In the privacy of my truck, I rested my cheek against hers before kissing her. I breathed in the delicious scent that was one-hundred percent Kayla, then pulled her entire body to me. Her lips were soft, warm, and familiar. “God, I missed you,” I whispered beneath my kiss. I moved my hands through her curls. Even the texture of her hair was memorable. Everything about her felt comfortable, no strangeness from not being together for two months less our weekend visit. “I wish you never had to leave again.”
“How much do you have to work this summer?”
“Oh, that’s easy. I already worked it out with my dad. I’ll go to work at five every morning and get off somewhere between noon and two, depending on how the day goes. How’s that sound?”
Kayla sat up and jutted out her bottom lip. “You have to work every day?”
I pushed in her lip with the tip of my finger. How cute she was. “Not Saturday and Sunday, and if I’m caught up, I can take off Friday too. Besides, I don’t want you to get sick of me.”
“That’s not gonna happen, Jesse.” My heart melted at the sound of my name on her lips, the way her sweet southern accent always came out smooth and sultry when she drew out my name. “Why do you have to work full time? It’s your last summer as a kid. Won’t your father let you take time off?”
“We’ll have plenty of time, cowgirl. I was even thinking I’d take a week off when the weather looks good, and if your dad’s okay with it, maybe take you camping. If you’re interested in camping, that is.”
“I’d love that, and he’ll be fine.” She narrowed her eyes. “Are you okay with it, though? Aren’t you afraid I’ll attack you?”
At her intense look, I wondered if I really could handle being alone with her all night. “I think I’ll take my chances,” I said. “I still have you by almost a hundred pounds, cowgirl.”
I turned on the ignition, and navigated my truck through the parking garage, making my way to Highway 60. “Are you hungry?”
“Famished! It was too early to eat this morning, and they don’t give you anything on the plane.”
“Good. You’ll love where I’m taking you.”
“Jesse.” She angled her body toward me. “You sidetracked me. I wasn’t finished complaining yet. Why do you have to work full-time? You don’t have to pay for anything at home, do you? I certainly don’t expect you to spend money on me. I’d rather spend more time with you just hanging out.”
“I don’t have to buy anything at home. But I make good money, and I’ve been able to save every penny since I’ve had no one to spend it on. Before now, anyway.” I rested a hand on her knee, appreciating her soft skin that I hadn’t felt against mine for what seemed like an eternity. I looked at her as I stopped at a red light. “If I save enough money in the next year, I’ll have enough to pay for some much needed items in the future.” I didn’t want to go into detail and hoped, as always, she’d read between the lines enough not to push the issue. I’d given her a little hint by saying a year. We both knew we had another year of waiting.
“Okay, Jesse.” She sighed. “Just remember, I don’t need much.”
I squeezed her closer. “I know, babe, and I appreciate that more than you know.”
The restaurant I took Kayla to was an old southern-style eatery I’d been going to as long as I could remember. Its eclectic style encompassed not only the furniture but also the food, patrons, and building materials. It had literally been piecemealed together as they grew in popularity over the years. From the front, it looked like just an ice cream stand with bright-colored wooden benches.
Around back, simple plastic patio tables and chairs sat below a wooden trellis laced with ivy and other evergreen vines. Areca palms and old oaks surrounded the property, providing privacy. The floor was mostly wooden slats, and practically every time I’d eaten there, at least one woman would start dancing to a Jimmy Buffett song playing in the background, even though there wasn’t a designated dance floor.
Even the food was a hodgepodge of everything from ice cream and hot dogs to fried green tomatoes and New York strip steaks. The service wasn’t the best, and honestly, I figured the owner just didn’t care. Ever since the Travel Channel had run a feature on them, visitors from the famous spa down the road frequented the local haunt with their demanding attitudes.
“We can grab ice cream and hot dogs or sit down for lunch. Either is fine with me. How hungry are you? Don’t forget we’re going out tonight. Some place nice. Not just pizza.” I chuckled as I pulled her toward the restaurant. “It’s fun to sit in the back, or we can take it down to the dock with us.”
