“You got caught.”
He nodded, “My parents wanted to kill me. I embarrassed the family. My father had to get involved. It looked really bad for a while.” His jaw clenched as he continued. “Jail was a definite possibility. In the end all my teachers had to meet with the principal and guidance counselor to verify my grades. I wasn’t allowed to go to the prom or walk at the graduation ceremony.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I did the right thing. His teachers had no clue what was going on. His guidance counselor never bothered to tell his senior year teachers how recently he lost his mother, or how hard he’d been taking it. When they found out, they gave him extra credit assignments to pass him legitimately, so he could graduate.”
“Did he get into any trouble?”
Reece nodded. “Even though I swore he had no knowledge of what I’d done, he couldn’t go to prom or graduation either.”
“I guess that makes sense.” I took his hand in my own, “You did something really great for your friend.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him close so I could nuzzle against his chest. Still stiff and tense, he removed my hands gently and moved away, back to the bench. I made sure to take a seat at the opposite end, as far from him as I could.
Reece shook his head. “All I did was make one mistake after another. Stan, Tyler’s dad, wanted him to work at his consulting company so they could work on bridging the distance between them. But Tyler wanted nothing to do with him and wouldn’t take the job unless I went along with him.”
“Do you and Tyler work together? Doing the same things?”
Reece shook his head, “He’s in customer support and client satisfaction. I actually do the work. Me, three other guys and my idiot manager. The guy just doesn’t get it! He isn’t maximizing the tools we have available to us. If we use some of the virtualization out there, we could save a lot of money, and . . .”
I rolled my eyes, “You know once you start with that computer geek talk you lose me, right?”
He cracked a smile. “Sorry. I get a little excited.” He looked back at the ground and continued, “Anyhow, things are different now. I never should’ve worked there,” He paused a moment searching for words to explain, “I mean Stan’s changed so much, it’s almost like he’s a different person all together. Tyler and I can barely tolerate being in the same building these days. We had a falling out recently.”
“What happened?”
His eyes got dark and angry. He shook his head, “It doesn’t matter.”
He shut me out again. He could be so frustrating. I wished I could read minds. But I couldn’t pick up specific thoughts, just feelings.
“My mother is using this as an excuse to guilt me away from working for his father and working for mine instead. The last two weeks she’s just been hounding me, non-stop, telling me how much help he needs with this one case in particular.”
“What about your dad? You haven’t mentioned what he thinks?”
Reece’s hard angry look softened a bit. “He’s been really great actually. He’s trying to lay off and let me make my own decision.” Reece looked down at his hands, fidgeting with his fingers. “He says he wants me to be happy. But really he wants me to quit too. He mentioned Stan’s getting mixed up with some shady politicians. He won’t give me any details though. I think he just wants me away from there.”
“What would you do if you went to work for your dad?”
“He promises I would be focused on IT issues.”
“And you’re refusing why exactly?”
He shot me an angry look, like I joined the enemy brigade. Then he shrugged. “I feel like it’s a trap, the first step onto the road to law school.”
“Maybe if your parents see how much you love what you do they’ll back off.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Besides, I have things to prove.”
“Like what?”
“To my parents, I could stand up and fix my own mistakes. To Tyler, I need to prove he can’t break me. And to myself, I could screw up without being a screw up.”
“Reece, you are the most wonderful person I’ve ever met. There is no way anyone could ever think you’re a screw up.”
I scooted over next to him on the bench. He kept his eyes downcast, but seemed resolved to let me comfort him. I rubbed his shoulder and felt him soften just a bit.
“I mean it,” I got up on my knees and turned my body toward him.
He looked at me, under the luster of the full moon. I could see the abundance of emotion in his eyes. His hand ran down the back of my head, smoothing my hair. Pulling me gently by the neck toward him, he met me half way and delighted me with a slow tender kiss. I felt heat flaring inside me, like dry leaves burning fast and furious.
Reece pulled back. He held my face between his hands and stared at me with a look I didn’t recognize, veneration maybe? “You make everything better.”
“Oh please,” I dropped my eyes down to the ground, embarrassed.
“I’m serious, Jenna,” he whispered, pulling me onto his lap facing him. “I felt like my life was falling apart before I met you.” His hands ran up and down my sides.
“It doesn’t seem like you had it all that bad.”
He shook his head, “Yes, I did. Everyone in our town knows what I did. People still look at me funny when they see me. I embarrassed my parents and caused a lot of friction between us. And I pretty much lost Tyler.”
“Tyler? The falling out? Did it have to do with what you did?”
“Sort of.” He swallowed hard. “Apparently, he’s always resented me. Only until recently, I had no idea. He says I humiliated him. I should’ve given him and his father the chance to fix things on their own.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I asked.
He bit his bottom lip, “I don’t like to think about it. Or talk about it.” He swallowed hard, “Mostly I was afraid you might look at me the way everyone else does.”
“Do you really want to know how I see you?” I asked with a smile creeping up on my lips.
“Only if it’s good,” his eyes twinkled in the moonlight. My Reece was returning.
“When I look at you I see my very own personal superhero. I hope if I’m ever in trouble you’ll be nearby.”
