Remember Love (5 page)

Lexi
and I stayed up too late last night watching movies, talking, and painting our nails. You’d think she was getting all prettied up because she was the one going out with Tucker tonight.

Lexi wants
Tucker and I to go to the bar with her for a little while, and I’m thinking a little music and liquid courage may be in order. But since drinking and bars aren’t my thing, I tell her that’s not gonna happen.

Tucker sent me a text earlier and said he would be here around
three. Its noon now so I have plenty of time to get ready. If I just sit around here for the next two hours waiting to get ready, I will drive myself crazy. I grab my Nikes out of my closet and put them on. A nice walk is in order.

I love
spring. Seeing all the trees and flowers bloom, hearing the sound of birds chirping. Spring brings life and new beginnings.

“Tucker, come look what I found.” I know I shouldn’t stick my hand in this hole
, but I can hear them and I don’t see the mama around.

“What is it?” Tucker drops down on his knees beside me.

“Raccoons, I think their mama abandoned them or she’s dead.” I pull one baby out and hand it to Tucker, then reach in for the other.

“Be careful
, Brenna.”

“I have to get them out
, Tuck. They will starve if we just leave them here.” I give him a duh look as I pull out the second baby and hand it to him. I think there is another baby inside the hole, so I stick my hand in, secretly hoping that the mama isn’t in there waiting to bite my hand off.

After removing the third baby
, I decide to stick my hand back in there and scare Tucker. I scream and jerk away from the hole, cradling my hand so he can’t see that I’m just messing with him. He drops the babies and tries to grab my hand but I won’t let him see it.

“
Let me see!”

I can hear the fear in his voice
. He is genuinely scared that I’m hurt, and it makes me feel like crap for tricking him.

“I’m fine
, Tuck. I was just playing, see?” I hold out both hands so he can see and reach over to pick up all three babies, placing the tiny creatures in my lap. They’re so small their eyes are barely open. I’ll have to get a small bottle to feed and raise them before they can be released.

Tucker jumps up and stares down at me
. I can tell he’s mad, but I’m not scared. Tuck would never hurt me.

“That wasn’t funny at all
! I thought you were hurt!” Tucker yelled. He’s never yelled at me before.

“I’m sorry.”  My eyes well up and
a tear rolls down my cheek. I stand up and walk over to the ladder to climb down from the hayloft.

“Where are you going?”

“Home.” I sniffle, I can’t believe I’m crying but he’s never yelled at me before, and I don’t like it one bit.

“Brenna
…”

I
’m waiting on Tucker to speak, but when he doesn’t, I turn around to look at him.

He says, “I’m sorry for yelling, but you
scared me. I thought you were hurt. I thought I didn’t protect you.”

Tucker takes the raccoons out of my arms
, lays them carefully on a bale of hay, pulls me close, and hugs me tight. His lips touch my temple. I lean my head back and look up at him. He then does something he’s never done before.

Tucker kissed me.

This memory brings a huge smile to my face. The people walking in my direction probably think I’m some kind of crazy, lost in thought one moment and smiling like I just won the lottery the next.

I was eleven then
, so Tucker was thirteen. Hmm. I wonder if that was his first kiss, too. I never thought to ask. And we never discussed it.

It was all a part
of growing up and that wasn’t the last kiss either. I spent my spring break on the farm, so I saw him every day that week. I always hated that we went to different schools. What could I do about it, though? I was just a kid.

L
ooking at my watch, I realize that it’s already after one o’clock, so I turn around and head back towards my apartment. I hadn’t realized I walked this far away, so it’s gonna take me a while to get back.

When I reach my apartment,
I’m about to open my door and my phone dings. I pull it out of my pocket to see its Tucker.

Tucker: Hey just wanted to let u know I’m halfway there.

Oh shit! If he’s halfway here then I need to hurry up and get ready. Fast.

Brenna:
I thought u said 3?

Tucker: yeah 3
ur time.

I smack myself in the forehead
, feeling stupid for not considering the time difference.

Brenna:
lol ok :)

Tucker: need directions from 65.

I quickly type out the directions and read them again to make sure I got them right before I press send. I open the door and start stripping off clothes, then send a text to Lexi.

Brenna: get
ur ass here now!!!

Lexi: y?

Brenna: bc he is about 30min away

Lexi:
OMG on way

Brenna: doors open

I hop into the shower. Since Lexi will be here to open the door for Tucker, I can take my time. It’s not like we’re going anywhere. I just didn’t want to be caught sweaty or in my towel. I have to shave everywhere. Why, oh why, didn’t I think of this last night?

