Broken (3 page)

After talking to some of their friends who were playing Wii games in the spacious living room, Gabby and Lindsey went outside to the pool. The first person Gabby saw was Ian. He had changed. He was taller and more muscular than he had been even just three months before that. She blushed immediately as her eyes met his and he started swimming toward the steps. When he came up he grabbed his towel stepping out with a big grin on his face. He walked over and said, “Linds, Gabby, you both look great. Long time no see. I’m so glad you’re both here. Give me a hug!” Gabby laughed nervously and hesitantly leaned into an awkward hug after Lindsey warmly embraced him laughing at his soaked self. Gabby knew by hugging him that she was about to soak her only pants and T-shirt. She didn’t care, though. She had been waiting, longing, for his touch for the last four years. She giggled as she felt his cold body touch hers and then a sensation she had never felt passed through her body. She wondered if it was just the difference between his coolness and her warmth, but she felt a throbbing and she knew this was something much different. She looked up at his green eyes and she wondered what had suddenly changed and made him so friendly with her. The thought didn’t last long. She was so excited she had touched him and hugged him that she could barely contain her delight. She grinned from ear to ear and giggled.

Gabby tried to sound cool and unphased by her reaction, “Hey, Ian. You don’t look so bad yourself. I heard you went to a soccer camp with John. How was that for you?”

“Did you hear that, huh,” he said smirking. Gabby blushed and shyly replied, “Yeah, John said he went with you when we got here.”

“Well, yeah we went there and it was awesome. You know how I love soccer, but getting to go with my best friend. We had a blast. I could have stayed there all summer and been completely content. So, have you gotten your schedule yet, Gabby?”

She had and she was secretly hoping that like last year, she would have at least one class with Ian, “Yes, I got it yesterday as a matter of fact, how about you?”

“Yep, same here. What are your classes?”

Gabby smiled and recited them:

“First Period: Pre-Cal with Shoal. Second Period: English IV with Brown. Third Period: Gym. Fourth Period: Lunch. Fifth Period: US History with Lemons. Sixth Period: Physics with Starks.”

She looked up into his eyes. Boy, had he gotten tall over the summer. He was so much taller than she was now. His smoldering looks were melting her insides.

He tried to hide his excitement, he didn’t want to seem overly excited that they had three classes together this year, but at the same time, for some reason he was overjoyed at the thought of being able to spend more time with her. Perhaps, this year would be the year they would really get to know each other. Oh, he hoped so. Her eyes glistened in the sunlight highlighting the gold specs in her big hazel eyes and he wondered why he had never noticed how pretty she was before. He had known her for four years and he thought she was one of the nicest girls he had ever known, but they had been casual friends. Sure, they shared a lot of mutual friends, but Gabby didn’t like to hang out the way they did so the only opportunities to see her were in class and well, that was class. Besides, he had always had a girlfriend. Ian had broken up with her at the beginning of summer. He had no longer been interested in the relationship. He was more interested in playing soccer and hanging out with John and the other guys. Ian had not thought about girls much at all that summer. But, as Gabby stood in front of him that all changed in what seemed like a moment.

He smiled and with a cute laugh said. “Well, maybe we could be study buddies. We have three classes together this year!”

Gabby tried hard to not let her jaw drop. For once in her life, something seemed to go in her favor. She looked at him in wonder, “Sure,” was all she could mutter.

“Well, as much as I’d like to sit here and talk about classes and studying with you, I am getting hot again. So, Gabby, are you going to stand there with your now half-wet clothes over that cute polka-dot bikini or are you going to join us in the pool for some chicken fighting?” Ian smiled a wry smile. He had never seen Gabby in a bikini and he couldn’t wait to see her in this one. The thought of putting her up on his shoulders to chicken fight made him have a moment and he quickly shifted to make sure it wasn’t obvious.

Gabby couldn’t believe what he had just said. Her mouth gaped open and a flirty smile came over her. She slowly peeled her half-wet white T-shirt over her head and then slowly shimmied out of her shorts. What had gotten into her? She had never acted like this before, but she suddenly felt playful, fun and daring. If he wanted to play, so could she.

