My Sister's Best Friend (Best Friends 3) (5 page)

Chapter Seven

Nathan

Holding Ashley Parker in my arms was the answer to a lifetime of dreams I never knew I held. Both comforting and exciting. It felt as if the world had come to a stop just so I could enjoy this moment. Every bad thing that had ever happened, Jimmy, The faces of our enemies, the sounds of death and fear. All of it vanished to be replaced with a rightness.

Her lips were sweeter than a high mountain fruit and just as luscious. She felt soft, smooth, and oh so feminine. It set my insides on fire. Making me desperately crave those things I couldn’t take. I was becoming lost in her I realized as a fearful frenzy built up inside of me.

The sweet scent of lilac and roses surrounded me, enticing, and arousing. Filling my mind with sexy thoughts about possibilities. Locking itself in my memory. Forever, this subtle perfume would be the scent of what a woman should be.

Don’t lose it Nate I told myself. You’re leaving in a couple of weeks. This is Ashley Parker remember, Chrissy’s best friend. There were so many things wrong with it.

I pulled back to look into her eyes. Such depth, such perfection.

“To hell with it,” I mumbled to myself as I leaned in to kiss her again. I couldn’t stop myself, she was so enticing, as if attached to my soul, pulling me in.

The kiss lasted and lasted, neither of us willing to break our connections. My hands slipped behind her back and under her knees. Without stopping our kiss I lifted her to my lap then placed both arms around her waist to pull her in close.

She moaned and seemed to melt into me. Her hands squeezing the back of my neck, her lips caressing, devouring, nipping and tugging. As if she couldn’t get enough. All of it setting me on fire.

Finally after several minutes we reluctantly separated enough to rest our foreheads against each other. Both of us fighting to catch our breath.

She smiled and said “Nathan!” that simple word turned my stomach inside out. It was said with such caring. As if I was the most important thing in the world. In fact the only thing in this world with any value.

At that exact moment I understood the history of the human race. Every wonderful invention, every great act of valor. All of it came about because men were searching for a beautiful woman to say our name like that. To look at us as if we were the most important thing in the world. It was enough to make me want to fight lions, climb to the stars, and move mountains. Anything to make her happy.

Somebody was coming. I could hear the soft ruffle of the grass as they approached. Although I was pissed at the pending interruption, a small measure of pride surged through me, I hadn’t completely lost my edge. Holding on to Ashley I looked towards the backyard and waited.

“I knew it, I just knew it,” My sister said, her hands on her hips, looking like she’d just found the cure for world hunger. My stomach fell but I didn’t let go of Ashley. Holding my breath I waited to see how she’d react. Embarrassment, shame, fear, what? I wondered.

Ashely slowly turned her head to look at my sister. “Go away Chrissy,” she said with a slow silky voice. “Just shut up, turn around and leave. I’ll talk to you later. Okay?”

Chrissy’s mouth dropped into a perfect O like a hooked bass. Her eyes flinched but then she smiled. A big welcoming smile. Turning she left, almost skipping, mumbling “I knew it,” the whole way back to the house.

Her reaction surprised me. I thought she’d have been a lot more upset. She was probably already figuring out some way to use this against me.

Ashely watched her walk away and didn’t turn back to me until her friend had actually entered the house. Then she smiled at me from under her brow. Her eyes becoming shy and hesitant reminding me of a new born calf, as if unsure where she was and what she was doing.

The previous moment was broken, at least broken enough for us to gather our wits about ourselves before the fire consumed us and we went so far there was no coming back.

“She is going to tell everybody,” Ashley said. “There is nothing Chrissy loves more than being right,”

I smiled. “Does that bother you, people knowing that we were kissing? Worried that someone is going to tease you. We’re not little kids anymore Ashley.”

“No not really. I’ll be screaming it myself from the roof tops later. As for the teasing, half the girls in that house are eating their hearts out right now. Believe me there won’t be any teasing. Looks of jealous awe, and surprise sure, but no teasing.” She paused for a moment “It’s just, I wasn’t too sure how you felt about it.”

