Читать книгу Respect the Dead - Shawn McLain - Страница 6

“Are you ok?” Wes whispered.

“Yeah...now.” Beth hiccupped.

Wes just held her for a moment rubbing her back and to her surprise he kissed the top of her head through her wet hair.

“Come on you’re going to catch cold out here.” He said taking her by the hand pulling her to the car.

They got to the door when Beth stopped. “I’m going to get the seats all wet and dirty.” She said with a sob.

“I don’t care. I mean look at this thing.” Wes said exasperated. Beth shrugged at him. “Fine, wait a second.” He said holding up a finger he reached in the back pulling out a hooded sweat shirt. He held it out to Beth. She looked at it and smiled.

They stared at each other for a second until Beth arched an eyebrow at him. Wes jumped quickly turning his back to her and closing his eyes. Beth laughed as she pulled off her soaked shirt. She pulled on the sweatshirt and zipped it up. It was warm and dry.

“I’m sorry.” She muttered.

“For what?” He asked confused.

“For dragging you out here.” She sighed. “It’s just....all Corey wanted was sex and...I don’t know... I just thought he would realize that wasn’t going to happen. I thought he would chill out and be cool. I mean why can’t more guys be like you?" She smiled at him. "I mean you never try any of that stuff with me." He tried to say something but she wasn't paying attention. "I mean they start out all nice then it turns out they have other intentions…” She was rambling and starting to cry again then stamped her foot and swiped at her cheeks. “That is enough, Beth!” She chided herself.

Wes took her wet clothes from her as he pulled her into a hug. “I came here to get my best friend. That was my only intention. ” He swallowed nervously. “So, all Corey wanted was…never mind I…I don’t want to know.” Wes muttered hurt in his voice. He swallowed hard holding her soggy shirt out to her. She pushed her wet hair out of her face. She gave Wes a smile. He inclined his head to the car.

“He wanted it." She placed a hand on his arm. "He never got it from me.” Beth headed for the door. Wes made his way around the car. They stared over the roof while she opened the door. Wes looked at her and smiled.

Once inside the Beth relaxed. It was warm and she was safe. Her legs were still cold but Wes turned up the heat for her.

“You OK?” He asked.

She nodded, “Thanks.”

“So what happened?” Wes asked looking at her.

Beth sighed. She didn’t really want to tell him. She knew Wes hated Corey and this wasn’t going to help. Once she started to tell the story, she couldn’t stop. Everything that Corey had done, everything he had said, everything. She had been keeping it to herself and it had been driving her crazy. As she finished, she couldn’t meet Wes’ gaze. She felt ashamed and shallow.

She knew his question, “Why are you with him?” But she didn’t know the answer. To her surprise he didn’t ask.

She looked up at Wes and saw the anger and hurt in his eyes. “Just know…” he started then looked away.

“What?” She asked.

“Nothing.” He sighed.

“Wes?” She said taking his face in her hand pulling him to face her, “Really what?”

Wes shook a little but kept her gaze. “Um…just know…I would…never do that to you…um…you deserve better.” He hesitated, “You know if you are looking for a nice guy um well you know where to find one.” He finished almost in a whisper as he lost his nerve looking away.

Beth sat for a second and then replied, “I know.”

Wes turned back to look at her. She put her hand on his cheek and leaned forward. Wes leaned in and their lips met.

Something slammed onto the hood of the car. The two sprang apart. They stared at the man standing in front of the car. The headlights illuminating him as he stood reaching toward them. He held his arms outstretched over the hood. His face just barely visible in the dim light, looked bruised and beaten but pale. The man’s hands came down on the hood again, his nails scratching at the paint.

Wes got the message, quickly putting the car in reverse. He pulled away leaving the man lurching after them. Shaking hands spun the wheel trying to turn the car around, Beth squeaked, hanging onto the seat belt she was trying to put on. Wes slammed into first gear praying it didn’t stall. The car lurched then caught. He pushed his foot to the floor, leaving the man stumbling after them in the fading red of the taillights.

“Damn.” He said, shaken by the man’s anger. He checked his rear view often. “That dude was pissed.”

Beth placed her hand over his. “Karen said that when she and Dave were out here last week, they were chased off by a crazy old guy. She said he was screaming about kids and music and stuff.” She laughed nervously.

“Yeah, well knowing Karen, old dude had a point.” Wes laughed. “I guess she’ll have to find a new place to…um…hang out?”

Beth sat back in the seat and laughed. “Maybe she should hook up with Corey.”

“I heard she already did.” Wes laughed.

Beth spun in the seat to face him, “Really? God! That lying bastard.” Beth spat out.

They spent several minutes thoroughly trashing Corey. When they pulled into their development, Wes glanced sideways at Beth, “What were you thinking?” He asked.

“I wondered when you were going to get there.” Beth sighed. “To answer, I guess I wasn’t.” She shook her head. “I went with looks and popularity over personality. I just hope my new boyfriend will always like me for me and not because I look good with his car.” She finished as Wes pulled into her driveway. “Then again, I’m not sure anyone would look good with this car.” She laughed

“Funny, you were happy to see it earlier.” Wes grumbled pulling into the driveway. Beth began to unclasp the seat belt. She reached for the door handle when Wes spoke up. ”“Um hey, Beth?”

‘Yeah?”

“Would you like to….um….Ya know, I just kissed you and stuff….Damn it!” Wes took a deep breath as Beth smiled at him. “Can we start dating? I mean… yeah…I want to be more than…you know freindzoned. ” Wes stumbled. Cringing at himself he looked hopefully at her.

“Wes, I don’t kiss guys I’m not dating, just so you know.” She stated trying to act angry but failing through the laughter. She leaned over and kissed him again laughing through the entire kiss.

“No…No I didn’t think you would.” Wes smiled. He leaned over and kissed her. She reached in the back and grabbed her wet clothes.

“Come over tomorrow to get your hoodie?” She asked turning back to face him.

“Yeah, sounds good. What time?” He smiled.

“Come by for lunch. Maybe we can catch the movie tomorrow.” She said and kissed him goodnight. She was barely out of the car when her phone rang. She looked at the number then over at Wes.

“It's my ex. I think I’ll let it go to voice mail. See you tomorrow.” She closed the door. Wes watched her go through the front door. Sure she was safe, he headed home, a huge smile on his face.

Wes’ head was spinning with the night’s events as he pulled up to his house. His room was above the garage, an addition that was put on in the sixties and still retained some of that character. Outlines of huge flowers could still be seen in the paint of what Beth had dubbed the Scooby Room. The rest of the house was a small post Second World War ranch. It wasn’t as big, or nice as the houses in Beth’s part of the neighbor hood that was built in the nineties. He had always been slightly embarrassed about the place, but tonight he could only sit and smile at it.

“Finally! Finally she sees me. I can’t believe she likes me!” He told his car, rubbing the faded and cracked dash affectionately.

It wasn’t until the front porch light flicked on that Wes turned the key. He smiled as he listened to the tired engine sputter and die. He leapt out of the car, bounding to the front door. He gave his mom a kiss on the cheek as she moved out of his way to let him in.

“How’s Beth?” Wes’ stepfather, Reggie, asked as he gave a small cough. Reggie rubbed his throat and grimaced.

“Great! Just great. I’m gonna call it a night.” Wes bid his mother and stepfather good night.

“What? I thought there was some kind of trouble….” His mother yelled after him as he took the stairs to his room two at a time. He thought about seeing Beth tomorrow making him smile all the more.

“There was, but everything is great now.”