Strangely Normal

chapter 13


I tried to concentrate on reading a book but found myself reading the same sentences over and over again. So I tossed the book onto the end of the bed and eventually drifted off into a nice, dreamless sleep, only to be woken by Finley’s knock at the door. “Eden? Are you ready for your tattoo?”

Groggily, I got up from the bed and plodded to the door. “I guess I fell asleep.”

Finley looked up at me and seemed to know exactly what I was thinking. Even though I was probably giving up my only chance of ever getting a tattoo, it was just not something I wanted that badly.

“It’s all right, Eden. You don’t have to get a tattoo. Like you said, it’s a permanent commitment. I’ll let Becky know.” She turned around and pushed the spaghetti strap off her shoulder. “How does it look?”

“Puckered, pink, and painful but I can see Some Pig. It looks just like the drawing. It’s going to be really cute when the swelling subsides.”

She pushed the strap back up. “I can’t wait until it’s healed. Cole came by while Becky was working. He mentioned that he was having some friends,” she forced back a smile, “including Max, over for a bonfire tonight. He won’t be inviting that jerk from last night.” Without warning her eyes watered.

I grabbed her hand. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, except I’m a terrible friend.” She squeezed my hand. “Why didn’t you tell me that you were the girl he attacked?”

“It wasn’t really an attack, Finley. Nothing happened. Jude stepped in quickly.”

She swallowed back what appeared to be a sob and a faint smile appeared. “I heard Jude was so mad, it looked like he was about to kill the guy.”

I nodded. “The boy does have a temper.”

“Only when necessary,” she said. “I’m just glad he was there because I was too self-centered to even realize you were in trouble. I hope you can forgive me.”

“None of it was your fault, Finley. Don’t take blame for something that you didn’t cause.”

“I know, but I feel guilty about it.”

“Stop doing that. Stop feeling guilty about stuff you have no control over. So, should we attempt an excursion this afternoon?”

“Yes,” Finley said confidently, but I knew that could change in any moment. “Let me tell Becky we’re done for the day and then we can make our plans. Afterward you can help me decide what I should wear tonight. I figure we should get an early start on it so I can actually make it to the bonfire.”

It turned out that Finley’s invisible perimeter circled around the entire property. She had not gone past the end of the circular driveway and giant fountain at the front of the house. We decided our next goal was the jacarandas that lined the long road up to the house. It was June and they were in their full lavender glory, and the ground was covered with a layer of purple snowflakes.

Surprisingly, Finley had not changed her mind about the outing, and even more surprisingly, she did not hesitate when we reached the end of her safe zone. She kept pace with my feet and after a few steps we found ourselves beneath the purple shade of the trees.

Finley lifted her face to the sporadic rays of sunshine that managed to squeeze between the bloom covered branches. “I’ve always loved these trees.” She lowered her gaze back to the ground and kicked around the fallen blossoms with her feet. “My mom picked jacarandas for the driveway. These trees always remind me of her.”

“I’d say she left a rather unforgettable piece of herself here by picking jacarandas. They are breathtaking.”

Footsteps crunched dry foliage behind us, and like a silly ninny, my heartbeat sped up. I spun around certain Jude would be standing there, but it turned out that Butch and Sundance had followed us out of the house. Several blossoms drifted down from the branches above and clung to bigger dog’s fur.

Finley laughed. “Sundance, you look good in purple. I think I’ll knit you a lavender sweater this winter. I haven’t picked up my knitting needles in a long time. I should start that up again. It’s a great way to occupy your mind and hands.”

“I’d love to learn it. My mom doesn’t know how to knit or sew or cook for that matter. Although she does make a mean pancake.”

“I taught myself to knit through You Tube,” Finley confessed.

“You can learn a lot of crazy stuff on there. I even learned how to trim Some Pig’s hooves from some farmer in Kentucky.” She scooped up a handful of fallen blossoms and tossed them in the air like confetti. “You haven’t talked about your modeling session with Jude,” she said almost hesitantly as if she sensed that it hadn’t gone well.

A purple flower floated down. I attempted to catch it on my palm, but it was just as elusive as a snowflake. “Let’s just say that Jude will be searching for a different muse to inspire him.” It took some effort but I kept my tone completely non-committal. But deep down, I was still feeling the pain of Jude’s cold dismissal.

