The Crush (13 page)

“So buddy, Wynnie forgave you that easily?” Vance asked as he changed into a pair of shorts. I was surprised he wasn’t trying to sneak into Hallies room for the night instead of hanging out here with me and Dylan.

I nodded my head at him and tried to keep the smile from coming onto myself but I couldn’t help it.

 Today was one of the best days that I’d had in a long time. Wynn was so much different than Lexie, always looking for the next adventure with me. Lexie would rather spend her time spending her daddys money and going to the spa. I was glad things had ended, I just wished they would of sooner.

We all went to bed early to rest up to spend a full day with the girls before we had to head home and back to reality.

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The next day we met up at the waffle house while everyone made fun of the abundance of food that Vance and I both wolfed down. More than half the table was covered in our empty plates we needed to beef up for football season, camp would be starting at the beginning of August but we would be working out together all summer.

“So have you heard the good news?” Collins asked why I shoveled more food in.

“I know Vance has, Hallie of course doesn’t keep her secrets from
him.
” She narrowed her eyes at the two of them and they just laughed at the evil stare down they were getting. Collins leaned over and nudged Wynn in the side who had a small smile playing on her lips.

“Hallie and I decided where we were going to school,” she paused to look back at me and I already knew but I was just waiting to hear it come from her lips.

“We’re coming to Alabama.”

“That’s awesome girl!” I managed to sputter out around the mouthful of food I had. This trip just kept getting better and better. A big smile broke out over her face, lighting up her eyes at my reaction.

“Isn’t it perfect? You and Vance get to room together while me and Wynn get to live in the dorms together.” Hallie exclaimed, planting a big kiss on a grinning Vance. I’m sure he was in heaven.

It really did seem perfect. Coach had already called with our room assignments and with some finagling Vance and I ended up being roommates. And now Wynn would be there too. Now I just needed to talk her into a relationship with me. Some people would say I needed to wait after being in such a long relationship with Lexie but I didn’t give a shit what they thought. I never had feelings like this for Lexie.

Wynn

This weekend was amazing, I really didn’t want to go home on Sunday but we packed up the truck and all piled in. Luckily the guys had room in Griers truck, so Hallie decided to ride with them and we weren’t so cramped on the way back. I couldn’t help myself but think about Grier the whole way back.

After him and Vance practically ate the restaurant out of their whole stock for the week, we all split up. Tessa and Collins wanted to check out the Florida State campus that was in Panama just to get a feel of what the school year would be like and Hallie and Vance, well they went somewhere I’m sure I did not want to know what they were doing.

That left me and Grier together, I think everyone secretly just planned it out that way. So we decided to take a walk up the beach, something I had missed doing with him the most. The beaches here were definitely more crowded with tourists but we still had fun. I collected seashells and Grier found a lone bucket for me to collect them in. Then we dumped them all out and made a giant sandcastle.

We stopped off at a small seafood restaurant for lunch and shared a basket of shrimp and fries, well mostly Grier. That boy could polish off the food. I thought he looked fine to play football, he was bigger than any guy in our school at probably about six foot four and 220 pounds with well defined muscles but he explained to me that college was a whole different ballgame.

“So are you excited we’ll be at school together,” I had asked him and just by the way his eyes lit up, I knew he was but it was still nice to hear.

“Of course, it’ll be a ton of fun. Me and Vance will have our own personal cheerleaders at every game and when I’m not playing or practicing your gonna be with me being my official study buddy.”

I playfully shoved him in the chest and he grabbed a hold of my hand to pull me in front of him.

“Now why are you so convinced I’ll spend all of my free time with you? I’m sure there will be plenty to keep me busy once I get on campus. I probably won’t even have time for any friends.”

He looked me straight back into the eyes and I had never seen him look at me more intensely then in that moment right there.“What if I don’t want to be just friends? Would you be able to make time for a boyfriend?” He tensed up his jaw and I ran my fingers across the light stubble that was covering it to relax him before he continued on.

