Prove Me Wrong

by Tessa Marie

  Time passes quickly, too quickly, and I still haven’t found something to wear, but I have a feeling I won’t have to. Roxy’s not going to be happy at all. After a call to Mom she confirms they weren’t able to get coverage, and she’s stuck working through the shift. Damn it. Now I have to call Roxy and break the news.

  “Yes, sweetie. Square. Can you say square?” Brady holds up a plastic square and smiles big before banging it on the box.

  This sucks. I don’t want to make this call, but if I don’t Roxy will be waiting around only for me to never show up. And that would be worse.

  By the third ring my stomach ties up in knots. By the fourth ring she answers.

  “Hi Roxy, it’s—”

  “Hailey, where the hell are you? I thought you were going to meet me at my house? We’re leaving in fifteen minutes.”

  “Rox, my mom is stuck at work. Someone called off and she can’t leave and I’m stuck with Brady.” Stuck. Like my son is the biggest inconvenience in the world. I’m disgusted with my words, but I said it that way for a reason.

  “Are you serious?”

  “As a heart attack. I wish I was lying.”

  “That really sucks.” After a pause she says, “But it’s no big deal. I’m usually doing these events by myself anyway since no matter how many times I’ve begged Dana to do them with me she always backs out. I just asked you because I wanted company. Take care of your brother and I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “You’re not mad?”

  “Not mad. Disappointed maybe, but definitely not mad.”

  “What a relief I thought you were going to be pissed.”

  “What do you think I am some kind of ruthless bitch?”

  According to Luke you are. “Of course not.”

  “Good. Have fun babysitting because I know I’m going to have a blast bumping elbows with a bunch of assholes.”

  I let out a giggle before saying goodbye. That went so much better than I expected. I honestly thought she was going to find a way to reach through the phone and rip my head off. Guess Luke is completely wrong about Roxy. She hasn’t crossed over to the dark side. It’s just that he’s crossed over to her bad side.

  Brady and I spend the rest of the day watching Disney movies, playing with his million toys and reciting the alphabet, which consists of me singing it over and over in hopes he retains something.

  My phone vibrates and moves across the table. I reach over to it and a smile spreads across my face when I see I have a message from Luke. I open the message like some overly excited school girl.

  Are they trying to change you over to the dark side yet?

  Typical Luke. He always thinks Roxy’s going to brainwash me, and I’ll ditch him like she did. The feud between them is ridiculous, but it’s not my place to get in the middle of it.

  Actually Mom got stuck at work. I had to cancel. Babysitting Brady.

  Again? In this case, consider yourself lucky.

  If you say so. I have to feed Brady ttyl.

  Can’t wait.

  “Mama.”

  “Yes, baby.”

  “Eh,” he says as he points to the brown stuffed dog Mom bought him the other day. I retrieve the dog from the entertainment center and hand it to Brady. It should occupy him long enough for me to get his bottle ready.

  The minute I step out of the room he screams. I take a deep breath and turn around and he’s already at my feet, trying to crawl up my leg.

  “You’re lucky you’re so cute,” I say as I scoop him up.

  While I’m making the bottle, Mom calls. She apologizes for making me miss my party, which I insist wasn’t really a party, and it wasn’t her fault. It’s never her fault since she shouldn’t have to worry about getting home to watch her teenage daughter’s child. She also tells me after she’s done covering she’s just going to stay at work for extra overtime. I don’t know how she does it. I don’t.

  “Brady,” I say as he tries to grab the phone out of my hand. “Mom, I got to go.”

  “I’ll check in later,” she says before hanging up.

  It would have been nice to have Mom come home. I could use a minute to myself, and I could definitely use some interaction with an adult.

  Brady has been nonstop. Even when we were watching the Disney movies he keeps crawling around picking up his toys and throwing them across the room.

  We settle in on the couch and I give him his bottle. He’s old enough to hold it himself so once he’s propped up against me, he wraps his little fingers around it.

  Brady’s halfway done with his bottle when there’s a knock at the door.

