That Girl (20 page)

Before I have the chance to answer, Lincoln jumps in. “Does it matter, Mom? You know it will never be good enough in your eyes.” He clenches my hand tightly under the table. “I love Oakley, and she loves me. What her parents do and where she comes from don’t fucking matter.”

Mr. Wilks puts his wineglass down with more force than necessary. “Watch your mouth, son.”

I’ve never in my life been in a room with so much animosity. It’s all bottled up in each person. You can see what each one desires, but nobody is willing to give in. A beautiful woman strolls into the dining room, causing me to flinch. It only takes me moments to realize she’s the one serving our food. In an odd way she provides me with one more distraction to stare at. I watch as she serves each one of us with the most obedient mask.

Stirring around my salad, I try convincing my stomach to calm down so I can force a few bites in. The last thing I want to do is offend Elaine by not eating her meal.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Elaine asks, “So, what are you majoring in, Oakley?”

She’s relentless.

“Why don’t you ask about your son and leave her alone?” Lincoln shouts, leaning forward in his seat.

“I have no idea why you always have to be so stubborn,” Elaine replies.

Silence descends again, and it seems as if we can all eat without any further inquisition. The salad is delightful once I’m able to focus on eating.

“After the break, we’ll be analyzing the number one collegiate defense in the nation and their leader, Lincoln Wilks. This young athlete is set to break records and tear apart any offense he faces. That and much more. Stay tuned.”

The words of the commentator fill the perfectly decorated room. Peeking out the corner of my eye, I notice Lincoln’s locked jaw. I wait a few moments for either his dad or mom to speak up and possibly congratulate their son, but it never comes. They seem to be perfectly happy with their meticulous home, choosing to forgo all emotions dealing with their son. My heart falls out of my chest with the realization of their actions, and everything inside me wants to shake them like ragdolls.
How can they not see Lincoln for who he is?
In my book, he’s way more precious and valuable than any piece of art or fine china in the house. Yes, house because by no means could this institution ever be classified as a home. Lincoln’s dad excuses himself from the table, making his way to the couch to watch the highlight on ESPN in the comfort of the living room.

“Go,” I whisper to Lincoln, urging him to go sit with his dad.

“Come with me?” he asks.

Standing up and holding Lincoln’s hand, I say to Elaine, “Thank you for the meal. It was delightful. I’m not a college student and don’t have any fancy last name or pedigreed past, but I do love your son. He’s everything to me and has helped me survive some very difficult times.”

I nudge Lincoln to go join his dad while I wait for a response from his mother. She still sits in disbelief, fork poised in midair, and I’m not sure if it’s from my words, Lincoln’s attitude, or the ESPN coverage. I’m guessing it’s a combination of all of it.

The fork hits the lace tablecloth with a muffled clatter. “You’re not good enough for him. I’ll never allow it.” The expression in her eyes is stone cold.

“Too bad you don’t get a say whether it happens or not.” I hold her gaze until she huffs and reaches for her wine.

Instead of engaging the woman any further, I walk away to join Lincoln on the couch. He’s sitting across from his dad, and neither of them are speaking to each other. I want to go slap his dad upside the head and tell him to fucking be proud of his son.

We continue to sit in silence as the highlight plays out before us on the T.V. So many plays of Lincoln’s are featured. In some of them he’s the star of the play, but several are him assisting. Not once is it mentioned who is father or brother is. They even cut to a clip where he was interviewed after a game. The pride covering his face lights up the room, and I even see his dad crack a smile.

“You’re having a good season, son. We’ll be at the game Thursday. San Diego has an offense, though. Probably the first real one you’ve seen all season. Hope you can keep up.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Lincoln sounds both grateful and suspicious of his father’s faint praise. “We’re gonna head out.” he says as he stands and pulls me up beside him.

“See ya, son. You better tell your mom goodbye,” his dad replies, making no eye contact.

Lincoln walks toward the dining room to find his mom, and I let him know I’ll be waiting in the truck. There’s nothing else I have to say to that woman, and I certainly don’t need to take any more of her snide remarks. Sometimes in life there are situations where silence is best.

