Significance (36 page)

I wondered for just a second what his telling tone meant but forgot all about once I saw the crowd. They all turned to look at us when a guy yelled loudly to Caleb.

I felt my cheeks burn and was glad the red glow of the fire would hide it. And I swear there were a couple girls glaring at me, openly giving me dirty looks. I looked at them curiously as Caleb hugged a guy and bumped backs with their fists.

“Hey, man. Glad you could make it.”

“Yeah. Thanks for the invite. Tristan, this is Maggie.”

“Hi,” I said softly.

“Hey, there.” He smiled widely. “Caleb, dude, you been holding out. It’s nice to meet you, Maggie. Any friend of Caleb is a friend of mine.” I smiled and he looked back to Caleb. “Where you been, man? I haven’t seen you in a while.”

Caleb nodded his head towards me.

“Maggie doesn’t live here so I’ve been traveling back and forth.”

“I didn’t think you were dating anyone. I told Ashley to come because you might be here.”

I silently groaned.

“Man, come on. I’ve told you before; I am not interested in Ashley, at all. Never was.”

“Caleb!” The Ashley in question crooned sweetly from behind us. She even came up to him and grabbed his arm. “I’m so glad you’re finally here. I’ve been waiting. It’s so boring without you,” she whined.

She glanced at me and smiled unkindly. Caleb pulled from her grasp making her pout more pronounced.

“We’re gonna go get something to drink,” Caleb announced and pulled me by my hand.

Ashley called out behind us.

“I’ll take a martini, dirty.”

He cast a rolling eyed look over his shoulder at her.

“Give in a rest.”

“Come see me once you take preschool home to meet curfew.”

He turned back to glare at her.

“Enough, Ashley. You really have to wonder why I never wanted to date you?”

She looked genuinely hurt and I wanted to feel sorry for her. Her look of hurt turned to snideness as she flipped us off before turning and almost tripping over a log. I laughed into Caleb’s shoulder.

“Oh, no. Did she really just flip us off?”

“Yeah.” He didn’t laugh though. “I’m so sorry. I wish we hadn’t come here, now. This isn’t my scene, even though I come to them a lot because there’s nothing else to do, but I thought Beck might have fun.”

“It’s ok. I’m not worried about Ashley. I’m not worried about anything.” I hugged him around his middle, pressing my face to his chest. “I’m gonna be with these people in a few weeks anyway, right? I better get used to it.”

“I guess. It’s really making me look bad with my choice of friends.”

“I’ve only met two of them. Let’s get a drink and then you can introduce me to anyone you want.”

“Really?” he asked curiously and looked down at me. “I thought you’d hate this.”

“I kinda do,” I admitted laughing. “But I want to like it.”

“I know I’ve probably said this twenty times already but...you are amazing.”

He cupped my face and kissed me with gentle pressure. I stuck my hands into his open jacket, grasping around his back for warmth and closeness. My lips tingled and it spread to my cheeks, then my neck. I pulled back before we got too carried away and licked my lips. I felt him sigh, his breath blowing across my face.

“Drink?”

“Yeah,” I answered in a squeak and looked up to see his smug smirk.

“Caleb!” I turned to see a very nice looking and very tall black guy strolling towards us with a wide easy grin. “My brother from another mother! Man, where you been?”

They hugged and verbally jabbed back and forth; laughing, then Caleb took my hand.

“Maggie, this is Vic. Vic, this is Maggie. The girl I was telling you about.”

My gaze shot to him in surprise. I didn’t know he’d told anyone about us, especially someone from school.

“Maggie, Maggie, Maggie,” Vic crooned and hugged me. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to meet you, girl. You know, my boy hasn’t stopped talking about you.”

“Vic, come on. We only talked like three times,” Caleb said and I could feel his embarrassment and also his glee about this guy liking me.

