We stayed on the phone for another ten minutes catching up on the news back home before it was time for homework.
By the time the others filed in that evening one by one I was finished and ready for dinner.
I asked mom about the sleepover and other than being surprised that I’d already met someone that I wanted to bring home she was cool.
Sleepovers were a big part of my life back home, like almost every other weekend since I couldn’t date.
Thinking about dating brought Jace to mind again and I started blushing for no reason whatsoever, which I had to hide, because my family didn’t miss much of anything.
Dinner that evening was the usual Claiborne boisterous ordeal with talk of everything from what we did at school that day to the state of the union.
No joke, mom and dad think it’s beneficial for us kids to have a handle on what’s going on in the world around us, since, as they put it, we’ll be the ones inheriting it.
Jared was being his usual teenage boy weird and kept giving me knowing looks, like he knew something that I didn’t. I wanted to punch his lights out at about the third time I caught him at it.
“You got tackled once too often at practice today or something?”
“Nope.” He had that stupid grin on his face that always made me want to smother him in his sleep. Was it only yesterday I was thinking he was great? I take it back he’s a pain.
I rushed up to my room after dinner to plan my sleepover party. There was a lot to be done to be the perfect hostess after all.
Like what snacks to get, what games, movies and most importantly, formulating plans for the attack that would most definitely be occurring on my annoying brother.
Speaking of which, I better tell mom to forbid him to invite any of his friends over that night.
The last time he did that, he all but spoiled my sleepover, because all the girls wanted to do was parade their new boy shorts in front of his stupid friends. Where was the fun in that for me, the dateless one?
Then again! No don’t even go there Sian. I had Jace Saunders on the brain. I don’t think I’d gone five minutes since that little meet yesterday without thinking about him in one way or another.
It was too early for bed so I decided to go down and watch a movie in the family room.
Everyone was usually doing their own thing by this time of the evening after homework and dinner was over with.
Maggie was in her room on her phone with one of her little friends gabbing away. Jared was talking to dad in the home office, probably about stupid pigskin.
“Hey Sian be a dear and take this out to the trash. Our men have hidden themselves away in the office.”
“No problem mom.” I took the bag of trash and went out the door to the trash bins on the side of the house.
One good thing about Cali was the weather. Here it was September and I was heading outside in shorts and a tank after dusk.
All in all I have to say the move hadn’t turned out too bad after all, though I wouldn’t be sharing that little tidbit with dad anytime soon.
I heard a car engine purring up the driveway and looked in that direction questioningly. Mom and dad hadn’t said anything about visitors.
Chapter 2
JACE
Talk about perfect fucking timing. She was putting something in the trash at the side of the house when I pulled into the driveway.
I took a second to enjoy the sight of her caught in my headlights wearing pajama shorts and a tank top.
Fuck she’s perfect. My heart did his little dance and other body parts were heard from as well, but he’d have to wait his turn.
I had a feeling this one was going to be a little different from the norm. I felt the rush in my blood yes, but there was also a sweet languidness that I’d never known before.
I was actually looking forward to the dance. After grilling her brother farther today I now had a better handle on her.
That, plus the fact that I had been watching her and forming my own opinion made me believe that she was going to be unlike anything I’d ever experienced before.
I stepped out of the car pleased that I’d followed my mind and got dressed for this first time on her turf.
Not overdressed mind you, but I’d foregone a tank and sweats for a Henley and jeans. I’d even taken extra care with my hair and shave to the delight of my nosy ass parents who wanted to know what I was up to.
I just told them I’d let them know soon enough if all went well. That too was another first. Girls had been to my home before of course, but I’ve never formally introduced anyone as mine and don’t recall ever wanting to.
I hadn’t even spoken to this one as yet and already I was mapping out our relationship.
I didn’t take my eyes off of her as I made my approach. She looked younger here on here home turf.
Her hair, that amazing fall of gold, was flowing freely down her back, the curls were gone. Somehow I liked this look better even though it made her look about twelve.
Since she seemed stuck in a trance at the sight of me I moved in on her.
The closer I got the more she tried to disappear into the wall behind her, but those eyes of hers never left mine.
I was going to kiss her, that was my first intention, almost a compulsion you could say, but I got caught up in her eyes.
There wasn’t much light out here as the sun was setting, but still I could see the pure dark blue of them, not black, blue.
“Beautiful.” I ran my finger down her cheek and her eyes stayed on mine as her breathing went shallow. Lowering my head I sniffed her hair, running my nose down the side of her face.
I wrapped one of my arms around her waist and pulled her into me. She fit perfectly, even though I dwarfed her with my six two frame. Perfect fucking fit!
I savored the feeling as she stood still as a block of wood in my arms. I was tempted to lift her legs around my hips and take her mouth but I left it too late.
Something snapped her out of her trance because the next thing I felt was a punch to the gut. I loosened my grip but didn’t let her go as I looked down at her in shock.
