FADING (A novel)(3)

“I’ll call you so we can set something up.”

“Okay, that sounds good. Thanks for the drinks. I had a really nice time.”

“Me too. Goodnight, Candace.”

“Night, Jack.”

I watch him walk back to his car, and I turn to open the door. Instead, the door handle jerks out of my hand, and I stumble to my knees inside the house.

“What the hell, Kimber?!”

Nodding her head towards the door, she questions, “Mmm hmm . . . what was that all about?”

Pushing myself off the floor to stand, I look at her with an annoyed expression on my face, “What was what all about?”

“Him kissing you on the cheek. Lame.” She scrunches up her nose in disgust. “Who does that?”

“God, whatever. And you didn’t have to watch him kiss me. I swear your voyeurism knows no limits.”

“Well?” she continues, staring at me with her way too curious, blue eyes.

“Ooh, leave me alone,” I sigh. “I might have been wrong about him. He’s a pretty decent guy. I think we might try and get together again. We’ll see.” I walk to my bedroom to change clothes, and Kimber follows me. She lies across my bed while I put on a pair of cut-off sweat shorts and a cami.

I watch Kimber as she stares up at the ceiling in deep thought with her wavy blonde hair fanned out around her. Kimber is beautiful, and she knows it. She’s fit but has been blessed with feminine curves, where I have more of a straight, lean body. Typical ballerina form.

Still staring at the ceiling, she says, “Shit, Candace, do you realize that we are about to start our senior year, and I have yet to come across any decent husband material?”

I bust out into a fit of laughter. “Is this the crap that is constantly floating through your head?”

“Well . . . kinda. I mean, I have never had to work a day in my life, and I’ll be damned if I have to work after we graduate. I mean, if I had a job, when would we ever hang out?” She gives me an evil smirk.

“You’re crazy, but I love you so much.” I lay down behind her and give her a tight hug.

“Hey, girls,” Jase’s voice booms through the house.

I jump up, run to the living room, and give him a big hug. Kimber quickly follows me and steps in for her hug while I take the two wine bottles out of his hands. I walk to the kitchen to grab a corkscrew and some wine glasses. When I return to the living room, I set everything down on the coffee table and make myself comfortable on the floor. Opening the wine, I pour myself a glass while I watch Kimber and Jase talk as they sit together on the couch. Jase is a very attractive guy. He has a hard, athletic build, and his skin is lightly tanned. He wears his thick, brown hair, which has turned more of a blond over the course of the summer, lightly gelled in a messy faux-hawk. His eyes are a unique shade of light gold that stand out against his dark lashes.

“So, how was your trip to San Diego?” I ask.

Jase finishes pouring his glass and says, “It was good. I hung out with friends, went out to a few bars, and saw some bands. You know, the usual visit home.”

I take a sip of my wine and smile, “Well, we’re glad you’re back.”

“You have no idea how happy I am to be back,” he says with a straight face, and I can see a hint of tension in his eyes.

“Man, was it that bad, Jase?” Kimber asks.

“It’s just not home to me anymore. Plus, I missed you bitches,” he laughs, and his mood instantly shifts. “So, what have I missed?”

I get the feeling that Jase is hiding something about his trip back home. I look at him as he is downing his glass of wine faster than usual. Yep, he’s definitely hiding something. I’m pulled out of my thoughts when I hear Kimber speak up.

“Well, Candace is dating a douche from Mommy and Daddy’s country club,” she says as she winks at me.

“I am not!” I say. “We went out for drinks. That’s all.”

“Are you seeing him again?” she asks even though she already knows the answer.

“You’re seeing him again?” Jase questions, scrunching his eyebrows together. “Wait, who’s him? Who are you seeing?”

“No. I mean, yes. God, really, it’s no big deal.”

“Must be if he’s getting a second date,” Jase says as he takes another drink. “Is that where you were earlier? On your date?”

“Uh huh,” I nod.

“Where did you guys go? You never told me,” Kimber asks as she folds her legs underneath her.

“We went to Prescriptions.”

“I love that place,” Kimber says. “Anyway. New subject. What the hell are we doing this week before classes start back up?”

“I have some serious studio time I need to put in. I also have to work.”

“You always keep yourself so busy,” Jase says. I don’t even try to make excuses because he’s right. I just shake my head and take another sip of my wine.

After a while, Jase and Kimber decide to watch some trash TV. I move to the couch and lie down with my head on Jase’s lap while we all watch MTV. As he combs his fingers through my hair, it isn’t long until I doze off.

?????

I wake up to the feel of my bed dipping down and I smell wine. Jase lies behind me and wraps his muscular arms around my waist. I nestle back into his warm chest.