Forever Red

by Carina Adams

  Lia jumped back, fear in her eyes. “Did I hurt you?” Fingertips traced the outline of one of my bruises, but I shook my head. “I can’t believe Mike did this.”

  I gave her my best cocky grin. “You should see him.”

  “You hit him back? Because of me?”

  The look of horror on her face had me shaking my head. “No. It was because of me. It’s all good now. Really.”

  I started to explain that Mike and I were fine, but the phone rang. Moving from my lap, she grabbed the cordless and glanced at the number. Her shoulders slumped and she sighed, and I knew it was my mom before she held it up. “It’s for you.”

  I took it from her, not wanting to put her in the middle. “Hello?”

  “Nathaniel Carleton Kelly, you have twenty minutes to walk your ass through my door. Do you understand me?”

  “I’ll be there.” The words had barely left my mouth before the line went dead. Looking up at the most beautiful creature in the world, I wanted nothing more than to take her to bed and hold her all night, forcing reality away. But like I’d told Lia earlier, my choices were made for me. “I gotta go.”

  Lia hugged me tight, going up on her tiptoes to reach my lips. “We’re going to be okay, Neil. I love you.”

  I smiled all the way home, not caring that I was going to be in deep shit. My mom could yell and rage and ground me all she wanted. The only thing that mattered was Lia, and the fact that she wanted to stay together. For the first time, it felt like she wanted the same things I did. It was only a matter of time before I convinced her she wanted nothing more.

  Chapter Seventeen

  ~ Cecelia ~

  I looked at the clock and groaned. I still had fifty-two minutes left in my double shift. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear the thing was broken. Last time I’d checked, which felt like an hour ago, it had claimed I only had fifty-seven minutes to go. Ugh.

  As I looked around the room again, trying to see which customers I hadn’t visited in a while, the bell over the door jingled and Mr. Matthews walked in. Unfortunately, he wasn’t alone. Mr. Knightly and Mr. Phillips were with him. They were talking and laughing in that way that good friends do and didn’t notice me. I silently prayed they wouldn’t sit at one of my tables, but knew I was screwed as soon as they headed straight for my section.

  Taking a deep breath, I plastered a smile on my face and grabbed three menus. “Good evening, gentlemen,” I said, hoping they couldn’t hear the nervousness in my voice.

  Mr. Matthews looked up first, breaking away from his conversation. “Lia? I didn’t know you worked here.”

  I offered a nod. “Yep. Summer job. What can I get you to drink?” If Mr. Matthews thought it was odd that I stared at him while his friends ordered, he didn’t let on. I was desperate not to make eye contact with him, even if I did look like a major spaz.

  I grabbed their beer bottles and delivered them, careful to avoid looking at more than his hands. Even that made me blush, though, because I could remember, quite vividly, where those hands had been the last time I saw him. And it certainly wasn’t any place PG. Clearing my throat, I glanced back up at Mr. Matthews. “Ready to order?”

  “They need a minute.” He tipped his head across the booth to the other teachers. “How are you?”

  I swallowed, shifting my weight. Fuck him. He was nothing to me anymore, not even my teacher. I wasn’t going to let him make me uncomfortable. Smiling at my favorite history teacher, I shrugged. “Good. Busy. I miss Neil.”

  He cocked an eyebrow at me, stretching his arm over the back of the seat next to him. “You and Kelly…”

  “Are still together.” It felt odd having this kind of conversation with a man that used to be not only my teacher, but also someone I’d been determined to lure into bed. He’d been Neil’s coach, though, and had been a pretty big support to my boyfriend all year. I think it was safe to say he was definitely back in the role-model role.

  He smiled – a gorgeous, panty-dropping smile that used to get me all worked up. “That’s good.” He looked genuinely happy at the news.

  “Cecelia.”

  Without thinking, I turned, looking into deep brown eyes I once hoped I would never see again. “We’re ready to order.”

