Discovering April (21 page)

JACK’S COFFEE BEAN is practically dead. I haven’t seen a customer in hours. It helps that I work the night shift; I miss all the morning traffic. The only customers at night are people with work to do and people avoiding their families. I find my mind wandering as I stare out the large front window of the coffee shop.

My thoughts range from whether Jared’s friends like me to wondering what Eric will say when I show up with Jared once again. I swear that guy could gut me and hang me on his wall like a hunting trophy and no one would say anything.

The swishing of hair interrupts my wandering thoughts. It’s the hue that catches my attention. It’s red, a real red. If I didn’t know any better, I would say it’s brighter than it was only a few days ago. The bell chimes with her arrival and I stand straighter. There is something about her that demands attention now. I watch almost in awe as she approaches the counter. She places her usual latte order and glances around anxiously. I almost want to tell her not to bother; Jack is in the back, pal. My eyes gravitate to her, trying to figure out what has changed in her. Her whole aura has changed. She appears more confident, her eyes brighter. She no longer looks worn down by the worry of the world and I envy that in some ways. I can tell why Jack likes her. She’s completely ethereal, goddess-like – especially now. Maybe she’s had some work done, some Botox to get rid of those worry wrinkles she had.

I’m debating this as I hand her the coffee cup and she makes her way to the ugly old chair in the corner that I begged Jack to throw out once. He absolutely refused and I think it has something to do with Sera here. I think maybe he thinks if he throws out the dirty old chair, Sera might not come in, which is completely false. She crumples into the chair with her latte at her lips. She stares out the window as if she is looking for something. I can almost make out her eyes brimming with tears. The way she looks makes me shiver. I feel something strange going on around here and I wonder if she can, too. Even as she looks out into the empty parking lot looking like a lost puppy, she still demands to be seen. It’s as if she’s glowing from the inside out. That sounds ridiculous, but it’s so hard to put into words. As if sensing her presence, Jack comes wandering out of his office. He notices her appearance as well, and says a few whispered things to her before coaxing her into his office. That’s when I break out of my trance. I’ve seen her with that blue-eyed hunk; if she even thinks about breaking Jack’s heart, I swear I’ll hurt her. Jack is such a great guy, so trusting, and I can tell when he falls in love, he falls hard. I can’t let her just take advantage of him like that. It’s cruel. I don’t wait for them to reappear; instead, I wipe down the counters and close up shop.

Once I’ve locked the door to the shop, I pick up the two bags of garbage and begin making my way around back to the dumpster. The cool breeze whips through my light jacket and I shiver in response. It is a brisk breeze, almost unnaturally cold. I’m slightly distracted by the moon, which is completely full and shining so bright right above me. I’m slightly mesmerized by it as I walk up to the dumpster and toss the bags over the side. It isn’t until I hear a rustling from the bushes behind the green bin that my heart begins to race. My eyes immediately scan the parking lot. Awesome – it’s empty except for the white car of Jack’s redhead. Backing up slowly, I reach into my purse as my eyes study the bushes. My fingers grasp the bottle of mace and I take a breath of relief before I hear a strange noise. At first I think it might be a growl, but as it reaches me I think it might be some kind of evil chuckle. The panic must finally set in because I grip the mace for dear life and spin into a run, heading back towards the front of the shop where someone can at least hear me screaming. I swear when I glance back I see the bushes swaying slightly. My heart leaps into my throat and I hit something as I turn back around.

“Hey,” Jared mutters, rubbing his chest where I just smacked into him.

I rub my nose. “Holy crud! You scared the bejesus out of me!”

“Bejesus? You’re still on this no cursing thing, huh?” He smirks, lifting his head up like he just thought of something amusing. “I pulled up front and all the lights were out. You’re not getting cold feet, are you?”

“Ha, no, I just had to throw out the trash.” I point back towards the dumpster. Following my finger with my eyes, nothing seems to be so intimidating about it now.

