Falling - On the Banks of Lake Saint Clare (Falling - Book One) (17 page)

“Here are some drinks,” she said, handing us tea.

“She’s good,” I said to Michael. “Ten
percent
tip?”

“It better be fifteen
percent
or your curfew is an hour earlier.”

“I’m not really liking the waitress setting my curfew
.
”

“What are you two going to do tonight?” She set some plates and napkins down on the side table.

“This would be it.” I said, getting us a slice of pizza.

“Really?” She asked. “No movie or
The Lane
?”

“Not tonight. Just want to hang out at the house. We are getting old and boring.”

“Ok,” she smiled. “I won’t bother you anymore. There is plenty more pizza and chips and whatever you need
.
H
elp yourself, Michael. You are company at our house the first time you are here. From then on, you are on your own. I won’t play hostess to you.”

“Thanks,” he smiled.

She went into the house.

“What’s with the adoption?
”
He asked, catching me off guard. “Unless you don’t want to talk about it.”

“It’s fine. But I don’t really know anything. I just know that I am.”

“You aren’t curious?”

“Not really. I thought about asking questions once
,
but just never knew how. I was afraid I’d find out that I was born in a crack house or worse that my parents are rich and famous movie stars and I live in this tiny town while they travel the world. Then I met you and thought, oh shit, what if he’s my long lost brother and we fall in love and get married and
then
find out.
What then
?”

“So it’s apples and oranges?” He smiled. “You don’t think that there is any medium? Like just someone accidentally got pregnant and wasn’t able to afford to take care of you?”

“That sounds boring,” I smiled. “I guess I will get curious and ask one day. They only offered to explain the once.
The day I found out about it.”

I saw a car pull into the parking lot and Rachel climbed out. “Oh great,” I sighed, knowing the Dillard Utopia had ended. “My sister,” I explained. I had never fully warned Michael about Rachel. She was out of sight
,
out of mind.

“Should I help her,” Michael asked, seeing her pull six suitcases out of the trunk.

“Just wait,” I smiled. Then I held up my hand, “wait for it,” I threw my arm down, “and now.”

In an instant, Dad was barreling out the door, “Rachel
Baby girl
! You are finally home.”

She ran over to him and they hugged and spun and spun and hugged some more. “Daddykins!”
S
he yelled. “I missed you, missed you, missed you!”

“I want to vomit.” I said, taking another slice of pizza.

Michael just sat watching the yard show.

Rachel started walking up the steps empty handed while Dad was figuring out how to juggle the six bags she left for him. Michael stood up
,
causing Rachel to stop
dead in her tracks seeing him for the first time.

“Good gravy,” she said, looking him up and down. “Sister dear, who is this?”

The way she said it, I knew she was extremely interested in him and the fact that she called me
s
ister dear and not “little bitch” was a sign she was trying to impress him with her big sister kindness.

“It’s Michael,” I said, assuming my parents had told her about him during the three thousand phone calls home the past two weeks. That is in between the conversation of western union money transfers that she always had him do pretty much daily.

“Michael? I am guessing by how tall you are, you play basketball?”
S
he
asked, looking him over yet again.

I was starting to feel uneasy.

“Yeah” he said, walking past her to help my dad. Her eyes followed him as he walked down the steps. I could tell she was mesmerized.

“Rachel,” I said, trying to get her attention away from his butt she had her eyes glued on. “That’s Michael,” I repeated.

“I heard you,” she said hatefully, knowing he was out of range of hearing her. “Gosh dang he is unbelievably hot. Where did he come from?”

“Mom didn’t tell you?”

“Uh
,
no
.
”

“This is going to be great,” I muttered, knowing she was absorbed in Michael and not listening to me.

She watched him walk up the steps and into the house
,
carrying four cases with no effort while Dad was struggling over the final two.

“How’s Tony?” I asked, still knowing she was enthralled in Michael.

“Who? Oh, he’s okay. Why?” she asked hatefully.

“Just wondering why you are undressing my boyfriend with your eyes when you have Tony.”

“Your boyfriend? Yeah right
,
” She smirked. “Good one, Little Bitch.” She said, pushing me out of her way.

I had to follow. This was better than any movie I had ever seen. I had waited for revenge for so long and now it was going to happen.

“He
e,
he
e,
he
e,
” I said in a little evil voice.

“What are you up to?” Mom asked
,
hearing me as I followed Rachel to our bedroom.

“Oh nothing,” I smiled.

“Alex! What are you up to?”

I ignored her and followed Rachel into our room and stood at the doorway. Michael was setting the last case on the floor.

“You say your name is Michael?” She asked, twisting her hair.

“Yeah,” he said, trying to walk past her, but she stepped in front of him.

“Is there a reason we have never met before?”
             
He looked at me. I knew I had a huge smile on my face. It’s coming around. It’s coming around! I kept thinking.

“I just moved here.”

“I see,” she leaned against the closet door, still twirling her hair with her fingers and batting her eyes. “If you need a tour guide I would love to show you around the area. I’ve been gone for a while at modeling camp. I bet I look a mess.” (Rachel never looked a mess). “It was simply grueling.”

Had her voice changed? I don’t think I ever heard her speak before. I always just heard her screeching.

