by True, Holli
I kept a straight face for Matt before flashing a smile for Katie. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too! Wow, good for you, Hailey!” she laughed, nudging her with her elbow. “It’s so crazy to see you here! Matt and I were just talking about you, weren’t we Matt? How funny is that?” Katie rambled, her mouth moving so fast, it was practically a blur. She carried on, talking about a party she was planning.
My eyes flickered back to Matt. He shifted uncomfortably. Ethan slowly moved around Matt, inching closer to Hailey. I clenched my teeth together to keep from demanding he back off. Instead, I heeded a nonverbal warning, wrapping my arm around Hailey’s waist, pulling her closer against me.
“We actually have other plans tomorrow, don’t we Jonah?” Hailey’s words drew me back into the conversation.
“At least stop by!” Katie pleaded before I could respond. “It’s going to be huge, everyone’s going to be there! You can’t say no! You know I throw the best parties!”
“We’ll try,” Hailey said.
“Yeah, Hailey, at least come by. Just don’t bring this guy,” Matt said, jerking a thumb in my direction, causing everyone to turn and look at him. “I didn’t realize things were so serious between you two already. It seems a little fast to be meeting the family and all that, don’t you think? Especially considering you barely even know the guy and he’s been lying to you about everything.”
Hailey sighed heavily, rolling her eyes, “Seriously, Matt?”
He shrugged, “Just stating the obvious.”
“No,” I said firmly, moving forward until I was only inches from Matt. I’d had enough and I was on the verge of blowing up, one wrong move from him was all it would take for me to unleash the pent up rage I’d been caging for months. “The only thing that’s obvious is that you’re still hung up on a girl you can’t have. Hailey’s declined every one of your advances, countless times. But you can’t seem to get it through your thick skull. So, let me make it clear for you, Matt. She doesn’t want you. She’s not even remotely interested in you.” I locked a cold glare directly at him, “Got it?”
Matt’s face was stone cold as he stared back at me. I could imagine the thoughts he had flying through his head and all of the ways he wanted to hurt me for everything I’d just said to him. But he didn’t stand a chance against me in terms of strength. Or when it came to Hailey’s heart. Of that, I was certain.
Hailey wrapped her hand around my arm, her touch calming me. Katie stared wide-eyed at all of us, looking dumbfounded by everything she’d just witnessed. Ethan was casting a murderous glare in my direction, but I ignored him entirely, keeping my eyes fixated on Matt’s.
“I’ve tried to be your friend, Matt. I’ve given you the benefit of the doubt and forgave you for your disgusting behavior several times.” Hailey shook her head at him, “But you’re an ass. I’m done. We’re not friends anymore.”
“Are you serious?” he asked in shock.
“You brought this all on yourself. I can’t do it anymore. I won’t,” she said flatly, pulling my arm so we could leave. “Let’s go.”
“Okay, well, it was good to see you, Hailey!” Katie called after us. “I hope to see you tomorrow night! Consider it!”
“Fat chance,” Hailey whispered under her breath as we walked away, leaning into me.
I could feel their eyes on us as we walked away, but it didn’t matter. She had made it perfectly clear that she wanted nothing to do with him anymore. To get to her, Matt would have to go through me and there was no way he’d ever manage to. Matt and Ethan would never be able to touch her, I would never let that happen.
As I opened the door for Hailey, I turned to look at Ethan. He shook his head, his arms crossed in front of his chest. “Big mistake, Trabor,” he said coldly.
“If you say so,” I muttered, knowing he could hear me. Without another glance, I followed Hailey into the store. But his warning was harsh and it stuck with me the rest of the day. I feared we’d done more damage than good. We hadn’t put an end to the impending war, we had just officially declared it.
. . .
“Are you sure you wouldn't rather hang here with us? Your aunt is bringing a new game, along with her new guy.” Christy looked at Hailey with hopeful eyes.
