Heart Of Marley

by Leigh, T. K.

  “Okay,” he agreed, leading me past his car and toward the main street going out to the beach. The mood was tense, the silence between us uncomfortable as we awkwardly enjoyed each other’s company.

  “Thanks for asking me to come. I mean, tonight… I mean, for asking me to go to the bonfire with you. Not for asking me to come. That doesn’t sound right.” My face flamed red with embarrassment.

  He smiled at me and winked. “No but, if you ask me, it sounds good.”

  I halted in my tracks, completely frozen in place. I can do this, I said to myself. He was just joking. He doesn’t mean anything by it. It’s just a harmless joke, Marley. Just a joke.

  He noticed my reaction and turned to face me on the street. “I’m so sorry, Marley. That was completely inappropriate. I don’t know what possessed me to say that. That’s not the way my mama raised me. I really am a good guy. I normally wouldn’t joke like that. You’ve got to believe that I didn’t mean anything by it. Please.” He slumped his shoulders, the formerly confident Doug replaced by a Doug that was full of remorse. “I understand if you don’t want to come with me.”

  My eyes grew wide, more in irony than dread or concern.

  “I mean, you don’t have to go to the bonfire with me. God, I really hate that word right now.”

  I giggled. “Me, too.” I raised my head and met his pleading eyes. I could tell that he was bracing for me to turn around and walk away from him, but that was the last thing I wanted to do.

  “Come. Say it with me. Come…” I said to him. “It feels good.” Throwing my head back to look at the stars in the sky, I shouted to the heavens, “Come!” I raised my arms like an angel and spun around, screaming the word over and over again. I must have looked like a spectacle, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want one word to come between what could blossom into a good thing with Doug.

  I slowed my spins, but the sky kept moving even when I stopped. I attempted to regain my balance, but soon found myself tripping over my own feet.

  Two arms were around me instantly, preventing me from falling to the ground. “Whoa. Careful, Marley Jane.”

  I closed my eyes and basked at the sound of his voice calling me Marley Jane. Cam called me that all the time, but there was something so warm, affectionate, and thrilling about my first and middle name rolling off Doug’s tongue. Focusing my gaze on his, I was met with his brilliant green eyes.

  “Hey,” I breathed.

  “Hey.”

  “You still haven’t said it.”

  He scrunched his eyebrows at me. “Said what?”

  A grin crossed my face. “Come.”

  He chuckled, and the way his body shook made me want to melt into his arms so that our two bodies were entwined as one, never to be separated again. Leaning down, his breath was hot on my neck. My spine tingled.

  “Come, Marley Jane,” he whispered.

  My eyes fluttered in the back of my head, overwhelmed with the effect that his body and voice had. This was completely new to me. It was exciting, exhilarating, and petrifying at the same time.

  I licked my lips as I searched his eyes to prepare myself for his next move. I could tell he was conflicted with how to act. Time to take the bull by the horns and grow a set, I said to myself.

  “What are you waiting for? An engraved invitation?”

  “For what?” he asked in earnest.

  “To kiss me.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “If I didn’t want you to kiss me, I wouldn’t have asked you to. So kiss me, Doug. I know you want to. You’ve wanted to since we dissected that frog in Biology class last October.”

  He tightened his hold on me and before I could add any more quips, his lips were pressed firmly against mine. I ran my hands through his thick hair as he kept my body close to his, supporting me, making sure I was steady on my feet, even though the touch of his lips on mine made me feel anything but grounded. I felt as if I was floating in the air, the sensation of his caring and gentle movements opening up my heart to new feelings and emotions.

  He pulled away from me and I was left panting. “That was some kiss,” I commented.

  “You’re right about one thing.”

  “Oh, yeah? What’s that?”

  “Well, you were right that it was some kiss. But you were most certainly wrong about me wanting to kiss you since dissecting a frog in Biology.”

  A disappointed look crossed my face at the thought that he didn’t actually want to kiss me.

