I froze, but now my heart raced for a different reason. How much did Reese see? I let out an embarrassed sigh and stared into the dancing fire. How many people have their annoying brother walk in on their kissing sessions? Not many, but of course it would happen to me.
“Don’t worry.” Nick took my hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. “We were just relaxing in front of the fire.”
Reese walked down the hall into his room as the others came in from outside to get changed.
I continued to stare into the fire. Nick’s hushed voice encouraged, “Hey, it’s no big deal. Reese didn’t see anything. I haven’t even kissed you on the lips yet,” he added with a smirk.
I turned to look at him. “Hmm, you’re right. I shouldn’t let Reese get to me.”
“No. You shouldn’t.”
I smiled at him, speechless. I nervously looked at my hands and then back at him. “Well, I guess we’ll just have to postpone our first kiss for another time,” I said. “This was perfect.” I ran my hands over the blankets that comprised our love nest.
“Well, the night’s still young.” Nick winked as Reese walked down the hall towards the family room again.
Reese glared at Nick. “Lauren and I are going to have our rematch now. I just hope I beat her this time. If I don’t, I don’t think I’ll ever live it down.”
Lauren walked into the room. “Nope, you’ll never live it down, sucker!” she taunted and cracked her knuckles. “Prepare to die!”
“Wow, those are some pretty harsh words, little girl. I hope you can back them up.” Reese handed her the controllers.
“Who are you calling little?” Lauren said, coming face to face with Reese.
“Okay, this is going to get dangerous. I think it’s time to move.” I stood and got out of their way.
Nick laughed. “This is going to be fun to watch. I know who I’m cheering for,” he whispered in my ear.
“Yeah, me too. I hope she kicks his butt.”
The bell rang and the fists started flying. “Watch the right hook,” Matt yelled.
“Protect your face,” ordered Ravi, crouched on the edge of the sofa.
“You can do it, Reese,” cheered Rylee.
As an observer, I noticed how ridiculous this was. Lauren and Reese were completely entranced by game. Reese behaved as if his manhood depended on this victory. Lauren was consumed with winning so she could rub it in Reese’s face. I wanted Lauren to win just to humiliate Reese like he had humiliated me when he walked in on Nick and me. So I guess all truly is fair in love and war.
Nick and I cuddled on the sofa while everyone took turns playing. It was wonderful to sit close to him and feel his arms around me while we talked. He stroked my face and held my hands. Time flew when I was with him. I couldn’t get enough of him.
Sitting there, my mind kept wandering back to the sledding accident. I wanted to talk to Nick about it, but I was unsure how to bring it up. Would he think I was crazy if I told him how the dark shadow held me to the sled?
Last night I saw my attacker reflected in the mirror. Today I’m seeing dark shadows. Was I losing my mind? Could I have some sort of growth on my brain causing these hallucinations? If I talked with him about it, perhaps he would decide I’m too high maintenance and want out of this relationship before it even got started? On the other hand, he told me to talk to him about anything strange that happened. Seeing and feeling dark shadows hold me to a sled definitely qualified as strange. Maybe he’d want me to talk to him about this.
“I need to talk to you about today,” Nick said.
“Okay. What?”
“Today, after we crashed, you asked the others if they saw ‘that’. What did you mean?”
“Oh,” I sighed and scrunched my eyebrows together. I shifted my body so that we faced each other. “Um… right before we crashed, I saw a dark shadow.” My heart pounded as I thought about how to explain it. “I didn’t just see it. I felt it, smelled it.” My eyes connected with Nick’s and his thumbs massaged my hands and relaxed me. “Did you see a dark shadow?”
He studied me through narrowed eyes. “No, I didn’t see a dark shadow.”
“Do you think I’m losing my mind?”
“No.”
“It felt so real, but shadows don’t go around crashing into sleds.” I rubbed my forehead and half-smiled.
“You’re right. Shadows don’t do that. Shadows are completely harmless.” Nick’s fingers brushed along my hand, and a smile returned to his face.
