Old Enough to Love... (Just One of the Guys)

by Pelton, Kristi

  “Happy Birthday, Em,” he whispered.

  I smiled up at him. “Thank you. Thank you for the best birthday ever.” I barely got the words out before his lips were back on mine.

  FIFTY-THREE

  When dad finished loading the two cars with our bags and shut the trunk, I felt my lip move to a full pout. Zach tried to push it back in.

  “Don’t.” He warned.

  “I don’t want to go.” I actually stomped my foot, which was a little disappointing. But the thought of being away from him for a month and a half with no talking was agonizing. He pulled me in for one last hug. I took an extra long breath to commit to memory his scent.

  “You’re taking half my wardrobe and pictures. What more do you want?” He spoke softly, and, I’m guessing with my dad within ear range, it was intentional.

  “I want you to come.”

  “I’m going to visit sometime you know that. I’ve never seen that part of Oregon and I’ve heard it’s beautiful. My girlfriend told me.”

  I felt my forehead crease which caused the V between my eyes and he hated that. “Who are you going to hang out with this summer?” He knew what I was getting at. “What if they try to talk to you?” The queen bees were around for another year.

  “Well, I’m going to need someone to talk to with you gone,” he said seriously. I jabbed him hard in the stomach. Not funny.

  He bent forward laughing. “Ow… I bought something very small for you to take.”

  “What?” I loved presents.

  “You’ll be in big trouble if your dad finds out,” he cautioned and glanced over his shoulder.

  I bit my lip. “What?”

  He slid something into my back pocket and whispered into my ear. “I’m not going almost two months without talking to you. It’s a new cell phone. The number is one number different than mine. Don’t get caught. I’m beggin you.” He kissed my ear and pulled back.

  I smiled. SWEET! “You’re breaking the rules.” I winked. He didn’t like breaking my parent’s rules.

  “Just one.” He grimaced as the words came out.

  “Let’s saddle up,” Dad yelled as Grant and Ryan bolted from the house.

  Zach’s eyes found Grant for a moment then flickered back to me. He rubbed the delicate silver ring on my hand. “Keep this on,” he said raising his brow. “Maybe he’ll get the message. I love you,” he mouthed.

  “And I love you.”

  He kissed me softly then pulled away. I watched him say good bye to my folks and the boys then head to his Jeep and drive away.

  My dad grabbed my hand. “Good thing you’re ridin’ with your mom. Cause eventually we will discuss that circle on your finger.”

  I jerked my hand away but couldn’t hide the grin that crept across my face.

  “Hey Em. You want to ride with us?” Grant asked.

  I shook my head. “Nope.”

  “Leave her alone. She’s got a ring, you know,” Ryan teased.

  Grant stared at me and then smiled. “Ring, schming… you’re all mine this summer.”

  I rolled my eyes and got into mom’s convertible.

  Book two

  Chapter 1

  Our first two days in Cannon Beach, the thick clouds hung low offering rain but never delivered. It seems Mother Nature had absorbed my mood. Depressed and pathetic. Two days ago, as my family drove north out of Ashland, Oregon, and six hours up the beautiful Oregon coast, I’d left the man of my dreams...Zach. God, I missed him. My heart ached just thinking his name. Zachary Owens. I glanced down at the dainty silver ring circling the fourth finger on my right hand. My lungs hadn’t taken a full deep breath since he’d left me standing in our driveway in Ashland.

  Though my mood hadn’t broken, the clouds seemed more forgiving and a flicker of sunlight exploded through on our third day. Our quaint two-story beach house was much like most homes lining Cannon Beach. They’d been here for years. Mom and Dad loved the lower level screened in porch where they spent most evenings but I preferred the upstairs open deck off my bedroom. At some point, on most days of the year, a light mist would fall from the sky and nothing beat lying in a lawn chair, head back with the weightless water providing a natural facial.

