Forever Changed (18 page)

“Okay, I’m going to go get ready. You got this?” I laughed, indicating the stacks of cookies still waiting to be bagged up.

“We got it, right, Peanut?” Mom asked Megan. “Besides, we’re going to frost all those over there,” she added, pointing to the Christmas tree shaped cookies on the far counter.

“Maybe when we’re done, we’ll box half of them up and take them to the children’s home.”

“Children’s home?” I asked.

“It’s a place over in Deltona called the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home. I heard about it from Brenda. They help place children with caregivers. I was thinking about volunteering a couple of days a week to get out of the house.”

“I’ve never even heard of it. I thought they did away with orphanages years ago,” I said, grabbing a peanut butter cookie off the counter.

“I think they did in the traditional sense, but I guess the resource need hasn’t changed over the years. Maybe you could come with me sometime,” she said teasingly, obviously thinking about my previous loathing of community service over the years.

“Sure,” I said, leaving her shocked face behind on my way out the door. Lacey and I had bitterly complained about doing volunteer hours when we first started our freshman year, worried it would cut into our hanging out time. Ms. Hanson had found a loophole in the system by finding charity games where the whole squad could work in the concession stand. We accumulated the necessary volunteer hours for our whole high school career by midyear and never looked back.

Volunteering now seemed like a small penance to pay for my previous behavior. Maybe if my dad were watching from heaven, he would finally be proud of me.

I was still in the
I should get out of bed, but just a few more minutes won’t kill anyone
stage at half past ten the next morning when my phone lit up on the pillow next to me, alerting me to a new text.

Feel like doing some shopping, girl-style?

Does that mean you’re feeling better?

Yep. You game?

What does girl-style shopping mean exactly?

I drag you from one shop to the next looking at everything as I search for the perfect gift only to realize it was in the first store after all.

Errr sounds fun.
I texted back teasingly.

I’ll feed you.
She enticed, oblivious to the fact that I was all in, the moment she asked if I wanted to go.

Mall food?

Is that wrong?

Heck no. I’m a mall food kind of guy.

Does that mean you’re in?

I guess since you threw food in.

Great text me your address and I’ll swing by and get you in forty minutes J

211 West Lee St. Apt 12. Just text when you get here and I’ll meet you downstairs
, I texted, not quite ready to introduce her to my aunt quite yet.

K see you soon J

Deal.

Tossing my phone to the side, I hopped out of bed, more energized than I had been five minutes ago.

I was ready to go with twenty minutes to spare.

“Going out?” My aunt asked, looking at the crossword puzzle on her lap.

“Yeah, I’m hitting the mall.”

“You’re going to the mall three days before Christmas?” she asked, knowing my aversion to the establishment even at the best of times.

“Yeah, I figure I better get you something for Christmas,” I teased, trying to change the subject.

“You don’t have to do that, sweetie,” she said, looking touched.

I instantly felt remorseful that I had almost forgotten to get her something. “Seriously, like I wasn’t going to get you anything,” I said, arching my eyebrow at her.

“Well, that’s sweet of you. Do you need cash?”

“Really? You’re going to offer me money for
your
gift?”

She laughed. “Just thought I would ask. You’re so self-sufficient, I feel like I’m doing a terrible job.”

“Are you kidding? You’re the best parental figure I’ve ever had.”

She sighed. “I should have stepped in years ago. I’m sorry I let you down.”

“It’s all good. Trust me. The old man would’ve pitched a fit if you had.”

“I promise I’m going to make it up to you.”

“Don’t sweat it,” I said, shooting her a grin. “I’ll catch you later.”

I barreled down the stairs to the first floor and sat on the low brick wall that separated the parking spaces from the small plots of grass in front of the first floor apartments. I dug my drumsticks out of my back pocket and used my knee as a mock drum, tapping out the new song Drake and I had hashed out the night before. It was a slower song than normal for us, but the lyrics Drake had put together were pure genius. The guy definitely had some mad lyrical skills.

“Need a ride?” Kassandra asked, pulling up alongside me.

“Why don’t you park and we’ll take my car,” I suggested, pointing to the empty spot next to mine.

“I can drive,” she said.

“That’s okay, I got it,” I said, helping her out of her car.

“Which mall?” I asked, starting up my Toyota.

“I was thinking Altamonte if that’s okay.”

“That’s cool,” I said, merging onto I4 East bound. “So, you’re feeling better?” I asked, maneuvering around a slow sedan that was under the impression the speed limit was only forty-five on the highway.

“Ugh, yes, damn those germy kids,” she said, resting her foot up on the dashboard.

The sexy red nail polish slicked on each of her toes grabbed my attention immediately.

She looked over, busting me. “Nice polish,” I said, grinning at her.

She laughed. “Thanks. That’s one great thing about living in Florida, wearing sandals all year long, so I can paint my toes for any occasion.”

“Hell yeah. I’d take this over a white Christmas any day.”

“You act like you know that from firsthand experience.”

“Oh, trust me, I do. I was brought up in the boonies of Wyoming and spent my first eleven years freezing my ass off seventy percent of the year.”

“You were lucky,” she said, sounding envious. “I wouldn’t mind living someplace where it snows. I’ve only ever been around snow for like a week at a time when we would take our annual ski trip after Christmas.”