  Brady looks so comfortable I don’t want to move him, but I also don’t want to leave him. I scoop him up and he squirms a little but then goes right back to drinking his bottle.

  I swing the door open, looking down at Brady to make sure he’s comfortable. Luke should be at work. Roxy is at the event so I assume it’s someone trying to sell something.

  “I’m not interested, sorry,” I say, preparing to shut the door.

  “Well that’s a shame because I’m very interested.”

  “Do you ever call first?” I ask with a laugh.

  “What’s the fun in that?”

  I look down at myself, evaluating every horrifying aspect of what Luke is looking at. Sweats and a t-shirt. Probably the most unattractive thing I own. At least there’s no holes. Oh crap there is. It’s small maybe he won’t notice.

  “Thought you might want some company.” He leans in and kisses me. It’s short but still manages to send happy chills zinging through my body. “Hey, little man,” he says as he takes Brady’s foot in his hand and jiggles it slightly. Brady giggles and kicks his legs out. That’s it get a mop because I just melted all over the floor.

  I bite my lip as a smile starts to form. That was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. “I brought microwave popcorn and a movie.” Luke takes his left hand out from behind his back and reveals the popcorn and three DVD’s.

  “I…I wasn’t expecting company. I’m practically in my pajamas.”

  “You look amazing.”

  My cheeks burn, and I slide my top teeth over my bottom lip. “No, I look like a mess.”

  “You look perfect. Trust me.” He leans in and kisses me on the forehead before moving past me into the house. Brady closes his eyes and I let out a sigh of relief. He’s getting sleepy, which decreases the chances of him calling me mama in front of Luke. Thank God. So I shut the door and follow Luke into the kitchen.

  “I wasn’t sure what type of movie you’d want to watch so I brought three. One horror, one chick flick, and one family friendly, in case Brady was up and wanted to watch it with us.”

  He thought about Brady when he got the movies. I don’t know why but that little attention to detail makes me want to cry. “I think family friendly it is.”

  “Perfect. You want to get it ready, and I’ll finish in here with the popcorn?”

  “Sure.” I take the movie from his hand, position Brady to my side, and kiss Luke, putting forth a little more passion than our kiss moments earlier at the door. No matter how many times I kiss him I don’t think I’ll ever get over how soft his lips are. I give him one last peck before heading into the living room.

  Brady still hasn’t finished his bottle so I cradle him in one arm as I set the DVD player up.

  “Do you have a big bowl? I can only find small ones,” Luke calls out from the kitchen.

  “Third cabinet on the right.”

  I hear some plates shifting and cabinet doors shutting and then a few moments later Luke stands in the doorway with a bowl of popcorn. The movie is in and ready to play. We both sit on the couch, and I start it up while rocking Brady in my lap. His eyes slip shut, and I rest him against a pillow.

  A few minutes into the movie Luke’s hand finds my knee. He makes slow elongated circles with his fingers before taking my hand into his. I turn, meeting his beautiful blue eyes. I move my head toward his, wanting to feel his s
oft luscious lips against mine.

  “Waaaa!” Brady screams, causing me to jump back, completely disregarding the fact Luke is there.

  “What’s the matter, sweetie. Shh. Don’t cry. Mo—I’m here.” Oh man. I can’t believe I almost let mommy slip out. What is the matter with me? I take Brady into my arms and rock him back and forth until the crying stops.

  Brady stays on my lap for most of the movie. Luke watches, pointing out characters and asking Brady questions. Every now and again Luke’s hand finds me whether he grazes my hand with his, rubs my back, or trails his fingers up and down my arm.

  Brady squirms in my lap and holds his arms out to Luke.

  “You want to come to me, little man?” Luke asks and takes him like he’s done it a million times before, and I swear I die of cuteness overload.

  By the time the movie ends, Brady’s asleep. “I need to put him to bed,” I say slowly, moving to get up.

  “Why don’t you stay here, I got it.”

  “Don’t be silly I got him.”

