Falling - On the Banks of Lake Saint Clare (Falling - Book One) (22 page)

“I’m here. You can cry if you want. Either way, I will be rig
ht here.”

“Why does it hurt so much? I should be relieved that I don’t have to stay there? I love it here. This is the greatest place ever. Why am I so upset?”

“They didn’t give you a choice.”

“What do I do?”

“Stay here? Or we can tell them I have a really big king sized bed that you can share with me. Of course we will have to hang a big blanket to divide it so we aren’t tempted at night. Like a fort,” he said really excited. “I bet they will go for that. Because I am sure I could control myself knowing you are in your tiny panties with those perfectly curvy hips and little white wife beater that I could probably see your nipples through.” He shuddered like he orgasmed, “Yep, we’d be safe with that blanket.”

“I am so lucky to have you,” I laughed. “But I still think you make me an emotional roller coaster. I go from laughing to crying to laughing again in minutes.”

“I’d call that Bipolar, not me,”
h
e smiled.

“You ok?” Grandmother walked out on the porch.

“I’m good. Thanks. I’m sorry I reacted like I did. I just wasn’t aware that I got kicked out of the house.”

“You didn’t get kicked out. Your mom called and we talked about it. I assumed you would want to stay here, but if you want to go home, I will make sure you are welcome and treated better. I had no idea it was that bad on you. Why didn’t you tell me?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. M
aybe because I just accepted it.
”

My mom called and said that Dad and Rachel had gone to look at carpet samples and if I wanted to come to the house to talk she would be there. I didn’t want to talk to my mom. I was still disappointed that she was fine with me leaving the house, even though it was just to go live with my grandparents. But I did need to get my clothes.

“They sure didn’t wait long to go look at decorating ideas,” I told Michael on our drive back to the house.

I went straight to my room, hoping to avoid Mom. I knew I had to talk to her eventually but wanted to wait until that evening. I asked Michael to keep her in the other room if possible. I grabbed two suitcases and threw all the clothes I could cram in, shut them
,
and headed down the hallway.

“I’m ready,’ I yelled to Michael.

Michael walked to the door and took my bags and headed
to the car
.

“I’ll see you this evening,” Mom said, walking over to me.

I nodded and walked out the door.

“I am so relieved that I don’t have to deal with Rachel this summer but I feel like my heart is broken. Am I overreacting?”

“Not at all,” he said
,
touching my leg.

“What did Mom say?” I asked.

“Not much. She asked if I would talk you into talking to her.”

“I will tonight. I am so glad Rachel and Dad are bonding like never before. They have a project.”

“Did you get everything unpacked?” Grandma asked. Michael and I were in the kitchen making hamburger patties for the cookout. “Yeah, I’m settled. How many do we make?”

“Hmm, let me think, she started counting on her fingers, “I guess thirty?”

“Good
ness
, who did you invite?”

“Just a few neighbors and family. Nothing big.”

“I wish she hadn’t invited neighbors. I am not so sure Rachel and Dad won’t be a bit on the defensive side tonight.”

“He will be fine,” Michael reassured me. I knew he meant if he wasn’t, there would be another “chat” outside.

Michael and I went down on the dock to watch the canoes float by.

“You do this a lot?” He sat down behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and rocked me side to side.

“Yeah, it’s great down here. During the weekdays it’s very quiet and relaxing, so you can sit and think. The weekends are totally opposite. It
’
s party central, drunks and crazy people from everywhere come to camp and float. It is insane.”

“Which do you like more, the drunks or the thinking?”

“That’s a tough question,” I leaned back against him
feeling
his hands rubbing up and down my thighs. “I have someone to think about now so I will probably like that more.
”
He kissed the top of my head. “It’s really fun to see a canoer and bet each other what they do for a living. Erica and I do that a lot.”

“Who usually wins?”

“Duh, me of course. I am professional at people watching.”

“And how do you find out if you are right?”

“You yell and ask them. Its not brain surgery,” I laughed.

“Interesting,” he said. I could tell by his voice he wanted to play. “How much?’

“A quarter.”

“A quarter?! Shit, you play high stakes, don’t you?” I felt his smile against my head. I loved that. Feeling his mouth against the back of my head was so intimate to me.

“Ok,” I pointed, “This dude
wearing
the fedora with the girl that has the giant boobs. That’s another thing; most of the chicks out here think they are too good to paddle.”

“A carnie?” Michael guessed.

“Oh gosh, you are bad,” I laughed. “Those are fake boobs, fake tan and really good highlights, so they have money.”

“How can you tell they are fake, they are like ten miles up river.”

“I can see fake boobs a mile away. I’m an expert remember. I say he is a lawyer.”

“How do you come to that conclusion,” he asked. I could feel his breath on
the back of my
head.
             
“That’s an expensive cooler and she has a really expensive bathing suit. And the sandals on the ice chest are Birkenstocks
.
I would say someone like in stock
market
or a lawyer. But lawyer is coming to me first.”

“Ask them,” he laughed, not thinking I would.
             
“Sir, we are taking a river survey. What is
your most recent occupation?”

“Attorney,” he said, paddling by.

“Thanks!” I yelled.

“You know him,” Michael laughed.

“How do I know him and why didn’t he say
‘
Hi Alex
’
.”