  He nuzzled my neck and nipped on my earlobe. “I had been wanting to kiss you since we were paired up on that astronomy project in Earth Science in ninth grade.” He planted a sensual kiss on my neck before raising me so that I was standing straight once more. Winking, he grabbed my hand in his and said, “See. You were dead wrong, Marley Jane.”

  I tried to hide my excitement as we walked the few blocks toward the beach, but it was useless. Out of nowhere, a light streaked from the sky and into the ocean. I gasped in shock.

  “What?”

  I pointed toward the shore. “It’s a shooting star,” I said, my voice low and contemplative.

  He stared at me as if waiting for me to elaborate.

  “My grams,” I began. “She had this thing. She would always say that was how we would know our relatives who passed before us made it to wherever they went when they died. She said the shooting star was their way of letting us know that they were happy and were watching over us.” I continued walking on the beach, the heat of the approaching bonfire warming my skin. “Maybe that’s Grams’ way of saying that I’m doing something right.”

  He nudged me. “I hope it’s Grams’ way of saying that she approves of me.”

  “It’s not her approval you have to worry about. Or have you forgotten that I have a very protective twin brother?” I winked as we greeted a bunch of familiar faces that were huddled around the fire on the sand, coolers and beach chairs making a maze of the area.

  He rested his hand on my hip, his arms warming me in the cool summer night. “Perhaps. I have a feeling he’ll be more than okay with us. I already asked him.”

  I turned to face him. “When? Why?”

  “Well, he’s my friend, and I didn’t want him to think I was like half of the guys we go to school with that make comments to him about your legs or chest or anything else. I’ve never done that. And I won’t ever do that. I just wanted him to know that my intentions weren’t to just add another notch on my belt and that I do care for you. A lot. More than I think you realize, Marley Jane.”

  That’s all he ever had to do and I couldn’t stay angry or upset at him. His apparent admiration and devotion to me was shocking and comforting at the same time. For that brief moment in time as I raised myself onto my toes and planted an innocent, but affectionate kiss on his lips, effectively announcing our relationship to everyone at the bonfire that night, I felt as if I could finally move on from my past. I felt as if I was finally normal.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CATCH YOU WHEN YOU FALL

  I NEVER WANTED TO leave work so badly but, at the same time, stay at work so desperately that I could ever remember. I had no idea what came over me when I asked Brianna if she wanted to go with me to the bonfire tonight.

  I lived just a few blocks from the beach so I went home first, dropping off the cannoli that Anita gave me for Meg and Julianne.

  “Hey, sweetie,” my aunt said, walking down the stairs wearing her bathrobe.

  “Hey. I’m not staying,” I whispered in hushed tones, trying not to wake up anyone that was sleeping. “I’m meeting a few people at the beach.”

  “Good. Marley’s down there already.”

  “Oh really?” This was news to me. Although she typically had a rather full social calendar so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise, this summer was different for both of us with our grams being sick. “With who?”

  Aunt Terryn grinned. “I was putting the girls to bed when she came in so I missed her, but it looks like Doug cam
e to pick her up.” She gestured to the front windows overlooking the street. I followed her gaze to see my best friend’s black Pontiac sitting out front.

  “Okay. I’m just going to change real quick and then head out. Love ya.”

  She smiled her perfect smile at me, her blue eyes sincere. “I love you, too, Cameron.”

  I ran up the stairs as fast as I could. I hated the thought of Brianna sitting in her car in the public lot waiting for me for too long. It would be a horrible first impression, although I’m pretty sure her first impression of me was back in sixth grade when I arrived in Myrtle Beach as the new kid at the middle school, story after story of who Marley and I were spreading amongst the students like it was newsworthy. I guess at the age of eleven, a new student is the height of excitement. Two new students is like Christmas come early, especially when they’re fraternal twins.

  Once in my bedroom, I stripped out of my black pants and polo shirt that was the uniform at the restaurant. Hastily gliding on some deodorant and tossing on a white button-down shirt and khaki shorts, I slid into a pair of flip-flops, and was downstairs and heading out the door toward the beach in just a little more than a minute.

