First Kiss

by Sophie Bright

  “You’re right it doesn’t matter. We are over. Hell we never even started. And I shouldn’t be such and asshole. I know Jackson’s your best friend. Please don’t feel bad talking to him and keeping your friendship. I was being stupid not letting you know I was okay with you two still being friends.”

  Dean kissed the side of my head and jumped off the couch. “Thanks Lucy. It’s been hell wanting to kick his ass and wanting to find out what happened at the same time.”

  “No ass kicking and let what happened between me and Jackson die. I did.”

  Dean stared down at me before shaking his head and going upstairs. “I have a date with my lady tonight. Don’t wait up.”

  “Get the door will you, Lucy?” Dean called down from the stairs. As he was still getting ready.

  I whistled when I opened the door and saw Trina standing on the porch in a tight red dress. “Hey, Sexy.”

  She kissed my cheek and I rubbed it to get the lipstick mark off of it.

  “Wait, you’re dressed,” she said when she came into the house.

  “I’m going to the movies with Alec tonight.”

  “Look at you climbing on the horse again. You dirty girl can’t keep you down.”

  “Haha, it’s not a date. Alec’s just a friend.”

  “Whatever you say but it will make my next suggestion so much easier.”

  Dean came down in a suit and I grinned at both of them. He put his arm around Trina’s waist and kissed her. “What are you two talking about?”

  “I was just going to convince your sister to come out with me tomorrow.”

  “I’m up for it,” Dean answered smiling widely.

  “No, silly,” Trina rolled her eyes. “A girls night. There’s a new club I’ve been dying to go to and I want Lucy to come.”

  “You hate clubs,” I told her thinking of an escape plan. A movie was one thing a club was something I didn’t think I was ready for.

  “This one sounds like so much fun. It’s 80’s themed and you’re going. I have to work late so I’ll send you the address and you will meet me there.” Trina emphasized the word “will” letting me know I was stuck.

  “Alright, send me the address and I’ll meet you there.”

  “Yay!” she kissed my cheek again before they left.

  Alec arrived right after and I climbed in his car still trying to think of an excuse to get out of going with Trina. He leaned over and hugged me with more affection than was necessary. Jackson’s warning ran through my head but I pushed it away. Alec was aware I only wanted his friendship.

  “I’m so glad you decided to go out with me,” Alec said as we drove.

  “I am too. I needed a night out with a friend.”

  Alec frowned when I used the word friend and more warning bells sounded off. I maneuvered the conversation to safer topics about music and movies and Alec complied.

  I let out a breath when we sat down. When the lights went dim Alec attempted to hold my hand. Dread filled me as I moved it away pretending I didn’t notice his intentions.

  Alec sighed next to me and turned toward me. “Lucy,”

  Someone behind us shushed us and I turned to smile at them.

  “Alec, please don’t do this. We’re friends.”

  “I don’t want to be friends.”

  The person shushed us again and I sat straight pretending to watch the movie. Alec sat next to me his body tense but he was quiet as the action played before us. I prayed the movie wouldn’t end because I didn’t want to have the awkward conversation I knew would happen. But it did end and Alec moped next to me on the way to his car.

  “Lucy,” he started again.

  “Please don’t do this. I don’t want to lose you as a friend,” I pleaded with him but the determination on his face told me all I needed to know.

  Alec grabbed my hand and leaned into me. “Lucy, we are so good together. Can’t you see?”

  “Alec I’m not ready for a relationship. I told you before. You’re a great guy and any girl would be lucky to have you but all I can offer you is my friendship.”

  “I can wait. I shouldn’t have pushed you as fast as I did. When you agreed to go out I thought maybe you were ready. I don’t mind waiting.”

  “It’s never going to happen. I’m sorry.”

  “Is it because of him? He’s never going to love you the way I can. He’s going to string you along as long as you will let him. Stop being pathetic.”