I
finish and jump out of the shower to dry off. I comb out my hair and wrap it in a towel. After brushing my teeth and putting on deodorant, I turn to reach for my clothes. Clothes that are not there…meanwhile someone is knocking on the door.

Oh Hell! I guess he’
ll see me in my towel after all because there’s no way to get from the bathroom to my room without being seen. This apartment is mostly all open floor space. You can see into every room except my bedroom and the bathroom from the front door. Why did I move here again?

I don’t hear voices
, so I think I may have time to make a beeline to my room. I ease the bathroom door open and step into the hallway at the exact moment Lexi swings the front door wide open. Bitch did that on purpose! I just know it.

I f
roze in place. My damn feet won’t move. These fuckers have gone on vacation or strike or something. I look up and Tucker is standing in my doorway, staring right at me. I can hear Lexi talking but I can’t make out a word she’s saying. I see Tucker’s head nod but I don’t think he’s really hearing her either.

Lexi tells him,
“Did you know that Brenna eats her boogers? Yep sits right there on the couch picks a winner...”

That snapped me out of my frozen state.

“Lexi, you are fucking gross!” I try to yell, but I can’t help but laugh. Really who says shit like that? Oh yeah. Lexi does.

“Got both
y’all’s attention though didn’t it?” Lexi smiles.

I
laugh at her again. She is really funny when she wants to be, but that was pretty gross and thank God Tucker is laughing at her, too.

“Tucker
, this is my obnoxious neighbor and friend Lexi Allen. However, at the moment the
friend
part is in question. Lexi, meet Tucker Wade.”

They exchange
a “nice to meet you” and I swear Lexi may melt on the spot. She is fanning herself. What the hell? Is she going through menopause? I’m seriously thinking about revoking her friend card right now.

And why is Tucker staring at me like that? I look down at myself and gasp
, oh my Lord, how did I forget I was standing here in nothing but a towel that barely covers anything?

“Um, I will be back in a few.” I clutch my towel
. I have a feeling if I let go of it right now, it’ll either fall off or get hung on an imaginary nail or something. That would be just my luck.

I shut my bedroom door and drop the towel
, ready to head to my closet. As soon as the towel hits the floor, my door flies open. I drop to the ground to scoop it up again when I see Lexi’s flip flops step beside me. I close my eyes and let out a big breath.

“Lexi
, you scared the holy living hell out of me! Ever hear of knocking?”

“Calm yourself
, chick, I was just coming to make sure you were okay and see if you needed any help.”

“I’m fine
. A little embarrassed, but fine.”

“Why are you embarrassed?”

“Seriously, did you not just see what happened? I was frozen to the floor, basically naked.”

Lexi rolls her eyes at me and this just pisses me off
. I mean, have some sympathy for me or something.

“So what
?” she says. “He didn’t seem to mind. Hell, I told him you ate boogers and I don’t think he even caught that until you yelled at me.”

“I can’t believe you did that either
. You just wait. You know payback’s a bitch, right.”

We’
re both laughing now. I rummage through my dresser, looking for undies and a bra. Lexi pushes me away and starts sorting through them, handing me a pair of ice pink lace cheekys and the matching bra. Thank you, Victoria!

While Lexi is looking through my closet
, I grab my bottle of Pure Seduction lotion and get to work making sure I don’t have ashy skin anywhere. I love the scent of this lotion. I prefer it over perfume any day.

Lexi lays an outfit on the bed as I am pulling on my panties and
bra. I’m a little surprised by her choice. Dark jeans, a pale pink tank top, my brown belt that has a big buckle on it, and she has my brown boots in her hands.

“I was worried you’d dress me like a hooker
, ready to hit the corner to pick up tricks.”

Lexi snorts at that comment and shakes her head at me. I give her the
“what?” look.

“Seriously
, Brenna, this outfit works. I don’t think you’ll have any problem seducing him. I can feel the vibes between y’all. I was hearing Al Green’s
Let’s Get it On
in my head. The way he was looking at you was so intense. I began to wonder if I should leave or grab popcorn and watch as it all unfolds.
”

“I’m not going to seduce him,
so get that out of your head.”

“Are you kidding me right now? Did you see him
? I’d have mounted him the minute he walked in the door if he was here to see me.”

