My leg was getting better. Stronger. Today I started working with Derrick. I wouldn’t go out to the work sites for a while yet, but I had a lot to learn from his office assistant about the ins and outs of the business aspect of things and I was anxious to learn all that I could. I hadn’t been kidding when I said I wouldn’t mind ending up in construction, I just hadn’t thought it would happen so soon.
I also wasn’t kidding about getting out of my parent’s basement. I began looking for a small apartment almost immediately. I loved my family but being in the Army had given me too much independence to want to go back home to live. I had plenty of combat pay saved from my deployment that would hold me over until my disability kicked in. That and working for Derrick would set me up just fine.
Looking through the classified ads, I found a little apartment in this older lady’s backyard. It had been her husband’s man cave when he’d been alive but since his passing a few years ago, she’d turned it into a studio apartment to rent out for extra income.
“I usually give my tenants a break on rent if they help out with some chores, yard work and such,” Mrs. Critchfield said, eyeing my crutches and booted foot.
“It’s okay. I can pay the higher rent. But if you want, I can get my younger brother to help out. He’s reliable and it’d be good experience for him,” I offered. It would be good for Reed. He didn’t always enjoy working with his dad, but he wasn’t lazy. Maybe he’d appreciate having his own gig, something not to do with his dad.
Mrs. Critchfield smiled. “That would be great. With spring on its way, I was worried. My last tenant took care of the mowing and such so I haven’t got anyone lined up.”
“I’m happy to do that as well once I’m all healed up but I think Reed’ll do a good job until then.” It seemed like the ability to do yard work was a make or break on the rental for the older woman.
She looked relieved and nodded with another smile. “When would you like to move in?”
“As soon as possible. I have a check right here.”
Mrs. Critchfield offered me her hand. “Welcome home, Mr. Coulter.”
Moving would make it more difficult to drop in on Eden. I wouldn’t be able to just walk across the street and plop down on her couch. But that was okay because I really needed to up my game. And even though she seemed to respond to me physically and I knew she enjoyed hanging out, we hadn’t really talked about anything serious about us becoming, well, us.
And we sure hadn’t talked about what had gone on between us before I left for basic leading all the way up to the letter she’d sent me stating her hatred for me. I only hoped she didn’t really feel that way and that those words had just been a reaction to the hurt I’d caused her.
Which wasn’t much better.
It was time to put phase two into effect. I’d just spent the morning moving my stuff into Mrs. Critchfield’s apartment. It didn’t take long. The place was completely furnished. All I had to bring with me was my clothes and bedding. Mom helped me set up my stuff and unpack. She’d just left after dropping off her housewarming gift- a carload of groceries. It made me laugh to see all the lunch meat and boxed mac ‘n cheese.
It was Saturday and I knew Eden would be getting off work at four which was in about an hour. It was last minute, but I’d been distracted, which was code for terrified, and had put it off. But it was now or never.
Me: Got plans tonight?
I played Candy Crush on my phone for a good twenty minutes before she answered.
Eden: Only with my bathtub and a pint of ice cream.
While her response made me laugh, I was worried she’d turn me down now more than I was before.
Eden: Why?
Me: I wanted to ask you to go out?
I allowed myself a nervous sigh and ordered my racing heart to calm down. The little bubble indicating that she was replying appeared and then disappeared. Twice.
Oh, man. She didn’t know how to respond.
Me: Ed?
This time her response was almost immediate.
Eden: Like on a date?
Me: Yes. Very much like a date.
Me: Do you want to?
Eden: I don’t know.
My heart sank a little.
Me: No pressure. No expectations. Just a date.
Please, say yes. Please, say yes. I was glad I asked her over text now. Apparently, asking her out would have really put her on the spot. This way she had all the time she needed to think without me standing there putting on the pressure.
Me: It’s okay if you say no, Ed. I understand.
Please, don’t say no. Please, don’t say no.
Eden: Yeah. Okay.
Me: Yeah?
Eden: Sure, let’s go out.
It was a bit of a lukewarm response, but I’d take it.
Me: 6:30?
Eden: Yeah.
Me: See you then.
Chapter 34
Eden
A date? With Dylan? Ugh. How did I get into this? I hadn’t checked my phone all day until it was almost time to leave work. It had been nonstop since eight that morning. Every spot had been filled for both hair and nails. I was thankful I remembered to reserve a time for Allie weeks in advance. Our prom was next week, and I was excited to help my friend get ready for the dance.
It hadn’t been a surprise to receive a text from Dylan. That was a common enough thing lately. The contents of the text, however, had rocked me to my core. Still hours later, minutes before he was due to pick me up, I was shocked. Stunned even more that I had agreed. After applying a layer of gloss to my lips, I assessed myself in the full-length mirror hanging on the back of my closet door.
I’d chosen a dress to wear. It was maroon. Short, with long sleeves since it was still chilly at night. The sleeves were fitted to my elbow and then loose down to my wrists. The waist was high, leaving the skirt to flow down around my thighs. On my feet, I wore knee-high brown leather boots without a heel.
