by Lee Wardlow
“Mom insisted I wear contacts tonight.”
He leaned over the fence and kissed me. Just a quick kiss in front of the people in the stands, God and my parents. Shit, I wanted him to do it again.
“Cal,” I groaned or gasped wanting to be angry but couldn’t.
“Cal flirt later, play ball now,” his coach shouted at him.
“I gotta go. Going out with me after the game?” He asked. He was already walking away so he wouldn’t get into trouble. “Say yes,” he said. Dimples on full display.
“Yes,” I replied. Then I turned and headed back up to the stands to sit beside my parents.
Dad leaned around Mom. “I want to meet Cal before you go anywhere with him,” he demanded.
“Yes sir,” I replied.
Mom and I exchanged glances and smiles. She was happy for me. My first boyfriend. It didn’t hurt that she liked Cal.
Chapter 7
Our team won. Our boys looked like they had a mud bath because it had rained earlier in the day and the field was a mess. At the end zone near the exit, Dad shook Cal’s hand and introduced himself. I was embarrassed. Cal wasn’t.
Then Dad joined me and Mom. “You will be home on time,” Dad replied. “Or I will find you.”
“I will.” I rolled my eyes at Dad. He didn’t treat Tyson this way and if I had pointed it out, I would have gotten the lecture about Tyson being a boy, so I remained quiet.
“All right, you can go out with him,” Dad informed me. Mom rolled her eyes behind his back which made me smile. He whirled around hoping to catch her doing it, but he didn’t. Mom was too quick for Dad.
They were heading out to grab dinner in town. I kissed my parents then sat on a bench waiting on Cal to shower. He needed it, after the game, covered in sweat and mud. Some of the boys even had blood on them. I didn’t know how that happened. A bloody nose. A finger that got stepped on. Football was a dangerous game.
I had no clue what was going on during each play on the field and didn’t care to either. I was only here to support Cal and Tyson. The cheerleaders strolled by and snickered again. I chose to ignore them. Nothing was going to ruin my night. My first real date with a boy. Cal Cooper.
A gentle breeze lifted my hair around my face, and I brushed it back over my shoulder. The area surrounding the field was emptying out now as parents and students headed home. I was alone on the bench waiting for Cal to find me. I assumed that he should be able to walk out of the locker room and see me sitting here.
Aiden was first out. He strolled over to the bench sat beside me. “Cal will be out soon.”
“Thanks,” I said.
“Different look for you,” he declared.
“I’ve heard that already tonight,” I said. He had used the same words Tyson had.
“So, my boy likes you,” he admitted.
What was I supposed to say to that? I didn’t want to discuss my feelings for Cal with his best friend Aiden. I nodded. Mutism was an easier for me. The spoken word was still difficult for me because of my shyness. I nodded.
Then Luke came out and sat next to Aiden on the bench. I was with these guys every day at lunch this week. I shouldn’t feel so awkward, but I wasn’t socially adept at being a conversationalist.
Luke was blonde like my brother while Aiden was very dark like maybe part Hispanic or something else, I didn’t know. Three boys couldn’t be more different than Cal, Aiden and Luke.
“Has Cal told you about his Dad?” Luke asked. He leaned on his knees and looked across the football field while Aiden kept looking at me making me uncomfortable.
“No, he hasn’t.” I wasn’t sure that they should be telling me either. If it was something that Cal wanted me to know he would tell me himself.
“He’s an Army Ranger. Overseas a lot since Cal was born. He would be home for three months and gone for nine.”
I chewed on my lip then glanced over my shoulder looking for Cal. He hadn’t left the locker room yet.
“Hurts him, you know. His oldest brother, Sam has been more of a father to him than his dad. He’s thirty. Lives close with his girlfriend. They’ll probably get married someday.”
I nodded. I glanced at them then back towards the entrance where the boys were coming out. Two or three were laughing. Excited because they had won but no Cal yet.
“Sam was here tonight. I’m surprised he didn’t introduce you to him and his girlfriend Kelly,” Aiden said. “Man, she’s gorgeous.”
