by Andy Lewter
Chapter 6
I robotically finished my breakfast and put the bowl in the dishwasher, trying to recall what day it was. Saturday? That didn't feel right. I had a feeling more time had passed.
"Good morning, Abbs." Mom said through a yawn as she walked in the kitchen. "Thanks to my vacation voucher, I finally have time to head to Wichita to do some much needed wardrobe shopping. I think I have moth holes in my shirts for work. Do you want to come?" she prattled as she fiddled about with her vegetable juicing machine.
Usually shopping with my mom means stopping at every store she lays eyes on, even if it's a store she knows nothing about. She claims she likes to "see her options". That, and things hadn't exactly smoothed back over since our failed girls' day Friday.
"Uh — no that's okay. You have fun shopping for clothes. Is today Saturday?"
"Hmm? Oh, today is Monday, sweetie," she answered, distracted from digging in the pantry.
I mentally ticked off the days and was surprised that three days had passed without my realizing it. "Do you need me to pick up something from the grocery store?" At least with grocery shopping I could get out of the house. With Olivia gone and Miles out of town, my life was truly dull. Not that I noticed, since I disconnected from reality three days ago.
"You know, now that you mention it, we do need some things from the store. Are you sure you don't mind running errands? It is your spring break, after all," she asked apologetically.
"I don't mind, have fun mom," I answered, forcing a smile.
She poured her green breakfast in a thermal mug and then dug in her purse. She handed me a list and three twenties. "That should cover the groceries. And whatever's left, just go spend it somewhere," she said smiling, apparently pleased that she found some way to feel less guilty about having me run her errands.
****
"Seven more days," I repeated to myself, pushing the grocery cart down the dairy aisle. I was using grocery shopping as the highlight of my day and I was trying not to admit it to myself. Now that I had forced myself out of my blackened state of numbness, I couldn’t recall ever needing the company of someone as much as I did now. But then again, I had never been so desperate to have distractions from my subconscious until now, either.
Olivia and Miles were both planning on coming home next Sunday, but I was secretly hoping that one would come back sooner than anticipated. With it only being the first Monday of break, I couldn't imagine what I'd come up with for entertainment after all the errands were caught up.
I was reaching for a bag of shredded cheese — the last item on the grocery list — when I heard a deep, throaty voice coming from down the aisle.
I turned around, more out of curiosity than anything, and spotted two tall guys chuckling at the end of the aisle. One had blond hair with a Green Bay Packers jersey on, and the other had dark hair and was wearing a simple black t-shirt that fit snugly against his body.
The one with the dark hair looked familiar to me, and I tried to remember if I recognized him from school.
It was when we made eye contact that I realized I was staring. I quickly turned away — embarrassed that I had just gotten caught. I placed the bag of cheese in the basket and pushed the cart around the corner, escaping the aisle and the hot guys.
After I checked out, I walked toward the exit of the store and groaned. It was pouring down rain — the sky dark and angry. Thunder rolled overhead, almost as if the clouds were crashing together directly over the parking lot. I dashed outside through the rain, shielding myself the best I could with a soggy newspaper, and steered the shopping cart through strong gusts of wind. I made it to my car, quickly threw all the groceries in my trunk and slammed it shut.
My stomach jolted to my throat when I noticed my car leaning to one side.
Just my luck, a flat tire.
I let out a few choice words that definitely would've gotten me a detention at school. I took a quick glance at the dark sky overhead and I decided to wait out the storm in the car before attempting to put the spare on the car.
I jumped in my car, turned the heater on full blast and wiped the rain off my face. Frustrated with my squeaky shoes, drenched clothes and sopping hair, I let out another few choice words and flipped my sodden hair to my back.
The sudden tap on my window was faint, but it still made me jump.
And then I blinked in shock.
It was that guy with dark hair from inside the store — only now that I saw him close up, I realized I didn't recognize him from school. I had first seen him at the salon when I almost got a massage. His copper brown eyes and visible warm smile through the storm-tainted window gave him away.
"Do you need help with that flat?" he asked through the window with a deep, attractive voice and a smile playing across his lips. I noticed he wasn't shielding himself from the rain.
It would be foolish to turn down the gesture. What was the harm in getting a little help?
I smiled back, it was almost impossible not to. He was handsome, but in a rustic kind of way.
"I guess I could use some help," I shouted to him through the gusts of wind as I rolled down my window, a coy smile on my face. "Would you like to wait in here till the storm eases up?" I asked, gesturing to the passenger seat.
I should have been panicking that I had just invited a complete stranger into my car — but the feeling never came. It didn't register to me that he was a stranger. There was something irresistible about him, and I was determined to figure out exactly what that was.
"Ok, let me go tell my friend not to wait up. Would it be any trouble for you to take me back to his place?" he asked me, his smile growing wider as he spoke.
"Of course not," I answered back, too quickly.
I didn't care if his friend lived in Colorado.
When he strode away from the car, I fixed my sopping hair — the best I could anyway — and did a fresh-breath check in my hand. What has gotten into me? But in the next moment, I realized I didn't care. I needed to make more friends anyways, right?