I’d left my hair down, just adding loose curls to give it some life, while my makeup was soft and natural. A far cry from the stuff I’d been wearing before Dylan left for basic. I hoped he appreciated the difference.
Or maybe I didn’t.
“Eden! Dylan’s here!” mom shouted up the stairs.
Ooh. I hadn’t even thought about them being home when Dylan picked me up. There was no doubt I was dressed up for a date. And Dylan hadn’t just marched up here to get me, he must have rung the doorbell.
Awkward.
Slowly, I walked down the stairs, as though I was meeting my executioner. About halfway down, I could see both of my parents, standing side-by-side. Dad had his arm around Mom’s waist and they were both smiling. Big smiles.
Mom’s gaze met mine and if possible, her lips widened further. What was going on here? I wondered only briefly, however, because there was Dylan.
He’d shed the boot on his foot and even his crutches were missing. He stood tall beside my dad, his thumbs hooked casually in the belt loops of his dark wash jeans, looking stunning in a white button-down shirt.
I hesitated at the bottom of the stairs, not at all sure of the situation I’d walked into. Did my parents know what was going on? That this was a date? With Dylan?
Did they approve?
“Sweetheart, you look beautiful,” my Mom said, leaning over to kiss my cheek and give me a hug. Her eyes sparkled when she pulled back, attempting to reign in her grin. “Doesn’t she look beautiful, dear?”
Dad merely grunted, his eyes landing significantly on the length of leg showing beneath the hem of my skirt. But even his lips curled up.
“We won’t be late,” Dylan reassured them as he shook my dad’s hand.
“I’m not worried, Dylan. No hurry.” Dad slapped him on the back nearly upsetting Dylan’s balance.
He recovered quickly and held a hand toward me. “Ready?”
Glancing around, I wondered if I’d somehow tumbled into an alternate reality. “Um, yeah.”
&nbs
p; “Have fun,” mom called from the front door as Dylan led me to his truck. He opened the door and lifted me into the seat before closing it and making his way to the driver’s side.
“What,” he asked once he was settled and noticed the look I was giving him.
“What was that?” I pointed to my house.
Dylan shrugged. “I don’t know what you mean.”
I squinted at him. “Did you tell them we were going out?”
Dylan squirmed a little in his seat as he started the engine and shifted gears. “Yeah, I talked to your dad about it.”
“You did what?” I couldn’t believe this. Were we in the middle ages or something? He asked my father if he could take me on a date?
Dylan shrugged again before straightening his shoulders and meeting my gaze head on. “I’ve known your parents most of my life, Ed. I’m not going to sneak around behind their backs with their daughter. I asked your dad if he had a problem with me taking you on a date and he said he didn’t.”
My heart wanted to melt a little after that, but I kept it in check. Dang thing. “He just said, sure, have fun?” There had to be more to it than that?
Dylan looked uncomfortable again. “Well, not exactly.”
“Why are you making me drag this out of you? What did he say. Exactly.”
Dylan sighed. “What’s the big deal, Ed? They aren’t mad about it or anything.”
“Dylan, if you don’t tell me right now you can turn around and take me home.”
“Fine. He asked me what my intentions were.”
That’s it. I was going to shrivel up and die. Please, tell me that did not happen. “You’re kidding.”
Dylan shook his head. “Not even a little.”
I fell back against my seat with my head in my hands. “Why would he ask you that? It’s one date. Our first date. It’s not like you’re proposing or anything.”
Dylan remained quiet but reached out to unbuckle my seatbelt. “Come here.” With his hand on my knee, he pulled me into the center seat beside him. I didn’t resist. How could I?
“Buckle back up.”
I strapped myself into the seat. Dylan rested his hand on my knee, his warm skin against mine causing goosebumps to break out across my thighs. He rubbed his thumb across them. That didn’t help.
“You aren’t proposing, are you, Dill?” I tucked my arm under his and placed my head on his shoulder. He reached for my hand and squeezed it.
“No,” he answered. “Not yet.”
Chapter 35
Dylan
I didn’t know if I was joking or not. I was glad Eden seemed to accept my response without questioning me further. I loved this girl. As much as I didn’t want to scare her off, I needed her to know I was serious and that I didn’t want to hurt her ever again.
When I decided I wanted to ask her out on a real date, I knew I was going to have to talk to her dad. Mr. Crenshaw had been a little stunned but not unkind. He’d talked to me about Eden’s lack of dating experience and his own confusion as to why that might be so. She was a beautiful girl after all. And smart. And funny. And many other things.
I knew, of course, why Eden hadn’t dated much but I wouldn’t betray that trust by disclosing the information.
Her father had also been worried about the difference in our ages.
“You are a grown man, Dylan. Eden still has to graduate high school.” Concern shined through the kindness in his eyes.
“Yes, sir. I understand your concern.”
“I’m not sure that you do. Josh is getting ready to propose to his girlfriend. You two are the same age. Eden’s not ready for something like that. Are you prepared to wait for that kind of relationship with her?”
