Saving Georgia (8 page)

Harpers eyes light up like fireworks on the fourth of July when she saw that I brought Shane into the room.

“Shane Dalton! What a pleasant surprise.” Harper greets him, taking his hand and leading him into her inner circle of friends.

Shane quickly looks back to me and I try to see if I can include myself, but I was quickly greeted by a stern look from Harper.

“Georgia, be a dear and check on the rest of the guests please. I want to give Mr. Dalton a tour.” Harper carries on, linking arms with Shane.

“OK.” I resign. Feeling defeated, I am not going to be someone else’s bell hop, but I did muster around the rest of the house and stared out at the pool. Maybe a dip would be welcoming.

“There is my girl.” I hear someone call out. Gosh, some people have no hesitation in referring to people as possessions.

Suddenly I am swept into strong, brute arms and I shriek so loud, I am sure neighbors heard me. Lips are crushing mine, and hands are burrowing deep in my silky locks.

“You left your hair straight. I love it.” Jason breathes into my open lips, before his tongue stars dancing in circles inside my warm mouth. He tastes delicious, like mint and lemon. My chest rises and falls in a heady rhythm. He walks back, carrying me with my arms clenched tight around his neck, and he takes us out the side door, and sits down on a chaise lounge, cradling me, caressing my much sensationalized skin. His hands skim up my thighs, and secure themselves at my hips, pulling me deep against him. He grasps my whole head of hair in one fist and pulls my head back, exposing my whole vulnerable neck. His teeth skim my flesh, his tongue licking the whole way up, before stopping at my lips, where he bit down ever so gently. My body is on fire, and I’m so torn inside. My body responds to every touch of his, and reciprocates knowing that my anxiety will peak and I just have no idea how long I have before that happens. Before I know it, Jason flips me over and positions himself on top of me. Oh goodness he is gorgeous and looks nothing short of a Greek God. He covers me with quick little kisses across my collarbone, lifting me up by my back with his hand and suckling at my neck and shoulders. He lowers himself on top of me, and I can feel the glorious massiveness of his muscles weighed down on me, and my body is aching for him in a very devious way. Suddenly I can feel
him, there
. I freaked out.

“Jason, stop.” I spit out quickly, obviously catching him off guard.

“What? We’re just having fun, just messing around, don’t worry about it.” He tells me, as if I am over reacting.

“Um, no we need to stop. Now.” I demand. “I can feel…
that
… and I’m nowhere ready for that yet.” I said, gesturing to his crotch.

“OK, fair enough. We can slow down a bit.” He offers.

“I would like that, thank you.” I exhale deeply, trying to un-rattle myself. “Who all saw that?” I ask him.

“Saw what?” Jason asks, perching himself up on an elbow.

“You ravaging me, and all but taking me at Harpers house in front of God knows how many people.” I start to panic.

“None, that’s why we’re out here, I’m sure that people saw me scoop you up, but there’s no one out here, and we’re blocked by that fake tree.” Jason points out. Thank goodness!

“I am a different person with you. Never would I have ever condoned this exhibitionist behavior, or almost throwing my virtue to the wind. It’s like you spellbind me, I’m beguiled.” I purge myself emotionally, and I’m scared to see what he is going to respond with, if anything.

“I see. Well, if I were to do any of those things, don’t you think I could have done it correctly? I’d have had you already, in every way I desire.” Jason says, looking deep into my eyes and planting a simple kiss on my astonished lips. I swear he sucks my breath out every time he gives me those smoldering eyes. “The fact that I am exhibiting pure control, and I’m honoring your requests should show me in a slightly different light, should it not?” He whispers into my lips.

I don’t think the Bible ever said anything about the devil and demons’ being this beautiful does it? Or maybe it’s just the sin that seems comely?

“I’d like some soda please.” I ask in the most innocent voice that I could round up.

With an exasperated sigh, Jason stands and pulls me to my feet. “What would the lady like?” He asks.

“Ginger ale if they have it.” I smile.

