Текст книги "Saved"

Автор книги: Kelly Elliott

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 4 (всего у книги 28 страниц)

CHAPTER SIX

JEFF

I didn’t know what the hell was wrong with Ari. Ever since she had woken up, she had been in a piss-poor mood. It had gotten worse when she found out that I’d called Rebecca. She’s the one who wanted me to call her.

Fuck this is not how this weekend was supposed to be. Twenty four hours ago, she was so happy, and today it was like she couldn’t stand to be around me. On top of all this, I had to go and deal with Rebecca tomorrow.

The first thing I needed to do was work on this restraining order. I knew Ari would be pissed if I kept seeing Rebecca alone. I wanted to slam my fist on the steering wheel. Why the hell is this happening to us? We were finally together.

I looked over at Ari, and I swore if I’d not known any better, I’d think she was crying.

“Ari, baby, are you crying?”

She just shook her head and kept staring out the window. Fuck me. This whole thing with Rebecca must be tearing her apart inside. I’ll be so glad to meet with Rebecca and get this shit over with. No way is that kid mine. No way.

***

We drove the rest of the way to Austin in silence. Ari never once looked at me. I wished that I knew what to do to take away her pain. I was dying inside. I needed to take her out tonight or something.

“Hey, baby, you want to go out to dinner and maybe some dancing at Rebels?” I asked as I reached over and took her hand.

I glanced over at her as she turned to me. Holy shit. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying. She shook her head and then attempted to smile at me. My whole damn world just shattered at the sight of her upset.

“Ari, I promise you that, this is all going to be okay. You have to trust me.”

“How do you know that it’s all going to be okay, Jeff? Please tell me if you have some inside information that you haven’t shared with me yet. I can’t possibly see how you think it’s going to be okay. You’re having a baby. You’re having a fucking baby with someone else, and we just got engaged. She will forever be in our lives, Jeff. I’m sorry if that freaks me the fuck out.”

“Let’s just wait and see about tomorrow. Okay, baby? I just want to get back home and crawl back into bed with you.”

“I want to go back to my place for awhile,” she whispered.

I snapped my head over to look at her. What the hell?

“What? Why? For Christ’s sake, Ari, we just got engaged, and we’ve barely even spoken to each other. Now you want to stay at your place tonight?” I was so pissed that my hands started shaking.

“I just need to go home for a few hours Jeff. That’s all. I need to think about a few things and get my head wrapped around this whole thing. I’ll come back to your place later tonight. I’m going to need my Jeep anyway since you’re meeting…” Ari’s voice trailed off.

Jesus, now, she can’t even say her name. This was so fucked up, and I had no idea what to do about it. I should have talked to Garrett this morning. Damn it!

“Okay, as long as you plan on coming back tonight, Ari, I don’t want to be away from you. I need to be with you.”

Ari smiled at me. We drove in silence until I pulled up to her place. I helped bring her bags into her house, and then I watched as she collapsed on the sofa. I knelt down in front of her, and she leaned forward putting her forehead up against mine.

“I love you, Ari. I’ll always love you, baby, and no one or nothing is going to get in the way of that.”

She sucked in a breath and pulled away from me. The tears rolling down her face about gutted me right on the spot.

“I hope you’re right, Jeff. I really hope that you’re right.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

JOSH

The moment I jumped into my truck the excitement I felt about Heather riding back to Austin with me vanished in an instant. I looked over at her, and I swore that if looks could kill, I would be long gone. I tried to give her a smile, and I noticed when she somewhat relaxed.

We both reached for the radio at the same time, our hands bumping into each other. What the fuck? There goes that damn feeling throughout my body. Every time this girl touched me or smiled at me, it was like an electric bolt ran through me. I’d never felt this before with anyone.

“I’m sorry. That was rude of me. It’s your car.” Heather said before turning to stare out the window.