  I stood dumbfounded for a minute, lost in his gaze. I’d forgotten how beautiful he was. His oval face and defined cheekbones were covered with thick, dark brown whiskers, making him look more masculine – and much older – than he had before. The perfect lips that always were begging to be kissed now split in a smile, telling me he knew I was staring.

  I jerked my gaze back to Mr. Matthews, who was giving me a look that said he knew there was more going on. “You remember Craig; right, Lia? He used to be a student teacher in the English department.”

  I nodded. The bastard knew I remembered him.

  “I still teach English,” Mr. Knightly corrected. “But now I have my own classroom and I’m coming back.”

  I closed my eyes briefly, hoping I’d heard wrong.

  “But, yes, Lia remembers me. She was on my field hockey team.”

  A lifetime ago, when I actually played school sports and thought being in high school was fun. Now, I couldn’t wait to get away from it all. Painfully aware that I still hadn’t taken their order, I smiled again. “What can I get you?”

  *****

  When Mike walked through the door a half hour later, I almost cried in relief. “Hey, brat!” he called as he sat on one of the stools at the counter. “Almost ready?”

  I nodded, wiping my hands on a towel. “Just have to go check on one more table, then we’re outta here.”

  Unfortunately, that one table was the same one I’d been trying to avoid. “Anything else I can get you before I head out?” I asked, hoping they’d said no.

  Instead, Mr. Knightly held up their bill. “You leaving for the night? I’ll come with you to cash out so you don’t have to come back.”

  I felt his eyes on me as we walked back to the front of the restaurant but refused to turn around. Going behind the counter, I met him at the register and started entering his information.

  “I wondered when I’d have a chance to see you.” He handed me a hundred to pay the bill. Speaking low so only I could hear him, he continued, “You look good.”

  How does one respond to that when it’s coming from a man you never wanted to see again? A man who knows you more intimately than your boyfriend? A man who had to leave his job because you almost destroyed his engagement? Technically speaking, I was pretty sure he was never supposed to talk to me again. Ms. Kismosis had been quite clear on that fact. Well, if you’re me, you open mouth and insert foot. “You look pretty good yourself. I like the beard.”

  He scratched the scruff on his jaw and I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole. I couldn’t believe I actually said that. As I handed him back his change, he held up his hand. “That’s your tip, beautiful.” He winked. “Hopefully, I’ll see ya around.”

  I looked down at the change in my hand. Fifty-three dollars. He’d tipped me fifty-three dollars. I groaned as I pocketed the cash, shaking my head.

  After I punched out, I waved to Mike and he met me at his Jeep. Mike was my ride everywhere lately. He claimed he didn’t mind, and he never accepted the gas money I offered, saying that he liked the company. I liked his just as much. Life was quiet without Neil around.

  To be honest, it wasn’t just Neil who was gone. Ally was in Alabama with the Kellys, Missy was spending the summer with her dad up north, and Julie worked at the nursing home almost seventy hours a week. Mike and I spent every free second together, but if felt like something was missing. Or, more like, someone was missing.

  “Was that Coach Knightly?” Mike asked, backing out of the lot.

  “Yeah. Apparently he’s back.” I saw the quick glance he shot me. He knew. Or at least he knew something had happened. It was pretty obvious when one of the school’s favorite teachers suddenly disappeared and his fiancée never attemp
ted to hide her wrath toward me. I didn’t say anything else on the ride to my house.

  “You okay?” He shut off his jeep and pushed open his door.

  “Yeah. It’s weird, but I’m over it. It actually makes me glad Neil’s not here. I can’t even imagine explaining it to him.”

  “Have you explained it to anyone?” I couldn’t tell if he was fishing for information or if he was actually concerned that I’d bottled it up. He had told me numerous times over the last month and a half that I needed to talk about things more.

  “Julie and Missy know.” I plopped down on the couch, hoping he’d drop it.

  “What happened, Lee?”