“Let’s see if we can make that happen.” Jason says, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

As we walk into the kitchen, Jason lets me go to find me a drink. I spot Shane across the room, and he comes running on up.

“Thank goodness! Please don’t leave me alone with her.” Shane begs.

“I didn’t want to. I’m just trying to show Harper some effort on my end, for Jenn you know. That boring, or what’s the deal?” I ask.

“She is just so superficial, and she won’t leave me alone. I know she has some sort of thing for me, but come on woman!” Shane says, throwing his hands on his face for dramatic flair I think. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Look at my house, look at my TV; hey I just started listening to country music.” Shane continues. My sides almost burst in laughter.

“Hey, she is trying.” I offer as a condolence.

“Trying to what, kill me?” Shane scoffs.

“Let’s just try to move on with this, and enjoy ourselves here.” I plead. I don’t want to leave just yet; I am trying to still make heads and delightful tales out of the whole Jason thing.

“OK, but you can’t leave me. And for the record,” Shane smiles “you owe me, big time.”

“I do, do I?” I raise my eyebrow in confusion.

“Oh yes, I’d love to leave. But, for you I will stay. So now you owe me.”

“OK. I owe you.”
What’s a couple of burgers between friends anyway
? “Hey, I have an idea, you have your guitar? I think mine is in my car.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me.” Shane derides me. I shake my head in response to his disgust.

Shane sighs and we’re out the door, grabbing our guitars and setting up outside by the pool. It was just us, and it was quiet and we sat facing each other. I saw that smile Shane has that just puts me at ease, and makes me instantly happy.

“Dancing away with my heart.” I tell him, and we played. The Lady Antebellum has always been a good song for us to sing.

His voice is like velvet, and it just melts me. We strum in sync with each other and my voice is dancing with his in these beautiful pitches high and low. It’s our dance, the way we talk, the way we bond like two souls into one. We were lost together in our sweet, beautiful symphony.

I wasn’t prepared to see more than just Shane when I opened my eyes. We were welcomed with a round of applause, naturally instigated by Jenn. I’m pretty sure she ushered everyone outside.

“Do another!” someone cheered from the background.

Shane smiles and surprises me with a “why not?”

“OK dealer’s choice. Pick the song.”

Shane gives me a wink and starts strumming along. It’s only a few chords in when I pick up what song he is playing, and I quickly come in step with him. Following his lead, we belt out the lyrics to Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson’s “Don’t you want to stay.”

After about 3 more songs, Jason Grimes comes strolling out and straddles me from behind while I sat facing Shane and sang one last song before we called it a night, musically anyway. Shane and I need to practice, but we can’t risk jeopardizing our vocal chords.

“Last song, can I pick?”

“Lady’s choice.” Shane says, kind of coldly.

I start plucking the strings to my guitar, knowing that Shane would know in an instant where I was going musically, and that hopefully he will get the idea of what is going on with Jason. Not so subliminal, but still the idea is there. I started the first verse of “Just a kiss” by Lady Antebellum. Right now, there couldn’t be a more fitting song. I’m not falling in love with Jason, but my body is.

Jason keeps snuggling up to me while I am trying to play, but neither Shane nor I let ourselves get distracted, and finally I think Jason got the idea because he backed off.

Once we finished, the crowd went back into the house for the most part, others took to the poolside and it was mainly Jason, Shane and I. The two main guys in my life and me; this couldn’t be more awkward if we tried.

“Can I help you, bro?” Shane asks Jason.

“Just wanting to spend some time with my girl, man.” Jason replies.

“Georgia, I didn’t know you were seeing this guy?” Shane asks me.

“No, we’re not dating. You of all people would know if I was dating anyone.” I assure Shane.

“So then what is this?” Shane presses on.

“A prelude to dating,” Jason answers him coyly. “I am just trying to get to know her man.”

“If you hurt her, Jason I swear I will ruin your arm.” Shane hisses.

“Shane.” I put up in protest.