He breathed a long, satisfied breath. “That’s quite a stretch,” he pulled me against his chest and held me tight, “but I’ll try to live up to the hype.”
Chapter 28
I could barely keep my eyes open. I fought every other second to keep my heavy lids from closing for the night. I hadn’t seen Reece in person in four days and it felt like torture. I waited anxiously each day for night to come. Once he got home we’d Skype. At least I could see his face and sly smile.
I only had myself to blame. Thinking it might give him better perspective while at the same time appeasing his parents, I suggested Reece help at the law firm on the days he wasn’t working for Tyler’s father, until school started.
At first Reece adamantly rejected my idea.
“If I cave now, I have no shot of being my own person, leading my own life.”
“If you show them you’re reasonable, open minded and willing to see what they have to offer, I bet they’ll back off. And who knows, you might be surprised.”
Once he had some time and space to think it through, he knew it was the right thing.
With limited time before school started, he took the week off from his regular job and spent long days and nights at the law office. We communicated often during the day, through phone calls and text messages. Earlier in the night he promised he’d finish soon and would call as soon as he got home. That was an hour and a half ago. I lay on my bed and closed my eyes for a minute, waiting, my phone clutched in my hand.
The loud ringtone of my favorite song startled me. As I opened my tired, blurry eyes, I realized I’d fallen asleep. I cleared my throat, hoping I wouldn’t sound as if I just woke and answered.
“Hello.�
�
“Hello, beautiful,” Reece’s voice sounded smooth and soothing.
“Reece!” Like I expected anyone else.
“You were sleeping weren’t you?” I picked up on a smidgen of disappointment.
I thought of denying it, but changed my mind. Big deal. I had a right to sleep. After all it was after eleven o’clock, and we were up until two in the morning Skyping last night.
“I’m awake now,” I tried to convince him.
“I hate to bother you. Why don’t you go back to sleep?” He teased.
“Ha ha, very funny.” I didn’t care that I felt bone tired and could barely move. I wanted to see him. “Are you home? Are you ready to Skype?” I yawned.
“No. Sorry sweetheart.” He didn’t sound sorry. He sounded amused, giddy almost. “Time seems to have gotten away from me tonight.”
I didn’t like the playful tone of his voice. He shouldn’t sound so happy to not see me. “Too bad. I guess you miss out on my new sexy pajamas. I bought them today and thought you’d enjoy them.” I hoped the image of what he couldn’t see would keep him hot and bothered for the rest of the night.
“Really?” His voice sounded deep and serious. “You’ll have to wear them for me some other time then. Maybe even in person. Promise?” He asked.
“We’ll see.”
“It’s definitely my loss.” He played along, as if he understood my desire to punish him. “Hey I have an idea. Why don’t you go sit by the pool? You could lie out on the lounge chair while we talk. It might make you feel like I’m there with you.”
“I think I’ll stay in my nice warm bed thank you.” If he didn’t realize how annoyed and disappointed I felt before, he did now.
“Oh come on, for me?” He pleaded. “And I’ll go sit by my tree when I get home.”
I knew he was up to something, but I couldn’t imagine what. “Sit by the tree?” I challenged.
“Guess I’m feeling cooped up. It’s all these long hours. I’d love to just spend some time outside, breathing in the fresh air. I bet you haven’t been outside all day.”
I sighed. Annoyed he would even ask me to leave the comfort of my bed, and risk waking fully, not being able to go back to sleep at all. More annoyed that I couldn’t just put my foot down and say no, hang up the phone, and go back to sleep.
“You don’t appreciate me and all I do for you,” I hoped he heard the twinge of anger I worked hard to create.
“Next time I see you I plan on showing you just how much I appreciate you,” he spoke in a low, seductive tone.
“Fine. I’ll go sit by the pool,” I said.
“Where are you now?”
“You want me to give you a play by play of my every move?” I asked, all attitude.
“Jenna, just tell me where you are.” He sounded impatient.
“At the backdoor,” I snapped as I flipped the light switch on and opened the blinds.
He didn’t say anything. In fact I wasn’t sure the call hadn’t ended. Either way I stayed on my course, knowing if we did get disconnected he’d call back in a minute. I unlocked and opened the door, my phone still tight in my hand.
“Reece? Are you there?” I asked.
“Um hum.” He answered quickly. “Just waiting for you to get settled.”
“I’m settled.” I said lying down on one of the lounges directly across from the back door. I wiggled a bit trying to sink into the chair. I yawned and closed my eyes. “So now, tell me, why was it so important I come out here?”
“I had to think of some way to get you out into the moonlight.”
“Yes, I know, but why?”
“So I could give you these.”
I opened my eyes, my heart sputtering. My incredibly gorgeous, exasperating, boyfriend stood in front of me with a bouquet of Lilies.
“Reece!” I squealed, delighted to my toes. “What are you doing here?”
Before I could get to my feet and throw my arms around him, he dropped down to the lounge and gathered me in his arms. Reece pulled me against his chest, breathing deeply, inhaling the smell of my hair and neck.
