The Crush (9 page)

I had been out a few dates but I just didn’t feel any of those sparks like I felt with Grier. I’m sure it was just some high school crush and I would find somebody one day, maybe after I finished college which was something that I had thinking about lately. Tessa and Collins had already been accepted to Florida State through cheerleading scholarships but I wasn’t too sure where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do. Hallie and I had already talked about being roommates and applied to a few of the same schools.

I still continued to see Dr. Snyde but she never brought Grier up to me during our appointments and he stopped showing up to help out after school on Thursday afternoons when he knew I would be there, apparently he figured out that I wanted to keep my distance. And I think Lexie kept him plenty busy, judging by the way that they were attached at the hip. Vance and Grier had both signed letters of intent with the Crimson Tide and word around school was the Lexie was just waiting for that diamond ring to be put on her finger. I’m not sure why someone would want to get married straight out of high school, this wasn’t the 1950’s.

Spring semester had just started up which brought a new schedule of classes and I didn’t have to deal with having to see Grier in home ec everyday. Life was going pretty good and even though my school year started off rough back home, things were looking up and I loved living at Grams, it was nice having all of us girls living under one roof. Me and Collins helped out at the diner after school almost daily and mom had started helping with a lot of the cooking and baking while Aunt Gracie ran the more business side of the diner.

“You excited for the party tonight?” Hallie asked in between classes. Her parents and Toby were out of town so of course she planned on having the biggest party of the year at her house. I figured it would be fun even though I know it would be crowded but I was managing those a little bit better. I hadn’t had a panic attack in quite awhile.

“Yeah, did you need me to bring anything? I know Collins has to help out at the diner for a bit after school and then she’ll head over.”

“Nope, just bring yourself. Do you mind coming over right after school to help set things up? I need to put all of moms valuables away so nothing gets broken and she finds out exactly what goes on whenever she leaves me alone for the weekend. Vance is bringing pretty much all of the liquor and beer over. We could get ready together if that sounds alright?”

“Sure that sounds like a plan. I’ll meet up with you out front after my last class so we can walk there together.”

She gave me a wave and headed off in the direction of her next class, meeting Vance halfway down the hall, who swung an arm around her shoulder. I grabbed a few things out of my locker and heard the bell ring. Jeez I didn’t know I was running so late. I slammed my door shut and rushed down the hallway, instantly feeling like I had ran headfirst into a brick wall.

Warm hands wrapped around my waist and I locked eyes with Griers bright blue ones that were twinkling in amusement.

“Slow down girl, your just runnin’ a little behind. Here,” he reached down and picked up a book that I had dropped when we collided.

“Oh um thanks.” Our fingertips brushed and I felt that familiar jolt between the two us that seemed to happen whenever our skin touched. He just continued to stare back at me with his hands stuffed in his pockets and a smile just barely touching the corners of his mouth like he was waiting for me to say something.

I shifted the bag on my shoulder, not sure what to say since we really hadn’t had many conversations recently.“So are you coming to Hallies party tonight?”

“Yeah I’m helping Vance bring some stuff over later.”

“Oh are you going to pick up Lexie after that then?”

He gave me a quick shake of his head and ran a hand through his messy hair. “No she has somethin’ going on with her daddy. She tried to convince me to come with her but I’d much rather go to the party. I’ll see you there then, right?”

“Yup I’ll see you then.”

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“You just sit tight Vance Nelson and no tryin’ to sneak into my room either.”

 Hallie looked at him seriously before turning back to follow me up the stairs to her room. He flopped back down on the couch with a defeated look and grabbed up the other controller for Tobys Xbox that him and Grier were playing a game of football on. I think that’s all those boys thought about.

“I swear that boy can’t keep his hands off me or his pants on like ever.”

I pushed open the door of her bedroom and she followed me in, heading straight to her huge walk in closet that was almost the size of the room I shared with Collins. I could tell by the glint in her eye that she didn’t really mind that oh so interesting fact about Vance one bit but he could stay downstairs and control himself while I was up here.

