“What? Sex?” Mom laughed. “Honey, how do you think you got here?” she laughed harder and I’m sure the look on my face rivaled my dad’s.
“Leah,” he scolded as he stared at her.
“Oh stop it, Nick. She’s not a little girl anymore. We can talk about this stuff,” Mom rolled her eyes as she smacked Dad’s stomach. He made a grunting sound before sighing loudly. “Wanna go swimming?” she wagged her brows as she shifted beside him.
“Not really,” he grumbled.
“I’m going to go call Mel. She should be home by now,” I mumbled as I stood. “You two have fun.” I rushed down the hall but not fast enough.
“Oh, we will,” Mom giggled as she rushed to the slider. “Come on, Babe. I’ll let you do that thing you like.”
“Gross!” I shouted before shutting my door.
“Now you know how I feel,” Dad yelled out before their voices became muffled.
What the hell just happened? My parents, the ones who I thought were going to flip out, are being totally cool here. I flopped down on my bed and that’s when I saw it... an envelope. It was lying on my pillow with my name scrawled across it in my mom’s handwriting. I picked it up and ran my fingers gently over the script before carefully tearing it open. I’d found letters like this one in a box one time. I was about eleven when it happened. I’d known since I was little about how much my parents wanted me. My mom had almost died bringing me into the world, and she’d written me letters. She’d even made movies with Dad’s camera until he caught her one day. He’d thought she was giving up and saying goodbye, but she was trying to leave something behind for me if she didn’t make it. She’d done that with letters too. When I found the box, she’d told me that she couldn’t bear to throw them away. She wouldn’t let me read them, but she kept them.
I wondered now as I looked at this one if it was new, or one of the prized ones I’d found years ago. The paper was folded neatly inside, and as I unfolded it to read my hands trembled.
Dear Emma,
I know what happened. Your dad filled me in, and I want you to know that I’m not mad. I know it must have been hard to go through what you did, and not tell anyone. I can’t tell you how sorry I am that you experienced that. I want you to know that you can tell me anything. I don’t want you to be scared or worried about how I’ll react. Your father and I love you, and would do anything for you. Emma, I’d die for you. A mother’s love is like no other. There’s a bond made the minute a woman finds out she’s pregnant. I know you felt it too. It’s unbreakable, and the pain our children suffer is our pain too. I’ve fought for you since I knew about you, and will continue to champion you until the day I leave this world. Know that! Know that no matter what I love you. You can’t change it. You can’t run from it, and you can’t ruin it. I hope that when you face adversity in the future you’ll come to me or your dad. That’s what we’re here for; for you to lean on.
I know you love Brock. I’ve known it since you were just a teenager. I’ve been waiting for the two of you to get your moment. I knew it would happen eventually, and I was right. The universe doesn’t put people in our lives for no reason. They all have a purpose, and Brock’s purpose is to be your ‘one’. He might not know it now, but give it time. You two were meant for each other. I’m going to work very hard at keeping your dad from killing him, but know that I’m only one person.
I’m going to leave you with this. Spend every day as if it’s your last, and love with all your heart. If you do this, you’ll have a life full of love and happiness.
Love Always,
Mom
I sat there clinging to the paper as tears streamed down my face. How did she always know what I needed? It didn’t matter where or when, she always had the right words to make it all better. Even now as an adult, she could comfort me like she did as a child.
I gently folded the paper and placed it back in the envelope before rolling onto my back and grabbing my phone. There was a text from Brock and I quickly read it before dialing Mel.
Brock: Love you Beautiful. Goodnight.
Me: Love you too.
“What’s up, girlie?” Mel’s voice was chipper when she answered.
“Not much,” I sighed. I was tired and after reading that letter from Mom I was emotionally drained. “I’m sorry I was such a flake while you were here.”
“No worries. I still had fun. It was a nice break before fall classes start. Speaking of which... when are you coming back?” she was chattering along and it surprised me by how happy she seemed after she was so down on the beach.
