Lucky 13

by Rachael Brownell

  “Are you going to tell me about this guy you’re going to see today?” Amy takes a seat behind me on my bed as I brush my bangs back into place, covering the scar.

  “Not much to tell. He’s an old friend. I’m not even sure if he still lives around here or not,” I say, attempting to brush her question off.

  “So, you’re going to drive to his house and hope he still lives there?”

  “Something like that.”

  “What if he doesn’t live there anymore?”

  “Then I’ll come back here and we’ll find something fun to do tonight.” Amy’s eyes light up for a moment. “I don’t know how long I’ll be, though. He lives in Winter Park so it’s almost a two-hour drive, I think.”

  “What are you waiting for? Get going so that you can get back here. If you find him, bring him back with you. I’d like to meet this mystery guy. He has to be special judging by the smile that was on your face this morning when you woke up.”

  If she only knew …

  As soon as I’m on the road, my stomach starts to turn. The last thing I expected was to be nervous about seeing Grant again. I have a few hours to calm myself down before I even arrive in Winter Park. The city is one of the smallest in Colorado, home to less than 1,000 people total. He shouldn’t be hard to locate as long as people are willing to help me.

  In the winter, it’s a huge tourist attraction for those that enjoy outdoor activities like skiing. August is considered the off-season for them. I’m coming into town at a good time, I hope. Most of the people around should be locals, and if Grant is here, someone will know him.

  There’s a small cafe just as I pull off the highway. I take a spot right up front and put my car in park. Pulling out the picture of Grant that I keep in my purse, I stare at it for a moment and say a little prayer to Grandma. Turning my attention back to the diner, I watch through the large windows as a waitress runs from table to table. She delivers drinks and food, stopping to check on other tables, all the while laughing and talking. It’s not until she turns toward a table near where I’m parked that I catch a glimpse of her face.

  My heart leaps into my throat and steals my breath. I’m in the right place. I don’t have to show the picture around or ask questions that will cause people to look at me suspiciously. All I need to do is order food.

  My hands shake as I reach for the door handle. The shaking is worse by the time I’m stepping inside the cafe. When the waitress hollers for me to grab a seat anywhere, my knees threaten to buckle at the sounds of her voice. I take a seat in the closest booth and sit on my hands, hoping to get the shaking under control before she approaches.

  It takes her a few minutes, but when she finally stops at my table, the smile on her face brings me to tears. “Well, look who finally came to visit,” she announces, taking the seat across from me. “How are you, hun?”

  Immediately I feel at ease and the shaking stops. To know that she’s happy to see me is a huge relief. “I’m good, Lucy. How are you?”

  “I’m good. Grant is going to be excited to see you. How long are you in town for?”

  Glancing around to see who might be listening, I’m surprised to see that all eyes are on me. “I got accepted to the University of Colorado, so I’ll be around for a while. I thought I would come visit before classes started.”

  “That’s fantastic, Madison. Why don’t we get you fed and then we can talk some more.”

  Lucy takes my order before disappearing into the kitchen. When she returns, she flutters between tables, refilling drinks and clearing plates. By the time my food arrives, the cafe is almost empty. She takes her seat across from me again after clearing my plate and refilling my water.

  “You know, he’s not here,” she says, keeping her voice low enough that only I can hear her. “He left for school a few weeks ago.”

  “You have got to be kidding me.” My heart is breaking and tears are threatening to spill from my eyes.

  “I’m sorry, hun,” Lucy replies with a smile.

  “It took me forever to find him, and he’s not here? I can’t believe it.” Frustrated and disappointed, I start to cry, unable to hold the tears at bay. Covering my face with my hands, I try my best to hide them from Lucy.

  “You should go back to school, Madison. He’s waiting for you,” she whispers, pulling my hands from my face.

  I hear the words she’s saying, but it takes me a minute to realize what she’s actually telling me. Once their meaning sinks it, my head whips up and my eyes meet hers. They’re smiling at me. Happiness is all I see. Her clothes are stained, her hair is a mess yet there’s a huge smile on her face.

  Over my shoulder, Lucy says goodbye to the older couple that was sitting across the diner. As soon as they pull away from the cafe, Lucy locks the front door and turns the sign to Closed. We now have the place to ourselves.

  “Grant,” I whisper.

  “Yeah. He refused to be anyone else.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “He knew you would come. He knew you would find us.” Her words hit deep. To know that he had faith in me warms my heart.

  I look around, making sure that we are really alone before asking her the one question that’s been bothering me since they left. “Why didn’t he tell me? He knew when I called that morning that he was going to have to leave. Why didn’t he tell me before he hung up?”

  “You’ll have to ask him, hun. I’m guessing that he was holding out hope that we were going to be able to stay.”

  A man walks into the cafe from the kitchen, looks around, and asks Lucy if he can go on break. She nods her head in his direction and he disappears back the way he came.

  “Always in charge no matter where you work, I guess,” I say, teasing Lucy.

  “I own the place so …”

  “You do? That’s great,” I reply, excitedly.

