“Four days Jenna,” he whispered into my ear, his arms holding me close, “then I get you to myself.”
“Yep, you, me and the five guys you’ll be living with.” I reminded him.
He smiled. “Yeah, but no parents. I could get rid of my suite-mates. We just have to find a way to get your parents to let you spend the night.”
“It’s not going to happen,” I shook my head. “Not if I tell them the truth. And even if I lie, I don’t see them letting me stay out all night.”
On Wednesday, Grace picked me up and took me to a little boutique a few towns over. She convinced me we were there for her, but only minutes after walking into the lingerie store, Grace picked up a scanty little bustier, with ribbons, lace, and garter hooks. She held it against me.
“Well?” She asked. “What do you think?”
I snatched it out of her hands and placed it back on the rack it came from.
“Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Oh come on Jenna, don’t you want something special for your first time?”
I wondered why, if things were fine with Mike, was Grace interested in my sex life?
“You’re so certain we haven’t already?” I asked, annoyed at her presumptuousness.
She smirked. “Believe me, when you do, I’ll know.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve got it all under control. Besides, it’s not like I’ll have time to prance around dressed in something you deem appropriate. Not with all the other guys around.”
She smiled an all knowing, evil smile. Like she had a great big secret and was debating whether or not she wanted to let me in on it.
“I can give you time.”
She had my interest. “How?”
“My grandmother fell and needs a hip replacement. The surgery is next Saturday. My parents are leaving Friday night. I convinced them to let Connor and me stay home.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. About the surgery I mean.” I didn’t see her grand scheme. “But I don’t think it would be appropriate . . .”
“Don’t you see dumbhead? You’ll tell your parents you’re spending the weekend with me, helping me, keeping me company. Of course they’ll want to verify it with my parents, who won’t have a clue that you’ll be spending the weekend in Reece’s bedroom.”
“That’s brilliant.” I stared at her motionless, letting the underlying meaning of her words sink in.
“Let’s pick something out.”
She picked up another bustier. This one had holes where parts should be covered. “Like I said, I’ve got it under control.”
I left the store empty handed. Grace on the other hand bought something resembling a French maid’s uniform. She had plans for that weekend too. She planned on bribing Connor to sleep over a friend’s house for the night, so she could have some girl time, with Mike.
* * *
Even though deep dark bags hung under Reece’s eyes, just looking at him made my heart leap. I couldn’t wait to tell him. Just the thought of spending the night in his arms, in his bed, sent my stomach tumbling, my heart racing in a marathon.
I took his hand and led him down the block to the docks. We sat on the bench and watched the boats gently bob up and down in the water. We were close enough to the house to be seen if my parents looked out the front door, yet far enough that I could be certain they wouldn’t hear us.
“What’s with you?” He asked brushing the side of my face with his fingertips, “You look like you’re bursting at the seams.”
I kissed him. Feeling jubilant, I jumped up and swung his hand with my own. “How would you feel about me staying with you next weekend?”
He looked uncertain. The left side of his lips rose, “I spend every weekend with you.”
I shook my head, my smile growing. I had to get the words out before I exploded. “I mean the whole weekend.” I swallowed hard. “I mean spending the night with you too.”
Quick as lightning, Reece jumped up and spun me around. “Sleep over?” he asked in disbelief.
I nodded my head up and down.
“I love you, Jenna.”
“Of course you do!”
Chapter 30
On Saturday, Reece spent the morning and early part of the afternoon moving into the suite. He lived close enough he didn’t have to dorm there, neither did Mike, or any of the other guys I guessed. But campus living was part of the college experience, and it seemed the boys did their best to take full advantage of that.
Late in the afternoon, Grace picked me up and we drove there together. We didn’t say much on the ride over. Grace looked preoccupied, and cranked the music up, there wasn’t much room left for idle chatter.
The guard at the front gate didn’t bother to stop us. I attributed his lack of tenacity to the fact it was moving day. There were probably lots of people who didn’t belong on campus, parents, siblings, and friends.
Due to the heavy volume of cars on the campus, Grace had to park at the far end of the visitor’s parking lot. We were lucky to even get that spot. As one car pulled out, another waited to pull in.
“Are you going to apply here so you and Reece can be together?” Grace asked as we trudged up a steep hill to building number eight.
I shrugged. “I haven’t given it much thought. College still seems so far away. I’m taking it day by day while I still can.”
Grace gazed off into the distance and didn’t look her eyes in my direction at all. “You’ll do fine wherever you go.” She sighed. “That’s the way you are.”
“So will you.” I offered.
“No.” Grace shook her head. “I won’t. And you know it.” Just as we were on final approach, looking for the door to get into the building, she dropped a bomb. “I don’t think I want to go to college.” She said in a low voice, betraying the lack of confidence in her decision. “I think I want to go to beauty school.”
“Where is this coming from?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I hate school. I’m not like you, I can’t just sit there and listen to someone go on and on. I get bored. I doodle. I text my friends when I’m sitting in the back. Why would I willingly sign up for more?”