“Okay, you ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I retort as he wraps his arm around my shoulder.

It seems like even the night has warmed as we walk towards Jared’s Jeep. I glance back one more time over Jared’s arm at the dark bushes before I rub the goosebumps on my arms.

AN HOUR OR SO LATER, Jared and I pull up the Wrangler to a glass house that looks like something out of a movie. The high-pitched roof seems to hang suspended in the air because the remainder of the house is all glass. We’re in the middle of nowhere so I guess he doesn’t have to worry about privacy, but what about hurricanes or something? I see a few lights on in the house welcoming us, but the main source of light is emanating from behind the house. It’s so bright I can see it through the house and around both sides. Climbing out of the Jeep, we head towards the beach. Before I can get too far, I feel Jared’s warm fingers link with mine. I wonder if he told his friends about us, and suddenly I find myself worrying once again about Eric. All fears are vanquished as we round the corner of the house and see them all sitting around the huge bonfire right on the beach. Stacey catches sight of me first and I see her gaze drop to our clasped hands. She lowers her cup to spit the alcohol into the fire, causing it to burst brighter for a second.

“Oh my God!” she calls, scrambling out of her beach chair to wrap her arms around me, then Jared. “So glad you guys are… Here!” she announces, changing her statement halfway through. “Come grab a drink. We’re just getting started!”

Mack is up next, pulling me into a bear hug like we are old friends. Zach waves from his spot next to Eric, and of course Eric is glaring into the fire like we don’t exist. Jared is the one to go up to him and pat him on the shoulder before we take the only two empty chairs left.

“So what’d we miss?” Jared calls out to the circle.

Mack blurts out, “No, I think the question is what did
we
miss?”

I blush crimson. Jared beams and Zach’s screech of laughter is heard from around the other side of the fire.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you are referring to!” I try and keep my composure.

“I’m sure you don’t!” Mack hoots from the left side of us.

Eric snickers something I can’t hear. I’m glad the flames are blocking his evil glares from me.

“Want a drink?” Jared asks, climbing to his feet beside me.

“Sure.”

Once Jared walks over to the cooler, Mack leans over Jared’s empty chair and whispers, “We were all secretly rooting for you!” He shoots me a wink.

“Rooting for me?”

“Yea, you’re funny.” He smirks as his gaze returns to the fire and I think he might be slightly intoxicated already.

“Why, thanks Mack, I think you’re quite a riot yourself!” I reach over Jared’s chair to smack him on his arm.

“Whoa whoa, watch the guns, honey. You coulda got hurt just now!”

We both break into laughter as Jared comes back with two red Solo cups.

“Hey, hey! Hands off, Mack, she’s taken!”

“She was the one touching me, man. I can’t help it. The ladies love me!”

Collapsing into the beach chair beside me, we all share a laugh before Stacey calls over, “Hey what’s going on over there?”

“I was just feeling up Mack!” I call back.

“Oh, well, the ladies do love him!”

At that, we are all practically in tears. He must use that line a lot. I could swear I even hear Eric’s laughter. I almost don’t recognize it at first because it is so foreign, but it’s definitely there.

It feels like we sit there forever, chatting and joking, and I feel oddly comfortable around these people. Besides Eric, they all try to make me feel like part of the crew. Jared reaches over to the arm of my chair to link our fingers when I finally turn to face him. His eyes tell me all I need to know. He’s happy, content. Leaning over, I close the gap between us and kiss him softly on the lips.

“Oh, get a room already! I’ve got like four in there!” Mack hollers once again.

The giggles start up once again around us and as I glance about, the fire has died down low enough so that Stacey and Eric are once again visible. Awesome.

“Relax, we have our clothes on… for now!” I joke back, throwing my empty cup at Mack. “I don’t need a room, but a bathroom would be nice.”

“Pick a bush!” Mack points to the high stalks one either side of his house. I blink at him, trying to figure out if he’s serious or not, before Stacey chimes in.

