Playing Chase (Against The Wall) (16 page)

Thank you for your never-ending support! It means so much to me!

Oh, please tell me you love Chase. Haha. I hope you enjoyed his short and sweet story. Any minute now, I expect to see Book Heaux change her FB status to “Julie P is God!” Go on, Heaux. Do it!

I know. I’m full of jokes. I really do hope you enjoyed reading Chase’s story. It is so different than the rest of the series. And it was a lot harder to write. This book was by far one of the most difficult I’ve written. Thanks for talking me into it, Slick
.

Now that the Against The Wall series is over, I have plans to write three series:
Firemen! Cowboys! Old flames!

You can’t go wrong with those three topics, right?
You can look for new books from me around October. I’m crossing my fingers that I can stick to that deadline.

Until then, pick up my dear friend M.R. Joseph’s Reunion series. It will make you laugh hysterically and it will make you cry big ugly tears. But it is worth every minute of it.

Turn the page and take a sneak peek at Reunion. It’s available now at all your favorite book retailers.

Read on!

Julie

PROLOGUE

SAM

I think I hear an angel. I swear. I need to stop before I round the corner towards the locker room. Damn
, I can’t be late for practice. Coach will kill me. Let me just peek before I make any sudden moves. That voice is pulling me like a force.

Oh Shit! It’s her. The girl I have secretly been crushing on for a year now.

Wavy brown hair. Killer smile. Muscular build, but in a good way. A hot way. Great ass too. The only reason I know about her ass is because I’ve seen her so often running track for our school track team. I’ve seen her in those running shorts. Down boy. I had no idea she could sing like that.

I need to know her name.

Why haven’t I found out her name yet?

I should just ask Tyler. I’ve seen them in the halls going from class to class together. He never mentions her name except for describing his “friend” he plays video games with and does homework with on occasion. Maybe
, because he’s interested in her? Shit. It’s my own fault then if he is. I should have asked her name but I’m too chicken shit.

Imagine that. Me. Afraid to talk to a girl.

I kind of like that she is a mystery though. Maybe I’ll write her a note. Girls like notes don’t they? How about you just grow some balls and talk to her Reynolds. God, I bet she smells good. She just looks like she would. Okay, so do I go around the corner and ask her what her name is? Do I introduce myself or will she recognize me right away. Everyone knows who the quarterback is right? Everyone in this school knows. Stop being stupid Reynolds and just talk to her.

My God, I have never been this worked up over a girl before. Why are my palms sweating? I need to get a grip. I mean all the rest of the girls I’ve hooked up with were you know…fun
, but that’s it. Pretty faces, and cool to mess around with. But this one: She carries herself with such confidence. I can tell. From a far that is. I’m a pretty good judge of character. I haven’t even kissed her but looking at those lips keeps me up at night.

I can’t get a good look at her eyes. What color are they? The thoughts of them are driving me insane.

I need to know her name.

Now!

Stop being a wuss. She’s just a girl. A girl who invades your thoughts as soon as you see her ponytail swinging back and forth on that track when she runs, in those short shorts. But how should I approach her? Turn on the charm or just be myself? If I don’t do it now, I know I’ll regret it. This is my chance: My chance to knock her off her feet.

CHAPTER 1

WELCOME BACK

I stand in line and look up at the menu board at my old high school burger hang out, Chucks, trying to decide what I’m going to get—my sunglasses on, hair in a ponytail, and trying to go undetected. When I hear from behind me, “Savannah,” I realize I’m not doing such a good job of hiding. I turn around to see my friend, Tyler Jensen, smiling a bright smile at me. He’s been my best pal since the seventh grade. His hair is different from when I saw him about six months ago. It’s cut close to his head and the color is black as night. It looks almost shaved and he has sideburns that are neatly edged on his face. His tie is loose around his neck. He looks so grown up from the kid who sat next to me in English class
, with the beginning stages of acne, and a mouth full of braces. If he wasn’t like a brother to me, he would turn my head with his classic good looks and model smile. But, he is just Tyler and I have never thought of him in that way. 

“Hey, Ty,” I exclaim, and give him a big hug.

“When did you breeze into town?”

