Calm yourself, Sof. It’s just a ride home.
I hate to admit it, but it is going to be kind of nice not having to walk home with my heavy book bag. It’s also nice having someone in my life that actually shows concern for me. I am sure that he will be waiting front and center but when I don’t see his truck right away, disappointment starts to creep into my once euphoric state of mind.
You are such an idiot. Why did you buy all his bullshit this morning?
Then, I hear my name being called from the row of parked cars. There, in front of us, is Noah, standing on one leg, arms crossed, leaning up against the most beautiful Jeep Rubicon I have ever laid eyes on. It is white and is sporting a huge red bow on the hood. I stop walking, dumbfounded as to what is happening. Ezra squeezes my arm.
“Holy shit, Sof, what the hell is going on?”
“I have no fucking idea Ez” I shake off Ezra’s hold on me and slowly start making my way to Noah. The look on my face makes him smile and chuckle out loud. His dimples seductively peek through his unshaven face.
“Hello, Brown Eyes. How was your day?” Ezra elbows me, not taking her eyes off what is unfolding in front of us.
“Brown Eyes? He has a nickname for you already? How’s that guard going?” She snickers and I elbow her back, shushing her as my mind spins out of control.
I look around and notice that a group of my classmates are forming around us, whispering and pointing, making me instantly uneasy. I storm up to him, shooting him a look of bewilderment.
“Noah, what the fuck is going on?” He pushes off the Jeep with his leg and looks down at me with a mischievous expression on his face. He grabs my wrist and flips my hand over, dropping something into the palm of my hand. It is a metal keychain, with a key attached to it. I stare down at the object lying in my hand. The word Chicago is engraved on the keychain and above that is an engraving of the gorgeous skyline. The one that I fell in love with over the weekend. I look up at him in shock and begin quickly shaking my head.
“Noah, I cannot accept this?”
“Yes. You can and you will. Now flip it over.” I reluctantly flip it over and read.
I swear to God above that my heart stops beating.
“This is completely insane. Noah, you have lost your mind!”
“No, Sofia. What is insane is that you don’t have a car to get you and Enz safely where you need to go. That is insane. And yes, I have lost my ever-loving mind and lots of sleep, worrying about you both.” He slides his fingers down my cheek and begins stroking my bottom lip with his thumb. “You deserve this, Brown Eyes. I don’t know how you’ve come this far without taking the easy road. You choose to be different from what you have witnessed and lived your entire life, all while being such a huge role model to Enz. Please. Just let yourself be cared for. I want to be the person that does that for you. I want to be your person.”
Oh, Lord help me. I really wouldn’t mind at all if you were my person.
“Just think of it as an early graduation present.” He winks at me and if my legs didn’t feel like Jell-O right now, I might just run away from this insanity.
I clasp the key tightly in my hands and bring it to my chin, letting out a huge sigh and closing my eyes.
As I contemplate what to do, he pulls me in for a hug, wrapping his arms around me tightly. I bury my head in his chest and feel hot tears forming in my eyes. I can feel my guard crumbling as I stand there wrapped in his embrace.
Before I can even voice the word yes, Ezra is ripping the huge red bow off the hood of the Jeep.
“Oh, you better believe she is going to say yes! This girl deserves it!” She walks up to us, all smiles, holding the bow under her arm. “I’m Ezra, and I’ve heard so much about you, Noah.” With an outstretched hand, she smiles, all swooning and looking out of sorts.
He releases his hold on me to shake her hand. With one arm still draped over my shoulder, he flashes that breathtaking Noah smile at her.
“So nice to meet you, Ezra. I have heard much about you, as well.”
“Oh, I can only imagine what she has told you.” She giggles and I laugh at her, seeing how taken she is by him. Quite frankly, it’s impossible not to be taken by this man.
“All good Ezra, I promise.”
“Well, all fun and games aside, Noah—don’t you break this girl’s heart, or I will have your ass.”
