Emily Calls It (The Emily Series) (4 page)

“Come on,” he said playfully taking my hand. We passed my car on the way to his.

“Hang on a second.” I paused
at my
passenger door and reached inside for my sweater. It was a warm night, but you never know.

“Nice car.” Scott commented with a smirk. Why did everyone have to make fun of my car? Yes it was old, big, and bright turquoise, but come on.

“What? I love my car.” I swung the door shut
, waiting for the creak and slam of older car doors
. Scott just smiled, running his hand along the roof. He was making fun of me, but I didn’t really mind.

He opened the passenger
door of his car and rested his folded arms on the top of it while he watched me sit. It seemed I always lucked out with the chivalrous dates. And who was I kidding, I loved it. I reached across and unlocked his door for him, nestling into my seat and fastening my seat belt. His car was smaller than mine, but that’s not news, as mine’s kind of a tank. Scotts’ car was a Saab of some sort, a car I’d never ridden in before. The ignition wasn’t up by the steering wheel like you might expect, but instead lower on the console. Pretty cool.

On the way to the lake we talked more, mainly about school. I listened to him, of course, but my mind started to wander. Would he try to kiss me? If he did, how would I react? Usually I knew the answer, but tonight even my own emotions, as they came, were unexpected.

The heat hadn’t dissipated at all, even by the lake, so no need for my sweater. I guess I’d become used to living by the ocean and the whole “breeze off the water” thing didn’t apply here. I slipped off my sandals as we walked across the grass. The cool grass felt almost cold underfoot. I watched each step for the bees even though I knew there wouldn’t be any lurking. Scott looked at me sideways with a grin.

“You know there aren’t any bees, right?” How did he know that’s what I was thinking? I let out a half-sigh, half-laugh and started walking normally. We reached a picnic table, and Scott sat on the top resting his hands beside him.

“What’s interesting,” I used the table seat as a boost to sit next to him, “Is how still and tranquil the lake looks. I don’t remember it like this, and I’ve been coming here for years.”

“You probably haven’t seen it at night recently.”

“I guess you’re right.” I leaned back resting my hands behind me. “It’s really pretty here. I almost forgot.”

“Yeah, I felt that way too
.
Now I really appreciate how peaceful it is here.” He leaned back.

“I haven’t heard many people say that, but you’re right. I can’t believe how much I took for granted around here.” It was nice we shared a respect for the area. I saw it with
new eyes: I couldn’t explain
, but he knew. It was quiet between us for a dozen or so seconds. My eyes were fixed on the water, until I realized we were both quiet. I looked at him, noticing he may have been looking my way for a while. I smiled, acknowledging his look, but my smile faded
as
I watched his stare travel from my eyes to my lips and back. He drew me into those deep green eyes of his and I felt hypnotized. I didn’t move. I don’t even know if I breathed. He moved closer. I felt the warmth of his breath on my neck, and the touch of his fingers on my hand, my wrist, my arm, until he rested his hand on my shoulder. When he moved away a little I put my hand on his arm. He paused with his face an inch from mine. He looked into my eyes waiting…just waiting. Then he swept his lips across mine. Moving his hand from my shoulder to my cheek he
started
to kiss me, gentle at first. Once I responded things changed and the kisses deepened. Then I panicked. I pulled away. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but I just couldn’t. Then I saw the look on his face.

“I’m sorry, I just...” I didn’t know what to say.

“No, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed anything. We were having such a great time.” He looked wounded.

I was at a loss for words, but I wanted to fix this. I searched for what would help. “I’m having a great time.” I paused and found a little smile
.
“And it’s not like you took advantage of me or anything.” I tried to joke, but he didn’t appear to appreciate it. I thought I
’d
explain. “I like you Scott, and I really enjoy your company. But…”

“I know, Shayla told me.” At least I was off the hook for
that
explanation. I still felt badly. He continued. “Look, I know you’re leaving in a couple of days, I just really felt like, I don’t know, there’s something between us. I’m not trying to pressure you or anything.”

“There
is
something
.” I relaxed. He was right, there was something. “But, our timing…” He nodded while I was in mid-sentence. I smiled. “It sucks.” With that, we both let out a nervous laugh and tried to recover the evening. I stretched my legs in front of me while he fidgeted, both of us trying to break the awkwardness. Then I had an idea that could turn this weirdness into fun. It was risky. Some guys would take it the wrong way. Somehow I knew I was safe with Scott. He “got” me. And that was rare.

“Come on.” I took his hand and led him down by the water. “Turn around.” He looked confused but turned around anyway. I slipped out of my dress, staying in my bra and panties and jumped into the black lake. It was bold, I know, but we needed to stop being so serious and have some fun. And that’s exactly what happened. The tone changed fast. He turned around at the sound of my splash, surprised and smiling. He started to unbutton his shirt then paused waving to me to turn around. I did, treading water to give him privacy. I heard him jump in, and he was next to me in a flash. We swam out to the dock just splashing and playing. It was light and exactly what I needed. It was the
n that I knew I was on the mend.

FOUR

Back to LA

The week at home was just what I needed. I felt the rotation of the earth increase as I headed south of the
Bay
Bridge
as I usually did. I was a girl on a mission: start my internship and focus on the events ahead. I was going to work hard, and make sure they didn’t regret giving me this amazing opportunity. I’d left early, really early, hoping to miss the traffic. My brother taught me this little trick, and although I hated doing anything at four in the morning except sleeping, I got up and headed out. As I left the
Bay Area
behind me, the fog lifted and the sun reflected off the bay in my rearview mirror. I thought of Scott and hoped maybe someday our timing would be better. Meanwhile, I was warding off all men and concentrating on me: always a good idea in the wake of a bad break-up.

