Can't Let Go (17 page)

Two seconds after I hang up from his unanswered call, I get a text message.

Dad: No one knows where he is. I’m calling in some favors.

Fuck, I wish I could have five minutes alone with her dad, because I’ve about had it with his shit. Show him how a real man should behave.

By the time I reach the truck, the laughter of Chrissy and Sadie carries over two car lengths. Although I’m not sure what the commonality between the two are, it’s nice to hear Chrissy so happy. Pushing up on my arms, I jump on the truck bed and take a spot next to Chrissy. Not too close, but not too far away either.

Sadie leans into Brady’s arms, like always, while he interests himself in looking around. The two girls are cracking up about an incident that happened over at Trey’s last week. Something about Drew and potty training, which I should probably know if I’ve been half a friend to Trey. He and Kailey have been so busy, I’ve barely had time to catch up with them. Me not being responsible for as much, I should really make more of an effort.

“You okay?” Chrissy’s hand touches my arm, and my eyes sweep up to her intrigued look.

“Hey … just thinking I need to get over to their house soon,” I remark, and Sadie nods her head.

“We’re all going to lunch tomorrow. Why don’t you go over there and help Trey for a few hours while we steal Kailey?” Sadie suggests, and I nod.

“Maybe,” I say, not committing myself.

Eventually the sun sets and the screen flicks to life. I open up my back window and turn on the radio to the station marked on every post by the designated car spots. Sadie cuddles up to Brady, his arms wrapped tight around her. Chrissy leans against the back of the cab with her legs crossed over one another, while I stay a safe distance away. The fighting is pretty cool in the movie and distracts me from the neck cramp due to having my head turned in the direction of the screen the whole length of the movie.

By the time the intermission comes and before the next movie starts, Sadie and Brady begin scooting down to exit the truck. “Where are you guys going?” I ask, cranking my head side to side to snap the cramp out.

“Sadie’s cold and well …”

“No need for details. Carry on.” I motion with my hand, and Chrissy giggles.

“In case we don’t talk, tomorrow at noon, I’ll drive us over to Jessa’s and we’ll go from there.” Sadie reaches over and hugs Chrissy.

“I can’t wait,” Chrissy exclaims, and I scrunch my forehead at her comment. I’m thinking she’ll never be moving out of the house at this rate. Not that I want her to.

Just as Brady’s opening the door to his Camaro for Sadie, the screen flashes and
50 First Dates
begins to play. “What the fuck?” I yell, and Sadie giggles with Chrissy joining in. “You knew?” I ask her, and she bites her lip like a school girl in trouble.

“You know the drive-ins always show two opposite movies.” Chrissy pushes me with her hand on my arm, and I teeter a little to the right.

“You girls lied. Let’s go.” I playfully begin to stand up, but Chrissy grabs my hand and tugs me back down.

“Hey, I sat through a very unrealistic movie with no romance and a lot of violence. At least
50 First Dates
is a comedy,” she says, leaning toward me.

“Unrealistic? Every chick flick is unrealistic,” I remark, and she rolls her eyes at me.

“I know you have a soft spot in there somewhere,” she pokes me in the chest, right by my heart. “One day, your heart will grow,” she teases me, and I chuckle.

“I’m not the Grinch, Chrissy. I have a heart. Now scoot over, my neck is killing me.” I wiggle my way next to her and grab my second blanket to wrap around our legs. “You want my sweatshirt?” I hold up my Western sweatshirt to her, and she nods.

“If you aren’t using it, that would be great,” she says with her arms wrapped around her chest, trying to warm herself up.

“Even if I was, it’d be yours,” I say, and she smiles, taking it out of my hands.

She pulls it over her head and rolls up the sleeves. As our arms touch each other, she scoots a little away. It never used to be like that with us, we’d always be okay with affection. I guess as we got older, things changed, and we didn’t want the other to think there was something more to it.

“Aw … you do have a heart,” she sighs, and I knock my shoulder with hers. Instead of moving away, she stays near. Her knee and shoulder rest against mine. It’s cozy and comfortable.

“Only certain people see it. Don’t say anything.” I kid with her, and she places her head on my shoulder, fluttering her eyelids a few times.

“Why, Dex Prescott, you amaze me,” she says, an admiration in her eyes.

“Pay attention to your chick flick.” I point to the screen, and she laughs.

“Looks like we aren’t the only ones not paying attention.” I follow her line of vision to a steamy windowed Camaro.

“I swear those two can’t go five minutes without some form of body contact,” I reply, annoyed. It just makes this whole situation uncomfortable.

“I think it’s cute and romantic. They love each other.” She’s so sweet, and I hope she finds exactly that one day, if that’s what she wants.

“Girls,” I sarcastically joke.

Silence begins to overtake the parking lot. Families and couples have retreated to their cars for the warmth of the confines or each other. The crickets chirp back in the tree lines behind the screen while the moon plays hide and seek in the clouds. Curling up under the blanket, Chrissy’s body nudges into mine and instinctively, I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “Thank you, I’m so cold.” She shivers next to me, and I pull her closer trying to warm her up.

Her lips inch closer to my neck, her hot breath enflaming goose bumps along my neckline. We’ve sat in this position when we were younger, but this is by far more intimate than any other moment we’ve shared. My face leans down closer to hers, and her moist lips graze my five o’clock shadow across my chin. Moving my one hand from the side of her waist up to her shoulders, lingering over her bare neck. I squash the nearly uncontrollable urge to allow my fingers to grab the elastic ponytail holder to free her hair, letting it tumble down to caress her shoulders. Instead, my palm cradles the back of her head and angles her face up to mine. In slow motion, our cheeks rub against one another, until our lips lightly brush against the other’s. I’m about to explore further and put more pressure against her mouth before the sounds of car engines starting loudly brings me back to reality.

