After I Fall

by Amity Hope

  They each had a plate in each hand. Each plate was loaded with food; sandwiches, pasta salad, potato salad, fruit, and the bars Lisa had sent.

  “Hungry?” I asked Eric with raised eyebrows.

  “Starving,” he answered. “But this one is for you.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Awww, that’s so sweet,” Clara cooed.

  “Really?” Mason asked. “Because this one is for you.”

  The boys set our plates down in front of us. Neither Clara nor I wanted to hurt their feelings by pointing out that this was more food than either of us could eat in an entire day. It all went back to one thing. It’s the thought that counts.

  “Thank you Mason,” Clara said with a huge smile and a blush on her cheeks. “That was really sweet of you too.”

  “It was no big deal,” he said with a shrug and the hint of a smile.

  He dropped down in the chair next to Clara. “So Eric, you should try out for football.”

  Eric shook his head. “Nah. I don’t really play.”

  “Do you play any sports?”

  “I used to play baseball. But I took last year off,” Eric said.

  “You should try out. Our team sucks,” Mason informed him.

  Eric laughed. “Yeah, that’s tempting.”

  “I just mean it would be good if we got some new talent. You any good?”

  “I’m alright,” he said with a shrug.

  “How good is alright?” I asked.

  “The summer league I was on, we went to state three years in a row.”

  “Perfect,” Mason said. “You’re trying out in the spring.”

  “Sure,” Eric said. “Why not?”

  After our meal was finished we sat around and talked for a while. I was finally ready to go in the pool. Eric followed but Clara and Mason said they still wanted to let their food settle a little longer.

  I performed an ungraceful dive into the deep end. Eric cannon balled in next to me. We swam to the shallow end, where we could talk without having to tread water. I grinned when I caught sight of Mason and Clara. Mason was running his finger along her knee. I could tell my best friend was trying to pretend she didn’t notice. She wasn’t doing a very good job. She was smiling and looked like she was about to bounce right out of her skin.

  “You little matchmaker, you,” Eric said from behind me.

  His arms slid around my waist. He pulled me into a backwards hug and I melted in to him.

  “I told you he would like her. He just needed to spend some time with her.”

  I twisted around in Eric’s arms, my wet skin easily sliding against his. I surreptitiously kept an eye on my friend. Mason had finally worked his way up to her hand. He was holding it, toying with her fingers.

  “Yeah,” I said smugly, as I agreed with myself. “He likes her.”

  Eric kept his eyes glued to my face. “He doesn’t like her nearly as much as I like you,” he assured me, his tone light and playful.

  “You sure about that?” I teased back.

  “Positive.”

  When he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine, he really left no doubt in my mind.

  Chapter 17

  “FFF?” Eric asked.

  “Forced Family Fun,” I clarified. I clutched my phone, pressing it closer to my ear, trying to hear Eric over the endless chatter of adults and shrieking of children. “At least once a month Mom insists that we get out of the house together. She wants us to do something fun as a family. In theory, it might sound nice. But the reality of it is that we have vastly different ideas when it comes to what we consider fun. Today, we’re at the country club,” I said with forced brightness.

  “At the country club? Yeah, that sounds fun,” Eric said with a laugh.

  “Mom decided to spring it on me at the last minute,” I explained. I realized that she had realized that if she gave me time to think something over, I was likely to come up with an excuse. Tricky of her, if you ask me, to bombard me an hour before we needed to walk out the door. Also tricky, and unfair of her, was to have the twins do the asking. Manipulative? Yes. Effective? Also yes.

  “So what are you all doing?” Eric asked.

  “Every summer the country club has a barbecue picnic kind of thing. It’s to thank their members. Today’s the day,” I deadpanned. I kept an eye on the twins from where I was standing. They were engaged in a bean bag toss, one of the many games set up just for the kids today.

  Hooray for family fun.

  “Man, I’m glad I’m not working that. Sounds like a day all the rich snobs come out to play,” he said.

