My dad’s eyes were sincere as they met mine for the first time in a week. I’d been angry—at myself more than anything—but regardless, avoided him for the past six days. His embrace felt good. There had been so many tears in the past week…I couldn’t describe these…loving…maybe would be the best word. Apologetic for what I’d done to worry them and even sorrier for disappointing them today.
“She beat me, Daddy,” I cried.
He cradled my face. “No. No one will ever beat you. You’re my winner.” He kissed my sweaty cheek and patted my back.
“I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too. Zach’s here,” he whispered.
I immediately reared back. “Where?”
He threw his head back and I peeked around him. Zach stood several yards back with his parents. The air that I finally seemed to catch was gone again and he smiled at me.
“Zach,” I mouthed.
He jogged toward me and throwing myself into his arms would have been an understatement.
“I’m so proud of you,” he said into my ear.
I pulled back, my feet still dangling. “I got second,” I reminded him. I noticed a tiny white line replaced the scab from earlier this week. His sunglasses covered his eyes.
“And you got fourth last year. Dad thinks you qualified for Nationals?”
He set me down but kept his arm over my shoulders. “Why are they here?”
He raised his brows. “To watch you.”
I turned around and greeted them as they came closer. “Thank you both for coming.” I smiled.
“You did wonderful, Emma. I’ve never been to a cross country race but that was a buzzer beater if I’ve ever seen one,” Mrs. Owens said with a smile.
“Great job,” Mr. Owens said winking at me.
Zach and I walked off. “Did Ryan tell you I was grounded?”
“Yes. I’m sorry. You coming up was all my fault.”
I shrugged. “It’s OK. Three weeks left. We’ve been through worse.” I glanced around us. “Any news on the…one…front?”
His eyes narrowed and he shook his head. “I don’t…wanna talk about that. This is your day.”
“But we haven’t talked. And I worry about it.”
His fingers ran the length of my face. “Don’t worry about it.”
I sighed.
“Hendricks?” Coach hollered.
I glanced in the direction of the coach; the team was gathered around. “I gotta go.”
He nodded then kissed my knuckles.
Coach informed me that I did in fact qualify for Nationals and that tournament would be in Portland. It wasn’t mandatory, but he thought it would be good experience. Our team placed third overall and the boys placed fourth. The bus ride home was annoyingly obnoxious with celebrating.
After I took a long shower, I heard voices downstairs. I threw on some sweat shorts and a T-shirt and headed down with my hair still wet.
Mom was laughing in the kitchen; I wasn’t sure where dad was. I rounded the corner to see Austin sitting comfortably at the kitchen table. He shifted his weight when he saw me a grin touching his lips.
“Hey,” I said.
“Is for horses.”
I rolled my eyes. “Original. What are you doing here?”
Mom surprisingly left us alone. “I was in the area.”
My pursed lips made him chuckle.
He scooted his chair forward. “Look. I know you’re grounded. Rightfully, so…idiot.”
I stood up, glaring at him, and he laughed.
“Sit down.”
“Say you’re sorry.”
His lip pulled up. “I’m not sorry. That was stupid and irresponsible.”
“Thank you, Dad. It was a week ago. Can we move on?”
He shrugged. “I thought you were smarter than to do something like that.”
“I’m just a kid, remember. Still learning.”
His eyes sparkled. “Oh. I didn’t forget.” He stared at me until I looked away. “I have something for you.”
“What?” I asked confused.
He pulled a white envelope from his pocket and tossed it onto the table. “Game one is tonight.”
I picked it up with my thumb and index finger. “Any spiders?”
“No.”
I lifted the flap. Game five—World Series—Cubs vs Rays. My eye’s jetted up to meet his.
“Now. Hopefully we make it to the fifth. But they are box seats. At the same time, you know the Cubbies. The damn curse.” He grinned.
“I hate goats.”
“And black cats.”
We both laughed, then my face crumbled in sadness.
“You know I can’t go.”
He stood up and walked over to the french doors and stared outside. From our back door you could see the Siskiyou Mountains.
“I didn’t figure you could.”
I got up and stood behind him not wanting to get too close. “Austin?”
He whipped around realizing I was there; my presence took him off guard. “Yes?”
I knew better than to look into his eyes. But I couldn’t help myself. “You go. Go for me.”
Without hesitating, he shook his head. “Not without you. This was our deal.”
“But…”
He softly touched my lips; and I held my breath. “No buts…Maybe your dad would go. Take his buddies.”
“I’m sure he would love that.” I frowned. “Stop blowing your money on me.”
An exaggerated scowl crossed his face. “You let me worry about my money.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask anything you want. I’ll let you know if I’ll answer,” he smiled.
“What’s going on up north? Anything?”
He casually glanced down the hall looking for my mother. “I don’t know. Seth said one day a police car pulled up next door but they left. I think we’re all still freakin out and lying low.”
“Why’d you do it? Speaking of stupid and irresponsible.”
He shoved his hands deep into his pockets. “I thought it had passed for me. But when I saw him…I saw you. The blood, your pants, your screams.” He closed his eyes as if trying to block the image. “He saw the revenge in our eyes. He knew right away we were after him. Tried to get out of there, but Zach waited for him. Then we all attacked. I didn’t feel sorry for him. He deserved what he got.”
