The Perfect Emotion (32 page)

“Kate,” he says with declaration and finality of some kind.  I know what he is wanting, but I can’t let that happen yet. 

“Reed,” I say through my shaky breathing and then I position my head back from his face to take in all his features. “It’s like olive juice,” I whisper so that he will more see the movement of my lips rather than hear me.

“What, what did you say?”  I can tell he isn’t quite sure what I said, but had thought that I may have said three words that he was considering saying a moment ago.

“It’s like olive juice,” I say louder and more clearly for him to hear me. 

He chuckles and crinkles his forehead up with a questioning look. Or maybe it’s a look confirming that I’m crazy. “Baby, I can assure you this is nothing like olive juice.”

“Yes, it is, trust me,” I giggle out the words as he tickles my bare sides.  “If you mouth out olive juice it looks like the person is telling you three other words.”  Suddenly, I feel very shy at the fact that I couldn’t even say those three words together in reference to something else. 
Please don’t make me say them I pray internally.

“Mouth it to me,” he demands.

“Olive juice,” I mouth to him silently.

“Well, no kidding. Okay, olive juice it is,” he says just before his lips hover in front of mine gently tickling them. His tongue begins to slip in the open space between my lips sending a shiver over my body. Once our lips begin to move together and our tongues dance my heart flutters like it never has before.

Our kiss is passionate, uninhibited, and loving.  Yes, loving, not the same as those three words but close… somewhere caught in
olive juice
.  Once the kiss ends Reed doesn’t press me about declaring my feelings and emotions anymore, which I am thankful for.  His only question is “Where did you learn that?” 

“My dad actually.  When I was a little girl he used to do that and it was our thing.  I always thought it was so funny and I loved that no one else knew it.”  I lie to his side and smile up at the ceiling recalling when he said it to me recently.

It was a couple days before I would return to campus and I was in my room packing things up.  Tears leaked down my face silently and I blinked rapidly to be able to try to rid myself of them.  My dad didn’t want me to go back to Milwaukee still even after all the progress I had made and efforts I made in repairing our family, especially with my mom.  He wanted me to stay home and go to community college.  We never fought, but since my mom had returned we disagreed and argued on more than one occasion.  Now my mom had become the mediator between us.  She had never had a role like this before.  Actually, that is what probably upset me most through all of
this,
our whole family had never had roles like this before.  I wiped at my face when I heard a light knock at my door that I knew would be coming.  Positioning myself to face my wall on the side of my bed I said, “Come in.”

“Katherine, it’s me
dad.  Sweetie, I’m sorry.”  The air going in his nose and out his mouth only made me feel like crying more.  “I want what’s best for you and what’s always going to be best for you is your safety and well being.  The situation with Kyle is not the only concern I have.  There is still the situation with mom being back and all of us adjusting.  And then for you to be back up-,” I turned around to face him and cut him off.

“Dad, stop please.  You are actually only making this harder on me.  I need your support.  I’ve been here and following through with everything, but now
its
time for me to face everything.  The thing is I was making a life outside of Kyle and the situation at home.”  My breathing escalated as the tears streamed freely down my face and my body shook.  In two steps my dad’s arms secured me to him.

After my breathing calmed and the tears dried up he loosened his grip on me. Hurt and sadness lingered in his eyes, but finally he said, “Okay, okay I understand.”

“Thank you, dad.
  I know I can do this,” I said shakily, but tried to sound strong.

“Well, I guess we both agree on that, but that doesn’t mean I won’t worry about you in the process. It’s my job, Katherine. You may be an adult now, but you will always be my child.” Smiling at him I laughed and shook my head. He started back towards the door.

Before he walked out all the way he turned back around, “Sweetie?” I removed my palms from eyes to look at him and he mouthed, “olive juice”.

A small smile stretched across my lips and I mouthed back to him, “olive juice”. 

“Why?”  I asked Reed as he placed a sweet kiss to my temple. 