After climbing the steps up to the third floor, just like the boys instructed, we walked around looking for suite D. The door to the common room was held open by a large garbage pail. I knocked, feeling apprehensive about entering unannounced. No response.
I stepped inside and called out, “Anyone here?”
“In the back!” Reece answered.
I followed the voice down the hall on the left side of the common room, and into the middle bedroom. There was no sign of Reece, save a pair of legs sticking out from under a desk. A quick peek confirmed my suspicion. Reece lay on his back organizing wires under the desk. He peeked out and smiled.
“Give me a minute. I’m almost done.” He informed me. “Mike will be back soon. He’s on a beer run with Josh.”
“Mike’s not old enough to buy beer,” I said, eliciting a chuckle from Reece.
“Who cares?” Grace asked, “Just as long as he doesn’t come back with food. Have you seen him eat? Eeck.”
Reece scooted out from under the desk and took a seat next to me on the bed. All smiles, he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me.
“So what do you think?” He asked motioning to the small room.
I took in the beige painted cinderblock, the dark comforters on both of the twin beds, the black throw rug on the floor, and the uncomfortable looking plastic chairs pushed into the desks.
“Looks great,” I lied, hoping he didn’t pick up on it, and liking the idea of commuting to college more by the minute.
“We haven’t had time to decorate yet. The next time you come it’ll look completely different,” he promised.
Grace went to sit at Mike’s desk, a curious look on her face.
“Where are the rest of the guys?” I asked.
“Shopping for snacks, visiting friends,” Reece answered.
“O
migod! He didn’t!” Grace shrieked.
My head snapped in Grace’s direction to see what upset her. She had her head down, rummaging through Mike’s desk drawers.
“Grace,” Reece called out, his voice uncharacteristically uncertain. “Maybe you shouldn’t be looking through his stuff.”
“Do you know what’s in here?” She asked Reece accusingly.
He shook his head, “No. But whatever it is seems to have upset you.”
“Upset? I’m a lot more than upset. I’m pissed off!”
“Why? What’s wrong?” I asked completely baffled.
Before Grace could answer, Mike walked in, an open bottle of beer in his hand. He looked at Grace sitting at his desk and his face lit with joy. It took only two long strides from the door jam for him to reach the desk where she sat. He bowed his head to kiss Grace, until he read the look on her face.
“Hey baby, what’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?!” She yelled back at him. “We need to talk.”
Mike sucked in a large breath of air, and let it out slowly before following her out of the room. That phrase definitely did not denote good things to come.
“Looks like it’s just you and me,” Reece grinned wickedly as he leaned his body against mine, his lips seeking my own for one delicious kiss after another, while gently pushing me down on my back. At first he seemed playful, his eyes bright and full of fun, but like a light switch had been flicked, in an instant, everything changed.
His body pressed against mine, and I was all too aware this was the first time we could get carried away and give in to the ache of desire. His kisses, his touch, pulled my mind from any thought other than how good his hands felt running the length of my body, in my hair, on my skin. The throbbing of blood through my veins, up to my head, down to my toes, sounding in my ears had me convinced my heart would explode.
Each touch, each kiss, grew in length and intensity, like being given water after years in the dessert, there was no satisfying this thirst. His hands moved over my body, causing cataclysmic eruptions inside me. Feeling his legs move against mine, his fingers brush my bare skin, the moment of combustion was fast approaching.
I swallowed hard with anticipation, wanting to lose myself in the moment, in Reece, in how much I loved him. And then I flinched. The train picked up speed, was running out of track, and these moments would be among the last.
I wanted to bottle this experience up and lock it away, savoring it long after he was gone. I tried to push the thought from my mind and get caught up in the moment again, but he sensed a change.
Reece pulled back breathing hard, and looked at me through narrowed eyes, “Am I making you nervous?”
“Not at all.”
“Good,” he whispered with a wicked smile, just before bringing his lips to my neck, his hand to my breast.
I felt my face flush embarrassed, and self-conscious about my lack of experience, hoping I wouldn’t disappoint him.
“Hey Reece,” a deep voice I didn’t recognize boomed. “You here?”
Reece shot up to a sitting position. He looked like someone inserted a steel rod into his body from the crown of his head, down his torso. The image of a deer caught in headlights popped into my mind as he looked from the door to me and back again.
Feeling as if we’d just been caught robbing a jewelry store, I followed his lead and jumped up to a sitting position on the bed. After a moment, with reality setting in, I caught my breath, and glanced at him wondering why he seemed so spooked.
I reached up and placed a hand on the face I so loved. “Reece?”
“Shit!” He snapped out of his stupor and looked at me, distress deep in his eyes. His brows furrowed, his lips drew into a thin, tight frown.
“What’s wrong?” I asked seeing how tense out of sorts he seemed.
“C’mon Reece, I know you’re here,” the voice was coming closer. “I just saw Mike, he told me . . . oh.”
I felt a weak throbbing begin behind my right eye and ear. My gut warned me of trouble and a migraine brewing.
“What do you want?” Reece snapped at the dark haired figure standing in the doorway.
