Being Jane: A New Adult Erotic Romance: Fountain of Love (6 page)

Jane

It took more than
a few conversations with Millie and several pints of ice cream to ‘pretend’ to
get over my infatuation with Dusty. I knew I wasn’t really over him, but I had
tricked my mind into believing it so that I could move on.

The night of
Dusty’s party had gone so horribly wrong. After I found out that Dusty had a
girlfriend, I drowned my misery in alcohol. I threw myself into playing
drinking games at the party until I could no longer walk or see straight. In my
drunken stupor, I sent Millie home without me. I vaguely remember arguing with
her until she finally left me.

At the end of the
night, when I was left stranded and drunk, Nate took care of me. I stayed
overnight in his room, but nothing happened between us. If he had wanted to do
something, I wouldn’t have objected, but he took the high road. Not that anyone
would believe that, especially after all of Nate’s roommates saw me slinking
out of the house the next morning. For some reason, the whole night I hadn’t
realized that Dusty and Nate were roommates. It was unnerving to put it
together in the morning and then downright awful to have Dusty and his bitch of
a girlfriend see me on my way out the door.

They say when one
door closes another opens. At least, Aunt Bettie, the eternal optimist, was
always telling me that. The Dusty door had slammed shut on me, but the Nate door
seemed cracked open. Nate was interested in me. And Nate was no slouch in the
looks department and he definitely seemed like a nice guy. I needed to focus on
door #2 now.

The morning after
the party, Nate drove me back to Millie’s and then asked for my phone number. I
felt stupid, but there was no way I could have Nate calling my parent’s house.

“I don’t have a
cellphone.”

Nate actually
looked stunned. “No cellphone? I didn’t think a girl could actually survive
without texting.”

Sometimes I
thought I was the only person in America above the age of 10 who didn’t have a
cell phone. Who would call me anyway?

I felt myself
blushing.  “Well, I can’t afford it right now. I’m having trouble finding
a job.”

Nate frowned. “So,
how do people get in touch with you?”

No one called me.
Except for Millie. “I’ll give you Millie’s number. She can pass on the message
to me.”

I wasn’t actually
expecting him to call Millie, but he did, the next day in fact. Millie was
instructed to get his phone number if he called, that way I could call him back
without my mother finding out. I was lying on my bed, my voice barely above a
whisper, as I agreed to go out with him the following Tuesday night.

Nate asked me what
I wanted to do. My answer came without hesitation. ‘Dinner and a movie.’ It
seemed like the quintessential American date, but I had never experienced it.
When he asked me where I wanted to eat and I told him a diner, he was more than
skeptical. Finally, I convinced him that I was serious; I was a simple girl to
please.

He was picking me
up at Millie’s house. I was pretty sure he thought that I actually lived there,
and I wasn’t ready to let him know the truth. It was just too hard to explain
my strange parents. Or maybe it was just too embarrassing. The last thing I
wanted to do was frighten Nate off.

That night, after
the whispered phone call with Nate, I went to dinner at Johnnie’s house with
his parents. I had postponed it a night so that I could go to the party.
Johnnie still hadn’t come out of the closet to them and Johnnie’s mother was in
full matchmaking mode. It was a bit awkward. After dinner, we sat out on the
porch talking for hours. We talked mostly about Johnnie’s life and problems. He
needed to get a lot of stuff off his chest. Johnnie was excited to head back to
California and I was glad to hang out with him before he left.

But that night had
been another night I was away from my home. My mother was getting agitated
about it. I think the only reason she relented on the dinner at Johnnie’s house
was because she knew Johnnie was leaving for California and I wouldn’t see him
again for a long time. That really put her mind more at ease. Like I mentioned,
she was strange.

I had only one
more trick up my sleeve to get out of the house on Tuesday night for my dinner
and a movie date. It happened to be Millie’s birthday and Millie fully
supported me using it as an excuse. My mother was getting suspicious. (Of what,
I don’t know. That her daughter was actually having a little bit of fun in her
life?) I felt a confrontation brewing and I knew I’d have to face the craziness
sooner or later.

I told my mother
exactly what I was doing; I just left out the part that I was doing it with
Nate. I headed out the door with the batch of chocolate chip cookies that I had
made for Millie’s birthday. I would hang out with Millie for an hour or so
before Nate picked me up.

The date with Nate
started awkwardly. Conversation at the diner seemed stilted. Nate started by
asking me about high school. Little did he know, that between my infatuation
with his roommate that was recently shred to pieces, and my mind-numbingly boring
history at high school, it wasn’t the greatest conversational topic for me.
Soon, however, he asked me about college and I had slightly more to tell. He
listened attentively as I told him about getting my hospitality management
degree and my subsequent job search.

