The Apple Tree (Sunday Morning #2)

Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

THE BEATLES, “LET IT BE”

Kyle

“Fred and Anne are here. A surprise visit , and Eve got Josh a fucking dog,” I said to Adam when he called me after everyone was in bed. I was sitting on the deck with said dog curled up on my lap. He knew he needed to bond with me to stand a chance of staying.

As soon as I could have a coherent thought around Eve that didn’t involve planning the easiest and quickest way to put my dick inside her, we were going to have a serious conversation about the dog.

Adam chuckled. “Who buys someone else’s kid a dog?”

“Precisely.”

“Josh must love having your brother and Anne there. They spoil him.”

“Yeah,” I said, staring into the night sky filled with stars. “They said a few days, but I bet they stay until next week because Fred will want to listen to Peter preach this Sunday.”

“Sounds like you’ll have a babysitter then while you hunt on Saturday.”

“I have two sitters living next door.”

“Yeah, how’s that going? Are you still being a better man than me?”

I didn’t answer. Was Eve right? Did friends tell each other everything?

“Kyle Marcus Collins,” Adam mimicked my mom’s voice. “You haven’t put your filthy hands on the preacher’s daughter, have you?”

I chuckled. “You’d make a terrible woman, which is surprising because you’re such a pussy sometimes.”

“You’re dodging my question.”

The shit-eating grin on my face felt so good. I couldn’t think of Eve and not feel euphoric, despite the dog. “I put my hands on the preacher’s daughter.”

“YES! I knew you would, you lucky bastard. Was it everything I imagined it would be? Shit, was she a virgin? Is she a freak in bed?”

“You dumbass. You mean , was it everything I imagined it would be?”

“Sure, buddy. Whatever. Just answer my questions.”

I sighed, dragging a hand through my hair. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“That’s understandable,” he said. “It’s been a while. But when that thing between your legs gets hard, you put it in the hole between her legs. The front one unless she’s adventurous.”

“Shut the hell up,” I said with a laugh. “I’m acting like a horny teenager instead of a father and grown man with a job and real responsibilities. I’m on the verge of letting my world implode. It can’t last. And then what? Her family and mine will hate me. All for what? A good lay?” It was more than a good lay.

Eve got me. And I got her. The explanation was far more simplistic than the possible ramifications.

“Kyle, dude, you can’t do this again. It’s a repeat of Melinda. It’s okay to have sex, fucking amazing sex, with a woman and not marry her or impregnate her. It’s called casual sex.”

“What if she thinks it’s more than casual sex?”

“She’s eighteen. Of course, she’ll think that. But you’re the grown-up. Set boundaries.”

“This is rich coming from you.”

He laughed. “I know. But I’m not robbing the preacher’s cradle.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You’re not helping.”

“You’re a teacher who deals with teens all the time. Be diplomatic with her. If she can’t handle it, then tell her it’s over. Do you really think she’ll rat you out to her parents?”

I didn’t say anything.

“Unless,” Adam said slowly, “it’s more than casual sex to you. Tell me it’s not. This won’t end well. Get a grip on the situation. Don’t blow up family relationships over some girl. Think of Josh. Don’t put him in the middle.”

“What if I just talk with Peter? I’m his best friend’s brother. You know, just be honest with him.”

Adam chuckled. “What are you going tell him? That you think Eve is pretty, and you want to ask her out on a date? Read the Bible together? Maybe hold hands? Or are you going to tell him you’ve had your dick in her, and now you can’t imagine not putting it in her again and again?”

“I was thinking less is more. Wait to see if he asks questions.”

“And if he asks if you’ve had sex with his daughter, what will you say?”

“I’d tell him I can’t believe he’s asking me that.”

“Kyle,” Adam laughed, “I taught you well. Fucking perfect. But no. That won’t work with him because he’s known you your whole life, and he knows you weren’t the guy any father would trust with his daughter. Did you forget he knows you have a child out of wedlock? He knows you used to drink like a fish. Sex was your favorite pastime—still is, I bet. He’s heard your foul mouth. At best, you’ve grown up since having a child and becoming a teacher, so he’s okay with you being his neighbor. He’s okay with Eve babysitting Josh, but I will give you a money-back guarantee there is no way in hell he will ever think of you as a worthy man for his precious little girl, regardless of the ten-year age difference.”

“I didn’t take her virginity.”

“Yeah, lead with that. So if he thinks she’s a virgin, you’ll basically be letting him know his daughter sleeps around.”

“You’re an awful friend. First, you tell me to go for it with my neighbor; now you’re saying it’s pointless.”

“Pointless? Was it bad sex? If not, I’d hardly call it pointless.”

“I like her,” I said more to myself than to Adam, because something inside of me refused to let her be casual sex and nothing more.

“This isn’t good, man.”