  I was on the upper deck, now, watching my older brother, Ryan and his best friend, Grant Meiers, tossing the football on the beach. Tide moved out a couple of hours ago and anytime the water abandoned the sand, the pigskin came out. It was as predictable as the tides. They were having fun…laughing and talking as they hurled the ball back and forth. Grant’s adorable long blond curls bounced, like chicks in a shampoo commercial, as he ran for the catch. And speaking of chicks, July was the hottest month in Cannon, averaging sixty-eight and definitely the tourist’s month, so we’d see the girls start arriving within a couple of weeks. Prime hunting season. I crinkled my nose at the thought and snuggled deeper into my borrowed USC sweatshirt. Three day’s into the trip and it still smelled like Zach. My heart fluttered.

  Unwilling to surrender to the fun of vacation, I continued my pouting and sulking in hopes of making everyone miserable. I wasn’t a mean person inherently, but leaving Zach was so unfair. We’d come to Cannon for the past nine years on an extended summer vacation to stay in a home my mom inherited from her folks. But I was sixteen now and was tired of leaving everything behind to come spend time with a family that I’d spent three hundred and sixty-five days a year with all ready. My new phone buzzed in my pocket and I jerked it out quickly. I peeked into the bedroom…nobody.

  Hey u.

  I smiled. How are you? send

  This sucks!

  I know. Im sorry. send

  I miss u.

  Me too! Got to go. send

  I snuck the phone into the front pocket of the sweatshirt.

  “Hey, Honey.” My mom was in my room. “Your father and I are going to grab some lunch. Want to come?”

  I shook my head not really looking at her.

  “Emma.” She fingered my hair.

  I knew where this was going.

  “Come with us. Get out and about. We’ve been here three days and you’ve sat in this chair and in that sweatshirt. He loves you sweetheart. He’ll be there when we get home.”

  It was hard for me to grasp but she was right…he loved me. Zach loved me. I struggled with that for a year, not understanding why. He was the epitome of perfect. I closed my eyes and he was there behind my lids…his tan skin and dark hair, face lit by the brilliant smile that seemed brighter when directed at me. And for some crazy reason…Zach chose me. I’ve never been one of those girls with a lack of self esteem. I could look in the mirror and see that I was cute…but I was short and skinny. Too skinny. And I was a sophomore while he was starting college. I smiled knowing I’d almost earned enough extra credits to be a junior this upcoming school year. That still put me two years away from him.

  My folks never allowed texting on vacation and Zach broke the rule by buying me a separate cell phone. He hated breaking their rule but didn’t want to go the month and a half without contact. College was his next step and his departure date in August wouldn’t be far from our arrival date back in Ashland. The days that I spent in Cannon were days I should be spending with him. But, NO! I left him unsupervised in Ashland with Estelle, Claire and Jaycee. Estelle, he’d already done the nasty with last summer before we were a couple and Jaycee was begging to be with him during our spring hiatus. I never thought of myself as jealous but the distance between us certainly wasn’t helping. Especially with those two slutty vultures…waiting to swoop down and attack.

  “Hey, Runt?”

  “What?” I looked down at my brother.

  “Fix us some lunch,” Ryan yelled.

  Grant brushed the shiny hair out of his eyes and looked at my sour expression. “Let’s go help her, man,” he said. “Em. You want some help.”

  I grinned. Grant was going to do whatever was necessary to get this ring off my finger and get into my britches. I chuckled at the thought
because had he been interested a year ago, I’d have obliged with no hesitation. My childhood and pre-Zach crush didn’t understand why I no longer was obsessed with him. I didn’t understand it myself. From the time I was ten till fifteen, I knew I would be Mrs. Emma Meiers until Zach Owens rang the bell of my house looking for my brother.

  Leaving last year was nothing compared to this year. Last year, I was bummed…this year was excruciating.

  “EMMA!” Ryan yelled.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Lunch?”

  After lunch, I dialed the phone the moment I was alone. It rang only once.

  “Hey baby!”

  I loved when he called me baby. “I miss you so much!

  “I miss you too. What’ve you been doing?” He asked.

  It was embarrassing to say. “Nothing. Pouting. It’s been pretty ugly,” I laughed.

  “Baby. Just have fun. I was thinking about driving up in a couple of weeks.”