“Your girlfriend know you’re here sniffing around me?” So much attitude.
“What girlfriend?” I gritted the words out through my teeth; damn she packed a punch for such a little thing.
“What do you mean what girlfriend you pig, I’m talking about…” she got away from me and started to stomp off back into the house. I’m thinking it was best we got this little issue taken care of first.
“Mandy? We’ve been quits for a long time.” I caught up to her and pulled her back to me, back into the shadows.
“Just so you know, I’m not the kind of guy who would go after one girl while hooked up with another, and you should know that.”
“Me, how should I know anything? I don’t even know you.”
“Because your heart wouldn’t beat this fast for a guy like that.” Her mouth fell open and she tried to step back when I put my hand over the place where her heart beat wildly.
“You’re demented, could you please release me?”
“I would but I don’t think you really want me to. Now I’m guessing pretty soon someone’s gonna come out that door looking for you so let’s clear a few things up before that happens.
One, I’m not seeing Mandy, haven’t been since the beginning of summer. Two, I know you haven’t dated before, in other words you’ve never had a man.
You’ve just met your first and last.” I kissed her lips quickly before letting her go and headed for the door. Didn’t want another run in with that fist of hers.
“You coming?” I looked back to find her standing there with her mouth hanging open.
I didn’t want to make the wrong impression on her parents. So that’s the only reason I didn’t go back there, and finish what I started.
I reached my hand out to her and she made as if to take it before she caught herself and pulled back. She gave me a ‘humph’ and floun
ced by me with her nose in the air.
“Nice ass.” She stopped short and threw me a glare over her shoulder before continuing on. I grinned as I followed her inside.
She turned in the door and looked back over her shoulder to make sure no one else was in the kitchen.
“What’re you doing here anyway?”
“What do you think? I was going to pretend to be helping your brother with math, but I kinda ditched that idea between home and here. I don’t want there to be any deceit between us.
Damn she was so fucking gorgeous. Up close, with the light, I could finally see all of her.
She had the sexiest mouth I’d ever seen, small and perfectly shaped. She was a tiny bit of a thing though and my mind went to wondering whether or not she would be able to take me.
She’d never dated but that didn’t mean she was still a virgin. I’m a teenage boy I know there’re ways around everything, but I was hoping that she was and that I would get to find out real soon.
She’d be my first virgin; the thought did something strange to my gut and I thought it best to get as far away from her as possible for now, before her dad threw me out if he caught me manhandling his little girl.
“Go to your room Sian, I’ll say bye before I go.” I touched her cheek one last time before turning her around and giving her a little shove to get her moving.
“Tell your brother I’m here would you.” She must not be thinking straight because I’d be damned if she didn’t do exactly like I said.
I didn’t fool myself into thinking that it would always be that way though.
Chapter 3
“Hey you made it.” Jared came into the room and we shared a pound.
“Yeah but there’s been a change of plans. I ran into your sister so she kinda knows why I’m here. Where’s your dad?”
“Were you really serious about that?”
“Didn’t you tell him I wanted to speak to him?”
“Well not exactly, I only told him that you were interested in Si and left it at that just in case you know, you chickened out.”
I gave him my signature smirk and shook my head. “Not my style bro, so where is he?”
“He’s in the study, here I’ll take you. I hope you know what you’re doing.” He shook his head as he led me through the house.
I looked up above the landing. She was up there somewhere, my girl. Damn, I haven’t been this excited since I made the team.
Her father was sitting in a recliner reading the paper when we walked in. “Dad this is Jace, the team quarterback. Jace my dad Jackson Claiborne.”
I reached out my hand to shake his. “Good evening sir.” ‘Always look a man in the eyes when you’re talking to him.’ That’s what my dad always says, so that’s what I did.
He grinned at me and retook his seat after pointing me to one across from him.
We talked football for a minute and he asked about the town, my parents. The usual I guess for a friend that his son had invited to his home.
“Sir is your wife here?”
“Excuse me?”
“Oh shit.” We both looked at Jared.
“Uh dad, um remember I told you about the kid that was interested in Sian?”
“Yes.” Now he was looking back and forth between us.
“Well this is him, he uh, told me to tell you he was going to come by and have a talk but I didn’t know if he would follow through so I didn’t say anything earlier.”
Her dad turned and looked at me with a strange look in his eye. Then he seemed to settle some inner musing and shook his head.
“And the reason you’re asking for my wife?”
“This concerns both of you.” I could see that had thrown him, but couldn’t tell from his reaction if he was pleased or flabbergasted or both.
I wasn’t much interested. This was something I felt I had to do for a few reasons. I would be the first guy he allowed his daughter to date; this was a new town, and they were now getting settled so he didn’t have the benefit of having known me, and my family for years.
Sian, I’m sure, was his little princess no doubt and I’m sure he’d appreciate the direct approach as opposed to sneaking around behind his back.
