Thursday Nights (The Charistown Series)

by Lisa N. Paul

  The girls sat cross-legged on the plush arearug that covered the hardwood floor in the large furnished family room, sipping on their coffee drinks.

  “Ly, I love it!” Janie said, overwhelmed by emotion. “And I hate to ask…” She hesitated. “But where are you going to put your stuff from—”

  The familiar look of pain quickly passed over Lyla’s face before she was able to bank it completely. “This place has a full basement. It’s creepy, just like the shit that’s gonna go down there.” Lyla answered the question in as few words as possible, but Janie heard everything she needed to hear.

  The moving truck had already made its appearance, and the furniture was placed just so. Unpacking was in full swing as Pink’s new album blared from the MP3 speakers. By the time Lyla heard the bell and opened the door, Ashley was visibly frustrated.

  “It’s about time! I thought Pink was actually in here giving a concert, and I wasn’t invited.” She winked and walked right into the house.

  “Wow, Ly. Just wow. This is some amazing place…”

  “Thank you.” Lyla’s mouth smiled, but something sad always lived in her eyes. “I really like it. It’s a really nice house.”

  Janie stilled at Lyla’s comment. Would she ever come to see this beautiful place as more than just a house? Oh, Lyla, Janie thought, what am I going to do with you?

  “Janie, get out.” Lyla’s words were said with a serious tone, but her face was glowing with humor.

  “That is so mean, Lyla.” Janie faked being wounded. “How can you be such a heartless wench?”

  Ashley looked completely lost. Lyla laughed and reminded Ashley that Janie’s date with the teacher was that evening.

  “Oh, right…seriously, Jane, Lyla’s right.” Ashley looked at Janie from head to toe and then said, “You may want to think about a long shower and some fresh clothes. Just sayin.’”

  Janie looked in the newly hung mirror and winced. “Shit! I should just cancel. You need help unpacking, and clearly I need help…period.”

  “Um, I’m standing right here.” Ashley snorted. “I think I can manage helping Lyla unpack. Go home and get ready. No canceling. Have fun!”

  Janie shot a quick look at Lyla and she nodded. With quick hugs, Janie headed home.

  If Owen saw me now, he would be the one cancelling, she giggled to herself.

  “This place is great, Owen. I can’t believe I’ve never been here.”

  “I know. It’s really small, but the food is awesome. The wait to get a reservation is usually about five weeks out.” His eyes dropped from Janie’s face when he realized what he had just inadvertently admitted.

  The warm feeling that was becoming synonymous with Owen began to spread through Janie’s stomach as her curiosity peaked. “Then how are we sitting here right now? You just asked me out this week.”

  Warm eyes lifted to meet hers. “I went to high school with the owner. We were pretty tight before I moved away, but we’ve stayed in touch over the years.” A sexy smile curved over his mouth. “I’ve never called in a favor before, so I guess he thought it was pretty important… and here we are.”

  Janie noticed a slight tremble in his hand as he brought his wine glass to his lips.

  This guy was not only sexy and funny but sweet, too. Hmm, she thought, sipping her Cosmo. The night kept on smoothly, and Janie found herself getting lost in Owen’s deep voice and devastatingly handsome good looks.

  “Owen, where did you say you were from again?” she asked him.

  “I’m from here actually. I went to Charistown High School. I left for college after I graduated and, other than quick family visits, never came back. I’m here now because my dad was diagnosed with cancer, so I’m trying to help my mom with his care and whatever else she needs.”

  And he’s thoughtful…this guy is the real deal. Just as quickly as the thought came into her head a second one followed. Wait, Owen was about nine years older than her, he went to the same high school as Max…did they know each other? No, Janie…keep Max out of this, she chided herself. There is no place for him on this date.

  “…you from?”

  “I’m so sorry, I totally spaced out for a second. What did you ask?”

  “I hope I’m not boring you,” he said with a sweet, self-deprecating smile. “I just asked where you were from.”

