Lovely (17 page)

“Cara … I’m talking to you!” his voice calls out again.

She doesn’t acknowledge him. She flees to my BMW and gets in, her face full of alarm, her breathing clearly audible.

I slide behind the wheel and turn to her, my eyes imploring her to look at me, to let me in. “Cara, what is it? Who was that?”

She stares at the dashboard, her hands twisting in her lap. “It’s nothing, Ash. Let’s just go.”

It doesn’t look like nothing to me, but I don’t press her because she’s visibly upset. Turning the keys in the ignition, I start the car and pull out onto the road toward Cara’s house. She keeps her head pressed to the glass, staring blankly out the window. The ride back is filled with silence and for the first time since I’ve met her, it’s not a comfortable one.

After I drop Cara off, my thoughts drift to the jerk in the black Mercedes. She obviously knew him from the extreme reaction she exhibited. I was on the verge of questioning her about it several times during the drive back, but she didn’t volunteer any information so I didn’t push. The last thing I want is for her to close herself off again.

By the time I make it home, Delilah’s the only one there. “Hey, what’s up, baby girl?”

“Hey, Ash,” she mumbles between spoonfuls of ice cream.

What is it with my sister and ice cream? She needs to get out more
. I set my backpack on the chair and take my usual spot on the couch. “Do you have any plans tonight? We’re going to Rona’s, do you want to come?”

She sits up with interest while swallowing another dollop of ice cream. “Who’s going?”

“Jason and a couple of his friends, and I invited Cara.”

Delilah’s eyes smile and she turns her entire body in my direction. “Cara again, huh?”

“Yes, Delilah. Cara. We’re just gonna hang out. It’s no big deal.”

I pick up her bowl and eat some ice cream as she contemplates my question.

She raises her eyes to meet my own. “Yeah, okay Ash,” she says with a fiendish wink, “whatever you say. Sure, I’ll go.”

I bound from the couch and up the stairs. “I’m gonna take a quick shower. I told Cara we’d pick her up at 6:45, so be ready.”

“I’ll be ready,” she assures me, finishing her ice cream and rushing upstairs to do her girl stuff which I know is going to make me late.

Grabbing a towel from the rack in the closet, I strip off my clothes, pull back the curtain and step into the shower. As the hot stream of water pours over me, I begin to feel a tinge of excitement. I know I just left Cara not too long ago, but I already can’t wait to see her again.

I pull on a pair of blue jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt, run a brush through my hair and gel it up a bit. I grab my wallet and keys and start downstairs. The living room is empty, Delilah’s nowhere in sight. “Delilah!” I scream upstairs. “We have to go. Come on.”

Delilah scampers down the stairs. “I’m ready, I’m ready.”

I do a once over. Her auburn locks are hanging loosely down her back. She’s wearing a pair of blue jeans that are literally stuck to her body, a tight red tank top that leaves nothing to the imagination, and a pair of heels.

“You look good, but those clothes are a bit snug. I think you should change.”

She grins and smacks me on the arm. “Shut up, Ash. I’m not changing. I like what I’m wearing.”

“Are you intending to pick someone up tonight? Because from the looks of it, you are.” I swear if anyone even looks at her the wrong way, they’ll get their nuts handed to them on a platter.

She places her hands on her hips. “Ash, don’t we have to go?” She waves a finger back and forth in front of my face. “We mustn’t keep Cara waiting.”

Well, she’s right about that
. “Alright, let’s go.”

Before I back out of the driveway, I turn to face Delilah. “So listen, behave yourself. Just be nice to Cara, okay?”

She hands me a cold stare. “When am I ever anything but nice to your friends, Ash?”

“Alright, alright.” I turn up the CD so she can hear Maroon 5 and I can lighten the mood.

When we get to Cara’s, I leave the motor running, walk up to the door, and ring the doorbell. She answers the door with a smile and I’m taken completely aback. My eyes roam her body, drinking her in. She’s all legs in a short denim skirt accented by a fitted chocolate brown tank that makes her tits look fucking incredible. Her hair flows in waves over her cream-colored skin, her cheeks blushed a soft pink, and her full lips, are well, perfect. She’s beautiful.

