Take Me Away (6 page)

"Sounds good," I keep my voice cool. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Sleep well, Peaches."

"You too..." I try to think of a clever nickname for him, "Cheese."

Neither of us says anything. I watch him shake his head and turn away, walking into the house. Peaches and cheese goes well together, right?

After showering and getting ready for bed, I slide under the covers, instantly falling asleep.

The doorbell rings the next morning, causing me to race to the front before the idiot wakes up a bunch of pissed off girls. Without looking through the peephole, I open the door and suddenly am thankful.

"Morning," I smile.

"Hey." Oh, his voice is so deep and sexy. I love his just rolled out of bed hair. I wonder how soft his hair is. Hmmm.

He walks inside and heads to the kitchen. I notice the bag and two cups of coffee in his hands.

He remembered.

"Is that for me?" I walk next to him, looking up at him.

"Nooo, it's for this other chick that loves the top of a chocolate chip muffin. You know how hard these are to find!"

I clap my hands, "Oh Treston, you're so good to me." Climbing on the chair at the island, he takes out my breakfast and hands me my coffee. I'm trying not to be a girl about this, but seeing him makes me happy.

"Thank you!" I open the bag, smelling the aroma of heaven and start eating. "Did I ever tell you that you're my favorite?"

He sips his coffee before setting it down. "It hasn't happened today, but I know I am. Who else would wake up at the ass crack of dawn and put a smile on your face?"

"Very true," I smirk, cocking my head.

We finish our breakfast and lounge around in the living room for a little before going for our run. I've come to the conclusion to never eat this much before going for a run.

Treston looks at his watch, "So we've been sitting here for almost two hours," he laughs, "Ready yet?"

I groan, "Okay."

Watching him stretch and stand before me looking impossibly sexy is doing bad things to my body. I can’t stop looking at him. Honestly, Treston Parker is the definition of hot. If this is going to be a daily morning thing, I think I'm going to need to control my emotions. Being near Treston feels so good. I love the way he smells and the way he smiles. When we're together it seems as though no one else matters, like I'm the only one he sees.

"Music time." Putting in my ear buds, I press shuffle on my iPhone and start running. Treston gives me a thumbs up and we pace one another.

Feeling the cement against my feet, I watch my breathing and remain completely focused. All the worries and stress slip from my mind. I love running. It's like a drug. I need it and want it. I love the burning feeling that starts in my chest and spreads down to my legs. I love my muscles working hard so I can push myself to the limits. When I'm running, I don't think about the drama or anything else that's going wrong. I'm happy. I'm free.

After about five miles, we're back at the house and I feel good. "Same time tomorrow?"

Treston winks and nods his head.

Heading upstairs, I get ready for the day and send him a text.

Me:
Thank you again for running with me...Maybe we can shoot around later?

Cheese:
Sounds good

Finishing my classes for the day, I adjust my bag and walk back home. Soon an arm is around my shoulders and I smile. Turning my head, my smile goes away.

"What's up, Zara?"

"Oh hey, Henry. How are you?"

"Pretty good. You?"

I really don't want to be nice to him and hate that his arm is around my shoulder. "Good. Just got done with classes so I'm heading back home to do homework and rest before practice."

"Mind if I come?"

YES!
"Actually I’m really tired and need to take a quick nap before practice. Can we catch up some other time?" I smile and tell him I need to go. Having his arm around me didn't feel comfortable. During the date, he didn't give me any weird vibes. I did have fun and I would hang out with him again. Just not in a romantic way.

“Sure thing. I’ll catch you later.” Henry says. He walks away and turns back to wave before heading into one of the buildings.

Taking out my phone I text Treston, wondering where he is and what he's doing.

Cheese:
At the house...Coming over?

I smile.

Me:
On my way!

Getting to the guys’ house, I take the stairs to Treston's and find him on his bed wearing baby blue workout shorts and a white tee. Oh, sweet baby goodness me.

"What's going on?"

I put my bag down on his bed and sit in front of him. "So, Henry's coming to my practice today?"

"Uhhh, why?"