My lack of
sophisticated conversation or sparkling personality didn’t seem to matter very
much to Nate though. He was attracted to me, and our subtle back and forth
flirtations made my stomach flutter excitedly. Nate was good-looking, fun to be
around and he was showering me with attention. The feeling was heady to someone
as inexperienced as I was. I wasn’t invisible anymore.
I felt alive again
.

While I waited with
Nate at the counter for him to pay our bill, I noticed a “Help Wanted” sign
hanging on the back of the register for a part-time waitress. The lady who rang
up our bill told me that they needed someone to fill the late shift for three or
four nights of the week. She seemed almost apologetic about the horrible hours,
but I barely listened as she rambled on about how desperately they needed a
replacement because the current staff was stretched too thin. My mind was
already racing with the possibilities. A job like this could give me the cover
I needed to get out of the house without my mother’s suspicions and give me a
little pocket change to boot. I took an application as we left and headed to
the movies.

The movie was a
fast-paced action film, but I barely followed the plot. I was busy reveling in
all the little things that I had never experienced before like Nate’s hand
reaching for mine over the armrest, or his arm casually wrapping around my shoulder
or how he leaned in and softly kissed my lips when he caught me staring at him.

I was playing it
cool, but in reality I was as giddy as a teenaged girl. My brain was spinning
with excitement. I was finally experiencing something that was old hat to most
people my age. Nate was a good guy and I was attracted to him. I could even see
myself falling in love with him. The thought left me astounded and almost out
of breath.

If this date with
Nate led anywhere, I would have to continue sneaking out of my house to see him.
It made me angry that my mother would freak out about me dating a guy. Dating
was a completely normal part of life. For some inexplicable reason, she somehow
expected me to find a man and get married without going through the normal
dating process. It was bizarre and I didn’t understand it.

An uncomfortable realization
settled in my gut. It was time I stood up to my mother. I had allowed her to
dictate my life for far too long now. It would be painful, but one thing I knew
for sure was that I couldn’t go on like this. I had to push back.

My date with Nate was
over way too fast. We were parked in Millie’s driveway where I had left my car.

“Thanks, Nate. I
really enjoyed myself tonight.”

Nate turned toward
me and smiled. “Even the movie? With all those car chases and explosions?”

I had barely
watched the movie. “Sure, it was okay.”

Nate looked
skeptical. “I’ll let you pick the movie next time.”

I couldn’t help
the grin from breaking out on my face. He was talking ‘next time’. “Then you
better bring your tissues. I’m gonna go for a real emotional tearjerker with
deep and profound meaning. And I’m gonna quiz you on it afterward.”

Nate’s laughed. “Challenge
accepted.”

I didn’t want the
date to end, but I felt uncomfortable sitting in Millie’s driveway. “I should
probably go before Millie notices us out here.”

“Millie?”

I nodded. “Yeah,
this is Millie’s house. Today was her birthday and I was hanging out here
before you picked me up. I live with my parents over by the park.”

Nate took it all
in stride. “Oh, okay. I guess I’ll let you go, if you promise to go out with me
again.”

A buzz of
happiness thrummed through me. “I promise.”

“Do you like to
bowl? A bunch of us go on Thursday nights.”

Thursday was in
just two days. Despite my earlier decision about confronting my mother, I
didn’t want to have to do it so soon, but I really wanted to see Nate again. “I’ve
never been bowling.”

Nate looked
surprised. “Really? Well, you don’t have to bowl. You can come and just hang
out if you want.”

I pushed down my worries.
I would figure out a way to sneak out again if I didn’t have the courage to deal
with my mother by then. “Sure, what time do you go? I’ll meet you at the
bowling alley.”

“I can pick you
up-”

“No, that’s okay.
I’ll meet you there.”

Nate shrugged. “Be
there around seven o’clock.”

“Seven o’clock,
got it. Thanks for the date. I really enjoyed it.” My hand reached for the car
door.

“Jane.” Nate’s
voice stopped me. “C’mere for a second.”

I looked at him
questioningly. “I’m right here.”

Nate motioned for me
to move closer. “A little closer.”

There were those
butterflies dancing around again. I smiled and inched closer to him.

“A little bit
closer.”

I leaned even
closer to him, my heart beating fast with anticipation.

His arm looped
around my body and pulled me into him as our mouths connected. I had been
waiting for this moment all night and it didn’t disappoint. I couldn’t believe
how lucky I was to have a guy like Nate kissing me.

We kissed for
several minutes before Nate pulled back. “Good night, Jane.”

I slid off the
center console and back to my seat. I smiled back at him before I opened the
door and got out of the car. A sense of happiness I hadn’t felt in a really
long time filled me. I couldn’t wait to tell Millie that I had a boyfriend.

