Running On Empty Part 14

And for the first time in years, my head and my heart feel as calm as the waters below.

Sitting in the boat, Blake and I finish off our pieces of pie, which did in fact taste just like his mother's, with our poles in the water, waiting for the next catch. While I lick my fork clean, I glance over at Blake; he's watching me with an amused smile.

"What? It was good. I should have packed a couple of more pieces. I'd have never pegged you for a baker." I put the fork back in the cooler, grab my pole, and resume watching my bobber float on the surface of the water.

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Alex," he says mysteriously.

"Like what?" I look over as he approaches and takes a seat next me. I watch him cast his line in the water.

"What do you want to know? Ask me anything."

Hmm. Anything?

He turns to face me and I can't help but notice the reflection of light from the water dancing off of his green eyes, making them look even greener. His light brown hair is flipping up at the ends, but where it is shorter by his eyes, it falls forward a bit. There's a matching shade of scruff on his face that somehow I missed this morning. He looks amazing.

"Why no girlfriend?" I brazenly ask. Really, I want to know. The guy is gorgeous.

Facing forward, he lets out a long deep breath and scoots down to prop his feet up on the side of the boat. "Impossible standards, I guess."

I feel a tug on my line and immediately turn away to look at the bobber. I eye it for a couple of seconds before I turn back. "What kind of impossible standards?"

Still facing the water, Blake seems to contemplate what he wants to say. "I don't know, Alex. It's hard to describe. I was in love with someone once but that was a very long time ago. Ever since then, no one seems to measure up. Impossible standards."

A long time ago? When? I don't remember him ever dating anyone seriously in high school. Eww...it wasn't Ashley Thompson was it?

"What? When? I don't remember that." I feel another tug on my line. I jerk the pole a little.

"You probably weren't paying attention. But you were there, I remember." He tilts his head and angles his body towards mine. "You don't remember?" He searches my face for some answer I obviously don't have.

Another d.a.m.n tug on the line.

This freakin' fish could not have worse timing. I yank the pole backwards as hard as I can, not to hook the fish, but out of frustration. The line flies up out of the water, sails over my head, swings back in my direction, and seems to be gaining momentum as the hook heads directly for my face.

"Whoa! Alex, watch out!" is the last thing I hear before Blake slams his body into mine, wraps his arms around me, and pulls me protectively to the floor of the boat. As we're crouched together, I notice that I can feel the scruff from his cheek tickling mine. I feel his warm breath in my ear and on my neck. I can feel his chest thumping against mine. I feel everything that is Blake.

I can't help myself. With my arms still wrapped around him, I grab onto the back of his s.h.i.+rt with both hands and pull him closer so I can press my nose into his neck. Leather and soap. With one whiff, I am completely overwhelmed. So many feelings at one time.

I feel safe.

I felt protected.

I feel relief.

I feel scared.

I feel vulnerable.

I feel desire.

I feel...

Everything.

I don't think I have felt anything in years. My wall has completely crumbled. The numbness of protection is gone.

My entire body is shaking while Blake holds me. And while I know that it's from the flood of feelings I've just encountered, I'm sure that Blake thinks it's in response to the near a.s.sault from the runaway hook. I stay in the comfort of his arms until I'm no longer trembling. When I've regained my control, I release his s.h.i.+rt and unwrap my arms. I lean back a little to look at his face and offer him an apologetic smile. "I thought I had one. Sorry."

The tension in Blake's face eases. I watch his eyes soften as they continue to hold mine. Slowly, he brings his hand to my face, curls his fingers around the back of my neck and lightly brushes my cheek with his thumb. We remain there in silence, just watching each other. After a couple of seconds, he leans forward, places his p.r.i.c.kly cheek against mine and whispers softly in my ear, "Are you sure you don't remember?" He presses his warm lips tenderly on my cheek.

Memories rush to my mind.

The lake. Blake's boat. Laughing on the floor. A kiss on the cheek.

Then it all clicks.

Blake Morgan had been in love with me? I knew he loved me as a friend, but, in love? That's a completely different ball game.

As I finally come to this realization, Blake's warm lips leave my cheek and his arms move to circle my waist. He leans his head back and scans my face. I raise my eyebrows at him in disbelief. "I'm impossible standards?"

