28
JARED CARRIED HIS SUITCASE DOWN THE STEPS AND LOOKED BETWEEN KARLIE AND ME.
“Don’t burn the house down,” he pointed at his little sister.
She rolled her eyes. “You tell me that every time you leave; look around Jare, the house is still standing.”
He chuckled. “Give me a hug, squirt.”
Karlie wrapped her arms around her big brother. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too,” he held on tight.
I loved how much Jared cared about his sister.
“Win your fight for me,” Karlie pulled away.
“I always win,” Jared chuckled.
Karlie laughed. “Not always, Jare.”
Jared shook his head. “Let’s put it this way, I haven’t lost a fight since I met my good luck charm.” He grabbed my hand, pulling me against his chest.
“Oh, so now, I’m good luck charm?” I raised a brow.
“Yep,” he grinned, “you’re the best charm out there and I’ll wear you proudly.”
“Ew,” Karlie gagged. “I’m out of here. I can’t watch my brother put the moves on, that’s just gross.”
I heard her feet pound up the steps.
Jared licked his lips. “I’m really going to miss you.”
“You’re only gone for two days,” I reminded him.
He grinned. “The thought of you, here in my house, sleeping in my bed and not getting to wake up to your pretty blue eyes, is going to drive me mad.”
I blushed at his words, a shiver skating up my spine.
“I love when I make you blush,” Jared skimmed his thumb over my heated cheek. “I love how your body reacts to me, how you hum when I touch you,” his fingers glided down my neck, and of course my treacherous body sang at his touch. My body had a mind of its own when it came to Jared. He made me feel things, do things and apparently hum things. Apparently, I just have no control.
“I’m going to miss you, too,” I finally, said and then gasped as his mouth pressed against my neck and then his tongue flicked out. The moan that came out of my mouth was embarrassing.
Oh, dear God, save me.
Jared chuckled and then lightly bit the spot he’d just licked.
“I love you, kittycat. I’ll call you when I get there,” he kissed my lips and quickly let me go, grabbing up his suitcase.
My legs were like Jell-O, so I leaned against the stair railing for support. Hopefully, my knees would stop shaking once he was gone.
“I’ll keep my phone on me,” I told him. He opened the door and was almost gone when I cried, “Jared!”
“Yeah?” he opened the door all the way.
“Be careful… please? Don’t get hurt,” I pleaded, even though I knew he had no real control over whether or not he got hurt.
“I won’t,” he smiled, closing the door again.
“And I love you, too!”
“Bye Katy,” he chuckled, and then closed the door all the way.
I stood in front of the window and watched him leave. He looked back and I waved, hoping he would see me.
I watched until I couldn’t see his car any more and then went upstairs, knocking hesitantly on Karlie’s bedroom door.
“It’s unlocked,” she said.
I opened the door and leaned against the jamb.
“I should have asked if you already had plans, but I made an appointment for you to get a pedicure and manicure.”
The scream that came out of her mouth was high pitched enough to shatter glass.
I waited for the ringing in my ears to stop and then said, “I take it that you’re excited?”
“Yes!” She squealed, tossing the book she was reading on her flower bedspread. “Please, marry my brother so we can do girl stuff, all the time.”
I laughed. “Let’s keep it at just dating for a little while longer. I can only handle so much change.”
“When are we supposed to go?” Karlie asked.
“The appointment is an hour from now,” I looked at my watch.
“Good, that gives me time to change,” she began rummaging through her dresser drawer.
“I’ll be downstairs. Take your time. We can stop and get some frozen yogurt on our way,” I told her, backing out of her room.
“Sweet,” she said, clutching a new outfit to her chest.
Looking for something to do, I cleaned the kitchen counters and put away the clean dishes.
“I’m ready!” Karlie yelled and I heard her feet thump down the steps.
She had changed into a pair of leggings and a loose, cape-like, sweater that was long enough to be a dress. Her bright red-orange hair hung down her back.
I finished putting the dishes away and grabbed my car keys.
I had made up mind that I was going to get a new car, one I wanted, but it turned out mine wasn’t in as bad condition as Jared believed, so I opted to have it fixed. It meant fewer questions my mother would ask, because if she saw that I bought a new car, I’d get a ton. Getting it fixed was one less mother-induced headache I would have to deal with.
I pulled into the strip mall parking lot and grabbed my wallet. The frozen yogurt place and the nail salon were in the same section, so we’d just walk.
