by Amber Nation
I reared back as if he had smacked me in the face; he might as well have. “I don’t know what you’re talking about and I certainly wouldn’t be fishing for a compliment. That’s not who I am.”
“I know, I’m sorry,” he stressed after releasing a breath. “I’m perturbed and just taking it out on you. But Eden, you are absolutely beautiful, every man in his right mind should be fighting in line just to get your attention. Lord knows I did.”
I wrinkled my brows and pulled my lip in between my teeth, then released it and sighed. “What do you mean?”
“Eden, was there ever a time that you saw me before you did Baylor? Did you ever have feelings for me like you did him?” He looked almost nervous as he awaited my answer.
“Dean, you were one of my best friends. Of course I loved you, but only as a brother, I’m sorry.” A wave of penitence consumed me for not giving him the answer that he anxiously wanted to hear.
“You didn’t?” he said flatly, his mask slipped for a moment before cementing itself back into place. “I did everything that a gentleman should, I crammed myself in the back of Baylor’s car so many times. I took you to prom. I was just hoping that something would’ve been there. I guess the old saying is true, nice guys finish last, but then again I can’t deny that you and Baylor are perfect for each other. I just have to put my old feelings aside.”
I covered his hand with mine and pulled it towards me, holding tight, “Dean, you are amazing and one of the best guys I’ve ever met. I have no doubt in my mind that one day soon you’ll find your special person who can handle all that you have to offer.”
“Gosh, I feel like such a loser. I promise I haven’t changed into this bonafide pussy in the years you’ve been gone.”
“I would never think that at all,” I said with a sly smirk causing us both to laugh. It was great to catch up and laugh with him, my heart had missed Dean too.
Pulling up in front of the old covered bridge, our bridge, I couldn’t believe that I had completely missed seeing it yesterday. I hurried out of the truck just as soon as Baylor put it in park. The area was abandoned even when I was younger; it was one of the more forgotten bridges in Cottage Grove. By the looks of things, bits and pieces of the wood had been refurnished or replaced; the area outside of the bridge had been weeded and thoroughly taken care of.
I walked over to the entrance where the railings started to lead across the little creek underneath. The slats in the railing brought back the most memories, Baylor and I used to sit right at the entrance where our feet would dangle right above the rippling stream. I unzipped my raincoat since the rain had taken a little break and sat down in between the beams just like we used to do when we were younger.
I looked back to Baylor who had his hands in his pockets and was just standing on the wooden platform. He looked off into the distance and began to speak, “I come here often and touch up on different parts that have rotted. Norah and I even make it a project to stain the wood once a year, kind of a father/daughter bonding time. But we enjoy it and it keeps the bridge looking a little less worn down,” he lightly chuckled.
“Why would you do that?” I couldn’t understand why he would take time out of his busy life to take care of a useless old bridge.
He sat down next to me, hanging his legs over the side and making some stray rocks fall into the creek. “Because this bridge has a lot of meaning to me,” he slapped a hand on a beam of wood, “it’s a piece of my youth. I remember us always coming here after school; we would sit here and talk while Dean traveled down into the creek like the adventurer he is.” He looked down at his overworked hands and spoke a bit lower than before, “It was the place I fell in love with you, and I now own it.”
I couldn’t wrap my head around what I was hearing; he loved me when we were younger? And he bought this bridge because of all the memories that it inhabited. I had to place a hand over my erratically beating heart. “You own this bridge and preserve it because of me?”
“I love this bridge,” he looked down the entire length of the structure. “When I heard that they were planning to tear it down, the boy in me couldn’t let that happen and just wash away years of memories along with it, and the architect in me couldn’t just sit around and let it crumble because of lack of attention.” He leaned back on his hands, still taking in all of the wooden beams. I couldn’t help but to watch him closely observing and admiring the structure that he helped rejuvenate.
My cell phone rang so I pulled it out of my pocket and noticed it was Julia. I needed a breather so her call really couldn’t have come at better time. “Hey, its Julia, I’m going to just be a minute,” I told Baylor. He nodded while I stood up and walked around to the back of his truck to take the call. “Hey,” I answered, my voice sounding mildly deflated.
“What’s wrong? Whose ass do I need to kick for making you sound so sad?” That’s what was so great about Julia, all I needed to say was the word and she would come running with guns blazing.
“No one’s ass needs kicked. You remember when I told you about the old covered bridge we used to go to when I was a kid? Well, Baylor bought it and has been restoring it all these years. I’m trying my hardest here to keep my tears at bay but I’m hanging on by a thread. This week is becoming more than I can handle. I am thrilled for the time we are getting to spend together but what happens when I leave?”
“Have you asked him that?”
“Jules, you know the answer to that question. I can’t bring up the future; I just don’t foresee anything happening.” I looked back at the bridge to see Baylor still sitting staring down at the creek.
“Just don’t go falling in love with him, Eden, you’ve gotta protect your heart.” Sympathy showed through in her voice.
“Oh you won’t have to worry about that, I won’t go falling in love with him,” I said before a tear escaped the corner of my eye. “You can’t fall in love with someone you already still love.”
