"Holly, if you didn't mean to hurt me, you wouldn't have done this. You would have kept the promise you made to your friends. I thought you were better than this. I thought you were smarter than this. I want you both out of my shop. Now."
Andrew and I looked toward one another and then back at Luke. Icy rage and pain swirled around him, filling the room like a snowstorm. Andrew took off his work apron and set it carefully on the counter, putting his hand on my shoulder. He pulled me toward the front door, and I glanced back over my shoulder. Luke stood in the center of the store, his hand still gripping his apron and a look of utter betrayal and loss on his face.
I had betrayed the one person who had always looked out for me. Andrew opened the door, and I felt a cold tear run down my face. The wind battered both of us as we walked to Andrew's car in silence, my heart growing heavier with every step. I slid into the passenger's seat, the plastic "leather" cold and hard. The wind howled outside the windows as we sat in shock.
"I can't believe how bad I feel right now," I whispered as I wiped another tear off my cheek.
"I feel the same way," Andrew agreed quietly.
"What did Luke mean when he said he came close to breaking the promise?" I asked as Andrew started up the car.
"Britney. He has a thing for Britney. When you went away and Eli got his job in the city, it was just the three of us. I was still really busy dealing with all of Dad's stuff, so I wasn't around much. He and Britney got really close. I didn't know just how close until today, though. I feel terrible," he said softly as he turned onto the main road.
The sun was setting, but instead of turning the world into shades of gold, it hid behind the clouds and simply dimmed the world to gray. A cold snow spat at the car. It wasn't enough moisture to make anything wet, just enough to leave spots on the windshield and suck the heat from the world. Flakes hit the windows like little angry bullets, evaporating as soon as they touched the ground.
"Can I come hang out at your place?" I asked staring out into the deepening gloom. "I don't feel like going home." Andrew nodded. The only sound was the whine of the car heater and the engine. Neither one of us felt much like talking. Andrew punched the radio, looking for something to fill the quiet.
"In other news, this has been the driest winter on record. The National Weather Service reports that the drought is likely to continue. Officials are already concerned for the high fire danger present in most counties throughout the state," the radio reporter droned. Andrew switched the station to oldies. A snowflake hit my window, melting quickly and distorting the world outside. All I could see in the darkening night was the memory of Luke's face and the pain we had just caused him.
Chapter 9
Smoke darkened the skies like false clouds. Thunder rumbled in the distance, but the clouds hoarded any moisture deep within their volume. Ash and soot filled the air, sucking what little moisture was left from the parched land, giving further fuel to the flames.
***
I woke up startled and the room unfamiliar. I panicked for a moment before realizing I had fallen asleep on Andrew's couch. A thin gray light was leaking into the room announcing dawn. Andrew was snoring gently, asleep on the recliner next to me. the TV flickered with an infomercial.
"Morning, Holly. You want some coffee?" Audrey whispered, peeking her head out from inside the kitchen. I nodded and sat up slowly. My neck hurt from sleeping in a weird position on the couch. I rubbed it as I walked to the kitchen, following the smell of toast and coffee.
"Creamer is in the fridge. Want some eggs?" Audrey asked as she handed me a hot mug. I took a big sip, the bitter liquid filling my mouth. I nodded again, and Audrey cracked two more eggs into a pan. I leaned back against the sink, watching her bustle around the kitchen. It reminded me of when I was little and I would spend the night. Audrey would make a special breakfast the next day, and my dad would come over. We would all eat breakfast together. I had pretended that we were a family then, that Audrey was my mom and Andrew my brother and we were all going to live happily ever after. I missed that childhood optimism.
"I heard you had a falling out with Luke." She peered at me over her coffee cup. I sighed and nodded. News traveled fast in a small town. Britney and Eli had already sent Andrew and me text messages letting us know exactly what they thought. I hadn't mean to hurt any of them. I wished I could have at least told them myself. I had a feeling that they weren't angry that Andrew and I were together, but that we had lied to them. Not only had we broken a promise, we had then tried to keep it from our friends. Audrey's lips pinched to the side as she thought for a moment before speaking. "But I also heard that you and Andrew are now an item."
I stared into my cup, trying to find answers in the dark liquid. She blew gently on her coffee and took a sip before continuing.
"I always thought you and Andrew would end up together. I'm honestly surprised it took this long. Don't you worry, though, Luke will come around. Britney and Eli too. You've all been thick as thieves for as long as I can remember. Everything will work out; I have no doubt."
"Luke's never been this angry with me before. I didn't mean to hurt him... I really didn't." I looked up at her and Audrey's eyes were full of understanding. "If you see him, will you tell him I'm sorry?"
"I'll tell him. But if he is anything like his father, it won't matter. He will have to forgive you in his own time," she said, focusing her attention on the eggs and scooping them onto plates. I felt my shoulders droop as I realized she was right. This wasn't something that was going to be easily fixed. Luke felt like we betrayed him by breaking a promise. It didn't matter what kind of promise, just that we had broken it. My world felt suddenly very fragile.
