Spring Unleashed (The Summer Unplugged Series)

by Amy Sparling

  “Eh, that guy is a prick.” I skim the crowd for Jace who should be back any minute now with our nachos but I can’t find him. “There are tons of other hot guys here who would be worth dating.”

  Becca fans her face with her hand. “Hook me up girl, damn.”

  When Jace finally returns, balancing three orders of nachos in his hands, he has Hana Fisher with him. Before I ravenously dig into my nachos I make sure to introduce her to Becca since they’ve both heard so much about each other.

  “Hana has something to tell you,” Jace says, grabbing one of the cheese-less chips out of my basket and eating it for me. The boy knows I hate the chips unless they’re drenched in gooey and delicious fake cheese product.

  “What’s that?” I ask.

  Hana’s excitement makes her bounce up and down where she sits. “So you know how my dad was having a pool built in his backyard? It’s finally done and Ash and I are throwing a huge pool party this Saturday. We want you to come. Becca, you should come too.”

  “Count me in,” Becca replies instantly, her eyes still on the shirtless hottie a few seats below us.

  “That sounds great,” I say, right as realization hits me. I turn to Jace. “This Saturday is our…thing.” I don’t know how to end the sentence because we haven’t exactly made plans for our anniversary, we just know that we want to do something.

  “It’s up to you babe.”

  I gnaw on my bottom lip. “The party sounds really fun…” Jace laughs and steals another one of my chips. “Then let’s go to the party. It’ll be more fun than a romantic dinner.”

  My excitement for the pool party and our anniversary has me smiling on the whole drive back home where I plan on packing up as much of my things as I can fit into my car. I’m not officially moved in with Jace yet, but we both decided to make it a gradual transition to where I will end up being moved in with him before my mother even knows what’s happened. It will all work out though because I’m definitely going to college so that I can work with Jace.

  In the end, I think that’s all Mom really wants to see from me.

  My bedroom smells stale since I haven’t lived in it all week. I grab all the bags and backpacks I own and begin stuffing them with clothes. Remembering the pool party, I dig through my top drawer and retrieve the brand new bikini I purchased last year and never got the chance to wear because I was stuck at my grandparent’s house all summer. It’s white with rhinestone decorations. I toss it in my bag and then head over to my desk to grab my checkbook, extra phone charger, a bottle of daily vitamins and my day planner.

  Shit. My day planner. My fingers tremble with the shocking realization of something that could totally ruin my weekend. How could I have forgotten what time of the month it was? I flip open the planner to today’s date and all the breath escapes my lungs.

  My palm slams into my forehead. Friday is the start of period week. The week of cramps and bloating and tampons. Ugh! Why?! Why this week of all weeks? Why on my anniversary and why on the night of the pool party where my only bathing suit is a freaking white bikini? So much for having a great one year anniversary with Jace.

  I’ll have to spend the night hanging out poolside in shorts and a t-shirt instead of swimming with my hot boyfriend and letting him feel me up under the water. I know they say you can swim while wearing a tampon but with my craptastic luck, I am so not going to risk it. The last thing I need is to climb out of the pool gushing blood in front of dozens of horrified onlookers.

  I shudder at the thought. And then I grab the few remaining tampons I have and head back to Jace’s apartment. Becca had to leave Jace’s earlier today to attend her grandma’s birthday party so even though I try calling her to vent about my period problem, she doesn’t answer. Not having anyone to talk to leaves me driving the entire forty-five minutes to Mixon all by myself. I’m stuck inside my own head and all I can do is freak out about how my stupid body and its stupid menstrual cycle is going to mess up my one year celebration.

  And it’s not just one day either. It’s an entire week. Ugh! I don’t even know how I’m going to explain it to Jace. I mean, he’s not an idiot. He knows that girls have periods. I’ve just been lucky enough to not have to talk to him about it in the entire year we’ve been together. He’s always had to travel for work during those times or I’ve stayed home and used an excuse of homework and school projects to avoid seeing him for those five days. But now that we will be living together, it’s a fact of life that I’ll have to face.

