She climbed into his car, cranking the air conditioning as soon as she was settled in. “So, whose party is it?” she asked.
“Just an after party for graduation.”
“Like, with kids in your class?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Since when do you socialize with people in your class?” she asked, feeling impressed but shocked.
“I guess you’re becoming a bad influence on me,” he told her, patting her leg.
“Hm, somehow I doubt that. Hey, why didn’t your parents come tonight?”
“I told you, dad didn’t feel good.”
“What about your mom?”
“I don’t know, Reagan. Why?”
“I still haven’t been able to meet them. I just figured tonight would be my chance.”
“Trust me, you aren’t missing much.”
“That can’t be true. They raised this pretty awesome guy I know,” she teased.
“It’s not a big deal, Rae. Seriously.”
She dropped the subject, sensing his agitation. His family was a very touchy subject for him and she’d learned to take whatever bits of information he was willing to give her.
They pulled up to a house that looked mostly empty. “I guess we’re the first ones here,” he said awkwardly, not stopping the car completely.
“Should we go in?” she asked.
“Nah, we’ll make a few laps around town. We can come back once more people arrive.”
“Okay,” she said, feeling relieved.
“Are you okay?” he asked, sensing her nervousness.
“I’m fine,” she assured him.
“You don’t seem fine.”
“I am, honestly.”
“Okay,” he said stiffly.
“I just...I haven’t been to a party since that night.”
He looked at her. “You haven’t?”
“No,” she said, feeling tears close to her eyelids.
“Reagan, we don’t have to go.”
“No, if it’s important to you...I’ll go.”
“It’s not important to me. You’re important to me. I’m an idiot. I didn’t think of how this would affect you. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
He rubbed a hand over the side of her face. “Don’t ever be afraid to tell me something. You could’ve just said you didn’t want to go.”
“I didn’t want to bum you out,” she said simply.
“Rae, you’re all I care about. You. I don’t want to hurt you. So help me prevent that however I can.”
“What are you going to do after this?” she asked him, the question that had been weighing on her mind.
“What do you mean? Tonight?”
“Like for college?”
“Oh, I’m not going to college.”
“You’re not?”
“Don’t look so surprised. You ought to have known that. I barely graduated.”
“Well, you never really give me answers when I ask about your plans.”
“Is that what this is about?” he asked.
“What?”
“You’re worried about me leaving?”
“No,” she said defensively.
“Yes, you are.” He looked genuinely surprised.
“Well, is that such a bad thing?”
“I figured you’d be glad to be rid of me.” He pulled the car over to the side of the road near a wheat field.
“I don’t want to get rid of you.”
“No?” he asked.
“No,” she said seriously. “I really like spending time with you, Gunner. I care about you too.”
“Well, I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.”
“Good.”
He opened the car door. “Want to go for a walk?”
“In the field? Won’t we get into trouble?”
“No one comes out here this late.” Without having to be coaxed further, Reagan stepped out of the car. She took his hand, letting him lead her to the edge of the field. “You’ll graduate next year.”
She nodded. “I know.”
“Will you go somewhere?”
She stared at him. “Are you asking?”
“I’m asking,” he told her, looking straight ahead.
She grinned broadly. “I don’t know what I’ll do yet. I could stay around here.”
“A lot could change between now and then.”
“A lot could.”
“We could change,” he told her.
“But we could not.”
“Maybe not.” He pulled her into the field.
“Gunner?” she called his name, watching him move through the dark field, his hand holding hers.
“Yeah?” He stopped.
“I hope we don’t change.”
He didn’t respond, pulling her further into the darkness. She pushed the stalks of wheat out of her way, trying to keep up. Finally the field ended and they were standing near a pond. The moon reflected off the water, making her smile.
“Let’s swim,” he said.
“Did you know this was here?” she asked.
He shrugged, pulling his shirt over his head and slipping out of his pants and shoes. He ran down the dock, jumping into the water without another word, splashing loudly as he landed. It was rare that she saw him so carefree and so she didn’t want to worry him with questions about who might catch them. She pulled the zipper of her dress down, and slipped her heels off. She eased the dress over her hips and laid it on the ground, walking cautiously toward him.
“Woah, slow down there, grandma,” he joked as she tiptoed into the cool water.
“There could be snakes,” she told him.
“There could’ve been snakes in the field too.”
“Don’t remind me,” she shivered, making her way to him.
He wrapped his arms around her, rubbing his palms over her shoulders in an attempt to warm her. “I’ll protect you,” he said.
She laid her head on his chest. “You always do.”
“I’ll always do whatever I can for you, Reagan. I just hope that’s enough,” he said, his jaw tight, eyes locked on hers as she looked up at him.
“You’re more than enough, Gunner. You always will be,” she said breathlessly.
He leaned down, pulling her chin up so their lips could meet. His kiss was soft, his facial hair scratching her skin. She touched his hands carefully as they began to caress her face. His hands traveled across her body, fingers running along her sides and down her back slowly. Her heart pounded as he touched places he hadn’t touched before. She pulled away, unable to catch her breath.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m okay,” she assured him.
