Finding Charley (Full Circle) (11 page)

Mama crosses her arms and wait
s for my reaction and comment.

“Mama, I don’t know.  It’s like he has totally lost it or something.  Who knows? Maybe it’s me.  Maybe I’m the one losing it.   I just love Southern, the team, my hallmates, and my life there.  I’m not ready to settle down.  If he’s not careful, I’m gonna totally push myself from him.”

“Spoken like the Charley I know.  You have grown so much since you left in August, and I’m proud of you.  I’m not going to say I buy all of this between you and Cash, but that’s y’all’s business, not mine.”

This is getting too nosey and serious. 
Time for a change of subject.

“So…Piper, Tessa, and I are going to Northlake.  Anything you want for Christmas?”

“Nah, I’m good.  Just having you home is Christmas for me."  Mama walks over to me and pulls me in for a hug.  “I’ve missed you, sweet girl.”

We break our embrace, and I make my way upstairs to talk to Tessa before leaving, and hopefully, talk to Cash, too.  I’ve not even gone twenty-four hours without him, and I’m a complete mess.

I knock as I walk into Tessa’s room.  “Hey, Tess, I’m back.  Can I call Cash?”

“Sure, but I don’t know how you’re gonna go through with this plan.”

“Me either.  Mama just gave me the third degree down there, and now we have to go to Northlake because I told her that’s what we’re doing.”

“Nice and well played.”

“I try.  Now, let me see that phone.”  With an eye roll, Tessa gives me the phone and then excuses herself while I call Cash.  He answers on the second ring.

“Hey, Tessa.
  Everything good?”

“It’s perfect now that I’m talkin’ to you,” I reply in a smooth, sultry voice.

“Char-coal, I’m so glad to hear your voice.  I mean, I know it’s not even been a day, but it’s killin’ me.  How was the pool?”

“Great!  Molly attacked me as soon as I walked inside the center, and Coach Stephens was the same old coach.  It felt great to be there.  Since it was just lap swim, I didn’t see any team folks.  I think I’ll stick with that time while I’m home.”

“That’s great.  So, what is the plan for the rest of the day?”

“Well, just so you know, Mama totally called me out a few minutes ago about us, but I think I at least got her to quit asking questions.  I hope because I can’t lie to her forever.”

“You do know you don’t have to lie.  We could come clean with everything about Dylan.”

“What do you mean ‘we’?”

“I just meant I’d be there with you, like I have since it happened.”

“Thanks, Cash Money.  If only I could kiss those sweet lips of yours right now.”

“How about when y’all get back, you meet me at the club?”

“Sounds good to me.
  I guess I better go.  I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

After hanging up and walking downstairs, I think about what is going on and what I’m about to do.  I know it’s what is needed, but to put my family, friends, and Cash through this, is it worth it?  Most definitely.

Tessa and I make our way outside when we hear Piper toot the horn.  We wave bye to Mama and Dad who are sitting on the porch.

After getting into the car, we both let out a sigh of relief. 

“That bad, huh?”
  Piper says.

“Let’s just say that you know how your mama number two can be.”

“Awe, lawd!  I’d love to have been a fly on the wall.  She was houndin’ ya with all those questions.  I can just hear her now.” 

“It’s not funny, Pipe.  If she keeps this up, there is no way I’m gonna
be able to go through with the plan.”

“Easy then, Sis.
  Don’t.  Go to Mama and Dad, the police…anyone…and tell.  Just tell.”

“I wish it were that simple, but you know it’s not.  No one will believe me, and there is no evidence.”

“What do you mean, ‘no evidence’?  Where are all the texts, pics, and Facebook messages that y’all have gotten?  That has to account for something.”

“Maybe, but it won’t save another girl.  I’ve got to get hard evidence.”

Piper and Tessa stop the conversation because they know my mind is made up.  Piper cranks up the radio and sings to the first song she likes. Tessa follows next in line, and I’m a beat behind her.

