Being Jane: A New Adult Erotic Romance: Fountain of Love

by Quinn, Arabella

  The morning after the party, Nate drove me back to Millie’s and then asked for my phone number. I felt stupid, but there was no way I could have Nate calling my parent’s house.

  “I don’t have a cellphone.”

  Nate actually looked stunned. “No cellphone? I didn’t think a girl could actually survive without texting.”

  Sometimes I thought I was the only person in America above the age of 10 who didn’t have a cell phone. Who would call me anyway?

  I felt myself blushing. “Well, I can’t afford it right now. I’m having trouble finding a job.”

  Nate frowned. “So, how do people get in touch with you?”

  No one called me. Except for Millie. “I’ll give you Millie’s number. She can pass on the message to me.”

  I wasn’t actually expecting him to call Millie, but he did, the next day in fact. Millie was instructed to get his phone number if he called, that way I could call him back without my mother finding out. I was lying on my bed, my voice barely above a whisper, as I agreed to go out with him the following Tuesday night.

  Nate asked me what I wanted to do. My answer came without hesitation. ‘Dinner and a movie.’ It seemed like the quintessential American date, but I had never experienced it. When he asked me where I wanted to eat and I told him a diner, he was more than skeptical. Finally, I convinced him that I was serious; I was a simple girl to please.

  He was picking me up at Millie’s house. I was pretty sure he thought that I actually lived there, and I wasn’t ready to let him know the truth. It was just too hard to explain my strange parents. Or maybe it was just too embarrassing. The last thing I wanted to do was frighten Nate off.

  That night, after the whispered phone call with Nate, I went to dinner at Johnnie’s house with his parents. I had postponed it a night so that I could go to the party. Johnnie still hadn’t come out of the closet to them and Johnnie’s mother was in full matchmaking mode. It was a bit awkward. After dinner, we sat out on the porch talking for hours. We talked mostly about Johnnie’s life and problems. He needed to get a lot of stuff off his chest. Johnnie was excited to head back to California and I was glad to hang out with him before he left.

  But that night had been another night I was away from my home. My mother was getting agitated about it. I think the only reason she relented on the dinner at Johnnie’s house was because she knew Johnnie was leaving for California and I wouldn’t see him again for a long time. That really put her mind more at ease. Like I mentioned, she was strange.

  I had only one more trick up my sleeve to get out of the house on Tuesday night for my dinner and a movie date. It happened to be Millie’s birthday and Millie fully supported me using it as an excuse. My mother was getting suspicious. (Of what, I don’t know. That her daughter was actually having a little bit of fun in her life?) I felt a confrontation brewing and I knew I’d have to face the craziness sooner or later.

  I told my mother exactly what I was doing; I just left out the part that I was doing it with Nate. I headed out the door with the batch of chocolate chip cookies that I had made for Millie’s birthday. I would hang out with Millie for an hour or so before Nate picked me up.

  The date with Nate started awkwardly. Conversation at the diner seemed stilted. Nate started by asking me about high school. Little did he know, that between my infatuation with his roommate that was recently shred to pieces, and my mind-numbingly boring history at high school, it wasn’t the greatest conversational topic for me. Soon, however, he asked me about college and I had slightly more to tell. He listened attentively as I told him about getting my hospitality management degree and my subsequent job search.

  My lack of sophisticated conversation or sparkling personality didn’t seem to matter very much to Nate though. He was attracted to me, and our subtle back and forth flirtations made my stomach flutter excitedly. Nate was good-looking, fun to be around and he was showering me with attention. The feeling was heady to someone as inexperienced as I was. I wasn’t invisible anymore. I felt alive again.

  While I waited with Nate at the counter for him to pay our bill, I noticed a “Help Wanted” sign hanging on the back of the register for a part-time waitress. The lady who rang up our bill told me that they needed someone to fill the late shift for three or four nights of the week. She seemed almost apologetic about the horrible hours, but I barely listened as she rambled on about how desperately they needed a replacement because the current staff was stretched too thin. My mind was already racing with the possibilities. A job like this could give me the cover I needed to get out of the house without my mother’s suspicions and give me a little pocket change to boot. I took an application as we left and headed to the movies.