Surprise flashed in my eyes. “Austin. Don’t say that.” The look on his face frightened me.
He rubbed his forehead. “Em? What happened up in Eugene? Or before? Whenever…when I was a suddenly a jackass…remember?”
My eyes fell. I was embarrassed to look at him. He stepped closer titling my chin with his index finger till I glanced up.
“Why won’t you look at me?” he whispered.
I quickly stepped back putting the kitchen island between us.
“See. That’s what I’m talking about.”
“It’s too dangerous,” I said softly.
“Dangerous?” he repeated shocked by my word choice.
“For us to be alone. It’s not good. Not for me, anyway.” My breathing had changed and I think he noticed. When I shut my eyes to gather myself he moved closer.
“Why?” he murmured near my ear, and I twisted my neck away from his breath.
“Don’t.”
He stopped instantly and his posture stiffened. “Sorry. But please tell me why? Why is it dangerous?”
“Austin. We already agreed to stay away from each other. We agreed it was best.”
His eyes narrowed. “You agreed. Answer the other question…about the jackass remark. Is it easier if you’re mean to me?”
My face flushed scarlet because he hit the nail on the head.
He smiled. “That’s it. We can’t be together, so the excitement…passion that you feel has to be converted into a different emotion.”
I couldn’t answer, but the vacant expression my face held confirmed his assessment.
“Why do you fight it?”
“Don’t start that…Mr. Twenty. And you fought it too. You flew out of Cannon so fast. I know you weren’t even over the strep yet. You couldn’t have been. But that didn’t stop you from bolting.”
“Knock. Knock,” he laughed.
I pointed my finger in his face and he snapped at it with his teeth. “Stop! Every time we have a conversation…you have to play comedian. You have to say something…funny and I’m sick of it,” I started laughing at the end and he smiled.
He flexed his jaw. “I’m sick and tired of the horseplay too. Now knock it off. God forbid…we laugh at life,” he gritted through clenched teeth, busting up at the end.
I couldn’t control my smile. “See. That’s what I mean. You don’t even take me serious.”
“Why would I take you serious? You’re sixteen.”
“Ugh!” I turned to leave.
He caught my waist and spun me around. “Why do you hate my humor?” He asked somberly. It bothered him that it bothered me.
I fought the closeness, but he easily held me near. My eyes roved over his face. “You’re really not all that funny…but…I don’t hate it. It’s why I fell in love with you.”
His eyes flinched as the words came out and he allowed me to move, stepping away from me and breaking eye contact. He cleared his throat. “I should go.”
Crap! “I’m sorry,” I quickly added. “I meant…”
“Give the tickets to your dad,” he cut me off sliding on his Oakley sunglasses. “Tell him I got them and I couldn’t go.”
“Austin. Wait,” I said as the side door closed.
The smell coming from my locker was horrible. Jacob and Griffin, whose locker was next to Ali and me, were frowning when I got there.
“You got hit again,” Griffin said. “It’s dog food or something.”
I twisted the combination and unfastened the padlock. As I opened the door, the brown gunk fell to the floor. Jacob started laughing and so did I.
“Emma. Why do you put up with that shit?” he asked.
I shrugged. “They aren’t worth me getting upset.”
“You know, they act like their shit don’t stink. You may not be getting tired of it, but we are.”
“Sorry, guys.”
Griffin popped me in the shoulder. “We’re not mad at you.”
“I know. But our locker stinks a lot!”
“Have you told someone?” Jacob chirped up.
I flicked the gunk off my calculus book. “That’s what I want to do—be a tattle tale!” I joked.
“I’ll tattle.”
Jaycee and Claire walked by giggling.
“Don’t Jacob. I’m certain one of these days they will outgrow it,” I shouted the last five words in their direction and fire shot from Jaycee’s eyes. I grinned, relocking my stinky locker, and wondered where Ali was.
It was odd how things worked out. My grounding expired the day Zach came home…the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Tuesday night, I waited by the door for his lights to hit our street. The moment I saw them, I flew out of the house. The Jeep was barely in park when he opened the door and I was in his arms.
“Oh my God. I missed you so much. Happy birthday!” I said burying my face in his neck.
“I missed you too.” He crushed me to his chest, and I didn’t mind that I couldn’t breathe.
His backseat was full, and I smiled knowing he stopped here first.
“Are you coming in?”
“You bet.”
He pulled his keys from the ignition, and we walked side by side to the house. Dad met us at the door.
“Zach. It’s good to see you.”
Zach smiled. “You too, Mr. Hendricks.”
Dad nodded and headed to his bedroom. Zach and I went to the family room. He sat first, and I nuzzled into his underarm with my legs over his lap.
“What do you want to do?” I asked.
“This,” he whispered squeezing my legs to his chest. “I need a favor,” he said.
“What?”
“Friday. Set up a sleepover with Ali.”
I instantly crinkled up my nose. “She’s been really sick. I don’t want to go there.”
He spoke softly. “You’re not going to go there.” He batted his eyes.