  I wrenched my hand out of his and dove for the door. “I know you’re angry with me and I’m hoping that is why you’re saying what you are saying. I get lashing out when you are pissed but I’m going to take an uber home and I don’t want to hear from you again. Good bye, Alec.”

  I slammed the door and he sat in his car staring at me. I walked away with my head held high ignoring his pleas to get back in the car.

  When the uber pulled up to the house I jumped out. Dean’s trucks was in the driveway and so was Meredith’s police cruiser. I rushed in the house my disaster of a date forgotten.

  “Is everything okay? Is anybody hurt?” I asked before I’d even closed the door. It wasn’t lost on me that Jackson’s truck wasn’t in the driveway.

  As mad as I was at him I was terrified of him getting hurt. I loved him more than I hated him.

  “Everything’s fine. Nobody is hurt,” Meredith assured me when I reached her.

  “What happened?”

  “Somebody broke into our construction site and demolished one of the back walls we were building,” Dean answered his hands curled into fists.

  “Did you catch them on camera?” I asked going over and hugging Dean.

  “They were able to avoid them. They obviously knew the site well enough to walk around without being noticed.” Meredith glanced at Dean before setting her sites on me.

  “Do you think it was one of your employees?” I asked nervously not liking the look Meredith was shooting me.

  “It’s a likely possibility,” she answered. “Have you received anymore threats or calls?”

  “What do you mean?” Dean asked turning around so he could pin me with a glare. “Someone has been harassing you and you didn’t tell me?”

  “Sorry, Lucy. I thought he knew about your harassment I figured you or Jackson would have told him.” Meredith cringed realizing her mistake.

  “Jackson knew you were being harassed and you didn’t tell me?” His voice was hurt and I hurried to fix it.

  “It really wasn’t a big deal. Some phone calls, a note, a couple flat tires. Jackson was with me when the tow truck came so he figured it out.” My excuse was lame even to my ears.

  “Where is Jackson? I thought he would want to be here?” Meredith asked sky rocketing the already awkward tension.

  “He’s at the site checking out the damage with our insurance broker. I’m supposed to meet him there.”

  “Oh, well I have all I need from you two. I just wanted to see if there was anything I needed to be aware of,” Meredith stared at me and I shook my head letting her know I had nothing else to tell her.

  “I will drive behind you to the site.” Meredith hugged me and gave Dean a curt nod before heading out to her car.

  Dean waited until Meredith closed the door before turning on me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because it really was nothing. Jackson helped me out with my tires and I knew I was safe.”

  “Jackson kept you safe.” It was more of a statement than a question so I just nodded.

  The engine to Meredith’s cruiser roared to life letting us know she was ready to go.

  “We will talk about this later. I don’t like being kept in the dark especially when it comes to the safety of my little sister. And don’t think I’m not going to talk to Jackson about this too.”

  Dean left the living room in a rage and I collapsed on the couch with my hand over my eyes. It seemed tonight was just going to keep punching until it had its knock out.

  18

  Dean d
idn’t get home from the construction site until long after I had went to bed. When I went downstairs in the morning ready for my lecture I was relieved to see he was already gone.

  The bacon I was cooking had my mouth watering. When the doorbell rang I sighed letting my feast sit on the counter. Learning my lesson from the last time I checked the peephole instead of opening the door.

  My muscles seized when I saw Jackson standing in front of the door. I held my breath and went still so he wouldn’t hear me lurking at the door. My eyes devoured him. It had been less than two weeks and it felt like forever.

  My heart pounded in my chest demanding oxygen. I sucked in a breath as quiet as I could but I couldn’t pull myself away from little peek of heaven and hell I was being offered.

  Jackson reached out and hit the doorbell again. I watched his finger and arm as it outstretched remembering them teasing me into a frenzy of need.

  I pressed my forehead to the door wanting to get as close to him as I could. Every inch of me being missed him. Craved him. I had admitted defeat he would never fall helplessly in love with me but the pain still lingered.

