Nickels (14 page)

As she stepped out of the pool, Niki tossed the raft on the
far side after retrieving her water bottle.  Pool water dripped down her legs
as she made her way to where she put her towel and flip-flops.  She wrapped the
towel around her waist.  Leaning to one side, she twisted her hair to remove
the excess water as she slipped on her flip-flops.

She opened the door to the sound of a curse word and Kyle’s
voice.  “She was staring.”

“So,” Marcy’s voice retorted.  “It’s not like you can make
the scars magically go away.”

He grunted.

“Come on.  Don’t ruin the party.”

“Party?”  Both Niki and Kyle said at the same time.

Marcy and Kyle looked her direction from the kitchen where
they had been arguing.  He looked away as he reached for his bag on the counter. 
He donned a plain white t-shirt.  While it hid the scars, she could still see
the definition of his toned chest.

“Yes, party.  Chad should be here any minute with the food. 
Then we have a house full of guests coming for our Memorial Day BBQ.”

Kyle snidely replied, “I seem to have misplaced my
invitation.”

Still frowning at him, Niki said, “Me, too.”

Marcy looked from one to the other.  “Oh, for Pete’s sake,
will the two of you just kiss and make up already?”

The doorbell rang and Marcy ran to get it.  Chad was here. 
Hopefully they still had some time before the others, whoever they were,
arrived.

Niki seized the opportunity while Marcy and Chad were
distracted with each other.  “Kyle—”

“Save it.  If it’s pity, I don’t want it.  If it’s
curiosity, it’s none of your business.”

She pursed her lips together.  Fine with her.  She should
still be mad at him for dunking her anyway.  Turning, she sped down the hall to
her room, slamming her door shut.

Marcy and Kyle’s muffled voices filtered through her door as
she stripped off her bikini.  She pulled on her blue one-piece suit and a pair
of jean shorts, opting for the more conservative attire for Marcy’s secretive
party.  She combed out her hair then braided it, hoping to keep it from
becoming a tangled mess in the pool if she got in again.

Now, if she could only forget the feeling of Kyle’s hands on
her waist.

Hearing her name being shouted down the hall, she rejoined
the others in the kitchen.  Kyle still looked peeved.  Marcy and Chad were
happily chatting away.

“There’s more stuff in the car,” Marcy pointed to the front
of the house as she looked at Niki and Kyle.

Niki started in that direction as Kyle followed behind her. 
When she bent down to grab a few bags from the back seat, he spoke, his voice
so close it made her jump.  “Let me get that.”

“I’m good,” she replied tersely.  It’s not like there were
only two bags or anything.  The whole back seat was filled.

“Fine,” he snapped.  As she started to walk away, he reached
out for her arm.  His voice softened, “I’m sorry.”

Niki flashed him a somewhat strained smile before darting
back inside.  Depositing the bags on the counter, she waited for Kyle to enter
the house before running back out for another load.  With a house full of
people, she should be able to avoid him the rest of the day.  She dropped the
second load on the counter.

“Why don’t you guys go get the grill going?” Marcy suggested
to the two men.  “Niki and I will take care of this.”

Once Kyle and Chad were outside, Marcy said, “I’m sorry
about Kyle.  He’s still real touchy about the accident and the scars.  He’s
letting it mess with his head when he just needs to get over it.”

Get over it.
  That’s what they said about her this
morning, Niki thought as she emptied the grocery bags onto the counter.  “I
wouldn’t know anything about that,” she said under her breath.

The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of the first round
of guests.  Marcy greeted a group of four guys that rode over together.  She
led them to the kitchen and introduced them as guys from her church group
before she directed them out back.  Another group arrived—two girls also from
Marcy’s church group.  Next were Doug and his girlfriend Shelly.  Then Jake. 
Last to arrive was Brian and his wife Heather.

Niki lifted up a tray of seasoned steaks and headed for the
sliding glass door.  As she went to open it, one of Marcy’s church friends
opened the door for her.

“Here, let me take that,” he said.

“Thanks, uh…”

“Trevor.”

“Thanks, Trevor.”  She glanced at his muscled tan chest and
his gorgeous hazel eyes.  Marcy forgot to tell her there were hot guys at her
church.  Heat rose to her cheeks at the thought.

Once he set the platter on the table next to the grill,
Trevor quickly returned to sit next to Niki.

“Marcy tells us you are a software engineer,” Trevor said.

She smiled.  “Does that surprise you?”

“What, that you’re an engineer or that you’re hot?”

Was he flirting with her?  She smiled, the heat returning to
her cheeks again.  “What do you do for a living?”

He grinned, his hazel eyes glinting.  “I’m a software
engineer.”

“That explains why I like you.  Us geeks, we gotta stick
together.”

Everyone sitting nearby listening laughed at that.  Except
Kyle.  He stood leaning against the pillar that supported the covered patio. 
Was
he glaring at Trevor?
  No, she must be imagining things.

The conversation buzzed for several minutes before Marcy
suggested a game of water volleyball.  As everyone stripped down to swim suits,
Marcy and Chad set up the net.  Niki jumped in the pool, quickly followed by
Trevor, who suggested a game of geeks versus preppies.  She laughed at the
idea, loving it.  She looked over to the edge of the pool where Kyle stood,
t-shirt still hugging his chest.  He said something to Chad before taking over
the grilling duties, leaving her to wonder if he was purposely avoiding the fun
because of his scars.

