In Dreams (9 page)

Danny pretended to choke and his dad just squeezed him harder. He squirmed out of the choke hold and ran over to Taylor. He gave her a quick kiss before he headed out of the rink with his dad’s arm draped over his shoulders. Katherine and Taylor walked toward their dorm.

“So, did you meet Cooper’s parents?”

“Yeah. His dad was so nice, but his mom...” Katherine couldn’t hide her hurt feelings.

“What about her? Was she mean?”

“She was kind of mean,” Katherine explained. “She was super cold and not very friendly.”

“Don’t read into it, Kat. A lot of the moms out here are overly protective of their baby boys.”

“Really?”

“Oh, I’m not kidding. They all claim they want their sons to find good girls but the truth is...no girl will
ever
be good enough.”

“So, she hates me because her son likes me?”

“First of all, she doesn’t really hate you. She just doesn’t think you’re good enough for her precious Cooper,” Taylor laughed.

“Well that’s a relief.” Katherine understood, but she wanted Cooper’s parents to like her. She jumped when her phone rang.

She looked at the screen and answered, “Hey, Coop. Aren’t you at dinner?”

“Yes. I just wanted to apologize for my mother’s behavior and tell you I’m sorry. She’s like that with everyone. I think it’s an Irish mom thing. It just takes a while before she warms up to people. I should have warned you. I just didn’t want you to feel bad or take it personally, okay?”

The phone was quiet. “Okay? Katherine?”

“Okay. It just sucks,” she moped.

He let out a quick laugh, “I know. But it’s not you. I have to go.”

“Okay. Hey, thanks for calling.” Katherine hung up and looked at Taylor, “Well, you were right. Some sort of crazy Irish mom thing.”

“Told you. But that was really sweet of him to call you.”

“Yeah. He’s good like that,” Katherine agreed.

****

Katherine walked into the dining hall on campus and looked around frantically for her friends. She hated standing alone in a crowd. Her eyes darted from table to table before she spotted Taylor waving her arm wildly in the air.

Cooper elbowed Danny, “Slide down a seat so Katherine can sit next to me.”

“So bossy,” Danny yawned before moving over.

Cooper pulled the chair out slightly and Katherine sat down. He leaned over and gave her a quick peck on the cheek before returning to his food.

Katherine looked at the plate in front of him and her eyes widened. “How can you eat all of that?”

Cooper looked down, “I’m hungry.”

“How are you not five hundred pounds?” Katherine shook her head.

“Oh Kat, speaking of food—I keep meaning to ask you, are you going home for Thanksgiving?” Taylor wondered as Cooper instantly perked up.

“Huh? Oh no. I can’t fly all the way to California for Thanksgiving. But I’ll go home for Christmas. Why?”

“Were you ever going to tell me that?” Taylor chastised her.

“Um, probably when it got closer,” Katherine told her politely.

“Katherine, it’s in two weeks! How do you not know this?”

“Okay, sheesh. Taylor, I’m not flying home for Thanksgiving. I’m staying here. Happy now?”

“I’ll only be happy if you agree to come home with me.” Before Katherine could answer Taylor added, “It’s not really a question because you don’t have a choice.”

“She could always come home with me,” Cooper interjected.

Cooper Donovan had just invited her to his house for a holiday meal. She just about choked on her food. “Oh yeah. I’m sure your mom would love that,” Katherine blurted out. She tried to recover and quickly added, “I mean, I really want to meet Taylor’s family.”

She stumbled, “Not that yours isn’t great, it’s just that I think I’d feel more comfortable at Tay’s house, you know?”

“It’s fine, California. I get it.” He threw his arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “My family isn’t good enough for you. It’s okay.”

“Don’t say that. That’s not what I...” He cut her off with a kiss.

“I’m teasing,” he comforted her. “And what did I tell you about my mom?”

“That she’s like that with everyone,” Katherine sighed.

“Exactly. So please don’t take it personally. She’ll love you soon enough.”

Katherine smiled, but she wasn’t so sure.

“Don’t worry, Kat. My mom will be nice to you,” Taylor said snidely, and looked in Cooper’s direction. Cooper made a face at her and she stuck out her tongue.

“Don’t look at me like that, Donovan. It’s not my fault your mom’s mean,” Taylor said through her laughter.

“My mom just loves me more than your mom loves you,” Cooper noted.

“Well, that’s probably true.”

