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Authors: C. S. Moore

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BOOK: An American Love Story
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****

By the time I got into the parking lot, I was in tears. Seeing her was so much harder than I could have imagined. When a long relationship ended, you didn't just lose the person in the relationship with you… you lost people that had grown to be like family as well.

My shaking hands dropped the car keys as I struggled to unlock my door. Bending down to pick up the keys, I leaned my forehead against the car door. Was I lying to myself when thought I was getting better? Anything had to be better than the last nine months; was being with him that bad? Maybe I should just ignore the hopeless romantic in me that wanted a white knight to look at me like I was more vital to him than air. Almost everyone else in the world settled, should I?

I stood up and tried to steady my breath. When I sat down in the driver's seat I put my head in my hands. No, my parents didn't settle. All of the heartbreak was worth it because I wanted more; I wanted so much more than an amicable relationship. I wanted to light up when I saw the object of my affection, and I wanted him to do the same. I wanted passion like the world had never known. Being alone was better than settling like an old house.

Just as I put the key in the ignition my phone buzzed. I frowned; the number flashing across the screen wasn't one I recognized. After a few rings, I picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hi, Tessa," a male voice said.

The voice was as alien as the number. "Um, hi…"

"Oh, this is Eric. I'm gym buddies with your Dad."

The first thought that flashed across my mind was my Dad in a cupid costume. I growled. I'd asked him not to do this… then I remembered who Eric was. He was married with kids. I sighed. It wasn't a set up. "What's up, Eric?" I was a little more at ease, but still completely confused as to why he was calling me.

"I just saw your Dad at the gym, and he told me you were in town," he said.

"It's true, just for the weekend…" I didn't know what else I was supposed to say.

"Well, my little brother, Garrett, is in town too. Do you want to go out with him today?" he asked.

I wanted to smack my head against the steering wheel. It was a set up. "I'm sorry, Eric. I can't today. I already have plans," I said politely.

"We're all going to the speedway for the races. They have the best fireworks show in a two hundred mile radius, you know."

"Really? Have you been to them all, and this one's the best?" I asked sarcastically.

"No, I'm just trying to convince you to come. So are you in?" he asked.

"Sorry, I can't. Like I said, I have plans." I said, sprinkling finality into my tone.

"You know it's the Fourth of July, right?"

He was either not picking up on my resistance or ignoring it. Either way it was annoying. "Yes, I know it's the Fourth of July," I snapped. "Listen, I'm only in town for a few days and I don't want to—"

"Well my little brother's in the Army," he interrupted without skipping a beat. "He just got back from Iraq, and he'll have to go back to Fort Lewis soon. I want to make sure that he has a good time while he's here. He hasn't been on a date with a beautiful woman in a year."

I had to end this speech before he made me feel any guiltier for turning him down. "I'm sure your brother will have a great date… just find another girl for him to go on it with, okay?" Why wouldn't this guy just drop it?

"If you won't go out with a soldier, one that just got back from war," he added. "On the Fourth of July… people might call you unpatriotic."

I choked on my rebuttal. What could I say to that? "What time is he picking me up?" I asked in defeat.

"Garrett will be there at three," he promised with a smile in his voice.

"Fine, I'll talk to you later," I said, hanging up before he had said goodbye.

Chapter Five

When I got home, my father was sitting nervously in his armchair; before I could chew him out for my forced date, he started talking. "Tessa, I told Eric no. He asked me at the gym if he could set you two up, and I said no — I promise. He just didn't listen." He looked so worried, like I'd storm out and never return if I didn't believe him. This obviously wasn't his idea.

"Yeah." I sighed. "He didn't listen to me either. Terrible listener, not really something I'm looking for in a man. Let's hope his brother isn't just as annoying."

Dad laughed, relaxing a little.

He still was wound too tightly. Probably because I couldn't force myself to completely relax the glare off of my brow — but I was mad. I didn't like being made to do something that I didn't want to do; it was a blessing in a way. Peer pressure had never worked growing up. But my tendency to hate all things someone forced me do was going to make this date more than unbearable.