  My knuckles grip the steering wheel. Oh well. As mortified as I am to talk to Jace about girly stuff, I know he’ll be cool with it. He’s cool with everything else that happens between us. That’s what makes him the world’s greatest boyfriend.

  I couldn’t be more proud to be his girlfriend.

  Chapter 10

  My stomach bulges as I swallow down the last few bites of my third slice of pizza. I lick the grease off my fingers and then place a hand on my belly. “If we’re going to live together we need to learn how to cook real food.”

  “This is real food,” Jace mumbles through a mouthful of cheese and pepperoni.

  “I mean home cooked food. You order takeout like every day. At this rate I’m gonna get super fat and you’ll leave me.”

  Jace snorts and rolls his eyes. “I’m never leaving you.”

  “Oh yeah?” I stand up from the couch and shove my stomach out as far as it’ll go. Then I lean forward and press it against his face while he watches television. “What if I get super fat?”

  “If you get super fat then I’ll get super fat.” He swallows my food and kisses my stomach. “But we can cook more if you want. I guess I can’t live the bachelor lifestyle forever.”

  I ruffle his hair on my way into the kitchen to get a drink. “You’re damn right you can’t. You’re a committed man now. You have to put up with me and all of my quirks.”

  Jace laughs from the living room. “Bring it.”

  Once again I’ve found myself in a situation where I could easily bring up the topic of periods and the other topic of how I’ll be getting mine so and ruining our anniversary. And once again, I just stand awkwardly with my mouth halfway open, trying to force the words out of my mouth. Every time I try though, I just freeze up and change the subject. It is so freaking awkward telling a guy something like that.

  Knots form in my stomach because I know I can’t keep putting it off. I’m supposed to start either tonight or tomorrow. He will know something is up the moment I refuse to sleep with him. Come on, Bayleigh. It’s not that bad! Just tell him!

  “Hellooo,” Jace singsongs while waving at me. “Why are you staring off into space?”

  I flinch, realizing I had been caught up in my own thoughts too long, and take a seat next to Jace. “Sorry, I was just…thinking.”

  “About what?”

  Once again, this is the perfect opportunity to tell him. But I’m a total chicken. “Um, about school.”

  “Have you decided on the summer class?”

  “Yeah, I think so.” Jace smiles when he hears my answer. I’m happy too, although school isn’t even on my mind right now. Yesterday I had gone to the college and spoke with a counselor who helped me get admitted and pick out my classes for the next semester. I can even start earlier than the fall by taking a summer class. Things are looking really freaking awesome for my future.

  Soon I’ll be in school, then I’ll be finished with school and I’ll get to work full time with Jace. We can stay in Mixon and maybe buy a house after he sells his grandfather’s house that’s a couple hours away in Salt Gap, Texas. We can live happily ever after together. Happy thoughts of the future help me take my mind off of the inevitable for a few hours longer.

  I’ll tell him eventually. I’ll have to.

  After a hot shower, I climb into bed with Jace at a little past midnight. His arm wraps around me as I snuggle against his chest, feeling lighter because I still haven’t started my monthly annoyingness. So when Jace�
�s calloused hands slide down my belly, I let him pull off my pajamas. I guess I’ll tell him tomorrow.

  Chapter 11

  The smell of coffee wakes me up the next morning. Well, the smell of coffee and the loud, “Dammit!” from my boyfriend who tripped over something on his way into our bedroom. I sit up on my elbow and rub my eyes open. The bright sunlight streaming in from the window he just opened burns my vision with its morning goodness. “What’s going on?” I ask, squinting as my eyes adjust to the daylight.

  Jace wears just a pair of black boxers as he enters the room carrying a wooden tray. “Happy Anniversary beautiful.”