“Sunday,” I groaned. “I’m not ready to leave.”
“What does he think?” she asked tentatively.
“Who?” I knew what she meant, but I didn’t want to talk about him yet.
“Brock. Duh! Who else would I be talking about?” she laughed.
“He says he’s going to come visit, but it’s going to suck having me so far away,” I murmured.
“Yeah, I can see that. You are coming back though, right?” her voice shook slightly and I wished I could be in two places at once. I knew by the sound of things that Mel wasn’t ok at the moment, but I just couldn’t leave early. It would be months before I’d see him again and Brock needed me too.
“I’m not leaving you hanging, Mel. I’m coming back. I can’t let a boy mess with my plan. I’m going to finish school and if Brock and I survive it, then we’re meant to be. If not, well at least I’ll have fun while it lasts.” I laid there contemplating what I’d just said as it sunk in. I was doing what Mom told me to do. Love with all my heart and live like it was my last day. I knew it was going to be hard over the coming months, but I also knew Mel would help me and in the end it would be totally worth it.
“Have you talked to Aaron lately?” and there it was. I knew she was still upset over him. I’d been waiting for her to ask, and I really didn’t know how to help on this one.
“No. I’m sorry. Please tell me this isn’t why you rushed off to go home. I know you could have stayed longer,” I begged as I waited, and waited, and waited for her to answer.
“He texted me late last night,” she murmured.
“What’d it say?” I was praying that it wasn’t one of his drunk booty call texts that he had a habit of sending.
“I miss you,” she grumbled. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“Mel,” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You’re talking about a guy who jumps from girl to girl without a care in the world. I don’t know why he keeps testing you. He wants to sleep with you, but he wants it to be your idea. It’s his way of getting out of a relationship. If the girl starts it, then he can push them away easier. I’ve seen it over and over.”
“Maybe I should have just given him what he wanted,” she mumbled.
“What?” I squeaked. “You’re not like that. Please don’t let him do this to you. You’re so much better than the girls he goes after.”
“You don’t know that,” she growled. “You think you do, but you don’t.”
“What are you talking about?” I sat up in confusion.
“I’m different, Em. I’ve changed. You didn’t know me before. I worked really hard to be different. To start over, and now I’m asking myself why I bothered. He’d like the old me; it’s the new one he doesn’t want,” she huffed as I heard shuffling around. “I gotta go.”
“Ok,” I felt terrible. I knew she was upset, and by the sound of things, not in a good place right now. I had no idea what she was talking about, and it seemed she didn’t want me to. Mel had always been so worried about things like grades and finishing school early. She stayed away from guys like Aaron, and never really dated. I’d never seen her dress sexy or do anything that would make me believe she was any different than me, but to hear her talk tonight made me wonder if I truly knew her at all. “I’ll see you Sunday night, and Mel.”
“What?” she mumbled.
“Don’t let Aaron Sutter change you. There are too man
y guys out there that deserve you so much more than he does,” I promised.
“Yeah, ok. See ya Sunday,” and she disconnected the call.
As soon as I cleared my call screen, I brought up Aaron’s number. I could just walk next door, but I’d have to walk by the pool. It was dark, the pool lights were out, and my parents hadn’t come inside yet. You do the math. I was not walking to Aaron’s.
Me: Leave Mel alone. She’s too good for you.
Aaron: I like her
Me: Leave her alone. I mean it.
Aaron: What if I don’t want to?
I shook my head as I tossed my phone on my dresser. I guess I was going to have to go see him in person, but it wouldn’t be tonight. Tonight I was going to sleep and dream of Brock and all the things he did to me today.
Chapter 20
Emma
I’d spent the last couple of days absorbed in Brock. I knew I needed to talk to Aaron before I headed back to school. I wanted to try and get some semblance of what was going on for Mel. She didn’t deserve to have her feelings played with, and that’s exactly what he was doing.
