Johnnie broke into my thoughts. “Remember those rumors about you two?”
I groaned. “How can I forget? That was so embarrassing. And it wasn’t true. Just so you know…”
“Yeah, I know.” Johnnie grinned sheepishly. “Millie said you didn’t really sleep with him. I knew it was a lie. I was so pissed at him that he said all that stuff about you.”
“I didn’t know Millie told you that!”
Johnnie leaned back in his chair. “She told me when I told her I was going to ask you to prom. I guess she wanted to set the record straight. What actually happened? I’ve always wondered.”
I felt myself blushing. “Me and Millie snuck out to a party. I didn’t get out much then, my mother is really strict, I guess you could say. Anyway, I got a taste of freedom and I got really drunk. Back then I couldn’t hold my liquor. Well, I still can’t, but at least I’m sensible enough to know it now.”
I glanced at Dusty across the bar and quickly looked away, my pulse racing when he caught me. I took a deep breath. “Anyway, somehow I passed out next to him in my drunken stupor. I was surprised when the rumors started circulating. Upset at the attention, really. I mean, it was like the mere thought of Dusty sleeping with me, Jane Brown, was so unbelievable to everyone. Ah, the whole thing really hurt.”
Johnnie’s hand shot across the table and squeezed my own. “I hate that that asshole hurt you. You should stay away from him. He’s good-looking and popular, the kind of guy that would crush you in a minute. He’s an ass. You’re too good for him, Jane.”
“I’m not interested in him.” My denial sounded weak.
Johnnie looked at me with pity. “Uh huh. Sure you’re not…”
Chapter 4
Dustin
Chad elbowed me. “It’s your fucking turn, man. Quit staring at that chick and take your shot.”
I picked up the cue stick and stalked over to the pool table. “She went to our high school. So did that Johnnie guy.”
“I don’t remember them. She is kind of hot though.” Chad took a gulp of his beer.
I sunk a ball into a corner pocket and stood up straight. “I think I’ll invite her to the party tomorrow night.”
Chad’s eyebrow rose. “Won’t your girlfriend get mad?”
His words annoyed me for some reason. “That I ran into someone from high school and invited them to the party?”
Chad shrugged. “I don’t know, man. You know Michelle. She’s got you on a tight leash. By the balls.”
Fucking tight leash, my ass. I gripped the cue stick too hard and flubbed the next shot. I was about to vehemently defend my manhood, but I noticed the rest of the guys had finished their dart game and were heading back to the pool table. The last thing I needed was all of them getting on my case. Their teasing would hit too close to home.
Michelle was turning out to be like every other girl I ever dated. It felt like I was continuously jumping through endless hoops to keep her happy. Buying her stuff, giving in to her every demand or she’d pout for days. It all seemed to be about keeping up appearances for her. I was pretty sure Michelle didn’t love me, even if the words mechanically came from her lips every so often. And I was pretty sure I didn’t love her. So why was I saying it right back?
I grabbed my beer off the nearby table and waited as Chad lined up his shot. It was a tough shot that he tried to bank in the side pocket, but missed by a hair. I circled the table as I chalked my cue, looking for an angle. I glanced up, as I had been keeping tabs on Jane all night, and almost panicked when I saw her grabbing her bag and getting up to leave.
Without thinking, I shoved the pool stick into my buddy’s hand. “Steve, take the shot for me. I’ll be back in a minute.”
I ignored my friends’ protests as I left to intercept Jane. I slid in front of her just before she was about to make it out the door. She looked genuinely startled and Johnnie looked pissed. I didn’t care. I needed to talk to her.
“You were going to leave without saying hello?”
I saw her glance nervously at Johnnie. Fuck. She really was still with that dude. I didn’t spend a lot of time assessing other guys, but I could tell that Johnnie was a ladies’ man. And he didn’t seem too happy that I was talking to his girl.
Johnnie stood staring me down for a moment and then he turned to Jane. “I really gotta go. Are you sure you’re okay to drive home?”