  I smiled because he’d nailed it. “Yeah, pretty much. There’s quite the crowd. It’s funny how rich people love free stuff. The country club supplies all the food,” I explained. “But then again, they probably turn a huge profit in drinks with all of the lushes around here.”

  “Sounds about right,” Eric said with a chuckle.

  I released a little growl of frustration. “I need to go. I am being beckoned by my mother. But maybe we can get together later today.” I glanced up at the sky. It made me feel hopeful. “It looks like rain is heading our way. Maybe these amazing festivities will be cut short.”

  “Sounds good,” Eric said, “just give me a time and a place.”

  “Okay, I’ll let you know when I can get out of here. See you later.”

  We disconnected and I begrudgingly made my way over to Mom.

  “EmLynn, this is Melinda McFadden,” she said as she introduced me to the elegant blond she was speaking with. “We just realized that you and her daughter, Marci, will both be seniors this year. Melinda suggested that we all get together for a nice luncheon before school starts. Doesn’t that sound lovely?”

  “Lovely,” I said with a forced smile. As lovely as a lobotomy.

  I scanned the sea of milling people. I was hoping that I would not find Marci’s face among them. I didn’t.

  “I’m sure that Marci would love to get to know you better,” Melinda said.

  I didn’t want to be rude. I also didn’t want to lie. I went with a safe, but cowardly smile.

  “EmLynn?”

  I cringed before turning around. I knew that voice.

  “Jace.”

  He was wearing plaid shorts and a polo. He looked the part of the preppy country club kid today, more than ever. His hair, as always, was shellacked into place. His eyes scanned over me making me wish my sundress went to my ankles.

  Mom didn’t seem to notice that he was blatantly checking me out in front of her. Or maybe she didn’t mind. Probably she found it flattering.

  “I’m Jace Deveroux,” he said as he held out his hand for my mother to shake.

  She placed her hand in his as she returned his brilliant smile with one of her own. “What a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Likewise,” Jace returned.

  Melinda nudged my mother and whispered loudly enough for all of us to hear, “He’s a charmer, this one.”

  “I see that,” Mom agreed conspiratorially. “And so handsome.”

  Jace flashed his cocky smile at me.

  I snorted and rolled my eyes, not caring at all that it was childish and unladylike.

  Mom frowned at me but only briefly.

  She quickly turned her attention back to Jace.

  “Do you two know each other?”

  “Yes,” Jace answered at the same moment that I said, “Not really.”

  “Well then,” Mom said as she addressed me, “maybe the two of you should remedy that.”

  Or maybe we shouldn’t…

  “I’d rather not,” I said. “I have a boyfriend. I don’t really have any desire to hang out with another guy, friend, or…otherwise.”

  “Oh, Eric, right,” Mom laughed a fake laugh. “I forgot about him.”

  Jace’s cocky grin turned smug.

  I could have kicked my mother. She had not forgotten about Eric. Her words, however, had made it quite clear to Jace and whoever else was within he
aring distance that she did not approve.

  “I would love to take you out sometime, Em,” Jace said.

  “Thank you, but no,” I said firmly. I gave my mother a look. I hoped to convey that she had better let this go.

  Out of the corner of my eye I noticed that Melinda looked startled over my response.

  “Emmm?” I glanced down when I felt little fingers tugging at the hem of my dress.

  “What’s up Madison?” I was so happy to see her. I could’ve just scooped her up and hugged her.

  “I want you to watch me and Natalie. We’re going to play horseshoes,” she said.

  I glanced at my mom. “May I?” I was really asking if I could be excused. “I can keep an eye on them so you can mingle.”

  “Yes, of course. How sweet of you to offer.” She beamed, pleased that I seemed to want to spend time with my sisters.

  Natalie was standing feet away, her eyes darting around, checking out all of the strangers.

  “It was nice to meet you,” I said to Melinda. She returned the sentiment.