“I don’t know why all this strange stuff keeps happening, but I’m glad you’re here with me.” I smiled, relieved he didn’t tell me that I was crazy. I was relieved he didn’t run away from me because I’d become a magnet for the bizarre and crazy.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He ran his fingers through my hair. “Your eyes are getting glassy. Maybe you should get some sleep.”
“Yeah, I’m tired,” I sighed. “I just hate for this night to end. Tomorrow we go home.”
He tilted his head as he looked into my eyes. “Don’t worry. Maybe you’ll have sweet dreams.”
I chuckled at what he was implying. “That would be nice. I’ll try to dream of you.” I could feel the warmth off my cheeks as the words escaped my mouth.
“Don’t be embarrassed.” He caressed my face. “I promise to do everything in my power to dream of you tonight.”
I laughed and bit my lower lip. “Well, maybe I’ll see you in my dreams.”
“It’s a date.” He stood and took my hand to help me up from the sofa.
We walked down the hall in quiet. When we reached my door he paused and said, “Sleep well, Kate. I’ll see you soon.”
Before I knew it, he’d kissed my cheek, turned, and left for his room.
“Good night,” I called to him as he opened the door to his room. He looked back, smiled, and then closed his door.
I closed the door behind me and laid my head against it, confused. Was it just me, or did he leave suddenly? He did kiss my cheek, but he barely gave me a chance to say good night.
As I brushed my teeth I replayed our evening together. It seemed to go beautifully. However, on second thought, maybe I shouldn’t have told him about the dark shadow. Maybe he thinks I’m mentally unstable since I’m seeing things. I wouldn’t want to get involved with a guy who saw things.
“Hey,” Rylee called through the bathroom door and knocke lightly. “I want to talk to you.”
I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath as I prepared for the third degree. I opened the door and there she was, waiting, already dressed in her pink leopard print pajamas.
“So, what happened while we were outside in the hot tub?” Her hands were on her hips. “Did he have enough time to kiss you? Come on, you can tell me.” She stepped towards me. “The kissing was good, wasn’t it?”
“Rylee, would you stop with that,” I exclaimed and headed towards the bed. Was this how a gazelle felt while being hunted?
“Oh no! What happened?” Her eyes tracked my every movement. She followed me to the bed.
“Um… ah… well, you have to promise not to tell anyone, especially Reese.” I sat on the bed, and my legs hung over the side.
“Okay, I won’t tell anyone.” She sat cross-legged beside me. “What happened?”
“Well, Nick kissed my face some… It was really pretty hot. But before he could, you know, really kiss me, Reese walked in. I’m not even sure what Reese saw. It was so awkward.” I flopped back on the bed and covered my face with my hands. “Promise me you won’t say anything to him.”
“Oh,” she started laughing. “I thought maybe something bad happened, like you started laughing or something stupid like that.” She patted my leg. “That’s nothing to worry about. Kate, don’t be so melodramatic.”
I sat up and glared at her. “Who laughs while they’re kissing? Did you really think that was an option?”
“Well, with you, I never know. There are a couple of scenarios that make you lose it: you start t
hinking about stuff and get goofy, or you get really nervous and can’t help it. You’re like a loose cannon.”
“Really? This is what you think of me?” I shook my head in disgust at her assessment of me. “No, I was just humiliated by my brother. Then when Nick walked me back here tonight, I thought he might try to kiss me again, but he didn’t. He just pecked me on the cheek and walked away. Bam!” I smacked my hands together. “He was gone.”
“From what I saw, you two looked very comfy on the sofa tonight. I wouldn’t worry about it.” She slowly chuckled. “He’s still into you, and being interrupted by Reese didn’t seem to bother him.”
“Yeah,” I sighed. “You’re probably right. He said he wanted to dream about me.”
“You see, there’s nothing to worry about. Trust me. That one doesn’t scare easily.” Rylee got up from the bed and walked towards the bathroom. At the door she turned and said, “Kate, try and relax. This isn’t the end of the world. You’re just over-thinking everything.” Then she disappeared into the bathroom.