I rubbed my jaw as the deck boards creaked beneath my wooden rocker. The dog readjusted on my lap, resting his snout on my knee.

“I like the world through her eyes. I like her young, wild heart, and I think it would be tragic if she ever conformed to anything but staring at the stars, picking apples, and …” I trailed off, slowly shaking my head.

Making love in wildflower fields.

“She doesn’t take herself too seriously. She’s perfectly content cleaning rooms at a motel like it never occurred to her that everyone else her age is falling in line to get an education so they can live the American dream—whatever that is. Sometimes, I think she’s not the best role model for Josh because her standards are so low, but other times, I think the world might be a better place if more people like Eve were content with being themselves. Let living be the dream and work be an afterthought.”

I quoted the young woman who refused to think math teachers were admirable because she wasn’t thinking clearly about what the word meant. That made me smile because Eve was brave and admirable ; she just didn’t see that in herself yet.

“How much have you had to drink tonight?”

I laughed. “Not enough.”

“Just don’t do anything stupid. Don’t think with your dick; that’s my MO, and don’t fool yourself into thinking there’s even a tiny chance that her dad will give the two of you his blessing. Are we clear?”

“We’re clear,” I sighed as something moved to my left.

Eve sauntered toward the stairs in baggy gray sweats, a pink hoodie, and a bottle of booze in her hand.

“I gotta go,” I said.

“Alright. Later, man,” Adam said.

I stood, eyeing Eve as she stopped at the bottom of the stairs, taking a drink of clear liquid from a glass bottle. I set the dog on his feet to go to her before I quietly opened the back door, set the phone on the counter, and returned to the deck.

“It’s past your curfew,” I said.

“I know. That’s why I had to sneak out.” She wasn’t slurring her words, so she was only one or two sheets to the wind.

“Where did you get this?” I sat on the steps and leaned forward, taking her bottle of tequila as the dog jumped to sniff it.

“In the old milk box by the garage.” She grinned, picking up Clifford. “In plain sight. It’s where my mom keeps a planter, but no one ever looks inside.”

“Is this leftover from Drew’s dad’s place?”

Her lips pursed into duck lips. “No. I have a new supplier.”

“Who?”

She shook her head. “Nope. Can’t tell you, Mr. Collins. You can’t be trusted.”

I narrowed my eyes and tried not to laugh. “ I can’t be trusted?”

“You’re a mandatory reporter.”

I laughed. “I’m not sure that applies. And you’re not my student or a minor.”

She let the squirmy dog down and reached for the bottle as I held it just out of reach.

“Can I ask why?” I stared at the bottle, wondering how often she drank.

“Why what?”

“Why do you drink this shit?” I took a swig. It was cheap tequila. Horse piss.

“Because it’s free.”

“So are STDs. I mean, why do you drink cheap alcohol all by yourself at eleven at night?”

She shrugged. “I like the buzz.”

“Do you like the headache in the morning?”

“Nothing two ibuprofen can’t handle.”

“You’re awfully small to drink hard liquor. A few ounces of this adds up to several cans of beer.”

“Must we do math tonight?” She stepped onto the bottom stair and reached for the bottle again.

I pulled it away.

“Hey!” She lunged at me as I emptied the bottle over the side of the railing.

“Shh!” I let the bottle fall to the ground so I could catch her.

“That was?—”

I pressed my hand over her mouth so she didn’t wake anyone.

“I need you to be quiet so you don’t wake anyone who might tell your parents about your jailbreak tonight. Do you want to be grounded again?”

Kneeling on the step between my legs, eyes wide, she shook her head.

I removed my hand from her mouth and brushed the hair away from her eyes. “You can’t be here,” I whispered, not wanting her to leave, but I knew someone could wake up and open the door behind me without warning.

She frowned. “You don’t want me here.”

“Baby, I want you everywhere I am.” I stroked her cheek with the pad of my thumb. “But that’s not a good idea right now.”

She turned into my touch, kissing my palm. “You can’t call me ‘baby’ and send me home.” She closed her eyes as my hand slid down her neck. “You can’t touch me like you did today and send me home.”

“I’m sending you home because I’m scared of never getting to touch you like that again if we get caught.”

Eve opened her eyes. “Let’s be brave together and not care what anyone thinks.”

I smiled. “I’ll walk you home.”

She stuck out her bottom lip.

“I’m going to bite that lip if you insist on tempting me with it.” I stood, taking her hand and whistling at Clifford, who was eager to follow us toward the hill.

Eve hugged my arm while we meandered toward her property, taking unhurried steps.

“I had fun making caramel apples with Josh today. When he giggles, I feel it in my belly like someone’s tickling me, and I can’t help but laugh too. But nothing will ever compare to the look on his face when I gave him Clifford. I know everyone is upset that I got him a dog, but A, he was free. C, Josh is so in love with him. And D. Well, I don’t know what D is, but you can’t make me regret it.”

