Love on Leave

by Leah McDonnell

  “Oh God, here we go!” Bracing myself.

  To my surprise, Davis throws money on the table as Wayne and his crew head toward the door.

  Lana yells, “Holy shit! Are they leaving?” As we watch them leave with their invisible tails between their legs.

  “I simply informed them we’re having a party and asshole exes aren’t invited.”

  “Hell yeah, ya did! Santos shouts, giving Davis a chest bump. “First rounds on me!”

  The holiday weekend went by in a flash and by Sunday evening Lana and I are back at our apartment, working on a week’s worth of laundry.

  I twirl a pair of bright pink thongs. “These are clearly date night panties.”

  “Give me those, ya perv!” Lana says, snatching them out of my hand.

  “Artie has a thing for thongs.”

  “What man doesn’t have a thing for thongs?”

  She laughs. “Very true!”

  “It’s good to see you guys doing so well. It’s obvious he’s crazy about you.”

  ”We actually got into our first big fight Thanksgiving night. So bad, I thought we might break up.”

  “Why? What happened?” Floored at the idea of them arguing.

  “It was a stupid misunderstanding. I made a comment about this being the first Christmas I’ve ever had away from my parents, and he took it as me regretting my decision to go to Oregon with him. Next thing I know we’re in a huge blowout.”

  “Was this after y’all left DiMaggio’s?”

  “Oh, no. It was before. But after Carlos called and reminded us about your birthday, the argument was put on the back burner. By the time we got back home, it was all water under the bridge.”

  “Well, that’s good to hear,” I say relieved, as I fill my laundry basket with stacks of clean towels.

  “I wondered how you finally remembered it was my birthday.”

  “Yes! Thank God he called! I felt bad enough as is. If he hadn’t, I would have never forgiven myself,” she admits. “Nor Davis.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, I thought he was going to kill me when he found out," she says, heading back to the dryer to pull the next load out.

  “Really?” I shout.

  “Oh, yeah!” she yells. “Actually the pie and balloons were his ideas. He refused to show up empty-handed.”

  She returns to the living room with her arms full of whites. “If I didn’t know better, I would swear he still has a thing for you,” she adds, dropping the clothes in the middle of the room.

  I consider telling her about mine and Davis’ run-in at the motel the night of Halloween, but it’s best to leave it be. She would probably tell Artie, who would turn around and tell Max, causing a chain reaction none of us need right now. Especially, considering Max and I are already dealing with enough drama in our relationship. Adding Davis into the mix again would only make matters worse.

  “What should we do about dinner?” I ask, putting up the last of the laundry.

  “I’m all Thanksgiving’ed out. How does pizza sound?”

  “Eh, I don’t know.” I shrug. “I was kind of craving Chinese.”

  “Sounds good to me. I’ll buy if you go pick it up.”

  I call in our order and throw on a pair of sweats and a hoodie to make the three-minute walk to the Chinese place around the corner.

  “Be right back!” I yell towards Lana’s room.

  I open the front door and jump out of my skin. “Max!?”

  His fist is raised, about to knock. The other hand clenching a vase full of gorgeous red roses.

  “Holy shit!” I leap into his arms. “What are you doing here?”

  “I took an earlier flight so I would have time to come by and see you,” he says, wrapping his arms tightly around me. “I know I upset you and needed to make it right.”

  I kiss the side of his neck. “You have no idea how happy you’ve made me!”

  “Were you headed out?”

  “No. I mean... Yes. Sort of. We called in an order for Chinese and was on my way to get it. Up for a walk?”

  He gives me a little side grin. “How about I take you over on my bike?”

  My heart begins to race. “Uhhh, I don’t think...” He grabs my hand and pulls me into the parking lot.

  Max standing beside his black and red bike is quite possibly the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. The image could easily be the cover of a Harley Davidson magazine. He grabs a spare helmet out of a small trunk.

  “I promise to take good care of you,” he says, patting the top of the black leather seat.

  He’s such a big fan of motorcycles, I haven’t told him about my wreck yet. I don’t have the heart to tell him I hate them.

