by J. E. Taylor
I’d rather tell her in person and I knew she welcomed any reason under the sun to skip out of her house.
“Sure,” she said and we hung up.
I went outside and took a seat on our front stoop. I was nearly busting to tell her about my strange encounter at the store and I lit a cigarette, waiting for her to appear around the corner. It took her ten minutes to get down to my house, which was twice the normal time, and she sent a strained smile at me.
“Another fight with your mom?”
“Yeah,” she said and took the spot next to me. “But I didn’t come down to talk about my mom. What happened today?”
“A seriously cute guy works at Thompsons.” I grinned. “He gave me a copy of a key for free in exchange for my phone number.”
“You’re kidding?”
“I swear.” I slid the key back in my pocket and took a drag on my cigarette.
“How old is he?”
I shrugged. “I’m pretty sure he’s in college.” If he was any older, I was screwed.
“What’s his name?”
Again, I shrugged. “I didn’t ask. I couldn’t think straight when he looked at me. It’s like I suddenly became a dumb blond or something.”
Brooke burst out laughing. Admittedly, I wasn’t all there most of the time these days, but I usually could form a coherent sentence. Today, I didn’t say very much because my mind completely stalled every time he smiled.
“Do you think he’ll call?”
It was my turn to laugh. “I don’t know.” Except I did. The way he looked at the door asking my name was along the same line of the desperate attraction that swept me away. It wasn’t a matter of if, but when.
“You actually look... happy.”
I grinned and stubbed my cigarette out before tossing the butt behind the bushes. “I hope he calls.” I slid my gaze to hers and she slung her arm around my shoulder.
“I hope he does, too.”
Silence Chapter 12
I picked up the phone on the third ring, out of breath from the sprint up to my room.
“Hello.”
“Is Jamie there?” His voice blanketed me.
“This is,” I said and swung my door closed and took a seat on my bed. I twirled the cord around my finger like I always did when I was nervous.
“This is Eric. From Thompsons,” he said and I just grinned.
“Hello,” I repeated feeling at a loss for what to say.
“Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“No, not at all. What can I do for you?” I didn’t mean to sound like he had earlier, but the teasing quality came out in my breathy voice and he chuckled.
“I normally don’t pick up girls at work,” he started and then cleared his throat. “But...”
I let the awkward silence hang there for a beat before prompting him to continue. “But what?”
“But I’d like to see you again.”
The words came out in a rush of air, like he had built up the nerve to ask the prom queen on a date instead of mousy little me. “Why?” The question popped out before I caught it behind my lips. As genuinely curious as I was, I was also skeptical that someone who could sizzle the pavement wanted to go out with me.
His gentle laugh filled the line. “Honestly, I don’t know. As I said, I don’t usually do this, but there was something about you I just couldn’t pass up.”
“And how many girls fall for this?” I asked, my voice was a little stronger, but I still had a hard time catching my breath and I couldn’t resist poking fun at him.
“Well, so, um, I guess you already have a boyfriend?” he asked, but the tone of his voice had already dropped into the land of disappointment.
“No, that’s not it. I’m just not used to being picked up in a store, either.” I wasn’t ready to let him jump off this yet. Besides, I was enjoying myself immensely. It wasn’t every day I could make a college man stumble over his words.
“Well, I guess we’re even. So, did you want to catch a movie with me?”
Did he just ask me out? The casual manner the question was delivered caught me by surprise and my brain stalled.
“Hello?”
“I’m here, I’m sorry, did you just ask me out?”
He laughed. “I believe I did.”
“Well, then, sure. When?”
“Are you free tonight?”
I glanced at the clock. It was already after nine and my parent’s had an issue with me going out this late on weeknights even though it was summer.
“It’s a little late, besides I think my parents might have an issue with me taking off this late with someone they’ve never met.”
Silence filled the line. “How old are you?” Worry crept into his tone.
“Seventeen,” I answered. “I’m going into my senior year of high school in September.”
His pause and exhale made my heart drop into my stomach.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-three,” he said like it was the worst thing in the world.
“Second guessing the whole going out with me thing?”
Silence filled the line and then a sigh. “No, but I could get into a shit load of trouble for the things running through my head,” his mumbled response made me smile. “I must be insane, but how about Saturday night?”
I had to silence the squeal of excitement. “You make it sound like it’s such a chore.” I wasn’t going to let him get away with this so easily, especially since he sounded like he was being forced into dating me.
He laughed. “Honey, it’s not a chore. Keeping my hands off you might be a chore, but taking you to a movie certainly isn’t.” That smooth teasing tone filtered through the line and I took a deep breath to calm the shake out of me.
“In that case, I’d love to see a movie with you, as long as you don’t have an issue meeting my parents.” That was the deal, if I went out on a date with anyone, they had to come in the house and meet my parents. I had dated older guys before, but not five years older and I hoped they didn’t pull the he’s too old for you card, but I’d fight that battle if I had to.
