Bring the Rain (17 page)

I tug on the taut wrapping, careful not to rip it. Inside, I unfold a stack of flour sack towels, all with embroidered birds. They look straight out of the William’s Sonoma catalog. “Wow, these are gorgeous. Thank you.”

“It’s no big thing. A few days of watching sunsets on the porch with a needle and thread is close to heaven for me.” When Nellie grins, she glows. “Here’s another, darlin’.”

The gifts seem to never end: silverware, cast iron skillets, cleaning supplies, bath towels, crisp white sheets already smelling like lilacs, kitchen cloths, a painting of the sky, and homemade throw pillows. Dad’s home will literally be filled with their stitches of care and support.

I fold a set of knit washcloths before I hand it over to Gina. “Thank you, everyone. This means so much to him.” I glance over at Dad, who’s waving in a truck backing in with more lumbar. Colt and Todd hop out to help him unload. Then it hits me—Dad will be fine if I move to Paris. I don’t need to worry about him because he’s far from alone.

Who I need to worry about is me.

“Don’t forget, we’re doing this for you too. We remember you as a small girl, eating your ma’s chap-stick behind the church pews. We’re your community too.” Nellie grins down at me, folding up the wrapping paper for future use.

I swallow a lump in my throat. “Well, thank you. This is all real nice.” They help me stack the gifts against a table as Grace rings a bell for lunch. Colt’s arms find my waist, and he plants a kiss on my neck. He holds me, and for a second we sway with the wind. A family near us spreads a blanket out for a picnic. The father embraces his identical twin toddlers, giving a twenty-something mother a moment to fix her hair into a topknot. She catches me watching her and tosses me a smile as she takes a long sip from her water. She looks exhausted, yet she glows.

“What are you thinking?” Colt asks.

“That it’s hot.” I wipe sweat from my inner elbow. “There’s no way everyone is planning to work through this heat.”

“Naw.” He spins me to face him. “I know that look in your eye.”

“Oh, you do?”

“Yup.” He leans in to whisper as he touches his forehead to mine. “You love it.”

“Really? What’s
it
?”

“That.” He turns me back around so I can watch the parents again, now trying to serve the bouncing kids apples and chicken. It’s complete chaos. The mom laughs as applesauce squirts in her husband’s face. Nice shot.

“Ah yes, the typical country family.” I say using an anthropologist-like voice. “Dad farms, Mom raises the fruit of her womb and cooks, delivering him lunch every day at noon. Very appealing.”

Colt chuckles. “Actually, she’s a top author PR agent, and he’s an engineer. They adopted their sons from Russia four months ago, but you know that’s not what I’m talking about, right?”

I take a deep breath, not able to turn around. He kisses my neck again.

Weight crushes down on my shoulders. Marriage and family? This is too heavy to even consider. I’m sixteen and he’s eighteen. It’s ridiculous to hint at something like that right now.

He pulls away, “Come on. Let’s eat.” He’s blushing, totally aware of how inappropriate it is too.

I pile my plate with food, thanking the women who run the buffet. Gina waves me over and I join her with my plate while Colt grabs us water.

“So you and Colt are really a thing now, huh?”

“Yeah. He’s… well, he’s not like any other guy I’ve ever dated.”

“Really?” Gina’s lips tighten as she evaluates him.

“There’s something about him that’s impossible to describe—with a simple peck on the cheek he can drive me crazy yet make me feel so safe and still. It’s almost the only time I’m free to embrace who I am.”

Her eyes flick up. “Autumn, I need to tell you...” She pauses for a long time, like she’s forgotten what she was going to say.

“Yes?” I prompt her with a grin.

“Don’t get stuck here, Autumn. It’s a lame, boring life and not worth any guy.” She eyes Peter who’s chatting with one of the older women serving food. “And don’t fall in love, ever.” Her eyes turn to the horizon. Whoa, I’ve never seen Gina so intense before.

“Where’s Josh? Aren’t you guys dating now?”

“He’s working at the garage.”

“How are things going?”

