by Vi Carter
He nodded now, but no warmth had re-entered his eyes. “He was mad at Ashley, not you. He’s sorry for how he spoke to you.”
I nodded with a tight smile. “It’s fine.”
“You told him that we grew up in a foster home together.” Jared’s eyes softened like he was happy Chester and I bonded. A part of me wanted to tell him that Chester was a bad person, but seeing Jared now, alive and well and standing here in front of me, when I had feared for him for so long, I just couldn’t bring myself to give him bad news. And he was happy.
“Yeah. We chatted at the end. You know, before Ashley arrived.” At the mention of Ashley’s name, Jared flexed his fingers.
“She won’t let him see his kid. It’s really shit on him.”
I didn’t blame her. But of course, I also kept that to myself. So we sat in silence, and his gaze shifted to my plants. One of his brows cocked in surprise. “So, you garden?”
The change of topic had me sitting back. “Yep.” I grinned now while raising both eyebrows. “I try,” I added.
Jared’s head cocked to the side as a smile tugged at his lips. “You could never take a compliment.” He examined the rest of the garden. There really wasn’t much to see, but he looked at it with expressive eyes. “Anything you touch blossoms. It always has.” Jared wasn’t looking at me; his tone had drifted off as if he hadn’t spoken out loud.
“Thank you.” My words were only a whisper, but he heard me as he looked at me with hooded eyes. Everything about him was so familiar, yet so new.
“You should really put down some membrane under the plants,” he said, jutting his chin out towards the large, empty flower bed.
Now I smiled. “Yeah, I will be. Since when do you garden?” His smile turned into a full-blown one that had my heart skipping.
“I have many talents, Layla.” His double meaning had the tips of my ears turning red. His laugh at seeing me turn red nearly undid me. I was so grateful when Carl arrived.
“Plants look great,” Carl told me, with a soft smile on his face. Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I had to stop myself from bouncing up and down on the heels of my tattered shoes.
“I’ve four more to plant, and then I’m going to put Wild Indigo between every second one. They’ll work very well together.”
The off-white and lavender colors would blend beautifully against the grey slabs; I could picture the garden when it was in full bloom. I was smiling now, glancing at Jared who was smiling at me. “May I help you?” Jared’s question had me quickly looking at Carl who was staring off into the distance.
“It’s okay. I’m sure you have more important things to do,” I answered him. Jared’s mouth twitched like he was holding in laughter.
“Did you teach her how to garden, Mr. Reid?” Jared asked Carl. Jared looked so confident with one hand tucked into his jeans pockets as he stood beside Carl. They were nearly the same height.
I had so many questions for Jared. First of all, Mr. Reid? How did he know their second names, and also, how had he found out where I lived? I narrowed my eyes at him with suspicion as Carl laughed, holding up his hands. “I wish I could take the award for that. But it’s all on Layla.”
“Not really. I wouldn’t be able to do this if it weren’t for you guys giving me free reign of your garden, plus, you’re paying for it.”
The corner of Jared’s lip lifted. “It looks like they made the right investment.” I blushed at the compliment.
“It’s a bargain, and we are grateful.” Carl moved to me, kissing me on the forehead. The affection surprised me.
“Okay, I’ll let you kids get back to it.” I smiled at Carl. Surprise filled me for the second time as Carl shook Jared’s hand before leaving. “Thank you for taking care of her, and I’m glad to have met you.” Jared’s gaze flickered to mine before returning to Carl. “You’re welcome and thank you for taking care of her for me.”
My breath caught at his words. Carl put his second hand over Jared’s sandwiching it between his. I couldn’t see Carl’s face, but Jared’s flashed with emotion. He gave it a final soft tap before turning to me, a soft smile on his lips for me.
I wanted to tell him how grateful I was for how he was treating Jared, how much it meant to me. I hoped he saw it in my eyes as he left.
I blinked when the sliding door closed, only to find that Jared was watching me. Now I rocked on my heels. “What?” I asked, wondering why he was looking at me like it was the first time he was seeing me.
His eyelashes fluttered, and when he looked at me, he was Jared again.
