October Breezes (4 page)

“I didn’t know accountants liked romantic comedies.

Don’t they prefer the more...boring…films?” I winked.

“Skye,” my mother spoke in a patiently tired voice. “Give me a little credit, sweetheart. Be back by 11.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I agreed, exhaling disgustedly. “Or I turn into a pumpkin, right?” I quipped, al the while thinking,
Please don't
embarrass me.

“Nope--an avocado, or maybe just a grounded sixteen-year-old.” She bent and kissed my cheek. “Have a great time. By the way, your dad said not to plan anything for Saturday.”

I stopped. “Dad said that?” I swalowed hard, not quite believing her. "Did he cal?"

“Yeah.” Her tone was clipped, and I knew she didn’t want to talk about this.

“I’l be back by 11,” I promised, chewing my lip as I wondered what my father had said.

Kelin held the door open as we walked outside together.

“You look great, Skye. Realy great.”

I blushed and tried not to wonder if he were being sarcastic or genuine. He smiled and his hand touched my lower back softly, guiding me to a classic mustang that had been completely restored.

We stepped out into evening air that smeled of October and burning wood. Once we'd reached his car, he opened the passenger door.

“So--what's realy up with you and Devin?”

I slipped inside and smoothed my skirt. “I told you: we're just friends.” I frowned, wondering why my friendship with Devin interested him so much.

Kelin cocked his eyebrow. “Pretty hard to imagine any guy just being friends with you.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked, once he'd slid into the driver's seat and latched his seatbelt.

“Nothing.” He averted his gaze and, frowning, slipped the key into the ignition and started the car.

“No,” I insisted, chewing my lower lip. “You meant something by that, and I’d like to know what.”

He reluctantly looked at me, but for a second it didn’t feel as though he were staring at al of me, just my breasts, my hips, the regions differing from his. “You’re beautiful, Skye. Any guy would have trouble keeping things on a friendship basis.”

I drew my coat more tightly. I'd done some pretty stupid things, but this had been the worst. What if Devin had been right?

“So why did you ask me out?” I folded my arms over my chest and waited.

“Because I wanted to get to know you,” he replied, averting his gaze.

“Oh, realy,” I drawled, watching the houses blur past.

“Yeah, realy,” he said. “It’s true that you' re incredibly beautiful, Skye. There’s no point in denying that. But there’s more to you than that. Everybody judges me on how wel I throw a footbal. I figured you might be someone who could see beyond that part to someone worth knowing.” He frowned and looked away. "I know what people say, Skye, but it's just crap I can't shake. Tyler's the ladies’ man, not me."

His dark eyes peered at me with a softness I never would have expected. “Are you sure you stil want to get to know me?” I finaly asked.

“Positive.” He brushed back a stray hair that had falen into my eyes. “I just have one question--did I pass Devin’s little test?” He turned left.

I stiffened slightly. “What do you mean?”

“I know how little Devin likes me and how he hates that I asked you out. I know how close the two of you are.” He brushed his thumb across the steering wheel. Suddenly I wondered what his fingers would feel like stroking my face.

“It wasn’t ‘Devin’s little test,’” I said. “I can think for myself.”

“I don't doubt it.” We puled into the parking lot, and he kiled the engine. His hand slid to my neck while his gaze held me stil, enraptured, as he leaned in and kissed me.

The thought of moving flickered into my mind, but his kiss queled it, suffusing me with warmth. His lips parted mine, and I tasted spearmint as his tongue slid over mine, caressing. His arms drew me ever closer, more tightly, until the only thing I felt was his body pressed against mine and heat spreading through him.

A few seconds later, he moved away, yet I lingered in that fog, wrapped in his embrace and heard him whisper, “Geez, you are gorgeous.” He opened his door and I, too, got out. Hand in hand, we headed to buy tickets.

This sensation, although wonderful, was foreign. I’d never been realy kissed before--not that I would have admitted it to anyone besides Devin, and, at this moment, with my heart thudding in my chest and my breath speeding toward something I didn’t quite understand, I wasn’t sure I would know how to broach this topic even with Devin. This al seemed so strange, so new. Good old mom hadn’t ever really explained how the ‘plumbing’ worked, and there are at least a few things you can’t ask when your best friend also happens to be a guy. Not even a best friend as wonderful as Devin.