I’m staring and I can’t seem to form any words, or thoughts for that matter.

“Ash, you okay?”

More than okay
. “Yeah … Y-You look … great.”

“Thanks.”

For a second, I think I catch her checking me out, but it could just be wishful thinking on my part. My eyes rove her body again. “You really do look … nice.”

“So do you,” she says, grabbing her purse and locking the door behind her.

I open the back door of the car and Cara slides in. “Hey, Delilah.”

Delilah swivels around, appraising Cara and smiling. “Hey, Cara, what’s up?”

We make small talk on the way to Rona’s, Cara and Delilah bonding instantly, chatting about some new shop that opened at the mall. And shoes. Here we go again with the shoes.

It’s really crowded when we arrive at the bar. The place isn’t very big, so bodies are packed tightly together. I spot Charlie, Julie, and a couple of our other friends at a table near the back. We make our way through pockets of sweat, our feet sticking to the floor that’s heavily doused with drink. The smell of alcohol fills our noses and the sound of music vibrates loudly in our ears. I stay glued to Cara’s side so I don’t lose her.

“Hey, Jason, Charlie, Julie, what’s up?” I greet them. “This is my friend, Cara.”

Cara says hello and bowls everyone over with that amazing smile of hers.

Jason flashes me a mischievous grin, his eyes moving from me to Cara, then back again. I want to scowl at him, but standing next to Cara, the only thing my mouth wants to do is smile.

Well, not the only thing
.

Jason immediately eyes Delilah, taking in that sultry outfit that she shouldn’t be wearing outside of the house. I can feel his eyes burning a hole through her tank. “Hey, Liles.”

I motion toward the bar. “What can I get everyone to drink?”

Delilah instantly links arms with Cara. “We’ll take care of it. What do you guys want?”

After everyone gives their drink orders, the two of them walk off. Delilah’s getting chummy with Cara. This can’t be good.

They come back a few minutes later with a round of beers. Interesting; I didn’t peg Cara for a beer drinker. We all take our seats around the table, and somehow our pal Charlie ends up next to Cara and I end up next to Delilah.
Shit
. We’re all hanging out, listening to music, and having a good time. Every now and then I glance over at Cara and she gives me a genuine smile. This last time I look over, I watch as she tips the beer bottle to her perfect lips, wraps them around the rim, and tilts her head back, the warm liquid sliding down her delicate throat as she swallows.
Holy hell
. I have to reach down and adjust myself.

Jason gives Cara the once over and I quirk a threatening brow at him that has no effect. “So … Ash tells me you’re a poet!” he shouts over the thundering beat of the music.

Cara flashes her shy smile around the table. “I don’t know about that. It’s more a hobby of mine.”

He takes a swig of beer and points a finger at me. “Well, maybe you can teach the Master of Everything a thing or two.”

“Master of Everything?” Cara laughs. “I’m intrigued. Tell me more.”

Jason chuckles as he looks at me, downs the last of his beer, and flicks the cap off another one. “Yes,” he says as he brings his eyes over to Cara. “You have no idea what it’s like being best friends with this guy. He’d be pitching while I was in the outfield, he’d be up front in chorus while the music teacher stuffed the quirky kid with the glasses as far away in the back as possible … it was like living in the shadow of greatness.” He laughs, and it’s a hearty one. “Of course, that was long before my dashing good looks, contacts, and rock hard body kicked in.”

That’s Jason, though, and that’s why I love him. He’s the class clown, the life of the party, the ultimate comedian, which is clearly evident now in the howls of laughter shooting around the table. My eyes land on my sister, who’s not only giggling but has a dreamy glow in her eyes, causing me to roll mine.

Jason puts his hands on either side of his head and groans, then lifts it with a warm smile. “What can I say, though? I love the guy.” He rounds the table and grips me from behind in a bear hug.

Everyone at the table breaks out in laughter. I shake him off of me, slightly embarrassed. “Okay, okay, enough of the melodrama.”