  “Mind if I take a rain check this time? It might be hard to hang on to you and all the food.”

  He's disappointed but lets it go. “Sure. We can go another time. When we’ve got enough time for a real ride.”

  I can hardly wait! I think.

  “Look who decided to join us for dinner!” I say to Lana as we walk back into the apartment, carrying two brown paper bags full of Chinese food.

  She laughs. “Oh, Max! Funny seeing you here!”

  “Wait!” I look back and forth at them. “Did you know he was coming?”

  Max pulls out a small wrapped box from his bag. “Since my girlfriend didn’t tell me I was missing her birthday, her best friend pulled the slack.”

  “Oh, Max!” I say, grabbing at my heart.

  He reaches over and gives me a sweet kiss. “Happy Birthday, Baby!”

  I beam as I tear open the box. A ridiculous grin plastered across my face as I pull out tissue paper, exposing the navy blue, Dallas Cowboys ball cap.

  “I know how much you like wearing your hair in ponytails. So thought you’d look even hotter sporting them with the help of my Cowboys.”

  “Thanks. Max," I say appreciatively, hoping to hide my confusion.

  “You’re welcome. But I should bend you over my knee for not clueing me in your birthday was coming up.”

  Max has physical training at six in the morning, so he had to get on the road. I’m thankful he surprised me. It was a sweet gesture, especially after we had ended our conversation on such a bad note the other day. We still have a lot of obstacles to work through, but it definitely seems like he wants to try.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Christmas Break

  Another semester is officially in the books. The break has been nice and much needed after four incredibly intense finals. After admitting to my parents I’m seeing Max again, I helped Ashley move into her new apartment in Columbus. I spent four amazing days with him, as we helped her settle in. It was the longest I’d been able to stay and took full advantage of our time together. No partying, no distractions, just us. Doing normal couple things. It gave us the opportunity to learn more about each other. It was exactly what we needed. Especially, since we’re going to be spending Christmas apart.

  Lana and Artie left for Oregon yesterday. I won’t see her again until New Year’s Eve. There’s a huge military ball Fort Benning hosts each year, and we’ve been invited. We spent the entire weekend combing through racks of dresses at every boutique in Atlanta. I thought shopping for prom was tough. It pales in comparison to the insanity of ball gown shopping. Thirty-two dresses later, we finally found gowns we love and we can’t wait to wear them. I’ve never wanted Christmas to fly by so badly in my life.

  “Sweetheart? Would you mind wrapping this last-minute gift I picked up?” My mom asks, dropping Walmart bags on the kitchen table. “Eric waited until this morning to ask for a new electric razor.”

  “Sounds pretty typical of him,” I say. “Is all the wrapping stuff in your bedroom?”

  “No, I’ve got it all piled on the pool table downstairs. I rummage through the bags for the razor. “Speaking of Eric… when’s he supposed to be in?”

  “I’m expecting him any minute, actually. He left Charlotte at eight this morning.”
/>
  The Christmas Story is playing on the big screen as I make the finishing touches to my wrapping job. “Katie Bug? You down here?” The voice of my eldest brother bellowing from the staircase.

  It’s been over nine months since Eric’s been home and my heart leaps as he rounds the corner of the den.

  “ERIC!” I shout, running over for a hug. “Oh, I’ve missed you!”

  “How’s my favorite sister?”

  “I’m your only sister, dork!”

  “Well, you know dad. He was pretty wild in his younger days. There might be a little Carpenter bastard running around somewhere in the world.”

  “You’re terrible!” I say, smacking him on the arm. “It’s good to have you home, but you’re terrible!”

  “What’s with the ball cap?” he asks, smacking the bill. “I thought you said they make your head itch.”

  “Ehhh, I know. I’m trying to push past it.” Feeling itchy as I straighten it back in place.

  “I hope that was my new razor you were slapping a bow on. Mine crapped out on me this morning.”

  “No, it’s actually a big lump of coal.”

  “Well, it would probably be more appropriate,” he admits.

  I jump on the end of the sectional sofa and run the volume down on the TV as Eric plops on the other end. “So what’s with the Cinderella dress I saw hanging in your room?”