“So did that kiss pass your test?” he teased, squeezing my hand gently.

“Yeah,” I finaly managed once I’d realized I stil had a voice. “It was nice.”

“Nice?” Kelin quipped. “I’ve never heard someone tel me a kiss was nice before.”

I cringed, wondering at how I always said the wrong thing.

“So what do other girls say after you kiss them?”

“It’s never polite to kiss and tel,” he said, winking. He bought the tickets, and we headed toward the concession area. As he draped his arm around my back, he squeezed my right arm, unnerving me. For a split second, Devin’s face flashed in front of me, and I wondered what his kiss would feel like or how it would feel for his arm to pul me close.

Stop it!
I told myself.
Devin is your best friend, nothing
more. You’ve known him forever. W hy would you want to kiss
him?

“Skye?” Kelin waved at me. "Earth to Skye."

“Yeah,” I finaly replied, realizing I had been daydreaming.

“I’m glad you decided to take a chance on me.”

I smiled. “Me too.”

Inside the lobby, we stood in a long line, waiting to get popcorn and drinks. Although I wasn't hungry, I did look at the fountain drink dispenser longingly.

"Hey, Kelin? How are you?" Becca Haskins asked as she and Kaylee Johnson stepped from behind us. Blonde curls framed her face, and her aquamarine sweater realy highlighted her baby blues. She reached for Kelin's hand, but he dodged her fingers by grabbing napkins.

The couple ahead picked up their popcorn and sodas before heading into the auditorium. "Hey, Becca. Kaylee," Kelin managed, stepping up to the counter.

I pointed to the bathroom and said, "I'l be right back."

Relieved to be rid of the Stepford sisters, I checked my make-up.

A moment later, Becca folowed me into the bathroom and applied more lipstick. She pursed her lips and then patted her hair.

I brushed the bangs from my eyes and tried to ignore her, but as she put away her lipstick, she said, "You don't stand a chance." Her fingers tugged at her sweater, puling it lower. "He's only using you for one thing. You don't matter to him; I do."

"Then why am I with him, not you?" I finaly snapped, puling a comb out of my handbag.

"You don't even care about him, do you?" Her accusing eyes met mine.

"How do you know what I feel? Or what he feels, for that matter?" I swalowed hard. I'd known I would never fit in, but this…this I hadn’t expected.

She turned and glared. "I've been waiting for my chance with him for the last three years. I almost had it until you came into the picture." She walked away, purposely ramming my shoulder as she went. "Why don't you stick to Devin? He's as much an accident of birth as you are." She strode out of the bathroom, leaving me to face my reflection.

As I emerged from the bathroom, I forced myself to smile and pretend that nothing had happened. Becca and Kaylee stood with Kelin, but his gaze was averted, and when he spotted me, he offered a smile that made me realy forget what had happened. He reached for my hand. “You ready to find a seat?”

“Yeah.” Together we walked toward the auditorium, leaving Becca and Kaylee where they stood, holding their popcorn and sodas.

* * *

“That was a great movie,” I enthused, forcing myself not to think about Becca. We exited the theater, and, looking at the stars, I spun around in a smal circle, my arms thrown high. “Look at this sky! It’s beautiful.”

“Not half as beautiful as what I’m looking at,” Kelin said.

His voice sounded huskier and deeper than usual. He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets.

I slowly looked from the glittering heavens to find Kelin staring intently, the corners of his lips tugging upward. A cold breeze ruffled his hair. Stil, he stared at me. “What?” I asked, my fingers brushing my hair. “What’s wrong with me?”

“Wrong with you?” Kelin repeated. “Nothing. I just like looking at you. You're more beautiful than al the stars.”

I blushed
. You must be blind
, I thought.
I’m not even
pretty, let alone beautiful.
“You didn’t even look at the sky,” I protested.

“Didn’t have to.” He closed the distance and slipped his arm around me. “There’s no comparing it to your beauty. You win hands down.”

Stopping beside his car, I looked at my hands, staring not at the nail polish, but instead the trembling. I wrapped my arms around my body. “I’m not beau--”

He gently placed his fingers over my lips and leaned toward me, his head tilted slightly. The smooth car body pressed into my back. “Shh. Not another word. You are beautiful, even if you don’t realize it.”

