Heart Waves (12 page)

I called Grace ready to pick up where we left off the previous night. She couldn’t talk and promised to drop by when she finished shopping with her mother. I turned my computer on and read my newly started journal after accepting a friend invitation on Facebook from Computer Geek aka Reece. Around one o’clock in the afternoon, just when I thought I would lose my mind to the monotony of the day, Grace finally made it over.  

We spent the afternoon listening to music, and texting our boyfriends, making plans for the evening. Mike dominated Grace’s end of the conversation and Reece mine. The muscles in my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.

Dinner had been the hardest time of the day. Alone with my parents, I waited for the torment to begin again. I begged Grace to stay, to no avail. She didn’t want to be anywhere in the vicinity of my parents after I described their reaction the previous night.

Knowing my parents were none too fond of Reece, I tried to keep the conversation light. I embellished every detail of my day, hoping to make it sound more fun and interesting than it truly had been. Unfortunately that wasn’t good enough.

“You know, sweetheart,” Mom began. I braced myself sensing this wasn’t going in a direction I’d like. “This being your last year of high school, I think it would be a good idea for you to volunteer your time somewhere.”

“Why? Like you said, this is my last year. I should be living it up.”

Mom smiled, but it wasn’t her happy smile. It was more of a smirk really, her I’m-not-happy-and-I’m-a-hair-away-from-losing-it-so-proceed-with-caution smile. “I’m thinking you should invest in something that can give you an edge on college applications.”

I almost choked. I knew the real reason she broached the subject and it had nothing to do with college.
“Really Mom?
You think volunteering my time is going to keep me from seeing him?”

“I thought nothing of the sort.” She looked down before meeting my eyes with a stubborn calm. “But it seems you can think of nothing else.”

“Whatever,” I turned and looked away.

It’s not like I believed her and she knew it. As long as we were clear. It bothered me that she wanted to put a damper on my happiness. I had no patience for her games at the moment. I’d gone the entire day anticipating the buzz I’d get when I saw Reece in the evening, and she was ruining it.

I glanced at the clock to be sure it hadn’t stopped. It felt like some sort of inhumane torture being without him. This trivial action did not go by unnoticed by my father.

“Spending every waking moment of the summer with this boy could prove detrimental to you,” my father chimed in.

“Detrimental?”

I felt a surge of anger pump through my veins. I didn’t need a mirror to know my face was red with color and hot. Even the tops of my ears were hot. I felt like an alien ship had sucked me out of my kitchen and dropped me into a parallel universe of contradiction and hostility.

“I have no intention of spending every waking moment with Reece.” As much as I’d like to. “And I really don’t see how after one date you could be convinced he’s a bad influence.”

They exchanged a wary look.

“It‘s not that we don’t like him.” Mom went on to explain in a softer tone. “He really does seem like a respectful boy. It’s just the proximity. We don’t think it’s healthy for the two of you to spend a lot of unsupervised time together.”

“Are you kidding?” What happened to my parents? Had they simultaneously lost their minds? Were they
so
promiscuous as teenagers they feared I would lose all sense to raging hormones?

“It’s not that we don’t trust you,” my father picked up where Mom left off. “It’s just sometimes things happen and, with him being only two doors away, and no parental supervision on either side for most of the day,” he cleared his throat.

I didn’t want this conversation to go any further. The battle had been lost. I didn’t have a choice in the matter. Not really. While not in the driver’s seat exactly, I felt if I agreed I still held some bargaining power. I had to at least try. 

“I’ll go to the library tomorrow.” I rushed the words out of my mouth hoping to stop my father from getting any further in his explanation. “I’ll be happy to volunteer,” I smiled as sweetly as I could, “if you agree to lay off Reece. Make an attempt to get to know him before you declare him public enemy number one. Agreed?”

Again they exchanged a look. “Agreed,” my mother said.

“Good because he’s coming over after dinner.” Neither looked happy about that. “Before you have a cow, you should know Mike and Grace are coming too.”

“Mike?” My mother asked surprised. “I thought you didn’t like him?”

“I don’t. But he and Reece are friends. And he and Grace are together.”

“Oh,” my father said with sudden clarity.

I could read his train of thought. He assumed my interest in Reece had something to do with Grace and Mike. And when one waned so would the other. I watched him get up from the table with a smile and clear off the dishes. Suddenly he had a bounce in his step and he began to hum softly. I didn’t say a word. I didn’t want to burst his bubble.

*                       *                       *

Grace arrived first. She helped me set up out at the pool. We brought a tray of snacks and drinks, a deck of cards and a few board games. Imagine my horror to find Mom and Dad lounging by the pool.

“What are you doing?” I asked mortified.

“Getting some fresh air,” Dad answered. “Don’t mind us.”

“You’re not staying!”

Mom smiled. “We just want to say hello to your friends. That’s not a problem is it? Pretend we’re not here.”

“Pretend . . .? Are you serious?”

“I don’t see the big deal,” my father answered. “You said you wanted us to have an open mind.”

I walked away from them with tears in my eyes and my throat constricting. I wanted to run and hide in my room. I didn’t understand why my otherwise normal parents, who even crossed the bridge to cool from time to time, suddenly took a trip down the path of insanity.   

I went back to the table muttering under my breath. Grace immediately came to my rescue. She gave me a hug and helped me pull myself together.

And then I saw him.

I forgot everything. I forgot about my parents and the tears. I forgot my name. I only knew the thundering of my heart. All the angst I’d been feeling eased. Just in time for the wild tumbling in my belly to start.

Reece and Mike were chatting casually as they approached my yard. I barely even noticed Mike after seeing Reece in his swim trunks and sleeveless shirt. He already had a smile on his face when our eyes locked. The drone of noise around us, the people themselves disappeared.