  Their conversation meandered pleasantly through the rest of dinner and dessert. Janie found being with Owen easy and comfortable. They talked about their students and their friends, and they laughed over some shared silliness. The conversation flowed like water.

  When the meal was over, they walked from the restaurant back to her apartment building. They stopped outside her door, and Janie’s heart began to pound with anxiety and anticipation. Owen’s deep brown gaze traveled down to her lips.

  “May I kiss you, Janie?” His hand stroked her jaw as his thumb slightly brushed her bottom lip. She felt lost in his cocoa stare as she slowly nodded her head .

  Greek Yogurt

  Janie was grateful she remembered to close her curtains before going to bed the night before. Keeping the sun out was the only way she would have been able to get the extra couple hours of sleep that she would need to get her through her day. Sunday dinner would be…interesting, and Janie needed all the rest she could get.

  She’d gotten home late from her date and then spent over an hour lying between the cool sheets thinking about Owen. He seemed so open and honest; if she asked a question, he answered it. Yes, it had been a first date so they didn’t grill each other, but by the time he paid the check—yes! She giggled. He paid the check—she’d felt like she knew who she had spent her evening with. And then there was the kiss…that’s where her mind had spent the most time. It was lovely and sweet and tender. Just like man himself. She’d drifted off to sleep thinking about that kiss. A deep, dreamless sleep.

  When her alarm went off, she unkindly told it to shut up by yanking the plug out of the wall. By ten o’clock she was finally dressed and caffeinated, and heading to the food market. She had a lot to do before everyone came over.

  As she drove to the grocery store, Owen was still on her mind, one particular conversation playing over and over again in her memory.

  I was kind of a jerk in high school. Some would say I was a typical teenage guy…looking back, I think I was an asshole. Back then it was about taking what I wanted and not giving a damn about who got hurt in the process. I learned exactly how it felt to be on the receiving end in that game my freshman year of college, and it made me grow up pretty damn fast. If I could go back, I would in a heartbeat…but some things are better left in the past.

  She had reached out and placed her hand on his when he’d finished, and she could see in his eyes how much the small gesture had meant. There was something so honest and sincere about Owen. He was someone who was willing to open up, someone who clearly had made mistakes but was ready to move on.

  Janie heard a loud pop as her car jolted and swerved, bringing her out of last night’s conversation and into the present. She gripped the steering wheel in an attempt to control the car and pulled into the lot of Mark’s Market.

  “Shit! Goddamn it,” she yelled while she got out of her car to assess the damage. After a quick phone call to notify AAA, she was told to wait by her car for a return call. Where the hell else would I go? she thought.

  “Great…” She tried to keep the irritation from her voice when the guy on the phone called back. It would take over an hour for someone from Ted’s Towing to arrive to change her tire. And all Janie could think was, Son of a bitch, I should have stayed in bed!

  “What’s up, Gage?” Max said when he answered the phone. Today was one of the rare days when Max had nothing to do until dinner. He was lounging around shirtless in ratty old sweatpants, had a load of laundry in the washer and one in the dryer, and was sprawled out on his big, leather sofa channel-surfing. He felt like a king…no, he felt like a loser.

  “I just got a call from T
ed’s,” Gage stated. “Apparently, there is a lady with a flat tire over in the lot at Mark’s Market on Main Street. It will be at least two hours before they can get to her. And with the rain coming, they didn’t want the poor woman stuck out there.” Gage paused and then continued. “So they asked if we could lend a hand. I told them I would go, but I need to go to the track. Can you do me a favor, please? I’ll owe you one.”

  Max laughed. “Sure, man, no problem. I’ll head over there right now and change the tire.”

  They disconnected the call. I was bored anyway.

  “That son of a bitch…” Max cursed Gage under his breath as he pulled into the parking lot. He would recognize that red Jetta anywhere, and there was no way in hell that Gage had to go to Winston’s instead of changing this woman’s tire. This reeked of a set-up.