As he let himself in the car a big gust of wind followed him in as he shut the door. A warm, musky aroma filled the cabin — it was invigorating. The rain was coming down even harder now, making it impossible to see even a foot outside the window.
"The rain doesn't bother you?" I asked.
"Why would you say that?" He seemed amused.
"I don't know, I just noticed that you didn't mind standing in the rain." I shrugged shyly. I didn't feel shy though — I wasn't sure why I felt so comfortable around him. It was almost like I'd known him my whole life.
"My name is Abby," I said, holding my hand out confidentially.
"Hello Abby, my name is Nicholas," he said with a warm smile crossing his features.
I narrowed my eyes as our hands grasped and a zing shot up my arm.
The look on his face, the way he greeted me. I had seen this before. I had seen it in my dream.
I closed my eyes and shook my head, trying to erase the picture of my father's face that popped in my mind.
It was just a dream.
"Did I upset you?" Nicholas asked, releasing my hand uneasily.
"Sorry, I was just having some déjà vu. Don't mind me." I grinned. His copper-colored eyes complemented his copper-like skin and his dark hair had a natural wave to it. He had full lush lips, his cheeks flushed from the chill of the weather and his complexion had sort of an illuminated look to it. He wasn't a guy my sister would approve of — too much of a bad-boy. He was absolutely perfect.
I'm not sure how long I had been staring at him, but I noticed the surroundings around me had grown quiet. The rain was slowing and the sun was breaking through the clouds, sending brilliant rays of light down into the windows of the car.
"Have you ever seen such a thing?" I asked breathlessly, peering out the window and witnessing four brilliantly bright rainbows, all lined up one right after the other. They looked as if they were only yards away from my car, arching up and over for miles
.
"No, I haven't," Nicholas answered quietly, not taking a glimpse at the change in weather. He was staring contently at me.
Good grief, this man is hot.
"Do you live around here, Nicholas?" I asked him out of curiousity.
He smiled and diverted his attention to the floorboard. "I don't live here, but I have a friend that does. I'm on spring break at my school and came here to visit." He nodded.
"You came to Newton for spring break?" I quirked a brow. "You have got to be joking."
"I met you didn't I? This place has its perks after all." He smirked teasingly.
"Yeah I suppose so. But don't hold your breath on anything else outstanding happening." I furrowed my brows as I realized something. "Hey, how did you know I lived here?"
"It was a mild guess given the car. I don't think this beast could make it past the county line if you tried." He smiled a genuine, flirty smile while he patted the dashboard lightly.
"Don't bash the car, Houdini."
Nicholas laughed and it sounded musical. It was a sound that could lighten anyone's mood. I couldn't help the cheesy smile that crossed my face.
"So you say you're on spring break... what school do you go to?" I asked. He made me feel like a little schoolgirl with a crush — figuratively speaking.
"I'm a sophomore in college. It's a small college, one you probably haven't heard of. Gads, I didn't even hear about it until my parents enrolled me."
"Interesting." I wasn't sure what I was saying anymore. I couldn't get over what was drawing me to him. Was it his smile? Every time he smiled it felt like rays of sunlight were lighting up the space between us. Was it his voice? His voice was soothing and had a nice, deep and throaty tone to it. Maybe it was his cologne. Spicy and delicious — just like him. After a while, I quit trying to guess why he was so intriguing. And I didn't want to start freaking him out by the way I was staring at him.
"So how about that tire?" I asked, pressing for a change in topic.
He smiled back in return and opened the car door.
I watched as he lifted the car with the jack and loosened the lug nuts. I was mentally taking notes so I wouldn't be helpless next time around. I was also watching how every movement he made was graceful — with every twist of his wrist, another muscle flexed. I tilted my head in thought as he easily pulled off the tire and set it down like it weighed nothing. He has to be strong.
While I drove him back to his friend's house, I also noticed little details, like the way his dark silky hair framed his face. It had a natural wave that I'm sure people would drop big bucks to have. I couldn't tell if the clothes he wore were name brand — but it didn't matter because they fit him like a glove. His faded jeans were a little snug, but not uncomfortable looking, and they showed off the muscles in his legs. The black t-shirt he wore went perfectly with his copper-like complexion and hair. And heavens, did it fit him well! I tried to look without looking — not quite sure if I was pulling it off, but didn't really care. His arm muscles showed precise definition and bulk. I followed the line of his bicep up to his shoulder and then down to his chest.
Oh yeah. This guy most definitely works out.
As we pulled up to his friend's house, my heart constricted in my chest. I became afraid I'd never see him again. He wasn't the kind of guy you could just forget. I smiled over at him as warmly as I could, trying to hide the war going on inside my mind.
"Thank you for offering your services, Nicholas." I felt an internal rush as I said his name. "I'm pretty sure something horrible would've happened if I did it myself. Like, the car falling off the axel or something."
I must've caught him off guard with my comment because he let out a deep, musical laugh. It gave me goose bumps and it multiplied the feelings that were already reeling in my mind and chest.
