Hometown Girls: Beginnings (Hometown Girls Series Book 1) Read online

  Feeling uncomfortable with the topic, Daniel changed the subject. “So what are you doing out here all alone?”

  “I’m not alone,” she said bumping her shoulder to his.

  When their skin touched, Katie’s heart began to race and then she froze when the realization of what was happening set in. She had noticed it a few times before now, ever since they started working together and began to get to know each other better and it always confused her. Daniel was not someone she was allowed to crush on, but no matter how many times she told herself that, her racing heart wouldn’t listen.

  “Nah, I really didn’t feel like going back to the party yet,” she said feeling nervous all of a sudden.

  “Well, since we won the game tonight that means we’re still friends so would you mind if I sat here with you for a little while?”

  “Not at all,” she said and stared out at the water relaxing some and relished in the peacefulness of the moment. She turned back to him and just like that, her heart began to race again. “You didn’t enjoy the party back there in your honor?”

  He picked up a seashell and threw it in the water. “Nah, not really. It’s the same old same. Besides, that party really isn’t for me anyway.”

  “Sure it is. You played great tonight. I thought Matt was a goner when that linebacker smashed into him. He just laid there, unmoving, while you ran the ball all the way down the field. It looked like the other team and ours was too stunned to chase after you. I don’t think I’ve ever jumped and hollered as much as I did in that moment.”

  He laughed out loud, picturing the play that won them the game. “It was pretty epic.”

  With her knees up to her chest and her arms crossed over the top, she nestled her head on her arms staring at him and smiling as she watched him recap the night’s events. It was dark out but his eyes lit up bright as he talked.

  * * *

  Marissa Lou saw Daniel walking away from the party, going further down the beach alone, and decided to follow him with hopes of some alone time with her boyfriend to make out. What she didn’t expect was to see him stop to talk to Katie. They had all been friends for a while, so them talking wasn’t anything new, but she’d seen them growing closer these past few weeks, ever since they began working together, while he was becoming more and more distant toward her. Looking at them now, sharing an intimate moment no matter how innocent it may appear, it was obvious how close they’d become. Jealousy coursed through her veins and her heart ached at the thought of them together. No matter how it made her feel, she couldn’t turn away. It was like watching a car wreck where she was the one being crushed by the impact and there wasn’t a thing she could do to stop it. Instead she watched for a few minutes more before turning around and going back to the party in search for a cure for her raging feelings.

  Chapter 7

  Marissa Lou and Katie sat on the warm sand at Kennels Beach where they both lived, taking in the sun. They’d spent most of the summer happily doing this very thing, but today wasn’t so happy. Not for Marissa Lou anyway. Today her stomach was in knots and had been for a week, ever since the night of the beach party by Matt’s house. Marissa Lou had been quiet about what she saw and felt, not once confronting them, but her feelings about the situation never changed.

  Instead, she had been watching the two of them all week and listening to what each one said, looking for clues all the while hoping against hope that she wasn’t right. But she could tell, ever since the day they started working together, that something was off. Watching them from afar they were very friendly while together, but whenever Marissa Lou was close they acted like strangers, leaving thick tension hanging in the air.

  "Katie, what's going on with you and Daniel?" she blurted out unintentionally, surprising even herself.

  Katie swallowed hard, but kept her eyes closed. "What do you mean?"

  Marissa Lou was watching her closely so she noticed the subtle movement. She narrowed her eyes at her friend and asked again, this time more pointedly, "What is going on with you and my boyfriend?"

  "Nothing, God. Get over yourself, Marissa Lou. Not everyone wants everything you have," Katie said annoyed and stood up. She snatched her towel up, flinging sand all over, but Marissa Lou got up quickly and grabbed her arm and stopped her before she could leave.

  "How about you look at me when you say that," Marissa Lou demanded.

  Katie slowly turned to look at Marissa Lou and it shocked Marissa Lou to see tears in her eyes. "I can't stop it," she said in a small voice.

  "Stop what?" Marissa Lou asked. She felt like her heart was going to pound out of her chest.

  "I have feelings for him. I don't know when it happened, but it’s there. I've been trying to fight it. I swear I have," she pleaded and grabbed Marissa Lou’s hands. "I never intended for this to happen. You have to believe me."

  Marissa Lou stared at her as if she was speaking a different language, unable to process what she was hearing. "Does he like you too?"

  Katie's shoulders slumped and she dropped her hands. "I don't know. I think so, but I'm not sure. God, he's your boyfriend. I wasn't ever going to say anything, not to you or to him. I wouldn't have now if you didn't force it out of me."

  "I can't believe this," Marissa Lou said and sat back down on her towel before her legs gave out on her.

  Katie quickly sat down in front of her and grabbed her hands again. “Just forget I said anything. I’m begging you. I’ll squash it. I swear.”

  Marissa Lou vigorously shook her head back and forth. “It’s too late. It’s out now.” She stared down at her feet and took a deep breath. “Do you love him?”

  “Yes. No. I don’t know. It’s confusing,” Katie whispered.