We spend the remainder of the day shopping, eating at P.F. Chang’s, and heading back to Grassy Pond.

We arrive back home after dusk.  Agreeing that we are better to tackle my parents as a team of three, we enter the house and try to make a break for it when Piper smells Mama’s famous apple dumplings.  She makes a wrong turn directly for the target we are trying to avoid.

“Pipe, what are you doin’?”  I grit through my teeth.

“I’m eatin’.  Those are the bomb diggity.  I’ll help you survive because it is totally going to be worth it once that first bite is in your mouth, and you know it!”

She is right.  That buttery, flaky goodness is unbelievable.   The three of us walk into the kitchen as Mama pulls the dumplings from the oven.

“Girls, y’all are right on time.  Grab a plate and eat up!  Your dad and I are going to watch a movie.  Y’all wanna join?”

“Whatchawatchin’?”
  I ask.

“Some Clint Eastwood movie that’s not been out too long.
  I can’t think of the name, but it’s supposed to be pretty good.”

I look at both Piper and Tessa for an escape, and Piper decides to talk to my mama like only she can.

“Mama Number Two, you know we love a good chick flick, and I don’t think that’s one of them.  We might just watch one in Charley’s room.”

Mama shakes her head as she scoops vanilla ice cream onto the dumplings.  “It’s so good to have y’all back in this house.  It’s just weird without all of you, ya know?  Tessa, what’s Sally been up to?  I haven’t seen her much since Char got home?”

“Oh, she's around, but she just wanted to give Char and me a little sister time.  We’re supposed to double date this weekend.”

Grabbing our evening dessert, we make our way upstairs to my room and get comfortable on the bed. We turn on the TV and scan Netflix for an oldie but goodie.  As I’m in the middle of a bite, my new prepaid phone signals that I have a text message.

Cash: Y’all back?

Me: Yeah, funny
ur name is n contacts. lol

Cash:
:) we still meeting 2night?  I’m dying 2 have u n my arms.

Me: u bet.
we r watchin a movie right now. what time?

Cash: U want me 2 watch it 2?

Me: Sure let’s not get caught.

“Dang girl, you got it bad.  You better hope you don’t look at that phone around Dylan if Cash texts you because it will be written all over your face.”

I just shrug my shoulders and let them know that he’s on his way.  Of course, Piper is wondering if she and Tessa need to leave, but that’s not the case.

A few minutes later, there’s a light tapping on my window.   I try to casually walk over to open it, but that doesn’t happen.  As I slide up the window, Cash kisses my lips and hops in.

“Ladies, how was Northlake?”

“Great, would have been better if we hit the lottery before we went,” Piper announces.

“Yeah, I’m sure y’all would have loved that.   So, what y’all watchin’?”

“
Hope Floats
,” I say as we make our way back toward the bed.  There’s no way we can all fit on there, so Cash leans against the footboard and I ease myself between his legs.  He wraps his arms around me, and I’m safe again.

After the movie, Piper excuses herself and goes home.  Tessa exits to her own bedroom, and Cash and I stay still.  I want to relish this moment with him, but I soon realize that I better lock the door. Knowing my luck, Mama wil
l have to check-in before bed.

I move away from Cash, even though I’d rather not.  I lock the door and walk back to Cash who has now stood up from the hard wooden floor.

“I think my ass fell asleep, but it was totally worth it.”

I smile and make my way back to those strong, hardworking arms.  We stand there in silence and just hold each other.

“Char-coal, I’m glad today was okay.  I hope tomorrow is the same.” He kisses my forehead and then places his forehead against mine.  In this moment, I wish time would stand still, but that’s not the case.  Tomorrow is a new day, a day closer to Dylan’s arrival, and one day closer to my freedom.

I look into Cash’s eyes, place my hands on his cheeks, and pull his lips to mine.  We lose ourselves for several minutes befor
e he distances himself again.

“Char-coal, I better go. 
Sleep tight and text me after practice tomorrow.  I love you.”

“I will. I love you, too.  Thank you for everything.”

