My heart soared.
I broke down against my not-doing-anything-commercial stance after hearing she’d never been to Busch Gardens.
We spent the first few hours walking through the animal habitats. Kayla was like a kid in a candy shop. I’d never seen someone so happy just to be alive.
“I’m really not into roller coasters, Jesse.” She clenched her hand around mine so tightly when we were strapped into the coaster that it made the entire trip worthwhile.
I dipped my head to her ear. “I’ll protect you. Just close your eyes and hang on to me. I’ll never let you fall either.”
When I brought her home that night, it was again after eleven. “I’m sorry I’m monopolizing Kayla, Mrs. Johnson.”
“Oh, pshaw, Jess. What would Kayla do here all day with me? I have her at night.”
“Would it be okay if we stayed in tomorrow evening?” I asked. “I could bring barbeque for dinner.”
“That would be great, but just bring the meat and I’ll make all the fixin’s.”
I spent the morning catching up on some jobs that my dad insisted couldn’t wait. Kayla, of course, understood, telling me it would give her some time to hang out with Charity, who’d been bummed out the last few days for some reason. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that Charity was always bummed out. As long as I’d known Charity, she never smiled or had a good time. Well, except for when she was drinking. Every party I’d been to with Morgan, Charity and Nathan had always been wasted.
When I arrived at Kayla’s house this time, Charity opened the door. “Oh, hey, Jesse. I’m so glad I caught you.” She rested both her hands on the foyer walls, effectively blocking me from entering.
Everything in me wanted to question her statement, but not sure what she was up to, I smiled instead. “Nice to see you too, Char.” I looked over her shoulder. “Umm … is Kayla home?”
She took a step forward. “Char?” she repeated. “So you do know me from school.”
“Of course I know you.” I rolled my eyes. “We’ve gone to school together since the third grade.”
“Then why haven’t you asked me out?”
I sighed, wondering where Kayla was. She hadn’t been late once since we met. She had to know I was here. “Why would I have ever asked you out? We have absolutely nothing in common. And besides, you’ve been dating Nathan for the last two years.” I took a step to pass her, and she put her hand on my chest, which I quickly removed. The last thing I wanted was Kayla thinking I had any interest in her cousin.
“Actually, we do have something in common, Jesse,” she said in a low voice. “We have a lot of mutual friends, and one I’m particularly fond of. In fact, I’ve been spending a lot of time with Morgan this week. You remember Morgan, the girl you ditched for my cousin.”
“That’s not true!” I growled. “Morgan and I broke up four months ago. I didn’t even know Kayla.”
“But you were with Morgan just last month …”
My heart raced. Morgan wouldn’t have said anything to her. Yeah, they all hung out together, the popular and rich kids, but Morgan hated Charity. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Char. Morgan and I have been nothing but friends since we broke up.”
“Good friends,” she taunted.
I closed my eyes, praying that Kayla would get here soon. Otherwise, I’d have to leave. I had no desire to discuss Morgan. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what I’d ever done to make Charity despise me. If she liked me, she sure had a weird way of showing it.
“Hey!” Kayla skipped around the corner. “Thanks, Charity.” Kayla stepped around Charity and grabbed my hand, drawing me into the living room. “Sorry. I was on the phone with my dad.” Charity brushed past us, heading toward her room. “Hey, Charity,” Kayla called after her. “Wanna watch the movie with us?”
“Nope!” Charity said, then slammed her door.
“Ignore her,” Kayla said, rolling her eyes. “She’s upset because her boyfriend broke up with her. That’s why she was such a witch Saturday night. He did it right before we got back there. Evidently he doesn’t want to spend his final spring break and end of his senior year tied down. I feel bad, but she has no right to take out her aggravation on us.” She shook her head. “Besides, this is our last evening together semi-alone. My dad will be here tomorrow morning, and we’re supposed to spend the day with him.”
I looked down the hall, still wondering why Charity hated me. I hoped she wouldn’t try to cause trouble between Kayla and me. Not wanting to ruin our last evening semi-alone, though, I turned my thoughts to Kayla’s father. I had no idea what I’d possibly discuss all day with him, but we were both crazy about the same girl, so that had to count for something.
