“Yeah, and it was all about this girl, right here.” He shook his head, pointing at me above my head and laughed. “I’ve been Caleb’s friend for ten years and I’ve never seen him with a girl, not once. Not even prom, he just skipped it. The guy’s a monk.”
I laughed as Caleb rolled his eyes and rubbed his chin. “I know. He kinda told me all about it.”
“Well, come on, Maggie. Let’s get you a very non-alcoholic beverage.”
He put an arm around my shoulder and pulled me with him, Caleb trailing behind us. We came to a big flat rock where it seemed all the food and drinks were set up. He handed me an unopened can of soda.
“Want something to eat? We've got shrimp, oysters, ribs, chips-”
“Nah, I’m ok. We just ate, but thanks.”
Vic looked me over in a very objective manner with his chin between his thumb and forefinger.
“Caleb. I have to say you did good, brother. She’s sweet, she’s polite, she’s southern, cute. I approve. You two can continue to date.”
“Thanks, man,” Caleb said with fake sincerity.
“So where did ya’ll eat?”
“Mugly’s.”
“Oh!” he shouted and laughed. “Caleb’s pulling out the big guns!”
We all laughed and went to sit around the fire. There wasn’t much room because that’s where most of the people were. I kept looking for Beck, but hadn’t seen her or Ralph since we got there. I imagined her pulling him behind a tree and doing who knows what, that thought made me want to gag and giggle at the same time.
So we sat down and Caleb put me in between them on the log. He kept looking around protectively which made me wonder what he was looking for.
“So, where’s Molly?” Caleb asked.
“She’s here somewhere. Probably with Ashley which means she probably won’t come over here.”
“We’ve already run into Ashley actually,” Caleb explained and his voice got harder. “She’s in rare form tonight.”
“You know how she is, man. She ain’t gonna change, unless maybe you asked her to. Then, I bet she’d wear purple hats with green shorts and call herself Sally.”
“Dude,” Caleb laughed, “you need help.”
“Yeah. So, Maggie, what’s the plan for school? Caleb talked you into Tennessee yet?” Vic asked me while he loaded up a marshmallow on a palmetto stick to roast.
“He has,” I said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
“He must have some serious skills to get you to come to our school after only a week,” he mused and stuffed the mallow in his mouth. His next words were muffled, making it even funnier. “Must be the hair. Girls go nuts over that hair.”
“It is good hair,” I agreed and Caleb covered his face beside me making Vic laugh.
“Great. Now you’ve joined his side,” Caleb groaned. “He’ll talk you into anything.”
“Have you met his parents yet? I haven’t even met his parents,” Vic grumbled. “Even though the guy has been to my swimming pool in my back yard a million times, I’ve never set foot in this guy’s house. His parents are like super secretive or something.”
“I have actually met them...and been to his house.”
“Oh, sure!” He yelled and threw his hands up. “Of course she gets to. I hear the guy is loaded. Is it true? He’s always so modest, but I know his parents have to be loaded.”
“Don’t answer that, Maggie,” Caleb said and leaned towards me to whisper loudly and conspiratorially. “He’s trying to get you to feel sorry for him. His parents live in a three story complex with an inside pool and a real butler.”
I gasped in mock surprise. “You tried to trick me!” I pawned good naturedly.
“No! Don’t listen to him!” Vic yelled playfully and waved his hands back at Caleb.
I laughed as they went back and forth.
“All right, guys,” Vic said. “I better go see my girl or I’ll be in the doghouse. I’ll catch up with you later. Text me, brother.”
“It was nice to meet you,” I said and Vic turned and smiled gorgeously at me.
“It was good to meet you. Please don’t go anywhere. You’ve done that kid good.”I laughed as Caleb continued to groan and moan beside me.
“He’s really nice.”
“Yeah. He’s a good guy.” He stood and held his hand out to me. “Come on.”
I took his hand as he helped me up.
“Where are we going?”
“Well, it is a party,” he said and smiled.
He took me to the spot on the sand designated as the dance floor. The music was so loud there was no point in trying to speak. Luckily, we didn’t need to use our mouths.