How could he? He was playing ball but then, my dad had met Cal. Maybe he was ashamed of being seen with the nerdy girl. So many excuses went through my head.
Then I realized that I was letting them get to me, which is exactly what they wanted.
“We’ve been together since kindergarten, Abby. Through every single one of his dad’s deployments.” I smiled at them. What was I supposed to say? “We want him to go to Mac’s.”
“Okay?” I replied unsure of what I was supposed to do about it. I wasn’t keeping Cal from going.
“Tell him that is where you want to go,” Luke said. “Or better yet, don’t go with him tonight. It’s not the same if your tight end isn’t there to celebrate with you.” Aiden nodded, agreeing with Luke.
I didn’t know what to do. They didn’t want me to go with Cal. What could I say to him to make him leave me behind? He would at least have to take me home. Mom and Dad had already left the parking lot.
Then I heard Cal and Tyson. I looked over my shoulder and saw them approaching us. Aiden and Luke got up. “We’ll see you later, Abby.”
I watched them go. Cal stopped for a moment and talked to them then Tyson came and sat down by me. “Aiden and Luke said you want to go to Mac’s. Is that true?” He asked.
I nodded at my brother.
He scrutinized my face trying to decide whether I was lying. “You don’t have to do this,” he said. “I know how you are about parties.”
“I’ll be fine. I don’t have to go if Cal wants to go to Mac’s.”
“Abs, you’re all he’s talked about since he got to the locker room. Don’t let Aiden and Luke run you off.”
I sighed. “Okay,” I said. “Whatever Cal wants, I’ll do. I didn’t let Mom make me up for nothing.”
I tried looking away from my brother, but he wouldn’t let me. He smiled at me then Tyson brushed the hair out of my face. “I’m shocked. You’ve bucked her painting your face for years. Why now?”
“Only since I was fourteen. Almost two,” I said turning back to him.
“Our birthday is coming up. Are you getting your license?” He asked.
“Hell no,” I declared quickly. The last anxiety I needed was the pressure of passing a driving test. “Not yet at least.”
“I’ll drive you to school, Abs,” Ty promised. “Come on, let’s join them.”
Tyson grabbed my hand and pulled me from the bench. We walked to Cal and his friends who stopped talking as soon as we joined their circle.
Cal looked down at me. He was frowning. I wasn’t sure what had made him so unhappy. Not me I hoped. “Are you sure you want to go to Mac’s?” He asked. “It’s in the middle of a field. It might be wet. You’ll ruin those pretty, pink shoes,” he declared looking down at my feet.
“We can stop at my house so I can change them,” I offered. The night was getting a little cooler. I might need a hoodie if we were hanging outside. “I’ll need a jacket anyway.”
He looked over my head at his friends. “I didn’t have this in mind for us tonight, but I’ll do what you want to do.” He was suspicious. I didn’t know Cal well but even I could see that he thought something was up.
“We’ll see you later,” he called over his shoulder as Cal put his arm around my waist guiding me away from the others. We walked in silence for a while. “Tomorrow night, we are going on a date, just us,” he declared with a gruffness that made me think he was irritated.
“Are you angry at me?” I asked.
He stopped and stared at me. His ba
g was thrown over his shoulder. He adjusted it higher, then he smiled. “Nope. I’m pissed at them. I think they did something to sabotage tonight for me.”
I reassured Cal that they didn’t even though his friends had given me no choice. They were kind of intimidating in their insinuation that we needed to go to Mac’s tonight and me being me went along with it. I didn’t even know who Mac was.
Cal held the door open to his 72 Impala. I didn’t know shit about cars. He told me the year and the model. “Dad and I rebuilt this when he was home last time.”
I wondered if I should explain that I knew where his dad was. I remained quiet and slid into the passenger seat. He asked for my address then dropped his bag in the back seat before climbing in the driver’s seat next to me.
For a seventeen-year-old boy, he was big. His hands. His shoulders, his thighs. I found myself staring. Cal smiled at me then turned his attention back to the road.
“You don’t talk much,” he declared. I laughed. “I like it when you laugh. It’s soft and sweet.”