Here was one of those differences between Kassandra and me that Drake was talking about. We never took any family vacations anywhere. Hell, we were lucky if my dad didn’t blow his check before the rent was due. Even when we had lived in Wyoming, we never had the money to go skiing. The only winter activity I had been able to persuade the old man to let me play was hockey, and that was only because all my gear had been donated.

“I haven’t done much skiing,” I said, hoping that eventually she wouldn’t come to her senses and realize the different worlds we came from.

“You’re not missing much. My favorite part was hanging out in the ski lodge by the fireplace fli…” her words trailed off and her cheeks reddened.

“Flirting with guys,” I finished for her, raising my eyebrows. “Give me an example,” I teased.

“No way,” she said, smiling now.

“Come on, lay your ski bunny charm on me,” I said. “Act like you don’t know me.”

“Ugh, no, it’s waaaay too embarrassing. I was shameless.”

“Come on, sweets, ask me to get a hot chocolate with you,” I said, wagging my eyebrows at her suggestively.

“Very funny, you’re a crack up,” she said, giving my arm a light swat.

“Oh, that looks so hot. Would you like me to blow it for you?” I asked, trying for my best sensually girlish voice.

She threw her head back and laughed. “That’s gross, you perv.” Her laughter was contagious and by the time we reached the mall, my side hurt from laughing with her.

I parked in front of Barnes and Noble and grabbed on to her hand as we headed toward the entrance. She looked happier right now than I could ever remember seeing her. I couldn’t resist pulling her into my arms and planting a kiss right on those sweet lips. She melted in my arms before abruptly pulling back.

“Wait, what if I’m still germy?” she asked, looking concerned.

“That’s a risk I’m willing to take,” I said, dipping my head down for one last kiss.

When we parted, she was intently studying me. “What?” I asked.

“You’re going to have to start showing some serious character flaws, because I’m beginning to think you’re too perfect,” she chided.

“Oh, sweet naïve Kass, you have no idea how far from the truth you are,” I said, tucking her into the crook of my arm and guiding her threw the doors. “You should flee now before I completely corrupt you. I said more seriously.

I found it ironic that he thought he would corrupt me. If anyone was doing the corrupting, it was me. I was just afraid that someday he would see the ugliness that lurked inside me. Pushing those fears to the side, I dragged him from one store to next searching for the perfect gifts for Megan, Mom and him.

“Break, please, I need a break,” Maddon cried after we’d been at the mall several hours. He dropped to his knees, making an overly exaggerated effort to sound desperate. “I demand food now, or I may have to start gnawing on your arm like a crazed zombie,” he added, making a grab for my arm.

“What a baby. We’ve only been here for what, three hours?” I said, tucking my arm behind me for safekeeping. I darted to the side, giggling as I tried to avoid his advance.

“You cannot run from a crazed monster,” he said, snatching me up in his arms. “On second thought, who needs bony arms when necks are so much more appetizing?” he said, dipping his head down to my neck.

My giggles died away as his warm breath brushed across the skin on my neck.

“Get a room,” a group of pre-teens catcalled, walking around us.

“Hit puberty,” Maddon retorted, pulling back. “Food,” he added, dragging me away.

“Pick your poison,” I said, standing on the outskirts of the packed food court. “I think I want a gyro from Greek Isle,” I said, pointing to one of my favorite fast food places. “How about you?”

“Wow, this place is a madhouse,” he stated. “We’re going to need a shoe-horn to get over there, but that sounds good. I think I’ll have the same, with a slice of pizza from Stavros, and a chicken burrito from Taco ‘Hell.'”

“So, you realize a gyro is quite filling?” I asked.

“Oh, I know. I get them all the time,” he said, dragging me toward Stavros for his slice of pizza.

“One slice of pepperoni,” he told the guy behind the counter. “You?” he asked, turning to me.

“I’m good,” I said, holding back a laugh. I reached into my bag to pull out my wallet.

“Seriously?” Maddon asked, looking insulted.

“Well, I did say it was my treat,” I pointed out.

“Not in my lifetime,” he said, pulling a scuffed wallet out of his back pocket.

“Hey, slow your role babe, I’m an equal rights kind of chick,” I teased, trying to stop his hand from pushing the money back into my wallet.

“That’s fine. I’m big on equal rights too, but not when I’m on a date.”

“How about going dutch then? That’s okay right?”

“Not in my book it isn’t,” he pretended to growl.

It felt a little uncomfortable having him pay. I was used to paying my own way since that’s the way my friends and I had been doing it for years. Even when Colton and I were dating, we still paid our own ways. It was obvious here though, by Maddon’s insistence, that this was an argument I wasn’t going to win.

After our world tour around the court, Maddon and I sat with our loaded up trays on the far side off the indoor courtyard, as far away from the screaming kids by the McDonald’s as we could get.

“So, you really think you can eat all that food,” I said, eyeing the gyro, slice of pizza, burrito, and the impulse order of fries he had bought from the burger place.

“I know I can, I’m legit,” he bragged. “Why you don’t believe me?”

“No, I think your eyes are way bigger than your stomach.”

“You interested in betting on it?”

“What’s the wager?” I asked. “Barf bags when you spew?” I teased.