I shoot her a look and slap her in the arm. “Ezra!”
Noah gives her an amused chuckle and slides my bag off my shoulder. “I promise, she will be well taken care of.” Ezra gives me a hug as he opens the back door of my Jeep and throws my bag on the seat.
“In more ways than one, from what she has told me.” I glare at her as she throws the bow at Chase who is standing off to the side. “Here, take this to put on my graduation gift. I like my Rubicons in Bikini Pearlcoat.” She waves at us before joining up with Chase, leaving me staring at the key in my hand.
“So, you gonna stand there all day or are you gonna get in and show me that you can actually drive?” I slap him playfully and he jumps back, avoiding contact, before jumping into the passenger seat.
As I sit in the driver's seat, I can't help but run my hands all over the smooth leather steering wheel.
“So, you gonna start this pretty girl or make love to the steering wheel all day?” Noah glances over at me with a smirk on his face as he pulls his phone out of his pocket and buckles his seat belt. I roll my eyes and make my squinty face back at him.
“You know I don’t like it when you look at me in that tone of voice. It makes me want to throw you over my knee and spank you in front of all your friends. Now, I have to make a quick call, why don’t you start this girl up.” He starts dialing a number as I struggle to find where the key goes. He watches me out of the corner of his eye with a smirk on his face. “It’s keyless, Brown Eyes. Just put your foot on the brake and push that button right there.”
Oh, he is such a smartass.
She starts up and purrs like a kitten. The dash and touchscreen light up and a huge smile spreads across my face.
“I’m glad you like her, Sofia. This is just the beginning.” He reaches over and rubs his hand up my thigh.
“Like her? Noah, I love her.” I lean over and plant an excited kiss on his cheek.
“Ok, now this phone call. Sorry, but I have to make it.” I throw the keys in the cup holder and start fiddling with my seat adjustments as he makes his call. A ringing comes over the speakers making me jump.
“What the hell is that?” I look around, frazzled as I try to figure out where it's coming from.
“Open the middle console.” I look at him, confused, but do as he says. Inside is a phone, its screen lit up with the words Your Person. I look up at him and shake my head no.
“You didn’t?”
“Well, pick it up, Brown Eyes. I’m calling you.” I look over at him as he holds his phone to his ear and I slowly pick it up. With a swipe I answer it and place it to my ear. “Now you don’t have to answer to anyone, Sofia. Well, except me when I call.” He smiles and I pull the phone away from my ear, turning it over in my hand. It’s a Rose Gold iPhone. No less than the best for Noah.
This is completely and insanely out of control. What the hell is going on? None of this is normal in any way, shape, or form.
I try to hand it back to him and he pushes it back towards me.
“Noah, I really appreciate, no, more than appreciate all of this, but I can’t accept—”
“Oh, you're going to accept this and so much more. I won’t take no for an answer. Sofia, I have more money than I know what to do with. This Jeep and phone... your safety… that is priceless to me.”
I am speechless. I really had no way of fathoming what that word meant up until now. No words. A billion feelings are exploding within me. I am speechless.
“I also stopped at Target and bought a booster seat that isn't from 1998. I saw that Enzo’s was pretty outdated when I took him to the store with m
e the other day.” I turn around and see my bag sitting on a brand-new booster seat.
“Oh my God, Noah. Are you trying to make me cry?” I feel the warm sensation of tears filling up in my eyes. This man is working hard at tearing my guard down.
Oh, shut it, Sof. That guard is in shambles at your feet right now.
“Enzo’s safety is also priceless to me. Thank God there was a mom in the car seat aisle that was able to help me out. Good God, I was so confused trying to figure out which one to buy. All I knew was that it had to have cup holders.” He chuckles and throws his phone on the dash. “Now, if you don’t mind, I would love to see that you are capable of driving this pretty thing before I let you take it out on your own.” I grab his bristly face with both of my hands and press my lips to his.