I ordered vanilla with sprinkles and Karlie got lemonade flavor.
We took a seat at the barstools that looked out the large glass windows that faced the parking lot.
“This is really good,” Karlie sighed.
I swirled the vanilla frozen yogurt around my tongue and swallowed. “Yeah, it is.” I dug in for another bite.
“Thank you for doing all of this, Katy. I know you don’t have to,” Karlie licked her spoon.
“I wanted to,” I shrugged, staring at the rainbow sprinkles. I was never very good when people thanked me for something. I was doing this because I wanted to, not for approval or praise.
“You’re a good person, Katy. I’m glad my brother found you. It’s about time he found a kindred soul.”
“I’m the lucky one,” I told her and it was true.
A smile lit her brown eyes. “I’m glad you feel that way about him, he deserves to have someone love him the way you do. I hope-” she looked distantly out the window. “I hope I can find someone that loves me the way you and my brother love each other. I want that all consuming, one in a lifetime, kind of love. I just don’t know if it’s in the stars for me.”
“Of course it is,” I said, tilting my head to study her. “Why don’t you think so?”
She shrugged, swirling her yogurt with her spoon. “I’ve been hung up on someone who won’t ever love me back, for so long that I don’t know if I’ll ever get over it.”
“Holden,” I stated and she nodded.
“The guy’s a jerk most of the time,” she ran her fingers through her bangs. “I honestly don’t know why I’m so attracted to him. He just frustrates me. But then, there are these moments, where I see something in him and it’s like everything in me sings and I get butterflies and feel all weird inside. But I know that he’ll never feel the same way and I should move on, but I can’t, Katy, and that makes me so angry. He’s only ever going to see me as his best friends little sister.” She stared off into space. “Plus, with the age difference thing, I’m always going to be a kid to him. I don’t look like the women he dates. They’re women with curves and hot bodies and here I am with my super thin dancer’s body, with absolutely no curves. I’m just a girl,” she sighed. “I’ll always just be a girl in his eyes.”
I could see the sadness in her eyes and it did something to me. I felt protective of Karlie and I hated to see her so sad. This was her day.
“No more boy talk,” I finished off my frozen yogurt. “Today is about all things, girl.”
She smiled and threw away her half-eaten frozen yogurt. “No more boy talk, promise,” she held out her pinky.
I hesitated a few seconds before hooking mine with hers.
“Come on,” I opened the door, “the nail salon is a couple of stores, this way.” I pointed to the left.
We walked under the covered awning; I spotted a Starbucks and ducked inside. I needed some coffee.
Armed with coffee, we made it to the nail place, just in time for Karlie’s appointment.
“You’re not getting anything done?” she asked, her brow lifted in puzzlement.
“Nope, this is for you. The fact that I don’t like to be touched isn’t very conducive to a manicure and pedicure.”
“Oh, right,” Karlie’s cheeks colored. “With the way you and Jared have been, I forgot about that.”
I shrugged. “Baby steps.”
“Aren’t you going to be bored?” she asked. “You don’t need to stay here with me.”
“Karlie,” I said, lightly, “Don’t worry about me. I’m here for you. Just because I’m not getting anything done, doesn’t mean we can’t still talk.”
“Are you sure?” she questioned and I could sense her hesitation.
“Yes, Karlie, I’m sure. Go ahead and pick out your polish,” I told her.
She stared at me uncertainly for a moment and then turned to the racks of polish.
She picked a shade of purple with a bunch of different shades of glitter.
A woman motioned her to the back where they had a closed off area for the pedicure station.
I grabbed a chair and sat beside Karlie.
“You’re not getting anything done?” the woman asked.
“No,” I politely shook my head and sipped my coffee.
“If you change your mind, let me know,” she said and began to add hot water to the small tub. Karlie rolled up the ends of her leggings and then plopped into the black leather seat. The woman handed her a remote and a moment later, Karlie had turned on the massage chair, moaning in pleasure.
“I’m going to fall asleep,” she warned us, handing the lady the bottle of polish. “For your sakes, I hope I don’t snore.” She pointed at the nail technician and me, before relaxing back into the seat.
I chuckled, taking another sip of my caramel flavored coffee.
I felt my phone vibrate from inside my purse and pulled it out.
Missing you. It read.
A gooey smile spread across my face and I quickly typed back a reply.
