I giggle. “Just coffee. Thank you.”
He turns to leave and Rosemary and I sit down.
“He sure is a keeper.” Rosemary smiles in Logan’s direction as he walks down the hall.
I return her smile. “So does that mean you’re okay if Laird and I don’t get together?”
“Oh, I know that was just wishful thinking. I realize you two are more like brother and sister any way. You and Logan have something special. I can see it when you look at each other.”
“You think?” I ask.
“I know.” She says matter-of-factly. “By the way, that’s a beautiful necklace.” She says as she smiles warmly at me.
“Thank you. He’s a bit too generous.” I smile back at her.
“No such thing as being too generous, especially when it comes to jewelry.” She laughs.
I giggle. “Would you like me to stay here over Thanksgiving and help you with the store if Sam’s not able to work?”
“I like how you are calling us by our first names.” She smiles. “Thank you for the offer, honey but I’m sure we’ll be fine. Besides Laird arrives tomorrow so he’ll be here to help.”
“Oh, that’s right. Well, if you change your mind and want me to come and help please don’t hesitate to ask. Okay?”
“Of course.”
Logan arrives with our coffee and for the next couple of hours the three of us sit in silence as we wait for Sam. It’s after two in the morning when a nurse finally pushes Sam into the hallway in a wheelchair. He has two long rows of stitches on his forehead. One is at the center, the other near his hairline.
Rosemary jumps from her chair and hugs Sam tight. He starts to stand from the chair but the nurse scolds him.
“You need to stay in it until you get outside, Mr. Sutton.” The nurse reminds him.
After Rosemary steps back from Sam. He looks towards me and I move to give him a quick hug.
“I’m glad you’re okay, Sam.” I smile.
“I’m more than okay, just a few cuts and bruises. Logan, nice to see you.” He looks towards Logan.
Logan offers his hand and the two shake.
“Want to hit the surf in a few hours?” Sam asks Logan with a serious expression.
“You think that’s a good idea with all those stitches?” Logan smiles.
The nurse frowns at him. “Mr. Sutton, the doctor already told you that you need to stay out of the ocean for at least a week or you’ll risk getting an infection.”
“I think the salt water will help it heal.” Sam says, with certainty.
“You should listen to the doctor, honey.” Rosemary adds.
I look at Logan while Sam, Rosemary and the nurse discuss the stitches and surfing.
“You ready to go?” I whisper.
He nods as he wraps his arm around my waist.
“We’re going to head out.” I interrupt their conversation.
“Of course. It’s so late. Thank you again for coming and keeping me company.” Rosemary hugs both of us.
“Yes, thank you both.” Sam says. Then he looks towards Logan and adds. “Maybe I’ll see you in a couple hours.”
We decide to return to my place since it’s just a couple minutes from the hospital and it’s already so late. Logan pulls off his jeans and sweater and climbs into bed. Taking off my jeans, sweater and bra, I throw on a t-shirt and quickly slide in next to him. I am exhausted. Logan curls up against me, holding me close.
“Sorry about tonight.” I whisper.
“Me too, but something worth having is something worth waiting for.” He breathes and kisses me gently on my cheek.
“Thank you for waiting…and for dinner, and for the beautiful necklace and for coming with me to the hospital.”
“You can thank me another time. Go to sleep, beautiful.”
I close my eyes and I quickly fall into a sweet, peaceful slumber.
30
“YOU READY to hit the road?” Bryn asks. She’s already made three trips to the car with various bags and she picks up one more before she heads back out of the house.
“Are you sure I’m going to fit in your car with all your luggage?” I tease her.
“It’s a beautiful sunny day, we can drive with the top down and pile everything in the back. There’s plenty of room for you and maybe one of your bags.” She laughs.
“I hope everything doesn’t fly out all over the freeway.” I giggle.
“You mind if we stop at Josh’s on the way. I just want to say goodbye to him one more time.” She sighs.
“Didn’t you say goodbye to him about an hour ago?”
“Yes.” She smiles.
“Aren’t you also planning on seeing him over break?”
“Yes.” She smiles again.
I laugh. “How about we do this. I want to run by Spyder…see the Suttons before we head out so why don’t we plan on meeting back here in an hour and then we’ll hit the road?”
“Deal.” Bryn smiles.
“You sure an hour will give you enough time?” I look carefully at Bryn.
“Yes, yes. I’ll see you in an hour. You sure an hour is enough for you?” She asks as she smiles and looks in the direction behind me.
I turn and see Logan walking in our direction. My heart skips a beat when I see him. He’s wearing faded Levi’s and a navy blue cashmere sweater.
“See you in an hour.” Bryn says as she starts the engine and pulls out of the driveway.
“You sure you’re going to fit in the car with all your stuff?” He asks.
“It’s not my stuff, it’s all hers. ‘Pack lightly’ isn’t a part of Bryn’s vocabulary.” I giggle.
“Are you ready to go?” He asks.
“Yes. I was just going to head to Spyder and check on the Suttons. What are you up to?” I smile.
“My class got out early so I thought I’d come by and see you before you head off.” He says as he takes me in his arms and kisses me gently on the lips.