  What are you trying to pull? he texted Gage as he got out of his truck and walked over to the lady with the flat tire. The sky was filled with dark, pregnant clouds, and the air was heavy with moisture. There was no doubt the rain was coming—the question was who was faster, him or the heavens?

  He could hear the music blaring from her car. It was a wonder that she and Lyla weren’t deaf from how loud they listened to their music. He felt the corners of his mouth lift slightly as he approached. This woman just had that effect on him.

  Max tapped on Janie’s window, and she started, her eyes round and a muffled squeak escaping from inside her car. She rolled down the windows and quickly turned off the music.

  “Max?” she asked, surprised but trying to keep some hint of anger in her voice. “What are you doing here?”

  The golden flecks in Janie’s teal eyes were warm and inviting, and they caught Max off guard. He still hadn’t apologized to her, and he owed her at least that much. He stared into the pools of blue. “Well, babe, it seems as though your flat”—in that second Max remembered having Janie’s full breasts in his hands, and knowing full well she was anything but flat, he mentally kicked himself—“I’m gonna jack you up and replace your tire.”

  “Don’t call me babe, you jerk!” Her eyes were filled with irritation but also a small amount of humor. That right there was one of the things that made her so damn special. He had been such an ass to her, yet she was still able to forgive him even if she wouldn’t admit it.

  Max realized what he said and laughed. “Cut me some slack, Janie. You know being around you can short-circuit my brain. Let me fix your tire. Do you have a spare?”

  “Yeah, in the back.” She pointed to the trunk. “Thanks…”

  Max nodded, gathered his tools from his Jeep, and returned to the Jetta to start working.

  “So, how did you get stuck with this task?” Janie wondered aloud.

  “My buddy Sebastian owns the Gage Garage. Tom’s couldn’t get here for two hours, so they called him. He asked me for a favor.”

  “I would’ve been fine waiting the two hours for Tom’s…but at least it makes sense now,” she snipped, sharpness in her voice and what appeared to be sadness in her eyes.

  “What makes sense?” he growled.

  “You didn’t know it was me. That’s why you came here to help.” The way Janie tried to mask the hurt in her expression nearly made Max want to howl with anger—and something else, there was a nameless emotion that he didn’t have the time to figure out.

  “No, Janie,” Max practically snapped. “Had I known it was you, I would have gotten here faster.”

  As if to punctuate his statement, a crash of thunder hit the atmosphere, making Janie jump. With the flat tire off the car and lying on the ground, Max reached into Janie’s trunk and pulled out the spare. The sky opened up, and the rain started pouring down in sheets.

  “Get in the car, Janie. You’re getting soaked,” Max called over his shoulder as he was putting the new tire in place. Just then the rain stopped. “Well, that was fas—” Okay, so the rain hadn’t stopped—instead, Janie was standing over his partially soaked body holding an umbrella.

  Max felt a lump in his throat so big he could barely swallow. She is shielding me from the rain. A memory flashed through him like lightning. He and Chloe were on their way home from a movie once when they got a flat tire. It had been late at night and pouring rain then too. He was trying to change the tire in the dark and asked Chloe if she would grab the umbrella and the flashlight so that he could do it faster. But she couldn’t get out of the car because the rain would ruin her hair.

  Thinking about it now made goose bumps rise to the surface of his skin. That night he remembered feeling annoyed but pushing the feeling aside because that was just Chloe being Chloe. But staring up at a half-drenched Janie, a woman who had been one of his best friends for months, who he felt a physical connection to unlike any he had shared with anyone else–– who he not only left, but left cruelly––she was shielding him from the rain. He gazed up at her.

  “Janie, I am so sorry for so many things…” It came out as a whisper.

  “Can it, Max. You are still a jerk,” Janie said with a wink. “But you fix my tire, and I’ll make sure you don’t get pneumonia. Fair?” Max nodded and got back to work.

  With the tire on and tightened and the tools back in Max’s truck, there wasn’t much left to say.

