“What?” His one word was abrasive but his eyes seemed confused.
“It’s not what you think.” I needed to speak fast or I wasn’t going to get it out. “Ryan took Claire home and left me. He asked Grant to do it. I’m sorry.”
He nodded.
“He’s like my brother.” I frowned just thinking about Grant. And of course he strolled into Algebra at that second.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
The thought never actually occurred to me. Grant was always there to pick me up when Ryan couldn’t. It was a given. Grant was not just another brother; he was my best friend, the love of my life, until now. But I couldn’t say that. I had to make him understand.
“Like I said…”
“Hey, Runt.” Grant reached over and smacked the back of my head, whiffing my hair.
“Stop it, Grant,” I said annoyed and rubbed my head.
Zach’s brows raised and his jaw tightened.
“Hey, Owens.” Grant greeted Zach.
“Meiers.”
Grant plopped next to me on the opposite side. Then Estelle danced through the door. She did a rolling finger wave to Zach. Ho Bag! No seats were available except for the one in front of Grant—diagonal from me.
“Hi Emma,” she said.
“Hi Stelle.”
“Grant.” She acknowledged him by sticking her tongue out.
“Keep the tongue in your mouth Stelle. I’ve heard it’s been getting around lately.”
She gave him the middle finger behind her back where Mr. Bowman couldn’t see. “You’re just jealous because you haven’t seen it,” she seethed.
“I’ve seen it one too many times. No interest here.” Grant looked at me and winked.
“Kiss my ass.” She was pissed and I tried to hide my smile.
“Been there. Done that sista.”
“Open your books to page 19,” Mr. Bowman ordered. I wish I could have seen Zach’s face during that interaction—to know what he was thinking. She was a ‘ho and he needed to know it. But then again, he may already. The bell rang and Zach met me at the door.
“I can’t walk you today.”
My throat tightened. Crap. It was SO over. “Why?”
“Last night I needed to do an Anatomy and Physiology report and I didn’t get it done. I need to do it now. I’m ditching Spanish.”
“Why didn’t you get it done?” I questioned. I had never ditched before.
“I had a meeting and some other things on my mind.” He ran his fingers through his hair and wouldn’t look at me.
“Like Grant?” I asked quietly, scared of his answer.
I wasn’t sure he was going to answer. “It doesn’t matter.” He paused. “I really wanted to punch him when he hit you in the head.”
A smile swept my face. “Thanks, but they all do that.”
“Yeah. Well. They need to stop.” His tone was serious and his eyes still weren’t happy. “Do you have practice tonight?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll drive you home, if that’s OK.”
I nodded biting my lip and rolled my eyes as the bell rang. “That would be great,” I yelled over my shoulder and darted for gym.
On Friday, Zach picked me up at the house. This was our first official date and the butterflies eating away at my stomach were irritating. We were getting a later start than the others because he had another meeting to hit. Not sure what the meetings were about but he said that a lot.
I had a feeling Ryan was taking Claire but because we still weren’t on speaking terms, I wasn’t sure. Mom and Dad approved me going with Zach, but I had to be home at a reasonable time because of cross country. They had tickets to the Shakespeare Theater and would be home late anyway. Grant didn’t seem too bothered when I said I was riding with Zach. In fact, he said nothing at all.
Zach wore khaki shorts and a USC sweatshirt, and as we walked to the unfamiliar car, I noticed the blanket, jackets and cooler in the back seat. Cooler? I wondered what was in it.
He wasn’t driving his Jeep. “Sweet car. Whose is it?”
He opened my door and closed it after I slid in, then went to his side. “My dad’s.”
“Is it a mustang?”
He rubbed my knee as he chuckled. “No, it’s a ’72 Chevelle.” His touch sent chills up my leg.
“I like it.”
He reversed and backed out of the drive. “Good.”
“North to Grants Pass, my dad said and then take the Redwood road?”
“Yes. You’ve lived in California your whole life and never seen the Redwoods?” I was appalled.
“I’ve been through ‘em, just usually asleep. Besides. Where I come from, we have Sequoias,” he boasted.