For some reason, the idea of ever hurting her sickened me. All I could think about was trying to cheer her up from the sour mood she was in. I knew that fate was on my side when her new car wouldn’t start. Luckily, Lynda’s dad showed up when he did. I almost wanted to jump for joy when I saw him get out of that BMW.

“Don’t worry about it, Heather. What type of music do you like?” Shit….I realized then that I really didn’t know much about Heather at all.

The only time we had ever really talked was a few nights ago at Gunner’s bachelor party after the girls crashed it. Even though Heather had been pretty drunk, we had mostly talked about her parents, who passed away a year ago.

“Um, I really like all kinds of music. I’m pretty fond of country, but Christina Aguilera is probably one of my favorites,” she admitted.

I wanted to laugh at the memory of Heather and the girls getting wasted while painting those damn pails for the s’mores. Heather and Ari had been dancing to Christina Aguilera’s “Red Hot Kinda Love,” and I had sworn that it was Heather’s crazy way to flirt with me. Shit if it didn’t work, too. I had to take three goddamn cold showers that night after every time I’d thought about it.

I had bought the whole damn CD the next day.

I smiled at her and reached down to get my iPod to play the album. After a quick search, that song started. Heather snapped her head over at me, and the blush that moved up her cheeks caused me to smile at her.

“Why are you playing this song?” Heather asked.

“I thought you just said that you liked Christina Aguilera.” I turned my head back to watch the road, and I did everything I could not to laugh.

“Josh, I’m not stupid. I know why you played this song, you asshole!”

“Holy shit, Heather. I’m going to have to wash your mouth out if you keep swearing like that.” I said with a laugh.

“Why did my car have to break down?” Heather said barely loud enough for me to hear her.

What’s her problem anyway?

“Why are you so against me, Heather? What have I ever done to you to make you hate me so much?”

Heather sucked in a breath. “You think I hate you?”

I let out a small laugh. “Yeah. What else would you call it, Heather?”

I watched as she turned back to look out the window at the passing fields. She stayed quiet for a few minutes, and then she startled me when she started to talk again.

“Josh, I don’t hate you. Really, it’s the opposite. I’ve had a lot to deal with in my life this past year. I just can’t…I can’t let anyone in right now. I don’t think I could stand to lose another person I cared about.”

My heart was beating a mile a minute. What the hell is this girl doing to me? I couldn’t even think straight to form my next words. What did she mean? It’s the opposite. Does that mean she...oh holy fuck…she can’t love me ….can she? She pretty much just said she cared about me. Didn’t she?

“Okay, Josh, I see the wheels spinning in your head. You can stop over-thinking what I just said. I only meant that I like you… a lot..um, as a friend only.”

“Well that deflated my hopes a bit. Why only as a friend Heather? You have to know that I’m interested in more than friendship.”

Heather let out a laugh and looked at me. “You? Interested in something more than friendship? What like fuck buddies or something? Not gonna happen with me, Josh. Ever!”

“Jesus, Heather, I would never think of you like that. I can’t even believe you just said that.”

“Please, Josh, don’t act all shocked that I said that. I know how you are, and I know about all the woman you’ve been with. Well, no, thank you. I don’t intend on being another notch in your belt. So, I think we need to keep this strictly friendship only. That’s all I’m interested in.”

I sat there, stunned. I’d never heard Heather utter a hurtful word to anyone in the last year that I’d known her. When I looked over at her, I was pretty sure that I saw her quickly wipe away a tear. Fuck me.

“I’m not really sure what to say after your declaration of what you really think about me, but I would never think of you in such a disrespectful way. I mean, I haven’t even had sex in….anyway, it’s been awhile since I was even out on a date. I know that I’ve made some bad choices, but really, none of those girls…”

“Josh, please. Can we just talk about something else or just not talk at all?” She looked out the passenger window, sighning loudly.

Son of a bitch, I think things just got worse between us. I leaned over and turned up the music just a little louder. The silence in the truck was almost unbearable. The sick feeling taking over my stomach had me wishing that I had just driven Lynda instead of Heather back to Austin.