“Thank you, Noah. Thank you.”
I put it in drive and slowly make my way down the road, turning left onto Center Street. We drive through the town square and pass some people from school. They gawk as we roll past them and I can't help but feel pure satisfaction from the look on their faces. Just a few weeks ago, I was nothing more than the town whore’s daughter. Things are changing in my life, in more ways than one. And I am ready. Ready to let go of the past and look towards the future. I can only hope that it is a future that includes Noah.
I drive deeper into the country, down the very same roads that my Nonna used to take me on when we would go to Broadhead and get ice cream. As we make our way across the county line, my hair whipping around from the country air that flows through the roof of my jeep, I feel free. Freer than I have ever felt in my entire life. I start to feel myself breaking the hold that my mother has on me. I feel myself finally starting to break away.
After dropping Sofia off at school, I glance down at my speedometer and notice that I am doing ninety as I head toward Rockford. I don't have much time before she gets out of school, so I have to floor it. I just got off the phone with Crew, to let him know that I had some stuff to take care of and would be taking the day off. He’s pissed, but he'll get over it. I have no choice. Sofia needs a way to get around and I am going to be damned sure that I make that happen. She also needs a way to stay in touch with me. Last night I was a wreck when I couldn’t get hold of her. I paced my hotel room, thinking the worst. With what I have seen and done in my lifetime, the worst is always where my head goes. So, the car lot on East State Street is where I am headed. After that, going to the cell phone store to buy her a phone.
I can’t help but think that this is all a little crazy. To be buying some girl that I just met a few weeks ago a brand-new vehicle and a cell phone? This isn’t me. This isn’t who I am. But the urgency that I feel when it comes to protecting Sofia is something I can’t fight. Maybe if I been that way with Cami, she would still be here and Crew would be the one in the ground.
That day. It haunts my dreams. Wakes me out of a dead sleep, covering me in sweat. Before that night, she told me things, things that I brushed away. I saw signs, signs that I ignored. I only cared about myself. The day I left that trailer and all that existed in it, I felt a release that fueled my desire to succeed. I was finally able to be the person that I was meant to be. I was going to make something of myself. Little did I know, leaving it all behind meant leaving her to fend for herself.
When I finally did come back, all that was left was a pearl white casket, covered in purple hyacinths. I told the lady at the flower shop that I needed eighteen dozen of them. One dozen for every year that she walked this earth. The purple hyacinth is a flower given to ask for forgiveness and because her innocence was lost at my hands, it just seemed fitting. I would cut my right arm off to make things right. It’s too late for Cami. Not for Sofia, though.
So, here I am pulling into Rockford to buy her a car and cell phone. I am going to be able sleep at night, knowing that she is safe. Everyone deserves to be safe. Safe from people like Crew. Yes, this is what I have to do. What I need to do. Sofia deserves this and so much more.
She deserves to be able to be her own person. To follow her dreams and live her life the way that she sees fit. I want to give her back the wings that were broken when her Nonna died. To take care of her and help her break away from that toxic, selfish filth that she calls a mother.
I WOULD BE LYING if I said that I am not nervous. I lean up against Sofia’s Jeep, eagerly eyeing the doors to her school.
Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.
I wait for what seems like an eternity. I hear the bell ring and take a deep breath as I start scanning the crowd of students that pour out onto the pavement.
Will she run the other way because this is too much?
My heart feels as if it is going to burst out of my chest once I finally lay eyes on her. Even though I feel like I am going to throw up, I can't hide the smile that only she can bring out of me.
For a moment, she looks lost as her eyes dart back and forth, seeking out my truck in the line of cars. A pang of guilt creeps in as I watch the emotion on her face quickly turn into disappointment.
I can’t bear to see her like this. Disappointed. I yell out her name.
Her eyes are as big as that sassy attitude that makes my manhood stand at salute. I push off the Jeep and walk up to her, dropping the keys to her brand-new Jeep in her hand. I had stopped at the mall on my way home and had the Chicago Skyline engraved on a metal keychain.
