by Heather Anne
“You got a minute? I’ve been meaning to text you about Saturday.”
“Sure.” I take a seat in the navy-blue chair directly across from his desk. He fiddles with some papers and takes a breath.
“Well the event starts at five, so I was thinking of picking you up at four. Is that ok?’
“What event?” My eyes narrow in curiosity.
“Shit,” he mumbles. Taking his glasses off, he runs his hand through his thick, dark hair.
“Look, I don’t know if you know this, but I really didn’t want to be a part of the auction” he admits, looking somewhat ashamed.
“Then why’d you do it?”
“Jacoby,” he says, and he doesn’t need to say more.
“The charity and the meaning. I get it, Colton, I really do. The only reason I went and bid was for that same reason. What if Paul needs services like that some day?”
“Exactly, and it meant a lot to Jacoby, his family, and Nadine too,” he says.
“Okay so what does that have to do with Saturday?”
“I was so against it that I didn’t plan anything. I have to cover the opening of the park for the paper. Saturday is for journalists and industry professionals to check it out,” his voice is quiet.
“So, it’s a work thing?”
He nods, his gaze not meeting mine.
“I see.” Disappointment clouds my words. I don’t even know why I’m getting upset over this. It’s not like he knew who was going to win his date.
“Look, if I knew it was going to be you, I would have made more of an effort,” his sincerity is apparent in his voice.
“Why?”
He looks at me for a long moment. Something flashes in his bright blue eyes that I can’t quite make out.
“Because I’ve known you for years. You’re Sienna’s best friend.” His eyes tell me that’s not all but I don’t push. I can’t, because it feels like my heart is going to fall out of my chest.
“Ok.”
“Ok?”
“It’s fine Colton. Four o’clock, Saturday.” I force a smile.
His brow scrunches causing his nose to wrinkle in the cutest of ways like it does when he’s thinking. He opens his mouth to say something but he’s interrupted by the ringing of my phone.
I take my phone out of my bag and see it’s a number from out of the country “Excuse me for a second this is my brother.”
“Paul! I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for two days!” I say into the phone and my face pales when I hear the voice on the other end.
“Is this Everleigh Mason, sister of Paul Mason?” the voice on the phone asks.
“Yes, this is she,” I respond as tears are already forming in my eyes; my stomach is in my throat.
“This is Captain Johansson from 23rd Infantry Division. There’s been an incident…” and that’s all I hear before his voice is drowned out by my sobbing as the phone crashes to the floor.
Chapter Seven
COLTON
The minute her voice cracks, I’m out of my seat standing right beside her. Unsure of what the person on the other end of the phone is saying, I rub her shoulder until she starts to shudder. A strangled cry comes from deep within her and her phone crashes to the floor. Everleigh wobbles, I grab her by her waist and lift her into the chair. I pick the phone up from the floor, put it on speaker, place it on the arm of the chair, and then kneel in front of her as I grab her hand.
“Ms. Mason?” the voice on the other end says.
“This is Ms. Mason’s friend, Colton McDaniel’s. She’s too upset to talk but I have you on speaker.”
“I need to speak with Ms. Mason,” the Captain continues.
“I’m here,” she croaks out, squeezing my hand.
“There was an incident Ms. Mason. Your brother was on routine patrol when his unit came under enemy fire.” Everleigh starts to hyperventilate. I’m not sure what comes over me but the pure need to protect her takes over and I interrupt the officer.
“Will all due respect, Sir, please get to the important thing – is Paul ok?”
“He sustained a gunshot wound to his shoulder which shattered his clavicle and he has a concussion. He is currently on a transport to Germany to undergo surgery to repair the shoulder.”
“Is he going to be ok? Do I need to come out there?” Her voice is raspy and panicked.
“He is going to survive. The doctors will be in touch to advise of his prognosis and discharge. As this is not life threatening, we advise that you wait in the States for a call from the doctor,” the officer says sympathetically.
“Thank you,” I say, and the call disconnects.
I rub Everleigh’s thighs in comfort, trying to ignore the warmth of her skin.
“Oh my god, Colton. I can’t believe this happening,” she cries out and lunges at me. I catch her in my arms, giving her the proverbial shoulder to cry on and she does just that.
I don’t know how long we sit on the floor of my office, her crying into my shirt, letting all her pain out.
Once her sobbing calms down, I push her back a bit and wipe her tears away with the pads of my thumbs.
“You ok?” I ask.
When she looks at me with so much pain in her eyes, I can’t take it. I can’t handle seeing her hurting.
She stands up, brushing down her skirt. “Not really.” Her voice is distant and I know I can’t leave her alone.
“Have a seat while I text my sister, gather our things and I’ll take you home.” I lean down placing a gentle kiss on her forehead instinctively. The air leaves both of our lungs and something between us shifts. I’m too focused on making sure she is taken care of to even think about what that means right now.
Me: After work go straight to Everleigh’s.
Sienna: What happened?
Me: Paul was injured overseas. He’s going to be ok but she’s a wreck.
Sienna: Shit. Ok. I’ll be there as soon as I can.