Before Hailey could decline the offer to stay, Tom intervened. “Let her go, honey. She’s young, we’re old.”
“I’m not old!” she scoffed at him before turning her attention back to Hailey, “Am I?”
“No, you’re not old. And no, I’m not staying, mom.”
“Where are you going to be, again?” she pressed.
“Chris,” Tom warned, “she’s an adult. She’s been living on her own for months now, let her be.”
Hailey shot Tom a grateful smile. “I’ll be home tomorrow, in one piece. I promise.” She kissed them both on the cheek and gathered a small, pink duffle bag from the high-back chair positioned near the front door. What her parents couldn’t see were the two other bags she’d already packed in the trunk of her car, before they had come home.
I tried to remain neutral so that Leo and Abram wouldn’t have any suspicions. So far, Hailey and I had managed to fly under the radar. Tonight, of all nights, I didn’t want to cause any red flags to go up. I was incredibly eager for the night to begin, but I had to keep it all pent up on the inside, remaining calm on the outside. It was nearly impossible to do and a true test of my patience.
“Well, drive safe, it’s snowing again and the roads will be slick.”
“She grew up here, she knows how to drive in it,” Tom reminded her.
She ignored him, “And no drinking! I don’t care that you’re old enough to live on your own, you’re not old enough to drink, young lady!”
“I don’t...” she raised her hands as a show of innocence, “I won’t! I’m not! Okay? I promise.”
“Call me,” Christy said, following Hailey to the door.
She stepped out onto the front porch, turning as she spoke to her mother, “I’ll text.”
“Have fun,” Tom said, placing an arm around Christy’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about her, I’ll keep her under control.”
Hailey laughed softly, “At least you can. Happy New Year, I love you guys!”
Tom smiled with pride in his eyes.
“Love you, honey,” her mom said, blowing her a kiss from beneath the covered porch.
Hailey was silent as she drove. She wasn’t giving an inch about the details of our evening, despite my best efforts to get them out of her. I sat beside her, unseen in the passengers seat, taking in all of her beauty.
She was humming along to the song playing on the radio, I vaguely recalled hearing it before. Her hair was cascading down her left shoulder, falling just below her rib cage. She had spent the afternoon applying makeup, more than she usually wore, but not so much that she didn’t look like herself. She looked absolutely breathtaking.
“You’re so quiet,” she suddenly broke her silence, glancing over in my general area.
So are you.
She raised an amused brow, “Touché.”
I smiled at her, but she couldn’t see me.
“When we get where we’re going, I’m going to need a little time before you show up. Once we get settled there, you have to promise not to peek until I tell you to.”
You’re killing me with the suspense.
“Just promise me. Please.”
I promise.
She smiled.
Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into a temporary parking spot in front of a large brick building in downtown Bend. I recognized the area right away, she had been there countless times over the years, as there were various places to shop and eat. Without saying a word, Hailey turned off her car and climbed out.
She was instantly met by an older man in a gray uniform. “Welcome to The Oxford,” the man said with a warm smile.
A hotel?
She nodded, I could only assume it was for me. “Thank you,” Hailey said to the
man, handing him her keys.
“You can go in, I’ll be right behind you with your bags,” he said, gesturing to the revolving door of the hotel.
Did you do what I think you did?
“Maybe,” she mumbled as she went through the doors, still smiling. She smiled all the way through check in and up the elevator. Even as she slid her plastic key in the metal key reader and entered the Terrace Suite she had reserved just for us. And while I couldn’t be certain, because I kept my promise and refrained from looking at anything but the falling snow and city lights through the window, I imagined she was still smiling as she moved about the hotel room.
I listened closely to everything she did, trying to imagine what she was doing. Sometimes she was in the same room as me, moving things around in the kitchen area, retrieving things from cupboards and then continually clicking something, but I had no idea what.
