I yell to mom that I’ll be right back and lead Mr. Smith down our front path to the street. “You didn’t have to come all the way here to apologize and berate me. You could have called.”
He scoffs. “I brought you something.”
He points to the limo. Confused, I pull open the door and slide in to see what’s waiting for me.
Megan.
Totally-hot-in-the-blue-dress-and-black-heels Megan. Her lips are pink, and her eyes are made up, making them look even bluer. Her hair is down but looks twisty as it hangs over her bare shoulders. She looks sexy and cute at the same time, just like she is.
I sigh and sit across from her. Her dad fake salutes me and shuts the door. Inside, she looks comfortable, like she belongs there. Then she over smiles, almost cringing, and raises a hand and wiggles her fingers at me.
“Hi.” Her voice shakes through her odd smile.
“Hi.” She’s staring at me, but I don’t know what else to say. She’s so breathtaking the words don’t want to form anyway. “You’re all dressed up.”
“I was hoping you still needed a date.” She bites her lip.
She’s waiting for me to respond, but all I come up with is, “Oh.” I want to tell her yes, with everything in me, but I’m tired. As Nate shaved my beard, as I took that jog around the NJU stadium, as I felt the thrill of throwing the ball to Pisko, I made a vow to myself. A vow for a new start.
Meg twists her hands in her lap. “What do you say?”
I rub my bare chin. What do I want? Big Joe had asked. I’m not sure if I want to rewind with Meg. “I don’t know, Meg.”
She puts her hand up to stop me. “Before you say no, I have to show you something.” She opens her purse and pulls out a folded piece of notebook paper. She reaches over to hand it to me.
When I take the paper, my fingers brush hers, and I’m tempted to grab her hand. Instead, I unfold the paper and see the words “REVISED CONTRACT” scrawled across the top. “What is this?”
She leans over me, close. “Read.”
I study her, smelling her perfume and making sure her nose freckles are still in place. Now that she’s here, in front of me, it all feels like it was real. The love I felt for her had nothing to do with football. It was her. Us.
When I don’t move, when I can’t tear my eyes away from hers, she adds, “Please.”
I come back to life and look down at the paper.
REVISED CONTRACT
I, Party One (MS), promises you, Party Two (BR) that I will be honest with you and not run away from you but toward you, that I will let you in, hold you tightly, and be your partner. I’ll try not to get mad (unless I have reason), but if I do get mad, I’ll tell you. I’ll communicate.
You, Party Two (BR), promise me, Party One (MS) that you will not always save me. You’ll let me make my mistakes, you’ll trust me, and you’ll let me love you. Because I do. Love you.
I love you. You’re my ninety-fiver :)
And I’m sorry.
So, WE the undersigned will:
(1) Give this another shot.
(2) Start over with a clean slate.
(3) GO ON A DATE! Gasp!
(4) Wait until our THIRD of said DATES to have sex (because that’s what we should do).
(5) Have fun and laugh. Be happy, dumb kids.
(6) Watch football together (Go Stangs!).
(7) Not let my dad run our lives.
(8) Get smart at college.
(9) Eat cake and crush over football players.
(10) Live happily ever after.
You up for it, Riley?
I can’t help but smile as I reread her words. She loves me. I look at Meg. She’s twisting her hands and biting her lip. Her flush creeps up her chest to her neck. Hell yeah, of course I’m up for it, I want to yell in answer to her last question.
She reaches for her bag and pulls out a pen. “So? How about a do over?” Her voice is sweet and crackly as she holds the pen out for me.
I think for half a second, but I’m in. When I take a deep breath and reach for the pen, Meg smiles and her shoulders relax. “I guess I have to get rid of Carly.”
“Ha.” She playfully smacks my arm. “I’ll be dealing with Carly from now on, that match stealer.” She points to the paper. “Well?”
I pretend to read the paper again. “This clause about three dates before sex.”
Megan raises her eyebrows.
I smirk and ask, “Is that a deal breaker?”