Cara leans forward with interest and jumps right into the conversation. “Oh no, I want to hear more!”

He pulls his chair over, scraping it against the floor, and squeezes in next to her. Swinging his arm over her shoulder and huddling close, he whispers, “we’ll talk.”

I roll my eyes. “Okay, okay, break it up.”

He smirks and mouths over Cara’s head, “I’m not trying to steal your girl.”

I know he’s not, and technically she’s not my girl, but that doesn’t mean I want him telling her my life story.

A slow song with a sultry beat comes on and distracts Jason because he gets up and walks over to Delilah. “Hey, Liles, wanna dance?”

Delilah stands up from her chair and I get up from mine. I lean over to Jason and whisper, “if your hand touches her ass, I’m kicking yours.”

He chuckles. “Yeah, man, I’ve got it.” He shoulder punches me and walks toward the dance floor with Delilah, leaving Cara, Charlie and me alone at the table.

I’m just about to ask Cara to dance when Charlie beats me to it. She gets up to join him, but not before tossing a smile my way.

Fuck
.

I sit there biting the inside of my lip, my clenched fists opening and closing as I watch Charlie wrap his arms around Cara. She’s smiling and they’re deep in conversation. As if that isn’t bad enough, Charlie flexes his arm out to spin her and she twirls back into him. I feel my fists ball up and my chest tighten. What does he think this is? Fucking Dancing with the Stars? The icing on the cake, though? He dips her low, his face hovering over her, and I watch as his mouth comes within inches of hers. If his lips make one wrong move, even by accident, there’s one more ass I’ll be kicking tonight.

When I’ve finally had enough, and my heart can’t take anymore, I get my ass up and walk over to them. I tap Charlie on the shoulder. “Hey, man, can I cut in?”

“Oh, sure, Ash,” he responds without putting up a fight.

Lucky for him
. I reach down and take Cara’s hand. “Come on, let’s dance.”

I lock my arms around her waist and she wraps her arms around my neck. The close proximity of our faces allows me to inhale her clean, fresh scent. I look up into her eyes. “You know, you didn’t give me much resistance about cutting in on you and your dance partner.”

Her eyes sparkle. “Don’t tell anyone,” she whispers, “but I think you might be wearing me down.”

My mouth suddenly feels dry and I wet my lips. “Really? I thought I was disgusting.”

“Oh you are,” she replies with a smirk. “Utterly.” She rests her head on my shoulder as we sway to the slow timbre of “Angel”
by Simply Red.

I exhale a deep, contented sigh. Closing my eyes, I rest my chin on Cara’s head, the scent of strawberry shampoo filling my nose, her nearness causing my pulse to race. The feeling at this moment is absolute bliss. I breathe her in again.

She raises her head off my shoulder. “Are you sniffing my hair?”

“Not really … but I can’t help it if you smell good.”

She moves in closer and I still, feeling the tip of her nose graze the skin on my neck. “Yeah, you smell good, too.”

Holy shit
.

The song regretfully ends but our bodies are still swaying. She finally stops moving and backs away, but still craving that connection, I have to resist the urge to lure her back to me.

“Ash, the song’s over.”

Reluctantly, I step away from her. “Oh yeah. I didn’t notice.”

She smiles and I place my hand on the small of her back to usher her over to the table. This time I take the seat next to her. Charlie will have to find another spot; this one is most definitely taken.

A few minutes later, they announce that open mic is starting up. As soon as they do I get attacked from all sides, everyone bombarding me at once. “Ash, you’re gonna play guitar tonight, right?”

“Yeah, come on, Ash,” Jason adds. “We want to hear you belt it out. One of your panty-dropping songs.”

Really nice. Thanks, dude.

It’s been so long since I’ve played, my guitar at home is collecting dust. The last time I picked it up, Dad and I were in the garage tossing around lyrics. We were planning to write a song together, but it never happened. It’s not like I’ve forgotten how to play—the moment I close my eyes, the music simply carries me away. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it before now. But then I look over at Cara. Her eyes are alight with excitement and suddenly I feel something fluttering in my chest … I think it might be hope.