by Sadie Allen
When I took a closer look at her, I could see it, right there in her eyes. They had a maniacal glint to them. Ashley didn’t like losing at anything, and Sunny not toeing the line was getting to her. She was eaten up with it. At some point since that first confrontation in February, this had become a competition with Sunny.
Sunny moved even closer to me, the front of her plastered to the front of me. I got distracted, forgetting what we were even talking about.
“Sorry, but this dance is taken. As a matter of fact, just consider anything to do with Judd as taken.”
I swear my heart skipped a freaking beat. I couldn’t help the huge grin that spread across my face. Sunny was marking her territory, and it was incredibly hot.
“Well, why don’t we let Judd tell me that himself?” The honey was gone from her voice and her usual snotty tone had returned.
Ashley looked at me like she actually expected me to say yes. I wanted to laugh in her face and nearly did, but I had a feeling that would make everything worse.
“Get lost, Ashley,” I said in a bored tone.
Her face flushed red, eyes turning into slits, and her mouth was hanging open in incredulity.
“You might catch a fly if you don’t close your mouth,” Sunny said, being overly helpful.
I turned back toward Sunny, wanting to forget Ashley even existed. However, Sunny was leaning sideways, pressing her cheek to the outside of my bicep and giving Ashley a wave that was just a wiggling of her fingers as she said, “Buh-bye now.”
“I don’t know what you see in her, Judd,” came Ashley’s voice from behind me, laced with disgust. It wasn’t the first time I had heard her say that. Then the sound of her heels click-clacking as she walked away met my ears.
“Yeah, she wouldn’t.”
“What does that mean?” Sunny’s eyes were back on me and so vulnerable that it made my chest ache.
“It’s just that … All I see is you, Sunny. You’re all I think about, and if I’m not careful, it’ll lead me to distraction.” I sent her a wink then pulled her back into my chest as we started slow dancing again.
The music had changed to a fast-paced song with a heavy beat, but I didn’t care as long as I had my girl in my arms.
We left prom after a few more dances and were now on our way back to Sunny’s trailer. Her hand was laced through mine, the weight of them resting on my thigh, right where I wanted hers to be.
Sunny was humming some tune I wasn’t familiar with as she studied our prom pictures. I had to admit the pictures turned out great. I hadn’t been so sure after we took them, but I was wrong. They were perfect. Sunny was looking at me like I was the only guy on earth, and I looked like I wanted to eat her alive, which I did, because she was just effin gorgeous.
We never heard another word from Asher or Ashley for the rest of the night, which both surprised me and made me wary. I had caught Asher’s eyes checking out my girl a few times, which had pissed me off, but other than that, we had avoided them. It wasn’t like him or her to back down, and since it was prom, I had expected pig’s blood or something. When that hadn’t happened, the wariness I felt doubled.
I had never let Sunny out of my sight, and when I felt that we had stayed long enough, I had quickly gotten her out of there as fast I could.
I had never been much for dancing, yet having Sunny close and in my arms had been one of the best moments of my life.
I pulled into her drive and parked, and when she reached for the door handle, I gave her a look and a squeeze of her hand.
The night was clear, and the stars were so bright that they almost looked touchable. The breeze made the normally warm night comfortable. I didn’t feel overheated in my suit jacket like I had thought I would.
I kept an eye out as I help Sunny out of the Jeep and when we walked to her door, not trusting her neighbors, especially with the way she looked tonight.
A feeling of possessiveness washed over me, and I tightened my grip on her hand as we walked up the steps to her door.
Sunny dug around in her purse for her keys, and when she had them in hand, we just stood there, looking at one another. I wasn’t sure what to do. I knew what I wanted to do, but it was too soon. I wanted what every guy wanted after prom, but Sunny was special, and it wasn’t the time. She deserved so much more than what I could give her right now.
I had never felt this way about anyone before. The emotions Sunny made me feel were foreign and intense. Anything that I had thought I had felt for Ashley basically blew away into the wind like ash.
As I stood there and looked into Sunny’s eyes, I realized I was falling in love with her. That this strong, independent girl had me wrapped around her finger. I would do just about anything for her.
I couldn’t take it anymore, so I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers, savoring the taste and feel of her. Then, something happened. It was like a switch had flipped in Sunny, and I found myself pushed against her front door, my lapels gripped in her hands, and her sweet body pressed against mine.
She deepened the kiss, her tongue invading my mouth, and I groaned. She let go of my lapels and travelled her hands all over me as I tried—I really tried—to keep my hands at her waist. However, they had a mind of their own, and before I knew it, they were on her ass.
We were full-on making out in front of her door, and we needed to stop. If we didn’t, I was in danger of something happening in my pants.
I pulled back and tried to catch my breath, but Sunny’s mouth just moved from my mouth to my neck. I couldn’t contain the moan that escaped at the feel of her soft lips and tongue on the sensitive skin.
“Sunny, wait …” I groaned out, not really wanting her to stop.
She was leaving a wet kiss on my Adam’s apple when she asked, “Why?”
I laughed. She seriously had no idea what she was doing to me.