She shifts on the seat and turns to me. “I—”
“Because you look incredible dressed up, and I’m getting all turned on… your face… I missed it… the heels…” I bite my fist, and she giggles.
She looks me up and down. “Hey, this isn’t exactly easy for me either. You’re clean-shaven and in a tux. A tux! What do you expect me to do with that?”
I scribble my name on the bottom of the paper under hers. “Okay. I’ll sign. But I’m going to figure out a loophole. Quickly.”
“Maybe you should ask your dad to look it over.” When she bites her lip again, I smile some more.
“Yeah, let’s talk more about my dad.” I copy her sarcastic line from the first time we were together in my room and toss the paper and pen as I maneuver to sit next to her. She shifts her body to face me then touches my cheek. It’s a whole new sensation to feel her fingers on my bare shaven face.
“You’re so smooth.” She brushes her fingers over my cheek, down my chin, over my neck.
I mimic her movement and reach to touch her cheek the same way. “You too.”
She laughs and touches her lips to mine. I pull her close, kissing her deeper. Her hands wander under my jacket, and she wraps them around my waist. I let my hands wander too, until a knock on the window makes us both jump.
Megan’s eyes are wide as she smiles. “My dad!” When she puts the window down, Big Joe’s face appears.
“Everything okay in there?”
He looks from her to me, and I assume he knows we’re okay. “Perfect. Thanks, Daddy.” Megan grabs her bag and shawl thing then opens the door.
“Oh wait!” she says to Big Joe.
She turns to face me. “Can I be your date tonight?” With her back to her father, she focuses on my lips and gives me her planning-a-feast look.
I whisper. “Yes. Date number one.” She smiles and shifts as I quickly kiss her lips. “Let’s go.”
When we step into the cool afternoon, Megan runs her hands over her dress and flattens out her skirt, and then she shakes out her hair. In her heels, she’s only a few inches shorter than me. Her runner’s legs look incredible, and her dress clings to all the right places. She glances at me as she swings her shawl over her shoulders. Even though her father is two feet away, I’m crazy turned on. I distract myself with a plan to make three dates happen in record speed.
“Listen, princess. The Riley’s are pretty hyped about sharing a drink with me. Is that okay with you? I know how you feel about my celebrity.”
She waves him toward the house. “Go. I’m so proud of you, Dad. I’m sorry I’ve been hiding you away. Please, go inside. We’re right behind you.”
He kisses her cheek and smiles. “You’re all grown up.”
She winks at him. “About time, I guess.”
He points at me. “And you. You still have to take care of her, you know that right?”
“When she needs me to, sir.”
He smiles and turns to walk up the path. Mr. Smith is a good man. He makes mistakes, but he tries to fix them, apologizes, and moves on. Big Joe will always be my childhood superhero, but it’s nice to know he’s human too.
When Big Joe disappears into my house, I face Megan and swaddle her tightly in her shawl. “We’re going to have so much fun tonight.” I kiss her on the nose and wrap my arms around her. “Come inside. Meet my family.”
“I feel like I know them already,” she says. “Juliet gave me the lowdown on your brothers.”
I roll my eyes. “Y
eah, they’re a special crew.” I lead Megan up the path to my front door, but as I reach for the doorknob, she pulls me back.
“Wait,” she says behind me.
I stop on the porch and turn to her. She holds my hands.
“Thanks,” she whispers.
“For what, Sweet Meg?”
She keeps her hands tight around mine and looks up at me. “For being you. In case I never told you, I think you’re awesome.”
“You love me.” I watch her eyes for the truth of it. “It’s in the contract.”
“It is.”
I grin as I actually see it there, the love, the connection. “I think you’re awesome too.”
Her cheeks redden. I’m not sure if she’s cold or just blushing. I wrap her in my arms and we stand there, together. Then I remember. “Hey!” I pull back to look at her. “Do you believe we matched our answers ninety-five percent?”
She scrunches her nose and I count her freckles. “Actually, I do.”
“Yeah, me too.” I squeeze her nose. I can’t help it. My face warms and I wonder if now I’m blushing. No beard to hide behind either. “I love you, Amelia Megan Smith.”
