Flowers by Nichole Hall (best life changing books txt) 📖

Somehow we both fell asleep on the floor after the fourth time, I think. Honestly, after the second time counting how many times Kevin was able to get it back up and in me was miraculous. We just kept going and going, and now the soreness has doubled, but it was worth it. So worth it. 

My eyes flicker open with a small smile played across my face. Kevin has an arm behind his head and another draped across my stomach. His lips are slighted parted, but no noise comes out. Without a guarded face, his sleeping seems so calming. Just what is Kevin Gardley hiding? 

Taking in the room, since there was a major distraction before, Kevin leaves everything bare. No momentums or pictures scatter or are placed in frames anywhere. Just random pieces of clothing here and there, mostly ours from tonight. Black bed sheets and a comforter take precedent in the room. A futon sits on the far wall, and a desk lap against the bed are the only furniture. There’s another door by the futon, which only can be a closet since there isn’t a dresser in here. It’s like he doesn’t even stay here, only to sleep. There isn’t even a television like most guys his age would have. One particular item stands out with blinking red lights. It sits on the bedside table reading to the world that it is well past one in the morning.

“Shitttt!” I screech. Kevin jumps up from his sleep, looking around the room sleepily as I gather my clothes. The only item thus far found has been my bra. I laugh thinking if I went home only wearing that. Yeah, grandma wouldn’t hold such high hopes for Kevin after that.

“What are you doing?”

“Running a marathon. What does it look like?”

“Ugh, Willow.”

“Kevin, it is almost two in the morning. My grandma will flip if she sees me coming in.”

Finally he gets up, help me in gathering clothes. He doesn’t put his own back on and instead just puts on basketball shorts with no shirt. Of course he catches me staring at him with only a bra on. I’m quickly snatched up and thrown on top of the bed.

“What’s another thirty minutes?” He asks. I can’t find it in myself to argue. 

We repeat the same scrambling process after we catch our breaths. My underwear go in my pocket because honestly putting them back on would be disgusting. The only items left to be found are my cell phone and shoes. We find one sandal on one of the steps and another in the hallway to the den. My cell phone, thank goodness, wasn’t really lost. Just sitting on the black leather couch. I remember texting grandma I was at Kevin’s. When I look at my phone, there’s only a text saying have fun. Yes, my grandmother can text. Which is cool, most of the time.

After Kevin pulls out of his driveway, still only clad in shorts and sandals, I flip down the visor. With wide eyes I stare at my crazy sex hair and swollen lips. Note to self: If and when this happens again, bring a brush and some chap-stick. Those words catch me off guard. Will this happen again? Kevin doesn’t seem like the type for repeat offenders. Don’t think about it Willow, that’s what this was all about. In the end, I know sometime this week it will haunt me in my thinking process. One day I will wonder and keep wondering until I get my answer. 

Not halfway home Kevin speaks.

“What happened?” It’s hard to say what the right answer to that question would be, since there are plenty of what happened moments tonight, but what Kevin is really asking is why I changed my mind. Taking his eyes off the road, he glances in my direction. Call me crazy, but something about his current demeanor says he will understand anything I have to say. Or maybe grandma is just getting into my head. Either way, I answer.

“My mom gave my grandmother full guardianship.”

I was right. His eyes don’t hold the pity look everyone else has, they just accept it for face value. 

“Your mother is a bitch.” So much venom in those words, yet they ring true. It’s nothing I could ever say, but Kevin isn’t me and he just did.

“Yeah.” I let out a bitter laugh. The one thing I was trying to forget earlier plagues my thoughts. Why, why and why? 

Kevin parks a few houses down so his loud machine doesn’t wake my grandmother up. He offers to walk me but I point out his state of undress and the rumor mill if anyone sees him walking me home like that. Let’s not try to make this obvious, shall we?

“Willow.” Kevin catches my arm as I exit. I look up with questioning eyes. “Tomorrow?” 

Biting my lower lip to hide the smile, I say, “Yeah, I think I can pencil you in.”

****

She is trying to kill me. Really, she is. Grandma isn’t even allowed to legally drive anymore, and here she is riding cars asses because they are driving to slow. We are going fifteen over the speed limit. 

So, why are we driving around in the next town? Grandma had to get her planting soil from the nursery over here because the nursery in our town isn’t good enough. 

“Did you have fun last night?”

