Gable (11 page)
“Friends schmeinds! And I’m sure he’d love to be tied down by you.” He giggled maniacally at this making me roll my eyes. “Have fun! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” I heard his voice fade then Amy came on the line.
“Don’t listen to him, Scout. Do everything. That boy’s hot!” She giggled a little drunkenly.
“How’s the party?” I asked.
“God, Scout! Chad’s so hot!” she squealed. She’d met Chad in the library and they’d been flirting for the past couple weeks, and I’d really wanted to meet him but work had made me miss the party.
“Good! You think it could get serious with you two?”
“Maybe! I think he’s gonna be my next ex-boyfriend!”
I snorted out a laugh. “You’re crazy. Okay, have fun and call me if you need a ride.”
“Bodhi’s friend Max is with us and he’s the DD, so we’re good. But you have fun too! Full details later!”
“Same!” I said before the line went dead.
I scrambled around finding a shirt to put on then changed my jeans finally hustling out of my room to the bathroom where I fixed my hair a bit, put on more lip gloss and spritzed myself with some body spray. When I came out and walked into the living room, I saw Gable looking at pictures Amy and I had just put up on the wall. I walked to him then just about died. The collage of pictures was of us from when we were little girls to now. I’d had Dad text me a few pictures, one of which was of me driving our tractor when I was younger and Gable was now staring at it.
“That you?” he asked, pointing at the photo.
I stared at it and cleared my throat. “Yeah.” God, he had to know now.
I could feel him watching me out of the corner of his eye as I waited for him to yell at me, but then he asked, “Ready?”
Well, he was either an extremely good actor or just plain naïve. How many more clues did the guy need?
“Yeah…” He took my hand and led me outside where I locked the apartment door then we walked to his car and he did the whole seatbelt thing again which at once thrilled me and annoyed me.
“Might wanna get this fixed,” I mumbled as he leaned over me buckling me in. I mean, not that I minded, but it was going to be hard to just be friends when he was
right there
within lip locking distance.
He chuckled. “Yeah.” He moved away and shut my door, and as I watched him walking around to get in his side, I realized that he was doing an incredible job of keeping his distance, probably trying to show me he was interested in me as a person and not just for sex, which I had to admit I suddenly found rather irritating and I huffed out a small laugh thinking I just couldn’t be satisfied.
When Gable got in, I asked, “Now will you tell me where we’re going?”
He grinned. “You’ll see.”
He started the car and “Cry of Achilles” by Alter Bridge blared from his speakers until he reached quickly to turn it down. What the hell? He’d said in his first email that he didn’t really like them!
“Alter Bridge?” I asked, shocked.
He glanced over at me with a sexy half grin. “Yeah.”
“My favorite band.”
He glanced at me again. “Yeah?”
I nodded a couple times again still wondering if he knew. Ugh. All this tiptoeing around shit was driving me nutso. If I didn’t end up in the loony bin by the end of the semester, I’d be surprised. But I let it go and we made small talk as he drove, ignoring the obvious, or at least I was. Ten minutes later we pulled into a parking lot near an old building.
When I looked at him a little confused, he explained, “Midnight movies.”
Awesome! I couldn’t help the smile that came to my face. “Really? I love movies!”
He smiled back then got out, coming around to my side and opening the door. As he worked on getting my seatbelt off, he said, “Saw your column in the paper and thought you might like this.”
He saw my column and thought I’d like this place.
That was seriously the sweetest thing ever. And despite the “Just friends” mantra I had running through my head, I now wondered how the hell I was supposed to rein in my feelings for him when what I wanted to do was jump his bones for being so thoughtful. He held his hand out for me to take, helping me out of his car and I caved, tiptoeing up to kiss his cheek. His arms immediately went around my waist and he pulled me into a tight hug, burying his face into my hair at the side of my neck as he let out a deep sigh like he was relieved that I’d forgiven him.
