Let Me Love (12 page)

“I guess,” she shrugs. I pick her up, toss her over my shoulder and smack her ass. “Hey now!” she squirms.

“Now that I’m your boyfriend, I get to smack this fine ass as much as I want,” I arrogantly tease her, trying to ignore the bewildering stares of the parents.

“It’s all yours,” she places her own hands on my ass, slapping it like she’s playing the drums. “Just remember, what’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine,” she jokes before grabbing my ass, making me wish I was taking her home rather than to her sister’s.

“After your sister’s, I’ll be showing you what’s mine,” I tell her seriously, stopping outside my car, letting her body slide down mine. “Thank you for trusting me,” I change our fun moment to serious, and she cups my cheeks, her eyes remaining on mine.

“Something tells me you’re worth it,” she says and rises up on her tiptoes to kiss me. When I open my passenger side door and she scoots in, I secretly pray she’s right.

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K
ailey instructs me down the two side streets. There’s a beat up white Honda outside the house and she tells me to park behind it. The small beige two-story All-American house, it even displays the requisite American Flag hanging from the pole attached to the siding. The small front porch is decorated in an Easter theme of pastel bunnies and eggs. It’s the dream home little girls probably envision when they’re younger. That living happily ever after shit with a husband, two kids, and house in suburbia. Kailey pats my leg, similar to what I did that night she was going to hang out with the gang in Breckenridge. Giving her my best smile, I try to keep my nervousness at bay. I open my door and walk around to open hers. As she steps out, the front door swings open and there’s the little girl from the airport, running out of the house.

“Chloe!” I hear a man’s voice yell from inside and the guy who picked Kailey up from the airport appears in the doorway. Seeing Kailey, he waves his hand and walks back into the house.

“Hey, girly,” Kailey bends down and allows the girl to run into her arms before wrapping them tightly around her.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” she sighs to Kailey.

“I’m sorry, do you want to meet my friend?” Kailey picks her up and faces me.

“Hi, Trey!” The little girl says without introduction. Kailey looks at her in disbelief. “What? You talk about him all the time,” the girl continues, much to Kailey’s chagrin.

“Hi, Chloe,” I say and raise my hand for a high five and she slaps it right away. “It’s nice to meet you,” I tell her and I notice her eyes roaming my body.

“You have a lot of drawing on your body.” Kailey laughs, and I chuckle.

“Yeah,” I agree, having no idea what else to say. I’ve never had to be around little kids before.

“They’re called tattoos,” Kailey informs her, and Chloe just continues her stares. “Let’s go in, there’s two other little ones for you to meet.” She rustles the hair on Chloe’s head and lets her down. Once her small feet hit the grass, she’s off and inside the house.

“Sorry, kids have no filter,” Kailey says, taking my hand in hers.

“No problem.” I become more nervous the closer we come to the house.
You can do this, Trey Michaels, you lo–like this girl.

Once we get on the porch, I suck in one more deep breath and follow Kailey into the warm and welcoming house. My body instantly calms when I enter, noticing all the pictures of family that fill the walls. Seriously, I’ve never seen so many pictures in all my life. Most look to have been taken recently, and I half wonder if it’s because her sister is dying. “I just recently surprised Jen with a photo shoot I did of the kids,” Catching me checking out all the pictures, Kailey whispers to me.

“They’re amazing,” I say, allowing my hands to graze across one of all three of the kids surrounding a woman a few years older than Kailey. The uncanny resembles evident, telling me exactly what she’ll look like in ten years. “I had no idea you were a photographer.”

She laughs. “I’m not, but it was for class. Jen hasn’t had time to unpack all of the family photos since they moved in, so I did it for their anniversary.” She winks at me, obviously remembering our project that I had to beg Professor Hodges to be allowed to make-up. Crap, which reminds me I only have until Monday to finish it. “You want to borrow my camera?” she asks, noticing my rambling thoughts about my project.

“The pictures I want to take can’t be seen by anyone, but me.” I mention, pulling her closer and kissing her neck. “But if you’re up for it, I won’t complain,” I whisper, and she pats my chest.

“I’m sure something could be arranged,” she teases and scurries out of my embrace.

“Oh young love, isn’t it great, Caden,” the same woman from the pictures says, walking into the room.

“Remember those days, sweetheart. Before diapers, bottles, late night feedings, screaming—” Caden says.

