Jackson is Kelsey’s father. I’m as sure of it as I am that the sky is blue.
Today, was one of the best days I’ve ever had in my life. Not only did Kelsey volunteer to show me more of her world, something I gobble up at every morsel she gives me, but I got to see one cool animal preserve. I never realized all the grueling, exhausting work she does. It’s not just playing and petting rare animals. She actually cleans them and their habitats, keeps them on a schedule. She knows when one of them is off or sick, the exact temperature their food and water need to be.
It’s like watching a surgeon cut someone open, or a conductor lead a full orchestra. She’s so in her element. If my heart hadn’t tattooed her name on it two years ago, it would have surrendered itself to her today. She owns it, fully and completely.
But as we sat on that roof watching the sunset, something that should have made me damn happy because it was romantic and Kelsey wasn’t complaining, the thoughts of her real father still niggled in the back of my brain.
Jackson had given himself away. At least to me. I saw the way he looked at her from the moment he found us near Dorothy’s den. He looked at her like I figure I looked at her. With a sense of longing, a little bit of amusement, and a whole lot of love. It wasn’t the “I’ve known her since she was a baby” love either, I can tell there’s something more to it.
And then he told me to take good care of his girl, and I knew. It’s clear as day. What he’s doing working for her freak show parents, I don’t know. To be closer to Kelsey? To be able to see his daughter? But why wouldn’t he tell her after all this time?
These are just questions I don’t have the answers to. And until I do, I can’t tell her what I suspect. Even though it might be dangerous to keep my guesses from her, it’s even more dangerous to lead her down a path without any confirmation. I couldn’t bear to hurt her more than she already is.
“So, what did you think of the preserve?” Kelsey startles me from my deep thoughts.
“It was awesome, Roo. Thanks for dragging me there.”
Her amber eyes slide over to mine and then back to the road. “Have you thought any more about what you’ll do once we have to move out?”
Huh? “Do you mean with us?” My defenses immediately go up, jumping straight to the worst-case scenario of her trying to end this.
“No, no.” She chuckles. “Now that you caught me and you have me, you are stuck with me. I mean, have you thought about a job? Or baseball, maybe?”
I sigh. She’s been trying to talk to me about this for a month, even before we started dating. And the truth is, I don’t want to. I can’t stay at school, I’ve never been here for the classes. And now that we’ve won the championship, Owen is leaving to pursue the majors. Minka is following him. We decided to give up the house at the end of the summer and I need to figure out what I want to do.
I can’t see myself going back into baseball. I just don’t have the energy anymore to throw myself into workouts and travel and competition. As much as I love the sport, I made peace at the College World Series that it was probably my last game.
But I haven’t done anything besides baseball. Ever. It has consumed my entire life, it’s the one thing that I am truly good at. Like I said, I’m not the smartest kid. Law or medicine are never going to be on the table for me. So I stuck with what I knew, excelled at it, and now that it’s over, I feel a little lost.
And how do you tell your amazing, passionate girlfriend that? A woman who has her entire future, at least career-wise, figured out. I’d sound like some freeloading, lazy asshole.
“I was thinking maybe I’d just be your professional boyfriend. I think I can really master that.” I wink at her and try to get her off the subject with my charm.
“Such wit for a jock. Seriously, Clint … come on. You have to be interested in something. Anything. If you could pick anything in the world to be doing right now, what would it be?”
I can feel the temper being lit inside of me, the flames of anger stroking over my skin. “Why is this so important to you? You just can’t stand being with some washed-up meathead?”
The car pauses for the red light, and Kelsey looks over at me, her foxlike features illuminated by the glowing of the dashboard. “That isn’t what I meant at all. I want to see you happy, for you to find something that lights you up as much as my work does for me. It’s a feeling I would never want you to miss out on. You dick.”
Her lips tilt up, and I know she’s only trying to help.
“You have so much to offer the world, don’t doubt that. I see a wealth of knowledge in you, young grasshopper. You just need to find the thing that helps you channel it, baby.”