I stood and pulled back the bed covers. I breathed deeply, in an attempt to center myself, and decided that she was right. I didn’t need to get all worked up over this. Nick probably didn’t want to try to kiss me again because he didn’t want someone to walk down the hall and interrupt us. That made perfect sense.
I slipped between the flannel sheets and turned off the lamp on the bedside table. I rolled onto my side and pulled up the covers. I don’t remember hearing Rylee come to bed. I must have fallen asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
When I awoke, the room was dark and only a faint glow shimmered from the bathroom nightlight. Rylee was fast asleep. My head and back ached. I needed some acetaminophen. I should’ve grabbed some before going to bed. Now I had to go to the kitchen to get it. Rylee didn’t stir as I crept across the room; her shallow breathing remained peaceful. The door opened without a squeak. I escaped silently and closed the door quietly behind me.
The hallway was dark, and all the bedroom doors were closed. A tranquil silence filled the house. In the family room, the brilliant moon showered light down from the large windows and illuminated a pathway to the kitchen. I turned on the under-cabinet lighting and found the acetaminophen in the kitchen cabinet. As I walked over to the sink, I grabbed a glass and tossed the pills into my mouth.
I swallowed the pills and thought about the past two days with Nick. Being here with him had drawn us closer. He seemed to understand me and help me know myself better. Not once had he judged me as I explained the bizarre events that occurred. He’d been a faithful friend all weekend.
Tingling sensations shot across my stomach as a hand embraced me from behind.
“Don’t be frightened. I heard you walking around.” His sensuous voice quickened my pulse. I took a deep breath and instantly recognized his cologne. His fingers brushed along my neck, moving my hair so his lips would have a spot to land. “I’ve been dreaming of you.”
My inner dialogue went into full panic mode.
Was this happening now?
I’m not ready.
I have bed head.
I’m in my pajamas!
Does my breath stink?
He chuckled and nuzzled my neck. “Calm down. You look beautiful as always.” His fingers lightly gripped my waist and pulled me closer. My breath caught in my throat as I clung to my glass with all my life.
“Here, let me help you with that.” He took the glass out of my hand and carefully placed it on the counter.
Nick slowly turned me around so we faced each other. He looked perfect in his loose, flannel pajama bottoms and long sleeve t-shirt. The shirt clung to him and defined his perfect torso.
“Don’t worry. We’re just picking up where we left off. I wasn’t finished yet.” Nick’s seductive smile made it difficult for me to think straight. “All you wanted this weekend was our first kiss, right?”
“What?” I gasped.
“You don’t have to be shy. That’s all I want.” His finger stroked my cheek and trailed towards my neck. His touch ignited tingling sensations throughout my body. As he wrapped his arm around my back, he slowly traced my spine.
I could smell him and feel his breath on my skin. My fingertips trailed up his back. His soft lips kissed my neck. I heart raced as I anticipated our lips touching.
His breath warmed my chin as he drew nearer to my mouth. I moved my hands down, along his back, and felt the movement of his muscles.
As he reached the center of my face, he looked directly at me. “You are very precious to me, Katherine.” He leaned in and gently pressed his lips to mine. My lips shivered at his touch. He lingered and his lips encircled mine. A heat coursed through me, and I clutched his shirt.
I bolted upright in bed, panting and clutching the sheets. A thin layer of sweat covered me.
“What in the world, Kate,” Rylee moaned. “Are you all right?”
As my head spun and my heart raced, I said, “Yes, go back to bed.”
Rylee rolled over as I wiped a thin sheen of sweat from my forehead. Confusion and fear filled me as I darted into the bathroom.
“It was only a dream. It was only a dream,” I whispered to myself. It felt so real, but that’s impossible. It couldn’t have happened. I stared at myself in the mirror and tried to catch my breath. I took a deep breath and slowly released it. “Get control of yourself.” I retraced the path on my face and neck where Nick touched me. “It was just a dream,” I whispered to myself. Confused, I turned out the light and headed back to bed.
I tossed and turned as I questioned my sanity concerning the events in the kitchen. The kiss with Nick seemed so real, but that was impossible since I woke up in bed. Eventually, I fell into a restless sleep.
