UnPlanned

by M. Piper

  The way her hand movements are so controlled is hot as hell and the way she sticks the tip of her tongue out of her mouth when she’s super focused is way too cute. I keep my promise by not watching her, but I can’t help but glance over every now and then just to admire the concentration on her face. I’ve never been much of an artist…my talent doesn’t swing that way…but damn she’s hot doing this.

  And don’t get me started on her outfit today. Those shorts on this thing she’s wearing are so short that every time she’d bend over to grab the ball from Yellow, her ass cheeks would peek out just enough to give me a hint of her cute ass and I couldn’t look away. I think she caught me one time, but I wasn’t trying too hard not to stare. Add in the shine she’s had on her lips all day and I was a goner the minute I set eyes on her at her house. I feel like a saint for not taking this any further than a first date should go, but I’m sticking to the gentleman routine. This isn’t a girl you screw and walk away from. This isn’t even a girl you keep around until the next one comes into town. This is a girl any man would be lucky to keep. Forever.

  “Can I look yet?” I whisper, the sun almost gone in the horizon. It’s going to be dark walking back to the truck but I know these woods like the back of my hand. Plus, the lights coming from Nan’s house will be an easy guide.

  “Nope. Not quite done,” she says, her eyes flicking back and forth from the paper to the scene in front of her.

  This place isn’t typically found in our area. Sure, Springfield has a ton of wildlife areas, but something this clear and beautiful and untouched by technology just doesn’t happen anymore. This land’s belonged to my family for years, just as the house has downtown. The state tried to move in on multiple occasions but with my nan still alive and kicking and my parents such a strong part of the community it’s been an easy win. They want the land, the state, but they’ll never get it. Not on our watch.

  “There,” she whispers, bringing her finger to the paper one final time then dropping the orange pastel stick from her hand. “All done.” She grins, then holds her hands up. “And I’m officially a mess.” Her hands are covered in the colors from the scene she just drew and her nose is scrunched into this cute little button.

  “That stinks for you,” I say, swiping the pad from in front of her. “This is mine. Thanks.” I blurt and take a few steps back when she protests.

  “It’s not my best work. I was nervous,” she says fast.

  I smile at her, then bring my focus down to the paper and I’m seriously shocked. I expected it to be good…but not this good.

  “Wren, what the hell are you doing working at a daycare?” I mutter, letting my eyes trace the colorful swoops and small tiny details in the picture. “This is fucking beautiful.”

  “I didn’t get the depth right,” she mutters, wiping her hands on the grass.

  “No, Wren…this is unbelievably beautiful. How in God’s name are you not doing this for a living?” I glance over at her and she’s staring at me with a look on her face I can’t place, but I know there’s a story she’s not telling me. Not yet, at least.

  “Life…” She mutters.

  “You’re not telling me something, and that’s ok, but you will eventually.” She smiles a sad smile and nods, then starts to clean up her supplies. I glance back down at the picture. I’ve honestly never seen someone do this in that short amount of time. Even in a longer time, the only things I’ve ever seen this good are for sale for hundreds of dollars at art galleries. Hell, this is better than that stuff.

  “We should probably get going?” she asks, her eyes telling me words she’s not ready to say out loud. If I’ve learned a few things about Wren today, the biggest one is that she’s not confident about herself at all…when she should be the most confident girl in the room. She needs to believe in herself.

  I take her hand on the walk back to the truck. I probably don’t need to. The woods out here aren’t thick and there’s not much on the path that she’d trip over but just having that contact with her is enough to satisfy my craving right now.

  “You two didn’t hanky panky out there, did you? You were gone all damn day!” Nan yells from the porch and Wren snorts.

  “No, Nan. She’s got this one piece thing on…I wouldn’t know how to get it off if I tried!” I yell back, tugging at the small strap of this outfit. I’m not complaining, this thing is cute as hell…but seriously. It’s like Fort Knox up in here. I lean down as we make it to the truck and whisper. “And by the way, never wear this again,” I whisper. “I’m going to need more access next time.”