She knows I’ll dissolve into a puddle of mush over the word baby. Her speech is all Kelsey and completely endearing.
“Thanks, baby. Don’t think you’re getting away with manipulating me with that. The truth is, I just don’t know what I want to do. And it’s embarrassing. My girlfriend is this hot animal whisperer and it’s intimidating. Of course, I want to find something that I love as much as you love the preserve. It’s just not that easy.”
She pulls her girly little car into the driveway and kills the engine. “I have an idea.”
I’m not sure if I like the devilish gleam in her eye, or if I should be scared as we walk into the house.
“Hey, guys, where have you been—”
Kelsey cuts Owen off. “Sorry, we can’t talk.”
She pulls me along behind her toward her room.
“Go get ’em, tiger!” Owen catcalls from the living room.
It looks like a bomb has gone off in the fifth bedroom of our house. “Jeez, Roo, can’t we at least go have wild sex in my room. It looks like a tornado came through here. And is that … day-old cereal?”
I sniff at the bowl of dried up, moldy looking Cocoa Pebbles.
“Whoops. Whatever, you knew I was messy when you decided to date me. Your mistake. Sit.”
She points to the bed, waiting patiently in front of the foot of it. I sit down, careful to move the yellow sneaker and pair of headphones lurking beneath the comforter. “So what’s this all about?”
Kelsey claps her hands, looking all too giddy. “Okay, we are going to play a game. I’m going to ask you a question about your future. For each question you answer honestly and without any belly aching, I’m going to remove a piece of clothing.”
My dick instantly hardens in my khaki shorts. Anything involving me getting to see some of that snowy, perfect flesh, I’m game. “Let’s do this.”
I scoot back, making myself as comfortable as possible on her bed. Which isn’t easy since it looks like a murderer has been thrashing at her sheets with a machete.
“Okay! First question … what is the most important thing you want to get out of your future job or career?”
Kelsey toes at her strappy sandal with the hot pink nails on the other foot. Just that motion has me squeezing my balls up tight to my body.
I think hard, trying to make my answer really good. Maybe I’ll get both shoes off in one swoop. “I want to help people.”
“Very good, Bellows. You earn one shoe.” As she bends down, her hair brushes her cheeks.
“Come on, can’t I have two? I’m behaving so well.”
She rolls her eyes. “No cheating. Next question … where do you want to work?”
This one is a no brainer. “Anywhere my sexy girlfriend is.”
Another eye roll but I earn the other shoe.
“Do you see yourself working with adults, kids, animals … aliens?”
I’ve never been one to socialize greatly with people my own age or anyone older than me. I always feel too formal. I love animals but seeing Kelsey so passionate about them, I know I could never measure up to her level of commitment. Kids, on the other hand. I’ve always liked the rugrats.
“Kids. Definitely kids.”
Kelsey stops toying with the hem of her shirt and instead pulls it slowly up over her head. All
thoughts scatter from my brain the minute I see the expanse of her tight stomach, those curvy Coke-bottle hips and full breasts nestled in a black scrap of lace.
“How about teaching?”
I try to clear the fuzz from my head. I can’t concentrate with this half-naked, perfect creature taunting me from the foot of the bed.
“Umm …”
“Do I need to put the shirt back on?” Kelsey’s voice is teasing and cruel.
“No!”
Teaching. I’ve never thought about it. But now that I do, I don’t think I’d like it. Too much structure and thinking for me. I’m not even good at school, what makes me think students would benefit from learning from me?
“No, no teaching. I can barely stand to attend school. I wouldn’t do those kids justice that way.”
“Fair answer.” She reaches behind her back and unclasps the black lace, and then I have a nice unobstructed view to one of my favorite parts of Kelsey.
She’s not a double D by far, but her round tits are just a mouthful that has my dick straining upward at the material of my shorts. It’s trying to punch through my zipper and land somewhere in the beautiful valley they create.