His gaze met mine, and I found myself unable to break away from eyes that memorized my every feature, every pore. I started to lower my head, but his hand slipped under my chin and prompted me to face him. “You are so beautiful. Look at me.”

When I stared into his azure eyes, I knew he'd kiss me again. I knew it before he leaned closer, before I felt his lips. His arm drew me closer. The world melted away, leaving me wrapped in Kelin’s embrace where I could have stayed forever. Then he finaly puled away. Taking a deep breath, I slowly opened my eyes.

“How was that?” he asked softly, brushing his forefinger across my cheek.

“That was...nice,” I admitted, giggling softly. In my mind, a smal voice asked, “Why are you acting this way?” Instead of dweling on it, I smiled at Kelin's devious grin.

“You like that word, ” he quipped. “It wasn’t breathtaking or dazzling or even worth trying again?” He leaned toward me, tilting his head so his heated breath caressed my skin, warming me.

“I didn’t say that,” I protested breathlessly. “I didn’t mean that.” Around us, car headlights flickered to life as other people drove away. I scanned the parking lot, wondering if Becca and her friend had gone.

He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving my face. Even in the moonlit darkness and dim lamplight, I noticed how broad his shoulders were, how his height eclipsed me, and I felt petite, even graceful. Usualy, I tripped over my own two feet. “You want to try that kissing thing again?” His deep voice resonated through me like it had fingers. Our gazes locked, and I couldn’t break his hold.

“Yes,” I whispered. My heart pounded so fast and loud I wondered if he could hear it.

His fingers trickled down, pausing at my throat's holow before sliding around the nape of my neck. He puled me to him and drew his lips to mine. For as long as held me, the world stiled and disappeared altogether. Then his lips sought my neck, my ears. My heart sped up.

I pushed a little and managed to squeak from beneath him.

I took a deep breath, hoping the cold night air would anchor me in the present. The parking lot was almost completely empty and I looked at my watch. “It’s been a great evening, but my mom’s expecting me home in the next fifteen minutes.”

He raked his fingers through his hair and finaly nodded.

“Okay.” He unlocked the passenger door and waited for me to get settled before closing it. Driving home, our conversation lapsed into silence. Finaly, as we puled into the driveway, Kelin left the motor running and faced me. “I didn’t mean to come on so strong, Skye."

His hand topped mine and caressed it. “You make me lose my head. Please go out with me again.” His blue eyes implored. “How does Saturday night sound?”

While I knew better than to delve too deeply into those eyes, I found I could not resist
. Just say no,
I thought. “I can’t go this weekend. For some reason, my mom thinks my dad might be caling to see me.”

He nodded and looked out the window. His jaw tightened. “You don’t have to make excuses.” He frowned, and his eyebrows furrowed. “I’l see you around.” He leaned over to peck my cheek.

“That’s not it. I realy can’t make plans,” I tried to explain.

I should have left it at that, but I couldn’t. What was wrong with this picture? One of the most popular boys seemed devastated about not having a second date with...me, and I felt, wel, sorry for him.

He was realy gorgeous, too, and charming. Why was Devin so worried, anyhow? “What about the folowing Saturday?”

His face brightened, and he smiled. “Actualy, that would be great. My friend Tyler Rutherford is having a party.” He must have seen my surprised expression and added, lifting my hand to his lips, “Wil you come?”

Again I felt the slightest flash of hesitation, but I dismissed it. “Sure, why not?”

He beamed. “I’l pick you up at 7:00, and in the meanwhile we can get together during lunch.”

A tightness filed my chest. “I can’t—realy.” I hedged toward the door. “I usualy have lunch with Devin.”

Kelin straightened the seat and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “I thought you weren’t dating him.” He looked straight ahead.

I fumbled for my keys. “I’m not. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have lunch as a friend.”

“No, I suppose it doesn’t.” His tone seemed neutral enough, but I suspected, considering al the rivalry, he masked his tone.

The porch light flickered on–mom's signal to come inside.

“I’m being paged. I should go.”

As I got out and headed up the walk, Kelin quickly got out. He slid his arm around me, and I rested my head against his chest, liking the muscular wal. We stepped onto the porch, where he bid me goodnight and gently kissed me.