  “See you later, Jace,” I said before he offered to tag along.

  A moment later sweaty little fingers had wrapped around mine and I was led away.

  I spent nearly an hour rotating from one station to the next. I watched over the girls as they fished for rubber ducks, tried to pin the tail on the donkey, and raced real, live turtles.

  When the rain finally came, it came without much warning. The sky had been gray for hours, so the storm clouds weren’t evident as they rolled in. The result was a mass exodus from the picnic, people racing to their cars to get out of the deluge.

  “Well that,” Mom said, “was incredibly disappointing.” She patted the raindrops that were drenching her hair.

  “It was fun while it lasted,” Phillip soothed.

  “I want a pet turtle,” Natalie said from beside me. I was crammed into the backseat of Phillip’s SUV. Nice and scrunched between two car seats.

  “Oh, that sounds like fun,” I said.

  “No,” Madison said. “They smell funny. And their claws are long. And they scratch. And their faces are creepy.”

  “I want one anyway,” Natalie said. “They’re cute.”

  “Maybe I’ll get you one for your birthday.” I made the offer before thinking it through.

  “No, you won’t,” Mom said. “I don’t want them playing with those filthy creatures.”

  “We should get a kitty instead!” Madison screeched.

  “No. No kitties. No turtles. No pets!” Mom clarified.

  “But EmLynn has a dog,” Madison pouted.

  “And that’s one animal too many,” Mom argued. “No more pets.”

  Her harsh proclamation, dumped on two overly tired five year-olds, resulted in immediate and ear-splitting sobs.

  Phillip caught my eye in the mirror. He winked. I laughed quietly so as not to annoy the twins.

  And thus commenced our day of FFF.

  * * *

  “Where is everyone?” Eric asked. “The house looks dark.”

  I stepped aside to let him in. He peeled off his wet sweatshirt, revealing a dry tee underneath. He tossed it onto a coat hook that was hanging next to the door.

  “After a quick nap the girls started complaining that it was no fair that their ‘fun’ day got ruined. Phillip decided they should all go out for pizza and a movie. So no one is home,” I explained.

  “And they didn’t ask you to go with?” He looked at me in mock horror.

  I laughed. “Oh, they asked. But luckily for me, I already had plans with you.”

  “Great,” he said with a grimace. “One more thing for your mom to be irritated with me over.”

  I grabbed his hand and led him to the couch. “We’re not worrying about my mom, remember? Besides, I told her what Madison said. She felt awful. She claimed it was taken out of context.” Perhaps I was embellishing a bit, but only because she should have felt awful.

  “So now what?” Eric asked.

  Thunder rumbled outside and rain pelted the roof. I hoped the girls were in the movie theater by now, where the scary sounds would be drowned out.

  “I thought maybe we could order Chinese and have a movie marathon. Unless you have something else in mind?”

  He raised his eyes to the roof and grinned as he listened to the storm.

  “I love Chinese. And spending the day all cozy on the couch with you sounds perfect,” he said. “Can we get some egg rolls?”

  I grabbed my phone. “What else do we want? Crab Rangoon?”

  “Add some cashew chicken and some fried rice and we’ll probably be good,” he decided.

  Several hours later our food coma had finally worn off. The storm was raging. My family was home, my door was locked, though I doubted they’d venture down here in this weather. The second movie was just starting. And the electricity flickered, flickered again, then flashed off completely.

  We sat in silence waiting for several long seconds to see if it would come on again.

  “Huh,” Eric said.

  “Now what?” I added.

  We were sitting in my living room. My very dark living room.

  “I think we can figure something out,” he teased.

  “I think you’re right.” I stood up from the couch and grabbed his hand. I had a cramp in my neck. I had become uncomfortable sitting sideways as I paid more attention to Eric than the movie. “Time for a location change.”

  He didn’t say a word until after I led him into my bedroom. I shut the door to keep Roscoe out.

  “Mmm…aggressive tonight?” he teased. “I like it.”