“I couldn’t stand being away from you. I couldn’t go one more day without this,” his mouth crushed mine, and stole my breath.
I felt a mountain of emotion fill my chest as Reece’s lips moved down from my mouth to my neck. I held him tight, running my hands over his taught skin, revisiting the feel of his smooth, lean muscles beneath my fingertips. His hands, one wrapped in my hair, the other on my lower back pulling me close.
Every fiber of my body woke to his touch. Between the fluttering of my heart and the tingling of my skin, I felt like the force of desire between us lifted me off the ground and transported us to another plain.
I pulled away, winded, needing a moment to catch my breath. I noticed the shine of his eyes. They looked brighter than I’d ever seen. He rested his forehead against mine and smiled.
“This is so much better than Skype.” He said.
I nodded. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Four days is too long to go without seeing you,” he reached down, picked up the flowers he placed on the ground and handed them to me.
“I know,” I agreed, breathing in the sweet floral scent, acknowledging his ache, admitting to my own. “What are we going to do when we can’t see each other for months?” I asked, the words just slipping out of my mouth without any thought.
His brow creased, his eyes narrowed. “Are you going somewhere?” He asked troubled.
I shook my head. “No. I don’t really know where that came from. I just . . . I don’t even know what college I want to go to.”
The excuse popped into my mind instantaneously. I only hoped he wouldn’t see it for the lie it was. I missed him and I didn’t want to argue, especially about the same old thing we always argue about.
It would be different if our disagreements came from solid things based on facts that could be proven, and not the whole intuition issue. My senses seemed to be on overdrive when Reece was around, no matter what he wanted to believe. And I knew we would be separated. I just didn’t know when.
He took my hand into his own. “You don’t have to worry. Just tell me every school you’re interested in, if they’re far I’ll apply as a transfer student.”
I pulled away just a bit, looking at him in disbelief. “You can’t do that.”
“Why not?” He looked as perplexed as I felt.
“You’re settled. You have friends at school, and you’d lose credits.”
He stroked my hair. “I don’t care about any of those things. I only know a day without you is like a day without sunshine. I don’t want my life to be full of dark, stormy clouds.”
I shook my head, not certain I believed his poetic declaration. “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t.” Wanting to change the subject, his eyes fell from my face, down to my attire. The eyebrows rose, “You’re right. Very sexy.”
I felt my face heat up. At least it was the same temperature as the rest of me. “Okay, I embellished my old tank top and shorts. You sounded too happy. I wanted you to feel like you missed out on something.”
“I do, every minute I’m not with you.”
Chapter 29
The passing of time became twisted and blurred. The weekend blew by. Reece and I spent Saturday shopping for school. He picked me up early in the afternoon and off we went. We returned with all the necessary office-type supplies: pens, folders and notebooks.
The rest of the day we spent with my parents. They treated us to lunch and a then a movie. Their way of thanking Reece for the free work he did on the computers. I knew they still weren’t thrilled about the idea of me being in a serious relationship, but at least they approved of whom it was with.
Sunday was slated to be spent at his house. Against my better judgment, I allowed him to convince me to go. From the moment his parents walked in on Reece and Aaron’s playful roughhousing, I felt like I couldn’t do a
nything right in their eyes.
While I knew intellectually the argument between Reece and his mother had nothing to do with me, in my heart I felt like it did. Something about me bothered her. I could see it in the way she looked at me. I had no idea what though. Nor did I want to find out. I knew if I voiced my concerns, Reece would bombard me with the rational I’m creating a situation that doesn’t exist. Like he did anytime I referred to my intuition.
We did have a nice time together just as Reece promised. Diane was not only welcoming, but very appreciative too. Reece explained to his parents how I helped talk him into working for his dad.
With us all together sitting around the table Reece announced, “I wanted you all to know, I’m giving Stan notice so I can continue working at the law firm.”
Reece’s parents beamed with pride.
“Great news son.” Howie gave him a pat on the back. “And thank you, Jenna, for talking some sense into him.”
The news filled the Walton house with joy.
The next couple of days were filled mostly by Grace. She kept me busy preparing for our senior year. Anxious to start our last year of high school on the right foot, she convinced me we needed to shop, shop, and shop some more. We spent all of Monday at the mall, each buying up a closet full of new clothes.
Tuesday we went for haircuts and mani-pedis. As we sat with our nails under the low voltage, low pressure dryers that don’t really dry your nails before automatically turning off, I realized something had changed with Grace.
“How are things with you and Mike?” I asked.
She pursed her lips. “Fine. Why?” she asked, sounding suspicious. “Did he say something about me?”
“No.” I shook my head, “I just realized, we’ve been together two whole days and you haven’t said much about him.”
She sighed, “Things are fine. He’s just busy getting laundry done or something before he goes back to school” she rolled her eyes.
“Oh.” She didn’t fool me. I knew Grace better then she knew herself. There was trouble in paradise.
Tuesday night Reece came over for an hour. An hour that passed in fifteen minutes. But at least I got to feel him in my arms. Tuesday night, already I could see the excitement of returning to school building in Reece.
Heart Waves Page 16
