Trouble in Loveland

by Jennifer Peel

  “Charlee.”

  I jumped out of my skin and held onto my heart as I suddenly felt company to my right and heard my name.

  He chuckled. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “That’s ok,” I said as I took in a big breath and steadied myself.

  “It’s just, I noticed you running and I thought I would say hi.”

  I looked over to him, and this time I really looked. He was glistening in sweat. My dreams were about to get sultrier. “Hi,” I said with a smile.

  He smiled back warmly, and it sure had me feeling the heat.

  It was then I realized I probably didn’t look my finest. I sweated a lot when I worked out, and I could already feel it dripping off of me.

  “So you run,” he said as he kept pace with me nicely. His breathing patterns were perfect— he was obviously a very skilled runner.

  “Is that what this is?” I teased him. I thought it was better than outright making fun of him for his lame comment.

  I think he realized how that all came off. “Why do I get the feeling you like to keep people on their toes?”

  “Well, you did ruin my dad’s surprise.”

  He laughed. “Case in point.”

  I liked his laugh. There was something melodic to it, but it was completely manly. I also noticed how lucky his clothes were. His running shorts and t-shirt clung quite nicely to him.

  “Ok. How’s this then? Yes, I run. Better?”

  He narrowed those gorgeous green eyes at me. “You’re different than what I remember.”

  “Yeah, you know those formative years between seventeen and twenty-five. There’s a lot of growth.”

  “Maybe we should just run. I feel like I need to sharpen my skills before I talk to you anymore,” he responded.

  “Ok, but you started it.”

  He shook his head at me.

  We ran together in silence for a minute. All I could hear was his controlled breathing. He was definitely a runner. I bet he ran races.

  “So where’s your son?” I asked as we ran through the small tunnel under the bridge on the path.

  He looked at me for a moment. I could see the wheels turning in those amazing eyes. “I figure since he’s three now, I can leave him at home.” Then he cracked and smiled.

  I shook my head at him. “If you’re going to be a smart aleck, you can’t smile like that. It gives it all away.”

  He threw his hands up in surrender. “I give up. He’s with his mom. Do you remember Victoria, my wife? I mean ex-wife,” he quickly corrected.

  Of course I remembered her. How could I forget the woman that crushed my teenage dreams into oblivion? “Yes. I’m sorry about your, uh … divorce,” I said awkwardly. Is that something you say sorry for?

  “Thanks. I would normally have Josh today, but he’s going to his cousin’s birthday party on his mom’s side. I’ll get him back this evening.” His tone was melancholy.

  “It must be hard to share.”

  “It’s definitely been an adjustment.”

  I knew about adjusting, or at least about not adjusting to sucky situations like divorce.

  We both began to slow down as we made it around the loop and back to our houses. It was weird in a way that we seemed in sync. I was breathing a lot harder than him, which was a little embarrassing, but he didn’t mention it. If he did, I was going to blame it on the elevation, which actually could have been a contributing factor, but it sounded like an excuse.

  We both stopped at my gate, which meant we went past his.

  “Thanks for the company,” he said as he stretched out his hamstrings. “You’ve certainly grown up.” He said it like he was my uncle or some other family relation.

  I almost thought he might pat my head or something. It was certainly not what I was hoping for. Sure, I wasn’t holding out any hope for the two of us, but I guess I at least hoped he looked at me like a woman now and not some long-lost niece. I half smiled in return. I could have thought of plenty of smart aleck comebacks, but since he didn’t see me like the witty adult I was, I figured why waste my time. “Well, I guess we’ll see you later,” I said as I opened my gate.

  He dropped his leg he was stretching out and cocked his head sideways. “Yeah. See you later.”

  I did my stretching in my backyard before I went in. Normally I felt pumped after a run, but for some reason, I was feeling a little deflated. I guess I didn’t like to be thought of as a child, especially at that particular time of my life. Not that I didn’t like myself then; I actually liked myself a lot. I thought I was a fun girl, but I was so naïve about life. Part of me still ached to have that girl back. But just as I felt that ache, I remembered something Jay said to me. He said, “Charlee, embrace the beautiful, wonderful woman you are now. The bumps in your road have only made you that much better.”

