Easy Silence (20 page)

“Chase, I see you’ve already been slamming down the drinks,” Pete chided.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” he snapped back.

“Hi, I’m Justina,” said the girl he was with, introducing herself to everyone before taking a seat.

“Hello,” Pete and Bonnie said in unison. I gave her a warm smile while Jaxson remained unresponsive.

“I’m Sam,” I said, trying to break up the awkwardness.

“Well, since we’re doing introductions, I’m Chase.” He went to stand up and almost knocked over the chair.

“Please, sit down Chase,” Justina pleaded.

“So, Jax, how does someone like you land a hottie like her?” Chase asked, pointing to me.

“Fuck you,” Jaxson retorted.

Chase held his hands up in defense. “Damn bro, always getting on the defense.”

“Chase, cut your shit now,” Pete warned.

My stomach began to turn and not in a good way, when I felt Jaxson’s leg bouncing up and down underneath the table. “Jaxson, do you want to go for a walk outside before they start serving dinner?” I whispered in his ear. He didn’t respond and stood up, taking my hand while shooting Chase daggers with his eyes. Pete nodded and gave me an approving smile.

We headed outside to the beautifully landscaped grounds as the music from inside blared through the outdoor speakers. “Wow, this is really pretty,” I said, doing my best to calm him down.

He nodded and led me over to the beautiful gazebo adorned in white lights and wisteria. “That guy is a fuckin’ douche bag.”

“Who is he?”

“Some drunk fuck-up who Pete hired as a favor to his uncle. I fuckin’ already got into it with him once, and if his drunk ass keeps it up tonight, I’m gonna kick his ass again.”

I shook my head. “No, you’re not.” He looked at me questionably. “This is a very special day for two people, and you will not ruin it by starting a fight with some asshole who probably won’t even remember anything he’s said or done in the morning.”

“Well, then he better keep his fuckin’ mouth shut because I can’t guarantee that I won’t.”

“Then, I’m leaving.” I stood up and began to walk away.

“What—where are you going?” He got up quickly and grabbed my arm, pulling me back.

“I came here tonight to have a good time with you. Not to sit on pins and needles worrying about you kicking some obnoxious drunk’s ass. So, if you can’t guarantee that you won’t, then I’m leaving…simple as that.” I raised my eyebrow at him.

“Fine, I’ll just ignore him,” he replied with reluctance. He loosened his grip on my arm, and I began to walk away again. “Did you not hear what I just said?”

“I did.” I turned back around to face him.

“Well, then - what the fuck?”

I moved closer to him until our bodies were pressing together. “Actually, I just thought of a few more conditions I wanted to add,
if
I decide to stay.”

“Like?”

“I get at least two dances with you.” He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “See ya, Jaxson.” I turned around, and he pulled me back again.

“Fine.” He relented.

“Okay, that’s the first term of this agreement, now on to the second.”

“Ah, come on, Samantha!” he shouted in frustration.

“You don’t even know what the second one is going to be. You may actually like it.”

He let out an annoyed breath. “I doubt it. What is it?”

I stood on my tippy toes and brushed my lips to his. “I get unlimited kisses all night long.” When he reached down and grabbed my face, kissing me with a lot more vigor, I knew he was up for that end of our bargain. I rested my head on his chest and hugged him tightly, swaying back and forth when “Someone Like You” by Van Morrison began to play through the outdoor speakers. “You know, this will count as one of your dances, but you gotta move a little.” I giggled, forcing him to move back and forth with me and the music. I placed my head back on his chest, listening to the lyrics closely, while breathing in the warm night air. All of the apprehension from inside just a few minutes ago was gone. He moved his hands down to the small of my back pulling me as close as I possibly could get to him, and I was gone.

“Samantha?” he whispered.

“Yeah.” My body was aching for him just from hearing the raspy edge in his voice.

He buried his face into my shoulder before getting as close to my ear as possible. “I think I love you.”

My knees felt like they were going to give out from beneath me, and my heart was racing a mile a minute. I tried not to cry; the last thing I wanted to do was look like a raccoon with my eye makeup running down my face, but I couldn’t stop myself. I was reeling in emotion. Jaxson Callahan the guy who never showed his emotions to anyone just told me he loved me, and the best part of all…I loved him back with every possible part of my being.

I looked up at him, wiping away my tears. I could tell he was anxiously awaiting my response. “I think I love you, too, Jaxson.” I couldn’t hold back my smile any longer, and when I saw the full-fledged one that stretched across his face for the first time ever, all I could do was cry harder with pure tears of happiness.

After I got it somewhat together, we walked back inside, and I stopped off at the ladies room to try and fix up my face. Once I was satisfied, I exited, and bumped right into Sue Ellen Marsh. She was a friend of my grandmother’s and a very powerful woman, owning over half of the real estate in town. She was very well-to-do and had all the airs that came along with that title, among being the biggest gossiper around. She and my grandmother had known each other for years, both very active in their church.

“Sam, sweetheart! How are you?” She leaned in and brushed her lips on my cheek.

“I’m well, thank you.”

“So, are you a friend of the bride or groom?” she asked.

“Neither actually. The guy I’m here with works with the groom.”

“Oh…” She raised her eyebrow. “And who would that guy be?”

“Jaxson Callahan.”

Her faux smile instantly disappeared and transformed into complete repulsion. “I’m sorry, did you say Jax Callahan?”

As if her phony attitude didn’t piss me off before, now it was downright infuriating me. “Yes, I did!” I gave her a sarcastic grin.

“Does your daddy know you’re seeing him?”

“No, he doesn’t, not that it’s any of your business, Mrs. Marsh.”

“Well, I can assure you that he wouldn’t be very pleased with that.”