Same here.
“My brother?” Karlie asked, a smirk on her lips.
I blushed. “Yes.”
She giggled. “I would say, ‘that’s cute,’ but since it’s my brother, it’s more gross than cute.”
I laughed and put my phone away. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have grabbed my phone. I am the one that said no more boy talk.”
“I don’t mind,” Karlie wiggled, relaxing back into the seat and closing her eyes. “Like I said, I’ll probably fall asleep and you’ll have to drag my sleeping butt out of here.”
“Go to sleep, if that’s what you want,” I picked up a gossip magazine from a nearby table, “I’ll just be here, reading about dumb celebrities.”
~***~
I don’t know if Karlie actually fell asleep, but she did keep her eyes closed the whole time her toes were painted. Another technician came in and painted her nails with the same color, while her toes dried.
I paid and then nudged her shoulder.
Relaxed brown eyes greeted mine. “It’s time to get out of here.”
A tranquil smile lifted her lips. “I don’t want to go.”
“We better get out of here or they might never let you come back.”
That got her moving. She slipped her flats on over her dry toes and put her jacket back on.
Two hours had passed and it was now the afternoon.
“Wanna get an early dinner?” I asked Karlie.
“Yes!” she said, sliding into my car.
“Where do you want to go?”
“Hmm,” she thought. “I’m not super hungry, the frozen yogurt filled me up, but I could eat Panera.”
I drove the two miles to Panera Bread. Luckily, at this time of day, they weren’t that busy.
We both ordered turkey sandwiches and took a seat while we waited for our order.
“Thank you for today,” Karlie said, a big smile on her face and I noticed that she had dimples in both of her cheeks. “And thank you for staying with me this weekend. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Seriously, Karlie, it’s no problem at all,” I hung my purse on the back of the chair so that I didn’t have to sit with it in my lap.
They called our number and I retrieved our tray.
“I can never get Jared to come here,” Karlie said, taking a bite of her sandwich. “He calls it chick food, and yet he makes himself a sandwich at home. I just don’t get it.”
“Men are impossible to understand,” I informed her.
She snorted. “Oh, I know.”
“So, what’s going on with Rodney?” I asked.
“I thought we weren’t going to have any more ‘boy talk’?” she joked.
“Holden and Jared are boy talk, Rodney’s not,” I reasoned.
“You do realize he’s a boy, so I think he is included.”
“If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine. I was just wondering if he’d made any more… advances,” I explained. “I may not have much experience, but I was in high school once and it wasn’t that long ago. I might have some insight.”
“Rodney’s been my dance partner for years,” she picked up her napkin and wiped her lips. “We hit it off immediately and became best friends. It helped that we went to school together, too. But now that he’s flirting with me…” she paused. “It’s awkward, because I don’t know if I can reciprocate his feelings. A part of me wants to try because maybe he could take my mind off of Holden, but it makes me feel horrible to lead him on like that. I’d be using him and because of our friendship I just can’t do it.”
“You’re very wise to only be sixteen.”
“Certain situations have forced me to grow up faster than most. Plus, I focus most of my time on ballet,” she played with the ends of her hair, avoiding my gaze.
“You’re making the right decision not to use him,” I assured her.
“Yeah, well,” she looked up at me, “I have to move on sometime and get over this ridiculous crush.”
“What crush, angel?” a voice sounded over Karlie’s shoulder. Her eyes widened in horror and I sat up to look at who was standing behind her.
“None of your business, Sharky,” she snapped, venomously.
Holden looked taken aback, “What’s got your panties in a bunch?”
I could hear Karlie’s teeth grind together. “Why aren’t you at the fight?”
“Didn’t qualify,” he pulled up a chair and placed his drink cup on our table.
“I didn’t recall inviting you to sit here,” she glared at him. I almost felt bad for the guy.
He brushed his sandy blonde hair away from his face and whistled under his breath. “Feisty,” he grinned. A grunt escaped his lips and I assumed Karlie kicked him. “Damn,” he muttered under his breath, rubbing his leg. “Who knew twinkle toes could kick like that?” He asked, rhetorically.
“I can aim higher if you’d like,” Karlie batted her eyelashes. “I promise I won’t miss.”
Holden put his hands up in surrender. “Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” He stood up and put the chair back before grabbing his drink. “Later,” he called over his shoulder as he grabbed his to-go bag.