No matter how many times I’d been through the Redwoods, they were still incredible. On Zach’s side of the car, a rushing stream wound through a massive rock gorge. Cars were parked at every lookout taking pictures and I was grateful that he didn’t pull off. Though it was breathtakingly beautiful, it was gut-wrenching for those of us with height and motion sickness issues.
“Wow. This is awesome,” he said. “Call me stupid, but these trees don’t seem that big.”
“Well, Stupid…we’re not to the Redwoods yet.” I smiled
“I knew that.” He quickly lied. “And remind me, how are you getting home?”
I flipped back around to him and pouted. “You wouldn’t.”
“I wouldn’t.” He winked.
I didn’t like it when he took his eyes off the road, let alone closed one, even if it meant he was looking at me.
“So does your family come this way a lot?” he asked.
“No. Not really. I’ve been on this road maybe five or six times. But that’s it. It’s not like an annual thing or anything. How about you?”
“I have an uncle that lives in Brookings, Oregon. We’ve been up there, I think twice maybe three times. We drove through then.”
“Yes but you slept.” I reminded him.
“I did.” He acknowledged. “They’re trees.” He shrugged.
I rolled my eyes. “That’s like saying a tsunami is just a wave. Wait till you see them.” I wouldn’t have admitted it but the winding roads were upsetting my stomach. The radio hummed in the background and I thought nervously for something to talk about.
Relieved, he started. “Tell me something- about you.”
“Like…?” Where would I start? I didn’t want to bore him.
“Favorite music.” He suggested.
“I like a lot of different kinds. Kid Rock. Nickleback. Drake. Dave Matthews.”
He nodded as I spat off a few.
“You?” I asked.
“I’m old school, I guess. I like the Stones, Aerosmith, ACDC…you know. Journey.” He grinned on the last one. “OK. Favorite food.”
“Hmm. That one’s tough. I think I was born to be Mexican…or Italian or a sea gull.”
His brows rose. “I followed the first two but you lost me on the sea gull.”
“They eat crab.”
“OK. Note taken.”
“And you?”
“Well, ditto on the crab but I’m a meat and potato kind of guy. Give me a steak any day and I’m good.”
We nearly passed the National Park sign. “Wait. Stop here.” I shouted and he hit the brakes and swerved. “I know we don’t have a lot of time but quick pic?” I laughed. The view was perfect with the setting sun slicing through the enormous trees. We got out.
“Go stand over there. Oh. By the way, now we’re in the Redwoods,” I joked.
He nodded slowly and deliberately. “OK. All right. I see. They are a wee bit bigger. But I’m not in the picture alone. Here.” He took my camera from me.
“Ma’am. Would you mind?” he asked an elderly lady who smiled at us.
“Just point and shoot,” I explained and he grabbed my hand as he walked past.
He stood with his arm wrapped around my shoulder. The sudden closeness sent shockwaves through my bo
dy. I forced a smile and the flash went off. I quickly moved away from him afraid of what was happening between us. I’d never felt what I felt with him. I walked unsteadily toward the lady.
“Thank you,” I said. I was scared to look back at him—afraid of what he might see in my eyes. I was afraid that I was already madly in love with him. I studied the picture on the screen.
“Emma!” Zach shouted but was nowhere to be seen.
He obviously ducked behind a tree. I stood staring at the overwhelming height of lumber that surrounded me. “Marco?” I yelled and held my breath.
“Polo,” he hollered with a chuckle.
I busted up laughing, not because it was funny, but because he got me and this thrilled me to the bone.
Crescent City wasn’t a particularly pretty town but the ocean it rested against was breathtakingly beautiful. I was glad Zach knew where he was going because the car wound around so much I would have been undoubtedly lost. Dusk was settling in the east and the sun was melting into the water above the ocean in the west. We parked next to about fifteen cars. My stomach twisted when I saw Ryan and Grant’s truck.
Zach carried everything except the blanket, which he handed to me. I saw no one around so I imagined we had a bit of a jaunt ahead of us. My flip-flops slid in the sand, and as coordinated as I was, walking in them down the hill was a challenge. I took them off and held them between my fingers.