She pressed even closer, and I changed my mind. She couldn’t be oblivious to what was happening downstairs since it was pressed against her belly.
I didn’t know where I drew the strength from, but I put my hands on Sunny’s shoulders and gently pushed her back a little.
She was panting, and the look on her face almost had me pulling her back into my arms. However, we were too close to the point of no return. As it was, I was going home with something blue.
“Sunny, we need to stop,” I panted out.
She gave her head a shake like she was trying to clear her thoughts, and a confused look came across her face. “You don’t want to kiss me?”
She sounded hurt, yet I couldn’t help chuckling at how mistaken she was.
Her face darkened at my laugh. I was about ten seconds from Sunny biting my head off.
“It’s not that, honey …” I paused, not knowing where the endearment came from. I had never used one before. Sunny felt like a honey, though. My honey. Okay, that made me sound like a douche … Still, it was true.
“Okay,” she said as she tried to lean back in, but I held her firmly away.
I shook my head, and her face fell. Then I moved my hands from her shoulders, up her neck, and to the sides of her head, framing her face. I caressed her cheekbones with my thumbs as I explained, “My body can only take so much temptation, and I’m worked up almost past the point of no return.”
Her eyebrows hit her hairline as her eyes widened and her mouth formed a cute little O of surprise.
“I also respect the hell out of you, and I don’t want to push you into something you’re not ready for, if you get what I’m sayin’.” I pressed my hips into hers for a brief second before I pulled back.
Her eyes glazed over before she seemed to shake herself from the haze she had been under.
When she didn’t say anything, I told her, “I don’t want to be your regret, Sunny.” I tried to keep my voice neutral, but I wasn’t successful. Even I could hear the emotion that clogged my voice.
Her demeanor melted, and she had a soft look on her face when she said, “You could never be
a regret, Judd, but you’re right. I’m not ready to go there just yet.”
I leaned forward and touched my forehead to hers as I exhaled the breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding.
“Plus, I’m not the kind of girl who gives it up on the first date,” she whispered.
I laughed and pulled back so I could look her in the eyes clearly without being so close that she looked like a cyclops.
“I can wait until you’re ready. There’s no rush. I’ll wait however long you need, because you’re worth the wait.” Every word was true. I would wait for her to be ready, whether that was three months or three years from now. I felt it down to my soul that Sunny was it for me, and that scared me.
The smile that graced her lips took my breath away, it was so radiant.
“So, I’d invite you in to watch a movie, but I have no TV. We could play cards?”
I loved how she didn’t want me to leave. I didn’t want to go, either, but my body hadn’t cooled down.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be alone inside your trailer tonight. Maybe we can do that later this week, though. I’ll kick your ass at poker.” I gave her a tight smile, fighting the urge to adjust myself.
She just nodded with a disappointed look on her face.
I kissed her on the nose then slid out from between her and the door.
“Text me tonight?” I asked.
She nodded again and gave me a small smile.
I leaned back in and gave her a soft kiss. When I pulled back, I whispered, “I had fun tonight.”
This time the smile on her face was genuine when she said, “Me, too.”
Before I could change my mind, I hustled down the steps and jumped into my Jeep. I waited while Sunny unlocked the door and gave me a wave before she went inside. When I saw the light in her living room flick on, I was finally able to leave.
On the way back to my house, I found myself singing along to Jon Pardi’s “Head Over Boots,” and for a second time tonight, I thought about how perfect a song could be for how a person felt.
Sunny
I WAS ASLEEP WHEN a loud bang jarred me awake. I jerked upright, feeling the hair on the back of neck stand up and my muscles tense. I was ready to run in case it was my dad coming back to finish what he had started.
It took me a moment to remember he was in jail, awaiting his court date, and had no money for bail. Therefore, it probably wasn’t him.
I sat still, letting my eyes adjust to the dark, listening to the constant thumping that seemed to be coming from everywhere and determining that the sound was coming from outside, against the sides of the trailer.
I pushed the hair out of my face, my mind racing, trying to come up with a non-scary answer for what was going on.
The sound of something dragging along the side of the trailer had me up and running for my phone. I clutched it to my chest, waiting, my heartbeat in my ears. Then a clanging sound was added to the pounding sound, and the trailer started shaking when the noise seemed to get louder, the thumping harder.
I fumbled with the phone, having to press the keys several times until I was able to press in the numbers 9-1-1 correctly. I waited for what felt like hours when it was probably only twenty seconds for a dispatch to answer the phone.
“Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?” asked a nasally sounding voice.
“Something is happening outside my trailer,” I said on a yell because the sound was getting so loud I could barely hear myself think.
I couldn’t make out anything else she said, so I yelled into the receiver my name and address, and then, “The trailer is shaking and something is beating on the side of my home. Please send the sheriff. I don’t know what’s going on.”
I knew you were supposed to stay on the line, but I didn’t feel like being caught unware with the phone to my ear. I set it down on the mattress and ran to the kitchen, looking for something to defend myself with.