“You’re right,” I said. “Charity doesn’t bother me. She’s been ignoring me since the third grade. I just wish she wasn’t so mean to you.”
Kayla wrapped her arms around my waist. “I’m fine. She doesn’t bother me either.”
I handed her the bag of barbeque I’d brought, and we both found Mrs. Johnson in the kitchen and had a great meal with zero discussion about Charity. Even Mrs. Johnson seemed used to the fact that Charity didn’t eat with them.
After I started the movie and sat on the sofa, Kayla curled up against me. When I looked up to see Mrs. Johnson’s reaction, she was smiling. The movie ended too soon for my liking. I would have loved to just sit there all night with Kayla’s arms wrapped around me. But it was late. I stood up to leave, and Kayla got up with me.
“Mrs. Johnson,” I said, walking over to where she was sitting. She stood too. “I want to thank you for introducing Kayla to me.”
“Jess, please call me Gram. It sounds so formal you calling me misses all the time.”
Without warning, my eyes stung. My father’s parents had been gone for years, and my mother’s parents had never wanted anything to do with me. Mrs. Johnson was the closest I’d ever known to a grandmother. “Thank you. I’d like that.”
“Take care of my girl. Don’t y’all stay out too late. Her daddy’ll be here early in the morning, so she can’t have circles ’round her eyes or he’ll think I haven’t been taking care of her and not let her return for the summer.” She winked as she leaned in for a hug.
“I’ll take care of her,” I promised.
Kayla and I walked outside and sat on the porch. Wrapping my arms around her, I sighed. “I’m sure going to miss you, Kayla.” She laid her head on my shoulder, sighing too. It didn’t sound like a sigh of contentment this time; she sounded worried. I’d paid attention to everything she’d done the past week. I wanted to make sure I’d know how she felt through the phone or over an email.
I lifted her chin so I could look in her eyes. She was crying. “What’s wrong? What did I say?”
She slowly shook her head back and forth. “I’m sorry; I didn’t want to do this.”
“Do what, Kayla?” Doubt seeped in without warning. She didn’t want to stay together. We’d had a fantastic week, but that’s all it was. I’d been so stupid.
“Cry. I promised myself I wouldn’t make this harder on you by crying.”
“You’re killing me. Make what harder?” I clenched my teeth together, ready for impact. She was going to break up with me.
“Leaving you for two months. I’m going to miss you so much.”
“Oh!” I exhaled in relief. I wiped my hand over my burning eyes. I still had so much doubt. How could I have thought that, after we had such a wonderful week together? “Don’t cry, cowgirl. I’ll see you in two months.” I pulled her against me and kissed her lightly, then leaned back. “I know it sounds cliché, but it’ll just give us more time to realize how much we mean to each other.”
Kayla pulled me back to her and kissed me feverishly, more than I was used to. Perhaps she realized this was our last kiss like this. I gave in to her and felt her passion soar through me.
“I love you, Kayla,” the words poured out of my mouth without warning. I had
n’t planned to say it first, so all I could hope was that she felt the same way.
She smiled through her tears. “I love you too, Jesse. I’m going to miss you so much, but you’ll wait for me?”
“Oh God, Kayla. Didn’t you hear me? I’ve never loved anyone. Never thought I’d trust a woman after my mother left my father and me, and then what happened with —” I didn’t want to talk about my ex, especially since I now realized I’d never really loved her. “It doesn’t matter. None of it matters. I love you, and yes, I will wait for you.” My eyes burned with intensity as if I could convince her just by looking at her, when I knew only time would tell. I pulled her back to my side. I didn’t want to let her go, but Gram was right. It was late, and I didn’t need to start off on the wrong foot with her dad. “Till tomorrow, cowgirl,” I said, allowing myself one more kiss before I forced myself to back away. Surely, it wasn’t our last kiss. She wouldn’t leave until Sunday, so we’d find some time alone.
I walked backward to my truck. As always, she waited by the door until I drove off and shot her one final glance. Yes, I’d wait for Kayla forever if I had to.
