The Fading Trilogy: Fading, Freeing, Falling: Includes 2 BONUS short stories: Hoping and Finding Forever (87 page)

When he drags his lips back to mine, he pushes back off of me and smiles. “I need coffee.”

Sitting up, I hold his face and pull him down to me once more, kissing him slowly, allowing myself to taste him. He moans as I lean back and stare up at him.

“I love you,” I say with all seriousness.

Running his fingers through my hair, he confirms, “Not even close to how much I do.”

And I don’t need to hear anymore as I smile up at him.

I follow as he walks to the door and unlocks it. Heading down the stairs, I take his hand, and when he looks at me, surprised, I just give him a slight grin. No more pretending. No more wavering.

We walk into the kitchen where his mom and dad are sitting at the table and drinking coffee. They look up at us, and for a moment my stomach knots when his mother looks down at our hands. She stands and walks over to us, smiling, and says, “Good morning. You boys want anything to eat?”

Returning the smile, knots vanishing, I say, “Just coffee.”

Mark and I fix our coffee and join his parents at the table.

“Mom, would it be a problem if we went out with Em and Erin tonight for a bit?” Mark asks.

“What are you guys gonna do?”

“Not sure, but we thought it would be fun for the four of us to hang out.”

“Yeah, sure. Just try to not be out too late,” she tells him as she picks up her coffee to take a sip.

Mark looks over at me and shakes his head, not excited about having to follow his sisters around tonight.

“You boys ready to get out there and get this over with?” his dad says.

We take a few minutes and drink our coffee before heading out into the snow.

Several hours later, Mark has gone to the store to pick up some things for dinner tonight, and Ben and I are sitting on the roof, drinking a couple of beers Andrea tossed up to us. The snow keeps falling, but after three hours, I’m completely numb.

“So, Jase, Mark tells me that the two of you have some classes together.”

“Yeah. We share the same studio this year and one of our lectures.”

He takes a swig of his beer and then asks, “How has this year been treating you?”

“It’s been a little challenging,” I say quietly, knowing it’s been probably one of the most difficult years of my life.

“Why’s that?” he asks as he looks over at me, curious to know.

Talking to Mark’s father like this is far from what I’m used to with my own father. He’s a quiet guy and was never too involved in my life. With Ben, however, it doesn’t feel forced.

“There’s just been a lot going on, and I fell behind in some of my classes,” I tell him and then take another sip of my beer.

“You able to catch up?”

“Yeah. Luckily, Mark worked ahead and was able to help me with a few things. I just had to refocus for a moment.”

Staring straight ahead, looking out over the street, he says, “Mark seems really happy.”

I look at him when he says this, and he turns to me. Feeling a little nervous about where this could go, I don’t respond.

“He said you don’t really talk to your parents.”

“No,” I breathe out, disappointed that it even has to be this way with them.

“That’s too bad,” he says as he grips my shoulder. “You seem like a stand-up guy.”

I shift my attention down to see Mark pulling into the driveway, I respond to Ben’s statement, as I watch Mark getting out of the car. “I really appreciate that.”

When Mark walks into the house, Ben claps his hand on my shoulder, saying, “Let’s finish this up, son. I’m starving and ready to get out of this snow.”

He stands and tosses his bottle down onto the snow-covered front yard. Hearing him call me son was all I needed. Whether it’s just a figure of speech he uses freely, or it was meant with more intent, it felt accepting. No shame. No embarrassment. No fear. No opposition. He gets it.

“You coming?” he says, and I nod before tossing my bottle down as well.

After watching a movie huddled under blankets with Mark and his sisters, I helped Andrea out in the kitchen, getting dinner together. I took care of the steaks and the scalloped potatoes while she made a salad and also worked on a couple of piecrusts for Thanksgiving. I feel as if I have been coming over to this house for years. Comfortable.

Finishing dinner, Mark and I decide to go lie down before we head out for the night. The quietness is short-lived when his sisters barge in and are ready to go.

As we walk through the living room, Andrea says, “Seriously, don’t stay out all night,” as the four of us leave.

“Trust me, we won’t,” Mark tells her. He and I are completely worn out from getting all the lights on the house earlier today.

Sliding into the front seat with Mark, his sisters pile into the back, both buried in their cell phones.

“How long are you guys wanting to stay?” Mark asks as he drives down the slick road.

“Long enough for Erin to suck on Travis’ face,” Emily laughs out.

“I don’t need to hear that crap,” Mark says in clear disgust.

“Oh, whatever,” Erin says.

The three of them continue to bicker until we finally pull up to the large, two-story house with a wrap-around drive. Cars flood the street, and when Mark parks, he turns around and says, “Two hours.”

Rolling their eyes at him, Emily tells him, “You’re such a pussy,” as both girls laugh.

When they get out of the car, he looks at me while I try not to laugh. “I’m not a pussy,” he tells me as if he needs to convince me of this fact.

Now I’m laughing at him when I hear my phone chime. I pull it out of my pocket and tell Mark, “It’s Candace.”

How’s your trip so far?

“What’s it say?” Mark asks, and I read it to him before typing out my response.

