Flirting With The Enemy

by Henson, Sally

  “I like that you’re not fake.” I reached for her, but she didn’t want any part of me touching her.

  “You don’t understand.”

  I tried again. That time she let me have her hand. “Yeah, I’m leaving. But that doesn’t mean we have to pretend this summer didn’t happen. I’m not falling off the face of the earth.”

  “What if you don’t make it up at Thanksgiving or I have to use my money and there’s not enough left for a plane ticket at Christmas?” Tears spilled over her dark lashes, but she quickly wiped them away.

  I wanted to hold her to my chest, but the console wouldn’t let me move close enough. “Cameras followed us everywhere we went. Before. I have no idea what we’re going to face when we go back. And school… I have one friend left.”

  I had enough of the space between us. It was like snipping the chords that had connected us together. I couldn’t take it and swung one leg over the console, maneuvering my body until I was in the seat with her.

  “Griff,” she complained, struggling against me as I twisted in the seat.

  We were a tangled mess of arms and legs, but all I cared about was holding on to her when she was obviously pushing me away.

  “You know what I’m most afraid of?”

  She shook her head.

  I took her hand and pressed her palm against my face. “Of leaving here and not being able to hold on to what we have. And this Jaded, third person thing you’re doing, is you pushing me away.” Even the thought put an ache inside my chest.

  She softened, but not enough. “Jaded is the person that’s protected me from my dad, and those who used to be my friends… including you. I’m not sure I can take another hit.”

  Jade opened the door against my request to stay. She slipped outside.

  After I followed her out, I shut the door and stood on the curb with my hands shoved in my pockets. “Can I come in?” I knew the offer had expired, and it was a long shot, but I had to try.

  She stopped at the sidewalk and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  I watched her go inside the house without another glance in my direction. After standing out there like a moron way too long, I finally realized she wasn’t coming back.

  19

  Griffan

  “Tyler, honey?” Mom called to me from the laundry room.

  I growled, dropping the spoon in my cereal bowl. Tyler was a fraud. I didn’t want to be that guy. I rumbled, “Don’t call me that.”

  She stepped into the kitchen and planted her hands on her hips. “There’s no need to take that tone with me. You’ve been Tyler for five years. It’s going to take some time to get used to calling you Griffan again.”

  I picked up my spoon and shoveled in another bite.

  “Please bring your dirty clothes down today. I don’t want to deal with laundry when we get back home.”

  “Are we going to even have a home?”

  “We’ll have a place to stay for a while.”

  I clenched my jaw. Dad had screwed us over. “But not home. What about all our stuff? My clothes and gear and TV?”

  Mom crossed the room and took a seat on the chair next to me. “This is hard on all of us.”

  “Did you see the TV van outside?” I pushed the bowl away. “I can’t believe he did this to us.” I hung my head in my hands. “Why did we even come here? All we did was pretend that life was good. Now I have to leave Jade behind, again, and go back to the mess Dad left.”

  Mom stood and pulled me into a hug. “I’m so sorry.” She held me tight and combed my hair in that way moms soothe their babies to sleep.

  I wanted to stay there and let her, but my chest trembled with the warning of a breakdown. Seventeen-year-old men weren’t supposed to cry. Twice in one month was not acceptable. Not if I was supposed to be the man of the family. The strong one.

  So I stood and choked my emotions down. “I’ll get my clothes.” After I dumped what was left of my cereal in the garbage disposal, I grabbed my dirty clothes and put them in the laundry room.

  The physical movement was supposed to make the hole in my chest go away. How could it? It was the size of Jade.

  20

  Jaden

  I sat on the sand and watched Luci argue with the bad boy gang about respect or something. If my stomach didn’t constantly feel like it was going to empty its contents, I might have gotten in on it. Anytime was a good time to put those d-bags in their place.

  Luci headed my way with her board in tow. Isaac called something to her. She tossed the bird up in the air for her response.

