Viva Vermont! (7 page)

Her phone rang as she walked out to her car. To her surprise it was Conner.

“I'm guessing you heard by now.”

“Heard what?” she asked innocently.

“About the breakup.”

“Breakup?” She unlocked her car and got inside, turned on the ignition, and waited for the heat to come on.

“Yeah, I broke up with Haley at lunch today.”

“Oh …” DJ felt a mixture of feelings. Part of her was glad, but another part of her was slightly worried.

“She wasn't too happy.”

“I noticed.”

“You saw her?”

So DJ described how Haley had looked in the locker room. She also described the hostile glances she'd gotten from Haley's friends. “Does Haley think I have something to do with you breaking up with her?”

“Sort of …”

“What do you mean sort of?” DJ felt anger in her voice now. “I didn't have anything to do with it, Conner. You know that.”

“Well, I just told Haley the truth.”

“The truth?”

“About how I feel about you, DJ.”

DJ was too stunned to say anything now.

“I told her that I still liked you … that I had never stopped liking you …”

“You told her that?”

“Yes. And I told her that I'd been kind of blindsided by her. I mean, the way she was suddenly back here, and the way she kind of assumed we'd get back together … and it's like I wasn't thinking straight.”

“But you're thinking straight now?”

“Yeah …”

“Oh …” DJ put the car into reverse. “Well, I'm driving, Conner. And I'm not supposed to be on the phone, you know …”

“Right. Can I call you later?”

She paused now. Maybe it was for effect. Or maybe it was because she was unsure. But she let him hang for a minute. “I guess so.”

“Thanks. Later.”

She closed her phone and started to drive toward home. Really, what was she setting herself up for now?

7

THE MERRY MAIDS DID NOT LOOK
any too merry as they packed up their van to leave Carter House. DJ couldn't help but feel sorry for them as she opened the front door. Really, who would want to clean up after a rowdy teen party, especially one where booze had been snuck in? As she went into the house, which smelled surprisingly fresh and clean, she knew she should be thankful that Grandmother had not forced the girls to clean up after all.

“Your grandmother wants to see you,” Inez told DJ just as she was about to go into her room.

“Right now?” asked DJ.

Inez frowned. “Yes. Right now. She's in her room. And she's not pleased.”

DJ dumped her bag, closed the door, and then went and stood in front of her grandmother's door. She wondered what was wrong.

“Go ahead. Knock,” snapped Inez from behind her.

“I was going to.” DJ rapped on the door and waited until her grandmother opened it.

“Oh, it's you,” she said with a look of disappointment.

“Inez said that you—”

“Yes, yes …” She shook her head in a dismal way. “Come in. And close the door behind you.”

Grandmother's suite, as usual, was perfection. Everything in the sitting room was varying shades of white and pale blue, and everything was in its place.

“Sit down.”

DJ sat on a pale blue chair, and Grandmother sat on the white sofa across from her, still looking at DJ with an expression of deep disapproval.

“What is wrong?” demanded DJ.

Grandmother reached down behind the large ottoman that also served as a coffee table and produced an empty vodka bottle. “Inez found this in your room this morning.”

“So?”

Grandmother's eyebrows shot up. “So?”

“It's not mine.”

“Inez said it was on your bedside table, Desiree.”

“Yes. It was on my bedside table because I had poured it down the sink last night.” DJ wasn't sure how much she should say now. On one hand, she felt slightly and strangely protective of Taylor. On the other hand, what if Taylor had a serious drinking problem? What if she, like Casey and the pain pills, needed some kind of intervention?

“And why was it even in your possession, Desiree? Why, if what you're saying is true, did you pour it down the sink?”

“Because I found the bottle in my room and I didn't want it there.”

“You found the bottle in your room?”

“Yes.” DJ was shooting up a silent prayer now, begging God to show her what the right thing to do was. And suddenly it seemed clear. Simply tell the truth. “I'm surprised that you haven't figured it out yet, Grandmother, but—”

“Figured what out?” Grandmother leaned forward with interest, like she thought she was about to get some sort of confession from her wayward granddaughter.

“That some of the girls in this house might drink.” “What are you suggesting, Desiree?”

“Okay, I'll cut to the chase, Grandmother. Taylor drinks sometimes. She was drinking last night. So much so that she got sick. Couldn't you tell by looking at her at breakfast?”

