Faster We Burn

I’m not buying that. You’re into her.”
    “Well, we do have a sort of…arrangement.” I figured he was a smart enough guy to read between the lines.
    “Arrangements often turn into something else. Be careful, kid. Those Hallman women have a way of infiltrating your life until you can’t see anything but them. How do you think Kayla got that ring on her finger?” He took another swig and looked at me.
    I was saved from forming an answer with the arrival of a grumpy-faced Katie.
    “Did you bring your stuff to stay the night?” she said, leaning on the back of the couch.
    “Yeah, it’s in my car.”
    She gave me a tight smile.
    “Great, I’ll help you bring it in.” She pivoted on her heel and headed for the front door.
    “Better get on that,” Adam said to me as Kayla walked over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
    I nodded and walked toward the front door where Katie was waiting for me.
    “What was that about?” I said.
    “Oh, nothing. Just my mom being judgmental.” She wrenched the door open and stomped down the porch. I grabbed her arm and made her sit down on the steps.
    “It’s about me, isn’t it?” It was only a matter of time. I was surprised it hadn’t come up earlier. I guess I had Kayla and her announcement to thank for that.
    Katie growled and banged her hand on the step. I’d never seen her this frustrated before. It was kind of cute and also a huge turn-on. Frustrated sex was something we hadn’t tried. Yet.
    “She just pisses me off. When I dated Zack she rolled out the red carpet for him. He brought her flowers and kissed her ass and she bought every second of it. You know, she doesn’t really believe that he hurt me as bad as he did. Even though she saw it.” I couldn’t believe that. It just wasn’t possible.
    “So she thinks you’re lying? That you did it to yourself? Because that’s pretty fucked up.”
    “No.” She dug her fingers into her eyes, and I pulled her hands away and held onto them. “She just bought what he sold her. This all-American guy who was going to be my one true love. The perfect boyfriend. I guess she’s just having a hard time letting go of that.”
    “But why? Why does she want that for you so much?” I rubbed my thumbs over the backs of her hands, trying to do anything I could to make this better for her.
    “Because that’s what she and Dad were. High school sweethearts. Captain of the football team and the captain of the cheering squad. It sounds like a movie, but that’s how it happened for them. I know they fight a lot, but they really love each other. It’s not crazy that she would want that for me.” No, it wasn’t, I guess.
    “But what about what you want?” I let go of one of her hands, pulled a pen out of my back pocket where I always kept one and started doodling on the back of her hand. She looked down for a second, but didn’t stop me. Her sleeves hid the place where I’d done the drawing before, but I was sure she’d probably already washed it off.
    “That doesn’t factor in as much,” she said, holding still.
    “That’s a shame.”
    I could feel her watching me as I swept the tip of the pen across her skin.
    “I shouldn’t be bitching about my parents, especially in front of you.”
    I shook my head.
    “It’s okay, Katie. I want you to tell me what you’re feeling. Whatever that is. Your feelings are important. Never forget that.” I looked up from my drawing and gave her a quick smile before going back to work.
    “Adam seems nice,” I said, trying to shift the conversation onto less-volatile ground.
    “I knew she was seeing some guy, but I had no idea it was this serious. Mom’s thrilled that he’s going to be a doctor, of course. But seriously, who does that? She’s only known him for a few months.” She shifted closer to me, using me as a shield to block some of the wind that was whipping leftover leaves around the yard.
    “Maybe it’s real,” I said, moving the design up to her wrist.
    “I should hope it’s real. She’s marrying him.”
    Leaning her head down to see the design better, she breathed in my ear.
    “You’re really talented, Stryker.”
    “Thanks, sweetheart. You make a good canvas.” I tilted my head and found her mouth nearly touching mine. She smiled slowly and pressed her lips against mine tentatively. As if she’d never kissed me before. As if we were two teenagers coming home after a date and neither of us had the guts to kiss the other, but she decided to go