“You’re better off. Sitting there in the same position for hours is pure drudgery. I hope he was at least polite about it.” She searched my face for a reaction, but I kept my expression plain and clear like my voice.

“As polite as one can expect from Jude.”

“Oh well, forget about it. Tonight should be fun. Cole is picking up some marshmallows and chocolate for s’mores.” She spun around with her arms straight out. “I’m standing under the jacarandas again. It feels amazing.”

***

Finley’s fourth clothing change was her final one. Her tattoo was still sore, which limited her choices and her patience for trying on clothes.

“There’s hope for you yet,” I said.

She twisted her mouth as she looked at the button down blouse I’d thrown on. “Yes, but what about you?”

“I don’t want to be stuck wearing a sweatshirt, and it’s the only long sleeve shirt I have.” I held out the arms. “Too dowdy?”

“A touch. Although it would take an awful lot to make you look dowdy.” She stepped in front of me and assessed the situation. “I know who to make this work.” She unbuttoned the sleeves and rolled them halfway up my forearms and then unbuttoned the bottom two buttons and tied the shirt ends together exposing several inches of skin. She leaned back to admire her handiwork. “Not spectacular, but definitely better.”

We headed downstairs. The smell of smoke from the fire pit had already carried up to the house and it smelled like a summer barbecue in the kitchen. I had not seen Jude for the rest of the day and was both relieved and bummed about it. I had no idea what to say to him or if I even wanted to talk to him. Or if he even wanted to talk to me, for that matter.

The ornately tiled fire pit was in a sitting area just past the pool area. The pool house looked dark and empty as we passed it. Voices and laughter rolled across the yard as we approached the thin plume of smoke that crawled up into the dusk colored sky.

Cole had placed a circle of beach chairs around the pit. Aside from Cole and Max, there were two other guys who I may or may not have glimpsed at the party. I’d blotted most of the wretched evening from my mind. Two unfamiliar girls were also sitting by the fire.

Max had a nice smile, and he immediately stood and moved over so both Finley and I could sit together. “Hey, everyone, this is my friend, Eden. She’s staying with us this summer.”

I waved quickly and sat down in between Cole and Finley. Cole smiled down at me. “Tonight’s party should be more fun than last night’s. But I guess that isn’t saying much. Sorry about that whole thing last night.”

Max leaned forward. “Speaking of last night, where’s Jude?”

Cole pushed a marshmallow onto a stick and handed it to me. “Last time I saw him he was in the gym beating the shit out of the punching bag.”

“I wished I’d seen him making a punching bag out of Mike, the douche bag,” the guy across the way commented.

Finley must have sensed my discomfort with the topic. “Hey, guys, new subject.” She reached across for a marshmallow stick.

Cole elbowed me. “Hey, your marshmallow just took a dive.” He reached into the marshmallow bag.

“I’m all right. I don’t need one. I never have good luck toasting them.” I handed him back the stick. The topic of Jude had reduced my appetite for marshmallows.

“I thought Jude might join us tonight to celebrate his new freedom,” Cole said.

Finley and I both turned to him. “What do you mean?” Finley asked.

“They took the ankle monitor off today. Jude’s a free man.”

I was not prepared for how profoundly that comment would affect me.

Max laughed. “I guess that means he’ll be out of here soon. Four months of being cooped up in this house would be torture.”

Max had, of course, no idea that his comment was significant, but Cole and I both peeked over at Finley to gage her reaction. She bit her lip as she stared down at her marshmallow.

“Hey, Finley,” Max said, “watch that all those bracelets of yours don’t get too hot by the fire. You’ll burn your skin.”

I thought it was sweet of him to worry about it, but Finley didn’t respond. I knew she was still dwelling on the earlier comment.

“Is Jude still seeing that stuck-up girl, Remi, or whatever the heck her name was?” one of the girls asked.

“Remi?” Max asked. “Is that the chick who plays in all those zombie flicks?”

“Yeah, that’s her,” Cole said. “The whole house arrest thing put an end to that relationship. But truthfully, I think Jude was glad to see her go.”