“What about a nonprofit? Or a camp? You could work with special needs children. Or with children in need of losing weight …”
Her voice is quiet when she makes this last suggestion. I think she’s trying to spare my feelings, hoping I won’t get mad.
But I’m not mad, I’m intrigued. I sit up, barely noticing her naked form in front of me anymore.
Working at a nonprofit, helping kids overcome childhood obesity. Teaching them how to eat right, how to exercise while having fun. Showing them the balance to live a healthy life. It all clicks into place, the lightbulb goes on. All the cheesy metaphors you’ve heard before about what happens when you finally figure out what you want to do with your life? Those all hit me at once.
“Yes …” I’m not even really talking to Kelsey. “I’ll work with kids who need help getting healthy. With families who can’t afford to eat the right way. Teach them how to work the system, take shortcuts to good nutrition. How to exercise and stay active.”
When I finally look up at Kelsey, I swear there are tears in her eyes. “That’s what you should be doing.” She nods, coming to sit on the bed in front of me.
I grab her hands. “Thank you. For believing in me enough to force me to think about this.”
“I think it was the boobs that forced you, but you’re welcome.”
I palm her soft cheek. “I’m serious, Roo. You bring out the very best in me. Sometimes you’re a pain in the ass, but at the end of the day, I know you do it because you care. And I love that about you. I love you.”
We both freeze, our eyes locked. My heart trips over itself and then my stomach drops. I didn’t mean to say that. Not yet. But it’s true, I love her. I’ve loved her since the first time she walked up those front porch steps and I looked into those hazel eyes.
“Clint, I …”
“No. I don’t want you to answer or say anything right now. I love you. I’m not saying that to scare you, or so I can hear it back. I just love you. And I want you to know that.”
To my heart’s relief, Kelsey’s lips tilt up in a tiny grin. I’m just thanking God she’s not halfway to some South American country right now.
“I’ll wait until you’re ready.” I kiss her forehead and inhale that spicy, lemony scent that is all Kelsey.
A beat of silence goes by as I keep my lips pressed to her warm skin.
“I think maybe you just said that so I’d lose the shorts and thong too.”
Her joke breaks up the tension, and I take the opening gratefully. Flipping her down so that my hand cradles her neck when her back hits the mattress, I set to finding out if her panties do indeed match that black scrap of lace.
20
Kelsey
It seems like mid-August is frying everyone’s brains and making them fall head-over-heels, loopy in love. Like a fat baby cupid is roaming around our group of friends and just continually shooting them in the back of the head with romance-filled arrows.
The whole motley crew is hanging out in the living room on Sunday, the boys acting like orangutans, slapping each other on the backs and jumping up and down after each touchdown on RedZone. As if there aren’t enough sports on TV, here is a channel that shows grown men hugging each other and sniffing each other’s balls for seven hours straight.
Minka and I have the full nail salon arsenal on the floor, painting our nails and toes different colors before finding the right ones.
The front door flies open, causing Owen and Clint to jump up, fists at the ready. Parker stays put, only lazy enough to avert his eyes from the TV. Glad to know he’s ready to protect us innocent damsels in distress.
Only it isn’t a burglar. Miles and Chloe stand in the doorway, huge-ass grins on their faces and overnight bags in their hands.
“No. Way!” Minka darts across the room, brown curls flying everywhere. She body slams Chloe, causing both of them to almost go down. They erupt into a fit of giggles as Chloe practically carries Minka across the doorstep.
“Honey, I’m home!” Miles drops his bags and holds his arms out, smiling in that devilish way he always does. I like the kid, honestly, I do. He and I feel like kindred spirits. Except the time I wanted to chop his balls off with a butter knife for how much he hurt Chloe. But we’re past that now.
“No calls or texts and you just show up on our doorstep like this?” Owen feigns shock and upset, but goes over to bear hug his childhood best friend. Watching the two of them is adorable. Like watching the fox and the hound if those old Disney characters were actually filthy rich, gorgeous twenty-somethings.
