16. Chapter 15
Austin - The Past
The aroma of tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella tease my nose as I step inside the café to the sound of my friends talking along with quiet music playing.
Blue and white balloons float over the counter in the café, and streamers are strung from the exposed beams on the ceiling.
It’s warm and cozy inside, a stark difference to the uncharacteristically cold day outside.
I’ve heard that there could even be some snow flurries today.
“It’s the birthday boy!” Raegan’s smile has my heart thumping out of my chest. Her voice is one of my favorite sounds. I might’ve seen her not long ago at school, but I could look at her all day. Talk with her all day. Kiss her all day.
If my heart was thumping earlier, it’s galloping now. She wraps one arm around my torso in a quick side hug and awareness skitters through my veins. Our cheeks have a matching pink tint in them thanks to this little public display of affection.
Coach gives me the customary slap on the shoulder followed by a squeeze. It’s just his thing, he does it every time he sees me. Carson offers me a bro-hug greeting while Brantley and Jesse offer fist bumps.
Izzy squeezes me while also pinching me and shoving her head into my stomach. “You old man, you.”
“Don’t rush it, you goose.” I smooth a hand over her brown braid and disentangle her arms from my waist. “Let’s find some drinks.
” Izzy sticks like glue to my side as we make our way toward the café counter where drink canisters sit.
I pick the sweet tea and Izzy takes some Kool-Aid.
In the center of all the tables and chairs is a specially decorated spot just for me.
Mom pulls out pictures of me as a baby and starts passing them around.
Some of them I don’t even remember, especially the one of me with a bare backside.
Heat fills my face as they finally reach Raegan.
She’s sitting right next to me, and she giggles over my naked picture.
The rest she oohs and awes over. Holding up one of me at my first birthday party, she leans in close until our shoulders touch.
“Oh, my gosh. Weren’t you the cutest baby ever? ”
Coconut and vanilla tease my nose as her head nearly brushes my cheek. My head tilts of its own accord and I take a deeper sniff. I want to bury my nose in her hair. In her neck. I tell my heart to calm down and back up just a centimeter. “I don’t remember too much about that party.”
“It’s a good thing that your mom got these pictures then.” She winks at me, sending my heart whirling again. Our laughter dances together and for a second it’s just the two of us in the room.
“Pizza will be out of the oven in just a minute,” Ms. Rosa announces, wiping flour dusted hands on her apron covered front. “Y’all get started with some drinks and plates. Coach will pray and you can dig in.”
Along with the pizza there’s also salad and chips. Ms. Rosa is making sure we get the full food pyramid.
Coach prays over the pizza, then thanks God for bringing me and my family to Clear Creek.
I revel in the sense of belonging that comes over me when I’m with these people who feel more like family than friends.
It wasn’t long ago that I didn’t want to be here.
Thanks to God, Coach, the guys, and a special girl, I almost dread the thought of leaving Clear Creek someday.
Everyone settles in with their pizza, and the sound of chewing mingles with continued chatter.
When I thank Ms. Rosa, she turns it around and thanks me for having a birthday, and God for giving her the ability to bake and cook.
I’ve never known anyone like her, someone who turns everything around to somehow praise God.
“Before we can have cake, we need to play a few games.” Raegan stands at the counter and makes the announcement.
Her mom appears with a bag and begins to pull tissue boxes out of it, each one with a ribbon attached to it.
Robert and Riley shoot their fists into the air while shouting, “I love this game.”
“What kind of game can you play with tissue boxes?” I suspiciously make my way towards Raegan. I’ve got no clue what she has planned, and now I’m pretty curious.
“It’s called ‘junk in the trunk’. I couldn’t have us all playing spin the bottle, could I?” She giggles. “I promise you’ll enjoy it.”
Raegan explains all of the rules and instructions and Izzy props her hands on her hips. “Oh, I’m so going to win this,” she taunts me. We’ll see, little sister, we’ll see.
Camilla, Raegan's mom, hands out the tissue boxes and instructs us all to tie the ribbons on our waists, tissue boxes in the back. Once my box is secure I bounce on my toes and roll my shoulders as I shake out my hands.
“You’ll be using your hips, not your shoulders, silly.” Raegan bumps her hip playfully against mine.
I waggle my eyebrows at her. “I’m making sure all of me is ready. Prepare to be beat.” Her chin comes up and she attempts to look down her nose at me. But she can’t, I’ve got a few inches on her. And I like it that way.