The unnamed guy folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the door jam. I didn’t recognize him. Everything about him seemed dark. His green eyes, his longish wavy hair, his energy. Yet, in a dangerous, bad boy way, he was extremely good looking. A disturbing chill ran up my spine. I rubbed my arms in an attempt to generate heat and keep my teeth from chattering.
“I didn’t know you were busy in here,” the mystery guy sneered. “You should’ve at least shut the door.”
“What. Do. You. Want?” Reece demanded, his eyes small and narrowed, his jaw set tight.
“So this is her?” The creepy guy made his way to Reece’s desk, pulled out the chair, and sat down backwards on it, facing us. He looked me over as if he were trying to appraise my value. “The girl I haven’t heard about.”
Reece looked at me, moved closer, and sat straighter with his chest puffed out.
“So you’re not going to introduce me?” Reece’s dark acquaintance grinned maliciously.
“Why don’t you tell me what you want and get out of here,” Reece answered.
“Since my buddy here is so rude, I’ll introduce myself.” He tried to look past Reece at me. “I’m Tyler.”
Tyler. I recognized the name immediately, Reece’s suffering friend. That would explain the dark energy. I remembered how Reece described the anguish and passing of his mother, but seeing Tyler, being in the same room as he, I couldn’t find anything sympathetic about him. What I found even more surprising than the drab foggy aura around Tyler, was Reece’s strange behavior.
According to Reece, the boys had a falling out. Tyler was angry with him, but it didn’t at all appear that way. It looked much more like Reece was the one baring a grudge. As if he found Tyler a threat in some way.
“Hi,” I answered back wanting to keep peace, “I’m Jenna.”
“Don’t talk to him!” Reece instructed. His eyes never wavered from his adversary.
“Ignore him,” Tyler shook off Reece. “He’s just afraid I’ll steal you away,” he sneered.
“As if that could ever happen,” the words slipped off my lips.
I snuck a peek at Reece hoping he calmed down a bit. He shot me a sideward glance, anger blazing in his eyes. I made the situation worse. I issued a challenge to Tyler. The same challenge I accused Reece of taking up a couple of months ago. My nerves were twisting in my stomach. I wanted to double over to get rid of the pain. I couldn’t. I had to deal with it.
“I know it’s hard, but do you think you could leave her alone for a few minutes,” Tyler asked in a condescending manner. “We need to talk.”
“I’ve got nothing to say,” Reece answered.
“I do. And it’s important.” Tyler looked serious.
“You could say it in front of Jenna.”
“C’mon Reece, I’m trying to help you.”
Reece shook his head. “Whatever you’re trying to sell, I’m not interested. And you, are the last person I need help from.”
Tyler’s eyes looked even meaner than they had when he walked in. “You keep snowballing your mistakes. It’s too bad,” he said getting to his feet, “we used to be able to count on each other.”
“I’m not the one who changed that,” Reece stood now too.
I watched in silence as they stared each other down, anger sculpted on both faces. Reece’s left eyelid twitched.
I jumped up and moved next to Reece, entwining my arms around one of his and taking hold of his hand. I wanted my presence to help him in some way. Reassure him? Shield him? It didn’t make sense, but I needed to show I stood with him. He needed something to help absorb the anger and darkness emanating from Tyler.
I felt fairly certain now, I lost my mind. I was no shield. I could barely tolerate the pounding in my head and cramping of my stomach. I had no knowledge or skill on affecting or pr
otecting against negative energy. And no direct threat had been issued. But I didn’t like the deep rising and falling of Tyler’s chest. That felt to me at least, like an intimidation tactic.
“Do you have any Advil? Anything for a headache?” I asked Reece, drawing his attention from his adversary.
Reece looked almost annoyed I asked him, but after a moment he stepped around Tyler, out of the room and into the bathroom down the hall on the right. Tyler and I stared at each other. He looked at me with a perverse hunger before I followed Reece out of the room, glad to be out of the confined space.
Tyler didn’t say a word to either one of us. He turned and walked out the door, slamming it behind him.
Finally I could breathe again.
Chapter 31
“If I wanted you to talk to him I would’ve introduced you.” Reece scolded, moving across the common room and falling onto the couch.
“Are you saying I need your permission to speak?” I was taken back.
“When it comes to Tyler, yes!”
“What!” I couldn’t believe my ears. “Have you completely lost your mind?”
Reece balled his hands into fists and pounded them into the couch, “With Tyler, things are complicated.” he growled.
“Then maybe you should explain.”
He shook his head, “I made it clear I didn’t want you to talk to him, you should’ve respected my wishes and kept quiet.”
“Since when do you tell me what to do?” I snapped. “And what makes you think I’d listen? I’m not some brainless twit you picked up.”
He closed his eyes, his breaths increasing in length and depth, until once again calm and composed. “I know. And I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I just I don’t trust Tyler.”
“I got this really weird feeling from him.” I explained, taking a seat next to Reece. “It’s not from anything he said or did, but I feel like he wants to hurt you.” I had Reece’s attention. “I mean not physically hurt you, but hurt you, like destroy you emotionally.”
Heart Waves Page 17
