Sarah smiles at us, and with that, I decide to let our conversation go. I look at him and force a smile. “Nothin’.”
He looks between Sarah and me, not believing my answer. “Did I interrupt something?”
As I say no, she says yes. We both begin to laugh, as he looks between the two of us, no longer skeptical but confused. “Y’all were talking about me, right?”
I snake my arms around his neck as I nuzzle his neck, inhaling his scent. “Oh yes. I was telling her about how sexy you are, and the amazing time we had in the woods.”
Against my lips, I can feel his pulse racing in his neck. “Well, please continue talking about how great I am,” he jokes, lifting me with him as he stands. He places me on my feet. “I’m gonna go and see what Reid is up to.”
“Have fun.” I smile at him as he turns to walk away.
“See, I told you. You are good for him. He’s happy,” Sarah says, watching his retreating form.
Now that it’s just Sarah and me again, I sit and attempt to steer the conversation in another direction. “So, are you and Liam finally graduating this year?” I ask, just as Liam appears. He launches out of the tree line on his dirt bike and comes to a stop a few feet away from us. I raise my hand, waving him over. Sarah turns to see who I’m looking at. When I finally catch his attention, his eyes flick to me, and then to Sarah. Smiling, he turns off the rumbling dirt bike and makes his way over toward us. Sarah turns her attention back to me as she leans back in her chair with a humph and continues. “Yeah. We’ll finally be graduating. It seems like I’ve been working my as—” She trails off, screaming with laughter as Liam effortlessly lifts her out of her seat, tosses her over his shoulder, and slaps her butt. Her arms fling around his waist as she holds on tight. “Liam, put me down. Please, put me down?”
“What are the magic words, Sweetness?” He laughs as she playfully slaps his ass.
“Put me down, now, fucker?”
“Nope. Need me to give you a hint? How about King Fucker?”
“Oh… my… gosh… Please put me down?”
“Say it,” he coaxes.
“No way,” she protests, laughing.
He draws his hand back. “Say… it…”
“Fine. You want me to say it. I’ll say it then. King Fucker.”
“That’s right, and don’t forget it.” Liam gently taps her ass.
I toss my head back, laughing at the sour expression on Sarah’s face. “You think this is funny?” she asks, as he flips her over before stealing her seat. Her hands rest high on her hips as she stands there silently fuming.
Liam reaches out for her hand and pulls her onto his lap. She struggles within his hold as she tries to get up, but his firm grip is unyielding. I laugh harder as she works with determination to scramble free. I wipe the tears away as I puff my cheeks out, trying to regain control of my laughter. “You know, Sarah, you could have saved yourself the hassle if you just would have called him ‘King Fucker’. It’s not like it was that bad. He could have picked worse things for you to call him.”
He leans his head back against the chair, his eyebrows dipped in, looking deep in thought. “You’re right, Kenleigh. I could have made her call me ‘King of the Cocks’.” He lifts an eyebrow at Sarah, daring her to argue with him.
“Yes… or that…”
“Shut up, Liam. Me and Kenleigh were just talking about graduation,” she says as a hint of a blush reddens her cheeks. Her efforts to change the subject don’t go unnoticed by me.
Sarah and Liam have lived next door to each other all their lives. When they graduated high school, they were accepted into Texas State in San Marcos, and now with their impending graduations creeping up, I’m curious as to where they will go from here. “Are y’all gonna stay in the San Marcos, Austin area, or are you guys looking into somewhere else after you graduate?”
“I’m not sure about Liam, but I was considering moving to Ft. Worth,” she replies with a sheepish shrug.
“Really?” Liam asks, confused. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch the subtle movement of his hand tenderly stroking Sarah’s thigh. “Why wouldn’t you wanna stay around Austin, around home?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to stay around home. It’s just that, with my degree as an occupational therapist, I can pretty much go anywhere I want.” Taking a deep breath, she continues. “Plus, you know every time we make it out to Dallas to see Wes, I always wanna stay. I like it there.”
