“I haven’t told my parents yet,” she whispered, a slow, knowing smile crossing her features. “Parker and I got engaged last night. I’m going with him when he moves to New York. Your father offered him a job in his research department. He took it when he found out you were definitely moving and I couldn’t let him go without me. Thank God he felt the same way. ”
I walked over, smiled at her huge ring then hugged my friend tight. “I’m happy for the both of you. Best wishes, sweetie.”
“Thank you. Now wish me luck for when I tell my parents I’m engaged and moving,” Samantha laughed in my ear then pulled back to look at me. “I meant what I said, Itsy. I love my brother, but he’s the worst of them. He’s a weed head and he doesn’t give a shit about women. You can do so much better, I swear.”
“Maybe I don’t want better, Sammi. Whatever that is. Maybe being with the ultimate bad boy is just what I need.”
“I don’t think so, Itsy. I think you should stay in your comfort zone. Please, think this through. I love my brother but he’s a dick and he knows it. I don’t want you broken over him ever.”
I sighed as I put my hand on my friend’s wet cheek. “I hear you. Now please hear me when I say it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
Samantha nodded then sighed heavily. “I will nurse you through your broken heart after I kill him. I’ll always be there for you, even in New York, sister.”
“So will I. And we’ll come back and visit our mothers together and have giggle fests on the plane and drive all the other passengers insane!”
Samantha laughs then looks at me thoughtfully. “And where will Jaxen be while we’re in New York?”
I broke away and went to my mother’s new fridge and poured out two glasses of white wine and gave one to Samantha.
“I don’t know. With the next girl, I guess. Whatever happens, I’m leaving anyway. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be the one that breaks his heart.”
Samantha sipped her wine as she looked at me over the rim of the glass. Her look screamed ‘no way in hell!’ and my head took a few minutes to grasp that. If anything happens between us, I’ll keep my emotions at bay and not fall completely for Jaxen William Malloy.
Samantha, the band and I ate our pizza on the dining room floor and had light conversation while waiting for Mom to return. Somehow, Stanley ended up sitting next to me on the floor on one side and Samantha was on the other. A scowling Jaxen sat next to Michael and glared, looking like he was deciding which one of them to knock out first. With a sigh, I think he finally decided he couldn’t hit a girl, even if it was his annoying 14-minutes-older-than-him twin sister. Just as he was about to stand and clock Stanley one, his sister cleared her throat.
“Don’t,” Samantha said quietly as she pulled cheese from her slice.
“Shut it, meathead.”
“You shut it, nubby.”
“Why don’t the both of you oinkers shut it?” I shouted as I stood and started cleaning the mess. “Geez, give it a damn rest! Shut your traps, get off your asses and help me clean!”
Samantha and Negative Ion broke into a loud laugh. I was proud of that comment because, in truth, I was really was tired of their bullshit and was so glad I wouldn’t be hearing it after Samantha, Parker and I moved to New York.
The group, still laughing, cleaned the mess and a few seconds after we finished, Shauna blew her horn at the back door. Everyone rushed out and helped bring in bag after bag. Once it was all in, the guys were laughing and peeking through the bags, and nibbling through some snacks. Shauna crossed her arms and glared at them then threw them all out so that Sammi and I could help her put everything away and get prepped for tomorrow.
After the guys left, I thought the house felt too big and quiet but a large piece of my mind was focused on Jaxen’s parting look. He let all the guys leave out before him and right before he went out the door, he turned to me, slowly smiled and winked. My mouth dropped and I stared after him, even after he said good night and closed the door behind himself.
“A fly is going in there if you keep it open like that,” Sammi murmured as she pushed up my jaw. I promptly blushed.
“He winked at me.”
Sammi sighed. “I saw. No turning back now, is there?”
“No,” I grinned. “I think I know who my first will be.”
