Old Enough to Love... (Just One of the Guys) (8 page)

“Claire and Ryan?” I was confused. “When did that happen?”

“Today, I think.”

“Claire?” I repeated.

“Shut up. She’s hot.”

“She’s a fake bitch.” I acted like I shoved my finger down my throat. “I thought it would be Estelle, again.”

“Nope. She blew it. Apparently hooked up with some other dude this summer.”

It was as if he’d knocked the wind from me. I fought for breath and felt dizzy for a second.  I wasn’t sure if I wanted to scream, cry, run or hit Grant for saying it. But jealousy burned inside of me, and I shook my head trying to get rid of the thought.

“Who was it?” The words were barely spoken.

“I don’t know. Ryan does. What a bitch.”  My slow pace must have annoyed him because he grabbed me, threw me over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes and ran to the truck dumping me on the hood.

Laughing, I shouted, “you punk!”  and slid off till my feet hit the ground. He had opened my door and moved around to his side. I used the running boards to boost myself up and once in the truck, my dinky little legs dangled over the seat and my feet barely touched the floor. I slammed the door and smacked his shoulder. The smell I’d loved for the past three years—his smell—saturated the inside of the truck. He laughed and started the engine. As he reversed out of his spot, I glanced out the front windshield. Zach stood about fifty yards from us and stared. Grant waved and I sat frozen.

The moment I got home, I texted Zach. Nothing. I slept with my phone that night. 

The next day, I was anxious at school. I watched the clock and though texting wasn’t allowed in school, I kept a close eye on my phone—hoping. No messages.  I ran straight to Algebra eager to be in my seat before Zach. Being the first to arrive, I had my pick of seats and chose a back row.

I tugged my homework assignment out and pretended to recheck as voices of kids began filling the room. Zach breezed through the door the moment I looked up and I could see the questions in his eyes. I didn’t look away. He gave me a casual nod. How could someone that beautiful worry about Grant? But it gave me a hint of satisfaction knowing Grant bothered him.

With my pencil, I pointed to the desk next to me. He pushed the desks apart to get through and slid in.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey. Did you get my text?”

“I had a crazy night. Sorry.”

I studied his flawless face wondering if I’d blown things yesterday. He kept his eyes down. How was I supposed to know Grant would show up to take me home?

“Zach.” I touched his hand but he didn’t look at me. “Zach.” My voice more forceful. I scooted as close as I could get without tipping off everyone in the room.

“What?” His one word was abrasive but his eyes seemed confused.

“It’s not what you think.” I needed to speak fast or I wasn’t going to get it out. “Ryan took Claire home and left me. He asked Grant to do it. I’m sorry.”

He nodded.

“He’s like my brother.” I frowned just thinking about Grant. And of course he strolled into Algebra at that second.

“Why didn’t you call me?”

The thought never actually occurred to me. Grant was always there to pick me up when Ryan couldn’t. It was a given. Grant was not just another brother; he was my best friend, the love of my life, until now. But I couldn’t say that. I had to make him understand.

“Like I said…”

“Hey, Runt.” Grant reached over and smacked the back of my head, whiffing my hair.

“Stop it, Grant,” I said annoyed and rubbed my head.

Zach’s brows raised and his jaw tightened.

“Hey, Owens.” Grant greeted Zach.

“
Meiers.”

Grant plopped next to me on the opposite side. Then Estelle danced through the door. She did a rolling finger wave to Zach. 
Ho Bag!
No seats were available except for the one in front of Grant—diagonal from me.

“Hi Emma,” she said.

“Hi Stelle.”

“Grant.” She acknowledged him by sticking her tongue out.

“Keep the tongue in your mouth Stelle. I’ve heard it’s been getting around lately.”

She gave him the middle finger behind her back where Mr. Bowman couldn’t see. “You’re just jealous because you haven’t seen it,” she seethed.
             