***

After driving for almost an hour, I got an idea. “Are you in a rush to get back to Austin?”

Heather turned to look at me, and I had to catch my breath at the sight of her beautiful blue eyes.

“Well, no, I’m not really in a big hurry. Why?”

I smiled at her, and she slowly let a smile come across her face.

“I thought that maybe we could take a small ten-minute detour and head into Marble Falls for lunch. Maybe we could grab a bite to eat at the Bluebonnet Café?”

Heather’s smile faded for a quick second, and but then it appeared again. Her eyes seemed to fill with tears before she let out a small laugh.

“I love the Bluebonnet Café. My parents used to take me there all the time, especially when I was younger. My dad loved their coconut cream pie. I can practically smell it, just thinking about it. He always wanted to retire in Marble Falls. They both loved it there. They were…, well, they were actually heading to Marble Falls to look at land when they had their accident.”

Heather’s voice trailed off before she attempted to smile again at me.

Oh God, I just brought up all those bad memories for her. I am such an asshole.

“Shit, Heather, I’m so sorry. I had no idea. I just thought that since we were so close, we could stop there. I used to love going to Marble Falls when I was a kid. I haven’t been in so long. I thought that a Chocolate Meringue pie sounded pretty damn good, but, I completely understand if you want to pass.”

“No! I would love to go. I think it’ll be good for me. I’ve been trying so hard to push away memories of my parents, but I really think this is just what I need to help me move on. I love the idea of stopping in Marble Falls.”

I was pretty sure that Heather saw the breath I was holding in as I slowly let it out. I thought for sure that I’d really fucked it up with her after she’d mentioned that her parents had been killed on their way to Marble Falls.

***

I turned onto Highway 281, making our way into Marble Falls.Traffic was a bitch and I quickly saw why. It looked like there was a street fair on the main street of the town. I was lucky enough to find a parking spot right behind the restaurant. I jumped out of the truck and jogged over to Heather’s side. I think I caught her off guard when I opened her door and helped her out of the truck.

She let a small smile spread across her face, and I swore that it felt like my knees were going to buckle out from underneath my ass. This shit was weird. No girl had ever had this type of effect on me.

The moment I reached down to take her hand in mine, I felt a jolt run from my fingertips to my toes. I was shocked that she let me hold her hand as we started to walk into the restaurant. I glanced down at her, and as she looked up at me, she smiled the sweetest goddamn smile. Even if nothing ever came out of this whole thing with Heather, I knew that I would forever remember this moment, walking into one of my favorite restaurants while holding hands with the girl of my dreams.

The girl of my dreams. Where the hell did that come from?

CHAPTER EIGHT

HEATHER

Sweet Jesus…. I thought just coming to Marble Falls was going to make me nervous, but, the moment Josh took my hand in his, I knew that I was beyond nervous. I was scared to death. He looked down at me with his beautiful green eyes, and my heart just melted. I couldn’t help myself. I had to smile at him. Why did he have to take my hand? I’d been fighting my attraction to him for a year now. I couldn’t let him into my heart. I can’t, and I won’t.

Once we stepped inside the Blue Bonnet Café, the memories came flooding back. I could almost hear my dad saying he couldn’t wait to have a piece of pie as my mother laughed that sweet and gentle laugh of hers.

I miss them.

Josh must have sensed how I was feeling because he squeezed my hand a little tighter as we waited to be seated. When I looked up at him, I had to catch my breath. His smile was just amazing. He had a single dimple on the right side of his cheek. Even if he barely smiled, you could still see it. In Ari and Ellie’s words, he had a panty-melting smile. Yep, he sure does. His laugh sent tingles throughout my whole body while I felt butterflies in my stomach. I’d never been this attracted to a guy before.

Why does he have to be such a man whore?

“You hungry?” Josh asked.

