Pull You Through

by Kaylee Ryan

  “Bummer,” I say. “Combs gets a kiss.”

  “Is that what you want?” she asks. Her tongue comes out and licks across that full bottom lip.

  “I do. But go easy on me, you’re my first,” I confess.

  “What?” she breathes.

  Slowly, I raise my hand and cup her cheek. “I told you, I was a loner. Didn’t have time to date, not that I was considered a good prospect in my hometown.”

  Resting her hands on my hips, she stands on her tiptoes and presses her lips to mine. It’s short, just a peck, but the shock is anything but. Sparks of electricity surge through me. I lick my lips, desperate to taste her. I want more of her, more kisses, just more.

  “Game!” Combs yells, causing us to step away from each other. “Where are you guys? I found her and claimed my prize,” he boasts.

  “Over here!” I yell out. I place my hand on the small of Austyn’s back, and she shivers. “You cold?” I ask her.

  “It’s a little chilly out here.”

  “Let’s get you back to the fire.” I lead her back up to the deck to find Combs and Savannah kissing. I lead Austyn over to one of the wooden chairs. “I’ll be right back,” I whisper next to her ear. Rushing into the house, and up the stairs, I go to my bag and pull out my marines sweatshirt. It’ll swallow her, but the idea of her in something of mine is overwhelming. I’ve seen it in movies, heard Combs talk about his girl in his clothes, but I’ve never really gotten the appeal. Not until Austyn.

  “Here.” I hand her the sweatshirt and take my seat next to her.

  “Thank you, Slade.” Her voice is soft yet raspy, as if she’s overcome with emotion from my gesture. Maybe it was the kiss?

  The rest of the night we stay around the fire. Combs ends up going inside and getting Savannah a sweatshirt too. They share more stories of them growing up, and we chat about stories from boot camp. When it’s time for them to leave, we walk them to their cars. I want to kiss her goodbye, but I don’t. I settle for “Drive safe, and I’ll see you soon,” followed by a wave. I hate it. I hate that I can’t show her all of this want, this need that I have for her. It’s sudden and I have no explanation other than, it’s Austyn, and any man would be a damn fool to not fall under her spell.

  OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, I’ve spent a lot of time with Slade. We’ve hung out as a group, and he and I have gone off on our own, giving Savannah and Brandon time to themselves. The more time I spend with him, the more I like him. I’ve tried to talk myself out of it a million times, but then there are the looks he gives me, like I’m the only person in the room. The light touches, nothing crazy—his hand on the small of my back, leading me into a room, touching my arm in passing, things like that. Then there was the kiss. It only happened once, and it was short, too short, but the electricity that sparked when I pressed my lips to his still zings through me. It’s heightened every time he touches me. Every time it’s just us, I tell myself I’m going to do it again, but I always seem to chicken out.

  It’s better this way as he’s leaving in four days and at this point, I don’t even know if I’ll ever see him again. I know he doesn’t have any family, none that he’s willing to claim as family anyway, that much he confessed to me. I try to not get my hopes up that he’ll make this his home, here where I can see him. But maybe if he does, we can be… more. My mind races and my heart is reeling. I need to get myself together.

  Today’s their birthday. Brandon’s parents are having a little get together at their place, with grandparents and other family members. This way, everyone will get to see him before they leave for SOI. Savannah and I are invited, of course. Afterward, there are going to be some friends from high school stop by and a few Savannah and I’ve met in college. I feel bad for Slade. It’s his birthday too, and there’s no one really there for him. Well, me, I’m there for him, but I’m too afraid to tell him that. I can’t imagine what it must be like for him. I’m going to stick with him tonight. I don’t want him to be alone on his birthday.

  Picking up my phone to check the time, I see I’ve a missed text message from Savannah.

  Savannah: Hey, you want to ride over with me?

  Me: What time are you going over?

  Savannah: Getting ready to leave now. Thought I could help set up.

  Me: I’ll meet you there. That way if you want to stay longer, I won’t be the third wheel.

