Red Sun (16 page)

             
I screamed into my pillow and kicked my legs into the air to see if I’d feel better.  It didn’t help.  Jolon’s final statement kept echoing in my head.  He was leaving me no choice but to do my best to forget about whatever there is going on with us and focus my attention intently on Elan.  So that’s exactly what I did. 

             
Over the next week and a half, I forced myself to treat Jolon like I would any other customer.  I greeted him with a friendly smile every time he came in and was polite the entire time.  But there was no extra conversation, no asking how he’d been, I kept it strictly professional.  At first he seemed bothered by my extreme behavior, but he’d have to deal with it.  This is what he wanted, not me.  The first couple days he stared at me after I passed him his change like he wanted to say something, but he changed his mind and walked out.  But eventually, he came in and was distant and callous just like he used to be; just like I needed him to be.

             
Elan and I started spending more and more of our free time together.  When I’d have a day off that he had to work, he’d sometimes take me along which kept me from being bored at home, and kept Jolon irritated; especially if it was a job they were on together.  I stayed out of the way and usually brought along a book and my iPod in case Elan was too busy to keep me entertained, but that wasn’t good enough for Jolon.  He’d wait until they got home to complain to Elan that it was unprofessional for him to bring me along like that and that I’m a distraction.  But, his complaining didn’t change anything.  That’s one thing I like about Elan; he’s not easily swayed out of doing what he wants to do. 

             
He showed me around most of Conway and I was starting to feel like I’d been here all my life.  The roads that once all looked the same now had slight distinctions that even I noticed.  On the days that Ruthann loaned me her car, I was usually able to get around on my own without needing directions.  Going over to Elan’s house was still off limits in my opinion.  As much as I was trying to get to a point where Jolon no longer mattered, I’m not heartless.  For his sake and mine, I stayed away from his home, deciding that that would be crossing the line. 

             
When Kaya finally came home after her two week hiatus in Texas, she came straight to the shop to visit with me. I was happier to see her than she’d ever know.  There was so much to catch her up on, especially the drama with Elan and Jolon.

             
She greeted me with a long hug, letting me know that she missed me just as much as I missed her.  “I’m so glad to be back home,” she said as she released me.  “You wouldn’t believe the trouble a girl can get herself into in two short weeks.”

             
I smiled at her words.  She had no idea.  “Did you have fun?”  I asked.

             
Kaya shrugged.  “You could call it that.  My sister’s pretty lame, but her neighbors are really cool.”

             
“Tell me everything.  Ruthann’s out for a few hours so you can keep me company.”  I passed Kaya the other stool to make herself comfortable.

             
“Ok, first, there’s this guy,” she started.             

             
I laughed.  “There’s always a guy.”

             
Kaya laughed.  “I know, right.  Anyway, he’s absolutely beautiful.  Great eyes, great smile, perfect.  So, I saw him on my way in my sister’s house and made a mental note to get the scoop on him later.  I unpack and do the whole family thing and then hightail it outside to see about this guy.”  She stopped to push her hair back and smiled.  “It turns out we have like everything in common and he’s really cool.”

             
She stopped.  “And?”  I asked, waiting for the rest of the story.

             
“And…..we did it!  Like that first day, right there in his room when his mom left.”

             
“Kaya!”  I was shocked.  I had no idea she got down like that.  “I can’t believe you.”  Her candidness made me blush. 

             
“What?  I can tell you stuff like that right?”  She laughed.

             
I wiped tears from my eyes from laughing.  “Yeah, but I just had no idea.  You seem so reserved.”

             
She waved me off.  “Please, sex is natural.  That’s a dumb thing to be shy about.”

             
I shook my head at her and looked out the window.  “What about you?  How’d you stay busy while I was gone?”  She asked, pulling her hair up into a loose ponytail.

             
I smiled.  “Well, there’s this guy.”  We both burst out laughing.

             
“Spill it,” she insisted.

             
I cleared my throat.  “I’ve sort of started seeing someone.  And I really like him.”

             
“Cool!  Someone who lives on the Reservation?  What’s his name?  Maybe I know him?”  She inquired. 

             
“His name’s Elan.”  Her eyes lit up.

             
“Shut up!”  She whispered loudly.  “How’d that happen?”

             
“I had to drop something off at his house one night and we just started talking.  The next time I saw him he asked me out.  That’s pretty much it.”

             
She rolled her eyes.  “There’s a possibility that I’m just a little bit jealous of you right now.”

             
I frowned.  “Why?”

             
“Because!  He’s freakin’ hot, man!  Both of them!  Remember the guy I was telling you about the first time we went out for lunch?  That was totally his brother Jolon.”  My heart sank. 

             
“Wait.  What?”  I asked, wanting her to repeat herself.

             
Kaya sighed.  “Yeah, I’ve had the biggest crush on him since like forever, but he’s always either been unavailable or sulking.  By the way, he’s hot when he does that too.  But, yeah.  I’ve dropped him like every hint in the book and he never takes the bait.  I used to think it was me, but he’s never really given anybody a chance except Nita.”

             
“Nita?”  I inquired.             

             
Kaya rolled her eyes.  “This girl he was with like all through high school.  I think they were engaged or something like that.”  This was all new information.  It made me curious.  “Yeah, I’ve wanted to jump his bones for quite some time now.  And now, thanks to my new best friend, I have the inside connection,” she said, nudging me.

