Wilson Mooney, Almost Eighteen (18 page)

I just put my imitation UUGS on my
feet when Cindy came and plopped down on the bench where we left
all our stuff.

“
Oh I gotta tell you. It’s
a total bummer you’re hurt. There are some real gorgeous guys
hanging around the slopes today.” She pulled her headband off and
shook her head.

“
Yeah, kinda a bummer.” I
watched her waiting to see where she was going with her
conversation.

“
I met these two guys,
total eye candy. Look, see if I have cavities, they are so sweet.”
She held her mouth open. I laughed.

“
Wow yeah I see a couple.
Well, did you talk to them?” I asked while Cindy put her headband
back on.

“
Hello, of course. That’s
why I wanted to ask you if you would be pissed if I kept skiing
with them? I could totally tell them to come hang out here with
us,” she offered.

“
NO, I don’t mind if you go
skiing with them. I’m good. You should go. Don’t worry about me.” I
could feel the pressure lift from my chest. If she was going to be
preoccupied with her eye candy, I could go with Max and she
wouldn’t even miss me.

“
Are you sure?” She leaned
against me, shoving her elbow into my side.

“
Totally sure.” I couldn’t
get her to leave soon enough.

“
Okay, so we’ll meet back
here about a quarter to four. Sound good?” She hugged me and didn’t
wait for my answer before she clomped off. I stood there for a
second. I couldn’t believe it was that easy. I was ready for the
beat down, drag out fight.

I hustled through the busy lodge. It
was lunch time and everyone was coming in to rest and eat. It was
the perfect time to get lost in the droves of people waiting in
line to order.

“
Wilson?” I heard someone
call me. My heart dropped like a pin-ball down into my stomach. It
was Wayne. Why? What in the universe was stopping me from getting
to Max? I smiled and turned back to him.

“
Hi Wayne.” As bothered as
I was with him finding me, he was so gorgeous I couldn’t find the
words to leave.

“
Well you look better. Are
you ready to hit the slopes again? I’m done with lessons,” he said
holding his hands out.

“
Um, well actually Wayne, I
was just going to go home.” I pointed to the front doors of the
lodge.

“
Well, I could take you
home,” he said pointing to the back door. “I’m just parked right
out back.”

“
Oh, no you don’t have to
do that. Besides, my friend is already here… probably waiting
outside already. But I appreciate the offer.” I gave him a small
peck on the cheek. “And thanks for teaching me how to ski today.” I
broke for the front door.

“
Wait, can I call you?” He
stopped me from leaving.

Just the situation I didn’t want to
happen. I shouldn’t have used him to make Max jealous. What was I
going to say? No, you can’t call me; I’m dating my government
teacher. How was I going to get out of this without hurting his
feelings? Again, a time I needed Joanie’s insightful wisdom on
guys.

“
Wayne. I’m sorry if I did
anything to make you think I was available. I—,”

“
You have a boyfriend?” he
cut me off. He looked like a puppy that got punished for chewing up
my best pair of shoes.

“
Yeah, something like
that.” I looked down at my feet. “But if I didn’t, I wouldn’t
hesitate to give you my phone number,” I said looking up into his
eyes.

“
Well, he’s one lucky guy.
I hope he knows how lucky he is.” He leaned over and kissed me on
the cheek.

“
Thanks. I’ll see you
around.” I turned and opened the huge door.

It was cold outside. I wasn’t used to
it. My breath was white as it hung then scattered in the air. The
cold reached down my throat and plastered my lungs with chills. My
eyes stung from the sun beating down on the bright snow covered
ground. I had to find Max fast. I didn’t want Cindy to see me leave
with him and the fact that I just turned Wayne down, really laid
heavy on my mind. He was such a nice guy.

“
Wilson?”

I turned and saw Max standing outside
of a small shiny black sports car. He pulled the handle and held
the door for me. He made sure I was in and buckled before he closed
it. I watched him strut in front of the car, speeding to get in
because it was so cold. He slipped in and fit perfect behind the
wheel. The butterflies came back strong and low. His aroma filled
the car and flicked a switch on in my body. He had taken off his
jacket and was wearing a zip up gray hoodie just small enough to
encourage me.

He reached his hand across the space
between us and pushed my hair back from my temple.

“
Are you really okay? Does
it hurt?” he asked; his eyes filled with concern.

My body shivered when he touched me.
“I’m okay,” I whispered.

“
I really am sorry I upset
you,” he apologized brushing his fingers down my arm; clutching my
hand.

“
I know.” I took a deep
breath, “so what kind of car is this?”
I
wasn’t stupid, I knew what kind of car it was. I just didn’t want
the focus to be on me.

“
I don’t know, a BMW Z
something,” he answered, narrowing his eyes.

“
Really? Is it yours? Or
did you rent it to impress girls?”

“
It’s mine and no I
wouldn’t rent it to impress girls, unless it’s working?” He looked
over at me and smiled.

“
Yeah, it’s working,” I
said real low.

“
I guess my plan is falling
into place.”

“
Plan? Something I must
hear about.” I shifted my body to slightly face him.

“
Eventually, you’ll see it.
What was your favorite color again?” He was smooth.

“
Green—yours is blue.” He
stared at me his cheeks rose above his smile.

“
What else do you know
about me?” His eyes squinted.

“
Well, I know you drive a
BMW Z4. I know your favorite color is blue and you really like
Italian food. I know you’re honorable and sensitive and you’re
really passionate about your job.” I looked out window.

“
Wow, you figured all that
out by getting in my car? What else do you know?” He slid his hand
to my thigh. My butterflies noticed.

“
I know you like to stay
after work to plan your next day. I know you smell good and your
family has a cabin here. I know you like to listen to new bands
that nobody has ever heard of.” I took a breath. He looked at me
and shook his head.