Hallie walked out with both arms loaded down and tossed the stack onto her bed sorting them into two piles. “This one’s for you, pick out whatever you want I’m sure it’ll all fit.”

Hallie and I had swapped a lot of clothes since I started getting more comfortable in my own skin again. We both were tall and curvy, almost exactly the same size except for our chests. I’m sure with anything I wore I would have a bit of spillage.

I settled on a yellow sundress that was fitted on top with straps that crisscrossed across my back and the bottom ended at midthigh with the skirt flaring out. I checked the tag before slipping it over my head and rolled my eyes. I had no idea who the designer was but I’m sure it was expensive since it was Hallies, she probably had never even worn it before.

I heard a knock on the door just as I finished getting the dress on and the door swung open without an answer from me. Hallie was in the bathroom fixing her hair and I was about to give Vance an earful for coming in without permission. I looked up and noticed that it was Collins and Tessa though and I let out a breath.

“Wynnie, you look amazing!” Collins squealed out as she shut the door behind them. They both had on fitted dresses that were strapless and shorter than anything I had ever worn before but they looked amazing.

“Do you want me to fix your hair?” Tessa asked. “I think it will look perfect down with a little bit of a beach wave running through it.”

I nodded my head and we all finished getting ready, Tessa working on my hair and Collins working on my makeup. Hallie brought over a pair of black heels that looked like gladiator sandals on steroids. She must have seen the way I was looking at those things, I wouldn’t be able to walk!

“Don’t worry Wynnie, these might look scary but there really easy to walk in, trust me. And Jake will be here tonight, he won’t know what to do with himself when he sees your mile long legs in these plus that dress. That boy will go nuts!”

I rolled my eyes at her and slipped them on, doing up the buckle and standing up on wobbly legs. Jake was the latest guy Hallie had set me up with and we had went out with her and Vance. He was a sweet guy with chocolate brown hair and eyes to match with an easy smile. He was on the football team with Vance and he had hand selected Jake for me, saying he was a good guy and would behave himself. He had asked me out on a second date and I hadn’t given him an answer yet but I was considering it.

“Fine, but if I fall on my ass I better not see one of you laugh.”

They all giggled at me and pushed me towards the door so we could make our way down to the party that by the sound of it had already started up without its host. We all headed towards the kitchen where Vance was handing out shots to the people who had shown up.

Grier handed me one and I tossed my head back, downing it quickly as he stared back at me. He leaned over and whispered in my ear, his warm breath causing a million butterflies to attack my stomach.

“You look beautiful tonight, girl.” I didn’t know what to say back, I had barely spoken to him in the past couple of months and I didn’t think he looked at anyone except for Lexie in that way.

“Um thanks you do too.” He looked back at me with an amused look in his eyes even though he kept a straight face.

Well it was the truth he did look beautiful. His black hair was as messy as ever, his eyes sparkling, and a light stubble was across his jaw. The boys kept a little more casual at these things, it just gave us a girls an excuse to dress up, but he still looked good in a pair of loose khaki shorts and a hawaiian blue polo that matched his eyes perfectly and was stretched tight across his broad chest.

He took a sip of his beer that he was holding without breaking his eyes from mine. I really needed to get away from him before I did or said something stupid. I grabbed another shot from Vance, tossed it back, and handed him the empty glass before I left the kitchen to find one of the girls.

Grier

I stood in the kitchen for awhile watching the doorway leading back to the large living room where most of the partying was happening. The same one Wynn had hurried off to after I told her how beautiful she looked tonight. I couldn’t help myself the way she looked her hair looked all sexy like she had just come in from a swim and that dress she had on looked like sunshine.

The music switched over from the stuff Vance had been playing, mostly old rock songs and switched to some of that pop stuff the girls liked. Vance let out a groan before handing me a refill but it was quickly replaced by a grin.

“I hate this shit but I don’t mind it one bit when Hallies around. She loves to dance and grind all up on me with this stuff.” He patted me on the back and headed out to track Hallie down so he could do just that.