I am not surprised by her reaction. I knew that she would buck me on this. It is who she is. Proud, strong-willed, and independent.
She looks so goddamn beautiful, staring back at me with her inquisitive and luminous eyes. I want to stare into those eyes for the rest of my days on this earth. I pull her to my body, feeling her guard crumble as I wrap my arms around her. I would give away my entire fortune to be able to freeze this moment in time. To feel her pressed up against me, safe and protected.
In a heartbeat, I would trade my everything for her.
I am not at all shocked that my mother isn't concerned with the fact that an older man gave me such an extravagant gift. She is more jealous than anything, but also relieved that I will no longer be needing her car when I have to run to the store. Crew, on the other hand, had plenty to say. He hints that it is payment for sex and that I am nothing more than a two-bit whore. I am pretty sure that he is just pissed because Noah took the day off to buy me the Jeep. He wouldn’t shut up about how Noah left him to do all the work on one of the biggest jobs they had. I block him out by escaping to my room and turn some music on while I finish up a last-minute English paper.
God, Noah, why on earth don’t you just fire that asshole! You are all concerned with him being around me? He would be out of my life for sure if he had no job. My mother would throw him out.
Just as I'm closing my English book, my phone goes off. It takes me a second to figure out what the sound is, and I smile as I climb across my bed to grab it out of my bag. My heart jumps once I see that it’s Noah. I don’t know who else I thought it would be. No one has my new number yet.
Hey Brown Eyes. Can’t stop thinking about you.
Aren’t you driving back to Rockford right now?
Ting
Stuck behind a combine
Still driving...not safe
Ting
I’m pretty sure I don't need you telling me how to be safe
Oh but you can tell me?
Ting
Exactly, you're finally figuring this all out.
You are exasperating Noah Stine but I think I may be falling for you and not because you bought me a Jeep
Ting
Oh yeah? Then why?
Because you care
Ting
Baby I care more than you’ll ever know
I fall back onto my pillow and stare up at the ceiling as I press my phone to my heart. I wonder how on earth this is happening. I swear it was just a week ago that I was watching YouTube videos with Ezra on how to apply makeup and wishing my childhood away. Now, I am involved with this amazing man that I was w
holeheartedly determined not to fall for. I can feel myself and my plan quickly slipping away. This is becoming so much more than a sexual thing for me and I feel that he is most definitely feeling the same way.
But Cami. The name that is burned into his flesh has me wondering. I have to ask him about her. I have to know who she is and why Crew even brought her up.
I let my mind drift into the future. A future with Noah and Enzo. A future without my mother holding me back from the life I want to build. For the first time in a long time, I am able to peacefully drift off to sleep, surrounded by something that I haven't felt since Nonna’s passing. Hope.
THE NEXT WEEK IS something out of a dream. Noah still comes by in the morning to grab Crew, but he comes earlier and always brings breakfast for me and Lorenzo. One day I even awaken to the smell of bacon and eggs cooking and the belly laugh of my Enzo coming from the kitchen. He picks us up and takes us out to dinner a few nights and we even spend several evenings sitting in the park, watching Lorenzo play. He always includes Enzo on our outings, and this makes my heart feel as if it is going to burst at the seams. He truly cares for my brother, giving him the attention that he so very much deserves, and I love watching the two of them together. I can't help but fall even harder for this man that lifts my little brother up onto his shoulders as we walk home from the park. The way he ruffles his hair, grabs him up, and flips him upside down makes me smile more than I have ever smiled in my life.
Enzo’s curls bounce in the air and his giggles fill our once somber and sad little trailer. He is forming a bond with Noah. This isn't something that I had expected because Enzo is normally shy and standoffish with people. Especially men. But not Noah, and I can see that Enzo has Noah wrapped around his little finger.
Break Away: A Midwest Small Town Romance Page 14