“I just want to protect you.” Shane whispers, kneeling in front of me.

“You do.” I assured him, letting him know by touching his hands that my need for him knows no bounds. He’s my security blanket, my best friend and the only faded memory and string of normalcy left in my life.

“I’m not seeing anyone else. How could I? Look at her.” Jason carries on, trying to ease the tension Shane radiates in our little conversation.

“Exactly my point,” Shane says, trying to intimidate Jason. “Look at her, she’s beautiful, and sensitive and my best friend.”

In this exact inopportune moment Jason plants a chaste kiss on my lips, which sends Shane into such a fury that he storms off. Harper calls out after him, but he ignores her.

“Did you find any ginger ale?” I ask.

“No. They just had Pepsi. Want some?” Jason asks, handing me a cup.

“No thanks. I’ll see if I can find something else. Water maybe. I’ll be back.”

“Hurry back soon.” Jason calls after me. I went outside to the cars and I found Shane putting his guitar in the back of his truck.

“Not what you were expecting?” I ask, almost shyly.

“Not even a little bit.” Shane scoffs.

“Are you angry with me?” I ask, begging in my heart that the answer is no.

“I’m angry, yes. But I don’t think I am angry with you. He’s not the right guy for you. He’s only using you. Guys like that, they get what they want and they walk away. I can’t and won’t see you with a broken heart.” Shane says, all while punching his truck.

“Shane, he’s respecting my boundaries, and that has to count for something. Besides everyone sees me as plain old Georgia and for some God Forsaken reason he sees me as
Georgia
, and I don’t think anyone else ever will hold me in that light. It feels good to know that someone else is attracted to you. I’m not much to look at, and I know that, and I have more issues than Time magazine. No one is going to want me, to want all that I come with and I accepted that. You don’t know what it means, but you saw it first hand, how is anyone going to want to wake up to a girl screaming?” I tell him, exposing my poker hand and seeing where the chips fall.

“You’re one ridiculous girl Georgia. None of that is true; there are a ton of guys who’d give anything to be with you. Please don’t sell yourself short.” Shane says, looking at me and taking my hands. “Trust me on this, will you?”

“I do. Just let me see how this wind blows. If it’s too much, I will move on. Pinky Promise.”

“No chance on me winning huh?” Shane says, bowing his head in defeat. He looks so amazing and strong, even when he is vulnerable.

“Nope, there’s only one thing that can make me walk away right now.” I tell him.

“What is it?’ He asks, peaking up, looking for a lifeline.

“Ah, a girl doesn’t reveal all her secrets Shane.” I smile, trying to lighten his tense mood.

“OK, fine. You win. Let’s go back inside.” He says, taking my hand.

Once we’re inside, we made our way into the kitchen. I still hadn’t had my drink yet, and my throat is feeling scratchy. I made my way through the sea of people and grabbed a solo cup, and filled it up with water. Shane holds me close to him, and kisses my temple.

“Best friends, I promise.” Shane whispers into my hair. Over his shoulder I see Harper glaring at me.

“I promise too.” I breathe deep into his hug.

For the rest of the party, Shane and I hung out in the kitchen, with Jason popping up from time to time to cover me in a whole array of affection, complete with blatant discern from Shane. We talked to a bunch of the kids from school; most are ones from the baseball team that Shane knows.

“If coach saw us all drinking here, he’d be pissed bro.” One guy told Shane.

“Yeah, he would be.” Shane laughs at him. I’m not sure that kid knows that Shane is sober as a horse, but I don’t think he really cares one way or another. Tons of people are walking around, if you can call it that, making out in front of everyone (thankfully no one saw Jason and I earlier) and I feel like I am showing more than enough skin in this maxi-dress, but some of the things these girls wear I swear.

Over the roar of the adolescent crowd I hear a familiar sing-song voice cranked on the radio. I look over my shoulder and I see Jason cranking up the sound system and it finally clicked for me. It’s the song he played in the truck.