Catie’s head snaps to me. “You do?” I see a tiny smile flash across those delicious lips. I gotta turn away, keep my mind clear and clean. Thinking of those lips will definitely trip me up.
“What are you talking about?” Dad’s voice booms. “It’s too late, Caleb. We already said no to UT. Florida Central is your best bet. For lacrosse, and that scholarship is just too good to pass up.” He chuffs. “You report next week. Your team, your coach, is counting on you.”
I shift in my chair and send up a prayer. Help. I need to be brave for once. For me and for Catie. “No. I don’t want to go to UT,” I say. “I want to go to school here, in Galveston.”
“Galveston?” my father nearly shouts. “Why the hell would you want to do that?”
“Look,” I say. “I found out about a program. Here. At A&M.”
Dad slams a hand onto the table. “A&M?”
“Dad. Come on. A&M Galveston. They’ve got a major called Ocean Engineering. They’re doing research on how storms affect the coastline, how to protect the Gulf, how to protect this house.”
He is steaming mad, and I don’t blame him. To him, this is all coming out of left field. “Since when have you been interested in any of this? You’ve always put sports first. You don’t throw away talent like you have. This isn’t like you.”
My father is not getting on board, which feels weird, because I’ve never known him to be anything but supportive of me. I wonder if that was only because I was always doing what he wanted.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into you.” He looks down at our joined hands. “Is this about you two being together?”
“Actually, honey, he’s been interested in this sort of thing since Hurricane Ike,” my mother interjects matter-of-factly, sitting back in her chair and putting her napkin down on the table.
“Yeah,” I say and flash my mom a small smile of thanks. “I’ve been talking to someone who heads up the program there this week, and I’m excited about it. I can use the same application I used for UT. He said there’s still scholarship money if I apply soon.”
Dad is shaking his head, and his color is not the best. Tomato, I’d call it. I need to calm him down.
“Dad, you have to know that I appreciate how hard you all work. You taught me to work hard. But I know what I want. And what I don’t.”
Dad isn’t letting go. “What about lacrosse? Do they even have a team?”
I frown and shake my head. “No.”
“Caleb, you can’t walk away from lacrosse. You love it,” he says.
“The weird thing is, Dad, once I realized I’d have to give it up…I was okay with it. So maybe I don’t love it as much as I thought?”
My father opens his mouth, about to let loose again, until Gramps, sitting next to him, raises a hand. He opens his mouth to talk. It takes a second, but when he does his voice is stronger than I’ve heard it in a long time. “Well. That settles it,” he says. “These young people are figuring stuff out, just like you all did back in the day. You all decided you would start a flooring company.” He laughs as his head bobbles. “I thought that was a silly idea at the time, but you showed me. Now it’s time to let them decide what they want to do. It’s time for them to show us. And I know what I’m giving you for a birthday present, young lady.”
“Gramps, you already gave me a present,” Catie says.
“Another one,” he says. “A trip to Chicago to visit Northwestern, before the summer is out. Maybe I’ll come, too.”
The way she beams at him makes me happy. He’s the kind of good guy I want to be. When I called him and told him about Northwestern and Catie, I knew he’d help me get her there, but I’m glad she came to the decision on her own. His advice got me thinking, too, but it was Catie that convinced me. All my life I’ve been hiding behind my easygoing self—only Catie saw through that. Only Catie saw that I was scared.
I might still be scared, but I’m not letting fear run my life.
“Dad,” Catie’s mother says then glares at us—at me.
“What?” Gramps will not be silenced. “It’s a great town.”
Catie’s dad clears his throat. “Can we all just slow down, please. Sweetie,” he says to his daughter. “You can study journalism at UT. They’ve got a great program.”
Her dad is a good guy. He’s supportive and fair and funny, but right now, he just looks really sad and confused.
“Dad,” Catie says. “I know you’ve always wanted me to be a Longhorn.”
