IT’S ALMOST GO time. I stopped by Kennie’s place earlier to make sure she dresses somewhat warm. I chose to wear a dark green sweater and some dark denim jeans. There wasn’t much to do with my hair. It eventually falls into its own carefree mess anyway. I brush my teeth once more, grab my wallet, watch, and then pause in the living room.
“Don’t you look handsome, brother?” Jax looks up from his computer the corner of his mouth turns up.
“Yes, I do actually. Glad you noticed.”
“Nah, in all seriousness though, have fun with Mackenzie tonight. She deserves it.” I’ve had time to think about his relationship with her, and it dawned on me. He undoubtedly only sees her like a sister. That worked out well because he wasn’t ever going to get to call her his.
“Thanks. I know, and I hope she does.” He pushes his black frames up to his eyes and goes back to typing. “Now remember—don’t be out too late, it’s a school night.” I flip him off.
I TAKE THE few steps to Kennie’s place and knock on the door. It takes a minute, but when she answers the door, I can’t help but grin at her. She’s so fucking beautiful, it’s unreal. The light’s shining back in her eyes and it’s damn near perfect.
“Hi Drew,” she says breathlessly. I take her in fully. Light blue V-neck long sleeve shirt, tight black jeans, and black knee high boots. Hot.
“Hey Sweetheart,” I cock my head to the side, move to hold her chin and lean down to peck her lightly on the lips. They’re so soft; I let my mouth linger for a heartbeat longer. “How was your day?”
“It was good, how was yours?”
“It’s better now.” She tucks a stand of hair behind her ear. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yeah, let me just grab my jacket.”
“THIS IS A nice car you’ve got here,” Kennie comments. “What is it?”
“Thanks. It’s a 1966 Buick Skylark.”
“So, a classic?”
I chuckle, “Yup.”
“How long have you had her…is it a she? Most guys’ cars are.” I glance over—she’s stifling a smile.
“Cars interest you?”
“Yeah, kind of. I don’t know much about them, but older ones, I don’t know, I just have an appreciation for them I guess,” she states.
I wonder if it’s too early to be in love. Ever since she’s started coming out her shell, it’s been one pleasant discovery after another.
“So, where are we going?”
“Have you ever been to the Tampa Theatre?”
“I haven’t, actually. Always wanted to though.” She pauses. “Is that where we’re going? The pictures of it are absolutely stunning!”
Awesome. This is starting off with success already.
“I figured a movie and then perhaps dinner.”
“Sounds perfect.”
A silence falls between us. Surprisingly, it isn’t awkward, but I want to keep her talking. “Hey, did you ever get the photos back from the shoot we did a couple of weeks ago?” Sneaking a glance over at her for a brief second, I raise my eyebrow.
She chuckles softly. “As a matter of fact, I just got them back. They came out rather nice I think. I have to run them by my father either tomorrow or the next day. It really depends on his schedule.”
“Great, I can’t wait to see them either.”
Exiting off the interstate, I follow my GPS directions. I have to find a parking lot available since it is downtown. Finding one fairly close, I park my car. I tell Kennie to wait so I can pay for the parking at the meter. I really just want to open her door.
“Chivalry’s not dead I see.”
She takes the hand I offer her. God, I love this playful side. Maybe the ten day hiatus she took, although frustrating, really did help her see things differently. Whatever the cause, it’s working for her.
Laughing, I joke, “My parents raised me right.”
We walk the couple of blocks to the theatre and the pictures I saw, really do it no justice. I guess it could be hard to miss with everything else in this downtown area, but the architecture alone is fucking amazing.
“Did you know this theatre was built in 1926?” she asks me.
“Was it?” I did know, but her excitement is adorable.
“Yes.” She nods her head and turns around. “Oh Drew, the ticket booth is so cute!”
This is it right here. Seeing her excited over something this small is priceless. I’m pretty sure she hasn’t even thought about what we’re watching. When we finally move to the front to purchase tickets, she strolls over to the entrance which displays upcoming shows.
“Here you go, Sweetheart.” Looking down at the ticket, she looks back up at me.
“Oh my god! Say Anything? I love this movie, how’d you know?”
Shrugging my shoulders with a smile, I confess, “I didn’t actually. It was just a shot in the dark.”
OH HE’S GOOD, he’s really good. A movie and dinner seem so cliché, but I’ve had enough time to think and realize when it comes to him, it doesn’t matter. He’s a good person. He’s genuine, he cares and he’s Drew. All of these years later, he is still him. A childhood crush turned an adult reality. Am I nervous? Yes. Can I still believe this is happening? No. Am I okay with everything? I will be. The reality of the situation is that these things take time. Trying has brought me here.
“Would you like anything? Popcorn? Soda?” Drew interrupts my thoughts. I look up at the concession stand and it’s just as beautiful as everything else I’ve seen walking in.
“Oh no, I’m fine, thanks. I actually just kind of want to look around.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” His expression lifts when he looks down at me. Walking past the concession stand, he pauses for a moment.
“Mind if I grab a beer first?” His eyes look so excited at this discovery, it’s so cute.
“Of course not, silly.”
