He wanted me here. The silly smile that tugged at my lips couldn't be helped. I'd stay and he was right I could save money. Once Dad got back I'd talk to him and then move. There was no reason to go if Rush wanted me here.
"Okay. If you really mean that then thank you."
Rush nodded and leaned forward to put his elbows on the table. His silver stare was leveled on me. "I mean it. But that also means that the friend thing with us needs to remain in full effect."
He was right, of course. Us living together and getting involved in any way would be difficult. Besides, once this summer was over he'd move off to another house somewhere. I didn't need that kind of heartache.
"Agreed," I replied. His shoulders didn't ease and his body remained strung tight.
"Also, you are going to start eating the food in this house when you're here."
I shook my head. No I wasn't. I was not a mooch.
"Blaire, this isn't up for argument. I mean it. Eat my damn food."
I pushed my chair back and stood up. "No. I will buy food and eat it. I am not... I'm not like my father."
Rush muttered something and he pushed back his chair and stood up. "You think I don't know that by now? You've been sleeping in a damn broom closet without complaint. You clean up after me. You don't eat properly. I am aware that you're nothing like your dad. But you are a guest in my home and I want you eating in my kitchen and treating like it's yours."
This was going to be an issue. "I'll put my food in your kitchen and eat it in here. Will that be better?"
"If all you intend to buy is peanut butter and bread then no. I want you eating properly."
I started to shake my head when he reached out and grabbed my hands in his. "Blaire, it will make me happy to know you're eating. Henrietta buys the groceries once a week and stocks this place expecting me to have a lot of company. There is more than enough. Please. Eat. My. Food."
I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing at his pleading look.
"Are you laughing at me?" he asked with a small grin tugging at his lips.
"Yeah. A little," I admitted.
"Does this mean you're gonna eat my food?"
I sighed, "Only if you let me pay you weekly."
He started to shake his head no and I pulled my hands from his and started to walk away.
"Where are you going?" he asked from behind me.
"I'm done arguing with you. I will eat your food if I pay for my part. That's the only deal I will agree to. So take it or leave it."
Rush growled, "Okay fine. Pay me."
I glanced back at him. "I'm going to go unpack. Then take a bath in that big ole tub and then I don't know. I don't have plans until tonight."
A frown puckered his brow. "With who?"
"Bethy," I replied.
"Bethy? The cart girl who Jace messes around with?"
"Correction. The cart girl that Jace used to mess around with. She wised up and is moving on. Tonight we're going honky-tonking to pick us up some hard working blue collar men."
I didn't wait for him to respond. I hurried to the stairs and ran up them. Once I reached my new room, I closed my door behind me and sighed in relief.
Chapter Twelve
I might not have the clothes for Rush's parties but I had everything I needed to go to a honky-tonk. It had been awhile since I'd worn my blue jean skirt. It was shorter than I remembered but it worked. Especially with my boots.
Rush had left this morning while I was taking my bath and he hadn't been back since. I wondered if my room was off limits to his friends if he had a party here. I didn't like the idea of strangers having sex on my bed. I didn't really like the idea of anyone but me having sex on the bed I was supposed to sleep in. I wanted to ask but I wasn't sure how to go about asking something like that.
Leaving before Rush got back meant I wouldn't know what to expect. Should I plan to wash my bedding when I got home? The idea made me cringe. When my foot hit the bottom step the front door swung open and Rush walked inside. When his eyes found me he froze and slowly took in my appearance. I wasn't dressed to impress his crowd but there was a crowd out there that I might get some attention from.
"Day-um," he muttered and closed the door behind him.
I didn't move. I was trying to figure out how to approach the strangers having sex on my bed thing.
"You, uh, wearing that out to go clubbing?" he asked.
"It's called honky-tonking. I'm pretty sure it's a completely different thing," I corrected him
Rush ran his hand over his short hair and let out a sigh that sounded somewhat frustrated and somewhat amused. If he was about to start making cracks about my clothing I might throw my boot at him.
"Can I come with y'all tonight? I've never been honky-tonking."
What? Did I just hear him correctly?
"You want to go with us?" I asked in confusion.
Rush nodded and his eyes trailed down my body once again. "Yeah, I do."
I guess he could go too. If we were friends then we should be able to hang out together.
"Okay. If you really want to. We need to leave in ten minutes though. Bethy is expecting me to pick her up."
"I can be ready in five," he said and took the stairs two at a time as he ran up them.
That was completely not what I had expected. Strange turn of events.
Seven minutes later, Rush was back down the stairs and dressed in a pair of snug jeans and a tight black tee shirt that had Slacker Demon written on the front in a white gothic print. The emblem that was on his shoulder also graced the tee shirt. The silver thumb ring was once again on his hand and for the first time since I'd met him he had a couple of small hoop earrings in his ear. He looked more like the son of a world famous rock star than he ever had. His black lashes made it permanently appear as if he were wearing eyeliner and that only added to the effect.