Ian’s green eyes lit up with an intense burn as he watched her tease him taking her clothes off her curvy body. Gabby was now a good bit shorter than Ian. They had been the same height just three months before, but Ian had hit a growth spurt mid-summer, and he now towered over her. He knew boys in the past had always made fun of her because she was a bit heavier, but this last year he knew she had started running with Lindsey and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was beautiful. The bikini didn’t disappoint, either. The cute boyshorts were not at all what he had expected as her shorts fell to her ankles, he couldn’t help but smirk. Trying to hide how much he liked what he saw, he put his finger over his lips assessing her from top to bottom. Yes, the boyshorts fit her personality perfectly, and she wore them well. She was sexy, but still a bit tom-boyish. Her legs were toned and bronzed from running. His thoughts wandered, wondering if she ran on the beach with
that
bathing suit.

Gabby interrupted his wayward thoughts when she playfully put her hand on her hip and moved her head to one side, “Well, are you going to just stand there or are we going to—” but before she could finish her sentence, Ian grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder and jumped into the pool with her.

Gabby surfaced and gasped for a breath of air before trying to find Ian and smack him. He was laughing hysterically, which in turn made her giggle. She started thrusting her arms forward to forcefully splash him. This prompted Ian to pick her up once again and swiftly toss her toward the deep end of the pool.
Oh, it was on now
, she thought! They continued their splashing fight until finally Ian couldn’t take it anymore. They had made their way back to the shallow end of the pool and were both standing about a foot away from each other. He reached his long muscular arms out and suddenly grabbed her close to him in a hug and she thought he was going to toss her again, but this time he looked down into her burning gold eyes and words escaped him. Impulsively, he leaned down and began to kiss her, as if it was only the two of them and no one else existed.

Was she dreaming? She had fantasized about kissing Ian for the last four years, but she never dreamed it would feel so good. She didn’t want it to end. She realized she couldn’t breathe and then she quickly became aware they were in the Martins’ pool at a party with their friends and she suddenly felt shy again. She pulled back quickly panting and looked at him dumbstruck.

Ian was equally as surprised by his actions as Gabby. He quickly wiped his mouth and reading her face he immediately began to apologize, “I’m sorry Gabby. I don’t know what got into me. I didn’t mean to do that. You don’t look happy, please don’t slap me. I had no right to just kiss you like that, here, I mean in front of everyone.” But this time it was his sentence that was cut off and Gabby quickly put her arms around his neck and their mouths were together again. She gave him a quick taste of her tongue and then pulled away again. Ian’s mouth was gaping open, “Wow, what was that, Gabby?” He said it loud and stern enough for her to hear, but not loud enough for everyone else to hear. It was as if they were the only ones around. They both were zoned into each other’s faces and their worlds stood still.

Gabby couldn’t believe she had done that. She had never been one to call a boy, make a first move, ask a boy out, and she certainly wasn’t the girl who would just kiss someone that she wasn’t even dating in the middle of a party. Last she heard he had a girlfriend. She began to feel like a fool. “I’m sorry, Ian. I just. I thought, ugh. I thought you had wanted to kiss me and then you acted like I didn’t want it. I did, I just wanted to tell you that, but you wouldn’t shut up about me not wanting it and I... Well, I wanted more of that, I wanted you to know I liked it. I’m sorry. I should have known better. I know you have a girlfriend. I don’t know what got into me. It won’t happen again.” Gabby quickly put her head down and tried to run away against the water toward the steps feeling her entire body turn red. She felt like she was a volcano about to explode with emotions. She was so confused.

“Gabby, wait,” Ian shouted trying to grab her elbow, but his slippery hands slid right off as she continued to move. “Wait. Gabby. I said wait!” Ian caught up to her and turned her around. Out of breath, Ian looked into her eyes, “Gabby! I don’t have a girlfriend. We broke up at the beginning of the summer. And, I don’t know what
this,
” he made a commotion with his hands and tried to catch his breath again before starting to speak again, “I don’t know what
this
is. The moment I saw you walk outside, I just know I lost control. Come on. Let’s go find somewhere we can talk.” He grabbed her hand and led her out of the pool. Gabby hung her head low. Gabby was shy, embarrassed, but also secretly smiling a cheesy ear to ear grin at what had just transpired with Ian. She was proud of herself for being so bold, it had felt good. She had never felt this way before. She kept waiting for someone to wake her up, but she knew, for once, this was real.

