East Down South

by Eliza Freer

  Kyle snorts. “I know you fought and that you ran into his dad in less than ideal circumstances. The ins and outs I don’t know much about. Plus, I think you know Wilder’s good qualities already, and I don’t need to remind you too much.” He takes another sip of his coffee. “However, I have plenty of good qualities I could vouch for.”

  I smile widely at Kyle. “Okay, lover boy.” I shake my head and wipe my palm across my forehead. I groan. “Yeah, okay so my dad and I ran into Wilder and his dad, who I hate by the way, he’s a real piece of work, and it didn’t go well. Wilder had never mentioned me and his dad made a point to say I was one of the many and Wilder just stood there with his mouth open. So, needless to say I took that personally since my protective, sometimes rash father told Wilder’s dad we were dating. Which, isn’t gonna be great for his relationship with my dad in the long run.”

  Kyle gives me the go on motion with his hands. I pause while the waitress takes my order, a giant stack of strawberry and banana pancakes. Pancakes in all their varieties are the food of the gods.

  “So, his dad was being an ass and then mentioned how it’s great they’ll get good tickets since his son is boning the Coach’s daughter.”

  Kyle interrupts me. “Wait, did he really say that?”

  “Well, what he said was that he’s glad Wilder’s dating me because that will get him some great tickets come the season, and the reason he was even around is so he could talk to my dad about how amazing the team is, and how he’d like to have seven minute closet sex with him.”

  Kyle shakes his head in confusion. “What’s seven minute closet sex? And I know Mr. Sullivan and he DEFINITELY wouldn’t talk about that, but the whole ticket thing I believe.”

  I swipe my hands in the air to erase the last pieces of our conversation. “Seven minute closet sex? My dad and I went from a conversation about 13 going on 30 and seven minutes in heaven, something about walking out of a closet a woman…then sex in a closet. Whatever. Not the point.” I glare at Kyle to get us back on track. “Anyway, so Wilder didn’t say anything, and then his dad was pumping my dad for stuff, and that pissed me off more and then his dad called me sweetie a few times, which, screw you old man, and so I kinda maybe crossed my angry line and said things I should’ve left alone.”

  Kyle laughs. “Like what? That man never has people put him in his place.”

  I sigh loudly and twirl the straw in my water. “I might have insinuated he has a close understanding of workplace sexual harassment. Something like that.”

  Kyle let out a low whistle. “Well, even in your vague, incomplete description it sounds like you went for a passive aggressive jugular with Sullivan Sr.”

  “Yeah, so maybe. Anyway, his dad was about to go off on me and Wilder took him over to their table. Then Wy comes over and tries to apologize or explain or something and I just couldn’t take it any more, you know, so I said not now. Then my dad said that just because I don’t need someone to fight my battles doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be willing to do so.” I take a big sip of my water. “I’m paraphrasing, but that was the gist of the end of our conversation.”

  Kyle puckers. “Yikes. So he’s no longer on good terms with Coach then, huh?”

  I tilt my head from side to side. “Well, actually it was my dad who said maybe I should hear him out. So, I agreed to do so tomorrow.” I look down at the table and tap my feet. “I know it’s not all on him. I get complicated families. I just can’t feel like I’m with someone who lies.”

  Kyle leans forward and touches my hand. “East, Wy is crazy about you. I get where you’re coming from, I do. It’s just complicated.”

  I sigh and cover Kyle's hand with my own. “I wish you were a worse friend.”

  Kyle laughs. “You and your dad seem to have a really close relationship. Just imagine not having that.”

  “Yeah, but he likes his mom right?”

  Ky nods. “Yeah, Chloe’s cool, but she can still only do as much as his dad lets her, really.”

  I shake my head. “New topic. What about your family? What are they like?”

  Kyle smiles. “Very all-American, nuclear perfection. I have a younger sister. She’s a junior in high school. She has this boyfriend named Clark who I hate.”

  I laugh. “Why’s that?”

  Kyle’s mouth turns into a sneer. “He listens to Nickleback and calls it classic rock. He says his favorite movie is Citizen Kane just to sound artsy, but it’s really probably something like the new Baywatch movie.”

