A New Journey (Second Chance #3) (23 page)

“Karla, can I talk to you for a minute?” Conner asked from behind her.

“Sure.” She answered and got up from the sofa she was sitting on in the Newberry’s game room. She followed Conner out of the game room and down the hall to his room. Once inside Conner shut the door and turned to Karla.

“I need to talk to you privately.” He explained when she looked at the closed door. “I promise that I only want to talk, but I don’t want Kevin to eavesdrop. He’s home this weekend because Dad had to go to some kind of convention and won’t be back until tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Karla answered quietly. She was kind of disappointed that he only had talking in mind, but she wasn’t about to tell him that.

“Karla, I want to ask you something. You don’t have to answer right away, but I need to ask tonight.” Conner paused and took a deep breath before he continued. “Karla Ann Peterson, will you be my girlfriend again?”

Karla looked at him for a second before her face broke into a smile that lit up the room. “Yes. Oh, yes, Conner. I will definitely be your girlfriend again.”

Conner’s smile matched Karla’s as he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. When he picked her up she tilted her head and pressed her lips to his.

He broke the kiss after just a moment and looked into her eyes. “I love you, Karla.”

“I love you too, Conner.” She replied and pressed her lips to his again. When he went to pull away this time she tangled her hands in his hair and deepened the kiss. He groaned deep in his throat and lowered her to her feet. Once her feet were on the floor he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. Before either of them knew what was happening his hand skimmed down her back, across her butt and to the bottom edge of the dress she wore. He caressed her thigh just below her hem line and she moaned into his mouth. 

After another minute passed Conner gently pulled away from her and took a step back. “Karla, we can’t. As much as I want to, we can’t.” He told her breathlessly.

“I know. I’m sorry. I should have never started that.” Karla said and looked at the floor.

“Look at me please.” Conner said in a gentle voice. When Karla looked up he gently took her face in his hands and kissed her forehead. “I want nothing more than to take you to my bed and make love to you, but I’m not going to because one, I don’t think we’re ready and two, I don’t have any way of protecting us and that’s not a risk I’m willing to take. I love you, but neither of us are ready to be parents.”

Karla looked at him for a second before she nodded her agreement. “I think we should get back to the others before they come looking for us.”

“I agree.” Conner responded, but before Karla could open the door he grabbed her hand and pulled her against him again. “Never doubt that I want you in every possible way.” He said before he pressed his lips to hers quickly and released her.

They walked back to the game room holding hands and when they walked in they spotted Manuel and Callie sitting at the table in the corner playing Scrabble with Rylee and Elliot. Travis, Malinda and Madison were gathered around watching and Kiara and Jake were battling it out on the Xbox. “They didn’t miss us at all.” Karla muttered and Conner laughed.

“Some of us did.” Kevin said from the chair in the corner. “Where did you two go?”

“We went to talk, Kev. Not that it’s any of your business.” Conner answered irritably.

“It is my business. Dad isn’t here and mom wanted me to come home to help with this little party so that makes it my business.”

“Kevin, we were talking. That’s it.” Karla tried to reassure him, but he didn’t want to hear that.

“You two were in Conner’s room with the door shut.” Kevin said loudly and everyone looked up at them.

“You were what?” Manuel said from across the room.

“We were in Conner’s room talking. Yes, the door was shut, but we were only talking.” Karla explained to her brother.

“Then why is Conner’s hair a mess?” Kevin asked in a harsh tone.

“Because I was running my hands through it like I always do when I’m nervous.” Conner lied. He wasn’t about to announce to Karla’s brothers that it was her hands that had messed up his hair.

“Kev, back off. He isn’t you and won’t make the same stupid mistakes you did.” Callie shouted at her older brother.

Kevin jumped to his feet and started toward Callie. “You have no right bringing that shit up.” He yelled.

Manuel stepped in front of Callie right before Kevin got to her and looked at Kevin. “You need to calm down before you do something you’ll regret.” Manuel warned him.

“He’s right, Kev. You need to calm down.” Conner said calmly. “Callie shouldn’t have said that, but what she said is true. I’m not you and I will not take any kind of risk with Karla.”