“So he’s not seeing anyone?” the same girl asked. Even through the dancing flames, I could see the gleam in her eye.

Cole looked over at Max. “I love inviting chicks over and then spending the entire night answering questions about my brother.”

“Sorry, Coley” the girl said. “You know how much I love you.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He stabbed a marshmallow onto a stick and pushed it into the flames.

“Where are you from, Eden?” Max asked.

“I’m from the valley,” I answered, and decided no elaboration was necessary.

“Are you a cousin?” the girl across the pit asked, and it seemed all eyes were on me.

“She’s a long time friend,” Finley said sharply. Her mood had definitely disintegrated since Max’s comment, and I truly hoped she would snap out of it. She looked over at me. “I feel like I’ve known her a lifetime.”

I smiled back at her. “We’re really close. Like sisters.”

Finley reached over and grabbed my hand. A large splash in the pool made everyone sit forward.

“Who’s swimming?” Max asked.

Cole shrugged and sat back. “Well Butch and Sundance would rather become vegetarian than go anywhere near that pool, so it must be Jude. I guess he decided to cool off after his workout.”

The girls popped out of their chairs. “We’re going to go visit him at the pool.”

“Oh, and I thought you loved me,” Cole said.

“We do,” the girl answered. “But we’re talking about Jude King in a bathing suit.”

They stepped onto the brick path that led them back to the pool yard but stopped as Jude came around the corner, dripping wet. He walked past them without as much as a nod. The entire circle watched as he plunked his massive frame down onto a beach chair directly across from me. The wall of flames was glowing hot, but they were no match for the heated gaze he shot my way. He stared at me openly, not giving a damn that everyone was watching him.

The girls looked dejected as they took their seats again.

“Jude,” Max called across the fire, breaking the tense silence. “I see you’re a free man again.”

“Yeah,” Jude answered without pulling his gaze from me.

“Christ, Jude, you’re such an ass.” Obviously sensing what was truly happening across the flames, Finley finally spoke.

Jude stood and looked over at his sister. “I’m sorry, Fin, but I’ve got to talk to her.”

She sighed. “Yeah, I know. Just go.”

Jude walked around the pit and lowered his hand in front of me. It took me all of a second to decide to place my hand in his. He pulled me from the chair, and I half-stumbled behind him as he yanked me along to the dimly lit pool area. Once out of view of the others, he hauled me against his hard body.

“You’re wet,” I said.

“You don’t know the half of it, Valley.” He dragged me behind him once again, and we entered the pool house.

The flickering light from the fire created dancing shadows in the dark room.

He held me in his arms, and his cold, wet skin seemed to warm instantly. I pressed my face against his chest, and his hand came up and held my head tightly against him. “You know why I couldn’t paint you, Eden.”

“I have an idea,” I said quietly

“Since I first met you, I’ve memorized every inch of you, the slope of your neck, the curve of your breasts, the sultry pout of your bottom lip, and all I could think was that I wanted to put it all on canvas.”

I lifted my face and peered up at him. He drew his fingers down the side of my face.

He laughed quietly. “I thought I could handle it, and I was doing pretty well until I sat across from you and looked up at you from my canvas. It all fell to pieces then, and I knew I’d been fooling myself. To have you sit a few feet away and only touch you with my eyes was too much to bear.”

He pushed my face up with the tip of his thumb. His hungry gaze floated down to my lips. “And now that I’m holding you,” his voice was low and jagged, “it is once again, too much to bear. I want every inch of you Eden.” He lowered his mouth to mine, and it hovered so near, I could feel his warm breath on my skin. “Starting with these incredible lips.” The space between us vanished and his mouth found mine. His kiss started gently, but as each second passed, a sense of urgency consumed both of us. His tongue traced my lips and then his kiss deepened and I pressed my body hard against his. A deep groan came from his throat as his hands trailed down my back and slipped beneath my shirt. He caressed the skin on my back and my hands encircled his neck to pull his mouth even closer to mine. I could not get near enough to him, and he held me so tightly that his grasp along with the intoxicating kiss left me breathless and lightheaded.

He lifted his face and stared down at me with a flood of passion that would have scared me if it had not been Jude.