“Here, get on.” Zach hunched down insinuating a piggyback.
“No! You already have the cooler and the jackets.” I walked past him.
He grabbed my arm and jerked me back behind him. “Emma. Get on. You’re not gonna walk barefoot through here. There could be glass and the grass is sharp.”
“Fine.” I gave in. “But only until we get to the good sand. Once we are out of this grassy, dirty stuff, I am so down.” I hopped on his back wrapping my arms around his neck. God he smelled good.
“UGH!” He groaned. “Baby, you are heavy,” he teased. “I’m not sure I can manage this.”
“Shut up!” I tried to knee him in the back but he held tight to my legs.
“What do you weigh? Like seventy-five?”
The ride was rough and I bumped up and down on his back. I couldn’t stop thinking about him calling me baby. “Eighty-four—thank you very much.” I was relieved I’d chewed gum because though I was behind him, our faces were close. The feelings my body was experiencing were becoming more and more frequent and foreign.
“Hold on. We’re goin’ downhill.” He leaned forward and my body tilted with him. It felt like I was going to go head first off his back. But, I didn’t budge. I closed my eyes and could hear the underbrush as he kicked through it. Then, his feet thudded a few times in the sand and we were on even ground again. I opened my eyes and saw the fire maybe a hundred yards in front of us and lots of people sitting around.
I felt nervous. “Put me down, please.” I flapped my legs to break free, fearful he might not oblige. He did.
“Hey, Owens!” Brett yelled and threw a football toward us.
Zach dropped the cooler and the jackets and caught the ball with a thump to his chest. I loved watching him. Ryan, Grant and Connor all turned after Brett pointed in our direction. I offered a smile and Ryan spun back to the fire without so much as a nod. Jackass. Grant stood and stared with his hands in his pockets.
“Great. Meiers is here,” Zach whispered.
I smiled at his protectiveness.
“Hey Ru…Em.” Grant changed his greeting. I acknowledged everyone I knew and they were nice enough. Except for Ryan. I had a feeling freshmen weren’t allowed, especially freshmen sisters. As I sat on a piece of driftwood, I counted only seniors. Until I saw them walking up from the beach…Estelle, Claire and Jaycee…the queen bees of the junior class…they certainly wouldn’t be happy to see me.
Claire plopped next to Ryan who didn’t seem over enthused to see her either. Plus the threatening glare he was shooting Zach was less than friendly. Estelle squeezed in between Connor and Brett but definitely kept her lurid eyes on Zach. I couldn’t look. I felt sick as my stomach growled.
“You two want a drink?” Jaycee asked and poured what looked like punch from a cooler.
“Sure, thanks.” I took two Styrofoam cups for Zach and me and handed one to him.
“Em!” I heard in unison and glanced up after swallowing a mouthful to find Grant, Connor and Ryan shaking their heads at me. About that moment, my gag reflex activated and the bitter taste of the drink made me shiver. Zach casually took the drink from my hand as he sipped his. Great, Zach wasn’t a boyfriend but a fifth brother. He opened the cooler and handed me a soda. The girls giggled at what they saw and my back stiffened angrily.
The night grew cooler as the evening passed. Estelle began to act silly, laughing non-stop and dancing around—maybe one too many drinks. She pulled off her shirt and exposed a swim suit top, skimpy at best. It was freezing. Zach was making a point not to look and offered me a smile. I think Connor was the only one who didn’t look away and I almost shouted at him—‘close your mouth Con’—but Ryan’s nudge in the side did the trick.
I hadn’t even considered a swimsuit and wondered if anyone else had. Claire had gone up to a crate of items and brought down a portable MP3 station and flipped on music.
A shiver rippled through me and Zach grabbed one of his jackets and draped it over my shoulders. It was huge but smelled like him.
“Thank you,” I whispered and smiled.
“Oh. That was sa-weet.” Estelle remarked then sat next to Brett laying her head on his shoulder but still staring at Zach.