“And Cancer,” Jen adds and the room goes silent. “Ugh, they never appreciate my jokes,” she says directly to me, holding her hand out. “Jen Campbell,” she introduces herself.

“It’s nice to meet you. Trey Michaels.” I present my best smile her way.

“So, I’ve heard.” She loops her arm through mine. “Come in, let me show you some embarrassing pictures of Kailey.” She giggles, rising her eyebrows in Kailey’s direction, who just shakes her head, allowing her sister to take me away.

We walk further into the house to what I assume is the family room, filled with toys, a large screen television, and an oversized couch. Blankets and pillows fill a recliner to be a make shift bed. She passes that and takes me right to the couch with Caden and Kailey in tow. “So, Trey, tell me about yourself. I already know the easy stuff, you’re an architecture major from Oberlin, and my favorite–play drums in a band called The Invisibles. Which by the way, kind of a lame ass name, you boys couldn’t come up with anything better?” I chuckle at her straight forwardness and catch Kailey’s eyes. “Oh, she’s no help, so don’t bother looking her way. All she tells me about is your body.” Her eyes appraise my body, like I’m a Chippendale dancer, and she looks at Kailey. “Great description, sis. His arms might not be as big as you described,” her hand clasps around my bicep, “but that face. Mmm—a girl could lost in those eyes.”

My body shifts uncomfortable of her talking this way with her husband ten steps away. “Oh don’t be shy.” She scoots closer again. “Kailey, didn’t you tell him?” Kailey focuses her attention to us and scrunches her eyebrows while Caden snickers in the kitchen. “The reason you brought him...” she tries to trigger her memory, but Kailey still appears dumb founded until she nods, signaling a light bulb just came on.

“I told him, Jen,” Kailey clarifies and nods.

“Good, so after the kids go to bed,” she teases her fingertips along my thigh, “we’ll swap.” Her voice steady and nonchalant. My head snaps to Kailey, and she shrugs her shoulders casually. “It’s my dying wish,” she whispers in my ear, her heavy breaths tickling my earlobe.

My eyes bug out, like I’ve been electrocuted. The thought of thousand bolts of electricity running through my body suddenly seems a hell of a lot better alternative than what’s being suggested right now.

Then Kailey bellows with laughter, pointing her finger at me, and her sister joins in. “You girls are evil.” Caden comes in and hands me a beer. “Well-deserved.” He clinks his bottle with mine. The two sisters continue to laugh until the sound of a crying baby screams out of the white speaker on the table next to me.

“I got it, Jen,” Kailey says when her sister slowly starts to get up. Jen sits back down as Kailey leaves the room, and Caden turns on baseball. At least I know I’ll have one thing in common with him. Of course, it only makes me remember I have to tell Kailey my secret once we’re alone tonight.

“I’m sorry, Trey. I couldn’t resist, you looked so nervous standing there,” Jen says, still trying to stifle her giggles. “So, while she’s not here,” she looks down the hall before continuing, “Caden and I want her to get out and have fun. You seem like you like to have fun.” Her eyes cascade over my tats, just like her daughter did outside moments ago. “She takes on way too much around here, will you do me a favor?” She waits for me to nod. “Have fun with each other, but don’t break her heart, okay? Okay.” She stands up gingerly and walks into the kitchen without my answer, although it would have been yes, so I guess it doesn’t matter. I’m really liking her though—a lot.

“My wife has her own way of making people feel welcome,” Caden says, continuing to watch the Tigers play the Indians. “Run!” he hollers at the television, and I relax into the comfortable cushions, taking a swig of my beer.

“She’s funny, I can appreciate that,” I respond while keeping my eyes glued to the television.

“Yeah, I think her humor has increased with her sickness,” he mentions, and not sure how to respond, I remain quiet. The silence doesn’t seem to bother him. “Unlike my wife, though, I need to ask a little more of you than her.” This time he turns his head my way. Unsure of what he’s talking about, I sit up straighter. “See Kailey’s like my sister. I’ve known her since she was eleven. I know she’s been straight with you because that’s Kailey. She’s not one to play games or hide. It took a lot for her to tell you about Jen, so I ask that if you honestly can’t be there for her, just end it now because it will only be harder later. At least if you end it now, she’ll have her sister to console her. Later, she might only have me.” He turns his head to the side, breathing before facing me again. “I won’t be enough for her and it could break her, losing her sister and a guy who didn’t care enough.” He pauses again. “Listen, I’ve been around guys like you my whole life, fun loving, carefree, and uncommitted. So, I might not be as strong as you, or as fast, but believe me when I say, rage can be powerful,” he finishes and relaxes back to his chair watching television. I guess he doesn’t want to hear it, just wants me to prove it.