Blake's lips form a breathtaking crooked smile when he looks directly into my eyes. He chuckles under his breath. "Yep. You're impossible standards."

I shake my head in disbelief. "No way. How could I have not known? We were around each other every day until..." The smile fades from Blake's face. He drops his gaze and looks over my shoulder at the water. "Until Derek," he says.

Guilt consumes me. I had been so wrapped up in my own world that I completely left Blake behind and never looked back. My best friend Blake Morgan.

Blake who helped me every time I skinned my knee doing stupid bike stunts when we were kids.

Blake who always let me have the last slice of his mom's pies, even though he acted mad about it.

Blake who took me fis.h.i.+ng and always baited my hooks for me because it was gross.

Blake who stepped aside as soon as I met Derek.

Blake who watched helplessly while my life moved on without him.

Blake who evidently was in love with me the whole time.

I look up at his face and feel the tears forming in my eyes. "I didn't know." I look down at my toes and reach up to wipe a tear before it has a chance to run down my face. I now fully understand his anger during our first interactions when he came back home. I feel Blake's fingers under my chin as he presses me to look back at him. Once my eyes meet his, I just shake my head. "I didn't know. I'm so sorry."

He pulls me close to his chest and holds me tight. "There was no way you could have known, Alex. I should've told you how I felt, but I didn't. After you met Derek, I hoped I'd still have my chance. I waited, but the timing was never right. Then you guys got together. And that was it. All I could do was watch it happen and hate myself for never saying anything. I should have fought harder for you. I won't let that happen again."

He pulls back and looks me directly in the eyes. "I love you, Alex. I loved you when we were just kids...and I've continued to love you every day since."

I pull him close and bury my head in his chest, letting my tears fall onto his s.h.i.+rt. He had every right to be disappointed in me. I get it. He loved me, and I left him behind, without a second thought.

But, I also understand that even though he was upset with me, he helped without hesitation when I needed it. He forgave me when I simply asked. He put his weekend aside to help me take care of my children. He held me when I cried. He did all of these things because of the person that he is. I know I won't allow myself to take this relations.h.i.+p for granted again. I lost it once by being selfish. I refuse to allow that to happen for a second time. I've already lost too much in this lifetime.

With his arms still around me, I pull away from his chest and wipe my face with my hands. Taking a deep breath, I look up to see his concerned eyes looking down at me. "I'm okay, Blake. I promise. It just caught me by surprise, that's all."

"The last thing I want to do is hurt you, Alex. I guess, after all these years, I feel that I owe it to myself to at least tell you the truth so I can stop being angry at myself and running every what if scenario though my head." He watches my face carefully while he speaks. "I'm sorry if I shocked you. But I also want you to know that having you back in my life as my friend...well...I've missed you. And I hope that what I said doesn't ruin that for me. I just needed you to know the truth."

I reach back and grab his hands that are resting on my lower back and bring them to the front of our bodies. Holding them tightly, I scoot closer to him. "You won't lose me. I know you would never hurt me." I hesitate, trying to plan my next words carefully.

"I'm not sure what's going on between us. It scares me. I feel things for you that I never thought I would feel again. You make me feel alive. I can't thank you enough for that, Blake." I lower our hands and s.h.i.+ft my body backwards.

"But I need time. This isn't the same as when we were kids. I have three little girls who are very affected by the decisions I make. I have to be responsible. I can't get wrapped up in something just because it feels good. I don't have that luxury anymore. I hope you can understand that." Blake lets go of my hands and reaches up to gently stroke my face.

"Alex, I've waited this long. Turns out I'm a very patient man," he says with a smile. "I can wait. I understand about your girls, and I wouldn't let you rush into anything you're not absolutely sure about...for their sakes. I understand that completely. I can wait knowing that in the end, if you choose me, then I'm a lucky man. If you don't choose me, we'll still be friends, but then I can move on. There will be no more what ifs."

His thumb moves down my jaw line until he holds my chin between his thumb and forefinger. He inches forward closing the distance I just created. He leans over slowly and puts his face in my line of sight. My eyes involuntarily watch his mouth as he licks his lips. In one swift movement, he leans forward and plants a soft kiss on the corner of my mouth. I feel his hair as it falls forward and tickles my face. His scent washes over me. A smile breaks across my face and, with his lips barely touching mine, I feel him do the same.