I knew what he was getting at. “Sir, I’ve had feelings for your daughter for a long time. I’ve stayed away in order to give her a chance to grow up without my feelings clouding that opportunity. I just can’t do that anymore. She’s eighteen now,” my voice had trailed off at that point. “I’d like to be a part of her life again, sir. But I need your blessing on the chance to see where things might go.”
My cards were on the table.
Eden’s father stood from behind the desk in his home office and walked around it. I stood, ready to accept his decision.
“Dylan, you are one of the finest young men I know. Eden couldn’t find anyone better as far as I’m concerned. All I ask is that you be careful with her.”
And then he’d offered me his hand, which I accepted gratefully and wordlessly, barely able to nod.
And that had been that. The obstacles I believed were in my way were all but obliterated. Josh. Her parents. Even the differences in our age seemed to have become insignificant. Now, all I had to do was gain the trust of the girl.
“Where are we going?” Her voice startled me from my thoughts.
I cleared my throat, absently moving my palm over the soft skin of her knee. “Um, it’s a surprise.”
She lifted her head off my shoulder to look at me. “What kind of surprise?”
I laughed. “Hopefully, a fun one.”
We rode in comfortable silence for the next ten minutes until we reached our destination.
“Okay, here we are.” I pulled into the parking lot and waited for her reaction.
“The shooting range?”
Eden
The shooting range? I’d been counting on dinner and a movie. I guess I should have known better.
“Come on. It’ll be fun.” Dylan opened his door and hopped out taking care with his leg. Instead of walking to the passenger side, he turned to me and held out his hands.
I scooted past the steering wheel and allowed him to lift me to the ground. He pushed his seat forward and grabbed two cases out of the back storage area.
“Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
He grinned and started for the door to the facility. If I was going to go to a firing range, I was glad I was going with Dylan. He walked in with a confident swagger regardless of his limp and greeted the guy behind the counter like they were old friends. Before long we’d signed waivers and geared up to shoot. We walked back to the shooting area and I was shocked by the number of people there. Even with the muffs they’d given me, I could still hear the echoing of the other patrons’ shots.
Dylan led me to the spot we’d been assigned. He’d already gone over how to use the gun with me. How to load. What to expect. That kind of thing. He’d chosen a .22 revolver for me to use. When I asked him why, he explained that the gun was small and wouldn’t have as much recoil and should be easier for me to aim.
“Plus, it has a wild, wild west look about it that I think is cool,” he’d said with a wink.
Dylan attached a fresh target to a clip and then pushed the button to make the thing go into position.
“Kay, you wanna go first?” His eyes glowed with excitement. I could tell from the way he’d explained everything about the gun I’d be shooting that he loved to shoot, and he was excited to teach me how to do it.
I nodded. “Yeah.”
Dylan opened the case with the revolver in it and withdrew the gun. He handed it to me along with the bullets to fill it. I loaded the gun, admittedly not with the dexterity Dylan had when he showed me how, but I got the job done. I clicked the chamber into place and held it in front of me, aimed at the target.
“Holy shit, that’s hot.”
Startled, I glanced at Dylan to see him staring at me with a strangled expression on his face. His eyes roved over me as though he wanted to devour me then and there. He hadn’t kissed me since he’d come back home and at that moment I feared I was in real danger of that travesty being corrected.
“You okay,” I asked him, half amused, half terrified.
“No. Not at all.”
Chapter 36
Dylan
She had no idea the picture she made to me. Give the girl a holster on her thigh and she was the living image of my every fantasy. I’d never seen anything sex
ier and I was about to lose it right there at the shooting range. I wanted nothing more than to crush her to me and kiss the daylights out of her.
Calm down, Coulter.
I had to remind myself why we were here. Why I’d asked her on a date in the first place. Trust. I wanted Eden to trust me. Not be worried about me attacking her in a lust-induced haze.
Shaking my head, I tried to clear my scrambled brains. What this girl did to me! And she was clueless. Staring at me with her wide eyes.
Dang that dress!
I glanced around for a water fountain. Anything to cool me off.
“Dylan, are you okay,” she asked again, frowning.
“What? Yeah, I’m fine.”
Shit.
I needed to pull it together. Closing my eyes, I sucked in a deep, calming breath. I didn’t even care if she thought I was crazy. It was necessary. Opening my eyes again, I saw her looking at me like I’d just landed in my UFO. I smiled.
“Okay, remember what I taught you.” I instructed her to aim, pull back the hammer. Squeeze the trigger. Gently. I moved behind her and tried not to breathe in too deeply of her strawberry scented hair. But nothing could stop the heat radiating between us.
She pulled the trigger.
Pop!
Eden squealed. I smiled, half expecting her to jump up and down and turn around to hug me. Thankfully, she didn’t. You know, since she was holding a loaded weapon.
“Good. Again.”
She nodded without turning and fired again. And again. In no time she’d emptied the revolver.
Slowly, she turned to face me. “That was so awesome. Can I go again?”
Baby, as many times as you want.
“Load ‘er up.”
The Perks of Hating You ( Perks Book 2) Page 18
