Friendship, Texas Series: Volume 1

by Magan Vernon

  She smiled, the sweat visibly forming on her upper lip. “You’re the best, Ro." She patted my back as she waddled toward a table.

  I really wasn’t in the mood to deal with any more customers, or people period. I hadn’t heard anything from Jay and Ma had started handing me literature about UT Dallas, when she knew good and well I had gotten my acceptance letter to USC and just needed to fill out the financial aid forms.

  No matter how many times I said that I brought up USC, she would just change the subject. Now it was like all she could do was talk about how California people are such bad influences. TNC mentioned something about Jay Morningstar spotted with a waitress from a restaurant in Friendship, Texas, but no more was said. I wasn’t even a blip on the radar.

  I had my five minutes of fame on Facebook. But none of that really mattered because Jay still hadn’t called.

  The restaurant had a back area that we usually reserved for banquets, or what used to be the smoking section. A few steps led to the dimly lit room. I could barely see the guy sitting at the very last booth with his oversized coat and ski cap. Why would someone pick the very last booth in the corner of a restaurant anyway? I hoped that he wasn’t some sort of a mass murderer who preyed on unsuspecting waitresses.

  “Sorry about that." I walked over to the booth, not looking up from my notepad.

  “Don’t worry I’m not here for the food…”

  I looked up to see the only thing poking out from the ski cap was a smile and I knew that smile. I could recognize it anywhere.

  “Jay?”

  I tilted my head to the side, moving my notepad down.

  He took off the ski cap, shaking out his hair and locked his eyes on mine. “About time you showed up.”

  I blinked hard, not sure if my brain was actually registering what I was seeing.

  "Well…you…" Okay, it was really hard to try and stand my ground and be mad at him when he looked at me with those pleading blue eyes.

  "...Never called. Or FaceTimed. Or whatever." I looked down, putting one hand on my hip. If I didn't look at his eyes then I couldn't melt for them.

  "Well…" He stood up and threw his ski cap down on the table. "I told you that I dropped my phone and I didn't know if you wanted me to FaceTime you. You're the one who left my house in a hurry."

  "You could have, or messaged me or something." I put one foot behind the other.

  "Yeah, but you acted like you didn't want me to, so I waited. Then I couldn't stop thinking about you...so..." He slowly tilted his head.

  "I thought I'd come here to see you. Well you and the pizza."

  I finally looked up, meeting those endless blue eyes. "I think you're here more for than pizza."

  He laughed shaking his head before he took a step closer, closing the distance between us. "You do make a good pizza."

  "Lia, just shut up and kiss him already!"

  Jay and I turned around to see Sonny and Dana standing at the bottom of the stairs with their arms crossed, watching us.

  "Hey, come on guys." Jay held his arms out to the side.

  "Whatever, I don't want to see my little sister getting it on anyway," Sonny yelled over his shoulder as he walked back toward the dining room.

  "Dana?" I tilted my chin toward her.

  "What?" She put her puffy hands on her hips.

  "That means you too." I waved my hand back and forth toward her.

  "Aw, you're no fun." She turned toward the dining room. "But I better be getting details later."

  I rolled my eyes before looking back at Jay. He hooked his fingers in my belt loops and pulled me as close as he could. "Are you going to run away if I kiss you?"

  "That depends how good the kiss is." I traced my hands up his stomach, feeling every curve of his abdominal line through his shirt. The man had a freaking eight-pack.

  "Challenge accepted." His fingers weaved their way until they were firmly centered on my lower back. His lips crushed to mine, taking my breath away. I didn't have much experience in the kissing department, but I'd never been kissed so urgently. So passionately. Moaning into his mouth, his tongue met mine, and I could taste the fresh mint on his lips.

  I never wanted to leave that moment. I never wanted to leave Jay.

  It was like a dream that turned into a reality.

  One I never wanted to wake up from.

  When he finally broke the kiss, I was breathless, pressing my forehead to his.

  "Good enough that you're not going to run away from me?"

