by Kirby Hall
West reached for the mint. He didn’t have to blow into his sleeve to know he probably needed it.
Joe grinned at him and slid the rest of the pack back into his pocket. “My Dorothy was a looker. Still is. Even after all these years.”
West swirled the hard candy around his mouth and let the cool flavor coat his tongue. “Dorothy, is that your wife?”
“Yes, sir. Going on fifty years. Met her in high school at a dance.” Joe adjusted his stance and let his arm hang loosely off the top of the rake handle. “I can still remember the dress she was wearing. It was blue and it made it look like her legs went on forever. I was never the same.”
“Sounds like a hot dress.”
Joe grinned and shook his head. “She’s quite a woman. Been puttin’ up with me a long time.”
“Then she is quite a woman.”
Joe laughed. “All right now, I hear ya. Better watch out, that pretty young thing you’ve been hiding out with in here might’ve changed you, too. You probably don’t even realize it yet.”
West shrugged. She had changed him. For once, he wasn’t angry all the time. Alexa gave him something to look forward to and someone else to think about other than Elizabeth and his deadbeat father. That alone was a change.
Birds resting in the trees to their right shot into the sky causing them both to turn. Light footfalls could be heard close by. West turned back to look at Joe and watched as a slow smile stretched across his leathery face.
“Sounds like your lady friend is here.”
West grinned. “I’ll see you around, Joe.”
“Yep, I reckon so.”
West shoved his hands into his pockets and cut back through the trees. Fifty years. He couldn’t wrap his head around two people being together that long. He didn’t know anyone whose parents were still together, much less for half a century. His own parents hadn’t lasted past twelve. And, they were better off for it.
His mood darkened and his body grew tense. Sounds of his parent’s fighting echoed in his memory. Shouting matches that carried through the walls as they went at it night after night blaming each other for everything from money to his grades, but they never fought over the one thing that was actually tearing them apart. They’d forgotten that he’d needed them, too. That he’d lost someone. That he was drowning in sadness and guilt in the next room. For all they noticed, he could’ve died with his sister.
As the hill came into view, he could see Alexa’s outline against the gray sky. Her hair was pulled back in a knot and her arms were crossed over her chest as her small frame stood strong against the cold. He broke into a run.
“Hey. I was starting to wonder where you were.”
Before Alexa could say anything else, he crushed his mouth to hers and pushed her back until she was up against an erected pillar with a marble ball balancing on the top. All he needed was to feel her. Her wet, hot mouth responded to his and they remained tangled up in each other until he broke their kiss, gasping for air, but it wasn’t like he was drowning. Being with her was like breaking through the surface and finding air.
As he stood breathing heavily, she stared back at him with soft eyes and bright pink lips. All he wanted was to kiss her again. He cursed at their surroundings and lack of a couch or bed.
“It’s good to see you, too.” She laughed, but it was shaky.
He laughed, too, and with it the darkness that had been pressing down on him evaporated, carried away on the wind blowing around them. He leaned his forehead against hers.
“I missed seeing you yesterday.”
“Obviously.” She searched his face and he knew she was wondering what was up. He could see the question in her eyes, but she didn’t ask.
“So, you wanna sit?”
“Sure.” Alexa made a move to sit on the grass.
“Wait.” West jogged over to his bag where it was lying in its usual place on the ground and pulled out a blanket. “I thought we could use this.” He raised it and shook it once before letting it flutter to the ground.
“Thank you.” Alexa sat down and waited for West to take his place beside her. Once he was leaning back against the pillar, she leaned against him, snuggled her back against his chest and waited for his arms to wrap around her.
“How was PA?” he asked. His lips brushing against her hair.
“Good. She’s going to announce the musical next week, so everyone is freaking out.” She traced the lines of his chest with her fingertip. “God, I missed it.”
West chuckled. “It wasn’t that long of a break.”
“Any time away from the stage is too long. To act is to live.” Alexa said it in a British accent for effect.
He laughed. “Is that your personal mantra?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, it is.”
“Has your dad come around?”
She shrugged and nearly hit his jaw. “He’s living with it. As long as my grades stay in check, he says I can keep doing my little hobby.”
West could hear the hurt in her voice and an overwhelming urge to punch her dad in the face welled within him. Good old Dick.
“It’s fine. He can think what he wants. In less than a year, I’ll be eighteen and it won’t matter what he thinks. And, as long as I can land that scholarship, I’ll be able to get to New York on my own.”
West didn’t respond. He knew her well enough to know her dad’s opinion mattered, regardless of what she said.
“Let’s talk about something else.”
“Like what?”
“How about,” she played with his fingers one at a time while she thought, “how about you tell me when it was you realized I was awesome.”
He snorted. “Awesome? You? I don’t know about all that.”
“Come on, when did your opinion of me change? I know you used to think I was a pain.”
“Used to?”
“You know what I mean.” She leaned back into him in place of a shove. “When did you know? Like when did you start wanting to make out with me?”