I took a deep breath, trying my best to calm myself down. “My father doesn’t even know Jaxson and neither do you, for that matter. You’re just like the rest of the people in this town who like to judge others without even knowing them.”

I began to walk away when I heard her shout, “Oh sweetheart, I know a heck of a lot more about that boy than you think.”

I’m sure she did know all about him. I’m sure she knew exactly how he was treated as a child and did nothing to help put an end to it except gossip with her church buddies. She of all people had the means and the power to help him, but instead she decided to look the other way and just pass judgment on Jaxson as an adult. “Why does that not shock me? I’m sure you knew everything about him and did nothing to help him, just like the rest of the hypocrites in this town. Now, this will give you something more to talk about. So, you do what you do best, Mrs. Marsh, turn your nose up at people and trash them all week long. Then go to church on Sundays to absolve your sins, so you can do it all over again.”

Her jaw dropped. “How dare you, young lady!”

“Oh, and here’s another thing you can tell to your church ladies tomorrow. Jaxson sneaks into my bedroom at night, and we have hot passionate sex. Sometimes for hours and hours, and then we do it all over again in the morning.” She let out a loud gasp and covered her mouth. “You have a lovely evening, Mrs. Marsh.” Her face was bright red, and she was totally flustered as she hurriedly made her way into the ladies room. I knew it wouldn’t be long before this made its way back to Hadley, and I would more than likely be scolded for being disrespectful, but I didn’t care. I was hoping that maybe Hadley would find a little humor in it, knowing her opinion of Sue Ellen Marsh was the same as mine. I stood there for a few moments, laughing silently to myself, hoping that she would think twice before she ran her mouth about Jaxson to anyone again.

When I turned around, I gasped upon noticing Pete right behind me. “Oh my god, you scared me!” I placed my hand over my heart.

He shook his head and smiled deeply. “Well, I think you just told her what everyone in this town is thinking but is afraid to come out and say to her.”

Now it was my face that was reddening, hoping that he didn’t hear my last tidbit of information that I so freely shared. “Oh, well…umm…that last part, I kinda—”

He held his hand up to stop me. “Sam, what you just did proves how much you care for Jax. You don’t need to explain yourself to me. Just seeing the look on that old hag’s face was worth a million dollars. No one has ever put her in her place like that before.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m just sick of people forming opinions of him when they don’t even know him.”

He nodded and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Good job!” He smiled and made his way into the men’s room.

I headed back over to Jaxson and sat down beside him, squeezing his hand tightly under the table. “Just pretend he’s not even here.” I looked over at Chase who was staring intently at both of us, trying to figure out what I was saying, no doubt. I flashed him a sarcastic smile and felt Jaxson squeeze my hand back tighter. We got through dinner without any hurdles, and by the time dessert had come, Chase was out on the dance floor making a complete spectacle of himself.

I swept my hand across Jaxson’s face and brought his hand up to my lips. “See, I knew you could keep it under control.” He looked over at Chase falling all over himself and shook his head. The music changed to a slow song, and I stood up, taking Jaxson’s hand in mine. “I do believe you owe me another dance.”

He rolled his eyes at me. “Well, what are you gonna do now if I don’t? Leave? It’s almost over anyway.”

I pulled him up from his chair and moved closer to him. “No, I’ll stay, but I’ll just have to cancel everything I had planned for after…when we’re all alone.” I raised my eyebrow at him, trying to hold back my laughter at the blank stare on his face. He didn’t protest any longer as he led me out to the dance floor. We began to move to the beat of the music as I stared up into his eyes, feeling as pretty close to a fairy tale as my life could possibly get. When I caught a glimpse of Mrs. Marsh staring at us from the corner of my eye, I stretched my neck and kissed him softly on the lips. No matter what anyone said or thought about him, I would never change my opinion of him. He may not have been the typical Prince Charming in all of those fairy tales, but he was
my
Prince Charming, and to me, he would always be the best one who ever existed.

Time was flying by, and I hated it. I knew that meant I would finally have to make a choice: leave and start college or stay here with Jaxson. My parents were coming to visit in a few days, and I hadn't brought up the subject again to Jaxson about meeting them. I knew if he felt comfortable enough, then he would let me know. My grandmother's condition was deteriorating. She had just gotten out of the hospital after suffering an upper respiratory infection, which also seemed to worsen her Alzheimer's to the point where she basically didn’t speak at all. There weren't any more traces left of the woman I had known my entire life; that woman had exited my grandmother’s frail little body and had been replaced by a stranger.

I had managed to keep Meg at bay, still not giving her an answer about the audition. As Jaxson and I sat on the beach together, my mind began to wander like it always would, and I found myself thinking some pretty crazy thoughts. I had plenty of money in my savings account. My grandmother had been saving for me from the time I was born. There was a ridiculous amount of money in there that most people my age could only dream of. When I turned eighteen that account was mine, but I hadn't touched a penny of it, never needing to with my father providing me whatever I needed. I smiled just thinking about taking some of that money and flying out to L.A. with Jaxson. It would be such a great first for both of us to experience together. Even though I knew he probably would refuse to go because he would refuse to allow me to pay his way.

“Hey, what do you think about visiting L.A.?” I asked.

He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. Guess I never really thought about it. I have better things to waste my money on.”

I dug my foot into the sand, just as a wave came up and buried it further. “Well, my drama teacher wants me to go out there and audition for this part.”

“That’s cool. Are you gonna go?”

“I’m not sure. It’s not like I’m gonna get it or anything. So, I was thinking, maybe you and I could go out there together and make a little vacation out of it. That way it’s not a complete waste of my time.”

“Oh…ummm.” He threw a shell out into the water and squinted into the bright sunlight. “I…ummm…am kinda trying to save up for a new truck, and I got to get out of Pete’s and get a place of my own. I feel like I’m kind of in the way there with him and Bonnie.”