When she exaggeratedly huffed out a breath as he slipped behind the wheel in the driver’s seat, Brian grinned, giving her a side glance. “Want the hood up or down?”
“Down, of course,” she answered, clipping on her seat belt. “Since you’re here a few hours earlier than you would be if we were just going to see a movie, where are we going?”
“It’s such a beautiful night, I thought we’d go for a drive instead of sitting inside the movie theater. Maybe we could meet everyone at Dragonfly Pointe later to watch the concert, since it’s one of the last of the season?”
She looked thoughtful. “I like that idea. I haven’t been to the inn since the beginning of summer.”
“Really?” he murmured, backing out of the driveway and turning onto the street. “I thought you went there to eat pretty often with your parents?”
Ashley frowned. “This year, everything seems strange. I haven’t seen much of my dad at all this summer. It isn’t like him, not to want to spend time with me, since I’m going off to college.”
“Now that you mention it, my parents have been acting weird too,” Brian admitted. “They were having a really odd argument before Eric and I walked into the kitchen after I left here earlier today.”
Ashley looked concerned. “Your mom was home? On a Friday afternoon?”
Startled, Brian blinked. “What was my mom doing home on Friday afternoon when she’s usually at the real estate office working until at least five? Friday and Saturday are the busiest days of the week so she’s off on Sunday and Monday.”
“Now I know for sure that something is up,” Ashley murmured.
“Tell you what,” Brian said, bringing the Camaro to a stop at the intersection and turning to stare into her eyes. “If there’s something happening, it’s obvious they don’t want us in on it. At least not yet. Since there’s nothing we can do right now, let’s just forget about it and enjoy the night. Alright?”
“Alright,” she answered, nodding her agreement.
Turning his attention back on the road, Brian sighed deeply. “Geez you look hot tonight.”
He heard her laugh softly.
Chapter Six
They’d taken a long drive around Crystal Rock Lake, and then cruised through town, waving at a few friends who were hanging outside of the movie theatre near six o’clock.
Brian grinned as they turned onto the access road leading to the Dragonfly Pointe Inn. “Did you see the look on Dave’s face? He’s been after me to ask Dad if I could drive the Camaro for months. Like I would hand it over for Dave to drive with all the trouble he’s been in.”
“I feel honored that I was allowed to be your passenger,” Ashley answered dryly.
“My first passenger,” he admitted.
Ashley’s eyes went wide. “Really?”
“Yep. Because I exaggerated. It’s actually the first time he’s allowed me to drive it.” Brian laughed. “How about some ice cream?”
Ashley smiled. “Alright.”
A few minutes later, they were seated near the concession stand at the Dragonfly Pointe Beach, where Ashley was devouring a chocolate sundae while Brian sipped his shake through a straw.
Laying down his shake, Brian glanced her way. “Seems to me I heard a story about something pretty funny happening here this past summer?”
Ashley rolled her eyes. “I’ll have to admit – it wasn’t one of my better moments.”
“What? The fact that you squirted mustard into Kat’s face, or the fact that she got back at you good?”
“I guess I deserved it, for not being able to let Jason go,” she muttered, squirming uncomfortably. “It’s just that no one’s ever broken up with me before.”
Brian blinked. “So, let me get this straight. It wasn’t because you still wanted Jason? You just felt insulted about the fact that he broke up with you?”
She gave him a rueful smile. “I think so.”
He laughed.
Fifteen minutes later, they stood up, and after discarding their empty cups, they decided to go for a short walk along the beach since the concert would begin in about thirty minutes.
It was a warm summer night and Ashley took off her high heels so they could walk along the edge of the water and watch the sun while it set.
“Pretty night. Isn’t it?” Brian asked, as he reached for her hand and clasped it warmly.
“The sunset is beautiful. I see gold and rose and even purple tonight,” she answered.
Checking his watch, Brian said, “I’d take you for a walk up to Crystal Rock to get a better view, but we’d better be on our way to the concert soon. Hopefully, Jeff and Michelle are already there.”
Suddenly, he pulled her into his arms, and gave her a blistering kiss.
Dazed, Ashley barely remembered their walk to the car ten minutes later when Brian was back on the road, driving toward the inn.
With only a few more concerts to go before the final event during Labor Day weekend, apparently many other people had decided to attend tonight as well, and as Brian and Ashley made their way around the path circling the inn, Ashley could make out Michelle waving from a table where she sat with Jeff and Jason near the rear of the gazebo.
Brian held her hand as they walked along the bridge leading from the lakefront to the gazebo, which had been built high above the shore, overlooking the lake.
Jason wore a strange smile on his face when Ashley sat down beside Brian at the table.
“What?” Ashley asked.
“It took you long enough to see it,” he murmured. “Of course, Kat was the one who pointed it out to me.”
“She did?” Ashley hung her head. “I’m sorry for the way I behaved.”
Jason blinked, looking taken aback.
Ashley scowled. “Come on. I wasn’t that bad, was I?”
Brian’s eyes met Jason’s and they both began laughing.
Showing her irritation at first, she finally got over it and grinned. “Okay, you guys. Shut up about it already. The concert’s about to start.”