Megan surprises me by pulling out of my arms. She stares at me, wide-eyed, then tears down the front path.
I yell after her. “Where are you going?” Oh no. Was I not supposed to say that? ”No more running, remember?”
She opens the door to the limo and turns to me. “I’m adding that you love me into the contract,” she yells back. “So you can’t reneg, no matter how crazy I get.”
I jump off of my porch and meet her at the car. She squeals as I hoist her over my shoulder and start back up the path. “Reneg? There will be no reneging. I’m holding you to every word of that contract.”
She laughs, hitting me on the back. “Oh my God! Put me down! My boobs are falling out!” On the porch, I flip her back onto her feet. She readjusts her dress. When I lean in to peek, she smacks me away. “Three dates.”
“Then let’s go, Smith. Date number one.” I hold the door open for Megan, my girlfriend, and she steps into my house.
Megan
Despite the crowd and the noise, the low lighting and activity, I can’t stop staring at Ben. His smile lights up the room. His eyes twinkle, and he’s so damn handsome. He’s September Ben, with a more mature, sexy vibe. And he’s mine. My insides warm at the thought.
True to the “Legend of the Riley’s,” according to Juliet, Nathan tried to pick me up the second I walked into the Riley house, which actually made me feel more comfortable, and the Sams saved me. I did a double take when I met Evan—he’s, well… wow. I somehow got the five brothers to pose and sent the picture to Juliet and Maggie.
Maggie texted back:
Holy mother.
Juliet’s response:
I TOLD YOU SO.
Juliet’s off course with her assessment though. Ben is the best-looking Riley by miles.
He must feel my stare because he glances at me, excuses himself from the person he’s talking to, and walks over. “Hey, sweetheart,” he says, and I swoon a little. He holds his hand out and asks me to dance, like in a dream. On the dance floor, Ben shoos Nathan away when he tries to cut in, but other than that, we’re silent. I want to stand there forever, swaying with him.
Suddenly, Ben jerks away from me, staring at me, wide-eyed.
“What’s wrong?”
“Come with me,” he says.
He drags me through the reception hall and out the front door into the cold night, wrapping his tux jacket around my shoulders. “Where are we going?” He doesn’t answer as we cross the busy street to the Starbucks. “Coffee? Can’t we get coffee at the reception?”
He points me to the counter. “Order.”
I stutter, confused. “Um, okay? Hot latte, whole milk, please?” I tell the barista. After Ben orders the same, I wait for an explanation.
He doesn’t offer one. Instead, when our coffees are ready, he grabs them and leads me to a table. “Sit.”
“Ew.” I grimace but sit at the table. “Bossy.”
“Drink.”
“Can you form a sentence please?”
“After you drink.”
I sigh and take a sip of my coffee, and Ben visibly relaxes. “Third date, Smith.”
“Huh?”
His face lights up, his eyes twinkle, and he leans in close. “We’re on our third date. Starbucks.”
I cross my arms over my chest and tilt my head. He looks so pleased with himself that I can’t help but ask. “How do you figure?”
“We had a date in September.” He holds up one finger. “Now the wedding.” He holds up a second finger. “And here we are at Starbucks.” He wiggles his three fingers and smiles.
Hot and a genius. My breath quickens at the thought of getting my hands on him, putting those wiggling fingers to use, but I tease, “I don’t know, Benjamin. Isn’t that a little sketchy?”
“The contract doesn’t say that the dates have to be on separate days.” He reaches to smush my nose, smiling while his eyes burn a trail over my body. “Loophole, Sweet Meg.”
I warm, either from the coffee or the promise behind his words. “Ah, you found the loophole. Your dad would be proud. So where does this third date conclude?”
He leans back and waves his arm, trailing his hand in the air. “Evander has so much to see, the possibilities are endless.”
“Who knew Evander was such a mecca of the northeast?”
We carry our Starbucks back to the reception hall, and later, after devouring the wedding cake, Ben drives me to the Evander High football stadium. We climb the bleachers, and Ben jiggles the lock on the door to the announcer’s box overlooking the field.
