After my last match of the day, I found out Dylan had lost his match and that there was a problem. Apparently, he and the guy from the other team, whose name I learned was Talen, already had issues. When they found out they would be playing each other, the trash talk started. At one point during their match, the coaches had to intervene and tell them to play or get off the court. Gabe said it was bad and that once Dylan had lost, he picked a fight with the guy behind one of the courts. Luckily, some guys from our team, including Gabe, saw it happening and pulled them apart before any of the coaches saw. Gabe was usually pretty good at calming Dylan down when he got heated, but for some reason this guy really got to Dylan.
Dylan had always been kind of a hothead but usually cooled down just as quickly as he got mad. Therefore, none of us gave it a second thought once they had been pulled apart. Plus, we were all busy finalizing plans for the night.
Jake had invited me to go to a party one of his friends was throwing at a ranch right outside of town and said I could invite whoever I wanted. So before we left the courts, we all decided to meet there later tonight. I told Maya that Jake was picking me up so she could make plans to ride with one of the guys. Dylan, who still seemed a little rattled, spoke up quickly saying he would grab her on his way. Maya shot me a quick smile before playing it off like it was no big deal, and then we all left to go get ready.
***
I was finishing my makeup when my mom walked in and asked if I would be eating with them before I went out. I let her know Jake and I were going to grab food before we met up with everyone else. Satisfied, she smiled and turned to walk out of my bathroom but stopped at the door. “Hey, honey, do you have any idea what has been wrong with Kenzie here lately? She’s been a little snippy, don’t ya think?”
I set my makeup brush down and turned to face my mom. “Oh, she’s just in a bad mood because she has it bad for Ryan, and he made sure she knew he didn’t think of her that way.”
“Kenzie always has had a thing for Ryan, hasn’t she. I wish she would just find a boy her own age to like. Oh well,” my mom said as she let out a breath. “But, honey, will you try to talk to her about it. I think she could use her big sister right now.”
“Sure, mom. I’ll talk to her tomorrow.” I picked up my mascara. My mom gave me a smile, then went downstairs to fix dinner for the three of them.
I was downstairs talking with my family, who was eating dinner, when the doorbell rang. I practically ran to the door, composing myself before I opened it.
“Hey, Em. These are for you,” Jake said with that perfect smile of his as he handed me a bouquet of flowers. “I hope you like roses.”
“Jake!” I gushed. “These are beautiful. We’re not even going on a date, date. You are so thoughtful. You seriously spoil me,” I blurted out, before quickly making myself stop talking before I said anything else. Realizing that I was rambling and that my entire family was listening to the whole thing, caused my cheeks to turn a bright shade of red.
Jake, I could tell, was loving every minute of it. “You’re welcome.” Stepping a little closer, he whispered, “And I will always spoil you,” then continued into my house. Noticing that I was still standing by the front door, he shrugged, “What? I figured you would want to put them in water.”
“Well, yeah,” I walked past him into the kitchen to get a vase.
Jake followed behind me and stopped when he saw my family. “Mrs. Crawford, Mr.Crawford,” he said, gesturing toward them with a head nod, cueing my sister to clear her throat. “And, McKenzie. Don’t worry; I was going to say hi to you too,” he teased.
“Well hello to you too, Jake. And what will you and my sister be doing this evening?” she said in her best parenting voice.
“I’m taking her to go eat and then we are meeting up with some of my friends.”
“And where will you be meeting up with your friends?” she continued, glancing over at me, laughing when she saw I was giving her a look that said stop talking.
“At my friends ranch right outside of town,” he returned kindly. “We usually shoot varmints, and I thought I could teach Emma how to shoot a gun,” he said now looking at my dad. “If that’s alright with you, sir.”
“Jake, do you know how to handle a gun?” my dad asked.
“Yes, sir. Been hunting with my father since I could walk. My dad always says that “a safe gun is one you know how to use and are not afraid of.”
“Alright then. Just make sure there is no goofing off while holding a firearm, son.”