“How ’bout we just get a hot dog and ice cream, since you won’t let me eat junk food for dinner.”
“Sounds good to me. This is one of the only places I can get a slaw dog.”
I ordered two chili dogs with slaw and two ice cream orders in cups, then we hopped back in the truck and headed to our first stop just a few blocks away: the Baranoff Tree.
When we got out, I threw her luggage into the cab and locked up. I loved coming to Safety Harbor just to think. It was one of my favorite places in Tampa Bay. I’d been here several times in the last couple of months, looking forward to when I could bring Kayla with me.
“The Baranoff Tree is the oldest living live oak in Pinellas County. If I remember right, it’s estimated somewhere between three and five hundred years old. The trunk is about twenty feet around. My dad and mom used to bring me here when there were street festivals.”
“It’s majestic,” Kayla said, popping a too-large bite of hot dog into her mouth. The coleslaw smashed out of the sides of her mouth, making a mess. I handed her a napkin, almost losing my food from laughing so hard. She was so darn appealing it made my heart hurt. Everything she did only made me love her more. And best of all, she was staring up at the tree in total awe, as I’d done since I was a child.
I led her to the docks, checking out all the sailboats and fishermen. I led Kayla away from the tourists to a boat ramp that was marked Private, but I knew several of the owners.
We ate our ice cream in silence as we watched a family of manatees grazing on the water plants surrounding the docks, pelicans diving for fish, and hundreds of tiny crabs scurrying along the water’s edge. When Kayla finished her ice cream, she scooted closer to me and rested her head on my shoulder.
“Did you bring the same dress for tonight?” I asked. “I didn’t get another tux, but I bought a nice suit that should go with it. I figured I’d need one soon, so why waste the money renting another tux?”
She smiled up at me. “No, but I bought another dress I thought you’d like. Not quite as formal, but very Floridian. No more details, though. You’ll have to wait until tonight. I needed another dress anyway, since all I have is jeans, shorts, and T-shirts.”
“I like them too,” I said, wiggling my eyebrows. “Especially the white one that ties in the front that you wore at Juniper Springs. That was sexy.”
A beautiful display of pink spread across Kayla’s cheeks. “Sexy?” She could be so bold one moment, then the next moment I’d have her blushing. “So where are we going out to eat tonight?” she asked, obviously trying to change the subject.
“Not a chance, cowgirl! It’s a surprise. And stop trying to change the subject. You don’t think you’re sexy?”
She shook her head.
“Hmm …” I nuzzled her neck. “I obviously haven’t been doing my job, then.”
“But it’s your graduation … shouldn’t I —”
I bolted upright, cutting her off. “Kayla, you haven’t allowed me to take you anywhere. I have money, you know, and I like to go out, too. I haven’t done anything like this in a long time, so let me have my fun. Okay?” I pulled her face to mine and kissed her lightly, then pulled her back on the grass. “I obviously need to show you how sexy you are.”
She curled up against me, sighing.
My eyes closed in contentment, and I soaked up the warm rays of the sun. I’d worked so much
lately I hadn’t even taken time to go to the beach. Kayla would be good for me. She liked the outdoors, so she’d force me to take it easy and have fun this summer.
After about a half hour of soaking up some sunlight, and practically falling asleep, I rolled up on my side, still keeping her head on the crook of my arm. “I’d better get you home. Gram will want to see you, too.”
“Yeah, I miss her too. But I’m not ready to let you go yet.”
I slid out my arm and offered her my hand, pulling her to her feet. “It’ll only be for a little while, just long enough for you to get ready, and I’ll be back.”
Her eyes popped wide. “It’ll only take me fifteen minutes. So, I can wait in the truck while you change at your house, then we can drive to Gram’s together and go out from there.”
A laugh burst out of me at her look of utter anticipation that I’d change my plans. “You’re such a silly girl. I’ll miss you too, but we have all summer. Gram will be mad if I don’t share you. Besides, I’m kind of hoping my dad will be home. That way I can take a little time getting ready, remind him that tonight’s my graduation.”
