by Amber Garza
“Yeah,” she answers, her face practically glowing.
“Good,” I reply honestly. No matter how Christian feels about it, I’m happy for Olivia. She deserves happiness, and if Dan treats her well, then I’m glad they’re together. She spent far too long paying for her mistakes. It’s time for her to enjoy life.
“It is good,” she says. “And Chris is finally starting to come around. Emmy’s good for him.”
I grin. “Who woulda thought, huh?”
“Oh, I always thought they’d end up together.” Olivia’s eyes sparkle. “There’s always been something between them. I’m surprised you never noticed.”
They say that hindsight is twenty-twenty, and in this instance I know that’s true. When I look back over the years, I can pick up the signs. But I didn’t notice them at the time. I guess I wasn’t looking for them. Christian’s my best friend. Emmy’s my sister. A relationship between the two of them wasn’t even on my radar.
Until it blew up the whole damn radar, that is.
Then I was forced to see it.
Sighing, I glance around the quiet shop. “Need me to help you with anything before I go?” I may be starving, but Olivia’s like a second mom to me, and I’d do anything to help her.
“Nope.” She shakes her head. “Chris already put away all of the new shipment. It’s been quiet today so I rearranged everything. Now I’m probably just going to get a little reading in until closing time.”
I often wonder why she even bothers to keep the place open on nights like this where there aren’t any customers. Then again, I guess the hope of someone wandering in keeps her here. And really, how would she sell anything if she closed early all the time?
“Okay.” I wipe my palms on my dirty pants. “I’m gonna take off then.”
“Have a good night.” She’s already sitting behind the counter, diving into Mom’s manuscript.
Stepping forward, I open the shop door and walk outside to the sound of the bell tinkling. I don’t know how Olivia can stand to hear that thing all day long. It would get on my nerves. The sky is even darker than when I got here. Stars are beginning to emerge. If Emmy were here, she’d be tempted to count them.
When the door closes behind me, something moves to my right, and I turn. Taylor stands in front of Olivia’s shop, her eyes wide with fright. I freeze, her expression sparking fear in my heart. All traces of the tough girl I spoke to earlier are gone. Her head swivels in the direction of the hardware store next to Olivia’s shop. When her gaze sweeps over the closed sign, her body slumps in defeat. She looks over my shoulder, panic evident on her face. In one large stride, she bridges the gap between us. Latching onto my arm, she looks into my eyes.
“Kiss me,” she demands.
Taylor
“What?” Cal asks, stunned.
I get why he’s confused, but I don’t have time to explain. Dusty is walking in this direction. His gaze is combing the street, and any minute he’s going to spot me. When he does, I’m dead. I can’t let that happen. There’s nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. And if I try to run, he’ll see me.
This is the only option. If Cal kisses me, Dusty won’t see my face. He won’t see me at all. Reaching up, I curve both my hands around Cal’s face and forcefully tug his head toward mine.
“Please,” I whisper desperately. “Kiss me.” For someone who was so shocked a second ago, he seems to have awaken from his stupor. His lips crash into mine with eagerness. I’ll tell you one thing, this definitely isn’t his first kiss. Not that I thought it was. In fact, this may not even be the first time a girl has mauled him in the middle of the street.
I was about to duck into the antique shop before Cal stepped out of it. Once he did, I knew it was too late for me to try. Dusty was getting closer. He was almost looking in this direction. Honestly, I was relieved that it was Cal and not someone else who stepped through the door. He was like my own personal angel, providing me with the perfect distraction, the perfect out. I’m not sure I believe in god, but if there is one, he certainly has my back right now.
When I first grabbed Cal, my goal had been to keep my gaze focused on Dusty and my surroundings. The kiss was nothing more than a way to throw Dusty off track. To keep myself safe and hidden.
I hadn’t been expecting to like it.
But when Cal’s arms come up caging me in, I find myself melting into him. His large body and hard muscles surround me, enveloping me in strength. For the first time in, well, maybe forever, I feel protected. His foreign scent, a mixture of sandalwood and leather with the faint traces of sweat, makes my heart race. He’s wearing his baseball uniform, and something about that excites me. Which is odd, since I’ve never been into jocks before. I tighten my hold on his face, my lips exerting more pressure. His tongue thrusts out of his mouth, licking along the seam of my lips. Even I’m a little surprised when I open my mouth to allow his tongue to enter. When his tongue slides over mine, my eyelids flutter closed. I’m not aware of my surroundings. I’m lost in his touch, in his caress.
I’m lost in him.
The magnitude of the situation crashes into me, and guilt punches me in the gut. I’m hiding from my ex-boyfriend; from one of the most dangerous people I know. I’ve got more baggage than an airport, and a secret that a guy like Cal would never understand. I can’t afford to get lost in him. This is nothing more than a means to an end. I have to remember that.
Drawing back, I keep my head hidden behind Cal’s. The look on his face causes my heart to pinch. Did he think this was a real kiss? That it meant something? God, I’m an awful person. Hearing footsteps, I press my face into Cal’s chest. Oh, heaven help me, I’ve never felt muscles like this. They flex beneath my cheek, and I find myself wishing to reach under his shirt and run my fingertips over every inch of them.