The Morning After
“I hope I didn’t wake you,” Rylee said. She slipped her arms through her bathrobe and cinched it tight.
“Oh, I’m not sure I was even asleep.” I yawned and rubbed my eyes. “Sorry about last night. Waking you up.”
“Yeah, what was up with you last night?”
“I had the weirdest dream.” I sat up and pulled my legs to my chest.
“Was it a nightmare?” Rylee sat down on the bed.
“No, not that.” I shook my head. “just… surreal. It felt like it was really happening.”
“Oh, that’s happened to me before.” She shrugged and stood. “We should get out there. I hear everyone else.” She walked towards the door.
“Yeah, I’ll be right there,” I answered as she walked into the hallway. I got out of bed and trudged into the bathroom. I shuddered at my reflection. My eyes were bloodshot, and I looked like someone who’d tossed and turned most of the night. My hair was wild, so I attempted to brush it into submission. I quickly brushed my teeth, figuring that if I was going to look like the walking dead that I didn’t need to smell like one. Amazingly, the snow burn from the sledding accident was almost healed. Only a few faint scratches were evident.
I walked into the kitchen and found the others. Mrs. Wager was scooping scrambled eggs into a large bowl and a French toast casserole sat on the island.
“You have perfect timing,” Mrs. Wager said. “Grab a plate.”
“Ahh, it smells delicious.” I picked up a plate. “Thanks for fixing such a wonderful breakfast. I could eat like this every day.”
“I live with her, and I don’t eat like this every day,” Matt said. “We usually get cereal. I think she’s trying to impress you guys.” He gave his mom a kiss on the cheek.
“It’s still vacation. You get to eat well on vacation,” Mrs. Wager said, and she waved her large serving spoon in the air.
Mr. Wager lifted his eyes from his technology magazine. “Matt, you can fix yourself bacon and eggs any morning you like when you’re home,” he said. “You know where the kitchen is.”
“Pfft,” Meghan scoffed, “that’ll be the day.”
“Kate, your face looks so much better today than it did last night,”
Mrs. Wager observed. “Did you put medicine on it?”
“No, I guess I’m just lucky.” I said.
“Maybe it’s all those kisses Nick gave you,” Reese teased. “He kissed it better.”
I glared at him.
Mr. Wager chuckled. “Maybe Reese is right. It’s a good thing you came this weekend Nick.”
“I’m always happy to help.” Nick smiled. “Kate, it would be my pleasure to attend to your cheek.”
Mortified, blushing, and speechless I loaded up my plate and sat down next to Nick. He looked refreshed and gorgeous, which only emphasized my disheveled appearance.
“Good morning, Sunshine.” His hand brushed against mine. I moved my hand away. I still felt confused about last night’s kiss in the kitchen. Did it really happen? How is that even possible?
“Sunshine,” Reese mocked, “are you kidding me? She looks hideous. Did you sleep at all?”
I sighed and put some eggs in my mouth, too tired and confused to get involved in a battle of words with my brother.
“How did you sleep?” Nick asked with concern.
“Oh… um… not too well,” I answered honestly. Considering I’ve told enough lies and half-truths this weekend I figured I could actually answer this question truthfully.
“Oh my word,” Rylee piped up, “she bolted upright in bed last night, clutching the sheets. She actually woke me up!”
“Rylee,” I whispered in an attempt to hush her.
“She scared me to death,” Rylee continued.
Nick stared into my face. I stared into my plate.
“Did you have a nightmare, or was it a good dream?” Ravi asked with a big goofy grin.
My face ran through the various shades of red, and I wanted to hide under the table.
“Ew… none of that!” Reese grimaced and shook his upper torso.
“Okay, we’re done embarrassing Kate,” Nick exclaimed. “She didn’t sleep well. It’s not a big deal.”
Instantly, I was reminded again why I liked him so much. Then I put a piece of French toast into my mouth. It was warm and delicious, not as good as his kisses, but good enough.
The others talked amongst themselves while Nick and I ate in silence. I tried not to look at him, but I felt his stare weigh down on me.
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