  I pucker my lips. “Maybe it is his favorite movie. Either way, he has horrible taste. Kane is super overrated, and I couldn’t get through the first fifteen minutes of Baywatch. So, I judge him regardless.”

  Kyle smiles. “Trust me, it’s an act. My parents think so too.”

  “What about your parents? Are they as cool as you are?”

  Kyle nods. “My mom is a teacher. My dad’s a farmer. They still live back home in Iowa. Ya know, the full nine. We go on family vacations, take cutesy Christmas card pictures, all of it. We really love each other. We’re close. That's why I give Wy a little bit of a break on the family stuff. He doesn’t have that, or even any siblings to talk to about it.”

  I groan. “Ugh, full circle. I just, don’t have the best track record with being able to trust people, especially guys, ESPECIALLY guys I date, so proceed with caution. I just got really wrapped up in him really fast and that makes me nervous.”

  I hear a voice from behind me that I didn’t expect to hear today. “You’re not the only one, East.”

  I turn around and see Wilder standing behind me. I take a look over at Kyle who grins sheepishly and starts to stand from the table. I snap at Kyle. “What did you do? When did you plan this shindig?”

  Kyle holds his hands up in a placating gesture. “We were supposed to meet after I ate anyway, I might have just texted him to tell him you were here, alone, and might need a ride home. You glared at your friends for a really long time. It wasn’t hard to sneak it.”

  Wilder chuckles and I level him with a look. He keeps that sexy smirk on his face so I have to turn away as he and Kyle switch spots at the table. Kyle leans down and kisses the top of my head. He leans in to whisper in my ear. “Talk to him. I really don’t think you’ll regret it.”

  I sigh and pat his shoulder from behind. “Whatever. Go away. You’re a traitor too.”

  Kyle laughs and leans in to give Wilder a sideways high five. Like guys do. “Text me after.”

  Wilder nods at Kyle and then quickly looks down at me staring directly into my eyes. “So, don’t be mad at Kyle.”

  I sigh. “Too late.”

  Wilder glances down at the table. “If you’re not ready to talk to me, I can go. Or, I guess, take you home and we can talk when you’re ready.”

  I smirk at him. It’s cute to see him uncomfortable. The waitress delivers my pancakes around that time also, and brings Wilder some water and a new place setting. She asks if he’d like anything to eat and I pipe up with an overly generous offer. “You can share my amazing pancakes if you want. It’ll stop me from eating all of them, which I will.”

  Wilder looks up at the waitress. “Guess I’m taken care of, thanks.”

  He looks across to me again. “Now. Let’s talk. East, I’m really sorry. My dad is…he’s…”

  I scoff. “A gaping asshole.”

  Wilder scrunches up his face in disgust. “That’s a horrible visual.”

  I snort. “Courtesy of my dad. I said the same thing you did, by the way.”

  He laughs. “Yeah, so he’s that. We just aren’t close. We don’t have a relationship where I tell him anything. Honestly, I kind of like him not knowing things about my life. Keeping who I am and want to be separate from who he wants me to be is easier for me, and I like getting to be the me you know.”

  I sigh. “But why are there two yous? I get that he wants you to be some big business guy and you’re an artist at heart, which is super sexy, but isn’t it awful to be t
wo people? To be a person you like and a person you can’t stand to be?” I look him straight in the eyes. “That’s sad, Wilder. That makes me sad for you.”

  He moves his hand down the table so his fingers are brushing my knuckles. “I know. God, I know.” He lets out a frustrated sigh. “Just, right now, it’s the only way. It’s the only way I can think of that won’t cause explosions at my house. I may not have made the right decision of keeping you separate, but I did it for a reason. I’m not ashamed of you. I actually feel really lucky and undeserving that you and I are…whatever we are…but I don’t want my dad to do what he does.”

  “Which is what?”

  “Takes advantage. You saw him. He was there five minutes before asking for favors. And, I know, with what you went through before, feeling like you were unimportant and a secret and then having him ask for things from your dad probably really, really sucked.” He shakes his head and puts his head in his hands. “I just honestly don’t know what else to say about it. I never meant for you to get hurt in all this, I just…I didn’t think it’d happen like this.”