“Great, he’s nice, and it’s casual. So it’s safe-- it’s good.”

“Define safe?”

“I won’t end up heartbroken when I leave for college.” She takes her last bite of sandwich then grabs her plate and stands as Colt approaches. She gives him a quick smile, stepping sideways so he can sit. “Hey.”

“Hi, Gina.” Colt sits next to me. “I can grab you a water if you’d like to hang out longer.”

“No, no. That’s fine. I just…” She looks at me and shakes her head.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She smiles back. “Remember what I said, okay?”

“I will.”

“Well, I've got to get to the ice cream parlor. We’ll talk later?”

“Sure.”

“Awesome, text me.” She nods to Colt as she backs away, detouring around a table to avoid Peter.

“What were you ladies talking about? What do you need to remember?” Colt asks before he bites into his sub.

“Oh nothing. Girl stuff. Gina… well… I think she’s having trouble with the idea of me being in a relationship. It doesn’t fit in with what she knows about me, I guess.”

Colt scoots closer. “In a relationship? Does this mean I’m officially your boyfriend?”

I shove him away playfully, “Naw, you’re my cowboy.”

“I’ll take what I can get.” He pulls me close, giving me a deep kiss. Someone whoops, but it doesn’t mask Dad’s cleared throat.

“All right, all right.” I say, appeasing Dad. “Let’s have our lunch, cowboy.”

“
Now that
you’re spending your mornings with Chris, I don’t get to see you as much,” Colt says as he rubs cooling ointment on my shoulders. His lips meet my neck. “I’ve missed you. Do you want to go out tonight?”

“We’re together every night, Colt.”

He laughs. “Does that bother you?” He traces a circle on my mid back and I melt.

“Not a bit.”

“Good.” He kisses me soft again. I push in toward him, begging for the passion that he’s been keeping on constant simmer. We have had nothing close to the kisses we shared that evening a few months back. Colt laughs lightly as he pulls away from my lips and nips my nose. My heart aches, craving for him to break through that restraint and give me a real kiss.

“Is there something wrong?” I bump my nose against his.

“No, why?” he whispers.

“Well,” I nod towards the house. “Everyone’s gone. It’s just you and me. Why do you hold back?”

Colt releases his grasp around my waist and sighs. “You live here now. I’m trying to respect that. Plus,” his hand hovers over the deep scar from my third degree burn, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Do you ever consider that maybe you worry too much about me? And, maybe, just maybe, respecting me would include passionately making out with me?”

“Or more?” He asks and my heart flies.

“Yeah, that too.”

“That answers it.” He pulls me up from the porch swing. “We’ve got to get out of here.”

“Why?” I wrap my arms around him. I need him. He keeps things simple, but I need it to be real too.

“You’ll get me in trouble if we stay.” His jaw line’s so sexy in the setting sun.

“What if I want trouble?” I ask.

I’ve missed flirting. It feels nice to be in control of something again. I step closer, pinning him against the arm rail. I press my lips against his jaw, like I did the night we sat under the stars. “Just one real kiss.”

He clasps my shoulders, and yeah, there’s pain but it doesn’t matter because his lips find mine. He presses into me, exploring my mouth. With a quick lift, I’m in the air and he wraps my legs around him. Yes, finally! His hand explores my hair and squeezes my butt. I hug his neck, but I let my tongue do the work within his kiss, telling him what I dare not say.

This is what I want, Colt.

This is what I need.

Nothing complicated.

Just you.

He pulls open the door and… my legs meet a hot seat.… Wait, what? My eyes fling open. He put me in his dinky truck!

Colt pulls away from me, nearly panting, “We need to go.”

“Are you kidding me?” I pull him in for another kiss.

“Nope,” he says with a wink before kissing me back, soft and quick before closing the door on me. When he opens his, I’m ready and I pounce, pulling him in by the collar and across the bucket seat.

“You..." I kiss his lips. “Tricked...” I kiss his jaw. “Me.” I return to those lips again.

“Right,” Colt says as he pulls himself off and away. “A guy’s got to do what a guy’s got to do?”

