Red Sun (20 page)

             
“Not supposed to be doing what?  Getting married?”  I smiled and shook my head.  “Don’t let them discourage you.  What you and your man have has nothing to do with your family.”

             
“Yeah, I guess,” She shrugged and breathed with a distant look in her eyes.  “But they get me so frustrated!”

             
I laughed a little.  “I’m starting to think that’s what family’s for.  If not, you and me must be related.”

             
The girl smiled weakly and looked down at the ground.  “I’m Joanna by the way.  Joanna Stone.”

             
“Solei……Kensington,” I added.

             
Joanna looked up with a disheartened expression.  “Well, Solei, I imagine you’ll be seeing a lot of me over the next two months.”

             
“Oh, so the wedding’s in October then?”

             
The grave look on her face didn’t change.  “If I make it that long,” she replied.

             
“Trust me girl, you’ll make it,” I assured Joanna, smiling.  She moped to her feet and appeared to dread rejoining the cackling bunch awaiting her at the front of the shop, but she took slow trudging steps in their direction anyhow.  When we made it back, Ruthann was pleased that I was able to calm Joanna.  She mouthed the words, “Thank you,” and then finished what she was writing. Naturally, I kept an eye on Joanna, wanting to see to it that she wasn’t still feeling upset.  Her face was blank; like her body was here, but her mind was far, far away.  She caught me staring, and forced a smile – an unconvincing, courtesy smile.  If I didn’t know any better I’d say that something else was bothering her.

             
Soon, the women all left and Ruthann and I were alone in the shop like most mornings.  She pecked away on her calculator while I sat staring out the window, still thinking about Joanna.  I couldn’t imagine being that miserable while approaching what is supposed to be one of the most joyous and monumental moments in a woman’s life – her wedding day.  Her family must really be getting under her skin.

             
“Did Joanna open up to you back there?”  Ruthann asked.

             
I withdrew myself from my inner thoughts and looked her way.  “Mmmm…not much.  She just needed to catch her breath.”

             
Ruthann nodded in response.

             
I yawned and stretched as I spoke.  “Sounds like we’re gonna be pretty busy with her arrangements for a while,” I said casually, still staring out the window.  “Did I read your notes right?  Twelve bridesmaids?”

             
Ruthann’s eyes bucked.  “I know!  I thought her mom was joking when she first said it, but they’ve got a really big family I guess.  That’s the first time I’ve met Joanna, but I went to school with her mom, aunts, and uncles most of my life and there’re like seven of them.”

             
“Wow……”

             
“I know.  Just imagine how many cousins there are,” Ruthann added

             
“So, how involved do you usually get in the wedding process?  Just arrange the flowers and deliver em’?”  I asked.

             
Ruthann shook her head.  “Usually yes, but because I know the family they asked me to be their coordinator.  It was a hobby of mine many, many years ago.  It’s been a while, but I don’t mind.”

             
I smiled.  “That’ll be fun.  Do I get to help?”

             
Enjoying my enthusiasm, she replied, “
Get
to?  Honey, I couldn’t do it without you.  I’m not exactly a spring chicken anymore.”  She laughed.  “I’m gonna need to borrow your youth for that day to bring the boxes into the church and keep up with the bride.  I’ll be the brains and you’ll be the brawn.  Sound like a plan?” 

             
I shook my head while I laughed at her.  “Yeah, sounds like a plan.”

             
Ruthann patted my back and groaned a little as she stood to her feet.  “Well, honey, you’re gonna be on your own again today.  There’re too many deliveries to make for old Lou to get them done alone, so we split the list in half last night.”  She reached for her keys from the homemade key rack hanging behind the counter and then her purse.  “Oh….I almost forgot,” she added.  “Lou and me are going out this Friday.”

             
“What?  You said yes?”  I asked excitedly.  “That’s great!  You nervous?”

             
She shook her head.  “Not at all, but I’m gonna need your help getting ready.  Do you have anything to do that day?”

             
“Absolutely nothing. I’ll be there.”

             
She smiled.  “Perfect.”  Ruthann was practically glowing.  “Well, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”  I smiled at her as she walked to the back and then a few seconds later, I was alone again.  I had a good feeling about the two of them together.  Ruthann seemed to really like him and it was clear that he really liked her too.  It meant a lot to me that she’d asked me to be there to help her get ready for her date.  Her presence in my life was exactly what I needed.  Unlike Alicia who only put up with me because she had to; Ruthann put up with me because she enjoyed being around me as much as I enjoyed being around her.

             
Lucky for me, Kaya showed up shortly after Ruthann left, so I wasn’t there alone for long.  She was smiling as usual when she entered.  “You will not believe the night I had.”  I evaluated her tussled ponytail, dark shaded sunglasses that she didn’t remove even inside, and the faint smell of alcohol on her breath and didn’t have a hard time believing it at all.

             
“Looks….or should I say
smells
like the party’s still going on,” I said jokingly.

             
She rested her arms on the counter.  “If you answered your phone last night when I tried to call you, you could’ve been there.  What’s up with you being so hard to get a hold of lately?”

             
When I put my head down and didn’t respond right away, she jumped to her own conclusion.  “I should’ve known.  I suppose if I was riding Elan on a regular basis I wouldn’t be available much either.”

             
I laughed a little.  “Actually, I haven’t seen him in a few days and I told you we don’t get down like that.  I’m a little more selective about who I give my cookies to than
some
people.”

             
She rolled her eyes and smiled.  “Or….a little more of a prude, but who am I to judge.”  I hit her on the arm and laughed again. 

             
“So, who’d you do last night?”  I paused and cleared my throat.  “….I mean
what
did you do last night?”