The laughter faded into the background as Katherine’s thoughts drifted. She found herself excited at the idea of leaving campus for awhile.

“I’m really excited Taylor. Thank you,” Katherine beamed.

Chapter Seven

Cooper and Danny came over to see the girls off and say their goodbyes. This was going to be the longest they’d been apart since they started to date. Katherine was amazed at the amount of people in the parking lot. It almost felt like the first day of school. She looked around and noticed that no one glared in her direction. It seemed as though Cooper Donovan having a girlfriend wasn’t front-page news any more. She was thankful.

Danny squeezed Taylor, “I’m going to miss you so much.”

“You can’t miss me if I’m dead,” she choked out. He loosened his grip and then kissed her sweetly.

Cooper and Katherine were engaged in their own public display of affection. They looked into each other’s eyes, and didn’t speak a word. She put her hand on the side of his face and rubbed her thumb near his eye with the speckle.

“I’ll miss this eye,” she said and then kissed just above it.

“Only this one?” he smiled at her.

“Uh-huh. I totally play favorites.”

“Me too.” Cooper picked her up and kissed her. His soft lips brush against hers. “I’ll miss you.” The words came out so sweetly that she knew he genuinely meant them.

“I’ll miss you, too.” Even though part of her heart was somewhere else, other parts of it were reserved exclusively for Cooper Donovan and Katherine recognized that. She loved the way she felt when she was around him.

The guys grabbed the bags that were on the ground and packed them into the trunk of Taylor’s car.

“You have enough gas right?” Danny peered in to look at her gas gauge.

Taylor swatted at his head, “I’m not an idiot. I know how to drive. God, you’re annoying.”

Cooper leaned into the window and gave Katherine one last kiss before he paused to look into her eyes. “Out of the car, Donovan, before you lose your head,” Taylor lipped.

Taylor started to back out and was about to hit the gas pedal when she heard, “You know I’m totally in love with you, Taylor Dailey!”

Danny had just yelled the “L” word...in a parking lot…at school…in front of a bunch of people. Taylor slammed on the breaks, put the car in park, jumped out and hopped into his waiting arms.

“I love you too,” she admitted.

Cooper jogged over to Katherine and laughed. Her body tensed. She hoped and prayed he wasn’t going to tell her the same thing. She wasn’t ready for that. She knew she cared about Cooper Donovan, but she wasn’t sure she loved him. She wasn’t sure she could. How can you only give part of your heart to someone and call it love?

“Please don’t say it, please don’t say it, please don’t say it,” she repeated in her head.

“Danny’s crazy. That kid has no shame,” Cooper huffed.

Katherine watched as his heavy breathing made his chest go in and out. Sometimes she found it hard to get past that body.

“I just wanted to tell you one last time that I’ll miss you.” He hesitated, “And steal another kiss.” He put his head through the window and desperately clutched a fistful of her hair. He kissed her like her needed her. His mouth searched for comfort in hers. She felt dizzy with desire.

Taylor hopped back into the car, stopping their kiss cold. Katherine’s lips suddenly felt empty. “See ya later Cooper,” Taylor hinted. Cooper backed out of the car as Taylor hit the gas. Katherine locked eyes with him as he faded into the background.

“So, how’s it feel to be in love?” Katherine teased.

“Ha! That was crazy! I can’t believe he did that. He’s such a dork. But I’m on cloud nine right now if you want to know the truth,” Taylor glowed.

The girls laughed, sang and talked while they drove the mere hour and a half to Taylor’s house. Taylor didn’t say much about her family. The whole “I love you” thing had sent her down a different path. Katherine sang along with a song on the radio as she felt the car slow. She noticed a long, dirt driveway up ahead. Taylor turned onto it and pulled behind the house.

“We’re here!” Taylor jumped out of the car as the front door opened.

An attractive older man with brown hair and twinkling blue eyes suddenly appeared. “Katherine, this is my dad, Jack. Dad, this is my roommate, Katherine.”

“Nice to meet you,” Katherine smiled and held out her hand.

“We hug in this family. Come here, girl.” Taylor’s dad gave her a giant bear hug. Katherine immediately liked him. “And you can call me Dad, too. Or Jack. Whichever you prefer.”

“Thanks, Dad.” She looked at Taylor and informed her, “It’s just easier to call him ‘Dad.’ Plus it’s more fun.”