“To stay away from me?”

“Whatever it takes.” His voice catches, trembling. “Buckle up, girl. I need to be around people, fast.”

“Or?”

The ignition roars to life and Colt peals out of the driveway. “Or I’m in big trouble.”

“I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”

“Well,” Colt clears his throat, “I’m pretending I didn’t hear that.”

“Fine.” I cross my arms. How is it I’ve fallen back into begging for him?

“Hey,” Colt’s fingers entwine mine, his thumb tracing a circle on top. The nerve endings spiral in delight. “Let’s keep this easy, right now. It’s not the right time, okay? You don’t need more drama for your summer.”

I nod, slightly peeved. “So where are we going?”

That isn’t the right question. I want to know why. Why isn’t now the right time? Is marriage seriously still his excuse? I don’t understand.

Or maybe, I’m not his type?

No. He wouldn’t be spending so much time with me if he didn’t care. I refuse to be one of those lame girls who believes no one will ever like them. I can’t waste my life doing that. It’s not worth it. His kiss tells me he likes me. I need to follow that feeling and not fall into insecurity. With these new scars, it’d be hard to crawl back out of that trap.

“I was thinking of hitting up a house party. You game?” Colt suggests.

“Sure, why not, but can you promise me one thing?”

“Anything.”

“No line dancing.”

***

Colt whips me around and draws me close. He may have thought dancing would keep us in check, but I think it only makes it worse. I press my hand against his, and I can feel the unresolved physical tension between our touch.

“Maybe we should get some water?” I ask when the song ends. He holds me so close that his breath tickles my forehead.

He clears his throat. “Yep. That’d be good.”

“Autumn?” A tall guy with jet-black hair asks. “Autumn Gallaber?”

“Yeah?”

“You probably don’t remember me. I’m Jake. Miss Tuddle’s third grade class? Remember me?”

Jake with the snotty nose, and obsession with snakes?

Whoa. How did he turn into this guy with long lashes, broad-shoulders, and a clean, pressed shirt?

Colt gives my shoulder a squeeze.

“Jake, absolutely. Wonderful to see you again.”

“You too. Hey, would you like to dance?” He looks to Colt. “I promise I won’t steal her away. Just a chance to catch up, ya know?”

“Sounds fun. I’d love to hear how you’ve been.” I’m grateful for a second away from Colt. He’s impossible to interpret. Every move he makes screams yes, but he says no. What’s a girl to do with that info?

“I’ll meet you after?” I turn, touching his chest for a moment so he knows I’m his for the night. .

“Have a nice time. I’ll grab those waters,” Colt says before walking away.

“Water?” Jake says as he takes my hand and guides back into the clearing in the living room where couples sway. “You’re not drinking?”

He pulls me in, way closer than a normal first dance.

“Nope. Not tonight.”

He spins me away and back in again.

“You haven’t changed one bit,” he says, brushing that loose strand of bangs out of my eye. Weird. I casually dance a step away from him. There, better.

“I’ll be honest. You have.”

The song changes, faster now. He keeps dancing with me, pretending the slow beat is still there. I should be more uncomfortable with how he’s holding me, but I’m used to men acting like this in the clubs back home.

“Good. I was kind of lame back then.” His wink isn’t like Colt’s, playful and fun. It’s long and creepy. He knows he’s attractive. Eww. Talk about the biggest turn off ever.

“Well,” I force a laugh. “I was too.”

“You still obsessed with My Little Pony?” He says with a wink.

“Nope.” I neglect to mention I slept in the sheets until the house burned down. We don’t need to talk about my bed right now.

“Well then, I guess you have changed. Actually,” he pulls me super close to his chest as he drives us into the middle of the crowd. “You’ve changed a lot.” His hand drops low on my back resting partly on my butt. Jake’s message is clear and my face heats. This is definitely not in my plans for the night.

“You’re totally gorgeous.” He reaches lower now and gives my ass a squeeze. “And super sexy hot.”

