Standing in the kitchen running my fingertips over the tips of the bright red roses I hear the door from the garage open. I turn to look across the kitchen and see my mom coming in with a small bag from Walgreens. Her eyebrows pop up at the sight of the bouquet and she smiles softly at me.
“They’re from Reed,” I tell her before she can ask.
“Oh wow, they are beautiful,” she says, as she makes her way over to the table. Quickly, I hide the card in my hand not ready to share it.
She wraps an arm around my shoulder lightly and tells me that she likes seeing me smile like this and knows that Reed is to thank.
CHAPTER 14
The remainder of the day I spend lounging around and baking cookies with my mom. Everything feels very calm and natural with my mom. The tension that had loomed between us for months is minimal at best. As we bake cookies and watch soap operas that we used to watch together we laugh at the same stories running on the show still. Dad calls during the day and asks me to meet him at the tennis courts to play after he is done with work. After checking to make sure mom doesn’t need me to help with dinner I agree. Mom has decided to make dinner later that usual since Daniel had basketball practice after school anyway.
Dad and I come in through the garage door joking that he is getting too old to play me now and that I’m too fast for him. We walk into the kitchen with mom putting in a baking sheet of vegetables into the oven. She tells us that dinner will be ready after we are done showering.
After I shower I wrap my hair in a towel to start drying. I smooth lotion over my body and throw on some comfy clothes. Then I partially dry my hair letting it hang over my shoulders to air dry the rest of the time. I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t anxious to hear from Reed, but I know he is busy. The thrill of the words he had put on the note attached to the roses excites me.
We all sit down for dinner in the kitchen. Mom has made one of my favorite meals, chicken divan. During dinner dad asks if I’ve gotten any more calls from Kyle since the new number. It causes a break in the flow of dinner, but dad quickly shifts the conversation back to lighter topics. Then he addresses the roses from Reed. He doesn’t say much, but says that they’re really nice.
I’ve just finished up pulling old files together for one of my dad’s corporate cases. It’s tedious and messy, but I have to admit I am learning. The experience will be more than anyone else in my class will get, but it comes with a price. The price is spending the week with my dad in this house, my childhood home. I hate it here now. Since my parent’s divorce I’ve never liked being here. I know the reason is because my mom was never here again. I of course was basically forced to come and spend time with my dad. I almost laugh at that thought because we never really spent a great deal of time together. He was always working or with a woman. Yet, he’s always found time to control me and the direction of my life. Now he’s remarried to a woman probably closer to my age than his. She’s nice enough, but I don’t bother to really get to know her. Luckily, when I’m here I stay in the carriage house across from the tennis courts. That works out well for me. It means privacy and less time in my childhood home with the dark memories it holds.
When I told my dad that I was leaving after work tonight to go out. He immediately asked if it was because of Kate. I didn’t lie to him, I never do. I knew it wouldn’t make him happy, but he needed to move past this because I was not going to give up Kate. This time though he didn’t threaten me with the usual withholdings. He told me he needed me to be here tonight because the Weston’s are coming over for dinner. I knew that meant Jessica would be coming. I think he thought that would persuade me to stay, but it only makes me want to high tail it out of here.
I put one more file off to the side and decide that it would be best to head out without telling him. He already knows where I’m going anyway. I parked my car in the front of the house in the roundabout driveway knowing I’d want to leave right away. Passing by his office with the door wide open I’m relieved I don’t see him in there. Once I get to the large foyer I stop to check my phone and see a text that came in earlier today.
Hey love, looking forward to seeing u l8r. Jess x
A text like that from her may have stopped me in my tracks a year ago, but now it doesn’t hold my interest. Without thinking too much about it I delete the text knowing I won’t reply to it. My mind is on one girl and one girl only. Katherine.
