American Honey
Page 22
“She’s a little drunk,” I dismissed him, not wanting to get my hopes up.
He shook his head. “You gotta get on that, man. She’s fucking hot and only here for the summer. That’s perfect, especially for you.”
He was right. He knew I didn’t do long term relationships and Kara might be perfect for a little fun this summer.
“Maybe. Next time I go to the diner I will have to make sure to talk to her. Maybe I’ll ask her out.”
“You have to. If you don’t, I will.”
I felt a jab of jealousy. “I will,” I replied quickly. There was no way I was going to pass up a chance at Kara to let him have a try. “I’ll make a special trip to the diner.”
I found her in the crowd and our eyes met. She smiled at me warmly before going back to her conversation with her friend. Yes, I definitely was going to have to go to the diner tomorrow to talk to her. There wasn’t much to do around here, but maybe she wouldn’t mind going for a drive somewhere or over to Bagley Rapids for a walk. I would figure something out.
Maybe I should ask Matt to play her song again.
Chapter Three ~ Kara
“Girl In Your Truck Song”
“What was up with you and JT last night?” Brittany asked me before taking a sip of her coffee. “Remind me to never drink beer again,” she mumbled and rubbed her temples with her fingers. We both had too much to drink but she definitely had more than me. I was bummed I never made it back over to talk to JT because I was chasing after her drunk ass all night and preventing her from going home with some douche bag.
I rolled my eyes at her comment. “My ass you won’t. You’re probably already planning tonight.”
She giggled and set her mug down. “I guess Matt is getting some people together on his boat. He invited us. JT’s going to be there.” She grinned and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at me. She put her elbows on the counter and leaned forward. “Speaking of JT, tell me what happened with him.”
After the party last night, another girl who was sober drove Brittany and me home. I opted to go back to my grandparents’ though since I had to get up early for work. We didn’t get a chance to gossip about the night and what had happened.
“We danced,” I said nonchalantly. “And talked some. That’s all.” I grabbed a towel and started rubbing the counter even though it was already clean. I had to do something to calm my nerves. Even though JT and I didn’t spend a lot of time together, I got a vibe from him that he was interested. At least I thought so. I was a little bit tipsy though, and he could have been too. Or maybe he was just a friendly guy. Whatever the case may be, I couldn’t wait to see him again. Every time the bell on the door chimed when someone opened it, I couldn’t help but look at who came in. The lunch rush was going to start in a little bit and I was hoping he would show up.
“I heard you were dancing pretty close,” she said in a sing-songy voice.
I didn’t say anything but I could feel my face get warm. I remembered the way his hands felt on my hips, holding me against him. His breath had been hot on my neck and his lips had been dangerously close to kissing the sensitive skin there. If the song had lasted a minute or two longer, he probably would have kissed me.
A couple of groups came in for lunch, saving me from Brittany’s grilling. “Listen, I have to get back to work. I’ll call you when I’m done.” I grabbed my pen and paper and walked out from behind the counter to wait on the new customers.
It seemed like the place was packed in minutes; I didn’t even have a chance to think about JT. I brought a table their lunch and rushed over to the next one to take their order.
“Sorry for the wait. Can I take your order?” I asked, not even taking the time to look up.
“I was wondering if I could get another dance,” a deep voice said and I dropped my pencil. I stood there frozen, and looked up slowly. Sitting at the table was JT and what looked like an older version of him.
He bent down and got my pencil, handing it to me with a lazy smile. His brown eyes were twinkling in the summer sun coming through the window. “Here’s your pencil.”
“Thanks,” I finally managed to utter. Oh my god, he must think I’m such an idiot standing there looking at him and not saying a word.
“Any time,” he winked at me. He nodded across the table. “This is my dad, John. Dad, this is Kara. Her grandparents own this diner.”
He reached to shake my hand, his smile as dazzling as JT’s and it was easy to see where he got his good looks. “Nice to meet you, Kara.”
“Nice to meet you too, John.” I smiled back at him but I could feel JT’s gaze on me. I bet I looked terrible. My makeup was probably all melted off and my hair was up in a ponytail. I was wearing jean shorts and a t-shirt – nothing special.
Both men were wearing navy blue button down shirts and baseball hats. They must be on their lunch break from the shop. I couldn’t help but notice their hands, especially JT’s. They were still dirty from working on cars but I found that incredibly sexy. I bet he was good with his hands.
I blushed from the thought and realized I had done that an awful lot since meeting JT. “What can I get you guys?”
They ordered their drinks and burgers right away. I went back to the kitchen and put their order in when Grandma came over to me. “Who’s that handsome young man that keeps looking back here at you?”
He kept looking back here? My heart soared but I wanted to keep my cards close to my chest. “His name is JT. I met him last night.”
“He’s cute,” she winked at me before leaving to take some orders out to the dining area.
I laughed and shook my head; I had a feeling her and I were going to spend some late nights talking about him. I loved my grandma and we had a great relationship. I could always tell her anything. Even when I was living in Madison and didn’t make it to visit here very much, we talked on the phone every week; we are extremely close.