  I smile at him. “I get it. I’m not mad at you anymore. I was having some pretty horrible deja vu and I shouldn’t have associated you with that. But, Wy. I don’t want to be this girl, because this girl is drama I don’t want to be, but what are we? What are we doing? If this isn’t something that’s real to you, then I don’t want to do it. I know your dad saying the whole one of the many thing is just him being a jerk, but I just want to head this off at the pass if it’s just flingy. I don’t really do flingy.”

  Wilder stops his fork full of pancakes on the way into his mouth. He sets it down. “East, honestly, I’ve been ready to be all in with you since you told me off in that coffee shop. That sounds really emotional and a little stalker-ish, I know, but I’m so wrapped up in you and fell so freakin’ hard that it’s very real to me. I’m sorry that thing with my dad made you feel unimportant, but please know you’re not that to me.”

  I try and smother the huge smile that breaks over my face. I watch Wilder as he moves from his side of the booth to mine. He sits beside me and looks me over intently. Then he asks me, “Can you say the same?”

  I don’t really have words that are better than the ones he used, so I go with what’s easiest. “Yes.”

  And then he kisses me. I break away to take a breath. “I guess we successfully navigated our first fight.”

  He laughs but continues cupping my face. He kisses me between almost every word, like he hasn’t seen me in a year instead of just a day. “I. Hate. Fighting. With. My. Girlfriend.”

  I pull back a little and look him in the eyes. He suddenly looks uncertain, like the conversation we just had didn’t mean what he thought it meant. I shake my head and lean in. “I hate to break it to you, but if you wanted simple, you picked the wrong girlfriend.”

  He nuzzles my nose with his. “You’ve never been simple.” He pulls back from my face to reappraise his statement. “Well, except for when you used to eat paste and crayons as a kid.”

  I smack him and laugh. “Shut up and do that kissing thing you do again.”

  He complies. And his apology kisses are even better than I thought they’d be.

  Chapter 20

  “Well stick my head in an oven, it’s my brother!” Izzy screams across the shop.

  I roll my eyes and finish making the latte I’m in the middle of before I turn around and see Grant standing at the register.

  “Well, that’s…different.” Grant stutters out while looking strangely at his sister.

  I slide the latte across the counter. “Thomas!” I shout for the customer to come and grab his drink. I turn back towards the register and nudge Izzy out of the way.

  “Okay, Sylvia Plath, lemme get through and take your traumatized brother’s order.” I smile at her and turn towards Grant. “Don’t mind her. It’s residual brain burn from her thinking of the question this morning.”

  Grant looks down at the tip jar. “Where would you rather put your head? In an oven or in the sand?’ He looks perplexed. “Wait, what? Oh, and I’ll just take a black coffee.”

  Izzy scoffs. “Femme here wouldn’t let me put the question I wanted, so we compromised.”

  I punch Grant’s order into the register and lay the post-it note on the coffee counter for Izzy to make. “She wanted to put ‘Whose death was crazier? Sylvia Plath’s head in an oven or The Bronte Sisters consumption?’ Which, granted, I am proud of her for knowing how three famous authors died, but I thought it may be inappropriate.”

  Izzy finished Grant’s coffee and slides it over to him. “Famous deaths intrigue me. That can’t be overly surprising to you.” She wiggles her head side to side. “But I guess after I used douchey in one of my previous questions and that wasn’t super accepted I see your point.”

  I laugh and Grant shakes his head at the pair of us. “Thanks, Iz.” I glance at the large clock on the back wall. “It’s time for my break, so…”

  Izzy sighs and turns back to the coffee machine. “Fine, I’ll make you your filthy chai, and go ahead and grab one of those cappuccino chocolate chip muffins you love so much.” She gets the shots ready to pull. “But, you have to go and keep Grant company. I mean, remember, he has no friends.”

  Grant flips off his sister. “Screw you Iz. But, East, I’m always glad for your company.”

  I shake my head at the siblings. “I’d love to keep you company.” I grab the muffin from the pastry case and put it on a plate with a knife. Izzy finishes my drink and passes it to Grant to carry to one of the tables in the corner near the door. We sit and I cut the muffin in half, in case he’s interested. I don’t see how anyone wouldn’t be.