Jane’s smile lit up her whole face, too bad she was smiling at Johnnie. “I didn’t even finish my second beer. I’m fine.”
Johnnie’s eyes slid to me again. He was warning me off and I didn’t blame him. I would do the same damn thing. He pulled Jane into a hug and whispered something into her ear. I felt fucking uncomfortable standing there like an idiot, but I wasn’t budging until I talked to her.
Finally, Johnnie left. Jane looked at me expectantly. “Hello, Dustin.”
She looked so beautiful. I wanted to make some subtle moves on her and see if she’d ditch that Johnnie guy, but something about her knocked me off my game. Maybe it was the air of innocence about her. Maybe it was the naked vulnerability I saw in her face or maybe it was that she didn’t look too particularly thrilled to see me. “I haven’t seen you around much. Are you in town visiting your parents?”
She glanced away uncomfortably. “No, I still live here.”
I leaned up against the wall trying to look casual. “Oh, cool. You should drop by my place tomorrow night. We’re having a party. Nothing special, just a bonfire out back and some fun.”
She looked skeptical. “You’re inviting me to your party?”
“Yeah. I’d like you to come.” I hoped I didn’t sound as overeager as I felt.
“I don’t think so.”
Her answer deflated me. I didn’t know why I wanted her there so much. Well, I did in all honesty. I had wanted to hook up with Jane since that night in high school when she had crawled onto the sofa bed with me. Seeing her now had rekindled all those raw lusty feelings. I had never been able to get her out of my head since that night, but I had a girlfriend now. I didn’t need the complication of another girl, especially not with Michelle. She knew how to make my life hell on a good day with all her drama.
Still, I couldn’t let it go. “Why not?”
Jane thought for a moment. “I won’t know anyone there.”
“You’ll know me.” It slid off my tongue so easily. I slipped my hands into my pants pockets hoping to hide the fact that my dick was acting up.
She was blushing again. “I’m sure you’ll be busy with your friends.”
“Why are you so stubborn? Look, you can bring Johnnie.” Jesus, I was practically begging her now.
She shook her head. “I’m not sure he’d want to go. Can I bring my friend, Millie?”
My stomach clenched. Was she going to say yes? “I remember Millie. Sure.”
Jane shrugged nonchalantly. “Okay. I’ll think about it.”
God, she was killing me. I pulled out my cell phone. “Okay, what’s your number? I’ll text you my address.”
She hesitated for a moment. “Just tell me. I’ll remember it.”
She didn’t want me to have her phone number, for God’s sake. I really had some work to do. “I’m on Willow Grove. Number 25. It’s a grayish split level with green shutters.”
Jane nodded. “Okay, Dusty. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
She turned and walked out the door, just like that. I stood leaning against the wall like a dope.
What was I thinking? I knew what I was after. Despite the fact that it could fuck up my relationship with Michelle and fuck up Jane’s relationship with Johnnie, and undoubtedly have Johnnie gunning for me, I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted inside Jane Brown’s pants. And it was a really stupid idea.
Chapter 5
Jane
I sat on the park bench the next morning impatiently waiting for Millie to show up. I desperately needed to tell her about my adventure the night before and I didn’t wan
t my mother to overhear anything. She would definitely try to listen to my phone call as my ‘date’ with Johnnie had her pretty rattled already.
Millie finally arrived and plopped down on the park bench beside me. “Spill it! What happened with Johnnie? I’ve been dying all morning to find out.”
I loved drawing out this part; I rarely had good gossip or stories to share, so I milked this one for all it was worth. “First, let me just say, that Johnnie is looking mighty fine. Super ‘yummy’ as you would say.”
Millie’s eyes sparkled as she squeezed my knee in excitement. “I knew it! Aaaand?”
“And we talked for a long time. Got caught up on the last few years.” I knew the suspense was killing her.
Millie urged me on. “Okay, skip to the good part. Did he ask you out again? Did he kiss you? C’mon, Jane. I gotta know.”