“Farris …” Clint nods in his slightly withdrawn way while doing that pure masculine fist bump hug thing guys always do.
“’Sup, asshole?” Miles says as he slaps Parker on the shoulder where he still sits on the sofa. “I see you’re still as friendly as ever.”
I take that time to actually insert myself into the scene instead of just watching my friends interact. “Chloe! What are you doing here?”
Chloe hugs me, but I can see the quiet happiness in her violet eyes. Something’s up. Because if I know Minka well, I know Chloe like my left foot. My quiet, elegant willow tree, she is everything I’m not. And I love that.
“Well, we have some news that we wanted to share in person …” Miles goes to stand by her, hooking an arm around her shoulders.
“We’re engaged!” Chloe shoots out her left hand, where a huge-ass rock perches on her ring finger. And shit do I mean huge. Miles looks like he stole the goddamn Hope Diamond from the Smithsonian.
Minka shrieks, literally lets out the highest pitch squeal ever, and body slams Kelsey again. Minka, the girl who hates clichés and romance and bullshit, is shrieking over a shiny ring. Cupid has done his work here, all right.
“Dude! You just had to beat me to it!” Owen hugs his best friend again. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Minka turn the shade of an apple. Those two are so gone over each other.
“You just had to wife her up, eh Farris?” I lean in for a one arm hug.
“From what I hear, you like being wifed up these days too?” He wiggles his eyebrows, those blond curls falling in his mismatched eyes. I elbow him in the gut.
“Watch out, she’s a feisty one. Congrats, man.” Clint shakes his hand while at the same time pulling me in tight.
Owen pumps his fists in the air. “Well, this calls for a celebration. Sammy’s anyone?”
“Hell yeah! Back to the old stomping ground!” Miles yells.
“Parker, you coming?” Clint nods at our fifth roommate.
“I think I’m going to vomit with all of this love bouncing around the room. Count me out,” he grumbles and stomps to his room.
I’m not sure who snorts first, but then everyone is dissolving into a shitfit of laughs as we pull on shoes to head out to the bar.
/>
“So, tell us the story!”
I sit wedged into a booth with Minka and Chloe, huddled together over vodka cranberries and gossip. The boys have headed off to do stupid knucklehead things and beat each other at pool.
Minka waits expectantly, wanting every single detail of Miles’ proposal. I’m just happy to be back with my number one girls. It’s been too long since we’ve all been together, and I know these moments will only get fewer and further apart.
“Okay, so he told me we were going out for dinner after my rehearsal one night. He told me to dress casual, so I had this red sundress all picked out with these cute—”
“Enough about the fashion, get on with it!” I bark at her. Minka and I have never cared as much about clothes and makeup as Chloe has. I forgot how annoying it is to hear her wax poetic about fabrics and heels.
“Fine.” She sticks her tongue out at me. “I thought we were going for dinner, but then all of a sudden we start heading to Central Park. So I’m like, all right, guess we are trying some place new. We walk through the park just as the sun goes down, and after he pulls me into a little clearing, there stands a Ferris wheel. All lit up like the Freeboro Fair. He tells me it’s all ours for the night. I mean at this point I’m already almost in tears. So he takes me up to the top, gives his grand speech and then pulls out the ring box. And the rest is history. It was perfect.”
She sighs, looking dreamily over at her fiancé. I have to admit, even I have chills on my arms. But looking over at Minka, she has tears in her eyes.
“Oh my God, Minks, are you crying?” Chloe touches her arm. “Are you mad … that you weren’t first?”
“God no! I’m so happy for you guys! I just … think about spending my life with Owen and it just makes me happy. I know you guys get that now, and it’s just so perfect. I am over the moon for you!”
I laugh, giving Minka a side hug. “Do you think he’ll do it soon?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I mean, we’ve talked about it, but I think he wants to get his contract first, see what city we end up in. I can work anywhere as a nurse, and I’m complete when I’m with him, so I’ll be following him. But enough about me, so when do we get to be bridesmaids?”
Over the Fence Box Set Page 54