“Last night. I went right to my mom’s. She couldn’t wait to see me. You know her.”

“Yep. I sure do. I saw her a few weeks ago at the mall, and she told me she couldn’t wait for you to get here.”

“Geez. She just saw me a month ago when she flew up for the weekend.”

“Well I guess she might be missing you a lot more now that your dad is gone.” Tyler looks down at his shoes and shakes his head like he knows those are the wrong words to come out of his mouth.

“Ah, Sav, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Ty, please. I know you didn’t. You have been such a good friend to me, and my family since my dad passed. I appreciate you checking in with my mom on occasion. My sister has been so busy with her new job. She kind of tends to be in her own little world if you know what I mean.”

He chuckles. “Yes, I know. Some things never change.” His grin continues.

It’s as if he’s thinking of something from the past. I know all too well what those thoughts are.

“Georgia has always been one of a kind. I saw her a few months ago out at a club downtown, but when she saw me, I waved and she turned and walked away. It was weird.”

“Maybe she was just really surprised to see you and she didn’t know what to say. I think you may be the only person who makes her speechless.” I wink at him. His face blushes.

My sister, Georgia, is two years younger than me. She went to fashion school in New York and now runs the wardrobe department of one of our local TV stations. In High school, she had this incredible crush on Tyler.

When he would come over after school to do homework or watch TV, she would lock herself in her room and reappear in some kind of tight outfit smelling like a French whore. His eyes would pop out of his head when he saw her, and my mom would then chase her back to her room to change into something more virginal.

Eventually she got his full attention. What came next was a year full of what I call “Drunken Booty Calls.” She would come to a party with me, and then her and Ty would disappear, then reappear disheveled from what Georgia called some hot “tongue action.” This eventually led to “backseat BJs” and other steamy and unladylike activities. He did wind up taking her virginity.

All that information was a little too much, but she shared everything with me anyway, so why not tell me about my best friend’s penis in her mouth. Sure, why not. Ugh. Just the thoughts always made me shudder.

I have to admit it was fun having her around. She was very entertaining and everyone fell in love with her. She wasn’t the little sister that was always hanging around. She became my friend and friend to my friends.

It was a cool thing. Savannah and Georgia Garrett. The sisters who were named after the state and city, from which their mother was born and raised.

“So how long are you here for?” Tyler asks.

“Eight days. The school I work at is on fall break and I took two personal days. I have an interview with a school in the city on Tuesday for next year’s term, and if I get the job, I guess you will be seeing a lot more of me.”

“Oh wow, Sav, that’s so great! I can’t believe you’ll be moving back. I guess it gets expensive flying back and forth from Boston.”

“Yes. But I do use as many frequent flyer miles as I can and I do drive in, but six and a half hours in the car is a lot. I earned the miles flying back and forth when my dad was sick, and when Maddy was sick.”

“I saw Maddy about
two weeks ago and she looked fantastic. All her hair grew back, and I saw her jogging with the baby in the stroller. I’m so glad she’s going to be okay.”

Maddy is one of my best friends. Eighteen months ago, she was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer. She went through radiation and some chemotherapy all the while trying to keep up with her two
-year-old son, Joey.

“I know. I’m so proud of her. She was so strong. I saw her when I was here last month. I went to her house for lunch and got to spend time with her and Joey. We talk almost every day though. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to see you when I came home last. It was a short trip. I was here for my mom’s birthday. I got here on a Saturday morning and left on an
eight a.m. flight on Sunday.”

“I understand. But you are here now and that’s all that matters. Do the girls know you’re home?”

“They know I was getting in late last night, so I think tomorrow night we may hit Roy’s for some drinks. I haven’t seen him in a while and I would love to. Lilian was getting in from D.C. around noon today. I haven’t talked to Trish or Ella yet, but I’m sure if I get my phone from the car, I’ll have ten thousand texts from them.”

Tyler laughs and agrees with my theory. “Well then, are you ready for Saturday Night or what? Our big ten
-year reunion. It doesn’t seem possible.”

“It feels weird. I feel like I haven’t sat down in two years.”