  Savannah: Right. LOL. Like Slade would ever let that happen.

  Me: What do you mean by that?

  Savannah: Please, that boy doesn’t take his eyes off you.

  Me: How would you know? You’re too busy with your man.

  My heart races knowing that she’s noticed too. We’ve been so busy with the guys, and she’s spending every spare minute with Brandon, we’ve not really had time to catch up. But I know she’s right. I can feel his stare; it’s as if I can feel him anytime he’s close. I know that sounds like I’m a crazy person, but it’s true. I don’t know how else to explain it.

  Savannah: I may be focusing on B, but I see things. I also notice he’s not the only one looking.

  Me: If you’re looking for denial, you’re not getting one.

  Savannah: LOL. Go for it. He’s hot and he seems like a great guy.

  Me: He’s not from here, Savvy.

  Savannah: He’s a marine, Aust. He’s going to be all over the world. He can be from wherever in the hell he wants to be.

  Me: I’m leaving now. I’ll see you there.

  Savannah: Avoiding!

  Savannah: Drive safe.

  She’s right. I am avoiding. We both know it. Grabbing Slade’s hoodie and one of my own, I then scribble a note to my parents on the dry erase board on the fridge and head toward Brandon’s.

  When I pull into the drive, Savannah’s car is already here. After I grab my keys and my phone, I head around back, assuming that’s where everyone will be getting ready for the party. What I find is Slade. He’s sitting on the steps of the deck, looking out into the backyard. From the looks of it, he’s lost in deep deliberation.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” I say, and then inwardly scold myself. I sound like my mother.

  Slowly, he turns to look at me. A lazy smile tilts his lips. “My gran used to say that.”

  Great. Just what I was hoping for… to remind the super-hot guy of his grandmother. “Yeah?” I ask because it’s already out there. I might as well own it instead of letting it get to me.

  He slides over on the step making room for me. “Yeah,” he says as I take a seat next to him. “She had things she said that never really made any sense to me, but it was her.” He shrugs.

  “Tell me about her.”

  He shocks me when he reaches over and laces his fingers through mine, letting our joined hands rest on his lap. I don’t let him see it though. I just sit still next to him waiting for him to say something or make the next move. “I miss her. She fought so hard for so long. Her heart just couldn’t keep up with her spirit.”

  “I’m glad you enlisted,” I say to break the silence.

  He turns toward me, and our faces are close, so close I can feel his breath mingle with mine. “Yeah?”

  I nod. “That brought you here.” I give his hand a gentle squeeze. “I know that sounds crazy but, it would have been a shame not to have met you.”

  “That brought me to you.” His words are so soft that if he were not this close, I would have missed them. “You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met, Austyn.”

  “How’s that?” I ask. He has my full attention as I hang on every word.

  He turns back to face the yard. “You’re genuine. You say what you mean and mean what you say.” He laughs, and I smile at the sound. “I’m messing this up.” He looks down at his feet. “The girls in school, they worried about what they look like, who they hung out with to get them to the next social status in the ladder of popularity.”

  “That’s just city girls,” I say, trying to lighten the mood.

  He throws his head back i
n laughter. “Maybe you’re right, but to me, it will always be you who’s different, special.”

  “Hey, you two,” Savannah says, walking out on the deck. I try to pull my hand away, but Slade isn’t having it. “I didn’t know you were here yet.” She walks toward us and takes the step just above us. “Brandon’s in the shower. He’ll be out in a minute.”

  Slade nods, but keeps his grip tight on my hand. I turn to look at her, and she raises her eyebrows in question. I give her a look that warns her not to mention the fact that we’re holding hands. “Y’all need help setting up?” I ask.

  “Nope, I think we’ve got it. It’s just going to be us, his grandparents, his aunt and uncle, and his two little cousins.”

  “How are they? I have not seen them in forever.”

  “Growing like crazy. I was over here a few weeks ago when they stopped in. They asked about you,” she says.

  “Of course they did. They’re my boyfriends.” Slade stiffens, his grip tightening on my hand. “Jonah and Noah are Brandon’s little cousins. How old are they now? Eight?” I ask Savannah. Slade relaxes, and I fight a smile.