God. How was I supposed to deal with this? I took a deep breath of my own and letting it out, made myself pull away from him as my conscience screamed,
JUST FRIENDS!
inside my head. I gave him a smile then turned to face the theater. “What’s showing?” I asked as we started walking toward the old building.
“
Casablanca
.” He took my hand again, smoothing his thumb over the back of mine as we walked.
One of my favorites. Huh. Did he know he was killing me slowly with
everything
right now?
Once inside, we found our seats but then he told me he’d be right back. While he was gone, I inspected the theater, admiring the antique-looking sconces on the walls and the arched ceiling that was separated in panels and painted with various scenes from famous movies. Very cool.
Gable came back holding a bucket of popcorn and two soft drinks. Oh, he was really pushing it with all the niceness now.
“I hope you like Milk Duds,” he said when he sat down, handing me a soda and putting the popcorn bucket on his thigh so I could reach it.
“Unfortunately for my ass, I happen to love Milk Duds, especially with popcorn,” I replied with a chuckle.
“Ah, Priss, you know what I think about your ass,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows and making me blush which made my resistance flag for a minute.
Just friends!
Before I could reply, the theater lights blinked off and on then the movie started. And everything was fine until halfway through when he reached over and took my hand, bringing it to his lips for a small kiss before he rested our clasped hands on his thigh and my heart melted.
~*~*~*~
Two hours later, we sat in an all-night coffee house discussing the movie.
“I would’ve stayed with Rick,” I said. “I just don’t know how Ilsa could leave him.” I took a bite of the amazing Danish pastry I’d ordered.
“She was married to Victor,” Gable replied, eyebrow raised and pointing his own pastry at me when he said that.
“Well, yeah. But I think everyone has that someone… well, that someone who makes the stitches worth it, and Rick was hers.” I shrugged a shoulder.
“Stitches?” he asked, his eyes narrowing on mine.
Well, crap. I’d revealed something to him that I didn’t share with too many people.
When we were in high school, Ivy and I had sat up one night talking about love, and I’d told her it was like having someone rip your chest open, take your heart out and hold it in their hand as they tore off pieces of it. Then they returned it and stitched you back up. I’d finished by saying that only a few people were worthy of your stitches. She’d frowned at me like I was crazy, but that’s exactly how I thought love felt. I’d told her that it made your heart hurt even if it was good. She hadn’t understood and I hadn’t tried expounding any further. If someone didn’t get it, they never would.
“It’s kind of silly,” I responded sheepishly.
“Tell me, Priss.” His eyes looked curiously at me.
So with a sigh, I explained my theory to him while he listened intently.
When I finished, I said shyly, “Stupid, huh?” I glanced down at my coffee waiting for him to laugh at me.
“Not at all. I get it.”
I looked up at him to see if he was playing with me but when I saw that he was serious, I asked carefully, “You’ve had stitches?”
“Yeah…” he answered, shifting in his chair and seeming a little uncomfortable.
“Don’t wanna talk about it,” I said.
He ran a hand over his mouth, his fingers then going to his chin to scratch the scruff that was there. “It’s not something I typically discuss.” I looked thoughtfully at him wondering what or who could’ve hurt him. I nodded in acceptance of his answer but was surprised when he continued. “Let’s just say I got hurt. By her and…” He looked at me so conflicted, the hurt showing clearly in his eyes as his hand went to the back of his neck to rub it, that I just wanted to give him a hug. “By her and, a, uh, friend.”
I blinked as I watched him, somewhat surprised that he’d shared that much with me.
He pursed his lips. “Reason why I’ll never have ‘stitches’ again,” he mumbled almost as if to himself as he looked down at his drink he was spinning slowly on the table in his fingers. We stayed silent for a bit but when he finally looked up at me, I knew the moment had passed if the shit-eating grin on his face was any indication. “Wouldn’t mind lookin’ at your stitches, though.”
I huffed out a laugh. “God, every time I think you’re normal, you never fail to remind me that you’re an asshole.”