Dusty

I cringed when I
saw some of Michelle’s friends show up at the bowling alley. I hadn’t seen
Michelle since the morning after the disastrous bonfire party and I’d been
carefully avoiding her calls. I hoped like hell she wasn’t going to show up too.

And even though I
had been constantly thinking about Jane since I fucked up our brief encounter
at the party, she was the last person I expected to walk in the door at the
bowling alley. A strange shock jolted me as our eyes connected, but she
immediately looked away and began scanning the clusters of people around the
huge bowling alley looking for someone.

Her eyes settled
on someone near the bar and then she smiled and waved a greeting to someone. I
turned to the bar and I saw Nate heading over to meet her. An unsettling
feeling sank into me.
She was here to meet Nate
. I had no idea that
their relationship had gone anywhere beyond the one night, but the knowledge left
me cold.

I was gathered
with my friends around our lanes, but I could hardly follow their joking
conversations. My mind was stuck on Jane and Nate.

Nate led her over
to our group. He had a big dopey grin plastered on his face. He began
introducing Jane to people in the group. “Jane, you know some of these guys
from high school, but this is Steve…”

I suddenly became
absorbed with my beer and pretended not to be listening to the conversation as
I heard Ace joking with her. “Hey, Jane. You should have brought your friend
with you. Molly, was it?”

I snuck a glance
at Jane. She looked right at home in the crowd with Nate’s arm around her
waist. “Millie. Sorry Ace, she was busy tonight.”

When Ace turned
away, Jane leaned into Nate and whispered something to him that had him
laughing like a fool. My gut wrenched with jealousy.

Jealousy was not
an emotion that I had a lot of experience with. And when it came to girls, I
almost never felt jealous beyond a fleeting notion. The feeling I had seeing
Jane with Nate was something much more than fleeting. It felt raw. Piercing.
And it annoyed me to no end.

The night was
getting shittier by the moment. I even thought about leaving, just so I didn’t have
to see Jane and Nate together, but I couldn’t think of a good enough excuse. I
should have left, because twenty minutes into my worst bowling game ever, Michelle
showed up.

She chatted with
her girlfriends for at least ten minutes before she even acknowledged me. When
she came over to me, she wrapped herself around me like a snake. “Hey Dusty.”

I untangled
myself. “What are you doing here? I thought you hated bowling?”

“I would have told
you I was coming, but I’ve been having trouble getting through to you. Is your
phone working?” She looked at me innocently enough, but she must have known
that there was trouble between us. “Anyway, Beth begged me to come. She has a
thing for Ace and she wanted some friends around for support.”

I swirled the beer
around in my cup. “Michelle, we need to talk. About us.”

She smiled
brightly. “How about I come over to your place after bowling. Then we can have
privacy to talk and do… whatever.”

Her tone was
confident and even seductive. There was no way she could be that clueless.
But
maybe she was.

It was Nate’s turn
to bowl and he was getting grief from the guys because he had been too busy
making mushy eyes at Jane to notice. When he stood and announced that Jane was
going to bowl that frame for him, the teasing only grew louder.

Chad called out,
“Hey Jane, you better get a strike or else Nate’s gonna be pissed. He’s a
competitive bastard.”

Nate brushed aside
the good-natured joking as he helped Jane pick out a ball. “Give her a break.
She’s never bowled before.”

Ace laughed. “This
should be good. Are you sure you want to do this, Jane? The pressure’s on now.
Everyone’s watching.”

Jane looked around
the crowd and shrugged before she stepped up to the lane. “I like to try new
things.”

The guys exchange
amused glances, reading perverted meaning into her comment, but luckily Jane
didn’t see that. Nate was trying to show her what to do while everyone watched
the spectacle with rapt attention.

I had forgotten
about Michelle standing next to me for a moment until she spoke again. “I can’t
believe Nate is into that girl, Jane. She’s the one from the other night. The
one he met and fucked at the party.”

I couldn’t stop
myself. “That’s how I met you.”

Michelle frowned.
“That was totally different, Dusty. Anyway, I can’t believe Nate is slobbering
all over her. Look at her. She’s a total slut.”

I felt my body
stiffen with annoyance, but I said nothing.

Jane finally sent
the bowling ball down the lane. Everyone watched as the ball curved to the
right and just nicked the side pin before tipping into the gutter. Jane was
laughing as the crowd around our lanes cheered as the one pin toppled.

Jane shrugged her
shoulders in apology to Nate and his head sunk in mock despair. He retreated to
the ball return and grabbed Jane’s ball for her. This time she knocked down
three more pins. Nate’s score was toast, but he didn’t seem to care.

