The XOXO New Adult Collection: 16 Full Length New Adult Stories (296 page)

Summer

“Love has a way of making you appreciate the silly.” –Helen Meckelberg

(aka “Helen Magellan”)

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T
wice I caught myself humming as I showered and dressed for breakfast the next morning. I took extra time with my hair, blow-drying it until my pesky half-curls smoothed into loose waves that hung down my back. Normally, I twisted it up, hating the way it stuck to my neck when the humidity touched it, but today, I wanted it to hang. It felt free that way. More relaxed. Like me.

I pulled on a pair of denim shorts I usually only wore around the house because the pockets hung lower than the hem line, telling myself my choice of attire had nothing to do with wanting a reaction from a certain blue-eyed farmhand. A white tank and my favorite boots completed the look and I smiled at myself in the full-length mirror.

As a resident and therefore employee of Heritage Plantation, I’d learned long ago you never knew when you’d be asked to take a shift on the tractor or push a Ditch Witch. I’d come home more than once with burns and cuts along my bare calves and knees. As a result, long pants were the uniform most days even with my official title of manager and bookkeeper. But today was Saturday. No heavy machinery being operated today. And for the first time in months, I wanted to be noticed.

I leaned in close to the mirror and flicked on a last layer of mascara before calling it done and waltzing out. By the time I reached the kitchen, I was humming again. Mazie looked up from her usual position in front of the island, her mixing hand slowing as she caught sight of me. My dad and Frank were seated at the table, coffee mugs in hand, the newspaper spread between them.

“Morning,” I said cheerily, passing Mazie on the way to the coffee pot.

“Good morning,” Mazie returned, offering her cheek up for a kiss as I walked by.

“Morning, sunshine,” Dad called from the table. He did a double take when he saw me.

Frank eyed me as I reached for a clean mug. “Sunshine seems to be the perfect word,” he agreed.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

My dad shook his head and Mazie winked. “You glow, paidi mou,” she said.

“I do not glow,” I argued.

Frank snickered. He and my dad exchanged a look before going back to their paper. Mazie began whistling as she stirred.

“I glow?” I repeated to myself, sipping my coffee and trying to decide how I felt about that description. I was pretty sure the weather wasn’t to blame. I hadn’t stepped out of the air-conditioning yet.

“From the inside out,” Mazie explained.

Interesting. No one had ever said that about me before. Then again, I’d never felt quite this way before. Excitement, but more than that. Anticipation. When was the last time I’d looked forward to something? Moving home had been more like duty. A necessary step. Graduation, but that had been more like checking something off a to-do list, as had school in general. And Aaron. I think I’d looked forward to things with him, in the beginning at least. Dates. Calls. Spending time together. But none of it had ever lit me like this. Like hope. And heat. And passion.

I looked up over the rim of my coffee mug and found all three of them watching me with amused expressions. “What?” I demanded.

They went back to their tasks without a word—all three wearing goofy smiles.

“Dad, can I borrow the truck? I’m going into town,” I announced, setting my half-empty mug in the sink and heading for the door.

“Sure. The keys are in the bowl by the door. Where to?” my dad asked, looking up from his paper.

“I promised I’d stop in and see Leslie at her new store when I had time.” I shrugged like it didn’t matter either way. “Today, I’m not busy.”

“Well, tell her we said hello,” my dad said.

“And tonight?” Frank asked. “You free then too, because I heard—”

“I have plans tonight,” I said, cutting him off before he could say something to rile me.

“A date?” Mazie’s eyes lit up and she dropped the spoon back into her mixing bowl.

I stopped at the door, my shoulders sagging, and turned to face them. So much for keeping a lid on it. “Yes. I have a date. With Ford. We’re going to dinner,” I explained, hoping to tell them enough to satisfy their curiosity without giving away anything new for the gossip mill.

Frank opened his mouth but I spun on my heel and pushed the door aside, making an exit faster than he could get words out. “Leaving now,” I called over my shoulder. “Talk later.”

From the other side of the door, Frank said something and they all laughed.

Leslie’s shop wasn’t hard to find, considering it was Grayson County’s only jewelry store. Well, unless you counted the sterling silver beaded stuff at Smallmart. Which I didn’t.

The bell over the door dinged as I entered. Leslie looked up from the cash register and waved before continuing to ring up the customer in front of her. Her delicate hands punched the buttons in a flurry of stabs and then she gave her customer, Helen, her total. I almost choked when I heard it. The figure had enough digits to be a phone number.