“A. No dog is free . I will have vet and food bills. You skipped B because you’re drunk. And, of course, Josh is in love with him. He doesn’t have any responsibility for the dog.”

She dropped her head, moping along beside me.

I squeezed her hand. “I’m not happy about the dog. But the way you care about Josh and see the innocence and pure joy in his laughter means a lot. I used to think the same about him cooing as a baby. And the soup was amazing. I bet your grandma is proud of you for taking everything she has to pass along to you and gracing your friends and family with culinary love.”

“Culinary love?” She giggled. “I like that. And yeah, I think I’m her favorite, which says a lot because I know I’m not my parents’ favorite.”

“I don’t think parents have favorites,” I said as we reached the bottom of the hill and started up the last hill before the orchard.

“That’s because you only have one child. If you have another, you’ll have a favorite.”

I laughed. “Think so?”

“Yes. And don’t fool yourself. Fred is your parents’ favorite.”

“Nah. You know what I think?”

“Huh?”

“I think parents take the weakest one and make them the favorite because they know they need a little extra love if they’re struggling. So my sister is hands down the favorite.”

“Hmm …” She stared at the ground as we headed up the hill. “Then I might be the favorite. Or Sarah. Definitely not Gabby. She’s too sly. A conformist on the outside but a rebel on the inside. In their eyes, she can do no wrong.”

“Maybe you should consider not drinking so much. I bet that would go a long way to earn their trust.”

“Maybe. But now that I know I might be the favorite, I can’t risk being too good and losing that extra love. Can you just imagine how hard they will love me if they find out about us?”

I laughed. She always made me laugh, even when I tried to be serious. Eve was quickly becoming dangerously irresistible.

Clifford ran ahead of us and peed on the first apple tree he came to.

“How do you feel about a movie Friday night after the homecoming game? Not in Devil’s Head. Either Filmore or Raven. Fred and Anne will be thrilled to watch Josh. If you can figure out how to sneak away with me.”

She stopped and stepped in front of me between the rows of apple trees. “A date? Are you asking me to homecoming? Do I get to wear a dress?”

“A date.” I snaked my hands around her waist. “Minus the homecoming.”

She frowned.

“I’ll wear my Sunday best, and you wow me with your sexiest dress.”

She giggled. “I’m a preacher’s daughter. I don’t own anything sexy.”

“ You make the dress sexy.” I dipped my head and kissed her neck below her ear. “The dress doesn’t make you sexy.”

Her fingers weaved through my hair. “Why do I love when you say the word sexy?”

“Because you love sex,” I murmured in her ear. “I know what’s on that tape in your Walkman.”

She giggled, pushing me away. “Will we have popcorn and sodas?”

I grinned. “Popcorn and sodas.”

“Mike and Ikes?”

I shook my head. “Junior Mints.”

“What movie?” Eve reached for an apple and plucked it off the tree.

“Your choice.”

She wiped the apple with her sweatshirt and took a bite. My face soured just thinking about the tartness, but she didn’t flinch.

“Dirty Dancing. I’ve seen the previews. I think it’s about my life.”

“Is that so?” I was wasting time. We were a few yards from the fence along the property line, but I didn’t want to say good night.

“Well, we’ll see. But I’m going to be pissed if they made a movie about me without my permission.”

I no longer tried to hide my amusement with Eve. She made me laugh, and it felt good. And something about the smile on her face said I made her feel good, too.

“Meet me at our favorite lake after the game. Okay?” I said.

“Black Paw Lake is not our favorite lake. You said it yourself: Nobody’s there, the fish are not great, I flubbed up starting the boat there, and …” She snapped her fingers.

I tried not to laugh at her sluggish brain.

“Oh, yeah, it’s where you first rejected me.”

“Rejected you?”

She took another bite of the apple and nodded while chewing.

“How did I reject you?”

“You avoided looking at me for the looongest time, and when my bra strap slid off my arm, you put it back in place instead of going in the opposite direction.”

I shook my head, snickering. “Shut up. We were friends.”

Her head jutted backward. “Uh, speak for yourself. I’ve been heavily stalking you since you moved in. I don’t know what took you so long. You’re so dense, Mr. Collins. You’ve spent too much time looking at women in magazines, not having to do any work to see their titties, that you’ve become lazy with your efforts to woo women.”

I leered at her.

She rolled her eyes and pivoted, traipsing toward the fence in a crooked line. “I can read your mind. Just say it.”

I chuckled. “I promise, there’s no way you’re reading my mind.”

Eve popped the apple core into her mouth and climbed over the fence. “You love me, too. And you love Clifford.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but my heart climbed up my throat to block the words as it whispered let it be .