Strong Enough (12 page)

Standing in front of the full length mirror
in my bedroom I examine the look. The Texas sun has helped me
develop a nice tan which stands out more against the color of the
shorts. With the heels on you can see more calf muscle and I am
starting to see the definition in my legs Sterling keeps referring
to. I look ok, comfortable, not too dressy, could fit in anywhere
kind of look. My attention diverts to the clock by my bed and sees
that he will be here any minute now.

Walking to the living room I hear the knock
at the door. I stop and take a minute to collect myself.
Good lord what have I gotten myself
into?

Pausing with my hand on the door handle I
take in one last deep breath. As I open the door I see him standing
in the hallway looking down with one hand resting on the door frame
and the other in the pocket of his khaki cargo shorts. The navy
blue polo he wore fit snugly against his broad chest and wrapped
his muscular arms tightly. Noticing the well-worn flip flops on his
feet brought a smile to my face.

“Hi,” he said softly straightening up to
greet me.

“Hi yourself, let me just grab my purse,” I
say as I walk away from the door to grab my purse off the couch.
“So where are we going?” I say as I turn to walk back toward the
door but bump into him standing behind me. “Oh sorry, didn’t
realize you followed me in.” My comfort level has just dropped.
Panic is setting in as I step away from him.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to sneak up on you I
just…” reaching out to touch my face he runs the back of his hand
down my cheek causing me to shiver. “I just wanted to do this.” His
hand wraps around my neck as his fingers spread upward into my
hair. With a gentle pull my lips are against his. The feel of his
soft and full lips catches up to me and I relax as my arms wrap
upward under his arms so my hands are holding on to each of his
shoulders. Pressing himself into me the kiss develops as his tongue
runs along the crease of my lips looking for entrance. Without time
to think and process my heart is beating against my chest with
anticipation and I grant him access parting my lips. His tongue
slides in and caresses mine as the kiss deepens to a point I can’t
get enough of him. His other hand is wrapped around my waist and
pulling me tightly against him. Feverish movement increases and the
kissing is hot. Suddenly he pulls back slightly with his hand still
tangled in my hair and holding my head. “Ready to go eat?”
Is he fucking serious right now? Food is the
last thing on my mind
. Wide eyed and a little
disappointed I nod my answer releasing my grasp on him.

Following him down the stairs to the parking
lot, I wonder to myself what he drives. Is he the sports car guy,
economical sedan, hand me down old beater… My curiosity is appeased
when he hits the alarm to a White Ford 150 lifted with huge mud
tires. Yep, Texas boy all right and only a Texas girl would know
how to get in this lifted truck in heels and still be stylish about
it.

Opening the door to the truck he asks, “Need
help getting in?”

Brows arched, my eyes rolled over to look at
him. “Nope, I got this.” Grabbing the handle on the door I put my
right foot on the chrome running board as I pull myself up and grab
the handle on the inside of the cab with my left hand and swing my
left foot inside so my ass plants itself on the seat and slide
myself all the way in. Sterling is standing outside chuckling. “Yep
you sure do.” With a pleased look on my face I pull the door
closed.

Sterling hasn’t said much about where we are
heading to eat. Hell he hasn’t said much about anything since we
left my house. The silence in the cab would be louder if it wasn’t
for the country radio station playing. Trying not to let the
silence get to me I begin to hum along to a Gary Allan song
playing. It happens to be one of my favorite songs so my humming
turns to a soft singing and my eyes drift closed.

…
So you stole my world, now I’m
just a phony, remembering the girl, leaves down and lonely, we’ll
send it in a letter, make yourself feel better. But it’s not so
bad, you’re only the best I ever had, you don’t want me back,
you’re just the best I ever had. And it might take some time to
patch me up inside, but I can’t take it so, I run away and hide.
And I might find in time that you were always right, you were
always right. So you sailed away, into a gray sky morning, now I’m
here to stay, love can be so boring. Was it what you wanted, could
it be I’m haunted. But it’s not so bad, you’re only the best I ever
had, you don’t want me back, you’re just the best I ever
had…

“Wow Reece, I never knew you could sing.” His words
bring me back as I turn and look at him.

