Inhale, Exhale (12 page)

So I did the best thing for both of us: I pretended like we didn’t have enough sexual tension to fill a room. I shoved how much I craved touching her to the back of my mind. I pushed away the amazingly tantalizing scent of her skin, and I took cold showers.

Lots and lots of cold showers.

It killed me, every fuckin’ day, knowing she was down the hall, but I couldn’t be with her. It went against every instinct, telling me to scream MINE and pee in a circle around her cubicle so everyone knew it, too. But it wasn’t what she wanted. She wasn’t ready.

I’d bide my time until she was, because if she felt even half of what I did, she’d come back. I had to be patient. I didn’t send her any more IMs or emails. I didn’t answer when she called IT for help. JT was all too willing to rush over and help, but I couldn’t do it. I wanted what I couldn’t have. Was it fair to her to ice her out? No, absolutely not. But it was the only way I could cope with her being so close to me without the ability to do anything about it.

The weekend was easier. Without her right down the hallway, the tight ball in my chest loosened ever so slightly.

Monday night I stayed late at work when I heard a soft knock at the door.

“Can I come in?”

Jillian hovered in the doorway, once again picking at the hangnail on her thumb. She was nervous, and as painful as being near her was, pretending like I didn’t want to be with her every day hurt worse.

“Yeah, sure. Have a seat.” I saved my file and closed the lid on my laptop, curious as to why she was here. She looked absolutely gorgeous in a simple yellow sundress that fell to her ankles and those cork wedge sandals which laced up her calves and peeked into view when she crossed her legs.

“I wanted to apologize, Grant. About last week. It was my fault.”

I shifted my seat closer and grabbed her hand in mine. Pain, remorse, and something akin to longing filled her face and eyes. Sitting here in my harsh office full of wires and equipment, she looks so delicate. I wanted to take her somewhere beautiful, like a museum or a waterfall. Some place where the beauty of the surroundings matched the beauty of the girl.

“Stop, Jillian. You don’t need to apologize. I’m to blame, not you. I was totally out of line. I knew you had a boyfriend, but I wanted you anyway. I still want you.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, just for a second. “No. I led you on. I never once tried to stop you. I don’t blame you.” She paused, staring at me momentarily. “And I wanted you, too. I shouldn’t, it’s wrong, but I do.”

My heart swelled at her words. “So now what?”

She sighed and sat back in her seat, letting go of my hand. “Can we at least go back to being friends? I really enjoy your company, and I don’t want to stop hanging out with you. We just can’t go any further, okay? Friends. Is that something you’d want?”

What I wanted was her. All of her. But that wasn’t possible. So I’d settle for the next best thing. Because I’m a chump. And because I’m pretty sure she was worth it.

“Yes, Jillian. I think I can manage that.”

Jillian’s smile widened, and she nodded. “Good. So what do two friends do around here for fun?”

“Drinks?” I suggested. I didn’t want her to think of it as a date and back off again, and this sounded like the least harmless.

Jillian hopped up and grabbed her purse. “Sounds perfect. Let’s go.”

I picked a quiet place that had outdoor seating since it was such a beautiful night. I found a small table in the far corner where the music from the jukebox wasn’t too loud and the other patrons wouldn’t distract us.

“So what’s your poison?” I asked.

She smiled sheepishly and covered her face in her hands. “I’m such an idiot. They’re never going to serve me here. I’m only nineteen.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got you covered. It’s one drink, it’s not like you’re going to get hammered.”

She bit the side of her lip. “Are you sure? I don’t want to get us thrown out or anything.”

“Just tell me what you want.”

“Um, a rum and Coke would be perfect. Thanks.”

“It’s my pleasure.” I stood and headed to the bar to place our order. The bartender was a guy I went to grad school with, and I knew he wouldn’t give me any trouble. I returned a minute later with the drinks and held mine up. “A toast.”

“And what are we toasting to?”

I thought for a moment, trying to decide how far was too far to push so soon. “Aux possibilities sans fin.”

Her eyes widened at my choice of toast, surprised by my brazen words. “I thought we were going for ‘just friends?’”

“We are. Did you take my toast another way?”

I’d set her up and tested her, but she smiled coyly and raised her glass to mine. “Endless possibilities indeed. Salude!”

I took a sip of my Summer Ale, enjoying the rich taste and frothy head as my eyes skimmed over the glass to watch her. We sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, enjoying the sky as the sun began to set, and The Zac Brown Band playing in the background.

“I remember the first time I heard this song,” I said, my voice breaking the silence. “They had just come out with their first indie album and weren’t well known outside of Georgia. My mom had stumbled upon them after eating in their daddy’s restaurant and took me to see them perform a few months later. Their concert was about three hours from our house, so my mom came to my school at lunch and told me I was skipping the rest of the day. We hopped in the car and listened to their entire CD on the way to and from the concert, stopping for Dairy Queen Blizzards on the way and eating bad pizza from a truck stop on the way home. We didn’t get home until almost two in the morning, and my dad was pissed. Mom had forgotten to turn her cell phone on and he was worried out of his mind. It was the last thing we ever did together before she died. I can’t hear this song anymore without thinking of her, and I’ve been to three of their concerts since then, always buying two tickets but going alone. I know it’s stupid, but I somehow feel like the other ticket isn’t going to waste. It’s like my mom’s still there, clapping and singing at the top of her lungs.”