“No,” Mr. Dixon says, looking at his wife. “What we’ve always wanted is for you to be happy. Chicago, though?”
“Only if I get in,” she says.
Mr. Dixon rolls his eyes. “Of course you’ll get in.”
My father says nothing, so I’m not sure how he feels about my announcement, but my mom clears her throat.
“I have a question,” she says. “Why are you two holding hands?”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Catie
“Ain’t love grand!” Gramps shouts out. He’s really losing his filter. Caleb’s chest rises and falls in a heavy rhythm. I stare at my mother, who is looking at me with so much distrust.
“Are you two—” she starts.
“Together?” I smile at Caleb, who smiles down at me. “Yes.”
My mom makes a shocked face at Caleb’s mom. Caleb’s father looks confused. My father, though…he looks pissed. He sits back in his chair, his dark eyes burning toward Caleb.
He clears his throat. “Caleb, son. I believe that you’ve been alone in this house with my daughter for two nights while assuring us that you were going to watch out for her.”
“Yes, sir. I know, but I didn’t plan this. I didn’t even know she was gonna be here.”
“Oh, come on, Daddy,” I say, disgusted by this whole scene. “I can speak for myself, you know. Nothing happened.”
I try to keep my face in a neutral position, because of course, lots happened. Now I’m sort of grateful that Caleb was such a buzzkill about it, because I can look my dad in the eye and not be lying to him, even if I wanted more.
“Caleb was a perfect gentleman.” Unfortunately. “But yes, we’re together.” This is worse than I thought it would be, but Caleb is still smiling and holding my hand, and that makes it bearable.
No one says a word for the longest time, and the only person who looks happy is Gramps, who is still grinning.
“What?” I finally say, to all of them. “Don’t even act like you’re mad. This is what y’all have wanted since we were born, isn’t it? Me and Caleb, together. Well, now we are, and you’re looking at us like we’ve got horns growing out of our heads? You’ll need to get used to it, for goodness’ sake, or it’s gonna be a really long weekend.”
“It’s just a lot to take in at once, honey,” Aunt Jenny says.
Caleb clears his throat. “Well, while you all process, I’m gonna eat.”
I have some questions I’d like to ask him. Like, when did he make the decision about A&M? I don’t really care what his answer is—he’s going to be in the same state as me this year, and after that, we’ll deal with whatever comes next, because I believe there will be a next. It won’t end here.
“Pancakes?” He passes me the plate.
I pick up three with my fork and slap them on my plate, then he hands me the butter and syrup. The grown-ups are still in shock, but all I can think about is Caleb and me, together, and a future that won’t be what we’d planned and cannot be predicted, but I don’t care. That’s what will make it so exciting, and I’m ready.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Caleb
Even though what Catie said is true about the fact that if they could have, they would have arranged the marriage a long time ago, the table is weirdly quiet. Anyone who has ever spent time at our family table would know this is not normal.
But then, a few minutes (that feels like an hour) later, Catie’s mom looks at her. “You’re right.”
Catie takes a b
ite of bacon. “I know I am. You have all wanted this since the beginning of time.”
“Not me,” her dad interjects. “I already have several convents picked out with open rooms.”
“Daddy,” she warns. “Don’t get medieval on me.”
“No,” he says, now staring at me. There’s a glint in his eye, and I legit can’t tell if he loves me or wants to kill me. “I won’t. And you’re right. If I was medieval and got to pick someone for you, Caleb, you’d be at the top of my list.”
Catie groans.
“You’re already a part of the family,” he continues. “But if you hurt my girl, Caleb Gray, you’ve got me to reckon with.” He waits until I meet his eyes, and he holds my gaze for an uncomfortably long time.
I turn to Catie, who I can tell is bristling at her dad saying “my girl.” She really isn’t anybody’s girl, let’s face it (though I’m not telling her father that). Instead, I say, “I’m not gonna hurt her. Don’t worry.” The promise is as much for her as it is for him. It’s the truth, too, because, I am a man of my word.