I could
practically feel Michelle bristling with anger next to me. She loved to be the
center of attention and Jane getting the spotlight pissed her off. Not that I
was enjoying the moment any more than she was.

It was my turn to
bowl on the other lane. When I was finished, I noticed that Michelle was over
talking to Nate and Jane. From where I was standing, it looked more like she
was flirting with Nate. She wasn’t the slightest bit drunk, but she was all
over him. Jane looked uncomfortable.

I was so busy
watching Jane that I didn’t notice that Carrie, one of Michelle’s nicer
friends, had sat down next to me. “You’re so quiet tonight, Dusty. Is something
wrong?”

Everything was
wrong, but I couldn’t tell Carrie that. I faked a smile and tried to ignore
what was going on ten feet away from me while I talked to Carrie.

I finished my
beer. “I need a new beer. Do you need anything?”

Carrie declined my
offer and headed back to her friends when I stood to head for the bar. When I
saw Jane sitting alone, my feet decided to take me over to her instead.

I sat next to her.
“Hey Jane.”

She looked wary.
“Hi Dusty.”

“I’m surprised
you’re here with Nate. He’s not the dating type.” It slipped out before I could
censor myself. I felt like a jackass.

Jane’s eyes
narrowed. “Oh, right. You already warned me that Nate’s an ass. So far he
hasn’t been an ass to me, but I’ll be sure to be on the lookout.”

“I didn’t mean it
like that…”

Her eyes flashed
with anger. “Maybe you should be worrying about your
girlfriend
and
leave
me
alone.”

Shit
, this
was going all wrong. “Jane, I’m sorry about the other night. I’m not like that.
And Michelle and I … ”

I stopped talking
when Nate arrived and handed Jane a new beer. “Hey Dusty, what’s going on?”

Jane hopped up
from her seat and handed her beer back to Nate. “Can you keep an eye on this
while I use the restroom? I’ll be right back.” She couldn’t wait to get away
from me.

Nate took her beer
and sat. “Did you and Jane date in high school?”

I stared into my
empty cup. “No. Why?”

“I know you guys
were friends, but you always act kind of weird around each other. It’s just a
strange vibe.”

“Well, we never
dated. And we weren’t that great of friends, either.” I escaped Nate’s awkward
questions by heading to the bar for a new beer.

If I didn’t have
to deal with Michelle that night, I’d have left already. I stayed close to my
lane and bowled. I hardly talked to anyone; my mood was too sour to even
pretend to have fun.

I tried my best to
ignore Jane and Nate, but my traitorous eyes seemed to be relentlessly drawn to
her. She looked happy sitting on Nate’s lap. And Nate was really into her. They
were caught up in each other. It was evident in their laughter, the little
touches between them and the way Nate’s hand rested possessively on her hip.

I told myself I
didn’t care as I sipped at my beer. I swirled the sediments around in my beer
and avoided drinking them. I studied the beer floaties in my cup like it was my
job and pretended I wasn’t thinking about Jane.

As soon as my game
was finished, I found Michelle. “I’m ready to leave. Let’s go.”

Michelle pouted.
“I’m still having fun. Can we stay a little bit longer?”

I didn’t feel like
arguing. “Fine. I’m going. Come back to my place when you’re finished.”

“Wait. I don’t
have my car. I thought you’d drive me…”

She was such a
pain in the ass. She never wanted to drive anywhere and I was the one always bailing
her out when she ended up stuck somewhere because of her piss poor planning.

“If you need a
ride, then you’re coming now.” I started to leave. I wasn’t in the mood to
debate it with her.

She jumped up.
“Let me just get my bag…”

We were pretty
silent in the car. I was dreading the drama that I was sure was about to
unfold. Who knew what she was thinking.

Finally, she spoke
up. “Wait, I thought we were going to your place?”

“Nope. I’m taking
you back home.”

She was quiet for a
short time. “Is something wrong, Dusty?”

I took a deep
breath. “Yes. Something’s been wrong for a while. I don’t think our
relationship is working anymore. I think it’s time we called it quits.”

I waited for the
blowup, but there was silence. No tears, no yelling, no hitting … nothing.

Finally she spoke.
She sounded calm. “So, you’re breaking up with me?”

I was about to say
something about taking a break, but I bit my tongue. I didn’t want to take a
break; I wanted to end it. Sugarcoating it wouldn’t help me in the long run.
“Yeah, I want to break up.”

She took a while
to answer. “Well, we have a lot of the same friends, Dusty. I’m hoping that you
and I can remain friendly with each other.”

That was it?
“Yeah, sure. There’s no hard feelings. Things just didn’t work out for us.”

I was relieved at
her reaction but also perversely upset that she didn’t feel at least a little
bit sad. She probably already had her eye on somebody else. Life was so
unpredictable sometimes.