His hands came up between us, and he deftly unbuttoned my shirt. Then his long, rough fingers slid between the open sides of my blouse and parted it. “There’s that damn bra again.” He leaned down and tugged down the top of my bra, exposing my naked breast to his mouth. His tongue traced circles around it and I pushed harder against his mouth. “Shit, Valley, do you know what you do to me?” he mumbled against my bare skin.

My thigh pressed between his legs and I laughed softly. “I have an idea, yeah.”

He lifted his face and grinned wickedly before continuing his trail of kisses down my neck. Heat swirled through my body and tugged at me with a need that I knew only he could satisfy. I’d been with other guys before, but none of them had ever elicited such a profound physical reaction as this. I felt completely out of control, and I loved every second of it.

We were lost in each other’s touch and scent when an urgent knock rattled the door of the pool house.

“Jude!” Cole called through the door.

Jude sighed loudly and pressed his forehead against mine. “If you want to live, Cole, go away.” His fingers traced the tops of my breasts.

“It’s Finley,” Cole said through the crack in the door.

We separated as if someone had thrown a bucket of ice water on us. Jude raced to the door, and I followed closely at his heels. He opened the door.

Even in the dim light it was easy to see that Cole looked upset.

“Where is she?” Jude asked.

“She went back to the house. Max mentioned going to—” Jude and I were out the door before Cole could finish.

My heart was pounding by the time we reached the back door. Jude slid it open so hard it nearly came off its slider. “Finley!” he yelled.

“Finley,” I echoed his call.

“I’m right here,” a small voice came from the couch. Aside from the lights coming from the clocks on the kitchen appliances, the room was dark.

Jude switched on the lamp, and Finley lifted up her hand to block the harsh light. Mascara rimmed her eyes as if she’d been crying. She hugged her knees to her chest.

I sat down next to her. “What happened?”

“Nothing. I’m never going to be normal, that’s all.”

I was relieved to see that she was not completely freaked out or in a panic attack. She was just upset, and I couldn’t blame her. “That’s not true, Finley. You’re more normal than any girl I have ever met. I’ve never bonded so quickly with anyone in my life.”

She wiped clumsily at her nose and looked at me. “Maybe you’re not normal either.”

“You’ve got a point. Maybe we’re both normal in a strange way.” I threw my arms around her, and she hugged me back. “We’re going to get you out of this world you’ve built yourself, Finley. Don’t give up.”

We sat back and Jude plunked down on the other side of her. She peered over at him. “I knew you liked her, you big boob. The moment you saw her in the gym that first day, I saw that hungry gleam in your eye.” Then her tone turned serious. “Jude don’t do anything to f*ck this up. I know you thought this was a bad idea—”

“I was wrong,” he said abruptly. “I was totally and completely wrong. And besides, Valley claims she’s never lost her head over any guy. So it’s all good.”

I leaned forward, and his grin was as wide as the coffee table.

“Cocky bastard,” I mumbled as I leaned back against the couch cushion.

Cole appeared in the doorway. “I sent everyone home. Told them I was still feeling shitty from too much partying last night. Max said he’d call you later.”

“Finley, why don’t you tell him what you’re dealing with,” I suggested. “Max seems like a decent guy. I think he’ll understand.”

She leaned her head on Jude’s shoulder. “Maybe some time. But not yet.”

Cole plopped down next to me, and we all sat in silence staring at the dark television set. “Is anyone else thinking Silence of the Lambs down in the theater?” Cole suggested.

“I’ve only seen that movie on a small, blurry television set and it freaked me out so badly I crawled into bed with my parents,” I confessed.

“Can’t really blame you. It is a damn creepy movie. It could really freak out a kid. I’m surprised your parents let you watch it,” Finley said.

I looked over at her. “I was sixteen.”

We erupted into a major bout of laughter and then headed down to the theater. Jude stood behind me in the elevator, his fingers hooked in the waist of my jeans. He tugged the material down an inch, and he tickled my back. I gasped and a shiver raced through me.

Finley glanced over at me. “Are you all right?”

“Uh huh,” the sound cracked out of my throat, “just a little chill in the air.”