  The movie was a fast-paced action film, but I barely followed the plot. I was busy reveling in all the little things that I had never experienced before like Nate’s hand reaching for mine over the armrest, or his arm casually wrapping around my shoulder or how he leaned in and softly kissed my lips when he caught me staring at him.

  I was playing it cool, but in reality I was as giddy as a teenaged girl. My brain was spinning with excitement. I was finally experiencing something that was old hat to most people my age. Nate was a good guy and I was attracted to him. I could even see myself falling in love with him. The thought left me astounded and almost out of breath.

  If this date with Nate led anywhere, I would have to continue sneaking out of my house to see him. It made me angry that my mother would freak out about me dating a guy. Dating was a completely normal part of life. For some inexplicable reason, she somehow expected me to find a man and get married without going through the normal dating process. It was bizarre and I didn’t understand it.

  An uncomfortable realization settled in my gut. It was time I stood up to my mother. I had allowed her to dictate my life for far too long now. It would be painful, but one thing I knew for sure was that I couldn’t go on like this. I had to push back.

  My date with Nate was over way too fast. We were parked in Millie’s driveway where I had left my car.

  “Thanks, Nate. I really enjoyed myself tonight.”

  Nate turned toward me and smiled. “Even the movie? With all those car chases and explosions?”

  I had barely watched the movie. “Sure, it was okay.”

  Nate looked skeptical. “I’ll let you pick the movie next time.”

  I couldn’t help the grin from breaking out on my face. He was talking ‘next time’. “Then you better bring your tissues. I’m gonna go for a real emotional tearjerker with deep and profound meaning. And I’m gonna quiz you on it afterward.”

  Nate’s laughed. “Challenge accepted.”

  I didn’t want the date to end, but I felt uncomfortable sitting in Millie’s driveway. “I should probably go before Millie notices us out here.”

  “Millie?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, this is Millie’s house. Today was her birthday and I was hanging out here before you picked me up. I live with my parents over by the park.”

  Nate took it all in stride. “Oh, okay. I guess I’ll let you go, if you promise to go out with me again.”

  A buzz of happiness thrummed through me. “I promise.”

  “Do you like to bowl? A bunch of us go on Thursday nights.”

  Thursday was in just two days. Despite my earlier decision about confronting my mother, I didn’t want to have to do it so soon, but I really wanted to see Nate again. “I’ve never been bowling.”

  Nate looked surprised. “Really? Well, you don’t have to bowl. You can come and just hang out if you want.”

  I pushed down my worries. I would figure out a way to sneak out again if I didn’t have the courage to deal with my mother by then. “Sure, what time do you go? I’ll meet you at the bowling alley.”

  “I can pick you up-”

  “No, that’s okay. I’ll meet you there.”

  Nate shrugged. “Be there around seven o’clock.”

  “Seven o’clock, got it. Thanks
for the date. I really enjoyed it.” My hand reached for the car door.

  “Jane.” Nate’s voice stopped me. “C’mere for a second.”

  I looked at him questioningly. “I’m right here.”

  Nate motioned for me to move closer. “A little closer.”

  There were those butterflies dancing around again. I smiled and inched closer to him.

  “A little bit closer.”

  I leaned even closer to him, my heart beating fast with anticipation.

  His arm looped around my body and pulled me into him as our mouths connected. I had been waiting for this moment all night and it didn’t disappoint. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have a guy like Nate kissing me.

  We kissed for several minutes before Nate pulled back. “Good night, Jane.”

  I slid off the center console and back to my seat. I smiled back at him before I opened the door and got out of the car. A sense of happiness I hadn’t felt in a really long time filled me. I couldn’t wait to tell Millie that I had a boyfriend.