I watched as his grin got bigger then he shrugged as if to say, “Mission accomplished.”
All I could do was shake my head as I chuckled. “So, I should probably get back. Make sure Amy’s okay and not puking her guts out.” It was two-thirty, so I thought she’d probably be home from the party unless she’d decided to take things to the next level and stay with Chad.
Gable nodded then stood and held a hand out, helping me out of the booth. Dang. He’d certainly learned somewhere how to be a gentleman. I let him hold my hand on the way to his car telling myself not to put too much into it because I knew if I did, he’d only hurt me in the end.
He was so quiet on the way to my apartment I asked if he was okay.
“Yeah. Just thinking,” he answered.
I knew my stitches theory had opened up old wounds for him which made me feel kind of bad for bringing it up.
When we got to my apartment, he came around to unbuckle me and help me out of the car. “Thank you for going with me,” he said after walking me to my door.
“Thank you for taking me,” I said with a smile.
He looked down at me as if trying to make a decision, so I made it for him by tiptoeing up and kissing his cheek again. “Good night,” I said before unlocking the door and going inside, watching him walk to his car before I closed the door.
I went to Amy’s room to see if she was there, which she was, so I guessed she was holding off on making Chad her next ex, which made me chuckle quietly. Her soft snores indicated that she was fine, so I slowly closed her door and walked back into the living room then heard a low knock on the front door. I went to it and through the eyehole saw it was Gable and I frowned wondering what he’d forgotten.
“Hey,” I said when I opened the door. He was standing with his arms raised above him, his hands holding onto the top of the door frame and he looked at me for a beat, his eyes narrowed on mine, before he stepped inside quickly and, taking my face in his hands, bent down and smashed his mouth to mine proceeding to give me the kiss of a lifetime. I was stunned for a few seconds but recovered quickly, bringing my arms up to lace around his neck and tangling my fingers into his hair as the kiss got deeper and hotter. Whoa. He somehow ended up inside the apartment, kicking the door closed behind him, then turned us, backing me against it and pressing the hard planes of his body into my soft ones. His hands slid down and cupped my butt before he picked me up making me wrap my legs around his waist, and, sweet Jesus, I knew right then all my inner babblings of encouragement to stay the hell away from him were wasted because in that moment I wanted him more than I wanted my next breath.
We made out for what seemed like
ever
, which was totally amazing, and the instant I was so thoroughly worked up that I was ready to lead him to my bedroom where I could have my wicked way with him, he pulled away, and resting his forehead against mine, gazed down at me and muttered, “Fuck,” then touched his mouth to mine briefly, set my feet back on the floor, kissed my forehead, said, “Good night, Scout,” and was out the door and gone before I could even catch my breath.
I leaned back against the closed door, throwing my head back to bang against it as I looked up at the ceiling. Oh, Gable, how you excite me, thrill me, and totally, completely and thoroughly confuse me.
______________________________________
From:
9565876
Subject:
Sorry
Date:
October 22, 3:52 p.m.
To:
9543254
Dear Mr. Four,
I just wanted you to know I’m okay. I’ve just been busy. Sorry I made you worry.
Hope last week & this week were awesome & your classes are going great!
Just a question… if someone knew something about you but didn’t tell you, what would you do?
Six
xo
______________________________________
From:
9543254
Subject:
Sorry
Date:
October 22, 4:02 p.m.
To:
9565876
Mr. Four. I like it.
Glad you’re okay. Thanks for letting me know. I was worried.
Classes are good, some better than others.
Hm. If someone knew something about me and didn’t tell me? I’d think of it as lying and, well, I hate liars. I can’t help it, but I hold grudges, so if someone lies to me, I’m pretty much finished with them. Why?
xx
______________________________________
From:
9565876
Subject:
Sorry
Date:
October 22, 4:10 p.m.
To:
9543254
Just wondering. Even if it was something minor?
______________________________________
From:
9543254
Subject:
Sorry
Date:
October 22, 4:12 p.m.