  Why, oh why wasn’t I in love with him? Yes, I loved him, but like a brother. Ok, maybe not like a brother because we kissed frequently, and it was nice, but when he kissed me, I never had the desire and passion that kept me wanting more. It was like I almost felt obligated to kiss him because we were dating and because he wanted to kiss me.

  I walked in to find my dad at the sink washing dishes.

  “Hey, kiddo, how was your run? I see you had company.” He smiled.

  I raised my eyebrow at him. “Were you spying on me?”

  He turned back to his task at hand. “No, just doing dishes.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. “It was a good run.”

  “Good,” my dad replied. “So did you and Ryan talk about anything interesting?”

  I thought about it for a second as I downed my water bottle. “Not really.”

  “Oh,” he said in what almost sounded like a disappointed voice.

  “Well, I’m going to hit the shower and then head over to the Lawton’s’.”

  “Ok, honey. I may head out to the golf course.” He still sounded disappointed, which kind of made me feel bad, like I should stay home, but Krissy really did need my help and I was the maid of honor.

  “Well, maybe we can shoot some hoops after dinner tonight,” I offered, though my prideful stubborn side was kicking my sweet side for doing so.

  My dad looked over to me with eyes alight. “It’s a date.”

  I gave him a smallish smile and tried to keep my sighing down. I quickly retreated to the basement where my stubborn prideful side chewed out my sweet side for caving in so quickly. I told that side to shut up, it had been like eight years. My stubborn side said, “Whatever.”

  After some massive squats, I practically crawled into the shower. I could feel the burn, but I reminded myself it was better than everyone seeing my cellulite at the wedding. They were already going to be seeing way too much of me. Which reminded me that I needed to start searching the internet for horrid bridesmaid’s dresses. Not that I would ever make Krissy wear a monstrous dress to my wedding, but she was going to think she was for at least a while. I mean, it was going to be my wedding and I would never truly have hideous dresses, but it was going to be fun to mess with her. I had plenty of time to search, especially since I had no prospects. That wasn’t true, I had one. I just didn’t want him.

  Going over to the Lawtons’ was like coming home for me, in a sense. Growing up, I had spent as much time at their house as I did my own. If I didn’t like what we were having for dinner at my house, I went to their house and vice versa for Krissy. Their home reminded me of sleepovers, double dates, prom, and all-night talks. It was a piece of me.

  I stopped for a moment and looked at their home before I went in. All the houses on the block were custom built. The Lawtons’ home had several large windows all around the house. In a way, it was odd, but beautiful. It was very modern looking, whereas our house was a very traditional-looking house made with stone and wood—it had a rustic feel to it. I had always loved it. I had also loved that my mom always kept it clean so I was never embarrassed to have friends over. My mom had prided herself on
her home. I could tell she missed it when we left. My dad offered to let her have it, but she wouldn’t take it. The house she and Mark lived in now was nice, but it was plain in comparison, at least in my opinion.

  I walked right in. I hoped that was still ok. Krissy and I never knocked on each other’s doors, and we always called each other’s parents mom and dad.

  Ann Lawton came right out and squeezed me tight. “Charlee, you’re home!”

  I hugged her back tighter. “Hi, Mom.”

  She stepped back and touched my cheek. “You’re as pretty as a picture.”

  I knew she was going to say that. She always did. “Thanks.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t believe how grown up you and Krissy are. It seems like just yesterday I was fixing up scraped knees and telling you two to wash up for dinner.”

  I bent down and kissed her cheek. She was short, like Krissy. “You’re the best.”

  She smiled, grabbed my hand, and led me back to their kitchen table that was piled high with invitations. Looked like it was going to be a long day.

  “Krissy and everyone else went out to grab the food. They should be back soon.”

  I assumed by “everyone” she meant her husband and twin son and daughter who were now twenty-one, which was weird for me. In my mind, Mason and Maviny were like twelve. They used to bug us all the time, so it was odd to think of them as adults.