  Chapter 10

  Dusty

  I cringed when I saw some of Michelle’s friends show up at the bowling alley. I hadn’t seen Michelle since the morning after the disastrous bonfire party and I’d been carefully avoiding her calls. I hoped like hell she wasn’t going to show up too.

  And even though I had been constantly thinking about Jane since I fucked up our brief encounter at the party, she was the last person I expected to walk in the door at the bowling alley. A strange shock jolted me as our eyes connected, but she immediately looked away and began scanning the clusters of people around the huge bowling alley looking for someone.

  Her eyes settled on someone near the bar and then she smiled and waved a greeting to someone. I turned to the bar and I saw Nate heading over to meet her. An unsettling feeling sank into me. She was here to meet Nate. I had no idea that their relationship had gone anywhere beyond the one night, but the knowledge left me cold.

  I was gathered with my friends around our lanes, but I could hardly follow their joking conversations. My mind was stuck on Jane and Nate.

  Nate led her over to our group. He had a big dopey grin plastered on his face. He began introducing Jane to people in the group. “Jane, you know some of these guys from high school, but this is Steve…”

  I suddenly became absorbed with my beer and pretended not to be listening to the conversation as I heard Ace joking with her. “Hey, Jane. You should have brought your friend with you. Molly, was it?”

  I snuck a glance at Jane. She looked right at home in the crowd with Nate’s arm around her waist. “Millie. Sorry Ace, she was busy tonight.”

  When Ace turned away, Jane leaned into Nate and whispered something to him that had him laughing like a fool. My gut wrenched with jealousy.

  Jealousy was not an emotion that I had a lot of experience with. And when it came to girls, I almost never felt jealous beyond a fleeting notion. The feeling I had seeing Jane with Nate was something much more than fleeting. It felt raw. Piercing. And it annoyed me to no end.

  The night was getting shittier by the moment. I even thought about leaving, just so I didn’t have to see Jane and Nate together, but I couldn’t think of a good enough excuse. I should have left, because twenty minutes into my worst bowling game ever, Michelle showed up.

  She chatted with her girlfriends for at least ten minutes before she even acknowledged me. When she came over to me, she wrapped herself around me like a snake. “Hey Dusty.”

  I untangled myself. “What are you doing here? I thought you hated bowling?”

  “I would have told you I was coming, but I’ve been having trouble getting through to you. Is your phone working?” She looked at me innocently enough, but she must have known that there was trouble between us. “Anyway, Beth begged me to come. She has a thing for Ace and she wanted some friends around for support.”

  I swirled the beer around in my cup. “Michelle, we need to talk. About us.”

  She smiled brightly. “How about I come over to your place after bowling. Then we can have privacy to talk and do… whatever.”

  Her tone was confident and even seductive. There was no way she could be that clueless. But maybe she was.

  It was Nate’s turn to bowl and he was getting grief from the guys because he had been too busy making mushy eyes at Jane to notice. When he stood and announced that Jane was going to bowl that frame for him, the teasing only grew louder.

  Chad called out, “Hey Jane, you better get a strike or else Nate’s gonna be pissed. He’s a competitive bastard.”

  Nate brushed aside the good-natured joking as he helped Jane pick out a ball. “Give her a break. She’s never bowled before.”

  Ace laughed. “This should be good. Are you sure you want to do this, Jane? The pressure’s on now. Everyone’s watching.”

  Jane looked around the crowd and shrugged before she stepped up to the lane. “I like to try new things.”

  The guys exchange amused glances, reading perverted meaning into her comment, but luckily Jane didn’t see that. Nate was trying to show her what to do while everyone watched the spectacle with rapt attention.

  I had forgotten about Michelle standing next to me for a moment until she spoke again. “I can’t believe Nate is into that girl, Jane. She’s the one from the other night. The one he met and fucked at the party.”

  I couldn’t stop myself. “That’s how I met you.”

  Michelle frowned. “That was totally different, Dusty. Anyway, I can’t believe Nate is slobbering all over her. Look at her. She’s a total slut.”

