“You said you loved it here. Are you feeling okay?” Alex asked.
Meg laughed as she shrugged her shoulders. “I just—wish I was home.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I hate school. I hate everything about school.”
Grace, Alex, and I all slipped off our horses. Alex reached Maegan first. Maegan jumped off her horse and began crying as Alex took her in her arms. Grace and l looked at each other. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Maegan cry in my entire life. Alex ran her hand up and down Maegan’s back gently. “Maegan, what’s wrong? Please talk to us.”
Maegan pulled back and wiped her tears away. “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry I broke down like that. It’s been a rough year.” She turned and sat on a fallen tree. It was the first time I noticed how tired Maegan looked. More like she looked defeated.
Alex bent down in front of her and pushed Maegan’s red hair behind her ear. “Meg, talk to us.”
Grace and I each took a seat next to Maegan on the tree. Swallowing hard, Maegan started talking. “My whole life, my father has done nothing but compare me to Taylor. I don’t think he even knows he does it. He always tells me I can do better. Make better grades, be a better example to Taylor, make them prouder. I feel like I can’t make any mistakes and then there is—”
Maegan stopped talking and tears began rolling down her face. Putting my arm around her I asked, “There’s what, Maegan?”
Maegan let out a small laugh.
“I guess when you leave high school you think you leave all the mean girls behind.” She shook her head. “That’s not the case. I’ve got these four girls that hate me. I don’t know why. They don’t stop, ever. I can be walking to class with someone and they will do whatever they can to make my life miserable. They would bump into me and knock everything out of my hands. Spreading rumors about how I’ll give guys blowjobs at frat parties or in my dorm room. I haven’t even been to a single party this year for fear of some guy coming on to me.” A sob escaped her lips. “Last year I had guys walking up to me asking me to make arrangements to give them head! I finally stopped leaving my dorm room unless it was to go to class.”
Grace cursed. “Maegan, why don’t you knock the fuck out of those girls?”
Maegan laughed. “At one party, I ended up beating the shit out of a girl who called me a redheaded whore. The only thing it did was bring me more grief. My parents asked if I was doing drugs, and oh man, I wasn’t setting a good example for Taylor. It isn’t worth it. So I try to ignore it.”
Alex grabbed Maegan’s hands. “Meg, you have to talk to your parents about this.”
She nodded her head. “I know I do. I was hoping this year would be better. The bullying happens less often. I feel like I’ve lost myself though. I don’t even know who I am anymore. I’m chasing after that girl I used to know and she might not be there anymore.”
Alex wiped a tear away. “I still think you need to talk to your parents. At least get it out in the open with your dad.”
Nodding her head, Maegan leaned over and kissed Alex’s forehead. “I promise I will. Come on let’s ride. The only happy time I have is with you girls and I don’t want this to turn into a sad sappy afternoon.”
LUKE AND I walked hand in hand as I pulled my sweater tighter around me. “Are you cold, Lib?”
“I’m chilly, but I’m okay,” I said as I watched Luke search my face. He pulled off his sweatshirt and pushed it over my head. I laughed as I pulled it on. My senses were overtaken by his scent. My libido instantly kicked in. “I miss you,” I said as I gave him a seductive smile.
“Damn, Libby. I miss you, too. I want to hold you in my arms. I can’t even sleep without you next to me.”
I giggled. “I feel the same way. I could hardly fall asleep last night.”
Luke stopped and turned to me. “Do you have any idea how happy you make me, Libby?”
My eyes filled with tears. “Tell me.”
His smile made my knees shake. “I think I’m my happiest when we are together at night. When I have you wrapped in my arms and you’re starting to drift off to sleep. Your breathing starts to slow and I know at that very moment you feel safe in my arms.” Luke placed his hand on the side of my face and brushed his thumb across my skin, causing a trail of fire behind it. “Then when you walk into a room. The energy changes and I can’t seem to pull my eyes from you. You smile and my world rocks off balance. Your touch brings out feelings I never thought I would experience. Your love—has me excited about our future, Libby. I dream about it all the time. I dream of long walks along the river, snuggling up next to a fire with you in my arms, my hands on your belly feeling our baby kicking.”
A sob escaped my lips as my heart pounded in my chest. I’d never felt such happiness in all of my life. I wanted to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
“I don’t think I could ever put it in words how happy you make me, Libby. More than I ever imagined.”
Swallowing hard, I reached up on my tippy toes and kissed him. This man. This man would forever be mine. No one or nothing would ever take him from me.
Ever.
MY EYES SNAPPED open and I laid still. What is that noise? I sat up and looked around.
I pushed the covers back and that’s when I heard the pebble hit my window. I smiled and jumped out of bed. I opened my window and looked down to see Luke. “What are you doing?” I whispered.
Smiling that naughty smile of his, Luke began climbing up the side of the house—like he did so many years ago. He quietly walked over to my window and winked at me. “I thought you might like to lay on the roof and watch the stars with me. I can’t sleep.”
“Luke, it’s Christmas Eve!”