A Graceful Mess (11 page)

The persistent sound of buzzing reminds me of a field full of wildflowers with tons of bees swarming around them in a dire attempt to collect their honey. I wish I was in an open field, lying on a hammock, enjoying a good book, but I’m not, and the buzzing is coming from my purse. The sound of it rattling the items inside as someone calls over and over makes me shake my head. I feel guilty, but knowing the reason behind the call I get off of the couch and walk over to my purse that is sitting on our dining room table. The caller ID reads “Mom” and my suspicions are confirmed.

“Hello?” I try to sound cheerful and less annoyed than I really am.

“Happy birthday! Everybody, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to our little Gracie, happy birthday to you!” My mother’s voice echoes from the receiver that is held against my ear. Her singing is mediocre, but it’s the thought that counts.

“Hey Mom, thank you. I appreciate you calling. How are things?”

“Well, you know, same thing, different day. Your father had to talk me out of driving over and seeing you. I know you hate our unannounced visits, but we want to see you. We don’t see you enough these days, Gracie, and we didn’t even get to throw you a graduation party.” I can tell by her voice she is sulking. She has mastered the art, and is laying it on heavy now. I can’t count the times I told her and my father that a party wasn’t necessary. Why throw a huge graduation party, when I am going back for another three years? It is pointless and a waste of money, if you ask me. Which is exactly what I told them.

“Mom, please don’t throw a party. I told you when I graduate law school, you have free rein to throw one then, but not now, please.” Pleading is my only way out of this one. Two can play her little game.

“I know. I just miss you. Let’s do dinner. Dad is busy with the twins and their sports these days, and I just miss my little girl.”

“I’m not so little anymore; after all, I am turning twenty-three today.”

“That’s my point. It’s your birthday. Let’s go out. You can even bring Maci. Let’s grab some lunch, get pedicures…”

Maci isn’t even home. The last few weeks she has been with Ramsey every waking minute. I have to admit at first I thought he was a loser, but he is actually running a pretty legit business. He and Carson have come over to our apartment a handful of times and hung out. Carson isn’t half bad either, but I can tell he wants more. Unfortunately, he was never in the running for more. He is strictly in the friend zone; whether he realizes it yet or not is another thing. Now his brother, on the other hand, well, Parker made quite an impression on me.

“Okay, that sounds good. I’ll call Maci and invite her. Give me an hour.”

“Sounds like a date, honey. Meet me at Bailey’s Bakery and we can all ride together from there.”

“K.”

“Love you, baby. I can’t wait to see you.” I disconnect the line in a hurry.

“Why are you walking so funny?” I ask Maci as soon as I see her. Maci takes in a gulp of air; her face looks pained.

“Trust me, you don’t want to know.” She notices my confusion and shakes her head as we approach the doors of the little bakery where we are meeting my mother. “Ramsey likes it rough and a little anal here and there. In return, I get a little sore.”

“That is absolutely disgusting. You’re a slut!” We laugh as we walk into the store and see my mother sitting at a small booth waving her hands in the air. As we approach Maci puts on the charm.

“Oh, Karen, it’s so nice to see you! Look at you looking ten shades of gorgeous. I bet Mr. Clearwater can’t keep his hands off of you.”

My mom’s cheeks redden, and then her arms rise as she reaches to hug my annoyingly sweet friend.

“Well, sit down, ladies, and tell me what’s been going on.”

We spend the next forty-five minutes telling her all about finals and the last few weeks of classes and then Maci opens her big mouth.

“Karen, I think our little Gracie met someone!” she squeals.

My foot connects with her shin under the table, as I give her the meanest look I can muster. A grin spreads across my mom’s face and I know it’s too late. She heard her loud and clear, and now I have some explaining to do.

Lovely.

“It was nothing. We met one night at the bar…we met at a barbeque. Yeah, just a bunch of friends hanging out, an end of the year thing.” My shoulders shrug like it’s no big deal.

“You sure have spread your wings. I think college has really helped you, honey. Your father is going to be pleasantly surprised when I tell him the good news. Now about this guy, who is he? What does he do? Did he kiss you?”

The never ending series of questions continues for what feels like another ten minutes. Finally Maci interrupts my mom’s debriefing.

“Karen, I hate to cut our lunch short, but we have a long night ahead of us. We have dates, and we should really be getting back to the apartment to get ready.”

“But I thought we were going to get pedicures.”

And the sulking commences.

“Would you mind rescheduling?”

My mom sips on her coffee in silence. Her face looks like her dog was just run over and left to die on the side of the road. No exaggeration.

“You know how much we love hanging out with you, but… Carson, well like I said he’s a keeper and I don’t want Grace missing out on such a good guy.” Her ears perk up. She now has a name to tie the description to. I know Maci is just leading her on, but it seems to be working so I allow her to continue knowing darn well I would never go on a date with Carson.

“It’s a double date. I bet you and Joseph used to go on those when you were younger.” Mom smiles and for a brief moment I feel guilty once again.