“Who says I want to make out with you?”
She half turned and raised an eyebrow at him.
He laughed. “Okay, you’ve got me there.” Girls. “Let me think.” He leaned his head back and thought about what Joe had said about his wife and the dress. What had been his moment? In her room, there had been times when he’d noticed her. In class. None of those times had rocked him though. The play. “Okay, I’ve got it.”
She half turned beside him so she could see him. He should’ve been embarrassed to say aloud what was so personal, but he wasn’t. And, he would never lie to her. He knew how lies could leave scars.
“The night of the play competition. When I saw you on stage.”
She tilted her head to the side. His answer obviously wasn’t what she’d been expecting. “But, I wasn’t me then. I was playing a part. Pretending to be someone else.”
He reached up and brushed the backs of his fingers down her cheek. “You were the real you for the first time since I’d seen you. You came to life up there.”
She leaned into him and pressed her lips into his. As they kissed, she finished turning the rest of the way around and pushed him until he was flat on his back. If there were rocks beneath him cutting into his spine through the blanket, he didn’t know it. All he could feel was her. The curves of her chest and one of her hip bones was pressing into him and making him want to press himself right back against her.
He took back what he said about girls. If she was going to kiss him like that for one simple answer, he’d tell her whatever she wanted to know. He now understood why female spies were so efficient. They continued to stay wrapped up in each other, his hands moving over her body, and hers over his, until the sky darkened.
Finally, Alexa pushed he
rself up on her hands. “I need to go.”
His head fell back and smacked the earth. Why not just throw a bucket of cold water in his face?
“My dad’s already been wondering where I’ve been going and I’m running out of excuses.”
“You could always tell him we’re together.”
“I could, but then we’d never be alone.”
West saw the flaw in his plan. After a month of making out on the cold ground, he was ready to have more privacy. “Maybe we’ll have to go to my house.”
She froze.
Oh God, she was as traumatized at the idea of seeing his house as he was of having her there. His entire house was the size of her living room. Heat crept up his neck. “I mean it’s not ideal, but—”
“No, that would be great.” She smiled at him and pecked his lips before standing. “I’d like to see where you live. Not that I don’t enjoy our time out here, but in case you haven’t noticed, it’s cold.” She straightened her clothes and grabbed her bag. “Will I see you tomorrow?”
He stalled. “I can’t tomorrow.”
“Why? Got another hot date?”
He started folding the blanket. “Hardly. I can only handle one needy girl at a time.”
She kicked at him.
“Seriously, I can’t tomorrow.” She raised an eyebrow, but he pretended not to notice. “How about the day after tomorrow?”
“Okay,” she said.
“Can you get away?”
“I’ll figure something out.” She leaned in to kiss him, turned and then left.
He watched her until she was out of sight. He could’ve told her what he was doing the next day. It wasn’t exactly a secret, but for some reason if he told Alexa, there would be more pressure. As long as he was the only one who knew, it wouldn’t matter if he failed. He didn’t want her to be disappointed in him. He had parents for that.
~ ~ ~
The following afternoon, West bounced on his toes and stretched while surrounded by thirty other guys. Several of them were familiar and, of course, Josh was there. He eyed the group of guys hanging around the starting line. They were the ones Josh had pointed out when they’d first arrived. The small group made up the members who were on the team the year before. It was practically a given they would get a place on the team, but the coach made everyone tryout. West figured it was in case anyone had gone soft and hadn’t practiced at all between seasons.
He bounced on his toes again and listened while the coach explained the process. There were a fair number of slots open. West counted how many guys were returning from last year. Assuming they all made the team, there would be seven spots left to fill for the running group. The field sports area didn’t concern him.
They would be lining up four at a time and their times would be recorded. After everyone had a chance, some would be called back for a second run. Adrenaline was buzzing in his veins as though he’d hit the snooze button on his alarm and it would go off again at any moment.
He was ready. He was fast and for the first time, he wanted something. Wanted to succeed. Not to keep his mom happy. This time it was for him. It was time to take his place among the living.
The whistle sounded and the first group took their place at the starting line. West watched and noted how the other runners moved. Some were smoother than others. The previous team members stood out. The fluidity of their motions was in sync and was the product of practice and training. He shook his hands out at his sides as anticipation built. The first runner crossed the line followed by two more; the fourth and final runner never had a chance. He’d started well, but used up too much of his speed too soon. Rookie mistake.
The whistle blew and West took his place at the line. With a glance over his shoulder, he nodded to Josh who was waiting to run in the next group. Josh grinned back and made a one-two punch in the air. Refocusing his attention, West leaned forward into his knee and shifted his weight. When the whistle blew again, he pushed off and fell in behind one guy and ahead of two others.
