We finish up and dry off. Annie tosses on my T-shirt, and I love the way it clings to her damp skin. Just when I think she couldn’t get any hotter, Annie Edwards proves me wrong.
She flashes her phone at me.I’ll make you breakfast, under one condition.
“As long as you’re cooking—anything.” I mouth the words slowly. It seems unfair that she has to go the extra mile to communicate with me, and all I have to do is measure my words out a little slower.
You stay naked.She bites down on her lip mischievously.
A wicked laugh drums through me. “Done.” And how did I meet the perfect girl again? Who knew it was going to be a blessing and not a curse the day I went to Whitney Briggs to inform my counselor that I needed to drop my classes.
Annie is the blessing, and Olivia is the curse.
Now there’s something to chew on.
And I’ve yet to tell one about the other.
Family Matters
Annie
Whitney Briggs is bathedin rich November golds and auburns as the leaves rain over the cobblestoned walkways in a show of rich fall color. There’s always been something about fall, but this fall in particular will stay with me forever. Each year when I see the trees in their dying glory, it will be like a secret whispered straight to my heart.
Coeds bleed out of Prescott as I run up to my dorm to change while Blake waits in the lot. He spotted one of his band mates, and I told him I’d meet him back down in a few minutes. As soon as I open the door, I find Marley sprawled on her bed, face down, her hair splayed all over in thick, matted chunks. She’s still in her robe, and her back is bucking in a lively manner. She’s crying.
I flick the lights on and off, and she turns, exposing her tear-stained face.
“He’s coming later so we can talk.” She says talk in air quotes. “This is getting stupid.”
Come with me. I’m bringing Blake home to meet my mom. I could use a buffer.
“Are you sure?” She scoots to the edge of her mattress. Marley looks as if I just told her I was headed to Mars on a no return mission.
Yes, I’m sure. Besides, I need you.
She picks up her phone.Can I ask what happened between you and Blake last night?She bites her lips, making her brows rise and fall like an innuendo.
I go to type out my answer and pause. What happened between Blake and me was private, intimate. It feels strange exposing all the dirty details. Oh, what the hell, just one.
Everything.
“Everything?” Her fingers stomp into her phone.You didn’t need to tell me that. Your ear-to-ear grin said it all!She pulls me into a hug before leaning back so I can see her lips. “I am so happy for you!”
Thank you. It was magic. So you’ll come to my mother’s?
“Let’s get out of here.”
Marley and I put ourselves together and rush downstairs. We hop into Blake’s truck and head for the country.
The evergreens line the road like faithful servants stoically awaiting their assignments. It takes almost forty minutes before we finally pull into my mother’s driveway. For a brief moment, I thought of inviting my father to this odd menagerie of a family get together, but that tragedy was quickly averted when I realized I don’t need to make things more uncomfortable than they already are. My father might be harder to impress than my brothers. I know he will be. When I was little I had his heart on a string like a simple helium balloon, and, the day he moved out just prior to the divorce, it felt as if I was forced to let that balloon go and watch my daddy drift away with it.
We get out and head on in. Mom meets us at the door. Nitro runs up to Blake barking and jumping.
“Hey, big boy.” Blake scratches him behind the ears before smiling up at my mother.
“Please, excuse him”—Mom reprimands Nitro—“he’s usually very good around people. He’s very excited to meet you. As am I. I’m Miranda.” She extends her hand, and Blake is quick to shake it.
“Blake Daniels. Very nice to meet you.” He over annunciates to her as well, and I find it cute, like a nervous habit he seems to have picked up.
Marley greets my mother. They’ve already met several times, and, judging by the slight look of relief on my mother’s face, she’s glad I brought Marley along.
