The Game Changer (21 page)

“What?” I smile innocently. I know the feeling.

“Don’t give me that innocent crap. You know what I mean.” He hugs me tighter and kisses my neck.

“Can I open my gift? It’s wrapped so pretty,” I say, admiring the pretty red ribbon wrapped around the package.

“De wrapped it for me.” 

I open it slowly, revealing various tins of charcoals, pastels and a sketch pad. “Luke, I love it! It’s perfect. How did you know what to get?”

“I watch you when you’re sketching. I described what you use to the lady at the supply store and she helped me pick it out,” he says proudly. “I told her you were a professional, so I didn’t want any amateur shit.” He laughs.

“This is really nice stuff. I love it.” I kiss him again. “Let me get your present.”

He’s smiling when I bring it in. I sit back down on his lap and hand it to him. He tears the paper off, not slowly like me. “Wow! I can’t believe you gave me this. This is awesome. You know I love this picture. You had it framed and everything. It’s great, thank you. I can’t wait to hang it in my room.”

“And, when you leave, you can bring it with you. It will remind you of home… and hopefully me.”

“I love it, but I don’t need a picture to remind me of you,” he says as he places our gifts on the table and lies back on the couch, pulling me down on him. I kiss him passionately as I press my body to his. His hands roam my body as his mouth hungrily tastes mine. The feelings I have inside when I am with Luke are so overwhelming that it scares the hell out of me, but excites me, all at the same time. I think I would be willing to do anything he asks of me. He rolls me onto my back, his body covering mine as he presses himself against me. I wrap my legs around him, giving him better access as he grinds his lower body against mine. His mouth moves to my neck. His breathing is erratic, as is mine. My hands press against his lower back, encouraging him to keep going. I’m loving the way he feels against my body and want to feel more. His strong hand slides under my sweater as he caresses my bare skin. A soft moan escapes my lips. Suddenly, he stops and pulls back.

***

(Luke)

“Holy shit, JJ! What are you doin’?” I ask, trying to control my breathing as I abruptly sit up.

“Huh, what?” she asks innocently.

“You can’t do that. You’ve got to stop me.”

“I didn’t want to... I’m sorry,” she says shyly.

She answers so honestly it kills me.  “Shit,” I curse under my breath, “Me, neither,” I agree as I give her a smile and lift her back onto my lap.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No... I did something wrong.” I laugh. “You do know... you can’t act like that with random guys?”

“You’re not a random guy.”

“I know, but I’m an asshole. You shouldn’t act that way with me, either.”

“Are you mad?”

“No way, but, I’m the one who is sorry. Ask around, JJ, I’m sure you’ve heard the stories. I don’t have the best reputation when it comes to girls.”

“That’s not true, Luke. You’re known as the nice pig and Mikey is known as the jerk pig.”

That sends me into hysterics. “Is that right?” I shake my head at how adorable she is. “A pig is still a pig.”

“Besides, you’d never do anything to hurt me. I trust you,” she says, planting a kiss on my cheek.

“You make me want to be a nice guy,” I admit as I softly kiss her still swollen lips.

“I already think you are.”

“I better go before you change your mind, besides, I need a cold shower.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing… walk me out.” I laugh, picking my gift up off the table, taking her by the hand, and leading her to the door.

Now that I’m at the door, I’m finding it hard to pull myself away from her. I sit my present down against the wall and cup her face in my hands as I kiss her once more. “Merry Christmas,” I whisper.

“It was a very Merry Christmas, thank you,” she says with a huge smile across her beautiful face.

“Are you going to be okay tomorrow? I know you’re goin’ to the cemetery in the morning.”

“Yeah, I’m fine with it. I want to go.”

“Don’t forget to bring your gift.”

“I know. Thank you.”

She told me awhile ago that she bought a gift for her mom. She asked if I thought it was a stupid idea. I told her I thought it was a great idea.  I take her in my arms and hold her tightly.