Since I’d left so early, I had the rest of the day and evening to prepare for my first day at The Wilkins Partnership. Mr. Ryan always referred to it as TWP, so I imagined I would call it that as well. Then I realized I’d be working with Mr. Ryan for the remainder of the summer and possibly into my second year. I wondered what that would be like. He made a huge point of making the distinction between student and teacher in class, but he wasn’t my teacher anymore. Interesting. I had no idea what was ahead of me.

***

At the apartment, I opened my door to a huge mess. I
’d
left in such a hurry that there
were none
of the usual preparations. First, my apartment smelled like a dump, since I’d forgotten to empty the trash; yuk. There were clothes everywhere and my beach bag still sat inside the front door. Wow, I really did bolt right out of here that day. The fact that I noticed what a mess it was
,
and had the immediate urge to clean made me feel like maybe I was getting past my depression. I spent the next hour doing just that. I filled a basket with dirty clothes and headed to the laundry room. It was a beautiful day, not as hot as it had been in
Two
Rivers
but still warm. I plopped my basket on top of a washer and dug in the pockets of my jean shorts for quarters. I only had three loads to do, whites, darks and one load of sheets and towels. Then all would be back in order at the Parker place. I chuckled to myself at my ability to label my apartment like it was one of my home-town ranches.

“Something funny?” A voice I didn’t recognize asked from behind me. I whipped around and
saw
the new guy who had moved in a couple of months earlier. I had seen him struggling with boxes one weekend morning.

“Oh, no, I was just… oh nothing.” It’s always
a little
embarrassing when someone catches you talking or laughing to yourself.
I felt the heat creep into my face.

He
looked amused by
my
flushed cheeks
. “I’m Kyle.” He put his basket of laundry on the machine next to mine, extending his hand.

“Hi.” I shook his hand, returning his smile, forgetting that I was a dork for an instant. “Emily.”

“Well Emily, care to give a guy a quick lesson in the laundry dep
artment?
” He held up his bottle of detergent and shrugged. I knew this was probably a ploy, but why not help the guy.
I knew
my way around a washer and dryer. Which, I thought to myself, was kind of sad. I proceeded with the basic instructions anyway. While our clothes washed, we talked. He was starting at
California
West
University
in the fall, and moved here before classes started to get a job. He had taken the year between high school and college to travel around
Europe
. I was immediately intrigued and envious. What an adventure. I always heard about people “backpacking across
Europe
,” but never actually met a person who had done it. I sat with my legs crossed on the counter and my chin propped on my fist, listening and hanging on every word
.
The way he described the hills of
Tuscany
and the clear, blue waters of
Greece
enthralled me.

When he talked, he used his hands. His face lit up. He obviously had the time of his life. Sitting there with the hum of the wash
ing
machines and the smell of detergent, I watched and listened. His
almond-shaped eyes
narrowed when he smiled and his
shiny black
hair lay pushed up from his forehead and to the side like he had only run his fingers through it once when he woke up. His shorts were longer than ones he would probably have worn to the beach and look
ed seriously broken in. His tee
shirt had something in French I didn’t understand, but I tried to read it anyway. When the wash cycles ended we simultaneously moved our clothes to the dryer and started our next loads. The change in laundry prompted a change in conversation.

“
So
,
where are you from?” he asked. My story was much more boring than his, but he didn’t seem to think so. He listened and asked questions from time to time.

“Wow, you and your brother go to the same college? You two get along well?” I nodded. That got me thinking about Ethan and Allison. Then it dawned on me that I hadn’t called either of them to let them know I was back.

“Yeah, we’re cool. But he’s actually dating one of my friends right now, so it remains to be seen if we’re
still
cool.”

“Really? And you’re
OK with that?” I almost said,
Well I don
’t think I’m an expert anymore.
But I didn’t.

“Yeah, I’m fine with it.” He seemed to get my sense of humor. I smiled down at my hands in my lap and hopped down from the counter to pull the clothes from the dryer
for folding
.

I wrapped my arm around the basket of folded laundry. “It was nice meeting you Kyle, welcome to the complex.”

“Thanks. It’s nice to know someone around here.” He gestured to the complex with a circular motion.

“Yeah, it is,” I agreed.

Back at my apartment, I figured I better make some calls. I called Ethan first. He answered on the first ring.

“It’s Emily.” I would have gone on but he was instantly up-in-arms.

“The only reason Allison and I knew where you went is because Mom called. You should have told at least one of us. We were worried about you. Come on! What was
that
about?” Oh, he was pissed. But I thought I’d sidetrack him.

“You and Allison, huh?” I giggled into the phone. On purpose.

“Don’t try to change the subject. You disappeared and we were freaked, Emily!”

“I’m sorry. I needed a break. And trust me, as much as I pissed you off that I left, you wouldn’t have wanted me here in the state I was in.”

“Yeah, Allison told me about you and Graham. I really am sorry, Sis. Are you are feeling better?” His voice softened.

“Yeah, I’m going to be fine.” I needed to change the subject. I would be fine but talking about it again wasn’t the answer. “So, were you ever going to tell me about you and Allison?”

“Of course, but we talked about it and she wanted to tell you.” He sounded so sincere.