“I thought maybe you were here to kidnap me.” I gaze up into his eyes.
“Yes. Well as much as I would like to take you with me if I wanted you to be a willing captive, I think you need a few margaritas in you. Shall we go have a couple drinks somewhere?” He smirks at me.
I laugh. “Yes. I think you know me too well.”
“Hmm. I’d like to know you better, trust me.” He whispers.
I can feel my body heat. He leans down and kisses me again but this time with more passion. In a second I’m returning his kiss with equal ardor.
Suddenly he pulls back and gazes down at me, brushing my cheek with his hand.
“You sure you can’t come to New York?” He breathes.
I sigh and blink up at him.
“You brought it up with the kidnapping.” He smiles.
“That’s true.”
“Can I walk with you to Spyder?” He asks.
“Sure.”
When we walk into the back door at Spyder, I briefly forget that Laird is home from Brown University until he sweeps me off my feet and into a big bear hug.
“Emilia! It’s so good to see you!” He swings me around as I giggle, but when I see Logan’s scowl I immediately stop laughing.
“Laird, nice to see you too. There’s someone I’d like for you to meet.” I say.
Laird’s blue eyes sparkle just like his parents. He also has their same wavy, beach hair but their California golden tans are absent. He’s very pale.
“Oh?” He asks as he looks in Logan’s direction. Laird still has his arm around me.
“Laird, this is Logan. Logan, this is Laird, Sam and Rosemary’s son.” They shake hands, both eyeing the other suspiciously.
“Laird is in his last year at Brown.” I smile at him.
When I see Rosemary at the other end of the store, I walk out of Laird’s hold. Logan quickly grabs my hand and we move across the store to her.
“Hi.” I smile at her and give her a hug.
“What a nice surprise.�
� She smiles and then continues. “Aren’t you supposed to be heading home?”
“I am. I just wanted to come by and see how you all were doing. Where’s Sam?” I glance around the store.
“Where do you think he is?” She frowns.
I gaze up at Logan and see he is trying to stifle a smile.
“I had a feeling he wasn’t going to listen to the doctor’s orders.” Logan says.
“Well, he went out yesterday too. He’s convinced the salt water is helping the healing process.” She shakes her head.
Laird walks over and joins the conversation.
“Nothing you can do about it, Mom.” He smiles warmly at her.
“You sure you don’t need my help? I’m sure my dad can always drive me back up after Thanksgiving.” I say and look at Mrs. Sutton.
“That sounds great.” Laird smiles.
Logan glares at him.
“No, honey. We’re fine.” She elbows Laird and then adds, “You go and enjoy your time with your dad.” Then she turns her attention to Logan.
“Did you two meet each other?” Rosemary smiles at Logan and Laird.
“We did.” Logan replies, coolly.
Laird nods.
At that moment a delivery truck pulls up to the back. The driver starts to pile up several boxes beside the storage area.
“It was great seeing you, Emilia.” Laird beams down at me.
“Good to see you, too. Maybe I’ll see you at the end of the week.”
Logan wraps his arm around my waist.
“Sounds good.” He smiles.
“Nice meeting you, Laird.” Logan murmurs.
“You, too.” He says then he heads to the back to help with the delivery.
“You promise you’ll call me if you need help? Right?” I say to Rosemary.
“I will, but please don’t worry. We’re good.” She gives Logan a quick hug and then turns to me. She pulls me tight.
“Please send our best to your dad.” She pulls back. “And have fun. Okay?”
“Yes, I will. Send our love to Sam.” I smile as we make our way out of the store.
“Why were you being so weird with Laird?” I ask as we make our way back to the house.
“I was weird?” He asks, irritably.
“Well, you were both weird.”
“I didn’t care for the way he was looking at you.” He says matter-of-factly.
“Oh, Logan, don’t be silly. He’s like a brother to me.”
“I think you fail to realize while maybe you think of boys as friends or more like brothers, they often or usually don’t think of you in that way. Tyler? Luke? Didn’t you think of them as friends or brothers?”
“Well, this is different.” I shrug.
“We’ve been down this road so many times before, Emilia.” He sounds exasperated.
“But this time I’m right.”
“I don’t want to argue with you when I won’t see you for almost a week.” He grabs me and pulls me flush against him.
We are back in the driveway beside Bryn’s Cooper.
“Who’s arguing?” I blink up at him.
He leans down and kisses me. I wrap my arms around his head, feeling his hair and pulling him closer, completely surrendering myself to him. I can’t believe how much I care for him and how close I feel to him in just two short months.
“I miss you already.” He breathes.
I feel my heart skip a beat as I gaze into his beautiful blue eyes.
“Look, well you promise me something?” He asks.
“Of course.”
“If you decide to come back here earlier to help at the shop, can I come with you?”
“Sure. Do you want to come with me to be with me or just because you don’t trust Laird?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Both.” He smiles as he gently strokes my cheek.
“That’s what I thought.” I giggle.
“Ready?” Bryn calls from behind us as she walks down the front path.
“Yes.” I gaze up at Logan and suddenly I feel an overwhelming sense of sadness. Maybe I should have accepted his invitation to go to New York?
