Old Enough to Love... (Just One of the Guys) (50 page)

He reached for my hands and I flinched away. He grimaced. “Is that what happene
d in the hallway?”

I stared off and nodded. “You were talking to Brett at your locker. After I shoved her, you went to
her
and helped
her
.” My words were robotic as I recounted what happened but the pain was as real as if it had just happened. “I got suspended. I don’t understand. Why? Why would you hurt me by saying she was going to be number eighteen and what happened to the website? Did you change your address to something else?” I finally looked at him as all my questions flooded out.

He ran his fingers through his hair. “Wow. Where do I start? First of all, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for everything. I had no idea what had happened between you and Jaycee.” He said her name with the same distaste as what I felt. “I helped her because I saw a girl lying on the floor in front of me. I didn’t know you were even involved until she pointed at you. Then Mr. Ming was there and I don’t know. I didn’t think you wanted to talk to me.” I didn’t understand his expression. Worry lines crossed his forehead and he hung his head. “I said number eighteen because I wanted to hurt you.” His voice was soft. “I’m so ashamed to admit that…but I did. I was jealous. Grant had just told me about your plan to sleep with him and then you…”

My eyes found his as he struggled to speak. “What?”

“You slept with Austin.” Zach’s jaw was tight and his eyes were closed. “But it doesn’t matter to me. I don’t care who’ve you’ve been with. I mean, I did at first because the thought…” He shook his head. “But I just want to be with you.”

“No I didn’t.”

“You didn’t what?”

“I wasn’t with Austin.”

His eyes popped wide then narrowed. He seemed as confused as I was. “What do you mean?”

His reaction wasn’t what I’d expected. “I mean…Austin and I didn’t…scrog.”  I felt the blood rush to my face and wondered if he knew Austin turned me down.

Zach didn’t speak for the longest minute. Maybe he wanted me back because he thought I’d gained some sexual experience which I hadn’t. He was still my only experience. His slight hesitation worried me. “You’re still…you haven’t been with anyone?” He questioned.

My chest swelled in anger and hurt. I knew it. The torrent of pain was present again though I wasn’t sure it had truly ever passed. I jerked my hand from his and turned to go. Where?  I didn’t have a ride. I didn’t even have my cell phone.

“Emma? What did I say?” He caught me and his arms wrapped tightly around my waist.

Third time in one day the tears came. Damn promises. My back was pulled snuggly into his chest. “Let me go,” I cried and resisted the hold that felt so good.

“No,” he whispered through my hair. “Tell me what I said that upset you.”

I waited, unable to speak, then finally answered. “I know it…disappoints you that I wasn’t with him or at least that I still have nothing to offer you.” I felt his lips on top of my head.

“Emma Nicole.” His tone was disapproving and he gripped my shoulders spinning me to face him. “I again have to apologize. Somewhere along the line, you misunderstood that I wanted you with other guys.” He winced. “That couldn’t be further from the truth, baby. I’m thrilled to death that you weren’t with him.”

“Then…you want to get back together because I’m still…” God I hated the word. “Because I’m still a virgin?” At least I could offer him that.

He released an exasperated breath. “No! Of course not,” he laughed. “That has nothing to do with it. In fact, we don’t have too
scrog…ever. OK…maybe not ever but not now.” He smiled caressing my cheek.

“Why did you come back then?”

I watched as his fists clenched. “Em? What am I going to do with you? I never went anywhere. You’re the one who wanted out. I’ve just been waiting. Hoping this would pass. Remember
you
were the one upset with me?”

I tried but couldn’t remember that far back. The only memory I could recall was how good it felt to have his arms around me. How could he possibly believe I didn’t want him? “You want to be with me?” I asked.

“Wow. You actually heard me? But do you believe me?” He smiled. His hands reached out for me and wrapped around my shoulders then suddenly pulled me into his chest. The warmth of his body felt nice to my cheek. Still a perfect fit. When the tightness of his embrace restricted my breathing, I involuntarily whimpered and he loosened for only a second. I knew there was no turning back. Life as I knew it had changed. And as he ran his fingers through my hair and the warm air from his mouth blew across my cheek, I knew I loved him more than life itself.

“I have something for you.” He leaned back and tugged on my hand. He was crazy if he thought for a second I was letting go.

He led me back to the corner of the quilt with the two gifts.

             
“Sit.”

I twisted my legs beneath me and sat. He handed me the red foil box first. Very light. I shook it and smiled.

He shrugged. “Shake away. You’ll never guess.”

“Is it something I wanted?”

“I hope so.”

I tried to act cool and not tear in to it like I wanted to. I slowly opened the box and a legal sized envelope was taped to the bottom of the cardboard. I pulled a piece of paper from the envelope.

“What is this?” I asked.

“Read it.”

I opened what appeared to be a letter. University of Oregon letterhead.

Dear Mr. Owens, We are pleased to inform you that though given the tardiness of your application, you have been accepted to the University Of Oregon. We are honored that given the options available to you, we are a consideration. You have qualified for an academic scholarship in our Pre-law department and we hope you chose U of O for your educational future. Thank you.

“You’re going to Eugene?” I was afraid to get excited, but my heart started racing.

“I have three schools on standby. Three scholarships open, waiting for my decision.”

“So when are you deciding?”

He smiled. “Tonight. Which brings in gift number two.” He reached behind him retrieving the smaller of the two boxes and handing it to me.

I was a little less careful this time tearing the paper more urgently. A small gold box was inside the larger one. Excitedly, I raised the lid and a small dainty silver band was inside. My eyes instantly rose to find his.