He splashed her and she laughed. “I can see your blush even in the moonlight.”
“I’m not blushing.”
“You are.”
She splashed him back. “Well, I’ve never been this...undressed...with you.”
He twisted his mouth, looking as though he were thinking. “So you haven’t.”
She shook her head.
“Do I make you nervous?” he asked, running a hand along her bare back once again.
“Yes,” she said firmly.
“Is that a bad thing?”
She looked him in the eye though her body trembled at his touch. “I don’t think so.”
“You know nothing is going to happen tonight,” he whispered, his hand still on her skin.
“I know.”
“Nothing besides...this!” he screamed, dunking her underwater. She shot back up, sucking in a deep breath. She hadn’t been prepared to go underwater but the happy look on his face made her smile.
“You jerk.” She turned to walk away from him, rubbing her eyes. “You almost made me lose a contact.”
He picked her up from behind, spinning her around. His lips were on the back of her neck. “I’m sorry,” he told her, his breath warming her skin.
She turned in his grasp, her ar
ms encircling his neck. “You’d better be.”
“You are truly something else, Reagan.”
“I pride myself in that.”
His mouth was on hers again, lifting her up so her legs wrapped around his waist. She was very aware that the only thing between them was her bra and panties. Her skin pressed against his, the water making them stick together. He held her tight, his tongue exploring her mouth. She took a breath, her hands moving to his hair. She ran her fingers through the long locks, her pulse pounding through every part of her body. She slid down his front as he let her go, his hands sliding lower down her back. He reached the top of her pantyline and stopped, stepping back.
“We have to stop.”
She nodded, but leaned back up to kiss him. He held her at arm's length. “I’m serious, Rae. If we don’t stop now, I’m afraid I won’t be able to later.” He took her hand in his, walking to the shore and sitting in the dirt, his wetness causing mud to form around him instantly. She sank down beside him.
“I’m sorry,” she told him.
“You have no reason to be sorry,” he insisted.
“You’re so much more experienced than I am. I know it’s hard on you having to wait on me.”
“It’s not so bad.”
“You don’t want to do it?” She felt offended.
He leaned his head back, sighing deeply. “You have no idea how badly I want to do it.” He looked at her, his face serious. “But you mean more to me than that. You mean more to me than any girl I’ve ever been with. And I’m not just saying that because it’s what you’re supposed to say, trust me. I’m fine with waiting. I want your first time to be special, Rae. You’re too special to have it be anything else. I want it to be when you’re ready. Even if that isn’t with me.”
“I hope it’s with you,” she whispered.
“I hope so too,” he told her, kissing her hand. “Someday. But for now, this is perfect. Everything, anything with you...is perfect.”
* * *
Reagan sat on her front porch, her bare feet rubbing the hot concrete walkway. She heard his car before she saw it, her heart picking up speed as he neared. She skipped to the edge of the yard, the sun beating down on her exposed shoulders. He pulled up, his car coming to a stop, and smiled at her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. “I thought you were working all week.”
He shrugged his shoulders, smirking. “I took a few days off. What are you doing right now?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she said, leaning down to kiss his lips. “Why?”
“My grandparents are out of town for the week. I thought we could go up to their house on the lake for the afternoon.”
“What? I thought you never went there. Will your parents be okay with it?”
“I’m supposed to be working on the boat all day. They’ll never know the difference.”
She thought for a moment before smiling excitedly. “Okay, I’m in. Let me go grab some things and tell Holly I’m leaving.”
“Bring a bathing suit,” he called after her as she turned to walk away.
“Obviously,” she threw the word over her shoulder.
He laughed out loud, his laugh warming her even more than the one hundred degree summer. She heard it so rarely. As she ran into the house, she grabbed her cellphone from the coffee table.
“Holly!” she yelled.
Her sister stuck her head out of her bedroom door just as Reagan had reached the top of the staircase.
“Where’s the fire?” her sister asked sarcastically.
“I’m going out.”
“Out where?”
“Gunner’s taking me to the lake. I’ll text mom to let her know, but I won’t be back until later. Are you guys okay here?”
Gavin could suddenly be seen beside her, a smug grin on his face. “That slick son of a bitch. Of course he’s going to the lake house the second it’s empty.”
“Uh, you have a lake house?” Holly looked to Gavin.
“It’s not ours. It’s our grandparents’ and we’re never allowed to go there. But, they just happen to be out of town.”
“No fair,” she whined. “I want to go!”
“Me too,” Gavin played along, staring at Reagan with a mockingly pouty face.
“Don’t you two have better things to do than tag along with the grown-ups?”
Gavin chuckled loudly, placing his elbow on the top of her head as if she were an armrest. He looked down at her, showing off his height. “You aren’t so grown up, Rae.”
