by Lee Wardlow
“That’s bullshit,” Cal snapped. “He was doing something to Abby. She was trying to walk to the bathroom. It looked like he was shoving her or something. He called her a bitch.”
“Aiden, you and Luke are gone. The rest of you go back to the fire.” Aiden snorted. “Aiden, I can ban you for the rest of the season. Do you want that?”
He shook his head no.
“Then get the hell off my property, now.”
He turned and headed towards the drive with Luke following. Delia went with Luke while her friends stayed behind to enjoy the party going on at Coach’s house. I started to go with Cal and Ty when the coach asked me to come with him.
I hesitated. I had never spoken to Coach Mac. Not once but I went with him to the house as he asked.
He wasn’t that old. Not as old as my parents were. He wasn’t married but there was a rumor that he had a girlfriend. Although I had never seen one at the football games and she wasn’t at the house tonight.
Inside, he leaned against a butcher block table. “Bathroom is around the corner on the left.”
This was just plain awkward now. I followed Coach’s direction and when I was done, I found him where I left him leaning against the table. I didn’t know what to do because he wasn’t leaving the kitchen yet.
Coach pulled out a chair and offered for me to sit. Then he took a seat too. “Abby was Aiden shoving you?” He asked.
“Is he in trouble?” I asked.
Coach Mac laughed at me. “Why don’t you want to tell on him? He could have hurt you. There are tree roots you could have tripped over them in the dark and gotten seriously hurt. I’ve heard you aren’t the most graceful girl.”
I rolled my eyes at him. Then I realized what I had done. Coach didn’t like it anymore than my dad did. “Sorry.”
“Did he hurt you?” Coach wasn’t giving up.
“He shoved me.”
I could also tell that Coach didn’t like that. “Why?” He was frowning at me.
“I don’t want Cal to know. He’s already not speaking much to Aiden and Luke. I guess he shoved me because we’re dating.”
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” Coach shook his head at me.
“Got anything better, Coach?” I asked because I sure didn’t.
“Mind if I talk to Aiden and Luke?” He asked.
“Can I stop you?”
He laughed at me. “For a quiet one, you got some spunk.”
I was trying to restore peace between the three friends, but it wasn’t working so far. After tonight, Cal was going to be angrier with Aiden and Luke. “I just want to fix their friendship and short of breaking it off with Cal I can’t seem to do that.”
“Abby,” he patted my knee. “You make Cal happy. His friends should be happy for him. You aren’t responsible for fixing Cal’s relationship with Aiden and Luke. They will fix it eventually.”
“I feel responsible,” I interrupted the Coach.
I didn’t like conflict. I shied away from arguments which is probably why it took three years for me to figure out why Tyson was shutting me out. I never confronted him.
Being a teenager wasn’t easy. We had kids at school bullying us. Kids at home, our siblings that were conflicted with us. Parents pushing or not in my case. Why couldn’t we just get along, I wanted to scream.
I didn’t scream. I didn’t say anything much at all. I think they already thought the quiet, nerdy girl was strange. “Are we done here?” I asked the coach.
“We are,” he replied. “Abby don’t let them push you around. You’re smart. Cal likes you. You’re pretty. You have things going for you, girl.”
I laughed at him. Then I got up from his nice kitchen table and put my chair back where it belonged. I glanced at Coach. “That’s easier said than done, you know.”
“I know.” He gave me a nice smile. One that was compassionate and knowing. “I was you once.”
“No way,” I said completely shocked by his admission.
“I was. I was a skinny basketball player. Tall and gangly. Then I bulked up and switched to football. Tight end just like Cal. Smart as hell but nerdy too. Didn’t really blossom until college. You’ll see,” he promised me.
I could only hope.
“Thanks Coach.”
“You’re welcome Abby.”
I walked out onto the front porch it was a long way across the fields through the trees to the bonfire. I stopped on the steps this time not afraid because I knew Aiden and Luke were gone. The cheerleaders weren’t though and even though Delia wasn’t with them they were giving me dirty looks because I had gotten Aiden in trouble. I just couldn’t win tonight.