“I’m so sorry you lost your mom. I can’t even imagine having to get through my teens without mine. She was always there to let my cry on her shoulder or give me advice. That must have been hard.” Jillian reached over the table and squeezed my hand.

“It was worse on my dad. He basically fell apart.” I stopped, not wanting tonight to be a pity party for me. I changed the subject. “So are you an only child too?”

She shook her head. “No, I have sister, but she’s six years older than me. She married her high school sweetheart, who became a MP out of Fort Stewart. They’re stationed over in Germany now, and I don’t get to see her much. I’m hoping next summer I can go and visit for a few months to pick up the language.”

“What? You mean you’re not going to stick around at Allegro? Become a lifer like most of them?”

“Um, no. Don’t tell Connie, but I wouldn’t even be there now if my mom didn’t make me. I wanted to spend all summer at the beach, but apparently that was a pipe dream. What about you? Are you going to stick around and run the IT department one day?”

“I pretty much run it now. But no. I have one more semester left and then I’m heading out to California. I’m hoping to get an internship at Google that leads to a full-time job. I’m only working here to save enough money to live out there for a year. If I don’t get a job after that, I’ll be your local bum panhandling on the exit ramps off the 405.”

“I can see it now. A nice, scruffy beard and a sign that says, ‘Will defrag for food!’”

I laughed so hard, the beer I was drinking went up my nose. Which made us laugh even harder. We sat and talked until well after midnight, about anything and everything. Conversation between us flowed like water, no awkward silence or weird moments. We got along so well, you’d think we’d have known each other for years.

At the end of the night, like a true gentleman, I walked her to her car and said goodnight. We both stood there, not moving, not leaving—hesitant to say goodnight. I wanted to kiss her, to grab and pull her to me and kiss her until we couldn’t breathe. But I didn’t move. I never even tried for anything more, as much as I wanted it. She was amazing both inside and out, and if I could only be her friend right now, I’d take it.

The rest of the week went just as smoothly. We chatted or texted several times a day, ate lunch together on the picnic table behind the parking lot of Allegro, and talked on the phone until the wee hours of the morning.

I was falling for this girl, and there was no net to catch me. Every time I talked to her, I found out a new nugget that made her more perfect than before. We loved the same movies, we quoted our favorite books. I knew she felt it too, and that she wanted to move past being “just friends,” but she was conflicted.

It was a fine line we were walking, but right now, it was the only way. I was getting to her, but would it be enough? How much time did I have to win her over before she disappeared from my life?

I strolled into Jillian’s cubicle just before five. It was the start of a three-day weekend and most people headed out early to get started on their weekend plans. “You do know no one would blame you if you wanted to duck out an hour early.” I did a slow spin, looking around. “Apparently, all your colleagues have already done so.”

Jillian chuckled. “Oh I know. Funny enough, Temperance was the first one out of here. Something about a taxidermy convention.”

“That is the scariest thing I’ve ever heard. Those poor cats.”

“Yes, it reminds me of an old Roald Dahl story. I can just picture her waiting for visitors to be the next to sign the book.”

I pulled up a seat next to her. “Yes! From
The Landlady
, right? I remember reading it in high school. One of his best.”

We were interrupted by Jillian’s cell phone. Usually she turned it off if we were hanging out, no doubt to avoid calls from Christian, but this call wasn’t from him. It wasn’t his ringtone.

“Hey, hold on for a sec. It’s my mom calling.” I nodded and she picked up. “Hey, Mom, I’m at work, can I call you…what? What happened?” She sat down, tears threatening. “But…is she? Okay, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

She hung up the phone and pulled her purse out of the bottom drawer. “I’m sorry, Grant. I’ve got to go. It’s…” She stumbled, covering her mouth to hold in a sob as tears now poured out of her face. “My Gamma. They found her unconscious. I’ve gotta get to the hospital.”

I stood and put my arm around her as she buried her face in my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Jillian. C’mon. I’m taking you; you’re in no shape to drive.”

I handed her a tissue and she took it, wiping her eyes and blowing her nose. She didn’t respond, but let me lead her to my car. I opened the door and she slid in, buckling her seat belt and laying her head back on the seat.

“What if…what if she…” Her voice cracked and she stopped trying to speak.

“It’s going to be okay, Jillian. No matter the outcome, you’ll be okay. I’ll make sure of it.” I clasped her hand in my own and brought it to my lips, kissing her palm. She closed her eyes and leaned back, crying quietly for the rest of the trip.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Grant broke several laws flying through the streets of Brunswick and made it to County General in less than ten minutes, parking in a spot designated “ER Doctors Only.” I threw the door open as soon as the car stopped and was surprised to see him do the same.

“Fuck the ticket,” he announced, grabbing my hand and pulling me along with him. We rushed into the emergency room, looking for the triage station.

As we headed for the triage station, we saw there were two other people waiting, an elderly man who coughed repeatedly into a well-used handkerchief, and a thirty-something man holding a bloody bandage to his head. Both wore the tell-tale hospital bracelets, so I assumed they were taken care of and made my way to the front of the desk.

“Ella Mayfield. Can you tell me where Ella Mayfield has been taken?”

The nurse glanced languidly at us from behind the desk and gave me a flat smile as she set down her novel. “And you are?”