To:
9565876
A lie is a lie is a lie…
~*~*~*~
Shit. Would Gable think my knowing he was my pen pal and not telling him was a lie? I was afraid to find out because I didn’t want to lose his friendship or whatever this was that we had going.
In “real life” things had been going great with him. He’d sat by me Monday and Wednesday in psych class. He’d held my hand when we walked out then given me a sweet kiss before I went to my next class both days. This weekend we were going on a ghost tour of Seattle, which I was really excited about, especially since Halloween was just around the corner. On top of all that, he’d asked for my number and we’d begun texting. So now I not only had to keep up with him through email, I had to deal with texting him too. The double life I was living with him was weighing on me and didn’t know how much longer I could keep it up without spilling it all. It was too confusing trying to remember what I’d told him through emails and in person, so I’d made the decision that I’d be more distant in my emails, thinking that’d solve things.
I should’ve known it wouldn’t.
~*~*~*~
______________________________________
From:
9543254
Subject:
Can’t take it
Date:
October 22, 11:09 p.m.
To:
9565876
Six,
I fantasize about you. Can’t get you out of my head…
______________________________________
From:
9565876
Subject:
Are YOU drunk?
Date:
October 22, 11:34 p.m.
To:
9543254
Um…
______________________________________
From:
9543254
Subject:
Perfectly sober…
Date:
October 22, 11:35 p.m.
To:
9565876
I want to taste your lips… want to touch you… want to be with you…
~*~*~*~
Holy shit. He was being really bold in his emails and I wasn’t sure what to do about it. On the one hand, what he was saying was flattering, not to mention hot, but on the other, if he didn’t know I was his pen pal and he was writing those things to a girl he didn’t know, well, then that was just a giant hole of suck.
“You should just tell him who you are,” Bodhi said Thursday at lunch.
“You think? I mean, this has grown into some huge fucking monster now.” I shook my head at how absurd it’d all become. “If I tell him, he’ll think I was lying this whole time and hate me.”
Bodhi stuffed half of his generic Pizza Pocket into his mouth, chewed twice and downed it. I’d never understand how the guy could stay so skinny when he ate as much as a herd of elephants. He threw the last half of it in his mouth and said between chews, “He couldn’t hate you. He likes you.”
I frowned. “I forwarded the email to you. You saw what he said about lying.” I took a drink from my bottle of water. This was making me miserable, even to the point that I felt guilty for having fun when Gable and I were together.
Bodhi drank the rest of his soda. “Yeah, but I still don’t think it’d change his mind.”
I just shook my head and rolled my eyes because I thought it would.
“You could just pretend when you guys do the reveal that you didn’t know it was him and act all surprised.”
“Yeah, and that surely wouldn’t be a lie, would it?” I answered sarcastically.
Bodhi shrugged. “Don’t know what else to tell you. Sorry, Scout.”
“Thanks anyway, Bode,” I mumbled, watching as he put all his trash on his tray.
He stood and kissed me on the forehead. “It’ll be okay. Promise.” He picked up his tray and left for his next class.
I hoped he was right.
~*~*~*~
Text Message—Thurs, Oct 24, 11:34 p.m.
Gable: What’re you doing?
Me: Studying, as usual
Gable: You’re so dedicated
Me: Gotta keep the scholarship ;)
Gable: I know. Hey, remember when I told you about Justin asking my dad about that part he needed for his car?
Me: Yes
Gable: Yeah. He lied to my dad and said I told him he could pick it up for free. He came by the shop this morning and got it. Dad called and asked what was going on. So I called Justin and he fucking lied to me about it saying Dad gave it to him. Told him I knew he was lying and was done with him.
Me: But you’ve been friends for, what, fifteen years?
Gable: I don’t give a shit. He lied. That’s not cool. He told me he was sorry and everything but that’s one thing I can’t stand is a liar. Fuck him. I don’t need that shit in my life.