“It’s totally more fun,” Taylor agreed.

“You never told me your dad was so hot. Why were you holding out on me?”

“Gross. You would know, you’re the one who was dreaming about him, remember?” Taylor joked.

“I’ll get your bags, girls...go inside and say hello to your mother and brother.”

“Thanks, Dad!”

“Thanks, Mr. Dailey!”

The girls ran inside the house and yelled for Taylor’s mom. They found her in the kitchen. Her short brown hair and kind eyes lit up at the sight of the girls.

“Oh, hi girls! Taylor, you look too skinny! Have you been eating?” she quipped.

“Yes, Mom. Jeez. I do eat, ya know. Katherine, please inform the woman of my eating habits.”

“Oh, she eats. It’s a wonder she isn’t three hundred pounds.”

“Mom, this is my roommate slash comedian friend, Katherine.”

“Hi, Mrs. Dailey. It’s really nice to meet you. Thanks for letting me come over, I really appreciate it.”

“Oh Katherine, call me Janice, please. And we’re just so happy to have you.” She gave Katherine a quick squeeze before she turned to Taylor. “Your brother is out back in the barn. Go find him will you and let him know you’re here? Maybe you can get him to go out with you girls sometime this weekend? You think he’ll go?”

Katherine noticed the tone of the conversation changed and she wondered if something was wrong with Taylor’s brother. She imagined he had some sort of deformity or clinical issue where he never left the house.

“You have a brother?” Katherine asked through her confusion.

“Yep. Let’s go see him,” Taylor pulled Katherine by the arm into the back yard.

“Taylor, your back yard is amazing. I can’t believe you have a barn. And horses! You never told me you had horses!” She glanced to her left, “And a trampoline?” Katherine got excited, “What else don’t I know?”

“Plenty. Let’s go find Blake first.”

Katherine wanted to ask her if there was something wrong with Blake. She wanted to be prepared for what she was about to see or experience. She wanted to brace herself and not give away whatever she was going to feel with her expression. “Wait, Taylor...is there…” They rounded the corner into the barn before Katherine could ask anything.

“Sis!” Blake stood up from a makeshift poker table where he sat with friends. He was taller than Taylor and had the same sandy brown hair as his mother. He was cute for a high school boy. He had an athletic build and a familiar face.

Katherine thought to herself, “Huh. Doesn’t look like anything is wrong with him. Weird.”

“Hey, little brother,” They hugged and their bond was immediately apparent.

“Blake, this is my roommate, Katherine. Katherine, this is my little brother, Blake.” Taylor looked around at the rest of the guys in the room, “And these are all of his degenerate friends.” The group of guys all started to talk smack at Taylor, but she dished it right back.

“Hi, Katherine. It’s nice to meet you.” Blake was more reserved when it came to Katherine.

“Hi, Blake. It’s nice to meet you.”

“All right, B, I’m going to show Kat the rest of the house and stuff. We’ll come back out to see you later…and kick your butts in poker!” The girls started to turn and walk out of the barn.

“Tay?” Blake called after her. Taylor turned around and looked at him. “I’m glad you’re home,” he said sweetly.

“I missed you too, Blakey-Face.”

“He seems sweet. You guys have an amazing relationship,” Katherine commented.

“When our brother died we only had each other. Our parents could barely get through the day, let alone deal with us.”

“What? You had a brother who died? I had no idea. Taylor, when did this happen? I’m so sorry.”

Katherine was shocked she knew nothing about this and wondered why Taylor had never told her. She thought maybe she should have been warned of what she walked into, but she couldn’t blame Taylor. I mean, how do you bring up the fact that your brother died? When is that ever the perfect story to tell?

“It was a little over two years ago. Austen, that was his name, was sleeping in the passenger seat and his friend Tony was driving. It was a really stormy night and there was this big rig. The driver hit something in the road and he lost control. He cut off their car and there was no time for Tony to react. They said he didn’t even have time to hit the brakes, it all happened so quickly. Tony and Austen died instantly.”

Taylor took a breath before she continued. “Our parents fell apart. Our town fell apart. I know you wouldn’t know it, but my parents are just now starting to get some sense of normalcy back. Blake and Austen were close. And when Austen died, Blake was never the same. He stopped playing baseball. He stopped going out. He stopped living his life. And I’m so worried that he’ll never be the way he used to. And I don’t know how to fix him.”