“If you need me, you’ll call, right?”

“Yes, Luke. I’ll call. Go, before I end up sleeping through Christmas.”

“I know. I know. I just don’t want to leave you yet. I’m gonna miss you this week,” I tell her, unable to let go.

***

(Jesse)

While in bed, I think about how this is my favorite Christmas ever. Instantly, I feel guilty. Is it wrong since my mom isn’t here? I say a little prayer and talk to my mom about the night, well, most of the night. I know she would want me to be happy. Sometimes it seems as if she’s been gone for so much longer.

(Jesse)

Cathy says she’ll be here by nine to pick me up. Last time I had heard from De was a little after five, hopefully they’ll be landing soon. We’ve spent the last few days texting pictures back and forth. The three of them in sunny Florida and me stuck here, in a snowstorm Jersey. I like my new Christmas gift from my dad, a cell phone. Up until now, I really didn’t see the need for one, but I have to admit, now that I have one, I’m not sure how I went without it for so long.

As a result of the snowstorm, their flight is delayed. The last text I received, they were boarding and taking off by six. De says she’ll text the second she lands. She is freaking out because it is New Year’s Eve and she has plans with Timmy. We are all going to the party at the beach house. Well, not all of us, Luke and Mikey are meeting their friends at CJ’s.  CJ’s is an eighteen and up club, but you have to be twenty one to drink. Neither one of them are eighteen, but the guy that works the door likes them, and lets them slide. I’m hoping I will have a chance to see Luke before I leave tonight, but it looks like that isn’t going to happen. A group of us chips in and rents a block of rooms at a hotel, down the street from the party. This will avoid drinking and driving. I have just finished getting dressed and throwing some comfortable clothes in a bag for later when my phone beeps. Finally, it is De.
Just landed. Still on runway.

I offer to wait, but she says she will meet me at the party. They had a good time in Florida, but she’s looking forward to coming home. She says she misses Timmy and is looking forward to seeing him. They’ve been stuck in the airport since seven this morning. Cathy pulls up a few minutes after nine. We’re meeting up with the rest of our friends at the party. I grab my bag and head out to her car. “Hey, did you hear from De?” she asks.

“Yeah, she just landed. She said she’d meet us there.”

“I’ll bet she’s pissed.”

“I know, I feel bad for her,” I answer as my phone as it beeps once again.

It’s from Luke.
Hav fun 2nite, sorry didnt get to c u, txt u latr.

I respond,
U hav fun 2! I’ll expct a txt @ 12! lol

“Is that De?” Cathy asks.

“No, Luke, he just wanted to say, have fun tonight,” I answer, smiling as I read his reply,
Already plannd on it.

She sounds curious. “That’s cute, he texts you? Is he coming?”

“They’re going to CJ’s to meet up with their friends,” I state casually.

She continues with her questions, “Who’s he seeing now? I haven’t seen him with anyone in a while. Even when he was with Alexa, he always had someone else clinging onto him.” She laughs.

“I’m not sure, he hasn’t said anything.” I shrug it off casually. To be honest, the only person I’ve seen him with lately is me, but maybe he is just being discrete and not flaunting it in front of me. Besides, I don’t want to know. It makes my stomach sick just thinking of him with someone else, especially after last week. 

“What about you? There’s got to be someone you’re interested in? I can name about three guys that would love to meet you right now. Matter of fact, one of Eddie’s friends is kind of cute. He’ll be
here tonight, do you want me to introduce you?” she asks.

“Yeah, sure.” 

God, could this ride take any longer? I love Cathy, but I’m having a tough time dealing with the fifty questions. I’m not the type to give a lot of details as it is. I have no problem meeting guys, the problem is, everybody I meet, I compare to Luke.  I don’t give anyone a chance. Finally, we’re here, a fifteen minute ride felt more like an hour.

