Breathe (12 page)

“Hey, how’s practice going?” I asked.

“Good, good. Are you trying out for cross-country?”

I shrugged. “Yeah, but I am not sure I’ll make it. I haven’t run outside in a long time.” I looked down and kind of huffed. “You know, safety and stuff.”

His face got serious. “Yeah, I can imagine that would have been a problem. Well, you looked like you were doing great. I’m sure Coach Anderson was impressed.”

I wrinkled my nose at him. “I don’t think so. We’ll see. If I don’t get on the team, it’s no big deal. I just thought I would try. You know?”

He got this weird look on his face about something. “I’m sure it won’t be a problem. You cleaned everyone’s clock out there. Did you not notice all the kids you passed?” He shook his head. “Jasmine, they were all wheezing and coughing their way through. You blew by them like they were standing still. You amaze me more every day, Jasmine. I would hug you, but I don’t want to offend you with my stench.”

I laughed. “I’m pretty sure I’m no better. I’m going to take a shower and head home.”

“We’re all done here. Do you want a ride home?”

“That would be great. Let me check with my mom so we don’t break the rules.” I rolled my eyes. He laughed.

“I’ll meet you outside the gym door when I’m done. Okay?”

Just then Chase and some of the other boys on the team came by on their way to the gym. “That was awesome, Rourke. You kicked some serious booty out there today.” There were a bunch of catcalls and whooping and hollering from the team as they made their way in to the showers.

I was probably seven shades of red now. “Uh, thanks.”

Easton tried to cover a laugh with a cough.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you laughing at me?”

He shot both hands in the air like I was holding him up. “I’m just a dumb jock on his way to the showers, ma’am.” He smirked, and then turned and jogged off toward the gym.

I was about to head off to the girls’ changing room when Coach Anderson called me over. “Hey, Rourke, you got a sec?” He was staring at his clipboard.

“Sure, Coach. What’s up?” I wasn’t sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

“Rourke, you ran track at your last school?”

“Um, no sir. I couldn’t. Just in junior high school.”

He looked up with his brows raised. “So how did you learn to run like that?”

“I, uh… just… you know, run on a treadmill at home every day. I used to run outside every day, but I couldn’t do that the last two years.” I had noticed that adults don’t always ask a lot of questions, so sometimes just a little information was enough.

“Well, you did really well today. I’m really excited to have you on the team.”

I must have looked like a fish with my mouth hanging open, but I was shocked.

“Um… so I made the team?”

He grinned and patted me on the shoulder. “Yes, Jasmine. You made the team.”

I was in a daze as I walked to the changing rooms. I was shocked I’d gotten on that easily. I was still wondering why he put me on the team when I headed into the showers. A lot of the girls had opted not to shower at school and just changed and left, but I was not getting in the car with Easton smelling as bad as I did. I quickly texted my mom to make sure the ride thing was all right with her.

When I got to the showers, they were completely empty. Now, that was a good thing and a bad thing. Not that I wanted to shower in front of a bunch of girls I didn’t know,
but
it started to get kind of creepy when it was so dark, quiet, and empty too. I’ve seen my share of scary movies, and my own real-life situation was enough to make me a little jumpy. I hurried through as fast as I possibly could and still not stink. While I was by my locker getting dressed, it started to get even creepier because I was completely alone. And there were all these creaky sounds.

All of a sudden, a loud screeching noise came from the shower area. Official freak-out. I didn’t care that I didn’t have my shoes on—I made a run for it. I hit the door hard and it flew open. Why did this feel familiar?

“Whoa, whoa, Jasmine, slow down. You’re running like your hair’s on fire. What’s goin’ on?” I came to a stop, turned around, and of course Easton was waiting outside the door for me looking gorgeous. Just in time to see my mini freak-out.

“I, uh… sorry. I just didn’t want to keep you waiting.” I looked down. Crap. I can’t bald-face lie to him. That’s just wrong. When I looked at him, I knew he knew.

“And the noises in the empty locker room totally freaked me out.” I put my head in my hands. “I’m so tired of being such a wuss.” I felt tears start to choke my throat. I swallowed and forced them back. Then I felt arms go around me, and the amazing smell of him was everywhere.

“Jasmine.”

I pushed my face into his chest and took a deep breath. I put my arms around his waist. Can I just stay here forever? This is my happy place. This was much better than running. We just stood there, breathing.

“Are you all right?” he asked softly. He pulled his head back and tried to look down at my face.

I kept my head down and nodded. “Yes. I just needed a minute. Thanks.”

I tried to pull away. He held on. “Now don’t go runnin’ off. I was enjoyin’ myself. You are the sweetest thing, and I kinda like it right where I’m at.”

I realized how happy he made me, but I felt bad he had to deal with all my ridiculous drama. “I’m sorry I am such a—”

“
Jasmine—
” he warned.

“I just don’t think it’s fair that you have to deal with all my craziness.” I huffed.

He rubbed his chin on the top of my head. “Well, since I’m the one making the choice, I don’t imagine you have too much say. Besides, you need to wait to make any judgments about who has the better end of this deal until after you meet my family on Sunday.”

I snorted.

“Did you just snort on me?”

I giggled and tried to hold it in. “Sorry.”

He rubbed my back and asked, “Did your momma say you could ride home with me?”

I realized I hadn’t checked my phone. “I need to see if she texted me back.” I reached into my bag. “Yup, she said it’s fine as long as we are going straight home. Is that okay?”

He rubbed my back and then stepped away. “Of course. Keepin’ your momma happy is very high on my to-do list.”

#

On Friday night, I went to the game with the girls, then went to the diner with Easton after. It was a little less nerve-wracking this time. He took me home, and the whole family was up waiting. Big Surprise. No kiss yet, but that was okay with me. I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t totally panic or do something completely embarrassing. My track record in this area spoke for itself.

