Filed to story: My Life with the Walter Boys Book (I & II) PDF Free
“The sky looks like diamonds,” I said instead.
“It does,” he answered. His hand appeared above me, held out to help me up. I tried to lift my own hand to put in his, but it was just too heavy and my head was really spinning now. The diamonds above me were a blur.
“I like it down here,” I told him, letting my hand fall back down at my side.
“Okay.” Cole sat down beside me, and then, when we were closer and he could actually see my face in the dark, he added, “Is that blood?”
I winced in pain as he brought his sleeve up to my face and gently wiped the trickle away.
“Tripped,” was the only word I could get out.
“I’m sorry, Jackie,” Cole said then. He gently pulled me close to him, cradling my head in his lap.
I didn’t know exactly what he was apologizing for. It could have been for convincing me to skip school and drink, something I had never done before. Or it could have been for kissing me. Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter.
“I want to go home,” I said softly.
“All right,” he said, pushing back my hair. “I’ll take you.”
But he couldn’t. Not really.
***
There must have been a pothole in the road, because the truck lurched forward and I fell off the backseat, snapping awake.
“Shit!” I heard Cole say from the driver’s seat. “Knew I should have buckled you in.”
“It’s like a roller coaster,” I giggled as I let my head roll back.
“Jackie, can you do me a favor and just stay right there on the floor? I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“Coley, don’t worry about me,” I told him. “It’s really comfy down here.”
The windows were rolled down, letting in the cool nighttime air and a chorus of chirping crickets. My toes and fingers tingled, and I smiled to myself. I was trying to remember how everything ended up so dizzy, but I only saw flashes of strange faces, an old building, and…a kiss?
The truck hit another hole, making my stomach jump.
“You good?” Cole asked.
No. My happy feeling was without doubt gone. “Nuh-uh,” I said, as my insides turned. “I think I might throw up.”
A few choice words hissed out of Cole’s mouth, but he pulled over to the side of the road. I heard the car door slam and then Cole was helping me out. As I emptied my stomach into the bushes, he held back my hair.
“Is that it?” he asked when I stood up and wiped my mouth. “There is a strict no-puking policy in the truck.”
“All better,” I told him, before trying to stumble back to the truck.
“Well,” Cole said, “your stomach might be empty, but you’re definitely not sober.”
After I got back inside and lay down on the backseat, we were quiet for a long time.
Finally Cole spoke. “We are so grounded,” he said as he pulled off the road and into the driveway.
“I’ve never been grounded before,” I told him with a yawn. I should have felt a sense of panic, but my head was too empty and exhaustion was starting to take over.
“You’re in for a treat,” he said, as he parked the truck. It took a moment for him to climb out and shut his door quietly, but finally mine clicked open and he helped me as I pushed myself up into a sitting position. “I need you to be quiet when we sneak in, okay?”
“Shhh!” I said, putting my finger to my lips, which were tugging up in a sleepy grin.
“Exactly,” Cole said. “Now how about I help you outta there?” He put his hands around my waist, and as he lifted me from the truck, his finger brushed underneath the jersey on my bare skin.
“My legs feel funny,” I said when he set me down. My knees buckled as I tried to take a step.
“Whoa there,” he said, and suddenly my world tilted as Cole scooped me up in his arms. I let my eyes flutter shut as he carried me up the front path, his strong arms supporting me easily. It was a bit tricky for Cole to open the door while I was in his arms, but finally he managed to jiggle the handle enough for it to turn.
The hall light flipped on. “Care to explain what’s going on?”
“Ah hell,” Cole mumbled, and I opened my eyes.
“‘Ah hell’ is right,” Katherine said. She was standing at the bottom of the staircase in her robe. It looked as if she had been waiting for us.
“Hi, Katherine,” I said, lifting my head so I could smile and wave.
“Is she…?” Mrs. Walter said, trailing off in disbelief.
“Drunk?” Cole finished for her. “Yeah.”
Katherine just stared at the two of us, mouth hanging open.
“Mom? What’s going on?” Alex asked, appearing at the top of the stairs. Katherine closed her eyes and put a hand to her forehead in frustration. “Hello?” Alex asked again when nobody answered.
“Alex, help Jackie to her room, and then go back to sleep. Okay?” Katherine said in a non-negotiable voice.
He nodded and took me from Cole. I closed my eyes and snuggled closer to Alex, taking in the smell of his body wash.
“You stay where you are,” I heard Katherine say. Cole must have tried to follow Alex up the stairs.