“Well, Andi, I think I should take you home. You know, to make sure you get up for school in the morning.”
A delicious shiver runs through my body. This is so unlike me, but I nod my head and suck down the last of my beer. He could ask me to do anything and I would do it. I don’t know what it is about this man, but I’m completely under his spell.
“I need to go tell my roommate I’m leaving.”
“I’ll be right here.”
I push my way through the crowd and towards the back of the bar. When I get to Celeste I have to peel her off of her friend.
“I’m leaving. I see you tomorrow after class.” I try to turn away before my words sink in and she can ask any questions. She will flip if she realizes what I’m doing.
“What? What do you mean you’re leaving? I drove us here.”
“I got a ride. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She grabs my arm as I’m walking away.
“Whoa, Andi. With who?”
“With Charlie,” I say, shrugging, like it’s the most logical answer in the world. Like I always get rides with people named Charlie.
“Who the hell is Charlie?”
I tilt my head towards the bar. He’s leaning on the bar like he owns the damn place, those deep brown eyes focused on me.
“Holy Shit,” she whispers.
“I know.”
“Are you sure about this? I don’t really think it’s a good idea,” my roommate tells me. She looks stone cold sober now. I’ve never left a bar with a stranger. I mean, I’m practically a virgin. Sure, I’ve had sex once, but prom night sex with Ryan Freeman shouldn’t even count. Bets to rid Andi McCall, the preacher’s daughter, of her virginity should make the experience null and void. It wasn’t even good.
“I’m sure I’ll be fine. I mean, he’s a SEAL. What could possibly go wrong? I couldn’t be in more capable hands. I’ll see you at home.”
She hugs me and reluctantly lets me go. As I walk back towards the bar, Charlie pushes off the top and stalks towards me. The second he reaches me, he grabs my hand and basically drags me out the bar. He stops on the side of an old Jeep, opens the door, and puts me inside. When he’s in the driver’s seat I tell him where my apartment complex is. Conversation picks up when we’re on the road.
“Are you almost done with school?” he asks.
“No, I just started.”
“Did you take a few years off after high school?”
I pull on my lip and hesitate with my answer. He calls my name.
“Umm, no, I just graduated.”
“How old are you, Red?”
“Eighteen,” I whisper.
“Fuck,” he exhales, running his hand over his short hair. His whole demeanor changes in the blink of an eye. “You were drinking. I thought you were older.”
“Well how old are you?” I ask, my voice sharp.
“Twenty-six.” We stop at a red light and he looks over at me. “How were you drinking?”
“Fake ID.” I cross my arms and look out the window. “What’s the big deal?”
“Nothing. It’s just not what I expected. I don’t like surprises.”
We pull up at the apartment and he throws the stick shift in neutral but doesn’t move to turn the Jeep off. I guess my age really is a big deal, despite what he says.
“So that’s it?” I ask, my question coming out a bit harsh.
“Andi, I don’t know if we can do this,” he says, sounding like getting the words out is a struggle.
“Why? Because I’m a few years younger than you? I don’t get why that’s a problem.”
“It’s a problem because of what I do. Can you handle that? Can you deal with the fact that I could leave at any minute and you don’t know where I’ll be or if I’ll be coming back? That’s hard for anyone to deal with, much less a child.”
I stick my chin up and poke my finger into his rock hard chest, feeling quite sober at this point, the residual effects of the beer long gone. “I’m not a child, Bankston. I’m eighteen years old. Besides, you don’t know what I can and can’t deal with. You won’t even give us a chance to explore this. You’re kind of an asshole.” That makes him smile, strangely enough. “Anyway, this is a little too heavy for an ‘I just met you’ conversation.”
“Says the girl who proclaimed our marriage before she even knew my name.”
“Oh, I was drunk,” I holler, throwing open the door.
I get out of the Jeep, stumbling when my feet touch the concrete. I’m such a klutz. He’s at my side in an instant, balancing me before I fall and make a complete fool of myself.
“Steady, Andi.” He smiles at me. “I guess it’s true what they say about red heads. You really do have a temper, don’t you?”
“Psshh. That was nothing.” I say, stomping to my door. Before I can get my key in the lock, he grabs it out of my hand and gets the door open, pushing through the doorway with me and coming in.
“What are you doing?” I ask, confused by his actions. He says we can’t do this, but then he comes barging into my apartment. I know I don’t have much experience, but he’s confusing the hell out of me. I can’t keep up with the back and forth of it all.
“Do you really think you can handle this?”
“Only one way to find out,” I tell him, kicking my shoes off when I get in the living room. A tiny spark of hope is building in my chest.
He pulls out his phone and tells me to put my number in. I do as he asks. I think I would do anything he asks.
“I’m taking you out tomorrow. “
“I might be busy,” I tell him with a slight shrug, despite the fact that the tiny spark from seconds earlier has turned into a full blown fire, sweeping through my body at an alarming rate.
“If you want to do this, get unbusy.”
“There you go again,” I say. “That was kind of an asshole thing to say.”
“Are you gonna be alright here by yourself?” he asks, changing the subject, heading for the door, and ignoring the fact that I just called him an asshole.