  “Lucy, are you in there? Baby we need to talk.”

  A tear hit one of the hands I had pressed against the door. I hadn’t realized I was crying until I felt the proof slide down my arm.

  “Lucy, I’m so sorry. Please talk to me. I have the key don’t make me force my way in to get you to talk to me.”

  Fear pushed me into action. I engaged the deadbolt.

  Jackson’s body went straight hearing the click which confirmed I was listening.

  “Come on baby,” he pleaded putting his hands on the door and leaning into the peephole.

  His green eye pierced me and I backed up so I wouldn’t lose my nerve and open the door to him.

  “Go away, Jackson. I don’t want to talk to you.”

  “Lucy, don’t be like this. I shouldn’t have said what I did. I was angry and jealous. Please open the door.”

  “If you don’t leave I’m going to call the cops.”

  Jackson hit the wood in frustration. He leaned both hands on the door with his head hanging between his arms. I watched him wanting to go out and soothe him but refusing aware my heart wouldn’t be able to take another blow from him.

  “Go away, Jackson. It’s over.”

  He lifted his head and peered into the tiny hole as if he could see me through the thickness. “It will never be over, Lucy. I’ll give you time to come to terms but this is not done. I’ll be back.” He stayed where he was as if he was trying to get me to let him in. When I didn’t, he pushed off the door and went to his truck.

  I stayed pressed against the door long after his truck had disappeared. I had held strong today but how long would I hold out if he continued to try and talk to me?

  I went up to my room leaving my bacon to congeal on the counter no longer hungry. In my room I went straight for my bed but before I could pull the covers over my head I stopped. I threw the blankets off me and went to my closet.

  The staying in my room and hiding was no longer an option. I got dressed grabbed my purse and went out. I opted not to take my car and walked the couple of blocks to downtown.

  I text Trina to tell her I was going on a shopping spree and she text back sad she couldn’t make it. I sent her pictures throughout the day so she wouldn’t feel left out.

  Trina had mentioned yesterday she was taking me to an 80’s club and I needed something to wear. I shopped with the energy of a crazy woman or at least a woman trying to forget a man.

  I deeply regretted not driving my car as I tried to organize all of my purchases for the walk home. Losing the battle I called an uber.

  At home I pulled everything out and spread it over the bed. I laughed when I realized just how overboard I’d went but I didn’t care. I worked hard and I deserved to have new things.

  I jumped in the shower and shaved everything. The one thing about no longer having access to Jackson’s body was I stopped shaving mine. With the hair removal task done, I crimped and neoned myself up getting excited for tonight.

  “You look like every John Hughes movie rolled into one person,” Dean said laughing when I came downstairs.

  “I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

  “I can’t wait to see what Trina’s going to wear.”

  “I’ll have to send you pictures. Remember she’s going to meet me there?”

  “Yes, I remember but who do you think she’s going to come home with.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  “Ewww I don’t want to hear any of that.” I pretended to puke and Dean watched me with amusement.

  “I’ve got to go,” I told him grabbing my new bright green purse.

  “What time are you meeting her? I thought you had another hour.” Dean glanced at his phone and frowned.

  “No, the restaurant we picked was booked so we had to make earlier reservations. Why?”

  Dean was tapping away on his phone the frown still in place. “No reason. Trina has been hard to get a hold of today.”

  “I’ve never seen you so girl crazy before.” I ruffled his hair and he pushed my hand away fixing my mess.

  “I’m in love with her. She’s the best thing to happen to me.”

  “Ahh, I’m happy for you.” I hugged him before walking out the door.

  In the rearview mirror I noticed Jackson’s truck barreling down the street. He said this morning he was going to give me time, but by the way he was driving it looked like my time was up.

  I gunned the engine and jolted down the street. My body hummed with the need to get away from him just as bad as it begged to see him.

  I turned my head rapidly as a stop sign came into view. If there was nobody around I was going through it. Thankfully the intersection was clear and I ran the stop sign without regret.