“Because you fixed this game. You probably know everyone that is going to float by so you can take all my cash. I think people like you are called grifters.”

“You are so intelligent. But suck at stereotyping. Oh! I had this woman tell me I was going to hell because I stereotype. She said I was prejudice. You think I am?”

“Without a doubt, I do. Want to try this group?” Michael asked, taking off his shirt.

“You first,” I said. “I know you will be wrong.”

“Hmmm, I think they are astronauts
. Yep, that’s my final guess.”

“Stop, you are such a jokester. Look at them and guess.”

“This is a hard game. Drive thru restaurant
F
rench
fry chef.”

“Fry chef?” I laughed
.
“I think they are just students and don’t work.”

“How can you tell that?”
             
“They are wearing U of A hats and they look like they have money. Watch that guy in front with the Justin Bieber hair, keeps flipping it to make sure its perfect. He is no fry ‘chef’ He’s a fraternity dude.”

“Here they come. Ask.”

“Hey,” I yelled, “what frat are you in?’

“Alpha Delta Phi,” Justin Bieber answered.

“I thought I remembered you,” I lied. “You all working anywhere during the summer.”
             
“Naw, just chillin’ for the summer.”

“K. Good to see you again,” I waved.

“You knew them?”

“No, but they were too drunk to care. You now owe me 50 cent. Is that how a black guy would say it? 50 cent? Eh, you gonna pay me my 50 cent?”
             

“You are so ruthless and a poor winner.”

I turned around put each leg on either side of his legs. “Is this dangerous sitting like this?”

Michael looked down my body and in between my legs. “Considering we are about two inches from going all the way, I’d say it’s pretty risky.”

He reached forward and pulled my shirt over my head. “You look amazing in a swimsuit. I bet you look hellah wicked naked.”

He put his hands on my hips. “
MMM
, love dem hips.”

“You make me smile more than I think I have ever smiled before.”

“I’m glad. I love your smile. It melts my heart.” He rubbed his chest and kissed me.

“Hey,” he said, “I just realized, you never have told me what you want to be when you grow up.”
             
“I want to be a princess or a pro basketball player,” I laughed.

“I’m kicking your ass, girl. You are teasing me because I want to be a princess and a ball player. He pushed me off of him and pinned me on the ground. “Take it back,” he said, sitting on top of me.

I was laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe. “There can be more than one player!”

“Oh, its on, girlfriend, it’s on.”

I pounded on his chest feeling that it was rock hard, “Can you even feel that?” I laughed, pounding it again.

“Feel what?” he laughed. He rolled off me, took my hand, and kissed it. We laid there looking at the sky. “Really, what are your plans?”

“Other than being a pro basketball player’s wife?” I laughed.

“That’s a possibility,” He winked.

“I am ruling out a pirate.”

“Probably a good idea you do that,” he smiled.

“What do you think I want to be?”

“I don’t think you know. I think you want me to tell you what you want to be b
ecause you don’t have a clue.”

“Damn, you’re good. I have never really put a lot of thought into it. Nothing comes up and slaps me in the face. I assumed I would take over the store one day, but that just seems like a nightmare. I don’t have to decide today, do I?”

Michael rolled over and looked down at me, “Let’s camp out here tonight.”

“Really? You being serious?”

“Of course. We can get pillows, blankets and sleep under the stars. Would your grandparents mind? I mean it’s not like they couldn’t see us from the house.”

“I bet they wouldn’t. Yours wouldn’t care?”

“No, they already think we are doing it
,
”
h
e smiled.

“Cute. I’ll ask my grandparents. If they act like they will say no, I will play the pity me card.”

We walked back up to the house and saw it full of guests. Nothing big ended up being pretty big. Grandma motioned me into the kitchen when she saw me walk in. “Go change, I want to see one of the dresses I got you.”

“OK,” I sighed. I hadn’t even taken them out of the bags I was in such a hurry to leave and unpack.

I opened the bag and pulled out an adorable cream flowered halter dress with sandals. My grandmother had the best taste in clothes. I put them on and looked in the mirror. It was shorter than I usually wore
,
but I loved it.

I walked down the stairs looking for Michael, but ran into Brad instead. As in running into, I mean plowing into him.

“Sorry,” I said nervously, “I didn’t mean to run into you.”

He looked straight at my breast and said, “You look fucking hot.”

I didn’t know what to say so I just kept walking. I looked back around and noticed he was still watching me. I started getting nervous realizing this was too many people for me to feel comfortable. It was almost like
Abbie
’s party, not knowing everyone made me feel a bit overwhelmed.

“Here’s you a drink.” Michael smiled, handing me the glass. “Your grandmother made sure I knew it was a virgin daiquiri. She stressed virgin when she handed to me.”

“Subtle,” I smiled.

“I asked her about the dock.”

“The dock?” I asked confused.

“Oh dang, you already forgot? I guess I’ll find someone else to have a sleepover with. You got Muther pissin’ Lloyd’s number?”

“Stop,” I laughed, “I am just surprised you already asked. And?”

“She said sure. She didn’t see a problem. Now when she looks out her bedroom window at 4 in the A.M. and sees us naked and passed out from exhaustion from me
boning
you all night, she might think differently.”

“You are such the romantic.”

“I know, right? You feel okay? I see your dad and Rachel are here. Have they said anything to you?’