Man, I’ve got to stop thinking like this. What is wrong with me?
“Is he gone?” Daring to peer up, I whisper.
Cal glances over his shoulder. His arms are still wrapped around me, and that alone gives me comfort. Strange how someone I hardly know can make me feel like this. People I’ve known my whole life don’t make me feel this safe. Not even my own parents.
“You talking about the dark-haired guy, tats on his arm, gauges in his ears?” Cal’s voice is low, husky, as he speaks under his breath. His mouth barely moves as if he’s afraid Dusty will decipher what he’s saying. It’s weird that he’s being so helpful since he doesn’t even know me.
I nod.
“He’s making his way around the corner.” Cal keeps his gaze trained down the street. I don’t dare look. Instead, I stare up at Cal’s face. At his strong jaw, light stubble framing it. “He just turned down another street. You’re in the clear.”
I blow out a relieved breath. Then a thought strikes me. “Is he in a car or still on foot?”
“Still on foot,” he answers.
I frown. That means he hasn’t left. He’s still in town. Still looking for me. This is so not good. If he starts asking questions, word will get back to my aunt and uncle. How the hell did he know where I was? I rack my brain trying to think if I ever mentioned this place. And that’s when I’m struck with a memory. It was just one mention, something I had forgotten. We were both high, and we found a field to run around in. I remember mentioning that the field reminded me of the times I’d visited my aunt and uncle in Prairie Creek. Man, how did he recall that?
“You okay?” The concern in Cal’s voice threatens to break me apart.
I can’t believe he’s not running away. I’m acting like a crazy person. Realizing my entire body is shaking, I take a deep breath in an attempt to quell my nerves. “Yeah,” I lie. Then I glance up at him. “Thanks.” A part of me wants to stay here forever, tucked against Cal’s chest. But not only would that be unfair to Cal, I have to get home. Glancing down at my watch, my stomach plummets. “Shit,” I mutter.
“What?” Cal tightens his hold.
“I have to get home. I’m gonna be late.�
�
“I’ll take you.”
I pause, once again surprised by how quickly he offers to help. Is this how guys are around here, or is this just how he is? I suspect it’s the latter. Funny thing is that when I met him at school I thought I had him all figured out. Thought he was this macho, egotistical jock. Turns out, he’s so much more than that. As tempting as it is to take him up on his offer, I know I can’t. If I show up at my aunt and uncle’s house with a guy, they’ll be pissed. I’m trying to prove to them that they can trust me. That I’ve changed. Running around with a strange guy will only serve to make them think I’m the same girl I was in the city.
“No. That’s okay.” I step back. When his arms fall away from my body, I shiver. My gaze shoots around, suddenly worried that Dusty may have come back.
Cal must notice because he glances down the street. “It’s okay. I don’t see him.”
“Thanks,” I say.
“Please let me take you home,” he says. “I don’t know what’s going on, but clearly you shouldn’t be walking around alone.”
“I’ll be fine,” I assure him. Before he can protest any further, I step around him. “I’m sorry about…well, about forcing you to kiss me and everything.” My cheeks warm as the reality of what I did crashes over me. I am a walking disaster, aren’t I?
“Hey, you won’t hear any complaints from me about that.” He smiles.
I smile back. Then I whirl around, prepared to hurry down the street. But Cal’s arm shoots out, his fingers clamping around my wrist.
“There’s no way I’m letting you walk home alone,” he practically growls. “Don’t bother fighting me on this.”
His words warm my insides. Actually, this entire night has thawed away at the coldness that’s surrounded my heart since arriving here. I’m used to guys being controlling. Dusty was forceful with me too. But never to protect me. Never because it was in my best interest. This is different than anything I’ve experienced before, and it scares me how much I like it. And really, walking home probably isn’t the greatest idea. Not with Dusty running around town. Silently I pray he won’t go anywhere near my uncle’s house.
Cal yanks me toward a blue Honda Civic. Like a perfect gentlemen, he opens the passenger door for me and gently guides me inside. His gaze darts to the sidewalk and down the street, and I know he’s keeping an eye out for Dusty. Man, this guy is going to steal my heart if I’m not careful.
After closing the passenger door, he hurries to his side and hops in. The inside of the car smells like him, and it makes my heart race. When he turns on the engine, hip hop music blasts from the speakers. I flinch. Reaching out, he lowers the volume.
“Sorry about that,” he mumbles.
I bite my lip as he pulls away from the curb. Baseball equipment fills the backseat, and it rattles around as he drives.
As we near a stop sign, I point with my index finger. “Oh, you take a right up here.”
“I know how to get there,” he says simply, flicking on his blinker.
“You know where I live?” I tease. “Should I be concerned?”
He shrugs, keeping his gaze trained ahead. “It’s a small town. People talk. We all know you live at Pastor Alex’s house.” His neck cranes in my direction. “You don’t have to be concerned about me, Taylor.”
The pointed look he gives me makes me shudder.
He turns his head, returning his attention back to the road. “So you wanna tell me who that guy was? You must have been pretty scared if kissing me seemed like a better option than facing him.” I’m shocked at his words, until he adds, “When we spoke this afternoon I didn’t get the impression that you were my biggest fan.”
