UN-RELATED (UN-RELATED SERIES) (13 page)

He grabbed me by the shoulders and said, “Nothing. I never did get that kiss.”

“No, I guess you didn’t.” I reached up and kissed him hard and he responded in kind and then pulled me tight against him. We were both breathless and I felt his excitement stir and I forced myself back into reality. I blushed bright red when I looked up at him after the kiss.

“Abby, oh God, you don’t know what you do to me,” Tyler admitted unashamedly.

“Um, yeah, I kind of noticed,” I said, blushing again.

“Thank you,” he smiled. “I’m sorry I was such an idiot. Go on, go back to Kellan.” He started to get into his car again and added, “Abby…you’re still coming back to me when he leaves, right?”

“Try and stop me,” I smiled and blew him a kiss.

I was watching him drive away when I heard a familiar voice behind me, “I um, I thought you might have left.”

I turned around and smiled, “You know me better than that. Come on, let’s eat. I’m starving. I want to hear all about what you’ve been doing.”

“We talk about me all the time, Abby. I want to hear about you. I still can’t believe it is you. You sound like my Abby, but you certainly don’t look like her.”

“It’s still me,” I said and noticed his eyes kept glancing down at my chest. I smiled and said, “Still a boob man, I see,” I laughed when I saw him look away, pretending he didn’t notice.

“Let’s eat,” he said, turning toward the restaurant.

“I told you I grew up. What did you think was going to happen?” I grabbed his arm and turned him back to face me. “I sort of out-grew the training bras you bought me a while ago,” I smiled up at him, playing with him now…like old times, except, it wasn’t like old times…I wasn’t that gangly, skinny little girl anymore…and I was thrilled to see that he’d noticed. A glimmer of hope shot through me, but I tamped it down the second it started, not wanting to re-live that awful pain. “Come on, Kellan…I’m starving,” I said, putting my arm through his and leading the way

We sat down and Kellan ordered coffee for himself and a Coke for me, “I’ll have a cup of coffee, please, no Coke,” I smiled up at the waiter and he nodded and walked away.

“You drink coffee, now?”

“Yeah
, there’s no calories in coffee,” I grinned.

“Since when do you worry about calories?” he asked.

“Since I grew hips…and boobs,” I grinned.

I looked down and noticed a wrapped gift sitting on my plate. “What’s this?” I asked.

“Oh, it’s for your collection.” He started to grab the box, but I beat him to it. I was just about to open it when he said, “Abby, I um, don’t open that. I think I made a mistake…”

“Why?” I asked, just as I was about to tear into the wrapping.

“It’s just…I don’t think you’re going to like it…now.”

“Of course I’ll like it, it’s from you. You didn’t have to get me anything. You’re here, that’s all I want.” I opened the package and found another snow globe. I glanced up and smiled at him when I saw Cinderella dancing with Prince Charming. “Thank you.”

“Yeah, well, I guess I didn’t realize that you’re too old for Disney globes now. Sorry.”

“I love it. Cinderella’s my favorite Princess of all.” I looked up at the man I considered to be my Prince Charming and realized he was looking at me…differently. I knew I had grown up a lot since I’d seen him last, but to me, I was still the same Abby. Evidently, he saw something or someone different, and I don’t think he knew how to respond to this new Abby.

He shook his head and then said, “Um, I don’t want to start a fight, but do you always…kiss Tyler like that?”

“What? Oh, you mean in the parking lot?”

“Were you kissing him like that somewhere else, that I missed?” he asked with raised eyebrows.

I laughed at him, “No, why, were you spying on us?”

“No. I just came out to see what was taking you so long.”

“
Tyler needed some…reassurance. That’s all.”

“And you felt it was appropriate to reassure him in the middle of the parking lot?”

“Kellan, don’t start. I’m happy…for the first time in almost two years. I don’t want to fight, okay?”

“Okay. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you. And, for the record, no, I don’t usually kiss him…like that…” and then it  hit me; the only other time I had kissed him like that was when I was thinking about Kellan…like I was tonight. I immediately blushed as I looked up and saw those beautiful eyes blaring right through me.