  “I thought you’d be working at Star Diner,” she said, planting her board in the sand.

  I hugged my knees closer to my chest. “I didn’t feel like it.”

  She shook her hair out and combed it back with her fingers before she sat down on the towel next to me. “Where’s Mr. Ray Ban?”

  I shrugged and continued to stare out at the endless ocean.

  “The cornrows are back, huh?”

  “They’re easy.” I didn’t have to worry about messing with my hair when it was braided like that. Plus, it was who I needed to be.

  Luci laid back on her towel and asked, “Do you think your girl could do mine tomorrow?”

  “I’ll check.” I knew my words were few, but I didn’t feel much like talking. I didn’t want to be alone either.

  A few boys walked by us and flirted. I couldn’t get into it, though. Luci sat up and angled herself so she was facing me. “What’s up with you and Griff? You’re making me miserable, too.”

  Tears stung my eyes, but they stayed in place. “He’s leaving. I knew he would. It’s just,” I glanced over at her. “I got attached, and I wasn’t supposed to let that happen.”

  “Ah.”

  “I can’t let him break my heart twice.” I took a deep breath and let it out. “I’ll text my girl.”

  I dug my phone out of my bag and sent a message to the neighbor girl who always braided my hair. There were several messages from Griff.

  Griff: I haven’t seen you in over 24 hours.

  Griff: You weren’t at the beach this morning.

  Griff: We need to talk.

  Griff: Come over and hang out after work?

  Griff: I’ll pick you up.

  Griff: You’re not at work.

  My stomach twisted a couple more times. He wasn’t making it easy. I sent him a message.

  Me: Pick me up after work tonight.

  I slipped on my shoes, stood, and shoved the towel in my bag. “It’s getting crowded. I’m going to take off.”

  Luci raised her hand to block the sun and peered up at me. “You coming by tonight?”

  “I don’t know.” My phone buzzed. I swiped the screen and saw the message from my neighbor. “She can do your hair tomorrow at one. I’ll send you the address.”

  “That works.”

  “Later,” I called, and turned away to head home.

  Luci called me before I got too far, “Hey!” She eyed me as she rolled onto her stomach and asked, “So Jaded is back?”

  I shrugged. Going back to Jaded after I had a taste of a sweeter life was going to be hard. Good thing I had a few hours to get the job done before I saw the guy who changed me.

  Griffan Stonebridge was not one of the boys of summer. It hurts when he leaves. Being a loner was the only way I knew how to protect my heart.

  21

  Griffan

  Jade could try to push me off all she wanted, but she would have to do it to my face. We needed to air this out before she went to work tonight. I pulled into her drive, set the car alarm, and made a bee-line to her door. It took a few times pounding before it opened.

  Tucker smiled when he saw me. “What’s up?” he asked and let me in.

  “Jade here?” I asked as I walked into the house, yanking the door shut behind me. I looked around and then back at Tuck.

  His eyebrows rose. “Dude, what’s up with you?”

  I rubbed my hand across m
y forehead. “Your sister is avoiding me and I don’t know why.”

  Tuck held his palms up to calm me down. “She’s at work, Griff.”

  I shook my head and stepped further into the house. “No, she isn’t. What’s going on with her?”

  “I don’t know. She doesn’t talk to me. Maybe Ben knows something.” He nodded toward their bedroom.

  Was she ticked because I asked her to sneak out? I just wanted to be with her as much as possible before I left. I rubbed the back of my neck, wishing I hadn’t been so stupid.

  I pushed out a frustrated breath, but it felt more like a groan. “Ben?” I yelled.

  He leaned around the corner of his bedroom door. “Hey, Griff.” The washer or dryer buzzed, and he walked down the hall to the open kitchen and right past me.

  I leaned against the wall and watched him shift the clothes from one machine to the other. “What’s going on with Jade? She’s been avoiding me.”