Her shy eyes had reappeared, as if afraid of what I might say.

A thousand thoughts flashed through my mind. Chrissy’s best friend, two weeks, intoxicating perfumes, soft curves, forever kind of girl. All of them jumbling around inside my head. I stared into her eyes and realized things could go a lot further tonight. I knew it to the depths of my soul. Ashley Parker wanted me as much as I wanted her. The thought scared me. This was dangerous ground, be careful I told myself. This is Ashley Parker you’re dealing with.

“What I am feeling is probably not appropriate for your innocent ears,” I said.

Her brow narrowed then her eyes smoldered with a burning glaze that threatened to melt my insides. “I’m not a little kid anymore Nathan, Maybe I want more.”

“Believe me, I know you’re not a child. That’s the problem.” I was going to kick myself for the next ten years. Anyone except Ashley and we’d already be in a back bedroom at the party. Her happiness was important to me I realized. Important enough that I could turn away from the thing I wanted most in this life.

Her sultry smile became a pout as she slid off my lap and back on the bench. I’d probably hurt her feelings but it was for the best I reminded myself. It wasn’t near as bad as I’d hurt myself.

“Come on, I’ll walk you home,” I said.

For a moment I thought she was going to stomp off. Return to the party and throw herself at the first guy who came along. I was going to have to seriously mess up their evening if anyone came close to her. Instead she gathered herself and nodded without looking at me.

Holding the back gate open for her I watched her yellow dress swish back and forth as she proceeded me down the path. Make that twenty years I was going to regret my decision.

Chapter Eight

Ashley

Some things in this world aren’t meant to be Ashley. Get used to it. Embrace it. Nathan isn’t interested and throwing myself at him was only going to embarrass us both.

At least I had that kiss. At least I knew what that was like. Of course that meant I’d be spending the rest of my life remembering that feeling. Remembering the fire and love that threatened to burst my heart into a thousand pieces.

Sighing to myself I unzipped my dress, letting it fall to my bedroom floor before I kicked it into the hamper, seriously doubting if I’d ever wear it again.

Nathan’s backing off had been a gut wrenching experience that left me in pieces. It hadn’t been Chrissy’s fault, it hadn’t been Nathan’s. It wasn’t even mine believe it or not. It just was. Timing, circumstances, something had made him pull back. For a moment though, for a few minutes I had seen the desire, seen the love in his eyes. He couldn’t have faked that. No way, I was as sure as anything in my life. For a few minutes it was possible to believe that he cared about me.

Punching my pillow I tried to get comfortable, it was going to be a long night. Even worse there wasn’t anyone I could talk too about it. It would have been so nice to roll over and call Chrissy, to lay there talking to her half the night. But of course, Chrissy was out when it came to this subject, she’d get mad at Nathan or me or both of us. My mom? - come on, you’ve got to be kidding – Mrs. J? She’d hug me, tell me it would be okay then rip into Nathan.

Life could be really hard sometimes. Maybe this is what the teen years were all about. To show you how rotten life could be so that everything after it looked better. You could always look back and say, - well at least I’m not a teenager anymore. Thankfully I don’t have to go through that again - .

Turning over I stared at the wall. I could still feel his hands around my waste, still smell his warm masculine sent of sandalwood and leather, still taste his lips.

My eyes slowly began to fill with warm tears until they spilled over to run down my cheek. I didn’t wipe it away instead letting it lay there. A testament to the world about my true feelings. I needed to hold onto the feeling, get used to it. I was pretty sure it was going to be around for a while.

The sharp buzz of my phone made me jump. Had Chrissy heard already, it wasn’t her ring tone. It was the default unknown caller. Who would be calling me at this time of night?

“Hello.”

“Hello, Ashley, this is Nathan,”

Shooting up in bed I quickly wiped the tear from my cheek as if he might be in the room.

