The Boy I Love (Falling for You #2) (6 page)

“Yeah, get out of the way, Todd!” Alexis cried. 

“Nope. I think you both need to calm down and tell me what’s going on here.”

“Why aren’t you at work?” I asked, miffed.

Alexis huffed. “Don’t you talk to my boyfriend that way!”

Todd blew out a breath and then spoke. “It’s okay, honey,” he said to Alexis and then turned toward me. “I just went to pick up my check, and then had to come back. I left my ID on the dresser.”

I folded my arms on my chest and shook my head. “Tell your girlfriend to stay away from Payton.”

“I don’t have to do what you say, Keri. You’re no longer dating him, so he’s a free agent.”

Just the thought of her saying that made me want to pound her face in, with or without Todd blocking her.

“Now just wait a minute,” Todd said, and then turned toward Alexis. “What’s going on?”

Alexis’s features softened. “I called Payton a few nights ago to make sure he was okay, that’s all. He was sad, I just told him not to give up.”

I gasped at that. “Why would you do that?”

“Because we’re friends, you idiot! You were upset, but you love the guy. I know you do, you know you do; hell, even Todd knows you do!”

“I broke up with him!”

“You did, and you needed to, but that doesn’t mean it won’t all work out in the end.” Alexis grabbed Todd’s hand and squeezed. A few tears escaped my eyes.

“I don’t want to date him anymore, and now you’ve done this.”

“But you are still going home for Christmas?” Alexis asked, and quirked her eyebrow up.

“Yeah, because my mom lives there!”

“No, I don’t buy it, Ker. You are hung up on him, but you just haven’t dealt with everything that goes with it yet.”

“Oh, so you know me better than I do apparently,” I said sarcastically. I shook my head and headed toward the door. I didn’t want to be in the same room with Alexis.

“I do, and I know you’d do the same thing for me if the role was reversed.”

“What, butt in, you mean?”

Alexis laughed in disgust and pulled Todd toward their bed. “Grow up, Keri.”

“You first,” I said childishly as I pulled the door open and slammed it on its hinges.

***

Payton

I
read the instant messages over and over, and smiled. She wasn’t over me. She had to have had some kind of feelings for me, even if she wouldn’t admit it. She did say she missed me, and I missed her so much. I finished my work hours ago, and had a couple more hours until I had to go back out and feed the animals again.

Ranching was a constant job. There weren’t any vacation days, or spontaneous outings, but it was rewarding, and I liked everything that had to do with It since I was just a kid. Everything except being away from her.

She didn’t understand how hard it was for me to be here, all the way in Texas, and for her to be in Ohio. Ohio felt like a whole other continent. It may as well have been for all of the distance she’d put between us.

But she emailed me, and she said she missed me. Life was good.

I pulled up my mail and put her information in, and looked to see if she was on the internet. She wasn’t, so I just started typing.

Keri,

Hey there. I just wanted you to know that I was thinking of you. I really do miss you a lot. Today I worked on the old tractor, and I think I finally fixed it. You know the rusty one that dad always says works, but hasn’t ran in years?  Yep, it’s running now. I used it this afternoon. You should’ve seen the look on dad’s face. I’m still smiling—hours later.

Mom says hi, by the way. I haven’t been over to your mom and dad’s for a few days, but I saw your mom in town the other day. She looks like she’s doing well.

I bet she can’t wait for you to come home for Christmas. I know I can’t.

When you come home, I was thinking we could go out and see the new Star Wars movie. Let me know.

Yours,

Payton        

I finished typing the last of my email and then closed my laptop and lay back into the pillows with a smile on my face. I had to think of something to get Keri for Christmas. Something that would hopefully make up for the last few weeks of stupidity. I’d acted like a total ass, and I knew it.

***

Keri 

I
arrived at the library for my shift thirty minutes early.  I didn’t want to go back to my dorm room for fear of running into Alexis and Todd again. Of course, I’d eventually have to go back there, but I didn’t want to do it so soon.