“Okay, you’re right. Go on, get out of here, and have fun. Be careful and use protection. We don’t need any other mishaps happening, do we, Grace?” The bile in my stomach rises and burns my esophagus. If one more person brings up the
incident
, I swear I am going to go crazy like that weird girl in the gym at her high school prom that killed everyone with her mind.

“Mom, please stop. You’re ruining my birthday.” Getting up I march towards the exit and leave the bakery. Turning around I can see that no one followed me out. My mom and Maci are giving their goodbye hugs.

Ten…nine…eight…

A hand grabs my shoulder causing me to spin around. I flinch, unsure who it is. I haven’t been scared in a long time, but with all the sudden talk about
him
and the
incident
lately, it is my body’s automatic reaction.

“Whoa, don’t be scared. It’s just me.” When Grace turns around she looks like she is about to cry or scream.

“Parker?”

“Fancy meeting you here...” I try to lighten the mood, but fail miserably by the look on her face. “Hey, are you okay?”

“Honestly, I’m not right now, but I will be.” She frowns and I can tell she is upset about something. Her face looks full of sorrow and her eyes are red like she has been crying or is about to cry at any moment.

“Where are you heading? You stormed out of there pretty fast.”

Way to play it cool; now you sound like a stalker.

“I mean, I was getting some coffee at that kiosk,” I point to a little stand. “And I saw you heading for the exit. You seemed like you were in a hurry.”

“I am.”

“Okay, well…” I look around nervously.

Her voice catches as she mumbles, “Do you want to get out of here, Parker? I really need to, like, fast.”

What kind of question is that? Hell yeah, I want to get out of here and get you out of that cute, little, coral sundress thingy.

“Yeah, no problem. I parked right there.” I point to my truck that is parked on the other side of the street, where I was sitting moments before, tailing her, until I got thirsty and decided to grab a coffee. We cross the street and I open the passenger side door, helping her climb in before walking around and getting in the driver’s seat. My engine comes to life as we both look over to the entrance of the café she was at. Maci and an older lady rush out. Their heads look left to right down the sidewalk as my foot hits the gas causing black smoke to cloud the air behind us.

“You’re polluting the air.”

“That’s a diesel for you, baby. It’s a man’s truck.” I turn my head to the side and wink before asking, “So, where to, sweetheart?”

“Anywhere. Just away from them. Please, Parker.”

The way my name sounds coming from her mouth makes me remember how it sounded as she screamed it a few weeks ago as she rode my stiff cock. I clear my throat and shake my head desperately trying to get the image out of my head before I get rock hard and have to pull over.

“Will it weird you out if I take you to my place?” I don’t know why I offer for her to come home with me. It is clear she is in no state of mind to be hanging out. She probably needs to go home and rest and be alone. Hell, I don’t know. I’m sure she’ll say no anyways, but it is so quiet and peaceful at my place, which is probably what she needs right now, so I turn my head and shrug my shoulder. Her eyes widen like she is a kid in a candy shop full of her favorite sweets.

“Thank you, Parker, that is exactly what I need. I really don’t want to be alone right now.”

Her face is beaming. I can see her bite her bottom lip from the corner of my eye, and then I feel her hand. She lays it on my thigh and squeezes. The gesture is so innocent, but considering what’s happened between us before and these feelings I have been harboring ever since, I take it as a more intimate act than I know it actually is. The words “I know she is easy on the eyes, son, but don’t let it get to you, and make sure you’re thinking with the right head on this one” repeat in my head. Old Pops was right on. I should have stayed clear of Grace Clearwater when I had the chance at the bar, but she sucked me in with her beauty and pure innocence that radiates off of her. I was spellbound as soon as her fingers touched me, but the boundary has already been crossed, so one more time won’t hurt, right? I have to change the subject before my brain shuts off and I move her hand over slightly and rest it on my dick. If I was truly thinking like a man I wouldn’t hesitate. Hell, if it was any other female, I wouldn’t hesitate.

“Did you get my note?”

She suddenly looks wary, as she nods her head up and down.

“Do you remember what it said?”

“Yeah.”

“Tell me,” I instruct her as my eyes stay glued to the road.

“Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack.”

“Okay,” she mumbles. “It said something like you had a nice time and be careful…”

“It said ‘don’t be so trusting,’ and what are you doing? What if I was some psycho?” Her innocence and trust enliven me. I barely know her, and, well, she barely knows me, and here she is riding home with me.

“Parker, I don’t think you’d hurt me.”

How did I get in this mess? We never should have fucked. Bottom line. Now I am attracted to her and I know she is off limits, but I can’t help but feel drawn to her. It’s more than her beauty. I can’t put my finger on it, but my body craves her touch. Fighting this urge to be near her is like fighting a losing battle. One which I don’t mind losing.

Through clenched teeth I say, “We’re almost there.” Making sure to keep my eyes fixated on the road is tough enough without having Grace’s sweet body sitting so close to me.