Moments later, Lincoln walks out the front door with his mom hot on his heels. I can’t hear what is being said, but she’s enraged and yelling. Lincoln finally throws his hands up in the air and walks away from her.

Slamming his door and peeling out, he screams, “I fucking hate them! I wish they’d just stay in fucking Dallas. I don’t need their sympathy visits.”

“She told me I’m not good enough for you, and basically she’ll never allow us.”

“She what?” he roars.

I place a reassuring hand on his thigh. “It’s fine. I stood up for myself. I told her it wasn’t her choice.”

He gives a terse nod and looks straight ahead. “I will not lose you, Oakley.”

“You have four days to get your head on straight to play the game of your life. You’ll have your dad and mom in the stands. Show them. Show them the real you who loves defense and a no name girl, and the you who plays with his whole heart and is always leading his team. It will be your time. So, let the anger go.” I stroke his leg gently and soften my voice. “I love you, Lincoln.”

“I want a pizza. That food was shit. I’ve always hated the gourmet shit Mom likes.”

“That a boy,” I laugh, knowing Lincoln is fighting with all his might to make it.

Lincoln damn near devoured a whole pizza by himself, and is now watching some shoot ‘em up, blow ‘em up movie on T.V. He’s relaxed, clothed only in shorts, with his arm propped back under head.

“Like what you see?” he asks.

Totally busted for staring, I just laugh and reply, “Slightly.”

“Come here,” he says, dragging me on top of him.

“Stay the night with me?” I ask as I conform my body to his.

“Baby, I can’t…”

“Please,” I interrupt.

“Oakley Ann.”

“I need you. I’m ready for you. All of you.”

Getting up, I turn off the T.V., lower the lights, and grab my phone. I know exactly how I want this to work. Selecting the Oakley playlist, I turn the volume all the way up and crawl back on Lincoln. The first song begins to play in the dimly lit room, and I don’t recognize it. This is the first time I’ve listened to it.

“I need you,” I whisper again.

“It’s called
Endlessly
by Green River Ordinance. It reminds me of how I feel for you.”

I put my lips against his ear and say, “I want you.”

Lincoln rises and flips me over.

“I’m in charge, and once I start I won’t be able to stop, Oakley. I’ve wanted to bury myself in you for months now. One nod from you, and it’s on.”

“I love you, Lincoln,” I say, nodding, fully aware of what it means.

The next thing I hear is my top being ripped from me, and I feel his lips on my skin. Next my bra is torn off and tossed over his shoulder as he begins kissing every square inch of my exposed flesh. My hips dance to his rhythm, and the familiar longing for him is back.

“Lincoln, now, please. I need you in me now.”

“It might hurt,” he says, raising his head.

“Lincoln,” I wail.

I feel his fingers race down to my core and begin working me over, and I find myself bucking and riding his hand. The want is clear in his eyes, but so is the fear of pushing me too far in the wrong direction. Taking the lead, I grab his arm and pull him from inside me and sit up enough to slide his shorts down. Pulling him back down to the bed with me, I feel him in his full glory.

Grabbing both sides of his face, I speak very clearly. “Now.”

Every movement on the bed is amplified as Lincoln slides into me inch by inch.

“Is it okay?”

“All of you,” I sigh. “I want all of you. The football star, the goofy boyfriend, and the broken son.”

With my words, Lincoln pushes all the way into me, and I cry out. The sensation of being fully intertwined with Lincoln is beyond overwhelming. Tears flow down my cheeks as he works his way in and out.

“Don’t stop, Lincoln,” I plead.

Music fills the room, and each song that comes on is more perfect than the last. All I can hear are the words love, forever, and always as an undying theme floating through the air. My hips finally find the same rhythm as his, and every time I push up into him I get closer and closer to falling over the edge.

“Fuck, Oakley, I love you. I fucking love you so much.”

“Oh my God, don’t stop. Don’t stop,” I gasp as I begin to climax.

Up on my elbows, with my head thrown back and hips pushed up as far as I can, I feel Lincoln’s teeth bite down on my nipple, and I completely fall out of control.

