Right Kind Of Wrong

by Christina Marie

  Langem shook his head, “No, silly!” Something light and warm dropped into the palm of my hand. I looked down and bit back a laugh, “You can have the yellow ones, I no like them.” His little nose wrinkled up when he look at them. They were somewhat soggy Froot Loops.

  “Did you wake her up?” Beth asked with a laugh.

  “Yep! See!” He pointed at my hand.

  “Did you tell her you picked them out of your cereal bowl after, the milk was already poured on them? Come on silly boy let her get woke up before she eats her breakfast.” Beth winked at me.

  “Hurry hurry!” Langem said as he ran out of the room.

  “Sorry about that, he was pretty excited for you to have those. I’ve got breakfast ready downstairs.” She said with a smile. “And it’s not yellow froot loops.”

  After she left my room I stretched then went into the bathroom. After using the restroom, brushing my teeth and taking a shower, I dressed in a pair of denim shorts and tank top. As I was braiding my hair there was a knock on my door. “Come in!” I called out, expecting it to be Langem.

  Dad walked in, “Good morning.”

  “Morning.” I said and turned away from him to finish braiding.

  He exhaled when he sat down on my bed, “I’m sorry about what I said. I’ve had a shitty week, things at the office have been crazy and I took my frustration out on you. We do need to sit down and talk some time about what happened with, you know…” he trailed off when I turned toward him.

  “So start talking.” I replied.

  “Now? Like…right now?” He asked with wide eyes.

  “Yep!” I crossed my arms over my chest and waited.

  Dad cleared his throat, “Aren’t you hungry? I didn’t mean we have to talk right this second.”

  I shrugged my shoulders, “If it’ll make this stay easier on us we can talk now.”

  He pushed a hand through his hair, “Listen, I know you’re not a slut. You’re young and you’re going to make plenty of mistakes. I just want you to be more careful, you have your entire life ahead of you. I know you don’t think I have room to talk since your mother and I aren’t together, sometimes things just happen that you can’t control—I understand that. When your mom called, I know I reacted horribly and saying what I did to you last night was something no daughter should ever hear from her own dad. I’m sorry. Just…” he blew out a breath, “I’m trying to find the right words. I don’t want you to get on the wrong path in life. You’re young and beautiful, naturally boys are going to want to be with you. Tabitha, I love you and don’t want to see you get hurt. Doing what you did is wrong and I know that you know that.”

  “It wasn’t something that I wanted to happen, I can’t explain why it did. I won’t do it again, hurting so many people with my actions was horrible on me too.”

  Dad nodded his head, “We’ll talk more later. Langem is very patiently waiting for you downstairs.” He said with a smile. I grabbed the Froot Loops off my nightstand and started toward my door, “You’re not going to really eat those are you?”

  I shrugged my shoulders, “I don’t want to hurt his feelings.” I said with a laugh.

  Dad shuddered, “That’s Nasty!”

  Downstairs Langem and Beth were finishing setting the table. Beth smiled and dished up some breakfast for me. Langem smiled and pointed at my plate, “Don’t forget Froot Loops!”

  After I finished eating I asked dad if it was okay to take Rachel shopping with us, “That’s fine.” He answered with a smile.

  “Can Morgan come visit?” I asked hopefully.

  “Let’s not push it. Let me think about it for a day or two. Okay?”

  “Okay.” I agreed.

  Langem was excited to get to spend some time at the fun center. The very second we walked in the building he released Beth’s hand and ran down the hall. After signing him in and waving goodbye to him, we left to get Rachel.

  She was waiting on the front steps of her apartment building when we arrived. A wide smile spread across her face as she bound down the steps toward me. We hugged each other tightly before getting in the car. Beth smiled at us both before pulling into the busy morning traffic.

  Rachel talked non-stop all the way to the mall. I looked at Beth, “Two teenage girls…are you sure you can handle this?” I asked with laugh.

  “Absolutely! My best friend and I were just like you two when we were your age.”

  We shopped for what seemed like hours before finally stopping to eat. We decided to eat at the Chinese restaurant not far from the shopping mall.

