Page 44 of We Thought We Were Invincible
I watched as she threw her head back, laughing at something the man on her left said. That smile she wore was just for him. He was faceless, but a warmth radiated out from him.
That board she rode, I recognized it and a twisting in my gut began.
She raised her face to the sun, basking in its glow on her skin. She was happy.
Then she looked at me, a look filled with love and regret.
“Callie,” she said.
I jolted awake, tears stinging my eyes. I didn't let them fall. When my gaze landing on the broken board, it hardened. I couldn't think about that.
But what about the faceless man? It wasn't the first time I'd dreamed about him. By now, I knew who he was supposed to be. My father. The man I'd never met. Mom told me a long time ago that he left her and us, but I couldn't shake the look of bliss on her face from my dreams. Had she loved him?
I closed my eyes, trying to shake those images out of my head. I was putting way too much stock in a dream, but I couldn't stop myself from wanting to put a face on that man. Was I crazy? Didn't everyone want to know their father? No, not father. Sperm donor. That was a better term for someone who'd left.
Aunt Kat always said she didn't know much, but I wondered how true that was.
I looked up as my door opened. Jamie's tentative smile took me out of my own thoughts.
“Hi.” My voice was more breathless than I'd have liked.
He shut the door and was kneeling by the bed in a matter of seconds. He kissed me, but I pushed him away.
“Dude, I haven't even brushed my teeth yet.”
“I don't care.” He held my face between his hands and kissed me again.
“Ew.” I laughed, rolling away from him and standing on my good leg.
He ran to the other side of the bed and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Must be nice to be a slacker.”
“Ummm…” I pointed to my leg. “Injured. Almost died. Ring a bell?”
“Slacker,” he breathed against my lips.
“What are you even doing in here? Colby might find out.”
“Relax.” He laughed. “He thinks I'm in the bathroom.”
“Then you should go.” I shoved at him.
“Nuh uh, one more kiss.”
My lips parted, and he took that as an invitation to explore, his tongue rough and demanding against mine.
I was breathless when he finally released me, winking as he left my room.
Sinking back onto the bed, I tried to wrap my head around what was happening. That had been Jamie, right? Jamie Daniels? Since when did he make my heart race like this? The boy I'd spent so long not liking. The one who was arrogant and self-centered. The one with an ego the size of Florida.
Well, I thought.That was one way to take my mind off everything else.
* * *
Jamie and Colbyleft for school, but Kat allowed me to stay home. She also gave me the day off from the diner. My leg wasn't that bad and I probably could've gone, but who was I to complain?
Still in my pajamas, I relaxed into the couch and flipped through channels. Boredom soon enveloped me and I decided to take a long bath, hanging my freshly stitched leg out of the tub.
It soothed my aching muscles. I'd been thrashed pretty thoroughly the day before. Other events kept me from thinking about it too deeply. Jamie's lips on mine as he realized I was okay came to mind. The two were connected now. The sinking, drowning feeling and the relief of his warmth. The terror of losing control and the thrill of being under his control.