Chapter 11 - Jesse
Kayla’s name popped up on my cell at seven a.m. Unlike this entire week, I wasn’t supposed to be at her grandmother’s until nine this morning. She’d said her dad would arrive around six, but she wanted to have a little time to talk with him before I came over. I’d asked if I should come even later, then, but she was adamant that we spend the entire day together with her father.
“Hey, babe, I was just thinking about you,” I said as soon as I answered, determined not to hide my feelings from her. Actually, I hadn’t thought of anything but her since I woke up. I was scared to death to meet her father, though, worried he’d hate me.
“Jesse,” she choked out through gasps of air. “Did … did you …” she sobbed.
“What’s the matter, Kayla? Are you okay? Did something happen? Did your dad arrive okay?” Unable to process what could have upset her, I blurted out the questions.
“Your ex-girlfriend, Morgan. You got her pregnant … then helped her have an abortion? You lied to me! All of it! Everything was a lie!” The words tore out of her in a torrent of anguish.
“No … no … I didn’t … that’s not what —”
“Are you denying it?” she cut me off, stifling her tears. “Charity saw you! Morgan even told her how you pretended you were a virgin to get her to let down her guard, and then how you would beg her to stop —” She choked on her words again. “I can’t believe I fell for your games.” A new sob rose in her throat. “I loved you. I trusted you.”
“Please listen to me, Kayla. That’s not —”
“You aren’t denying you were there? I’m leaving, Jesse. I’m packed, and I’m leaving with my dad immediately. Goodbye!” she shouted as a dismissal, disconnecting the line.
I ran to my truck. Maybe she hadn’t packed completely. If I left right now, maybe I could stop her. It was usually a thirty-minute drive to her house from Pinellas Park, but it was early. If I ran every red light, maybe I could make it before she left. She couldn’t leave me like this, without giving me an opportunity to explain. She’d promised she wouldn’t hurt me. Why wouldn’t she listen?
I peeled out of my driveway. Once I got on the main road, I tried to call her. It went right to voicemail, so either she’d pressed ignore or turned off her phone. I didn’t have Mrs. Johnson’s number or Charity’s, not that Charity would help. What had I done to Charity to cause this? I’d never uttered a cruel word to her in all the years we’d known each other.
I floored my Ranger. The four-cylinder engine protested. I never drove it hard. It was old, and I needed it to last through college, but today I didn’t care. I’d give everything I owned and had saved to have her listen to me. She couldn’t leave me like this.
I pulled into Mrs. Johnson’s driveway twenty-five minutes later, but knew immediately that Kayla was gone. I felt empty.
Jumping out of my truck, I raced to the front door anyway. I pounded on the door and rang the bell until Mrs. Johnson opened it. When she answered, I saw the look in her eyes: doubt and grief. Obviously Charity had spun her lies with Mrs. Johnson, too. Feeling as if someone had kicked me in the gut, I fell to the steps.
“Why are you doing this, Charity?” I screamed. “What did I ever do to you?” I stumbled backward toward the steps, finally collapsing, my head hanging in anguish.
Mrs. Johnson sat beside me, draping her arm around my shoulders.
I leaned against her. “I swear, Mrs. Johnson, they aren’t telling the truth. I tried to stop Morgan, and I didn’t get her pregnant either. I swear!” I blinked the tears out of my eyes. I never cried. Even when my mother had left, I hadn’t cried. Why did it feel like my heart was splitting in two? The pain was so unbearable that I’d swear I was having a heart attack. I couldn’t move.
“I believe you,” she whispered. “I’ve seen this before.” She got up and left me on the porch to cry alone. What she must think of me now. How pathetic I must look, but I couldn’t make myself leave. If only I could explain. It was a simple misunderstanding. I’d done nothing wrong. I’d simply tried to help Morgan.
Chapter 12 - Kayla
I struggled to pull myself upright in the front seat of my father’s truck. My eyes burned and felt swollen, and I hadn’t stopped gasping for air from the moment my father arrived, but I’d forgotten my mother’s ring.