“Sienna will be at your house as soon as she’s done with her last class,” I let Everleigh know and she nods, not looking up from her phone that she’s tapping onto quickly.
“Kaitlyn is closing the shop for me,” she says putting her phone in her bag.
“Good. I’ll text Nadine to tell her I’m leaving, and I’ll have Jacoby or one of his brothers get your car. Where are your keys?”
She digs into her bag and hands me her keys. I look at them noticing a replica of Paul’s dog tags hanging from them. I shoot Nadine a text to let her know I had an emergency and had to leave early. I assure her everything is alright, and I’ll explain tomorrow.
I gather our things and help Everleigh out of the chair. With my arm around her shoulder, I guide her out of my office and to reception. I let the receptionist know that Jacoby will be coming to get Ev’s car and I guide her out of the building, to my truck. The beep of the disarming alarm seems louder than usual. The sun seems duller than usual. Everything just seems and feels so different than it did a few short hours ago, before Everleigh’s life got turned upside down.
I help her into my white double cab pickup truck, placing our bags in the back seat.
“Thank you” she says and closes her eyes for the duration of our short drive to her house. When we get there, I park in her driveway and help her out of the truck. As we walk towards her front door she veers off, going to the side of her small bungalow.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“My house keys are with your receptionist, I’m getting my spare,” she says solemnly.
She disappears around the side of the house and I gather my thoughts. She’s so out of it. Visibly shaken, which is understandable. She and Paul are just as close as Sienna and I are, so I totally get it. If I know Everleigh as well as I think I do, she’s not going to be herself until her brother is safely home. It’s in that moment, I decide I have to take care of her until he gets back.
Once she returns with the key, she unlocks her front door and we enter. Her house looks small on the outsid
e but it’s open floor plan makes it look so much bigger on the inside. The entire area is covered with a dark hardwood floor and pale-yellow walls. The modern living room with a big microfiber chocolate brown sectional couch leads into a brighter yellow and white kitchen, with a raw wood table in the corner and a granite island in the middle.
She takes her bag from me and heads down the hallway to the right without saying a word. I hate that she’s in so much pain. That the fire within her seems to have been put out. I can’t help but want to be the one to bring that back.
I glance around her house and notice a kettle on the stove.
“You want me to make you a cup of tea?” I call down the hallway.
“Yes, please. Tea is in the cabinet next to the stove,” she hollers back. I busy myself in her kitchen, putting the kettle on and looking for a mug for her.
“Hey,” says in her soft, raspy voice bringing shivers down my spine.
I turn around to see that she has changed clothes. She is wearing a pair of black leggings and an oversized white t-shirt. Her short hair is pulled into a half pony tail and she looks absolutely adorable and oh so kissable. I shake those thoughts from my head as is this is definitely not the time to start thinking about her like that.
“How are you holding up?” I walk past her to get to the whistling tea kettle, squeezing her arm as I go.
“I have no idea, to be honest. I just feel exhausted,” she sighs.
“Go sit on the couch and I’ll bring you your tea.”
When I make my way to the couch, she’s sitting with her legs under her, the remote pointed at the television. She flips through channels until she comes across an 80’s movie. I sit down next to her handing her the tea.
“Thank you.” She takes a sip of her tea, folding her hands around the warm ceramic mug.
“Are you cold?”
“I don’t know what I am,” she sighs, placing the cup down on the table next to the couch. She picks up her phone, looks at it and frowns.
“Hey, it hasn’t been that long since that officer called. Give it some time.” I lay my arm over the back of the couch as an invitation for her to come closer.
She leans into me and I place my arm around her shoulder. I have no idea what has come over me. This beautiful woman who seemed so off-limits for so long is right within my reach, a thought that I have no idea what to do with.
The feel of her body against mine is like nothing I’ve ever felt. Electricity courses through the side she’s still leaning against and I can’t help but pull her closer. I want so badly to flip her onto her back and give her pleasure to take away the pain she is in.
I want to kick myself for thinking those things while she’s in such a vulnerable state. Truth be told, I’ve thought about her like that on and off over the years and what it would be like to have her, even though I know I never can.
Soft snores have me looking down at her. She looks beautiful even in her sleep. She’s one of those people whose insides only enhance her outer beauty. She’s a kind, compassionate, funny person with a heart like no other. Any bastard would be lucky to have her, I scowl to myself, knowing that bastard will never be me. As her warmth and scent of warm sugar surrounds me, I need to get some space before I do something completely stupid like kiss her.
I gently remove her from my shoulder, laying her down on the couch. I cover her with the soft knit blanket hanging on the back of the couch and take her mug to the kitchen. I dump the now cold tea in the sink, wash the mug then place it on the wooden drying rack.
I walk back into the living room just in time to hear a car pull into the driveway. I open the front door, stepping outside into the setting sun. Sienna rushes out of her red SUV, running right to me.
“Oh my God, Colton, what the fuck happened?” Her voice is loud.
“Keep it down. She’s sleeping.” I start walking towards the front door, my sister hot on my heels.