“I know I might be moving things fast since I just broke things off with Lexie but I’ve never felt about anyone like I feel about you. Will you at least consider it, I won’t blame you if you don’t want to try. I wouldn’t want to lose your friendship.”

I placed a single finger over his lips that were pursed into a straight line and he placed a light kiss on the tip.

“Grier trust me I’ve felt the same way since the first day I met you. And I’m not gonna lie and say it didn’t hurt when you didn’t believe me. Truthfully it broke my heart just a little bit but looking from your perspective I can see why you reacted that way. I’m willing to try this too if you want.  I think you should know I’m not looking to get married anytime soon though so you’ll have to put your dreams for a fairytale wedding on hold.”

The corners of his mouth turned up and he leaned down to kiss me. “Deal,” he spoke against my lips before applying pressure and I felt the familiar electricity that seemed to buzz between the two of us. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he placed his hands at the small of my back to bring me in closer.

I touched my lips still savoring the sweet taste of his lips on mine while I drove down the highway.

“Wipe that sappy look off your face Wynnie and concentrate on the road before you do more damage to granddaddy’s truck. I don’t think Grams will be so understanding this time especially if she finds out you were daydreamin’ about Grier Daniels.”

 I looked over at Collins who had a big grin plastered across her face and she leaned her head on my shoulder. Tessa was curled up against the window letting out light snores that filled the small cab of the truck.

“So you guys obviously worked things out, huh?”

I nodded my head at her, I couldn’t contain my own smile from breaking out. I knew I was already in love with Grier, I had been for some time and I was glad he wanted to be more than just friends too. Now we would just have to see how things played out. I was not looking forward to school tomorrow though, I knew Lexie would have a fit when she saw us together.

It was like Collins had read my mind by the way she patted my leg.

“Don’t worry Wynnie, you’ll have us at school tomorrow there’s no reason for you and Grier to be apart from each other any longer. Lexie will just have to deal with it, she ruined anything they had together when she dropped those slutty panties of hers. Besides, graduations coming up soon and you won’t have to worry about her at all then.”

“I know Coll but thanks for being there. Graduation can’t come soon enough, it just means I’ll be even closer to turning 18 and then I shouldn’t ever have to worry about Richard again.”

I hadn’t thought about him once since we were gone for the weekend, I had other things on my mind but as the miles went down and we got closer and closer to home I started to worry more. I was afraid what news mom would have for me when I got home. I know Richard had been in contact with our lawyer but mom didn’t want to ruin my trip with anything.

We made it home late and after quickly unpacking our things and after telling mom, Grams, and Aunt Gracie all about our trip(leaving the boys showing up part out) we went to bed. My stomach was in knots over the next day but at least I knew I had Grier there to hold my hand.

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That first day back at school wasn’t like anything I expected. Lexie was actually pretty quiet which completely shocked everyone but I think it had a lot to do with the fact that she didn’t have many friends left to back her up.

After all the years of putting up with her bossiness and cattiness it seemed like everyone was abandoning their queen. I felt bad for her sometimes, she seemed lonely and I couldn’t help but feeling guilty about it but Grier reminded me that she had done it to herself and it was no one’s fault but her own.

Grier and I spent almost every free minute we had together. I still worked just as often at the diner and he would come in either by himself or with Vance during almost every one of my shifts to see me. I told him he couldn’t keep doing it because he was so distracting constantly sneaking in kisses and light touches but he just gave me that half smile that I loved and I quickly forgot my argument.

Hallie was happy that we were finally together too because now her and Vance had an official double date couple that they could go out with. And she dragged us everywhere. I didn’t mind though I was with Grier and we had fun taking rides on Hallies boat or getting up early to go fishing with the boys and then spending the day at the beach.