  She melts into me and makes a small noise.

  “And what makes you think there will be a next time?” she grins but I see the lust swirling in her eyes.

  “I really want to kiss you right now, Wren.” I whisper, pinning her against the truck as I open the door. She’s so much shorter than me but hell if she isn’t the sexiest girl I’ve been this close to. There’s a familiarity and comfort in being around her. And being this close to her? Fuck.

  “So why don’t you?” she whispers, her hand moving to rest on my abs.

  “To give you something to look forward to for next time.” I wink and she giggles, sending that ping of need straight to my crotch.

  I clear my throat and take a step back then open the truck door, trying my hardest not to grab her ass when helping her up.

  We drive home in a comfortable silence with the windows rolled down and the radio on. I’m not sure what’s going through her mind but halfway through the drive she takes my hand and smiles at me.

  “So Lincoln West, why aren’t you taken yet? I keep trying to understand why a guy like you hasn’t already been swooped up by someone way prettier and more awesome than me and I just can’t figure it out.”

  I glance over at her and as much as I want to boast to the world that I have the best son ever…I can’t. Not right now. Sure, she’s sexy as hell but that’s not even a quality really when thinking about a future family. That’s the main reason why…Carter and I are fine together. I don’t…well I didn’t…think we needed anyone. I barely know this girl. I’m not about to put my son into a situation with a girl I don’t know.

  “I work a lot. Not much time to get out.” I shrug. “Hey you know what I just realized is kind of weird? I don’t even know your last name.”

  “Potts. Wren Potts.”

  “Like Senator Potts?” I glance over at her and she rolls her eyes.

  “Yep. That’s the one.”

  “Your father?” I’ve heard of him. He’s got a reputation of not exactly having the city’s best interest in mind. Thankfully the only run in we’ve had with him was dealt with by my father, but it’s still too close for comfort.

  “The one and only. Don’t worry. I’m nothing like him,” she scoffs.

  I nod and give her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’ve never met your dad so I can’t speak to that, but I can speak to this,” I say. “I had one hell of a good time with you today.”

  “I did too,” she smiles.

  I pull the truck into their driveway and Yellow’s tail is going crazy in the back seat when Wren leans back to give him a hug and snuggles.

  “When can I see you next?” I ask, helping her out of the truck. She shuts the door behind her and smiles at me. It’s dark outside and I know my mom’s waiting on me to go pick up Carter but she was more than happy to keep him a bit longer tonight so I could go out. She’s a little worried about me, like any mother should be, but she has no reason.

  “Lunch tomorrow?” She looks at me with hope in her eyes and I wince.

  “I can’t tomorrow,” I say, offering no excuse. I’d rather not lie if I didn’t have to, and Sundays are always my day to hang out with Carter, just me and him. Usually we go out to Nan’s house and spend the day unplugged from all technology and away from everyone for the day. I say we, it’s not like he needs to unplug, but he’s a kid in the twenty first century. Even getting him away from the iPad and getting ou
tside is a win in my book.

  “Oh,” she says, her face falling so I quickly try to right the awkwardness.

  “Tuesday night? I typically get off work at five. I can pick you up and we can go grab dinner?” I’m sure my mom will watch Carter late if I asked her, and if not it’s a Tuesday, so Reagan or Ford may also be able to help.

  “Sounds good.” She’s wearing a smile and I want so badly to lean in and kiss her, but I don’t.

  “Thank you for today, Lincoln. It was the best day I’ve had in a very long time.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and gives me a quick hug before heading to their front door.

  I can’t stop smiling the entire way home. I almost feel like a tool for not kissing her goodnight, but whatever this is with her is so much more than that. I felt it all day, this pull to her, and it’s so much harder to explain than I ever thought possible. It’s like being around her, I feel full. I thought my life was full… I’m now thinking that maybe this whole time I’ve been wrong.

  “How was the date?” my mom asks, holding a sleeping baby in her arms. I roll my eyes and grin, walking over and taking a seat on her couch.