I open the front doors, but practically collide with the Weston’s, including Jessica. I say hi to her mother and then talk a couple minutes to her dad, who is a business partner. I fill him in on the corporate case I’m working on and then he heads inside. I’m left face to face with the girl I’d rather forget about. It’s not that she didn’t mean something to me once upon a time, but that ship has sailed. I thought that maybe I’d miss her more or think of her more, but I don’t. It may have something to do with Kate.
“Where are you going?” She asks me shyly. I find that a joke, the girl is anything, but shy.
“Out,” I grit out as I continue to walk past her and towards my car. She follows me down the steps and over to my car.
“Reed, wait...,” she begs. I’ve already opened my door eager to get in and drive toward the one person I want to see more than anything, but her fingers wrap around my upper arm. I turn my head and give her an unemotional, flat stare. “Please, I just want to talk to you.” Her voice is soft and sincere while her face holds a look of panic. It’s not that I’m intending to be a dick to her and honestly, I’ve moved past all of this, but there is still a part of me that probably will never forgive her.
“Jess, let go of me. I’ve got somewhere to be” I state dryly.
“You’re not staying.” Her eyes look glassy, but I’m no fool to her antics.
“Never planned on it.”
“What’s her name?” She asks and her grip on my arm tightens.
“You just need to know that I’ve met someone I care about… a lot. I’ll see you around…” I release myself from her hold and get in my car revving up the engine. She backs from the car staring in disbelief with her mouth agape and her hands hanging loosely at her side. I don’t bother to look back at her through my review mirror before I drive off feeling satisfied.
We finish up dinner and I start to help clean up when I hear my phone ding with a text. I grab it from the breakfast bar and see Reed’s name.
Hi beautiful, where r u? Reed
My smile stretches my face tightly and my heart flutters fast. I glance up and only see my mom watching me. She smiles back and goes back to loading the dishwasher.
Home, why? Katherine
Go open your front door. Reed
I stop and stare at the screen for a moment with my hands shaking lightly. Nervous energy creeps into my head. I look around to see my mom busy loading the dishwasher still and my dad is watching TV in the lazy boy. Daniel must be up in his room. I put my phone back on the counter and walk out of the kitchen to the front of the house. Resting my hand on the front door I take a deep breath with anticipation. As soon as I pull it open I look down expecting some type of package to be waiting, but there is nothing. I hear a whistle and look up across the front yard to see a tall figure leaning against a familiar sleek black sports car. I gasp at the sight and my heart rattles in its cage eager to escape. Before I can think twice my feet take off barefoot across the cement and then the cold spring grass. Reed’s smile shines through the darkness as he takes long strides to meet me. I crash into his steel framed chest like my next breath depends on him. His arms pull me into him tighter and we stumble back a step laughing.
“Hey beautiful.” The warmth of his arms all around me settle my heart back into its cage. His words flow out like a steady stream of water, smooth and slippery.
“Reed, I can’t believe you are here… I’ve missed you.” His hands snake through my hair and he pulls my head back to look into my eyes. The blue in his is bright even in the darkness with adoration shining in them.
“So this is a good surprise?”
“Yes, better than the roses. Although, I really like those too.” One of his hands slides across my cheek and his thumb runs over my lips.
“I’ve missed these so much,” he whispers. His thumb slips away and then his lips hover in front of mine. They brush across mine leaving a tingling sensation that hits me all the way down to my toes. Then too rushed for my liking he pecks them and pulls back.
“Looks like we have an audience…” he says with amusement in his tone. I turn around forgetting that I left the front door wide open to see Daniel standing there. “Is that your brother?” He moves me to the side and holds on to my hand.
“Yes… do you want to meet him?” I’m hesitant about this and not really sure Reed is ready for this either.
“Of course, I want to meet your mom and dad too.” Looking up at his eyes for reassurance I guide us back towards the house. Selfishly, I would love to jump in his car and go somewhere to be alone.
