“Uncle, Titus!” I cry out, giggling as I leap into the passenger seat.
“Hey there, cutie,” he replies, discretely slipping a strong hand onto my thigh and squeezing firmly. My body instantly responds and comes alive for him. “Happy to see me?”
“You don’t even know,” I say with a dramatic sigh. It’s all I can to not to throw myself on him. But here in the school parking lot with all these people around, I can’t do that. It’s like having a perfect meal cooked by Gordon Ramsay placed in front of you and knowing you can’t touch it.
Titus smiles at me with that perfect, heart-melting smile and runs his hand higher up my leg. My heart-rate increases, and I begin to take heavier breaths.
“Well, guess what?” he asks. “I’ve got some good news for you.”
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“Your pops had to go out of town for a couple days on work, and he askedmeto look after you and the house while he’s gone.”
I hear his words, but I’m not sure I truly comprehend them. As he pulls away from school, I start to feel lightheaded. I don’t know if it’s the lack of food I’ve had today, or what Titus just said to me, but the edges of my vision start to close in…the world begins to blur.
“Lucy?” he asks. “Are you okay, baby?”
And then, everything goes black.
9
Lucy
The next thing I know,I’m opening my eyes to Titus’s gorgeous, smiling face looking down on me. I can tell by the smell and the softness beneath my head that I’m back home in my living room.
“What…what happened?” I ask. I try to sit up, but Titus puts a hand on my chest and stops me.
“Take it slowly,” he chuckles. “You fainted, sweetie. Right in my truck.”
“I did?”
“You sure did.” His smile could light up the entire world in the midst of a blackout. “My guess is you didn’t eat much today, am I right?”
I nod and put a hand up to my forehead, only to realize Titus has placed a nice cool rag there. It feels amazing.
“I…just a protein bar…” I say, feeling unbelievably silly.
“Here, drink this.” Titus places the end of a straw to my lips. I trust him so I instantly take a sip of a delicious fruit smoothie. My eyes go wide, and I make a sound of approval and nod as I gulp it down. “Not bad, eh? My mom taught me how to make these a long time ago.”
I realize how hot my body is as I feel the ice-cold smoothie snake its way down my throat, through my chest, and down into my belly. I take another large sip and instantly begin to feel more like myself. I sit up, and this time Titus lets me.
“Wow, this thing really works,” I say with admiration. “You should get doctors to prescribe it.”
Titus laughs, removes the cool rag from my forehead, and begins to dry it with a paper towel. I’ve seen one side of this man so far, but I feel as though right now I’m seeing another—like he’s opening up to me in a way he does for no one else.
“Your mom must have been really scared when you enlisted,” I say. To most veterans, this is probably something you shouldn’t say. My dad even told me not to bring up anything about Titus’s experiences overseas unless he did, but I feel so close to him right now that I want to peek into his heart, and I feel as though he’s going to let me.
But there’s a pause. He doesn’t answer me. He simply looks down at the floor, and I suddenly feel like I’ve made a mistake.
Did I screw up?
I should have listened to my dad and not said anything.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
“No, it’s okay,” Titus says, taking my hand in his. “I’m sure shewouldhave been terrified. Only my mom passed away in eleventh grade. Both of my parents. I think it’s the main reason I enlisted.”
“I…I’m so sorry, Titus,” I say. “I didn’t know.”