“Who is Eleanor?” Laney hated being so abrupt, but she knew if she skirted around the subject, she’d chicken out.
Grady froze with his shovel halfway into the ground. He shifted from his haunches to a sitting position. “How do you know about Eleanor? Rebecca and I never told your mother.”
Laney had known this moment was coming and she’d prepared herself. “Do you remember last night when I went to get a pen from your desk?”
His face grew white. “Oh.”
She didn’t have to explain any further. He knew his story was safely tucked away in his bedroom desk, away from any eyes but his own.
“I’m sorry I read the story. I was curious. When I first took it out, I did it because it seemed old. Then I saw your name on it and I wanted to see what you wrote.” Laney turned dirt over with her shovel, unable to look up at him. “I should’ve asked you first.” The shame overtook her knowing that he’d never do the same to her.
“So, what did you think?”
Laney saw a glimmer in his eyes and relief washing over his face. Maybe Grady felt the same way she did when she first shared her story with Jason.
“Your writing was fantastic. I stayed up all night because I couldn’t put it down.” Laney knew she’d change the mood again, but she had to know more. “But I still want to know about Eleanor.”
“I proposed to Eleanor Johnson.” He scratched his head and then yanked at another bunch of weeds.
“But you called her your love. What about Rebecca? You describe her perfectly in your story.” The Rebecca in his story had to be the woman that Grady loved.
“Eleanor’s father owned the garage where I worked during high school. She was very pretty and flirted with me every afternoon as I changed oil and replaced filters. Our conversations passed the time in a job I considered monotonous. It wasn’t soon after we started dating that I asked her to marry me. Her father wasn’t very happy with this, but she insisted that she was in love. Good old dad put out big money for our wedding. Unfortunately, a few months later I began to realize that Eleanor wasn’t right for me. Of course, I continued the charade, too scared to say anything with all the money her dad had spent on the wedding preparations.”
He tossed a chunk of weeds into the wheelbarrow, before jabbing his shovel back into the soil. “I began to write to deal with my frustrations, expelling my depression into my character George. Six months into our engagement, I met your grandmother and she turned my life and my writing around. She was unlike any woman I’d ever met. She worked at a restaurant in Salem, and I tried to visit her every day. And yes, the Rebecca in my book is your grandmother. I dedicated the book to Eleanor because I was afraid she’d find the manuscript.”
“What happened? How did Eleanor find out about Rebecca?” Grady’s story reminded Laney of a modern-day soap opera, full of deceit and lies. If she didn’t know her grandfather better, she’d have questioned his motives.
“Eleanor’s friend Helen worked at the same restaurant. Rebecca knew about Eleanor and the conflict I faced, but she waited for me to work it out. I thought Mr. Johnson was going to have my head, but he took my job away instead.”
“I’m sure Eleanor was hurt.” Her conflicted feelings for Jason filled her mind.
“She was, but a year later she married Roger Shaw. I’m pretty sure they’re still happily married. They moved to California in the seventies.” Grady shifted from his bottom to his knees and began digging again. The conversation was done.
Chapter 8
A cold snap filled the air as the first week of October came and went. Maybe Jason’s comment about his girls had bothered Jennifer more than she’d let on, because he seemed to have disappeared from campus. Laney’s habit of checking her phone for his missed texts waned by the middle of September.
She also began running again. Laney knew she’d recovered enough from any injuries from the attack, but she always had the concern of Jonas in the forefront of her mind. Jason would want to go running with her, but the thought of calling him brought on butterflies that wouldn’t settle. She proceeded with life as normal — life before her best friend. This life involved going to classes, spending hours on schoolwork, running to the pond in the woods, and locking herself away to write.
The Friday night before the homecoming game, Laney’s dorm room was empty when she got back from class. This wasn’t unusual because Missy always found something to do elsewhere on the weekends. Checking the clock, she assumed her roommate was at dinner. A couple of students walked by the window on the mini quad below. Her stomach rumbled. Maybe eating wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Over the past few months, Laney had stocked the closet with various food products, which was her way of avoiding another disaster socializing in the dining hall. Looking at the selection of Ramen noodles, she felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness. At least when she was at home, she had her parents.
Laney eyed her phone on the bed. It was painfully evident that Jason never texted. Did he want to talk to her, did his busy life keep him away, or did someone else disapprove of their friendship? The internal debate went on for several minutes before she picked up the phone and punched in his number. After eight rings, a masculine voice picked up on the other end.
“Hello?” It wasn’t Jason. His voice was too deep.
“Uh, hi. Is Jason there?”
“No, he went to dinner.” The voice trailed off. Laney waited for an uncomfortable moment to let him continue, but only heard silence on the other end.
“Well, do you know what time he’ll be back?”
“I think he’s going to the homecoming bonfire after dinner. It’ll probably be pretty late.”
Homecoming weekend boasted many social events Laney planned on bowing out of to avoid the social game. After the bonfire on Friday night, the lacrosse team played on Saturday followed by a homecoming dance that evening. Maybe she . . .