It’s just after nine now and my nerves have only slightly settled. I can’t count the number of times I’ve bit at my bottom corner of my lip or pushed my hair behind my ears. After introducing Reed to Daniel in the foyer we moved down the hall towards the great room. Reed gently tugged on my pinky and when I turned back he gave me one of his reassuring winks and smiles. I took a deep breath and lead the way in to introduce Reed to my parents. In all reality I was not nervous about my mom… Now introducing my dad was another story.
Mom was spraying the kitchen counters down and mindlessly wiping them over. Dad was propped up in the lazy boy with one eye on a magazine and the other on the TV. I started to try to remember how I felt when I introduced my parents to Kyle and I couldn’t remember if I felt this nervous. Kyle had showed an interest in me at the end of my freshman year, but my dad did not want me dating anyone, especially since he was a year older.
My sophomore year of school had just begun and I can remember hearing rumors that Kyle Ross wanted to ask me out again. During the second week of school he called me one evening at home and asked if I could go to a movie on Saturday night. When I broached the subject with my parents my dad said he thought it was too soon and that he wanted to meet him first. My mom was a little more lenient and tried to persuade my dad. She eventually convinced him that he could meet Kyle before we left for the movie.
Kyle arrived early and brought me a bouquet of daisies. On shaky hands I took the flowers to the kitchen and could hear dad enforcing the rules about what time I had to be home, to wear seatbelts and no drinking. I cringed as I put them in a vase. Mom shook her head and gave me a hug and told me to have fun.
Thinking back to that day I’m pretty sure I was more nervous about going out alone with Kyle than anything else. Kyle was a year older than me and popular. That unease of Kyle being older and popular never really settled for me. Funny how Reed is also older and popular, but I feel completely different around him. I don’t feel that gap that I always felt with Kyle.
Introducing Reed to my parents holds a bigger significance. It’s important that they all get along. I want my parents to see how much I care for Reed and what he means to me. I want them to know what he did for me… how he saved me from completely shutting down emotionally.
We are all settled in the kitchen area talking. Mom brought out cookies we had made and dad and Reed are comfortably falling into a conversation about sports. Once I had told dad that Reed is an avid tennis player it really opened the door for the conversation to flow. Mom was talking with us too in between helping Daniel with his homework and making his lunch for the next day. I could tell she was smitten with Reed. It’s not hard to be around him. He’s extremely charming.
“Reed, honey, what is your major?” Mom asked him and I laughed a little that she was already calling him honey.
“I’m a poly-sci major and a minor in philosophy. I got into the law school for next year and will start right up in the fall. My dad’s an alumni law student from there.” Hearing that Reed will still be here next year catches me off guard. It’s not that the thought of him going off to law school hadn’t crossed my mind, but more so that I didn’t want to face the possibility that I might have another person I care about leave me. I try to embrace it without thinking too much into the future because I know how easily things change. I’m right on the edge and teetering on trusting my emotions to protect me. The thought of falling into the unknown is frightening though.
“What type of law are you interested in?” Dad asks with a serious and studious expression.
“To be honest I’m not positive yet. My dad, I think, would like me to go into corporate. His law firms handle it all, but corporate is where there is the biggest demand right now. Kate’s told me about your accounting practices and I imagine they are busy on the personal tax side right now.”
Dad ends up going into his business spiel and Reed is able to keep up. It’s easy to forget that Reed is still in college and I can tell his knowledge is not only from school. I roll my eyes when Dad talks about how proud he is of me for going into accounting. He tells Reed his plans for my future after I graduate and the direction he sees the business going.
“Well, I need to head up because I have an early morning tomorrow,” dad says. “Reed, I’m glad we got to meet you. Maybe you could make another trip down and we could all have dinner.” Then he pauses for a moment as he is shaking Reed’s hand. “I need to thank you too… for watching out for my girl.”
“Dad, please…” I say embarrassed.