“All right.” Catie rolls her eyes like they’re about to fall out of her head. “Both of you stop talking about me like I’m a prized pig.”
Mr. Dixon blows out a breath. “Oh, relax, feminist daughter. I learned a long time ago not to try and tell you what to do, and I’m not about to start now. I hope you learn that lesson fast, Caleb.” He nods toward me.
“That’s one I’m familiar with.”
Catie lets out an exasperated breath. “Real funny,” she says as I take a long sip of orange juice, looking around the table. If I’m gonna make this work, I know I have lessons to learn. The first one is that even though I’m glad to be a part of this extended family, I know that what Catie and I have is new and ours and we gotta take care of it.
It’s not gonna be easy, but I’m pretty sure based on a lifetime of knowing her that it’s gonna be worth it.
After we eat and the dishes are cleared, and our parents are a tiny bit more comfortable with us being an “us,” Catie suggests a swim.
Even though everyone seems to be processing the new information, there’s still a weird vibe going on, so I jump at the chance to get out. And to be alone with her again.
Alone is a relative term, of course, given that the beach is jammed with vacationers.
“Let’s walk down the beach some.” She takes my hand, and I don’t argue. She came out of the bunkroom wearing a striped bikini. It covers more of her than the one she had on the other day—probably in deference to her parents—but it still makes me want to do things with her. Things that they wouldn’t approve of.
It’s not like we can do a lot on the crowded shoreline of Bolivar Peninsula, but at least we’ll be out of our parents’ line of sight from the deck of the beach house.
The sun is blazing as we find an open spot to lay out our towels.
“Sunscreen?” She holds up a bottle as I pull off my T-shirt. She flashes a flirty smile my way.
I grunt and hope I can control myself. There’s a family with a few little kids nearby, and I don’t want to do anything indecent. She gets on her knees while I turn my back to her, and she rubs the cream into my shoulders. When she’s finished, she gives me a kiss at the bottom of my hairline on the back of my neck that sends a wave of electric energy that runs through me like a live wire. I shiver and laugh, and she wraps her arms around me.
“My turn,” she says, and I get her back, the burn from the other day already fading, the straps of her collection of bathing suits forming layers of tan lines like a highway map. Her skin is so smooth and soft. I want to tell her that I’m not sure I can leave her on Saturday, even though I have to. I have to tie up loose ends back home.
“What changed your mind about coming here for school?” she asks.
I flip the cap closed on the sunscreen bottle, sit down on the towel next to her, and try to find the right words. She waits patiently.
I shrug. “I wasn’t really sure until this morning. I met with Professor Jackson. He said they have scholarship money available, and if I can get some of that and a job and live on ramen noodles, I think maybe I’ll be able to swing it.” I shift on the towel to face her. “And also, you calling me a chickenshit.”
She busts out laughing. “Is that all it took?”
I slide down to my side facing her, lean on my elbow, and prop my head up. “Pretty much.” I shake my head, looking for the right words again. She lays out on the towel, up on her elbow, too, staring into my eyes. She’s so pretty that it leaves me speechless. I take a moment to clear my head.
“The more I tried to talk myself out of it, tried to find the drawbacks, the more excited I got about it. I want to learn about this stuff. I want to make a difference. And a wise man once told me that lots of people go through life without passion. If you know you love something, and pass it up, shame on you.”
She smiles. “That sounds like Gramps.”
Yep, it was, when I called him from the bedroom closet the other day. He’d been talking about Catie going to Northwestern. He didn’t know he was also talking about me, and about me and Catie together. Or maybe he did.
She smiles and takes my free hand, threading her fingers through mine. “You will make a difference. I know you will.”
“Of course, what tipped the scales was knowing I’ll be closer to you. I’ll actually get to see you.” I scoot a few inches closer to her so our faces are almost touching. I take back my hand and run a finger along the edge of the bikini top.
She moves even closer to me. “If you’re going to do that, you better promise to do more than just see me.”