“You both need to shut up.” Kevin shouted.

“Can everyone calm down please?” Rylee said loudly. “Look what you’re doing to Karla.”

At the mention of Karla’s name Manuel and Conner froze and looked back to see Karla sitting on the sofa with her knees pulled to her chest. She was rocking slowly, had her face buried in her knees and her whole body was shaking.

Conner turned back to his brother. “I’m done with you, Kevin.” He spat out before he hurried over to Karla and wrapped his arms around her. When Callie sat down on Karla’s other side Manuel moved to stand in front of them all. Elliot and Travis moved to either side of Manuel, Jake and Kiara stood behind the sofa where Karla was and Madison and Malinda remained in the corner in their seats.

“Kevin, I think you should leave.” Callie said from her place beside Karla.

“What is going on in here?” Karen said from the door. No one had heard her enter, but now that she was here everyone could feel her presence. “I could hear the shouting all the way in the kitchen.

“Mom.” Callie said and when Karen looked at her she nodded to Kevin. “He freaked out because Conner and Karla were talking in Conner’s room.”

“They were in there with the door closed, Mom.” Kevin said through gritted teeth.

“Conner? Is this true?” Karen asked and when Conner nodded she sighed. “You know that’s against the rules, but if you say you were only talking then I believe you. You have never given me any reason to doubt your word.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Conner said as he stroked Karla’s back.

“Is she alright?” Karen asked in a concerned voice.

“I don’t know.” Callie answered honestly.

“She’s been like this since the shouting started.” Rylee told her. “I tried to calm her down, but it isn’t working.”

“Let me try.” Karen said and Callie moved so she could sit down. “Karla, sweetheart, look at me.”

When Karla turned her head and looked at Karen she could see the fear in Karla’s eyes. “You’re safe here, Karla. You’re surrounded by people who love you and would never hurt you. We may shout and get angry, but we all love each other and we would never hurt one another.” Karen said and Karla nodded. “Let’s get you some water and you and I will talk, okay?” Karla nodded again and unfolded her legs. Karen took her hand and they stood together and walked out of the room.

After Karla and Karen left the room Conner stood up and walked over to his brother. “Stay out of my business, Kevin. I am not you and I would never do anything to put Karla at risk. Your screw ups have made it hard enough on me and Callie as it is so we don’t need you playing moral compass in our lives.”

Kevin looked at him for a moment as his fists clenched by his sides. “Kevin Matthew Newberry, if you hit Conner I will personally kick your butt.” Their brother-in-law, Jason, said from the doorway. “Karen called and said there was some kind of fight going on and asked if I could come over because she didn’t know if she could handle it alone. Want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Jason, this is none of your business.” Kevin said tightly.

“When Karen called me it made it my business. Now I’m going to ask again, want to tell me what’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you.” Elliot said from where he’d moved beside Malinda. “Conner and Karla were talking in Conner’s room and when they came back in here Kevin started yelling at Conner and making a really big deal about it. Then Callie said something about Conner not being like Kevin and everything blew up after that. I thought Kevin was going to hit Callie.”

“Dad would have killed me if I had hit his princess.” Kevin said with a hint of jealously.

“And I will kick your butt if you hit Conner.” Jason said confidently. “Conner, wanna tell me what happened?”

“Elliot pretty much summed it up. Kevin accused me and Karla of doing more than talking because my hair was messy when we came back in here. Everyone knows that I run my fingers through my hair when I’m nervous. I was talking to Karla about everything that has happened over the past few weeks and I was asking her if she wanted to try being a couple again. I was beyond scared that she would say no.”

“What did she say?” Jason asked.

“She said yes, but that might change after this.”

“Congratulations, man. I was hoping you two would find your way back together.” Jason said with a grin.

“Oh come on. Are you telling me that you actually believe they got back together and didn’t do anything except talk? Are you all really that blind? The sexual vibes have been like an electrical current between them for two years and you all believe they’ve never had sex? You’re all stupid if that’s what you believe.” Kevin shouted.