  My eyes graze over his sculpted chest before noticing the tray. “Babe! You brought me breakfast in bed?” My excitement turns into confusion as he sits next to me, placing the tray between us. “I mean…coffee in bed,” I say with another smile. The tray contains two coffee mugs, one with regular coffee for Jace and the other he has prepared just for me: topped with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.

  Jace leans over to kiss me and I make an effort to keep my lips closed because of the morning breath. “This is just to wake us up. I’m taking you to Star Diner for breakfast.”

  I take a sip of coffee and lick the whipped cream off my lips. “What’s Star Diner?”

  He gives me a sneaky smile. “You will love it. I promise.”

  The drive to the illusive Star Diner takes almost an hour. Long trips with Jace aren’t so bad though. Time seems to magically skip ahead when I’m with him. We arrive at a small town along the coast and he’s so freaking excited about showing me the diner, I almost expect him to make me close my eyes so it’ll be more of a surprise.

  The only parking available is along the street and Jace and I dig around his truck for enough change to fill the parking meter. We hold hands as we walk along the strip of businesses toward the massive metal sign that says “Star Diner – since 1906.”

  My eyes light up and I glance over at Jace who squeezes my hand. “Remember when you said you wished you could experience one of those old fashioned soda fountains?” he asks.

  I nod as we approach the old metal doors and he holds it open for me. “Well, I found one. Today we’re going to get breakfast and an old fashioned milkshake.”

  My enthusiasm for an old fashioned soda fountain drops to negative levels the moment we walk in the door. Although everything in the diner is straight from the early twentieth century, our waitress is clearly from this century. And she can’t contain her excitement about who just entered her workplace.

  The beautiful woman in a short black skirt and red tights who looks to be in her late twenties escorts us to the bar where we take a seat on a red leather barstool. “Oh my god, it’s Jace Adams!”

  He answers her and it doesn’t really bother me at first. I’ve heard those words a million times when I’m out in public with him. His answer is always yes and then we have to pause for a quick photo or autograph and then the star-struck stranger goes about their way and that’s that. Looks like that won’t be happening today.

  Our waitress’s name is Julie and I know that not because she told us, but because I read it on her nametag. After she hands us menus, she doesn’t take our drink order or walk away—nope, she plops herself down on the barstool on the other side of Jace and begins chatting with him like they’re old friends.

  And I don’t mean that as an expression. She actually sounds like they’re old friends. I look up from skimming my menu and watch their conversation.

  “So then James had to quit because of his ankle injury and I think they didn’t ask him to come back.”

  “Wow,” Jace says as he looks over his menu. “That’s too bad. James was a good rider.”

  Maybe he knows her from the motocross world. Mixon isn’t that far away and people travel from all over the state to race there. I shrug off the feeling in my chest and look back at my menu. And then I overhear her say something that really rubs me the wrong way.

  “So what’s been up with you? Why can’t you answer emails anymore?”

  My body freezes. My eyes blur until the words on the menu don’t make any sense to me. The seconds between her question and Jace’s answer seem to stretch on for an eternity and all I can do is sit here pretending that I’m not eavesdropping.

  When Jace finally answers, I don’t feel any better at all. “Oh you know. I’ve been crazy busy with work.”

  “If you’re so busy, why are you showing up here instead of working?” Her eyebrows shoot to the ceiling and she hooks her hand on her hip as if daring him to answer.

  Jace laughs and then throws an arm around my shoulders. “I blew off work to take my girlfriend here for breakfast. She loves old fashioned places like this.”

  Oh wow, did Jace remember he actually has a girlfriend? I think sarcastically as the girl gives me a quick smile of acknowledgement and I return the gesture. “I’m ready to order,” I say, keeping my voice strong so she can’t tell that their conversation has turned me into a jealous PMS-ing monster.

  I order the French toast with bacon and Jace does too. When she finally freaking leaves, sashaying her perfectly round butt as she greets the elderly couple that arrives next, I cross my arms over my chest and sigh.

  “What’s wrong?” Jace asks, nudging me with his shoulder as he pours several packets of sugar into his iced tea.

