Текст книги "Somewhere in Between"

Автор книги: Samatha Harris

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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

Chapter 2

Alex (Now)

 

Six years later…

 

Ping, ping.

I cracked one eye open and fumbled for my phone.

Ping, ping.

I really needed to change that ringtone. Surely, my decision to use the bicycle bell was to ensure I actually check my messages, but I spent that particular moment wondering if I owned a hammer.

I smacked at my nightstand, knocking over bottles of water and nail polish, trying to feel for the shape of my phone with not much luck. After knocking over a few more random items, I finally brought my phone to my still half-closed eyes without lifting my head off the pillow.

Drew: Meet me at our place. I’ll bring coffee.

 

I sighed and let the phone drop to the pillow next to my head. Figures it was Drew. No one else is brave enough to text me that early. He did that shit on purpose. He knows, better than anyone, that I am not human ‘til it’s eleven in the morning and I’ve had at least two cups of coffee. I picked up the phone again, glancing at the too bright little screen to check the time. Asshole! It was only seven thirty! I shot him a text back.

Alex: This better be big. See u in ten.

 

Drew: Damn right it’s big. ;)

 

Hilarious. I was not awake enough to deal with Drew’s thinly veiled penis jokes. I rolled on to my back and stared up at the ceiling, wondering what the hell he could possibly want at seven thirty in the morning. Guess there was only one way to find out.

I dragged myself out of bed, trudging into the bathroom as a yawn stretched wide across my face. I leaned my forehead on the wall next to the sink and brushed my teeth, still half asleep. I considered finding a way to hang a pillow on the wall in that exact spot every morning since moving in this place two years ago, but I’d yet to follow through.

I stumbled back to my room, bumping my hip into my dresser on the way to the closet. It was too early to think about anything, let alone deciding what to wear, so I slipped on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, ran my fingers through my gnarly red curls, and headed out the door.

When the morning air hit me, I took a deep breath, hoping it would breathe some life into my body, which was still back in my bed, asleep, where the rest of me should be.

My neighborhood was so full of life in the spring. People happily walked their dogs, and flower vendors and street artists were setting up in the square. It was all really charming, even more so at a normal hour of the day, like noon. This early in the morning, things were pretty quiet, as most people didn’t find it necessary to wake up their friends before dawn. Okay, so that was a tad overdramatic. The sun was up, but barely.

Overall, Madison Square is the best place to live, at least in my humble opinion. I was lucky enough to find a gorgeous apartment in an old townhouse three blocks from work. It had everything I wanted and so much more: beautiful hardwood floors, windows spanning from the floor to the cathedral ceilings…

I was overwhelmed by the design potential and the little quirks that reminded me of its past: The linen closet that always smells like pine needles, the initials carved into the baseboard behind my bed, the nail in the hallway just beyond the kitchen that refused to stay down no matter how many times I nailed it back into the floor.

What sold it for me, though, was the view. It overlooks Madison Square Park, a beautiful little Eden that covered an entire square block. The trees were full of color in the fall, and there were jazz concerts near the fountain in the center of the square every summer. I would throw open all the windows and sit on my couch with a glass of wine, letting the music sweep me away.

I plopped down in our place, a bench in the center of the square, and rested my elbows on my knees to wait for Drew. He lived just across the square, which was very convenient when stumbling home drunk. It may have seemed like just a bench, but it was the place where our lives met. It was neutral territory, a place dead center between his apartment and mine.

I rested my head in my hand, blowing a stray piece of hair out of my face, wishing he would just hurry the hell up.

“Good morning, Red!” Drew dropped down next to me, stretching an arm out on the back of the bench.

“You said you would have coffee,” I said, lazily rolling my head to the side to look up at him.

“Chill. Here.” He handed me my extra-large coffee with cream and sugar, my usual from our favorite coffee place, Down the Street. That was the name of the coffee place as well as the directions to it. Every time someone suggested getting coffee, it had a tendency to start an Abbot and Costello “Who’s on First?” routine, which, apart from the excellent brew, was why I loved Down the Street.

When there was enough caffeine running through my system to string words together, I focused on him. “What was so important you had to wake me up at this unholy hour?”

He grinned. The amusement he felt was reflected in his deep blue eyes. I know that look all too well. He was up to something. “No reason. Just thought you might like to know that I scored an invite to Rags & Riches.”

I gulped, sending scalding hot coffee down my throat. Coughing and sputtering, I spilled half my cup all over the sidewalk in front of me. Drew laughed and handed me a napkin from the bag at his feet.