  “It was just fine, Mom.” I say, sighing. “Way good. I think I really like her.”

  She glances down at Carter and I know she wants to ask me if this girl could be serious but she doesn’t push it.

  “What’s her name?”

  “Wren Potts.”

  “Senator Potts?” Her eyebrows pull together and I nod.

  “He’s her father.”

  “Oh,” my mom says and I cock an eyebrow at her.

  ‘What?”

  “Oh nothing.” She gives her head a quick shake with her brows furrowed. “Nothing at all.” She pastes on that ‘I’m worried but I’m not going to let you know that I’m worried’ look and stands from the chair. “I’ll get him in the car. Grab his bag, will you?”

  I head to the kitchen and grab Carter’s things. It’s not a lot since my mom keeps most everything here that she’ll need since she watches him so much, but a few bottles and the diaper bag and I’m on my way out. She’s still wearing that worried expression on her face as she waits by the truck, the doors open to keep the air flowing. I hop in and start it up to get the AC on for him while he snoozes away and walk around the cab to my mom.

  “You sure there’s not anything on your mind?” Ever since I mentioned Wren’s last name she’s had a peculiar look on her face but I could be reading it wrong.

  “Everything is fine, hun. You get that baby home and in bed.” She smiles and pats my cheek. “You two going to Nan’s tomorrow?”

  “That’s the plan.” I smile and hug her. “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Anytime, Lincoln.”

  She waits in the drive for us to pull away and by the time I get home I’ve worked myself into one huge pile of worry over this thing with Wren’s dad and my mom’s worry.

  Carter wakes up when I try to transfer him from the truck to the crib so I spend an hour getting him changed and rocked back to sleep, then spend about a half hour just rocking him. Some parents are so quick to get their babies in bed, but for as long as he’s been mine, I’ve been rocking him to sleep then snuggling him. These quiet time snuggles are what I live for.

  “Mom said you had a date?” Lark asks on our weekly phone call. I miss living with my sister. Hell, I miss everything about my sister. Lucy’s great and all, but there’s no replacement for a sister. I’ve asked Lark plenty of times to move back and we can live together but she refuses to live that close to my parents ever again.

  “I had a day date, yes,” I answer, smiling. Yesterday was better than I could have ever dreamed. I’d have had a fun time doing the typical shit around town, but the fact that he brought me somewhere so personal on the first date…and then when he ripped out the art supplies? Gah!

  “How was it?” I can hear the grin in her voice. She always tried getting me to date in Seattle but after what happened I never had the drive. For so many reasons.

  “It was…nice.” I answer, still smiling.

  “Just nice? Who is he? Is there another date? Did he kiss you?” She shrieks.

  “No kiss,” I laugh my reply. “But God, I really wish he would have,” I say, sighing. “He’s got an older brother, too. You could move back and we could double date!”

  “Fat chance. I’m not moving back, Wren. You can stop wasting your breath.”

  “I miss you though,” I whine.

  “I miss you too, punk. You can visit any time you would like. Now tell me more about this date!”

  I laugh and spill every detail. About his truck, the chocolate lab named Yellow, his Nanna, the forest…everything.

  “God, he sounds like a hopeless romantic. Does he know you’re too jaded for that shit?”

  “I’m not jaded!” I shriek. “I can do romance just fine!”

  “Sure. Did he bring you flowers, Wren? And how hard did you roll your eyes at it.”

  I laugh.

  “He brought me a flower,” I stress the word A while sitting here, staring at this thing in the tiny cup I put it in.

  “A?”

  “One. A single weed.” I laugh when she starts in.

  “What the fuck, Wren?! Is he a loser?! Why’s he bringing weeds to you on a first date!? Who is this character?”

  “It was kind of sweet, ya dork.”

  “How is a weed sweet? Unless you’re talking about a pot brownie. Then we’re getting somewhere.”

  I roll my eyes.

  “No, not a pot brownie ya fucking idiot. One beautiful yellow and white flower that is sitting pretty on my countertop right now.”

