by Len Webster
Minutes passed, and AJ rolled over to him, pressing her palm against his chest and whispered, “Evan?”
“Hmm?”
He glanced down to find that in the dark room she was a silhouette. However, he didn’t need the light to know she had the most beautiful, stunning green eyes. The sweetest smile and that faint mole on her cheek. The features of her face had burned into his memory without him even realizing it. He’d spent years looking at her. But he had spent the past few months really looking at her through all their pictures together.
“In your email …?”
“Yes?” His right hand came across his chest and covered hers, trapping it to stay on him.
“You said you’d wait for me in Brookline after Thanksgiving. Would you? Would you have really waited for me to come home at every break?”
“Yes,” Evan answered without hesitation. “Every break I had, I would have waited in Brookline until you came home. That was, if I didn’t find you first, of course.”
“Evan?”
“Yeah, AJ?”
“You have to know something.” He felt her move over him, the ends of her hair trailing over his bare chest, causing him to inhale sharply. Then she turned on the lamp, illuminating his side of the room as Evan threw his arm across the pillows.
“Lie down next to me, AJ,” he insisted.
She appeared hesitant but only for a moment as she laid back down next to him. Placing her head on his chest, she tilted her chin slightly to look at him as Evan curled his arm around her, embracing her the way he couldn’t have before. The way he always wanted to truly hold her.
“So what did you have to tell me?” he asked as his fingertips trailed gently down her arm.
“It’s something I never admitted to myself.”
He glanced down as her big green eyes focused on him. “And what’s that?”
She inhaled through her nostrils and slowly released that breath. The anticipation slowly killing him. “I would have gone to Stanford.”
His heart stalled in his chest.
The truth in her eyes kick-started it back to life.
Her words were the power he needed.
Her words brought him home.
“You would have come to California for me?”
She nodded. “I would have. It was in the back of my mind. I knew from one of your emails that you were going home for Thanksgiving. I knew I would see you then.”
Evan glanced up at the ceiling, taking in the intricate plastered corners. He didn’t want to answer her right away. He wanted to savor their time together. This night together. His fingers stopped exploring her skin, and he asked, “I’m in no hurry to go back home, Alexandra. Are you?”
Her silence had him closing his eyes, waiting for her answer.
When she didn’t answer right away, he opened his eyes and tilted his chin down to find her eyes closed, and her body relaxed against his.
She had fallen asleep on him.
His question fell on deaf ears.
His answer stolen by sleep.
But right now, the peace on her face was enough for him to reach over and turn the bedside lamp off.
Tomorrow, he’d ask her.
Tomorrow, he’d work on earning everything back once again.
The bright sun attacking his eyes had Evan groaning. He rolled over, and when his hand reached for her, he felt the cool mattress. Prying his eyelids open, he noticed the rose petals on the floor and the empty spot next to him. Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes to find the glass French doors cracked open. When he squinted, he saw her standing on the balcony with her arms wrapped around herself as she took in the sunrise. Evan flung the covers off him and swung his legs to get out of bed. The flowers were soft under his feet as he made his way to the balcony. Last night, they were too tired to explore their honeymoon suite and had no idea that the suite had a balcony that overlooked the beautiful vineyards.
Evan leaned against the door and watched as her brunette curls danced in the cool morning breeze. After a long moment of just taking her in, he pushed off the door and walked to her, wrapping his fingers around the railing as he, too, took in the beautiful view.
“Morning,” she greeted.
Evan peeked over to find a soft smile on her face. “Morning, AJ.”
“How’d you sleep?”
“It’s probably the best sleep I’ve had in months. And you?”
AJ turned, and her smile stretched wider. “I gotta admit, same. That bed is amazing.”
He laughed. “I think a lot of couples have consummated their marriages on that bed.”
Her cheeks radiated in a beautiful soft pink. She was so innocent and sweet. “And all we did was sleep in it. We had complimentary champagne, and we didn’t even drink it. We wasted this upgrade.”
“We’ll take the champagne with us. And we didn’t waste it. We just used it for non-newlywed activities. That sleep was worth it.”
“That’s true,” she agreed. “I just realized something.”
His brows furrowed. “Umm … what?”
She tilted her head at him. “This is the farthest south we’ve been on a road trip together. I mean, North Carolina was the farthest, but I mean with us driving. We never made it past New York.”
He blinked at her in amazement.
She was right.
Besides North Carolina, this was as far south as they had gone together. He had always promised to take her farther but never got the chance to.
“It is,” he agreed, shivering when the cool wind reminded him he was just in sweatpants.
“Come on,” she said, stepping toward the balcony doors. “It’s cold. Let’s order room service.”
He followed her back into the suite and watched as she picked up the room service menu from the desk. AJ headed to her side of the bed and sat on it. Evan closed the balcony doors behind him and then climbed onto the bed, joining her.
She opened the menu and flicked through the breakfast options. “I think I want the pancakes and bacon today.”
