The moment I jumped into my truck the excitement I felt about Heather riding back to Austin with me vanished in an instant. I looked over at her, and I swore that if looks could kill, I would be long gone. I tried to give her a smile, and I noticed when she somewhat relaxed.
We both reached for the radio at the sa
me time, our hands bumping into each other. What the fuck? There goes that damn feeling throughout my body. Every time this girl touched me or smiled at me, it was like an electric bolt ran through me. I’d never felt this before with anyone.
“I’m sorry. That was rude of me. It’s your car. ” Heather said before turning to stare out the window.
For some reason, the idea of ever hurting her sickened me. All I could think about was trying to cheer her up from the sour mood she was in. I knew that fate was on my side when her new car wouldn’t start. Luckily, Lynda’s dad showed up when he did. I almost wanted to jump for joy when I saw him get out of that BMW.
“Don’t worry about it, Heather. What type of music do you like?” Shit…. I realized then that I really didn’t know much about Heather at all.
The only time we had ever really talked was a few nights ago at Gunner’s bachelor party after the girls crashed it. Even though Heather had been pretty drunk, we had mostly talked about her parents, who passed away a year ago.
“Um, I really like all kinds of music. I’m pretty fond of country, but Christina Aguilera is probably one of my favorites,” she admitted.
I wanted to laugh at the memory of Heather and the girls getting wasted while painting those damn pails for the s’mores. Heather and Ari had been dancing to Christina Aguilera’s “Red Hot Kinda Love,” and I had sworn that it was Heather’s crazy way to flirt with me. Shit if it didn’t work, too. I had to take three goddamn cold showers that night after every time I’d thought about it.
I had bought the whole damn CD the next day.
I smiled at her and reached down to get my iPod to play the album. After a quick search, that song started. Heather snapped her head over at me, and the blush that moved up her cheeks caused me to smile at her.
“Why are you playing this song?” Heather asked.
“I thought you just said that you liked Christina Aguilera. ” I turned my head back to watch the road, and I did everything I could not to laugh.
“Josh, I’m not stupid. I know why you played this song, you asshole!”
“Holy shit, Heather. I’m going to have to wash your mouth out if you keep swearing like that. ” I said with a laugh.
“Why did my car have to break down?” Heather said barely loud enough for me to hear her.
What’s her problem anyway?
“Why are you so against me, Heather? What have I ever done to you to make you hate me so much?”
Heather sucked in a breath. “You think I hate you?”
I let out a small laugh. “Yeah. What else would you call it, Heather?”
I watched as she turned back to look out the window at the passing fields. She stayed quiet for a few minutes, and then she startled me when she started to talk again.
“Josh, I don’t hate you. Really, it’s the opposite. I’ve had a lot to deal with in my life this past year. I just can’t…I can’t let anyone in right now. I don’t think I could stand to lose another person I cared about. ”
My heart was beating a mile a minute. What the hell is this girl doing to me? I couldn’t even think straight to form my next words. What did she mean? It’s the opposite. Does that mean she. . . oh holy fuck…she can’t love me …. can she? She pretty much just said she cared about me. Didn’t she?
“Okay, Josh, I see the wheels spinning in your head. You can stop over-thinking what I just said. I only meant that I like you… a lot. . um, as a friend only. ”
“Well that deflated my hopes a bit. Why only as a friend Heather? You have to know that I’m interested in more than friendship. ”
Heather let out a laugh and looked at me. “You? Interested in something more than friendship? What like fuck buddies or something? Not gonna happen with me, Josh. Ever!”
“Jesus, Heather, I would never think of you like that. I can’t even believe you just said that. ”
“Please, Josh, don’t act all shocked that I said that. I know how you are, and I know about all the woman you’ve been with. Well, no, thank you. I don’t intend on being another notch in your belt. So, I think we need to keep this strictly friendship only. That’s all I’m interested in. ”
I sat there, stunned. I’d never heard Heather utter a hurtful word to anyone in the last year that I’d known her. When I looked over at her, I was pretty sure that I saw her quickly wipe away a tear. Fuck me.
“I’m not really sure what to say after your declaration of what you really think about me, but I would never think of you in such a disrespectful way. I mean, I haven’t even had sex in…. anyway, it’s been awhile since I was even out on a date. I know that I’ve made some bad choices, but really, none of those girls…”