“Wanna bet on it?” She studies me with her mesmerizing blue-gray eyes, challenging me.
“What’s the winner get?” I huskily whisper. I hold my breath as I wait for her answer.
“I win, you take out the trash tonight, and if you win, I’ll take out the trash.” She says as she holds my gaze.
“Deal. Let’s shake on it.” Our eyes lock, neither of us moving. Pretty sure Chrissy is whispering eye babies somewhere. Raegan's hand connects with mine.
I have to force the breaths out through my nose.
Raegan's face moves in closer to mine, and I can see specks of deep blue in her gray irises
“Have fun taking out the trash later.” Her sweet breath splashes over my face. Then she turns, winks, and flounces away. As if she didn’t just nearly kiss me. In front of all these people.
Camilla starts some music to help us get moving and within minutes Jaimie announces that she’s emptied her tissue box. As much as I wanted first place, as long as I beat Raegan I’m good. Instead of just shaking my hips in time to the music, I twist as furiously as I can.
Raegan and I face each other, both of us laughing, but our eyes are serious. This is war. And I’m going to win. I’m sure of it.
“Ha!” Raegan yells, punching her fists into the air.
“Haha! You get to take out the trash.” I stuff my competitive side down into a box.
I’m glad she won, I don’t really want her having to take out the trash even though it’s part of her job during her work hours.
I’m still determined to get every ball out of my tissue box though.
“Here. I’m an expert. Let me help you out.” Her hands grasp my hips in an attempt to make me twist faster. Heat races from her fingertips to my face, and my blood spurts through my veins.
Raegan gasps, her eyes widening, as she snatches her hands back. Bringing them to her cheeks she tries to cover the patches of pink blooming there. “Oh, gosh. I’m... I...” She drops her hands, whispering, “oops.”
My heart is hammering in my chest, and without thinking I reach out, my thumb and index finger encircling her wrist. I probably look like a cartoon character, little hearts pulsating in my eyes. “I didn’t mind.” My voice doesn’t even sound like mine.
We have to be careful, I remind myself. But we’re surrounded by people. Nothing is going to happen. I let my eyes trace the lines of her face. Her delicate jaw, her adorable pink lips, those blue-gray eyes that make me forget time and space.
“Are you about ready for some cake?” Camilla interrupts our intimate moment. Slowly, I drag my eyes away from Raegan’s face to focus on her mom’s announcement.
“I worked off a few calories with that game. It’s definitely a good time for cake.” My fingers shake as I untie the ribbon holding the tissue box around my waist. “I’ll help pick up all these ping-pong balls.”
“You’re the birthday boy. Robert and Riley will do the cleaning up.” Camilla winks at me. “Go and enjoy your time with your friends.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Carter.” I duck my head as my cheeks color. Coach catches my eye, and I head toward him, being careful not to step on the ping-pong balls littering the floor.
“Hey, birthday boy.” Coach’s brown eyes twinkle and his big, meaty hand covers my shoulder. I don’t know what I’d do without Coach in my life. Not just on the playing field, but at church, and in my personal life.
“Thanks for coming, Coach. I don’t know that I would’ve adjusted to small-town life if it weren’t for you.”
Coach’s eyes narrow at the corners as his mouth turns up—the sure sign a bear hug is coming.
“I’m just glad God brought you to us.” Those massive arms squeeze me, preventing me from drawing a breath.
Coach gives me one last squeeze before he lets go and slaps me on the back.
“It’s real nice that Raegan planned this for you.
” His hands settle on my shoulders, and his brown eyes peer into my soul.
“You know, if she went to all the trouble to plan this for you…” He pauses, and studies me.
“She cares about you. A lot.” He narrows his eyes at me, and I bite my lip.
“Don’t let her be the one who gets away. ”
“I know that she’s the best one out there. I’m a lucky guy.” I take a glance around the room, finding her talking with her mom. “I’ve got no plans to let her get away from me. But I’m not rushing it. Taking it slow.”
Coach’s large hand squeezes my shoulders again. “Just don’t go too slow.” He laughs and waggles his brows. “Let’s get some cake.”
Once I’m back in my place of honor, Raegan glides out of the café’s kitchen carrying a cake decorated to look like a baseball, with eighteen sparkler candles. The cake is amazing, but it doesn’t compare to the person carrying it toward me.