go to that dark place tonight. Not tonight.

“You first,” I said, giving myself time to recover from that question.

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Allison smiled and closed her eyes to think for a second.

“Okay…well, let’s see. Something that would surprise you…okay…well, I was once in the Miss Massachusetts pageant!”

“No fucking way…you…a pageant girl?”

“Yeah…my mother convinced me to enter and I actually placed third runner-up.”

“Third-runner up? There is no way that pageant is based on beauty then, cuz you would have won if that were the case.”

“Aw, thanks…but no…see, there’s this little thing called talent? And well, I guess they didn’t appreciate my rendition of Wind Beneath my Wings.”

I threw my head back. “You did not sing that song?”

“I did…and it sucked ass.” I lost it at her use of that term, which I used a lot too.

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“Hey…but still third runner-up, it couldn’t have been that bad!” I said, wiping my eyes.

“Your turn,” she said.

I closed my eyes and thought about it.

“Okay…I

know…something

that

would surprise you is that I have a bit of a musical past myself.”

“Oh yeah?”

“My brother Caleb and I used to rap, actually. We had an amateur rap group as teenagers called Triple C.”

“Triple C?” she asked.

“Yeah…Triple

C

for

Cedric…Caleb…Callahan. We thought we were the shit. I used to write the lyrics and Caleb did the beats. We had the baggy jeans falling off our asses and everything…Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch wannabees.” I chuckled shaking my head at the thought of how ridiculous we were.

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Allison covered her mouth and shook in

laughter,

then

shouted,

“Rap