He’s leaving?
“You’re leaving?”
Once again, total confusion.
“I told you, Andi, I brought you home to make sure you get up for your test tomorrow.”
“Well, how will you know if I get up unless you’re here in the morning?”
I can’t believe I just said that.
“That’s true. I should probably spend the night. I would hate for you to miss a test and compromise your education.”
A huge smile takes over my face and I walk down the hallway towards my bedroom, hoping like hell Charlie Bankston is following behind me.
Chapter Five
Miller
The sunlight streaming in from the hotel’s open curtains pulls me from my sleep much earlier than I’m accustomed to these days. For once, I wake up without a cloud of regret and shame hanging over my head. It’s a feeling that I welcome with open arms. Last night was the first night since I hit the road that I didn’t bring a woman back to my room with me. I simply made sure Andi made it home safely, came back here, and crashed.
Not wanting to lose this feeling, I grab a quick shower, throw on some running clothes, and head out the door. Memories attempt to invade my mind, but I push them out quickly. I don’t want them right now. I wouldn’t say I’m feeling good this morning, but I’m feeling numb, and that’s an acceptable substitute. The alternative is too much to handle right now. I need a break from the onslaught of emotions that tend to take over at unwelcome moments.
After about an hour of hard running, I find myself stopping when I reach the tiny house buried behind a small grove of trees that I escorted Andi to last night. I pace back and forth on the street for several minutes, contemplating knocking on the door and offering up my services. I know she said she can walk to work, but she needed her Jeep yesterday. What if she needs it today? I could have it fixed for her in no time. It’s the least I can do after Cappy gave me such a warm welcome.
Besides, I get the feeling she isn’t getting much help from her husband. Her best friend and father-in-law seem to be taking care of her.
I run my shirt over my face and chest, throw it on, head up the cracked walkway, and give the door a couple of firm knocks. Andi throws open the door, startled to see me on the other side.
“What are you doing here?”
She’s a disheveled mess. Her hair is in an attempted bun, but the strands don’t want to stay put. She’s got on a ‘US Navy’ shirt that’s about five times too big for her, complete with stains down the front, and some holey sweat pants. Charley is propped on her hip, chewing on a piece of a pancake.
“I know it’s early, but I was just finishing up my run. I wanted to grab your keys and go check out your Jeep.”
She looks a little shocked, then instantly suspicious of my motives.
“Look, Miller, I’m not sure what you’re trying to do here, but-,” she stops, exhaling, not really knowing how to proceed.
“I’m not trying to do anything, other than see about your Jeep for you. Like I told you last night, I know my way around a Jeep. I can have it fixed for you in no time. I just don’t like the idea of you being stranded without a vehicle.”
She doesn’t seem to be wavering, so I continue. “Cappy helped me out yesterday, so I’m really doing this for him. I’m guessing you were gonna talk to him about it today, right?”
She nods and simultaneously lets out a defeated sigh. “Hold on, I’ll go get my keys.”
She leaves me standing on the porch while she goes to get them in the house.
“Thanks,” I tell her when she practically throws them at me. “I’ll bring it back over here when I’m done.”
She gives me another quick nod before shutting the door in my face.
“That was quick,” Andi says when she opens the door, about an hour later.
“Nothing a little Coca-Cola and a wire brush couldn’t fix. Your battery cable connections were corroded. I cleaned them up. That old Jeep’s practically purring now.”
She actually gives me a full smile.
A radiant, breathtaking smile that hurts my chest. She may as well have reaching into my body and squeezed my heart with her bare hands.
“Thank you, Miller.”
“Sure. It was nothing.”
“Do you want some breakfast? I think I have a few pancakes left.”
“If it’s no trouble,” I tell her.
She backs out of the doorway and sweeps her hand to the side to allow me to move through. I can see the tiny kitchen just off the left of the foyer, so I make my way there and sit at the little two-seater table. Andi grabs a plate and makes me a stack of pancakes. When she sets them down on the table she starts cutting them up, then stops. She shakes her head and laughs.
“Sorry. I usually don’t fix plates for other people without having to cut the food up first.”
I can’t help but laugh with her. She’s got a contagious laughter. Her voice is raspy, like she’s just gotten out of bed.
“Where’s your daughter?”
“She’s at the park with Cappy. It’s kind of their thing.”
“He said y’all were from California. How long have you been here?”
She looks down, twisting the wide gold band around her finger. “About two and a half years. Cappy’s originally from here, but he hasn’t lived here since he was a kid.” She looks at me for a minute, watching me eat my breakfast while she tugs on her bottom lip. “Why are you here?”
Good question.
Because I have a broken heart.
Because my life was ruined.
Because everything at home reminds me of someone I can’t have.
“Because I’d never turn down free pancakes.”
That smile that threatens to steal my breath away makes another appearance on her face. “That’s not what I mean. Why are you in Fairhope?”
I shrug, putting down my fork. “I’m not sure.”
“Alright. Well, how long are you staying?”
“I’m not sure about that either.”