“I worried for a moment that maybe it was… Kyle.” The way Kyle rolled off his tongue made my breath hitch. Anger, fury and even disgust were evident in his tone.

“Oh,” I said as I contemplated my next words.  I didn’t want Reed to ever worry about me bringing Kyle into our relationship in that kind of way.  Instead of shying away from telling him this I turned my head to his and said, “You don’t ever need to worry about me doing that.  This is our relationship.  Ours alone.”

“Good because I like it and want it to be ours… well, other than you with your dad,” he chuckled out. Kissing lightly I suddenly realized that we had been alone for well over an hour now. Maggie definitely should have been back.

I reached over to grab my cell phone and saw that almost three hours had past. 
Shit.
 
Maggie had sent a text hours ago.

I’ll be back after eleven. I put a do not disturb sign on door. ;) Mags

I felt a burn rising in my chest up to my cheeks knowing Maggie probably did try to come back, but heard us. Giggling I buried myself into my pillow.

“What?” Reed asked. I handed him the phone and he started cracking up.

“Well, I’m sure she’s been in worse compromising positions. Good though this gives me more time with you alone,” he said as he tickled my side and pulled me into his bare chest. The smell of masculinity and a little bit of pine filled me. The smell was light, but all Reed. “Now we can shower before she comes back.”

“Wait, I want to have you listen to something.”  I reached back for my phone and searched through my iTunes.  Once I found the song I hesitated before I hit play.  “This song reminds me of you.  Well, us.  I listened to it when I was back at home last semester all the time.  Do you know the song
Come On Get Higher
by
Matt Nathanson
?”  He shook his head knowingly.  “This version is by
Sugarland
.  I know you like country music.  I still don’t know a lot of country music, but I really like
Sugarland
.” 
He agreed with me and I hit play. Our fingers interlocked together and soon his thumb gently stroked my thumb. The words clearly vibrated from my phone saying things that I had difficulty saying. This song expresses how I felt during our time separated. Even right here and now it speaks volumes to my feelings.

The song came to an end and I ran my fingers through Reed’s hair. Swallowing over the lump that had formed during the song I kissed him on the forehead. “What did you think?” I asked nervously.

“I think it’s my new favorite song.”  My heart skipped a beat and my mind swirled with thoughts of new emotions… hope, desire, and
olive juice
.

C
HAPTER 23

Maggie did eventually come back to the room and the three of us talked.  She was very comfortable and open in front of Reed.  They really have become close with each other.  She talked about how she felt like a brick had been lifted from her chest since she broke things off with Brandon and that she told Marco she wants to take things slow, really slow.  I envied the way she presented everything so levelheaded.  She always has a way of keeping things real and practical.  For Maggie facing things right away and making firm decisions brings clarity in her life.  She explained that Marco wanted to fly out this coming weekend, but she firmly told him she needed to give this a little time and would see him when he was here in a couple weeks.  It sounded like if Marco had his way things would be different. 

Reed stayed the night and while I loved having him secured tightly next to me in my small twin sized bed I liked the size of his bed and the privacy of his room much more. He left early in the morning to get ready and head off to his classes. I found myself unfocused and daydreaming throughout the day. Words Reed whispered to me flitted through my head all day making me feel electric and wired. I’d twirl my tennis bracelet around my wrist remembering when he gave it to me. Our schedules conflicted today and I knew I wouldn’t get to see him during the day plus I have a night class.

As my night class ended I saw thick heavy raindrops pelt against the windows of the room. I regretted not bringing my umbrella instantly. There is no way that the hood on my coat would protect me from this storm. The building I’m in is old and faces out onto the main street on campus. Slowly with dread I head down the three levels of stairs to stand in the entryway with a group of students waiting to see if the rain would slow. I’m scrunched up in the back of the group and can only see from the top of the doors how fast and heavy the rain is coming down. Leaning against the wall I pull out my phone. Reed’s text pops up.