  “How’s life, East? It’s been awhile.” Grant takes a drink of his coffee and pinches off a section of the muffin. I watch while he pops it into his mouth and grunts in appreciation of its tastiness.

  “Life is a mystery. Everyone must stand alone.” I sigh and take a bite of the muffin.

  Grant rolls his eyes. “Very poetic, Madonna. You have a real answer for me?”

  I laugh. “I’m good. No more than a couple complaints, which is down significantly from last year, so I’m good. How about you? Missing London yet?”

  Grant snorts. “Um, no. That weather was not for me. So dreary.”

  I chuckle. “Yes, well here it’s a constant sauna, so it’s kinda same same but different.”

  Grant shakes his head. “It was more to get away than anything. I felt like I needed to be somewhere else for awhile. You’re not from here, so Texas isn’t your be all end all like a lot of people here. I just wanted a break from the whole Texas Forever thing.”

  I pinch off another section of muffin. “Oh yeah? And how did that go for you?”

  Grant laughs. “I missed Texas. I watched so much Friday Night Lights I can’t even tell you.”

  I smile. “Texas Forever, QB.”

  Grant smiles back. “Texas Forever, Riggins.”

  We laugh together and both start focusing on drinking our respective coffees. I grab another chunk of muffin and before I can start the conversation back up again Grant reaches over and swats at my face.

  “The hell, dude?”

  Grant smirks. “A graceful eater, you are not. You’ve got crumbs sticking to your face like barnacles. I’m helping. I’m helpful in case you’ve forgotten.”

  I laugh and hear the door open behind me, but pay no attention.

  “What the hell is this?”

  I turn and see Wilder standing behind me with a large scowl on his face. His overreaction to this moment strikes me as funny, so I make the ill advised move to dig in.

  “Oh, hello Wilder. Have you met Grant? A former lover of mine?” I smile across at Grant who looks panicked. “Grant, this is Wilder, my boyfriend. Wilder, Grant.”

  I turn my head to see Wilder’s clenched jaw as he reaches his hand out to Grant. “Former lover, huh? I’m sure there’s a story there I’d love to hear.”r />
  Grant swallows hard. “No story. I’m Izzy’s brother, we went out once, she beat me in bowling. It didn’t work out.”

  Wilder looks at me and rolls his eyes. “Is this true?”

  I smile at them both. “’Tis. However, if you didn’t ask me out again because I beat you in bowling, I will admit that’s not the first time that’s happened to me.”

  Grant shakes his head. “Please, don’t get me killed here, East.” He looks up at Wilder and drags a chair up to our table so Wilder can join us. “Would you like to join?”

  Wilder nods and sits down. I lean into him and whisper. “So that whole trust thing we talked about seems to be working already.”

  He rolls his eyes at me. “You started it. Not my fault.”

  I scoff. “Beg to differ. Might not have helped the situation, but didn’t start it.”

  Wilder grins. “Fine.” He rubs my shoulder. “You won’t let me win this will you?”

  I grin and lay my chin on his shoulder. “Clearly.”

  Grant clears his throat. We both look at him apologetically.

  Wilder smiles at Grant. “So, catch me up here. What have I missed?”

  I take a long sip of my coffee and offer some to Wilder. He takes a drink and makes a face. Guess filthy chai isn’t his thing. “So far we’ve covered the weather both here and abroad and quoted some Friday Night Lights.” I glance over at Wilder who grins at me and visibly relaxes. “Oh, and we talked weird celebrity deaths.”

  Wilder drapes his arm over the back of my chair and leans into my ear. “Sorry. It’s possible I overreacted. I’m just not used to seeing other guys touching my girlfriend’s face.”

  I give him a brief kiss. “Yeah, chill out caveman. I had food all over me. Grant’s seen me eat. He knows it’s not pretty. He’s helpful. Like a Boy Scout.” I tilt my head and appraise Grant. “You were totally a Boy Scout weren’t you?”

  Grant laughs and takes another drink of his coffee. “Maybe. Eagle Scout. I’m pretty tough, East. I had, like, fifteen badges. All the Girl Scouts wanted me.”