Slowly, I ease my body out of my chair, deciding that this conversation is a little too much for me. When I asked what their plans after college were, I didn’t mean for it to take the turn that it seems to be taking now. I remove myself from the conversation as I back away before they have the chance to notice I’m gone. Later, I’ll ask her again, this time about her plans. Not hers and Liam’s. I turn around and lift up on my tiptoes to look for Wes. When I spot him, his back is turned, and he’s talking to a group of guys. I only recognize a couple of them. One, I know, and the other, I’ve only met once. Brantley and Reid. A smile appears on my face as I walk toward him. I can touch him in front of everyone now, and not worry about people knowing about us. Right before I get to him, I hear someone yell, “Hey, Kenleigh, what’s up?” I look to my left and inwardly groan. Jackie.
I don’t really want to talk to her, but I don’t want to be rude either. I’m aware that she has some sort of problem with me. Why? I don’t know, but I hope to find out. Her pointed looks and closed off behavior haven’t gone unnoticed. Deciding that this is my opportunity to find out what’s wrong between us, I smile and walk over to her. “Hey, Jackie.”
She takes a drink from her blue, plastic cup before looking at me. “How was your first year of college?”
Maybe she’s over whatever she was upset about, and this will be a normal conversation after all. “It was good. I studied a lot, but it paid off in the end.”
“That’s good. I know, last summer before you started, you said you were still undecided on your major. Is that still the case?”
“A little, yeah. But I’m leaning more toward nursing, now.”
She turns her attention back to the crowd before she replies with a nod. “I think that suits you. You’d make a great nurse. So, how are you liking the change up Mr. and Mrs. Adams did this year?”
“You mean, how she gave us our own kids to work with? I like it. I like the group thing, too, but I feel like I can build a stronger connection with just one kid.”
“Me too,” she replies. We stand there in awkward silence for a few minutes before she turns to me with her eyebrows raised. “So, you and Wes, huh?”
Inwardly, I groan. I knew something was up, but I never would have figured it would be Wes and me. As soon as she realized I was staying in the main house, she’s tried to avoid me ever since. “Yep.” My reply is nonchalant. I refuse to let her get to me.
“I don’t like it. You’re a nice girl and all, but a little too nice for Wes, if you know what I mean.” Her tone has an edge to it, and I don’t like it. Wow! Tell me how you really feel.
“Actually, I don’t know what you mean. What does me and Wes being in a relationship have to do with you?”
“It has everything and nothing to do with me. When this summer is done, you’ll be a forgotten memory in his book like all the others. You will be the last thing on his mind,” she answers, raising her glass to me.
“What are you talking about?” I’m pretty sure they’ve slept together, but I don’t want to assume anything. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt.
“We slept together three summers ago.” I knew it. A woman scorned. “It was only once. All summer, we flirted, held hands, hidden touches. He took me out to this tree house that he and Mr. Adams built when he was a kid. I thought it was so sweet for him to take me somewhere special to him like that. It was the night we slept together.” As soon as the words left her mouth, I felt as if someone had punched me in the gut. He took me there. He made me feel speci
al. And now, I feel like a damn fool. Jackie doesn’t even notice that I’m not listening to her as she continues, “I thought it was something more. He had other plans.”
She takes a deep breath and looks ahead. I follow to where her eyes are trained, or should I say whom. Wes. “The next day, he acted as if nothing happened between us. When I confronted him about it, he played it off like it was no big deal. He said it was a good time, but that’s all it was.” She looks back at me. A single tear rolls down her cheek. “You know what the worst part was? He clapped me on the shoulder as he said ‘I’ll see you around’. I felt like the biggest fool.”
I’m shocked to hear that he was so cold to her. That doesn’t sound like the Wes I know at all. The first night we slept together, he was so tender—he made it all about me. He’s never once made me feel used or cheap. His words from before play back in my head. I’ve lived a fast life and I know I needed to change. Could he do to me what he did to Jackie? No. He’s been nothing but honest, sweet, caring, and gentle with me. Sarah’s words from earlier come back to me, ‘Just remember, even good people have made mistakes and have their downfalls.’ They sure do.