The pace was set by the lead runner, who according to Josh, was a returning team member and one who was known for distance. West kept his eyes trained on the middle of the guy’s back. Rounding the first turn was steady and then the first straightaway brought out a burst of speed from one of the guys behind him. Inhaling through his nose and breathing out through his mouth, West continued on and pushed the thoughts of what was happening around him to the outer recesses of his mind. Instead, he concentrated on his breathing and his steps. He’d done this thousands of times. It was muscle memory now.
The four runners powered around the second turn and West dug his shoes deep into the rubber track. His burst of speed was sharper and faster than the runners around him. When he crossed the line first and walked off the excess energy, a few of the older runners slapped him on the back. So far, so good. Now, he waited.
Chapter 22
“How’s West?” Bekah asked.
Alexa couldn’t contain a grin. Perfect. Wonderful. Amazing. She held back her true sentiments and opted for the ever popular, “Fine.” No reason to rub it in.
“I bet.” Bekah threw one of her pillows at her. “Seriously, it’s been like a month and you haven’t stopped smiling. What’s up?”
“Nothing’s up. He’s good. We’re good.” Alexa shrugged and focused on the magazine she was looking at.
“Are you going to tell your dad you’re dating him?”
“I don’t know.” Her grin faltered and she flipped the page, ignoring the pang of guilt at the mention of her father. “Why mess up a good thing, right?”
“I guess, but you know you can’t go on lying forever. At some point your dad’s going to figure this out. And, when he does . . .” Bekah dragged her thumb across her throat and stuck out her tongue.
Alexa closed her magazine and threw it across the bed. The article about swimsuits and spring break forgotten. “He’s so impossible. It isn’t like West is some serial killer. Although, you’d think so if you heard the way my dad used to talk about him.”
“Your dad’s awesome in a lot of ways, don’t get me wrong, but he can be a pain—”
“In the ass, yeah, I know.” Alexa buried her face in her hands. “Why does everything have to be so complicated? I just want a boyfriend who’s allowed to come over to my house and take me out on dates.”
“Me, too,” Bekah added in a low voice.
Alexa turned her eyes to her friend while keeping her head resting on her knees. “Sorry, Beks. I know things aren’t good for you and Jay right now, either.”
“He can’t even call. And, after we . . . you know.”
Alexa bit back her gag reflex. The thought of Bekah and Jay was enough to turn her stomach. He’d guilted her into sleeping with him and then couldn’t be bothered to call her back. Asshole. Bekah was so much better than that, but she didn’t see it. Or wouldn’t.
“So, what now? Do you keep waiting or say the hell with him? You know which way I’m voting.” Alexa gave Bekah a small smile. She meant what she said, but she didn’t want to start a fight.
“I’m ready to be done. I want to be done. He’s a jerk. Worse than a jerk, but . . .” She sighed. “But, if he were to call or show up on my doorstep right now, I don’t know if I’d be able to send him away.”
Alexa reached over, rested her hand on her best friend’s arm and squeezed. “There’s someone out there who deserves you.”
“Thanks, Alexa.”
“That’s what I’m here for.” Alexa flipped her phone over and jumped up. “Shoot. I’m late.”
Bekah rolled off her bed and jumped to her feet. “You’ll probably beat him home. Don’t freak.”
Alexa gathered up her bag and stepped into her shoes. “Yeah, hopefully.” She paused by the door. “See you tomorrow?”
/> “Yeah. Hey, Alexa?”
Alexa turned at the door and waited.
“Do you think Josh would want to hang out this weekend? I saw him once over break, but not much since.” Bekah dropped her gaze to the hem of her skirt which was layered over glittery leggings. “I miss him, you know?”
“I’ll talk to him tomorrow in class.” Alexa shut the door behind her and debated again on telling Bekah about Josh’s feelings. She’d asked him over break if he was mad at Bekah to try to see if he’d admit how he felt, but he’d dodged and changed the subject. He was beyond stubborn.
As Alexa passed the cemetery, she glanced in its direction and a smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. God, West was amazing. She never would’ve guessed she’d be so crazy about him. She’d never felt the way she did about anyone. Her insides were a twisted mess when she was with him and a disappointed mess when she wasn’t. When she turned into her driveway, her dad’s car was already there. Her stomach dropped.
She was tired of lying and sneaking around. It may’ve been her duty as a teenager, but it wasn’t her way and it was tedious. And lonely. She missed talking to her dad about things that mattered. Even though he didn’t always agree or understand what she was into, he’d always listen. She pushed the backdoor open and slid out of her shoes. She could hear the slight murmur of the TV and wondered what Graham was up to. She needed to spend more time with him. She’d been a little MIA lately.
When she reached around the corner of the wall and hit the light, she jumped. Her dad was sitting at the bar with his arms crossed over his chest.
“I thought we’d agreed that you were going to call when you were going to be late?”
“I’m sorry, Dad.”
“Where were you, Alexa?” He wasn’t yelling, but his tone was tense. It was one she heard him use with business more than once from his home office and it made her insides squirm.