“Are you sure?” The hesitation in his question pulled my eyebrows together in a scrunch.
“Yes. Why?”
“I am a bit older,” he said and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s okay, my parents aren’t going to blow a gasket. They’re pretty cool, just as long as you don’t show up on a motorcycle.” I half laughed but his silence pulled a choke from me.
“They don’t like motorcycles?”
“No.” Now I was worried about the wariness in his tone. “Do you have one?”
“Yeah. But I also have a car,” he said. “Have you ever ridden one?”
“I’ve ridden in many cars,” I said trying to get my wits. If he showed up with a motorcycle, I would be screwed six ways to Sunday.
He barked a laugh like he didn’t expect that answer. “No, a motorcycle.”
“No, and I’m not too keen on riding one, either.” With my luck, we’d wipe out and I’d break every bone in my body. I may have a need for adrenaline, but I wasn’t insane.
“You’d love it.”
It was a statement that I couldn’t argue with. The thought of riding with my arms wrapped around him just might persuade me to hop on. “Do you mind meeting my parents?” I asked as I passed over the last few minutes.
“I have no problem with meeting your folks,” he said and I could tell it was delivered with a smile. “What would you like to see?”
“What’s playing in Vernon?”
A paper shuffled. “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid and Poltergeist.”
“Poltergeist,” I said with no hesitation at all. I hadn’t had the chance to see that yet and the Vernon Cinema was at least two months behind the latest releases. Plus it was only ninety-nine cents.
“You like scary?” He seemed surprised.
“Stephen King’s my favorite writer, so yeah, I like scary.”
“
Poltergeist it is,” he said with a light laugh.
“Do you like scary movies?” I asked after a moment, remembering that not everyone shared the same perchance for adrenaline that I did.
“Hell, yeah. It’s just, I’m not used to a girl opting for the scary movie. I usually have to reserve that for after a few months of dating and then coerce the girls into it.”
“Coerce?”
“Okay, beg.”
I laughed, and couldn’t help salivating at the idea of him begging. “So, if I had held out, I would have been able to get you on your knees?” I didn’t mean for it to come out sounding so suggestive, but his renewed chuckle made me smile.
“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?”
“Well, I’m not your average girl,” I said.
“I guess not.”
I just laughed and left it alone. “So, are you in still in college?” I asked trying to do the math in my head.
“Not anymore,” he answered before my mathematically challenged brain could come up with the answer.
“What did you go for?” I asked, knowing it was something I’d have to figure out sooner or later.
“Business,” he said and launched into some amusing stories of classes, school, and what his plans beyond working at the hardware store. After a while, he refocused the conversation on me. “What about you? What are you thinking about studying?”
I huffed. I hadn’t thought of anything beyond pure survival, and now that that was behind me, I hadn’t really given the future much thought. I was too busy relishing the relief. “Honestly, I don’t know. I haven’t put much thought into what I want to do when I grow up,” I said with a smile. “I like writing. Short stories, poetry, I don’t know. Someday maybe I’ll write a book, but I’m not sure that’s something to build a career on. I’m certainly not as good at story telling as Stephen King.” I was rambling and I knew it, but I didn’t want to admit I just wanted to get through high school, and hadn’t thought much beyond graduation. I knew I’d have to start looking at schools and filling out applications pretty soon, along with taking my SATs again this year.
“Have you thought about journalism?” he asked and I cocked my head.
“I’ve worked on the school’s creative arts magazine, but I’m not sure. News is pretty dry and I need a little more excitement than that.”
“Really?”
How a man can make one word sound so fucking suggestive was beyond me, and I fanned myself with my hand.
“Covering murders and all manner of crimes is dry?”
“I highly doubt they’d let a newbie cover serious stories. I’d probably be writing obituaries for the first few years.”
He laughed. “That might be the case, but if you want to write for a living, it’s probably an option you should look at. What about teaching?”
It was my turn to laugh. “No way.”
“Summers off, easy hours, are you kidding me?”
“I’m not cut out to be a teacher,” I said. “I don’t have the patience for stupidity.”
His soft laugh filled the line. “I really like talking to you, and probably could talk all night, if given the chance, but I have to get up for work in the morning.”
I glanced at the clock and my eyes nearly popped out of my head. It was after midnight. We had talked for over three hours and it seemed like just a blink.
“Is it really after midnight?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, his voice getting soft. “It’s been a very long time since I talked on the phone for three hours with anyone.”
I laughed, and said nothing because I had done it regularly for years. “Thanks for calling.” I had to admit, after the first few awkward minutes, we seemed to fall into natural conversation, like we had been friends for years.
“Thanks for giving me your number,” he said. “I’m already looking forward to Saturday.”
“Me, too. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” he said and the dial tone followed.
I hung up and threw myself back into my pillow with the squeak I had held in the entire evening.
