It's What You Do

by C L Wesley

  “I used to like your brother. Until he made up raunchy ass rumors about me. The only thing that saved my ass on a ruined reputation is that Izzy went live on Facebook to show I was not where he said I was.” I looked at Mason. “He’s a liar.”

  “I was there through that whole thing remember?” Mason stopped at a red light. “I’m aware.”

  “I know you were. Thank you.” I pat his hand that was resting on the gear shift. “Hey Mason, can you go through Taco Bell please?” I smiled, hoping he’d say yes.

  “Only if you’re buying.” He said taking a left turn towards the local Taco Bell.

  “Deal.” I said knowing I left with about $65 more than I went in with. Mason went through the drive-thru window and ordered enough food for ten people. Well shit, there goes my profits. When we got up to the window, I went to grab cash from my pocket when Mason threw his debit card through the window. “I thought.”

  Mason cut me off. “I am starving, no way am I letting you pay for all that food Taryn.” Mason has always been really sweet to me. “Your money is no good here.”

  “Well thanks.” I took my Pepsi from him and smiled. It made me think of Noah and what kind of Coke it was. Mason pulled away after retrieving our food and parked in the parking lot.

  “Do you mind if we eat here or do you want to go home?” He asked.

  “This is good.” I took off my seatbelt and tried to wake up Izzy almost getting stuck in between the two front seats.

  “Hers will be good for breakfast.” He laughed as he pushed me forward by putting his hand in front of my stomach. “So, Grodnowski, eh? How new is that?” Mason shoved half a soft taco in his mouth.

  “Like three days new. Josh made the assumption I was sleeping with him because I fell asleep in his room and he saw me leave this morning.” I shoved a huge nacho full of meat and cheese into my mouth.

  “I don’t know why Josh does the things he does. I know he really liked you freshman year. He’s an ass.” Mason reached over stealing a nacho.

  “Who knows?” I opened my soft taco supreme. “I liked him too until I hated him.”

  “I liked you a lot too. Then when my brother fucked it up, I said screw it, she will never go for me.” He stole another nacho. “These are good.”

  “You were going to steal me from your brother?” I took a huge bite. “And you were the sweet one, I thought.” I said with a mouthful, something I despise from others.

  “I was going to attempt it. You were too good for him.” He stole my plate of nachos this time. “I’ve met Noah though, he seems like a good guy.”

  “Yeah he does. I hope he doesn’t show an ugly side, I think I may like him.” Mason changed the subject and talked about school and his internship, how he was thinking of proposing to Hilary until she started fighting with him all the time over stupid shit, and how he was hoping that Izzy would not get sick in his car.

  When we got to Izzy’s dorm. I carried up the Taco Bell, he carried her and got her into her bed before I walked him to the door. “Thanks Mason.” I stood up on my tip toes and gave him a hug. “For the record, if you would have asked me out two years ago, I probably would have said yes.” I smiled before closing the door and latching the lock. I covered Izzy up after taking off her shoes and pulled her futon out making up my bed after I changed into my clothes from earlier which still smell a little of Noah. NOAH! It was 2:28AM. Do I still text?

  Me: I’m sorry it is so late. We are back in Izzy’s dorm safe and sound

  I grab one of her pillows and a blanket, snuggling into them wishing I was lying in a room six buildings south when I felt my phone vibrate.

  N: Thank you darlin’. Sweet dreams.

  Oh shit! I hope I didn’t wake him up, I thought as I looked at the time 3:06AM. I stared at my last text message until my eyes willed themselves to sleep. I woke up to the sound of Izzy heaving the contents of her stomach into the toilet. “Iz, you alive in there?” I look at the time 11:04AM. I have to get ready for work. “I swear to God if you leave me hanging at work today.” Isabelle had the 4-8PM shift at the Storm Café. I had the pleasure of working the full eight today.

  “I’ll be fine by 4. I hope.” She fell onto her bed. “Taryn, the room is moving.”

  “I know. Try and tuck your knees to your belly and put your forehead to the mattress. It should ease it up.” I watch her roll around while I waited for the bathroom to air out. I pull my phone out from beneath the pillow and see I missed a text from Noah.