  I smiled. "Don't press your luck. You may be fast in the pool, but I can probably outrun you."

  He wrapped his fingers tightly around my waist. "Then I guess I'd better not let go."

  ***

  I was in my bedroom, still thinking about the kiss to end all kisses.

  Okay, so I was almost twenty, still a virgin, by all accounts not the most experienced girl in the world, but I knew what a good kiss was.

  And Jay Morningstar took my breath away.

  My phone vibrated against my desk. I was concentrating on finishing my sociology assignment and was going to ignore another text from Sofie.

  But when I saw the FaceTime request, I immediately closed out of my homework and fluffed my hair before answering it.

  Jay's face was on the screen. And his broad shoulders.

  His broad shoulders that weren't covered by a shirt.

  I was never a shoulder girl, but the way his moved made me second guess why I never looked at how awesome muscled shoulders were.

  "Did you forget something at the restaurant?"

  I tried puckering my lips, but felt like a fish, so I just stayed natural. I sucked at this being flirty thing.

  "My heart?" He winked.

  "Did you seriously just use a cheesy line on me?"

  He laughed. "Did it work?"

  "I'll give it a six out of ten."

  "Dammit." He snapped his fingers. "I'll try for a better one. How about a swimming pick up line? Is your name five-hundred meters? Because you took my breath away." He winked, pointing a finger at me.

  I shook my head, but couldn't help the smile that crossed my face. Guys weren't this easy to talk to for me. I'd never had this banter with anyone and I was starting to like it.

  "Is your phone still gone?" I asked, changing the subject.

  He sighed. "Yeah, I really need to look into a new one, unless you want to see my ugly mug every day when I FaceTime you."

  I shook my head. "You're not ugly and you know it. Didn't you get voted sexiest man alive by one of those tabloid type internet sites?"

  He raised an eyebrow. "You mean the same one that called me the dumbest man alive? Maybe."

  I winced. I did see something about that when I was browsing through the stories on TNC. The media liked to portray him as a dumb jock, and as far as I could tell, he had some depth to him.

  Then again I was fawning over him like a lovesick puppy.

  "I've met way dumber guys than you. Have you met my brother Sonny? I think he only passed high school by getting girls to do his homework."

  "So you got the beauty and the brains in your family? That hardly seems fair." He flashed a smile that had my stomach doing somersaults, as well as other parts of my body tingling.

  "Stop with the flattery, you don't need to impress me."

  He laughed, nodding and pointing to my left. "I was talking to that poster behind you, but if the shoe fits, I guess you're the beauty and brains as well."

  I blinked hard and then slowly turned to where I knew my giant poster of Jay was. I should have probably taken that down a while ago, but didn't even think about it.

  Okay, that's a lie, I thought about it a lot and just didn't.

  Slowly I looked back at Jay's smiling face on the screen. "That was...uh...a Christmas gift."

  It wasn't a lie. Sofie did give me the poster for Christmas because I may or may not have been obsessed with the persona on TV. Now that I'd met him in real life, he could seriously become an
addiction.

  "How would you like it if I had Johnny get me a late Christmas gift and I had a giant poster of you?" He raised his eyebrows.

  Blinking slowly I stared at the screen. "Um, that might be weird."

  Finally, he shook his head then laughed. "I'm just giving you a hard time."

  I let out a deep breath. "Uh, yeah, I totally knew that."

  That made him laugh even harder. "You definitely didn't. You were about to freak out."

  I shook my head. "You don't even know me to know when I'm freaking out."

  He stopped laughing and smiled, leaning into the screen. "Yeah, but I'd like to get to know you better. When are we hanging out again?"

  "Ummmmm... don't you have a lot of practice?"

  Okay, I wanted to hang out with him. A lot. I just didn't want him to realize how lame I was and have my mom freak out.

  My parents had always been overprotective and ever since they found out I lied about going to Jay's, it was like I was the lowliest creature on the planet. They always second-guessed where I was and even gave me extra hours at the restaurant.