Samantha stared at me for a long minute, looking completely torn. “You’re my friend but he’s my brother and no one knows him as I do. I know what Jaxen is capable of, what he stands for and wants; love and long term is not it and I don’t think it ever will be. No matter how I think Jaxen feels about you, he will only break your heart in the end. No, not only your heart… your soul. So I’m begging you: be careful, Itsy. Promise me you will at least attempt to make whatever this is as close to a fling as possible. Don’t fall any more than what you already have. It’s only going to be worse for you in the end.”
I smiled at my friend then wrapped my arm around her.
“I appreciate that, Sammi. I honestly do. But I’m a big girl who’s never been heartbroken, so I think I’m well overdue. It’ll be fine, I promise. Now come on, we need some rest. We have a party to go shopping for in the morning and I want to get spruced up for it.”
“Fine,” Samantha smirked. “But you’re sleeping near the window tonight. I do not want to be awakened by the sun at the butt-crack of dawn again!”
Chapter 3
Celebration
The following night, I stared at myself in my full-length mirror, completely in love with my dress. Well, really with my overall appearance.
I usually do the basics with my looks: I shampoo and style my own hair and I rarely got it cut. I got basic manicures and pedicures and used only mascara and lip gloss for makeup. Usually Carmex did the trick for me.
Today, Samantha and my mom overruled me and dolled me up. My dress is white with faint red roses all over it and came with a red shrug. The tank dress fit me to perfection and I had to admire my ass in it. My red heels perfectly matched the shrug as did my glossed red lips. My hair was pinned on top of my head and my makeup was soft, subtle and I thought I hadn’t looked this pretty since my senior prom.
“Wow, honey! Look at you!” Mom smiled in my door. “I love it and I will be stealing that dress when you take it off.”
“No, you won’t! I’m so hiding it!” I laughed at her. I planned to wear this dress a few more times, especially in New York.
Mom laughed with me and shook her head. “Are you ready? The guests are arriving.”
“Yes,” I smiled as Samantha came out of the bathroom. Her eyes shimmered against the green of her sheath dress. It was the perfect shade for her and she swooned when she saw it, saying she couldn’t believe her luck when she found it this morning.
We complimented each other and Mom went out to the party. Samantha and I followed a few minutes later and as soon as we stepped through the back door, loud applause broke out.
I think we both blushed as we surveyed my mother’s backyard, which was sweetly decorated with balloons and ribbons, all in maroon and white, our college’s colors, and a huge banner that read CONGRATULATIONS KIMBER AND SAMANTHA!
I looked around the smiling guests and grinned at them as I started walking around and thanking them with hugs and kisses. My lips started hurting when I finally got through all of them. There had to be 100 people here! I can’t complain, between Sammi and I there could have been a lot more. I looked around again when someone called my name and I screamed when I saw who it was.
“DADDY!” I shouted as I ran to my father, embracing him tight. “What are you doing here?”
“My baby girl graduates college early and I can’t come to California to celebrate with her? I booked a flight as soon as I hung up with you yesterday!”
I pulled back and looked up with him, looking at Parker in 20 years. He and Daddy had the same brown hair and brown eyes. They looked so much alike but Parker was loaded with tats and I doubt if Daddy has one.
&n
bsp; With a frown, I asked, “Does you being here now mean you won’t be at the actual graduation, Daddy?”
“No, it does not, honey. I will be here in May for that, too. I promise. Nothing will keep me from seeing you, just as I saw Parker, graduate.”
I smile then hug him tight again. “Promise you’ll try to be nice to Mom, Daddy.”
“Of course, honey. I will always love your mother and we will not fight this time. I’ll be good.”
“Thank you, Daddy,” I whisper then he puts my hand in the crook of his arm. We walk around and I introduce him to the guests who’ve never met him then we go to his old friends and I laugh as they reminisce.
I hear a beat thump and I whirl around to the patio in front of Mom’s garage. Negative Ion are set up and starting to play. I stare in awe that we get a private performance then cringe. Some of their lyrics can be racy, at best, and I wonder what some of the guests will say to them. Then I remember my mother is the police captain and I bet myself they will tone it down.