When I showed up at Uncle Cam’s this morning, he’d informed me that Aaron left early for work. He was going back to school next week himself and was picking up extra shifts to try and make as much money as he could. Lifeguards didn’t get paid much. Getting a nice tan was the main reason to take the job, that and looking at girls or guys depending on your fancy. I knew where he’d be, and when I saw him in the distance, the anger in me rose.
There he was leaning against his lifeguard tower with two bimbos. They were touching his arms and abs and he was eating it up. I almost gagged thinking about how many women had done this to him. Uncle Cam didn’t act this way, at least not that I remembered, but Mom said Dad was a player. I couldn’t imagine him being this way and still getting Mom’s interest.
I stormed up to him, and poked his shoulder from behind to get his attention. “Excuse me,” I growled. One of the girls looked at me and sneered. Relax honey, I don’t want him. We’re related. I rolled my eyes at her as Aaron looked over his shoulder and grinned at me.
“Can I help you with something, Em?” he smirked.
“I brought your medicine,” I smiled sweetly. His forehead crinkled in confusion as he shifted on his feet. “If you don’t use it, the rash will come back. You remember what the doctor said,” I kept smiling as I watched a look of horror spread over the two bimbos faces.
“Sorry Aaron,” they giggled. “We’ve gotta go,” they scampered away before he could respond, and I smiled smugly.
“What the fuck did you do that for?” he flipped his hands in the air. “I was working on something for later.”
“I can see that. Why?” I rolled my eyes. “They’re idiots.”
“But did you see her tits?” his brows bounced as I made a gagging motion.
“Are you ever going to grow up?” I scoffed.
“Nope,” he smirked. “I’m willing to take whatever they give me,” he grinned and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes again.
“Including some disgusting disease,” I laughed. “Gah, you’re such a player.”
“At least I embrace it,” he shrugged as he turned to face the water once again. The girls that had been talking to him were long gone, and I could tell he was looking for someone else to flirt with.
“Hey,” I slapped his shoulder. “Leave Mel alone.”
He jerked away from me. “Stop trying to force bodily harm on me, and what if I like her?”
“The only reason you like her is because you think she’s a challenge. She’s not like these blonde bimbos that you pick up out here. She has feelings, Aaron, and you keep toying with them. Leave her alone,” I placed my hands on my hips as I glared up at him.
“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbled before waving a swimmer closer to the shore that had gone out too deep.
“I mean it,” I growled. “She’s not the girl you mess around with. That’s not her, and she’s one of my friends. I don’t want to have to pick up the pieces when you break her heart.”
“Who says I’ll break it. Maybe I want a relationship,” he refused to look at me.
“Right. The only relationship you want is with 1-800-BIMBO. I know you, and I know what you do with the girls you date. Mel’s not easy. She won’t fall into bed with you. You have to change, and you have to be genuine, and I really don’t see that happening,” I continued to poke him in the shoulder. The longer we talked, the more frustrated I became. Aaron didn’t seem to understand or care what he was doing and I had a bad feeling that things with Mel were going to get more complicated before they got better.
“I hear you, ok. Loud and clear!” his head swung in my direction as he lifted his hand in a salute. “Now, I have to work. So, if you’re finished with the lecture, Em, you can run along,” he stressed my name before motioning with his hand in a brushing like motion and gritting his teeth.
I stood there staring a moment before finally giving up. It was useless, and unless Mel flat out told him to stop bothering her I didn’t think he would. For some reason I had this feeling that she might be the one... the one to change him.
When Sunday finally arrived, the weather matched my mood. It was gray and rainy outside, and it made leaving that much more depressing. It’s funny how one person can change your outlook on life. Last summer it didn’t bother me that I couldn’t come home. Lacrosse had taken up all my time. I’d given up pretty much every break we had to practice and travel for games. My parents came to me, and I was ok with it. When I came home this summer, I had absolutely no expectations. I wanted to hide away and forget my problems. I didn’t think the summer would amount to much of anything, and I was just hoping to heal. Then Brock came into my life...
