Wilde Times (9 page)

“I’m an adult, Dad,” I remind him.

“My house, my rules,” he reminds me.

Could I be more humiliated?

“I’m so sorry about that,” I say as Max opens his car door for me.

“Sorry about what?” He winks.

Once we’re in the Mini I say, “My mom and dad can be a little overbearing sometimes. I am their only child.”

“I can see they care about you a lot. Nothing wrong with that.”

“They’re just glad I’m going out with someone other than Jake,” I say then immediately regret it.

“Let me guess. Jake is the guy from Haymakers.”

“He owns the bar. With his brothers. So he really is my boss. But he was also my…I don’t know. He really wasn’t my boyfriend. It’s complicated. But it really doesn’t matter anymore because we broke up.”

“So you don’t have feelings for him anymore?” Max asks.

Right to the point. I don’t want to lie, but I don’t want to ruin things with him either.

“We’re never going to be together. Jake doesn’t want any-thing serious. At least not with me anyway. So I’m moving on.”

“Fair enough.”

When Max grabs my hand I can feel my stomach clench, and not in a good way. It feels wrong having someone other than Jake touch me.

But I don’t want to ruin the only date I’ve had since high school so I don’t say anything.

It doesn’t take long to get to the Old Town Theater. It’s on the opposite end of town from Haymakers, but still less than ten minutes from my house.

“It’s not too crowded,” Max comments when we pull into the parking lot.

“They only show one movie and it’s not even a new one. Most people have probably already gone into the city to see it when it first came out. The theater stays open because some of the older folks in town don’t like to drive into the city, so they see the movies here, and the high school kids come here on Friday and Saturday nights to make out.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Is that a proposition?”

“But it’s not Friday or Saturday night,” I tease.

Max purchases the tickets and then offers to get me any snacks my heart desires.

“I’ve always loved the chocolate covered raisins,” I admit.

He touches his chest. “A woman after my own heart. I love them too.”

He buys two large boxes of the chocolate raisins, enough candy to feed a small army, and two large sodas, also enough for an army.

“I guess I didn’t realize large would be quite so big.” He laughs.

“It’s an Old Town thing. They like to give people their money’s worth. Everything here that’s large is very large.”

“Good to know. I’ll store that away for future reference.”

I’m always working so I don’t get to the theater very often. It’s not like I have anyone to go with anyway. I have to laugh when I see that the movie stars Katie Lawrence.

“I don’t think this is supposed to be a comedy,” Max whispers.

“I know Katie Lawrence,” I whisper back.

He gives me a narrow-eyed glance like he doesn’t believe me. I probably wouldn’t believe me either.

“She’s dating Jake’s brother,” I elaborate.

“Seriously?” 

“Seriously.”

When the only other person in the theater, Old Man Russell, who is like 100-years-old, turns around and gives us the stink-eye, Max and I both look at each other like little kids who have just been scolded by the teacher. Then we laugh and settle into our seats.

I don’t pay much attention to the movie. I’m too busy thinking about what’s going to happen after the movie when I have a feeling Max is going to try to kiss me. No one but Jake has kissed me since I graduated high school. 

Max already has my hand in his. He’s been playing with my fingers and lightly massaging my hand with his fingertips. Not that it doesn’t feel good, maybe a little too good, but that’s also the problem. I’m not sure I want it to feel good.

Once the lights come on Old Man Russell makes a point of glaring at us before he waddles out of the theater.

“So what did you think?” Max asks as he grabs my hand and laces our fingers together.

“Of the movie or the company?” I tease.

“Both.”

“The movie was a little too dramatic for my taste. I prefer action or comedy. I liked the company much better.”

“Good to know,” he replies.

“And what did you think?” I throw the question back at him.

“I liked the movie. But I have a thing for drama. One of my majors in college was literature. And the movie was actually based on a short story by W.W. Jacobs.”

“Interesting. And what about the company?”

He gives me a big grin. “I liked that even better.”

As we step outside the night couldn’t be more perfect. The sky is a blanket of sparkling stars and the moon is radiant and full.

“Is there someplace we could get coffee?” Max asks as he glances down the small main street where everything has been closed for hours.

“Not in Old Town.”

I can see the disappointment cross his face.

“I’d invite you back to my place for a drink, if I actually had a place, but I’m still crashing with my sister for the moment. She’s a very light sleeper.”

“I don’t think my parents would appreciate you coming over this late either.”

“I had a really great time.” When Max looks into my eyes I can feel it coming. The kiss. The air between us has a little bit of extra electricity as he leans over and touches his lips to mine.

Just as he’s about to deepen the kiss a car horn blast fills the air. We both jump back as the horn continues to blare.

“What’s going on?” Max looks around confused.

I’m not as confused. I immediately spot Jake’s truck parked across the street. He’s obviously been watching us since we got out of the movie theater and he laid on his horn as soon as Max tried to kiss me.

“I can’t believe this,” I practically yell as I stomp across the street to Jake’s pickup.

I pound on the driver’s side window until he opens in for me.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I scream.

“I’m watching you,” he yells back.

“You have no right to do that!”

“Last time I checked this was a free country.” He glares at me. “And you don’t own Main Street.”

“You can’t just follow me on my date.” I’m so angry I’m practically spitting. “It’s an invasion of privacy.”

I can feel Max come up behind me and place his hand on the small of my back. “Is everything okay?” He asks the question loud enough for Jake to hear it.