“Yes sir, Mr. Crawford. And what time should I have Emma home tonight?”
My dad looked over at my mom who raised one eyebrow, then turned back to Jake, “Normal curfew is fine tonight. Have fun kids.”
We said goodbye to my family, and as we were walking out of the house we heard Kenzie say, “We shoot varmints,” followed by my mother shushing her, which caused us both to laugh.
***
By the time we got out to the ranch, the sun had begun to go down and a lot of people were already there.
“It’s getting too dark to learn how to shoot a gun, and there are way too many people around,” he said seriously.
“There is still plenty of daylight,” I countered, looking forward to learning how to shoot.
He reached over and placed a hand on my leg, which almost caused me to miss what he was saying, because all I could focus on was how his touch felt. “I take gun safety serious, Emma. When I teach you how to shoot, we will have plenty of daylight and there will not be this many people around. I should have known better than to think I could teach you tonight,” he said, still sounding very serious.
“But you will teach me?” I questioned, bummed that I wouldn’t be learning tonight.
“Oh, my girlfriend will know how to shoot a gun,” this time sounding more playful while sliding over to me. “There is something sexy about a girl who knows how to handle a firearm.”
“Is that so?” I challenged, not being able to resist teasing him right back.
“Absolutely,” he murmured while bending down to kiss me. We both jumped when someone hit the hood of his truck. Jake looked up to see who it was and then turned back to me with a shit eating grin on his face. “Alright, Blondie, let’s go introduce you to everyone.”
“What is that look for?” I asked, reaching for the door.
“I’m about to introduce my smokin’ hot girlfriend to all my friends.” With that, he was out the door and walking around to where I had hopped out. He gave me one of his perfect smiles, then grabbed my hand and led me over to where his friends were standing.
“Jake. Glad you could make it,” Evan began, giving Jake a high-five as we walked up. “And I see you brought your friend. What was it again? Gemma?” he asked dramatically, scrunching his face.
“Actually, it’s Emma.”
“I’m just messing with you,” Evan laughed out. “We have all known your name for a while now. Don’t know how we couldn’t with Jake over here “Emma this” and “Emma that”.”
“Whatever man, you’re just jealous that you don’t have a smokin’ hot girlfriend.” Jake was wearing a massive smile as he shot me a wink, causing my insides to warm.
“After tonight, that may be a different story,” he joked, sliding his arm over my shoulder.
“Yeah Jake, who knows? After tonight I just may fall for all of this,” I laughed.
“Well then, darlin’, I didn’t mean to be rude. Let me introduce you to my friends,” Evan played along, turning up his southern charm.
“Hey now. Don’t go throwing around darlin’s; that’s an unfair advantage,” Jake pretended to be worried.
I looked over at Jake, cueing him to throw his hands in the air and look at me with that perfect smile. “Naw, I’m serious. He says darlin’ with that southern drawl of his and the ladies go crazy every time.”
“Ladies?” I teased, looking back at Evan who shot me a wink.
“Worked on you, didn’t it, da
rlin’?” Evan replied, emphasizing his southern drawl this time. “Bet I got you all hot and bothered, if you know what I mean,” he said suggestively, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Oh. My. God.” I looked at Jake who looked slightly pissed then I burst out laughing. “If I thought Maya met her match with you, I can’t wait till she meets this guy.” I threw my elbow in Evan’s side just hard enough to cause him to retract his arm from around my shoulders, then walked over to a now all smiles Jake. Once Jake had wrapped his arms around my waist I looked back over at Evan, who I couldn’t tell was smiling approvingly or checking me out. “I thought you didn’t want to be rude,” I said, gesturing over to his friends.
“Oh, right. Emma, this is Brody, Heath, and Spencer.”
“Nice to meet you guys.” They all nodded.
“Hey, biatch,” I heard Maya say as she walked up behind me.
“Maya, you’re just in time. I was just getting to know Jake’s friends.”
“So this is Maya,” Evan chimed in.
Maya smirked as she turned to face Evan, “So you’ve heard of me.”