“But I did get some amazing photos for my portfolio. I have an interview with an agency that does a swimsuit magazine that say they are very interested. Can you imagine me being in a swimsuit catalog?”
She asked seductively.

“Sounds exciting,” he said, looking back to me.

I realized I was being mean to Michael by not rescuing him. I wanted to push him to the bed and start making out with him in front of her like she and Tony did to me. I wanted to see her stunned face as his hands were on me and not her. I wanted to see her pain like she had caused me pain all the time. But I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t do it.

“Rachel,” I interrupted. “Michael is really my boyfriend.” I reached over and took his hand and pulled him out the bedroom.

“She’s going to be so pissed,” I cringed.

“Yeah?”
H
e asked, not knowing what I was talking about.

“Oh yeah
. It’s
going to be hell in the Dillard house for a while.”

“Daddy!” I instantly heard Rachel’s infamous screech, “Tell the little bitch to get her shit out of the dryer!”

I sighed and led Michael back out to the porch.

We sat down on the swing, me leaning against Michael’s chest and his arms instantly wrapped securely around me. He kissed the top of my head, “That was awkward,” he said. I could feel his lips moving against my head as he spoke.

The door flew open and a laundry basket flew out the door, half the clothes falling all over the porch.

I saw Rachel glare at me and storm off.

I got up and put the clothes back into the basket and pushed it to the side, leaning back against Michael again. I didn’t want to acknowledge what happened. I was embarrassed at her antics and just didn’t want to call any more attention to it.

“Daddy!” I heard her screeching again, “We are out of hot water! I have a date with Tony tonight, I’m a mess, and we are out of
HOT
WATER!”

“Boil that girl some water!” Michael laughed.

“Isn’t she a joy?” I laughed. “Can we go to your house?”

“And miss this? No way in hell,” he smiled.

I grabbed my swimsuit from the laundry basket leaving the basket on the porch. I didn’t want to encounter her by taking it inside. I opened the door and yelled, “Mom, going to Michael’s,” and left before she answered. I didn’t care if she said yes or no
.
I wasn’t going to listen to the princess for an hour while she was getting ready for her date. I’ve lived it, and it’s not pretty.

When we got to Michael’s house we went to his room to change for the hot tub. Michael had never seen me in a swimsuit. I went into his bathroom to change, so nervous about him seeing me. My stomach was turning flip-flops as I looked in the mirror. “Alex,” I sighed, “
d
on’t freak out, don’t freak out. You look okay.”

I turned around to look at my backside, thinking I didn’t look as good as I once thought I did. I never really worried a lot about my body, knew it was nice enough
,
but nice enough wasn’t good enough for someone like Michael. I had to kill.”

“You alive
?
”
H
e asked, knocking on the door.

“Not sure,” I said. “I’m thinking this is a bad idea.”

“
What? Get out here.”

I waited a few minutes and slowly opened the door. He was at his desk searching the internet.

“You actually wrapped a towel around you?” He laughed.

“I’m a bit self conscious, I guess.”
             
He shook his head, “Let’s go.”

I watched him step down into the hot tub and thought how phenomenal his body was. His thigh muscles moved as he stepped into the water. “Hot, hot, hot,” he said.

“Hence the name hot tub,” I laughed.

“Smart ass,” he smiled, holding out his hand to help me.

I took a deep breath, dropped the towel, and started to step into the tub. He looked me over as he took my hand. I tried to read his mind but he just watched me as I stepped into the water. He didn’t move, didn’t say a word, and just looked at me. He finally sat down
,
pulled me to him
,
and started to kiss me, his hands moving to the back of my thighs as I stood facing him. I straddled his legs and sat on his lap
,
wrapping my legs behind him. I could feel his hands move across my hips and up my waist, his lips not leaving mine.

“Is anyone home?’ I whispered, feeling his hand move across my back.

“M
mm
,” he said, “
w
ent to the movies.”

I kissed his neck feeling his arms wrap around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I felt his bare stomach against mine and could tell he was fully aroused. My entire body was tingling and my heart was beating so hard that I felt it beating and pounding against my chest. His hand moved to my breasts, rubbing it across my bathing suit top. I had never felt anything as amazing as feeling my nipple
s
get so hard
they
almost hurt. His fingers rubbed them, making each move send an intense charge down my leg. I moved closer to him feeling his erection push against me. His heart was beating hard and heavily, pounding against my hand when I placed it on his smooth chest.

“Man, your body is so hot,” he whispered in my ear, and kissed my neck. “I don’t think it was a good idea getting in here. I don’t want to stop.”

I felt his hand rubbing my back stopping at my bathing suit string. He slowly started pulling the string until it came untied. I immediately was more turned on than before and was amazed that it was even possible. His hand rubbed my bare back and up to my neck where the other string was tied. His fingers pulled it, releasing my top from my body. He pulled me against him, my bare breasts pressed against his large smooth chest. I wanted to feel his hands on my breasts more than I wanted anything in my life.

“We have to stop,” he whispered, still rubbing my back. “We have to.”

“I know,” I sighed. But I didn’t move. I didn’t want to stop. “You make me feel so good though.”

He placed his hand on my face, “You are too dangerous,” he smiled, sending my heart racing.

“What do you mean by that?”

“You make me want to do things to you that are illegal.”