Choices (3 page)

Chapter 5

Jenna burst
s into the bathroom while I’m taking a shower. “Guess what? Guess who has a date tonight?” She’s acting like a kid in a candy store.

“Me! That’s who!” I yell. She i
sn’t the only one with news. I don’t really have to guess who her date is. Last night, I could tell that Eric was very interested in her. And truthfully, who wouldn’t be? Jenna has always had an active social life, so her unusual excitement tells me she is just as interested in him.

“What? Did Declan call you? This is going to be so much fun!”
She automatically assumes this will be a group date. I’m not sure that’s what the boys have in mind, but it sure would make me feel better to have her with me.

“Um, Jenna?
Are you sure we are going together?” I hope she doesn’t hear my desperation. I’m excited, but my insecurities are kicking in.
I barely know this guy
.
What if he doesn’t like me after all?

“Stop it, Quince. I can hear you trying to talk yourself out of this.
He likes you. I could tell.”
How does she do that
? It’s like she can read my mind or something. “I’ll let Eric know that Declan asked you to do something, so we’ll go together.” She knows just how to make me feel better.

I hear the door open and close. She’s gone. Off to do whatever it takes to make sur
e I’m taken care of. I love that girl.

I can’t decide what to wear. My mom tells me I dress like a boy. My friends say I have no fashion sense. I just say that I’m a minimalist. My theory has always been that if you have a few good outfits that you can mix and match, you don’t need much.
I also don’t buy anything I have to iron because, well, I don’t know how to iron. Call it mother’s guilt, but my Mom always did it for me. It’s her way of paying me back for not being able to give me the attention she thought I deserved.

I brought one dress with
me, and I quickly decide it’s not an option. I grab a pair of gray capris, a dressy black tank, and a pair of silver sandals. That should work for just about anywhere we go. Looking at my clothes all laid out, I smile to myself.
I have a date tonight.

My phone beeps with a text message.

Declan: E says we’re 2gether 2nite.
That OK?

Me: Sure! OK with u?

Declan: As long as u go :)

Awww! That boy is just sweet. He’s totally hot, too. And I have to admit, I like having his attention. I saw the way some of the girls looked at him when he walked through the house. But it’s me he is texting, and that’s enough for now.

Jenna and I eat lunch, watch some bad reality TV, and try to guess where we are going. It feels nice to be able to relax like this. Back home, I was always walking on eggshells, trying not to tip the scales. You never knew what might set Katie off.

We separate to go get ready. Again, I’m wearing just enough make-up to show off my features. Less is more – that’s my motto. I pull my hair over my shoulder and loosely braid it. All of my life, I have never cared how I looked. I’d like to say I did all of this for myself or even Declan, but I’d be lying. Part of me is hoping we run into Brody. Brody has “Trouble” written all over him, but maybe I’d like to get into a little trouble.

When I see Jenna, my jaw drops again. Without trying, she is the prettiest girl I know. Her blonde hair is cut into a chin length bob, longer on the sides than in the back. Her blue eyes are
narrow and slanted, giving her an exotic look. She’s wearing another cute dress, and her long legs make a fashion statement of their own.

“So, what do you th
ink we’re going to do?” She seems to be just as in the dark as I am.

“Jenna, for once, I don’t care where we go as long as we go together.” I might as well tell the truth. I want to break out of my shell, but
it might take longer than I thought it would. Baby steps.

“
OK. Time for a pep talk. We look good. We are in college now. We are going out with two of the hottest guys on campus. We got this!”

There was a kno
ck on the door just as we bump fists. We burst out laughing. Leave it to Jenna to make me laugh at myself. She runs to get the door, and I hear her greeting the guys.

This is it. Walk, breathe, smile…
I round the corner just in time to see Declan walk through the door. He looks even better than I remember. His face is clean-shaven, and even though he looks good, I think I miss the scruff along his jawline. He looks up and smiles as I get closer. He has a beautiful smile, accented by two adorable dimples. Very boy-next-door. My Mom would approve. Heck, even my Dad would approve.

Both are dressed casually in dark jeans and
untucked button down shirts, left open with t-shirts underneath. Declan’s t-shirt has their fraternity letters on it. Eric’s is a vintage Aerosmith shirt. Maybe if they had had guys like this back home, I would have been more interested in dating.

“You girls ready to go?” Eric asks. Standing next to Jenna, they look like a dream couple.
Declan hasn’t said a word since he walked in. He’s still watching me, and I’m beginning to feel self-conscious.

“We just want to know where you guys are taking us!” Jenna breaks the ice.
Yep, it’s a good thing she’s going.

“We have dinner reservations, and then we thought we’d hit a club in Old Town or go to a party at the house. You girls can decide.”

“Sounds good. Let’s get this show on the road.” Jenna is doing all of the talking. She turns to look at me, and she’s motioning for me to say something. Eric puts his hand under her elbow and guides her out the door. Declan hangs back to walk out with me.