“What have I done, Char-coal?  Except be your biggest fan.  That’s all I’ve ever been, but that’s what you do when you love someone.  You cheer for them through their highs and lows.  Now, get some rest, and I’ll meet you in your dreams.”

“Can’t you stay, Cash Money?”

Cash’s eyes become the size of softballs.  “Char, your parents would kill us.  Plus, that’s not gonna help your plan.  Believe me. I’d love to hold you all night long, and I will one day. I’ll hold you all night, and it will be the first night of forever.”

Cash kisses me again, and backs away toward the window with our hands still interlaced.  He lifts the window and crawls halfway out before stopping and kissing me again.  Then, he makes his way out of the window, off the roof, and to his farm.  I close the window and watch him as far as I can see.

I turn off my light, unlock the door, crawl into bed, and drift off into a deep slumber. My dreams are happy for the first time in a long time, and then I wake up to that sound I love to hate.  Time for practice.

Chapter 13

Today the parking lot is fuller than yesterday. There must be more folks home, or the team’s schedule has been changed.  I shrug it off and make my way into the GPAC.  This morning Molly is already in the pool area, Coach Stephens is on deck, and the lap swimmers are trucking down the lengths of the pool.  I head into the locker room, change into my suit, go through my normal pre-swim rituals, and jump into the pool, following day two's workout.

Just like yesterday, the warm-up isn’t bad at all, and then there are five sets to complete.  They are like a perfect bar graph because set three just about kicked my rear and th
en it was downhill from there.

The final set, the backstroke, is my specialty, so I know it is going to be a breeze.  It is two 100-meter backstrokes under 1:15 with a twenty-second break in between. 
I got this!
  Watching the clock, I prepare for the first 100-meters.  Knowing it’s my favorite and the event in which I shine the most, I decide to test myself just to see how fast I can really go.  I push off the wall, kick as far as I can before turning up the heat, and move my arms in perfect motion.  Once I reach the flags, I count to five and do a flip turn. Then pushing off, I thrust hard for the final leg.  Counting from the flags, I push with all my might and once my fingertips touch the wall, I check the clock.  It reads 1:12:34, but I know I can do better than that.  I take my twenty-second break and go at it hard one more time.  I am completely focused on beating the 1:10 marker, and it’s going to happen.

Looking at the clock with five seconds to go, I take a deep breath, focus, and use every ounce of strength, desire,
and emotion of the past few days and put it all into the water.

As I reach the flags, I can feel my calf muscles begin to burn, and I know I’m making great time.  I flip and push with everything I have.  On my final lap, I move my arms as fast as airplane propellers and kick my legs as hard as I can when I see the flags. I reach for the wall again, and just as I turn to look at the clock, I see him.  Dylan Sloan is standing over my lane.  Oh shit!

Standing there with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face, he starts talking before I can actually process that this is not a nightmare.

“Damn,
Charley, that was a great time.  1:09:46. I guess you have been in the pool.  You know, that text really got me thinking, and I had to get home as soon as possible,” he says with a wink.

I take a deep breath and try to respond, knowing that this plan is going into effect one day early.  This wasn’t supposed to happen.  I put on my big girl panties and realize this is what I have been waiting for. It’s time to make a deal with the devil himself, and he’s going down in the end.

“Thanks, I’ve been working my ass off if you want to know the truth.  I’m hoping to make Olympic Trials this year,” I say nonchalantly.  “Well, I need to finish my workout.”  I reposition my goggles and get ready to start my cool-down.  He is standing there at a loss for words.  I didn’t give him the time of day or gawk at his perfect body. I acted cool and shook him off like he was the Dylan before we started dating.  I’ve definitely got him where I want him already.

After finishing the 200 choice cool-down, I remove my goggles and cap and place them onto the deck of the pool and dip my head back into the water like I do every day, but today is different.  I know Dylan is watching, and I know what he likes so I turn it up just a notch.  I don’t look at him except from my peripheral vision, and
it’s evident that he notices.