  The streets of Myrtle Beach were calm that Friday night. A friend of ours had been hosting these bonfires at his parents’ beach house every weekend all summer, but this was the first one I was able to attend. Ever since school let out in May, Marley and I had been spending every free moment possible with our grams. When we weren’t with her, we still avoided parties, our minds preoccupied with her deteriorating health. Even on the Fourth of July, when everyone else was dancing and laughing at the bonfire, we stayed at home, watching the fireworks from the safety and security of the roof of our house just a few blocks away from the festivities. I wouldn’t have wanted to celebrate the holiday any other way.

  The sounds of the bonfire filtered through the air as I approached the public parking lot, searching for Brianna’s vintage orange Volkswagen Beetle. I could just imagine how her mother reacted when she pulled up in her driveway with that car. In my opinion, having grown up with a dad who was a car enthusiast, it was a piece of art. Spotting it, my breath caught at the sight of the beautiful brunette’s long legs hanging out of the driver’s side as she applied lotion, the moon illuminating her slender frame.

  I approached with caution, not wanting to startle her. She appeared to be rather entranced in the act of rubbing her legs. There was something strangely erotic and comforting about the simple gesture, and I was secretly jealous of her hands. I wanted those to be my hands on her skin, caressing her, rubbing the silky lotion into her sleek legs.

  Sand crunched under my footsteps and she looked up, a heartfelt smile greeting me.

  “Cam,” she breathed, placing her feet on the ground and walking up to me.

  “Thanks for agreeing to meet me here,” I responded nervously, my eyes glued to her beautiful pink lips.

  “Thanks for asking me.”

  We stared at each other for what could have been seconds or hours while I tried to figure out how to proceed. I had been out with girls before, but never in an intimate or romantic setting. I had hung out with Brianna on numerous occasions when we were in middle school and she was invited to my sister’s parties, but this was different. I didn’t know why I never dated anyone. Girls flirted with me and I was an attractive-enough guy. I guess it all went back to my protective nature. I knew how apprehensive Marley had been about pursuing a serious relationship. Keeping her happy and comfortable had always been my top priority. I guess giving Marley a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen to had become a full-time job, not leaving much time for anything else. I just hoped it was enough for her.

  “Want to go check out the bonfire?” Brianna asked, waking me from my thoughts.

  “Sure. Sorry. I drifted off there for a minute.” I held out my arm for her to hang on to and led her across the sand toward the smoke and orange hue that was illuminating the night sky.

  “It’s okay. I’m used to it,” she replied as a gust of wind blew from the shore, throwing her off balance.

  “Whoa!” I cautioned, reacting quickly and wrapping my arms around her to steady her, enclosing her in my embrace. It was the closest we had ever been to each other. It was the closest I had ever been to any girl my age, besides Marley.

  Looking down into her eyes, the glimmer of the ocean making them dance, my breathing increased from the depth I could see.

  “You okay?” I asked quietly.

  She kept her gaze glued to mine and nodded. Her lips parted slightly and her sweet breath caressed my skin. Nothing I had ever experienced in my life felt as warm and inviting as having Brianna’s body pressed against mine.

  “Cam…” she exhaled.

  “Bri…” I replied, my voice soft as my eyes roamed her angelic face from her big brown eyes, to her small button-like nose, and finally settled on her full, pouty lips. I wondered what they tasted like.

  “What are you waiting for?”

  Nervous energy flowed through me in response to her sultry tone. “What do you mean?”

  She titled her head toward me, her mouth just a breath away from my neck. “Kiss me, Cam. I know you want to. Or, at least, I think you want to. Do you want to?” she asked, her face flashing red in embarrassment.

  “Of course. Do you want to, though? I mean, I don’t want you to want to kiss me just because you think I want to kiss you. If you don’t, I’m okay with not kissing you. Well, I’m not okay. It’ll suck to not kiss you when I’ve been thinking about it since freshman year, but you don’t have to kiss me if you don’t want to.”

