“Happy Thanksgiving, freak. How's Cabo?” I ask with a laugh.
“Paradise, babe. It's paradise. Tequila on the beach at night. Waking up ass naked the next morning face down in the sand. Alone. Before you get all jealous over me.” He laughs.
“I'm glad you clarified because I was so jealous!” I laugh again.
“I knew you would be. You know you are the only girl in my life.” He teases me.
“How sad that you only have me. I know that I have too many boys to count. You're just one of many.” I tease back.
“Come on, loser!” “Bite me, jerk!” I call back to him. “Dude, you know she's not going to do it. She's scared of heights. And water. And fish. And lions, and tigers and bears, oh my!” Comes another teasing voice. “You are both jerks!” I yell down at them. “It's really not that bad! Just jump!” Wilder calls up to me. I look down to where he is already in the water, about sixteen feet below me. “Come on, baby,
His hands are on my thigh, trying to touch me, but I close my legs as best as I can with him on top of them. I'm still pulling his hair but he's not completely moving away yet, so I take my nails and rake them down his neck. He hisses in pain. “You fucking bitch!” He takes his hand and smacks me in the face. Pain radiates behind my eye and the pain in my head feels like it might explode. I grit my teeth against the pain, letting it fuel my anger. Anger and pain consume me and I ball up my fist. With my one hand still fisted in his hair, holding his head still I ram my fist into his nose with all the strength I can manage. I am satisfied when I hear a sickening crunch. He finally moves off of me, cursing as he holds his face. The door opens and Nadine comes in the room. When she sees me half naked on the bed
I sit in my room, on my bed, listening to the sound of his goodbyes. He told the children that he had to leave now, using some lame excuse. He would never tell them the truth, that it was my fault. THat I drove him away. He is much too kind for that, even in his anger towards me. I hear the sobs of the children and Ricky asking him 'why'. I hear the moment that sadness starts choking Wyatt and his voice goes husky. Grandpa is down there with the kids while I hide away, tyring to cope with the pain that I feel. “Please don't go, Wyatt!” Val cries out and tears burn my eyes. “I have to, but I'll come back. This isn't goodbye. You'll see me again. You can call me all the time, we'll talk on the phone for hours.
I wipe at a tear in my eye, but I don't feel the sorrow I expected. I'm able to smile. I'm getting there. It's been baby steps, but I am getting there, slowly but surely. I move away from the view, walking towards the door. “Did you mean it? About me staying the night?” The words stop me in my tracks. I turn to Wyatt. “Of course.” I gesture to the gifts. “You will want to see their faces when they see these gifts of yours. Besides, seeing you in the morning will be the best gift of all.” For them, I silently add, and for me. “Okay.” He says, following me out of the room. I lock the front door and head up to my room. He follows me, going to Ricky's room. “Good night.” He says.
Rose's house is decorated so beautifully that I am jealous when I see it. When we walk in the front door everything smells so delicious that my mouth immediately begins to water. Rose comes out of the kitchen to greet us. “Callie, you look amazing!” She declares, looking me over. “Thank you.” When she hugs me, I tell her. “It smells heavenly in here.” “Thank you! I just hope it tastes as good as it smells.” She chuckles. “You're an amazing cook, so I have not a doubt in my mind that it will.” I say. She gives
Winter New Years Eve banners hang on the wall. The tape slips on the one side and the banner goes to fall. “Lena! You're side!” I point and she catches it. Katie and Ricky laugh at her as she jumps up on the couch and smacks it to the wall. “Ricky, tape me!” She holds her hand out palm up and Ricky smacks a roll of tape into her open hand. Clearly the girl has been watching way too much Grey's Anatomy. Next she's going to call Ricky 'BokHee' and ask for a 'ten blade'. “What time is it?” Katie asks me.
It's a warm Saturday afternoon in mid-January and the kids are playing outside. They have just come back from spending the morning with Wyatt at the animal clinic. Grandpa met him when he dropped them off. It has been two weeks since New Year's Eve and we haven't seen or spoken to each other. Not since he kissed me, regretted it and left. Left me feeling like a freaking idiot. That night I went back into the living room but he had just left the house. I had to face everyone, his family included, with a plastered on fake smile and a broken heart. I resent him for that. I'm on my old laptop, working on an assignment at the kitchen table, hoping to get it done quickly. I got three assignments, two essays and three tests done last night, because I couldn't sleep a wink. I've started out taking five courses at o
He says this, moving closer to me. I have to fight the urge to get up and run away from him. I really don't want to be near him, but I won't back away like a coward. “So much that I could hardly stand it.” I say in a monotone. Actually, I haven't given this slime ball a single thought since my black eye faded and quit being a constant reminder of my stupidity. “Harper cut her hand on broken glass and I have to wait while she gets stitches.” He moves over to me about to sit down beside me. “Unless you want another broken nose, I suggest you stay the fuck away from me.” I sneer at him.