I still couldn’t believe Alexis called Payton. There had to be a rule against that in some girl code dictionary or something. I don’t think I’ve ever been so mad at anyone. Even Payton.

Payton.

I walked over to the student computers and put my student number in the login. Once I was in, I pulled up m y email account, and right away I saw that Payton sent me a message.

He missed me. He still couldn’t wait until I came home for Christmas. He saw my mom at the grocery store. He asked me out on a date.

He just didn’t get it.

We weren’t dating.  We were just friends.

Stupid Alexis had to give him some kind of hope. I wanted to smash her skull into the nearest boulder.

I typed my reply.

Pay,

What’s up. Glad to see that you got the old tractor working. I bet your dad’s relieved. Those things are expensive.

Say hi to your mom for me.

Alexis and I are going to see the movie in a few weeks.  I’ll let you know how it ends…

Keri

I pushed send and cringed
at how cold my email was. I had no interest in Star Wars whatsoever, and I certainly wasn’t going to see it with the traitor, Alexis! I didn’t want Payton to think we were going to just date when we got home. I didn’t want to date him. I just wanted to go back to being friends.

Alexis didn’t know me. 

She shouldn’t have butted into my life. Now Payton thought he had a chance, and she gave him hope.

Ugh.

I just logged out when I heard my name being called.

“Keri, Ker, Ker,” a masculine voice came toward my ear. I turned and “Jessop the Manbrarian” came into view.

He looked extra good. Khacki pants, black polo shirt, hair brushed back with his sexy black framed glasses making him look all ‘Clark Kent’.

“Hey,” I said, laughing. Okay so it was a bit flirty, but I was allowed to flirt. I wasn’t dating Payton. I was nineteen-years old and I was single.

“So, you ready to get your literature on?”

“I am.”

“I love confidence. So, I had fun playing the lit game last night. Want to make the time go by faster again?”  Jessop smiled and I couldn’t help myself I just stared at his mouth as if it was mesmerizing. 

“Ye…yeah. Let’s.”

He bumped his shoulder into mine like we were pals. I stiffened.

“You first though.”

“Okay,” I said, thinking of something to ask. “Okay, in 2015 what author put out a book about the twin towers and other disasters involving terrorism and made it a mystery book?”

  Jessop thought for a few seconds and then grinned. “Agatha something. She’s Polish.”

“Yeah, but what’s her last name?” I asked, and walked with Jessop toward the return carts. He skipped ahead of me and then turned around.

“Rae?”

“Yep. Nice. Your turn.”

“How old was EL James when she started writing
Fifty Shades of Grey
?”

  My face reddened at the mention of the book and I thought of Jessop tying my hands above my head and using the brown flogger.

Jessop saw my reaction and laughed. “What’re you thinking about there, Ker Ker?” Jessop asked, using Payton’s playful nickname for me.

  I laughed gruffly and shook my head. “Nothing.”

“Yeah, right. So…”

“Um, let me think. I saw this on a Twitterview a few months  back…”

“Give up?”

“You wish,” I said, and then picked up one of the books. It needed to go into the P section. “Hmm…. I think 45 was when she started writing fan fiction.”

“I can’t believe you even know that.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, laughing.

“I just wanted to see if you’d blush.  You did, so I won that question.”

My face reddened even more. “I didn’t know this was a contest.”

“I don’t know the answer to the last question, by the way, I just thought it would be funny if you squirmed a bit. But, you’re a bookworm just like me, so this is going to be a little harder than I thought.”

“Har har,” I replied and then shelved the Diana Palmer book.  She was one of my favorite romance authors.

“Your turn,” Jessop said as he shelved a James Patterson novel.

“Okay, what is book two of the Terry Goodkind,
Wizard’s First Rule
series called?”

“That’s easy.
Stone of Tears.
I can’t believe you know Goodkind!”

“I can’t believe you do.” And I couldn’t. Terry Goodkind was my favorite fantasy author next to JK Rowling.  “I love The Confessor.”