I had to wait on a few more tables before JT and his dad’s lunch was ready, but he caught my eye a few times and smiled. I was disappointed when I got held up by new customers and someone else took their order to them.
I finally brought them their check, my heart racing as I approached their table. “How was everything?” I asked, putting the slip down between them.
“Excellent as always,” JT said and leaned back in his chair.
“Very good,” his dad nodded and grabbed the check. “I’m going to go up front and pay this. Meet me outside?” He asked JT.
“Sure,” he nodded at his dad before turning his attention on me. “How are you today?”
“Good. I had a little headache when I got up, but I’m pretty good at knowing my limits,” I replied, looking down at him.
“Me too,” he said before standing up. “I guess Matt is having a few people out on his boat tonight.”
“Yeah, Brittany was here earlier and she told me.”
“Walk with me?” He asked and I turned to find Grandma. She smiled and nodded.
I turned back to JT. “Sure.”
We walked outside of the diner. “Are you going?” He asked.
I wasn’t sure how to answer this. I wanted him to ask me out so I didn’t want to seem busy but I also wanted to go if he was. “Maybe. You?”
“I think so. It’s a hot one today and being out on the water might be fun.” He stuck his hands into his pockets and smiled down at me. “You should go.”
“Brittany will probably drag me there,” I smiled up at him.
“Good.”
We stood there looking at each other in the middle of the parking lot, silly grins on our faces. A loud truck started up, getting his attention.
“That’s my dad. I better go. See you tonight?” He asked as he walked backwards towards the truck.
“Yes,” I nodded firmly and smiled. You couldn’t keep me away.
I watched him get into the truck and drive off. When they drove past me, he hung out of the window and smiled at me. He waved and I raised my hand to wave back.
When they turned out of the parking lot, I finally went back inside.
“I haven’t seen a smile on your face like that for a long time – if ever,” Grandma teased me. “Making plans to see him tonight?”
“I think so. Brittany mentioned going out on Matt’s boat and I guess JT is too.” I busied myself organizing things behind the counter. The lunch rush was finally over so I couldn’t escape her as easily by going to wait on customers.
“I don’t know much about him or his dad. They seem like nice people. I know they moved here a few months ago. They work hard at that shop, just the two of them.” She said, filling me in on what she little she knew.
The rest of the afternoon was quiet at the diner and when Brittany texted me around three to ask me if I wanted to go boating, I quickly agreed. We made plans to meet at Matt’s place at five. I didn’t tell her I knew JT would be there or she would give me a hard time.
I took a shower and wrapped myself in a towel while I figured out what swim suit I was going to wear. I wanted to look sexy but be practical. I ran and did yoga, so I was fairly comfortable with my body and wasn’t lacking self confidence. I was definitely going to wear a bikini, but needed something that would keep me covered even when we were screwing around in the water.
I settled on my simple black string bikini. It kept everything in place, but showed off all of my curves in the right places as well. I put on some short cut off jean shorts over the bottoms and a sheer cover up top. My hair was up in a high ponytail and I kept my makeup simple with some mascara and blush.
I walked downstairs to say good bye to Grandma and Grandpa. They were reading the paper together. I watched them for a minute with a smile. They were my role models for what true love was. They had been together since they were fifteen and had been through a lot. Grandpa lit up when Grandma walked into the room and she smiled like a school girl when she talked about him. I could only hope to find a love like theirs one day.
“I’m heading out.” I went over to give them each a kiss on the cheek.
“Have fun dear,” Grandma smiled at me.
“Tell that JT guy that even though I have a bum knee right now, I could still kick his ass,” Grandpa told me sternly.
“Grandma!” I looked over at her. “What did you tell him?”
She smiled but looked a little bit embarrassed. “I just said you liked him.”
“Right,” I rolled my eyes but laughed. “See you guys later.”
I drove my old Toyota Celica over to Matt’s. I had no trouble finding the place as it was where we had hung out last night. We were going to pile into his truck and another vehicle before heading over to Chute Pond to ride around on his boat and do some drinking.
When I arrived, Brittany was already there. I went over to her and we started chatting while we were waiting for everyone to get ready. I was disappointed that JT wasn’t there yet. Had he changed his mind about coming?
We were about to leave when his truck came barreling up the driveway. I never noticed what a guy drove before, but I had to admit he looked damn sexy driving that truck. He had the windows rolled down and his arm hanging out the window. He had his red baseball cap on backwards and he grinned when he saw me.
“It’s about time!” Matt called to him. “Can you drive there too?”
“Sure, everyone pile in,” he looked at me specifically. I casually walked over to his truck and got into the front seat.
“Hey,” he said as we waited for everyone else to get in. “You look good in the front seat of my truck.”
The butterflies went into overtime in my stomach and I smiled so hard I thought my face would crack. Before he could say anything else, Brittany got in the back seat.
“Let’s get this party started!” She called out the window and Matt honked his horn at us. He took off down the driveway and we followed behind. I looked out the window, letting the wind hit my face while Brittany chattered on. I turned my head towards JT and caught him looking at me. He winked at me and I stifled a giggle.
I looked out at the side mirror and decided he was right; I did look good in his truck. I hoped I would be spending a lot of time in it this summer.