“Is this Laney?”
She crash-landed back to the real world.
“What? Yes. Who’s this?”
The stranger seemed to want talk more than the standard phone message conversation and she remembered from the trip to Boston that Jason said he didn’t have a roommate.
“William. You know, from your history class.”
William! How could she have not recognized his voice? She ingrained the sound of it in her mind for future reference.
“Jason’s my roommate.”
Laney almost dropped her phone. It had been so long since she talked to Jason, that his life at college had changed drastically. He was now roommates with a possible imaginary character from her book.
“Oh.” Laney bit down on her lip. “Are you going to the bonfire tonight?” The words came out, not from loneliness anymore, but because she wanted to hang out with him.
“If you’re going to be there.”
Heat rose to Laney’s cheeks, thankful no one was there to see. “You’ll have to go to find out.” She shocked herself with her own words. Missy’s influence oozed out of every inflection. Delaney Holden was not a flirt.
Jason finished his dinner of filet of something, not sure if he was ready to be the center of attention again tonight. Sometimes he wished he could hide in the shadows. It was exhausting having people constantly trying to please him by sucking up. There were only three people he knew that didn’t fit into this category: Laney, Jennifer, and his roommate. He hadn’t seen Laney at any of his games and he wondered if she’d lost interest.
Jen laid down the law right after she met Laney. “If you so much as text that girl, we’re done.” She seemed more and more content that Jason’s best friend was out of his life, and that she could control his every move.
William just didn’t care enough to worry too much about him.
When he got back to the room, Jason found William sitting in a chair, tying up his boot. He wore a warmer jacket and a navy beanie stuck out of his pocket.
“You going to the bonfire?” Jason inflected his voice in shock. “You know it�
��s kind of a social event?”
William finished off his laces. “Yeah, your friend Laney invited me.”
“Laney? You mean Laney Holden?”
“She called to talk to you, but then asked if I was going.”
Jason removed his shirt and pulled on his home lacrosse jersey. “But how do you know Laney? Why’d she ask you? Is it a date?”
“No.” William stood up. “I know her from history class. She wanted some company. That’s all.”
“I guess I’ll see you there.” Jason grabbed his coat and headed for the hall. He slammed the door to the stairwell, storming down to the first floor. Out on the quad, the maintenance staff stacked wood on a slowly growing fire. As a member of the team, Jason was supposed to go to the gym first. The team would be announced in some dramatic fashion at the pep rally. Instead, he found himself on the sidewalk to Star Hall, his adrenaline pumping.
After a dinner of microwaved noodles, Laney confronted Jonas with her pen. She knew she had at least another half hour until the bonfire and pep rally started. Maybe, William . . .
The dorm room door crashed open with a loud bang. Three girls poured into the room.
“Laney!” Missy swayed a bit. “I didn’t think you’d be home tonight.”
Morgan and Janet stood behind her dressed in coats and hats.
“It’s alright.” Laney returned her journal to her backpack. “I need to do some homework.”
“Do you want to go to the bonfire with us?” Missy rummaged through her closet, pulling out her scarf and mittens.
Laney opened her mouth to turn her down.
“C’mon, roomie. We won’t take no for an answer. Everyone’s going to be there. I want to introduce you to Brian. He’s the captain on the lacrosse team. I met him last week on the quad. He’s asked me to the homecoming dance.” The three girls squealed and jumped up and down as if Missy had won an amazing prize.
“That’s awesome. Is he hot?” The words tasted awkward in Laney’s mouth, but knew they were the acceptable response with Missy Incorporated.
“Amazingly hot with very nice abs, if I might add.” She raised her eyebrows. “So what about the bonfire?”
“I’m actually meeting someone there, but I can head over with you.”
Missy flashed her smile. “Who is he? And don’t tell me it’s some overweight, pimpled girl from your snore of a history class.”
“Um . . . William. Jason’s roommate.”
“You mean Jason ‘I’m too hot’ Harrison, star of the lacrosse team, who tried to make out with you right on that bed? If his roommate’s even a tenth as hot as him, you’ve got my blessing.”
Laney sighed. Was it a good idea to introduce Missy to William? Perhaps Laney would meet Brian and then sneak away from the girls. She weighed the options for the night in her head, when a knock came on the door.
Morgan opened it. Jason stood in the hallway in his lacrosse jersey. He looked a little sad, and it hurt Laney to see him that way. Did something happen with Jennifer?
“Hi, Jason.” Missy flirted with her voice. “We were just talking about you. Are your ears ringing?”
“Hi, ladies. Can I talk to Laney for a few minutes?”
Laney had never seen the three girls move so fast. In less than a second, she was alone with Jason — in a room — with the door closed. She suddenly felt nervous, like she was doing something wrong. Her palms sweated, and she couldn’t think of a thing to say, so she focused her eyes on a tiny piece of thread that had worked itself loose from her bedspread.
“Laney, look at me.” Jason sat down next to her.
She turned her eyes up to his and let go of the breath she was holding.