I shake my head, "No idea. He came up to me today, put his arm around me..."

"He what?"

"He put his arm around me."

"And you let him?" The intensity in Treston's eyes is scaring me. One minute he's relaxed and happy and now he's pissed.

"Well, it's not like I said sure go ahead. I didn't want to be rude."

Treston rolls his eyes, "He's a douche."

"Okay, can we change the subject? I have a lot of reading to do so move over so I can lay down." Yep, no idea where this is all coming from. I relax my mind and remind myself that we are friends. Friends do this and it's okay.

It. Is. Okay.

After a few hours of studying, Treston and I head back to my house so I can get ready for practice. Honestly, it was nice being with him. We each did our homework and talked a little.

"Have fun at practice today, Peaches."

"Thanks." I give him a hug, still not sure why or how I'm doing this, and feel his arm wrapped around me. "I'll see you later."

"Sounds good."

Going inside, I rush upstairs and find Katy standing by the window with her mouth open. "What the hell did I miss?"

"What?" I innocently respond.

"Sooooo," Katy cocks her head, "Are you two dating?"

"No!"

"Do you like him?" I shrug, and then nod. "Do you think he likes you?" I raise a brow.

"No idea."

Katy sits on the edge of her bed, smoothing out the sheets in front of her. "I think you both like each other, but since there's a lot of baggage that you guys are each carrying, it's hard. I think that you'll both end up together."

"Then there's Jackson," I wag my finger, "He thinks I like him and said to like him. It’s so weird. I mean I don’t know my feelings and Treston annoys me, but I like it when he does.”

She sits down next to me on the bed, "If you really like Treston then I say spend more time with him. I've known Treston for a while and he's an amazing guy. However, he has a lot going on."

"What do you know?" I need to know. I hate that I'm doing this behind his back. It feels so wrong.

Katy shakes her head, "Not my story to tell. All I can say is, be patient with him."

I think about what Katy said and let it sink in. Being patient won't be a challenge. If it's worth it, then I'll wait. I don't want an ordinary love story. I want extraordinary and Treston's extraordinary.

When we get to practice, I stop dead in my tracks. "What the hell?" I mutter under my breath. Here, in front of me, are Treston and Gavin.

"Oh your lover boy's here," Katy nudges my shoulder and pulls me to the field.

As soon as we're settled, Gavin starts us off with suicides. We do this for a little while and then more conditioning. Up and down the field, knee highs, sprinting, grapevines and shuttle runs. Holy hell, my body is on fire.

This season means so much to all of us. For most of these girls, it's their last time to play for Duke. Some are going to try to go pro and others are doing something else. I still have four years to decide, so for now I'm going to live it up and have fun. I love the game and that's where my focus is.

Gavin blows his whistle and tells us to take a water break. Holy hell, my legs are hurting. Sitting down, I stretch out my legs and lean forward, touching my toes. I love this stretch. I feel my body relaxing as I lean forward and take easy breaths.

"Looking good out there, Peaches." I look up and see Treston standing in front of me.

"Hey! Why didn't you tell me you'd be coaching today?" He shrugs, "You ass." We both laugh and go back to the field.

"Grab your sticks, ladies," Treston yells.

Gavin and Treston explain the next drill. We get in a group of three for the triangle rotation shooting drill. This is a great drill for midfielders, but really for all players. It's simple. The point of the drill is get open and think on your feet.

College lacrosse is different from high school. A part of me is nervous, but I'm ready. This is my moment.

Katy, Jamie and I get in position further down the field and start the drill. "So Jamie, did you hear that our little one is playing house with The King?"

"Mmmm, I sure did!"

"Ha! You both are so freaking funny! Nothing is going on between us!"

"Yeah okay," Katy says, throwing the ball to me. "Treston doesn't do this and remember, I've known him for a while."

I disregard her statement and focus on the drill. This is the first time I've heard that Treston doesn't do this. I wonder what she means? Even though we haven't known each other for very long, I remember him dismissing Audrey, which I still don't get why. She's so pretty and every guy wants her.