Great. He’d ended a fifteen-year relationship and all because the guy lied. I was so screwed.
Gable: Ready for tomorrow night?
Me: Yes! I love ghost stuff!
Gable: I’m kinda fascinated by it too
Me: What if we get attacked by a poltergeist or something?
Gable: You HAVE seen those ghost hunter shows, right? Nothing ever gets them
Me: Oh, something definitely gets ME ‘cause that one has a really hot guy who’s the head ghost hunter…
Gable: Huh…
Me: What? You want me to tell you he’s not as hot as you?
Gable: That’d be nice
Me: Oh, Gable, you’re SO much hotter than that Zac guy! He doesn’t even begin to compare to you… your tattoos are way better than his… you’re so much stronger than he is… I’ll bet you can out-ghost him any day
Gable: Smartass. He has tattoos?
Me: Yep
Gable: Hm. That’s cool. Hey, what if you get possessed or something and start spewing pea soup?
Me: I’d be possessed to knock your block off…
Gable: That’d be cool too
Me: It can be arranged
Gable: Know what?
Me: What?
Gable: You’re cute
Me: Okay, I have to call you hot but you call me cute?
Gable: Oh, you’re hot too… but you’re also cute
Me: I think I’m blushing
Gable: I can do some things to you that’ll make you blush
Me: Now I know I’m blushing
Gable: Can’t wait to see you tomorrow… want to taste your lips…
All right, now, seriously, I didn’t know whether to be thrilled or pissed that he was telling me the same things he was telling his pen pal. God. I was totally losing it by being jealous about myself.
Me: I love your lips on mine…
Gable: I’d love my lips anywhere on you…
Me: Wow…
Gable: Your lips… neck… shoulder…
Me: Wait. Are we sexting?
Gable: Only if you want to be
Me: Well, I really need to go put a load of laundry in
Gable: Chicken…
Me: I’m embarrassed
Gable: Nothing to be embarrassed about… it’s just me
Me: I know. Give me some time to get used to this?
Gable: Yeah. K, go do your laundry xx
Me: See you tomorrow xo
I didn’t really have to do laundry. I really was a chicken.
After brushing my teeth and just as I lay down in bed, my phone alerted me that I had an email.
______________________________________
From:
9543254
Subject:
You
Date:
October 25, 12:03 a.m.
To:
9565876
Six,
Seriously can’t get you off my mind…
xx
Damn it. Now it felt as if he were cheating on me by emailing
her
. Who was
me
. But I didn’t know if he knew it. Arrgggghhh!
______________________________________
From:
9565876
Subject:
You
Date:
October 25, 12:05 a.m.
To:
9543254
Mr. Four,
Why?
xo
______________________________________
From:
9543254
Subject:
You
Date:
October 25, 12:07 a.m.
To:
9565876
I don’t know. I can’t stop thinking about you.
xx
______________________________________
From:
9565876
Subject:
You
Date:
October 25, 12:07 a.m.
To:
9543254
You don’t really even know me
______________________________________
From:
9543254
Subject:
You
Date:
October 25, 12:08 a.m.
To:
9565876
I know, but I want to
xx
______________________________________
From:
9565876
Subject:
You
Date:
October 25, 12:08 a.m.
To:
9543254
Maybe after we meet at the end of the semester?
______________________________________
From:
9543254
Subject:
You
Date:
October 25, 12:09 a.m.
To:
9565876
I want to fuck you
xx
Holy Moses. That escalated quickly.
As the shock wore off, once again, I couldn’t figure out if I should be jealous or not. I mean, here he’d just tried to sext
real
me and now he was suggesting intercourse via Internet with
pen pal
me. I really hoped he knew I was both. Ugh.
As I thought about it, I figured I could go one of two ways with this. I could ignore him now and when I next emailed him I’d just keep things at an impersonal level and not egg him on. Or I could go for it. I mean, what would it hurt, well, other than real me if he was really into pen pal me and didn’t know I was her.