Now I can’t imagine what life will be like without him in it every day. Aside from a few days, we’ve spent most of the summer together. Granted the first part was spent in hiding, but Brock either showed up here or met me somewhere every day. We’ve spent the last week inseparable. I even spent my days in the weight room right near his office. Dad got a real kick out of that, let me tell you. Mom’s been on my side through every step of the way. She told Dad he’d be sleeping on the couch if he interfered with our relationship. It’s been quite comical watching my parents. I never noticed it before.
Growing up I knew they were happy. They’ve always been the perfect couple, but as an adult I can actually see it more. When we’re kids we think our parents are perfect. Now I see them compromise, or I see Dad compromise. Mom pretty much wins when they argue. I know my dad loves her though, and I hope that Brock and I have that sort of relationship as we grow together.
I’ve been staring at the walls of my room for the last hour trying to make myself leave. My parents said goodbye to me this morning before they left on another coaching clinic. Mom pretty much travels everywhere with Dad. Ryan’s off with Jess somewhere doing who knows what. He’s been desperate to lose his virginity all summer, but something seems to interrupt him every time he gets close.
The knock on the door causes me to jump and almost trip over myself as I go to see who it is. When I looked outside I gasped. Brock was rocking back and forth on his feet as he shook rain off himself. “You gonna let me in?” he called through the door.
I ripped open the door and burst into tears as I threw myself into his arms.
“Whoa, what’s wrong?” his arms banded around me and I burrowed into his chest.
“I can’t do it. I don’t want to go back,” I sobbed.
“Em,” he sighed as he cupped the back of my head. “You have to. There’s so much you’re missing if you don’t. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here when you come home for Thanksgiving, and I’m going to try and plan a trip out there for your Fall Break. I’m in this for the long haul. Do you hear me?”
I nodded without saying anything, before pulling back to look up at him. “I’m gonna miss you,” I sniffed as I rubbed my eyes.
�
�I’m gonna miss you too,” he leaned down and pecked the tip of my nose. “You know,” he grinned, “we can have a lot of fun with these,” he lifted his right hand and waved his phone in the air. “They have this thing called Face Time,” his brows wagged as a sarcastic smile spread across his face. “You and me...late nights alone... could be interesting.”
“You’re terrible,” I smacked his chest.
“You don’t know what it does to me to think about watching you touch yourself while I talk dirty to you,” his eyes dilated before dropping down to stare at where he was hardening against my stomach.
“I’ll have to remember that,” I mashed my lips together.
“No more crying, K?” he lifted my chin to look him in the eyes.
I nodded before blowing out a breath. “I need to get going. It’s a long a drive, and the weather sucks today,” I groaned.
“Call me when you get in, ok? We can even try the Face Time thing,” he smirked.
“I’ll call you, but Mel and I need girl time. The naked video chats are going to have to wait for another day, Champ,” I shook my head before rising up on my tiptoes and flinging my arms around his neck.
When we separated, I jogged down the front steps and rushed over to the car. Right when I was opening the door, he yelled out, “I almost forgot. I brought you something.”
I paused as the rain pelted me, soaking my clothes to my skin. “What?”
Brock rushed over to his car and leaned in, grabbing a small plastic bag. He ran around to where I was standing, and thrust it into my hand, “Here. Don’t open this until you get to school. I love you,” he pressed both hands to my cheeks as his mouth crashed down on mine. When I opened to him, he deepened the kiss and tilted my head so he could control it. His chest rumbled as he groaned before pulling back and finishing with a light peck. “Have fun this year, and don’t forget to catch a few raindrops.” He smiled as he held his hands out palms up, cupping them to collect the rain falling.
“I will,” I smiled as I wiped at where my hair was now plastered to my face. I climbed in the driver’s seat, and closed the door while he stood there watching me. When I backed out of the driveway, Brock watched me, not moving from his spot. I glanced in the rearview mirror as I turned onto the road much like I did that first night we met. I watched him as he grew smaller and smaller until he disappeared altogether.
Catching Raindrops (The Sutter Family #1) Page 15