My Favorite Mistake(56)
We drove around Waterville, and I showed Hunter my school, the library and all the places I used to go when I was younger and needed a place to go other than home.
“I didn’t have a lot of friends, if you can believe that. I did my own thing a lot.”
“Nothing wrong with that. Most girls that age are bitches.”
“Ain’t that the truth? I didn’t really make any until college.”
“So do you want to come back here?”
“Ah, hell no. This isn’t where I want to be.”
“Where do you want to be?”
“Anywhere else. When Travis gets out, I don’t want to be where he can find me.”
“What made you stay in Maine? You could have gone overseas to school.”
I sighed as I drove past the elementary school. I had a silly idea and pulled into the parking lot. I hopped out, and Hunter followed me. I stopped walking until he was right beside me.
“Tag!” I screamed, slapping his chest and running as fast as I could before he could realize what I’d done.
“I don’t think so, Missy,” he said, growling and chasing me toward the playground. He caught me, mostly due to the fact that his legs were much longer.
He scooped me into his arms and ran with me onto the grass, throwing me down and tickling me without mercy. I was laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe. When I couldn’t take anymore, he kissed me and we rolled on the grass.
“You little cheater,” he said, giving my shoulder a little love bite. “You also deflected my question. Quite effectively, I might add.”
I rolled onto my back and stared at the semi-cloudy sky.
“Because I got a better scholarship. I got in to other schools, but they were too expensive. They were also too far away. I know that doesn’t make sense, but I feel safer here, because Tawny and my mom are here. I couldn’t leave them.”
“You should do what you want, and not be obligated to stay here for them.”
“Why didn’t you go somewhere else? I’m sure you could have gotten into any school you wanted with John’s help.”
“Because I didn’t want a hand-out. I also got a better financial aid package here and I figured, why not? My dad was always harping on me about the evils of state colleges. He wanted me to go to Yale.”
“Did you get in?”
“It doesn’t matter.” He took my hand and kissed it.
“Shit, you totally got in to Yale. Damn, I’m in love with a genius.” Who knew?
“Joe wrote a letter of recommendation that probably helped a little.”
“When do I get to meet Joe?”
“He’s not coming up until Christmas, but you’ll meet him then. Hope is as nuts about Christmas as she is about pie. So, be prepared. You’re part of the family now, so you’re invited.”
“God, I can’t imagine how that house looks decorated for Christmas.”
“It’s pretty epic.”
“I bet.”
“Race you to the swings?”
We both got up and ran as fast as we could. He totally let me win. We played on the swings and chased each other down the slide until the sky opened up and it started raining.
“We should get back. Your mother probably thinks we’ve driven somewhere and parked by now.”
“Because I’m totally that kind of girl.”
“Don’t knock quickies in cars. If we didn’t have to go back and see your mom, I would totally be up for that.”
“It sounds uncomfortable.”
“It’s an art.”
“Which I’m sure you’ve mastered.”
He shrugged and mussed my hair.
“Told you, Miss. Everything before you doesn’t matter.”
Twenty-Seven
Not fooling around with Hunter in my mom’s house wasn’t as hard as I’d thought it would be. Her room was right down the hall, and Tawny’s across the hall, and my bed was old and creaky.
“Not even a little?” Hunter whispered as we climbed under my Disney princess sheets.
“It’s too weird. I can’t have sex on a princess’ face with my mom down the hall sleeping. I just have to draw the line.”
“Okay, okay. Can I still sleep naked?”
“You can. I’m keeping my clothes on.”
“Why?”
“In case there’s a fire in the middle of the night and we have to leave the house in a hurry.”
“You think of everything,” he said, keeping his boxers on, but removing his shirt. “Fine, fine.” If I didn’t know better, I would have said he was pouting.
“You’re not upset, are you?”
“About the hay rolling? It would be nice, but I’d settle for just being naked with you. That’s the best. Nothing between us. Just you and me.”
“Tomorrow night, I swear.”
“And then I’m out of luck starting Tuesday.”
“Why, what’s happening on Tuesday?”
“You start your period,” he said, completely matter-of-fact.
“I hate that you know that.”
“What? I’ve known that for a while.”
I buried my head in the pillow.
“I thought I was the one who was supposed to be embarrassed about that,” he said.
“You’re not embarrassed about anything.”
He moved the pillow away from my face.
“Not really. Until tomorrow, goodnight, Princess.” He kissed my nose, and I popped in my retainer and snuggled into him.
“Missy?”
“Yeah?”
“Your mom is kind of awesome, but she looks like she wants to shoot me most of the time.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve been on the receiving end of that look more than once.”
“So it’s not just me?”
“Nope.”
“Good to know. I thought she was going to be all sweetness and light from the way you were talking.”
“She is sweet. Sweeter than I am anyway.”
“How could anyone be sweeter than you?”
“Oh, it’s possible.”
“No way,” he said with a yawn.
I yawned and didn’t argue. Too tired.
*****
Hunter and I didn’t beat Mom to the kitchen the next morning, because the coffee was already on when we got up after a night of platonic cuddling.
“I didn’t hear anything I didn’t want to hear, so I’m going to assume I don’t need to have a chat with anyone.”
“Mom!” Seriously?
“She’s not trying to give you a sex talk, is she?” Tawny said, scrubbing her face with her hands and stumbling toward the coffee.
“Ugh, can we not do this right now? I just woke up.”
“Eggs anyone?” Mom said, holding up a frying pan. She’d mixed the eggs with cream cheese, just like she did when I was younger.
“Plates?” Hunter said, going for the cabinet.
“Top shelf,” I said, grabbing silverware out of the dishwasher.
Tawny shuffled to the table, crashing into her seat. Tawny didn’t do mornings well.
We had breakfast and after Tawny had consumed three cups of coffee, she grabbed Hunter and made him show her how to play the guitar as a ruse so Mom could grill me.
“Are you being safe?” was the first thing she asked.
“God, Mom. Yes. You know I’m on the pill.”
“But that doesn’t protect you from everything.”
“Mom, just trust me. I’m not a moron.” I was helping her do the dishes and contemplating trying to drown myself in the soapy water to avoid the rest of this conversation.
“It’s just, unexpected, that’s all. You’ve never expressed an interest in anyone, so it was shocking to hear that you had.”
“He’s different.”
“I saw the tattoos. How many does he have?”
“Um,” I said, both stalling and counting. “Five.”
She held onto the sink. “Dear Lord. Please don’t tell me he has a motorcycle.”
“He doesn’t.”
“Well, that’s good to know.”
“Why? What difference would it make if he had a motorcycle?”
“Kid, when you’re a mother with daughters, you’ll understand.”
“Is the interrogation over?” I asked.
“Taylor, I’m just kind of in shock. He’s not the kind of guy I would have picked for you.”
I closed my eyes and told myself that she wasn’t saying anything bad about him. It was true. He wasn’t the kind of guy I would have seen myself with.
“After everything that… happened, and when you couldn’t seem to get over it, I just thought you were never going to take the plunge. I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing; I’m just saying be careful.”
“I will.”
“Okay. I can see that he makes you happy.”
We both smiled.
“He does. Happier than I knew was possible.”
“That’s great, Kid. Really great.” She gave me a soapy hug that made the back of my shirt damp, but I didn’t mind.
“Speaking of love lives. Anything new to report?”
“No, and that is none of your business, young lady.”
“Have you talked to Dad?”
“Last week. He’s seeing someone new.”
“What happened to Michelle?”
“No idea. We didn’t talk long. He asked about you, and I said you had a boyfriend. He wasn’t very happy.”