“Okay, two minutes.”
Nodding my head I walk around the lobby area. This place is gorgeous. It’s dark and intimate, the architecture and the way things were built back then is astounding. I’m in awe every step I take.
“Like what you see?” Whispering in my ear from behind me, I feel Drew’s hand on the small of my back.
“I really do.” I whisper back, leaning into him.
“Shall we?” Holding his beer in one hand, he uses the other to grab mine.
There are no words to describe the innate beauty I see before me. Orchestra style seating, a man on stage playing an organ before the movie starts, and the style of what’s surrounding the stage is reminiscent to a stage theatre. Strolling very slowly, I slip my hand from his grip. He furrows his eyebrows at me. His hand has been replaced by my cell phone. “I can’t help myself. It’s the photographer in me.”
He sweeps his hand for me to walk in front. “By all means.”
We take the stairs and even the restrooms are labeled from a different time. “Ladies parlor” for the women’s is pretty awesome. I snap pictures left and right, even catching Drew in a few of them. There’s so much to see, but the movie will be starting soon. Walking in, I know exactly where I want to sit. They have balcony seating and from the second floor the vantage point is so much better. There had to have been plays here at some point. It’s like an orchestra house. Drew taps me on the shoulder after we sit down. When I turn to face him, he grins at me, and points his finger for me to look up. Craning my neck, I stare. Above our heads is like a night lit sky with stars twinkling. The movie hasn’t even started, and it’s already perfect.
Drew squeaks in his chair and I stifle a giggle, he’s so tall it’s probably not the most comfortable seating, but he doesn’t complain.
“So what do you think?” He cocks his head to the side with a half-smile. He’s so gorgeous, it kind of pains me.
“It’s absolutely stunning,” I breathe out.
“Yes you are.”
I roll my eyes. “I said, it’s—”
“Shh, the movie’s about to star
t.” He places his finger to my lips.
Sighing, I settle in to enjoy our movie.
“THAT MOVIE NEVER gets old,” I comment as we walk out.
“Yeah it was pretty good.” He has his arm around me as we walk out.
“Wait. You’ve never seen it before?”
“Nope. The whole experience was a first.”
“You’ve been deprived! Classic 80’s, Drew.”
“I’ve managed to get by.” He kisses the top of my head. “You ready for some dinner?”
“Yes, is that planned as well? Or are we winging it?”
“I have something in mind.”
What he had in mind was Bern’s Steakhouse—the dessert room at this particular steakhouse to be exact. The whole night has been so romantic. I want to rewind and have this whole date on constant replay. Not over thinking anything, just going with the flow. Dinner was delicious. I’m not ready for it to be over, but glancing at the time, I see it’s almost midnight. Not too late, but he has work in the morning. My mood dampens a little at the thought of this night coming to a close so soon.
“Are you okay?”
“Huh? Oh yeah, of course I am.”
“Good. How about we walk around and chat for a while?”
“Are you sure? It’s getting late and I know you have to work early.”
“Sweetheart, you definitely get up earlier than me for your jogs with Jax.” He sticks his hand out. “Come on let’s go find somewhere to enjoy the weather tonight.”
WE WALKED AROUND for a little while until we came up to an area that couldn’t really be considered a park. It’s a big circle with a fountain in the middle, some trees, and a few benches placed strategically behind the benches. Taking a seat, Drew faces me. “So, first date talk. What does it consist of?”
Could he be any cuter? “I’m not sure, actually. First date for someone you’ve known most of your life? How about the lost years?” I suggest.
He laughs loud. “The lost years. Okay, that could be a good start.” Rubbing his chin, as if in thought, he finally answers, “Yes, it works.”
“Well, we could pick something else?”
“No it’s perfectly fine—oh wait!” He snaps his fingers. “I don’t know why this just came to my mind. Do you remember that one time for the fourth of July when we had the big barbeque at your parents’ house?”
I nod my head slowly. “Yes, I do…” I’m not sure where he’s going with this.
“Remember how Kip and I were in charge of clean up, and we put too much soap in the dishwasher? Suds everywhere.” He spreads his arms wide for dramatic effect. “Your parents were such good sports about that.”
“Did you two do that on purpose to never have dish duty again? I feel like you did. You were both fourteen, so never having done dishes before couldn’t have been an excuse.”
“Well…we kind of did it on purpose.” He holds up his finger to stop me. “But not for the reasons you’re thinking. We were just kind of experimenting to see what could happen if you mixed a bunch together. You know, like would it change colors, would the mix of what they do produce something better?” He looks at my expression. “Hey, I didn’t say it was a smart idea.”
“Clearly.” I shove his shoulder playfully. He catches my hand and pulls me closer.
All joking ceases.
Our noses almost touch. Moving his free hand up, he cups the side of my face. I feel his fingers in my hair and close my eyes savoring this sweet moment.
“Kennie, look at me,” he says barely above a whisper.