Logan bends down and kisses me softly.
WE MAKE GOOD TIME from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. We pull up to my dad’s Venice Beach bungalow in just under two hours. Bryn turns off the engine and looks at me.
“You’re awfully quiet, Emilia. Can I say I told you so?”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, confused.
“You can’t fool me. You’re all sad and moping. I told you, you should have accepted Logan’s offer to fly to New York.”
“Don’t be silly. I’m just tired from the stress of the week with the Suttons accident and all the papers due before break.”
“Hmm. I think you’re feeling more than tired.” She raises an eyebrow, suspiciously. “You sure you aren’t feeling a little blue?”
“Maybe…a little.” I shrug.
“Why don’t you tell him to get the private jet on out here? I’m sure he would jump at the chance.”
I giggle. “You’re crazy. I’m looking forward to hanging with my dad, sitting on the beach and just relaxing. It’ll be fun.”
She rolls her eyes. “New York with your boyfriend and your best friend would be more fun.”
I laugh. “Oh, Bryn. You are too much.”
“Hey you two. You need some help with your bags? Jeez, you’re just here until Saturday, right?” My dad says as he stares at all the bags.
I get out of the car and we embrace.
“This is my bag, dad.” I say as I grab my one small duffel. “The rest belongs to Bryn.”
Bryn skips over to my dad and hugs him tight.
“Nice to see you, Mr. King.” She smiles, sweetly at him.
“You, too, Bryn. Thanks for looking after Emilia.” He returns her warm smile.
“I’m not really the one you should be thanking for that.” She winks at me.
I scowl at her. I can’t believe she just said that to my dad.
“Oh, yes. I met Logan. He seems like a nice young man. Too bad their house in Santa Barbara is a bit of a shack.” He laughs.
Bryn laughs. “Yes, it’s a pity he’s a bit hard up.”
I roll my eyes at the two of them.
“Did you see Emilia’s latest bling from him?” Bryn says to my dad.
Thanks, Bryn!
“It’s not a big deal.” I glare at her.
My dad looks at my new diamond necklace from Logan.
“He has good taste.” He smiles and then puts his arm sweetly around me. “In everything.”
“Thanks, dad.” I smile at him.
The three of us make our way up the sidewalk to the small Craftsman-style bungalow where I’ve spent half of my life. It’s dark green with a large lemon tree and a small fountain in the tiny front yard.
I carry my bag to the upstairs bedroom that faces the backyard and the small guesthouse that my dad uses as his art studio. The house looks exactly the same every time I return to it. I don’t know why that always comes as a surprise to me. There’s very little furniture: two small brown sofas, a rocking chair, and a small flat-screen television that sits on a pine table. On the fireplace mantle there are various paintings and photos propped up against the white wall.
“I’m going to head out…hoping to beat the traffic.” Bryn says from behind me.
My dad is in my bedroom, trying to open a window that’s stuck from lack of usage.
I hug her tight. “I’m still annoyed with you.” I whisper in her ear, referring to her bling remark.
“I’m going to miss you, too, Emilia.” She smiles, sweetly at me.
I smile back at her and shake my head.
“Don’t be silly. Your dad doesn’t care. Besides you know I only tease you because I love you.” She kisses me on the cheek.
“I love you, too, Bryn.”
“Call me if you want to go shopping or to New York.” She winks at me.
I
giggle.
“Goodbye, Mr. King.” She calls up the stairs.
“Nice to see you, Bryn.” He shouts.
I head up the stairs, into my bedroom. My dad has managed to get the window open and a light breeze gently sweeps through the room. My room hasn’t changed since I was twelve. The walls are still painted a pale blue, my favorite color when I was little.
The small room only fits a few pieces of furniture: a twin bed, a nightstand, a small desk and chair in the corner, and one small dresser that still displays many of my running trophies.
“Can I get you something to eat, honey?” He asks.
“No, thanks. I’m just going to put my things away.” I smile at him.
“I kind of figured you might want to just relax. You’re probably tired from the drive.”
“A little bit.”
“I’ll just be out back, working. If you don’t mind…just holler if you need anything.”
“Thanks, dad.”
“I was just going to grill tonight. I got some burgers. Is that okay or would you rather go out?” He turns and says before he heads back down the stairs.
“Burgers sound great. I’ll make a salad.” I smile.
After I hang my clothes in the closet I pull out my laptop. I look at the clock on my nightstand. It’s just after three. Logan will be boarding his flight soon. I decide to text him.
IT’S A MILD EVENING for late November, my dad and I decide to take advantage of it. We head to the “walk streets,” the small pathways that runs through the gardens of all the bungalows in the quaint little section of Venice Beach, and stroll under the moonlight.
“Beautiful night.” My dad says as we make our way along the canals.
“It sure is.” I murmur.
“Is everything okay, Emilia? You sure are quiet since you’ve gotten home.”
“Everything is great.” I feel guilty for missing Logan when I’m here to spend time with my dad. I don’t want to tell him that and the last thing I want to do is to make him sad.
“You want to know what I think?” He smiles at me.
I look at him, waiting for him to answer.
“I think you’ve really fallen for him.”
Running from Romeo Page 41