“Nope. Not happening.” I say as my hand removes his. If I don’t stop this now, experience has taught me he’ll get too rough. “I’m flattered and all, but I’m with Colt.”

He pauses, tracing my ringless finger. “Seems like you’re still a free agent.”

I try to step back. He’s got to be kidding. A ring or absence of one does not represent my availability, and, I’m sorry, but no one should get engaged at sixteen. This place is archaic if they think that’s normal.

With his other arm still around my waist he pulls me close and smashes his lips to mine. His tongue darts inside my mouth like a snake. He tastes of booze and Doritos. Gross. With both hands against his chest, I push away but one of his arms moves higher on my back, keeping me there. He rubs my shirt, over my burns, and the skin breaks. I feel filleted, the sharp breaks are wet. I shriek with the pain, like a thousand paper cuts on my upper back. Then,
wam!,
he’s tossed across the hardwood floor.

“You dick.” Jake yells as he recovers, running at Colt. Colt doesn’t falter, punching him in the face.

The space clears, and a group of cowboys hoot, shouting out their bets on Colt. Pure insanity.

I duck through the crowd, listening to the scuffle behind me. There’s no reason for me to cheer for Colt. I know his muscles, and compared to the ones I felt when I touched Jake’s shoulder, I know he’ll win. My back is stinging like crazy though—that needs to get checked out stat.

The stairs are tucked past the entrance. I rush up them, trying not to groan at the crappy decorating of scones filled with fake flowers. I’m so far from my favorite club, but at least I don't have to push my way through a sea of people to get to the bathroom here. The fluid weeping from my back can’t stick to my shirt. I need this cleaned up and covered. When I’m done, maybe I’ll go downstairs and kick Jake in the balls. I was so close to being able to sleep on my back again!

I open a few closet doors, curving down the random hallways added to the old farmhouse over the years. Finally, I notice a door at the end of the hall with a piece of notebook paper taped to it with the word bathroom scribbled on. Why even go to the trouble if you aren't posting arrows to guide the way?

The crowd cheers below. Ah come on, no real fight lasts this long. Now, they’re just being boys. Colt should walk away. This doesn’t have to be a big deal. Stuff happens like this in clubs back home all the time. Well, minus the weeping burns.

I open the door and turn on the light. A red-haired topless girl straddles a shirtless guy on the floor. The girl’s head whips around, glaring over her shoulder at me.

“Get out!” she yells.

But I freeze.

It’s Gina.

Her eyes bulge as she registers my face. “Autumn, get out!”

“Oh God, sorry.” I yank the door shut, and a picture frame falls to the floor.

I want to dart back downstairs and hide. This is the first time I've walked in on anyone. Why couldn’t it have been a stranger? That would’ve been funny. Of course it had to be Gina. Shit. Now we have to talk about it. The guys still scuffle below. Might as well get this convo out of the way. I don’t need it hanging over my head.

I walk away from the bathroom, picking up the dropped picture and studying a print of some horrible modern art. She never mentioned she was at
that
stage with Josh yet. She usually shares that stuff.

The bathroom door creaks and the guy steps out, putting back on his baseball cap. He nods to me as he walks by. No words--like he does this all the time. He leaves the door open and, through the crack, I see Gina, now dressed, leaning over the sink, repairing her make-up in the mirror.

I knock as I slip inside. She looks at me and rolls her eyes.

“Hey,” is all she says. Her tone has an edge, like that night in the club last fall. Awesome. I steady my voice, prepping for the wrath of Gina as an angry drunk.

“Gina, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to walk in on you and Josh. The light was off. I had no idea anyone was in here.”

Gina pouts out her lips and applies some tinted lip balm. “That wasn’t Josh.”

“Oh, sorry. I thought you were still with him.”

“I am.” Her reflection glares back at me.

“Oh,” I drop my eyes.

“His name’s Mitch. He’s always been on my list.” She opens the door, ready to leave.

“Your list?”

“Of guys to try."

Guys to try? That can’t mean what I think it does. I step in front of the door, blocking her exit. “What do you mean?”