“This room is legendary. The lock has never worked. Don’t worry though—we make freshman clean it once a week.” Sure enough, when Ben opens the door, the smell of lemon hits me like a wall. “I guess nothing’s changed.”
“Oh, a lot has changed, Benjamin.” I walk in and look around then run a finger over the counter facing the field. “How many girls have you brought here?”
“Just one. You. I’ve always wanted to make out in this room though.” He pulls me to him and kisses me, his lips warm and determined. He lifts me to sit me on the counter and wiggles between my legs. My dress hikes up to my hips, and I feel him press against me.
When his kisses move to my neck, I breathe, “Glad I can help you out with this fantasy.”
“Oh, sweetheart. I have a list of fantasies I want to play out with you. Are you up for it?”
“Hell yeah, Riley. Let’s do it.”
Epilogue
Ben
“You’re doing it wrong, Ben.” Winston peers over my shoulder at the steaks on the grill. Rocco inspects my work too, but only offers a grunt. Chase lounges by the pool reading a magazine.
“Go away. Both of you. There’s a whole ocean out there to explore.”
I point the spatula toward the beach where the girls sit on blankets, surrounded by a mess of books, bottles, magazines, and towels. From the deck of Megan’s Miami house, I can hear them laughing about twenty or so yards away.
Megan waves to me from the blanket, and I signal her over, just as a group of guys approaches the girls.
“Roc! Chase!” I call and nod toward the beach. “Sharks.”
Chase throws down his magazine. “Again? Jesus Christ. Isn’t this a private beach?” He shields his eyes and looks toward the girls as one of the guys kneels down next to Jules. “Always Juliet. I think she flirts with them or something.”
“Ya think?” I say, sarcastically.
When another guy kneels next to Pooja and two next to Maggie, Rocco and Chase leap into motion. They pass Megan on her way up the stairs to the deck.
Winston disappears, jumping in the pool as Megan wraps her arms around my back. “You look so sexy in your grilling gear.” I’m wearing board shorts and an apron, and nothing else. “Thanks for cooking.”
I spin around and shut the hood of the grill. “My pleasure.” Megan’s in a purple bikini with little strings that tie over her hips. I tug at one of them as I kiss her. “I’m not used to you being so close to naked. You’re usually covered up like an Eskimo.” A couple days ago, we were freezing in the Evander High football stadium, and now we’re here, in the hot Miami sun.
“I love the Miami house,” she purrs, squeezing me.
“Me too. Let’s move in. Kick the rest of these bums out.” We look to the blanket. Rocco’s standing, arms crossed, over the girls like a bouncer. “Except what’s with the guys here? It’s like an endless stream of testosterone.”
Megan giggles. “I didn’t notice.”
“Good answer.”
I smush her nose. “Ouch!”
When the steaks are done, we go to the kitchen to get plates and utensils. Megan makes a salad and yells at Rodrigo to help. He’s sunburned to a crisp and watching a movie. Winston sets the long table on the deck, and then he goes to get the others.
When we find ourselves alone, Meg corners me in the kitchen. “I’m happy everyone came. I’m having a great time.”
“Me, too.” I pull her to me and nuzzle her neck. “It’s so awesome being here with you. Last night, the beach…”
“This morning,” she whispers, “the shower.”
“Right now,” I suggest, “the bedroom?”
She looks outside to our friends walking to the house from the beach. “They’re all on their way up.”
“They won’t miss us. We’re almost naked already, and there’s always time for a quickie. That’s what they say.”
“That’s what who says?” she asks. “Isn’t that the oil change commercial?”
I shush her and grab her hand, leading her to the bedroom.
By the time we get back outside to dinner on the deck, everyone is seated and passing around the salad bowl. Megan fluffs her hair, and I rub my chin as we sit at the two remaining empty seats.
They all stop moving and stare at us. Chase meets my eye.
“What?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “You two are the worst.”
“We were getting bottles of water." Meg rolls her eyes at him.
She Runs Away (The Sheridan Hall Series Book 2) Page 30