Chad climbed into the pool next to Marcy and in front of
Heather.  Two of the guys from her church also lined the back row.  On Niki’s
side, it was her and Trevor in the front.  Doug, Jake, and Brian in the back. 
The others sat out.  Doug was first to serve.  He batted the ball over the net
towards Marcy.  Marcy set and Chad spiked.  Niki dove for the ball, hitting it
in the air just before it hit the water.  Trevor came up beside her and spiked
it hard.  The geeks shouted as the ball smacked the water uncontested. 
Laughing, she put her hand up to Trevor for a high five.

The game continued with the score shifting from geeks to
preppies and back again.  Niki and Trevor made a great team.  Whenever they
were in front the points piled up.  Just when the geeks were ahead again, Kyle
announced that the food was ready.  Everyone broke from the pool and headed
inside to fix up their plates.

Niki ended up in line behind Trevor and in front of Doug.

“What’s with you and Kyle?” Doug asked.

“What are you talking about?”  Her eyes scanned the line,
searching for Kyle.  He was three people ahead of them in line.

“That.”

“What?”

“The two of you keep looking at each other.  You missed that
ball out there ‘cause you were staring at him.  What’s up with that?  I thought
you hated him.”

Niki lowered her voice, “I don’t hate him.”

“Are you two dating?”

“You have a wild imagination.  Now stop.”

“Whatever you say, Nik.”

“Stop calling me that.”

She spooned up some potato salad, grabbed some steak, and
loaded the rest of her plate with salad covered in balsamic vinaigrette.  She
looked around for a seat, opting to sit by the pool dangling her feet in the
water.

“Is this seat taken?” Trevor asked.

She shook her head as she chewed a bite of salad.  She
scooted over so he could share the towel she was sitting on.  It provided some
relief from the baking concrete.

“So, are you seeing anyone?”

Niki just about choked on the piece of steak she was
chewing.  “You’re funny.  I’m guessing Marcy didn’t give you the complete run
down on my miserable life?”

He shook his head.  “Is it that bad?”

“No, not really.  I just work a lot.  Never seem to have
time to date,” she lied, not wanting to admit to this nice guy her real reasons. 
“You know how it is—unpredictable and long hours prior to launching any new
software.”

“I hear ya.  It does make it hard finding someone who gets
it.”

“What about you?”

“Same boat, I guess,” Trevor said.  “Not much time.  No one
at work—I’m sure you know how few women there are in this industry.  And the
girls at church…  Well, most of them seem to be looking to snag a husband.  I’m
just not into girls that already see me waiting at the altar.  I’d kinda like
to just hang out and see where things go, you know.  No pressure.”

She nodded.  She liked this guy.  He was down to earth, not
stuck up like so many of the Christian guys Marcy tried to set her up with.  He
knew he wasn’t ready for something serious and she admired that.  Goodness
knows she wasn’t even sure if she was ready for dating in general.

“I was wondering…” Trevor said, playing with the edge of his
now empty plate.  “Would you like to go for a coffee on Saturday?”

Niki’s heart picked up pace.  He was a nice guy.  And coffee
was so much better than dinner.  If it turned out to be lame, she wouldn’t have
to sit there forever waiting for it to end.  It might not be so bad.  She
already enjoyed Trevor’s company today.

“Sure.  Where can I meet you?” she asked.

They finalized the date before he stood.  “Well, I gotta
go.  The guys look like they’re ready and I rode with them.  It was nice
getting to know you, Niki.”

“See ya Saturday.”

“What was that all about?” Kyle asked as he took the seat
next to her seconds after Trevor left.

“Come to make my life miserable?”  She was still annoyed
with him for this morning.

“No.  Just wondering what Trevor wanted.”

“A date.”

Kyle frowned.  “Be careful.  He’s got a bit of a
reputation.”

She rolled her eyes.  “Sure.  I suppose the first guy that I
accept a date from is bound to have some defect.”

“I’m serious.  He’s a bit of a player.”

“Really?” she asked, her ire getting the better of her. 
“Seems to me like he’s a nice guy.  And he actually fits within my rules—no
clients and no coworkers.  I would think you’d be happy.”

“I’m not the one trying to shove you into the arms of a man.”

“You have a problem with me dating?”

“No.  Just dating him.”

Niki snorted in disgust.  “Whatever.  I’m sure I’ll have
fun
. 
That’s what you’ve been trying to get through my thick skull all morning
anyway.”

She stood and went inside to help clean up.  When she told
Marcy the news, her friend seemed genuinely happy for her.  So what was Kyle’s
deal anyway?

Kyle moved away from Niki towards the grill.  He grabbed the
wire brush and attacked the cool grill with vigor.

He hoped she wouldn’t get involved with Trevor.  From what
Chad told him, Trevor didn’t exactly behave like a Christian.  He didn’t want
to see Niki get hurt.

Like a Christian.  Kyle was in no position to judge.  He
only became a Christian after the accident.

Before, he was a typical twenty-something male.  In college,
he went out with as many women as he could.  He had the looks and he had the
charm.  He never seemed to be in want for the company of a pretty girl.

There was only one that got him into to trouble.  It wasn’t
her fault.  Not really.  He tried to keep it from changing his life, and had
been very successful at it…

Until he became a Christian.  Then he had to face his past
with one very sobering reality.  He had been a horrible father to Alana.  It
wasn’t her fault that her parents got drunk.  One thing led to another—to her
birth.

He sighed heavily.

It didn’t matter that he hadn’t wanted her.  Her mother
refused to get an abortion.  At least he had enough sense of responsibility to
offer child support.