"What the hell is Henry doing here?" Jamie stops, looking toward the sidelines, then at us.

"He said he was going to come and see me. It's so weird," I explain, "I don't like him."

"Little fucker," Katy seethes, "He better not come over here. Oh wait, he is." The three of us watch him walk over. He has a cocky smile on his face and he's wearing cargo shorts with a blue polo. Did he change? When he comes closer, I swear I smell Abercrombie and Fitch. Sweet Lord. The thing that guys should know is when they wear an awful amount of cologne it actually makes girls want to vomit. I want to look at him and scream
subtle
.

"Ladies. What's up?"

"Get off the field, Henry!" Gavin shouts, "Now! We're still practicing."

Thank you Gavin!

"I'll hang for a little, Zara. Maybe we can get dinner," he winks and turns back to walk to the sidelines. He sits on the bleachers and stares at me.

Turning back to my friends, I give them a look and they nod. What the hell is wrong with me and why is Henry creeping me out?

We finish practice and Treston leaves without saying bye and part of me is sad. I know I shouldn't care, but I do. Reaching down to grab my bag, Henry comes up next to me.

"Good job today. You look amazing out there."

"Thanks," I smile, standing in front of him, not sure what else to say. "I gotta head back and finish homework." I lie, "I'll see you later. Maybe we can get dinner some other time."

"Yeah, sure. Let me at least drive you back."

Cue the uncomfortable moment. "Oh I'm sorry, but I have a ride."

"Oh, okay. That's cool. Have fun and I'll talk to you later."

"Okay! Later!"

Jumping in Gavin's truck, he drives us back to the house and I rush inside to shower and change into cropped yoga pants and a tank.

I feel my phone vibrate.

Cheese:
What are you doing?

Me:
Just got home...Why'd you leave?

Cheese:
Come over and hang out with me

Me:
Okay

Commence huge smile on my face.

CHAPTER 7

TRESTON

SITTING ON THE EDGE of the tub, I’m bouncing my leg up and down, staring down at the floor. So many thoughts are going through my head.

Beth.

Emily.

Zara.

It’s all coming at me and pushing me in a corner. All I want is peace and to fucking get on with my damn life. Then I see her blue eyes and hear her sweet voice. My muscles calm and my leg stops bouncing. The strangest things happen to me when I think about her.

I shouldn't have left the girls’ practice without saying bye to her. When my phone went off and I saw it was Beth, I had to take it. She's been calling me all day, and keeps leaving me messages about needing to talk because she can’t stop thinking about Emily. I listen to each message and it kills me. My family, especially my mom, tells me time and time again it’s not my fault.

But it is.

Splashing water on my face, I tighten the towel around my waist and look up to see my dark reflection in the mirror. I hate what I see in the mirror. My dark eyes and sinister stare.

Monster.

She’ll never love you.

No one wants you.

You’re worthless.

The voices are right. Who would ever love a murderer?

Putting on shorts and a shirt, I grab a bottle of water and head downstairs to relax and get my mind off shit. Turning on the TV, I flip through the channels and nothing’s on. There’s no way I can get my mind off her. I wonder what Zara's doing. I’m suddenly in a pissy mood; dealing with Beth and her shit and seeing Henry come to the practice. I slam my fists on the couch, struggling to get a grasp on what the fuck is going on in my head.

"What's your deal?" Gavin asks, sitting down on the opposite end of the couch.

"Nothing."

"Bullshit."

"Zara. Zara fucking Borzilleri."

Gavin coughs, peers over at me, and gives me a look. "You know, you've been going through these moods for a few days now. Do you like her?"

"Stop."

"No," he demands, "I'm not stopping. You like her, don't you?"

It's not a question. He's stating the obvious. I do like her. I like her a lot, but nothing can ever happen. My heart's still mourning and I have Beth to constantly deal with. I can't bring her into my drama. She deserves more than that. More than me.

"It's too soon," I hang my head, "She's been getting under my skin and I want to spend more time with her. We're friends," I laugh, shaking my head. "Even though all I can think about is kissing her and making her mine."