“
What?”

“
You’re collecting data on
me.” He laughed, amused.

“
Well, what do you know
about me?” I watched his face. His smile dropped and his lips
pulled tight.

“
I know enough about you.
Your favorite color is green. You look really good in powder blue
ski suits.” He stopped.

“
That’s it? Really? Wow
you’re so misinformed. Quite sad,” I played.

“
Okay fine, I know you’re
an only child. You’ve been in boarding schools since eight years
old. Your grandparents raised you and sadly you lost your
grandfather a couple of weeks ago. I know your best friend is
Joanie Emerson and you’re here in this car with me because you find
me completely irresistible. That’s what I know.” He
smiled.

I didn’t say anything. I pushed my
window down and felt the freeze swirl around my hair like the hands
of God, trying to clasp a necklace without looking. He pegged me. I
was a person who didn’t have a family. I guess the wounds didn’t
heal as quickly as I had thought.

“
It’s your turn—tell me
what else you know about me.” He glanced over. I cleared my throat
and started to tell him what I knew.

“
I know you also drive a
Champaign colored Lexus. I know this is your first year teaching on
your own. I know you hate sweaters but you have to wear them to
work. I know you immediately go and change your clothes once
classes are over. You
are
irresistible in a flannel button up with a cotton
t-shirt and jeans. You like to stay after to watch me erase your
boards,” I said trying to keep my family life away from this
conversation.

“
That’s the best part.
Watching you drag those huge erasers across my boards. When did you
know—you had feelings for me?”

“
Pretty much the first time
I saw you. Last year you came into my history class to cover for
Mr. Kringer.” I felt the car swerve.

“
You knew then; that long
ago?”

“
Yeah, you were trying to
explain the significance of comparing the Industrial Revolution to
modern times. You were so passionate.” I stared out the window lost
in a moment.

“
Well the first time I knew
it was something more for me was the day you walked into my
government class. You were so confident. You sauntered past me and
looked right into my eyes. You had your hair pulled back off your
face. You sat right in the front row. It was such torture but I
took it, because even that little bit of you was worth it.” His
forehead creased and his eyelids dropped as he told me. Wow, he was
pulling me into his world and I wanted to feel it.

“
Where are you taking me?”
I asked as he turned down a long driveway.

“
You’ll see.” He glanced at
me.

“
What if I want to know
now?”

“
That depends how bad you
want to know,” he played back to me.

What was going to be the
best way to get him to talk?
I grabbed the
zipper on my moon suit and lowered it just enough to torture
him.

“
I wonder where we’re
going.” I mumbled. His eyes caressed my body and hovered at my
chest.

“
My house,” he answered
biting his lower lip. “I hope you don’t mind. Nobody’s there. We
can have the place to ourselves.”

He drove down to an exceptionally
breathtaking contemporary mansion. Huge pillars invited me to the
rippled glass double doors. Earth multi-colored slate sheathed the
porch and walls. Statues of partially nude angels pouring water
from huge vases fit flawlessly on either side. The whole top story
of the house appeared to be one big window separated by the roof of
the gigantic porch. It seemed vacant with the huge parking area and
no cars around. He pushed a button and pulled the car into one of
the four garages.

“
Well, here we are.” He
took a deep breath.

He slipped out and tracked to my side
pulling open my door. His chivalry was so romantic, something guys
my age didn’t have. He held his hand out to me, inviting me to him.
I took hold and he pulled me from the car. He curved his arm around
my waist and shut the door. His hand pressed delicately across my
hip and I could feel his warmth through my suit.

“
Right this way.” He held
his other hand out pointing the way to a solid plain white door. He
leaned across me and pushed it open. I stepped in and stopped. His
body pressed against me. I don’t think he expected me to stop. My
breath was robbed. We were in the most beautiful kitchen I’ve ever
seen.

“
It’s okay to keep
walking.” His hands wrapped around me. His warm breath steamed
across my neck.

I noticed a massive basket loaded with
boots and shoes next to me on the floor. I leaned against him and
pulled my boots off.

“
You don’t have to do
that.” He anchored himself against the door frame.

“
Do you usually do
it?”

“
Yeah, but—”

“
But nothing, I want to
honor your parents’ wishes.” I dropped my boots into the basket. He
pulled off his and stacked them next to it.

He caught my hand and pulled me
through the kitchen of my dreams. Huge white cabinets with brushed
chrome handles, black glossy countertops with gray lines glistened
as the sun from the huge skylights bounced off them. On the butcher
block island, a delicate simple flower arrangement of orchids
warmed the room. Brushed stainless steel appliances splashed the
kitchen.

“
Max, this is
beautiful.”

“
The kitchen? Wait until
you see my favorite room.”

He pulled me into the equally gorgeous
modern dining room. Warm deep red walls and dark mahogany crown
molding cased the room. A table fit for twelve centered under a
gigantic glass light that danced bright stars of crystal against
the walls. I couldn’t keep from getting dizzy as he pulled me into
his favorite room.

“
This is your favorite
room? This is not a room.” I spun to take it in.

“
It’s called a great room.
This is where I spend most of my time when I’m here.” He pulled me
around pointing out what he liked about it. One whole side of the
room was filled from floor to ceiling with books. The other side an
enormous pool table with a stained glass light over it. The
fireplace was made from giant river rocks partnered with an old
stressed chunk of wood protruding out above the opening. A soft
leather sofa separated one side from the other facing the gigantic
plasma screen T.V. above the fireplace. Sunlight danced down from
six massive skylights peppered throughout the open beamed ceiling.
I could see why he loved it in here. It was warm, functional and
fun.