Okay
, who wouldn’t laugh at that? I swear I don’t know where she comes up with this shit.

I say,
“I would rather it be natural, as in go with the flow. Trust me, I don’t plan on being the one to say stop.”

“That’s my girl. Now get dressed
. I can’t look at your sexy ass any longer or I may have to start questioning my sexuality.” She slaps me on the ass before she walks out the door.

I get dressed as quick
ly as possible and head back into the bathroom to finish getting ready. I leave the bathroom door ajar since I’m already dressed. Opening the drawer to grab my brush and makeup bag. I wasn’t paying attention to the door. I can feel him, though. I know he is there before I looked up and see him in the mirror. He’s standing right behind me, and oh boy, is he close.

I meet his eyes in the mirror. Tucker’s eyes are such a pale blue
, like a clear morning sky after a rainstorm as the sun comes out and the rainbow has vanished, hidden behind long dark lashes.

My eyes fall to his full
kissable lips. I could take a bite out of that bottom lip. A slow smile forms on Tucker’s beautiful mouth and I wonder if he knows what I’m thinking. He breaks our eye contact and looks down at me. Slowly, he slides his hands up my bare arms. When he reaches my shoulders he turns me around to face him.

He reaches up and unwinds the towel from my head
, letting my damp hair fall down around my shoulders. He places the towel on the counter behind me then reaches up again, this time to run his fingers through my hair. I close my eyes. I’m enjoying the feel of his hands raking through my wet locks. Then I feel Tucker’s lips press lightly to my forehead.

I think back to the Ferris wheel
memory, and I can hear his words.

“I’ve always been yours
, Brenna. You just need to open your eyes and see it.”

I open my eyes
to look into his and I see it for the first time. I know what that look in his eyes means. I see what Lexi was talking about. The intense look he gives as he stares at me, is more than just desire. Hope and love is right there in those clear blue windows to his soul.

“I see it
, Tucker.” I whisper.

“What do you see
, Brenna?” he whispers right back, his eyes never leaving mine.

I am suddenly struck
with shyness. I tip my head down to avert his gaze, but he stops me.

“Tell me what yo
u see.” He tilts my face back so I have to look him in his eyes

“
Love. I see love.”

As soon as these words pass my lips
, his lips are there, as if they can catch my words and savor them. His kiss is soft and sweet, more than the light brush of lips he gave me under our tree.

After a few moments
, Tucker pulls back and presses his forehead to mine. “Is that all you see?”

“No, I see hope and desire.” I can feel my cheeks heat up a little
as I say the last part.

Tucker runs his fingers over my cheeks
, a small smile on his face. He feathers his lips across mine and then steps back.

“Look deeper
, Brenna. See it all.”

I tilt my head
, studying his face, searching for what he wants me to see, what he wants me to remember.

“What am I missing?”
I ask.

He slowly shakes his head from side to side as he steps out into the hallway. “I can’t tell you. I want you to remember.”

“Can’t, or won’t?”

“Won’t.”
He gives me that sexy smile and turns to head back into the living room.

I step through
the doorway and watch as he settles on my couch. “Why won’t you just tell me?”

Tucker doesn’t even turn around to look at me this time.
“Now, where would be the fun in that be?”

“When did you get so damn stubborn?” I stomp my foot and cross my arms. Childish
, yes, I know.

Tucker
sees me standing there like a petulant child and starts laughing. Laughing!

I
have been racking my brain for days trying to remember, digging through the memories, looking for those missing puzzle pieces. “What are you laughing at?”

E
yes shining with humor, Tucker scans me from head to toe, stopping at my crossed arms. I see the heat burning in his eyes when they meet mine again. I look down to see what brought on that look. My arms are pushing my breasts up and halfway out of my tank top. Thank you, Lexi!

Tucker still hasn’t
said a word, so I drop my arms and smirk at him, then saunter back to the bathroom to grab my brush and quickly run it through my hair. I’m not one for much makeup, so I grab my eyeliner and mascara to define my eyes, making them stand out that much more.

I go
back to the hallway and make my way to the kitchen to grab us both something to drink. I am a terrible hostess, I know. He’s already been here for a little while and I’m just now worrying over this. My mom would be so proud.

I lean over the back of the couch and hold one of the
cans out for him instead of taking it, he grabs onto my right arm with his left hand and throws his right across my shoulders, pulling me over the back of the couch and onto his lap. Then he takes the cans from my hands and places them on the table.