When I finally got a hold of myself, I turned on him. “Are you serious?”

“Yep, but if you don’t want to go, I can find someone else to be my plus one.”

I slapped his arm for even suggesting such a thing, and he rubbed it, pretending to be in pain.

“How did you pull this off?” My voice wavered and my eyes watered with excitement. Well, from excitement and from almost choking on my coffee.

Drew just shrugged. “I’m awesome.” He shot me the cheesiest smile he could come up with.

Rags & Riches was a gala benefit for the arts. It gave upcoming artists a chance to rub elbows with the masters in their field. Musicians, visual artists, writers, playwrights, actors, etc., were all given a chance to mingle with their heroes. As an interior designer, I’d been dying to go for years.

I couldn’t contain my excitement anymore. I launched myself at Drew, wrapping my arms tight around his neck, catching him off guard as he tried to catch his balance.

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” I squealed.

Drew chuckled, pulling at my arms to release him. Once he was free, he pulled the invite from his pocket. I snatched it from his hand and scanned over every inch, trying to commit every detail to memory.

“I can’t believe you did this! This is amazing.” I stopped just short of cackling with glee.

“One of the partners in our firm is going out of town, so Gabe had the extra tickets.” He shrugged, like making one of my lifelong dreams come true was no big deal.

“Holy shit,” I gasped. “I need a dress!” I started running through the contents of my closet in my head. I had nothing. The gala was Friday. How was I going to find a dress that quickly? Drew could see the wheels in my head turning. He hopped to his feet, grabbing my hand to pull me along with him.

“Got it covered. Come with me.” He dragged me behind him, toward his car.

“What? You are not buying me a dress!” I said, trying desperately to keep up. The tickets were already too much. No way was he buying me a dress too.

Drew stopped short. “Red, will you relax? Trust me, I got this.” He shot me a wink and pulled me the rest of the way to his car.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“You’ll see.”

“Damn it. Come on, just tell me.”

He chuckled. “Where is the fun in that?”

I sat back in my seat, frustrated, but I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. Drew just shook his head and chuckled, putting the car in drive.

***

Ten minutes later, we pulled up outside a small boutique store front. My smile widened as I recognized the pink and white awning with the swirling cursive letters spelling out Millie’s.

A little bell announced our entrance as we walked into the small but beautiful space. Every square inch was decorated in muted shades of white and a rosy pink. Vintage-inspired clothes, some real and some reproductions, hung in neat rows separated by style and color. There were modern little touches, like the modular couches and LED lighting. It was such a contradiction in styles, but it felt like home.

I glanced around, slowly making my way into the heart of the store, running my fingers through the fringe of a 1920s flapper dress. Millie’s was a reflection of the woman herself—petite and light with an impeccable sense of style.

From the back corner, I saw her bustling toward us, her arms so full of fabric all you could see was the top of her blonde head. She looked around the stack in her arms, her bright blue eyes widening and a smile spreading across her perfect face.

“Drew!” She set the fabric on the counter, making her way toward us.

“Millie!” Drew wrapped her in a tight hug. He lifted her up, swinging her tiny body in a circle, before setting her back on her feet.

He placed a hand on her very pregnant stomach and smiled. “How’s my nephew?”

“Ornery, as usual. I think he takes after his uncle.”

She giggled, playfully poking him in the ribs.

Millie turned to me, wrapping me in a warm hug. Drew’s sister-in-law is possibly the sweetest person I have ever met. She has such a big heart that it’s virtually impossible not to love her.

“Alex, how are you?” She pulled back to look up at me, taking in my shabby outfit. At about five foot nothing, she was a tiny little thing, even eight months pregnant.

“I’m good, Millie. Look at you.” I took a step back to take all of her in.

“Ugh, I look awful.”

“I wouldn’t say awful. Just circular.” I giggled.

“Ha, ha,” she deadpanned.

She clapped her hands together, getting down to business. “Drew says you need a dress.”

“He did, huh?” I shot a look at Drew as Millie pulled me toward one of the racks.

“What did you have in mind?” she asked, her eyes scanning the choices in front of her before moving on to the next rack of gowns.

“I don’t know.” I hesitated. “Something elegant, sophisticated, classic.”

“It’s a gala, not a costume ball.” Drew snorted. I elbowed him in the ribs.

“Think old Hollywood glamour,” I said without missing a beat.

“Well, let see what I have.” She quickly started sifting through the racks, pulling out several dresses for me to try on.

Drew leaned down and whispered in my ear. “Told you I got you covered.”