  We both sat at the high glass table. Their furniture was all modern.

  “So, how are you sweetie?” she asked with motherly concern.

  “I’m good.”

  “Really?”

  I smiled knowingly. “Yes. I’m happy to be back in Colorado.”

  “You know your dad is thrilled to have you back home.”

  “I know.”

  She patted my hand. “He’s talked nonstop about you for the last eight years, he’s so proud of you.”

  “I don’t know what for.”

  She scrunched her face. “Are you kidding? Dean’s List, grad school, scholarship recipient, the list could go on and on.”

  “Yeah, well, now I’m living in my dad’s basement, and he’s paying me to do so.”

  She laughed at me. “Oh, sweetie, you’re doing the right thing, and if anyone says different, you tell them to talk to me.”

  This is why I loved this woman. She was a mom, and I kind of needed one at the moment.

  We were soon joined by the rest of the Lawtons, and they were bearing breakfast sandwiches, fruit, juice and muffins. It all smelled wonderful, but I had to remind myself that I was expected to be half naked at a wedding soon, so I didn’t indulge the way I wanted to. I was the best friend ever.

  I hadn’t seen Mason and Maviny in forever, but of course they were both gorgeous like everyone in the Lawton family. I was surrounded by gorgeousness in this neighborhood. I hoped I caught it. Mason and Maviny had taken after their dad and had some height to them—well at least they were taller than Krissy and her mom—but they were all blonde with blue eyes. Mason and Maviny were both at CU, and by the sounds of it, they were loving life. I always liked coming over to the Lawtons’, and I always wanted siblings, even though I thought Mason and Maviny were annoying at times. Now looking at them all, and how well they got along, I really felt like I had missed out on something. I knew I technically had step-siblings, but honestly, I would never see Mark’s kids that way.

  After we ate, the men, Ken and Mason, escaped—more like Ann shooed them away. Their handwriting was deemed unworthy for the invitations. That left four of us and four hundred invitations. My hand hurt just thinking about it, but I couldn’t think of better company to be with. The conversations were fun and lighthearted, as always, when we were together. I think Ann Lawton was the nicest woman on the planet, and she always had the funniest stories to tell. She was like Krissy and never met a stranger, and for some odd reason, people always seemed to spill their guts to her. We also got to hear all about Maviny’s man drama. It must be rough to have so many men in love with you. She just couldn’t decide who should be her date for her sister’s wedding.

  “Speaking of dates,” Ann said. “Who are you bringing?” she asked me.

  I looked up from what felt like the nine hundredth envelope. “Who me?”

  They all laughed because, seriously, who else was she talking to?

  “No one. I’ll be too busy with my maid of honor duties.”

  Everyone was still staring at me.

  “What?” I said in response.

  Ann smiled subtly. “It’s just, I saw you running this morning with your attractive single neighbor.”

  Was everyone spying on me this morning? This was neighborhood watch in overload. “I wasn’t running with Ryan, we just happened to be out running at the same time.”

  They all shook their heads in a mocking sort of fashion.

  “Seriously. Besides, he still thinks I’m twelve, and he’s divorced with a kid and a lot older than me. Oh, and I don’t think my dad would appreciate me dating his business partner.”

  Ann laughed. “If he thinks you looked twelve in the little running shorts and tank top you were wearing this morning, then he needs glasses … Va va voom!”

  Everyone laughed, including me.

  “Believe me, Ryan isn’t interested in me, and I’m barely out of a relationship.”

  “Yes, but you aren’t broken up after ending things with Jay,” Krissy said.

  “True, but I still don’t see where Ryan fits in.”

  “It’s just a date to the wedding,” Ann said. “Do you want me to talk to him?”

  “No!”

  “Ok … but if you change your mind, let me know,” she winked.

