Sparrow (3 page)

She
arches an eyebrow, then leans forward to leave a chocolate kiss on my lips.  “I
think that can be arranged.”

“So,”
Addison says as she wraps her hands around my arm and leans against me, “my
parents want to meet you.”

“That’s
a coincidence,” I say as I move Sam’s leash to my right hand.  “Gram wants to
meet you.”

Her
eyebrows shoot up in surprise.  “Which meeting should we have first?”

We
stare at each other for a few seconds and then answer in unison.  “Gram.”

She
giggles and I laugh, but it’s nervous laughter.  My past relationships were
never long enough to warrant a formal parent meeting; the introductions were a
quick hello and goodbye.  As we walk and I think about it, my relationship with
Addison definitely fits the short category.  We’ve only hung out a few days,
but we’ve spent every spare minute of those days together.  I should have seen
this coming; I’m sure her mom and dad want to make sure I’m not some creep corrupting
their daughter.

Addison’s
fingers slide down my arm to grab my hand with both of hers.  It’s crazy how my
body registers her every move; I even find myself aware of her proximity when
we’re not touching.  Whatever is going on between us is happening fast, and
it’s something I’ve never experienced with any other girl.

“I
think we should take the canoe out later,” she says as we walk.  “I didn’t get
a chance to use it last year because Ashley and Meagan were afraid we’d tip.”

“Speaking
of,” I say, “where is your sister?”

“At
home, getting ready for college.”  She rolls her eyes.  “It’s all she can talk
about.  I’m sick of hearing about Michigan Tech.”

“What’s
wrong with Michigan Tech?”

“It’s
not the school.”  She shrugs one shoulder.  “I’m just tired of listening to my
parents fawn over their golden child.”

We
stop walking to let Samson explore the side of the road, and I catch Addison’s
eyes.  “I’m sure you’re exaggerating, but I’ll play along.  Why is Meagan the
favorite?”

She
frowns.  “Because she’s going to college to major in pharmacology; she’ll have
a
real
career, as my mother says.  I don’t want that.”

“What
do you want?”

“To
dance.  Professionally.  I’ve already been working some scholarship leads; I
want to get in to Julliard.”

I’m
impressed.  Unlike Addison, I have no idea what direction I’m headed.  I don’t
know what school to go to or what to major in, and my grades won’t qualify me
for any financial help.  My high school offers a small athletic scholarship,
but my chances of earning it are slim at best.  “That’s amazing.  You dance?”

“I
have since I was four.  Ballet, mostly, but I take modern dance, too.”

I
nod approvingly.  “I should have known.”

“How?”

Stepping
back, my eyes run from her hips to her ankles.  “I knew those legs were lethal
for more reasons than one.”

She
playfully punches my arm, and I jump back, smiling.  “Hey, you were staring at
my ass last summer.”

She
bumps her shoulder against me as we start to walk again.  “Yeah, well.  It’s
the only thing I could see from a distance besides your black hair.  Maybe it’s
a good thing we didn’t meet until I was leaving.”

“Why’s
that?”

“Because
I got an up-close and personal look at those color-shifting eyes.”  She
scrutinizes my face, and I stare at the light freckles on the bridge of her
nose.  “More green than blue today,” she decides.

“And
that’s bad?” I ask.  “That you saw my eyes, I mean.”

“A
girl can get lost in those eyes,” she says matter-of-factly.  “I bet the panties
melt off the girls back home.”

My
laugh sounds like a bark.  “That doesn’t happen!”

“Really? 
There’s not a line of girls beating down your door?”

“No.” 
I shake my head.  “I go out on a few dates now and then.”

“So,
no girlfriend?”

“No. 
Do you honestly think I’d be making out with you if there were?”

She
shrugs.  “I would hope not.”

“Well,
just so you know, I don’t believe in cheating.”

When
I was twelve years old, my father had an affair with Lydia, the dental
hygienist at his practice.  They’re married now, but I never understood, even
as a kid, why he couldn’t have left my mom first, before he started messing
around.  While I’ll always care about my dad, I don’t like what he did.  Our
family is broken because he couldn’t keep it in his pants.