He’s standing close as I lock the door. As I turn to follow Jenna, he puts his hand out to stop me
. His gentle touch warms me on the inside. “Quincy, I just have to tell you how pretty you look tonight. I promise I’m not always this quiet, but you’ve got me tongue-tied.”

“Thanks,”
I giggle. “I’m just glad you didn’t change your mind.” I’m only half joking when I say that.

“Not a chance. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” And all of my anxiety magically slips away.

Chapter 6

We all pile into Eric’s car, and Declan and I sit in the back. I am pleased to find that he is very easy to talk to, and we all fall into a relaxed conversation. The boys joke back and forth, telling hilarious stories about one another. They were in the same pledge class, and they really do seem more like brothers than friends.

As soon as we pull into the parking lot, I know I’ll
love this place. Naples is a small, locally owned Italian restaurant, and I love nothing more than a good Stromboli. The hostess smiles and hugs each of the guys. I figure that they must eat here a lot. It makes me a little envious, wondering if he brings other girls here.

Declan sits
next to me while Eric and Jenna sit across from us. The server comes, and we place our drink orders. I’m not sure she even sees Jenna or me because she doesn’t once look at either of us. I kind of smile to myself, knowing they have that effect on most girls.

After placing our order, we begi
n talking about ourselves. Eric is from Nashville, and he’s a pre-law student. He volunteers at a local homeless shelter three days a week. Declan is from Knoxville, and his family lives nearby. His father is a Baptist minister, and his mother is a school teacher. I am shocked when he announces that he is the chaplain of his fraternity.
No wonder he seems so sweet and thoughtful
. He wants to be a teacher, like his mom. Jenna tells them about her cheerleading days and her plans to become an interior designer. Then she brags that I want to become a doctor, and though it embarrasses me, I know they are impressed. We tell them stories about growing up in Collier, but I manage to steer the conversation away from my personal life.

We eat and talk thro
ughout dinner, and before we know it, we are headed to Club Bliss. “Hey, you know we are only 18, right?” I ask, not wanting to look stupid when we can’t get in.

“Yeah.
Club Bliss is an 18 and over club. Lots of college students. They’ll put a big X on our hands, but you can usually sneak a drink here and there.” Declan explains. I have never been in a club, so I’m excited to see what all the hype is about.

“Girl, we are
gonna dance all night!” As soon as Jenna says that, my mind jumps to a set of blue eyes watching me while I danced, his tongue on another girl’s body.
Whoa! Where did that come from?
I remind myself that I’m here with Declan. There will be time for daydreaming later.

As we wait in line, Declan
reaches for my hand. I think it’s kind of sweet, and my cheeks instantly heat up. He leans toward me and asks, “You don’t mind, do you?”

“Not at all.”
Then he smiles, and I forget what I was thinking. His smile is so vibrant, so real that it draws me in. He gives my hand a quick squeeze, and I know I’ll never forget this moment.

We finally reach the door, show our IDs, and get our big Xs. When we
go through the door, Declan grasps my hand a little tighter. Man, it’s packed in here… There are people standing at a bar, and a dance floor is straight ahead. When I look up, I realize there are other floors above us, all filled with more people. My senses are overloaded. The music is loud, and I can feel the beat through my body. People are jostling me around as they push past us, and I am assaulted by the smell of sweat and perfume. Jenna looks just as awed as I am. I decide right then and there… I love it. Every bit of it.

The boys guide
us through the crowd to a bar. “One of our brothers works here, so I can get us some drinks. Want anything?” Eric asks. Jenna wants a beer, so I ask for one, too. I don’t drink, but I don’t want to be the odd man out. That’s just another lesson I’ve learned from my sister. I’ve seen her drunk out of her mind more times than I can count, and I see how my parents worry about her. I make sure they never have to worry about me. I am, after all, perfect.

Declan explains that each floor of the club plays a different kind of music.
I’m not much of a line dancer, and Jenna doesn’t like techno. That quickly eliminates the first and third floors. The second floor plays more pop and rock, so that’s where we want to go first. I cannot wait to dance. When Eric returns with our beers, we head up the crowded stairs. I can’t help but look over the railing at the people dancing below us.

Declan lea
ds us to a table in the corner, but Jenna and I don’t even bother sitting down. The boys stay to watch our drinks while we head to the dance floor. It’s crowded and hot, but Jenna pulls me to a spot near the center. And we dance. We dance until we’re hot and sweaty. We dance until we can’t dance anymore, and it’s time for a bathroom break.

Yes, it’s true. In the South, girls go to the bathroom together. It serves two purposes. One – you don’t get separated from your friends. Two – it’s the best place to gossip. Jenna grabs me by the arm and squeals, “Can you believe how awesome this is?
And Eric? Girl, Eric is killing me. He looks good enough to eat!”

Her enthusiasm is contagious, and I start squealing, too
. “I know! This is crazy! It doesn’t get any better than this.” I don’t have anything to compare this to. But for once, I’m having a blast and not worrying about what anyone thinks.