“So, are you coming tonight?” he asked.
I sat back down and picked up my gloves. I didn’t put them on, just held them, and Jared sat down beside me, his shoulder flush with mine. We both faced out towards my empty flower bed. He bumped shoulders.
“I’ve nothing to wear.” Yeah, that sounded as lame as it had in my head.
“Wear whatever you want,” he said, and I glanced at him sideways.
“Fine, I’ll wear my overalls.”
His lip twitched. “That’s fine by me. You look cute in your overalls.”
I laughed at him. “Yeah. They’ll be dropping at my feet,” I said, sliding on the gloves.
Jared gaze drifted to me now, he was focused, serious. “You’re right. You can’t wear your overalls.” He grinned now, not able to remain serious. “So, you’ll come?”
My senses were committing to memory all these wonderful things about Jared: his smell, his smile, how his eyes lit up. My pulse jumped along my neck as I focused on his lips. When I returned his gaze, his pupils were dilated.
“I’ll go.” My words had him blinking, and when he looked at me again, his eyes had returned to normal, and he stood up.
“Great. I’ll pick you up at eight. Wear something casual.” That was abrupt. I was getting ready to get up.
“Stay. I’ll let myself out. Finish your planting.” His face had softened again, and I found myself smiling at him.
“Okay, see you later.” I watched him leave, spending a bit too much time watching his backside. I sighed and scolded myself.
I had no right to look at him like that. I stayed out in the sun until I had all my plants in the ground. I needed a shower. I could feel the sweat dripping down the back. At the sound of the sliding door, I turned expecting Carl, but it was Evelyn.
“How’s my girl?” she asked. Her smiling face was like a hug. She spent most of her time happy. I couldn’t remember ever seeing her unhappy or upset. She was human, so she had her moments, but overall, she was a very happy person. I realized just then that I wanted to be like her when I grew up.
“I got the centerpiece finished.” I stood up now, so I could stand back and admire my work as Evelyn joined me.
“Looks great. I hear you had quite the day.” I glanced at her to gauge her reaction, and her huge smile had me relaxing.
“Carl told you then,” I said, folding my arms.
“Yes, he did. He said Jared was handsome.” Heat raced across my face.
I tilted my head slightly. “I suppose,” I said, with a shrug.
“You suppose?” I could hear the laughter in her voice.
“Yes, I suppose,” I repeated my words and picked up my tools. “He has a girlfriend,” I said without looking at her as I gathered it all up.
“And you have Kieran. That doesn’t stop anyone from saying a person is attractive.” I cringed at Kieran’s name. Ugh. I should never have lied. That was something I would have to come clean about, and sooner rather than later. But I wasn’t ready for the conversation right now.
“Yeah, I know. So how was work?” I asked and was grateful when Evelyn allowed me to change the conversation. I knew we would get back to Jared, and I was okay with that, but right now, my body was filled with nerves as I thought about the party tonight. Evelyn told me about her day as we left the heat of the garden behind us. We went inside the house, and the cold air hit me immediately.
CHAPTER FIF
TEEN
Eight O’clock arrived, and the doorbell rang. My hands fluttered to my white sleeveless shirt. It fell to my knees and covered my denim shorts and a white string top. The see-through material was light, allowing the cold air to touch my skin, but still, my temperature rose drastically as the doorbell rang for the second time. My white pumps sounded loud as I walked down the hall. Taking one final look at myself in the hall mirror, I brushed my hair back over my shoulders. My minimal makeup would work to my advantage as the night wore on, but now seeing myself, I felt maybe I had made a mistake.
The girl who stared back at me had large blue eyes that looked wide with fear. Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, I looked away. It didn’t matter how I looked, Jared was my friend, and I needed to remember that.
Within seconds of opening the door, I lost sight of it. Jared was facing the road, his hands dug into his pockets; a heavy silver watch encircled his tanned wrist. He turned, and his eyes flashed before roaming me from head to toe. I held onto the door like it was a lifeline. His brown t-shirt once again fit him perfectly. As my eyes moved higher, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and I passed his plush lips before settling on the deep pools of his chocolate brown eyes. I pulled my lip in between my teeth again. Jared’s eyes flickered to my mouth. I released my lip immediately.