Karlie sagged and laid her head on the table. “Thank God, I didn’t say his name. I would’ve died on the spot if he heard me say that I had a crush on him.”
“I can’t believe that just happened,” I shook my head.
“I swear, speak of the devil and the devil shall appear,” she placed her head in her hands, groaning. “If he found out that I liked him, I’d never hear the end of it.”
“He’s not that bad,” I disagreed. I didn’t really know Holden, but I didn’t think he’d be the type to torture Karlie.
“You’d be surprised,” was her reply. She looked at her half eaten sandwich. “I’m really not that hungry, anymore.”
“Let me go grab some boxes and we’ll get out of here.”
I packed up our food and we left, heading back to Jared’s house.
Inside, Karlie collapsed on the couch with a sigh. “I still can’t believe that happened.”
I shrugged. “Well, it did.”
Shaking her head, she slid from the couch to the floor, “I’m going to put a movie on. You wanna watch?”
“Sure, why not?” I said, a blush tingeing my cheeks when I thought about last week and waking up on the couch wrapped in Jared’s arms.
“I’m in the mood for something really girly,” she shuffled through the collection of DVDs. “Aha!” she cried, pulling out a copy of Pride and Prejudice.
She pressed play and then plopped in the chair.
“I love this movie,” a smile graced her face, eyes focused on the screen. “I want to find a Mr. Darcy.”
I closed the blinds in the living room and grabbed two blankets, tossing one to Karlie, before settling onto the couch.
When the movie was over, we talked for a while, before getting ready for bed.
I was just climbing in Jared’s bed when my phone rang.
“Hey,” I answered.
“I’m back at the hotel, Dan had me training all day,” Jared yawned. “Are you in bed?”
“Yeah,” I said, pulling the covers up to my chin.
“God, I wish I was there with you,” he crooned over the phone.
“Well, if you were home, I’d be at my place,” I laughed. “There’d be no need for me to be here.”
“Damn, I hate your logic,” he chuckled and I heard some rustling. I assumed he was getting in bed.
“It’s the truth, not logic, babe,” I giggled.
Silence greeted me on the other end of the phone. “Hello? Jared? You there?”
“You called me babe.”
I blushed, rubbing my cheeks as if I could rub the color away. “Uh, yeah, I guess I did.”
“I really, really, liked it,” his voice rasped in my ear. “You should do it more often.”
I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything.
“Don’t freak out on me,” Jared said. “You’re the one that said it,” he joked.
“I’m sorry,” I finally replied. “It just –uh- slipped out and took me by surprise. Please, just be patient with me.”
“I’ll always be patient with you, Katy. You know that.”
I rubbed my sleepy eyes. “You’re too good for me.”
“You know that isn’t true,” he sang in my ear, before yawning again. “I’ve got to go to sleep kitten, and from the sound of your voice, I’d say you’re tired too.”
“I am,” I agreed, leaving out the fact that my tiredness was due to my dreams. The only time I didn’t have them, was when I slept with Jared by my side.
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow, after the fight,” he said and then hung up.
I dropped my phone on his bedside table and curled up in his covers, inhaling the citrus scent of Jared surrounding me.
~***~
Hands. His hands were on me. Touching me. I didn’t want him to touch me.
“Katy! Katy! Wake up! It’s just a nightmare! Wake up!”
He held me down. I was defenseless. I didn’t want to be defenseless.
“Katy!”
I came awake with a start, covered in sweat, clutching the sheet so tightly in my hands that my knuckles had turned white.
“Are you okay?” Karlie asked, a tear coursing down her cheek, which she hastily wiped away.
I panted, out of breath, unable to answer her.
When I could unscramble my brain, I nodded.
“You were screaming,” she said. “Just like the last time.”
I nodded again.
“Does this happen a lot?” she asked, her brown eyes wide with horror.
I nodded, still speechless.
“Katy,” she said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. “No one should have to live like this.”
“I’m used to it,” I mumbled.
“Can’t you take some kind of medicine or something?”
I shrugged. “I can handle them.”
Karlie sighed. “If you could handle it, you wouldn’t have them.” She got up and went to the door. “If you need me, I’ll be in my room.”
I nodded and rolled onto my back, looking up at the smooth white ceiling.
She was right. I needed to do something about the nightmares. It had been two years and they weren’t going away. When I saw Sharon on Tuesday, I’d talk to her about it.