“I’ve seen it one too many times. No interest here.” Grant looked at me and winked.

“Kiss my ass.” She was pissed and I tried to hide my smile.

“Been there. Done that
sista.”

“Open your books to page 19,” Mr. Bowman ordered. I wish I could have seen Zach’s face during that interaction—to know what he was thinking. She was a ‘ho and he needed to know it. But then again, he may already. The bell rang and Zach met me at the door.

“I can’t walk you today.”

My throat tightened.
Crap.
It was SO over.  “Why?”

“Last night I needed to do an Anatomy and Physiology report and I didn’t get it done. I need to do it now.  I’m ditching Spanish.”

“Why didn’t you get it done?” I questioned. I had never ditched before.

“I had a meeting and some other things on my mind.” He ran his fingers through his hair and wouldn’t look at me.

“Like Grant?” I asked quietly, scared of his answer.

I wasn’t sure he was going to answer. “It doesn’t matter.” He paused. “I really wanted to punch him when he hit you in the head.”

A smile swept my face. “Thanks, but they all do that.”

“Yeah. Well. They need to stop.” His tone was serious and his eyes still weren’t happy. “Do you have practice tonight?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll drive you home, if that’s OK.”

I nodded biting my lip and rolled my eyes as the bell rang. “That would be great,” I yelled over my shoulder and darted for gym.

On Friday, Zach picked me up at the house. This was our first official date and the butterflies eating away at my stomach were irritating. We were getting a later start than the others because he had another meeting to hit. Not sure what the meetings were about but he said that a lot.

I had a feeling Ryan was taking Claire but because we still weren’t on speaking terms, I wasn’t sure. Mom and Dad approved me going with Zach, but I had to be home at a reasonable time because of cross country. They had tickets to the Shakespeare Theater and would be home late anyway. Grant didn’t seem too bothered when I said I was riding with Zach. In fact, he said nothing at all.

Zach wore khaki shorts and a USC sweatshirt, and as we walked to the unfamiliar car, I noticed the blanket, jackets and cooler in the back seat. Cooler?  I wondered what was in it.

He wasn’t driving his Jeep. “Sweet car. Whose is it?”

He opened my door and closed it after I slid in, then went to his side. “My dad’s.”

“Is it a mustang?”

He rubbed my knee as he chuckled. “No, it’s a ’72 Chevelle.” His touch sent chills up my leg.

“I like it.”

He reversed and backed out of the drive. “Good.”

“North to Grants Pass, my dad said and then take the Redwood road?”

“Yes. You’ve lived in California your whole life and never seen the Redwoods?” I was appalled.

“I’ve been through ‘
em, just usually asleep. Besides. Where I come from, we have Sequoias,” he boasted.

No matter how many times I’d been through the Redwoods, they were still incredible. On Zach’s side of the car, a rushing stream wound through a massive rock gorge. Cars were parked at every lookout taking pictures and I was grateful that he didn’t pull off. Though it was breathtakingly beautiful, it was gut-wrenching for those of us with height and motion sickness issues.

“Wow. This is awesome,” he said. “Call me stupid, but these trees don’t seem that big.”

“Well, Stupid…we’re not to the Redwoods yet.” I smiled

“I knew that.” He quickly lied. “And remind me,
how
are you getting home?”

I flipped back around to him and pouted. “You wouldn’t.”

“I wouldn’t.” He winked.

I didn’t like it when he took his eyes off the road, let alone closed one, even if it meant he was looking at me.

“So does your family come this way a lot?” he asked.

“No. Not really. I’ve been on this road maybe five or six times. But that’s it. It’s not like an annual thing or anything. How about you?”

“I have an uncle that lives in Brookings, Oregon. We’ve been up there, I think twice maybe three times. We drove through then.”

“Yes but
you
slept.” I reminded him.

“I did.” He acknowledged. “They’re trees.” He shrugged.