  Marissa Lou bent her head feeling like she was going to be sick. Somewhere, somehow, her best friend had fallen in love with her boyfriend; a boy she loved more than anything in the world and what’s worse, he loved Katie too. She knew it and had for some time. Daniel was the most stand-up guy she’d ever known, which made him a bad liar.

  Marissa Lou stood up on shaky legs and without a word began to walk away, leaving her towel, and Katie, behind.

  “Where are you going?” Katie called to her.

  “I have to go.”

  “No, wait. We have to talk about this.” Katie stood back up and began to walk toward her, but Marissa Lou stopped and without turning to look at her, she held a hand up.

  “I can’t. Not now. I have to think. Just let me go.”

  “Maris?”

  “Katie, I’m telling you, for your own sake, leave me alone. I can’t be around you right now.

  Marissa Lou stayed hidden in her bedroom, by herself, thinking about what to do. Her first instinct was to smack Katie for doing this to her. The urge was so strong that the palm of her hand literally felt itchy. That’s why she had to get away from her. Now that she had some distance to think about it alone, more rational thoughts were developing. She could stay with Daniel, despite his obvious attraction to her best friend, and try to forget everything she knew and felt. If so, she and Daniel would definitely have to disconnect from Katie. Out of sight, out of mind and all that. Or she could just break up with Daniel and disconnect with both of them. His growing feelings had betrayed her after all.

  “Maybe it is just a curiosity thing,” she said to herself. If that was the case, it wouldn’t last. He loved Marissa Lou and love trumped curiosity. It had to. She felt sick to her stomach again at the lingering thought that always came to her mind.

  Maybe, just maybe, if she gave Katie and Daniel room to figure out that what they were feeling wasn’t actually real, everything would go back to normal and she would appear honorable for being supportive. She and Daniel could be together again without that silly distraction. Because that’s what it was; a distraction. College would be starting soon. They’d planned to attend the same college together and Katie always said she was leaving for college, like she was too good to attend a local school. They’d never ha
ve to see Katie again and good ridden.

  Still feeling sick, but confident about the decision she’d made, she left her bedroom and walked across the lawn to Katie’s house. She had to do it now before she changed her mind. She knocked on the door and stood back waiting. Time seeming to stand still as she did.

  “Marissa Lou?”

  “I want you to go out with Daniel,” Marissa Lou blurted out as soon as Katie opened the door.

  “What?”Katie asked baffled, her throat going dry.

  “It’s the only way.”

  “But he’s your boyfriend,” Katie shrieked.

  “I know, but whatever it is that is going on with y’all is too heavy in the air. It’s suffocating and I want it to stop. This is the only way.”

  “Maris, this is crazy.”

  “Maybe so, but it is the way it has to be.”

  Katie walked to the edge of the porch and sat down on the top step. “He’ll never go for it. He loves you.”

  “I know,” she said lifting her chin high up. “You’ll have to convince him. Tell him I give y’all my blessing.” Her confidence broke as she said the words and tears welled up in her eyes. “Tell him that I love you both very much, more than anything else in the world, but you need this chance to figure out what you could have together. But I warn you,” Marissa Lou said getting angry, her beautiful face wet and tortured. She pointed a finger at her, the urge to slap Katie coming back in full force. “Don’t hurt him. Not ever. Because he is special and he deserves better than that. I promise you I will be waiting for my chance to come back around once all this nonsense is over. And trust me, it will, because what he and I have is real and not some meaningless curiosity.”

  “I, I don’t know what to say,” Katie whispered.

  “I just told you what to say. Once all this mess is over I don’t ever want to hear about it again. Better yet, stay away from us. Understood?”

  Katie shook her head in understanding, although she wasn’t sure of anything.

  Without another word, Marissa Lou left the way she came, hoping and praying she’d done the right thing.

  Chapter 8

  After Marissa Lou left, Katie sat on her porch in complete shock. She was froze by Marissa Lou’s words and couldn’t process what had just happened, but as soon as reality set in, she jumped in her car and left her house. She sped through the county with her mind running ten times faster than her little car. Marissa Lou gave her permission to figure out what was going on between her and Daniel. He had been on her mind for weeks; a nonstop replay of his eyes. How they lit up when he smiled, which he did often and it was always genuine. He made her heart pound whenever he was near. She never felt like that for another person before even though she had been working hard to fight her feelings. He was dating her best friend and Marissa Lou loved him. There would never be a doubt about that. Marissa Lou was beautiful and she was the type that guys noticed. Katie couldn’t compete with that.

  This is crazy. He’ll never go for it, Katie thought to herself.

  Although something definitely seemed to have shifted between her and Daniel. It was evident every time they were together, which made it hurt every time Katie had to see them together all the time. She had actually begun to resent Marissa Lou in the past couple weeks, causing her to put distance between the couple and herself, which hurt all the same because she missed them both. Things could never go back to the way they were. It was too hard.

  She parked her car in her usual spot in the bank parking lot and briskly walked to the Dairy Freeze with her head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone, fearing they’d be able to see what she was thinking. She knew he was working tonight, and though she hated to talk to him when he was busy, she had to get it out before she chickened out.