I lift my finger and smile, about to kiss her, until I see the face of one of the kids from the family next to us, a little boy with a scowl on his face, watching. I clear my throat. “Let’s go in the water.”
“Okay,” she says then leans forward and kisses me anyway, and I ignore our little stalker.
Catie stands up and takes my hand, hoisting me up as if she can lift my weight. Maybe she can. She’s got some superhuman qualities—I know that much.
When we’re out in the water, she’s gone quiet, gone somewhere else, inside herself.
“What’s going on?” I ask. The water only comes up to her knees, calm and surprisingly clear. Little schools of tiny fish swim around our legs as we walk.
“Caleb?” she asks.
“Yeah?”
“What happens after next year? If I get into Northwestern?”
I knew she was thinking about that. I’m thinking about it, too. She shields her eyes and looks out into the Gulf. Long tankers are lined up in a row, waiting to get into the bay. Galveston is one of the busiest ports in the country. I move close to her, and she reaches for my hand then she sidles up next to me, both of us looking out to the horizon.
“I’m gonna say something right now that’s gonna freak you out,” I say.
She stares up at me. “You are?”
“Yes.” I blink slow and pull her to me. “I have no idea what’s gonna happen in the future, but I love you, Catie.”
Her eyes squint nearly shut. “You do?”
I set my jaw, more confident than I’ve ever been about anything in my whole life. “I know I’m not supposed to say it. I’m supposed to wait until you won’t be freaked out. But I knew it the second you opened that door on Saturday. I knew it when I saw you at the top of the stairs at the last Christmas party before we went to Florida. I knew I loved you.” I take her in my arms and push a strand of hair behind her ear. “I just didn’t have a clue what to do about it.”
She lets out a small exhale. Her eyes are bright blue, her chin, sticking out in that defiant way that it does. She’s not talking, so I keep on.
“Now I do. I know what to do. And you don’t have to say it back, but I just want you to know that’s where I’m coming from. That’s what I know. I love you, Catie Dixon. And I’m gonna date you and laugh and fight and kiss and probably do some other stuff
to you, too.” I lift my eyebrows so she takes my meaning, and she smiles. She knows. I take her face in my hands, those lips calling to me like a radio signal. This girl is beautiful. “I might even marry you one of these days.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Catie
“All right, all right, now let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” I laugh but for a brief moment I can see it. Him in a tux, hot as hell. Me in my granny’s wedding dress that I’ve always loved.
“I know,” he says. “We’ve got plenty to do first. That’s okay. I’ll wait.”
Oh God, I could handle being with Caleb for a long, long time. Forever, even. How he challenges me and makes me think and laugh and even want to scream. He’s all the things that I want. He pulls me closer as we move into deeper water that’s up to my waist.
I am the kind of person who plans things. Who wants to know how everything will turn out—but maybe it’s not so much about what happens as who you’re with when it happens.
“Caleb?” I say.
“Catie?” he answers.
I take a second, to make sure I’m not talking too fast, not saying things I don’t mean. “These last few days have been so…I don’t know, magical is a stupid word. But I can’t think of another one.” I swallow hard. “Look.” I glance away and then force myself back to him. “I’m not going to say ‘I love you’ just because you said it.”
He doesn’t look surprised. His smile doesn’t fade. He shakes his head once. “Don’t expect you to.”
My heart is beating so fast. I’m nervous, but I have to trust my gut. “I’m gonna say it because it’s true.”
His eyes widen, and those lips turn up at the edges. “True?”
“Caleb, I’ve loved you since I was in the third grade and you helped me catch those crabs. Even when I hated you the last few years, I loved you.”
“Well, I never hated you,” he says. “I did hate Darren, though. I wanted to kick his ass. Every single day.”
I puff out a breath then look to my right. A big swell is rolling toward us that’s gonna go right over my head. Caleb picks me up and lifts me just in time.
Stuck With You (First Kiss Hypothesis) Page 20