  “Yeah, they just turned eight. You’ve got some competition.” She nudges Slade’s shoulder.

  He turns to look at me. “That’s what the knight does, right? Fights for the princess?”

  His words are low, just for me, but when Savannah places her hand on my shoulder and squeezes, I know she heard him. “I don’t know,” I say, trying to lighten the situation. “I mean, they are adorable twins. That’s double the trouble.”

  “I’ll take my chances,” he smiles, looking back out over the backyard.

  “There you are,” Brandon says. “What are we doing out here? It’s cold as hell.”

  Savannah laughs at him. “Maybe if you had a shirt on you wouldn’t be freezing.”

  “I was looking for you,” he says, sitting down next to her on the top step and putting his arm around her. “What are we doing?”

  “Just chatting. I was telling Austyn the twins are coming today.”

  “Oh yeah.” He grins. “They’re going to be happy to see you.”

  “I should be jealous. They both want Austyn,” Savvy says with a laugh.

  “They know you’re mine. She was their only option. You’re taken.”

  “Oh yeah, well what if Aust is taken too?” she asks.

  “Austyn?” Brandon leans forward, and I know the minute he sees my hand enclosed in Slade’s. “Well damn. Those little buggers are going to be heartbroken. Break it to them easy.” He throws me a wink, and I try my hardest to control the heat threatening to pinken my cheeks.

  Before I can tell him it’s not like that, his mom, Sarah, comes to the door, letting us know everyone’s here. Savannah and Brandon rush to their feet and head inside. “You don’t want to go in, do you?” I ask Slade after we stay put.

  He shrugs, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles. “It’s a family moment.”

  “Then stick with me.” I stand, pulling him with me by our joined hands. “Ready?” He nods, and we head inside.

  I SHOULD PROBABLY LET GO of her hand, but she acts like it’s no big deal as she pulls me behind her into the house. I’m not about to let go if I don’t have to. I don’t know what came over me, but reaching for her felt like the most natural thing to do. To my surprise, she didn’t pull away. Now, I don’t ever want to let go. That’s some crazy shit I’m feeling, and I don’t know how to handle it.

  “Austyn!” Two little boys with heads full of shaggy brown hair rush her, and she releases me to catch them. They wrap their arms around her, and she does the same to them.

  “Hey, guys.”

  “We missed you,” they say at the same time.

  Austyn beams down at them. “I missed you, too. You’re getting so tall,” she exclaims.

  “When we get tall like Brandon, we get to take you on a date, right?” one of them asks.

  “I don’t know, buddy. This guy might have something to say about that.” Brandon joins them and points at me.

  “Who are you?” they ask again at the same time. Stepping back from Austyn, they place their hands on their hips and stare me down. I have to fight back a grin.

  “This is my buddy, Slade. He’s a marine like me,” Brandon explains.

  They’re eyes grow wide. “You’re a marine, too.”

  “I am,” I tell him.

  Their little eyes look from me to Austyn and then back to me. “Are you her boyfriend?” they ask.

  “Boys!” their mom scolds them.

  “Mom, he’s a marine and Austyn’s boyfriend,” one of them whines.

  “Hey.” Austyn drops to her knees and pulls them both close. I can’t take my eyes off her as she talks to them. “You two monkeys are going to make two ladies very, very happy when you get older. We’ve talked about this, right? How I’m too old for you?”

  “But you’re really pretty and nice to us,” one of them says. I can’t help but agree with him. Only, she’s not just pretty, she’s fucking gorgeous.

  “You’re sweet,” she says, kissing him on the cheek. I swear the kid puffs his chest out when her lips touch his skin. Again, I know the feeling. Austyn’s kisses make you feel ten feet tall and bulletproof.

  They share a look and step away from Austyn, and she stands back to her full height. The twins come to stand in front of me, causing Austyn to step and stand next to me as well. They cross their little arms over their chests and glare at me. I want to laugh at them, but I bite it back, knowing this is serious to them. “What are your intentions with our Austyn?” one of them asks me.