“Good to know. So then, you and he aren’t…”

“Kellan, please drop it, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Wait, you’re not going to threaten Tyler again, are you?
I
kissed him in the parking lot,” I said, afraid to find Tyler pounding on my door at three am again.

He smiled, “No, and I’m sorry about that. I just worry about you. I know I’m not here to protect you…especially now that you need it more than ever. But, I’m glad
Tyler is. I didn’t even know it was you standing there being harassed by those guys. Tyler must think I’m a real jerk for not stepping in. I would have…I was just so shocked when he told me the beautiful young woman I was staring at…was you.” He laughed and said, “He must think I’m crazy. I saw you across the room and actually told Tyler that I’d love to have your number,” he grinned and rolled his eyes.

I was shocked by his admission and I looked up at him and said, “You have my number…you always have.”

“Yeah, I gave you the phone,” he said, more somber now.

Our drinks came to the table and we ordered dinner. 

“So, back to Tyler,” Kellan said.

“Oh please don’t give me any grief about him.
Tyler’s a nice guy. He would never hurt me…”

“I know he obviously cares about you. I don’t think he likes me too much, though.”

“You’re kidding, right?” I asked.

“No, why?”

“Tyler hates you,” I said, without thinking and then looked away, ashamed.

“Why?”

I looked down at the napkin on my lap.

“I apologized to him for threatening him that night. Why does he hate me, Abby? ”he repeated.

I slowly looked up into his eyes and softly said, “Because, I love you.”

Our waiter brought our appetizer, so the strained, uncomfortable silence that followed my repeated admission of unrequited love was quickly covered up with mozzarella sticks and marinara sauce.

I was way too happy to see him to let an uncomfortable silence stand in the way of my time with him, so I started talking, and soon we were both laughing and joking like we used to.

“Is there anything else I can get you?” the waiter asked, looking at me.

“I don’t think so, thanks,” I said.

He glanced over at Kellan and then back to me and said, “Um, so is he your date?”

“Why do you want to know?” Kellan asked.

He ignored Kellan and was still staring at me. “So, is he your boyfriend, or what?”

Kellan stood up now and towered over the waiter. “I think you should leave the bill and walk away. She’s not interested.”

“Maybe
she
should tell me that,” he said, matching Kellan’s glare. “Look, if you’re her boyfriend, I’ll walk away…but I thought I heard her say something about her being your little sister…”

I stood up now, turned to the waiter and said, “I have a boyfriend…but I’m flattered, really. Thanks. We have to go. May we have the bill, please?” I smiled, trying to diffuse the situation.

“Anything for you, beautiful.” He pulled the bill out of his pocket, tore off the stub and wrote something on it and handed the piece of paper to me and the bill to Kellan. He walked away and I could see Kellan was trying really hard to practice self-control.

Kellan threw some cash down on the table. “Let’s go!” he ordered and ushered me toward the door.

We made it to the door and ran into Justin Copeland from school.

“Hi Abby, how are you?” Justin asked me.

“I’m great…now. Thanks, Justin. How are you?”

“I’m good. Um, so, are you still with
Tyler?” he asked when he saw me with Kellan.

I nodded.

“Of course…he’d be an idiot to give you up.”

I smiled at him and said thanks and then, “Um, Justin, this is Kellan.”

“Oh, the infamous Kellan,” he reached out his hand and Kellan shook it but kept a wary eye on him. “I should have known…she hasn’t smiled like that since you left. You’re a lucky guy.”

“We should get going. Nice seeing you again, Justin.”

“You too, Abby. I’ll see you around,” he started to walk away and then said, “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” I said, stopping midway through the door Kellan was holding open for me.

“You two aren’t really related, right?”

“No. We just grew up together. Why?” I asked.

“It’s just, I mean…never mind. See you later.”

“What were you going to say?” I asked, refusing to let him drop it.

“I don’t know, it’s just, I’ve heard you talk about him a lot over the last year. Look, it’s none of my business.”

“Let’s go, Abby.”

I looked up at Kellan and smiled at him.

“That’s what I’m talking about…” Justin said.
             

“What?” I asked, turning back to Justin for the moment.