This was his best friend, the friend he mentioned that day. He had an over pronounced southern accent that was very cute. His hair was short and he had an earring in one ear. His sunglasses were hanging from his polo shirt collar and he wasn’t wearing shoes.

“Yeah and it was all about this girl, right here,” he shook his head, pointing at my above my head and laughed. “I’ve been Caleb’s friend for ten years and I’ve never seen him with a girl, not once. Not even prom, he just skipped it. The guy’s a monk.”

I laughed as Caleb rolled his eyes and rubbed his chin.

“I know. He kinda told me all about it.”

“Well, come on, Maggie. Let’s get you a very non-alcoholic beverage.”

He put an arm around my shoulder and pulled me with him, Caleb trailing behind us. We came to a big flat rock where it seemed all the food and drinks were set up. He handed me an unopened can of soda.

“Want something to eat? We got shrimp, oysters, ribs, chips-”

“Nah, I’m ok. We just ate but thanks.”

Vic looked me over in a very objective manner with his chin between his thumb and forefinger.

“Caleb. I have to say you did good, brother. She’s sweet, she’s polite, she’s southern, cute. I approve. You two can continue to date.”

“Thanks, man,” Caleb said with fake sincerity.

“So where did ya’ll eat?”

“Mugly’s.”

“Oh!” he shouted and laughed. “Caleb pulling out the big guns!”

We all laughed and went to sit around the fire. There wasn’t much room because that’s where most of the people were. I kept looking for Beck but hadn’t seen her or Ralph since we got there. I imagined her pulling him behind a tree and doing who knows what, that thought made me want to gag and giggle at the same time.

So we sat down and Caleb put me in between them on the log. He kept looking around protectively which made me wonder what he was looking for.

“So, where’s Molly?” Caleb asked.

“She’s here somewhere. Probably with Ashley which means she probably won’t come over here.”

“w
e’ve already run into Ashley actually,” Caleb explained and his voice got harder. “She’s in rare form tonight.”

“You know how she is, man. She ain’t gonna change, unless maybe you asked her to. Then, I bet she’d wear purple hats with green shorts and call herself, Sally.”

“Dude,” Caleb laughed. “You need help.”

“Yeah. So, Maggie. What’s the plan for school? Caleb talk you into Tennessee yet?” Vic asked me while he loaded up a marshmallow on a palmetto stick to roast.

“He has,” I said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

“He must have some serious skills to get you to come to our school after only a week,” he mused and stuffed the mallow in his mouth. His next words were muffled making it even funnier. “Must be the hair. Girls go nuts over that hair.”

“It
is
good hair,” I agreed and Caleb covered his face beside me making Vic laugh.

“Great. Now you’ve joined his side,” Caleb groaned. “He’ll talk you into anything.”

“Have you met his parents yet? I haven’t even met his parents,” Vic grumbled. “Even though the guy has been to my swimming pool in my back yard a million times, I’ve never set foot in this guy’s house. His parents are like super secretive or something.”

“I have actually met them...and been to his house.”

“Oh, sure!” He yelled and threw his hands up. “Of course she gets to. I hear the guy is loaded. Is it true? He’s always so modest but I know his parents have to be loaded.”

“Don’t answer that, Maggie,” Caleb said and leaned towards me to whisper loudly and conspiratorially. “He’s trying to get you to feel sorry for him. His parents live in a three story complex with an inside pool and a
real
butler.”

I gasp in mock surprise.

“You tried to trick me!” I pawned good naturedly.

“No! Don’t listen to him!” Vic yelled playfully and waved his hands back at Caleb.

I laughed as they went back and forth.

“Alright, guys,” Vic said. “I better go see my girl or I’ll be in the doghouse. I’ll catch up with you later. Text me, brother.”

“It was nice to meet you,” I said and Vic turned and smiled gorgeously at me.

“It was good to meet you. Please don’t go anywhere. You’ve done that kid good.”

I laughed as Caleb continued to groan and moan beside me.