“I just want to make sure you’re okay,” Jake makes a point of looking at Max. “You don’t really know this guy.”

“Harley’s dad didn’t have an issue with me taking his daughter on a date,” Max says.

Jake’s eyes narrow to angry slits. “He met your dad?”

I nod. “And my dad likes him. Which is more than I can say for you.”

“Her mom made me cookies,” Max rubs it in.

I bite back a grin. I know if I laugh it will really piss Jake off.

“How do you know he’s not some psycho-killer? Everyone loved Ted Bundy too before he killed them.”

“Do I look like a psycho-killer?” Max actually sounds a little hurt by the accusation.

“You’re being completely ridiculous, Jake. He’s not a psycho-killer. You have nothing to worry about. His sister works at Tawnee Mountain. His uncle owns the resort.”

Jake stammers, “He what?” at the exact same moment Max says, “How did you know?”

I give Max a quick smile then turn my attention back to Jake. “You need to go back to Haymakers. It’s not even close to closing time. How could you leave Tucker and Gracie alone?”

Jake frowns. “It’s a slow night.”

“I don’t care if it’s slow. Gracie is pregnant, remember?”

“I had to make sure you were okay.” Jake looks crestfallen. Like a puppy that’s just been beaten by its owner.

“I’m fine. Now leave.”

He points a finger in Max’s direction. “If I find out you’ve done anything to hurt her I’ll beat that big smile right off your face.”

“I’m not smiling,” Max says.

“When you do smile it’s really big,” Jake clarifies.

“I’m not sure if that’s an insult or a compliment,” Max says.

Jake shakes his head. “Just don’t hurt her.”

“I would never do anything to hurt anyone and I certainly would never hurt Harley.”

Jake starts his engine and pulls away without another word. But he does take one quick look back at me before he disappears into the night.

The drive to my house it unbearably quiet. I’m completely mortified and not sure what to say. Maybe Max doesn’t know what to say either. He’s probably never been stalked by his date’s ex before.

Not that Jake is even my ex. Don’t you have to be someone’s boyfriend before you can be her ex?

Max parks in my parent’s driveway and turns off his engine. I take that as a good sign. If he left the engine running that would mean he probably didn’t want to see me again.

When he turns to face me he isn’t smiling. I take that as a not-so-good sign. But then he takes my hand in his and I feel a little hopeful again.

“So how did you know about my uncle?”

I laugh. “This is Old Town. Everyone knows everything about everybody. If you’re going to live here you’d better get used to it. Why didn’t you tell me?”

He shrugs. “I don’t want everyone to know I’m a trust fund baby. I don’t actually have access to my family’s vast fortune now anyway. My mom and my uncle want me and my sister to work for a living and not have everything handed to us on a silver platter.”

“Stuff like that doesn’t matter to me anyway,” I tell him.

“Why’d you agree to go out with me?” he asks.

“Because you asked,” I admit.

“That’s all it takes? Here I thought it was my good looks and charm.”

“Those certainly help.” I heave a sigh. “Most guys in town don’t want to mess with the Wilde brothers. For obvious reasons. And they know Jake and I were together for a while.”

He raises an eyebrow, “A while?”

“A long while.”

“And you’re sure you’re not still together.”

“I’m sure.”

“Is Jake sure?”

I shake my head. “I’m not so sure.”

“I’d really like to see you again,” Max says.

“But?”

He laughs. “You’re perceptive.”

“One of my many talents. Would you like to see me juggle?”

“I think I already saw that at Haymakers when you carried over my meal, several condiments and my beer all at the same time.”

“It’s a feat I perform every night.”

“I really think you need to get things sorted out with Jake first. The guy seems to be going a little nuts.”

“After everything he’s put me through he deserves it.”

Max’s expression turns serious again. “Are you sure you’re over Jake?”

I nod even though I’m not sure at all.

But I want to be over him. I need to be over him. I need to get on with my life. So I lean over to kiss Max.

I’m surprised when he doesn’t hesitate to kiss me back. I want the kiss to be magical and fireworks-inducing, but the only thing that I see is the look on Jake’s face as he drove away tonight.

Like someone had just stolen his best friend.

***

It’s almost impossible for me to get to sleep. I toss and turn, but I can’t get the image of Jake out of my mind. I’m still angry, but I’m also hurt. And I also feel bad that Jake seems to be hurting too.

What are we doing to each other?

For the first time ever I actually dread going into work tomorrow. Ever since I started working at Haymakers I couldn’t wait to get into work. I normally can’t wait to see Jake and the rest of the Wilde boys and their girls.

Now it’s making my stomach knot thinking about seeing him. Maybe my parents are right. Maybe it’s best if they sell their house and I leave Old Town for good.

But I never imagined myself anywhere but in Old Town. And I never imagined myself with anyone but Jake Wilde.

Truth be told, even with everything that’s happened, I still can’t imagine myself ever being with anyone else.

Does that make me pathetic, or a real fool for love? Probably both.

I get out of bed and make my way over to my large bedroom window. It faces the Wilde’s house and I can see Jake’s bedroom window from mine. For years I used to stare out my window and watch Jake’s bedroom. It’s too far away to make out any details, but I could see whether his bedroom light was off or on. I’d always try to imagine what he was doing. I used to imagine him lying in his bed thinking about me. I know now that was probably wishful thinking. Even when he was with other girls I hoped he was still thinking about me.

Like I said, pathetic.