  “No, relax.” Luke stands from the couch with Brady in his arms. In front of me is the baby whom I love with all my heart and soul, and the boy who is on his way.

  Luke disappears into the hallway, leaving me with the end credits and an empty bowl of popcorn. I was hungrier than I thought. May as well clean up while I have a second.

  “He’s out like a light.” Luke comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and placing a kiss on my cheek before nuzzling into the crook of my neck. As he exhales a warm stream trails down my skin, causing me to shudder. I turn until I’m face-to-face with him.

  In one quick motion I capture his lips. I’ve always been attracted to him, but after seeing how he was with my son he has become irresistible. His thick hair provides for the perfect thing to hold on to. Luke doesn’t shy away. As I pull him closer he moves closer into me taking fistfuls of my hair into his hands.

  I lean against the counter knocking into the dish rack and rattling the dishes in it, but they could have fallen to the floor and shattered and I wouldn’t have stopped. Luke’s large hands cup my face, his tongue sliding across my bottom lip and I part my mouth to give him access.

  Our tongues meet, moving against each other in a slow caress that leaves me grappling for his shirt to keep from collapsing in a pile of ecstasy.

  I use the counter as leverage, letting the material fall from my fists as I run my hands down his chest. I’m about to say the hell with it and rip the damn shirt from his body, but reality sets in. The last time I let my emotions take over I wound up pregnant. If that isn’t the biggest forewarning I don’t know what is. Slowly, and with so much regret, I push Luke away from me, refilling my lungs from the intensity that ripped the oxygen straight from them.

  “I’m sorry,” Luke says, as if he’s the one that kissed me. As if he’s the one that amped up the passion when I know damn well it was all me.

  “I just…I need to take a minute.”

  “No worries. Why don’t we just go watch some TV?”

  Why is he so good to me? Any other guy would be mad if I started something and then stopped right in the middle of it. That’s pretty much the reason why I went all the way with Nolan, but Luke, he just goes with it. Accepts whatever I throw his way.

  He takes my hand in his and guides me to the couch. Sitting next to him, I’m tempted to jump on top of him and finish what I started in the kitchen, but I don’t. Instead, I lie down with my head in his lap. Gently he strokes my hair, following my hair line from my forehead down to the crease by my ear.

  I open my eyes and see the clock flashing ten. “I can’t believe I fell asleep,” I say and sit up, trying to regain my focus.

  “I dozed off too. I should actually get going.”

  “Yeah, my mom should be home any minute now. I’ll walk you to the door.”

  Luke takes my hand and I follow him. He stops at the door and gives me a kiss. “Night, beautiful,” he says and I watch as he gets closer to his car and farther away from me.

  That’s not enough. Not enough to keep me satisfied until I see him again. I run out after him.

  “Luke!” He turns, and before he can say a word I jump into his arms, taking his mouth onto mine. Our lips move in perfect sync with each other. His hands travel from the length of my neck down my back. My knees become weak as I lose myself.

  “Babysitting my ass!” I hear from across the lawn. I remove my lips from Luke’s to find Roxy with a bag in hand.

  “Shit!” I mumble under my breath. My heart pounds in my chest. This looks really, really bad.

  “Roxy, it’s…”

  “Don’t talk to me,” Roxy says, cutting Luke off.

  “Forget it. I’m going to go. Call you tomorrow,” Luke says before taking off, leaving me with Roxy alone.

  “It’s not what it looks like.”

  “Oh yeah? Because it looks like you ditched me to spend the evening sucking face with the one person I despise the most.”

  “I know that’s what it looks like, but it’s not. My mom really did get stuck at work.”

  “You know what Hailey, spare me. I should’ve known Luke won you over. He’s notorious for it. Just ask all the other girls he’s used and abused. When he dumps you and you’re left alone, don’t come crawling back to me. I warned you.”