Chapter Four ~ JT
“Makin’ This Boy Go Crazy”
I had an ulterior motive when I agreed to go boating tonight.
I wanted to see Kara in a swimsuit. She probably looked amazing. She even looked hot at work today in her jean shorts and t-shirt.
I worked late and almost missed the group by the time I got cleaned up and headed out to Matt’s. Thankfully I caught them before they left. I was thrilled when Kara sat in the front seat. There was nothing better than a pretty girl next to me in my truck.
Her friend Brittany came with us along with two others and they were chatting loudly in the backseat. I fought the urge to reach across the seat and touch her.
“Oh my God!” She cried out and reached for the volume on the radio. “It’s our song!” She turned it up and sat back in the seat, singing along to the same song we had danced to the night before, Luke Bryan’s “That’s My Kind of Night”.
Everyone in the truck joined her and started swaying to the music. I swore I could feel the truck moving. I tried to keep one eye on the road and one on her. She was closing her eyes and singing along. It was the sexiest thing I ever saw.
The song ended as we pulled up to the lake. I parked my truck and everyone got out laughing and smiling. This was going to be one hell of a summer and I suspected it had to do with a certain girl I couldn’t keep my eyes off of.
Chase and I helped Matt get his boat into the water. The girls came down on the dock to get in, and I took Kara’s hand so she could step onto the boat. “Thanks,” she smiled at me and brushed a stray piece of hair from her forehead.
I watched her pull a beer out of the cooler and sit down next to Brittany. It was going to be hard to get any quality time with her since we were in a group, but I was going to give it a try. I wanted to ask her out for later in the week. My palms started to sweat when I thought about it; I had never been so nervous to ask a girl out.
Matt and I got the boat away from the dock and by the time I was able to get a beer and sit down, the only spot was up by Matt. Kara had Chase on one side of her and Matt’s brother Derek on the other. What the fuck? How was I supposed to talk to her?
I opened my beer and sat down with a scowl. I pulled my t-shirt off over my head and took a drink. If I couldn’t get near her tonight, how was I supposed to ask her out?
“What’s the matter, JT? Getting cock-blocked?” Matt smirked as he drove the boat out to the sandbar everyone parked at to party.
“Whatever,” I muttered and took another drink. I turned and looked back at her. She had taken off her top to reveal her black string bikini top. I swallowed hard, my gaze traveling over the curves of her breasts. I felt a stir between my legs. She stood up and unbuttoned her jeans, shimmying them down her legs. She stepped out of them and I bit my lip. Damn, the bottoms barely covered her ass and I noticed Chase and Derek checking her out.
I clutched my beer can a little too tight, causing it to crinkle loudly. Matt snorted and rolled his eyes but the rest of the group was oblivious to me. Fuck, this was not going how I hoped at all.
Matt turned on some music and the girls began to dance to the latest song by Jason Aldean. Soon Chase and Derek were dancing with them. I finished the rest of my beer and got another one. Booze might be the only thing to get me through this evening.
I watched Derek carefully as he danced with Kara. He got behind her and was grinding against her much like her and I did the other night. When they finally sat down exhausted, he sat next to her again, this time with his arm around her shoulder, clearly staking his claim on her.
I didn’t know too much about Matt’s brother Derek. I knew he was older and went to school in Milwaukee. I wasn’t even sure what he was studying. Maybe Kara preferred a college guy to someone like me who got his hands dirty at work every day.
I was soaking in the water, my eyes closed when I could hear someone swim up to me.
“Hey you.”
I opened my eyes and Kara was floating nearby me. Her hair was slicked back and wet from going under the water. Her swimsuit clung to her, and I could see the outline of her taut nipples through the fabric. I was glad the bottom half of me was under water so she couldn’t see the tent that was forming in the front of my shorts.
“Hey,” I replied, not sure what to say to her.
“Having a good time?” She asked and got a little bit closer. I watched the water bead on her tanned skin. I so wanted to pull her against me and run my tongue along them.
“Sure,” I shrugged and took a long drink of beer. “You seem to be having fun.” I glanced over at Derek who was talking to Chase and Matt animatedly about something.
She turned around to see where I was looking, whipping back around at me. “I’m not with Derek. I actually think he’s a jackass.”
“Could have fooled me,” I said, instantly feeling sorry for sounding like such an asshole.
She didn’t say anything but I could see the hurt in her eyes. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt her. “I’m sorry,” I swam closer to her before she went away. “I can’t help but notice the way he’s looking at you.”
She bit her lip. “It’s ok. To be honest, I’ve been trying to get away from him this whole time so I could come over by you.”
“Really? I thought maybe you preferred college guys.” I admitted.
“No,” she shook her head. “It doesn’t matter to me.”
“Good,” I smiled at her. “I was really bummed because I thought you liked me.”
“I do like you,” she said quietly.
“And I like you.” All I had to do was lean over a little bit and I could easily kiss her. I didn’t want to cause issues with Derek though. I would use this chance to ask her out instead. I took a deep breath to gather my nerves. “Actually, I wanted to ask you something.”