  “How should I know? Jade is Jade. She doesn’t tell anyone anything.” The door to the dryer slammed shut before he pressed a button and it turned on.

  I clasped my hands behind my head and paced to the living room.

  “Griff, man, you’re a wreck,” Tuck said, clamping his hand on my shoulder from behind.

  I turned around, letting my arms fall to my sides. “I know. You mind if I camp here until she comes home?”

  Tucker glanced at Ben. He shrugged, and Tuck said, “Sure. You can watch me destroy my little brother’s team.”

  “Thanks.”

  Tucker and Ben went back to their game. I leaned against their door frame, watching for a minute. It was driving me crazy not knowing what was going on with her. Standing still wasn’t an option, so I escaped one door down to Jade’s room.

  I scrolled the small space and landed on the surf posters. It sucked she couldn’t surf this summer. I ambled to the beat-up dresser and picked up the framed picture of her, Tuck, and Ben at the beach. It must have been taken late last summer because she was rocking a deeply tanned and toned body. My finger traced the outline of her face. There was so much more to her than that, though. Jade had a soft side I fell in love with. The way she loved and protected her family…. Braids or no braids she was beautiful inside and out.

  Mom was constantly on the phone making arrangements for when we got back to Florida. I needed to hold on to the one good thing I had left. In only a few days I’d be gone. Why was she shutting me out?

  22

  Jaden

  I left the beach hoping to complete the transformation back to the tough girl before tonight, before I saw Griffan again. When I saw his car in my driveway, I knew it wasn’t going to happen.

  It wasn’t what I wanted. Him showing up here instead of waiting until tonight said he expected to get what he wanted. That was what he was used to, right? Not only that, he was leaving in a few days. Just like all the boys of summer.

  That was exactly how I needed to see this little homecoming. He’s just a boy, Jade. Take your heart and move on.

  I took a deep breath and walked inside. He wasn’t in the kitchen or living room. I peeked in my brothers’ room as I passed. Griffan wasn’t there either. I went to put my bag in my room but stopped short at the door. Griff was sprawled out on my bed with his hands behind his head and eyes closed.

  I dropped my bag on the floor, and asked, “What are you doing here?”

  His eyes popped open, studying me.

  I had to start playing the part, so I folded my arms and waited for his reply.

  The problem was he didn’t move a muscle.

  “I thought you were going to pick me up after work tonight.”

  He sat up, not taking his eyes off me, and reached out for my hand. “Come here.” It wasn’t a command, but a gentle request.

  This time, I was the one who didn’t budge.

  He stood and was in front of me in two steps. “Jade, are you mad because I wanted you to stay with me?” His hands skimmed up my arms to my shoulders.

  I had to put a stop to this before he destroyed my resolve. “Look, Griff.” I moved past him until there was a few feet between us. I turned back and let him off the hook. “As soon as you get back to Florida, you’ll forget all about this summer.”

  His face crumpled as if I’d just elbowed him in the gut. “What are you talking about? You’re my girlfriend. We have plans to see each other, remember? I’ll be here at Thanksgiving.”

  I shook my head. “Come on. All the boys say stuff like that. You guys try anything to get a girl to sleep with you.”

  “Is that what you think?” He moved closer. “You think I trusted you with everything that’s been going on in my life in exchange for sex?”

  Ugh, hurting him hurt me. But I knew exactly how Griff and Jade would end. Just like it did the last time. At least I was the one breaking it off this time around.

  I hitched a shoulder as if it was no big deal. “Come on... you’ll get back to your hot Miami beach and I'll just be a girl you used to know.”

  Griff’s watery eyes darted all over my face. If he took one step, I might have crumbled. “Did you tell the media we were here?”

  “Of course, not.” I wouldn’t betray him or his family like that.

  He moved his gaze from me to the window.

  I hopped on my bed. “Listen, if you ever come back in town, look me up. Maybe we can have some fun again.”