             
“Have you and Elan done it yet?”  She asked nonchalantly.

             
“What?  No!”

             
She shrugged.  “You should.  I heard he’s awesome.”

             
That made me nauseous.  According to him he hadn’t been with that many girls.  “Really,” I replied flatly.

             
“That’s the word on the street.  I heard he’s got this move he does where he…”

             
“Spare me,” I interrupted, closing my eyes. 

             
Kaya shrugged and played with her nails.  Her eyes lit up again.  “You should hook me up with Jolon!  How cool would that be for us to double date?” 

             
That made me even sicker.  There was no way I’d ever hook her up with Jolon.  All she wanted to do was get with him so she could sleep with him and I threw up in my mouth a little just thinking about it.  “Sure,” I lied.  “The next time I see him, I’ll put in a good word for you.”

             
Kaya smiled.  “Awesome.”  She stood from her seat and stretched.  “I have to make a couple runs with my uncle, but I’ll probably stop back in when I get done.”

             
I shrugged.  “Alright, see you then.”  Kaya waved and then pranced out the door.  She apparently knew way more about both Jolon and Elan than me.  Jolon had once been engaged and Elan’s past was a bit more tarnished than he’d let on.  It didn’t bother me so much that he’d gotten around like Kaya implied; it bothered me that he tried to downplay how experienced he was.  Is this something I have the right to address?  After all, I make it a point to express that we’re not in a relationship, so maybe it was best to leave it alone.

             
Cars passed by, but no one was stopping in.  I sat there bored out of my mind waiting for Ruthann to return to at least give me someone to talk to.  Each time I saw a car coming down the street I perked up hoping it was her, but I found myself being let down again and again.  It surprised me when my father pulled in at around 11:45.  At first I was nervous, thinking something bad had happened, but then he walked in with a bag of food in his hand and a smile.

             
“Busy day?”  He asked sarcastically.

             
I smiled and shifted in my seat.  “Yeah, sorry you had to fight to get through the parking lot.”

             
He set the bag down on the counter.  “I brought you a sandwich from the deli; I wasn’t sure if you had a chance to eat yet.”

             
“Thanks,” I replied. 

             
He looked around at the odds and ends hung on the walls, this being the first time he’s ever come inside the shop.  “You know what all this stuff’s for?”  He asked.

             
I looked back over my shoulder, following his gaze.  “Most of it now.  Ruthann lets me handle most of the customer’s myself so I had to learn quick.”

             
A proud smile crossed his face.  If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was starting to think of me as a grown up.  “You’re here alone?”

             
“Yeah, she had to run out for something.”

             
He nodded, with a distant kind of look on his face.  My dad’s never stopped by here for anything other than to pick me up before heading home.  This made me wonder what was so heavy on his mind that he came all the way over here to talk about it.  He looked down and I saw his eyes shifting back and forth like he always does when he wants to tell me something.  “Everything ok, Dad?  Something happen at work?”

             
He looked up and smiled weakly.  “No, everything’s fine, baby.”

             
He seemed kind of distracted.  I reached across the counter and touched his hand, bringing his attention back to me.  “What is it?”  I asked softly.

             
He cleared his throat and then leaned forward on the counter.  “I talked to Alicia this morning.  She called my phone shortly after I started work.” 

             
Uh oh.  Nothing having to do with Alicia would be good news.   Subconsciously, my expression soured when I pictured her and Christina in my head.  “Why you look like that?”  My dad asked.

             
I shrugged.

             
“Solei, you know this move is only temporary.  Eventually you and Alicia are gonna have to work out your differences so we can go back to how things used to be.”  Did he even live on the same planet as me?  When had me and Alicia ever gotten along?

             
“Dad, spare me.  I know this isn’t long-term, but don’t act like me and her are ever gonna be the best of friends.  Just accept it.  I have.”  I reached into the bag he’d brought and unwrapped the sandwich to take a bite.  My dad looked frustrated, both by my grim outlook and because I wasn’t all that upset about not being close to her.

             
“Well get over it because I came here to tell you that we’re leaving next weekend to go visit her and Christina.  She wants to talk about what happened.”

             
I choked a little.  “I’m not going!  This fight is between you and her.  Count me out!”

             
My dad raised his eyebrows.  “I don’t recall giving you a choice.  Like it or not, you’re going.”

             
“That’s not fair!  Besides I’m gonna have to work.  Ruthann needs my help.”

             
“She ran this shop for years without your help; one weekend won’t kill her.  What’s this really about?”

             
“Dad, you chose Alicia, not me.  I’m not interested in going back there and making nice.”  I rolled my eyes and picked at the bread.  “It’s not my fault you married the devil.”

             
He cocked his head to the side, surprised.  “Watch your mouth!”

             
I felt myself getting ready to explode.  To keep cool, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

             
“You’re gonna have to drop this attitude you have, Solei.  Whether you like it or not, Alicia’s your step-mother.  She’s made quite a few sacrifices to make sure that you feel like a part of the family.”

             
I stopped chewing and looked up at him.  “What do you mean feel like a part of the family?  I didn’t realize I was just an honorary member.”