  N: Good morning darlin

  I wasn’t sure what they do at the games so I figured he would get the text the next time he checked his phone.

  Me: Hey how did you do this morning?

  He responded immediately.

  N: Pretty good. We won. I scored!

  Me: Noah! That’s awesome!!! Did you do the twisty move?

  N: No it was a straight goal kick

  Me: That’s cool

  N: How’s your day?

  Me: Getting ready to leave Izzy’s for work. Work til 8 then going home.

  N: We have a second game later. Can I call you tonight?

  Me: No

  N: Oh

  Me: ??

  N: HAHA

  Me: Good luck Striker

  N: I’ll call you tonight, Darlin

  I walked into the Café and clocked in putting my phone in my back pocket to help with the lunch rush. The dinner rush is slow on weekends because most people leave campus in favor of popular chain restaurants. Turns out today was a home football game so lots of kids were eating on their meal plans before heading to the stadium. Izzy showed up a few minutes before 4pm, her blonde hair tied into a knot beneath her hat, no make-up, and a bag from Chipotle. “Bitch, I better.” She handed me the bag with two burritos. “Awe, I love you.” She flipped me off as she went to clock in and relieve Choe. Izzy and I ended up having a list of chores from our boss. While we were cleaning we talked about the boys. Jensen cooled his jets from last night, Izzy apologized, and they were all lovey dovey again. I quietly thank god because I can’t take it when they fight. I hear it from both ends.

  “Have you talked to Noah at all?” Izzy scooted up onto the counter slurping down her fourth or fifth refill of Pepsi.

  “We’ve texted. It’s that honeymoon exciting phase of a new relationship, if that is even what this is.” I jumped up beside her looking out to an empty dining area. It was a beautiful site, all the green chairs and white tables empty.

  “I’m fairly sure you guys are a thing. You’ve been hanging out as much as possible since Wednesday night.” She tries to reassure me.

  “Still, I don’t want to be that girl, ya know? It’s been three days and I am head over heels.” I jumped down and refilled my drink before checking my phone.

  “I see that smile way over here bitch!” Izzy screams fist pumping the air.

  N: Lost game 2. Want to come home

  Me: I’m sorry. Why the rush?

  Immediately I see the blue dots indicating he’s texting me back.

  N: There is this girl I met

  Me: Oh yeah?

  N: Yeah. I kinda like her

  Me: She kinda likes you too

  N: Oh, you know her?

  Me: I hope so

  N: ??

  N: Call me when you get home darlin

  Me: Okay ??

  “Better?” Izzy asked as I walked behind the counter returning to my seat next to my best friend.

  “Yes. Now this next hour just needs to hurry up.” I jumped down and immediately started cleaning up in hopes the time would pass faster.

  6

  I got home and talked to my mom a few minutes before jumping in the shower to wash the grease smell off me. I was whooped when I crawled into my bed. I didn’t want to seem too over eager so I watched an episode of Orange is the New Black and then pressed send on the number I have been waiting to call all afternoon.

  “Hey darlin’, how ya doin’?” I enjoyed the sound of the deep Southern voice be
fore responding.

  “I’m good, how are you?” I was hoping he’d tell me a bedtime story. Maybe a FaceTime bedtime story.

  “Better now. What are you doing?”

  “Do me a favor and tell me a story. Any story. That accent over the phone just, wow.”

  “I can hear the smile on your face.” I giggled at him. “Want to FaceTime?”

  “Yes.” I snuggled into my pillow until I heard the ring alerting the request. “Hi!” I smile. Oh my God, he is so damn cute.

  “Well, I don’t have a story but I will talk to you as long as you want. I can sleep on the bus tomorrow.” I stayed quiet. “So, what are you doing?”

  “Snuggling with my pillows.” I openly admit. “I move my phone so he can see the ridiculous amount of pillows I sleep with.

  “Lucky pillows.” He winks and I think I just fell in love with FaceTime.

  “What about you?” I asked. “What are you doing?”