Chapter 3

June, 2010; The Present

“Gabby,” Sam said nudging her. Gabby was still lost in thought about the mystery usher when she heard Sam. “Gabby, come on! We gotta get out of here so we can get to the reception. Snap out of it!” Sam knew her sister was lost in a daydream about usher boy, but the real fun was about to begin and she wasn’t in the mood to sit in the church any longer than she had to. The last time she had stepped foot in a church was for her mother’s funeral and as beautifully decorated as Cade and Kristin had the place, it was a sobering feeling. She was ready to forget feelings for several hours at the reception.

“Yeah, I’m here. Sam, I thought you were ready to leave,” Gabby stared at her sister puzzled. “Yep, sorry Gabs. I just hate churches. I was thinking about Mom, I can’t wait to get out of here.” Gabby closed her eyes as a small tear fell from her eye. She opened them and slightly smiled. She grabbed Sam’s hand, “Let’s get out of here. I love you, Sam. Mom would be so proud of you.” The sisters walked out with their arms around each other’s backs and their heads leaning in touching each other. Times like these reminded Gabby of how important Sam was in her life and how thankful and proud she was to have her as her sister.

Gabby thought about what had transpired after her mom’s passing as they strolled out of the church and waited for their turn on the carriage that was transporting guests to the reception. Aunt Emma had moved in with Gabby prior to Grace passing away, but when Gabby had left to go to college, Emma had decided to return to Augusta. Grace had taken out a small life insurance policy after she had left their father. She knew when she left him, that if anything ever happened to her, they would need financial help. The money had been placed into two trust funds for the girls to use for living expenses while away at college. Sam had moved back home when she moved back to Charleston for med school and she had interviewed a couple of students to be roommates to help with the cost of the utilities. It was strange being back in Charleston without her mom or Emma. Gabby knew that it was just the two of them now. The thought made her almost cry again, but then she smiled thanking God she had a sister, that she had Sam as they left the church.

The reception was at the Battery Harbor. Money can buy you a lot and unlike Gabby and Sam, Cade’s family had plenty of it, old money. They had arranged with the City of Charleston to have the Battery closed for the evening and tents were set up by the waterfront. A live band was playing in the corner at the end of the harbor. The Charleston Harborview Inn, which is located at the entrance of the park, had been hired to do the catering. This is where Gabby had been invited to stay as an out of town guest, but Gabby had decided to stay with Sam for the weekend before going back to Columbia to finish her summer classes. The harbor was beautiful. Gabby and Sam had always loved swinging on the swings in the spring and fall when there was a nice breeze blowing, when it wasn’t too hot or too cold. They would sit and talk for hours in between strolling arm in arm around town shopping.

Sam grabbed two glasses of red wine for the girls and she smiled and toasted her sister. “To us, to Cade and Kristin, to being back home together in Charleston!” Gabby couldn’t help but grin. She had missed her sister. They went to the side of the deck and were watching the water when they heard the band announce that the wedding party had arrived. They walked over to the crowd to form an aisle to walk through and Gabby’s stomach started to flutter again.
Oh
. She had temporarily forgotten that there was a certain groomsman bringing back all kinds of unwanted feelings and emotions. Emotions and feelings she had sworn off after Ian. She took a deep cleansing breath and finished her glass of wine in one gulp. It was time to start putting them back in hopes of forgetting the pain and preventing herself from getting hurt once again.

The lead singer from the band announced each groomsman and bridesmaid as they entered. Gabby was pleasantly surprised when she heard the announcer say his name. Bradley Banks. She had been right. She smiled from ear to ear at the thought of knowing his name. She perched herself up onto her tiptoes to try to be able to get a good look at him. He was smiling a charming smile and he escorted his bridesmaid through the manmade aisle. Again, like before as his proximity got closer, so did the intense feelings she felt burning inside of her body. She tried really hard to not feel them. She wished she had something stronger to drink to dull the uncomfortable and scary emotions he was bringing out in her. As Bradley Banks got closer to Gabby, he looked over, made eye contact, smiled a half smile and winked. Gabby lost her balance and she fell into Sam, which made Sam burst out laughing at her clumsy sister.

“Hey, you can’t be tipsy already! You’ve only had one glass of wine. It’s far too early for that,” Gabby elbowed Sam at her comment and tried to brush her hair back, trying to regain her composure.

“Sam, did you see him? He winked at me. I mean, I think he has a girlfriend. I saw him looking at this drop-dead gorgeous model girl during the ceremony. He looked at her so sweetly. Why is he winking at me? Smug jerk!” Sam tilted her head to one side, “Maybe it’s his sister?”