  “It is. It’s fun, and it was a great way to get settled in town without people asking a lot of questions that I didn’t want to answer. Your grandma was a wonderful woman and very caring. She set this up years ago. The building was already mine when we arrived. This was our original plan, we just carried it out when we had no other choice.”

  “I figured that out a few weeks ago.”

  “The records?”

  “Yep. How’d you know?”

  “How else would you have found us? No one can tell you, even though you own the place. It’s part of the rules. That’s why so many people are involved. There isn’t one person who knows all the moving parts.”

  “If it’s such a perfect system, how did he find you then?” I ask, referring to Grant’s father.

  “The newspaper. We didn’t know it at the time, but when the football team won that final game, a paper in Raleigh ran a story on the team, specifically on Grant. My best guess is that he read the article. There was even a picture of Grant on the front page of the paper.”

  After an hour of catching up, I’m ready to get back on the road. If Grant’s waiting for me in Denver then that’s where I want to be. Lucy scribbles his phone number down on a piece of paper for me before engulfing me in a hug that rivals any hug I’ve ever received. It reminds me of the way my grandma used to hug me, as if she was passing all her strength through her embrace.

  I promise to come back and visit soon and to bring Grant with me. He only left a few weeks ago, but I can tell that she misses him already. He’s been her entire life for so long. Not having him around is going to be hard for her. I can relate, only on a different level.

  The drive home feels as if it takes twice as long. By the time I’m finally parking my car, I’m shaking with anticipation. I texted Grant when I stopped for gas half an hour ago. I didn’t tell him who I was, only to meet me outside the library at sunset. I have about twenty minutes to run across campus.

  After checking my phone to see if he replied, I’m disappointed to see that I don’t have any missed calls or texts. What if he doesn’t show? I got the impression from Lucy that he was expecting me.<
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  I take my chances. As I approach the library, I see a man sitting on the steps, staring at his phone. I’m still too far away to tell if it’s Grant so I pick up the pace. The lights above me flicker to life as I reach the steps, stopping in front of the man. When he finally looks up, my heart shatters in my chest.

  It’s not Grant. Looking around, I don’t see anyone else.

  “Are you lost?” he asks. I’m still standing at his feet, creeping him out I’m sure.

  “No. I thought you were someone else. I’m sorry,” I apologize, taking a step back.

  “No big deal.” He goes back to looking at his phone, brushing my awkward presence off as if it happens to him all the time.

  I walk around the entire building twice before taking a seat on a bench across from the entrance. The sun has completely set now, the only light coming from the lamps along the sidewalk.

  My phone vibrates in my pocket, starling me. I feverishly rush to unlock my screen only to be let down again for the second time tonight.

  “Hello?” I say as I answer Libby’s call.

  “What are you doing right now?” she asks, excitedly.

  “Sitting on a bench outside the library. What are you doing?”

  “I’m about ready to head to a party. You never called me last night so I was worried. I wanted to make sure you got there okay before I went out.”

  “Sorry. I was exhausted after my flight. Did you get settled okay?” I scan the area again as I answer.

  “Yeah. It was pretty uneventful actually. My roommate still hasn’t shown up.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be there tomorrow. Who are you going out with if she’s not there then?”

  “A few other girls I met in the dorm. Do you like your roommate?”

  “I do. She reminds me of you, actually.”

  “What!” Libby screams loud enough that I pull the phone away from my ear and shake my head at her. “You better not be replacing me.”

  “I could never,” I say, trying my best to sound offended.

  “Damn straight. Look, I have to go, but call me tomorrow and don’t forget this time,” she demands.

  “Promise. Have fun.”

  “You too,” she says, ending our call.

  I can’t sit out here all night waiting for Grant to show up. Maybe he didn’t get my text? Maybe I should have told him who I was? As I’m about to put my phone away, I see that I have a text waiting for me from a number I don’t recognize.

  You look beautiful.

  I inhale sharply as I read the words on my screen. He’s close enough that he can see me. The words on the screen go blurry as my phone shakes in my hands, the tears building in my eyes. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, goosebumps running up my arms. He’s closer than I thought. His scent reaches me moments before his voice. I’ve dreamed about this moment for so long that I can’t believe it’s actually here. The sound of his voice. His intoxicating scent. I’m overwhelmed with emotion.

  “Madison,” he says my name again.

  When I look up, his hazel eyes are all I see. He’s staring at me as he has a million other times, with nothing but love. Stretching his hand out, I place mine in his and he pulls me to my feet. Only inches separate my body from his, causing a fire to slowly start its burn deep down inside.

  He’s searching my eyes for something. I’m not sure what, but when his devious grin appears, I’m guessing he’s found whatever he was looking for. Then, his lips claim mine. At first his kiss is soft and gentle, as if he’s savoring every second. It turns heated and impatient the longer our lips touch and before I realize what’s happening, we’re moving.

  His body is pushing against mine. We move from the sidewalk into the grass. I’m moving backward, Grant’s body pressed against mine in the most delicious way. My back hits a tree, causing us to stop. I pull back, breathing heavily. Grant’s still grinning at me, his eyes sparkling in the glow of the lamp.

  “God, I’ve missed you so much.” His words hit deep.

  “You have no idea,” I whisper, my voice sounding small and uncertain.