  “I was getting teased because instead of drinking with the guys across the street, I opted to stay in and wait for this girl to call me. Thank God she did because otherwise I’d still be reading about psychology and I would have missed her call when I fell asleep.” He holds up Dickerson’s required textbook.

  I giggled. “Please keep answering every question with long answers.” He laughed at my attempt to keep him talking.

  “I wish I could say y’all have sexy accents up here but well, ya don’t. Y’all sound like you are walking around holding your noses all the time.” He giggles.

  “Well, maybe I don’t want long answers.” I snickered accidentally dropping the phone on the floor. “Oops sorry.” I get off my bed to grab my phone when I hear Noah growl. “What’s up wolfie?” I laugh grabbing my phone and crawling back into bed.

  “What are you wearing?” I feel my left eyebrow shoot up as I see a shit eating grin on the screen courtesy of his sexy as fuck face. I close my eyes in embarrassment. I crawled out of bed in just a tank and my boy short undies.

  “Pajamas.” I try to cover the fact he practically just saw me in my underwear.

  “If those are pajamas, then I wear way too much to bed.”

  “Maybe you do.” I think of him yesterday morning in only those shorts.

  “That is something I will take into consideration in the future.” He winks at me. “You okay over there?” He asks.

  “Yup. What’s wrong? I don’t ramble and you worry?” I smile and cover myself up with my teal and black comforter.

  “I don’t mind when you ramble.”

  “You don’t?” I ask curiously while sliding myself down into my bed and snuggling into my pillows.

  “It’s okay, I’ve found a way to avoid it with you.” I see him smiling ear to ear.

  “Oh yeah? How?” I challenge.

  “By pressing my lips to yours.” Oh!

  “Yup. That’ll do it.” I am smiling like a fool.

  We talked for hours until I started to fall asleep. We told each other stories of our childhood and surprisingly we had a lot in common. It wasn’t until I went to say goodbye did he get serious.

  “Taryn, I need to ask you something. How did you get home last night?” That’s a weird question but if he is asking it it’s because he already knows the answer. I learned this tactic from Jensen and Isabelle. If he was asking her a silly question like that it’s because he already knew the answer or someone told him something.

  “Mason, Josh’s brother drove us home. Well we stopped at Taco Bell first, then he helped me get Izzy upstairs.” I knew he knew when I see him sigh on the other end. “Why?”

  “Some girl, Brittany, texted Jensen a picture of the two of you in his car. I’m sorry I had to ask, I just don’t have time for whatever this is we are starting as it is, so if I’m going into this, I want to be the only one with your attention.” He rambles out and for the first time I don’t find his long answers sexy at all.

  “So, were you just waiting all night to ask me that? Checking to see if I was going to lie to you?” I sit up, somewhat pissed off at him for ruining what could have been an awesome five hours of conversation.

  “Like I said. I like you but distractions like you could ruin me and I want to make sure you’re worth it.” He is intensely watching his phone.

  “Wow! That sounded horrible and adorable all at the same time.” I really didn’t know what to say. I bite my lip before blurting out, “If you don’t have time for a relationship with me, then maybe this should be our last conversation because I am not going to fall for you and have my heart broken when you realize I am too big of a distraction.”

  “Taryn.” He said my name like I was being ridiculous.

  “Good night, Noah. Have a safe trip home.” And…I pressed end, followed by a fountain of tears and a vibrating phone until I fell asleep. I woke up hours later to six missed calls all throughout the early morning and to my surprise no texts. I lay there debating if I should text him and apologize for hanging up or just say screw it, it’s for the best.

  I stayed stubborn all-day Sunday, despite the fact I checked my phone every ten minutes or so. I did some laundry, cleaned my room, raked leaves with my dad outside, and now I am currently peeling potatoes with my mom in the kitchen.

  “Okay, why the glum face?” My mother asked as she peeled two potatoes to my one. She is like a ninja peeler with her paring knife while I have the actual peeler.

  “Noah.” I answered. “Noah is a transfer who plays soccer for the Storm and I really like him but he said he is not looking for a distraction.” I set down my potato and peeler in search of my iced tea.

  “Well, if he’s nothing, he’s honest.” She grabbed my potato. “He’s not like that other soccer player is he?”

