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I GREET DIESEL AT HIS front door with coffee in hand, “come on, and get a move on, slowpoke!” I push the door open. “What’s the rush?” He steps aside and allows me to enter.
“It’s time to go,” I glance around the apartment, looking for his luggage.
“You were serious?” He stops and places his hands on his hips.
I’m frozen with disbelief, “of course I was serious,” pissed off now, I yell, “Diesel!”
He laughs, opens the closet near the front door, and pulls out a small duffle bag.
“One of these days, I will strangle you,” I stomp past him and walk down the stairs. His laughter follows as we approach Keni waiting in her car.
“Morning, sunshine,” Diesel greets her and climbs in the back seat, “thanks for the ride. Your sister is nuts,” he starts the conversation.
“Don’t I know it, but you know how it is. Once one of us Johnsons gets something in our head, it’s bound to happen.” She looks to the rearview mirror smiling.
He shakes his head, leans in, and takes a sip of the coffee as he rolls his eyes.
*.*.*
Diesel
Vegas, I can’t believe I am going to fucking Vegas, and with Nicki of all people. Who would have thought? Don’t get me wrong; we hang out outside of work, but on vacation? In Vegas?
When she called and told me where every muscle in my body tensed. There was no way in hell I would let her go out there alone. For the next three days, I will do everything to keep her for myself and not let her mess around. Maybe I can prove that we could be a good thing together. I have this need to take care of her and protect her.
We pull up to the curb. Keni puts the car in park, and we all exit the vehicle.
“Be good, have a great time, and good luck!” She hugs Nicki, then turns to me, “take care of her, or I’ll kick your ass,” she says with a punch to my stomach.
“Ouch! It’s too early to be fucking around Kendra,” I wince and rub the area she hit, sore from holding up the sheetrock yesterday. With a concerned look in her eyes, I wrap my arm around her neck and pull her in closer.
In a low whisper, “she’ll be fine. I got this.”
“I’m trusting you,” she says with a wave and walks around to the driver's side of the car.
With luggage in hand and Nicki’s rolling behind her, we make our way through the checkpoint and reach the gate.
While waiting to board the plane, I play a few games on my phone and check my email. Nicki is restless in the chair next to me.
“We’ll be boarding soon, relax.” I slide my phone into my back pocket and take her hand in mine. She doesn’t seem nervous, more like a burst of energy ready to take off.
“I just want to get there already. I want to drink, gamble and have a lot of fun. Are you up for it?” She wiggles her body, all giddy-like.
“I can take anything you dish out, Slayer. Are you up to it?” I cock one eyebrow, challenging her.
She devilishly rubs her hands together. “Slayer, huh?” I nod, “because every guy who comes in contact with you slays.” She laughed, thinking I was kidding, but it’s true. She leaves us all wanting more.
“Let’s make a deal,” she turns to square off with me.
Oh god, we will get into a lot of trouble. I can see it already, “okay?”
She continues, “Once we reach the hotel, we can only say yes to each other.” Confused, I want to be sure what I am hearing, “clarification?”
“Like, if you say you want to do something, go somewhere, or whatever you choose, I have to say yes. The same goes for you. If I say let’s go here, or drink this or whatever, you have to say yes. This is a no, no answer vacation.”
“I think I can handle it, but Nicki, no jail time, and we’ll need a safe word.” She laughs, and the announcement comes across the loudspeakers saying we can begin boarding. Little does she know how serious I am about safe words. That is a whole other world I was introduced to years ago. I only dabble now. It’s not really my thing, but I learned that control is necessary.