My face heats up. My tongue feels like its swollen to enormous proportions, and I have no idea what to say. So I answer his first question. “His name is Dusty, and he’s my ex-boyfriend.”
He nods subtly. “I’m guessing things didn’t end well.”
I snort. “You can say that.” Nervously, I fiddle with the bottom of my sweater, working the fabric between my fingers. Our bodies bounce as the car drives over gravel and rocks. “He’s sorta the reason I’m in Prairie Creek.” I pull in a breath. “He’s not supposed to know where I am. If my parents find out that he was here, I’ll probably be shipped off to somewhere else.”
CAL
It’s weird.
I don’t even know Taylor, and what little I do know should send me running. In our first conversation she was rude and ice-cold. Then she demands a kiss as a way of hiding from her scary ex-boyfriend. But for some reason I’m drawn to her.
And I don’t want her to leave town.
“I’ll take care of it,” I say firmly.
“What?” Her head whips in my direction.
“I’ll make sure he doesn’t find you,” I clarify.
“Why?”
I’m not sure how to explain what I feel for her. I’m not sure how to articulate why I want her to stay. Hell, I’m not even sure I understand it myself. “I’ve lived in Prairie Creek my whole life,” I finally say. “We don’t get much excitement around here.”
“You’re saying that girls don’t normally assault you in the middle of Old Town?”
“Trust me, that wasn’t assault. That was the most exciting thing that’s happened to me in awhile.”
“I see. So you wanna keep me around because you think I’ll just demand kisses from you all the time?”
It had crossed my mind. “Most of the girls around here I’ve known since we were in preschool. You’re different.”
A bitter laugh escapes through her heart-shaped lips. “Yeah, I’ve noticed.”
“I like it.”
I expect a smile, but instead her lips curl downward. “Dusty’s bad news, Cal. Please don’t get involved.”
“I’m already involved.”
I slow down when Pastor Alex’s property comes into view.
She stiffens. “Um…just drop me off here. I’ll walk the rest of the way.”
I ease on the brakes. “I’ll watch you. I won’t leave until you get inside.”
She pauses, shaking her head. “Are all guys around here like you?”
“Nah, I’m one of a kind.”
She finally gives me that smile I’d been hoping for.
“You should smile more often,” I say. “It looks good on you.”
Her face grows serious, and I wish I’d kept my mouth shut. “You’re a nice guy. I shouldn’t have involved you in this.” Reaching for the door handle, she turns it.
Reaching out, I grab her other arm. “Hey, I’m glad you did.”
“Just promise me you’ll stay out of it, okay? You’ve already done enough.”
I won’t lie to her, so I answer honestly, “I can’t make that promise.”
“Cal,” she starts, but I put my arm out to stop her.
“I know you don’t know me, but I’m pretty damn stubborn. You’re not gonna change my mind, and if you keep arguing, you’re gonna be late.”
“Fine.” She sighs. “Thanks again. See ya later?”
“Yep.” I nod.
A sad smile flickers over her face. Then she opens the door, and runs down the driveway. Sitting in my car, I watch her. By the way she runs, I’m assuming she doesn’t play sports. Still, it’s cute, the awkward way she propels her body forward, her dark hair trailing her. I wait until she’s safely inside before catching a u-turn and heading back to Old Town. My stomach rumbles, reminding me that I’m famished. But I can’t go back home yet.
I know I should heed Taylor’s warning. That dude didn’t look like someone I should mess with. I’m usually not the kind of guy to back down from a confrontation. No one really scares me. Then again, no one around here is very threatening. But this guy definitely is.
However, I made a promise to Taylor, and I’m going to keep it.
To say I was shocked when she approached me demanding a kiss would be an understatement. I couldn’t figure out what the hell was going on. As
much as I wanted to kiss those perfect lips of hers, I honestly had planned to say no. She was clearly distressed, and I don’t take advantage of girls. I don’t need to. But then she pressed her face close and whispered, “Please.” Something about her desperation and need made it impossible to refuse her. And I don’t regret it. Not even a little.
It was the single best kiss of my life.
The girl is no novice. She kissed like someone who had done it many times before. But that wasn’t what made it good. If all it took to be a good kisser was experience, then Ashley would be the best kisser in the world. And trust me, she’s not. She’s a good kisser, accomplished even. And she knows how to turn a guy on. But it always feels like Ashley’s trying too hard. Like she has an agenda.
My kiss with Taylor was raw. It was as if she was peeling back the layers of herself, stripping herself bare. Like she was laying it all on the line, holding nothing back. As if she was giving herself to me.
Based on how closed off she’s been to everyone around here, including me, it was odd. And it made it even more special.
It made me feel special.
Truth is, I didn’t even know I needed someone to make me feel that way. I’m affirmed on a daily basis by Coach, the guys on the team, the girls at our school. And I’m a pretty confident guy. But deep down, I feel expendable. I know that I’m a few bad pitches away from being benched, maybe even replaced. I know that my popularity is something I’ll lose when I go to college. There I’ll be a small fish in a big pond.