I looked around for Johnny, Tyson and Cal. The other players were gathered around the fire laughing and having a good time but I didn’t see the three boys that I wanted to find. I asked one of them, an offensive linemenn who was usually pretty nice to me where they were. He pointed to the cars where we had parked when we arrived.
I eased my way up the gravel driveway. I could hear their voices arguing in the distance as I got closer. Aiden had not gone home as Coach had told him to, now Cal and Aiden were still arguing over me.
I only hesitated for a second before I was closer to the vehicles where they were standing. I realized that my brother was standing there listening to them disagree about me. Tyson didn’t like the things that Aiden was saying about me either. Neither did Cal who was barely controlling his anger at his once best friend.
Standing right behind them without being seen I shouted, “Stop.” They all turned and looked at me surprised by my outburst. “Just take me home Cal,” I pled with him.
I didn’t want things to be like this. He stepped away from Aiden. “Just turn your back on me for her.”
Cal looked over his shoulder. “You did this to us, Aiden. It didn’t have to be like this.” He stopped by Ty. “Are you coming with us?”
“Yeah man. I am “
We headed to Cal’s Impala. Tyson climbed into the backseat while I waited by the passenger door. I glanced up at Cal’s face. His eyebrow that had split open had stopped bleeding. I touched the tender spot and he flinched. I looked away. He tugged me back to him.
“Hey, this isn’t your fault. It’s Aiden’s.”
“I feel like it’s mine.”
He gazed at me for the longest time, then his lips brushed across mine. I felt the longing in his kiss. In the way he held me. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t feel like we were ready, at least I wasn’t.
“Get in the car. Make out later.” My brother shouted at us. I groaned. Cal chuckled.
I slid into my seat and glared at my brother. “Cockblocker,” I snapped.
“I would say so, Abby.” He was funny right now. His eyes wide and shocked that his baby sister would say such a thing to him.
“I was teasing Tyson.” Cal got in the car and looked between us. “Nothing,” I said. “I was teasing him about something.”
He shrugged and backed around somebody’s car so he could get out. I laid my hand on his thigh and Cal smiled at me. From the backseat, Tyson couldn’t tell what I was doing.
I didn’t really know what I was doing. I just liked the feel of Cal’s leg beneath my hand. He was strong. Comforting. I rubbed my hand across his thick muscles. He glanced at me a time or two but didn’t say anything to me about stopping.
When we pulled into the drive, Cal tugged me to his side so the seat would go forward. “Stay here. I can’t stay but a few minutes.”
“Ty, I’ll be right in.”
My brother climbed out and peeked in at me. “Don’t be long or Dad will be sending me out after you.”
“I won’t,” I promised.
He shut the door then jogged to the front door. I looked up and realized that Cal had parked behind my Dad’s SUV effectively blocking us from the big windows in the front of the house.
He grabbed me roughly in his arms surprising me. Then his lips captured mine in a pu
nishing kiss that took my breath away. When he pulled his mouth away from mine. “You’re bad.”
“What?” I didn’t understand.
“You were making me crazy, Abby.”
“I didn’t know,” I told him. “You should have told me.”
He nuzzled me. “With Ty in the backseat?” I never thought of that. “You’re so sweet Abby. I don’t deserve you.”
His lips traveled over my cheek. “Why do you say that, Cal?” I breathed in, struggling to suck air into my lungs. His lips were moving down my neck. “Cal,” I breathed. “Cal, stop.”
He raised his head. “Abby, you just do things to me.”
He kissed me again. I lost myself in his warm lips brushing over mine. His hand snaked under my sweatshirt and my eyes flew open when he covered my breast with his hand. I was torn between wanting him to keep touching me and pushing his hand away.
I didn’t get to make the choice. The front porch light flashed. We broke the kiss and glanced at the porch then our foreheads touched.