I reached up and patted his head. “That’ll do, pig, that’ll do.”

Millie finished pulling dresses and pointed me to a dressing room at the back. Drew settled into the chair outside the dressing room, flipping through a catalog from the table next to him.

I stood in the dressing room and sorted through the gowns. I immediately vetoed anything strapless because no way was I going to run the risk of a nip slip. I sorted through the dresses, setting them aside for different reasons. Too short, too frumpy, too loud, far too many sequins.

Just when I was almost out of options, there it was, the dress of my dreams. I slipped into the beautiful cream-colored silk gown. It was gorgeous. It fit all of my curves perfectly and dipped low in the back for just the right amount of sexy. The subtle color made my green eyes stand out and complemented the rich, red color of my hair.

I turned, admiring the fit and slight twirl of the back, when I heard a sharp intake of breath. I looked into the mirror and caught Millie staring at me with her tiny hands pressed to her lips, tears filling her big blue eyes.

“That good, huh?” I held out my arms, twirling to show the dress off.

“Alex, it’s stunning,” Millie blubbered. I reached out to hug the hormonal preggo, but she took a quick step back. “No, you’ll ruin it.”

I turned back to face the mirror, smoothing down the front of the dress. “I think this is it, Millie.” She nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes.

From beyond the dressing room curtain, we heard Drew start complaining. “Would you come out already? No guy should have to sit and wait this long unless someone is getting naked.” He paused. “Which I am open to.” Millie winked and pulled back the curtain.

Drew started at my feet, taking in the whole picture. His eyes slowly made their way up my body ‘til they locked with mine. We stayed that way, eyes locked for a moment, before he shook his head and cleared his throat.

“Eh, it’s okay.” He shrugged, looking back down at the catalog in his lap, suddenly fascinated with Victorian lampshades. The smile on his face made it pretty clear this one was a winner.

Millie chucked a hanger at him. He ducked as it sailed a foot too far to his right.

“I guess pregnancy hasn’t improved your aim, Millie.”

She glared at him, trying her best to look intimidating, but she just ended up looking adorable. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

“Don’t listen to him,” Millie said, ushering me back into the dressing room.

“I never do.” I made my way back behind the curtain, winking at Drew over my shoulder. He just stuck his tongue out at me. So mature.

I quickly changed out of the dress and handed it to Millie. She hurried out of the dressing room to bag it up. After I got dressed, I took a look in the mirror. It was amazing what a difference the dress made. Yeesh! I don’t think I even glanced at the mirror this morning before I left the house.

Like most women faced with a mirror, I started pointing out the flaws. I needed a haircut, and my God, my thighs. I’m pretty enough, but I have a mouth that gets me into trouble sometimes, though it’s usually nothing I can’t get myself out of.

I stepped out of the dressing room and joined Drew and Millie at the counter. I pulled out my credit card from my back pocket and handed it to Millie, but she just batted my hand away.

“No, no, you’re all set.”

I looked up at Drew. “I told you, you are not buying me a dress.”

He held his hands up in defense and took a step back. “I swear, I didn’t.”

Millie came around the counter and handed me the garment bag with a smile. “This dress was made for you, Alex. I want you to have it.”

“Millie, I can’t.”

She shoved the garment bag at me.

“Nope.” She shook her head. “You cannot refuse a gift from a pregnant woman. Just say thank you.”

“You know the pregnant thing will only work for another month, but thank you.” Drew grabbed my arm and ushered me out of the store. I waved goodbye to Millie over his shoulder.

Drew took the garment bag from me and laid it carefully in the back seat. Then he opened the door and waited for me to get in.

“Drew, I can’t just take the dress,” I said. He sighed and leaned on the open car door.

“Would it help if I offered for us to babysit after he’s born?”

I stepped into the car. “Ugh, I don’t do diapers.”

He rolled his eyes, shutting my door harder than was necessary. I laughed to myself as he walked around to get in the car. It was so easy to get under his skin.

“The lengths I have to go to make you happy,” he said as he put the car in drive.

“Yeah, but I’m worth it.”

Chapter 3

Drew (Then)

I shot Red a text as I headed to class on Thursday.

Drew: Admit it I’m growing on you.

 

Alex: Like a weed.

 

I laughed. This girl was something else. She called me on all of my shit and brushed off every pass I made at her. Despite all my efforts to get her naked, she and I remained just friends. The weird part was—I kind of liked it. I had never really had a girl that was just a friend before, but Alex was different. Don’t get me wrong, I was still seriously attracted to her, but I was actually enjoying just getting to know her.