  She ran her fingers through my disheveled hair and my heartbeat increased dramatically. “I want you to kiss me,” she said, a wide grin on her face. “And I plan on kissing you back.” The most adorable scowl crossed her face. “I’m not so sure there should be this much discussion before a first kiss, Cam. It takes the spontaneity out of it a bit, don’t you think?”

  “Can I get a do-over?” I asked.

  She nodded her head, smiling excitedly. “Help me up and then you can catch me again.”

  “Okay,” I said, raising her body. “I just hope I can still salvage our first kiss.” I winked at her.

  “I have faith that you can, Cameron,” her sweet voice assured me. “Are you ready to catch me?”

  I met her eyes. “I’ll always catch you when you fall.”

  She swooned in a dramatic manner, falling into my arms. My eyes roamed to her lips as she moistened them with her tongue. Lowering my head toward hers, I kept my hand firmly planted on the small of her back, holding her in place. I brushed my lips with hers and she moved against me in perfect synchronicity. Sliding my tongue across her lips, she opened her mouth in response. Our tongues met and I couldn’t remember ever feeling so aroused.

  I ran my hand down the contours of her frame, holding on to her hip and bringing her body closer to mine. I felt her shiver and her breathing increased as my tongue continued to caress hers. Pulling back, I knew I needed to stop before I could no longer hide my need for her.

  “We should probably go join the party, don’t you think?” I asked, looking down into her eyes.

  She nodded and I helped her steady herself. Grabbing her hand in mine, I turned to head to the bonfire, Brianna at my side.

  “Please tell me that I just witnessed the first kiss,” I heard before I saw the blonde hair of my sister running toward us. “Did I?” she asked excitedly.

  I could feel my ears turn red in embarrassment. “Maybe.”

  She grabbed my other hand and walked the rest of the way with us. “I think I did. I know you haven’t kissed before so unless you two were sucking face at the restaurant earlier…gross, by the way…I totally witnessed the first kiss.” She looked past me toward Brianna and winked. “And it’s about freaking time, Cameron Michael.”

  I shook my head and glanced at Brianna. “Sorry. I can’t do anything about her. She’s been harping on me to fi
nally make the first move with you all year, even when you were still dating Mason.”

  “She is right next to you…and he’s right. He’s liked you since freshman year. It’s about time he made his move, isn’t it?”

  Brianna grinned and nodded fervently. “Yeah, especially considering I had a thing for him since seventh grade Geometry class.”

  Marley laughed and the sound brought a smile to my heart. “The Pythagorean Theorem is a big turn-on for me, too. Oh, baby. The word hypotenuse does things to me.” The two girls giggled.

  At that moment, everything was perfect. I had a beautiful girl whose kisses lit my entire body on fire. I had a best friend and sister who was finally past all the trauma she had endured early on in life. And we were about to start our senior year of high school. I had a feeling that it was going to be a year I’d never forget…

  CHAPTER SIX

  FORGIVENESS

  “CAMERON, CAN YOU GO make sure that Marley is up?” Aunt Terryn asked the following morning when I walked into the kitchen.

  “Sure. Where’s Uncle Graham?”

  She slammed the refrigerator door shut, startling me. “He is playing in a golf tournament today. He said it was for the church and was necessary.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “So are you taking us today?”

  She shrugged her shoulders, beating eggs in a glass bowl somewhat roughly. “I guess I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

  “I’ll drive us so that you don’t have to.”

  “No.” Her voice was firm. “Absolutely not. Out of the question.”

  “Okay. We can try to reschedule, maybe see if Uncle Graham can take us during the week or something instead. I’ll call Mama and ask her if she can take a day off.”

  Shaking her head, she said, “No. I appreciate your understanding, but I need to learn to move past this. It still pisses me off to no end that she abandoned you kids, but I can’t let that interfere with her attempt to make amends for her past and to form a relationship with you and Marley. You need a mother and so does your sister.”