  “Josh? Oh hell no. I fell hard long before I knew Noah was a soccer player. Mom, you should hear his accent, it melts hearts and panties.” I laugh.

  “Taryn Elizabeth!” We laughed and finished prepping potatoes for dinner. Sometimes my Mom is not the helicopter she usually is. I went out and sat on the back-porch swing staring at a blank phone for a bit when my mom called for me. Assuming dinner was ready I waddled into the kitchen to see one Mr. Big with the sexy accent standing at the counter talking to my mom.

  “Noah? How? What are you doing here?” I ask stunned.

  “You wouldn’t return my calls last night so I asked Jensen to drive me here when we got back into town.” He stood up straight and I really wanted to run into those arms. “He told me not to be stupid and I’m taking his advice.”

  “Noah, would you like to stay for supper? It is coming out of the oven right now.” My mother glanced at me and winked. Ohhhh she is in trouble.

  “I’d love to ma’am. Thank you.” My mother blushed before she grabbed her oven mits to pull her country chicken bake from the oven.

  “Oh, Taryn is right about that accent.” She went about the finishing touches. My own mother just ran me over with a bus and then put that bitch in reverse.

  I had to walk near Noah to get the silverware and the glasses to set the table with. “So, you’ve told your momma about me?” He was sporting this shit eating grin that I truthfully wanted to smack off his face if I didn’t want to kiss him so badly.

  “Shut up, Noah.” I felt my face turn red as I turned towards the table carefully laying out each napkin and placing the flatware on top.

  “What can I help with Mrs. Morrison?” I hear that fucking kiss-ass ask my Mom. This is not exactly how I would want him to meet my parents but he has so many brownie points for showing up here that he was forgiven the moment I saw him standing in my kitchen, however, I need to make him sweat a little. Dinner went well. I stayed on the cooler side, opting to sit across from Noah instead of next to him. My father grilled him on his family, where he’s from, what he wants to do, and let me tell you, I’ve never seen my dad so impressed. I was beaming with pride especially after my sisters bringing home their prizes. “I’m going to help your momma with the dishes and then I’d
like to speak with you, darlin.”

  “Well aren’t you demanding Mr. Big?” He turned around and looked at me like I was foreign. A look he has mastered well living up North now.

  “Mr. Big?” He cocked an eyebrow at me.

  “Do the dishes.” I walked back out to the porch swing where my mother joined me.

  “He’s cute and very sweet.” She sat beside me. “He even kicked me out of the kitchen so that him and your dad can finish up dishes.”

  “Dad’s doing dishes?” I laughed and had to see that for myself as I peeked in the window.

  “Yes.” She patted my thigh when I sat back down. “He seems sorry for whatever he said and I know you, maybe you jumped to conclusions a little too fast.” My mother smiled and I knew she was right to a small degree.

  “Maybe.” I sat and swung on the swing with my Mom before Noah walked out to the back porch.

  “All the dishes are finished ma’am.” Noah confirmed, making my mom comically happy.

  “Well I will let you two talk.” She got up and went into the house, touching Noah on the arm as she passed.

  “Can I sit?” He asked.

  “My Mom will yell if I say no. You know she is watching.” He turned and smiled.

  “Yes, from the corner of the cabinets.” He sat down next to me. “Taryn, I feel I need to explain what I said last night. It didn’t come out right.”

  “Ya think? And why did you ask about my ride home if you already knew? Was it a little test? A game to see if Taryn lies?” I snapped at him.

  “I don’t deserve the attitude. Not after I came out here as a gesture.” He quickly put me in my place. He was trying and I’m being snotty.

  “I’m sorry.” I know I was being a bitch.

  Noah took a deep breath, “I am getting to know you, but I don’t know you well. Maybe it was a bit of a test. I’ve had dishonest relationships before and it is not something I am interested in having again.”

  “It just feels like it’s all about you. What you want, what you feel, what you think is an inconvenience. I love the honesty too but in any relationship, there is a two-way street.” I looked at him. “And this is way too intense of a conversation for only knowing you like four days.”