I glanced up at Jake and just shook my head. Maya could make anything sound sexy and had clearly piqued Evan’s interest. Though at this point I was beginning to think that anything female that moves could pique Evan’s interest.
“Actually, we’ve met before.” Maya looked a little confused and then Evan continued, “At school. Emma here had just introduced herself to Jake and then you walked up.”
“That’s right. You were the brunette with Jake. Lovely to meet you again…”
“Evan.”
“Right. Well, lovely to meet you again, Evan.”
“Where’s Dylan, Maya? Didn’t y’all ride together?” I asked, just realizing that Maya walked up by herself.
“When we got here, I said I was going to go find you and he was supposed to be getting us drinks.”
“Speak of the devil,” Jake said as Dylan walked up with two beers.
“Hey, Reynolds,” Dylan replied a little tense, while handing a beer over to Maya.
Noticing the tension, I leaned over to Maya. “What’s up with Dylan?” I whispered.
“He is still all worked up about that Talen guy for some reason.”
“Really? Why?”
Maya looked as confused as I was and just shrugged her shoulders.
Noticing the obvious tension, Jake suggested the rest of us go find a drink as well. Everyone quickly complied.
“What’s with the face?” Jake asked as we walked up to where the drinks were.
“I, uh. Well, how in the world did a high school kid get so much booze?” My cheeks flushed because I knew that was a stupid question as soon as it came out. But seriously, out of every party I have ever been to, I have never seen this much alcohol. I guess I just wasn’t expecting this.
Jake laughed, “Older siblings, fake IDs, the usual.”
“The usual, huh? So what’s your usual?”
“Actually, I don’t drink much anymore. I’m typically the designated driver these days, but tonight I made sure the guys set up another ride so I could chauffeur this cute blonde around.”
I had to admit I was glad Jake said he wasn’t much of a drinker. Not that I would have been mad if he was, but there was just something about it that I liked.
“Cute blonde, huh? Anybody I know?”
“Oh, she’s about your height, has that same adorable smile, and, come to think of it, looks exactly like…that girl over there.”
I gave him a playful shove. “Oh I bet you think you are pretty funny huh?”
“Yeah, actually, I do,” Jake smiled, while pulling me into his arms. “Now what can I get you?”
“Is there a soda anywhere? I don’t drink much either. Well, honestly, I’ve never actually had a drink,” I admitted.
“Two cokes it is then,” Jake said, popping the lid of the cooler up and grabbing two coke cans.
“Watch out. That’s a strong drink you have there,” Evan joked. “Don’t tell me Emma over here doesn’t drink either.”
I just smiled and shook my head as I enjoyed the first crisp taste of my coke.
“Nope. Not even a little. And it’s not because I haven’t tried, cause believe me I have,” Maya chimed in.
“How would I ever be able to keep you in line and out of all that trouble if I was drunk too?” I asked dramatically.
“Good point. I’ll drink to that,” Maya laughed.
“Cheers,” Evan said holding out his cup, “To trouble.”
“To trouble,” Maya exclaimed then quickly downed the rest of her drink. “Who wants to get this girl another drank?”
“Yes! Now that’s a girl who’s here to party. Allow me, madam,” Evan replied, bowing before going to grab Maya another drink.
“Whatever. I’m out of here,” Dylan grumbled before snatching another drink himself and walking away.
I could tell that Dylan walking away bothered Maya, but she quickly recomposed herself and shouted something about being ready to have a good time. I watched as she organized a group of people to play a drinking game. As she was explaining the rules to everyone, I knew this night was going to end up with me taking care of Maya. She was annoyingly predictable that way. An upset Maya plus alcohol always equals me taking care of her drunken self.
It has been this way since the beginning of last year. Maya’s dad had always been a jerk, but sometime last summer he decided to step it up a notch. The first time we hung out with the guys and they brought beer, Maya’s dad had torn into her before she left the house; so, she decided she should try her first beer. Once she popped open the can, she held it up and said, “To you, Dad. Now I can be just like you.” That night ended in lots of tears and Maya puking her guts out.