I head back to the dance floor while Jenna tells the boys where we are.
I begin dancing by myself. When I feel a hand on my hip, I begin to move away. I look over my shoulder, shocked to see Brody. He smiles and leans down. “Don’t run, baby. I saw you dancing, and I couldn’t resist.” The heat of his breath glides along my neck. I’m hot and sweaty, but I shiver at his touch. I tingle in places I didn’t know existed. “Dance with me,” he whispers.

I can’t speak, so I don’t even try. I nod and begin dancing. The music
is fast, and the lights are dim. The crowded dance floor suddenly seems intimate. There is nothing sexier than a man who can dance. And he can. When the music slows, he puts a hand on my waist and pulls me to him.  His eyes hold me captive, and I can’t look away. His leg moves between mine, and that movement is torture. I don’t know what he’s doing, but I know I want more of it. Slowly, he rolls his hips into me. Over and over, until I think I might climb up his body. With his hand, he is rubbing slow, sensual circles on my lower back. Everywhere he touches me ignites. The corner of his mouth lifts in a knowing smile. He knows exactly what he is doing to me. Ever so slowly, he leans toward me. I close my eyes.
He’s going to kiss me!
But he only rests his forehead against mine. His nose brushes my nose, and I feel his breath as it mingles with mine. He smells delicious, like fresh air and masculinity all rolled into one. His face glides along my jaw, to my neck, to that sensitive spot right under my ear. I hold my breath and wait for his lips. He brushes them softly against my neck, and then… he’s gone.

When I come to my senses and open my eyes, he’s looking over my shoulder. I turn and see Declan standing close to the dance floor, watching us. “Are you with him?” Brody demands.

“No! Yes! I mean, we came together, but we aren’t dating.” I have no idea what I’m trying to say. My body is on fire, and all I want are his lips. Brody’s lips.

“When you have a clear
answer, you come find me, baby. But I won’t do it like this.” He turns and walks away.
What have I done?

I turn back to where Declan was
standing, but he is no longer there. The music picks up, so I begin making my way to the table. Jenna and Eric are sitting close, and I can tell they are totally into each other. She doesn’t even see me when I sit beside Declan. He smiles, but it’s strained and awkward. He reaches for my hand, but I move away. I need a minute.

I break the cardinal rule and go to the bathroom by myself. In the darkened hallway, I can see a guy, leaning into a leggy redhead. His face is in her hair as he whispers to her. Right above the collar of his shirt, I see a tattoo on the back of his neck. I’ve never been one for t
attoos, but dang, that might change my mind. He turns his head and freezes. I quickly glance away and keep walking. It’s Brody. I know I have no right, but I am mad. I am jealous. And I want those lips on me.

I lock myself in a stall and breathe deeply.
Calm down. This is crazy. He’s obviously a player.
I remind myself that a very sweet, very hot guy is out there, waiting just for me.

“Quince!
You in here?” Jenna yells into the bathroom. Thank goodness. Here’s my girl. I open the door and let her in. “Girl, what’s wrong with you?”

“I was, um, dancing with Brody, and I got a little
carried away.” Maybe she didn’t see us.

Wrong. “What were you thinking? You’re here with Declan, and when I look up, you and Brody are looking at each other like you haven’t eaten in days. If Declan hadn’t looked so upset, I would say it
was hot as hell, but damn, girl! You can’t do that while you’re on a date!”

“I know. I know. He’s just so
overwhelming. I lost my head. What can I do to fix this?” I don’t want to guess what Declan must be thinking.

“Just go out there and act like nothing happened.
If he asks, just tell him you were caught up in the music and dancing. We’ll think of something. Don’t worry; we’ll fix this.” I hope she’s right.

When we get back to the table, the guys look ready to go. Declan reaches for my hand, and I let him hold it.
His grip is gentle, reassuring, and I feel slightly better. We walk through the club and back down the stairs. Eric never lets go of Jenna, and they look they’ve known each other forever. I knew she’d have him eating out of her hand by the end of the night.

On the ride back to our dorm, Jenna and Eric talk quietly while Declan and I sit in silence. He’s still holding my hand. I turn to look at him, and he catches me. He smiles and says, “I really like you.
You’re just so sweet, Quincy, and I don’t want to see anyone take advantage of that.”

And there it
is, the elephant in the car. Jenna and Eric start talking louder, and I say, “We were just dancing. But I left with you.” He smiles, and it reaches his eyes this time. I hope that makes him happy.

When we get to the dorm, the boys
walk us to the door. Declan squeezes my hand and says he’ll give me a call tomorrow. Eric and Jenna are all wrapped up in each other, with her arms around his neck and his hands on her back. I turn away from them and wait. Talk about uncomfortable.

Declan
loudly clears his throat, and Eric laughs as he reluctantly backs away from Jenna. I hear him say, “Tonight was fun. I’ll call you tomorrow.” And we watch them walk away.

“We got some talking to do, girlfriend,” Jenna declares. I
should have known I wouldn’t get off that easy.