When Sunday rolled around we went to church, had lunch, and I then spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out what to wear to the “Infamous Finnegan’s” birthday party. I called Whitney this time. I knew she would be at the party today, since Chase was Finn’s older brother. We had made some inroads to friendship this week, sort of bonding over the football-player thing at the diner. Since we had exchanged phone numbers, I felt comfortable calling. I picked her brain about the dress code at these things.

I was actually excited that I would know a few people there. I really liked Aunt Bellie. I just hoped she hadn’t put two and two together yet. Finn had invited Lily to the party as his one non-family friend. Of course, the only reason Lily agreed to go was because Abby would be there. Lily was, however, nowhere near as nervous as I was.

Easton arrived exactly on time to pick us up, and we set off for his aunt and uncle’s house. The house was in a more rural area, a ways out of town. There were homes separated by acres of what looked to be small family produce farms. I saw the river peeking through the trees along the road. There was such a different beauty here than in California. There was water on both sides of the road and big trees with branches that swept to the ground. It made for a different atmosphere than we were used to. It was so exotic and Old World–like. Easton explained that most properties had been in the families for many years. They farmed soybeans and wheat, and there were dairy farms out this way too. This farm had been in their family for generations. It was fascinating hearing about his family and how they all connected.

We pulled up to the party, and it looked like the circus had come to town. There were kids of every age, everywhere. There were canopies of different colors all over the yard. Balloons were tied to anything that wasn’t mobile and some things that were. An old dog sat on the porch, looking resigned to the balloons tied to his collar. There were kids on horses in a paddock next to the driveway and kids playing horseshoes in a pit behind the house. There was a popcorn machine, a cotton candy machine, and a slushy maker—each with a line about five kids deep, by the patio in back. To add to the circus atmosphere, there was a clown sitting on the grass making balloon animals and surrounded by children. Adults were coming in and out of the house with food for the many picnic tables, mingling on the patio, watching the madness. Toddlers were being led from place to place by older kids.

Lily and I must have looked stunned. I looked over, and Easton had those adorable red spots high on his cheeks again.

“Umm, I know it looks a little crazy, but it isn’t always like this… well, kind of—just without the clown. Aunt Bellie really likes birthdays, so…” He looked at me worriedly. “She tends to do it up big.”

“Are all these people related to you?” I asked, astonished.

“I know it seems overwhelming, but it won’t be as bad as you think. Some are related to my uncles, but mostly, umm… yeah.”

Lily piped up. “This is so awesome! There’s Abby. See ya.” And she jumped out of the car.

He looked at me with concern. “Are you ready?”

I took a deep breath. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

As soon as we opened the car doors, I could hear circus music playing. I looked at Easton and he grinned.

“She has this thing about atmosphere including all your senses. She’s kinda crazy that way.”

Crazy or not, I really did feel like I was at the circus. The sights, smells, and sounds were all there. By the time we were almost to the patio, there were children hanging off one or another part of Easton. He had one on one leg, one hanging off an arm, and one on his back. A sweet little girl of no more than three came toddling up, and he grabbed her and shoved her into my arms. “Here, hold this.” He smiled at me. She was a pretty little thing with dark hair and brown eyes. She grabbed my face with both hands and smushed.

“Pretty,” she said.

“Yes, you are.” I smiled at her.

“Well, little Miss Cassandra has impeccable taste,” Easton commented as we made our way with our load into the house—to find his parents, I assumed.

The Sullivan’s farmhouse was adorable. It was just what you would expect it to look like. Rustic and charming with the homey touches that said a family lived there. The kitchen was a hotbed of activity. Aunt Bellie and two other women who looked remarkably like her were standing between the stove and the refrigerator speaking quickly in a language that sounded French, but not exactly what I learned in French class. The accent here in Louisiana was totally different. They were working together with a synchronicity of movement that spoke of a long history of these kinds of events. Aunt Bellie turned as we came in. She squealed and came rushing over.

“Easton, get those heathens out of here before someone gets scalded! Goodness knows there are enough bodies in here without those little monsters getting underfoot!” Aunt Bellie scolded as we moved into the kitchen from the patio.

“Aunt Bellie, they threatened my life if they didn’t get food.”

She scooched by us, grabbing the princess I was holding and kissing Easton and me both on the cheek, while herding the little ones out as she went.

“Food will be out in no time. Go get a balloon animal!” She shoved them out the door. “For heaven’s sake, you would think they hadn’t eaten in a week!” She bustled around the kitchen, grabbing utensils.

Easton introduced me to the other two ladies. “Aunt Sunny, Aunt Cee, this is Jasmine. Jasmine, these are my other favorite aunts.” All three resembled each other. They all had brown hair, brown eyes, and were very pretty in an all-American way. Trenton had obviously taken after this side of the family. I smiled at them both, and they shook my hand. We spoke about my time here in Louisiana and how I liked it so far. They were moving around the kitchen quickly, uncovering and filling trays to be taken outside while we spoke. I was amazed at the amount of food they were producing. It must have been quite an undertaking, making that much food, but you would never know by watching them. They made it look so easy!

Speak of the Devil and he will appear. Trenton came bounding into the kitchen from the hallway.

“When are we going to eat, Aunt Bellie? I am dyyyyinnnggg!” He proceeded to drape himself over her.

“Trenton, get off your aunt. You are going to throw her back out, as big as you are now.” Another woman had come through the back door. Her coloring was just like Trenton’s. Brown hair, brown eyes, and she was very beautiful, even more so than her sisters. This had to be Easton’s mother. Right behind her was very obviously Easton’s father. Tall; broad-shouldered; dark, almost black, hair—and I was betting the same almost-violet eyes. Genetics were amazing.