"I couldn't pass up a damsel in distress, now could I?" He grinned crookedly. "Especially one as pretty as you." He gave me a wink and opened the door.
"I'll be seeing you around, Abby."
He stepped out and shut the door, my heart aching more and more with every parting step.
Chapter 7
I tore the sheets off my body. I was sick and tired of attempting sleep and I dismally gave up trying. I'm not sure how many times I tried the once effective "breathing method" — but it now failed miserably every time. The only thing I saw behind my eyelids was Nicholas’ smile, his hair, his body. I could practically hear his deep, musical voice and smell the musky scent of his cologne.
Beyond frustrated, I sat up and tossed my long hair over to the side. I stamped out of my room, flipping on lights as I went down the hallway and decided that four-thirty in the morning was as good a time as any to take a shower.
I took my time showering — making sure the water temperature was just the right degree of scalding hot. I blew my hair dry and attempted a straightener.
I did all this while avoiding a mirror, of course.
By the time eight-thirty rolled around, I had quite the array of breakfast choices for my mother to choose from.
Spinach, artichoke, and Gouda cheese omelets, homemade powdered donuts, chocolate chip pancakes, biscuits with homemade sausage gravy, and freshly squeezed orange juice.
It was all I could do to distract myself from thinking of Nicholas, and it was actually doing a pretty good job.
When my mother finally rolled out of bed at nine o'clock, I had already started her herbal tea maker and cleaned, dried and put away all the dishes I had dirtied.
It was going to be a long day.
She stumbled out into the hallway and stopped in her tracks after a glance into the kitchen.
"What the — "
I couldn't blame her. This was a first time thing for me, too.
Her bristly brownish hair was bound in one big knot on the back of her head from a rough night's sleep. She must've just thrown the robe she had on over her pajamas because it was noticeably less wrinkly than the flannel bottoms she had on.
"I woke up extra early to be of service to you, madam." I gave her a gallant bow and gestured for her to sit at the kitchen table, pulling out a chair.
Her eyes were wide with awe and her mouth hung open in shock while she hesitantly sat down. I could practically see the wheels turning in her head. She glanced down at the table studying all the dishes I'd prepared — then she snapped her gaze back at me.
"You're not pregnant, are you?"
"What?" She did not just ask me that. "No! Why can't I make breakfast around here without raising ridiculous questions?"
She readjusted herself in her seat — I swear I saw her face relax a bit.
God bless her.
"Are you failing a class or something? Need money? No, let me guess... you want to take my car somewhere." The makeup she wore the day before was smudged under her dark brown eyes. She crossed her arms, waiting for my answer, and attempting to look fierce.
Only it was hard to take her seriously when she looked like Cyclops.
"I'm repulsed at the fact that you assume I did this with an ulterior motive. I simply did this out of the goodness of my heart."
She stared at me long and hard for several moments. She eventually gave in with a slight shrug and turned all of her attention to the dishes that lay in front of her — I could see her eyes grow wide with curiosity.
"Well, you can act out of the 'goodness of your heart' anytime if this is what I get when you do." She started picking through the dishes and I pulled out my own chair so we could enjoy the smorgasbord together.
****
By the time noon hit, I was desperate to do something — anything — to get out of the house. Well, anything that didn't involve going somewhere with my mother.
Every last corner of the house was deep cleaned and my mom acted as if it was something I did every day. Maybe she thought the hysteria of being bored on spring break finally hit me. I didn't care as long as she wasn't asking questions.
She apparently had some wacky errand to r
un in Wichita again — something involving shoe polish and a bungee cord. I really didn't want to know why she needed such things. I gracefully declined her invitation to accompany her. This meant she wouldn't be back till late this evening.
After she left, I started pacing the house.
Images of Nicholas were flashing in my head uncontrollably. The sound of his voice, the warm peace and sweet bliss I felt around him — everything specific I remembered was playing over and over.
After I entered the kitchen for the fifteenth time — just to turn around and start pacing again — I decided I needed some fresh air. Maybe that would clear my mind. I had never in my life experienced anything like this and I had no idea how to deal with it. Maybe my mind was cracking after all.
I grabbed a hooded sweatshirt and pulled it on while I clumsily ran upstairs to my room. I picked up my purse and keys off the desk and hesitantly peeked out the window to check the weather.
Still raining. Oh well, I'd take rain over snow any day.
As soon as I stepped outside, I tilted up my face toward the dark, raining sky. I let the water droplets drip down my cheeks and was surprised at how rejuvenating it felt. It seemed to be the only thing that settled my racing mind — I was happy to finally catch a break.
I got in my car and pulled out of the drive, turning towards downtown. I had no idea where I was going, but let the road take me where it may. Somehow, I found myself driving into Centennial Park. As I followed the curvy road, I slowly passed by baseball fields and trees. I pulled into an empty parking space in front of a deserted playground and didn't expect anyone to be there, especially with the way it had been raining for the past several days. The puddles were deep and mud was everywhere.