"It’s not too soon. When are you going to let yourself fucking live, man? I hate seeing you like this. You’re better than the skanks.” I take in what he’s saying. Normally I don’t let people talk to me like this. But Gavin’s my best friend and has been there for me. “I think you need to go for it. Listen," Gavin pauses, thinking about what to say. He's careful when it comes to Emily. "I know you love Emily and you will forever. She wants you to move on, though. So do it, Treston. You're not going to find a better girl than Zara. She's the real thing, the whole package."

"I know." Slipping my hand in my sweatpants, I take out my phone.

Me:
What are you doing?

Peaches:
Just got home...Why'd you leave?

Me:
Come over and hang out with me

Peaches:
Okay

Peaches comes over with Katy and Jamie. We agree to head out to dinner and they wait for me as I get ready. I pull out the framed picture from my drawer, sit on my bed and touch her face.

“I miss you, Em. I miss you so damn much. Why’d you leave?” I stare at her picture and remember her voice in my head. The sweetest voice ever. “You know, I know you’re the reason why everyone’s crazy at school,” I force out a laugh, “People keep telling me things and there’s this girl…” My voice trails off and I stop talking.

Pulling out my phone, I open my music app and play
What Hurts the Most
by Rascal Flatts. This song was on repeat for months when I lost her. It helped me through my pain and my drunken state. I let out a breath and lean back against my headboard, listening to the words, looking at her picture.

“I miss you.”

Fuck.

Why the fuck am I letting this happen? I finally found a girl worth having in my life, someone who makes me feel alive, and this shit is happening.

"Treston?" Her voice brings me out of my funk, "You okay?" She touches my arm, pulls the chair from my desk and sits down next to me. Her hand slides down my arm and into my hand. I still a breath and look at her. There’s a paralyzing fear against my chest. I’m unable to move and pull away from her.

“Talk to me.” Her warm voice resonates through me.

I close my eyes, taking in a few deep breaths. When I turn my head and look at her that fear is gone. She wants me to open up to her and I do, but it scares the shit out of me. The horror on her face when I tell her I’m the reason why Emily died is something I’m not ready to see. My chest tightens and in that moment she squeezes my hand. How does she do this? How can she simply hold my hand and I feel okay?

“I’m here, Treston and I’m not going anywhere.”

“My past,” I clear my throat, “It’s hard.” That’s all I manage to tell her.

“Will you tell me one day?”

I look at her, really look at her and realize that I don’t want to push her away. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I kiss the side of her head.

"One day I will.” Still holding her in my arms she listens to the song with me and remains quiet. I know it’ll make me feel better to open myself up.

Or maybe I’ll lose her.

I want to experience something new with her, but I can’t yet. When the song’s over we stand up, still holding hands, and walk toward the door. “Let's go."

When dinner's over, I don't want her to leave yet. Instead of heading back home with everyone, I take her to the field where I sometimes come and think. Sitting down in the middle, I look at her and see a smile.

"What?" I ask.

She looks at me then lifts her head to the sky. "I come here sometimes to think too. It's nice when it's just me and the fields. I press my hands into the grass and feel myself running with my lacrosse stick, passing by the defenders and aiming the ball toward the goal. It goes in every time."

"What else do you think about?"

"Life. Things. I don't know really. My mind goes everywhere and it's scary, sometimes." I listen to her talk and I want to tell her about Emily, but I don't. Looking at her, I know I don't deserve her. She's always happy and sometimes it's hard for me to get out of bed and not feel the world crushing me.

The two parts of my head are screaming at one. One part is telling me to go for it and the other part is screaming to stay away.

I can't stay away from her, though. My life is messed up and it's not going to get better. I try to forgive myself about that night. Since I can't forgive myself, even after two years, I can't be with her. I have to only think of her as a friend and protect her because she means that much to me.

"Treston?"

"Yeah?" Her small hand touches mine and my body relaxes. My mind is clear of the fog from the built up anger and sadness. Her simple touch can make me forget and it makes me want to let her in. All the way in.