  At least, I thought he was teasing.

  Regardless, standing this close to him in the dark—so close that we were touching, so close that I could feel his warmth and feel his breath on my cheek…It suddenly made me feel as if I wanted to be aggressive.

  I felt things for Eric that I’d never even come close to feeling for anyone before. Butterflies took flight in my stomach. They tugged at me and they all seemed to be urging me to get even closer to him.

  He was right. I was being aggressive tonight. Other than the night that he’d snuck over he’d never been in my room. And that night, we’d only just begun dating. Now, I was a lot more comfortable with him.

  Comfortable enough to want him here and to not be nervous about it.

  “Em?” he asked when I didn’t say anything. He suddenly sounded nervous. “I was teasing.” He slid his hands over my arms. Up and down in what he probably thought was a calming motion. “I—”

  My fists tangled in the hem of Eric’s shirt. I hadn’t given a conscious thought to pulling it off him. But I did. In moments he was working my tank top upward, peeling it off, tugging it over my head.

  When it was off, I tugged him down on my bed with me. I leaned back into my pillows. His hand skimmed up my side, exploring. My hands took off doing some exploring of their own.

  My body ignited in a way that I didn’t know was possible when his teeth lightly grazed against my neck. His lips slowly made their way to mine. The wait seemed to take forever. It was torture and it was ecstasy as they skimmed down my chest and back up again.

  When he finally kissed me, I tangled my fingers in his hair, holding him in place. I wanted to remain lost in this feeling of bliss. He apparently felt the same way because his kiss went on and on.

  No longer afraid that he would stop, I let my hands skim down his bare back. I’d never been like this with anyone. Skin to skin. I wanted more of him. I was tempted to let him know, but the logical part of my brain reminded me this was enough for now.

  I continued to let myself get lost in the deliciousness of his kisses. I reveled in the feel of his body hovering over me, pressing against me. My fingers tugged at his belt loops, urging him closer.

  His fingers began toying with the button of my capris. For a moment I thought about helping him. It would be so easy to just get lost in ourselves, to see where this might go.
>
  Then again, it was clear where this might go.

  I came to my senses with a jolt.

  “Eric.”

  “Hmmm?” he hummed against my neck. His other hand moved down to get a better grip.

  “Eric, stop.”

  His hands immediately froze. He let out a pent up breath as he rested his forehead against my shoulder. He stayed like that for a moment. I didn’t mind. He was catching his breath. I was too.

  When he moved again, he rolled away from me.

  “I’m sorry, Em. I didn’t mean to push. I kind of lost my head.”

  “It’s okay. It’s my fault. Totally my fault,” I admitted. “I started it and I got carried away. But we should slow down.”

  “Right.”

  “You’re okay with that?”

  He looked confused. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  I shrugged.

  He took my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. “Look, EmLynn, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you. I do not want to mess this up.”

  For just a moment his words reverberated in my head. They made me want to do something childish…like jump on the bed and squeal in delight. At the very least, I suddenly wanted to do a happy dance.

  I could do those things later. Like the moment he walked out the door.

  I bit my lip, gathering my thoughts. I remained still, trying to be mellow, not wanting to ruin the moment.

  “You love me?” I quietly repeated. I’d known for days, probably weeks that I was falling for him. I’d never been in love before. Wasn’t even sure what it felt like to be in love. Until lately. What I felt for Eric, that had to be it.

  “Yeah, I do.” He shook his head. “I’ve never said that to anyone before.”

  I smiled. “Because you haven’t dated much?’

  “No. I mean, I’ve never said it to anyone before.” He leaned back as if he had to contemplate what he’d just said.

  “Well, I love you too.”

  I couldn’t see his face but I could hear the smile in his voice. “And that’s the first time anyone has ever said that to me.”

  I stopped myself from making him clarify. I got what he was saying. It made me sad. His parents had never said it? Sad. Definitely sad.

  “Say it again?”