She tossed a towel at him from the closet on her right. “Well, if you can convince your brother, I don’t care if you guys third and fourth wheel with us.” Holly clapped her hands together, her eyes lighting up. “But hurry up, we’re leaving now.” She turned from them, walking into her room. She grabbed a tote bag, throwing a tube of chapstick, phone charger, sunglasses, and a hairbrush into it. She walked to her dresser, digging through it to find her favorite bikini. She pulled her clothes off, sliding the suit on and then redressing. She threw a clean pair of panties and bra into the bag as well, turning and darting from the room as she sent her mother a quick text.
When she got out of the house, Gavin and Holly were already in Gavin’s truck, a small black s10 that looked like it might not make it across town let alone the two hour trek it would take to get to the lake. Her eyes moved to Gunner, who was sitting in his car with a sour look on his face.
“You invited Gavin along?” he asked when she climbed into the passenger’s seat.
“Well, not as much as he invited himself.” She grinned as Gavin fired up the engine and peeled out of the driveway, winking at her before speeding off, the truck disappearing in an instant. She rolled her eyes, shaking her head and turning to Gunner. He started his car up, not returning her stares, and began following them. He stayed several feet behind, not bothering to speed up in order to stay with Gavin. For most of the ride, he was strangely quiet.
“I’m really excited about this,” she said, breaking the silence. “I’ve always wanted to spend the afternoon at your grandparents’ lake house.”
“Yeah,” he said softly, turning down a small street that led to Montgomery County.
“Is everything all right?” she asked after a few more silent moments had passed.
He blinked, seemingly out of his trance. “What? Oh, yeah. I’m fine.”
“You don’t seem fine. I hope you aren’t mad that I said they could come.”
“I’m not mad at you,” he assured her, moving his hand from the steering wheel to squeeze hers. “It’s just...my brother isn’t exactly my idea of good company.”
“He’s your brother. I couldn’t just say no.”
“Yeah,” he said, his voice strained. She could tell she had touched a nerve. “No one can say no to Gavin.”
“Did I do something wrong? I can tell them nevermind. We can think up an excuse.”
He shook his head, offering up a small smile. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
She squeezed his hand back, her other arm dangling out the window. Everything was fine, he’d said, and so she assured herself it would be.
Once they’d arrived at the lake, the hostile vibe had completely disappeared and to her surprise Gunner looked genuinely happy as he ushered her into the house. The sun shone in the large windows and the lake could be seen just feet away.
Holly groaned behind them. “I need to be in that water.”
On cue, Gavin ripped off his t-shirt, dropping his phone in the nearest chair and darting out the back door. “Come on!” he screamed, Holly following close behind him.
Gunner remained behind, Reagan noticed his eyes rolling slightly. Reagan picked up their clothes from the floor, sighing. “Kids these days,” she joked, sinking down into a wooden rocking chair. The lakehouse had a rustic feel: wooden paneling throughout and tall, airy ceilings. She looked around at the many taxidermied animals that adorned the walls.
Gunner came to stand i
n front of her, his hand brushing her knee. “Come on,” he said, his palm outstretched.
“Where are we going?” she asked, her eyes darting to the windows. “With them?”
“Nope.”
“Then where?”
“You’ll see,” he told her. “It’s a surprise.”
She stood up, her hand in his as he led her out the door they’d entered through. “Where are you taking me?” she asked again as they descended the big hill the house was perched upon.
“Don’t you worry your pretty little head,” he said playfully. They entered the edge of the woods and he pulled a ring of keys from his back pocket, jingling them. They walked toward an old shed and he placed a key into a rusted padlock.
“So, is this where you kill me?”
He laughed, twisting the key. “Nah, too messy.” He swung open the heavy wooden door, pulling a tan blanket off something in the center of the room and revealing an old four wheeler.
“Are you going to take me for a ride?” she asked gleefully. It had been years since she’d rode one.
“That was the plan.” He nodded, walking into the shed and grabbing a towel from the wall to wipe the cobwebs and dust off the ATV. Even with the cover, it was filthy.
“Do you guys come up here often?” From the looks of the building, the answer was no.
He coughed, blinking as dust flew into his eyes. “No, not in years. Mom isn’t welcome anymore. Dad never was. We used to spend summers up here but the older we got...the more trouble we caused and the less they trusted us.”
“Do they know we’re here now?” she asked.
“No,” he said, patting the seat a few more times and laying the towel on a workbench. “They gave Gia a key a few years ago. Out of everyone, she’s the one they trust the most. Plus, I think they hoped if things ever got too bad at home, she’d come here. Anyway, Gia let it slip that they left on a cruise for the week so I saw an opportunity to give you a vacation and ran with it.”
“So, they’re your mom’s parents then? Or your dad’s?”
“My mom’s,” he answered, and then, sensing what her question actually was, he went on. “They’re good people. Mom wasn’t raised the way we are. She met my dad at, like, fifteen. Everyone knew he was nothing but trouble, according to my grandparents, but she didn’t care. My grandparents will never forgive her for marrying him.”
The Cleaner Page 7