Opening my eyes, I stare. For all of the times I looked away, for all the times I dreamt of seeing him again, for all of the times I wished he saw me as his—I stare into the palest green eyes I’ve ever seen. He doesn’t move. In fact, the look playing in his eyes is…intense. Cupping his face with both of my hands doesn’t seem to have nearly the same affect his does. My hands barely frame his face. Nonetheless, inches from his lips, my voice barely audible, I say, “Drew, I can’t believe you’re back.”
His response doesn’t require words as he nudges my face to close the remaining gap between us. Slowly and sensually our mouths move together. Our tongues reacquaint themselves with each other once more. No sense of urgency for it to be over on either end. His heartbeat is racing like mine, we’re breathing into each other because pulling away right now, seems wrong. A moan escapes me which causes him to intensify the kiss even more. Slowly, Drew lessens his pace until he pulls away from my lips. Then, he places light feather kisses continually on my lips until we’re both smiling.
“It just gets better every time.” Finally he plants his last kiss on the tip of my nose.
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and nod in agreement. “So…about those lost years.” He scratches the back of his head. “There’s not much to be told. Finished college with a Business degree, started working for dad, and then Jax hopped on board. And then…” He pauses and the expression on his face reads as if he’s got something important to tell me, but it quickly clears. “Life’s just been life, ya know? Sometimes its shit, sometimes it’s not.” He stretches, props his ankle on his left knee and turns his head towards me. “How about you?”
“More of the same, really.” Realistically there isn’t much to be told of my life. I went to high school, college, figured out my dream and had a shit time of some parts of life as well. I suppose everyone does.
“Oh, come on. There’s got to be something.”
“Well, I was engaged once.”
His face doesn’t register shock. “Yeah I know, you mentioned a fiancé that night in your argument with Sammy.”
“So I did...that’s too heavy for first date talk anyway. I’m pretty sure that’s like fifth or sixth date talk.”
Interlacing his fingers across his chest, he leans back and looks up at the night sky. “If it needs to be first date talk, Sweetheart, it can be.” He leans his head to the side to pin me with those eyes.
“It doesn’t need to be, but thank you.”
“Something else then, hit me with it.”
I really can’t think of anything to say, but before my brain registers what my lips blurt out, it’s too late. “That was my first and only quickie—the night at the club I mean.”
I’m glad it’s dark outside because I can feel the heat creeping into my cheeks. He inhales a deep breath, “First ever?” And then lets out a low whistle. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of, if anything, I’m definitely glad I was your first.” He winks at me, giving his best Drew smile. And just like that, I’m at ease again. The warmth in his eyes, and the playfulness of his character...it makes me smile.
Oh!” Clapping my hands together and sitting up straight, I ask, “Do you remember that time you boys scared the crap out of me the first year you came back for the holidays?”
“Do I ever! Sorry about that by the way,” he says in between laughs.
“Mackenzie, we’ll see you later, k?” Kip told me before he and the Dean boys walked out the door.
“Yeah okay.” I had no clue where they were going, but I wasn’t invited. I guess they wanted some guy time.
An hour after they’d left, I hopped on the computer and surfed the internet. I chatted with some friends in one of many chat rooms, and received an instant message from someone who wasn’t on my friends list. Whomever it was, had started off by saying “hi” and asked normal questions like, what’s your favorite food, color, band—simple things I could’ve lied about. It went on for about five to ten minutes before they said they liked the shirt I was wearing.
Instant freak out mode—I was home alone. My parents were out on a date, and the boys went out to who-knew-where. I tried to play it off and ignore the messages that kept coming through, but then the person described what it looked like and what jeans I’d been wearing too. I started to have heart palpitations so I called Kip. My big brother always knew what to do. I knew he’d be home in a flash if he thought I was in trouble. I dialed his number
first before I attempted my parents.
“Hello? Mackenzie? What’s up?” It was loud in the background so I assumed they were out to dinner or something.
“Kip I’m freaking out! I think there’s someone outside of our house and I don’t know what to do!”
“Whoa, whoa, slow down. Now start from the beginning.”
I informed him of what had happened up until the point I called him—all the details from the beginning. By this time my voice had become shaky and I was on the verge of tears.
“I’m so scared. Are you close to being home?”
“Well, we’re at dinner, don’t worry, be home soon.”
“Are you kidding me?! There could be someone outside. What if they break in and take me? He knew the color of my shirt!”
“How do you know it was a guy?”
That question confused me, so I stalled in responding—until all I could hear on the other line was laughter. It didn’t sound like just a laugh at a joke either. Oh no, it had been like the funniest-joke-ever-told kind of laugh.
“What’s so funny?” I finally asked when the laughter had subsided.
“Oh sis, that was Jax. You do remember we saw you before we left right? He thought it would be a fun prank to play.”
I went from being scared to being relieved to being angry.
“What the hell is wrong with you guys?!”
He laughed even harder. “We’ll be home soon.”
“Screw you. Screw all of you.”
“Oh please, you guys were so not sorry.” He’s still chuckling.
“God, how old were we back then?”
“Jax and I were fifteen, so that would’ve made you and Kip eighteen.” He looks at with amusement in his eyes. “Yes. I remember it exactly because I was so traumatized. You come back for a visit and nearly give me a heart attack,” I reply dramatically.
Ending a Broken Journey Page 18