“You didn’t hear one word I said. Now I understand why your parents are freaked.”

“Huh?” I turned to Grace, barely aware she was speaking to me. 

She looked amused. “You’ve got it bad.”

“Gee thanks,” I answered returning my focus to Reece.

“Not that I blame you,” I felt her staring, scrutinizing me, “He is gorgeous.”

“And taken,” I reminded her.

Mike opened the gate and walked over to us more comfortable than he ought to have been. Reece on the other hand didn’t look as sure of himself as usual. He took my hand in his and kissed the top of my head gently.

Mike looked around as if he were sizing up the place. I held my breath afraid the boys would dash away once they spotted Mom and Dad. Mike’s eyes froze on them, a confused look on his face. I couldn’t even come up with a lame excuse for my parents’ presence before they made their way over and into our business.

“Did you boys have dinner?” Mom asked out of the blue.

“Didn’t you smell the house burning?” Reece answered.

I understood the humor. Mom on the other hand did not. She looked horrified he would say such a thing, and I couldn’t help but think she deserved it.

“What are you boys eating?” she asked with real concern.

“Not to worry Mrs. Kingsley, we ordered pizza tonight,” Mike answered.

“And what about last night?”

“We picked up burgers and fries.”

“When is the last time you had a good, home-cooked meal?” She asked.

“Night before my parents left,” he looked at the ground embarrassed as he answered.

“Well that is unacceptable. I’ll just go whip something up for you to take back.”

“That’s very kind, but not at all necessary,” Reece said.

“You kids just have fun. Come help me,” she looked at Dad.

He didn’t argue or protest. He just shook his head and rolled his eyes before following her inside. I had no idea where her sudden concern for the boys came from, but I was certainly grateful for it.

“What was that about?” Mike asked.

I shook my head, “I’m not really sure.” I turned my attention back to Reece. “So how was your day?” I asked wrapping my arms around his waist pulling him close.

“It just got immensely better.” He smiled down at me and stroked my hair. I felt it happening and did nothing to try and stop it; I lost myself in his eyes. “I couldn’t stop thinking of you.”

“Don’t try.”

Mike cleared his throat and coughed out, “Get a room.”

“Why are you so touchy?” Grace asked turning his face toward hers in an attempt to regain his attention.

“Want to go for a swim?” I asked raising my eyebrows playfully at Reece.

He didn’t move at first. He glanced at our friends, a strange look on his face. I wondered why he hesitated and thought I’d help speed things along by pulling my cover-up over my head and tossing it on a chair.

I watched Reece’s eyes soak me in, with awe and hunger. He looked at me like he’d been on a deserted island for years and I washed ashore. My heart picked up speed.

Grace leaned over and whispered, “This is why your parents were out here. This is what has them spooked.”

“What’s going on?” Reece asked.

I shook it off. “Don’t worry. I’ll tell you later.” I reached for his hand and stepped in so that our toes were touching. “Are you coming?”

Again his eyes darted to Mike and Grace before he pulled his shirt over his head.

Seeing Reece’s bare chest, I inhaled as if I couldn’t get enough oxygen into my lungs. I took in the sight before me, bronze skin, six pack abs, smooth and hairless up to his navel. I froze, unable to do anything but stare at him, his gorgeous face, his perfect body, the warmth and fire of his eyes. I wanted to run my hands over his warm, taut skin. I had to stop myself from reaching out and touching him.

Coming back to my senses, I glanced at Mike and Grace just in time to see Mike glaring at me. I pulled myself up taller, straighter. I had nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed of.

I contemplated telling Mike to go to hell. He had no right to look at me like that. After all I didn’t make his life in high school hell. And now for the sake of my best friend and boyfriend I invite him over, try to be nice, and he has the nerve to glare at me!  No, I wouldn’t allow him to get the best of me anymore, especially when he didn’t deserve for me to give him the time of day.

I pushed Mike from the foreground of my mind and pulled Reece by the hand toward the shallow end of the pool. I went down the first two steps and then took a seat while getting used the temperature of the water. It felt cold against my overheated skin.

Reece sat next to me and gave me a sideward smile, full of mischief. I couldn’t help but notice how his eyes ran up and down my body checking me out. I felt flattered rather than self-conscious. But I didn’t understand why he kept himself so distant. Usually Reece tried to bridge any gap between us. Now that I wanted his hands all over me, it almost seemed like he avoided contact.

“So how much did you overhear last night?” He finally asked his face hard and serious.

Now I understood.

“Enough.” I smiled and shifted toward him, a sign everything was okay.

“I am so sorry,” he said, his voice full of emotion.   

“It’s fine.”

He shook his head. “I had no idea.”

“I know.”

I leaned in poised to kiss his delicious lips when a shrill scream caught my attention. I looked up just in time to see Mike scoop Grace into his arms and jump in the deep end of the pool with her.

Grace popped up where the bottom of the pool slopes down and wiped the water from her eyes. Mike left her for the moment and headed toward us. He swam over, reaching and pulling like he wanted to win a race, splashing as much as any one person could.

“C’mon,” he stood in front of us, “break it up and get in.”

“We’re getting used to the water,” I snapped at him.

“I could help with that.” He picked me up and slung me over his shoulder.

“Mike, stop!”
I yelled at the top of my lungs while pounding on his chest. “I mean it, Mike, Put me down!”

I heard him hoot “I’ll put you down alright.”

“Reece!”
I called for help, but got none. I couldn’t understand why he allowed this Neanderthal to torment me. And then Mike plunged me down in the deep water.