Grandmother seemed to consider this.

“I don't know if she has a drinking problem or what, but I do know that she drinks sometimes. And I heard her throwing up at about four in the morning.”

Grandmother frowned with disgust.

“And since you're somewhat responsible for the girls, well, it seems like you should be aware of what's going on in this house.”

“Well … the party did seem to be a bit out of hand last night,” she admitted. “Perhaps it's time for me to speak to all the girls—go over the house rules once again.”

“That might be good.”

Grandmother frowned at DJ and held up the bottle again. “Are you certain that you had nothing to do with this?”

“I told you the truth, Grandmother. I do not drink!”

She blinked. “I think I believe you.”

“You should believe me.”

Grandmother cleared her throat. “I suppose that's all then, Desiree. I will do as I see best to deal with the situation.”

“Good.” Then, feeling excused, DJ stood. But then she paused. “You know, Grandmother, the girls in Carter House may try to act all grown up, but they still need some guidance. I don't think you should just let everyone do as they please so much.”

Grandmother seemed to consider this, but then she scowled. “Well, I expect the Carter House girls to be more mature than their peers. Theirs is a unique situation, and they have a responsibility to see that their behavior is appropriate. I am not here to babysit them. After all, ladies should be ladies.”

DJ wanted to say, “Yeah, right …” and roll her eyes, but fortunately she controlled herself. Seriously, what was the point? Grandmother might be full of high ideals and fancy words, but the truth was the old woman was totally clueless when it came to raising teenagers.

“Still,” mused Grandmother as DJ headed for the door, “perhaps we are due for some more fashion and etiquette training. I did promise Eliza's parents that we would focus on these things.”

“Oh, yeah,” said DJ under her breath. “That should fix everything.” And how fair was that? Thanks to Taylor's stupidity, DJ was going to be tortured with more etiquette and fashion sessions. Maybe she should've just pretended like the vodka bottle was hers. She sighed loudly as she opened the door to her room.

“Hey, there you are,” called Rhiannon. “Conner is downstairs.”

“What? Why?”

“He's waiting for you.”

“He's here?”

Rhiannon nodded with a curious expression. “So what exactly is going on between you guys anyway? I thought he and Haley were still—”

“He broke up with Haley today.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. And I'm pretty sure that Haley thinks it's my fault too.”

“Maybe it is.” Rhiannon gave DJ a sly smile. “Anyway, he's waiting.”

DJ braced herself as she slowly went down the stairs. She had told him it was okay to call her … not to show up in person.

“Hey,” he said as she joined him in the living room.

“What's up?”

“We need to talk.” He smiled. “And I didn't want to do it on the phone.”

DJ glanced around the room. “I'm not sure that I want to do it here.”

“Want to get a bite?”

Okay, did this guy know her or what? Naturally, she was starving as usual. And the prospect of a low-cal, low-fat dinner, combined with a possible lecture from Grandmother on how ladies should act like ladies, made DJ feel eager to get out of there ASAP.

“Let me grab my coat,” she told him.

Soon they were driving in his old red pickup, and for a moment, DJ thought that maybe they had never broken up after all. Maybe they were still a couple. But then she remembered Haley. “Are you worried that someone might see us together?” she asked him suddenly. “And tell Haley?”

He shook his head. “Like I said, we broke up.”

“Yeah, like a few hours ago. Is this going to be considered a rebound romance?” And even as she said this, she wished she hadn't. “Not that I'm saying there's any romance involved,” she said quickly.

“It's not as if Haley and I were married, DJ. Yeah, we were going out, but I had figured it out a while back … I mean, that it wasn't working. And I'd been trying to drop hints.”

“Drop hints?” Okay, DJ was feeling mad again. “It's not like you dropped hints with me, Conner. As I recall you dumped me without any warning.”

“I didn't dump you.”

“Maybe not technically. But only because I beat you to the punch after you were seen kissing Haley. But it felt like I was dumped.”

“Maybe it felt like I was dumped too.” He gave her a slightly wounded look now.

“Right. And the next thing I knew you and Haley were an item.”

“And I've told you that was a mistake. And I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, DJ.”

“And now you want to get back with me?”

He smiled hopefully.

“Aren't you a little bit worried that you might be coming across as kind of flaky?”