"You ever do something you wish you hadn't?" I asked playing with the handle on my mug while Audrey quickly ate her breakfast.
"We have all done something we regret. It doesn't make us bad people. We're just human. We make mistakes. Living with those mistakes makes us who we are. Luke will forgive you in time, Holly. Promise," she said with a smile. She watched me for a moment, then added, "You didn't mean just this thing with Luke, did you?"
I shook my head from side to side. I didn't intend on her seeing through me that easily. Andrew's mother was the last person who should know my secrets.
"Do you want to tell me?" She asked quietly, setting her plate down. I shook my head. "I won't pry, then. I know about the promise you all made not to date one another. You made it in high school, and you all have changed so much since then. Perhaps it is time for the promise to grow up too. I know you are certainly different than when you left. If you ever do want to talk, though, you know where I am," she told me with a smile.
She glanced down at her watch and made a face. "I've got to get to work. Will you let Andrew know I'll be home late? I'll see you later." She put her cup in the sink. She grabbed her purse and tiptoed out the front door, waving to me from the driveway.
I stood in the weak morning sunshine seeping in through the window, sipping my coffee for a long time after she left. If I stood very still, I could pretend that I was just a ray of light, just a beam of energy that didn't have fights, worries, or mistakes. I could pretend life was simple.
"When did you wake up?" Andrew whispered into my ear, wrapping his arms around my waist. I hadn't heard him get up, but he felt wonderful wrapped around me.
"A while ago. I didn't realize how uncomfortable that couch can be. I remember it being a better sleeping spot," I answered as I leaned into him. He felt solid behind me, comforting and secure.
"I think that's because you were a lot shorter then," he said softly into my hair. He kissed my head and held me against him, letting the sunlight stream over both of us. "What are you doing for dinner tomorrow?"
"Nothing special. I get off work at three. Why?" He felt so warm and strong.
"I'd like to make you dinner."
"Seriously? I didn't know you could cook." I smiled, liking the idea of him in the kitchen. He would look cute in an apron.
"I know my way around the kitchen. I've been practicing." He nuzzled his chin into my hair. "So you'll come?"
"Of course. Wild horses wouldn't keep me away."
"Excellent," he said. I could feel him smiling behind me. I wondered what he was up to.
I rubbed my shoulder, the stress of being the town pariah catching up with me. He moved his fingers to rub me there, and I leaned into his touch. "Oh, that feels so good," I said, my eyes closing.
He rubbed for a few moments, before pulling the hair from my ear. "I know the best remedy for tense muscles," he said.
"Oh yeah? What?" I said, ready to believe whatever he told me.
"Hot water," he said. He sniffed the air a little bit. "Plus, you need a shower before work, Stinky!"
I turned to face him and looked into his eyes. I leaned in and kissed him gently, then pulled away and smiled. I nodded. He grinned from ear to ear and took my hand, leading me down the hall.
His bedroom hadn't changed much since grade school when I spent the night a few times. Plain walls, an X-Men poster over his bed, and the connecting bathroom. It was a little disorganized, but I didn't judge him for it. It was still much better than some other guys' bedrooms I'd been in. He sat me down on his bed, then went into the bathroom. I heard the water start.
Just as I was thinking about whether I should be concerned, Andrew came out of the bathroom. He was wearing nothing but boxer shorts, and I quickly checked out his body. Lifting boxes and doing inventory had given him strong arms and broad shoulders, but I could tell he worked out at the gym as well. His pectoral muscles were well defined, and I found my eyes drawn to them. I hadn't really seen him without a shirt on since we went swimming our senior year of high school, and the years had been kind to his body.
"Well, what are you waiting for? I only have so much hot water!" he said.
I smiled and stood up, taking off my shirt and socks. I then worked my jeans off, moving my h*ps as I pulled them down. His eyes were on me the whole time, enjoying what he was seeing. I blushed and hesitated for a moment before pulling my bra off. My br**sts were a little on the small size, but they were perky and I had always liked the way they looked.
As the bra dropped to the floor, I swear I could see Andrew's eyes dilate. I smiled. No man had ever complained about their size, anyway. I walked into the bathroom, wearing nothing but my panties. I leaned into the shower to check the water's temperature, then slid my panties off. I knew his eyes were on my nak*d body, but without turning around, I stepped into the water and drew the curtain.
A moment later, Andrew entered in behind me. I assumed his boxers were off, but I didn't bother looking down to make sure. He reached past me, his chest pressing against my back as he removed the shower head from the bracket.
With his right hand, Andrew searched for the tense spots in my shoulders and back, while his left hand manipulated the shower head to massage those spots. He had the shower head on a pulsating stream, and every splash of water melted my tension away.
I leaned back into Andrew and realized I had grown too comfortable. His erection poked me in my backside, and I tensed up immediately. He must have sensed exactly what happened, because he whispered in my ear, "Shh, if you just ignore him, he'll go away."