  Jackson was gaining on me his horn blasting behind me. A beacon of my heartache echoing in the evening sky. A sharp turn was ahead and as much as I hated to do it I need to slow.

  I tapped my brakes getting ready for the curve. Nothing happened. My car didn’t respond to the light pressure it acted as if I didn’t hit the break pedal at all. I pressed it harder and still there was no slowing down.

  My car barreled toward the curve only slowing slightly because I was no longer on the gas. Jackson’s horn sounded behind me causing my panic to rush through me. I pumped the useless brake pedal praying it would miraculously engage.

  My car hit the curve and I fought the steering wheel to keep on the road. Feeling my tires give way I yanked on the emergency brake. My car shuddered as I fish tailed wildly. My hands ached from gripping the steering wheel. Losing complete control I slammed into a tree ending my careening with a hard jolt.

  The airbag exploded striking me hard in the arms and the face. I bounced against the airbag back into my seat. Far away Jackson screamed my name over and over again.

  With blurry eyes I blinked seeing Jackson’s fear covered face before blackness crowed my vision and darkness blanketed me.

  “Why hasn’t she woken up yet?” Jackson’s voice penetrated the fog encasing me.

  He sounded angry and I wanted to call out to him but nothing was responding to my commands.

  “The nurse said it would take her awhile to wake up from the sedation. She’s always been a lightweight when it came to pain pills. She’ll wake up soon.” My mom’s voice was supposed to be soothing but the annoyed breath Jackson let out showed just how ineffective it was.

  “I don’t even know why you’re here. She wouldn’t have been driving so fast if you weren’t chasing after her like a fucking madman,” Dean bit out. In my mind I could picture him gritting his teeth something he did when he was pissed off.

  “Stop it, Dean. It’s not Jackson’s fault,” my dad interjected.

  “I didn’t know she would run away from me like she did. She’s driven on that damn curve a hundred times. I’m telling you Dean she didn’t even try to slow down.” My heart lurc
hed at the pain evident in Jackson’s words.

  “I did try to brake. My brakes failed.” My voice was scratchy and pain exploded across my brain.

  “She’s awake everyone shut up.” Trina’s order went unheard as everyone started talking at once.

  The noise was too much and I winced causing even more pain to wash over me.

  “Stop, can’t you see she’s in pain.” Jackson’s large hand covered mine.

  I accepted the heat absorbing it from the cold hospital room. I cracked open an eye and quickly shut it the harsh light burning the scratchy orb.

  “It’s okay I’ve got you.” Jackson leaned over and his shadow loomed over my face blissfully dimming the brightness.

  My mom sobbed into my dad’s shoulder. Dean tried to push Jackson out of the way while Trina went to the other side to hold my other hand.

  “What happened?” Jackson asked his face strained with fury and worry.

  “I don’t know. My brakes didn’t work when I pushed them. I tried to pump them and in the end I was too close to the curve so I had to engage my emergency brake.” Just the simple explanation exhausted me.

  Jackson touched my cheek and removed it quickly when I tensed. “You scared the fuck out of me.” He didn’t bother to quiet his declaration.

  The door opened and a nurse walked in surveying the room. She landed on me and smiled. “Sleeping Beauty is awake.”

  I attempted to smile back at her but stopped when my cheek burned with pain.

  “Let’s see how you’re doing.” She gave Jackson a look and he released my hand moving over so she could check me.

  My head swam from the pain and the meds. As the nurse fussed over me I yawned deeply not caring at the sharp sting it caused.

  “You’re a lucky girl. Although you’re not going to believe me the next couple of days. You have burns from the air bag and you’re pretty banged up but no internal damage or broken bones. I’ll have the doctor come look at you and if he gives you the clear you should be dismissed tonight.” She winked at me and patted my hand before moving toward the door. “Don’t get my patient upset.” Her face was stern as she met everyone in the room’s eyes before walking out.