The first song they played was a song that made my blood boil. It’s all about a guy wanting to trounce his sister. I remember the first time I heard it, maybe three months ago, after a raging fight between Samantha and Jaxen over a damn strawberry Pop-Tart. A week later I heard the song for the first time.
I wanna pound you, I’m gonna slam you, big sister!
Don’t try to take it away or you will pay! I will be the mister!
I want it and need it, more than you ever will, twin!
Try to take it away and you will know my wrath, buzzkill! I WILL WIN!
The crowd laughed, and in truth, so did I the first time I heard it. Samantha and I smirked at each other as Ren shouted the lyrics into the microphone. I still can’t believe Jaxen wrote a song about a damn Pop-Tart. Of course, I knew it wasn’t really about the toaster pastry, but neither of them told me what it was really about so I just dropped it.
The band then played covers and they rocked them all. Ren’s voice was strong and smooth and he made a couple of our friends swoon. I grinned as I watched them, dancing once or twice with the girls and once with my father. I smiled when my parents danced to a sweet cover of I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing, even if they looked like a couple of nervous kids at a sixth grade party.
After that, the band took a break. When they came back, Jaxen stood at the mic with a guitar, Ren moved to the bass and Stanley was at the drums scowling as he started the song. Wait… Jaxen’s going to sing? Geez, what is that going to sound like? I almost felt embarrassed for him, praying he sounded decent as he strummed and refused to look up into the crowd. Was he embarrassed himself? Oh, no. Why make him do this then? Whose damn idea was this?
As I was ready to pull the plug on the whole live performance, Jaxen’s head came up and he began to sing and my jaw dropped. He sounded… awesome. I think Shaun Morgan and Jaxen sound the similar.
I was completely shocked to hear his deep voice pleading into the microphone, going high in some parts and dropping low in others. Then I started paying attention to the lyrics. They were the ones Ren was singing yesterday.
I have always been me, the me I thought I wanted to be
But now I want to be him, the real me, the me I can be with you.
He’s not far away, maybe you can love him
In the same way that he has always loved you
Here I am in the open, telling you I want and need you
Say that you can, say that you will try to want and need me too.
Allow me to kiss you, to hug you, make love to you
Allow me hold you, to comfort you, to be true.
Trust me, feel me, kiss me, take care of me
Fulfill me, complete me. Baby please, just love me
Cause all these things I already feel deep inside for you
I got chills as I listened. It sounded like Jaxen was singing to someone. I sighed. I guess he won’t be my first. He was already hooked on someone. I wanted to run fast and far but before I could take the first step, I felt a hand on my back and looked up. Parker’s best friend, Roland, was smiling down at me.
“Congratulations, Itsy. I know you’ll do well in New York.”
“Thanks, Roland. I appreciate that,” I said as I smiled back.
“Would you like to dance?”
My brows raised in surprise and I nodded. He led me to the temporary dance floor near the center of the yard and I put my arms around his neck when his arms wrapped around my waist and we swayed softly to the music.
“I almost killed your brother yesterday,” Roland laughed at my ear.
I giggled. “What?”
“I did. Yesterday, he finally gave me permission to ask you out.”
I frowned up at Roland. “Why would you need his permission?”
“It’s sort of a guy code, Itsy. He’s my best friend and I respect him. I waited until he was comfortable with the idea of you and me together, for him to understand that while it’s true I usually chased girls for pu--, uh, sex, that was not the reason I was interested in you. With you, sex would have been a bonus.”
“Roland, you should have at least come to me with this,” I frowned. Dammit. Parker strikes again. I had a crush on Roland in my late teens and I didn’t do anything about it because I was scared he would reject me just because I’m Parker’s sister, which is exactly what Parker led me to believe.
When I see Parker, I will kill him.
“I wanted to but I listened to Parker,” Roland sighed and looked around. He looked back down to me and shrugged. “It’s too late now. You’re moving to New York soon and any idea of us will have to be ignored.”