We park at the hotel and walk to the party. The house is awesome. By the looks of the cars lined up along the road, you can tell the party is already crowded. The DJ can be heard from outside.

The house sits privately by itself on the beach. It’s set back off the road and there are people everywhere. We walk in to the large marble foyer, there looks to be three levels, with people crowded on each floor. The back of the house, facing the beach, has windows from floor to the ceiling with views of the ocean from every room or from the multiple balconies. The house is decorated with white, twinkling lights inside and out.  Professionally designed Christmas Trees are everywhere.

“Wow, Cath, this is amazing! I can’t believe he let all of these people in here. He must be crazy,” I say.

“Yeah, crazy rich... Let’s get a drink.” She is ready to start the partying.

The DJ is on the bottom level, which is also being used as a dance floor. We grab two martini’s off the bar and go to look for the rest of our friends. We finally find them on the third floor. Matt, Lori, Billy and Jennifer have just arrived. I stay with them while Cathy goes to look for Eddie. She brings Eddie and his friends over to our table and introduces me to Eddie’s friend, Jason. I spot Timmy making his way through the crowd.

“Hey, did you hear from De?” I ask.

“Yeah, she should be here any second.” He smiles.

“How did she sound?”

“Rushed, but glad she’s finally home,” he answers.

“I know. I feel bad. It was a long day. She was looking forward to tonight.”

“I figured she would be tired, I got us our own room at the hotel. I figured she’d want her own room if she wants to get some sleep. You know everyone is going to continue the party once we get back to the hotel tonight,” he says innocently.

“Sure, so she can get some sleep,” I say sarcastically.

He laughs again. “Seriously, it’s not like that, you can stay, too. She’ll probably want you there. I just figured if she wants to get some sleep, she’ll have a quiet place to go.”

“I’m teasing. That was very nice of you.” Timmy does seem to always think of doing nice things for her, they have been together for a while now and I know how much Deanna really cares about him.

“So what about you? Who’d you come with tonight?” he asks.

“Cathy.”

He laughs. “Oh, okay. I don’t know if you’re interested, but Stephen’s here.”

“I don’t know about that. I mean, he’s nice and all, I just don’t know.” I feel bad saying it to his best friend, but I’m just not interested.

“I’m teasing you, Jess. I think he got the hint when you turned him down, what was it? Three different times,” he says playfully.

“I figured as much when he stopped calling. I had a good time the night we all went out… I don’t know, he is really nice, I’m just... I…” I was trying to explain why, but to be honest I don’t really have a legitimate reason. We did have a nice time the night we all went out.

“You don’t need to explain. I told you, I’m kidding.”

I walk with him while he gets another drink and grab a bottled water. I want to pace myself. I’m not much of a drinker anyway. He keeps checking his phone for messages because the music is so loud we would never be able to hear it. Finally, he gets the text he’s been waiting for.  

“Go ahead, you meet her. I’ll get her a drink and wait for you here.” I want to give them a couple of minutes to themselves.

The bar is crowded. I wait amongst the already too drunk party goers, enjoying the music and people watching when Blake, the gorgeous loner, don’t-seem-to-give-a-crap guy from my Art class walks up behind me.

“Hi, Jesse. How are you? You look amazing.”

Blake and I have been in the same Art class all year, but have yet to say one word to each other until now. I admire his work. He’s just as good as me, maybe even better, but he doesn’t seem the type to be approachable. He keeps to himself, then again, so do I. This is the first time I have ever seen him outside of school.

“Oh, hi, thanks. How are you?” Trying not to sound surprised that he actually knows who I am.

“Great. Are you with friends?” 

“Yeah, they’re walking up now.” I point in the direction of the steps as Deanna comes into view. She spots me and gives me a wave. “I was getting us a drink, she just got here,” I say, picking up two martinis from the bar. 

He glances over in her direction. “Are you having a good time?”

“Yes, I am. This is a great party,” I answer as some runway looking model walks up and slides her arm through his.