  Before I met Jay they were beyond extreme in over protectiveness, but now it was crazy. I guess that's what happens when the good girl of the family suddenly goes bad. I'd seen my dad looking at TNC when I thought he wasn't. He knew Jay's story; the playboy swimmer with an arrest record. There was no way he wanted his goody-goody daughter to be corrupted.

  Even though I didn't think the guy portrayed by TNC was even close to the real Jay Morningstar.

  Jay nodded. "Yeah, but I can make time for you."

  I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. "Okay...um...I have to work tomorrow night, but I should be free the next night."

  "Not bringing me pizza after work tomorrow?"

  I smiled slightly. "If you order one, I can't promise I won't deliver it."

  "Then I guess I'm getting pizza every night. Don't tell Coach."

  I crossed my arms over my chest. "Vaping? Pizza? What other secrets do you have that I should know about, Mr. Morningstar?"

  He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything my door was thrown open and I caught a glimpse on my screen of Sonny standing there in just his boxers.

  Seriously, at twenty-two it was time he moved out of the damn house. If Ma didn't baby him so much, maybe he would.

  But I knew that would never happen.

  "Lia! Where are my pants? Hey who the hell are you talking to?"

  My eyes widened and I yelled. "Gotta go. FaceTime me later."

  I clicked off the app and whirled around to stare at my half-naked brother, who was eyeing me very suspiciously.

  "Do you ever knock? Or wear clothes?" I rolled my eyes.

  He crossed his arms over his way too hairy chest. "I would if my little sister didn't take my jeans out of the washer and throw them random places instead of just hanging them up."

  "You're a grown-ass man, you can do your own laundry instead of having Ma or Nonna do it."

  "I'm not the one who is sneaking around and talking to some random dude on the Internet." He raised his eyebrows in a challenge.

  I tried to keep calm but ended up sputtering before I could finally speak. "He's not some random internet dude. You’ve met him multiple times now. Besides, I'm a grown woman. You're only two years older than me."

  Sonny shook his head. "Look, Lia, I'm not here to argue with you or tell you what to do, but I am going to tell you to be careful. I know you're not very experienced with the whole 'what guys want thing'."

  I put my hand up. "I don't want the sex talk from my brother."

  "I'm saying this as the guy who has had more than my fair share of girls. Just be careful, okay? I don't know what this swimmer guy's interest is in you, if he's looking for a quick score from a vulnerable girl, or more, but be safe. Okay? Don't let him take your heart or anything else under your clothes."

  I wrinkled my nose and slapped Sonny in his bare stomach. "Gross! Why are you getting all brotherly with me?"

  "Ow!" He winced then shook it off. "Hey, I'm just looking out for you, like you should be doing for me, by helping me find my pants. I'm meeting up with some guys in Dallas."

  I raised my eyebrows. "Does Ma know you're driving out to Dallas this late?"

  "You don't tell her about Dallas and I won't tell her about your new boyfriend."

  I rolled my eyes. "He's not my boyfriend."

  "Whatever he is that has you closing the screen and making out in the restaurant, I'm sure Ma would want to know what her only daughter is doing. Dad too."

  I swallowed hard and pointed out the door. "They're in the entertainment center."

  He raised his eyebrows. "Why the hell would you put my jeans in there?"

  "Because I needed room for my stuff, so I shoved them somewhere."

  He smirked then leaned in and kissed my forehead. "You're lucky I love you, kid."

  Chapter 6

  My phone vibrated in my apron pocket. I expected another message from Sofie, but prayed it was something from Jay.

  Slowly I crept toward the back of the kitchen and pulled out my phone. My whole face lit up when I saw that it was a message from Jay.

  What are you doing tonight?

  A simple question and yet I couldn't think of a simple answer. Anything I thought of sounded lame, so I just went with the truth.

  Working until at least ten.

  Hang out after?

  Ma always said nothing good came after ten o'clock, which was a lie because Saturday Night Live was on at ten-thirty.