I opened the knife drawer, but then immediately closed it. I didn’t want to get close enough to someone to stab them. I didn’t want to stab anyone period. Then I looked around the kitchen until I spotted Grana’s cast iron skillet sitting on the stove. I hefted up its weight and carried it back to my bedroom and closed the door.
I sat back down on the mattress with my back to the wall, watching the door. I could feel my heart racing and my breath coming in pants. I thought about texting Judd, but I wasn’t sure what he would be driving up into. He would come if I reached out to him, but I couldn’t stand the thought of putting him in danger. Decision made, I would go it alone.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to settle down my tortured nerves, to be calm. If someone came through my bedroom door, I needed to be ready to strike instead of puking.
As the banging started to die down, I heard what sounded like … hissing?
I started scooting across the mattress sideways on my bottom. Once I hit the floor, I crouched down, back to the wall, and slid toward the bedroom window. The clock on the floor flashed three a.m., and I again wondered what on earth was happening.
I got to the window and slid up the wall to look out from the side. And as I reached for the blinds, I heard it and knew. I freaking knew what was happening.
It was the sound of several female voices mimicking a Native American war cry like they did in the old westerns—patting your open mouth as you yelled at the top of your lungs.
I dropped the skillet to the floor with a loud clang and walked back to the mattress, picking up the phone.
“You still there?”
“Yes,” the dispatcher said. “I’ve radioed the sheriff, and his ETA is less than five minutes. Please stay on the line, or at least keep the line engaged until help arrives.”
I walked back to the window with the phone to my ear. I felt awkward, not knowing what to say to her except, “Okay.”
I pulled the blinds back and watched a car with flashing red and blue lights rip down the lane. The girls, who were dancing around my trailer, wearing all black clothes and ski masks, abruptly stopped and ran toward the shiny white Land Rover that practically glowed in the moonlight behind my truck.
I shook my head, thinking that the bleach really must have seeped into her brain. I couldn’t believe Ashley had actually driven her own car to commit a crime, and not only her car, but her very recognizable white car. I don’t why, but I had expected better.
Two officers jumped out of the car, guns and flashlights drawn at the girls who were practically trying to rip the doors off the white SUV, and started yelling, “Hands up!” and “Show me your hands!”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face or the chuckle that escaped.
“Ma’am, are you all right?” asked the nasally voiced dispatcher again.
“Yes, a police car just pulled up and is taking care of the problem. I’m going to let you go now.” Before she could say anything, I hit the end button on the screen.
I then pulled up my camera, switched it to video, and recorded Ashley and five other members of the cheerleading squad getting unmasked and handcuffed. Then they were marched toward the police cruiser by two men dressed in khaki. When all six girls were lined up on the ground, lying on their bellies by the side of the patrol car, in the dirt of my front yard, I switched the video off and started laughing … hard.
I was bent at the waist, with my hands to my knees, tears streaming down my cheeks, and trying to breathe through my hilarity. I didn’t know how long I stayed like that, but I just couldn’t stop.
A sharp rap at the door had me straightening up, clutching my side as I set off toward the front door.
I pulled it open a crack, still trying to suppress my laughter, and saw Sheriff Lang standing on the other side in jeans and a flannel shirt with his badge tucked in the front pocket of his shirt.
“Something funny, Miss Blackfox?” asked his gruff, no-nonsense voice.
“No … I mean, yes … I mean, I don’t know,” I answered as I pulled the d
oor open to let him inside.
“I didn’t get out of bed for some teenage girl prank. Want to tell me what’s going on?”
There was an edge to his voice, and that edge should have shut me up, should have me scared … but I couldn’t stop. My muscles were starting to cramp, and it was getting hard to breathe.
“I don’t … I don’t know,” I said while trying to draw in a breath.
His eyes widened, noticing that my laughter wasn’t exactly voluntary. Then he took me by the shoulders, ushering me over to the couch, and shoved me down, where he bizarrely asked, “Do you have any soda?”
Soda? He wants a drink right now?
My throat was too tight to answer, so I just nodded and pointed in the direction of my refrigerator.
He turned on his heel and left the room, disappearing into the kitchen. When he came back with a red can in his hand, he popped the top then pressed the cold aluminum into my hands and ordered, “Drink.” I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off, “Shut up and drink. All of it, hear?”
So, through small, cracked guffaws, I sipped the liquid, letting its sugary flavor burn its way down my throat. After the first few swallows, I felt my body start to relax and the laughter died down.
“Now, can you tell me what happened?”
Coughing to clear my throat, I told him about what had woken me up and what had frightened me enough to call the police. My throat was raw, so I kept my answers short and to the point.
“Damn girls. Excuse my language, but I’ll never understand what made them think vandalizing your trailer was a good idea.”
“Vandalizing? There’s something wrong with my trailer?”
Officer Lang had an uncomfortable look on his face that I didn’t like. I could feel a coil of dread in the pit of my stomach.
“Show me.”
“Maybe we should wait until tomorrow. I can come back out here when it’s light out—”
“No, Sherriff, I want to see what those girls did to my grana’s trailer.”
He nodded in resignation then helped me off the couch. I was shaky, but that was more on the inside than anything.