I didn’t think I was up until this moment. “Yes, actually, I’m starving.”

Josh looked up to the hostess as she walked toward us. Her face lit up like a Christmas tree when she got a good look at Josh. Is she blushing? Oh, for Pete’s sake, he’s just another guy, lady.

Okay, well, another guy with an amazing build, a beautiful smile, green eyes you could get lost in, and light brown hair that you just want to run your hands through.

Oh my god, what the hell is wrong with me? I’d been around Ari too long these last few weeks. She’d gotten me drunk three times, and one of those times resulted in me dancing and flirting with Josh. I was still embarrassed as hell thinking about that night.

“Hey there, y’all. Welcome to the Blue Bonnet Café! Will it just be the two of y’all today?” the hostess asked, her voice purring as she stared at Josh the whole time.

Ugh, Josh turned to look at me and let out a small laugh.

“Yep, just me and my friend here,” he said giving me a wink.

Bastard.

“Well then, follow me, and I’ll show y’all to your seat.”

She turned, leading us to our table, and I swore that she couldn’t have shaken her ass more if she tried. I glanced up at Josh, who was looking everywhere but at her ass.

Once we sat down, our waitress came over, and it was a repeat of what the hostess just did. She stared, she flirted, and he ignored while he just looked at me. Oh brother. What would it be like to go on an actual date with him? I’m sure he has girls all over him no matter where he goes. Every time we had ever gone to Rebels, he had usually danced the night away with fifty different girls. During the last few times though, he had pretty much turned down every girl while he just sat at the table talking to me.

“Hey y’all. What can I get ya to drink?”

Josh just smiled at me and then turned to the waitress. Good Lord. The smile he flashed her caused my panties to melt, and from the look her face, she was having the same reaction. Bastard!

“I’ll just have a glass of water, please. Heather?”

“Diet Coke, please.”

The waitress asked if we were ready to order but, Josh asked for a few more minutes.

We sat there in silence while we each looked over the menu. My heart was beating like crazy. Damn it, why does he have to be so gosh darn cute?

Man whore. Just remember he’s a player, Heather.

I glanced up and saw him staring at me. Oh dear Lord. His eyes were so beautiful, I could get lost in them. I smiled at him, and he smiled back at me with the sweetest smile I’d ever seen. Yep, I’m so screwed.

“You ready to order princess?” Josh asked.

Princess?

“Ah, yep. I mean if you’re ready, then I’m ready.”

Josh smiled and I couldn’t help but smile back.

Our waitress came walking back up and turned to face Josh. “So what will it be, handsome?”

What the hell? Oh. My. God. What a bitch. I peeked over at Josh and noticed he was, yet again, looking at me. This time his smile…oh, holy shit. I’d never noticed he had a crooked smile. Deep breaths, Heather. This was a mistake. Breathe in…..breathe out….do not look at him.

I looked down at my menu as Josh began to talk to the waitress.

“I’ll have the catfish plate two fillets with okra, mashed potatoes, and a side salad with ranch.”

She slowly smiled at him. Practically purring, she said, “Perfect choice, handsome.”

Oh, gag me. I had to clear my throat just to remind her that I was sitting here. I honestly believed that she would’ve walked away, never even bothering to take my order. Josh laughed a little, and that just pissed me off even more.

“And for you?” the waitress asked, barely glancing at me.

I rolled my eyes at Josh and looked up at her. I really wanted to pull an Ari and tell her to back the fuck off, but I did what I always did. I kept quiet.

“Yes, um…I’ll have the grilled chicken breast sandwich.”

“You want fries?”

“No, thank you. I’ll take a side salad with ranch, too.”

With that, she gave Josh one last smile and walked away. Jesus, is this how it is everywhere he goes? Girls just falling all over him trying to get his attention. Another reason it could never work.

Good Lord, that was a joke,” I mumbled.

Josh was still smiling at me as he shook his head. “What’s a joke, princess?”