  I flash a big toothy smile. “It’s my gown for the New Year’s Eve ball my honey is taking me to!”

  “Ah, that’s right. Your military guy. The one you met at the beach, right?”

  “Yep!” That’s the one!”

  “And isn’t he the same guy Wayne beat the shit out of?” he asks, trying not to smirk.

  My smile falls and is replaced with irritation and a side-eye. “I wouldn’t go as far as saying he beat the shit out of him. But yes, there was a confrontation.”

  “Classic!” Eric says, laughing. Purposely trying to annoy me. “And what was the deal about you jumping off a porch to avoid him and got chased by raccoons?”

  “Oh my God! Don’t ever listen to James. He never gets stories straight!”

  “So you didn’t jump off a porch?”

  “Well, yeah. I did. But to avoid Davis, not Max.”

  Eric scratches the side of his head. “So you jumped off a porch for another guy?”

  “I haven’t seen you since Easter. You’ve missed a ton. Maybe I should start from the beginning…”

  “It would definitely help!”

  An hour and a half later, I had finally brought Eric up to speed on everything that’s happened since our crazy Memorial Day weekend. I fill him in on almost every sordid detail of the last six months, with the exception of Davis and the bar bathroom. There are some things my brother doesn’t need to know about his little sister.

  Eric’s brow furrows. “So let me make sure I have all this straight. Max… the one taking you to this ball next week… is still married?”

  I grimace. “Well, technically, yes. But that’s only red tape.”

  “Uh-huh,” he says. “And this other guy... Davis. The one you say is a big douchebag. He told you he was pretty sure it was either Max or the Drew guy who had you and Lana ran off…. and it ended up being true?

  “Well, yeah. But it was a misunderstanding. Drew was just trying to be funny.”

  “And he warned you Max was still seeing this other girl. The one he ended up marrying?”

  I’m getting irritated with where this is going. “Yes, but he blew it way out of proportion!” I snip.

  “And even though he knew you were head over heels for this Max guy… he rescued you from bars, defended you when you were being hit on… bought medicine when you were sick… made sure you had presents on your birthday and stayed by your side after you went tumbling down a ravine?”

  “Well, if he wouldn’t have been such an asshole, I wouldn’t have been in a position to go flying down a damn ravine in the first place!”

  “Katie… I love you and I support whatever you do. But if you honestly think what he said on Halloween was because he’d been drinking. You’re a fucking idiot.”

  My mouth drops. “But he’s the one who apologized and said he was trying to stir the pot.”

  Eric flings his hands in the air. “Of course he did, ya dumbass! He was saving face! I mean… Come on! Wouldn’t you if you were in his shoes? He’s played second fiddle in your eyes for months. I’m sure he wanted to bow out gracefully after you walked away from him like you did.”

  Heat radiates from my cheeks. “You don’t know him, Eric! He’s a complete dick ninety-nine percent of the time. A vain, womanizing, male chauvinist pig, who’s screwed everything this side of the Mississippi!”

  “Who’s screwed everyone this side of the Mississippi?” James asks as he makes his way into the den.

  “Sup, Little Bro!” Eric says, standing to give James a hug. “Katie’s been filling in all the holes of her Fort Benning adventures.”

  James nods his head. “I’ll give her credit. They’re a pretty cool group of guys.”

  I smirk. “See! Even James agrees they’re awesome!”

  “Don’t get me wrong. It definitely sounds like they’re great. But it doesn’t change my opinion of Davis.”

  “What about Davis?” James asks.

  “I was telling Katie I think he’s got a thing for her.”

  James chuckles. “Hell yeah, he does! Dude’s Coo-Coo for Cocoa Puffs over her!”

  My smirk falls and is replaced with annoyance. Not him too!

  “No. He’s. Not!” I shout.

  “Don’t play dumb! He held your freaking hair back while you barfed your guts up. No guy is going to do that unless he’s batshit crazy over them.”

  “Yep! He’s right. Only true love would move a man enough to watch a girl upchuck!” Eric teases.