“Thanks.” I was embarrassed when he complimented me, and Cal was full of compliments.
We were quiet while we drove to my house. Cal got out with me which was surprising. I thought he would wait in the car. He held my hand and grinned at me as we walked up the sidewalk.
“Wow, nice house,” he said just looking at the outside.
I gazed at it. My dad did well for us. We had nice things. Clothes, video games, video players. TVs in our rooms. A large screen TV in the basement which served as the family room with a fully stocked bar. Alcohol for the parents. Soda for the teenagers. Our parents weren’t the type to say drink all you want and leave your keys. They would murder me or Tyson for drinking underage.
When Tyson got his license, I was sure that Dad would get him a car that was new. He wouldn’t be rebuilding an Impala with Tyson in the garage the way that Cal’s dad did with him.
“You miss your Dad,” I stated. I wasn’t sure that he was going to respond.
Finally, he looked at me and he smiled. This one was kind of sad though. “I do. He’s gone more than he’s home. He’s a Ranger with the army. Lifelong military. Sargent Daniel Cooper loves his country more than his family.”
I heard the sarcasm, the hurt. I squeezed his hand. “I’m sure that isn’t true.”
He ignored my declaration about his dad. “Hey, could we just stay here? I don’t feel much like going to Mac’s.”
Aiden and Luke were going to be angry at me. “Sure,” I replied but I wasn’t sure about it at all. “Who is Mac?” I asked. He threw back his head and laughed at me. I didn’t understand why. “Who is Mac and why is that so funny?”
“Mac is our coach. Coach McAllister.”
“Oh. I don’t know why I didn’t know that. I even heard the principal introduce him at the pep rally as Coach Mac.”
He drew me to his side and hugged me. “You did. That’s why I laughed. What do you do during the pep rally, Abby?”
Daydream, I wanted to say. I shrugged. My parents weren’t home, but I didn’t think that they would care if Cal and I stayed here. I knew it wouldn’t be long until they got home. I texted Mom after we went inside and told her we were hanging out here.
In the living room upstairs until we get home, so Dad doesn’t have a heart attack.
I chuckled. Then I showed Cal her message. He smiled at me. I was hungry. I wondered if Cal was. “I can throw a pizza into the oven if you’re hungry.”
“That would be great,” he agreed. “I’m starving.”
I kicked off my shoes, and Cal followed me from the living room to the kitchen. I noticed he was looking around, an expression of awe on his face.
I looked at what he was looking at. We lived in a two-story, contemporary house that had three thousand square feet; basement to the second floor where our bedrooms were located. I took for granted what my parents gave us, I realized when seeing it through other’s eyes.
“Where do you live?” I asked Cal.
“Not in anything like this,” he said looking at the granite counter tops. The stainless, steel appliances. I grabbed a pizza from the freezer and popped one in the commercial grade oven. Nothing was too good for Mom.
I turned and leaned against the island in the middle of the room. Copper pots hung from a wrought iron rack over my head. He approached and I wondered what he was going to do.
Cal leaned with a hand on either side of me. “Now,” he said. “What was that about you wanting to go to Mac’s?”
“I did,” I lied.
“Right?” His gaze was focused on me. His body leaned in closer. “I want to kiss you, Abby.”
I was nervous. One kiss wonder, here standing in the circle of one of the hottest boys in school. Cal was moving closer. I closed my eyes expecting the touch of his lips. I felt his breath near my ear. “Abby, relax,” he whispered. “It’s just a kiss.”
My eyes shot open. He was so close I could see how truly beautiful his eyes were flecked with different colors of green and gold not the plain brown that I thought.
His lips brushed over mine gently with a slowness that surprised me. He was good at this. His hand cupped my jaw. His touch warmed my skin and I sighed. He chuckled.
“I like you Abby Gardener. You’re pretty and you’re sweet.” Cal’s lips hovered over mine. I thought he might kiss me again.
I slipped my hands around his waist and he flinched. “What’s wrong?” I asked frowning at the pain that flashed across his face.