             
“Ha-ha-ha…..very funny.  I didn’t have that kind of a night, thank you very much.  I went to my friend Christa’s 21
st
birthday party and it….was….a…..BLAST! Almost as much fun as mine was.  You really should’ve picked up,” she repeated.  “There were guys all over the place, man.  All over the place…..”

             
“Nah…party’s were never my thing.  But thanks for thinking of me.”

             
“Jolon was even there for a bit.”  My heart fluttered when she said his name and I hated myself and my heart for responding to him in such a way.  Kaya seemed a little irritated.  “Did you remember to give him my message?”

             
I had to think of a lie quickly.  “Ummm….yeah, actually I did.  Well, I had Elan relay it anyway.”

             
“Really?  Cause when I spoke, he was doing the whole ‘I’m mopey and I’m tormented’ thing he always does.  He just didn’t really respond to me the way I would’ve expected him to.”

             
“Hmmmmm, not sure why, but yeah, he’s just been really busy lately so he’s gonna call you when he can.  Soooooo…..you should be hearing from him soon.”  I didn’t even feel guilty about lying to her.  My main goal was to keep her away from him and hopefully my tall tale had just bought me some time. 

             
She shrugged.  “Well, at least he knows I guess.”  Or so she thought. If it were up to me, Jolon would never know that Kaya even existed.  Although I’d already made up my mind about keeping my distance from him, that didn’t mean that I wanted Kaya with him either – call me selfish; I don’t mind ‘cause it’s true.

             
My heart sank to my stomach when I looked up and saw the truck; I just knew it was Jolon.  I hadn’t seen him yet since things got hot between us the other night at the river; didn’t want to either. Not only was it going to be awkward, but it would also get me caught in the lie I’d just told Kaya. I squinted my eyes to see though the driver’s side window, but failed.  The glare from the sun was too bright.  Now my panicked expression caught Kaya’s attention and she turned around to see what I was staring at.  Of course her eyes lit up and she got excited, thinking it was him too. Fixing her clothes and hair was obviously her first concern. I had to stop myself from scowling at her, knowing that she was fantasizing about Jolon in the way only I was allowed to do.  Just because he gets on my absolutely last nerve doesn’t mean a girl can’t fantasize…..

             
When Elan stepped out, relief swept over me and Kaya settled down.  It felt like it’d been forever since I’d seen him although only three or four days had passed.  Seeing his smile made me feel calm; at ease, not like most girls feel around guys.  My eyes were glued to him as he sauntered through the entrance, effortlessly sexy.  On his way to the counter, he stared at me across the counter, licking his lips slowly while he thought forbidden thoughts about me…..like he always does.  I blushed.  I couldn’t see it, but I could feel it; that quick flash of warm blood, rushing to my cheeks all of a sudden.  Sometimes, when I’m not around him, I think I allow myself to forget how much he’s gotten to me; inched his way right into my mind where he’d surely stay for quite some time regardless of how this all turned out.

             
Jealousy was plastered all over Kaya’s face when I looked over and caught her desperately trying to hide it, but the fake smile did nothing to convince me otherwise.

             
“Mind if I use the restroom?”  She asked.  I’d bet that she didn’t really have to go, but was looking for a suitable place to wash the green from her face that envy had left behind.

             
“Not at all,” I replied, and then Elan and I waited quietly until we heard the bathroom door close in the back. His commanding grip on my chin forced my attention back to him and I could feel the heat from his lips as he leaned over the counter and brought me closer to kiss him.  There was an out of control sensuality he possessed that made me feel high whenever I was drawn into his atmosphere. It felt good to kiss someone that I knew wouldn’t spaz out afterward and find some way to push me away.  When Elan backed away, my lips immediately went through withdrawal. 

             
“Missed you, Sunshine.”

             
“Missed you too,” I replied, still staring at his mouth.  He sensed that I wanted more and touched his lips to mine for a second time, this time being interrupted by Kaya’s obnoxious throat clearing
.

             
She greeted Elan and immediately went in for the kill.  “Sooooooo, how’s your brother?”  My eyes bucked.  As forward as she is, I should’ve known better than to think she wouldn’t bring this up.  I grabbed my bottle of water from beneath the counter, took a drink, and tried not to sweat.

             
Elan looked confused.  “Heeeee’s fine,” he replied slowly.

             
Kaya smiled.  “Good.  Tell him I said hello.”

             
Lines appeared on Elan’s forehead as confusion mounted in his expression.  He looked at me briefly and then back at Kaya.  “Sure; I’ll tell him.”  He paused.  “I didn’t realize you two knew each other.”

             
I felt the lie I’d just told Kaya coming back around to bite me.  The bewildered look transferred from Elan’s face to Kaya’s.  “Ummmmm……well” she said, looking at me with questioning eyes before asking Elan, “Didn’t you deliver a message to him from me the other day?”

             
My palms were sweating as my head dropped.  Elan stared back at her and eventually asked, “What message?”

             
For the sake of not looking like the lying, double-crossing friend I was truly being, I had to throw myself under the bus; a sacrifice I was sure I’d regret later.  “You must’ve forgotten.  Remember?  I mentioned that the four of us should get together and hang out sometime; like a double date?  Remember?”  I repeated guiltily, all the while praying that he’d follow along.

             
He was about to protest.  “Maybe it just slipped my mind, but no.  I don’t remember.”

             
That was close enough to him agreeing with me.  “Yeah, maybe this Saturday we’ll all get together.  My dad’s leaving to go out of town anyway.”  I wanted to throw myself out into traffic for fostering a union as unholy as the one that could come from Jolon and Kaya hooking up.