Thundering Luv (8 page)

Colin ran his hand through his hair and grabbed his cellphone from the table next to his bed. He was glad Jake and Chad went out to play video games with one of the guys a few houses up. His finger scrolled down the contacts to Jewel’s number and he pressed dial.

In several rings, her light, husky voice answered, “Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Colin.” He propped his head up on a nearby pillow. Even though seconds past since he spoke, it seemed like forever before she responded.

“Sorry about that, I had to close the door and kick Megs out.” Her voice came through just above a whisper, and there was some ruffling around. “I thought you were going out tonight. Did Jake leave you?”

“No, I didn’t feel like going with them. They’re just playing video games and watching movies. I doubt they even come back here tonight.” Colin didn’t want them back either, he just wanted to chill, be alone and talk to Jewel without them joking him about how long he stayed on the phone.

“Oh, so it looks like we won’t be able to go jogging in the morning if the rain doesn’t stop. I’ll beat you next time,” she hummed softly.

“Only if I let you,” Colin chuckled.

“Why would you let me? You don’t play weak just because I’m a girl!” Jewel sounded almost like she was pointing her finger at him in warning. “I wasn’t even working that hard this morning. I was too tired you kept me on the phone until 2 a.m.”

“If you give me another kiss like you did before, I may let you win.” He smiled. They hadn’t kissed since then the time in her room. He didn’t take the initiative because he’d felt too guilty to push things in that direction. Since he hadn’t told Jewel about the cruel joke Tank and his friends were playing on her, he didn’t feel worthy of kissing her.

“Hmm, maybe I was waiting on you to kiss me. It’s your turn, I kissed you last,” her voice came through almost breathless.

“Oh, is that how it’s going to be—we take turns now? I kiss you, then you kiss me, then I you? What happens if I get greedy and want to kiss you than you’re ready for?” And he did, he wanted to kiss his Jewel, hold her, smell her and never let her go.

“Then,” she whispered, “I wouldn’t mind.”

“You wouldn’t,” he couldn’t keep the deepness out of his voice, “because I dream of kissing you every night. Over and over and over again,” he paused mustering up the courage to ask, “But would you let me? Would you let me kiss you until I was full?”

“Yes.”

His chest beat faster, and he waited a moment, then closed his eyes and asked, “Can I come over there? Will you let me in your room?”

“Amy’s aunt is in the front room. But Megs and Amy are in bed next door to my room.”

“Are you in the room alone?” His heart drummed in his chest. “Would you open your window and let me in?” He’d beg if she said no, he was on the verge of losing his mind with wanting to be with her.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“I’m on my way.” He hung up the phone. Colin almost stopped himself. He’d never done anything this desperate to be with a girl before. He knew at this moment he was being selfish. There was no way he was telling Jewel about Tank’s part in the team prank. He wanted to have this time with her. Because when Jewel found out the truth, and that he knew it, Colin may never be able to have her again.

He walked out the house and into the rain, which was only drizzling now compared to earlier. The deck was connected as one single deck on the duplex so he only had to go around the back to be under her window. Luckily, the window was just above the deck floor.

Colin was thankful her window was open. Jewel leaned out. Colin smiled, and Jewel put her finger to her lips to quiet him. Draping a ladder over the edge for him to climb up, she peeked back in her room as if to make sure all was clear.

Colin climbed in, blood rushing in his ears and palms sweating. He couldn’t believe he’d done this. That he was standing there with Jewel smiling at him. His eyes traveled down her pajama tank top with Betty Boop on it, and matching shorts.

He grinned, said, “Hey,” and pulled her into his arms before she could react. He couldn’t stop himself he started kissing her, devouring her, tasting the sweet bubble gum lip-gloss she wore for him. Without hesitation, Jewel’s arms wrapped around his neck. Colin buried his fingers in Jewel’s wavy hair. Several moments later, Colin gently ended their kiss, “I’ve wanted to do that for days.”

“Me too.” She sat on her bed cross-legged. Jewel glanced at the open window. “Guess you are going to have to climb back out when you leave.”

“Yeah.” Colin lay down on the bed and rested his head in her lap. “But that’s not going to be for awhile. Nobody’s at home at Jake’s place, so I’m in no hurry.”

Jewel started playing with his hair. Feeling her hands on his scalp soothed him. He didn’t want her to stop touching him. Ever. Colin laced his hands through hers.

“I’d like to see some of your art,” Jewel’s fingers trailed down the side of his face, “something you like to do for yourself.”

“I want you to see it. I have some in my room.” He kissed the palm of her hand. “I’d like to draw you.”

Jewel smiled down at him. “I’d like that. I…”

“Go on, tell me,” Colin encouraged.

“I write poetry. I don’t show anyone. I don’t think many people like poetry, but I do. I write it all the time. I wanted to be a song writer, but I like writing poetry more. When I’m home alone, which is a lot, I do it to music and pretend I’m standing up reciting it to some cool group of kids who understand me.”

“I want to hear it. If you’d share it with me.” Colin twisted around, pulling her down beside him. He wanted to soak in the beauty of revealing herself —only him. To feel her skin close, and hope that what Jewel felt was strong enough to allow her to forgive him. “What do you write about?”

“Everything. But mostly about my father.”

He couldn’t stop himself from touching her, so Colin draped his arm around her waist. “Tell me about your father.”

