Page 90 of Tattoo My Heart
James turns to look at Carrie. “Your friend,” he shakes his head at her.
“Be nice,” she warns.
“I’m always nice,” he snorts. “Anyway,” he looks back at me. “Your presence is requested out in the backyard, princess.”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t know,” he shrugs. “Your mom just said she has something to discuss with you. It’s about the party tomorrow.”
I stand up from my seat at the table and stomp to the back door to go talk to my mom. I am acting like a complete brat, but I just can’t help it. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. What I am feeling is not new, but I don’t know why it is getting to me tonight out of all nights.
I don’t even pay attention when I yank the door open to step outside. It is almost dark already, the sky taking a dark hue on the horizon, its reflection on the water making for a beautiful picture.
There’s a quiet click coming from the side. I don’t have time to react when the yard is flooded in soft light. I stop right in the middle and look around, unsure of how to react. Strings of lights are hanging from the trees, leading to a spot closer to the water. It is the exact same spot where I confessed my feelings to Cal as a teenager twelve years ago. It is also where he confessed his feelings to me four years ago.
“What’s going on?” I let out a nervous chuckle when I see him standing there.
He stares at me with such intensity, I’m not going to lie, I’m scared. I continue walking until I am right in front of him. Movement from behind me distracts me for a second, and when I turn my head to look, I see that Carrie and James, each holding a kid, my mother and Cal’s father, they’re all out now, staring at us with various degrees of happiness on their faces. Well, in my mother’s case, there are also tears.
I look back at Cal, my hands feeling clammy all of a sudden. Whatever is about to happen is making my stomach flutter to the point where I might throw up.
“Evelyn Moore,” Cal grins at me when I am finally in front of him. “You took your sweet time getting here.”
My eyebrows about get lost in my hairline when I stare him down.
“Maybe you should’ve been clearer with where you wanted me then.”
I am nervous, but also a bit irritated with him. I only love it when he bosses me in the bedroom. Outside of it, he better watch it, and he should know better.
Too many emotions are now swirling inside my brain, making me not think clearly. I have no idea why, but I have this visceral need to hear from Cal that he is mine forever, that he will never leave me, that I am his… Especially now.
“Maybe you should’ve just read my mind and know that I was waiting for you back here,” he deadpans like the smartass that he is.
I roll my eyes toward the sky. The lights above us distract me for a second. It all looks so much like that night four years ago, it gives me the strength to gather the courage and say what I want to say.
I bring my eyes back to Cal’s face, and I instantly want to look away. Maybe I can’t do this after all. But I really want to.
“It’s good that we’re here,” I say in a shaky voice. “Because I have something to ask you.”
Cal’s face lights up. “You do?”
“I do.”
I clear my throat, trying to buy myself some more time to go through with this. I’ve never been this nervous in my entire life, not even when I gathered the courage to ask Cal out at the ripe old age of sixteen.
“That’s good,” he now tells me. “Because I have something to ask you as well.”
My mouth is suddenly dry. I lick at my lips, but there’s no relief and they feel like sandpaper.
“You go first,” I manage to croak out.
“Nah,” he grins at me. “Ladies first.”
“What? Why?” I sound offended.
Cal just shrugs. “Why not?”
“B-b-because…” I am stuttering now. I almost need someone to slap me so that I can reboot and start over.