“Katherine, it’s ok, I just want him to know that I am glad he was there and from what I have heard he stood by you. Also, I am glad he encouraged you to get a new number again.” Reed is standing level with my dad. He’s confident and strong looking. He keeps his eyes focused on my dad never appearing uncomfortable. My mom has moved over to wrap an arm around my shoulders as I sit at the table uncomfortable.
“Actually, I’d like to have a quick moment of your time Mr. Monroe before you head up if that’s okay,” Reed says before dad can continue. My eyes about pop out and I’m speechless for a moment.
“Reed?” I question.
“I’ll just be a moment.” He says and smiles at me before he follows my dad down the hall towards the den.
After everyone else has gone up to bed Reed and I settle in the family room on the loveseat. His hand brushes across my thigh and he latches on to my hand. My nerves have calmed now that it is just the two of us. The meeting went better than I expected, especially with my dad. Of course, now I am wondering what Reed and him talked about privately.
“You okay?” He asks with eyes trained on mine. The blue in his eyes is dark in the low-lit room, but I’m focused on his lips. His free hand moves up to caress my cheek and his thumb treads across my lip landing on the bottom corner that I bite at.
“I just can’t believe you are here.”
“I couldn’t stand the distance any longer. I needed to see you… touch you.” I move myself closer resisting the urge to climb into his lap.
“Kiss me, Reed,” I say boldly. Both of his hands move to my cheeks and run up into my hair lifting my face towards him. Eagerly, I move into him and press my lips to his. I’m greedy to move things quickly, but I strain to pace myself. His lips are soft and tender opening just enough for me to suck on his bottom lip. He grunts softly while his fingers run through my hair.
“Jesus, Katherine,” he mumbles as I kiss my way across his jaw and over to his ear. “What are you doing to me?”
“Kissing you,” I whisper in his ear and brush my lips against his ear lobe.
“Mmmmm hmmmm.” His hands move to my waist and guide me onto him. I’m straddling his lap and his fingers dig into my hips. I rush my hands into his hair and his head presses all the way against the couch, the leather giving in to my demands. Our tongues clash against each other exploring as if its our first kiss, yet knowingly anticipating our next ridge or groove. My heart races in ways I never knew possible
. My hands run down to the hem of his button down shirt and to the top of his pants. I start to pull at his shirt to un-tuck it, but his hands come around and lock around my wrists restraining me from pulling anymore. I whine into his mouth.
“Why?” I mumble against the softness of his lips and smile.
“This is the first time I’m in your house and I just met your parents… maybe the second time,” he jokes and then nibbles on my bottom lip.
“Grrrrr,” I grumble in his mouth. “You are always being too good.” His eyes narrow at me and he let’s out a rough chuckle.
“Katherine, I think you know that’s not true and I’ll show you just how bad I am when we are back up at school.” His hands snake up to my shoulders wrapping around the back of my neck. Pulling me towards him and his lips find mine again. Softly he kisses me across my jaw to my ear. “Patience,” he whispers.
“I don’t want to be patient,” I pout as I push my body into him. He laughs into me and un-straddles me from his lap. We face each other and I smile shyly at him feeling a little funny by my boldness.
“Stop,” he says, and his hand latches onto my pinky finger gently rubbing it. “Don’t be embarrassed. I don’t like you having to be patient either,” he says, just before he plants a firm kiss to my forehead. I lean myself against him and rest my head on his chests. His arms wrap around me tightly making my insecurities fade. As I take in his familiar pine and masculine scent he shifts us back against the arm of the couch allowing me to snuggle myself even closer.
“What did you talk to my dad about?”
“You,” he answers mildly.
“Uh, huh, what about?”
“Nothing for you to worry over. I just felt I needed to address what happened last semester…” he trails off for a moment and then his jaw tightens with his lips pursed. “And Kyle.”
“Oh.” I pause taking in my thoughts about this before I continue. “I don’t want Kyle to interfere anymore with us.”
The Perfect Emotion (Book Two of The Perfect Series) Page 11