  His eyes connected with mine. “Jade…”

  His voice cut through my shield, and I couldn’t look away. My throat tightened. Don’t do it. Don’t cry. Don’t let him in. It's better for both of us this way.

  I stood, gathered my wavering resolve, and pushed past him toward the back door. I called over my shoulder, “You be sure to drive safe, okay?”

  After I twisted the handle, I searched for Griffan. He stood in the hallway, staring at me like a lost puppy.

  I motioned out the door.

  “Jade...” he shuffled down the hall. “Don’t do this.” When he reached me, his fingers brushed the back of my hand. That light touch brought a flashback of us in the hammock at the secluded cove.

  I couldn’t go through him leaving me again. It had to be me doing the leaving. I snatched my hand away and plastered a fake smile on my face. “Tell your mom and sisters it was good to see them.”

  Griffan stepped over the threshold onto the step. I couldn’t get the door closed fast enough.

  “That was a jerk move.” Tucker stood in the hallway with his arms folded against his chest. “Even for you.” He shook his head and then disappeared into his room, leaving a brooding Ben behind.

  The Porsche rumbled to life, followed by the sound of rubber screeching on the pavement, leaving its mark on the road and on my heart.

  23

  Griffan

  I ripped my headphones off. Every freaking song reminded me of Jade. How was that even possible?

  No matter how hard I tried, sleep wouldn't come. I tossed my phone and headphones on the bed and made my way downstairs. Maybe a tall glass of milk would do the trick.

  When I walked into the dark room, an orange glow hovered above a flickering burner on the stove. I flipped on the light and saw that the glow was the tea kettle.

  “Grandma? Mom?” Maybe one of them was up too.

  No one answered. I shut off the burner and reached for the handle to move it off to the side. It was so hot I dropped it back on the stove. It clanged around and fell onto the floor.

  Mom came into the kitchen as I was running cold water over my hand. “Ty- uh, Griffan, what are you doing?”

  I shut the water off and reached for the dishtowel. “I came down to get a drink”—Grandma came in the kitchen while I was explaining—“and someone left the burner on under the empty teapot.”

  Mom’s eyebrows crashed together. “Mom, did you leave the stove on?”

  “Clover,” she tsk’d, “Now why would I do that?”

  Mom checked my hand.

  “It’s ok
ay,” I said. “Sorry I woke you.”

  Mom used a hot pad and picked the pot off the floor, placing it on the back burner of the stove. She checked all the knobs to make sure they were off. “Try to get some sleep.” Mom kissed my cheek. “We have a long trip tomorrow.”

  I nodded.

  They left and I could hear Mom asking Grandma about leaving the burner on again.

  I poured a glass of milk and went out and sat on the deck. It was midnight already. I knew it was futile, but I sent Jade another message.

  Me: Are you awake? I can’t sleep.

  I took a drink and closed my eyes, saying a silent prayer that she would answer. The cool, salty breeze brushed my skin. It felt good. Miami was always humid and sticky.

  I checked my phone screen. Nothing.

  Me: We’re leaving in the morning. Tell me goodbye or go to hell... Tell me to come over. See me before I leave.

  She hadn’t answered any of my calls or replied to my messages since she broke up with me. It wouldn’t matter what I lost when I got back to Florida. I had already lost everything I needed in Sterling Beach.

  24

  Jaden

  Jaden?” Mom knocked on my door. I didn’t answer, but she came in anyway. “You’re working seven nights a week now?”

  I pulled the earbuds out and rolled to my side as Mom sat on my bed. “Yeah. It looks like I either need to fix the car or buy a new one.” That, and I needed to stay busy or I would think about Griffan being gone.

  “I’m so sorry about your car. I’ll get your dad to help out with that.”

  I scoffed. “Like that will happen.”

  She rubbed my arm. “I’m worried about you. Ben says you’ve been taking care of all the chores.”

  “They don’t do them right. It’s just easier if I do it.”

  She looked around my messy room. “Did you forget to clean your own room?”