Enigma (10 page)

I looked at my camisole and although she was right, I had to stand my ground. After living with Heather for so long, I knew how to handle a girl like Chanelle.

“My father doesn’t promote using tanning beds. You must have met him; did he do your boobs?” I asked, and smiled when one of her minions covered her grin.

“My breasts are perfectly natural, thank you.”

“Oh, sorry,” I said, and took a sip of my soda.

The stadium was getting louder and to compensate, so was Chanelle.

“So what did you do to him then?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

“How did you tame a guy like Jack Jones? With his reputation, it seems almost impossible,” she said, and looked out across the field to where Jack was standing.

“I think you have the wrong Jack,” I said confidently.

Loud music played, and the cheerleaders came out, ready to get the crowd going.

“I thought you were a cheerleader. Why aren’t you out there?” I asked.

“I hurt my ankle, but don’t worry, I’ll be cheering for the next game.” She winked at me and I turned away.

I stood up and clapped, joining in with the excitement and choosing to ignore Chanelle. When the game began, I was glued to Jack’s every move. He was an amazing player, and with his secret strength and speed, I wondered how he managed not to step over realistic boundaries when he ran and threw the ball.

With the game over and Jack’s team winning their first game of the season, I waited for Jack outside of the locker room. Soon, he emerged wearing a pair of shorts and had his T-shirt tossed over his shoulder. He grabbed me and kissed my lips, but I didn’t reciprocate his excitement.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Before I had a chance to respond, a flurry of cheerleaders wearing outfits that didn’t leave much to the imagination, walked past us, each one brushing their hand against Jack’s naked arm as they said goodbye to him. I turned and walked away.

Jack caught up with me. “What’s wrong, Kate?”

I shook my head and pulled him around a corner where we could be alone for a few moments.

“I need to know something,” I said, putting my hands in my pockets.

“Anything.”

“Why does Chanelle keep talking about your reputation and how I don’t know you as well as I should?”

“Everyone has a past, don’t they? But our future is what matters here,” he reasoned, placing his hands on my hips.

“You’re entitled to have a past, but the people who’re about to play a big part in your future should know about it. I felt like a complete fool earlier.”

Jack took a step back.
What was he hiding?

“I’m sorry Kate; I thought it would be better for you not to know, but I was wrong. If you want to know everything, I’ll tell you everything,” he declared.

“Go ahead, I’m listening.” I folded my arms across my chest and felt my anger subsiding.

“I’ve done stuff I’m not proud of, Kate. Ever since I met you, I feel like I’ve changed for the better. You give my life true meaning and stability.” He looked away from me. “I’ve been in trouble—”

“Wait! Stop. Can you leave out the details?”

Jack sighed. “I was thrown out of high school for breaking rules.”

Part of me felt relieved that he hadn’t exposed something terrible—not that being thrown out of school was good.

“What did you do?”

“I drove a car into the school. The car was totaled.”

“Were you drunk?”

“No.”

“Then why’d you do it?”

“I was just screwing around. I didn’t mean to damage the car. It was a reckless mistake.”

“Is that it?” I asked.

“No. I was always in trouble, thriving on the popularity it gave me. There were a lot of parties, drinking, and . . . there were a few girls I was involved with too.”

I held my hand up to stop him. I could deal with the whole bad guy thing and the partying, but I certainly didn’t want to hear about the girls he’d been involved with. Jack leaned against the wall with his hands in his pockets and concern in his eyes, waiting for me to respond. He’d been honest, and I was relieved to know the truth, so I decided to put him out of his misery and kissed his soft lips.

He smiled and his shoulders relaxed. “So can the past be left where it belongs?”

“It’s already forgotten,” I reassured him.

We headed for my car when Jack stopped and looked at me.

“Wait a minute. I’ve confessed my past. Now it’s time for me to get some dirt on you.” He raised his eyebrows, waiting.

“Sorry, there’s no dirt to dish; I’m a good girl.”

“Nothing?”

“No. Can’t you see the halo above my head?”

Jack laughed and we walked off.

I hadn’t lied about being a good girl. I’d always gotten good grades and never got into trouble. But since arriving in Long Beach, I’d changed. Could I blame my erratic behavior on raging hormones or Brett’s rehabilitation? Or was I jealous of Heather’s success? Whatever it was, I couldn’t continue behaving this way and risk losing control of myself.

That just wasn’t
me
.

CHAPTER 10

T
oday was the dreaded day for me to meet Jack’s parents.

But before we dropped the bombshell that we were dating, Jack and I decided to go to the beach for a while.

Unsure of what to wear, I riffled through my shopping bags, which still lined the wall, and chose the white bikini with the black tulip print.

I quickly put all negative thoughts about Jack’s parents and the dinner out of my mind, and slipped on the bikini, which made me feel good. I threw a white sarong around my waist and ruffled up the corner to expose my left thigh in an attempt to look seductive.

I pulled down my hair, casually pushing up the front with a pair of gold-trimmed, designer sunglasses, and picked out a suitable outfit to change into for dinner with Jack’s parents. When I had everything I needed, I went next door to get Jack. He’d told me that his parents were out all morning, so I knew it was safe.

I relaxed against the wall, exposing my left leg, and tried my best to look sexy. I checked my reflection in the sliding glass door. My hair looked good and my makeup was subtle.

Within minutes, a woman abruptly opened the door, and stood before me with a bemused expression on her face. Her graying hair was tied into a braided bun, and she wasn’t wearing any makeup. Her hairstyle highlighted her cheekbones, and her eyes were a faint gray color. She was dressed in a long, unusually patterned, emerald dress.

Looking at my reflection again, I cringed. I was standing in front of her in a white bikini. I folded my arms over my chest.