She laughs that deep, hearty laugh again. “I’m sorry, but this is the strangest conversation I’ve ever had. You’ve got to give me something.”
“I can’t,” I whisper, and her eyes get serious.
“Should I be worried? I mean, you’re sitting in my kitchen and we’re all alone. You’re not a serial killer or anything, are you?”
“I’m harmless, Andi. Promise. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Good.” She sits in contemplative silence for a few beats before speaking again. This time, her words come out soft and sincere. “I think we could be friends, Miller.”
I give her a small smile. It’s all I can manage, since she’s got my mind back on things that I don’t want to think about. Her questions have caused the numbness from earlier to start fading. I’m not ready for any feeling to come back. The numbness was nice. It’s time to get out of here.
“Maybe so, Andi.” I glance down at my empty plate. “Thanks for the pancakes. I’ll see you around.”
I don’t give her a chance to respond. I just get up from the tiny table and walk out of her house.
***
Andi
“Was that Miller I just heard leaving here?”
My best friend just came flying around the corner of the kitchen like the house was on fire.
“Hello to you, too, Celeste. I’m doing great this morning. How are you?”
“Yeah, yeah. Just answer the question.”
“Yes.”
“And that’s all you’re gonna say? ‘Yes.’ What the hell, Andi?”
I keep washing dishes, deciding to let her sweat this out. This has got to be killing her.
“Andi!”
“Celeste!”
I turn around and her eyes are bugging out of her head with shock, concern, and surprise. A million questions are dancing across her face. I just laugh at my friend.
“Seriously, Celeste? Don’t even go there. He came by this morning to pick up my keys so he could work on my Jeep. When he brought it back I gave him some pancakes to thank him. Did you think it would be anything more?”
“I don’t know. He was checking you out pretty hard at the bar last night.”
“Please.” I hold up my left hand, wiggling my ring finger at my friend, as if she needs a reminder.
“Some men like a challenge.”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t think Miller’s like that.”
“Oh, so you know what he’s like?” she asks, wagging her eyebrows suggestively.
That earns her a smack with my dish towel. I love her, but she exhausts me sometimes. “No, he just seems like a nice guy. I don’t think he has an underlying agenda. I think he’s got some shit going on, and that’s why he’s here in the first place. Besides, I don’t think Cappy would have brought him around us if he thought any different.”
“Yeah, we know Cap doesn’t allow questionable people to be around you and Charley,” she says, laughing.
“You’re different- you were mine before Cappy was. He can’t get rid of you. Anyway, I kind of like Miller. I mean, if he sticks around, I think we could be friends.”
A sad look crosses over her face, but it’s gone in an instant. She walks over to me and rubs her hand down my unruly red hair. “I think that might be good for you, sweetheart.”
“Friends, Celeste.”
“I know. Who couldn’t use a friend that looks like that?”
Chapter Six
Andi- Four Years Ago
“Nothing? Are you kidding me?” Celeste asks from across our table, her mouth hanging open. We’re sitting in the kitchen of our apartment that is approximately the size of a shoe box. My curious roommate is dying for all the steamy details from my night with the SEAL. Sadly, there are none to give.
“Nothing happened. Not even a kiss,” I tell her as I take a bite of my lunch.
“Well, what did he bring you home for?”
“For exactly the reason he gave. He made sure I was up for class and left. He said he’d see me tonight and he was gone. It was the strangest thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Last night when Charlie followed me to my room, I didn’t necessarily think we’d be sleeping together after his ‘can you handle this?’ speech, but nothing happened. I went in the bathroom to get ready for bed. When I came out, he was sprawled out across my mattress like he slept in it every night of his life, arms behind his head, and stripped down to everything but his boxers. I had bite the inside of my cheek to suppress a groan at the sight of this massive man draped across my tiny bed.
“You gonna stand there and drool, or get in this bed and go to sleep?”
I made my way over to the bed, not bothering to tell him he was on my side. I didn’t think he would care. Besides, he was so big, sides were irrelevant at this point. He took up the whole thing. As soon as I was close enough, he hauled me into his side, curling around me in a protective, safe manner. The heat radiating from his body was welcoming. I couldn’t wait to feel his weight pressing down on top of me.
Obviously I would be waiting a little longer. He got our limbs tangled in a messy bundle just how he wanted, whispered goodnight, and went right to sleep. I didn’t sleep a wink. How could I, with this mysterious, frustrating, gorgeous man in my bed? I was surrounded by his scent, his warmth, and his muscle. My mind was racing, thinking of all the things I would rather be doing with him in my tiny bed.
“Have you heard from him?” she asks, just as perplexed by the situation as I am.
I give my head a small shake. “Not yet. I’m sure he’s busy, learning how to save the world or something equally as important.”
“Well, I’m certainly intrigued by this entire situation.”
“That makes two of us.” I yawn, exhausted from the lack of sleep the night before. I don’t know how I managed to recall anything on my test earlier. My thoughts are consumed by Charlie Bankston. I haven’t even spent any real time with him and I feel like all thoughts lead back to him.
“I’m going to take a nap,” I tell Celeste.
The Promise of More: The Home Series, Book Three Page 4