Caleb, I can’t dance.
Sure you can. Everyone can dance. Plus, I’m an excellent teacher. They don’t call my kind Charmed for nothing.
He took my hands and put them on his shoulders. His hands gripped my hips just as the music changed to something slower. I was swept over with relief and he laughed and shook his head.
You got lucky on that one, but you’re still dancing with me. That’s all I care about.
I wrapped my arms tighter around his neck and he pulled me closer, our bodies touching all the way down as he used his hands to sway my hips. His slightly stubbly cheek rubbed against mine as he moved us with our heads together and I was consumed with calm and warmth.
It felt so right to be there in his arms. Wherever he was is where I needed and wanted to be.
I had never danced before, ever. Not even Prom. Chad had been very focused on goofing off with our group of friends that went together and we never made it to the dance floor. I was relieved back then because I couldn’t dance and still can’t. Beck tried several times to get me to shake it with her on the dance floor, pulling me ungracefully in her sinfully low cut purple gown, but I refused. She even tried to get me to sneak out to clubs with her sometimes when I stayed at her house but once again, I refused.
Now, I didn’t know if I’d go to a club or not, it sounded appealing with Caleb there with me, but right now, all I could think about was him, pressing me to him with his big warm hands through the thin fabric of my shirt. I liked his hands there.
I like my hands here, too.
I smiled and thought back to the very beginning, when we first saw each other. We’d both had a reaction to the other before the imprint even took place. I remembered that I’d never told him how I’d felt before that. That I had been feeling similar feelings for him that he had felt for me from just our short little walk to Kyle’s house. I’d never shown him how I loved his curly hair and how affected I’d been by his eyes when he had leaned close to check my head. How endearing it was for him to be so worried about me. How I dreaded leaving him when Kyle was trying to pull me away. How I had no idea why I was so enraptured with him but seemed to be drawn to him somehow as I offered him my hand and told him my name, hoping he’d remember it.
You’re showing me now.
I kept forgetting that he was so in tune to me.
Well, it’s all true. You were very cute, all concerned for me.
He pulled back to smile crookedly at me.
I can’t wait for you to come up here with me for school. I’ve been meaning to ask you...
His hands flexed on my hips. His nervousness for the question he was about to ask was apparent as it pulsed through me. He was worried that I’d think it was too soon or inappropriate. Or I’d just flat say no.
Just tell me, Caleb. It can’t be that bad.
I was just wondering if you were planning to...live with me at the apartment. I’m asking you to, I guess.
Oh.
I hadn’t seriously thought about it. Kyle had mentioned to me the fact that he was supposed to room with Caleb and I’d said he still could. I doubted that was still ok, but I hadn’t really thought beyond that. So I answered truthfully.
I hadn’t really thought about it.
Ok. No pressure.
He so, so wanted me to live with him. Wanted for us to not have an obstacle in the mornings when we needed each other most anymore, to not have to worry about me at night with the echoling or sneaking in and out.
But I wasn’t so sure. I mean I did want to live with him but I didn’t want to lie to my dad anymore. I didn’t want to continue to have to come up with stories for him and other people about where and who I lived with.
Would I tell everyone else that I lived with my boyfriend off campus if they asked? Would I tell my dad that I lived in the dorms? What if he tried to visit me, which I’m sure he would? Would I - Could I - tell him that I was eighteen and living with my boyfriend and he couldn’t stop me? He would be furious. Plus, I had always had a subconscious plan. To get married first before I moved in with my guy but things weren’t even in the same ballpark as normal anymore so exceptions had to be made.
Caleb was reading me.
It’s ok. You don’t have to worry about it right now. We’ll figure it out later.
It’s not that I don’t want to. I do. I’m just worried about my dad. It would be so much easier and safer if I stay with you. And more fun.
I sent him a little smile, but he was still hung up on the worry; the worry for me if I wasn’t with him and how this was going to work out. It was not only his desire to protect, it was ingrained in his veins.
I decided to distract him because his feelings of worry and upset and need to protect were choking me.