“Oh, Eden,” Julia gasped.
“It’s too late for my heart. I just hope that when I get home you’ll help me restore the pieces.”
“You bet, sweetie, you know I’m always here for you. Tell you what, I’ll make a run to the store and be sure to stock up on that German chocolate cake spectacular ice cream you love so much. I can tell that you’re gonna need it.”
Chapter 12
Baylor
1999
“Baylor, why in the world are you taking me to the bridge now? It’s freezing outside and there is snow on the ground.” Eden looked absolutely adorable in her oversized parka and while it was a bit chilly it wasn’t as bad as she was making it out to be. Besides, she would definitely thank me once I exposed her to how beautiful the bridge was with the snow drift on top and the creek frozen over.
We frequented the old abandoned covered bridge quite often, but this was the first time without Dean tagging along. I wasn’t even sure what the bridge was used for besides decoration, most of the other ones in Cottage Grove had either been used for jogging trails or for trains to pass through. This one was the most special to me and held the most character in my opinion. I was kind of nervous to be taking her there by myself and my sweaty palms were a reflection of that. I wanted to ask her to the winter formal, but I was worried that it would mess with our friendship and the feeling of ease we had around each other. There had been this other senior hanging around me, Kristina. She was beautiful and all, but I wanted to ask Eden to the dance before I even mentioned it to Kristina. For some reason the girls didn’t get along too well, and I wasn’t really sure why.
Only fishtailing the Camaro once, we pulled up to the bridge that we all claimed as our own during the fall, and the soft snow peaks had Eden gasping in her seat. She quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and threw open the door before I even had a chance to put the Camaro in park. I rushed around the car to follow in her footsteps and she began twirling around making deep imprints in the snow. “It’s beautiful and almost majestic!”
; “See, one of these days you’ll learn to trust me to know what I’m talking about.” I pulled down on my sock hat so it would fully cover my ears and was rewarded with her bright white smile that made my knees wobble. Even though I had just turned eighteen and hadn’t actually lived much, she was the girl who made everything fall into perspective for me.
“Baylor Jenkins, you are an absolute mess. If I started following everything you said without some sort of sarcasm behind it then there would be major anarchy for all women. It’s a proven fact that women are smarter with the everyday mundane things than men are, so it’s just statistics that women shouldn’t really ever listen to men. It does work both ways though, since when do men ever listen to anything a woman says, ever?”
Eden always did love listening to herself talk, and would give anything to argue a point. Seemed to me that she should be going to law school instead of Dean. But she would make an amazing radio broadcaster too because she had the right voice for radio. But of course, that could have been my biased opinion showing through. She ran over to the entrance and looked over into the creek, plopping down on the snow-covered platform. That was another thing that I loved about Eden, she didn’t care if she got dirty or wet; just being outdoors excited her.
Wait a minute…Did I just say love?
I did care about Eden very deeply, but did I love her? And could she actually love me back?
I decided to test it by trying to kiss her right then and there, and if she followed my advances I’d know for sure. If not, then I supposed I’d tuck my tail between my legs and ask Kristina to the dance.
I approached her cautiously with my heart in her hands and took the empty spot on the bridge directly next to her. She was staring blankly down into the ravine that housed the creek which was now just a solid sheet of ice. I wasn’t exactly sure how to approach the subject of me wanting to kiss her, did I just go in for the kill? Ask her? So many rampant thoughts running loose in my mind. My dad never told me that girls would take over my mind completely; it was even crazier when it was just one girl in particular.
“Edie?” I said, trying to get her attention while I still had the nerve.
“Huh?” She turned her head and focused her big beautiful brown eyes on me. So much life and spirit reflecting back at me.
I darted my tongue out to moisten my lips and began moving towards her at a snail’s pace. Our eyes were still trained on one another, and then I shifted mine down to her lips. I didn’t know if it was because I broke eye contact and she was completely clueless or that she just didn’t feel the same about me. The next thing I knew she turned her head away from me, tapped my shoulder and quickly pointed out at a pair of otters playing in the snow.
The rest of the afternoon I felt off, either because of the failed attempt and missed chance at a kiss from Eden, or the fact that I would have to hold my feelings back from how I truly felt about her.
Chapter 13
Baylor
Present Day
“Do you remember the time I brought you here right before Christmas, when it snowed?”
Her eyes instantly lit up so I knew she did before she even confirmed it. “I do. It was absolutely beautiful and magical.”
“I believe the exact word you used was majestic.”
Nodding her head she leaned into my side and bumped into my shoulder with hers, “It definitely was.”
I looked off into the distance and was surprised to see two otters playing near the stream. What were the odds? Shoulder checking her back, I jerked my head in the direction of the playful animals.
“Oh, look at how cute they are,” she brought a hand up to cover her mouth.
I had always admired her heart and how much she loved animals and the outdoors. Moving my hands from my lap to grip the edge of the platform, I took a deep breath and said, “That day, when we came here in the snow. That was the day.”
“What day?” She asked looking a bit perplexed.