  I couldn’t even believe we were having this conversation. The last time I sat around this table it would have been a taboo discussion because of the age difference. I guess twenty–five and thirty-three was acceptable, but judging by Ryan’s words and reaction to me, he still saw me as seventeen and off limits. Even if he did see me as datable in age, I’m sure he wouldn’t be interested. I wasn’t his type. I wasn’t a raving red-headed beauty, and past experience told me I never would be. Believe me, I’d tried, and red hair color and I don’t mix.

  After hours of meticulously filling out envelopes, we were done. Chance showed up and he and Krissy definitely needed a room, so I took that as my cue to go home. I needed to make dessert, anyway. I got home to find my dad not there, so I headed to the store and purchased the necessary items for individual no-bake raspberry lemon cheesecakes. Does it sound weird that I even missed the grocery stores in Colorado?

  By the time I got home, my dad was back and looking pleased. He must have had a good day on the golf course. “Hi, baby girl. Do you need help bringing in bags?”

  “No, I just had the one, but thanks.”

  “Did you have fun at the Lawtons’?”

  “Yep. The invitations will be in the mail tomorrow. By the way, yours is on the counter there.” I pointed at it.

  He picked it up immediately, opened it, and admired it. “Is it weird that Krissy’s marrying Chance?”

  I laughed softly. “You don’t know how many people have asked me that. The answer is, not at all. I wasn’t really that into him, and it was a long time ago. I’m happy for them. They fit.”

  He came over and kissed my head. “You’re a good girl.”

  “Thanks, Dad. How was the golf course?”

  He grinned widely. “I shot eighty today.”

  “Impressive.”

  “You’ll have to come out with me sometime.”

  “Plan on it.”

  “Next weekend?”

  “Sure, Dad.”

  He kissed my head again and headed off to take a shower.

  He really was trying. I knew I needed to as well. It was just hard for me.

  While my dad got ready, I cranked up the surround sound and went to work on dessert. It was both pretty and somewhat light. I made my portion smaller than everyone else’s. Kr
issy owed me. First, no muffins and now smaller dessert, but all I could think of was my butt hanging out of that dress.

  My dad came down looking handsome in his polo shirt and shorts. I wondered why he never remarried. I guess part of me was glad he hadn’t, and part of me hoped he didn’t even date. I already had to go through that with my mom, and it was a miserable process. We worked on dinner together, and before I knew it, our guests had arrived.

  Josh immediately tore through the house, but he stopped when he saw me in the kitchen. His dad and my dad trailed behind him. “Cherry,” he said.

  I was becoming fond of that name, and it sounded adorable coming out of his three year old little mouth. “Hi, Josh.”

  “Do you want to see my stickers?” he asked.

  I knelt down. “Yes, of course.”

  He approached me and showed me ten stickers of Spiderman on his little blue t-shirt. He was very proud of them.

  “Those are very nice.”

  “I know,” he said.

  He made me laugh.

  “Hi, Charlee,” Josh’s dad said.

  I looked up and saw him hovering over us. “Hi.”

  He dazzled me with his smile. The butterflies in my stomach said, Holy crap!

  “Josh was just showing me his sticker collection.” I stood up.

  Josh pulled on his dad’s shorts. “Let’s jump.”

  Now it made sense why he was excited. I looked out our patio door and there sat my old trampoline. I had noticed it earlier and was surprised my dad had kept it. I doubt he ever used it, but it looked like Josh had before.

  “Ok, buddy.”

  Why are men with kids so attractive? Like I needed more reasons to have sensual dreams about Ryan.

  All the males went out the door, and I finished making the salad I’d been working on. I watched my dad at the grill on our deck, Josh on the trampoline, and Ryan standing on the grass nearby watching him and telling him to stay in the middle. I rolled my eyes. He needed to be on the trampoline. I decided he needed to be shown how it was done.

  I walked out with salad, plates, and silverware in hand. It was quite the juggling act, but I managed. My dad looked happy at the grill as he looked out at Ryan and Josh. I wondered if he still wished he had a son, or maybe he was ready for grandchildren. I know my mom seemed to enjoy being surrounded by babies. Admittedly, I did, too. It was the only thing that endeared me to Mark’s family. I loved babies and little kids.