“I can’t wait to see you in your dress tomorrow night.”
I smiled. I wanted him to like what Mom and I had picked out. The light flashed again. “Go inside,” Cal whispered against my lips. “I’ll see you tomorrow at four.”
“Okay.”
I slid across the seat. I looked back and Cal’s arm was dropped across the steering wheel, he leaned over watching me exit his car.
I glanced back at him over my shoulder. “I love you,” I told him. I liked telling him how I felt. I liked hearing it even more.
His face transformed with the smile that spread across his mouth, lighting up his eyes. “I love you too, Abby.”
I got out and shut his door. I bent at the waist wanting to see his face one more time. He hadn’t moved yet. Cal smiled at me. The lights flashed again. I sighed at my Dad’s persistence. Then I straightened and headed towards the house.
Dad met me at the front door preparing to flash the lights one more time. I rolled my eyes at him before I headed up the stairs. “I think you’re getting too serious Abby.”
I stopped halfway up and glanced down at Dad standing at the bottom. My good mood ruined. Everyone, it seemed was against us. “Why? Because for the first time that I’m really happy you can’t stand it?”
“Abby, you’re young. I just don’t want to see you make a mistake.”
“Cal isn’t a mistake.”
I hated it that his friends were against us. I wasn’t sure that Tyson liked me being with Cal either. Now my Dad was anti-Cal too.
“I didn’t say he was Abby. I just don’t want you getting too serious so young. Hormones can lead to a lot of things that can cause complications in your life.”
“Dad, we aren’t having sex.” Not that I hadn’t thought of it. Cal made me think things including sex but there was so much complication in our relationship. When it was just us like in the car, the quiet surrounding us, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind. I loved him and he loved me.
That was all that mattered.
I knew it and so did he.
My dad sighed at me. Then he rubbed his hands through his hair. “I’m sorry Abby. I just don’t like it. You’re so young.”
“Are you telling me I can’t be with Cal?”
He shook his head no. “Not yet at least. Mom would never forgive me.”
“I would never forgive you.” Tears gathered in my eyes.
“Abby,” he said, pain in his voice.
“I’m going to bed.” I ignored him calling my name and stomped up the steps. In my room I slammed the door behind me and undressed.
I was in my bra and jeans reaching for my pajama top when my phone rang. I slipped across the room and grabbed it. “What’s wrong?”
“My Dad is home.” I could clearly hear Cal was upset.
“Isn’t that a good thing?” I asked.
“He wants to meet you tomorrow morning. Do you think you could come over for breakfast?”
“Sure, I guess so. Is everything all right?”
“Yeah. It’s fine.” I wasn’t reassured.
“Are you sure, Cal?”
“Abby, he’ll be gone in a month. Nothing will change how I feel about you. Mom told him I was serious about you. He’s not so happy about that either but he wants to meet you.”
“My dad isn’t happy either.”
“I thought your dad liked me,” he said.
Cal sounded defeated and I didn’t like it. I wanted to protect my boyfriend like he protected me from his friends not that I wanted him to have to do that for me.
“Cal, he does like you. It’s that we’re so serious. We are, aren’t we?”
“I love you Abby.” His voice broke and I was ready to cry too. He was quiet for a moment while he checked his emotions. “I didn’t tell Dad that, but I did Mom. She didn’t tell Dad that either. That would have made him worse.”
“What can I do?”
“Just be your sweet self,” he replied. “I didn’t mean to concern you Abby.”
“You didn’t.” He had though.
“I did,” Cal said. He knew me. “I’ve had a rough time of it since I got home. Lectures about my future. The only future I want is with you, Abby. I don’t care where we are as long as we’re together.”
I smiled at his words but knew that what he said was just a dream. At some point, our high school romance could have to end or be long distance because what we wanted for our futures might not run the same path. Like Tyson wanting to protect me it might not make sense to be in the same place.
“You know we could have to go to different colleges Cal.”
