One Trip Around the Sun (12 page)

When I’ve gathered my composure I move to collect the rest of my things off the ground, but Brady puts his hand up, motioning for me to stay. He kneels down, and he picks up my belongings for me before dropping them into my purse. He doesn’t mention my excess amount of birth control again as he hands my purse to me. I take it and look away, still embarrassed.

With his fingers under my chin, he lifts my face until I’m looking at him. “Let me drive you home.”

He drags his fingers across my jaw and runs his thumb over my cheek.

I lean my face into his hand. “I’m fine. I’m not leaving my car here.”

“I’ll bring you back in the morning to get it.”

“Really, Brady, I’m fine. It’s not the first one I’ve had. How did you know what it was?”

“My mom gets them. I’ve seen her have them since I was a kid.”

He takes his hand away from my face. “At least let me follow you.”

“Why does your mom have them?”

“I don’t know. Different things trigger them.”

“Oh.” I want to know what things, but I decide to ask another time. I nod my head. “I’m okay. It was a bad one though. Thank you for helping me.”

Not only does Brady follow me home, but he also pulls into my driveway. Before I can exit my car, he’s at my door. I stand, and he holds my face in his hands and kisses my forehead. With his hands grasping my face, he then tilts my face up slightly and brushes his lips over mine. That warmth and heaviness is low in my stomach again. I want to kiss him more.

He releases my face and clasps my hands while continuing his sexy kisses on my lips before sucking my bottom lip into his mouth. Then, he starts to back away until our hands break apart. He takes off, leaving me in the driveway, while I’m overcome with emotion.

It’s late, and I lie in bed, thinking about how I’m probably setting myself up for my first heartbreak of monumental proportion. Brady thinks that he’s the one who’s in trouble, but I’m pretty sure he’s way too much for me to handle. I’m not strong enough to keep up with him socially, let alone emotionally or sexually. I know I shouldn’t get involved with him for both our sakes.

I look across my room and sit straight up in my bed. My calendar is directly in the stream of moonlight shining in through the gap between my bedroom curtains. The last time I looked at that calendar, I thought about how fast the year had gone by, and I had nothing worth remembering. At that moment, I make up my mind to try this thing with Brady. I am going to give it everything I have.

No walls
, like Mom said during our safe sex talk.

If this doesn’t work, it won’t be because I was too weak to try.

I shoot out a text to Brady.

It’s Saturday. What time are you coming to get me?

It takes him a few minutes to respond.

Are you serious? I’ll be there in twenty.

Eek!
He’s all about action. I’d better watch what I suggest.

Nah. You need your rest after the beating you took tonight.

I have never taken a beating, babe. I hold the title. I win every fight.

Babe? He called me babe.

I’ll pick you up at six for dinner, okay? Sweet dreams, Reese.

I’m pathetic. I can’t even text because I’m so flustered. I type out a few texts and delete them. Finally, I decide to be bold.
No walls.

Brady…

Reese…

You kiss like a god.
☺

I pull my blanket over my head like a five-year-old hiding from the boogie monster as I wait for a reply. It’s almost immediate.

Reese, you taste like heaven.

Oh…

Against my better judgment, I call Chelsea and inform her of what happened last night. Needless to say, she’s ecstatic that I’ve abandoned my plan.

I’m overwhelmed and confused about how I’m going to handle Brady Fisher. I don’t believe I can keep up with him in any aspect. When I voiced my concern about this to Chelsea, she agreed, which didn’t make me feel any better. In her defense though, she offered me some advice. I responded as if I was appalled while I fired up my Mac.

“I don’t mean to scare you, Reese, but Brady is experienced.”

“Thank you for that, Chelsea. I had no idea.”

“Well, I’m not saying that you have to do anything with him, but I am telling you that he will be expecting it. He’s not exactly used to being told no. He might wait a little while. If you are ready, there is this thing called Google. Use it, babe. What you don’t know, you can find there.”

“Oh my God, Chelsea!”

“I’m serious. There is no reason for you not to know what to do when you can look up anything and everything on the Internet. You might be inexperienced, but you are not ignorant, Reese. Do what you want, but don’t even mess with Brady if you aren’t ready for the challenge that comes with him.”