As I’d expected, the movie was even more disturbing on a large screen with surround sound, and I spent the first half of the movie with my face buried against Jude’s shoulder.

“I have a newfound appreciation of this movie,” Jude commented, as I scooted closer to him with each horrendous scene.

“Yep,” Cole said from the seat he’d taken two rows back. “I make a point of showing it when I’m with a girl who I’m sure will climb into my lap before the end of the movie.”

“I’m feeling nauseous,” Finley called back from the front row where she’d situated herself with a giant bucket of popcorn. Jude and I had chosen seats between their two rows and we’d lifted the arm rest to make it one large seat.

“I’m just saying, if you’re going to watch a horror flick make sure the girl is easy—”

An entire shower of popcorn flew at Cole from the front seat.

He picked a piece off his shoulder and ate it. “Needs butter. And you didn’t let me finish. I was going to say easy to scare.” More popcorn flew his way.

Jude threw his arm around my shoulder. “The boy never knows when to shut up.”

Finley stood and stretched. “I’m tired. I think I’ll turn in. I already know how it ends.”

“I’ll walk you upstairs just in case there are any cannibals lurking in the hallway,” Cole said. “Hey, Jude, I’m going down to Corky’s Bar and Grille to meet some people. You want to come?”

“Nope.”

“Kind of thought you’d say no. See you later.”

Finley and Cole left the room and Jude grabbed me. “I thought they’d never leave. Now where were we?” He laid me down on the seat and his mouth devoured mine instantly. But after a few moments, I pulled my lips away. The look of disappointment in his eyes nearly made me laugh. “I understand your newfound respect for this movie and all, but do you really want me to think about Hannibal and his fava beans every time we kiss?”

“Good point.” He hopped up, muted the movie, and turned on music instead.

This time he lowered himself over me slowly, his gaze never leaving my face as he pressed his body along the length of me. His mouth lowered over mine, and the kiss built with urgency again, the same unequaled urgency I’d felt in the pool house. His hands explored every inch of skin on my arms, stomach and breasts. My fingers grasped for the hem of his shirt and I pushed it up, exposing his skin. I lifted my head and ran my lips and tongue along the hard, muscular ridges of his chest.

Physically, I felt completely vulnerable as if I had no intention of stopping what we’d started, but my mind kept tugging at my self-control, pulling me from the dizzying swirl of pleasure and back into reality. I wasn’t prepared for this yet. I knew once I’d given into it all, I was risking everything, including my heart. Jude seemed to sense my hesitancy. His hands moved up to my face, and he pressed his palm against my cheek and kissed my lips.

“I’m sorry, Jude. I’m not ready yet.”

“I understand,” he said. “It’s killing me but I understand.” He stretched out next to me on the seat.

“Now that you’re free again, I suppose you’ll be taking off soon. At least that’s the rumor I keep hearing.” I wasn’t completely sure what’d prompted the topic at this particular moment, but suddenly, I wanted to know.

“Rumors, huh? This town is famous for gossip.” He leaned down and kissed me lightly. “Look, Eden, I know this complicates things some—”

I peered up into his incredibly perfect face. “You think?”

“All right, it complicates things a lot, but contrary to what my sister may have told you, I’m not a complete jerk.”

“Actually, she uses the word ass more than jerk.”

“I’m not a complete ass,” he continued. “Maybe a partial ass but not a complete one.” He fell silent and then reached up and pushed the hair off my face. “I’m here right now because I badly want to be with you. And as my sister can tell you, there aren’t many people I want to be with.”

Everything would have been much easier if my initial dislike of the guy had stuck, but it had been obliterated almost from the start. In fact, it had disintegrated so completely I questioned whether I’d ever truly disliked him at all. Now there seemed to be no turning back. I just needed to remember to keep my head.

Jude leaned down and kissed me again, and a tingling sensation warmed my skin.

Keeping my head was not going to be easy.

“Hey, tomorrow, I’ll take you on a ride on the bike. If you want to go-that is? And we’ll have to clear it with the Empress. But we could just take a short ride. What do you say?”

“Uh, let me think— hell yeah. Do I get to wear one of those cool Harley helmets?”

“Yeah, it’s kind of the law out here in L.A.”

“Yippee.”