“I’m sorry that happened to you,” I reply softly, and I am.
“Don’t feel sorry for me. I’m just warning you ahead of time what he’s like,” she snaps.
I know she’s upset, and a part of me feels bad for her, but another part of me wants to say it was three summers ago. You need to get over it. But I can’t and I won’t say that, because I’ve never been in that situation before. Even when I lost my virginity to Jarred, and even though it was only that one time, I didn’t feel used. We weren’t in love, but we did love each other. I take a deep breath, trying to figure out what to say. As bitter as she is right now, I know nothing I say will matter. “I don’t really know what to say.”
“You don’t what to say. How about you go tell him y’all are through, before he breaks your heart too,” she grits out.
I roll my eyes and suppress a laugh. She would want me to break things off with him. All that shit about the tree house, I don’t doubt it’s true, but still she said all this shit just to plant a seed of doubt in my head. I may be a little timid, but I’m not a fool.
I close my eyes and take another deep breath. I’m really not a confrontational person, but everyone has a snapping point. “I’m not gonna do that, Jackie.”
“But—”
I hold up my hand, cutting her off.
“I’m not going to end things with him because of what he did to you. Like I said, I’m sorry for what happened to you, but I like Wes a lot, and I think he feels the same way about me. He’s told me a little of what he used to be like, but I can tell you, he’s not like that with me.”
“Then you’re just as delusional as every other tramp he fucks,” she scoffs.
I gasp from the hostility that she’s directing toward me. What happened to the fun and chatty Jackie that I met last summer? Now, it’s my turn to be pissed because, quite frankly, I’m hurt by her words. “Fuck you, Jackie. I’m not some tramp. How dare you say that to me? I’ve been nothing but nice to you since we’ve met. Then you come here this summer and shoot daggers at me from across the room for no reason. I didn’t come here looking for some summer romance or a meaningless fling. I met a great guy, and I’m not going to apologize for it. And I’m definitely not going to stop seeing him because that’s what you want.” My chest heaves up and down from the hurt and anger boiling inside me. Right before I turn to leave, I add, “When you’re done being bitter, come find me. I’d like to talk about this like two adults.”
I didn’t realize how loud I was being until I spun around. I’m surprised to see Wes standing behind me, arms crossed over his chest, and a menacing look on his face. He looks from Jackie to me, and I can tell that he’s wondering if I’m going to bolt because of what she said. I stand there, slowly taking in how many sets of eyes are on me. I take a deep breath and stand behind what I just said to Jackie. My steps are slow but deliberate as I walk up to him. I reach out and cup his cheek. He looks down at me with sad eyes as he leans into my touch. “This doesn’t change anything between us. I’m still here, but right now, I’m gonna head back to the house,” I say quietly.
“You want me to come with you?” he asks as his head hangs down in shame of what I’ve just found out.
“No. You stay here and hang out with your friends. I just need to be alone right now.”
“I really think I should come with you. Obviously. We need to talk about this.”
“You’re right. We do, but right now, I need some space. I need to process all of this, but know this. We are okay. Okay?” I whisper, lifting his head, only to wait for his eyes to meet mine.
“I understand,” he murmurs with a slight nod. “I can drive you back if you want.”
I shake my head. “I’m gonna see if Brantley will do it.”
“I’m sorry that you had to find out about that—”
I place my finger over his lips, quieting him.
“I don’t want to talk about it right now. We will later, but right now, I need to go.” I lift up on the tips of my toes and gently kiss his lips. “I’ll see you later.”