“Can I help you?” she asked, her voice low and unwelcoming.

I tried to cover my exposed thigh while still placing my arms over my low cut bikini. My heart was racing, and if there had been an eject button on the bikini, I wouldn’t have hesitated to push it.

“Hi, I’m Jack’s friend, Kate. I live next door.” The woman stared at me suspiciously. “We-we’re supposed to be going to the beach before I come over for dinner.” I felt like a child seeking approval.

She screwed up her freckled face. “Oh yes. I forgot we’d be having a dinner guest, but I wasn’t expecting a cheerleader. When Jack said a friend was coming over, I just assumed it would be someone from his football team.”

“Oh, I’m not a cheerleader.”

I prayed for the ground to swallow me. I felt so stupid and uncomfortable in the bikini as Jack’s mother looked me up and down. And where was Jack? I wasn’t ready for any more questioning.

“Jack is expecting you then? I’m Lindsey, Jack’s mother. Come in,” she offered and reluctantly ushered me toward the back of the house. I followed her, desperately trying to fix the sarong so it would cover more of my leg while still covering my cleavage, but I was fighting a losing battle. Reluctantly, I opted to expose my thigh.

“Jack is by the pool. Go through the French doors on the right. Please tell him that I forgot my purse. I’m off to the store now and won’t be gone long. I hope you like pasta,” she said, and swung her straw purse over her shoulder.

I took a deep breath. “Pasta? Yes, I like pasta. Sounds great,” I said too enthusiastically. I smiled at her, cringing inside as she casually walked away with a look of disapproval in her eyes.

When she was gone, I opened the French doors and as I stepped outside, my sarong caught one of the hinges. I tugged to release it, but the delicate material tore, and the white sarong floated down to the ground in tatters. Cursing myself, I looked up to see Jack watching me from the other side of the pool.

“Kate, how’d you get in? I’ve been listening out for the doorbell.”

“I didn’t get a chance to ring the doorbell! I was half-naked when your mother let me in!”

Jack looked confused. “She went to the store for pasta half an hour ago.”

“She forgot her purse. She’s gone now, but said that she wouldn’t be long. I think she hates me already, Jack. I hardly look like good girlfriend material with my nipples poking out!”

He laughed and his eyes settled on my chest. “You’re so dramatic, but incredibly sexy. Definitely my idea of girlfriend material.”

His words were flattering, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Lindsey’s tone and her disapproving eyes.

“Stop it, Jack. I’m so embarrassed! I really wanted your parents to like me, especially your mother. Now I’ve ruined my chance. First impressions always stick.”

“There is nothing not to like about you, Kate. Remember that this is all new for them. My mother was probably just surprised. I’ve never had a girl over for dinner before.”

“Come on. Let’s get out of here before your mother comes back,” I said, grabbing his towel and wrapping it around me.

As Jack walked past me, he grabbed the towel and ran off with it. I laughed while chasing him, knowing there was no way I would ever catch him.

T
he sun was blazing and the beach was crowded. Jack spotted some of his teammates and they ushered us over to them. I’d hoped that we could spend some time discussing how we would tell his parents that we were dating, but Jack was pleased to see his friends, so I decided to make an effort to fit in.

There were four football players and two cheerleaders, and everyone was friendly. Jack’s friend, Nate, who was the tallest guy I’d ever seen, asked if everyone wanted to play beach volleyball. I declined, feeling a little intimidated.

“Oh, come on, Kate,” Jack said, offering to help me up.

“Oh no, I’m happy to watch. Trust me, you don’t want me on your team,” I said. I was completely uncoordinated and ashamed of my inability to compete in anything. I had managed to avoid sports during high school and now that I was in college, I felt relieved that I no longer had to participate in anything athletic.

“Jack, she can watch; I’ll play on your team,” one of the cheerleaders offered.

“Thanks Ashley, but Kate will play on my team; you go with Nate, Cole, and Paige.”

Ashley walked off, her brown, waist-length hair swaying as she sulked with disappointment. There was no way I couldn’t play now. Preparing myself for disaster, I stood up and brushed the sand off my legs.

“Okay, but I’ve only played volleyball once in my life,” I said to no one in particular as Jack held my hand and led the way.

“Don’t worry. You’ll learn,” Jack answered, smiling at me.

We took our positions. I apologized to my teammates again and they assured me that they didn’t mind. The game started and thankfully, with my skilled team, I didn’t need to make much of an effort. The game was fun and even though we won and I couldn’t take any of the credit, Jack still propped me up on his shoulders to celebrate.

Jack and the other football players ran toward the ocean while Ashley and Paige walked back to where we’d left our towels. I followed them, feeling like a spare part, and when they invited me to sit in the sand with them, I reapplied my sunscreen and tried to think of what I could talk about that would be of interest to them. Ashley beat me to it.

“So, Kate, when are you going to try out for the cheerleading squad?” she asked.

I laughed a little too loudly and both girls rolled their eyes.

“I’m not; you just witnessed my lack of coordination yourself.”

“But every guy on the football team dates cheerleaders; it’s kind of an unspoken rule,” Ashley said as Paige knelt and applied sunscreen to her back.

I shrugged. “Well I guess Jack broke the rules then.”

“From what I’ve heard, Jack has broken a lot of rules,” Paige added, securing her hair with an elastic hair band. They both laughed.

I tried my best to ignore their comment and reapplied sunscreen to my legs.

“You
are
aware that Jack is a complete jock, aren’t you? I don’t mean to insult you, but you aren’t his type. I went to high school with him so you can trust me on that one. The whole team is gossiping about the two of you. You’ve caused a lot of broken hearts—”