“I’ll show you! I have to go too!”

She hops out of her seat and pulls me out of mine. Linking arms with me as we head inside, I’m almost skeptical. I’ve never met people that are so … welcoming before. I’ve actually never had real
friends
before. After Jared’s friendship, I think I was afraid of someone just leaving me so I clung to my boyfriend for that sort of companionship instead.

“I have to tell you, I’m so happy for you two!” Stacey tells me once we are out view of the fire.

“Aw, thanks!” I awkwardly get out as we climb the steps to the back door.

“You know, Jared has liked you for a while.”

“Really?”

“Yea, I remember… he used to talk about you a lot.”

“When was this?”

“Back when his parent’s first… you know.”

I know all too well, but the guilt I feel is even more overwhelming. “Then what... he just stopped?”

“Well, I think
you
moved on. He never really got over it. I mean, he’s never even tried dating. We all knew why.”

“Why?” Curiosity burns a hole inside of me.

“Because he’s in love with you… always has been!” She shrugs before closing the bathroom door between us.

Always has been
. The statement echoes in my ears. Always?

I’m sitting on the couch when she comes out and plops down next to me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to freak you out! You should be happy!”

“I am… I just—how could I have been so stupid?” I ask, my eyes exploring hers for answers I’m searching for. “I mean, he was right there practically my entire life and I just overlooked him. I could have saved myself so much heartache and pain… I could… we could have…”

Stacey puts her arm around me, sensing my drunken break down. “April, things happen for a reason. Maybe you needed to go through all of that to realize a good man when you had one. Maybe you never would have felt the same about the dorky kid next door if you saw him grow up. Who knows? All I know is that you have the here and now. To me – it looks pretty darn cute!”

At that, we are in giggles. She loosens her hold on my arm and leans back against the couch. “I’m a little drunk,” she whispers.

“Me too!” I stifle another giggle.

“So, I have to know…” She slaps my knee before leaning in, like she’s telling me a secret. “Have you guys had sex?” She draws the last syllable out like a snake.

My giggles give me away once again.

“No way! Tell me! How is it?!”

“Amazing,” is the only word that comes to my scattered mind as I climb to my feet.

“Was he a… you know… I mean, we never saw him with another girl and he never talked about it, so we were all kind of wondering.”

“Was he a virgin?” I ask and she nods. I was actually wondering the same thing.

“I don’t know… but I do know, not any more!” With that, I wave over my shoulder as I prance into the bathroom and shut the door.

By the time I’m out, Stacey is gone. I stumble out of the house, down the steps, and wander back towards the dying fire. I catch myself before tripping over a rock, only to have hard hands on my shoulders pushing me down onto my backside.

“Ow, what the…” I look up to lock eyes with Eric. From this position here on the ground, he looks even bigger and even more terrifying.

“You don’t take directions well do you?” he spits at me.

“Not from a hard ass like you…” I drunkenly mutter, completely sick of him bullying me.

“Stay away from him! You’re only going to hurt him!”

“Are you gay for him or something? I don’t get …”

With that he jumps on me, his hands at my throat. “I know
you
… You’re only going to hurt him. Don’t you think he’s been through enough heartbreak as it is?”

“Actually, I do.”

He looks taken back, like getting me to give in was too easy and he leans back slightly.

“And I think that heartbreak is over for the both of us. So why don’t you do us both a favor and get the hell over it because I’m not going anywhere!” I push him off of me.

“We’ll see.” He slinks towards the house.

“Is that a threat?” I call, climbing to my feet.

He never answers as he disappears into the shadow of the house. I wipe sand off my jeans before collecting myself and walking back to the fire.

I’m about to plop into my chair when Jared opens his arms to me, inviting me in. I smile, my fuzzy mind more than happy to cuddle. I climb into his lap, my head on his shoulder. The smell of his soap mixes with scent of smoke. Wrapping his warm hands around me as he kisses my forehead, I suddenly forget all about Eric and his death threats.