“Oh!” She nodded. “Of course. I definitely understand.”
We walked back up the street hand in hand. The summer had started off perfectly. And tonight would be the first night of the rest of our lives. Nothing could go wrong.
Chapter 18 - Jesse
A black F-150 sat in my driveway, so I parked along the street in front of my house. My dad’s work van sat next to the truck, so he was home but evidently had company. Not completely unusual; sometimes he met with building contractors. He hadn’t taken on any large jobs in years, though. Said the stress wasn’t worth the money.
“I’m home!” I called out as I stuck my head in the fridge for something to drink. I never expected an answer. I just did it to let him know I was in the house.
My father walked into the kitchen, dressed in khakis and a pressed white shirt, a change from his typical work clothes. That was an unusual occurrence. The majority of my father’s wardrobe consisted of Dickies work pants and denim shirts, which he typically wore from dawn to dusk. A tall woman with long platinum hair followed in behind him. Very unusual.
It took a few seconds, but then my mouth dropped open. “Mom?” I asked. “Is that you?” Of course it was my mother. She didn’t look a day older than she did nine years ago. If possible, my beautiful mother looked younger than she did in the pictures I’d stuffed in my dresser two months ago. Too young to have a nearly eighteen-year-old son.
“Hi, honey.” She stepped forward, but didn’t lean in to embrace me. “I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to visit.”
Kayla’s words ran through my head, Don’t be sorry … But I didn’t dare say them. My dad may have been upset at her for deserting us, but not once had he ever uttered a bad word about her. The one time I had said something derogatory about her, when I was too young to know what the word meant, I’d received a hard slap across the face. It was one of only two times my dad had ever hit me. The other time was for taking the Lord’s name in vain.
“Wow! Umm … Why are you here?” Oops. That didn’t come out right, but I really didn’t know what else to say.
“I wouldn’t miss your graduation, Jess! Besides, your father and I pitched in on a graduation gift, so I wanted to be here when we gave it to you.” She smiled sweetly, but the years of pain she’d inflicted overshadowed the joy I should have felt at seeing her.
I didn’t know what else to say. Now I understood my father’s clothes, though. He was going to come to my graduation — with my mom. I’d have to change my dinner plans, but at least I’d have an opportunity to introduce them to the best decision in my short life; my parents would meet Kayla.
“Did Kayla get in okay?” my father finally spoke.
“Yeah! I took her to Whistle Stop. Afterward, we stopped by the old oak tree and then walked down to the docks. Like we used to when I was a kid.” I smiled up at my dad, and he nodded in return. I hoped it didn’t hurt his feelings to bring up happier times when the three of us were a family, but I wanted him to know I remembered the good things. Plus it felt good to have a conversation that didn’t include plumbing. I wondered what pain this visit from my mom would inflict on my dad — not that he could get much worse than he was — whether seeing her again would help him to move on or push him over the edge. Clearly the years had been kinder to her, but that’s what an unlimited amount of money to visit spas and plastic surgeons offered.
“I missed you, Jess.” My mom finally reached for me. Her embrace felt awkward and forced, though, so I firmly gripped my arms around her. In seconds, she patted me on the back, releasing me all too soon.
How was it that adults could have physical relationships with strangers they’d met online or in a bar, but couldn’t be comfortable hugging their own children? It frustrated me, but I pushed it aside. She was here. Although I didn’t understand why she’d stayed away for nine years, she was here now.
My dad looked slightly content, if that was possible. His eyes were bright and clear, not glassy from alcohol. His calm expression reminded me of a time when he was happy, when he used to come home from work and we’d wrestle on the floor. It seemed like forever. Maybe he was just feeling melancholy with my mother being here.
“Well!” my mother blurted out. “Let’s show Jess his gift, shall we?”
My dad actually smiled. It’d been forever since I’d seen him smile. They both started toward the front door, and I followed, confused.