Moments later, he collapses on me.

“Stay with me?” I ask one more time.

“I’m here, Oak.”

Chapter 15

Us at 1,014 Miles

“Why aren’t Tiny and Jewels coming?” I ask again.

“Tiny wants to go to a party.”

“And you don’t?” Not that I’m complaining.

“No, I want a quiet night with my girl.”

I study his face for clues. “But why?”

“Quit being a little shit,” he finally says, slapping my leg.

Lincoln is taking me to some small town outside of Fort Collins for a Halloween Harvest Festival. He told me his grandmother used to take him every year when he was growing up, and it’s one of his favorite childhood memories. Over the last month we’ve avoided the college party crowd, and I know the only reason is to reduce Monica run-ins. Secretly, I love being us and not trying to fit in the college scene. We’ve had plenty of double dates with Jewels and Tiny, and lots of team meals.

I managed to survive the game with his parents and the couple days afterward. His dad finally warmed up to me when we saw him after the San Diego game, but he was never openly proud of Lincoln. His mom, on the other hand, is a straight hot mess. Her bitchiness and dramatics were out of control. I kept my distance and used Lincoln as a shield.

The team has only one loss on their record. It was a well-fought battle, but devastating for everyone. They’ve rallied back and haven’t lost since, with three more games in the regular season before conference championships. There’s a lot of nervousness floating around in the air. I have absolute faith that Lincoln and the team are going to dominate the rest of the season, and I make sure to tell him so as often as I can.

“So, where are we going?” I inquire again.

“Oakley Ann.” He’s starting to sound a bit annoyed.

“I’m not kidding. Seriously, I’m listening now. Full attention, boss.”

He chuckles. “Your damn head is lost in football more often than mine, I swear.”

“Well, you have me dressed up as a little cheerleader, so I think I should have the right to know where we’re going.”

“The coolest town around. It’s a little piece of heaven about forty-five minutes out. Last year when I went, there was this little place called The Shop. You’ll love it. It’s a coffee shop with tons of girly shit. The whole town consists of one main road, and all the businesses shut down to do trick or treating. Then there’s a huge bonfire down by the lake with music and food.”

“Fun. So is there a costume contest, or why did we dress up?”

“It’s Halloween, and we dressed up because you’ll feel like a fool if you don’t. Everyone dresses up.”

“You better not be shitting me,” I tease, “or you’ll be cut off for weeks.”

“I think I liked it better when Jenni was teaching you oral skills, not sexual punishment tactics.”

“How much longer until we get there?”

“Let me guess, you have to pee?”

“Yep.” I squirm a bit in my seat for emphasis.

“Hang tight, we’ll be there in ten or so.”

I lay my head on his shoulder and watch as the mile markers tick by and take a moment to think about everything that has happened over the last couple years. Never in my wildest dreams would I guess I’d be sitting here next to a man I love.

The day I decided to leave home and never return, I wanted nothing but a blank and shallow life. I wanted to live in the shadows and never be noticed. It just goes to show your life is never mapped out to a certain destination. Circumstances change, people evolve, and shit happens. This time it all happened in my favor, and I’d be lying if I said wasn’t scared. I wake up every morning in a panic knowing today might be the day I lose Lincoln. It could be the day the inevitable barriers will finally succeed and break us up. Each night, I lay my head on my pillow listening to his playlist, and I very quietly thank God for giving me one more day with him.

“Here it is,” he announces, pulling me out of my head and back into the moment.

We pull into a very small town. Basically it’s one street, filled with old brick buildings and streetlights.

“We’re going to park on this end of town and walk down the main road and then out to the bonfire. Sound good?” He pulls into a lot and eases the truck into a spot.

“Perfect,” I reply.

Hopping out of his truck, I feel a bit foolish in the tiny cheerleading costume and tug it down in all the right places.

“I don’t think so,” he growls, grabbing the hem of my skirt and pulling it back up, then sliding his hands down to cup my ass.

“I’ve always wanted to bang a cheerleader in the bed of this truck.”