Luck was on my side last night, grandma had been snoozing away when I came home. I was even able to sneak in a late night shower. Going to bed full of sex and sweat may sound steamy, if I was going to bed with Kevin. But, I was in my own bed, which has been sex free for seventeen years. No need to taint it. 

“Yeah, we just watched movies.”

“Did it help take your mind off things?” She asks with more concern. Oh did it.

“Yeah, I really didn’t think about it.” At all. 

“Good, I am glad. See, Kevin is a good boy. Ya just gotta give him a chance.” Grandma pats my leg. “Come on! Move faster, the day is a wasting.” 

Yeah, I am hoping I live to see tonight. 

We make it back three hours later, alive and unharmed. Pulling the old cadillac into the driveway, grandma hops out, and when I mean hop it is a literal translation so she can reach for her walker. 

“Get the bags will ya, honey?”

I blow out a deep breath. They are bags alright. Three twenty pound bags full of soil and organic plant feed. 

Just as I reach the trunk, and pry it open with a screwdriver (don’t ask), someone calls out my name. Someone, named Kevin. My smiles almost drops when I see he isn’t alone, but with Charlie. So much for just the two of us tonight. 

The two approach from Charlie’s truck as I plaster on a fake smile. 

Really I do try hard and focus on both their presences approaching, but Kevin is just so...there, taking up all the space in my mind. With his confident, shut off from the world walk, the way his v-neck shirt shows his lean abdomen but is tight on the muscular arms. He doesn’t adorn glasses today, which makes it much harder to shut off my screaming libido as his eyes eat mine up. Desire is written all over them and just knowing I do that to him even after all the times last night, is yelling at me to jump his bones here and now. Instead, I grip the trunk as tight as possible to keep my hands to myself. 

“What are you doing?” Charlie reaches me first. Kevin sends a secretive smile my way. In response, need pools between my legs. 

I have to clear my throat a few times to answer. Kevin covers up his laugh with a fake cough. “Um, getting these bags to the garden.” My shaky hands make it hard to point the exact direction, so I lean on my head nodding skills instead. 

“We’ll help.” Moving out of the way, Charlie reaches in first with Kevin just behind. They each grab a bag leaving one for me. When I reach in a hand tickles across the back of my thigh. My eyes snap wide. Turning around quickly, Kevin is already only one step behind Charlie towards the side of the house. That was definitely not my imagination. Or was it? Nope, I felt it. Oh did I.

Grandma is directing the boys where to put the bags when I finally approach huffing and puffing. Charlie takes sympathy on me and takes the bag out of my arms. 

“Honey, you okay? You been walking a bit stiff today.”

Oh God. The blood drains out of my face for a good minute before my mind plays catch up, yelling to come up with an excuse.

“Yeah, I think I might have slept wrong. My back is killing me.”

“Alright. Go grab some lemonade and some aspirin.” 

When Charlie enters grandma in a conversation, I look to Kevin expecting him to be laughing. His face says otherwise. It’s blank, but there’s a small emotion playing on it. Close to concern, I think. Without being able to tell him I am fine in words, I wink hoping he gets the point. Obviously, I am sore today, but nothing my body cannot handle. Besides, desire will win out either way. 

After the lemonade and pills a shower calls my name. Once that is done and in clean clothes, I approach the kitchen as an older, raspy voice echoes.

“She looks to be getting more muscular. Do you know if Willow is working out Charlie?”

“I don’t think so ma’am.” My pace quickens after that. 

Grandma sits on the wooden table, with Kevin and Charlie on each side. 

“You guys ready?” 

“Go on you three. Have some fun.” She shoos us out the door, waving until we get into the car.

Charlie drives up to Kevin’s home, without Mandy being present. Something about this situation is off. It gets answered when Kevin and I climb out, but Charlie stays yelling out a thanks before driving off. 

“Okay, what was that?” Kevin continues walking up the stairs into his house, leaving no choice but to follow.

“Mandy’s parents have date night. They needed an excuse and cover up story.” Kevin shrugs like he is doing his friend a favor.

“Ah, and does he know you are screwing his girlfriends best friend?”

I shut the door, only to be scooped and pressed with my back against it. Pulling his mouth towards mine we do our rounds of kissing, moaning and hardly breathing. 

“Food now or later?” He asks in between pecks.

“Definitely later.” 

With his question answered, no more talking is necessary.