“There is a lot you don’t know about me
Sterling,” I say in a monotone voice, staring out my window. There
is a lot of me no one knows. Hell there are parts of me that I
don’t even know anymore. A sudden sadness blankets me. Flashes of
who I use to be come to me as I watch the scenery out of the window
as it goes by. A warm hand rests on my left shoulder bringing me
back to the present.

“Are you ok?” He asks with concern in his
voice. It’s a sound I don’t like. I don’t want or need people being
concerned for me.

“Yep, I’m good, sorry spaced out for a
minute. So where are we headed?” Trying desperately to change the
subject.

The truck slows as he turns into the parking
lot of Gators. This is one of my favorite restaurants with its mix
of sports and music and an awesome patio.

The parking lot is full, as it always is
here due to popularity among the college age and what the place has
to offer. Sterling pulls off to the blacktop and parks in the grass
where other trucks have started to line up. I grab my purse, open
the door and hop out, literally.

“You sure you’re okay Reece?” He asks as he
rounds the truck with a look of concern once again as he fiddles
with his keys.

“I said I was fine Sterling, can we drop it
now?” Came out a bit harsh but geez I said I was fine.

His hands flew up in a defensive manner as
he backed away slightly. “Yep we can drop it,” he said turning and
waiting for me to walk next to him.

I am sure at this point he does not know
what to do or say to me. Hell I’m not even sure what to do or say
to me. All I know is when I say to drop something, I really mean
it.

Gators seems to be buzzing with activity
tonight. Sterling holds the door open as I walk in and up to the
host stand and ask for a spot on the patio. Weaving through the
groups of people standing in the bar, we make our way to the patio
and are seated off to the left of the stage close to the Tiki hut
bar.

“Man this place gets busy,” Sterling says
looking around us at all the people.

“Yep, this is one of my favorite places to
come and listen to music. Also a great place during football season
too.”

“Oh yeah, you’re a football fan?”

“What warm blooded Texan isn’t?” I say, with
a joking questionable look on my face.

We don’t wait long for our waitress to come
over to greet us. Her blond hair neatly pulled back into a tight
high pony tail. Her toned stomach showing from her shirt being tied
up around her waist and her long legs extending from under her
short, and I do mean short, black shorts.
What
the hell, did they pull this chick off a runway in
Milan?

Sterling is looking at the menu when she
stops at the table. “Hi my name is Jessica and I’ll be your server
tonight, what can I get you to… Sterling?” She stops mid-sentence
when she recognizes him and is smiling from ear to ear. “What are
you doing here?” Her question although serious seems silly to me.
Glancing across the table at Sterling I can see he is uncomfortable
but not sure why. His forehead is scrunched and his mouth is drawn
in a tight smile. “Jessica, um, hi, how are you?” Glancing across
the table at me with a look of forgiveness. Now I am feeling
uncomfortable. Obviously there is something I am not catching on
to.

“I’m doing good, moved to town a few weeks
ago and started working here last week. I didn’t know you moved
here. But I guess since we haven’t talked much since the breakup…”
And just like that it all made sense. This is his ex-girlfriend?
What the hell is he doing out with me when he has dated girls that
look like her? Leaning back in my chair I cross my legs and allow
my arm to drape over my leg in my lap. I am watching Sterling as he
shifts uncomfortably in his chair not sure if it’s because of her
or me. My gaze shifts from him to her and back to him. She seems
very comfortable but not him. He glances at me quickly and offers a
small smile. Jessica continues on about moving and school and not
knowing anyone as if she does not notice that he is sitting here
with me, another girl. Since no one has bothered to introduce me I
make the effort myself. Interrupting I extend my hand toward her,
“I’m Reece, nice to meet you Jessica.” It was that split moment
Jessica turned from happy waitress to territorial bitch when she
looked down at my hand up to my face and then across to Sterling.
The sour look on her face spoke volumes. Either she ate a lemon
without me seeing or she is not pleased to realize he is out with
me.

“Oh sorry, Jessica, this is Reece, my um
friend. Reece, this is Jessica, my um ex-girlfriend.”