“He’s complicated. So is my relationship with him. Well, to be honest, I don’t have a relationship with him. Sometimes I even feel like my mom sees me, and she’s angry with me because I look like him. Everything but my complexion and hair color is similar to his.” Jewel appeared to be fighting back tears. “Oh, but what about you? I want you to tell me about your parents, what things were like before you moved in with your aunt.”

Colin felt a pierce in his heart, talking about his parents was hard. He’d only ever done it with Summer once. “Don’t try to change the subject. Tell me more.” He gave her a wry smile.

“Well my dad is huge, I mean tall. My mom told me he was so glad they had me, that he named me his Jewel.” She giggled. “I know it sounds silly, but that’s why I love my name.” Jewel sobbed. “At least I did.”

Colin, he wiped away a wayward tear with his thumb. “Hey what’s that for?”

She sniffed. “It’s stupid. But my dad, he doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore. He’s got a new wife who doesn’t like me. Never will like me. So even though I call him at his office to leave messages with his secretary, he’s never called back. I can’t even talk to my mother about him. Every time I mention his name, she starts in on how much she hates him. Then, uh, she starts in on me and how I’ll never amount to anything because I’m just like him.” Jewel sighed. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, I want you to talk to me. I get that your dad left, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you. Maybe it just means he’s stupid. Most guy are, you know.” He smiled at her, “Besides, your love will probably last longer than hers.”

Jewel’s eyelids dipped bashfully. “You’re right. Tell me about your mom and dad.”

“They were the best. My father was an artist too. He worked mostly with clay and rock. His work was amazing.” Colin snaked and arm around her neck and pulled her close. He could smell her, and he closed his eyes to savor it. “If I can create art like him, it would be like I could still make him proud. Let him know that in my heart, he’s never forgotten.”

“That’s beautiful. What about your mom?” She snuggled closer.

“Beautiful, like you. It’s like when she walked in a room everyone around wanted to be next to her. Even kids, my dad used to tease her and call her a pied piper.” Colin chuckled.

“Really, did she work with kids or something?”

“No she was in pharmaceutical sales and traveled a lot. Since my father could work from anywhere he usually was home with me. He and I would cook dinner for her when she got home from work.” Those memories made his heart swell with joy and ache with longing.

“So you know how to cook?”

Colin laughed. “No, it was always horrible but she ate it anyway and smiled about how good it tasted. Usually, she threw something in the crockpot when she had enough my dad’s culinary creations.”

“Colin, they sound wonderful. It used to be like that with my mom and dad…until he left,” she rubbed her eye, “I don’t know what it is about you, but you seem to make me cry a lot.”

“You’re beautiful even when you cry.” Colin leaned over and kissed her. “And I want,” he cleared his throat, “Jewel, will you be my girlfriend?”

“I…uh, Colin I don’t want to mess this up. I really like you, more than any boy I’ve been with. But I…” Jewel swallowed and turned away. “I’m sorry, Colin, but I can’t.” She shook her head, “I shouldn’t.”

Colin slid up closed to her and put his arm around her waist. “It’s alright. Being with you any way you want is good.”

Jewel intertwined her hand with his, then allowed Colin to wrap his arms around her as she played with his fingers, then kissed his hand before falling asleep.

Colin kicked himself mentally a hundred times at pushing her too hard, all because he was afraid that when he came clean about everything, Jewel wouldn’t be able to stand seeing him again.

Jewel stared at the waves instead of picking shells out of the sand with Megs like she was supposed to be. It had been the best summer ever with Colin. Just two weeks until it ended. All she kept daydreaming about was the night Colin came to her room. It was magical. He’d made her feel more in that
one
night than she had since her father left. Colin’s friendship had bought her out of daze. Colin made her finally trust herself to actually feel something for someone else—for him. When her father abandoned the family, she was too afraid to express herself, her problems, thoughts or dreams, to anyone in fear that they would also leave her. Jewel realized that now. Her heart still ached for her dad and her mom’s affection. Not having a brother or a sister to go through this with was even harder. However, having Colin listen to her pour out her heart every night had been amazing. He gave her good advice, encouragement and even flirted.

Jewel tucked a few of the unblemished shells in the pocket of her shorts and rubbed her arms just thinking about how good it felt to have Colin lay next to her, covering her in his warmth. Pushing him away when he asked her to be his girlfriend was the worst possible thing she could’ve done. Jewel wanted to tell him ‘yes’ but in the past she’d agreed too quickly and usually by the next day she itched to break up with them.

Jewel enjoyed being with Colin, whether they were talking or just sitting and watching the waves crash. Nothing mattered when she was with him only that she was near him. She only wanted to be sure he wasn’t going to throw words of love at her, then make a quick push to have sex. The fact that Colin still spent so much time with her, even after she rejected him gave her a bit of hope that she hadn’t hurt his feeling too bad.

Megs tossed a shell, just missing Jewel’s ear. “Stop daydreaming and scoop up shells. We’re not going to be able to make the necklaces before we go home next Friday if we don’t get them now.”

Jewel spun around. “I am picking shells,” she smiled, “but daydreaming in between.”

“Yeah, about Colin,” Amy laughed and tickled Jewel just under her tube top, “and kissing him.” Amy bumped Jewel with her hip.

Jewel elbowed Amy. “You’ve been kissing Chad a lot lately.”

Amy nodded. “Yeah, because he’s a really good kisser, and chocolate…mm…mm I love my chocolate.”