“Kevin, not everyone is like you. Not everyone has to have sex with every girl they date. Karla and I have never done anything more than kiss and if you don’t believe that then that’s your problem. I don’t care what anyone says about me, but if I hear you say anything negative about Karla then Jason won’t have to kick your butt.”

“I know Karla isn’t like that, but I also know about you and Alissa.” Kevin shouted.

****

“Karla, are you alright?” Karen asked softly after Jason went upstairs. Kelsey came with him and they were sitting on either side of Karla trying to get her to calm down some.

“I’m okay. Just embarrassed. I haven’t had that kind of reaction to yelling in almost two years.”

“That was a pretty intense situation up there. I can understand your reaction.” Karen said and put her arm around Karla’s shoulders. “Want me to take you home?”

“No. I promised Callie and Rylee I’d stay and I will. I just need a few more minutes to pull myself together.”

“Take all the time you need.” Kelsey told her and rubbed her back. “Karla, I know we don’t really know each other that well, but I would like to change that. You and Conner will get married someday and I think we should get to know each other better before then.”

“I would like that.” Karla responded with a smile. “Conner and Callie are very important parts of my life and I would love to get to know you and Jason better.”

“How about we meet for lunch one Saturday? A Saturday you don’t have a competition that is.”

“That sounds like fun.” Karla responded with a smile. “I think I’m ready to go back upstairs. I hope Jason has them all calmed down by now. I seriously thought my brother was going to punch Kevin when he started going toward Callie. Manuel is very protective of all of us.”

“Someone needs to knock Kevin down a peg or two.” Kelsey said as she stood up. “I’ll walk up with you and see if Jason is ready to go.”

They walked upstairs and stopped at the door of the game room. They could still hear raised voices from inside. “I know Karla isn’t like that, but I also know about you and Alissa.” They heard Kevin shout just as they opened the door.

Karla was floored by Kevin’s words, but she knew better than to react without hearing the whole story.

“What is he talking about, Conner?” Karla said from the door and everyone turned to look at her.

“Karla, I swear to you that sounds worse than it is.” Conner said as Karla stepped into the room.

“Why don’t you tell her about it, little brother?” Kevin said with a sneer. “Maybe she’ll see it the way you want her to.”

“Kevin, if you know what’s good for you then you will stop talking now.” Callie said as she moved to Karla’s side. “You three, my room, now.” Callie said and pointed to Conner, Rylee and Karla.

“No. Everyone needs to hear this.” Conner said as he moved closer to Karla. “Karla, you know I went out with Alissa while we were apart. That night you saw us, just before Christmas, we went back to her house after the movie was over. I didn’t know her parents weren’t home until I was already inside with her. We were sitting on the couch and she started kissing my neck. I got so caught up in what she was doing that I didn’t realize she was unbuttoning my pants until she had her hand inside them. I didn’t stop her from doing what she did, but I swear to you that I did not have sex with her. When she started to pull my pants down then reached into her purse and pulled out a condom I knew I had to stop her because I didn’t want that with her. There is only one person I want to go that far with and that person is you.”

Conner stopped talking and waited for Karla’s reaction. When nothing came he looked up at her and cringed. Her face had gone paler than he’d ever seen it and her eyes were filled with tears. He reached out to touch her cheek, but dropped his hand back down when she jerked away from him. “Were you ever going to tell me?” She asked softly.

“Yes.” He answered confidently.

“When?”

“I don’t know.” He answered honestly. “I love you, Karla. I always have, but I will understand if you walk away and never look back.”

“Conner, answer a question for me.” Karla said calmly.

“Anything.” Conner said quietly.

“If I had been the one doing that to you would you have stopped?”

“No.” He answered honestly.

“Why?”

“Because I love you. I believe something like that should have meaning and if I did it with anyone but you it would mean nothing to me.”

“Then that’s all I need to know.” Karla responded as she leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Now, I think it’s time for me to go to bed.” She got up, walked out the door and straight into Callie’s room without another word to anyone.

Once she was gone Conner turned to Kevin and violently shoved him against the wall. “Stay the hell out of my life!” He shouted and walked to his own room.