“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t,” Jessop said.  “I seriously can’t believe you know those books. You’re the first girl that I’ve ever talked to that does.”

“Yep I sure do.  Your turn.”

Jessop picked up two more James Patterson books and placed them in order then looked into my eyes. “What’s your favorite Xanth novel?”

I grinned. “Wow, I haven’t thought of those in a long time.”

“I knew you had to have read them. I swear we are the same person only you’re the female version.”

“I’d have to say
A Spell for Chameleon
.”

Jessop put his hand up to his chest and swooned. “A girl after my own heart.”

I grinned, and then shook my head.  He had a girlfriend. This was just nerdy stuff. Nerd flirting. Nothing serious. He had a girlfriend.  I kept chanting the ‘he had a girlfriend’ thing over and over.

It didn’t help.

I had a crush.

Chapter Six

*Use the Force…*

Keri

I
got off of work fifteen minutes earlier than I was scheduled, so Jessop offered to take me back to my dorm. In his car!

I was so nervous. More nervous than I had ever been. I, Keri Richards, had a crush on someone else’s boyfriend.  I sat stiff in the passenger seat and didn’t say a word. I was nervous. The small space was getting to me, and I was afraid I would say something stupid like blurt out the fact that I thought he was the sexiest thing since sliced bread or something, and he’d just remind me that he had a girlfriend and I was his friend. His clone, only in girl form, Jessop 2.0.

“You okay over there?” he asked, and he tapped me on the shoulder. I felt the zing again and flinched. He grinned.

“You don’t have to be so nervous.”

“I’m not,” I said, and then fiddled with my hands as if that were perfectly normal and not just a nervous reaction.

“Yes you are, and it’s cute.”

I turned my head so fast that I nearly go whiplash. “Huh?”

“You, you’re cute, but I have a girlfriend.”

I closed my eyes and could feel my skin heat. I don’t think I’d ever felt so incredibly stupid in my life. “Yeah…I know.”

“You know you’re cute?” Jessop teased.

I closed my eyes once more and nervously laughed. “No, I know you have a girlfriend.”

“It’s just as well anyway. You know how the old saying goes, opposites attract. We’d drive each other crazy.  But, we’ll make the best of friends.”

I swallowed.  Friends. Yep. Makes sense. “Yeah.”

Jessop laughed again. “Don’t make this uncomfortable. I think you’re cute, I know you think I’m cute, and now that we both know and it’s all out on the table, we’ll be able to talk and have fun at work without the whole sex thing over our heads.”

The way Jessop said that last part was so matter of factly that I almost choked. “What?!”

“You know, the whole sex thing. Sex just gets in the way, and since we obviously won’t be having it, and you know it and I know it, we’ll be able to relax.”

“But I’ve…”

“Really?” he asked, his eyes wide. “I can hardly believe that someone as cute as you has never…”

“I didn’t…”

“So you have?”

“I…” I bit my lip and knew I was so incredibly red that I could barely speak. “I…”

“Don’t sweat it. So, you need a ride to work tomorrow?”

I couldn’t believe he could be so casual about all of this. I hurriedly shook my head. He laughed.

“Friends?” he asked, and put his hand out. I swallowed then took his hand in mine. He shook and I felt the zing and he laughed once more at my reddened face. “I miss this,” he said and then touched my cheeks. “My Gloria used to blush all the time, and now she…” He let the last bit trail off, and I looked away. He dropped his hand.

He cleared his throat. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I nodded, and then got out as quickly as I could without making an even bigger fool of myself.

***

Payton

I
logged onto my email and read her email three times. She sounded cold, and withdrawn. She didn’t want to see the movie… She just gave quick little answers without giving anything personal away.

She changed, and I hadn’t. I was still the same old Payton, and she was different. She was in college, experiencing new things, different cultures, different people…different relationships.

I shook my head. No. She wasn’t dating anyone. She’d just broken up with me, and there wasn’t enough time for her to have found someone yet. Was there?