She disappeared into the bedroom for a length of time, making it much harder for me to make out the noises, especially with the soft music she had playing. I heard the distant sound of a zipper from one of her bags, then very distinct sound of her makeup on the counter, one noise I was accustomed to hearing. Finally, I heard the very faint sound of her spraying something, most likely her perfume and then the door to the other room opened.
The anticipation was growing within me with every passing second. I was so eager to be there with her, to hold her, kiss her and have an entire night with her that didn’t require us to whisper or be on pins and needles with fear of being caught. Just her and I. All night.
I heard her footsteps move across the thin carpeting, it sounded different than before. She took a deep breath and then she moved again. This time the footsteps were moving toward me, but she couldn’t yet see where I was.
“Okay,” she finally said. “I’m ready for you.”
Is there a dress code? I asked her, glancing down at my usual attire of jeans and a tee shirt.
“You mean you can just decide on a whim what to wear?” she asked.
Basically.
“Well, that’s convenient. You realize that’s every girl’s dream, right?”
You’re killing me. I just want to see you.
“Sorry!” she said with a giggle. “No dress code.”
Certain that I was far undressed for the occasion, I opted for a black button down shirt and nicer jeans. It was the kind of outfit I had seen Ben wearing numerous times, I only hoped it would be a fitting choice for my evening with Hailey.
Wasting no time, I transitioned immediately, keeping my back to her. All at once, my senses were overwhelmed. The room was warm and swirling with several different scents. Hailey’s perfume, of course, as well as hints of berry and vanilla. Candles, maybe? There was another scent that I couldn’t quite distinguish, but as Hailey laced her fingers in mine, my mind quickly pushed that mystery to the back of my mind. Her touch was the only thing I could focus on.
“Perfect,” she said, releasing my hand. This time she wrapped her arms around me, hugging me from behind. She rested her head on my back, exhaling softly. “I’ve been waiting for this moment all day.”
“Me too,” I said as I intertwined my fingers with hers. Bringing one of her hands to my mouth, I kissed it gently. “Can I turn now?”
“Yes,” she said releasing her hold on me.
As I turned to see her, she took my breath away. Gone were the leggings and oversized sweater she’d been wearing when we had arrived. She was now wearing a short, white dress with sheer sleeves, embellished with silver sequins and small crystals. Her straight hair was now curled in loose ringlets, dancing around her shoulders. She looked absolutely gorgeous, I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.
“Surprise,” she said, doing a little spin. The back of the dress scooped down, leaving most of her back exposed, which definitely caught my eye. “Do you like it?” she asked, referring to the dress. She watched me closely, trying to gauge my expression for a reaction.
“Are you kidding me?” She was utterly beautiful, just looking at her had practically rendered me speechless.
“I know it’s a little much-” she started, tucking a long curl behind her ear as she looked down at the dress.
“You’re perfect,” I assured her, reaching for her hands.
She smiled up at me through her lashes. “Thank you,” she said, leaning into me, pulling our interlocked hands behind her back. She kissed me softly on the lips and then murmured, “So, what do you think of your surprise?”
“I can’t believe you did all of this for me.”
“I wanted to spend the night with you. Just you and me.”
Reaching up, I caressed the back of her neck, pulling her toward me. “I love you so much,” I said, my eyes intent on hers.
“I love you,” she said.
“Dance with me?” I asked, already wrapping an arm around her waist, just as she had taught me.
“Always,” she smiled, her body instinctually beginning to sway with mine. She nuzzled into my chest, lifting our joined hands up near her shoulder, her fingers gently caressing mine. “All we need are the stars.”
“All I need is you.”
- 19 -
only you're the one
HAILEY
The night could not have been more perfect. Slow dancing in Jonah’s arms. A private, romantic dinner by candlelight. Snuggling together on the couch, kissing. Lots of kissing. Sometimes a little more. Ringing in the New Year being wrapped up in his arms. It all felt like a dream, but it was better than that, because it was real. And it was ours.