  Weeks? How about days! “Cool. I’ll be home in a month and a half and then you’ll leave.” Disappointment was evident in my voice.

  He chuckled. “Em. It’s like my probation. It is what it is and we had to deal with that until it was over. But it did pass. This is going to pass. You know what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

  “My heart is fond enough. Thank God for this phone. Thanks again by the way.”

  “It was more for my benefit than yours but you’re welcome.”

  “It’s Friday. What are you doing tonight?” Hopefully nothing. Please say nothing.

  He hesitated and I didn’t like that. “There are a bunch of us driving over to Crescent to the beach around two.”

  I took a long breath in before answering. “Who all’s going?”

  “I’m not sure. Brett, Josh and I are riding together.”

  “Hmm.” I stared down at the water hypothesizing different scenarios. He was quiet. Didn’t he understand that him going to the beach wasn’t OK? I tried to keep my thoughts rational. It was just a couple of hours with friends. He loved me.

  “Emma?”

  “Yes?” I think I was in trouble according to his tone.

  “Do me a favor.”

  “OK.”

  “Hold the phone with your left hand,” he instructed.

  I switched hands. “OK.”

  “Now hold out your right hand and look at the silver band on your finger.”

  I smiled catching his drift.

  “Do you see it? Tell me you have it on. Lie to me if you don’t,” he laughed.

  I giggled. “I have it on. I’ve never taken it off.”

  “So then, you know what that means. It means it doesn’t matter who’s there. I’ll be thinking of you…period. My heart is with you,” he whispered near the end.

  “I trust you, Zach. But I don’t trust them. Don’t you see?”

  “I do. But don’t let that come between us.”

  “Hey. Mom and Dad just pulled up. I gotta go. Love you.”

  “And I love you.”

  “Be good! Bye.” I didn’t want to hang up but thanked God for the chance to talk to him.

  Resigning myself, I headed down to the beach. Typically, I didn’t get involved in Grant and Ryan’s affairs but thought it might make the summer go faster. As I moved toward them, I plotted in my mind…trying hard not to smile as I walked. Two girls…already? Earlier than usual. One was blonde and the color actually looked real. Her hair was long and she, like most, hadn’t dressed for this particular beach. She was thinking sunny and hot like most normal beaches. She’d be heading inside within minutes. I smiled. The brunette at least wore long sleeves. Neither one was all that pretty, though that was never criteria for Grant and Ryan.

  “Hey guys.” I put my arms around their waists and stood between them. Ryan glanced sideways at me. A smile touched Grant’s lips.

  Both girls looked at me, my short little scrawny body standing between two giants. “Were you telling the girls about our sleepover last night?” I raised my brows and I wasn’t lying. We did crash in the living room, watching a movie.

  The brunette looked mortified, her mouth fell open. The blonde was still processing my words. Maybe her hair color wasn’t real after all.

  “Come on, Jessica.” the brunette snarled grabbing the blonde’s arm and they plugged away in the sand.

  Grant slid his arm around my waist. “It was so nice of you to come play with us, Em. Thanks.” His tone was sarcastic.

  Ryan shoved me and I landed on my butt. “You’re a bitch,” he barked.

  Grant offered me a hand. “I was thinking about Ali. What were you thinking? Do you remember my best friend that you’re dating, Ry?”

  He rolled his eyes and shuffled his feet in the sand.

  “I know why you did that,” Grant said.

  “Oh? Why is that?” I asked brushing the sand from my pants.

  “You were jealous. It’s hard for you to imagine me with someone else.”

  I slapped his arm. “Dream on. I was bored. That’s all.”

  He grinned and ruffled my hair. “Keep tellin yourself that sweetheart. I know the truth and so will you in time.”

  I flashed my hand in front of his face waving my ring.

  Within a quick second my hand was pinned to my side and he was close. The warmth of his breath on my face. “The only ring that would stop me would be a wedding ring. And you’re sixteen so we know that won’t be the case for a long time. I have the next month and a half to break the two of you up. I predict it won’t take that long.” He grinned and let go of my arm walking away.

