Waiting for Something (23 page)

             
“I don’t want you to feel sorry. Just know you were in the wrong too.” He started to close the distance between us yet again.

             
“I am sorry because I know what I did was wrong. I didn’t want to hurt you but I didn’t want to hurt myself either so I just ignored the problem,” my voice got soft.

             
“It’s okay. I’m okay and you’re definitely okay,” he made me look into his eyes.

             
“I guess,” I sighed and looked away.

             
“What do you mean?” His face was perplexed.

             
“Well, he told me he loved and all I said was ‘you too.’” I felt embarrassed telling this sort of thing to Jake.

             
“’You too?’ Ah c’mon, Ali Cat, even I’m better than that,” he started to laugh a little.

             
“Stop laughing! It’s not funny,” I shoved him a little.

             
“Don’t you start with me, little lady,” he pointed his finger at me.

             
“Okay, Grandpa,” I mocked him.

             
“Ha ha. So have you two done it?” he joked and slapped his arm.

             
“That’s none of your business,” I was only half joking around.

             
“Bet he’s not as good as me.” He was right.

             
“You’re right, he’s not,” I watched his eyes widen a little. Now he was intrigued.

             
“So I’m the best you’ve ever had?” He wanted more. This was his game.

             
“I don’t know. You tell me.” Oh shit. The words slipped out and I just thought of the things he could say in return.

             
“Don’t worry, I won’t say anything.” His devilish grin hinted that he wasn’t done torturing me.

             
“I’m going outside,” I headed toward the doors in the back where everyone was sitting around with drinks.

             
“Hey, honey. You want take a turn at the grill?” My dad was a nerd.

             
“Nope, I’m good. Hey, Marlie, wanna take a walk?” My eyes dug into her.

             
“Yes, yes a walk sounds great.” She kissed Justin quickly and scurried off with me.

             
“You have to keep me away from Jake as much as possible,” I didn’t beat around the bush.

             
“Okay, hello to you too. Why’s that?” The waves from the beach were making it chilly.

             
“I can’t cheat on Jesse and that’s exactly what I’ll do if I let myself around Jake alone.” I had to be honest with myself.

             
“Yes, ma’am. You’ll be too busy with family and me to even notice Jake.” Good ol’ Marlie. I could always count on her.

             
“Why do I let him tempt me?” We made our back to the house.

             
“Can I be completely honest with you?” This was going to hurt.

             
“As much as I don’t want you to be, yes, please.” We walked up the steps to my back porch.

             
“You still have feelings for him and no matter how hard you try to not have feelings for him you always will.” And with that we walked inside where everyone was sitting around waiting for us.

             
“Alright, everyone, who wants to say grace?” my dad set the fruit salad on the table.

             
“If you don’t mind, everyone, I’d like to say something,” Jake surprised us all.

             
“Wonderful, go ahead, Jake,” my mom bowed her head.

             
“Dear Lord, thank you for the friends and family we are blessed with today and also for this delicious smelling food. Amen.” Short but it was sweet and it was something. He doesn’t talk much at these things.

             
“This steak is amazing,” Justin took a bite.

             
“Thank you. You want to know the trick?” My dad had a little bit of hippy in his jeans so I had to say it.

             
“Peace and love?” I snickered.

             
“Nope, Lawry,” he smiled.

             
“You are so weird,” I rolled my eyes.

             
“I’m your dad. That’s my job and I’m not some hippy either,” he obviously caught on to my joke.

             
“Uh, sorry, Mr. Burns, but you kind of are,” Marlie laughed.

             
After dinner me, Marlie and my mom were in the kitchen while the guys watched a game on the tv in the “man cave.”

             
“So, Marlie, made any big plans for the wedding yet?” my mom started conversation.

             
“Not really. We have a date set and Justin and I asked Ali and Jake to be our number ones. Besides that, it’s still unsettled. I’m hoping to get a lot done over break.” She handed me a plate to dry.

             
“I didn’t know Jake was the best man. I thought maybe Carter would be,” I kind of shot her a look.

             
“He was but Carter said he’d be better off as a groomsman, so he’s second in command,” she shot me another look.

             
“Well they are both fine young men. Speaking of which, Ali, how’s Jesse? Did his flight go alright?” Oh yeah, Jesse. I forgot about him.

             
“Um, yeah, they got in just fine. He’s having a great time,” I faked a smile.

             
“Well that’s good. I hope he’ll get a chance to meet us soon.” My mom, always pushy.

             
“Over spring break, I promise,” I rolled my eyes yet again.

             
“Alright, all finished,” my mom turned off the sink and dried her hands.

             
“Finally. Why don’t we ever use our nice dishwasher?” I looked over and there sat our dishwasher, lonely as ever.

             
“Because the dishes get cleaner this way,” she lectured me.

             
“No they don’t, but whatever. I’m going to my room. Marlie, wanna join?” I looked over my shoulder, hopeful.