  “So, I hope your dad apologized.” Beth said after the waiter left.

  “He did, he seemed pretty nervous.” I told her.

  “It took all I had not to slap him when he told me what he said to you.” She shook her head in disgust. “I know it sounds like an excuse when he says things at his office have been stressful. But, it’s true. One of the partners has been embezzling money for some time now and the accountant finally figured out who. It’s been hell for the last few months. Ryan, the partner, tried accusing your dad of doing it. Our bank accounts were frozen for a month until the investigation cleared him. Ryan’s been a friend for many years and it really hurt your dad that he would do something so stupid.”

  Rachel and I sat there speechless, “Wow, that’s…I’m glad they figured out who was doing it.” I replied.

  Beth nodded in agreement, “Now, tell me all about how things are going at home. What’s this boyfriend like you have?” She asked.

  I told her all about Morgan, how we met and about his scholarship to play college football. “I was hoping he could come visit before he leaves for college, but I don’t think dad is going to let him.”

  “I don’t think he’ll let him stay at the house maybe we can rent him a hotel room for a weekend?” She suggested.

  Rachel clapped her hands quietly, “I have to meet him, the few times I’ve talked to him on the phone his sexy voice left me weak in the knees!”

  I shook my head and laughed at her, “Is that so?”

  Our conversation flowed easy, Rachel talked about random things that happened throughout the year and Beth talked about Langem and all the funny things he did that would brighten her day. She checked her watch, “We’d better go pick Langem up. When we get to the house I’ll leave you two alone so you can hang out by the pool together.”

  We both smiled at her before getting out of the booth. “She actually seems pretty nice.” Rachel whispered to me as we walked to the car.

  “Strangely…she does.” I told her. We stood by the car and waited for Beth.

  “I didn’t even ask if you want to drive?”

  I shook my head, “I’m good, there’s way more traffic here than what I’m used to.” I said with a laugh.

  Langem was not happy when we showed up and told him it was time to go home. “Some little boy needs a N-A-P!” Beth said apologetically. Langem was sitting in the back seat with Rachel, kicking the back of my seat and screaming that he wanted to stay and play. “No N-A-P…Play! Play!” He yelled over and over.

  I turned around in my seat, “If you go take a nap I’ll play in the big pool with you.”

  He stopped kicking and screaming, “Okay!” He was silent the rest of the drive back to the house and didn’t even fight Beth when she ushered him upstairs to his room.

  Rachel and I changed into the bathing suits we had bought and went out to the pool. We sat on the edge and dangled our feet in the water.

  “So are things better with Vance and everybody?” She asked.

  I shrugged a shoulder, “I think it’s about as good as it’s going to get.”

  Rachel nodded her head, and we both sat there in silence for a few minutes before easing ourselves into the warm water.

  As we floated around the pool, she told me about the guy Talon she was crushing on. “I swear he doesn’t even know I exist.”

  “Have you actually talked to him?” I asked her.

  “
Well yeah! He just…I can’t decide if maybe he’s gay or just really not interested in me.”

  I shook my head, “I wouldn’t suggest asking him if he’s gay. Because if he’s not—he’s really not going to be interested in you!”

  She laughed and started to say something when dad called out my name from the back patio.

  “Yes?” I asked.

  He knelt down beside the pool and greeted Rachel. “So, I thought about this dude coming out…”

  “Morgan.” I said with a smile.

  “Yeah, Morgan. If he wants to come stay at a HOTEL, I won’t have a problem with him hanging out here during the day. But there’ll be no hanky panky and you’re not staying at the hotel with him. Sound fair?” He asked.

  “Yes sir!”

  He shook his head and smiled, “Don’t make me regret letting him come here. I need to get back to the office for a couple of more hours. Give him a call and let me know when you guys decide he’ll be coming out here.”

  “Will do. Thank you!”

  Before he stood up I brought my arm back and splashed him, his eyes got wide and he stared down at his suit then looked at me. He narrowed his eyes, “Oh…you’re so going to pay for that. Has Morgan ever looked at your baby pictures?”