I pulled my knees to my chest trying to ignore her comments. The wind picked up and sparks from the tipi fire followed the breeze landing in the sand.
“Let’s go for a walk.” Zach spoke softly in my ear and pulled me to standing.
I nodded and we headed toward the ocean as he took my hand in his. I walked away from the circle feeling proud but sure seven sets of eyes were on us.
It was romantic and perfect and I feared I would wake up and it would all be over.
“Sorry about the drink. I didn’t know it was spiked until your guardians spoke up. Then I tasted it.”
“My guardians?” I knew who he was talking about but wanted to hear his theory.
“Your brother and his buddies. They are quite protective of you.” The sand squished up between my toes as we strolled. It was soft and cold. I think he was jealous.
“I told you. I’ve known these guys forever.” I glanced up at him. His height had to border six feet something. I felt like a shrimp.
“Yes. But what you don’t understand is they’ve known you forever as Ryan’s little sister or Runt—as they choose to say. And I think they are beginning to see that you aren’t so little anymore. You’re not a runt, Emma. Just like Grant said the first day of school. He saw you this summer—I mean really saw you.” His words seem to insinuate something and I didn’t like it.
“I don’t like Grant,” I explained.
He faced me and tilted my chin up. “I’m not certain they trust me with you.”
“I trust you.” And I did. I trusted him so much. I wanted him to kiss me. The moon, the ocean… “Did you date in California?”
“Yes.”
That wasn’t what I was getting at. “I mean. Did you. Like…you know.” I held my palms open hoping they might catch the words that were not coming.
“Did I have a girlfriend?”
He figured it out. Maybe he understood me more than I realized.
I nodded though I wasn’t sure he could see me.
“There was this girl, Brandy, I dated for a while. We were supposed to date. I was the quarterback. She was the cheerleader. But it never clicked. I think we both played along.”
“So why not a cheerleader here?” My feet kicked the sand around.
Suddenly, he knocked my legs out from under me and caught me in his arms. “I don’t know. I’m kind of partial to
cross country runners.” He spun me around.
“Stop,” I giggled. And, he did stop. But he didn’t put me down. He stared at me. His eyes searching mine, and I could feel my heart pulsing in my head. His eyes flickered from mine to my lips and back to my eyes. This was the moment I’d been waiting for. I watched as his tongue brushed his own lips. My heart fluttered, maybe even skipped some beats, as he leaned in to me. His breath was warm and when his lips touched mine, I thought I’d come out of my skin. I took his face in my palms and held it—his skin as silky as his lips. Our tongues touched briefly before he pulled back and stared at me.
My hands were in his hair and I don’t know what came over me, but I pulled him to me again—unable to resist. Thankfully, he didn’t hesitate. He slowly and cautiously moved to his knees and laid me in the sand. His kiss was more forceful than before as he tucked me under him. I felt warm and safe. I could taste the drink from earlier on his tongue.
He kissed me softly, pecking my forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. A funny feeling stirred inside—one that was new to me. Then, suddenly my body betrayed me as a shiver ricocheted through me from head to toe.
He leaned away. “You’re cold?”
“No.” I lied, but chatter rattled my teeth.
“Em. Why didn’t you say something?”
That was the first time he’d called me Em. He rose off of me and I was sad. No! I didn’t want this to end. I didn’t care if I froze to death. He easily pulled me to my feet. It wouldn’t have mattered had I resisted. The glow of the fire was farther away than I expected, and now that his body wasn’t protecting me from the wind—my body shook uncontrollably.
“I am so sorry. I should have had you dress warmer.”
“I should know buh-buh-better. I spent the last two months on the oh-ocean.” My words were jerky as my body trembled. We rejoined the group and he made me sit directly in front of the fire between his legs as he rubbed my arms creating friction. The fire popped and it frightened me to be so close.
“Well…how was your little walk?” Estelle chimed.
My chin rested on my drawn up knees and I didn’t look at her. He chose to ignore her too.
“We’ve been for walks, haven’t we Zach?” I looked this time, her eyes centered on him.
Old Enough to Love... (Just One of the Guys) Page 6