By coming to him like this I was showing good faith that my intentions were on the up and up, well for a teenager anyway; and hopefully giving him the peace of mind that his daughter was safe with me.
I’d given this shit a lot of thought after seeing her and wanting her. If the need was just a high school run I would’ve just cornered her in the halls at school and asked her out. But I wanted more, I don’t know how I knew that, I just did.
“Son go find your mother and send her in here.” He was talking to his son but his eyes stayed on me as if he was trying to figure me out.
A more mature replica of my girl came into the room not five minutes later. From the way she looked at me I was guessing Jared hadn’t shared any deets with her, which was fine by me.
Her husband pulled her down to sit next to him on the arm of his chair and I relaxed a little. I’d seen my dad make that move with mom more times than I can count.
It spoke of closeness and the kind of love that was just as comfortable as your own skin.
I knew how hard that shit was to come by. My parents didn’t just talk at me over the years to get me to tow the line. They shared things that most people might have thought too graphic, too much for one so young.
But my dad, because of his own life experience didn’t want his only son to learn the hard way. Being a kid in Hollywood is hard enough as it is. Without the proper mindset, you’re fucked.
So I might look at things a little differently from my peers, or I may put more stock in things that a guy my age would normally overlook, whatever the case, it’s served me well so far.
“Hello.”
“Honey this young man is Jace Saunders, he’s captain of the football team and the quarterback.”
“Oh so he’s Jared’s friend.” She smiled but there was still a question in her eyes.
“Uh, yes, but that’s not why he’s here. We’re both here now Jace as you requested, care to tell us what’s on your mind?”
Shit, I had this all worked out in my head but now that I was in the clutch shit didn’t seem so simple.
What if I fucked this up? what if they hate my guts and tell me to get the fuck out and stay away from their daughter?
I have never in my life faced such a dilemma. Usually it was the other way around believe it or not. You’d be amazed at the lengths some people will go to to get a leg up in Hollywood. Like throwing their daughters at me.
But I knew from what little I’d wormed out of Jared, that they weren’t the type. They seemed to be on the up and up and really gave a shit. I was happy for my girl that she had that, but it might pose a problem.
Man the fuck up Saunders. I’ve never backed down from something I wanted before, that’s another thing dad taught me, and I haven’t wanted anything this much in a long time.
I looked at them both as I gathered my thoughts and tried to put the words in the right order.
“I saw Sian for the first time yesterday. I was making my way to the field for practice and I saw two girls, cheerleaders, standing apart from the rest.
I walked over, not sure why. One of the reasons was because I knew she had to be the new girl everyone was talking about since she didn’t look familiar.
The other was that I could see something was off. It was the try-outs obviously and the other girl looked a little distressed so I was going over quite frankly to make sure that Sian wasn’t giving her a hard time.
I snuck up on them I guess you can say, and was pleasantly surprised when I heard what they were saying.
I hadn’t seen her face yet, had only heard the kindness she was showing to someone else. And I knew right then and there that she was someone I wanted to get to know.
I spoke to Jared and I understand that she’s never been allowed to date before. We a
ll know I could’ve gone about this a whole different way. But I don’t want that for her, I want more for her, for us.”
I think I shocked them for a minute from the expressions on their faces. “Oh my.” Her mom shook herself as if she’d got a chill and her dad was still studying me as if he didn’t quite know what to make of me.
“How old did you say you were again son?”
“I’m seventeen.”
“Wow, well, I don’t know quite what to say. I mean, damn, what do you think babe?”
He looked to his wife who was looking at me like I was a new species. I’m sure she’s well versed in teenage boy since she has one of her own, but I’m also aware of how I can come off to people sometimes. I like keeping adults on their toes.
“Well, I think Jace is a very nice young man and he’s made an excellent case for himself. Kinda reminds me of another great young man hmm.” She bumped his shoulder with her hip and he took her hand.
“Yeah but remember…” he mumbled something under his breath and I could only surmise that it had something to do with sex, because his wife reddened and ducked her head after admonishing him.
“Well son, since you’re so smart and all I guess you’ve already figured out that my answer’s no hell no,” I didn’t even flinch just kept my eyes on his, ‘never show your hand too soon’, that’s another one of dad’s life lessons.
“But, we both know that once that bull is out the gate well…”
“Jackson stop talking to the poor boy in riddles and come out with it.”
“Oh I’m pretty sure he knows what I mean. Anyway like I was saying, my no isn’t a personal no, it’s a dad’s duty to keep all sniveling little piss-ants away from his little girl.
I’d still be saying no when she’s thirty, but I’m pretty sure that we can’t really stop you two at this point if this is what you want.
I have to say I’m very impressed with the way you came here to us. It shows you have something that quite frankly I’d despaired of ever seeing again, especially in one so young.
Eden High Series One: The Eden High Series Boxed Set, Books 1-6 Page 6