  “You wouldn’t!” I yelled while trying not to laugh.

  “Oh—yes—I—would!” He laughed and sauntered away from us. “Later Rachel!” He called out over his shoulder.

  “Later!” She replied.

  “Maybe this summer won’t be so bad after all.” I said with a sigh before placing both hands on top of Rachel’s head and dunking her under water.

  Chapter 17

  A couple of weeks after Tabitha left to stay with her dad I got a text from Morgan.

  Vi, Dad, and Claire were at a barrel racing competition for Vi so fishing and a few cold beers would pass the time and give Morgan and I a chance to talk.

  When I got to the pond he was sitting in his camouflage fold out chair and had a beer cooler sitting beside him. I got out of my pickup and grabbed the small cooler of beer, tackle box, fishing pole and my chair.

  “Bout damn time.” He said with a laugh as I walked toward him.

  “Yeah—yeah…” I laughed and unfolded my chair.

  After baiting my hook and casting my pole out we sat there in silence for a few minutes before Morgan finally spoke. “This feels fuckin’ awkward.”

  I nodded my head, “I agree. You ready to head off to college?”

  He snorted, “Hell no, I just found out we have to be there three weeks early for conditioning. But I guess it’s the price I have to pay for being fuckin’ awesome!”

  I laughed, “Keep tellin’ yourself that.”

  Another long silence passed, even though it felt awkward it was always how we spent time fishing. Neither of us talked much; we just chilled together.

  “Have you talked to Julia much?” Morgan asked.

  “Some, she called to tell me she was dating somebody and didn’t want me to get pissed when I see them together.”

  “When are you gonna find somebody?” He asked.

  I shrugged my shoulders, “Not lookin’ to be honest. I plan on focusing on school and scholarships. It’s not like there’s a huge selection round here.”

  He chuckled, “I have a come back for that one but…I better not say it.”

  I narrowed my eyes and looked at him, “I’m sure I deserve it.”

  “Yep!”

  We both laughed, I knew he was talking about Tabitha.

  A few beers later he threw his pole down, “There’s no damn fish left in this pond!”

  I started laughing, “Did you try sayin’ ‘Here fishy fishy fishy...?”

  Morgan turned toward me trying not to laugh, his cell phone rang from the cab of his pickup. He jumped out of his chair and sprinted to his truck.

  “Fishin’ with Vance. Debating on throwin his ass in the pond though.” He told the caller. “Nobody ever accused me of being nice!” He said with a laugh. Morgan sat back down in the chair and opened another beer while listening to the other person talk. “No shit?” He said with excitement. “I’ll get a room booked and let you know the details. Okay, love you too!” He hung up the phone, “Thank fuckin’ god!”

  I raised one eyebrow at him as I waited for him to continue.

  “Tabitha’s dad said I can come see her but I have to stay at a hotel.”

  “Awesome.” I replied.

  “I think that we should all show up and surprise her. Me, you, Vi—we could all use a break this summer.”

  “I’m sure Vi would be more than happy to go. I’ve gotta help dad around the homestead.”

  Morgan nodded, “I’ll text Vi.”

  I reached into my cooler for another beer but come up empty handed. “Well hell, I guess it’s time to head home.”

  “I don’t know if things will ever be like they used to be between us…I try not to think about what happened. She means a lot to me and I love her, how do I know when I go away to college that you two aren’t gonna fuck around behind my back?” Morgan asked.

  I blew out a breath, “It won’t.” I responded.

  Over the next couple of weeks Tabitha would call in the evenings and talk to Vi and Claire. Every so often I would check my Facebook and see random pictures she posted, some of her and Rachel and a little boy Langem that was her half brother.

  Vi practically begged me to go to New York with her and Morgan, dad even said I could, but I knew that if I went things would be awkward. But I did go with dad and Claire when it was time to take Morgan and Vi to the airport. “I’ll send you as many pictures as I can.” Vi said before hugging me. It was her first time flying so she was nervous.

  “Have fun, tell everybody I say Hi!” I hugged her back.