  “And it only got worse after the two of them did the deed in Gatlinburg,” James adds.

  “OHHHHH REALLY? You conveniently left that little tidbit of info out of your story!” Eric shouts and points. “She said they just kissed.”

  I fling a pillow at his head after he dramatically air quotes ‘just kissed’.

  I’m irritated and refuse to be subjected to any more of this. “You know what? I’m done with this conversation. Davis is completely irrelevant.” I stand to leave. “Y’all have no clue what you’re talking about.”

  “We’re right and you know it!” James yells as I make my way up the stairwell. Hearing, “and you know it” sends flashes of Halloween spinning through my brain…

  “He doesn’t know you like I do and you know it. He doesn’t challenge you like I do. And you sure as hell don’t have the heat you and I do.”

  “No!” I growl. Stomping away like a child as I will away thoughts of Davis. I refuse to let those few random moments of kindness cloud my judgment.

  Taking every measure possible to avoid my brothers, I spend the rest of the night confined to my bedroom watching old Christmas movies. Glancing over occasionally at my dress hanging from the closet door. The royal blue, strapless gown with silver crystals on the bodice. Elegant ruffles tier down the long full-flowing, Cinderella skirt. I daydream of Max in his dress blues, me proudly clutching his arm as he guides me through the crowd.

  “Merry Christmas Eve!” I gush, handing my mom a cup of coffee as she makes her way into the kitchen, wearing her adorable Santa pj’s and matching house shoes.

  “Oh goodness, Katherine! Are you making breakfast?”

  “Yep! I beam. “I had a great night’s sleep. It’s Christmas Eve… the whole family is home. The least I can do was make us a big ole Carpenter breakfast.”

  “Well, thank you, sweetheart!” she says, kissing me on the cheek. “And Merry Christmas Eve to you too!”

  I’m trying desperately to hide the fact I haven’t heard from Max in three days, have terrible menstrual cramps,

  and thanks to my stupid brothers… I spent the entire night dreaming a
bout Davis, instead of my actual boyfriend. Ugh!

  Eric rubs his eyes as he drags into the kitchen. “Is that sausage I smell?”

  “Your sister’s making breakfast for us this morning,” Mom says, proudly.

  “I’m going to spit on his,” I mumble under my breath.

  “I’ll go wake dad and James,” he says, giving me the evil eye as if he heard me.

  After slaving over the stove, breakfast is finally ready. The table overflowing with scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, pancakes, toast, and OJ. It all looks pretty damn good if I do say so myself. Then again, it’s hard to screw up breakfast.

  “You’ve outdone yourself Katie Bug!” My dad's voice booming through the kitchen, taking his seat at the head of the table.

  “Run and grab the paper off the porch, James. I want to read the latest on The Whitewater investigation and that son of a bitch, Clinton.”

  “Oh, Joe! It’s Christmas. Can we at least try to refrain from the profanities?” Mom snips, gesturing over to the baby Jesus in his manger display.

  His lips purse. “Yes, Dear,” he concedes. “But I’m sure the Shepard’s and Wise Men would agree he’s an S.O.B. too!”

  James barrels back into the house, slamming the door. “Burrrr! It’s gotten cold out there!”

  “I grabbed yesterday’s mail while I was out there too,” he chatters, dropping mail and a small, elongated, package on the counter.

  “What’s this?” Mom asks.

  He stuffs a sausage link in his mouth. “No clue,” he mumbles. “It's for Kate.”

  “For me?”

  “Well, unless there’s another Kate Carpenter, who resides at 1519 Brookdale Drive. I’m pretty sure it’s yours.” Eric says sarcastically, showing the name to the table as he hands it over.

  The package is wrapped in brown shipping paper and although addressed to me, there’s no return address, but postmarked Columbus, GA.

  I roll out my lip and pull the box to my heart. “Aww! It’s from Max!”

  “Oh, Maxipoo! My whittle boo, boo, boo!” My brothers chant.

  “Don’t be jackasses!” I say curtly. “Sorry, Mom.” Remembering her Christmas rule.