That was twice he had called me princess, and each time, it sent my stomach into a nose dive. What the hell, Heather? Pull it together. Damn Ari for not letting me drive back with her and Jeff.

“The way she was flirting with you, I’m sorry but we could actually be on a date. It was just rude. That’s all.”

Josh laughed again, running his hand through his hair.

Oh my god, it’s getting hot in here. Look away, Heather. Look. Away.

“Can I ask you something, Josh?”

“You want to make this a date?” he asked with a smirk.

“No, I do not!”

Josh sat up straighter, and his face turned serious. It was almost too serious.

“Heather, you can ask me anything you want anytime you want.”

“Why do you keep calling me princess?”

Josh let a smile play across his face as he reached across the table, taking my hand in his. Everything in me was screaming for me to pull my hand away, but I couldn’t. It felt so nice to feel someone’s touch. Ever since my parents passed away, I longed for someone to touch me in a way that made me feel safe and loved.

“I call you princess because you deserve to be treated like one,” he said softly.

Holy hell. I was not expecting him to say that. Just when I think I have him figured out, he goes off and does something so…un-Josh like.

I could feel the heat moving into my cheeks. Josh reached up and ran his hand down the side of my face. The warmth from his hand was driving me crazy.

“You’re so beautiful, Heather, both inside and out. I’ve never met anyone in my life that always puts her friends first, and would do anything for them. You amaze me.”

“Josh…I.”

Just then, the waitress walked up and reached between us grabbing Josh’s glass.

“More water?”

I pulled my hand out from his and glared at the bitch. She totally did that shit on purpose. I looked back over at Josh, and he looked pissed off. His hand was running through his hair again. I wanted to do that so damn bad. His hair looked so soft. Then, Josh did something I had not expected him to do.

“Listen, um.. Josh paused, looking at her name tag. “Casey, we really need some privacy, I hate to sound like a prick, but, maybe after our food arrives, I’ll just flag you down if we need anything. Okay?”

She just stood there in shock. If I didn’t have the urge to laugh, I totally would have kicked him for being so rude.

“Well, of course. Can I get you another Diet Coke, miss?”

I just nodded my head. Even if tried to talk, I knew that I would lose it and laugh my ass off. I couldn’t even look at Josh. I could feel the heat from his stare. Once she walked away, I looked up at him.

“Oh my god, Josh. Asshole much?” I started to giggle.

Josh reached over and took my hand in his again.

Okay, so no harm can come from us holding hands, right? Friends hold hands.

***

After we ate, we both ordered a piece of pie. I got the apple pie, and Josh got the coconut cream pie. With my first bite, the memories were almost too much to handle.

Josh asked Casey about what was going on in town. She told us all about Meet on Main. They had dancing, live music, and shopping. Josh asked if I wanted to check it out. I really didn’t want this afternoon to end, so I said yes.

We walked a few blocks over and spent the next thirty minutes walking around, visiting all the booths and shops.

Memories of my mom and dad kept flooding my mind.

I missed them. Even a year later, the pain was still so raw. Oh god, maybe it was a bad idea coming to Marble Falls.

Josh must have sensed how I was feeling. As we walked past the band, he took my hand and led me out to where everyone was dancing. The band was playing a cover of Jason Aldean’s “The Only Way I Know”. It didn’t take long before Josh was spinning me around on the pavement. I hadn’t had that much fun in… I don’t know how long. My god, this guy knows how to dance!

After Josh and I cut up the dance floor through two more songs, the band took a break. They switched it over to music so that everyone could keep dancing. Blake Shelton’s “Over” started to play. Josh just smiled at me and pulled me into him. Even though I was only five foot three and he was six two, we fit together so perfectly. The warmth of his body made me feel so safe.

I relaxed in his arms for the first time in more than a year. I never wanted this feeling to end, but I knew that it had to. As much as I wanted, there was no way I could ever let Josh Hayes into my heart. Never.