  “You really want to do this, right now?” I asked and he nodded. “Fine.” I sighed, rolling my eyes. “He was someone I didn’t think would be interested. When I found out he was, I acted on it, not knowing he had a serious girlfriend. We were a thing for a while, but then I found out he’d proposed to Ms. Kissmyass and ended it. He didn’t want it to be over, drama ensued, and he quit his job, agreeing never to talk to me again.”

  Mike was gawking at me, obviously surprised. “Really?”

  I shrugged. “Really.” He’d wanted to know.

  “So, the sex on the field trip… that really was you?”

  “No. We weren’t on a field trip. It was an away playoff game. I spent the night in his hotel room, not knowing another player would come to his room with the intention of seducing him.”

  “Really? That guy? How does that happen?”

  I almost laughed, but just gave him a look, hoping to convey there was definitely a reason he was popular with the ladies, but one I wasn’t going to discuss with him.

  “Ugh.” He groaned, shaking his head as if trying to get the image out. “That’s just wrong, dude!”

  I did laugh then, falling against him in a fit of giggles. Finally, he started to laugh with me. After a few minutes, he put his arm over my shoulders and pulled me into his chest. “Is it over? Are you done with him?”

  I glowered up at my friend. “You know I am. I only want Neil.”

  His eyes moved over my face and a look I didn’t recognize crossed his own. “Good.” Nodding, he nudged my shoulder. “Let’s watch a movie.”

  *****

  The incessant ringing near my ear pulled me from a happy dream, even though I didn’t want to leave. “‘Lo?” I managed to get out, sounding groggy, even to me.

  “Good morning, love.” If there was one thing worth leaving fantasy Neil for, it was the deep, Southern twang of the real Neil.

  I smiled into the phone. “Morning, babe.”

  “I woke you. Late night with Carson?”

  “Yes,” I groaned. “Movie marathon.” Lifting my head, I glanced down at the floor. I couldn’t see my friend in the pile of pillows and blankets, but I could hear his slight snore. I laughed. “He’s still passed out.”

  “God, I wish I was there. Even a movie marathon with you two sounds better than my night with The Stray.”

  I giggled. “Our choice in movies is not that bad!”

  “Really? Whatchya watch?”

  “We, uh… we had a Scream marathon.” I smiled into the phone, knowing how much he hated horror, even if it was stupid horror and really not that scary.

  Neil laughed, a sound that made my blood start to boil and my heart ache with longing. “Yeah. Sorry I missed that one.” He paused. “Hey, have you got your schedule yet?”

  I dropped back against the pillow, staring at the ceiling. The question made me sad. Most of the time, I could pretend he was only spending the summer away but that he’d be back. Denial was a great asset until it was taken away. I sighed. “Yeah. We got them a couple a days ago. Thankfully, Mike and I have a bunch of classes together. Jules too. What about you? Do you know what you’re taking yet?”

  “Not yet.” A voice in the background called his attention away.

  I had no doubt as to who would be bothering my boyfriend at six o’clock in the morning on a Saturday. I rolled my eyes and tried to force my jealousy down. She got him all the time; she could let me have him for one hour every Saturday.

  I turned, my eyes falling on a picture on my nightstand. A beaming Neil, dressed in a tux that fit him in a way that should be illegal, had his arm wrapped around me, holding me tight as if someone was going to steal me away. I looked like a little girl playing dress up, but he hadn’t taken his eyes off me once all night. It had been a great time, even if it was an outdated ritual.

  “Sorry,” Neil offered as he came back to our conversation. “Hey, I need to talk to you about something.”

  My heart started to pound and worry filled my belly. “That doesn’t sound good,” I managed.

  “It’s not anything bad,” he assured me quickly.

  “Oh, my God! Did your dad get offered a position?” Please say yes, I thought.

  “No.” His answer made my heart sink. “But I had a long talk with my dad last week. I reminded him that I’m going to be eighteen in a few months, and then I’ll have my trust fund and could essentially live anywhere I want.”

  I swallowed, not sure what he was telling me, but trying not to get my hopes up.

  “I simply pointed out that by December, I could pack my truck and move back to you, living on my own.”