“You had pancakes at the diner yesterday.”
“I did,” she said, passing him the menu. “What are you going to get?”
He gazed down at the menu for several moments until he decided and then handed her back the menu. “I’ll get the English breakfast.”
“All right,” she said and reached for the phone and pressed a button. AJ set the menu down on the bedside table as she waited. “Oh, yes. Hi. This is room—” She paused and then looked his way. “Evan, what room number is this?”
He crossed his legs on the bed and shook his head. “I don’t think this has a room number.”
“It has—Oh, yes. We’re in the honeymoon suite.” Her cheeks flushed bright red. “Oh, yes. We had a lovely night, thank you. Are we able to order room service?” She laughed and shook her head. “Famished … yes. I’d love to order some pancakes with bacon on the side. The English breakfast and whatever fresh juice you have. Oh, and coffee, too. Yes, he functions better with coffee. Thank you very much.” AJ hung up, her cheeks still flushed as humor laced her vibrant green eyes.
“Everything okay?”
She got onto her knees as she grinned at him. “Oh, they think we’re Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore and wanted to know how our honeymoon was.”
“Seriously?” he asked with a chuckle.
“Seriously. Okay, I am going to take a shower. Can you open the door when the food comes? I have some money in my purse for a tip.” She crawled off the bed and then bent down and set her suitcase back on its wheels, gripping the handle. “I won’t be long.”
Seconds later, the bathroom door shut, and Evan was surrounded by rose petals and the memory of his best friend curled up against him as she fell asleep, unaware that he had stayed up and just held her, knowing that it could all be lost in a matter
of hours.
After five hours of driving, three bathroom breaks, and six gas station stops, Evan parked the car outside of Sam’s Eatery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They had about five hours of driving left before they arrived in Brookline. When Evan checked out of the hotel in Virginia, the male desk worker had wished them a happy marriage. AJ had been polite and thanked them for their hospitality, but the moment they walked out of the hotel lobby, she cracked up laughing. For Evan, the sound of her laughter was one of his favorite sounds. It was the first time she sounded like her old self since he found her at Duke. Before all the disappointment, when she used to look at him as if he was her entire world. That was where he wanted them to be again. So that this time Evan could be the one to take care of her and be her entire world. The way he should have always been.
“I don’t like the look of the sky,” AJ said as she lowered her chin.
Evan peeked up to see the gray Philadelphia sky and frowned. He hoped it was just rain, and that they could make it home by the end of the day.
“It’ll pass. Probably just rain. Come on, let’s go inside.” He led her away from the Audi and inside the restaurant famous for their cheesesteaks.
The last time AJ was in Pennsylvania had been when the Red Sox had an away game, and she’d gone with her parents. Evan had stayed in Brookline, deciding that she’d be okay without him for one game. Plus, it gave AJ some time with her parents before she left for college.
Once inside, Evan and AJ walked toward a free table in the middle of the eatery. AJ sat down and pulled off her coat, Evan doing the same since it was warm inside. He set his jacket on the seat next to him and smiled at his best friend.
His soul mate.
She would have read in his emails that he thought she was.
But she hadn’t mentioned it.
In fact, AJ didn’t say much about the emails except that she had read them.
“The cheesesteaks here are amazing.”
“Oh,” she said, leaning closer to him. “The cheesesteaks are the sandwiches, right?”
He cocked a brow at her. “You mean you didn’t have one when you were last here?”
She shook her head. “I was only here for the Red Sox game. We had soft pretzels and lemon water ice from John’s. Then we drove back to Boston.”
“Philadelphia was a waste on you.”
AJ rolled her eyes. “Well, you brought me here. So not a waste if I order one this time.”
“Hey, my man. What can I get youse?” asked their server once he approached their table. Wearing a backward baseball cap, he kept his eyes firmly on the notepad as he waited to take their orders.
“Can I get a couple of cheesesteaks and some water?”
“Wit or witout onions?”
Evan glanced over to find AJ staring at him, confusion all over her face. She wasn’t used to Philadelphian slang. Evan was used to it because of his Stanford teammate. “Without onions, right, AJ?”
Her confusion fizzled away, and she nodded. “Without please.”
“And with for mine,” Evan said.
“Ard. Couple of cheesesteaks. One wit onions and one witout. Won’t be long.” Then the waiter lowered his pad and smiled at them. His smile twisted when he took in AJ. “Holy shit!” Then he turned and yelled out, “Yo, Joe, Ralph! Youse would never believe who’s at my table!”
“We’re workin’!” someone from the kitchen yelled.
Their server turned back to stare at AJ. Evan saw her hesitant smile and tense posture and knew she was uncomfortable. But if he didn’t know her better, he would haven’t thought otherwise. She was accepting and warm to baseball fans—even when they didn’t deserve her time or attention. She was one for the people, and she still hadn’t changed.
“You’re the Red Sox girl.”