My hand releases her head, but her hand lingers on my stomach. Seconds pass by as our eyes focus on one another’s. Confusion to what just happened fills the space between us. I debate in my head, do I kiss her and care less about consequences? But how can I do that to her? Remembering that it’s friendship she needs from me right now and not complications of a relationship, I push back and her hand falls to her lap.

Quickly standing up, I begin packing everything up while she sits there for a few moments as stunned as I am. Then she stands up and begins folding the blankets. She hands them to me and my heartbeat picks up when our fingertips brush during the exchange. Slowly, she gets down from the truck bed, and I follow her, both of us walking to our side.

“See you guys back home,” Brady says through his rolled down window with a smiley Sadie peering over across him.

“Yeah, see you there,” I answer. When I get into the cab, the silence is enough to deafen me further. The remorse that I should have just kissed her echoes through my mind.

I follow the blue Camaro back through the streets of Western, the radio the only noise in my truck. We pull into the driveway and people holler to us from Bridgette and her roommates’ yard. I exit the truck, waving over to the guys I know. When I turn around, Chrissy’s already half up the driveway with Sadie right next to her. The guys start calling my name, so I hop over our fence line and join the party. One guy hands me a beer, and when I glance up, it’s Chrissy’s eyes at the backdoor that catch mine for the briefest moment. Then she enters the house.

I’M SURPRISED WITH how close I’ve grown to Sadie in only a few short days. I think she’s been starving for another girl in the house because even last night she tried to convince me to stay up and talk. When she started prying, asking more questions about Dex and our feelings, I had to call it a night. It’s embarrassing when you begin to like someone more than you should, especially when it’s only one-sided. Dex and I have come so close, so many times, but there are too many reasons to steer clear of crossing a boundary that we’ll never return back from.

“Let’s go.” Sadie knocks and comes into my room.

With one earring in and working on the other. “Give me a sec.” I finish putting my earring in and then flash her a smile. Grabbing my purse, I sling it across my body and walk toward her. “Ready,” I say, and she leads the way out of the room.

“So, the boys are doing a show tomorrow night. They play at this bar called Aces.” Sadie drives us over to Jessa’s. “Grant won’t be playing, since Jessa’s so close to delivering, so Rob’s filling in for the first time in a while.”

“Oh, Dex didn’t say anything.” I concentrate on the enormous amount of college students occupying the streets. The pit of my stomach filling with the yearning to be one.

“You should definitely come. There’s a booth that we sit in, and I’m not sure Kailey can come, so you have to keep me company. Plus all these damn groupie girls try to grab our men. We have to stake our claim,” she begs, concentrating on the road ahead.

“None of them are my man,” I remind her, and she giggles.

“Well, Dex kind of is.” She stops at the light and winks. “Regardless you can help me fight them off Brady. I swear every time they play, some new girl tries to grab his attention after the show. I can get kind of territorial.” She giggles, and hearing her makes me start laughing too.

A few minutes later, Sadie parks the car outside a small ranch and turns off the ignition. We both tread up the sidewalk, but before we reach the door, it swings open and Jessa’s hollering back into the house. “Grant, just fucking do it,” she yells, and when I see him appear in the doorway behind her, her shoulders slump and she grabs her belly. “Please, baby.” She sugarcoats her voice and snuggles up to him, wrapping her arms around him.

He kisses the top of her head and winks at Sadie and me. Remaining quiet, we allow them to have their moment before letting our presence be known. But when Jessa continues apologizing and crying to Grant, Sadie rings the doorbell. Grant smiles and Jessa turns around with blood shot eyes.

“Did you just hear that?” Jessa asks, her head hanging low.

Sadie bites her lip and nods her head slowly.

“I’m so emotional. Seriously, this damn high and low shit has got to stop. Why won’t she come out? I can’t be that pleasant to stay inside of,” she rambles, and Grant starts laughing.

“I don’t know, baby, I love to be inside of you,” he jokes. I cough out a laugh, and Grant winks at me. Jessa soon begins calming down, and Sadie pulls her close.

“Soon, just a little longer.” Sadie soothes her, and Jessa rolls her eyes.

“Bishop, you won’t be inside of me for a hell of a long time after this.” She points her finger at him, and he just grabs her to pull her close.

“Whatever you want, but I’m pretty sure I won’t be the one begging,” he says cockily, and she pushes him away. “I love you. Go have fun with your girls.” Then he sets his eyes to Sadie. “If anything happens, call my cell. I’ll have it on me at all times.”

“I will. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her.” Sadie tries to appease his concern, but it doesn’t change his solemn face.

“Love you.” Jessa reaches up on her tiptoes and gives him a kiss.

He places both hands on her face and peers down at her. “Don’t over do it, okay?” Jessa nods. “I love you,” he affectionately declares, and she’s ready to leave after one more kiss.

The three of us pile into Sadie’s car. I take the backseat, so Jessa can get in and out as easily as possible. Once we park on Main Street, we stroll down a block to a restaurant. I squint up at the green sign with white lettering. It reads Zefer’s, an organic, vegan restaurant. What the hell am I supposed to eat here? I’m more of a fast food girl.