My heart feels a little heavy at the memory of watching my dad take his last breath, and then Maddy getting cancer six months later. My Fridays, after teaching a bunch of seventh graders Music and Voice, consisted of jumping on a plane from Logan to Philly and spending two whole days in a stuffy hospital room watching my dad die before me. Eating shitty food from the cafeteria and watching my mom crochet a blanket for my dad’s hospital bed. A bed I knew he would not be in for very long.

I dealt with Georgia blowing in from the TV station she worked at a few blocks away. I rolled my eyes as she bragged to me
, and my mom, about the ancient news anchor who passed wind on the set constantly, and blamed it on his young assistant. Then I’d call the girls and chat with them each briefly, so I could keep them updated on my dad’s condition.

On Sundays, I would kiss my mom goodbye and stroke my dad’s hand and tell him, “No goodbyes, Daddy. Just until next time.” He would give me a weak wink and a smile and tell me to have a safe flight. I would get home to my little two
-bedroom walk up near Faneuil Hall in Boston, and collapse at the whirlwind travel I just accomplished.

“Sav, you okay? I think I lost you there for a second.” Tyler asks, puzzled at my expression.

“Oh, God, yes. Ty, I’m fine. I guess just a little tired.” I feel cloudy after the flashback of my memories. “So yes, our big ten year. I guess things have really changed from our five year. How are the guys doing? Pete, Marc, Flynn, Chris… ?” I wait for his answer.

“Anyone else you want to ask about?” He interrupts.

“Ty, you know not to go there. I refuse to discuss Sam Reynolds with you. I have for the past five years. I’m here in Brooklawn to have a good time, see old friends, and my family and I’m thanking my lucky stars I won’t be seeing him.”

“I know, Sav, and I’m sorry. I still don’t know what happened between to the two of you the night of our last reunion. You guys looked like you were crazy in love again
, after all that time apart. We had a great time at the reunion: You and Sam making out in the middle of the dance floor. It looked like you two never missed a beat. I mean, it was what, eight months since you guys had broken up and not seen each other? Sam said you went back to his place after and you made a plan to meet up and talk about things that next night, but you never showed. Sam went to your parents’ house looking for you. You were gone. He tried calling you and e-mailing you, flying up there to find that you moved, and no one would tell him where you were. Sam said you changed your numbers and e-mail.”

He looks genuinely concerned and curious.

“Ty, let’s just say I caught Sam Reynolds with his pants down. He blew his chances and crushed my heart in the process. Please, I really don’t want to discuss Sam. I want to hear about you and your job in the D.A.’s office.”

We decide on two Chuck’s specials and sit down at a small table near the back. The burger joint is tiny
, only fifteen tables. It smells of grease and the floor is sticky from spilled soda and milkshakes. But Chuck’s is our place. Everyone’s place from Brooklawn High. It’s where we spent our Friday nights after football games in the fall, and every Saturday after lacrosse games in the spring. We all hung out, laughed, joked, ate. Some kissed. Lovers fought. We were teenagers. It was what being a teenager was all about.

I become melancholy when Tyler and I start to talking about all the “remember whens” and “wow, that was a good time.” It’s all flowing back to my brain
: The parties, football games, my girlfriends, learning to drive, choir rehearsals and track meets. And, of course, the one thing that keeps creeping into my memories, is him.

Sam Reynolds.

Why the fuck does he have to invade my brain every time I come back here? I can’t escape him. Never—even if I tired.

“You know Sam is not coming to the reunion, Sav, don’t you? I kind of figured that’s why you decided to come.” Tyler smirks.

“Yes, I know and you know me oh too well, my old friend. Ella told me. After all, she knows all the gossip in Brooklawn. She keeps me updated. I know he is traveling with his job. And I’m not saying I’m not relieved.”

“Okay, Sav. I’ll stop about Sam. I just want you to know that the last time I talked he said that he…”

I clench my teeth and speak through closed jaws. “Tyler. Enough. It’s over and has been for a very long time. I love you for being such a good and concerned friend, but I’m fine. I’m over it. What time is it? Oh shit. One o’clock. I gotta go. I’m meeting my mom at Duffy’s. Why don’t you and some of the guys come to Roy’s Thursday night? I haven’t been there in forever. Kind of like a reunion before the reunion. Please, say you will try?”