I pulled out my phone before I followed him and scrolled through a few messages I had gotten from Lexie, all complaining about missing out on the party and how boring it was with her dad. I’m sure no one but me really minded her not being here.

I made my way out to the living room where it seemed like every person from our senior class was squeezed into. I scanned the crowd with my eyes to find my sunshine and finally landed on her with Jake Porters arms wrapped loosely around her waist. She looked a little stiff by the way he was touching her but she had a genuine smile on those full lips of hers and was laughing at whatever he was saying.  Jake was an alright guy but he did not need to be touching my girl that way.

I tapped Jake on the shoulder and hissed out between clenched teeth. “Excuse me, mind if I cut in?” If he answered with anything but yes I couldn’t be responsible for my actions. I felt like breaking his hand off just for touching her.

He looked back at me with wide eyes before looking at Wynn again who just gave him a shrug of her shoulders.“Sure buddy. I’ll catch you later Wynn.”

I took his place in front of Wynn placing my hands on her hips and she tentatively wrapped her hands around my neck when it turned to a slower song but kept a wide distance between our bodies.

“What was that all about Grier?”

“Nothin’ just wanted a dance. Is that alright with you?”

“Its fine by me but do you think it would be ok with your girlfriend?”

“You don’t worry about Lexie, let’s just dance.” I pulled her body so it was tight against mine and she buried her head in the crook of neck while my nose was tickled by her soft hair that smelled like the ocean. It felt like she belonged right there.

The song ended all too soon and she pulled away abruptly, looking everywhere but into my eyes and mumbled some excuse about finding Collins before she took off again. I figured it was for the best though, Lexie had been getting on my nerves lately with just about everything she did but I couldn’t be that close to Wynn again while I was still with Lexie.

I walked out onto the back deck that overlooked a pool that from this view looked like it was spilling right into the ocean. Vance was surrounded by a big group explaining the rules of Thumper which he’s convinced he created.

Basically each person comes up with their own signature hand gesture that they are going to use, most of the guys being something totally inappropriate and the girls doing cute things like making bunny ears, and then you go around and everyone has to repeat each one. When someone messes up or just goes to slow the “violator” must drink. The game just gets better and better the more people get wasted.

I joined in for about an hour before bowing out still pretty sober after my amazing memorization skills. I guess all those years of memorizing plays could be put to good use other than football. Vance was not so lucky and was currently trying to remember what gesture his girlfriend had already repeated over and over about fifty times, probably his favorite one, the middle finger but it just seemed to slip his wasted mind.

I walked into the kitchen that had pretty much cleared out; almost everyone was outside either on the deck, in the pool, or out on the beach except for Wynn and Collins who were wrapped in a hug laughing hysterically at each other about something. Collins noticed me over Wynns shoulder and I could tell she was wasted by the glossy look of her green eyes and when Wynn whipped her head around I could see that they were matching her cousins perfectly.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” Collins muttered quickly and stumbled out of the room. Apparently Collins was basically holding Wynn up and she began to wobble, almost crashing her head into the corner of the counter before I caught her.

“Whoa there girl. How much have you had to drink tonight?”

She just looked up at me with a goofy grin through half lidded eyes until I stood her up straight and held her up against the fridge to steady her.

“I really want to kiss you right now,” she stated before crashing her lips into mine, pulling at the back of my neck to bring me closer and I melted into her body.

 She was aggressive just like the first time we kissed, taking control of the rhythm, nipping and sucking. I pulled back just a little with my hand tangled in her hair pushing it aside to give me access to her neck as I placed wet open mouthed kisses from the base all the way to behind her ear which made her giggle and then I leaned down to graze my teeth over her bare shoulder. Her hands were on my back underneath my shirt and I could feel her nails lightly running up and down, making me shiver. Her lips came back up to meet mine but before they were only an inch away, her hand came up between our mouths and a panicked look covered her face.