“Hi Nathan,” I said, trying with every fiber in my soul to sound cheerful, upbeat, not broken, not hurt.

“How are you doing? Did I wake you?”

“Uh, fine. No, what’s up?” I said, once again demonstrating my excellent conversation skills.

“I’ve got to go back to California.”

My stomach dropped. “In two weeks, right?” I said, holding my breath.

“No, tonight. I just got a call from my unit. I got my transfer to the base in Bangor Washington, over on Puget Sound. My Gunny Sargent Major pulled some strings and got it for me but I’ve got to be there in five days. Some kind of class they want me to go to. I’ve got to go back to Pendleton, get my stuff, check out then get back up to Bangor.”

The phone connection lapsed into silent dead air as I desperately tried to think of what to say. Was he doing this just to get away from me? Nathan was leaving again, tonight. It wasn’t fair. Say something, anything.

“Tonight?” was all I could come up with

“Yeah tonight, but hey, I’ll only be about four hours away. I’ll be able to come home on long weekends and stuff.”

“Are you leaving now?” I asked as I kneeled on the bed to look out the window. If I didn’t start breathing soon I was going to faint. Air trickled into my lungs as I saw his truck was still parked in front of their house six doors down and across the street.

“Soon, mom’s stomping around the kitchen putting enough food together to cross the Rockies in a Conestoga wagon. As soon as I finish packing I’m on the road.”

“Um, okay.” Again with the excellent conversation. My mind didn’t seem to want to work. Everything had gone numb. As if I was waking up from a dream.

“Yeah, well, I just wanted you to know I was leaving.” He paused for a moment then said, “I’m going to miss you Ashley Parker. More than you’ll ever know.”

“Don’t leave, not yet, I’ll be there in two minutes.” The words tumbled from my mouth as I jumped from the bed tearing my pajamas off. What does a girl wear to say goodbye to the boy she loves? A question I had never really pondered before and hoped to never do again. “Bye” I yelled into the phone and hung up before he could say he was leaving right away.

As it turns out, Jeans and a T-shirt worked best. Along with tennis shoes. Better for running.

The night air hit me like a cold shower as I ran out my front door. My dad yelled, “Ashley?” from the living room but I totally ignored him as I skidded around our car and onto the sidewalk. He was still here. “Thank you god,” I mumbled.

They were all gathered in the front yard saying goodbye. That big beautiful bundle of love known as the Johnson family. A quick jealous twinge twisted my spine bringing a smile to my face. The one thing Nathan could count on in this world was that he would always have a strong base of love No matter where he went, no matter what happened, he would know that he had this any time he needed it.

Little Marla was crying, Mr. J reached down and picked her up, kissing her forehead. Johnny stood next to his dad looking stunned. Elizabeth held onto Nathan’s hand as if she could stop him, or he had to take her with him. Chrissy looked just plain mad, as if she wanted to hurt something. Mrs. J stood straight, looking at her son with pride and a sad acceptance of what was happening. Where did she get the strength?

Throwing his green sea bag into the back of his truck Nathan turned to give his mother a hug. Looking over her shoulder he saw me approaching. A smile crossed those perfect lips lightening his eyes. He was glad I was there. All was right with the world once again.

“Ashley,” A simple word that said it all. For the first time since his call I could feel myself begin to breathe normally.

Everyone turned to look at me. None of them questioned why I was there. No curious looks, no frowns, just accepting, welcoming, though a lot of sad smiles. It was obvious they didn’t feel like I was intruding on their private moment.

Slowly stepping away from Elizabeth he walked towards me. My heart raced, pounding in my chest. He was so tall, those broad shoulders blocking the star light. His eyes were hidden in the shadow of his brow but somehow I knew what he was feeling.

“Ashley,” he said again. I could really get used to hearing my name said like that. As if it was important. Reaching out he gently took my hand and looked into my eyes. A shiver ran through me with an electric buzz. Surely he felt it.