  “He brought you a weed you’re swooning over and you actually put it in water?”

  “Right away,” I chirp, smiling and hopping up when I hear a knock on the front door. “I gotta go. Mom’s here,” I huff and she groans.

  “I don’t envy you,” she says, laughing.

  “Next Sunday?”

  “Same time same place. Love ya little sis.”

  “Love you, big sis.” I end the call and check my appearance in the mirror before walking to the front door.

  My mother called this morning and wanted to have a shopping day with me. Why, I have no clue, but I agreed because I’ll never turn down someone offering me free clothes. I make my rent and pay for my phone bill. I help out Lucy with the utilities every other month per our agreement, but I barely have anything left over at the end of the month. Living without my parent’s help means there’s mostly no money left at the end of the month. It’s hard, but it’s worth it.

  “You should go get ready, we’re going to be late,” my mother barks as I let her in.

  “Hi to you too, Mom,” I say, shaking my head when she makes her way straight to my kitchen. “I’m already ready to go.”

  I watch her scoff and make a face at my flowers on the counter then grab the cup they’re in. I almost bust a knee running to her and stopping her from tossing it in the trash can.

  “What in the world, Wren? These are dead! Why would you keep something dead in here!” she scoffs.

  “They’re not dead. It’s beautiful and it’s mine. Leave it.” I glare at her and she sets it back on the counter with a huff.

  “Fine,” she says, rolling her eyes. “It’s silly but it’s yours. Now go put on a dress.”

  “We’re shopping, Mom. I’m not changing,” I all but growl. She narrows her eyes at me then a small smirk plays on her bright red lips. I swear my mom has her perfect makeup tattooed on her perfect face. I’ve never seen it not on and I’ve never seen it any other way.

  “Fine,” she chirps all too cheery. “Let’s go.”

  I lock the door behind me, happy that Lucy hid in her room while my mom was here, and follow my mother to the car. My mom has never met Lucy, and the weird vibe I’m getting from my mother this morning tells me it wouldn’t have gone over well. Lucy isn’t one to be intimidated by powerful and…well intimidating women. Michae
l’s waiting for us with the back door open and gives my mother a curt nod before she slides in.

  “Miss Wren. I like your new digs,” he says, smiling bright as I walk over to hug him.

  “Thank you,” I say, happy at least someone in my life admires how I’m trying to make myself worth something other than just my father’s last name.

  “We don’t have all day, you two. Michael, you can catch up on your day off.” My mother’s voice comes from the car and Michael gives me a small smirk and knowing nod before I slide in.

  “What’s so pressing, mother?” I huff, buckling. “It’s shopping. The malls are just now opening.”

  “Oh I know. We have lunch before.” She opens her mirror and fixes her makeup as I stare at her. I have a hunch who this lunch is with, rather why we’re having it, but I really hope I’m wrong.

  “Why?” I whisper.

  “Daniel wants to see you now that you’re home.” She clicks her mirror shut and her eyes bore into mine. “He misses you.”

  “Mother,” I huff, clasping my hands tight in my lap.

  “He hasn’t been the same since you left, Wren. And our families combined would be the most powerful combination in Springfield.”

  “Power?” I hiss and notice Michael’s eyes flick back to me. Sad. They’re full of sadness.

  “Power means money.”

  “Mom, he cheated on me. Three times! I was eighteen…he’s three years older than me and he cheated on me with a thirty year old!” I snap, unable to hold back the anger.

  “Oh honey, he was young and impressionable. It’s different now.”

  I slide as close to the door as I can and grab my phone, shooting my sister a text.

  Me: Mom’s planned lunch with Daniel.

  Lark replies immediately.

  Big Sis: O.M.G. Get out of there!

  Me: I wish.

  I roll my eyes and put my phone away, staring out the window. I can’t talk to my mother without biting her face off and I can’t take Michael’s knowing glances to the back seat.

  We make it to the restaurant and I know why my mom wanted me to change. It’s the most upscale restaurant Springfield has to offer. I’m suddenly very happy I came in shorts and a tank top.