  “That must have gone over well.”

  Neil just chuckled. “Actually, it did. Lia, if I had the chance to come home now, even if—”

  “Yes!” I didn’t even let him finish the sentence because whatever he was going to say didn’t matter. “If you have the chance to come home, do it! Come home to me.”

  “Red, let me finish. The Jackson’s have offered to let me stay with them. At least until my birthday. They invited me to spend the year with them, but I was thinking that if it was too much, then as soon as I’m legally able to rent an apartment, I will. So knowing that I’ll be living with the she-devil, what do you think?”

  I laughed, ecstatic. “I don’t care if you have to share a room with her if it means I don’t have to spend another day without you!” I took a deep breath. “Are you really coming home?”

  He laughed. “Holy shit. I guess I am.”

  My excited screech woke my guest, but I didn’t care. Neil Kelly was coming back. I wasn’t going to be alone anymore.

  *****

  One of the best things about Mike was that he was more of a girl than I was and enjoyed all the same things. We spent the morning lying around, watching a Felicity marathon, and having a debate over whether or not Noel was better for her than Ben. Then we drove to the beach, wasting the afternoon in the bright sun. We were both on cloud nine, knowing that our missing piece was going to be back soon.

  Usually, he’d show up halfway through my four-hour Saturday night shift, patiently waiting for me to finish up, sitting at the counter while reading some stupid sports magazine or playing on his phone. When he dropped me off that night, he was almost too excited to get rid of me. “I’ll be back at ten to pick you up.”

  That had me pausing. “Okay. Spill. Who is it?”

  He looked over at me, his face artfully blank. “Who is who?”

  “The girl that has you running off.”

  Shaking his head, he tried to cover the smile threatening to break free. “It’s no one.”

  “You totally have a date!” I smacked him in the arm. “Why in the hell didn’t you say something?”

  “It’s not a date,” he denied. “It’s just a movie.”

  “With?”

  “Julie.” The smile broke then, showing his excitement. He held up his hands in surrender before I could say anything. “It’s just a movie. One I’m going to be late for if you don’t get out.”

  I fumbled with the door latch, completely surprised. “Do you want me to find another ride home?”

  “What? No!”

  I shook my head in complete shock. “Julie? Really?” I asked and he just nodded, the goofy smile fixed in place. “How long has this been going o
n?”

  “Lee,” he groaned, checking his watch. “I swear to God I will tell you everything tonight. But, if you don’t get out right now, she’s gonna think I stood her up.”

  “Fine!” I laughed. “But you are telling me everything!”

  I’d never pictured the two of them together, but now that I thought about it, they would be perfect together. In fact, I should have set them up months ago. I probably would have had I not been so immersed in all that was Neil.

  My shift flew by. If I wasn’t lost in thoughts of the boy that would be coming home soon, I was smiling like an idiot thinking about my other two best friends. I hoped they’d hit it off because it would be beyond cool to double date.

  I only had a half hour left to go when my perfect night was ruined.

  “So, we meet again.” His voice had me snapping my head up from the table I’d been washing, meeting the chocolate eyes I was really beginning to hate. “Such a coincidence.”

  “I work here,” I snapped quietly. “It’s not really a coincidence, Mr. Knightly.”

  “Jesus. Really?” He narrowed his eyes and leaned in a little too close. “We aren’t in school, Lia. I’m quite sure you know me well enough to call me Craig.”

  He was too close. I stepped back slightly, hating that I’d just given him a small victory. “I’m actually not waiting on any more customers tonight, Mr. Knightly. If you need something, one of the others can help you.”

  He only laughed. “I was hoping you’d be working tonight.”

  “And I was hoping to get through my shift without being hassled by an asshole.”

  His lips twisted into a sleazy grin. “I missed that sass.”

  “Sass?” Now it was my turn to get annoyed. Rolling my eyes, I took what should have been a deep, cleansing breath. “The words you are looking for, Mr. English Teacher, is impolite indifference.”

  “What time do you get off?”