“Hey,” she said as she got in. “Are the others ready to go?”
“Talia and Brianna are going to meet us at the first bar. Carys, June and Maisie will be at the house shortly.” Rita pulled the car back onto the road. “They’re all looking forward to going out and getting smashed.”
“I hope nobody’s expecting me to be the sober pal to make sure they don’t get into trouble.”
“No, that will be me. With the antibiotics I’m not, I can’t mix it with alcohol.” Rita pouted. “It’s a shame. I was hoping to drink and have fun.”
Chrissie laughed.
“You can still have fun when you’re sober. I manage it.”
“And I still don’t know how. You are made from a different cloth.”
“At least you didn’t call me strange.”
Rita laughed.
“That doesn’t need to be said. By the way, did your dad quiz you over what you were doing tonight? The twenty questions again?”
“He did. He probably knows the shoe size and IQs of all of my friends tonight now.”
“Why don’t you tell him you’re an adult now?”
“I have. But you know what Dad’s like. Especially after..” Chrissie paused. “Well, you know it.”
Rita’s smile faded a little. Then she reached over and grasped Chrissie’s hand.
“I get it still hurts. But it doesn’t mean he questions you and treats you with kid gloves. You’re not going to end up like that.”
Chrissie hoped not. She still remembered coming home from college and finding out that her mom and younger sister had been killed on the freeway coming back from looking at a college Ruby was keen on. They had left the house in the morning and were dead eight hours later. Their death had torn Jared apart, and it had taken a while for him to pick himself back up. Chrissie could get the fear whenever she left the house, but it did get a little too much.
It had been two years, and Jared was still concerned about her even going out to work.
“I do wish he would stop a little bit. I get being protective over me due to that happening, and the fact I drive on that freeway to work all the time, but he’s taking it to the extreme. It’s not right.”
“Then be more forceful and tell him to butt out,” Rita suggested. “Or you could move out and live with me. I would love to have you as a roommate.”
“Maybe I should.” Chrissie sighed. “I just don’t want to leave my dad alone. All he has right now is work and me.”
“You’re not going to abandon him. You’re just spreading your wings.” Rita smirked. “It might also help your love life. Or lack of. I’m sure still living with your dad who questions which side of your mouth you chew with the most is going to be a mood killer.”
“Rita!”
“What? I’m sure it will help.”
Chrissie rolled her eyes.
“Why is everyone so determined to get me laid? It’s not important to me right now.”
“You seriously haven’t thought about getting down and dirty with anyone? You haven’t wanted to know what it feels like to ride a cock until you’re shaking from coming so hard?”
“Rita!” Chrissie pressed her hands to her warm cheeks. “Would you stop talking like that?”
“What? I was just asking. You can’t seriously tell me with a straight face that you haven’t thought about it.”
“It’s…” Chrissie wished she didn’t fumble over her words. “It’s not something on my priority list. If it comes up and it happens, it happens. I’m not going to chase it.”
Rita sighed.