  Austyn grabs onto my arm and leans into me, hiding her face. Her body’s shaking with her silent laughter. Brandon doesn’t try to hide his, and neither does anyone else in the room. That doesn’t seem to faze the boys. They keep their eyes locked on me.

  How am I supposed to explain to these boys without hurting their feelings? She’s obviously tried to tell them before that she’s too old for them. I try to think like an eight-year-old, which is hard for me. I never really got to be a kid. My mind races like a highlight reel of my time with Austyn, and that’s when it hits me. Austyn gets herself together at the same time and lifts her head from my shoulder. I slip the arm she was just holding onto around her waist. “She’s my princess,” I tell them. Their eyes grow wide at the same time Austyn relaxes into me, causing me to hold her a little tighter.

  “You’re a marine like Brand?” one of them asks.

  They look just alike, so the chances of me telling them apart are slim to none. “I am.”

  “So you’ll protect her and us, just like Brand. That’s why he went away to protect us and Savvy,” the other one says.

  “Yeah, little man. I’m a marine to protect America, and Austyn.” I turn to face her as I say her name. Her eyes are on me immediately. I’m shocked when they both step forward and hold their hands out to me. “Thank you.” They look over their shoulders at their mom. “What else are we supposed to say?”

  She gives them a watery smile. “Thank you for your service,” she reminds them.

  They turn back to me. “Thank you for your service,” they say in unison.

  Not gonna lie, I’m a little choked up. Not knowing what else to do, I hold my hand out and shake both of theirs. Once that’s done, they turn, but then one of them stops to face us. “You know where to find us if you get tired of him,” he says. We all bust up laughing, no longer able to hold it in.

  “All right then,” Brandon’s mom, Sarah, laughs. Let’s eat.”

  We all gather around the dining room table. The twins are sitting at a card table just beside us. Conversation is light and easy; apparently, the twins took care of the heavy. After dinner, we all help clear the table and head outside to play some badminton with the twins. All in all, today is another day for the memory books.

  After Brandon’s family leaves, the four of us climb into his truck and head to an open field behind the house. Brandon and I cut up so
me firewood yesterday while the girls were in class to be ready for tonight.

  “What time is everyone coming?” Austyn asks.

  “Told them around eight,” Brandon says, tossing a match onto the pile of brush that immediately goes up in flames.

  “Show off,” Austyn yells out to him, and the three of them roar in laughter.

  “What am I missing?” I ask Austyn. She pulls down the tailgate of the truck and tries to jump up, but falls short. Taking any opportunity to touch her, I grip her hips and lift her. Her hands brace on my shoulders.

  “Thank you.”

  There’s a pinkish tint to her cheeks from the glow of the fire. “You gonna fill me in?” I ask her. She drops her hands from my shoulders, and I’m cussing myself internally. I should have kept my mouth shut, and maybe she would have kept her hands on me.

  “We’ve been doing this for years, and one year, Savvy and I said we were taking care of the fire. Well, we had no clue what we were doing. It was well after nine before we admitted defeat. Brandon waltzes over, throws some lighter fluid on, tosses in a match, and bam, instant fire. Savvy and I give him a hell every time he starts a fire now.”

  “Got ya.”

  “Oh, hush,” she says, pushing on my shoulder that’s resting next to her where I lean against the tailgate. “I guess it was one of those ‘you had to be there’ moments.”

  “There she is!” a deep booming voice carries over the field.

  I pull my eyes from Austyn and see the two guys we ran into at the fair. “Come here you,” the tall dark-haired one says.

  Austyn kicks her legs out in front of her to stop him. “Like I want your cooties,” she says, laughing.

  “Cooties, woman, I’ll give you cooties.” He wags his eyebrows.

  I place my hand on her thigh, my not so subtle way of showing them she’s mine. I’m just as shocked as she is apparently. Her head whips toward me, and a slow smile graces her lips. “Guys, you remember, Slade.”