Silence Chapter 13
I nibbled on the edge of my thumb as I sat on the couch in the family room with my parents and my little sister. I couldn’t concentrate on the television at all, not with my gaze constantly darting to the driveway.
When the blue mustang pulled in, I forgot I was chewing my thumb raw and just stared. Not only was the guy good-looking, he drove a killer car. I dropped my hand to my lap, suddenly as jumpy as if I’d taken a handful of speed. My gaze darted to my parents.
“He’s here.” I popped up from the seat and started for the front of the house.
“He has to come in,” my father said from his chair as he folded his footrest under, and stood. They had agreed to let me go out with Eric under one condition; that he come into the house and be properly introduced.
I got to the door before he rang the bell and I smiled through the screen.
“Hi,” I said and opened the door to let him in.
He smiled and said hello. I didn’t know whether to hug him or shake his hand or what, so I waved him inside. I led him toward the kitchen where my parents now stood.
“Mom, Dad, this is Eric Donnelly. Eric, these are my parents.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson,” he said and extended his hand.
My mother seemed pleased at the level of manners he displayed, but my father studied him, his face serious. I knew what was about to pop out of his mouth and my face heated up before the words hit the space between us.
“What are your intentions with my daughter?”
I had never seen him deliver with such a deadpan expression. He usually cracked some sort of smile, but nothing appeared, and I realized this time it wasn’t a joke. He was dead serious.
Eric glanced at me and then met my father’s gaze. “I just want to get to know her, take her to a movie, maybe laugh a little and then bring her home before her curfew.”
Something about the casual way he said it seemed to thaw the tension, and my father gave a nod. “What time is the movie over,” he asked.
“It starts at nine. So I would imagine around eleven,” Eric answered. He didn’t seem fazed by my father’s drilling.
“I’ll expect her home by eleven-thirty,” he said.
“Will do. Thank you, sir.” He gave a nod to my father and mother and turned to me with a smile. “Are you all set?”
“Yes,” I said, feeling about as big as a mouse. He opened the car door for me and the moment we pulled out of the driveway, I dropped my head back against the headrest. “I’m so sorry about my dad. He’s usually not like that.”
Eric’s hand traveled from the stick shift to cover mine and he gave it a squeeze. “I would have done the same if you were my daughter.”
His dimples appeared and he slid his gaze to me. “Especially since my intentions aren’t exactly pure,” he smiled and sent a wink in my direction.
Holy fuck. The temperature in the car’s interior shot through the roof and I sent a nervous smile back in his direction. His more than forward words were not what I was used to. The high school guys I dated always danced around what they wanted. And they all wanted to get in my pants. It was refreshing having someone hit it head on for a change. I couldn’t help the coy smile.
“And what exactly are your intentions?”
The dimples deepened as he pulled into a spot in the darkest part of the movie theater parking lot and killed the engine. In the fading light of the dashboard, his eyes sparkled almost as much as his white teeth.
His hand slid from mine, landing on the inside of my upper thigh.
I’m not sure whether it was habit or shock that made me grab his wrist to stop the northerly progression. His smile faltered, but he stopped, leaving his hand in place as he searched my eyes.
“Um, I’m a virgin,” I said, biting my lip, worried that the small truth would drive him away. It always did one of tw
o things, made them run or put me on their conquest list, and I hoped like hell Eric was more mature than either of those alternatives.
When he lifted his hand, the coolness of the surrounding air, gave me a shiver, but he leaned close, sliding the same hand that tried to explore my inner thighs around the back of my neck just before he planted a kiss.
My brain short-circuited at the sweetness and I leaned into it, parting my lips after his tongue swiped them. The moment our tongues mingled, my heart remembered to beat and sent a throbbing echo through my entire form. I don’t recall ever getting so lost in a kiss, and when he pulled away, it took me a moment to remember where we were.
His hand trailed away as he slid out of the car. I reached for the car door.
“I’ll get that for you,” he said, stopping me from getting out on my own.
My gaze followed him around the front of the car and when my door opened, he offered me his hand. The warm smile he greeted me with captivated and thrilled me at the same time. At some level, I thought he was just being polite and tonight would be the end of this, but then he swung the car door closed and immediately pressed me against it, his lips finding mine again and his hands threading into my hair as he delivered the kind of kiss that sizzles.
I think I whined when he pulled away, and I opened my eyes to his.
“Damn,” he whispered, searching my gaze before he took a deep breath and gave me some space.
I couldn’t help but smile. I had seen this after-kiss effect before, but never this pronounced. It was as if he had to keep himself in check or I’d find myself naked and at his mercy in the theater parking lot.
He laced his fingers through mine and led me toward the theater without another word.
When we were settled into our seats in the back, he slung his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. I watched the slide show of coming attractions while we waited for the theater lights to dim.
“Which ones do you want to see?” I nodded toward what seemed to be the never-ending scroll. When I turned toward him, his eyes weren’t on the screen. They were locked on me and he shrugged.