  “Roxy it’s…”

  “I don’t want to hear it.” Roxy puts her hand up, stopping my unplanned, unrehearsed arsenal of explanations. When she lowers her one hand, the other tosses a brown paper bag at my chest. “That’s a piece a cake. I felt guilty you were home babysitting on a Saturday night so I brought you a piece from the party. It’s obvious who the fool is here, so I hope you choke on it.”

  “Roxy!” I call out in a last attempt to salvage our friendship. Too little too late. She’s already in her car, peeling off down the road. How is it possible one minute everything can seem absolutely perfect and then the next everything is falling apart?

  I feel awful bailing on Hailey, but me being there would only make the situation worse. It was best I left. Mom texted earlier that we needed milk, so I stop at the Quik Mart on Main.

  I get behind a group of young girls who are going on and on about what vampire is the hottest. Someone shoot me please. As their conversation fills up with high shrieks and OMGs I feel a tap on my shoulder.

  Instead of turning around I glance over my shoulder, thinking whoever it is must have mistaken me for someone else. All the people I know are partying in the woods right now.

  “Mr. Hannon, I was sorry not to see you at fall tryouts.” Out of all the people I could possibly bump into. Coach Peterson.

  “Hey Coach. Like I said, not my thing.”

  “I know it’s not your thing, but maybe it’s time you opened yourself up to new things.”

  He’s relentless. “I don’t think so, but if I change my mind I’ll let you know.”

  The shrieking girls finally place the last of their junk food on the counter then grab a few more candy bars. I wish they’d hurry up so I can get out of this conversation. You’d think Coach would get the hint. It’s like it’s his life’s mission to get me to join one of his stupid teams.

  “Next.” Thank God.

  “Well, catch you later, Coach.”

  “You still have spring tryouts. You’d be a shoe-in for the baseball team.” Too bad for him baseball is the sport I despise the most.

  I grunt.

  “Think about it. Like I said, it might be time to try something new.”

  I just nod. Baseball is not new to me. Not new at all. It’s a part of my past I don’t want to bring back. I held on to baseball longer than I like to admit. Mainly because I held onto the idea of my dad coming back for a lot longer than I should have, and I don’t want anyone to know that.

  I give the coach another nod then grab the milk and bolt before he can get another word out. I’d rather talk to those shrieking girls than listen to him tell me about how I should try som
ething new. Spare me.

  I toss the milk into the passenger seat and take the long way home. Too many things going through my head. I roll the window down and let the fresh air clear my mind.

  Twenty minutes later I pull into my driveway and head into the house. Mom lounges on the couch, a blanket wrapped around her.

  “Hey, Mom. What you watching?”

  “Some stupid movie. Want to join me?” She curls her feet into her, making room for me. As soon as I sit, she tosses part of the blanket at me. No matter how old I get Mom will always treat me like her baby.

  “Were you with Hailey?”

  “I was.” Just the mention of Hailey’s name makes me smile. Holy shit. I’m turning into a loser.

  “Well, look at you. You’re practically glowing. You really do like her.”

  Could’ve sworn she already asked me this, but who am I to deny her an honest answer. “I really do.”

  “You deserve to be happy, Luke, and I’m glad happiness has found you.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” She leans over and messes my hair up with her hand. I hate when she does that, but I know she’ll be doing it until I’m old and gray.

  I watch the rest of the movie with her. She was right, it was stupid. It’s been a couple hours since I left Hailey. I think that’s long enough.

  In my room, I take out my phone and instead of texting I call. The look on Roxy’s face makes me think if it didn’t go too well it will be something Hailey won’t be able to disguise. I’ll hear it in her voice.

  On the third ring Hailey answers. “Hey.”

  “That bad?” I ask when I hear the defeat in that single word.

  “She didn’t let me explain. I tried, but it was like she already had her mind made up. I feel awful.”

  “There’s no reason for you to feel awful. You didn’t lie to her. Just like I know I didn’t ditch her that day in the woods. But that’s Roxy. Quick to judge. She never thinks there’s more than just what’s on the surface.”

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I mean she was my only friend here.”

  “You still have me, and since Roxy clearly knows about us there’s no reason to keep it a secret anymore.”