“It’s a ring,” he said.

“I know.”

“It’s a promise ring. I bought it for you so you know that wherever I am, I promise to be true to you. If you chose to wear it, you will be true to me.”

I stared at him blankly. He wanted to be with me. He was going to go to the University of Oregon. I had to be dreaming. 

He reached for the box with a frown. “You don’t have to wear it. It was just a thought. Something I wanted to do. You’ve always had these silly thoughts stirring in your head that you weren’t right for me. And I wanted you to know that you are. But…we can do this without the ring…that’s fine.”

He tugged on the tiny box, which my hand held with a firm death grip. “I want it, please.”

A broad smile swept across his face accompanied by a sigh of relief. He placed his hand over his own chest like he was experiencing some sort of chest pain. My heart fluttered.

“You had me worried.”  He lifted the silver circle from the box and took my hand. I promised myself earlier no more tears. I hoped I could keep that promise. “I’m not sure which hand this is supposed to go on. My mom said the right.” He slid it
on my right hand ring finger.

“It fits perfectly,” he whispered.

“Your mom knows?” My shock was obvious.

He nodded and chuckled under his breath. “I needed to do something. I was in big trouble with her.”

“Why?” His mom was so sweet; I couldn’t imagine anyone being in big trouble with her.

His hands held mine. “The night of Grant’s party, after I’d been a jackass…you came by the house and talked with my mom.”

I remembered that night too clearly and I tried to block it from my mind.

“She said I was an idiot for hurting you. Not that I didn’t already know that. I told her what I wanted to do for you. But, we were both afraid that maybe I’d already lost you. She worries…” His brow puckered and the look made me anxious.

I raised my hand toward his face almost scared to touch it then cupped his jaw in my palm. His eyes closed and his chin rotated into my touch. “Worries about what?” I asked.

He studied my face, my expression…and my anxiety grew with his silence. “She thinks you are perfect for me.”

I knew there was a but coming.

“But she worries you’re too young for what I’m asking. A ring…a commitment. She doesn’t think it’s fair to you.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” I said softly, assuming my parents would feel the same.

This time, his hand touched my face. “I don’t ever want to keep you from doing something you want to do. If someone comes along…that you want to date. I’d understand…I’d try and understand.” He corrected with a roll of his eyes. “Maybe it’s not fair. Maybe she’s right.”

For the first time, I lifted
his
chin. “Zach. I love you. I would love to wear this ring. With or without it, I promise to be true to you. I don’t want anyone else. So whether I’m young or not…I’m not sure I see this happening any other way.”

I’m not sure if I jumped into his arms or if he helped me there but I was there regardless. I bit my lip as he analyzed every inch of my face. His face was clo
ser than it had been all night.

His skin was beautiful and soft.

With my index finger, I traced over his bottom lip right before he pushed my hand down and his mouth met mine. No time was necessary to familiarize myself to him. We picked up exactly where we left off. My heart’s rhythm was all over the place as his hands moved from my face to my neck then to my back. His kiss was hungry and I was more than willing to feed it.  After a minute, he stopped and we both breathed. He brushed away the hair the wind blew across my face.

“Happy Birthday,
Em,” he whispered.

I smiled up at him. “Thank you. Thank you for the best birthday ever.” I barely got the words out before his lips were back on mine.

When dad finished loading the two cars with our bags and shut the trunk, I felt my lip move to a full pout. Zach tried to push it back in.

“Don’t.” He warned.

“I don’t want to go.” I actually stomped my foot, which was a little disappointing. But the thought of being away from him for a month and a half with no talking was agonizing. He pulled me in for one last hug. I took an extra long breath to commit to memory his scent.

“You’re taking half my wardrobe and pictures. What more do you want?” He spoke softly, and, I’m guessing with my dad within ear range, it was intentional.

“I want
you
to come.”

“I’m going to visit sometime you know that. I’ve never seen that part of Oregon and I’ve heard it’s beautiful. My girlfriend told me.”

I felt my forehead crease which caused the V between my eyes and he hated that. “Who are you going to hang out with this summer?” He knew what I was getting at. “What if they try to talk to you?” The queen bees were around for another year.

“Well, I’m going to need someone to talk to with you gone,” he said seriously. I jabbed him hard in the stomach. Not funny. 

He bent forward laughing. “Ow… I bought something very small for you to take.”

“What?”  I loved presents.

“You’ll be in big trouble if your dad finds out,” he cautioned and glanced over his shoulder.

I bit my lip. “What?”

He slid something into my back pocket and whispered into my ear. “I’m not going almost two months without talking to you. It’s a new cell phone. The number is one number different than mine. Don’t get caught. I’m beggin you.” He kissed my ear and pulled back.

I smiled. SWEET! “You’re breaking the rules.” I winked. He didn’t like breaking my parent’s rules. 

“Just one.” He grimaced as the words came out.

“Let’s saddle up,” Dad yelled as Grant and Ryan bolted from the house.

Zach’s eyes found Grant for a moment then flickered back to me. He rubbed the delicate silver ring on my hand. “Keep this on,” he said raising his brow. “Maybe he’ll get the message. I love you,” he mouthed.

“And I love you.”

He kissed me softly then pulled away. I watched him say good bye to my folks and the boys then head to his Jeep and drive away.

My dad grabbed my hand. “Good thing you’re
ridin’ with your mom. Cause eventually we will discuss that circle on your finger.”

I jerked my hand away but couldn’t hide the grin that crept across my face.

“Hey Em. You want to ride with us?” Grant asked.