“Some jerk on defense, side tackled me. Shoulder first right in the kidneys,” he explained.
I pushed him back and lifted his shirt. I could see the beginning of a dark bruise near his kidneys. I also saw the six pack abs he was sporting too. “Are you all right?” I asked.
He removed his shirt from my hands and wrapped me in his arms. “I’m just fine. It’s just a little sore.”
“If you say so but that bruise looks deep.”
“Hasn’t Ty ever come home from a game looking like this?”
I frowned. “I don’t know. He doesn’t usually show me his bruises.” If I had wanted to say anything, I was silenced by another warm kiss.
My hands were pinned to my sides. I couldn’t touch him like I wanted to. We kissed for several long, enjoyable minutes then the bell dinged on the stove letting me know that our pizza was done. Cal stepped back. I didn’t move. He cupped my face and let his lips travel over mine one more time.
“I’m starving,” he whispered. He was way more than I could handle. I stepped out of his embrace and got our food before I did something ridiculous like fall for him.
We decided to eat at the island. He got plates where I told him they were. Third cabinet from the left of the massive double-sided refrigerator. It too was commercial grade. “My mom would love this thing,” he said checking out Mom’s pride and joy.
I chuckled at him.
“Do any of your siblings still live at home?” I asked.
I put the pizza on a cooling rack and grabbed the slicer from the drawer. I got bottles of water from the fridge while Cal sat with our plates at the island. I walked around him and parked my butt on a barstool beside him.
“Only my sister, Blythe. She’s twenty-one,” he finally replied.
“What does she do?” I asked.
“Whatever she wants to do,” Cal replied. I could tell his sister was a sore subject with him.
“Trouble?” I asked.
“She takes advantage of my mother. My other sisters have moved out, moved on and are in relationships with good jobs. They support themselves and sometimes help mom out. Not Blythe. She can’t hold a job. She won’t go to college. She’s nothing but a mooch.”
I heard the hostility in Cal’s tone about his sister. “What does your Dad say about Blythe?” Somehow, I couldn’t imagine his father, being military putting up with someone not pulling their weight.
“He doesn’t care. He’s home so little. When he is home,
he says it’s just a phase. She’s daddy’s little girl.” He shook his head at me. “I can’t stand to be home with her.”
“I’m sorry.” I laid my hand on Cal’s arm. He squeezed my hand then started eating so I did too.
We scarfed down the pizza and cleaned up the kitchen. Then we headed to the living room to watch a movie. The television in the basement was more impressive but this one was fifty-five inches not small at all.
He sat on the sofa and I sat beside him. Cal leaned back and sighed. “Can I watch college football over here?” He asked.
“Sure, Dad and Ty watch it every Saturday.”
“Not a football girl, huh?” He asked gazing at me.
I tucked my legs beneath me. “Not an any sport kind of girl or haven’t you noticed that yet?” I asked.
“I guess I keep holding out hope for you.” I laughed. He took my hand in his and held it. “I really like you, Abby.”
“Why?” The word blurted out of my mouth and he was surprised by it.
Then he responded with such sincere honesty that I almost teared up. “Because you’re smart. Funny. Determined. I like your laugh and your sweetness. So many girls are harsh these days.” He was embarrassed that he had said so much.
“They are,” I agreed, knowing well about the mean girls in school who had teased and tormented me at my old school. I was hoping that this school would be different.
“Your eyes bowled me over as soon as I sat down next to you in English class.” Cal was looking at me.
I asked about his brother being at the game subconsciously upset about the fact that Cal met my dad, but I didn’t meet his brother.
He gazed at me for the longest time before he said anything. “I didn’t see him after the game or I would have introduced you,” he clarified. “He and his girlfriend were there together. They don’t miss many of my games so there will be plenty of opportunities for you to meet him, but how did you know about Sam?”
I wasn’t sure what to say? I didn’t want to make Aiden and Luke dislike me more than I thought they already did but I didn’t want to lie to Cal.
“Never mind,” he said. He was moving closer to me. Unnerving me. “Aiden or Luke mentioned him to you. I get it. You don’t want to rat them out.”