“Yes and no. And you won’t believe the bombshell he dropped on me.” I was enjoying my little moment.
Millie’s eyes bugged out. “What?! You’re killing me. Yes, what? No, what? What are you talking about?”
I laughed. “Yes, he asked me out again and no, he didn’t kiss me.”
Millie frowned. “Darn. But maybe he’ll kiss you next time? Where’s the next date going to be?”
“He asked me to have dinner over his parent’s house tonight. And, I don’t think there’s going to be a kiss. We’re just going to remain friends.”
Millie was upset at my news. “Jane, don’t give up so easily! Does he have a girlfriend in California? Still, who cares? You’ve got to go after what you want in life or you’ll always be sitting on the sidelines.”
“I would never go after Johnnie if he had a girlfriend. But, he doesn’t.” I paused a moment to let the full impact of my words hit her. “He’s got a boyfriend.”
Millie looked puzzled. “A boyfriend?”
“Yep.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “As in, he’s gay?”
“Yep.”
“No!” She shook her head in denial.
I nodded. “Yes, it’s true. But he hasn’t told anyone at home yet, so keep your mouth shut. He’s pretty torn up about revealing it.”
“Oh my God. I just can’t believe Johnnie’s gay.” She sat back against the park bench. “I guess that explains the fiasco on prom night.”
I winced remembering how utterly devastated I had been that night and for weeks to follow. His rejection had seemed soul-crushing back then. “At least now I know it wasn’t me.”
Millie still looked shocked. “Wow. That is some really big news. I’m sorry, Jane, if you got your hopes dashed with Johnnie.”
I smiled secretly to myself. “I saw Dusty last night, too.”
Millie’s head swiveled toward me, and her mouth dropped open. “Dusty Hamilton?”
“Do you know any other Dusty?” I replied dryly.
Millie rolled her eyes. “Did you talk to him?”
“He came over to say hi just as we were leaving.” I tried to sound as if it was just an everyday occurrence.
Millie’s brow creased. “So, he remembered you?”
“Apparently.” He remembered. And he seemed interested.
“Whoa.” Millie giggled. “Is he still looking as hot as ever?”
“Hotter than ever.” I fake fanned myself.
Millie laughed. “Listen to the two of us. Squealing over boys like we’re still in high school. It’s kind of pathetic.”
I knew what she meant, but I was still having fun. “It’s a bit pathetic, but I feel like we didn’t get our time in high school, so let’s just enjoy it now.”
“Yeah. So what else did Dusty say?”
I had left the best part for last. “He invited me to his house for a party tonight. And he said I could bring you, too.”
“Jane!” Millie was bubbling with excitement. “We got invited to Dusty’s party? Holy shit! Tonight? I can get someone to work my hours. Omigod. How are we going to get around your mother?”
“I can’t go, Millie. I promised I’d have dinner at Johnnie’s parent’s tonight.” I hated ruining her enthusiasm.
Millie groaned. “Don’t do this to me, Jane. You’re kidding, right? You’ve only had the most massive crush on Dusty Hamilton for the last four years.”
“That doesn’t mean I can ditch Johnnie. He needs a friend right now.” The truth was I was too damn scared to go to Dusty’s party.
Millie jumped off the bench and started pacing. “Jane, what am I going to do with you?”
I laughed. “Am I that bad?”
“Worse.” Millie gazed out toward the pond where the sunlight was bouncing off the surface.
We kept quiet until a jogger ran past our bench and down the footpath, out of earshot. My cheerful mood was slowly deflating.
Millie pointed about a hundred yards behind us. “There’s the ‘ole wishing fountain. Do you have any change to toss into it?”
I glanced at the tiered fountain, the water cascading down its white stone sides. “I can’t spare any damn change for wishes; I’m flat broke.”
Millie turned to me, looking intensely serious. “If you could, what would you wish for?”
I thought for a moment. “Oh God. I’d wish I could get unstuck. I feel like I’m trapped in this endless boring life where nothing exciting ever happens to me. I need a job. That pays well. I need a boyfriend. Someone hot as hell, like Dusty, but someone who really cared about me. I want a chance at love.”