He stared at me now, and I couldn’t hold his gaze. I wondered what he saw when he looked at me like that. Was I dressed okay?
“You ready?” He asked, and my gaze flickered to his. His brows furrowed, and he turned slightly away from me. His change confused me, maybe it was the way I was acting. I was looking way too deep into everything between us.
“Just let me grab my bag,” I said as he stepped off the porch.
“I’ll be in the car.”
I closed the door and tried to calm my erratic heartbeat. A squeal tore from my throat.
“Oh, I didn’t hear you,” said Evelyn, with mirth in her voice, and she smiled.
“Just came to see if you were leaving. Wanted to say goodbye and enjoy your night.” She hugged me now, and I returned it. Her arms were so warm. She always ran a little hotter than most people. Carl often told her he should run a few pipes off her in the winter to heat the house.
When she released me, I smiled up at her. “Yeah, just need to get my bag.” I paused before entering the kitchen to get it. “Evelyn, do I look alright?” I held out the white shirt while chewing on the inside of my mouth.
“You’re beautiful Layla. You’re beautiful no matter what you wear, but tonight you look even more so.”
Evelyn’s words stayed with me as I left the house with my bag. A large black jeep that I had seen the first day I had met Jared in the supermarket carpark, sat outside my house. Jared was in the driver’s seat, his hands clutching the steering wheel as he faced forward, working a muscle in his jaw. I moved around the Jeep and opened the door. Immediately he released the steering wheel and gazed at me, his jaw relaxing. “I thought you changed your mind,” he said as his lip twitched. His joking mannerism had me relaxing as I closed the door.
“I was thinking about it, but the only way out is the front door. So…” I clipped my seatbelt and glanced at Jared.
His eyes lit up with surprise, and his lip pulled on one side. “Yeah, you wouldn’t get away from me that easily.”
I smiled at his words, they made me happy, really happy. “I don’t know Jared, I think I could give you the slip.” The deep laugh that erupted from his mouth as he pulled the jeep away from the sidewalk sent a shiver down my spine.
“We’ll see,” he said, his eyes bright and alive as they flickered to me before focusing on the road. My stomach flipped at his words. Dropping my bag on the floor, I lay my hands on my lap. “So where are we going?” I asked. It was something I had wondered all day since he had left the garden.
He grinned now, and I was grateful that he had to focus on the road. I used this moment to take in his side profile. Stubble that I hadn’t noticed before was leaving a shadow along his jaw that now twitched. I quickly looked away, wondering if he was aware of me watching him.
“We’re nearly there,” he said after a moment. I nodded, but he didn’t see the action.
“Okay,” I said.
“Don’t be nervous, Layla.” Jared surprised me by saying that. What made him think I was nervous? Then when I really thought about it, I was nervous, but not about where we were going. No. It was how I was feeling about him. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” When he said this, I had to look out the window. He still saw me as a victim.
“Yeah, I know,” I told my reflection. The night sky was a blank canvas waiting for the stars to appear. We pulled into a parking lot that overlooked the beach.
“The beach?” I said, staring out the window. Jared turned off the jeep, and my heart leaped as Jared took my hand in his.
“Do you still trust me?” he asked, his eyes filled with raw emotion that caused my breath to hitch. I nodded, and a slow grin spread across his face.
“Let’s go.” He was out of the jeep and at my door in a moment. I picked up my bag as he opened the door for me, one hand outstretched to me and a lopsided grin plastered on his face that was causing havoc to my stomach. My hand looked so small in his. After he closed my door, I accepted his outstretched hand in mine. He tightened his grip, and I wasn’t sure what to do. I kept waiting for him to let my hand go but he still held it as we walked down to the beach. Our fingers entwined. Jared tugged on my hand, and I looked up at him. His brows rose, and he had a silly smile on his face.