“He’s really nice.”

“Yeah. He’s a good guy.” He stood and held his hand out to me. “Come on.”

I took his hand as he helped me up.

“Where we going?”
“Well. It is a party,” he said and smiled.

He took me to the spot on the sand designated as the dance floor. The music was so loud there was no point in trying to speak. Luckily, we didn’t need to use our mouths.

Caleb, I can’t dance.

Sure you can. Everyone can dance. Plus I’m an excellent teacher. They don’t call my kind Charmed for nothing.

He took my hands and laid them on his shoulders. His hands gripped my hips just as the music changed to something slower. I was swept over with relief and he laughed and shook his head.

You got lucky on that one, but you’re still dancing with me. That’s all I care about.

I wrapped my arms tighter around his neck and he pulled me closer. Our bodies touching all the way down as he used his hands to sway my hips. His slightly stubbly cheek rubbed against mine as he moved us with our heads together and I was consumed with calm and warmth.

It felt so right to be there, in his arms. Wherever he was is where I needed and wanted to be.

I had never danced before, ever. Not even Prom. Chad had been very focused on goofing off with our group of friends that went together and we never made it to the dance floor. I was relieved back then because I couldn’t dance and still can’t. Beck tried several times to get me to shake it with her on the dance floor, pulling me ungracefully in her sinfully low cut purple gown, but I refused. She even tried to get me to sneak out to clubs with her sometimes when I stayed at her house but once again, I refused.

Now, I didn’t know if I’d go to a club or not, it sounded appealing with Caleb there with me, but right now, all I could think about was him, pressing me to him with his big warm hands through the thin fabric of my shirt. I liked his hands there.

I like my hands here too.

I smiled and thought back to the very beginning, when we first saw each other. We’d both had a reaction to the other before the imprint even took place. I remembered that I’d never told him how I’d felt before that. That I had been feeling similar feelings for him that he had felt for me from just our short little walk to Kyle’s house. I’d never shown him how I loved his curly hair and how affected I’d been by his eyes when he had leaned close to check my head. How endearing it was for him to be so worried about me. How I dreaded leaving him when Kyle was trying to pull me away. How I had no idea why I was so enraptured with him but seemed to be drawn to him somehow as I offered him my hand and told him my name, hoping he’d remember it.

You’re showing me now
.

I kept forgetting that he was so in tune to me.

Well, it’s all true. You were very cute, all concerned for me.

He pulled back to smile crookedly at me.

I can’t wait for you to come up here with me for school. I’ve been meaning to ask you...

His hands flexed on my hips. His nervousness for the question he was about to ask was apparent as it pulsed through me. He was worried that I’d think it was too soon or inappropriate. Or I’d just flat say no.

Just tell me, Caleb. It can’t be that bad.

I was just wondering if you were planning to...live with me, at the apartment. I’m asking you to, I guess.

Oh.

I hadn’t seriously thought about it. Kyle had mentioned to me the fact that he was supposed to room with Caleb and I’d said he still could. I doubt that was still ok but I hadn’t really thought beyond that. So I answered truthfully.

I hadn’t really thought about it.

Ok. No pressure.

He so, so wanted me to live with him. Wanted for us to not have an obstacle in the mornings when we needed each other most anymore, to not have to worry about me at night with the echoling or sneaking in and out.

But I wasn’t so sure. I mean I did want to live with him but I didn’t want to lie to my dad anymore. I didn’t want to continue to have to come up with stories for him and other people about where and who I lived with.

Would I tell everyone else that I live with my boyfriend off campus if they asked? Would I tell my dad that I lived in the dorms? What if he tried to visit me, which I’m sure he would? Would I- Could I- tell him that I was eighteen and living with my boyfriend and he couldn’t stop me? He would be furious. Plus, I had always had a subconscious plan. To get married first before I moved in with my guy but things weren’t even in the same ballpark as normal anymore so exceptions had to be made.