“Yeah, I thought of that. But, this girl was beautiful and why would
he
be single?”

“This is true, good point. Heck, I don’t know. Maybe he will come over and talk to you and you can ask him.”

“Oh no, I’m steering clear of him. I don’t need a thing from him other than the ability to look at his gorgeous self tonight. I’m far too busy and he looks like he could twist my heart in a hundred different directions before breaking it. I don’t have any desire to go through
that
again.” She shuddered at the thought of ever feeling that kind of heartbreak ever again.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, for the first time in public, I’m pleased to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Cade Williams.” Applause and whistling erupted all around the girls and they found themselves giggling and clapping for their longtime friend. At this moment, they were sure Cade was absolutely the proudest, most smitten guy in Charleston. He and Kristin were adorable and it had been obvious for years that they were soul mates.

The voice over the microphone was back, “May I direct your attention to the dance floor as the couple shares their first dance.” The band began to play “The First Time I Saw Your Face” and they started to dance. When their dance was over they were joined by their mother and father respectively for their dances. The next dance was just for the wedding party. About halfway through the dance, their significant others cut into their dances and the number of people on the dance floor doubled. Gabby held her breath as he put his arms around the girl he had been making eye contact with throughout the wedding. She knew it. She knew he had a girlfriend. She just stared at him, defeated, longing for something, for someone, again that she knew she couldn’t have. She crossed her arms across her chest and waited for the torture of watching him in the arms of another girl to be over. But, before the dance ended he caught her eyes, smiling his smooth seductive smile. But, his eyes were gone just as quick as they had met hers and he continued to dance around the floor with
her
.

Gabby leaned over to Sam, “See, I told you he had a girlfriend. I’m so over this. I think I’ll get another drink, do you want another?”

“That would be great, Gabby. I’m sorry. You’ll find a guy who gives you the world soon enough, when you least expect it, they say,” Sam said tenderly. “Mhmm, not interested,” Gabby muttered shaking her head from side to side as she turned on her heel toward the bar.

As Gabby walked away the song was over and everyone started making their way to the buffet to get their food. But, Gabby didn’t have much of an appetite. She walked back to Sam handing her the glass of wine she had gotten for them at the bar. They found a table and decided they would wait for the line to die down before they braved the buffet. As they watched the other guests, he seemed to be in every direction she looked. No matter how hard she tried to make it look like she wasn’t looking for him and staring, it didn’t work. Every time she saw him, he looked up into her eyes and she would narrow her eyes and quickly look away trying to act like she wasn’t interested. She wasn’t interested. She was actually quite angry at his flirtatious behavior in the midst of his girlfriend.

After the line died down, the girls prepared their plates and made their way back to their table. Sam went and fetched them another glass of wine. Gabby knew they really needed to eat before they drank any more or they would be drunk far too early in the night. They sat down and as they started, everyone focused their attention on the cutting of the cake. Cade had playfully put his icing-covered finger on Kristin’s nose. Laughing could be heard echoing off the walls of the Charleston Market as they had a small food fight with their cake. Cade’s dad, Clark, was his best man and he stood to give a toast to the happy couple. The announcer spoke over the microphone once again thanking them for coming and invited them to join the couple back on the dance floor. Sam and Gabby laughed as they watched the other guests dance. While enjoying their late dinner, they talked about their plans for summer, med school, and Gabby’s summer semester. When they finished they decided they needed one more drink before they would brave the dance floor. They stood on the side with similar stances casually talking and sipping the excellent red wine, it was definitely not the kind they had shared the night before. This wine was clearly far more expensive. As Gabby listened to Sam ramble on about her renovation plans for their cottage standing, she shifted her weight on her heels and put her head down and swirled her wine. Sam stopped what she was saying and nudged Gabby.

“What,” Gabby said as she started to look up. Her mouth dropped and she felt all the color leave her face. A knot quickly formed in her stomach and she felt every sensation in her body tingle. It was
him
. He was standing in front of her, his head slightly tilted to one side. He had both of his hands in his pockets. He had lost his jacket and all that was covering his torso was his crisp, fitted white shirt, bowtie and vest. Gabby quivered as she looked into his amused, amazing blue eyes, barely smiling, he was oh so sexy.