His smile faded. “You think I'm flaky?”

“Yeah, maybe a little.”

Now he actually laughed. “See, DJ, that's why I like you. You're not afraid to speak your mind. And you're not always all sweet and cheerful either.”

“You mean you like me because I'm a grump?” She glared at him now.

“I like you because you're you, DJ. You're not afraid to be yourself.” He sighed. “You're real.”

“So are you saying that Haley isn't real?”

“No … and I don't even think she's being phony. I just think she's a little too happy.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I don't think she's too happy right now. I saw her at the pool and I could tell she'd been crying. How does that make you feel?”

Conner didn't say anything now. DJ felt a little guilty as Conner parked in front of the Hammerhead Café.

“Okay, I'm not trying to make you feel bad,” she said. “But I guess it's kind of a reality check. Haley seemed pretty devastated. She wasn't her usual cheerful, chatterbox self. How does that make you feel?”

“Sad.”

“Sad enough to get back together with her?” DJ actually held her breath now, bracing herself for his answer.

But he just shook his head. “No, I don't want to get back with her. But I wish there had been a way to break up without hurting her.”

They got out of the truck and went inside. But even as they ordered, DJ felt uncomfortable. “How would Haley feel if someone saw us together right now?” she asked.

Conner sighed. “Probably not much worse than she's already feeling.” He looked at DJ with a hopeless expression. “I don't know what to do. Have I made this an even worse mess?”

“I don't know …”

“I just wanted to see you, DJ.”

“I know … I guess I wanted to see you too. But I don't like feeling like the boyfriend-stealing girl—I don't like thinking that being with you right now is going to hurt Haley even more. You know?”

“What if we're only here together as friends, DJ?”

She considered this. “Yeah … friends …”

“In fact, that's what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“About being friends?” She frowned now. This was starting to sound like some weird kind of rejection. Not that she had wanted them to be a couple per se. She didn't even know what she wanted.

“I've decided to give the whole dating thing a break. But I still really like you, DJ.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning I want to spend time with you, but I don't want it to turn into that old thing, you know?”

It took her a moment, but suddenly DJ got it. Conner was talking about what had ruined their relationship last summer—after the first time they'd started dating. It was that hot steamy scene in the car and how they'd both been uncomfortable afterward. So uncomfortable that they'd broken up, and she'd been hurt. She did not want to replay that again. “I don't want that either, Conner.”

He looked relieved. “See, that was part of the problem with Haley.”

“You mean she wanted to … well, you know?” DJ felt her cheeks growing warm as the waitress brought their sodas.

“I think Haley thought that we'd stay together if we had sex.”

“Did you?” Part of her wished she'd kept her mouth shut, but part of her had to know the answer.

“No, of course not.” “Of course not?”

“You know me, DJ. I don't want to go there.”

She sighed with relief now. “I think you must be about the only seventeen-year-old boy in Crescent Cove, or maybe the planet, who doesn't.”

“I'm not saying I don't
want
it—I'm just saying I want to wait. I really do want to follow God's plan for my life. Now more than ever.”

DJ smiled. “Wow … that's great to hear, Conner.”

“And being with Haley … it just wasn't cool.”

“But being with me is?”

“I think you get me, DJ. Besides, I just like being with you.”

“Kind of like a guy friend?” DJ felt slightly offended now. Was this his way of saying that she was “safe” because she was unattractive?

“No, DJ. Not like a guy friend. But like a smart girl who knows how to be in a relationship without losing her head. You know?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I think I do know.” Thankfully, their fish and chips arrived then, and she changed the subject to her grandmother and how she had accused DJ of drinking vodka, and how DJ had actually caught Taylor and Seth in bed last night.

“No way.”

She laughed. “Yep. Pretty disgusting too. I think they were both totally wasted. And Taylor got pretty sick. I even told my grandmother about it, but once she accepted that I wasn't the culprit, it almost seemed like she didn't care.”

“Maybe she was just relieved that it wasn't you, DJ.”

“I doubt that.” DJ took a bite.

“She's an odd one, that grandmother of yours.”

“You got that right.”

It was weird, but cool, sitting there just eating and visiting with Conner again. Kind of like old times, but maybe even better. Sort of like some of the pressure was off. She just hoped that Haley would be okay.