             
“Actually Justin and I gotta get going. We have some planning we need to get done.” I could tell she felt bad.

             
“It’s cool. I’ll see you tomorrow?” I gave her a hug.

             
“I’ll be here,” she squeezed me back tightly.

             
“I actually gotta get going too. Some friends invited me to their place,” Carter looked at his phone and shoved it back into his pocket.

             
“Well looks like it’s just us five.” My dad was so cheerful and so stupidly blind.

             
“Sounds like fun,” I could feel my teeth grind together.

             
“Take a seat, kiddo,” my dad patted the cushion between him and, of course, Jake. I practically had to drag myself to the seat.

             
“Do we really have to watch basketball?” I played it off as some stupid girl thing. Score.

             
“Nope. Dill, find a good movie we can all watch,” my mom came in with some popcorn and a glass of wine for herself.

             
“You kids want anything to drink?” she set her glass down.

             
“I’ll go get it. Dill, you want something?” I stood up and looked at Dillon.

             
“An MD, duh. Dad, does the movie have to come from a legal site?” Yep, this was my brother, a douche.

             
“I’ll help.” Before I could protest, Jake followed behind me. I couldn’t let him know I was worried about my feelings for him. He’d just feed off them and play a game.

             
“I can get the drinks on my own,” I shoved past him to get to the fridge.

             
“What crawled up your butt?” he took a cookie from the jar on the counter.

             
“Excuse me?” I watched him take bite. Damn he had nice lips.

             
“You are being extremely short with me, Ali Cat. Why? Because I found out that you’ve had sex with your new boy toy?” he leaned against the counter.

             
“My parents could hear. Keep it down and he’s not my boy toy. He’s my boyfriend,” I snapped.

             
“Right, my apologies,” he chuckled.

             
“Ali, we picked ‘We’re the Millers.’ Is that okay?” my dad yelled from the other room.

             
“Yeah, Dad, it’s fine. Look, I don’t know why you’ve suddenly decided to be a jerk but seriously, if you’re going to hang out with me and my family, keep it to a minimum,” I growled.

             
“Don’t worry, Ali Cat,” he grabbed another cookie, slapped my ass and walked by into the living room. Ass.

             
“Alright, start the movie,” I sat down with my drink and the movie started. Longest hour and a half of my life.

             
“Dad, Mom. Wake up,” I shoved them awake after the movie finished.

             
“Well, guess we’re older than we remembered. Come on, darling, let’s go to bed.” My dad yawned, they stood up and stretched.

             
“Don’t forget to unplug the Christmas tree lights,” Mom’s voice was in mid-yawn.

             
“Love you guys. Sleep tight.” My dad followed my mom upstairs.

             
“Love you.” My mom was really out of it.

             
“Night.” I shut the TV off.

             
“What are you doing?” Dillon looked up from his phone.

             
“You need to go to bed,” I looked at the clock.

             
“Um, sorry, since when was midnight late?” he scoffed.

             
“Whatever. I’ll walk you to your car, Jake.” He was just sitting there enjoying the scene.

             
“Alright, looks like it’s a one man sleepover yet again,” he got up.

             
“What do you mean?” I walked to the front door and watched as Dillon turned the TV back on.

             
“Carter’s been sleeping over at this girl’s house a lot lately. I think they’re dating. I’m not really sure. He hasn’t clarified it with me so I’m still kind of confused on that part.

             
“So you’re alone? In that huge house?” I kind of felt bad for him. It was Christmas time.

             
“Yeah. The only reason the place is even decorated is because of our house maid.” He seriously didn’t think it was that big of a deal? I couldn’t just let him be alone.

             
“Dillon, I’m gonna be at Jake’s for a while.” Whatever happened, happened. I just have to trust myself.

             
“Yeah, whatever. See ya.” We walked out to Jake’s car.

             
“What are you doing?” he looked confused.

             
“I’m not going to let you be alone during this time of year,” I got in on the passenger side of his car.

             
“You don’t have to, really. I’m not trying to make you feel bad for me.” He got in on the other side.

             
“No, I know. That’s why I’m doing it.” I buckled my seatbelt and we backed out of the driveway.

             
“I’ll start the fireplace,” he unlocked the front door and walked in.

             
“Wow, the place looks amazing.” There were Christmas lights everywhere. It looked like stars.

             
“Yeah, I love it. See that bottle of whiskey?” he pointed to the counter.

             
“What about it?” I took my shoes and jacket off.

             
“This past week I’ve been sitting in the quiet, looking up at the lights and drinking that whiskey. It’s been great. Bring it over here.” I did as I was told and he sat down, unscrewed the lid and took a swig.

             
“I’m not going to drink that,” I stayed standing. Standing and staying sober was the best way not to let my feelings get ahead of me.

             
“Fine, I’ll make you hot chocolate,” he got off of the couch and headed to the kitchen.