Offering a little laugh I retracted my hand.
“Nice to meet you Jessica,” I said, nodding at her. Pulling her
claws back in just a bit, she pursed her lips and offered a tight
nod at me as well. “Likewise I’m sure,” she spouted in her
debutante tone she’s more than likely accustomed to.
AWKWARD

The air around the table could be cut with a
knife. Sterling isn’t saying anything and Jessica is standing here
staring between him and me. The situation seems unnecessary to me.
“If you will excuse me.” I stand not bothering to look at Sterling
and make my way to the restrooms.

Pushing past the crowd in the bar I pay no
attention to anyone around me as I reach the bathroom.

As I open the bathroom door my elbow is
grabbed and I am pulled backwards. “Hey let go!” I yell as I spin
around to come face to face with Sterling. Anger and relief cross
me at the same time.

“What the hell Sterling?”

“Calm down Reece I just wanted to talk to
you and you were ignoring me when I was calling your name.”

“I didn’t hear you.”

“Look Reece I wanted to explain. I didn’t
know Jessica worked here, and well I was caught off guard.” Coming
closer to me he moves us out of the way of the bathroom and against
the wall. My back to the wall he presses his chest closer to me. “I
wanted to talk to you…” Leaning in toward my ear he whispers “God I
want you…” His breath lingers against my skin.

I should feel desire like I did when he
kissed me, but right now I only feel irritation. “Stop Sterling,” I
whisper placing my hand against his chest. I don’t want things to
happen between us like this, and I certainly don’t want his seeing
an ex-girlfriend be the driving force behind his need for me.

The hallway is dark that leads to the
bathrooms, a soft dim light hangs in the middle to light a path to
the door and that’s it. Where Sterling had me positioned we could
not be seen by anyone in the bar area.

“Come on Reece, don’t push me away again.
You know you feel it, the heat, the desire; I know you feel the
same thing. I could tell when I kissed you.” His head drops and he
places a kiss at the nape of my neck. “Seriously Sterling don’t,
not here, not like this.” He still has a hold of my one arm and he
is using his other hand to keep me blocked at the side of my head.
Turning my head I look at him but the look in his eyes is hungry,
needy, and revengeful and it scares me. “We need to talk Reece, let
me take you home,” he says as he moves his hand up and down my arm
caressing it. I feel very uncomfortable now. “Sterling I just want
to go to the bathroom, please.” Trying to step away from him, his
grip tightens causing me to look at him in the eyes. They have
turned dark and fierce and I do not like it one bit.

I struggle a bit to get out of his grasp but
he continues to hold my arm and the panic is rising in my chest. A
flood of memories hits me. “Let me go Sterling!” I yell and twist
back and forth for him to release me.

“I suggest you let her go.” I hear from
behind Sterling. I recognize the voice immediately. Looking me in
the eyes Sterling pauses before he slowly turns to see who is
talking. When he sees I can tell the recognition by his slight
relaxation of his hand on my arm.

“This doesn’t concern you Zane. Leave us
alone,” he says before turning his attention back to me.

“Sterling, man don’t do this, just let Reece
go.”

Zane has stepped out of the shadows and I
can see him clearly now. His dark pea coat covers a red t-shirt and
his hands are firmly tucked in his dark jeans pockets. He looks at
me with a firm and serious nature but softens it when our eyes
meet. I calm instantly.

He takes another two steps closer and is
right next to Sterling. “Just let her go man,” he says as he puts
his firm muscular hand on his shoulder and pushes downward.
Sterling starts to release the grip on my arm and his other hand
slips from the wall. Zane has not let go of his shoulder and I can
see the tips of his fingers are bearing down into Sterling’s
shoulder. The harder he pushes the more Sterling relaxes his grip
until he is no longer holding my arm.

“Dude let go, I wasn’t trying to hurt
her.”

“When a woman tells you to let go of her,
you don’t hesitate to let go. However, before you ever get to that
point, you should never grab a woman to begin with.”

Stepping out of the way from the two of them
I am further back in the shadows. Zane has forcefully turned
Sterling so they are face to face. Looking at the two of them it is
easy to see Zane has the height and size over Sterling.