  “Nothing,” I say. “I love when girls approach you and talk about how you haven’t been replying to their emails.”

  “Babe…” Jace begins but I cut him off.

  “Save it,” I hiss under my breath because we’re seated just opposite of the guy cooking our food in the middle of the bar. “I’d rather not know why you two have a history.”

  He slides his hand around my back and I stiffen, not accepting his affectionate touch. “It’s not like that.”

  I look him in the eyes and try to hold back the tears that form in mine. “I’m trying not to get jealous here but you know a million girls and they’re all attractive and they all look at you like you’re some kind of sex god.”

  He wiggles his eyebrows. “I am a sex god. But only for you.”

  I smile despite myself. “That doesn’t make me feel any better.”

  “Well it should. You’re the only girl who means anything to me.”

  The drive home takes longer than usual since I’m no longer in happy-happy romance road trip mood with Jace. Sure, I smile and laugh at his jokes and participate in the conversation about how fun the pool party will be tonight, but inside I’m a total mess. The worst part is that I’m not even mad at Jace. That would be stupid. I’m mad at myself for how insanely jealous I get over things that are not a big deal. Jace is allowed to have friends. Hell, he’s allowed to have ex-girlfriends. I have ex-boyfriends! But I seriously need to learn to chill out and stop worrying about silly things like this.

  So what if a girl complained that he hasn’t replied to her emails? That’s a good thing. It’s way better than if she had said, “Thanks for all your long heartfelt emails that you send every day!”

  I can’t help but roll my eyes as I think up such ridiculous scenarios. Jace must notice my odd facial expression because he turns down the radio. “What’s going on in your head? You look like you’re insanely deep in thought. Like…so deep that you might slip into a coma or something.”

  I roll my eyes again, this time directing my sarcasm toward him. “I’m just excited for tonight.” The moment the words are out of my mouth I realize how incredibly untrue they are. I am so not excited about spending the afternoon in a white bikini being too nervous to swim because of personal embarrassing girly problems. I still haven’t started though, so maybe I won’t start until tomorrow. Maybe I didn’t track the days on my calendar well enough and maybe I’m off by a few days. I was caught up in the excitement of graduating last month. For all I know, my period could be due next week instead of this one.

  “I’m not excited,” Jace says. “My hot ass girlfriend walking around a
bunch of guys in a bikini?” He takes his hand off the steering wheel to wave a fist in the air. “I’ll be spending the whole night beating up guys for checking you out.”

  “You’re dumb,” I say with a laugh. “But…you actually reminded me of something.” My heartbeat quickens. I know what I’m about to do and I’m so nervous I could explode.

  “What’s that?”

  I swallow and look over at him. Wait, scratch that. I look over at the seatbelt crossed over his chest. I can’t possibly look directly at him as I say this. “I’m supposed to have certain…girly problems…soon. So I might not get to wear that bikini after all.”

  His reply is the worst possible reply ever.

  “Huh?”

  I take a deep breath and think of another way to explain my situation. “You know…the monthly thing that girls suffer through? I’m expecting mine soon.”

  “Ah,” he says in a moment of realization. My palms are so sweaty and my throat feels dry from all the effort it took to say that. And now that it’s out in the open, I don’t feel much better. I’m still mortified beyond belief. Jace doesn’t seem embarrassed though. He shrugs. “Well that works out perfectly. I won’t have to kick anyone’s ass for checking out your hot body.”

  I look over and meet his eyes and he winks. Heat flushes to my cheeks as overwhelming reassuring warmth spreads through my body. I finally told Jace what I needed to tell him. The hard part is over.

  Now if only I could stop thinking about that stupid waitress.

  Chapter 12

  After breakfast, Jace has to make a quick trip to the motocross track to help his boss sort out some paperwork crisis for next week’s race. Normally I don’t like spending time away from him but right now I could use a break and some best friend time so I stay at the apartment and call Becca. She answers on the fifth ring.