CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
HEATH
When I was twelve, my best friend Doug double-dog dared me to climb on top of his older brother's Jeep and moon the neighborhood girls in their treehouse. They wouldn't let boys in and we wouldn't let them be until some sort of revenge was extracted. It was brilliant, really, climbing on top of that ratty Wrangler and shoving my ass in the air.
The next day, Robin told everyone I had a hairy ass with lots of pimples. She took pictures and threatened to spread them all over school in revenge. They called me Pimple Ass for half the year, until I kicked everyone's ass on the football field and made them reconsider their life choices.
"Dude, just suck it up and roll with it. It'll be fine." Clark calls through his car window. "Chicks love this shit in the movies."
"I think I'd rather be called Pimple Ass again."
"What?"
"Never mind."
It's not the embarrassment of the set up. Between the ancient boombox Sealy dug up in a prop closet and the candles and flowers, this looks like every chick flick wet dream. I'm dressed in my best jeans, my nicest button-down, and trimmed appropriately for any bedroom activities that I really fucking hope follow this whole ordeal. I feel good about all that.
It's if she says no.
I don't think I can stomach another rejection from Leigh. Not because she's the brainy girl who should be grateful someone like me pays attention to her, which I accept is bullshit because she's hotter than me anyway. It's because I don't think I can put myself out there again for someone who I can't seem to get out of my head.
"Can't wait to hear the x-rated details." Clark says. "We'll be waiting."
"On bated breath." Sealy climbs into his car. "She'll be out in like two seconds. Hope you're ready."
"Hey Davis!" Someone yells behind us. "Nice box. Think this is some '90s movie?"
"Fuck off." I shoot the finger behind me without even bothering to see who it was. I need to be in the zone. It's time to fix the mess I made.
The music is some eclectic mix of stuff Sealy sent me, stuff I didn't recognize but wasn't terrible. I heft a bottle cap in my palm, hope with all my might that this works, and toss it against her window.
"Leigh!"
The longest five seconds of my life spill before me, waiting for her to appear on her patio. When she does, she's a vision. Hair pulled up, dressed like she's ready to lounge around or throw a ball in the parking lot, lips pursed and ready to say... well, hopefully very nice things. She’s not glamorous and she’s not plain. She’s… perfect.
She grips the railing and takes in the scene I've set up just for her. "What is this?"
"Leigh, I'm an idiot."
"Yes."
I pause, not expecting her to actually answer. It throws me and the whole thing feels like a total waste until she smiles. It's small but there's no denying that familiar curve of her mouth.
"I guess I deserve that."
"Maybe. Probably.” She swallows hard and looks away. “Maybe I do, too."
"No. You were right. About everything. Yes, there is a lot that is dangerous about the sport I love. Yes, there is a high injury rate. Yes, I said a lot of stupid shit about you because I couldn't admit to everyone that I had feelings for you. But not for the reasons you think. I've spent a long time telling people I don't need anyone, Leigh, and you made me question whether or not I'd been full of shit the whole time."
I exhale slowly and hope to god that asshole is not still behind me, because I think I'll kill him if he interrupts.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have treated you like someone unworthy of attention and care. You are the brightest, smartest, funniest person I've ever met. You're better than every guy I know. If you let me teach you some basics, I don't doubt you could kick Jack's ass across the field in about three seconds."
"I would love that so much."
"I know."
A full smile finally takes over her face and I know I've won. It's the victory march, the War Hymn, I needed. She chews on her lower lip and looks around, almost embarrassed, like she doesn't know where to go. I hold up the tulips.
"I was kinda hoping you'd come down here so I could give you these."
Leigh cocks her head back and forth, nose wrinkled, every bit the adorable, sexy woman I've missed.
“I know I don’t deserve your time. I know that. But I also know I can’t live another moment without trying to prove to you that I’m sorry. Will you please come join me in the middle of this flower circle and commiserate over how terrible I am?”
"I guess I could do that."
In the mere seconds it takes her to come down stairs, I let myself have one victorious fist pump. I'll be damned. Sealy was right.
I walk slowly to meet her, not wanting to scare her off, but she takes one look at me and runs into my arms, jumping to wrap her legs around my waist. After weeks without, I'm enveloped in the scent of her. All pretenses aside, it's exactly where I want to be.
"Leigh, I—"
Just like the first afternoon we came together, she rushes to meet me for a kiss and hesitates just before we can touch. A game of kiss-chicken. Only this time we both hold our breaths. This is the last bridge to cross before everything is truly okay. Before I've truly won. I've sent the spiral and am waiting to see if I can pull off this epic Hail Mary.
"You're a cow town football meathead.” She says quietly. “That's what I've called you."
"Stuck up nerdy waitress."
"That's fair." Her lips whisper against me, teasing me with the promise of her kiss. "I do think I'm better than a lot of people here."
"That's because you are." I close my eyes to better savor the feel of her against me. We're in the middle of everything and she still manages to make it feel intimate. "I guess I am kind of a cow town football meathead. Hopefully, soon, I'll be a big city football meatball head, though. I've got big dreams, you know."
"And I'll be a stuck up nerdy space engineer. Soon the school year will end and we'll go our separate ways."
"There's still a lot of football-free weekends between now and then."
Her voice drops to a soft whisper. "Are you sure this is what you want?"
"You? More than I can say, Leigh. Words aren't my specialty, not like this. I can tease and I can be a smartass. I can't make the words come out right to tell you that instead of being an asshole and picking on you, I want to cherish and treasure you. I don't care about the future, or how quickly it gets here. I just know I want to wait it out with you by my side."
"I think that's a pretty perfect way to say it."
"Well, I am Heath Davis."
"Oh my god." She groans with a smile in her voice and a tear in her eye. "You're ridiculous."
"You love it, though."
"I do." She presses her forehead to mine. "I do."
"Forgive me?"
"Only if you can forgive me for being an inconsiderate asshole about the things that are important to you."
"People say stupid things when they are trying to run from the good in their lives."
"That's what Sealy said."
"I know." I tighten my grin on her thighs around my waist, desperate for the taste of her on my lips. "Leigh. Forgive me. Be with me. Please."
I can't wait for her answer any longer and claim her mouth with my own. She opens to me like the flowers in the grocery store, like the perfect throw in a game, like the girl who belongs at my side.
In between the sweetness of her lips and the heat of her tongue, she whispers, "Yes.”