I quickly shut my laptop down and headed down the ladder in the tree fort. I didn’t want to hang around waiting to see if she’d send me another email. She wouldn’t. I wouldn’t either.   What was the point? She’d be home in another week, and instead of torturing myself with the whole will she or won’t she, I’d just wait. Wait for Christmas. Everything would be better by then. She’d be here with me in the fort, in my arms, and we’d kiss. She’d fall for me again, and then we’d forget about all of the little misunderstandings.

***

I walked up the stairs to my dorm room, nearly forgetting all about the fight that Alexis and I were in earlier. Nearly.

Alexis stood in the doorway when I entered and she had her arms opened wide. I thought about ducking under them, but saw her face first. She was sorry. I felt my throat clog, and put my arms out, too.

“I’m sorry,” we said in unison, and I blew out a deep breath. “I’m really sorry,” I said once more.

“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called Payton. I shouldn’t have said those horrible things.”

“I was the horrible one,” I admitted. “I’ve been all over the place with the feelings for Payton. I don’t what’s wrong with me.”

“You’re in love,” Alexis said, and then sighed. “Love makes us so stupid.”

I shook my head. “No, I’m not in love. I… I kind of have a crush on Jessop.”

Alexis removed her arms from me and moved back. “Seriously? You still can’t see it?”

“What?”

“You have the opposite of love goggles on. I don’t know what happened to you, but you need to lose the whole ‘I have a crush on Jessop thing’.  I told you, he has a girlfriend.”

“I know,” I said, and then sighed. “He’s just perfect for me.”

“He’s boring,” Alexis said and then walked toward the couch. She plopped down and grabbed a bag of chips off the stand next to her.

“He’s not boring,” I defended. How could she say that?  Even Jessop knew that we had loads in common.

“You two wouldn’t last. You have too much in common.”

“So you’re saying I’m boring now?” I asked, somewhat miffed.

“With the book stuff, yeah, but not usually.  Payton’s your opposite. You two just burn together.”

I knew what she was talking about. Payton and I had a connection. But I felt a zing with Jessop.

“I felt a zing earlier.”

“With the Manbrarian? I don’t think so.”

“I did!” I cried, and then sat next to Alexis on the couch, Indian style. 

“No.  You think you felt a zing, but you didn’t.”

“I think I know what a zing feels like, Alexis,” I said, and then rolled my eyes.

“I don’t think that you do,” Alexis said, and then popped a chip in her mouth. The door opened and Todd came in wearily. He had a bag in his hand and held it out straight.

“I come in peace,” he said, and Alexis and I started laughing.

“What’s in the bag?” I asked.

“Crème sticks.”

“Oh, Todd, I love you so much,” Alexis said and Todd’s eyes softened.

“I love you, too, baby,” he said, and then handed the bag to Alexis. “There’s enough for all of us.  Sorry about earlier, you two.”

“I’m sorry,” I apologized. “I was crazy this afternoon.”

“This afternoon?” Todd joked, and then sat on the couch, Alexis pushing me further to the right.

“Yeah. Sorry about that. Anyway, can we just agree to disagree?” I asked, looking at Alexis.

She popped another chip in her mouth.

“He kind of flirted with me tonight,” I said, feeling the need to defend the whole ‘Jessop thing’.

Alexis’s eyes widened. “No he didn’t.”

“Yeah, he kind of did. He even called me cute.”

“What did you say?”  Alexis asked.

“I didn’t say anything. He then said he had a girlfriend, and then said that it was just as well as we were too alike.”

“Smart man,” Alexis said, popping another chip in her mouth. I grabbed for one of the crème sticks.

“He’s taken; he has to say that.”

“No, it’s true. You’d get bored with someone that’s just like you all of the time.”

Todd grinned and leaned in to kiss Alexis. He and Alexis were complete opposites in every way. I sighed and sat back into the couch cushions, thinking of the last email I sent to Payton.