“I know I’ve been kind of a crappy friend.” He put his face down in his hands, elbows on his knees. “I’m a coward. I want you so much, and I can’t get rid of the things holding me back from being with you. I’m scared.”
“Jason Harrison isn’t scared of anything.” Laney twisted and untwisted the thread again. Her heart panged now, knowing his feelings were stronger than hers. She didn’t want to hurt him.
“I’m scared of you.”
Laney let out a nervous laugh. She was probably the least intimidating person in the world. Now, if he was afraid of Jennifer — that she could understand. “What do you want me to do?”
“Nothing. Have fun with Will tonight. I don’t deserve you if I can’t handle being with you. I’m not going to hold you back anymore.”
Laney’s nervousness morphed into anger. Did Jason Harrison seriously think he was holding her back? He had no right. She’d let him have it right here. She’d . . . she’d . . .
But instead of going off, Laney leaned over and snuggled into Jason’s shoulder and the anger melted. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.” He whispered the words and kissed her on the forehead. “Promise me something.”
“What?” Laney sighed into the warmth of his shirt.
“Come to my game tomorrow.”
Madison held its bonfires in the middle of the main quad. Morgan, Janet, and Missy waited for Laney in the lobby of the dorm. Flames licked the night sky and scattered sparks that floated like fireflies through the cool air. At least a hundred students already surrounded the massive flame. Laney heard cheers from one end of the field as several guys dressed in their lacrosse uniforms carried a life-sized, straw doll wearing the opposing college’s uniform. The crowd erupted as they counted to three and threw the doll into the flames. The fire shot higher with the new fuel. Tomorrow’s lacrosse game licensed juvenile behavior and destruction.
“That’s Brian.” Missy pointed to a tall guy who tossed the doll. He had golden hair that glistened in the firelight. The four of them wandered closer to the crowd, pressing toward the center. The guys closest to Brian moved to the side when Missy walked through, shifting their attention. She walked right up to Brian and kissed him while everyone else turned away. Laney knew she liked him, but she didn’t know it was like that already. Her roommate had only met him a few days ago. They finally unlocked and Missy turned back to her friends.
“Brian, this is Laney, my roommate. And you remember Morgan and Janet.”
Brian smiled, but neglected to hold out his hand, so Laney quickly retracted hers. He was good-looking in a jock kind of way, and he knew it. Narcissism radiated from every pore in his body. He must have made Missy feel good about her own social standing.
Beads of sweat formed on Laney’s forehead from the heat of the fire, and looking around, she saw many glistening faces. One face across the way made her stop her scan of the crowd. Jason waved his arms around in an animated discussion with the guy next to him. But it wasn’t Jason that made her stop.
William’s light brown hair was pulled away from his face. The glistening firelight provided a different perspective and revealed one of the most beautiful faces she’d ever seen — clearly out of her league. He held himself in a manner that kept her eyes wanting more.
He listened to Jason like he was the only person in the world, never interrupting. He didn’t glance away, despite the commotion around him. It intrigued Laney that unlike a lot of college guys she’d met, he wasn’t full of himself even though he had every reason to be.
She must have gazed in his direction a little too long, because in that moment, Jason caught her staring. His eyes held hers while the other girls near her kept talking to the lacrosse players. Laney’s heart pounded. Jason leaned in William’s direction and whispered something before joining his friends at the bonfire. William headed toward her.
Her hands were shaking, so she slipped them into the pockets of her jeans.
He smiled as he approached her. “You came.” William’s hands drummed on the sides of his legs and he bounced slightly on the balls of his feet.
It was probably her eyes deceiving her, but he seemed slightly nervous, too.
“I’m here.” She smiled back.
Other than the time at the Gables when
he invaded her comfort zone, all other encounters with William had been pretty casual. The actual thought of this being the man of her dreams that she spent countless hours thinking about seemed crazy to her, so she pushed it out of her mind.
She watched Jason again. He laughed with the other lacrosse players. “So, what’s it like living with Jason?”
“He’s never around, so I guess you could say it’s quiet. He plays his lacrosse game tomorrow. Supposedly, they’re calling him the chosen one. He’s quite the lacrosse god.”
“Do you play?”
“I haven’t played for a few years. It’s an old game, you know. The Native Americans invented it.”
“I heard that before.” Laney crouched down and patted the grass below them. “Do you want to sit down for awhile?”
“Sure.” He stretched his legs out in front of him and leaned back on his arms.
Laney pushed the bottom part of her coat underneath her as a buffer to the cold ground further away from the bonfire. The changing air would soon bring the first frost. William took off his coat and put it around her shoulders.
“Aren’t you cold?” Laney wrapped William’s coat closer around her, breathing in his scent.
“I go camping a lot with my family. You know, even in the winter, so I’m used to living with just a campfire.”
“So where are you from?” She clutched her knees to her chest and enveloped them with her arms to stay warm.
“My family moved to a small town west of Boston from Virginia a few months ago.”
She thought she caught a slight accent, but that might have been after she heard he’d moved from the south.
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