I smiled. “What am I going to do?”
With his thumb and finger, he pretended to zip his lips.
“Ah. Come on. That sucks.”
He laughed a witchy cackle and hugged me tightly.
By the time Saturday rolled around, I’d made all the arrangements with Ali, and I was totally exploding with excitement. Dad was playing in some fundraiser Texas Hold ‘em tournament and wouldn’t be home until late, and mom…well…she wouldn’t question the story.
Ryan was acting weird, and I had a feeling he was breaking up with Ali. He was in on the plan but didn’t seem OK with it.
“Ry. What’s wrong?”
He shook his head. “I love you, Em.”
My eyes nearly popped out of my head. “I love you too. What is that about?”
“I just wanted you to know that you’re an awesome sister.” He pulled me into a bear hug and I shoved him back.
“You guys are in trouble aren’t you? The police? What happened? Tell me what happened.”
Ryan chuckled under his breath. “Nothing’s happened. In fact, I think they arrested a guy. I’m fine.”
“Then what’s with the…I love you…stuff?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Just being stupid, I guess.”
“So they have a guy? It’s over then?” Relief flooded through me.
“We heard that. It’s all still under investigation. But we feel better about it.”
I hugged him. “Thanks for helping with today…tonight.”
His eyes were intense. “You’re welcome. Don’t get caught.” He winked.
“I don’t plan to. I couldn’t take another month without Zach,” I whined.
Ryan winced, and I didn’t understand why. Maybe it was Ali after all.
The Jeep was warm and he smelled delicious.
“Where are we going?”
He grinned. “Patience, sweetheart. The drive is short.”
I chewed on my thumbnail till he pulled it from my mouth. He was right; the drive to the hotel was short. My cheeks blushed as he parked in the rear of the place.
I swallowed dryly. “Well. I guess I know what were doin.” I wasn’t sure if I was excited or disappointed that this is all he wanted to do, but I tried to understand.
He kissed my forehead and went in. The visit inside was short and he returned with two room cards. Once he parked, he grabbed both our bags and my hand.
“Come on.”
He gently slid the card down above the knob and signaled for me to open the door when the little green light flashed. I turned the knob and stepped in to a candlelit room. I walked slowly glancing around the suite. Candles and roses everywhere.
“What is this?” I asked.
He smiled. “An ungrounded party…of sorts.”
The door had only been closed two minutes when there was a light tap. I widened my eyes and he pecked the end of my nose.
“Dinner,” he whispered then went to open the door.
He came back with a sack. The same sack from my sixteenth birthday in May.
“Italian?” I asked.
He nodded. “Our favorites.” I watched as he set the containers out onto the table in the corner and went over to help him.
“Zach. This is…incredible.” I touched his hand and he intertwined his fingers with mine.
He lifted my hand over the table, pulling me in to his chest, holding me for several minutes not saying anything, then slid one chair out from under the table.
“Sit. Let’s eat,” he said.
After dinner, he turned on music with a remote from where he sat. Journey softly came through the speakers and I bit my lip. He stood, extending his hand to me. Once my hand w
as in his, he led me to the small area between the bed and table wrapping me in his arms and swaying to the music.
“Remind me to get grounded more often,” I whispered with my neck angled back so I could see him.
His face was serious, like stone. When I reached up and ran my fingers over his cheek, he turned into my hand, closing his eyes. I traced over his full, soft lips as his hand rested at the small of my back.
“Did you worry about being pregnant again? I hated that I couldn’t ask anyone that…like Ryan…but didn’t think it was a good idea.”
I lied. “I didn’t worry. It was like clock work. Why? Are you wanting to do it again?” I pinched his abs.
He brushed his fingers through my hair and strung it out to the sides till it fell from his fingers. Then he grabbed a handful and held it to his nose.
“May I get you a tissue?” I teased.
Suddenly he dropped my hair and clasped me so tightly to his chest that I couldn’t breathe. “Oh, Em. I love you so much.” He gripped my jaw in his hands embracing my face. “Do you know that? Believe that?” He held my face too firmly and it hurt.
“You’re hurting me,” I informed him.
He loosened the hold. “Answer the question. Tell me you know how much I love you.”
“I do know. But you’re scaring me.”
His face softened, but it didn’t touch his eyes. “From the beginning, you’ve questioned my love for you. I just need to know that no matter what happens, you will always believe that.”
“I believe it,” I whispered. He swept me off my feet as our music played in the background.
His lips found mine once we were on the bed and his body crushed against me. He’d never loved me like this, with such an indescribable passion and my heart hammered trying to keep up with his intensity.
“Zach,” I whispered and his eyes gazed up at me. “We have all night. You’re acting like we’re running short on time,” I smiled smoothing his brows.
His still intense eyes closed as he thought about what I’d said, but his enthusiasm didn’t lessen as his lips ventured down my neck lingering at the triangle at the base of my throat. I’d worn a zip up sweatshirt, and as he kissed the top of my chest, he unzipped it slowly, treating my skin to a series of kisses as his hand moved down until the sweatshirt fell open.
Finally...One Summer (Just One of the Guys) Page 28