“Come on,” he said, and we ran towards the water. We kicked up the sand behind our heavy heels. His large hand holding mine, the wind wiping past us, and the taste of salt on my lips would be a moment of moments, one I will never forget.
When Jared released my hand, I felt the loss immediately until I realized what he was doing. I copied him, tugging off my tennis shoes and socks. I stripped off my long blouse and dumped my bag on the sand. Jared had rolled his jeans up to his knees. I took his outstretched hand without hesitation this time, and we grinned at each other before running into the water.
The cold spray hit me so hard that it had me laughing and screaming and running back to my pile of clothes. Large strong arms wrapped around my waist and lifted me up into the air. The excess water that dripped off me was freezing. I squealed as Jared pulled me back into the water. “It’s too cold!” I screamed, and he dipped my toes, then feet into the water. The heat of his chest against my back made the whole thing feel different now. He dropped me lower until the water nearly touched my knees. I was standing now, the waves crashing against my leg. That’s when I spotted a star, the first one to show up on the blank canvas. Jared’s arms hung close to my hips, I tried to ignore the heaviness of them. Pointing to the star, I tilted my head back to look at Jared. “Make a wish,” I said, and his nostrils flared as a tightness entered his jaw. My stomach hollowed, and his hand touched my cheek, his brows furrowed. “I wish…” he paused, and my heart drummed.
“What are you doing?” The warmth was gone. I only felt the cold salty night water that lapped against the back of my legs as I turned, along with Jared, to see someone standing near our pile of clothes.
“Better get back,” Jared said, not looking at me. I was surprised to find Kieran standing ashore. His white shirt was light, nearly like mine, only his had sleeves and fit snugly against a surprisingly toned body.
“You’re trouble, Layla,” Kieran teased the moment I stepped out of the water. Jared tugged on his socks and shoes not even waiting for his feet to dry.
“Yeah, a real troublemaker,” I said, pulling on my shirt. Kieran’s eyes lit up with surprise before he laughed. Jared glanced up at me now. I couldn’t get a read on him. He looked almost confused.
“I’m taking notes. Layla likes babysitting and water. You will be a cheap date. I just need to find a baby.”
I snorted at Kieran. “I’m crossing babysitting off my list,” I said,
and he grinned.
“Amending notes. Only water on a first date.” Now I looked away, feeling the heaviness of Jared’s stare on me.
“We better get to everyone else,” Jared finally spoke, his words clipped. I could see Kieran looking between Jared and me, and I gave him a tight smile. Jared picked up my shoes and bag, and I reached to take them from him, but he pulled back.
“I’ll carry them.” It wasn’t a question, but a demand. Jared waited until I started walking before falling in behind me. Kieran was shadowing me, taking each step with me.
“So, about that date,” Kieran asked, and I glanced at him. He was attractive with blue eyes and a cheeky smile. But I hadn’t forgotten how he was with Morgan the night of Chester’s party.
“I don’t really date,” I said with a shrug. I could feel the full weight of Jared’s stare on my back. This was like having a conversation with my dad behind me. Kieran glanced back at Jared, his brows pulling together before he turned to me again, a smile replacing his frown.
“Me either. Hate dating.” I laughed at Kieran. He was persistent I would give him that.
The light of fire up ahead doubled the shadows of all the people who sat close. Some sat on the sand, others were more prepared, having brought blankets upon which to relax. I was about to mention not having a blanket but stiffened as Alex bounded towards us looking like one of those women from a Bond movie, her gold bikini top was generously filled, water still clung to sun-kissed skin, a flat stomach disappeared under a long skirt that seemed to flow across the sand. Her hair was wet and swept back. Sprinkles of water hit me as she passed by, throwing herself into Jared’s arms. He caught her easily, his large hands wrapping around her tiny waist. I looked away as my stomach fell flat. It was worse than the coldness of the water. But it’s what I needed. He wasn’t mine, I had no right to look at him the way I had been.
I found Kieran watching me, and I hoped my emotions didn’t show.
“I have a blanket if you need somewhere to sit.” Yes was the right answer here, to leave Jared and Alex alone, but some part of me clung to Jared, like a child to its parent’s legs.