“Your smile…it’s different. Tyler would probably kill me for saying this, but why aren’t
you two
together?”

“Let’s go, Abby!”

I looked up at Kellan and then back at Justin and said, “I’ll guess you’ll have to ask him.”

I started to walk through the door and Justin said, “There’s a mile-long line of guys who’d love to be in your shoes, man.
Tyler’s a decent guy, but she doesn’t look at him like that. Don’t blow it!”

“Let’s go, now!” Kellan ordered.

He was silent as he opened the car door for me. “Um, whose car is this?” I asked, noting how nice it was.

“It’s a rental.”

“Oh, so, did you win the lottery or something?” I grinned up at him and absentmindedly twirled the piece of paper the waiter had given me between my fingers.

“No, I’ve um…been working.”

“I don’t think I want to hear about it,” I said, looking down at the paper.

“No, probably not. What’s that?” he asked, glancing down at the piece of paper in my hand.

“I think it’s the waiter’s phone number,” I said and crumbled it up and threw it in the ash tray.             

Kellan pulled it out and read it:

You’re gorgeous! Call me…PLEASE!

555-5647

Kellan pushed in the cigarette lighter and when it popped, he grabbed it and burned the waiter’s note.

“Why did you feel the need to do that? I wasn’t going to call him.”

“I certainly hope not! Dammit, Abby!”

“What?” I asked.

“You handled that waiter really well. I’m assuming you’ve had a lot of practice in the last year or so?”

“Practice?”

“Yeah. How many men have come on to you since I’ve been gone?” he turned to face me before starting the engine.

“I don’t know. I haven’t kept track.”

He shook his head and started the car, “I think we need to talk.”

The ride home was silent, although I tried to get him to talk. He was angry and for the life of me I didn’t know why. I hadn’t done anything wrong that I could tell, but he had no problem giving me the silent treatment all the way home.

As we turned on to my street, he finally broke the silence and said, “So, who was that Justin guy?”

“A guy from school.”

“He was wearing a team jacket.”

“Yeah, he’s the quarterback of the varsity team.”

He glanced over at me and said, “The quarterback is asking you out, too? They’re the worst!”

“Justin’s nice! Don’t criticize or stereotype him just because he’s a football player.
Kellan, why are acting so weird?”

“I just don’t trust him…not around you.”

He pulled into the driveway and he walked me to the door, “You’re coming in, right?” I asked, praying he wasn’t going to leave.

“Yeah, I told you, we need to talk.”

“What did I do?”

He rolled his eyes and said, “Nothing…I hope.”

I looked up at him oddly and opened the door. Nancy and Joe were standing in the living room getting ready to leave.             

“Kellan! What the hell are you doing here?” Joe asked.

“I’m visiting Abby.”

Nancy
glared at him and then at me. She clucked her tongue and said, “Let’s go, Joe. Abby has her
pet
back now.”

Joe followed closely behind
Nancy, but stared right at me and then glared at Kellan.

They left and Kellan said, “I can’t wait until you’re out of here.”

“I’m okay here. They leave me alone. So, what do you want to do?” I asked, looking up at him with eyes that told him exactly what I wanted to do.

He looked away. “I told you, I want to talk.”

“About what?”

“You, and…men.”

I smiled at him, “You already bought me a book, remember?” I grinned, reaching up to hug him.

He pulled back and said, “I’m serious, Abby. You can’t trust guys! We all want one thing…don’t be fooled into believing otherwise.”

I don’t know what possessed me, but I walked up to him again, reached up and put my arms around his neck, smiled and said, “What one thing do all guys want…and more importantly, what do you want?”

He pulled my arms from around his neck and said, “Abby!  Listen to me!”

“I was just teasing you, Kellan. I know, and I’ll be careful. I promise.”

“You’re too trusting, Abby. Someday you’re going to find yourself in a situation you can’t handle. And I’m not here to save you from creepy waiters, drunks and the varsity football team. Not that I did much to save you from those drunks earlier tonight, I was too stunned to do anything.”

“I’m a big girl now. I can take care of myself.”