She nodded. “It’s nice to meet you …” She glanced down at his name tag. “Mike.”
“Can I take a photo with you?”
AJ winced, glancing over at Evan, and her eyes pleaded with him to intervene. Normally, she was used to fans asking for a photo, but he suspected Duke gave her the normality she had always desired. The anonymity that Boston never gave her.
“Hey, man,” Evan said, getting Mike’s attention.
He whipped around and faced Evan. “Yeah?”
“Not a good time. Maybe after? I brought her here to try the cheesesteaks you’re famous for before we hit the road.”
“Oh, right. Of course. Sorry, I’ll get your order started.” Then he apologized once more to AJ and headed over to the counter, leaving them alone.
“Thank you,” AJ said, her voice full of appreciation.
He smiled. “You’re welcome. You looked a little … nervous.”
“His question just caught me off guard. I haven’t been in the spotlight in a while. At Duke, no one knows who I am, and it’s nice. They’re more into basketball. I get to be invisible, which is a nice change. I guess from here to Massachusetts, I should expect people to know who I am. In the South, not so much.”
“Sorry to interrupt,” Mike said, carrying a tray. He set their plates and cups down. “Enjoy.”
“That was quick,” AJ said as she brought her plate closer and took in the cheesesteak.
“Yeah, they make so many of these that they’re constantly cooking steak throughout the day. Trust me, this is one thing I love about Philly.”
“I trust you,” she said in a small voice as she picked up the sandwich. Then she took a bite and began to chew. When she swallowed the cheesesteak down, she picked up her glass and sipped some water.
“So?” he asked, squinting at her. “What do you think?”
“It’s good. Really good.”
Evan opened his mouth to say I told you so, when someone yelled out, “Aye, yo, shut it.” He craned his neck to find an older man wearing an apron behind the counter and pointing a remote to the TV. The volume increased as the news boomed throughout the restaurant.
“The authorities are advising motorists going northbound on the Jersey Turnpike to expect delays as today’s storm comes in from Maine. High winds and heavy rain covering most of New England will make it difficult for motorists heading north. Fortunately for Philadelphia, the storm will weaken over New York before traveling down to Pennsylvania. Meteorologists are warning the public to be aware of their surroundings as the storm might strengthen if winds pick up. Stay safe out there.”
“All of New England is affected by the storm,” AJ said, getting his attention. She had pushed her sandwich aside and stared at the large TV screen.
“We should probably get going now. We’ll get the food to go.”
She nodded and then pointed at the TV. “Rhode Island looks like it’ll miss the heavy rain. We could head that way back to Massachusetts instead of all the way through Connecticut. I don’t want to travel through that.”
Evan glanced back at the screen and saw that she was right. The dark cluster of the storm barely covered Rhode Island. If they wanted to get home and avoid the storm, they’d have to avoid much of Connecticut.
“You’re right,” he said as he got out of his seat. Then he waved over their server.
“Everything okay with your food?” Mike asked.
AJ nodded as she reached for her coat and purse. “The cheesesteaks are amazing. But we have to get back on the road if we want to miss that storm. I’m sorry but could we take this all to go?”
“Course, not a problem.”
“Oh, and Mike?”
Their server picked up the plates. “Yeah?”
“We’ll take that photo when you come back,” AJ promised with a smile. Not out of pity but out of appreciation.
Mike grinned. “Ard. I won’t be too long with your doggy bags.”
Evan watched as AJ slipped on her coat, buttoned it up, and got out of her chair. “You sur
e you’re okay with taking a photo?”
“I am. It’s a photo. I’ve taken many.”
“All right, but just one photo with him. We gotta get on the turnpike before traffic gets too bad and we can’t get out of Philly.”
AJ reached over and picked up her bag. “If the rain gets too heavy before we get to Connecticut, we can wait it out in New York at my uncle’s.”
“Sounds good.” Evan glanced over at the TV one more time, not liking the look of the storm they were heading toward.
41 Nb
niobium
AJ
Senior year of high school
Official statement from Alexandra Parker as read by her representative, Lucas Gardwell of Lancashire and Wallace Lawyers:
I would like to thank the Boston Red Sox, Major League Baseball, the people of Boston, and the support of the people who took a stance against the recently published article. I would also like to express my gratitude and love to my family for their support during a time when our name has been put into sentences intended to shame not only my character and image but also my family name. I took my time to prepare this statement due to the fragile situation I, my family, and Kyle Gilmore have found ourselves.
But I will not remain silent.
On Wednesday afternoon, the person I am was degraded.
I was no longer Alexandra Parker, daughter, friend, student, and baseball fan.
I became an object of lust and perversion.
I was disgusted that a journalist could even write that about another human being. It wasn’t just about me; other women were in the article. The journalist encouraged rape in the media, and this needs to stop. We need to stop objectifying women and innocent individuals. We harm others without thought of the consequences, and I believe the writer did not think of the consequences his article would create.
Yes, this article has affected my future.