I nod at his words. He’s right. I can’t start up with anyone here now. I have to keep my options open and wait until I move to date. It wouldn’t be fair to any guy since I’d be on a plane in four months.
“I understand. Is that why Parker gave his consent now? Cause he knows I’m leaving?”
“I believe so, yes. Don’t be too mad at him. It’s the exact way I’d be if it were my sister and him.”
I look around and spot Parker talking to Daddy while glaring at us. I mouth ‘I’m going to kill you’ to him and he has the nerve to smirk. I tighten my fingers around Roland’s neck as I turn my head back to him.
“I am mad at him. I had a crush on you for at least two years and Parker convinced me that you would never feel as I did because I’m his sister.”
Roland let out an aggravated grunt. “Now, I really am going to kill him!”
“Don’t,” I sigh. “I think he knew of our father’s plan to get me to New York long before I knew of it. This may have been his way of protecting us both. Or maybe he’s an ass that hates to see me happy. Either way, Roland, I am sorry we couldn’t see if something stuck between us.”
“So am I,” Roland nods. “Can I do something I’ve wanted to do for 4 years?”
I stop dancing. He stops too but his arms doesn’t leave my waist. My hands drop to his forearms.
“What is that, Roland?”
“I’d like to kiss you.”
Ooh. I swallow hard. “Here?”
“I don’t care. Here, in the house, on the porch, in my car. On a bed. We don’t have to take it any further. I just want to kiss you. Always have.”
I look at him and get lost in his deep, rich brown eyes and smile. “Yes, but not out here. My parents and the rest, you know. You’re leaving soon, right?”
“Yeah. I have to work tonight, so I have to leave in about an hour.”
“Catch my eye before you go and I’ll meet you at your car. But here’s a preview…”
I pull his head down and plant a lingering kiss at the corner of his mouth. When I let go, he smiles down at me and I grin right back.
“Was that for my benefit or are you trying to piss off Parker?”
I winked. “A little bit of both,” I grinned.
He laughed loud and looked up. “It worked. Parker’s walking over.”
I turned toward
where I last saw Parker and froze under an ice-cold and completely pissed off glare. A glare that was not coming from Parker.
Chapter 4
Kisses
Jaxen’s eyes burned into mine and I shuddered. Everything went cold around me. And unbelievably quiet. Jaxen’s eyes narrowed when his gaze finally left me and he focused on Roland.
“Itsy? Earth to Itsy!”
I felt someone rubbing my arm and I snapped my attention back to Roland.
“I’m sorry. What did you say, Roland?”
“I asked if you were cold. You’re shivering.”
“No, I’m fine. Um, I need to talk to Sammi,” I said with a small smile then lowered my voice. “I’m looking forward to that kiss.”
“So am I,” Roland grinned. “Ice Breakers are locked and loaded.”
I giggled at that then walked away, searching for my best friend. Instead, I found my mother and father. They wrangled Samantha and I over to cut the huge congratulatory cake and after I made sure everyone had a slice, I thanked Mom again for doing this.
She kissed my cheek. “Honey, I’m exhausted. I’m going to call it a night. Kiss your father, he’s going to his hotel now.”
“You’re not staying with us, Daddy?” I frowned.
Daddy bent and kissed my cheek. “No, honey. I’ll be close though. How about I take you to breakfast in the morning, just you and me? And maybe some celebratory shopping? Let’s see if we can max out my AmEx and get you all set for work in New York in one day,” Daddy laughed.
I grinned then hugged him. “You’ve got a date, Daddy. Good night.” I kissed his cheek, then Mom’s and sighed as they walked off, careful to stay as far away from one another as possible. Damn, they won’t even walk close together. I guess that dance they shared earlier was for my benefit. Love? Nope. Tolerance is more like it and if it weren’t for me, it wouldn’t even be that.
“You know that I have to kill Roland now, don’t you?”
I felt my nostrils flared then I turned and looked up into the annoying face of my brother. “Why is that, Parker?”
FALLING: The Negative Ion Series Page 3