“No,” he declared. “I’ll go where you go.”
I sighed. We didn’t have to think about this right now. I was tired and wanted to get my clothes changed so I could crawl in bed. I asked him what time he was picking me up and then we said goodnight.
I changed into my pajamas and went to my bed. I didn’t go right to sleep. I turned onto my side and grabbed my phone off the nightstand.
Nothing can come between us if we don’t let it Cal. Not your friends or our dads. Love you.
I snapped a picture of myself lying in bed and sent it to him too. Nothing seductive other than my nipples were hard poking through my long, sleeved t-shirt.
Love it and you.
He sent me a picture of him in bed. Bare chested. Arm behind his head staring directly at the camera. His dimples barely visible because he was only half-smiling, but he looked so hot I couldn’t take my eyes off the phone.
After tossing and turning I read a book until I fell asleep. Homecoming was going to be a long night if I didn’t get a nap in tomorrow.
Chapter 11
When Cal picked me up in the morning, he made it to the door before I could get downstairs. Dad invited him as I was coming down the steps.
His smile wasn’t like usual not even when his eyes met mine over Dad’s shoulder. “Thank you for letting Abby come over today, Mr. Gardener. My dad just got home last night. He was anxious to meet her.”
“What’s your dad do, Cal?”
I watched him drop his eyes. “Military. Special forces, sir.”
Dad clapped Cal on the shoulder. “We thank him for his service.”
“You and everyone else, sir.”
Dad was looking at him strangely. I went to Cal’s side and took his hand. “Dad, Mr. Cooper has been gone for nine months. He’s gone more than he’s home,” I explained.
Cal smiled at me relieved that he didn’t have to explain his emotions to another person.
Dad was sympathetic now. “I’m sorry Cal. That must be hard on your family. I can only assume that he’s doing something that he loves, and feels necessary, or he wouldn’t leave you.”
Cal nodded.
“Like you thinking it was in our best interest to move us to White Oak Creek?” I asked with a hint of sarcasm. The wounds were still hurting from this move.
Dad rolled his eyes at me. “You met
Cal,” Mom suggested as consolation. “Quit complaining.” She had entered behind us from the hallway that led from the kitchen. My mother walked softly not like my dad or Tyson, so we hadn’t heard her coming.
“Hi Mrs. Cooper. Nice to see you again.”
“Kat,” she corrected Cal. “Good to see you too Cal. I hear your Dad is home.”
“He is. The entire family is at my house waiting for us so we can have breakfast together.”
He hadn’t mentioned the entire family. Now, I was terrified. Cal looked at me and squeezed my hand. “I’ve got your back. No need to be afraid. I won’t let them eat you.”
I laughed although nervously at his joke. “You didn’t say anything about the whole family.”
Cal looked at my parents. “I’m one of seven kids. Only my sister Blythe isn’t dating or married to someone.”
“That’s a lot of people,” Mom said knowing that I would feel insecure being around that many new people this morning. It was hard enough thinking I had to meet Mr. Cooper this morning.
“It is,” Cal agreed. “I’ll take care of Abby, though.”
Mom smiled at him and I knew that she liked him. “Thank you for that, Cal. She’s painfully shy around new people. Tyson has always been her protector probably to her detriment.”
I had to agree. I didn’t have to come out of shell if Tyson was around. I could hide behind him. The last few years of him pulling away from me had been good for me if painful.
“We should go,” Cal said looking at me for confirmation.
I nodded then told my parents goodbye. Mom was doing my hair and make-up later, so I had to be back by one to give her plenty of time to make me up. I told her when I would be home. She shooed us out the door and shut it with Dad looking less than happy and I didn’t understand why.
We walked to the Impala; our hands still clasped. At the passenger door, Cal opened it and I started to release him. He held onto me tighter. His eyes boring into mine, I noticed. I wondered what he was thinking. Then he raised our hands to his lips and kissed the back of my hand.
“Are you okay?”