“What do you think?” My mother held her hands out animatedly, as though she were a game show hostess.
“What do I think of what?”
“Your new truck,” she said. “I asked Tom what you needed, and he said you were going to be a businessman and needed something nicer than your old pickup.”
With a shake of my head, I stared at her, then my father. “You bought me a truck?”
“We both did,” she said, but all I could do was stare at the top of my father’s head, since he’d dropped his gaze to the driveway. “I hope you like black,” my mother continued.
I didn’t know what to think. Yeah, I was grateful, but I was also a little peeved. Neither of them had been parents to me for years, and now they were giving me a new F-150? A nice one at that. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what it must have cost. My dad had money, of course. He never spent a dime and we lived like paupers, even though the business did well enough.
I had a good mind to tell them what to do with their truck, but then they would be upset and probably wouldn’t come tonight. That’s all I really wanted from my parents: for them to show up at even one of my school functions.
“Thank you!” I finally said as I walked toward the truck. “Black’s great! I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe you did this.”
My father stepped up beside me. “You deserve it, Jesse. You’re a great kid. Great student. Great worker. And we love you.” It was the first time I could remember my father saying that he loved me or acknowledged anything I did other than work.
Whether he wanted it or not, I turned and hugged him. “Thanks, Dad. I love you, too.” I smiled at my mother. “Thanks, Mom. I’m so glad you came tonight. Are you coming to my graduation? I was taking Kayla out to dinner afterward, but it’d be great if you could come with us.”
“I have to catch a plane back home, Jess, so I won’t be able to come to dinner, but yes, I’m here to see my son graduate.”
Oh well, better than nothing. I shouldn’t have expected more.
“Keys are in it. Check it out,” my dad said.
The truck wasn’t only black outside; the interior dashboard, floor, and even the leather seats were black. I pulled myself up into the driver’s seat and inspected the options. Four-by-four! Sweet! I didn’t need this. My Ranger would have lasted me through college, but the full-size truck was definitely nice. I’d feel better driving Kayla around in it instead of my dent-in-every-panel Ranger. N
ot that she minded. She’d even nicknamed my Ranger Sir Dents-a-Lot.
I hopped out. “This is awesome. Thanks again. You really didn’t have to do this.” I checked the time. “I have to pick up Kayla in less than an hour, so I need to get ready. Will you meet me outside the dome so I can introduce you to her? She’s great, and she means everything to me.” My parents exchanged a look. My father knew, of course. I’d had to inform him when I disappeared for three days, so he knew how serious we were, but hadn’t commented or had any reaction about Kayla before now. I ignored their prejudices and went inside. Clearly, they were thinking of their history, but neither Kayla nor I were like my parents.
Twenty minutes later, I hugged my mom goodbye and told them where we should meet.
I didn’t want to take the F-150 to Kayla’s, but it would have hurt my parents’ feelings if I didn’t. I didn’t feel like the same person I’d been just an hour ago, as though accepting their gift had compromised me somehow.
When I pulled up in front of Kayla’s house, the wood blinds moved, but she didn’t come to the door. Oh! I forgot. The new truck. I hopped out and bounded up the front steps two at a time. Kayla opened the door before I could knock.
“What the heck? You bought a truck?” She hated spending money more than I did, it seemed.
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “You’ll never believe what happened. It’s a graduation gift from my dad and mom. And … my mom is here.”
“Oh, Jesse, that’s wonderful. Your mom came to see you graduate? You must be ecstatic. Why are you here? You should have called. I would’ve understood.”
Kayla said the words as if the most important place to be wasn’t with her. She said nothing about the gift; she felt the same way I did, obviously.
“Nothing would keep me from you, Kayla. Besides, I asked her out to dinner with us, and she couldn’t because she has a return flight that she has to rush to. That’s how much time she wants to spend with me.”
“She came to see you, Jesse.” Kayla crossed her arms, the way she always did when she got serious. “You have to give your mother that. It’s a start.”
Love Like Crazy (Crazy Love Book 1) Page 11