"Why'd you leave practice today?"

I suck in a breath, "A friend keeps calling me and I had to finally take it. She's going through a lot and we both share the same pain, so I'm there for her like she is for me."

"So she knows what you're going through?"

"Yeah, I mean, we went through it together."

"Oh," is all she says.

I'm not sure how I should respond, or if I want to. Beth is a part of my past that I don't want to bring back to the surface, especially to Zara.

"Tell me something. I'll go first. I'm scared to play for Duke. In high school, I was the star and it felt good. Now I'm here, playing with the best of the best, and it scares me. People think that I'm this fearless girl who can rock on the field, but in reality, I'm just scared."

I decide to tell her one thing. "I'm scared of thunder." I close my eyes and remember that night.

"Emily! Stop!" I wave my arms in the air and hope to get her attention. What the hell is she doing out driving in the storm? "Emily!"

Out of nowhere, a tree falls in the middle of the road, causing her car to go off the road. The crunching sound of the metal resonates in the air.

"Emily!"

"Treston!" I feel her hands on my shoulders, shaking me back to the present. I open my eyes and find the softest blue eyes staring back at me. "You're okay." She hugs me tightly, whispering that it'll be okay and I let her. I don't fight her off me.

It's Friday night. Another party and a chance to hang out with Zara again. I look around for her, thinking she said she would be in the kitchen to meet me.

Me:
Where you at Peaches?

I turn around and see Henry handing her a drink, talking to her as if she's his. A growl climbs out of my chest and soon I'm by her side.

"What's up, Peaches?"

"Hey!" She smiles, her eyes on me, ignoring Henry. Good.

"Uh, Parker? We're having a conversation."

I turn to him, "And it's over." We walk to the pong table and I place my arm around her shoulders. All eyes are on us and I don't give a shit. People can stare at me all they want. I'm claiming Peaches as mine, so fuckers better stay away.

Her head rests on my shoulder and I feel her body relax. She takes a sip of the drink in her hand and I wonder if she's ever been drunk before.

"Take it easy tonight," I whisper to her and she nods her head.

We're up next against Jamie and Jackson.

"Ohhhh, battle of the exes," Ethan calls out.

"Not me," Jamie answers, "Never dated
The King
."

"You had your chance baby," I wink at her.

"Go easy on me, babe," Jackson calls out, "I'm still heartbroken."

Zara shakes her head and laughs, "Whatever, asshole."

The game starts and soon we're head to head. Both of us has one cup each and Zara's been swaying for the past few minutes. She opted to drink a mixed drink instead of beer and I'm pretty sure she's finished three red Solo cups.

Jackson aims and misses. "Yes!" Zara jumps up and down, taking the ball from me.

"You sure you got this?"

"Mmmm, definitely." She positions herself, cocks her head to the right and flicks the ball. It goes in. "Woooo!"

I get the ball, aim and release, scoring just like my girl. The crowd claps and Jackson rolls his eyes.

"Don't be a sore loser," Zara tells him.

"Rematch," he calls out.

"Fine." Zara turns to me, "Can you hold down the table? I have to use the bathroom."

"You okay?" She nods her head and walks away. We play again, but when it's my turn to toss the ball, I realize it's been a while since Zara's left and she should have been back by now. "I'll be back. Ethan, come play for me."

Heading upstairs, I see the bathroom door’s closed. Carefully opening it, I walk in and see her head in the toilet.

“Shit.” I run over and gather her long, soft blonde hair into my hands. Rubbing her back, I look around for a washcloth. Getting up, I grab one from the shelf, wet it with cold water and press it to her neck.

“That feels good,” she mutters in between her throw ups. “I’m sorry. I’ve never drank before and got carried away.” She snort laughs and rests her head on the toilet. “Oh my god! I can’t believe I did that!”

“Don’t be sorry, I think it’s cute.”

“Yeah, a girl snorting is real cute.”

“It is.”

She’s still resting her head on the toilet, but is now looking at me. “I'm so embarrassed." Her eyes are slightly closed and I wonder how drunk she is.