  I felt my body stiffen with annoyance, but I said nothing.

  Jane finally sent the bowling ball down the lane. Everyone watched as the ball curved to the right and just nicked the side pin before tipping into the gutter. Jane was laughing as the crowd around our lanes cheered as the one pin toppled.

  Jane shrugged her shoulders in apology to Nate and his head sunk in mock despair. He retreated to the ball return and grabbed Jane’s ball for her. This time she knocked down three more pins. Nate’s score was toast, but he didn’t seem to care.

  I could practically feel Michelle bristling with anger next to me. She loved to be the center of attention and Jane getting the spotlight pissed her off. Not that I was enjoying the moment any more than she was.

  It was my turn to bowl on the other lane. When I was finished, I noticed that Michelle was over talking to Nate and Jane. From where I was standing, it looked more like she was flirting with Nate. She wasn’t the slightest bit drunk, but she was all over him. Jane looked uncomfortable.

  I was so busy watching Jane that I didn’t notice that Carrie, one of Michelle’s nicer friends, had sat down next to me. “You’re so quiet tonight, Dusty. Is something wrong?”

  Everything was wrong, but I couldn’t tell Carrie that. I faked a smile and tried to ignore what was going on ten feet away from me while I talked to Carrie.

  I finished my beer. “I need a new beer. Do you need anything?”

  Carrie declined my offer and headed back to her friends when I stood to head for the bar. When I saw Jane sitting alone, my feet decided to take me over to her instead.

  I sat next to her. “Hey Jane.”

  She looked wary. “Hi Dusty.”

  “I’m surprised you’re here with Nate. He’s not the dating type.” It slipped out before I could censor myself. I felt like a jackass.

  Jane’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, right. You already warned me that Nate’s an ass. So far he hasn’t been an ass to me, but I’ll be sure to be on the lookout.”

  “I didn’t mean it like that…”

  Her eyes flashed with anger. “Maybe you should be worrying about your girlfriend and leave me alone.”

  Shit, this was going all wrong. “Jane, I’m sorry about the other night. I’m not like that. And Michelle and I … ”

  I stopped talking when Nate arrived and handed Jane a new beer. “Hey Dusty, what’s going on?”


  Jane hopped up from her seat and handed her beer back to Nate. “Can you keep an eye on this while I use the restroom? I’ll be right back.” She couldn’t wait to get away from me.

  Nate took her beer and sat. “Did you and Jane date in high school?”

  I stared into my empty cup. “No. Why?”

  “I know you guys were friends, but you always act kind of weird around each other. It’s just a strange vibe.”

  “Well, we never dated. And we weren’t that great of friends, either.” I escaped Nate’s awkward questions by heading to the bar for a new beer.

  If I didn’t have to deal with Michelle that night, I’d have left already. I stayed close to my lane and bowled. I hardly talked to anyone; my mood was too sour to even pretend to have fun.

  I tried my best to ignore Jane and Nate, but my traitorous eyes seemed to be relentlessly drawn to her. She looked happy sitting on Nate’s lap. And Nate was really into her. They were caught up in each other. It was evident in their laughter, the little touches between them and the way Nate’s hand rested possessively on her hip.

  I told myself I didn’t care as I sipped at my beer. I swirled the sediments around in my beer and avoided drinking them. I studied the beer floaties in my cup like it was my job and pretended I wasn’t thinking about Jane.

  As soon as my game was finished, I found Michelle. “I’m ready to leave. Let’s go.”

  Michelle pouted. “I’m still having fun. Can we stay a little bit longer?”

  I didn’t feel like arguing. “Fine. I’m going. Come back to my place when you’re finished.”

  “Wait. I don’t have my car. I thought you’d drive me…”

  She was such a pain in the ass. She never wanted to drive anywhere and I was the one always bailing her out when she ended up stuck somewhere because of her piss poor planning.

  “If you need a ride, then you’re coming now.” I started to leave. I wasn’t in the mood to debate it with her.