"So, just friends, right?" he teases.

With the same smile plastered on my face, all I can manage is a small nod and a simple, "Friends."

Totally. Just friends.

I think.

A couple of weeks have pa.s.sed since our romantic recreation on the boat. Blake regularly shows up at my office to take me to lunch. I can tell Harlow is secretly pleased, but she never says anything to me. I keep our "lake discussion" from her; I feel guilty doing it. There's nothing I keep from Harlow, but anything between Blake and myself I want to remain private, for now. The last thing I want is her interjecting her every opinion. I need to make this decision on my own.

During our lunch dates, Blake and I discuss the girls, Harlow's love life, his dad's retirement and his impending decision. The conversation is effortless and we easily fall back into being friends. It's nice, yet different. When I'm around him, there's definitely no shortage of longing gazes, heart flutters, and jolting touches. We both know there are feelings involved. I think he's waiting for me to make the first move. I never do, but that doesn't mean I don't think about it every now and then.

In fact, he's been invading my thoughts way too much lately. I know I need to take control of this issue... like, now. But deep down, I don't think I want to. Which is probably the reason I'm giggling like a school girl, on this very early Sunday morning, as I hit the send b.u.t.ton on my phone.

"h.e.l.lo?" I hear his s.e.xy raspy voice; I'm obviously waking him from his sleep.

"So, my lovely daughters have taken my coffee hostage and refuse to give it back to me unless I call you and officially invite you to breakfast this morning." Blake laughs loudly into the phone. "Blake, we have a hostage situation. This is very important so stop laughing! I need you to get over here because I have to have my coffee."

I s.h.i.+ft around in my bed to make myself more comfortable with this conversation. This is the first time I've called him to ask him for anything. Only for my children...I tell myself.

"Really? I've actually been waiting on this phone call...but if you want me to come over, just ask me. You don't have to use your children...or coffee. Really, Alex?" he says, snickering on the other end of the line.

This is exactly what I've been dealing with these last few weeks. Innuendos from Blake and me deflecting them like Wonder Woman. For someone so sweet, he's seriously full of himself. Unfortunately, I seem to be finding it s.e.xier and s.e.xier. This does not bode well in my favor.

"Look, the girls would like to cash in their breakfast date. I'm just relaying the message. If there's some weird fascination you have with me asking you to come over, that's your issue...not mine." I smile to myself. Ha! Take that.

"Alright." I hear him moving under his sheets. My mind goes places I don't even want to describe. "I'll be there at nine o' clock. Is that too early?"

"No, you know as well as I do that they get up at the crack of dawn. We'll be up and ready...unfortunately. Come on over. You're more than welcome to keep them busy so I can enjoy my morning."

I hear his familiar chuckle. "I could help you enjoy your morning even more, you know?"

"Shut up, Blake! Seriously, my children have requested your presence...not me. So you're officially their guest, not mine." Luckily I'm used to this from him by now so I'm not taken by surprise. "I'm going to tell them nine o'clock. You better be here."

"I'll be there. There's no place I'd rather be on a Sunday morning." I sigh out loud. I don't know why he has to go and say something like that...always making it hard for me to breathe. Jerk. But not. d.a.m.n him.

Rolling my hair around my finger like I'm in high school, I sit up in bed to catch my breath. "Okay...so I can go get my coffee now?"

"Alex, I'll bring you any kind of coffee you want...within a twenty mile radius, just name it." d.a.m.n him...again.

"I've infiltrated their quarters and located the target. I just need to be sure negotiations are secured so 'Operation: Get My Freakin' Coffee Back' can commence. So, just be here at nine. You aren't the one that has to deal with 'Where's Blake?' every five seconds. If you really want to make my morning, just be here on time."

"You got it. I'm there. Tell the girls I can't wait. What do you need me to bring?"

I literally laugh out loud, picturing the shopping trip we made in preparation for this phone call. Once Harlow paid the girls, I made them wait a while. I didn't want them to think every weekend was going to involve a visit from Blake. So, once I finally caved after their millionth request, they insisted we go right then to the store. Buying two bags of chocolate chips this time.

"Nothing, Blake. We have it covered, trust me. Just bring yourself...that's enough." I cringe at the last part of my statement. Really? I hope that doesn't sound too obvious. I want him here, but I don't want him to know I want him here.