Drew: I knew it.

 

Drew: What are you doing tonight?

 

“Hey, Drew.”

I looked up from my phone as some hot girl from my psych class wiggled her fingers at me. I nodded my head and smiled at her, but kept on walking, watching my phone for Red’s response.

Alex: Avoiding Kerri and Sean.

 

I laughed.

Drew: Catch them again?

 

Alex: They were fighting this time. I got out before the makeup sex started.

 

Drew: Why don’t you hang out at my place tonight?

 

Alex: Nice try. Drew.

 

Drew: What?

 

Drew: We can watch a movie or something. I will be good. I promise.

 

She didn’t respond right away. I sat down on the wall outside the science building and waited.

Drew: Come on, Red.

 

Alex: Fine, I will be there at 6.

 

Alex: I get to pick the movie.

 

***

At six on the dot, there was a knock on the door. I pulled it open to let Red in. She looked effortlessly beautiful, as usual. I was used to girls coming over all made up, short skirt, boobs spilling out of their top. Not my Red. She showed up in jeans and an oversized hoodie with her hair pulled up and her black-framed glasses perched on the end of her nose. She still looked gorgeous, but not in an artificial kind of way. She was so different from any girl I had been with that half the time I didn’t know how to act around her.

I must have been staring like an idiot, because she asked. “You going to let me in?”

“Yeah,” I choked out, stepping to the side.

She walked in, looked around the apartment, and turned to face me. “Did you clean?”

I just shrugged my shoulders and headed into the kitchen. After I talked to her earlier, I raced home to straighten up the apartment, but I was not going to tell her that. “I’m not a total slob. You want a beer?”

“Yeah.” I grabbed two beers from the fridge, turned to hand her one, and almost ran right into her. I handed her the beer. With a smile, she headed toward the living room. I took a deep breath and followed, dropping down on the couch beside her.

“So, what are we watching?” I asked, watching her fold her long legs under her.

“What have you got?”

“I thought you were bringing something.”

“I said I was picking, not bringing.”

“Well, I don’t have any movies here.” I shrugged. I thought breaking into Sean’s porn collection was a bad idea.

“Who invites someone over to watch a movie with no movies to watch?”

“Hey, I thought you were going to bring it.” I chuckled.

Red sighed. “Well, how are you going to entertain me?”

I raised my eyebrows, a grin spreading across my face as I thought of all the things I could do to entertain her.

“Not going to happen, pumpkin.” She reached out and patted my cheek.

“Then what do you suggest?” I chuckled, taking a swig of my beer.

“I guess we can talk.”

“Talk?” I scoffed.

“You know, exchange words and ideas,” she said. “Tell me something.”

“Like what?” I wasn’t quite sure what she was looking for.

“I don’t know. What’s your major?”

I laughed. “And I’m the one with the lame pick-up lines.”

“We’re in college, asshole. It’s a fair question.” She playfully pushed my shoulder. At least she was starting to lighten up.

“Graphic design.”

“Really?” She sounded a little surprised, and I tried not to be offended. “I never pegged you for the artistic type.”

“You don’t think very highly of me, do you?”

“I don’t really know you. I don’t know what to think.”

I smiled. “What do you want to know?”

“Depends on what you want to tell me.”

If I didn’t know better, I would’ve sworn she was flirting with me, but so far, all my instincts about this girl have been wrong, so I didn’t push. “Okay, I will make you a deal. I’ll answer your questions if you answer mine. And be honest.”

“Okay. Why graphic design?” She turned her body so she was facing me on the couch.

I shrugged. “I’ve always been good with computers. I kind of like the idea of creating something beautiful using something that is so analytical.”

I looked at her, but she just stared.

“What?” I was suddenly a little self-conscious.

“Nothing.” She looked away and took a sip of her beer.

“Okay, Red. It’s your turn. Why does Kerri think she needs to set you up?” I asked, shifting to face her.

She sighed and started to pick at the label on the bottle. “I don’t know.”

“Come on. I answered your question. You aren’t playing fair.”

She rolled her eyes at me and sighed. “I haven’t been getting out much lately. The last year was kind of tough for me. I guess I’m not living up to her college roommate fantasy.”

“What fantasy is that? Naked pillow fights and lesbian experimentation?” I wiggled my eyebrows.

She playfully slapped my arm as I laughed.

“No, you dick! I mean, going to parties together, sharing each other’s clothes, becoming lifelong friends…stuff like that.”

“No offense, but I cannot see you and Queen Kerri becoming lifelong friends. I’m surprised you haven’t killed her in her sleep.”