When Michelle caught Ashley’s eye, she winked.
And Ashley heaved a sigh, scrunching her nose.
“There’s Wade Davis, watching you again Ashley,” Michelle murmured. “I think he has a crush on you.”
“It is kind of weird. He does seem to pop up everywhere I go,” Ashley said, noticing the boy sitting by himself on the other side of the gazebo. He was kind of a loner, and even though he wasn’t half bad looking, she’d never seen him out with a girl. “I sort of feel sorry for him, so I talk to him quite a bit.”
“He’s kind of strange,” Jeff said. “It’s not like we haven’t tried to talk to the guy. It seems like he’s off in his own world.”
“I agree,” Brian answered, dropping the subject. “There’s sure a lot of people here tonight.”
“Who’s playing this evening?” Ashley asked
“Blue Moon,” Brian answered.
Michelle asked, “That’s Noah Erikson’s band. Right?”
“It is,” Jeff answered. “They’re pretty good.”
Brian looked at Jason. “Isn’t he enlisting in the Air Force?”
“Both of us are already in,” Jason admitted. “Noah reports to boot camp soon, but I won’t be reporting until after the first of the year.”
“Do you know much about the rangers?”
Jason looked thoughtful. “Are you still thinking about that? My dad might be able to help you out. He’ll be coming home on leave next week. Mom’s going to be moving to Germany since I’ll be in the academy.”
“Maybe I’ll give you a call and stop by, if that’s alright?”
“I’m sure he’d be happy to help,” Jason admitted. “But aren’t you already enrolled and ready to go at Notre Dame?”
Brian answered, “The tuition hasn’t been paid. I still have a little time to figure it out.”
“Don’t wait too long,” Jason murmured. “If I were you, I would talk with your dad and get everything straight
soon.”
Brian grimaced. “I know.”
Ashley listened to their conversation with growing concern. She hated the idea of both of them going into the service. What if either one of them ended up going to war?
Particularly Brian. How was this relationship ever going to work? The more time they spent together, the more she regretted the fact that she hadn’t admitted her feelings sooner, instead of treating him like an interfering nuisance.
“What?” Brian asked, obviously noticing her anxiety.
“I was worrying,” she admitted. “Thinking about you going to war.”
His glance was thoughtful. “Things have sure changed quickly between us.”
She nodded her agreement and he moved closer, wrapping an arm around her.
Brian murmured, “Let’s just enjoy the concert. We can talk about everything tomorrow when I get off from work. Maybe we can come up with a plan about how we can keep in touch?”
“Alright.”
For the next few hours they all sat and listened to the band, and for a while nothing was any different than it had been during the last two years. They talked about their friends, their jobs and what was happening with their families.
As they were on their way to the parking lot another half an hour later when the concert ended, Jason declared, “Noah’s band sure sounds great.”
“Since when did the guys start dancing?” Michelle asked. “They’re even pretty good.”
“Since Noah’s been dating a choreographer by the name of Mia Matthews,” Ashley informed her.
“I like the light show too,” Jeff murmured.
“I think that’s also Mia’s influence,” Ashley replied.
Brian said, “It’s a shame they’re going to have to split up since Noah’s leaving for boot camp soon. Their last performance is Labor Day weekend.”
It was hard saying goodbye as they stood together in the parking lot, and Ashley knew that everyone was probably thinking what she was. Would all of them ever be together again as friends?
After opening the passenger door for Ashley and circling the Camaro, Brian stepped into the car behind the driver’s seat, revving up the engine.
“I hate to have to take you home, but I still have to work at the beach tomorrow morning.”
“That’s fine. I still have some packing I need to do. It seems strange to think I’ll be leaving before everyone else.”
Brian gave her a side glance. “You’ll have a longer Christmas break?”
“I will,” she said.
“Hopefully, I’ll be home for Christmas, whatever I end up doing. I’ve decided I’m going to talk to my dad when I get home tonight. I can’t put it off too much longer.”
“Alright. I know that it doesn’t make any difference if I tell you, but I wish you wouldn’t.” Ashley heaved a sigh. “But I also understand why you want to do it, since I guess it’s always been your dream.”
They were quiet for the rest of the drive home until Brian pulled into the driveway of the house.
Parking, he shut down the engine and stepped out from the car as Ashley opened the passenger door.
Reaching for her hand, he walked with her to the front door, pulling her into his arms.
The kiss went from warm and steamy to oh so soft and sweet.
When they were through, he held her gaze. “I’ll come by tomorrow afternoon. Alright?”
She nodded. “Alright.”
As Brian started walking toward the car, he turned back. “Ashley?”
“Brian?”
He shook his head, looking dazed. It was as if he was memorizing her face.
“Goodnight.”
She smiled softly. “See you tomorrow.”
When Ashley walked into the house, she realized that strangely, Mom still wasn’t home.
Noticing the light flashing on the answering machine, Ashley walked over to the desk and played the message.