I choose black slacks and a white button-up shirt to wear to dinner with Brady, and I glance in the mirror. I look like I’m going to church instead of out with a guy. I pull the shirt off and throw it on my bed. This is my first real date, so it’s no wonder why I can’t even dress myself. I’ve tagged along with Chelsea before, but never has a guy come to pick me up and taken me to dinner alone. I’m kinda freaking out.

I didn’t tell my mom or Chelsea about the date tonight. My mom is out of town with the girls from work for the weekend. Chelsea would freak the hell out and probably have me at a salon, getting waxed and buffed.

I’m on my own, and so far, I suck at this. For a moment, I think about what Chelsea wears when she goes out.

I’m thinking way too hard about this. We’re going on a casual date and then to The Pit.

I kick off the slacks and slide on a pair of jeans. I shove my hand in my closet and pull out a long-sleeved pink North Face shirt.
Done.

I look back in the mirror and feel a whole lot more like myself.

I make my way downstairs to wait for Brady, and to my surprise, my dad is home.
That’s odd.

“Hey,” I say as I pass him in the kitchen.

He pops his head around the refrigerator door and looks at me, puzzled. “Hey.”

“What’s wrong?” I ask as I set my purse on the counter.

“There are no groceries in here.” He closes the refrigerator door and starts opening the cabinets, rummaging through the boxes and cans.

The funny thing is, there is no more or less food in the house than on any other day. He’s just never here to notice it. I find it kind of odd that when he is here, my mom is out of town.

Coincidence?

I don’t think so.

“Should I order us a pizza?” he asks as he opens the drawer where we keep all the to-go menus.

I slip my shoes on since Brady should be here any minute. “I’m going out actually.” Just as I say it, my phone beeps with a text. I walk over to the bar and pull it out of my purse.

Dad leans against the counter, dropping the menus down, and he looks at me. “Oh, okay. With Chelsea? What time will you be home?”

I’m looking down at the text from Brady, letting me know that he is in the driveway, as Dad questions me. I slowly glance back up at him in shock. I honestly don’t remember the last time that my dad asked me where I was going, what I was doing, or who I was going to be with.

That’s two suspicious things that he has done tonight.

First, he’s at home, and now, he’s showing interest in me.

“Um…no. With Brady Fisher. I don’t know when I’ll be home. I mean, by curfew, of course.”

I’m confused, and we stand there, looking at one another. This is new for both of us.

“Kyle’s friend? Does your mom know that you’re going out with a boy?” he asks in a defeated tone. He seems somewhat confused. He grabs the menus, shoves them into the drawer, and then looks back at me.

“I guess not. He’s here. I kinda need to go.”

Dad takes a couple of steps toward me. “Where are you guys going?” He has serious concern in his expression that I haven’t seen in years.

“Dinner and then to meet Chelsea and Connor,” I lie—kind of. I have no doubt they will be at The Pit tonight. I’m sure we’ll bump into them.

“Okay, um…have fun.”

“Thanks. You, too.”

With that, I open the door to leave. I don’t get far. Brady is standing on the other side. He’s smiling politely, and it’s not the cocky smile that I love. I stand there, looking up at him, anxious. I don’t want to introduce him to my dad.

But I don’t have to because my dad takes it upon himself.

He approaches us and stands beside me. “Hi Brady.” He extends his hand toward Brady.

“Hi, Jack.” He shakes my dad’s hand and nods his head.

I look up at my dad.

He looks at me and smiles, taking a step back. “Have fun and behave, kids.”

“Bye, Dad.” I step toward Brady, forcing him to step back.

He chuckles and leads me to his car.

When he reaches the passenger door, he holds it open for me. I try not to let the stupid smile wanting to take over my face show itself. I slide into the seat and notice my dad looking out of the kitchen window. I wave quickly and buckle my seat belt.

Sitting quietly, I check out Brady’s black Charger. It’s really nice.

As Brady slides into the driver’s seat, he looks at me for the briefest moment. “You look nice, as always.”

“Thank you. So do you, even with your rainbow-colored eye.”

He rubs his finger across the bruised area.

I mentally scold myself,
Shut up, Reese. You’re a babbling fool.
“Um…I like your car. Where are we going?”

He glances at me with that smile that I love. “Thanks. I like my car, too. I thought you could choose where we go for dinner.”

After a little back-and-forth discussion about where to eat, we settle on a local pizza joint.