Page 12 of Collins
Stumblingmy way through the hallway the next morning, dust glittering in the streaks of sunlight shining through, I walk to the kitchen and start a pot of coffee. If Nan was here, she’d already be at the counter on a barstool with a mug and a cigarette saying she thought I was going to sleep the day away. The envelope on the kitchen counter taunts me as I try my best to ignore it. Questions swirl through my mind. I know I should just go over there, rip it open, and find out…but I’m scared. I’ll open it eventually. If it’s something bad, I don’t want to know. It’s going to have to wait a little longer. My heart can’t handle any more sadness.
Putting creamer in my cup, I pause mid-pour when I notice movement through the narrow window on the door. Creeping up to take a better look, I find Collins once again, this time sans child. Brown work boots, light washed jeans, and a brown coat with a corduroy collar attached to his sturdy frame. There’s slightly more than an afternoon shadow on his face, something I haven’t seen before. Even his hair is shorter and not as unruly as when we were young. Time has been most gracious to him. He’s even more stunning than every memory I hold.
Just then the door swings open, and a woman runs barefoot down the rickety steps holding out a black thermos. He turns and smiles at her, taking it, and she reaches up, throwing arms around his neck. She pecks him on the cheek and he rubs his hands up and down her back.
I’m going to be sick.
He takes off with thermos in hand, and she stands and watches him leave, tightening the silk robe around her waist. She’s beautiful, and thanks to the close proximity of these trailers, it’s not hard to catch the details. Long dark hair, big pouty lips, thick dark eyelashes, and a body to die for. I take in her tanned legs that lead down to black painted toes, and heat fills my face.
Not only does Collins still live in his old home, but he’s married with a child? I don’t know what I expected. I know my emotions are irrational but I can’t bring myself to give a shit.This hurts. My stomach is in knots, all twisted up in anger, jealousy, and sadness.
The woman walks back up the steps and inside, while a part of me dies right then and there.
CHAPTER 7
johnnie
THEN
His sweatshirt iswadded up in a ball in my arms when I open my eyes the next morning. I had fallen asleep on our way back and he woke me up so gently, hand on my lower back as he walked me to the window and helped me climb back through. My skin tingles with the reminder of his touch.
The clock on the nightstand reads 11:33 a.m. Considering I stayed up all night, waking before noon feels like a small victory. I drag a hand over my face, wincing at the faint grit still clinging to my skin. That quick once-over with a damp washcloth last night didn’t do much, apparently. There’s still a trace of dried mud along my jaw…maybe even in my ears. A sigh slips past my lips as I push the covers back. I need more than a lazy attempt at clean. I need heat, steam, and time. A long shower to wash it all away.
Peeling my shorts down and stepping into the welcoming water, I scrub every square inch of my body with my cucumbermelon body wash. Bubbles, along with mud from last night, gather at my feet.
Stepping out, I hear voices. Nan has got to stop turning the TV up so loud.
I crack the door, steam billowing into the hall, and I’m met with silence.
I step toward the living room, gripping the towel around me with one hand, and running fingers through my damp hair with the other.
My steps come to a halt when I find Nan and Collins sitting side by side on barstools, sipping coffee like two old friends. Nan covers her mouth with her hand, and I don’t miss the way Collins’ eyes move from mine, down to my toes, and back up. They snag briefly on my chest before landing back on mine eyes again.
He brings a fist up to cover his mouth, elbow on the counter, while clearing his throat. “Better get dressed, I’m about to take you out and teach you how to drive a four-wheeler. Hurry up, before Nan changes her mind. I just talked her into letting you go.”
Turning around to head back to my room I hear Nan: “Only because he’s so cute. You two better be careful.”
Oddly enough, I’m not really embarrassed that I just flashed a half-naked body to a boy I barely know. The heat of his gaze on me lingers as I make quick work of getting dressed.
“What do you want for breakfast?”Collins looks my way briefly, then back to the road ahead. My eyes hitch on his forearm draped across the steering wheel. Are forearmshot? Is that a thing? Because the veins running just beneath the surface and the roughness of his calloused hand send a warmth through me and my dang heart starts fluttering again.
“Hello? Johnnie? Breakfast?”
I can feel my cheeks heat and I quickly take my gawking eyes off him and play with the lace lining the hem of my tank top. “Umm, I think it would be considered lunch since it’s after noon.”
“Right, but you haven’t eaten, so it’s breakfast for you. Or we can call it brunch? Look, I don’t care what we label it, I’m just hungry and I promised Nan I would feed you.”
Warm air moves through the cab, as we cruise with the windows down.
“There’s an old root beer stand just outside of town, Sonny’s. I love their chili dogs and cherry limeade.”
“Sonny’s it is.” He smiles at the road and reaches a hand over to pat my thigh, skyrocketing my heart rate and my breath catches in my throat.
A few minutes later we’re pulling onto the cracked pavement of the old parking lot. “Let’s get you that dog and limeade. It better be good, because I’m getting the same thing.” He playfully slaps my arm.
This is the old fashioned kind of root beer stand, where you order your food then they bring it to your car. I’ve been coming here since I was a kid, and I get the same thing every time.
Sitting in his truck, I lean back and put my feet on the dash as we start digging into the food he insisted on buying.