“Why do you say that?”

“She’s kind of shallow.”

She laughed, almost spitting beer at me. “Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?”

“I’m not shallow.”

She cocked her head to the side, shooting me a look that said she didn’t buy it.

“I’m not,” I said. “I may, on occasion, hook up with a random girl, but who says I’m not looking for a meaningful relationship?” Not even I was buying this, but who knows? Red was changing things, making me rethink a lot of my choices.

“Are you?”

“Am I what?”

She let out a frustrated sigh and made a show of rolling her eyes. “Looking for a meaningful relationship.”

“What do you think this is?”

“This is not meaningful.” She gestured between us. “This is me avoiding my slutty roommate.”

I pressed a hand to my chest. “Ah, you wound me, Red.”

“Oh please,” she said, sitting up straighter. “You only hang around me because it kills you that I’m the one girl who won’t sleep with you.”

“That’s not true. I like you. You’re different than the other girls around here.” I finished the last of my beer and got up to grab another.

“You mean because my IQ is higher than my bra size?”

I laughed. “For starters.”

“You’re not really like I expected you to be.”

I shot her a look over the refrigerator door before grabbing a beer and heading back to the couch. “What were you expecting?”

“I don’t know, really. I guess you’re just full of surprises.” She smiled, sipping her beer.

Red walked to the built-in bookshelves near the TV. She picked up a small wood frame and held it out to me. “Is this your family?”

I stood behind her, looking over her shoulder at the picture in the frame. It was Mom, Dad, David, and me on the back deck on the Fourth of July. We each wore a matching grin, beers held high in the air. It was a moment of happiness before everything changed.

“Yeah,” I said, clearing my throat to hide the emotion trapped there.

She studied the picture as a sadness crept across her face. “You all look so happy.”

“We’re pretty close.” I nodded. “What about you? You close to your family?”

Her face crumpled as she set the frame back on the shelf. “I don’t have one.” She cleared her throat and crossed her arms protectively across her chest.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean they’re gone. I’m all that’s left.”

“You’re losing me, Red.”

“My parents died last year. They were the only family I had.”

My eyes widened and my heart clinched. I felt like such an asshole for pushing her. “Shit! Alex, I’m so sorry.” I placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

She looked up at me, forcing a smile, but I could see the tears welling in her eyes. “It’s okay, you didn’t know.”

“Can I ask what happened?” I said, proceeding with caution. I didn’t want to upset her any more.

She let out a long breath and looked up at the ceiling, trying to get a hold of herself. “It was a car accident. They were hit head on by a drunk driver, killed instantly.” I watched as tears slipped down her cheek. She took a deep breath. “So now I’m all that’s left.”

“No one else? No aunts? Grandparents?” I asked, trying to find some way to comfort her, to let her know she wasn’t alone. She just shook her head in response, wiping a tear from her cheek. I reached out and pulled her to my chest, wrapping my arms around her. I didn’t know what to say, so I just held her and let her cry. I felt horrible. I couldn’t imagine what I would do if I lost my family. No wonder Red was so guarded. She was all alone.

She pulled out of my arms, taking her glasses off to wipe her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she sniffled. “I didn’t mean to ruin the whole night.”

I gave her a small smile, pulling her back against my chest. “You didn’t ruin anything,” I said, briefly kissing her hair. “But you know what?” She looked up at me, her beautiful eyes still glistening with tears. “You’re not alone anymore. You got me. Okay?”

She blinked at me, wide eyed. I was determined to keep that promise. I could see in her eyes that she was reluctant to believe me, but no matter what, I was going to make sure that Red knew that I was there for her.

“Come on,” I said, taking a hold of her hand. “I think we might need a little help from my friend, Jose.”

“Who?” She let me pull her into the kitchen. I stopped in front of the fridge and pulled a bottle of Jose Cuervo from the cabinet.

“Jose can turn anyone’s night around.” I grabbed two shot glasses down from the shelf.

“I don’t know.” She sounded apprehensive.

“What? Do you think I’m going to get you drunk and take advantage of you?” I raised my eyebrows at her, pouring two shots and holding one out to her.

She stared at me with a puzzled look in her eyes before caving in and taking the glass from me.

I held out my glass to toast. “To family.”

I winked, then drank the shot, the amber liquid burning down my throat and settling deep in my stomach. I watched as she saluted me with her glass before taking the shot, wincing as it slid down her throat.

I grabbed the bottle and wrapped my arm around her shoulders, leading her back into the living room. “See, I told you we could be friends.”