He paced the living room. “I had no idea…I expected to come home and find…little Abby.” He turned to face me and said, “And instead, I find a beautiful young lady with all these men falling at your feet. How can I protect you all the way from
Connecticut?” He went back to pacing.

“You could come home,” I grinned.

“I’m serious! You’re not safe here…not looking like you do.”

“How do I look?” I asked him, expecting some reply about my dress being too short or too tight, but I was dumbstruck by what he said.

“You look…like an angel. You’re perfect, Abby. I’ve never seen a more beautiful young woman in my life. And the amazing part is, you don’t even know it.”

I blushed and turned away from him for a minute.

“Did I embarrass you?” he asked from right behind me.

“No…yes, I guess, a little.”

“Don’t be embarrassed Abby, just promise me that you’ll be careful, okay? I should probably go, now.”

I turned around and said, “No, don’t leave. Please? Stay here. Joe and Nancy are going to
San Diego or Vegas for the week. Stay here, please?” I begged.

“I can’t stay here. I don’t live here anymore.”

“I know, but I don’t want you to go. Please stay with me. I only have you for a week. Please?” I begged, tears starting.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning, okay? We can go to the swap meet or to a movie.”

“Why don’t you stay here and we can rent a movie. Kellan, please don’t leave. Please?” I pleaded and hugged him.

“I’ll stay for a while, and then I have to check in to a hotel.”

“You’re staying at a hotel?”

“Yeah, where else?”

“I don’t know. But, I’m glad.”

“You’re glad?”

“I’d rather you stay here, but I’m glad you’re not staying with an old girlfriend, or something.”

He grinned, “Yeah, something tells me Brianna wouldn’t welcome me back with open arms.”

“I saw her a few weeks ago. She’s um, she’s pregnant…for real, this time. Unless she’s wearing one of those fake pregnant bellies,” I giggled.

“She’s pregnant?”

“Yeah, she got married about four months ago.”

“I hope she’s happy.”

“Are you?” I asked, certain that he wasn’t.

“I’m trying.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.             

“I’m tired of school, Abby. I’m making really good money…but…”

“But, what?”

“It doesn’t matter. I have to finish school. I won’t quit now…no matter what they’re offering.”

“Who’s offering what?” I asked, getting that strange feeling back whenever he mentions his job or his landlady.

“Nothing. I shouldn’t have said anything. So, let’s watch a movie, okay?”

We rented a movie and came home. I made popcorn while he tried to get the old DVD player to work. I slipped out of my dress and into my nightshirt and curled up on the couch next to Kellan.

“What are you wearing?” he asked, scooting away from me.

“It’s one of your old shirts. Why?”

“Don’t you have something else to wear?”

“I always sleep in one of your old shirts. You know that.”

“Yeah, well they used to be longer,” he said, staring at me.

“No, I used to be shorter,” I grinned.

“Abby, put something else on, now!”

“Why?”

“Because, you’ve said it yourself a hundred times, you’re not a little girl anymore. It’s not right for you to wear that…not when I’m here.”

I shook my head at him and laughed, “Are you serious? Kellan, it’s just an old t-shirt. I don’t have any other pajamas. I love these old shirts. I’m covered…in all the appropriate places,” I smiled.

“Abby, put something else on, or I’m leaving,” he said and stood up and walked toward the door.

“Okay, okay. I don’t know what the big deal is…”

He closed his eyes and said, “Please, just put something else on.”

I came back in a pair of shorts and a tank top. “Is this better?” I asked, turning around for his approval.

He sighed and mumbled something like, “Not much,” but I ignored his comment and curled up next to him on the couch again.

“I’ve missed you so much,” I said, looking up at him.

“Me, too,” he said and pulled me close.

The movie started but I wasn’t really paying much attention to it. I was snuggled up to Kellan, and I was blissfully happy. I smiled up at him and then glanced at the screen and realized that we definitely weren’t watching a G-rated film. The starring couple was physically expressing their feelings for each other and I watched as Kellan grabbed the remote and turned the movie off.

I laughed at him and said, “You can’t be embarrassed by a sex scene in a movie?”

“You don’t need to see that.”