  Technically I didn't have a curfew or anything that I needed to be home for, yet I still mulled on it before finally just going with what I wanted.

  Yeah.

  Awesome. Meet you at the First Baptist church at ten?

  Church? Maybe it was so my parents wouldn't see us or something. I didn't have too much time to think on it before Dad's voice boomed over the kitchen.

  Quickly I put my phone back in my apron and tried to sneak back to the dining room.

  "Rosalia?"

  Shit.

  Slowly I turned toward my dad and tried to keep my face neutral. "Yeah?"

  "Were you on your phone?"

  "Uh..."

  I wanted to lie, say I was eating breadsticks or something, but I was a sucky liar.

  "Yeah. Um. Sorry. I was talking to a friend, who, uh, wanted to meet up after work."

  He furrowed his brows. "What did I tell you about being on your phone with Sofie all night? She's a nice girl, but she knows you're working."

  I let out an internal sigh of relief. At least I didn't have to tell him who it really was.

  "I know. Sorry, Dad."

  "You can see her after work, and if she's going to keep trying to get your attention anyway, tell her to stop in. I could use another hostess."

  "Oh, yeah, sure I'll tell her." I forced the biggest smile I could and went back to the dining area, staring at the clock and waiting for ten o'clock.

  ***

  The temperature had dropped, but I was always told it was way colder in January in other parts of the country.

  It still didn't stop me from speed walking like an old lady to the First Baptist church at the end of the street.

  There weren't any lights on outside, but a few cars were parked around back. A single bulb hung over the back door that I only knew led to the basement because Sofie used to make me go to youth group with her so she could meet older boys.

  Jay was standing against the building, rubbing his hands together.

  "Hang out around old churches often?" I asked, trying to walk with a bit of swagger, but realized I looked like I had a problem, so I went back to walking normal.

  "Just when I'm waiting for beautiful girls to meet up with me."

  I bit my lip, trying to think of a good response, but I wasn't used to compliments like that, even though Jay seemed to be handing a lot of them out.

  "Come on. Let's go." He took my hand in his and then op
ened the door to the church basement with the other.

  "We're going to church?" I raised an eyebrow.

  He just smiled, looking over his shoulder. "Not quite."

  I followed the old cement steps and kept my hand on the wall. Most places in Texas didn't have basements, but older homes with root cellars were sometimes converted.

  The faint sounds of a bass hit my ears and it wasn't until we were at the bottom of the stairs that I saw the entire room light up. The walls were plain white with white linoleum floors and in the middle of all of that white was a black drum set and two guys on a guitar and a bass, strumming along to the beat of the music.

  The guy behind the guitar I would have recognized anywhere, Eddie Justice. The country music star had some kind of big falling out with his fiancee and was rumored to be staying at his parents' ranch. Of course that was what Sofie told me she read online and I hadn't actually seen him. But now here he was in the flesh, in the church basement.

  And next to him on bass was Joey Bianchi. My last boyfriend. If you could really call a week relationship with some groping, a boyfriend.

  Even weirder, on drums was Noah Riley.

  Noah was a year younger than me, but in a small town everyone knew everyone. Especially when he was the deaf kid in class.

  He lost his hearing in kindergarten after doctors discovered a brain tumor the size of a softball, and when it was removed it damaged some of his nerves, I guess. He was definitely an attractive guy with his longer brown hair that curled around his ears so you couldn't see his hearing aids and he had dimples that made every girl melt, but I wasn't focused on his looks.

  I was focused on the fact that this was the weirdest mix of people I'd ever seen playing music together.

  Eddie stopped playing and signaled to the other guys, flashing a big grin in our direction. "Hey, Jay, wasn't sure you'd show up," he said with his slight twang.

  All the guys bumped fists and then Jay came back to me, putting his arm around my waist. "Lia, this is Eddie, Noah, and I think you know Joey."

  "Hey, y'all," I said, doing a pathetic little wave.