  True to her word, Vi sent picture after picture of the inside of the airplane. Later, after landing, she sent pictures looking out the window. One caption read, “This is going to be my first and last time! I swear the fluffy clouds are speed bumps and we hit EVERY SINGLE ONE!”

  I laughed and text her back, “Better you than me!”

  While they were gone I spent a lot of time working on machinery getting it ready for harvest. Vi sent me numerous pictures of the city, no matter how cool it looked, I knew that ‘City Life’ would drive me crazy. Too many people, too many buildings…not enough wide open space.

  I went to a pasture party and hung out with Tyler and Corbin, “Is it me or does it seem strange not having the others here?” Tyler asked before taking a drink of his beer.

  Corbin agreed, “I wouldn’t trade this for the city any day though. I figured Julia would at least come around still.”

  Some of the girls from school stopped at our pickup and visited, we talked about our plans for senior year and what colleges we were all going to apply to. Ally walked over to where we were, “Hey!” she said with a beaming smile.

  We all greeted her with a quick nod and hello. “When are Morgan and Vi going to be back?” she asked me.

  “I think their flight comes in Sunday afternoon sometime.” I told her.

  “Why didn’t you go?” She asked.

  “Because I didn’t want to.”

  “Huh…figured you’d be missing Tabitha too.” She said.

  Tyler’s eyes got big and he looked at me then at Ally. I grinned at Ally, “Some of us have other priorities.” I knew that Ally was just trying to start shit with me, I sure as hell wasn’t going to play in to her bullshit…and she knew it.

  “Well, I’m gonna head home.” I shut the cooler and my tailgate. “I’ll catch ya’ll later.”

  When I got home, I showered then laid down in bed. Just as I was about to fall asleep I got another text from Vi. It was a picture of everybody sitting around a fire pit next to a kidney shaped pool. “It’s no bonfire but it’ll do! Miss ya—see ya tomorrow!” The caption read.

  Chapter 18

  Spending the weekend with Tabitha was fun, her friend Rachel
was a total riot and made the promise that she would come with Tabitha to visit me at college. Her dad was true to his word when he said Tabitha and me couldn’t be alone together. “I just want ten minutes with you—alone.” I whispered in her ear as we walked toward the pool. Her dads house was huge and worth millions.

  “Trust me, if I knew we wouldn’t get caught we would have found a dark corner by now.” Tabitha said with a smile.

  Needless to say that weekend was spent relaxing around the pool, playing with her little brother Langem in the pool and watching movies. And the time went by way too fast.

  At the airport I held Tabitha as she cried, “I won’t get to see you before you leave.”

  I rubbed her back and looked over the top of her head at her dad, it was obvious he was seeing now how much it was hurting her to be away from me. “As soon as I have a free weekend I’ll come back and visit.” I told her. We hugged each other tight until the lady came over the intercom and said it was time to board the flight. I shook hands with her dad and Beth, Vi and Rachel hugged then Rachel hugged me. “Stay out of trouble.” I said with a laugh.

  Rachel waved a hand, “Pshh…you’re the one leaving for college!”

  Langem was standing beside Beth, I knelt down, “You make sure you remind daddy and mommy you want to come watch me play football.” I said with a smile.

  He nodded his head, his brown hair fell into his eyes, “I will…I WILL!” He jumped up and down in place. I hugged Tabitha one more time and kissed her on the lips before Vi and I walked away.

  “Do you think that you and Tabitha will be okay when you go away?” Vi asked.

  “Do you think her and your brother will keep their hands off of each other?” I asked in return.

  Her eyebrows shot up, “I thought you two smoothed things over…I mean haven’t you and Vance been talking more and hanging out?”

  I blew out a breath, “We have—but I think a little part of me is always going to worry about it happening again.”

  Vi nodded her head, “I really don’t think that it will.”

  “I sure as fuck hope not.”

  The rest of the flight while Vi slept, I stared out the small window. My mind was spinning a million miles a minute, I needed to put my trust in both Tabitha and Vance that they would stay true to their words that they wouldn’t let anything happen again.