“You mean I don’t need to
do
that?”

He looked down at me and quietly asked me, “You’re not, are you?”

I sat up and said, “For the last time, I’m not a little girl anymore.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” he said, staring me down.

I looked away and said, “No. I promised you that I’d wait for the right man,” I said and looked him in the eye.

“So,
Tyler’s not the right one?” he asked after sighing in relief.

“No. I don’t love
Tyler…like that,” I admitted, knowing it was true.

“Then, why are you with him…and why did you kiss him like that?”

“Tyler’s…safe.”

“Safe?”

“Yeah, he’s not pressuring me.”

“Yet.”

“He’s not like that.”             

He shook his head and said, “I told you, we’re all like that! He’s not going to wait too long, especially if you keep kissing him like that!” he threatened.

“I told you, I don’t usually kiss him like that.”

“Abby, you’re not listening to me…”

“I heard you, Kellan. I told you, I don’t kiss him like that…only twice.”

“You’re leading him on…I know you don’t mean to, but…”

“Kellan, stop! I don’t even like kissing…him,” I admitted without thinking.             

“What? Then, why?”

“I told you, he’s safe! I care for him…I guess I love him, in a way.”

“Do you think that’s fair to him?”

“I did…I was happy with him…basically…until…”

“Until what?”

“Until you came home.”

“Abby, please don’t start…”

“Okay,” I sighed.

“If you don’t really want to be with him, then let him know.”

“Kellan, butt out! He’s my boyfriend…but I haven’t slept with him. I’m still a virgin! I thought you’d be happy about that.”

“I don’t really want to hear this!”

“I think that’s exactly what you wanted to hear. I listened to you, are you satisfied?”

“I think I should go.”

“Why?” I stood up and said, “What are you afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid of anything.”

“Everyone’s afraid of something!”

“What are you afraid of, Abby?”
             

I looked into his eyes and said, “Of never seeing you again.” The tears were starting, but I didn’t care.

“That’s not going to happen. I made you a promise, years ago, and I meant it. I’ll always be there for you.”

“I haven’t seen you in almost two years. I love you, and I hate it when you’re gone,” I cried.

He hugged me. “I’ll be back, I promise.”

“You said this wasn’t your home anymore. Did you mean that? Are you going to stay in
Connecticut?”

“I don’t know, Abby. I will, at least until I’ve finished school. After that, I’m not sure.”

“What’s keeping you there? Or, should I ask,
who’s
keeping you there?” I asked, jealous of the unknown factor keeping him away from me, and I knew it had to be more than school.             

“No one,” he said, but turned away from me.

“Who is she?”

“I told you, there’s no one. I’m not seeing anyone. I don’t have the time…or the energy,” he sighed.

“What does that mean?”

“It means that between work and school, I don’t have time to date.”

“Oh. But, you said…”

“What?”

“Never mind.”

“What were you going to say?” he pressed.

“You said that all guys…I mean…what about
other
things?”

“What other things?” he asked, confused.

I looked away and whispered, “Sex.”

“We’re not having this conversation, Abby.”

“Oh, it’s okay for you to ask about my personal life, but I can’t ask about yours? That’s a bit of a double standard, don’t you think?”

“I’m just looking out for your well-being. I’m not trying to be nosy,” he said.

“And I care about
your
well-being. You don’t seem happy anymore. I hear it in your voice when we talk, and I can see it in your eyes, now.”

“I’m happy. I’m fine. But, I’m worried about you.”

“I’m okay.” I looked up at him and said, “I’m much better now!” I smiled at him.

We talked well into the night, like old times. I was so happy just being with him that I kept finding things to keep him, not wanting him to go. I finally ended up lying next to him on the couch, putting my head on his lap and I must have drifted off to sleep because the next thing I remember was waking up with a blanket over me and Kellan standing by the window with a cup of coffee in his hand.

“What time is it?” I asked, stretching on the couch.

“Seven-thirty.”

“Thank you for staying with me. You might as well stay here for the week. Save the money for the hotel and maybe you can come back and visit sooner. I have almost all the money you sent me, so you can have it back…and you can come home again…soon.”