“Hey, Ashley. Mom, here. You must have forgotten your phone, because I tried to call you and tell you that Dad and I had some unexpected business to take care of tonight in the office. Don’t wait up. We’ll probably stop off and have something to eat before we come home.”
Ashley turned on the kitchen light and decided she might as well take a long hot bath and just go to sleep.
* * *
When Ashley fell asleep, she was feeling happy but sad at the same time. Everything was changing, and she hated to admit how much she was going to miss her friends and parents along with Crystal Rock.
And Brian. The more she thought about it, the more she regretted never acknowledging her feelings. It hadn’t occurred to her how attached she really was until she was ready to leave town and had begun thinking about never seeing him again.
Finally, she fell asleep, until she was awakened gradually by the soft sound of her father’s voice.
“I hope you’ll forgive me someday, Ash,” he murmured softly. “It’s going to kill me to have to leave you two. I love you and your mom so much.”
She kept her eyes closed, trying to process the information as she felt the brush of her father’s lips against her forehead before he quietly left the room.
After a moment, she stepped out from the bed, cracking the door to her room.
She could hear her parents talking quietly in the kitchen.
“You’d better get going, Aaron,” Mom said.
“Oh, Beth. I’m so sorry this is happening,” her father answered.
When they were quiet for a moment, Ashley figured they were embracing.
“It’s not your fault. I’ll wait as long as I have to,” Mom murmured.
“Promise me that you and Ash will get out of town tomorrow? The gossip’s going to be awful with the story they’ve concocted, but it has to be done.”
“We will. I don’t know how I’m going to tell her that she’s not going to be able to go to school.”
Ashley’s hand covered her mouth so they wouldn’t hear her gasp.
“Deep down, she’s probably known something’s been wrong this summer. I just hope that someday we can tell her the truth, and she’ll forgive me. I just keep thinking about Michelle Ashford and what’s going to happen when she finds out about her father.”
Michelle’s father? What in the world was going on? But Ashley knew she needed to remain silent.
“Are you sure you have everything you need?” Mom finally asked.
“I do. You’re going to Eau Claire?”
“That would be best, I think, if we stayed with my parents.”
“I wish we could tell them,” Dad murmured.
“So do I,” Mom answered. “I can only imagine what they’re going to say when that story makes the news.”
Dad laughed dryly. “Your dad never did like me.”
“That’s his problem.” Mom answered.
There was another long silence, and Ashley figured Dad was more than likely kissing Mom.
And then Ashley heard the outer door close softly.
Before her mom started sobbing.
Shaken, Ashley crept back to her room.
Although, she tried to get some rest, she ended up tossing and turning the remainder of the night.
Chapter Seven
When Brian reached home, for some odd reason, all the lights were on in the house, and as he walked inside, he could hear Dad talking on the phone.
The conversation sounded pretty serious, and Brian could tell by the look on his dad’s face that something was terribly wrong.
Eric walked into the house just as Dad hung up the phone.
“What is it, Dad?” Brian asked.
“We need to talk, boys,” Dad said, definitely shaken. “How about at breakfast? Mom’s running late because she had to go back to the office this evening.”
Eric looked at Brian and motioned him toward the staircase. “Rick’s downstairs in the family room. How about we get out of Dad’s way? The phone’s been ringing all night.”
When the three o
f them were settled downstairs in front of the TV, Brian looked at Eric first. “What’s been going on since I left?”
Before Eric could answer, Rick responded instead. “Mom was packing a suitcase. And no one is saying anything to us about what’s going on.”
With his stare, Eric was obviously giving him a warning to be cautious, so Brian looked at his thirteen-year-old brother in concern. “Maybe she has to go on a trip for work?”
“She never has before. She usually only goes on trips with Dad.”
“She used to,” Eric murmured. “Remember, Brian?”
“I do,” Brian answered. “You were only in grade school, Rick, so you probably don’t remember.”
Strangely, the words seemed to reassure him, although Brian wasn’t feeling very reassured himself.
They played some games, and by the time eleven o’clock was approaching, Rick was yawning.
“Go on up to bed if you want,” Eric murmured. “We won’t be far behind you.”
“I’ll get things shut off,” Brian said, watching until Rick was up the staircase and out of sight.
“What the hell is going on?” Brian growled.
“1I don’t have a clue, Bri,” Eric answered. “I tried to listen to what Mom and Dad were saying, but I couldn’t understand anything they were talking about since they were nearly whispering. Every time I came into the room, they stopped talking.”
He and Eric began cleaning up the room, shutting off the TV and lights before walking upstairs. Dad was nowhere in sight when they reached the kitchen, so after slugging down some water, Brian followed Eric up the staircase to their rooms on the third floor. He’d heard Dad’s voice on the phone again when they hiked past the second floor.
“Did you hear Dad talking on the phone again in the bedroom just now when we walked by?” Eric asked, his hand on the knob of his bedroom door.
“I did,” Brian answered. “I guess we’ll just have to wait until tomorrow like he said.”
Eric nodded his agreement. “My gut is telling me something big is happening.”
“I think you’re right. There hasn’t been any trouble at Dad’s marketing company. Has there?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
That Incredible Kiss Page 5