Helen didn’t bat an eyelash as she handed over a plastic credit card and waited while Leslie completed the sale. I pretended to be very interested in the display of onyx rings across the store. Maybe Helen wouldn’t notice me if I stayed out of the way.

When I’d dressed to be noticed this morning I hadn’t anticipated running into Helen Magellan—a name she’d earned by always knowing everyone’s business right down to their location on a given day. One thing about Helen, she got her information the straightforward way. No gossiping necessary. She’d come right out and ask what you were doing somewhere and why and where were you headed next and who wished you wouldn’t. “Nosy” was not in her vocabulary. Neither was “tact.” She liked to say she was merely “concerned.” I had no doubt she wouldn’t think twice about asking for my opinion about my parents and what had brought me back to Grayson after being so adamant about staying gone.

Across the store, Helen signed off on the receipt and Leslie handed her a small black bag. “Here you are, Miss Helen. You enjoy the sparkles,” Leslie said.

“Oh, you know I will,” Helen said, a decidedly mischievous note in her voice as she tucked the little baggie into her massive suitcase-purse. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched her make for the door.

Go, go, go.

Halfway there, she paused, studying me. Dammit. My shoulders sagged when she turned to face me fully, her eyes sharper than her age would suggest. “Summer Stafford, is that you?” she asked, wandering closer. “Your mother said you were back in town. How are you?”

I grimaced. No telling what else she’d heard if it came from my mom. “I’m fine, Miss Helen. How are you?” I asked, arching a brow and nodding toward the bag I’d seen her stow away. Maybe if I redirected the attention ... “Bought yourself something nice, I see.”

She hoisted her bag higher on her shoulder. “Yes, Leslie helped me find a diamond necklace that’s to die for. Bobby will love it too.”

“Bobby?” I looked from Helen to Leslie, who stood far enough back she could make animated faces at me without Helen seeing. When I repeated the unfamiliar name, Leslie pretended to swoon.

“Oh, honey, you’ll meet him soon enough. He’s out of town on business right now, but he’ll be back in time for your momma’s birthday shindig.”

Ugh. My mom’s birthday party had been the event of the summer since as far back as I could remember. My dad went all out one year when they were first married and invited the whole town, and ever since, it’d only grown in size and reputation as Grayson County’s best party of the year. I’d conveniently forgotten about it this year—until now.

“Is he a friend of yours then?” I asked, glossing over any mention of the party or my mother.

“Bobby is Helen’s fiancé,” Leslie spoke up.

“You’re engaged?” I asked, trying not to let my mouth hang open as I scrolled through the list of eligible bachelors in town over the age of sixty. Not many. And none named Bobby that I knew of.

“They met on a cruise to the Bahamas,” Leslie went on, sounding as if she were quoting it. “It was love at first sight in the buffet line.”

Instead of protesting her teasing, Helen giggled. I could only stare. Helen’s husband had died when I was in middle school. Cancer of some kind, though I couldn’t remember exactly. In the time since, I’d never seen Helen talk about or spend time with a man in any other setting but a church potluck or getting her groceries carried to her car. And I’d never, ever, seen her giggle.

“He must be pretty special,” I said finally.

“And loaded,” Leslie added.

Helen glared at her for that one but it lacked any real fire. “He’s one-of-a-kind,” Helen agreed. “I told him I’ve always wanted a diamond necklace. Something big and gaudy like that woman in Titanic.”

“Rose,” I supplied for her.

“Yes, that’s the one. Anyway,” she went on, patting her purse, “he bought me one as an engagement present. I’m going to wear it on our wedding night. On the ship.” She paused and looked around as if there might be an eavesdropper lurking in the otherwise empty shop. “And I ain’t wearing nothing else,” she whispered.

Leslie snorted.

“Wow. That sounds ...” I began.

“Sinful, I know,” she finished, flashing all her teeth in a mischievous smile. I couldn’t help it—I laughed. “I know you think I’m crazy,” she went on, “but I don’t give two hens’ eggs. Love has a way of making you appreciate the silly.”

My laughter faded as I pictured Ford at a fancy dinner with dirt up to his elbows. “It’s not silly, Miss Helen. It’s sexy. I love it.”

“Thank you, dear.” Helen shot Leslie a look that said, “See?” and gave a “Hmph.”