It was just after one in the morning and I knew Jonah was waiting for me on the other side of the door. But I needed another minute by myself before I could face him. I had one more surprise in mind, but it was going to take all of the courage I had within me to be able to face it.
I took a deep breath, reaching up to remove the silver chandelier earrings that were dangling from my earlobes. Clutching them in my hand, I stared back at the girl in the mirror, only she didn’t look like a girl anymore. It was almost as though my reflection knew I was on the verge of becoming a woman. I placed the earrings on the marble countertop, immediately reaching for my brush. Gathering all of my hair to one side, I ran the bristles through the curls, creating soft waves. When I was satisfied with that, I examined my face, deciding only to add sheer gloss.
My heart raced in my chest as I slipped a cream-colored lace and silk nightie over my head. It felt so soft and delicate against my skin, clinging to some of my curves, while only hinting at others. My hand instinctively grazed over the exquisite fabric, tracing over all of the little details. I had never felt more feminine in all my life.
A rush of heat flushed in my cheeks.
This was a monumental moment. I was about to offer all of who I was to the man I loved, giving him a part of myself that I had never even considered giving to anyone else. There was no one else in the world that I could ever imagine being in this moment with. And I had no doubt in my mind that Jonah was the love of my life, my everything. He was my eternity and I was his. Nothing could be more right than being with him, every part of him.
I walked slowly to the door of the bathroom, nerves causing my hand to tremble as I placed it on the doorknob. You can do this, I encouraged myself, gently pulling the door back. You want this. And I did. Very much.
The butterflies fluttered in my tummy as I took a small step forward, my eyes already firmly on Jonah. He was sitting on the end of the bed, looking more handsome than ever with his rumpled hair and unbuttoned shirt. Looking at him stopped me in my tracks, rendering me breathless in his presence. I shifted my weight toward the doorframe, never taking my eyes away from him, allowing it to support me.
An audible gasp escaped Jonah’s parted lips as his eyes travelled slowly over me. He looked both stunned and mystified, all at the same time, as I stood before him. Part of me expected him to come to me, sweep me off my feet and carry me back to the bed. Another part of me wanted him to s
tay exactly where he was so I could take control of the moment and go to him.
But neither of us moved.
Desire and uncertainty were tugging at my emotions from the inside. But there was also another feeling trying to nudge it’s way to the surface, though I couldn’t quite define what it was. Anxiety, maybe? Fear? Yes, fear. Though it wasn’t a fear of being with Jonah, because I wanted nothing more than to be with him like this. Yet, the fear was still there.
I was drowning in my own thoughts, but I refused to let them pull me under. I wanted to rationalize everything I was feeling, but it all felt so irrational, I knew it would be impossible to make sense of it all. And I didn’t want to miss a moment of what was happening. I would have plenty of time to sort my head out later, but now was not the time. Right now was about me and Jonah and nothing else.
“Say something,” I finally said, desperate to break the silence.
Jonah shook his head slowly, “I... I can’t even speak.”
I looked down, smiling softly to myself. That was a good sign. “So, I take it you didn’t peek in the lingerie store the other day?” I teased him, feeling more confident.
“Well,” Jonah said with a short laugh, “my curiosity was definitely piqued. But I had no idea you were getting something like that.” He took a deep breath, he was clearly deliberating something.
It was an entirely new and foreign experience for both of us, so it was only natural that we both felt unsure of what to do. Of course, I knew the basics. I’d sat through numerous health classes, heard about sexual encounters my friends had been through, seen plenty of love scenes in movies and on tv, and embarrassingly enough, I had even Googled a few things from time to time. But I had never actually been in a situation like this. And obviously, neither had Jonah.
He finally stood and turned in my direction, hesitating for a moment before walking toward me. My breath caught in my throat as I anticipated everything that was about to happen. What was it going to be like? How would it feel? Would it hurt? Not that I cared if it did. I just wanted him.