  When she entered the building she spotted him right away at the counter, helping a customer. She looked down at herself, realizing for the first time that she’d never changed out of her cotton shorts and t-shirt. She wished she’d have thought to put something more appropriate on. It was too late. She was there and there was no turning back. She smoothed down her wild hair, it was the least she could do, and took a deep breath to calm her nerves before slowly walking to the back of the line to wait her turn.

  Daniel didn’t seem to notice Katie until the couple in front of her finished their order and moved to the side to wait for their food.

  His head jerked then he smiled when he looked back up to see her standing in front of him. “Hey you, what are you doing here? Isn’t it your day off?”

  Katie smiled nervously. “Yeah, but umm, can we talk?”

  “Sure what’s up?”

  She looked around the restaurant before turning back to him. “No, umm, not here. Can you take a break or something?”

  His eyes narrowed as he stared at her curiously. “Is everything alright, Katie?”

  “Yeah, I’m not sure. I think so. I don’t know. I just need to talk to you.”

  “Okay, give me a minute.”

  “‘Kay,” she said.

  When he left, she leaned over the counter, rested her elbows on the surface and plunged her hands through her hair. She still had time to chicken out, and a part of her wanted to, but that was a very little part. Every fiber of her being knew this was exactly what she had to do. Even if he didn’t feel the same way and loved Marissa Lou like everyone thought, at least it would ease her sanity of the unknown and everything could get back to normal.

  “Katie?” Daniel asked, standing behind her with his hand resting on her shoulder. She didn’t know what startled her more; his voice or his touch. She was so caught up in her anxiety that she never heard him walk up to her.

  She stood up straight and turned around to face him. “Are you good to talk now?”

  “Yep, I’m all yours. So what’s up?”

  God how she wished that were true. She looked around the open space for somewhere they could talk privately, but there was none. “Come with me.” She slid over the top of the counter and waited for him on the other side.

  “You’re crazy, you know that?”

  “What?”

  He shook his head and slid over the counter too. “We could have just used the door.”

  “Whatever. My way was quicker. Come on,” she said grabbing his hand and leading him past the counter, through the cook prep area and into the storage room where she went to cry when she first started working there. Without a word he dutifully followed. When she was satisfied that they were alone, she turned around to face him and grabbed his other hand and squeezed them tight, as if she needed to keep him from running away. She never touched his hands before and it surprised her how gentle they were, despite the slight calluses, probably formed from catching footballs daily.

  “Do you like me?” she blurted out, feeling as if she were a child in elementary school.

  “Of course. I think you’re a great friend. I’m just sorry it took me so long to figure that out.”

  “Thank you, but no,” she said shaking her head back and forth. “Not like that.”

  He looked at her with the most baffled look in his eyes, pondering the question. “Why are you asking me that? Katie, what’s going on?”

  “Please, I need to know. Do you like me?”

  He wiggled one of his hands free from hers and placed it on top of his head. “I don’t understand. You know I have a girlfriend. You and Marissa Lou are friends.”

  “I know. God this is crazy,” she said releasing his other hand and paced through the small space. She stopped walking and stared down at her feet. “Marissa Lou isn’t just a friend. She is my best friend. I would never try to hurt her.”

  “Then why are you asking me this?”

  She slowly turned around to face him, her shoulders slumped, feeling very little. “Because I like you. These past couple of weeks have been so hard. I tried to keep it to myself. I swear I did, but it was too much.” She sadly shook her head. “She told me I’d have to convince you. I didn’t want to b
elieve that it would be so difficult. I guess I was wrong.”

  “Who said that?” he asked closing the distance between them and grasping her arms lightly.

  “Marissa Lou. She told me to tell you that she had given us her blessing.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she repeated her friend’s words. “She said she loved us both very much, more than anything else in the world, but we needed this chance to figure out what we could have together. She warned me though,” she chuckled and shook her head back and forth. “She said not to hurt you because you are special and didn’t deserve that. She said she would be waiting for her chance to come back around once all this nonsense was over. She said what you and her have is real and not some meaningless curiosity like what is going on between us.” She looked up at him sadly, tears drenching her face. “Is it just curiosity? I must be crazy, because I don’t feel like it is.”

  “I don’t really know what to say. I love Marissa Lou, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel something for you. Something I didn’t expect and something I’ve been trying to fight as well. It’s just so much to process right now. I feel like I need to talk to Marissa Lou.”

  She broke eye contact with him and nodded her head sadly feeling utterly defeated. “I understand.”

  He gently lifted her chin, but she felt too embarrassed to look at him. “Look at me.”

  She shook her head sadly, refusing to look up.

  “Should we test that theory?” he said softly.

  That did the trick because as soon as the words registered in her mind her wet eyes shot to his. “What are you saying?”

  “Oh hell. I’ve never been one for words. Actions speak louder,” he said and without another word he put his lips to hers.

  They felt exactly, if not better, than she imagined every time she watched him talk or smile. His full lips were perfectly soft, warm and moist. Kissing him made her knees weak. It was a good thing he slipped a hand around her back and pressed her against him, because she would have surely melted in a big pile of goo on the floor. By the time he pulled away she was breathless and lightheaded.