“Dad!” I choked out. It felt as though something were stuck in my throat. Probably because it was the first time I’d spoken without crying. I’d done nothing but sob from the moment my father had arrived this morning. “I forgot my ring! Mom’s ring! We have to go back.”
“It’s okay, honey. Gram will mail it.”
“No!” I screeched. “What if it gets lost? We have to go back.”
“No,” my father said adamantly. He rarely took a tone with me, but he never wavered. When he said something, he meant it. “The last thing we need is for me to lay eyes on the boy who did this to you. If he shows up —” He stopped his words. “Sorry, that was uncalled for, but you know how I hate to see you cry.” He shook his head. “I’m getting crankier by the minute. I need coffee.” He pulled into a McDonald’s parking lot. “Want something, honey?”
I flung myself across the center console again. I didn’t want anything. Ever.
“Kayla.” He nudged my shoulder. “Did you eat this morning?”
Of course I didn’t eat, and I didn’t plan to eat.
“Come on, honey. Let’s get some food and talk.”
I shook my head, refusing to sit up.
“Kayla, if you’re gonna turn into a spoiled girl after a week with Charity, I won’t allow you to come back this summer.”
“I don’t want to come back,” I said through sobs.
“Baby girl, you’ve begged me for the last week to spend the summer here. Now all of a sudden you’ve changed your mind? Because of some boy?”
I soared up in the seat. “He isn’t just some boy, Daddy!”
“It isn’t like you to get suckered into anything, Kayla.”
“I loved him!” I said, dropping my head in my hands.
“Come on, sweetheart. I need some coffee. We’ll talk it over.” He didn’t wait for me to say no again. He hopped out, walked around to the passenger side of the truck and opened my door.
I fell into my father’s waiting arms. “I really loved him, Daddy. I can’t believe he lied to me, about everything. I didn’t ask for all his history; he chose to tell me that he’d never had sex … because it was important to him. But it was all a lie. Why did he lie? He said he never lied, so that was a lie, too!”
My father just soothed my arm as he escorted me inside the restaurant, allowing me to sit while he ordered breakfast.
Knowing it was my favorite, he set a McGriddle in front of me. “Did you ask him why he lied?”
I pushed the food away. “He didn’t deny being there.”
“But did you give him a chance to explain?”
My tears stopped for a second as I drilled him with a hard gaze. “He helped his girlfriend have an abortion. What’s to explain?” I sassed, but then dropped my head again, embarrassed. I never took an attitude with my father. “I just can’t believe he lied to me. He seemed so sincere. How could I have been so stupid?” I blew my nose into a napkin and then got up. “I’m not hungry. Can I go back to the truck?”
My father stood too. “I can eat and drive. Heck I spend half of my life eating and driving. I’m as tired as a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest, though, so we might have to stop at a hotel.”
He followed me back to the truck and closed the door behind me.
“I’m sorry, Dad.” By the time he walked around to the driver’s side, I was bawling again. Not only for myself, but for the trouble I was now putting my father through.
He ran his hand through my hair. “It kills me to see you like this, Kayla. You’re always happy … rarely get upset. The first time I allow you to visit without me and this is what happens —” His phone vibrated on the dash. “Yeah?” he answered, sounding aggravated. He was silent for a few minutes, so it was probably a disgruntled tenant. “Of course I remember. How could I forget?” he said with a long tired sigh.
Business. Always business. My father did nothing but work himself to death, and now I was making him drive ten hours without sleep. Maybe that’s what I needed to do. Bury myself so deep into work and school that I didn’t have time to think about Jesse. As if that were possible.
I tried, but found it impossible not to cry as my father drove farther and farther away from the boy I loved. No matter how much I wanted to believe I could forget Jesse, I knew I never would.
Not twenty minutes later, my father shifted the truck into park. He probably needed gas. Maybe if I just ran, he’d let me go, realize how much I needed to go back to my grandmother’s house. To get my ring, to hope that maybe Jesse would come looking for me.
Love Like Crazy (Crazy Love Book 1) Page 7