"What time's he supposed to be here?"

"Three," I said, plopping onto the couch.

He looked at the clock. "That's coming up pretty fast. Where's he taking you anyway?"

"The speedway, I've never been, and that's not an accident, watching cars go around and around… riveting," I mumbled. How had my day gone from bad to worse?
First, I
'
m tortured all night by suffocating dreams, then I run into my ex
'
s Mom, and now I
'
m going on a date that I said no to three times!

"I'm sorry, baby sister. Just try to have a good time. Eric said this guy is the cream of the crop… and I know you've been through a hard time, but so has he. Be nice to him; think of it as a service project to your country."

He was right. No matter how mad I was about going, or how closed off to guys I was, I had to make sure Garrett had a good time. The guy had just got back from war. Whatever he'd been through the last year made my nine-month heartbreak look like a cake walk. "Well, I guess I better get dolled up for this soldier."

"That's my girl," he said, picking his book up off of the table and settling into his chair.

****

I didn't have much of a wardrobe to choose from, but studying myself in the mirror, I was happy with what I ended up with. Luckily I had brought my favorite skinny jeans and a red blouse that hugged me in all the right places. I slipped on my red peep-toe pumps and headed back to the living room.

It was three.

"Sorry I'm going to miss your barbeque, Dad," I said looking out the window. I really was bummed. My best friend, Skylar, was even going to be there.

"Don't worry about it, your mother called everyone, and we're still on for a party. It will just be tomorrow," he said with a grin.

"Really? Even Skylar?" I asked, abandoning the window. It didn't look like he was going to be on time.

"Do you think she'd miss seeing you?"

I smiled; she'd been bugging me to come back ever since I left. Of course she would be there. "Good, after the agony I'm going to be put through tonight, I'll need a party tomorrow…"

"Is dating really that torturous?" he asked looking like he didn't think it was.

"I just feel bad for the guys, I mean they have a nice time and think we're getting along great… and then they get their feelings hurt when I cringe away from their touch at the end of the night. These guys are just after a hug or a kiss, and I act like they want to throw acid at me or something," I said thinking back over the last few months of dating.

Dad nodded his head. "You have a true heart. It runs in the family. We love deep and faithfully. It might take your heart a while to realize that it isn't in a relationship anymore, but you'll get there."

I didn't know if that was likely. It was a hard line to walk, missing being touched, and feeling nauseous at the thought of someone touching me. "Yeah we'll see…this guy is late," I said, annoyed at him already. "You don't drag someone into a date kicking and screaming and then show up late."

My dad looked at the clock. "Not by much, he doesn't know where we live, might take him a while to find the place."

"Dad, your house is on Main Street. It's not like we live on an obscure side road no one knows how to get to." With every minute that ticked by I was angrier. I felt my brow slide back into a glare. Soldier or no, a guy didn't just show up thirty minutes late. People could call me unpatriotic if they wanted, but there was no way I could fake my way through this date. I was just too mad.

By the time it was three forty five some of my anger had washed into relief; maybe he wasn't coming after all. "Okay," I sighed, standing from the couch. "I think I've waited long enough. Let's go to the movies, you can tell Eric that we waited for his brother for an hour."

Dad shrugged. "Sounds good to me; let me just go get changed into my nice duds."

I smiled; the evening's prospects were getting better.

Dad stood from his armchair, and little Dan followed behind him. Just as they reached his bedroom, there was a knock at the door.

My hope for an escape was dashed, and the anger at this stranger returned. His guilt-tripping brother roped me into this whole thing, and then he shows up fifty minutes late.

"Be nice," Dad cautioned me as I stomped to the front door. "Remember—"

"Yeah, yeah soldier on the Fourth of July," I said before flinging the door open. My dad was still pleading me with his eyes to be nice. I nodded and turned to the doorway, and all of the breath came rushing out of my lungs.