Things were quiet with Richard, it seemed like he had backed off some and moms lawyer hadn’t heard a word from him in weeks. As long as I could avoid any type of legal action until the end of June when I turned 18 I would finally be able to put my past behind me.

Grier and I were busy studying for exams, they started that week and then we had a short break before graduation. Him and Vance were heading out to campus the day after graduation so they could get settled and get to know some of their new teammates before fall camp began.

“You want to take a break girl, I am starving.” He closed his book and leaned his head against the back of the couch, placing a hand on his stomach.

“You are always starving,” I said as I ran a finger over his flat stomach, I didn’t know where he put it all. Well actually I did as I continued up his stomach under his shirt over the ripples of muscles.

“As long as you’re cooking, I’ll eat anything.”

I followed him into the kitchen and hoisted myself up onto the counter to watch him work his magic. He pulled out a few vegetables, chopping them up and sautéing them in a pan before adding some shrimp and putting a pot of water on to boil some noodles.

He slid in between my legs and I wrapped them around his waist to pull him closer, running my hands through his messy black hair.

“We have a few minutes before dinner’ll be ready, you wanna head up to my room for a bit?”

 He leaned down to kiss me like he had to try and talk me into that idea, I didn’t need much persuasion. We hadn’t done much since getting together but I knew it would happen any day now and I knew it felt right with him. We just seemed to click like we were made for each other.

I spoke around his mouth while he feathered mine with warm gentle kisses. “That sounds like a good plan but isn’t your mom supposed to be home pretty soon?”

 I could tell that reminder really killed the mood. He backed up and tapped me on the nose before turning around to stir in the noodles.“You’re too smart. I knew I had you around for a reason. I know mama loves you like her own but I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want to walk in on
that.
”

We both turned when we heard the familiar jingle of keys and in walked Dr. Snyde or Anna as she liked me to call her when we weren’t in an appointment. That would definitely take some getting used to.

“Mmm something looks good, I could smell it as soon as I pulled up. What did you talk this boy into making Wynn?”

I shrugged my shoulders at her as she walked over to give each of us a hug. “I have no clue, I just know it’ll be good.” If that football career didn’t work out for Grier, he could always be my own personal chef.

“Well are you two all excited that schools almost over? I can’t believe graduation is almost here and before I know it I’ll be left in this big old house all by myself. Maybe I’ll sell it and follow you to Tuscaloosa.”

She reached over and ruffled Griers hair while I pulled out plates and set the dining room table for the three of us. She had been teasing Grier about that one lately but I knew she wouldn’t want to leave her practice. I knew she would still make it to every game though and I’m sure we would be back to visit often since campus was only about a three hour drive.

After dinner Grier walked me down the beach back to Grams, we had a week worth of exams starting up the next day and we both wanted to get a good night’s rest.

“So,” he said after setting me back down on the ground after one of his mind blowing kisses. I could barely walk after ‘em and I think he noticed by the way he always kept a tight grip on me.

“I have somethin’ special planned for us after graduation next week. Don’t make any plans with Collins and all them. I need some time alone with my girl before me and Vance take off for ‘Bama.”

My girl

I loved hearing those words coming out of his mouth. I loved him. I watched the way the moon reflected in his eyes and stood on my tip toes to reach up and meet his lips again. I never thought I would be able to love someone this much but Grier had shot straight through any expectations I ever had in life.

“Good, I can’t wait. I love all of your plans.” I ran my hands through his hair but he pulled back to stare down at me, interlacing our fingers.

“I love you Wynn Catherine Wakefield and that ain’t ever going to change.”

“And I love you too Grier Matthew Daniels.”

A big grin broke out over his face before he leaned down and whispered into my ear, his warm breath sending tingles right down to my toes. “Night.”

I think after that I somehow made it into the house but I was in a daze, I barely remembered. We both finally said it and it felt so right. Now we would just have to see how things went when we were thrown into the college life. Grier would be kept busy with football and I would be trying to figure out what I would be doing with the rest of my life.