  My body shook with anger and I picked up a handful of sand tossing it at him. But the wind caught the gritty particles and blew it back in my face. Why did he do that to me? Why did I let him get to me? So much for quality beach time.

  I glanced at my watch every ten minutes between six and nine driving myself insane. Straight south, in Crescent City, California, the man I loved was at the beach with other girls. Though we stood with our toes touching the same ocean, the four hundred mile difference was too much to bear. Knots in my stomach tightened as irrational thoughts consumed me. I wanted to call. I went out on the deck…my refuge. The sky was dark and absent of stars. A fire flickered near the edge of the water. I was certain it was the boys.

  The screen of my phone indicated no new messages. I decided to dial. It rang four times then went to voice mail. Crap. I looked back at the fire as my heart plummeted into my stomach. I had to do something….so I slid on my shoes and headed toward the flames.

  Grant and Ryan were lying back in their beach chairs.

  “Hey guys.”

  “Oh. She came out to play again,” Grant teased.

  I shot him a squinty eyed look.

  “Yeah. Well, if you can’t play nice then go back inside,” Ryan said still bitter.

  “Whatever. You’re the one who wasn’t playing nice.”

  He held his palm up dismissing me. Grant grinned and I sat at the bottom of his chair. The fire felt good. The waves wrestled in the distance and I closed my eyes and listened.

  “Mind if I join you?” the voice was deep.

  We all looked in the same direction. A bulky short guy in an Oklahoma Sooners sweatshirt was across from Ryan.

  “Sure.” Ryan said. “Where you from?”

  “Oklahoma. My family’s here for a wedding tomorrow.”

  “The Sooners. Do you play football?”

  It was a stupid question for Ryan to ask. I pictured him as more of a…tennis player.

  “Not really.”

  “How long you staying?” Grant asked.

  “Two nights. I’m Dexter.”

  The poor guy was not attractive.

  “Well, Dexter. I’m Ryan, this is Grant and that’s Emma. If you’re around tomorrow, come down and throw the ball around with us. We can always use an extra pair of hands.”

  “Thanks. Sounds good.” He looked at me and winked giving me the heebeejeebie
s.

  Grant leaned up and kissed my cheek. “She’s mine, Dex.”

  I slapped his shoulder. “He’s lying Dexter. I am not his.” I started to get up when his arms wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me into his chest.

  “Oh Sugar Baby. Do we have to play this sex game again tonight? I get so tired of it.”

  Ryan laughed and so did Dexter. I rammed my elbow into Grant’s ribs.

  Dexter waved. “I need to go. Maybe I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

  I shoved away from Grant’s hold. “I’ll walk you up Dexter,” I added.

  He glanced at Grant who shot me an evil look. I smiled.

  “Uh, OK.” Dexter stuttered as I moved to his side.

  “Which way you headed?” I asked.

  He pointed north.

  “Me, too.” I wasn’t going north but out of the corner of my eye, Grant was shaking his head.

  “Emma,” Grant gritted and I ignored him.

  “Come on, Dexter.”

  Dexter’s eyes roamed over Ryan then finding Grant who was scowling.

  We headed northward.

  “Hey, Dex,” Grant sang. “If she’s not back here within five minutes, we will hunt you down,” Grant threatened.

  Dexter threw his arms in the air. “Look, man. I don’t want her coming with me. She can stay here. I’m not here to cause a problem.”

  “It’s OK,” I said. “Just ignore him.”

  “No. I can’t go to this wedding tomorrow with a black eye. Just leave me alone.” He held his hands up like I was the enemy and he was surrendering.

  I jetted around and kicked sand at Grant. “You’re a jackass.”

  He grinned.

  Ryan was smiling. “Revenge sucks, Runt.”

  I clenched my fists and stormed toward our house. I hated Grant and poor Dexter was running north.

  When I reached the house, shaking from anger…or maybe the cold, I phoned Zach from my deck. It rang twice.

  “Hey, baby,” he said excitedly.

  I smiled though I heard music in the background. “How’s it goin?” I asked my hands still trembling.