Taking a long swig of beer, I watch the Indians score a double until the two small girls come through the patio door and Kailey comes down with the little boy in her arms and brings him over to us after stopping at her sister briefly. “So, this is Drew,” she introduces me to the drooling baby, who fixates on the stud piercing under my lip. As his hand reaches to touch it, Kailey swings her hips to keep him away. I wouldn’t mind the little guy playing with it, especially if it makes him like me. Chloe and a smaller blonde girl rush over, clasping onto Kailey’s legs. “This is Tara. Tara, can you say hello to my friend Trey?” The small girl just continues to hide behind Kailey. “She can be kind of—.”

“Shy,” Chloe finishes. “Do you want to play with us?” she asks me, and I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do, so I do what comes natural.

“Sure,” I say, and she grabs my hand, taking me to the corner. Pulling a game from one of the shelves, she tugs my arm until I sit down on the ground. Tara and she sit on either side of me, while scrambling to get the game put together. Kailey sits Drew down on the floor with a pile of toys in front of him and smiles down at me before walking into the kitchen to join her sister.

“Pretty, Pretty Princess,” I mumble, reading the box on the floor.

“Don’t you girls think Trey has enough earrings,” Caden jokes from his seat and everyone starts laughing. I really hope he’s one of those guys that makes fun of the people he likes.

“They’re all gray, now you can have pink or purple,” Chloe picks up a pink plastic earring and widens her eyes as though I should be amazed.

“How about blue?” I counter, and she relents, giving me the blue board piece.

“I’m purple,” Tara softly says, but grabbing the pink piece, and Chloe just smiles and takes the green. Not sure what I’m supposed to do, Chloe explains the game, and Tara spins first since she’s the youngest.

Once we’re done, I have two blue earrings, a ring and a necklace. Tara won by collecting all her jewelry and
the
crown. Kailey comes over and snaps a picture. “For class,” she adds, turning back into the kitchen.

“Alright, girls, put the game away, it’s time to eat,” Jen says from the kitchen.

I help the girls put it all away, and when I stand up, Tara grasps my hand in hers. I stare down in astonishment, since she’s said maybe two words to me the whole time I’ve been here. The same matching green eyes as Kailey and Jen stare up with a wide smile on her face. “I made dessert,” she tells me.

“Really? I can’t wait,” I say with excitement. She leads me to the table and stops me right next to her chair.

“You sit here,” she points, “and I sit here,” she points to another chair with a purple foam cushion on it.

A giggling Jen comes over and sits across from me, smiling at Tara, who has now grabbed my hand, while beaming up at me. “You might have some competition, Kailey,” she hollers to her sister, who’s getting the food ready to serve.

“I thought he liked brunettes,” she jokes, bringing a salad to the table. I scoot my chair out to help, but she waves her hand down, signaling me to stay put.

“It’s the green eyes, they entrance me,” I chime into the good-hearted conversation, focusing only on her. A slight pinkness hits her cheeks, and she turns back around.

“Charmer,” Jen raises her eyebrows at me.

Damn straight almost escapes my lips, but there are children present. Caden puts Drew in his high chair, and Jen places some puff things from a can on the tray with a cup. Drew picks it up immediately, tilting his head back, like he’s taking a shot. Man, that kid’s gonna be fun when he’s older. The cup slams down on the tray table, and he’s all smiles. Yep, future life of the party sitting right there.

Laughter fills the small table, even with kids’ whines and complaints, it’s fun hanging out with Kailey and the Campbells. They remind me a lot of my own family. I finally began to ease up, making jokes back, and it seemed to make them like me even more. Here was a family after my own heart. Even with the underlying tone of death, they’ve embraced it and decided to live normally until they’re pushed into facing the inevitable.

Kailey and I do the dishes while Caden and Jen watch the rest of the game. Once we finish, Kailey leans in asking me if I’m ready to leave. “I want you alone, Trey Michaels,” she murmurs against my lips.