I knew there would be no reasoning with Maya at this point. She was upset about Dylan and had already had a few drinks. I decided I had to find Dylan and try to talk some sense into him if I didn’t want to be holding her hair back all night. When I told Jake I was going to find Dylan, he grabbed my hand and said, “Let’s go then.”
We spent what felt like forever looking for Dylan and never found him. Jake suggested we go check to see if he had wandered back over to Maya. So we walked back over to where Maya still had a group of people playing some other drinking game she had thought up. We quickly realized Dylan was still MIA but found Ryan and Gabe standing around drinking a beer watching the whole ordeal. When they saw us, they both gave me a knowing look.
“Why is Maya shitfaced, and why do I feel like I need to tell Evan to back the hell off?” Gabe asked.
“Good Lord. I don’t even know exactly what happened tonight. All I know is Maya seemed off when she first got here, Dylan has been in a pissy mood all day because of the guy from earlier, and something must have happened between the two of them because there was some awkward tension followed by Dylan storming off.”
“Wait? Dylan is still worked up about Talen?” Gabe seemed genuinely surprised as he exchanged a glance with Ryan.
“That’s what Maya said. What’s the deal with that guy anyway? I’ve never seen Dylan like this before.”
“Ancient history,” Gabe said in a flat tone, then looked back toward Maya.
I could tell this Talen guy rubbed them all the wrong way, so I left it alone. Not wanting to piss Gabe off too.
“Seriously, Evan needs to back off. Maya has had way too much to drink, and he is clearly taking advantage of that,” Gabe seethed.
The boys have always been protective of us. Sometimes they could be a little overbearing, but at times like this I was always glad they were. Heaven help any guy that got out of line with one of us. They would have three people to answer to.
“Yeah, he sort of moved in as soon as the two of them started talking.”
“He’s harmless,” Jake chimed in. “Don’t get me wrong. He loves the ladies, but Evan would never take advantage of a girl who’s had too much to drink.”
“Evan or n
o Evan, I’m about to go protect her from herself,” I stated.
“Nah, I’ve got her tonight. You two go enjoy yourselves. Me and Ryan will take care of Maya,” Gabe said.
“Are you sure? She’s going to be a handful.”
“I’m sure. Besides, you’ll have her all night,” Gabe teased. “Now go and try to have some fun tonight.”
I let out a small laugh because it was true. If she kept this up I would most certainly have to take care of her all night. “Thanks, Gabe.”
“You’re welcome. Now go before I change my mind.”
With that we were off. That was the most Gabe and I had talked all week, and I wasn’t quite ready to walk away now that he was finally talking to me. Not that he wouldn’t talk to me when we ran into each other, it just felt off. Like he was trying to avoid me by saying the minimal amount of words possible before making an excuse to leave. But I was glad that I was going to get to spend some drama free time with Jake.
“Can Evan really be trusted?” I asked Jake as we were walking away from the group.
“I know he doesn’t seem like it, but the guy is all talk. Get him out of a group and he’s actually a nice guy.”
“Really?” I asked in disbelief.
Jake stopped and faced me, placing both hands on my shoulders. “Really,” he said reassuring me.
“OK.”
“OK?” Jake questioned, as if to double check I meant what I was saying.
“Yes, OK,” I smiled.
I couldn’t keep from thinking that I had the sweetest boyfriend ever. I knew that if Jake thought I was at all truly worried about Maya and Evan, we would have walked right back over there and spent the rest of our night watching over those two. I trusted Jake, and if Jake said Evan was harmless, then Evan was harmless.
When Jake was satisfied that I meant what I was saying, he grabbed my hand and led me over to where some people were hanging out around a bonfire. We found an empty chair and Jake sat down, pulling me down to him. I settled in his arms, and we sat there watching the fire for a while – not saying anything and not needing to. We were both content with watching the flames and simply being close to one another.
The Exception Page 7