I rolled my eyes. “That’s like saying a tsunami is just a wave. Wait till you see them.” I wouldn’t have admitted it but the winding roads were upsetting my stomach. The radio hummed in the background and I thought nervously for something to talk about.

Relieved, he started. “Tell me something- about you.”

“Like…?” Where would I start? I didn’t want to bore him.

“Favorite music.” He suggested.

“I like a lot of different kinds. Kid Rock. Nickleback. Drake. Dave Matthews.”

He nodded as I spat off a few.

“You?” I asked.

“I’m old school, I guess. I like the Stones, Aerosmith, ACDC…you know. Journey.” He grinned on the last one. “OK. Favorite food.”

“Hmm. That one’s tough. I think I was born to be Mexican…or Italian or a sea gull.”

His brows rose. “I followed the first two but you lost me on the sea gull.”

“They eat crab.”

“OK. Note taken.”

“And you?”

“Well, ditto on the crab but I’m a meat and potato kind
of guy. Give me a steak any day and I’m good.”

We nearly passed the National Park sign. “Wait. Stop here.” I shouted and he hit the brakes and swerved. “I know we don’t have a lot of time but quick
pic?” I laughed. The view was perfect with the setting sun slicing through the enormous trees. We got out.

“Go stand over there. Oh. By the way,
now
we’re in the Redwoods,” I joked.

He nodded slowly and deliberately. “OK. All right. I see. They are a wee bit bigger. But I’m not in the picture alone.
Here.” He took my camera from me.

“Ma’am. Would you mind?” he asked an elderly lady who smiled at us.

“Just point and shoot,” I explained and he grabbed my hand as he walked past.

He stood with his arm wrapped around my shoulder. The sudden closeness sent shockwaves through my body. I forced a smile and the flash went off. I quickly moved away from him afraid of what was happening between us. I’d never felt what I felt with him. I walked unsteadily toward the lady. 

“Thank you,” I said. I was scared to look back at him—afraid of what he might see in my eyes. I was afraid that I was already madly in love with him. I studied the picture on the screen. 

“Emma!” Zach shouted but was nowhere to be seen.

He obviously ducked behind a tree. I stood staring at the overwhelming height of lumber that surrounded me. “Marco?” I yelled and held my breath.

“Polo,” he hollered with a chuckle.

I busted up laughing, not because it was funny, but because he got me and this thrilled me to the bone.

Crescent City wasn’t a particularly pretty town but the ocean it rested against was breathtakingly beautiful. I was glad Zach knew where he was going because the car wound around so much I would have been undoubtedly lost. Dusk was settling in the east and the sun was melting into the water above the ocean in the west. We parked next to about fifteen cars. My stomach twisted when I saw Ryan and Grant’s truck.

Zach carried everything except the blanket, which he handed to me. I saw no one around so I imagined we had a bit of a jaunt ahead of us. My flip-flops slid in the sand, and as coordinated as I was, walking in them down the hill was a challenge. I took them off and held them between my fingers.

“Here, get on.” Zach hunched down insinuating a piggyback.

“No! You already have the cooler and the jackets.” I walked past him.

He grabbed my arm and jerked me back behind him. “Emma. Get on. You’re not gonna walk barefoot through here. There could be glass and the grass is sharp.”

“Fine.” I gave in.  “But only until we get to the good sand. Once we are out of this grassy, dirty stuff, I am so down.” I hopped on his back wrapping my arms around his neck. God he smelled good.

“UGH!” He groaned. “Baby, you are heavy,” he teased. “I’m not sure I can manage this.”

“Shut up!” I tried to knee him in the back but he held tight to my legs.

“What do you weigh?  Like seventy-five?”

The ride was rough and I bumped up and down on his back. I couldn’t stop thinking about him calling me baby. “Eighty-four—thank you very much.” I was relieved I’d chewed
gum because though I was behind him, our faces were close. The feelings my body was experiencing were becoming more and more frequent and foreign.