Millie sighed exasperatedly. “That’s like a million wishes, Jane. I think you can only get one.”
I scrunched up my nose. “Well, I don’t have change anyway…”
Millie dug into her pocket. “Here. Here’s a dime for you and a penny for me. Maybe a dime will give you more wishes. Let’s toss them in.”
I took the dime from Millie and we both walked over to the fountain. The water gurgled softly as we both turned our backs and tossed the change over our shoulders and into the fountain.
Millie giggled. “I wished for a gorgeous hunk to sweep me off my feet.”
“What is it that Aunt Bettie always says about wishes? ‘If wishes were fishes… how does it go? If wishes were fishes…” I couldn’t remember.
Millie looked at me oddly. “I never heard that one. Here’s mine: If wishes were fishes… I’d go fishing. Really, making wishes on a wishing well is silly. You have to go after your dreams. You can’t just sit around waiting for things to happen, and then bitching when nothing does. I need to start looking for my gorgeous hunk. Maybe he’s at Dusty’s party.”
“What about Rick?” Rick was Millie’s on-again off-again boyfriend.
“We’re taking a break right now. Which means he’s probably fucking some other girl.” Millie sat down on the grass and started picking at the clover.
“I’m sorry, Mille.” I sighed and sat down beside her. “You remember what happened the last time we went to a party together? Remember Dusty started those awful rumors about me? Why should I even give him the time of day?”
Millie looked dejected as she searched through the clover. She was always searching for one with four leaves. “Fine. We won’t go. In a few days Johnnie will be back in California and you’ll probably never run into Dusty again. Your life will be back to normal then. Just the way you like it.”
I felt a twinge of panic at facing the truth behind her harsh words. “Oh God, I am like my mother. Paralyzed by fear into never taking any chances.”
Millie peeked up at me through the long brown hair that was hanging over her face. “Girlfriend, you’ve just got to work on allowing yourself to have fun. You’ve just had all the joy of having fun psychologically beaten out of you by your mother.”
I snorted. “Who are you? Dr. Phil?”
“Remember how scared we were to go to Jordan’s party? We thought we’d get kicked out or something horrible? And when it was all over, we talked about that one party for months. It was the most memorable thing that happened to us in high school.”
Millie continued searching the clover, picking a few promising ones and tossing them back down after closer inspection. “Dusty’s party could be another adventure for us, Jane. And I’ve changed a lot since back then. I’m not that scared little mousey girl anymore.”
I thought about it. Had I changed at all since high school? I thought I had when I was in college. I felt stronger, more confident then. I finally felt alive. But I had reverted right back to the old days as soon as college was over.
Thank God Millie was my friend. “I remember you were the one who convinced me to go to the party that night. I was dead set against it.”
Millie tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled at me. “It was the night you kissed Dustin Hamilton. Your first kiss.”
I already knew in my heart that I had to do this. “Yeah, and I’m still fantasizing about him four years later. And he’s looking better than ever, Millie. But Johnnie warned me that Dusty was no good.”
“There’s going to be tons of cute guys there. Besides, we’re older and wiser now- Oh! Look!” Millie held up a clover, grinning ear to ear. “Holy shit! They really do exist! I was beginning to doubt it after all these years of searching.”
I leaned in to inspect the green clover resting in her palm. Sure enough, four perfect lobes unfurled from the stem. “Wow. That’s good luck, Millie. And, I think it’s a sign…”
“Are you saying that you want to go to the party?” Millie looked hopeful.
I nodded. “Between the wishing fountain and the four-leaf clover, I think tonight’s gonna be a good night. Epic, even.”
Chapter 6
Dustin
I was excited for the party, more excited than I had been for a party in years. And I knew why, it was because of Jane. I had no idea what the chances were that she’d actually show, but I knew I’d be looking out for her all night.
Being Jane: A New Adult Erotic Romance: Fountain of Love Page 3