Addison
disrupts my thoughts by reaching for Sam’s lead.  I stop walking to hand it to
her and when she takes it, she stands on her toes and rewards me with a slow
kiss that goes from sweet to sexy in seconds.  I set my hands on her waist to
steady her and a deep understanding takes root in my brain: if we do nothing
else in the coming weeks but walk Sam and kiss, I’ll be a happy man.

When
she steps away, I ask, “Was that for not having a girlfriend?”

She
smiles.  “Yeah.”

“I
take it there’s no boyfriend back home either?”

She
shakes her head.  “He dumped me.”

I
can’t stop myself from frowning.  The idea of her dating some jerk doesn’t sit
well with me, which is absurd because I’ve only really known her for a few
days.  “When?”

“After
prom.”

So,
he’s a complete asshole.  “How long had you guys been together?”

“Only
a couple of months.”   She starts to walk again, tugging on Sam’s leash to get
his attention.  “It wasn’t that big of a deal, really.”

I
have the urge to punch this guy I’ve never met.  We walk a few feet and then
she looks me in the eye.  “I can tell you’re irritated.  Trust me; he didn’t
break my heart.  I’m happy it ended.”

Okay,
good.  My shoulders relax, and I wind my arm around her waist.  As I lean over
to kiss the top of her head, I catch the scent of her shampoo.  Her hair smells
like strawberries.  “I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”