  “I was afraid that you wouldn’t come.” I tilt my head, confused by his confession. “I wanted to call you a thousand times to apologize and explain, but I knew I couldn’t. I knew you would be hurt and angry, but I hoped that you would understand. I tried everything to stay, but it wasn’t an option.”

  “I wasn’t angry or hurt, Grant. I was sad. I knew what was going on, and in my heart I knew you were safe. What I wanted was one last kiss, a wave, a goodbye. That’s why I was sad. You never even said goodbye.” A single tear trickles down my cheek and Grant catches it before it can fall.

  “I’ll never tell you goodbye, Madison.”

  “But it’s what I needed.”

  Breaking eye contact, Grant looks around, surveying the area. I follow his line of sight and catch movement from the bushes. Waiting a few beats for it to move again, I hold my breath wondering if we are actually alone. When nothing happens, I put my hand under Grant’s chin and turn his attention back to me.

  “It doesn’t matter anymore. The past is the past and we are going to focus on the future. Let’s get out of here, though.”

  Nodding his head in agreement, Grant takes hold of my hand and gives it a small tug. I let him lead me away from the library and down the winding sidewalk. We move quickly around buildings and through the common areas. My father and I took one tour of the campus before I decided to come here. It’s beautiful, but at night its beauty disappears and is replaced by the cover of darkness, causing it to feel spooky.

  A cluster of buildings is in front of us now as Grant pulls us to a stop. I look up at him for an explanation and find him staring at the entrance to the building with apprehension.

  “What is it?”

  “My dorm.”

  “I figured that out already. Why do you look hesitant?”

  He doesn’t answer right away. I wait a few seconds, and I’m about to give him reassurance that I want to go inside, when he finally answers me.

  “It’s the player’s dorm. I’m going to catch shit for bringing you back here. I don’t care, I just need to mentally prepare and I need for you to promise that you’ll ignore whatever they say to you.”

  “Player’s dorm?”

  “Yeah. Long story. I’ll tell you when we get inside.”

  Ready to hear everything, I tug on his hand, walking backward toward his dorm. Grant follows, a sly grin on his face, as his eyes roam the length of my body. Talking may have to wait.

  “Damn, Grant!”

  “Who’s the girl?”

  “There’s still time to change your mind, beautiful.”

  There were more comments shouted into the hall as we walked past. Heads popped out of open doors to see what all the commotion was. Grant received a few apologetic glances, but most of the guys are focused on teasing him. A few even tried to follow us to Grant’s room, offering me a good time. About the time we reach his room, I realize why he was mentally preparing to take me inside. His grip on my hand is causing my fingers to throb it’s so tight. At least he didn’t hit anyone. Tonight at least.

  Shutting the door and locking it behind us, you can still hear the cat calls and whistles of a few people. I open and close my hand as soon as Grant lets go, attempting to get the blood flowing again. He slides up next to me, kissing me on the temple before heading to the small fridge in the corner, grabbing two bottles of water.

  Handing me one, I crack the top and take a sip. “That was interesting.”

  “That’s one word for it. A few of them are going to get theirs during practice on Monday.” Even though he has a smile on his face and his voice is calm, I can still tell how pissed off Grant is. A giggle escapes me, causing Grant’s smile to widen.

  “You think this is funny? Just wait until you leave in the morning. They’ll have even more to say, I’m sure.”

  My laughing ceases immediately at the thought of walking out of here in the
morning. “Um—”

  “Don’t stress about it. We’ll figure something out. You could just stay in here forever. I’m fine with that.”

  Grant takes a step toward me, taking my water bottle out of my hand and setting it on the dresser next to us. His lips softly begin to caress mine and all thoughts of leaving his room are gone. His arms wrap around me, pulling me in as close as he can. I’m lost in him, ready to rip his clothes off and remove the final barrier between us when a knock on the door startles me and I jump slightly. Grant laughs before unwrapping me from his arms and going to answer the door.

  “Yeah,” I hear him say as he pulls the door open a crack.

  “Coach is on the floor.”

  “Shit! Thanks, man.”

  Shutting the door, Grant turns toward me with a worried look on his face. “We need to hide you.”

  “Seriously? Why?”

  “Because if my coach finds you in here, then he’s going to bench me.” Grant looks around as he speaks, searching for a place for me to hide.

  We decide on the closet. He hasn’t unpacked his stuff yet so I get in the closet and duck down. Grant stacks a few extra boxes in an attempt to better conceal me. I hear a knock on the door as my purse comes flying over the boxes, landing on my head with a thump.

  “What are you up to in here with the door closed?”

  “Nothing, sir. I just got in and was about to change.”

  “You know the rules. I would hate to bench you because of your lady friend.”

  I inhale sharply, covering my mouth to silence the noise.

  “Yes, sir. I understand.”

  “Rest up, Gipson.”

  A sigh of relief escapes me as I hear the door latch and the lock slide into place. Standing, Grant removes the boxes he placed in front of me one by one until I can climb out of the closet.

  “So, I take it we’re caught,” I ask, taking a seat on his bed.

  “Yeah, I guess so.”