"Alright, I'm there. Nine o'clock." I feel my heart race triple speed.

"Okay, see you then." I hang up before he has a chance to say anything else. I look over to my end table. Opening the drawer, I smile as I pick up the last thing I put in there before going to bed last night, and every night recently.

I flip through all the charms that Blake had given me. Reliving each memory, I hold the bracelet and let it intertwine between my fingers. When it falls to the base of my fingers, I wrap them around the bracelet and clench it tightly in the palm of my hand. Turning into my pillow, I take a breath of contentment and close my eyes.

Everything in me wants this man. I can't deny that. I'm drawn to him and unfortunately I can't seem to control it. And I don't know what to do about it. I can't go through another loss like I did with Derek. I can't put my girls through that. It feels much safer to just not allow it to happen. But the warmth I feel inside when I'm around him, the life I feel...it's undeniable.

While still clenching the bracelet, I feel the peace it brings to my heart. Something about it is familiar, it eases my soul. So for now, even if I don't know anything about my life and the course it will run with Blake, I keep him close every night when I hold these charms.

And something within me knows I'll continue to hold on until there's a reason not to.

I belt out a laugh as I walk out of my bedroom to start cooking for the much antic.i.p.ated breakfast. I see all three girls running around the living room, dressed like they're about to attend prom. We've had lots of dress up outfits over the years that now reside in trunks on the floor of Rylie's closet. Most of them are dresses covered in sequins, which I see my daughters have chosen as their attire for this morning.

Nycole's dressed in a bright red sequined "clapper" dress that she wore last year for Halloween. Complete with matching feather.

Kyndall's dressed in an old hot pink dance dress with black polka dots and black sequined trim. Complete with black tap shoes...which are not quiet as she runs around on the tile in the hallway.

Rylie's dressed in her favorite Sleeping Beauty dress and matching plastic Sleeping Beauty shoes. Complete with a set of cat whiskers that her sisters must have drawn on her face while I was in the shower. I really hope they used the washable markers.

I can't help but feel underdressed. I glance down at my beautifully made "That's What She Said" t-s.h.i.+rt and jean shorts.

"So, do I need to go change? I didn't know we were dressing up today." I turn around slowly displaying my outfit. Nycole's face lights up. "I know exactly what you can wear. Stay here," she says bolting out of the room. When she re-enters, she's holding one of my favorite dresses. I knew this is the one she would pick. It's the one I wore for my last anniversary with Derek. It's a sequined tube dress that's nude in color with darker sequins sewn onto the mesh overlay. It's beautiful. In her other hand she's holding my favorite six inch T-strap champagne high heels. I shake my head at her and the wide grin on her face. "No way. The dress I'll wear, but no shoes. I'll break my ankle running around in those things."

Nycole nods her head in acceptance. "Deal. But you need to go put some makeup on and fix your hair. It would look pretty dumb to be dressed up with no make-up." She throws the dress to me and points to my bedroom. Gee, thanks.

"Fine." I start to head into the other room to change. "But no whiskers on my face I think that would also look dumb with my dress." Stopping to look at Rylie I add, "But on you, my dear, they look gorgeous!" Rylie giggles and continues spinning around the room in her dress...something she's been doing since I've been in here.

I walk into my bathroom and turn on my curling iron. I dry my hair quickly and apply some make up. Just a little because I don't want to look like I'm overdoing it. Not that the dress itself isn't overkill enough. I slide the dress over my head and walk over to the full length mirror on my bathroom door. I turn from side to side and watch the dress swish back and forth hitting the middle of my thighs. I forgot how short this dress is. Yikes.

I quickly add some loose curls to my hair and slide a light lip gloss over my lips. Smacking them together, I take a final look in the mirror, surprisingly pleased with the outcome of my efforts. Not bad for nine o'clock in the morning.

"Alright girls," I say, once again entering the living room. "Let's get started!"

All three girls stop what they're doing and stare at me. I spin around and look back at them seeking approval. Nycole flashes me the thumbs up sign and a huge smile.

"You look like a model, Mama!" Kyndall runs up and hugs my waist.

"Mommy you look so pretty!" Rylie exclaims as she runs to me and embraces my leg. I look down at them and smile. "Well, Blake isn't going to know what to do with all of the beautiful Meyer girls this morning, is he?"