She stops in front of the couch looking down at a sleeping Everleigh, tears forming in my sister’s eyes. She starts to speak but I pull her into the kitchen, not wanting her to wake her friend.
“What happened?” she whisper-yells and I relay the details of what the officer told us on the phone.
Tears fill her eyes as her hand flies up to cover the sob that threatens to escape.
“I feel so awful for her,” she says, wrapping her arms around me.
“Me too, sis,” I admit. She pulls back, narrowing her eyes at me. “So, tell me brother, how did you end up here?”
I explain how Everleigh came to my office get her stuff won in the silent auction, causing my sister to snicker when I tell her Nadine insisted I be the one to give it to her.
“I think it’s great you were there for her.” Sienna pats my arms before she makes her way to the living room.
“What was I going to do? Just leave her like that? Sienna, she was a mess.” I try to hide the pain in my voice to no avail.
“You care about her,” she states. Too tired to fight, I just shrug; not confirming or denying.
“Well, I’m going to head out. You got this?” I whisper nodding over to a still sleeping Everleigh.
“Yep. You know she’s going to need both of us till Paul comes home.” She gives me a knowing look. I don’t respond, because she is right.
Everleigh doesn’t have much in the way of a family. She’s always just had Paul and my sister. As much as I want to stay, adding myself to the mix, I know now more than ever, that if we tried any kind of relationship and it didn’t work, there would be more pain. That’s the last thing she needs. I would never want to do is add to. I make a vow to myself that, after the date, I’ll take myself out of the equation no matter how strong the pull I have towards her is. No matter how powerful the urge, the only way to protect her is to walk away.
I leave her house with a restless feeling. Not knowing what to do with myself, I end up back at the office. There is always work to get drowned in.
I’m typing away at my computer, working on an article about summer travel tips, when Nadine enters my office.
“How is she?” the concern in her eyes matches mine.
“Not too great,” I sigh.
“It’s a good thing she was with you when she got the call,” Nadine smiles.
“I did what anyone else would do.” I don’t want credit for caring for someone in need.
“Sure,” she smirks, and I roll my eyes at her.
“I told her that the date was for work,” I admit.
“How’d she take it?”
I shrug. “She seemed a little disappointed but agreed to still go, then she got the call about Paul.”
“Colton, be careful. If you aren’t going to do something about the attraction between the two of you, then keep that date platonic,” she warns.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I play dumb, causing her to be the eye roller this time.
“Everyone has seen the Colton/Everleigh dance for years,” she retorts, her voice condescending, causing a little bit of anger to boil within me. Not because of her, but because she’s right.
“Nadine.” It’s my turn to warn her, but Nadine being Nadine, she doesn’t listen.
“This is it Colton. Time to either shit or get off the pot,” she remarks, leaving my office without a backward glance.
I made my decision back at Everleigh’s house. After Saturday, everything will go back to the way it was it was – Colton and Everleigh, awkward acquaintances.
Chapter Eight
EVERLEIGH
Waking up I feel an awful kink in my neck. My eyes flutter with that feeling of disorientation. I push myself up to a seated position realizing I’m on my couch. I look over and see Sienna, curled up in a ball on the other end sound asleep, noticing the sun is barely up.
My heart starts to race in panic, as the memory of the events of yesterday take over me. The phone call. Paul. Injured. Colton. A second wave of anxiety hits as I look around and don’t see him anywh
ere. I push myself up and pad towards my bedroom which is empty, same as the bathroom.
I make my way back to the living room, grab my phone off the table and head to the kitchen where the coffee is calling my name.
I glance down at my phone to see no missed calls. Just a text from Colton, from last night.
Colton: Just checking in. Hope my sister is taking good care of you.
I smile at the thoughtfulness. Noticing it’s just before seven in the morning, I make myself a cup of coffee while I debate on texting him back so early.
I move as quietly as possible, trying not to wake up Sienna, as I slide open the glass door that leads out to my back deck. The air is thick with humidity, which is unusual this early in the morning at the beginning of June.
I sit on the wicker rocking couch, legs tucked under me and let my thoughts wander. It’s like my brain is in total overdrive and I don’t know what to do with myself. I’m stuck on the seesaw of helplessness and hopefulness. There is nothing I can do at this moment to help my brother, but I’m hopeful that he’s going to be ok. I have no control over the outcome of my date tomorrow. I’m hoping that, at the very least, we’ll come out of this better friends than we were before.
Things can be so awkward between us, but they really shouldn’t be. It’s not like we’re strangers. We’ve known each other for a long time but, then again, we really don’t know each other. Sure, there have been points in time where it seems the attraction has been mutual; however, attraction doesn’t equal substance. I’m hit with the realization that lack of substance has been holding me back when it comes to relationships. Sure, I’ve gone out on dates with some nice guys, even attractive guys. Shit, I’ve even spent a night or two with a few them, but something was always lacking. With Colton though, I feel more with him. I just know that I can’t make him feel that towards me.
“Morning.” Sienna’s sleepy voice fills the air as she steps out on the deck, a cup of coffee in her hand and a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.