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A LITTLE BIT IN LOVE WITH YOU
Prequel to A Little Bit Dirty
BRIANNA
I forgot how hot it is back home. Pulling my tank top out in the center of my chest offers a cool bit of air to filter down, but the relief is lost on me. Until I see Asher and tell him exactly how I feel, there’s not a damn thing that’s going to ease this anxiousness inside of me.
Nearly slipping in a pot hole I didn’t see in the long gravel pave up to his parents’ house, I let out a hiss of irritation. It’s too darn hot for August in Beaufort South Carolina. The coastal sea island is supposed to keep this place from hitting the high 90s, but there isn’t a breeze to be found.
My jean white jean shorts are a bit too tight since I gained a little weight my first year of college. Freshman 10 and all that. I huff, feeling my cheeks redden in this heat as I turn the corner of the backroad surrounded by thin threes that don’t offer any shade and the airplane hangar in the distance.
I haven’t been back home for more than 48 hours and I’m already miserable. Although if Asher was answering his phone, if he would just talk to me, I know it would all be okay.
We didn’t spend three years together to be off and on and constantly fighting because we’re long distance now.
I love him and he loves me. Letting out an exaggerated exhale and pulling my dark brown hair up into a makeshift ponytail, I pretend I’m stopping right in front of his house just to catch my breath and cool down before I pull back the flimsy screen door and knock on the old worn door to the farmhouse.
We’ve been together all through high school, heck half of my memories are from that airplane hangar that doubles as a mechanic garage on the lower level. My first sip of beer… even though I’m only eighteen. Our first kiss… our first, everything.
My throat closes up tight as I tighten the ponytail and wipe the beads of sweat from my forehead.
I’m sure I look a mess, but that’s exactly how I feel, so … I suppose it’ll have to do.
With one step, the gravel crunches under my feet, but then I halt.
The screaming from inside makes my already hammering heart go into high gear. Asher yells at his father in return. The two of them are going at it.
I take a hesitant step forward, unwilling to turnback and needing to know what the hell is going on. The two of them have had their issues butting heads, but the rage in their tones is something I’ve never heard before. He didn’t tell me anything was going on.
I can’t quite make out what they’re saying, apart from the cuss words and his mother begging them to stop.
My body goes cold and begs me to stop as I near the wooden porch steps.
Swallowing thickly I pull my phone out from the back pocket of my shorts and check my messages.
He didn’t respond to the series I sent him:
Hey I’m sorry. Can we talk?
I miss you.
You know I love you right?
Please talk to me.
Emotions swarm me as something is thrown from inside, glass shatters and I instinctively step back, my mouth parted in both shock and fear.
Are you okay? I’m here.
What’s going on?
My fingers fly across the keys and just as I hit send, Asher storms out, nearly ripping the screen door off as it bangs against the house.
He gets three large strides out the door before he sees me. His tanned skin and rough around the edges decorum fits his blue collar ways to the T. His hair is a bit messy on top, his piercing eyes hitting me with all the intensity in the world. First the anger and hurt, then the recognition and with it a touch of shame. Like he didn’t want me to hear that and he’s very aware that I did.
Only I’m not sure what the fight was about.
He slows his pace, turning to look back once, and then focusing his gaze on the porch floor before looking back up at me. He licks his lower lip and all I see is a wounded man. Worn blue jeans and a graphic dark blue tee complete the image.