She
leans into my side, and we circle the lake, ending where we began.

~~~~

Two
days later, I pray that I put on enough deodorant to mask the smell from the sweat
in my armpits.

Addison’s
father glares at me as he passes the tossed salad.  Her parents requested my
presence at dinner because Addison and I got caught red-handed.  In our
defense, we were only kissing.  Yes; I kind of had her backed up against the
side of my truck, and yes, her legs were kind of wrapped around my waist.  But,
that’s only because she jumped from the bed of the truck and I caught her.  It
was entirely her fault that she was wrapped around my body.  Deciding to walk
forward and pin her against the door…well, that was my idea.

“Kyle.”
Beth, Addison’s mother, pulls my attention away from her agitated husband.  “Addison
was telling us you live in Fenton.”

I
clear my abnormally scratchy throat and respond, “Yes, ma’am, that’s right.” 
Our addresses were one of the first things Addison and I exchanged when we met
up again.  She lives south of me, in the Waterford area.  It’s a town I’ve
never visited, but I plan to, if her parents don’t take out a restraining
order.

“That’s,
what, about a half-hour away from us?” she asks her daughter.

Addison
nods, her mouth purposefully stuffed with grilled chicken.  She’s just as
uncomfortable as I am, yet I can’t help but notice how good she looks, even
with puffy food-filled cheeks.

“You’ll
be a senior this year, too, then?”  Beth asks me as she takes a bite.

“Yes,
ma’am, that’s right.”  Apparently those four words are all I’m capable of
saying.

“What
colleges are you considering?”

Robert,
Addison’s dad, startles me.  His voice sounds deep and rough, like the man
swallowed rocks for breakfast.  I don’t know if that’s his natural tone or his
‘I’m-fucking-pissed-as-hell-keep-your-hands-off-my-daughter’ tone.  It’s the
only voice I’ve heard him use, mainly because the first time he spoke to me was
when he growled to put Addison down.

I
use my standard answer to the college question.  “I’m looking at a few.”

“What
will you major in?”

I
don’t have an answer.  As I push some rice around my plate, I realize I’m being
interrogated; I should have expected nothing less.  I don’t want to give
Addison’s parents another reason to dislike me, so I find some fake confidence
and meet Robert’s eyes.  “I’m torn on that as well.”

“Between
what, exactly?” he presses.

My
mind races as I consider lying.  I should probably say I want to be a doctor or
a lawyer.  Instead, “My father is a dentist and my mother is an accountant,
neither field interests me,” comes out of my mouth.  “My main goal is to play
my hardest this fall and earn a football scholarship.”

This
piques Robert’s interest, and his face relaxes a bit.  “Really?  What schools
are scouting you?”

Shit. 
That’s not what I meant.  Addison gives my knee a reassuring squeeze under the
table, and I decide to lie.  I’ll confess to her later, in private.

Forcing
a self-deprecating laugh, I say, “Coach doesn’t like me to talk about it.  He
says it will jinx the season.  None of the scouts want word getting to the
other schools, either; I’m sure you understand.”

Addison’s
dad gives me a curt nod.  “Impressive.  I get the sense some big names are
looking at you.  Big Ten schools perhaps?”

My
mouth opens but nothing comes out.

“Rob,
leave the boy alone,” Beth interjects from the opposite end of the table.  “He
said he can’t talk about it.”

I
shoot her a grateful glance.

“Has
Addison mentioned Julliard?” she asks me.

A
smile I can’t contain breaks across my face.  I look at Addison.  “Yes.  There’s
no doubt in my mind she’ll get in.”

Addison
blushes and stares at her plate.

“I
don’t doubt she will be accepted, either.”  Beth reaches for her wine glass. 
“What I do doubt is her ability to make a living as a dancer.  Maybe you could
talk some sense into her, Kyle, since you have your choice of colleges.  As an
athlete, you know you can’t rely on your body forever.  I feel she should minor
in dance.”

Addison’s
brown eyes flash.  “Really, Mom?  You’re going to bring this up now?”

“We’re
on the topic of colleges,” Beth says innocently, “and Julliard is quite
expensive.”

“I
told you I’m looking into scholarships.  I’m willing to take on the loan debt.”

“But,
you’ll need a co-signer without a job.  Your father and I aren’t…”

“Beth.”

All
eyes swing to Robert and his baritone voice.  “Enough.”

Addison’s
mom lets out an exaggerated sigh, and she levels her eyes at her daughter.  “I
love you.  I only want what’s best.”

Addison’s
shoulders sag.  “You’ve said that before.”

Uncomfortable
tension hangs in the air and a knot forms in my stomach.  I want to hold
Addison and tell her she can do whatever she damn well pleases.  Instead, I
sneak another piece of chicken to Sam, who has been sitting by my chair the
entire time I’ve been here.  I don’t want Addison’s mother to think I dislike
her cooking, but my appetite has disappeared.

Dinner
is finished in relative silence.  Addison stands to help her mother clear the
empty dishes from the table, leaving me alone with her father.  My nerves jump
into overdrive at being scrutinized by such an intimidating man.

He
runs his napkin over his mouth and then tosses it on to his plate.  Crossing
his arms, he leans back in his chair.  “So, Kyle.  I guess now would be the
appropriate time to tell you I own a gun.”

I
swallow and rub my sweaty palms against my cargo shorts.  I thought this only
happened in the movies.  “Yes, sir.”

“I
don’t like what I saw today, mainly because I remember being your age.  I know
what’s going through your mind,” he says.  “Addison is my baby.  If you hurt
her, I hurt you.  Understand?”

I
nod.

“My
daughter has a bright future ahead of her, be that in dance or whatever else she
decides to do.  She doesn’t need anything getting in her way, if you know what
I mean.”

I
don’t know what he means.  Does he think I’ll be too much of a distraction if I
stay in her life?  Or does he think I’m not good enough for her, period?

He
sighs and reaches into his jeans pocket, then shocks me by flipping several condoms
on to the table.  I stare at them wide-eyed.  What the hell?

“This
doesn’t mean you have my blessing or I condone what you’re doing,” he says as
he rubs his hand over his face.  “But I know I can’t stop it and I don’t want
her pregnant.”

Holy
shit!  Is this a test?  If I take what he’s offering, it’s like admitting we’re
sleeping together.  Which we’re not.  I won’t lie; I’ve thought about it.  Imagined
it.