Come out. Reed

I shift around to see if I see him.  In front of me I hear a couple students commenting on a sports car out front.  One guy saying that it’s probably one of the most expensive Porsche’s available.  Smirking I push through the group and smile when I see Reed standing there with an umbrella.  He winks and gives me my favorite sexy smile.  Behind Reed I see a familiar black sports car with flashing lights.  Opening the doors I walk out under the umbrella and crash myself into his firmly planted body. I kiss his lips and slip my tongue just past his before retreating.

“Thank you,” I say loud enough for him to hear over the beating rain.

“Come on, get in.” He walks me to the passenger door and I get in almost completely dry. Reed gets in a little more wet though, but considering not too bad. I wipe some drops off his face and he grabs my hand to kiss it. Then we take off into traffic.

“Did you eat yet?” He asks as he shifts gears.

“No, I was going to pick something up at the cafeteria, but now I’ll just eat a can of soup or something in my room.” I ramble on carelessly when he interrupts me from continuing.

“I’d like to take you out for dinner instead.” I look down at my casual attire wondering where he has in mind. “You look great, like always. Actually, my dad is an investor in the restaurant I’m taking you to. Plus, look at how I’m dressed.” I glance over at his worn jeans, gym shoes and casual light coat only feeling slightly more secure. I suppress rolling my eyes because he’d look good in a cardboard box.

“Are you sure? What kind of restaurant is it?” I inquire further.

“Yes, I’m positive. It’s a steak house and they have really great baked potatoes.” He raises his eyebrows at me alluring me in even more.

“Hey, you remember!” I say as I tickle his side.

“Of course, I remember everything you like,” he says and winks at me quickly before focusing on pulling up to the restaurant valet. 

We make our way out of the rain and into the darkly lit restaurant. Before reaching the hostess stand Reed pulls me close and pecks me sweetly on my cheek. Brushing my hair away from my face and then running the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip as if anticipating me to bite at it he moves us towards the hostess stand.

“Hi, welcome, do you have a reservation with us tonight?”  I can tell the moment she really gets a good glance at Reed because her voice changes an octave and her cheeks begin to flush.  She looks to be about Reed’s age or a little older and is heavier set. 

“No, just the two of us, we’ll take-,” Reed says as another girl in the same attire approaches. She’s tall, thin and looks to be more in her thirties.

“This is Grant Harper, Alicia. I’ll take care of him,” she politely tells Alicia.

“Oh sorry, I didn’t realize,” Alicia speaks softly, but we hear her and it feels a little awkward.  I of course have to do a double take when Reed is called Grant. 

“Grant, honey, how are you?  This is a pleasant surprise.”

“I’m good, Bonnie.  We just finished classes for the day and I thought I’d bring my girlfriend here for a steak dinner instead of dorm food.  This is Kate.”  She smiles and holds out her dainty hand, which I shake graciously. 

“Nice to meet you, Kate.  You will love our steaks they are the best in the city.  Follow me, I’ll put you in the corner table in the back.”  Her friendly voice carried through the entryway and as we made our way through the restaurant over the free flowing conversation throughout.  Reed holds my hand tightly and rubs at my pinky finger as we weave through the back.  The restaurant had dark wood throughout and a golden glow from the lighting.  The front part is busy, but as we continue to walk through I can see that the back section is closed off.  Bonnie strides through saying hello to a few customers along the way and then takes off a fancy rope to escort us in the back.  The quietness contrasts the even and steady hum of voices up front. 

“Okay, I’ll send one of the servers out to in just a minute.  Nice to meet you, Kate.  And looks like I’ll be seeing you on Saturday night, Grant.  Enjoy,” Bonnie said subtly before heading off back to the kitchen area.  Curiosity, hummed through me about why Reed would be here Saturday night and the use of his name Grant.  Reed or maybe its Grant, pulled my chair out for me and I sat taking in the atmosphere.

The restaurant decor held an upscale sophistication to it. When I looked at the customers in the main dining room though I could see some dressed up and other who looked really nice, but in jeans. Running my hands over my jean threaded thighs I felt underdressed like I thought I would. Reed reaches under the table and catches one of my hands in mid-motion.