“See you later.” He wraps his arms around my waist, tightly crushing me to him. “I don’t want to lose you, Kenleigh,” he mumbles against my shoulder. He pulls back and looks at me, his sad eyes piercing my heart. “I can’t lose you.” He hugs me tighter to him like it’s the last time I will be in his arms. I smooth my hands down his hair, not saying anything. In his arms like this, I feel safe, and in this moment, I feel, way down deep in my gut, that he would never intentionally hurt me.
“You haven’t lost me,” I whisper against his ear.
Too soon, he releases me, and I walk over to Brantley. As I approach him, he waves for me to follow him. I don’t even have to ask. He already knows. His large frame stands there, straddling the seat of the four-wheeler, and I hop on behind him.
A little while later, we pull up to the house, and he kills the ATV. I push up, about to get off, when Brantley stops me by grabbing my hand. “I’m sorry for what Jackie said to you,” he says. The sincerity in his tone causes me to tear up. “I’m not making excuses for her. What she said was wrong, but we talked the other night and she said she caught you and Wes in the barn the other day.” I nod my head agreeing with him. I knew I felt someone in there with us. “She’s hurt, Kenleigh. She really liked him, and thought the feeling was mutual. Jackie told me the passion she saw between the two of you was something they never experienced, and I don’t think she knows how to handle it all that well.”
“All that well? She called me a tramp, Brantley.” A tear slips free with my reply.
He turns his head, looking away from me. “I know. We all know. We all heard what she said to you. Like I said, I’m not trying to make excuses for her. Hell, even I’ve seen the differences in Wes. You’re good for him, and I’m not going to deny it, but I think in Jackie’s own way, she was trying to protect you from what she went through with him.” Brantley takes a deep breath and reverts his eyes back to mine. “Honestly, I thought he would have screwed you over by now, but like you said, people change, and I think he has for the better. Don’t let what she said get to you too much. I’ll talk to her.”
I shake my head vigorously. I don’t need anyone to fight my battles for me. “I appreciate it, but you don’t need to do that. She needs to come to me, and if she doesn’t, then I’ll go to her. But until then, I think we both need to cool off. I’m not going to apologize for being with Wes, especially since I didn’t know about them beforehand. He makes me happy, and that’s something I’ve been waiting to feel for a long time. And if that’s something she can’t accept, then so be it.”
“I know what you mean. Just know that she’s been going through some pretty bad shit in her life lately. I think seeing the two of you together was finally the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
My eyebr
ows scrunch in confusion as I look at him. “What are you talking about?”
“If you wanna know, then she’s the one you need to be asking. All I’m going to say is, cut her a little slack.” He releases my hand and re-starts the four-wheeler. “I’m going to head on back. If you need anything, call me, all right?”
I nod. “Have fun.” I step away from the four-wheeler as he pulls forward and takes off.
As soon as Brantley dropped me off, I went into the house and decided to start some laundry. I needed to do something to take my mind off the argument between Jackie and me. Mrs. Sandy and Mr. Will said last night that they would be gone most of the day running errands. As I sit in the middle of the living room floor folding a load of clothes, the screen door screeches open. Standing in the middle of the doorway is Wes, covered in mud. His eyes look cautious as he stares back at me. Slowly, he moves in my direction, holding my gaze, until he comes to a stop in front of my pile of clean clothes. Kneeling down, he takes a hold of my hands. His head drops as he heaves a deep sigh. “I’m so sorry. I should have told you about Jackie, but I didn’t know how to,” he says softly.
“Was she right? Did you really use her like that?”
He nods sullenly. “I did. I told you about my lifestyle, and unfortunately Jackie got caught in the crossfires of it.” He takes a deep breath, slowly lifts his head, and looks me in the eyes. “If I would have known how she really felt, I would have never led her on the way I did. I never would have slept with her. And because of my mistake, you’re the one paying for it.”
“Did you take her to the tree house?” For some torturous reason, I need for him to tell me even though I know I already have my answer.
When I watch his eyes widen, that’s all the confirmation I need. Now I’m the one nodding this time.
“You don’t understand. Yes, I took her there, but with you, it was different,” he rushes out.
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