  “Thank you, Max. You have no idea how much time you saved me. Dinner is at my house tonight, and I still haven’t gotten the food.” She shoved the umbrella at Max and reached into the backseat of her car for a dry sweatshirt.

  Max knew he shouldn’t—he knew it was a bad idea—but he still found himself asking it anyway. “Can I offer you some company while you do your food shopping?”

  Janie looked confused but not totally opposed to the idea, so Max stupidly added, “As friends, of course.”

  Max tried to ignore the stab of pain he saw in her eyes, as well as the stab he felt in his gut, when she answered both his question and his clarification.

  “Of course.”

  Like children, Max and Janie walked up and down the aisles of the market putting food into their carts and making fun of each other’s choices.

  “Really, Max, Fruity Pebbles? What are you six years old?” Janie teased.

  “Oh, okay, this is coming from the girl that has two boxes of fruit snacks and a bag of Circus Peanuts in her cart.” Max laughed. The tight coil in his stomach seemed to be loosening as they shopped and fell into familiar, friendly banter. This was them––easy, happy, comfortable.

  He helped her decide on the menu for that night’s dinner, and then they split up to collect all of the necessary ingredients for the meal.

  “Do you remember the time Lyla tried to make Chinese food for Sunday dinner?”

  “Janie, I thought we agreed as a group to never ever discuss that meal again. My stomach still lurches every time I see Kung Pao chicken on a takeout menu.” Max gave an exaggerated shiver, sending the two of them into a small fit of laughter.

  He reached over to swipe a package of crackers off the shelf, accidentally brushing against Janie’s side lightly. The contact sparked tiny licks of fire in the blood coursing through her veins. The quick pang of lust stopped her for the briefest of seconds. He only wants to be your friend, she reminded herself with a mental slap, and you are moving on.

  Max felt the contact of their skin in two waves: first as a hot rush, then as a hard punch to the gut. He watched her reaction from the corner of his eye. Did she feel that? Do I want her to? He wanted her with everything he had, and that was the problem. He had nothing, nothing left to give her. Even he wasn’t so selfish as to claim her and then offer her nothing but the shell he had come to be.

  “Ew, you like Greek yogurt?” Janie’s sexy voice brought Max out of his convoluted thoughts.

  “Yes, snooty girl, I do. It’s good for you. I add protein powder to it and make shakes to drink after I work out.” Janie scrunched up her nose and muttered something unintelligible. “What did you say, sweetness? I didn’t catch that.” Max grinned.

  “You know w
hat, Max, you really don’t want to know,” she challenged. “It will make you never want to eat Greek yogurt ever again.”

  Max stood close to Janie, her coconut-and-lime-scented body filling his nose. He leaned down and lifted her chin with his index finger and thumb to meet her cerulean eyes. “I want you to tell me what you said just now, Jane.”

  Looking into the most beautiful emeralds she had ever seen, and feeling the profound loss of something that was never truly hers, she pulled in a breath and gave Max a sinister smile. “Okay, Max, but you asked for it…” She paused a beat, stretching out the drama. “The taste and texture of Greek yogurt reminds me of pussy. It’s all slightly sour and thick and…don’t you think?” With a huge grin and a little extra sway in her hips, Janie started to walk away, leaving a stone-still Max standing in the dairy aisle with a hard on.

  “How would you know what that tastes like?” he asked, not recognizing the slightly higher-than-usual pitch of his own voice.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” she shot back over her shoulder.

  Fuck, he thought to himself, placing the yogurt back on the shelf.

  After they checked out at the market, Max helped Janie put her groceries into her trunk. The rain temporarily stopped, but according to the news, there was another thunderstorm headed in their direction.

  “Dinner’s at five.” Staring pointedly in his eyes, she continued. “What’s done is done. I expect to see you, okay?”

  Heat surged through his body when she pressed her soft lips to his unshaved cheek. “I’ll be there, Janie.”

  He watched as she got into her little red Jetta and drove away.