“The day I knew that I loved you.” I looked up to her again and could see the tears swimming in her eyes just waiting for the moment she would allow them to spill over. “I had this plan to kiss you and if you kissed me back, without decking me, then I’d know you felt the same way. My next move was to ask you to the winter formal.”
“That’s what you were trying to do when I saw the otters?” I nodded. “You should’ve spoken up,” she took a moment to release a deep sigh, “I guess we both had major communication issues.” She was quiet for a bit then looked down at the empty space that was between us. “You went to that dance with Kristina.”
I covered her hand with mine and gave it a gentle squeeze, trying to convey my apology, “Yeah.” I was a freaking coward but that next Monday at school Kristina, with her take-charge attitude, sought me out and asked me to the dance.
“You want to know when I fell in love with you?” Eden asked softly. The rain had started back up again, the steady stream of droplets pouring down and coating each of our jackets. I nodded because I was truly interested and afraid all at once. “It was when I had to make a big delivery to Tillie’s and everything wouldn’t fit in the basket on my bike.”
“I remember that, my mom was driving us home and I saw you struggling on the side of the road. Since your bike was too big for the car, I got out and took the bulk of the load and walked alongside you. But that was our sophomore year.” She had loved me for two years in high school and I never knew it. She must be one hell of an actress to be able to cover up her emotions like she did.
“Indeed it was. You were it, Baylor. No guy in high school would’ve ever compared. No guy still compares to you. You set a pretty high standard.” She looked at me with much more confidence than she had all those years ago. “I’m going to let you in on a little secret: the next time you want to kiss me, don’t hesitate, just take it.”
In that moment I never wanted to kiss anyone more and I was following her instructions and taking what I wanted. I grasped her chin between my thumb and index finger, guiding her towards my face, meeting her halfway and sealing our lips together. The kiss was slow at first but once my tongue entered her mouth and she released one of her moans all bets were off. At that time the rain decided to pick up from a steady stream cascading down to a heavy downpour, making us break apart.
“Come on, let’s go home,” I took her hand in mine as we ran back to my truck and made our way back to my house. The windshield wipers were working overtime and it was hard to see three feet in front of us, but luckily I knew the town like the back of my hand and we pulled into my driveway safe and sound. During the whole ride to my house we kept our hands intertwined with one another’s. And it dawned on me that I said we should go home. Home. I wished like hell that it was her home still and I wouldn’t ever have to let her go.
We darted into the garage completely drenched from head to foot, but at least we made it. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Eden was shivering and if I was being honest the rain made me pretty chilly as well. I took her hand again and said, “Come on,” as I pulled her into the house and straight into the bathroom. “Stay here,” I instructed as I sat on the edge of my oversized claw foot tub, turning the nozzle on and filling it up with warm water. I inched my way towards her, never letting my eye contact break, and I slowly and seductively lowered the zipper on her raincoat, then dragged it down her arms until it was completely removed from her body.
Then she raised her arms high above her head allowing me access to peel her wet tank top off of her body. She looked at me through parted lashes and in that moment and her vulnerable state, she had never seemed more beautiful to me. This woman, whether she knew it or not, owned me and my heart. She always had the ability to strip me bare of my emotions and leave me raw. I hoped that I consumed her even a fraction of what she had consumed me.
I dragged my calloused hands up her body and around her back and with quick work rid her of her black lace bra. I took a few steps back away from her and approached the tub. I began
removing my own saturated clothing piece by piece, starting with my jacket then my shirt, exposing my chest. Eden’s bottom lip was pulled into her mouth and you could just make out her teeth biting down on the pink flesh. Every single time she did that it would make my knees tremble and my dick swell with desire.
Soon I was completely naked and laid bare before her while she was still wearing her shorts. Her eyes roved from my head all the way to my feet and I could almost laugh at how vocal her expressions could be.
I wanted to tease Eden a bit, so I turned my back to her and went ahead and stepped into the bathtub. As I sat down, the lukewarm water soothed my bones as I immersed myself and leaned back against the cool ceramic to relax.
Taking my already inflated cock in my hand, I watched Eden’s eyes go wide with surprise while a small gasp escaped her mouth. “Would you care to join me? I may need some help,” I goaded her with a smirk.
She genuinely tried her best not to come off as overeager but she quickly pulled the snap on her shorts and shimmied them and her black lace panties down her legs until she could completely step free.
Eden slowly moved towards the tub, biting that lip once again, and lifted first one leg then the other into the tub and sat on the ledge.
I was sliding my hand up and down my shaft at a reasonable pace until she parted her legs, exposing her entire self to me. My speed started to increase and when she placed two of her fingers into her mouth I thought my head was going to combust. Actually both of them were. Was she bold enough to do what was crossing my mind? If the smirk that was plastered on her face was any indication, the answer was ”oh hell yes.”
Drawing her moistened fingers from her mouth, she dragged them down the curve of her neck and over her breasts all the way down until she reached her core, and just hovered over her center.
Do it, my mind was reeling and my hand was pumping even faster than before. I felt myself building up towards my release and I would have to stop soon or else it would be over far too early and what I had planned just wouldn’t suffice.