“You have a good day,” Leslie said cheerily as she walked the older woman to the door and held it open. “We’ll see you soon. Enjoy your purchase.”

“Oh, I plan to,” Helen said on her way out. I stood in the shop’s doorway with Leslie, watching Helen make her way down the sidewalk. When she was out of earshot, Leslie let loose with a belly laugh.

“What’s so funny?” My question only made her laugh harder until she stumbled back inside and had to hang on to the glass counter to keep from falling over. “It’s just sad, is all,” Leslie said, wiping her eye.

“What?”

“Miss Helen has more sex than we do.”

I put a hand on my hip, intending to snap some retort back at her, but all my mouth ended up doing was falling open and then curving up. Before I knew it, I was laughing with her. “You’re right, it’s pathetic.” Then her words dawned on me. “Wait, what do you mean ‘we?’ What about you and Joe?”

Her laughter died off and like a switch had been flipped, her expression turned instantly sad. “Let’s just say life has a way of coming between your plans. And by life I mean toddlers.”

“Are you guys having problems?”

“No,” she said, waving me away. “Not like you mean. But hey, a girl gets frustrated.”

“I’m sorry, Les,” I said.

“Yeah, me too.” Her expression turned forcibly cheery. “We’ll figure it out, though. We always do. Anyway, enough about my drama. What brought you all the way up here today?”

“Can’t I just come see my friend at her new job?”

She cocked her head and raised her brows. “A friend can, yes. Not Summer Stafford, who is terminally all work and no play.”

“I am not all work and no play.”

“Sweetie, you haven’t gone out for fun since before the SATs.”

“You’re ridiculous. I went out all the time in high school.”

“On parent-approved dates. With seniors who’d already gotten into top-tier schools. That’s not fun. That’s strategic.” I opened my mouth but she cut me off, a manicured hand on her hip. “Tell me I’m wrong,” she challenged.

“You’re—” My shoulders slumped as I thought back over the last few years. Even Aaron fit into the category she’d described. “Whatever. I can get this from Casey. I don’t need it from you.” I turned to go but Leslie grabbed my hand and held me in place.

“No! Stay. I promise I won’t heckle you anymore. Besides, you’re here now, so maybe this means a new Summer? A fun Summer?”

“Maybe.” I sighed, willing the anger away. Leslie had only been messing around. It was my own stuff that ignited my temper. “I do have a date tonight.”

“Holy Mother Theresa! With that guy, Ford?”

“Yeah.”

“Ahhhh!” Her scream drowned out the rest of my words. I covered my ears. “Sorry, sorry,” she said, lowering her voice by a few decibels.

“Geez, Leslie. I’d like to keep my hearing a little longer.”

“Right, sorry. I’m just excited for you. He’s hot. And yummy. And you’re—”

“No fun?” I finished.

“That is not what I was going to say. This is a big deal. You’re doing something that wasn’t part of the plan. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, Les.”

“Where is he taking you?”

“I don’t know. Dinner. I left it up to him.”

“Oh, Lord. That could mean anything from Dickie’s Barbeque to a burger at Sadie’s. What are you wearing?”

“And that’s why I’m here.”

Leslie whooped. “Good, because that is something you can’t get from Casey.”

“I shudder to think what he’d pick out,” I agreed.

“Although, his choice might not be far off from mine in this case,” she added, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

“Leslie,” I warned.

“You definitely need something slexy.”

“Slexy?” I repeated.

“You know, slutty and sexy all at once. It’s classier than just being slutty by itself.” She eyed me top to bottom. “Too bad booty shorts won’t work because you’ve got slexy down right now.”

“What have I gotten myself into?”

Leslie grinned. “No complaining. You’ve just given me purpose. Come on.” She grabbed her bag from behind the counter and flipped the sign on the door to “Closed.”

“Where are we going?” I asked, letting her lead me out the door by the wrist.

“Where every girl goes before her first date with a guy hot enough to melt the silicone out of implants. Lingerie shopping.”

Any protests I might’ve made were swallowed up by Leslie’s villainous laugh.

***

I
‘d seen bigger dresses on toddlers. It’s all I could think as I sashayed this way and that in front of my bedroom mirror that evening. But it was twirly and the print was cute. If I’d been more daring, I might’ve picked it for myself. Maybe. If it had six more inches of fabric. On the top
and
bottom.