Good. Mark’s family is oddly great.

LOL! What’s that like? : )

Take it you’re not having a good time.

It actually hasn’t been too bad. Went shopping with mom, all the while bragging about how great her friend’s children are doing. As if I’m slumming it at UW.

“Is everything going okay?” Mark asks.

“I think so,” I mumble as I continue to text her.

Sorry. Just a couple more days.

I really miss you. I’m so happy for you though!

Thanks. I miss you too. Text if you need me.

I will. Love you!

Love you too.

“I think she’s just lonely,” I tell him as I shove my phone back into my pocket.

Smiling at me, he gives me a quick kiss before opening his door.

We walk into the crowded house and immediately spot his sisters, already drinking from their red plastic cups.

“They don’t waste any time,” I joke, and when I look over at Mark, he’s staring at me in disbelief.

“Dude, they’re only nineteen,” he says.

“Right. So you mean to tell me that you never had a drink your freshman year or sooner?”

“I just don’t want anything to happen,” he tells me.

It’s evident that he’s a bit protective over them. “Nothing’s gonna happen,” I assure him.

“Come on. If I’m stuck here with your broody ass, I’m drinking too.”

Walking back to the kitchen, I fill a couple of cups from the keg. I hand one over to Mark, and we walk back into the main room to keep an eye on the girls. Finding space on one of the couches, we take a seat and watch his sisters being loud and obnoxious, but clearly they’re the most entertaining thing at this party.

The music is loud and everyone screaming over it to hear each other speak is even louder.

Leaning back, I notice a guy across the room eying Mark. I don’t say anything when Mark leans over and asks, “So how are you feeling about everything now?”

I take a sip of the cheap beer and tell him, “You were right. I shouldn’t have been so worried.” He smiles at me, and I continue, “I’m just not used to this, that’s all.”

“Even before they knew?”

“Ever since Jace died, really. My family is just very different, but your parents are cool as hell. Your father surprised me.”

“How’s that?” he asks and then takes a drink from his cup.

“Just didn’t expect him to be so easy to talk to.”

He grins and slips his hand into mine, and I don’t even give a second thought to what anyone else in the room might think if they saw. I grip his hand tightly as I smile back at him. We make ourselves content, sitting there, watching his sisters every now and then.

I let my beer grow warm; I’m tired and not in the mood to drink. Scanning the room, I notice that same guy from earlier looking over at Mark and me.

Leaning in, I ask him, “Do you know that guy standing by the stairs? He keeps looking at you.”

“Shit,” he says under his breath when he spots the guy I’m talking about.

“What?”

Mark looks away from him and leans his head down, seeming annoyed. “I knew him back in high school.”

“And?” I prompt, wondering why he’s having a strong reaction to seeing him.

“I’ll tell you later, okay? Just not here,” he says, almost pleading in a way, which only sparks my curiosity. “I’m gonna go get another beer. You want one?”

“No, I’m good.”

Mark stands to head back into the kitchen, and I follow, needing to move around since I’m starting to get tired. He fills up his cup and when we turn to walk back out, we run into that same guy.

“Mark, hey,” he says hesitantly.

“What’s up, Carter?” Mark’s voice is drenched with irritation.

“Not much. Just home visiting my parents.”

Mark takes a sip of his beer and doesn’t respond. When a cute blonde hooks her arm through Carter’s, he looks down at her before looking back at Mark. “Oh, um, this is Valerie.”

“Val,” she clarifies as she reaches out to shake Mark’s hand.

When he doesn’t take it, I reach out my hand and say, “I’m Jase.”

Shifting her eyes to me, she says, “Oh, nice to meet you,” with a soft smile, probably sensing the same tension that I do.

I nod my head and notice Mark walking out of the room. “You too,” I tell her as I turn around to follow him. “What was that all about?” I ask, and when he turns to me he quietly says, “Don’t ask.”

I don’t. Whatever it is, it’s really bothering him, so I leave it alone.

“You’re fuckin’ kidding me,” he sighs out, and when I spot Erin dancing on top of a chair with a beer funnel in hand, I know it’s time to leave.

“I’ll go grab her, and you look for Emily,” I tell him.

Walking over to Erin, I stand next to the chair she’s on top of and when she looks down at me, she clutches my hands and squeals, “Jase!”

“Come on. It’s time to go.”

“What? Hell no!”

“It’s late, and you’re wasted. Come on. Your brother is already flipping from seeing you over here. Be lucky it’s me dragging you out and not him.”

Without any warning, she jumps onto me, wrapping her legs around my waist, almost knocking me over.

“Shit.” I peel her off of me, and she stumbles over onto the floor. “How much did you drink?” I ask as I pick her up.

“I dunno.”

“Come on.” I hold her up and lead her to the front door. I turn to scan the room to see where Mark is, and I spot him holding Emily, who seems to be in the same drunken condition as Erin.

Walking up to me, he shakes his head, and tosses me the keys. “You’re driving,” he demands, and when the two girls see each other, they practically leap into each other’s arms, giggling uncontrollably. “This shit’s obnoxious.”