Standing in the entryway, taking up most of the space, was the most handsome man I had ever seen. He was tall and his broad shoulders tapered down into a trim waist. His hair was a rich dark brown and his eyes were of the same color. They brightened as they took me in and a dazzling smile crossed his face. He must have liked what he saw. I felt a blush reach my cheek and my answering smile wasn't one I had to force.

"Hi, I'm Garrett," he said in a deep bass that mesmerized me.

I shook my head. "Oh, I'm Tessa," I said extending my hand before pulling it back quickly. This wasn't a business meeting, who shakes their date's hand. What was I doing?

"Sorry I'm late, my brother didn't give me much heads up," he said. "I got here as fast as I could. In fact, I got pulled over for speeding. If I had known what was here waiting for me, believe me I would have sped faster." He smiled again, and it took my breath away.

He was so bright when he smiled, almost like he had a spot light shining down on him. I'd never seen anything like it; his face instantly turned my bones to mush.

"Can't say I approve of that, you better drive with a bit more caution when you have my daughter as a passenger," my dad said from behind me, making me jump. I hadn't realized how close he was.

"Of course, sir, this was actually the first time I've ever been pulled over. I'm not used to driving in the states yet. In Iraq we drove as fast as we could from A to B. I still haven't shaken off the lead foot," he said with more formality in his velvety voice.

"Tell me the officer didn't ticket you. I never ticket a member of our military," Dad said. By the devilish look in my father's eyes I could tell he was thinking of ways to get him out of the ticket.

"No, thank goodness. That'd be some welcome home present though." Garrett laughed.

"Take care of my girl, and thanks for your service, son." Dad shook his hand and sent us out the door.

Maybe he noticed my feet weren't moving of their own accord and needed some enticing. It was easy to go on a date when I knew what to expect, dinner, movie, and no feelings. But walking away from my parents' house was terrifying. I had no idea what to expect.

Chapter Six

As we made our way to his red truck, adrenaline coursed through me turning my legs wobbly. I had to walk even more cautiously than I usually would in my four inch stilettos. He held the door open for me and helped me into the cab. I hadn't ridden in a truck in so long; it felt like I was ten feet above the road.

Garrett climbed in and turned to me. "Off to the races then?"

I couldn't possibly have anything in common with someone that was a NASCAR fan. For some reason I wasn't feeling the detachment I normally felt on dates, so I jumped on the subject, knowing he would bore me back into my numbness. "Sure… so are you a big fan of the speedway?"

He pulled onto the road. "Nope, not at all…"

I pursed my lips.

"This is actually my first time to the speedway," he said.

"Mine too."

"My brother is a big fan; his family goes quite a bit. He's asked me to go a few times, but I wasn't interested." He shrugged his shoulders.

"So what made you decide to go this time around?" I asked, looking over at him. His face was striking, even in profile. His sharp cheekbones and strong jaw were so masculine; the guy must have been born with two Y chromosomes.

"Well after an insane year in Iraq… something as normal as a date was a welcome idea — even if it took place at the races. And who knows… maybe we'll both be fans by the end of the night."

"Not likely, I'm not really into cars… except mustangs. I don't know what it is about them, but I love the new ones and the nineteen sixties models. Those cars just look so good, even I notice them."

"I love mustangs too," he said turning to me. "The entire year in Iraq I promised myself I would buy one when I got back to the states."

"What color?" I asked.

"Red, not that deep almost burgundy but—"

"Cherry red?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said with a smile. "Cherry red."

So he had about as much interest in the races as I did, wanted a mustang in the very same color as the one I dreamed about cruising around in… big deal. "So, your brother said you were going back to Fort Lewis soon?"

"I'll be around for a while. The Army gives us a month's leave after we get back from a deployment. But, after that it's back to base," he answered.

"Where is Fort Lewis?" I asked.

"It's in Washington, over by Seattle."

That wasn't too far away. "I love the west coast, I've always thought it would be fun to live over there in all that green," I said. My first trip over there, I felt like I'd stepped back in time. The huge trees and ferns that blanketed everything looked like a prehistoric forest to me.

BOOK: An American Love Story
13.11Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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