New Chapter Day! New Chaaaaapter DAAAAYY!!!

So we're back at it & here are 2 more chapters. A little more sizzle for your summa read!

Back to job searching! I love ya honey I love ya!

Dockside

By: Janice McCrostie

Chapter 11

There was an early summer chill in the air but the bleachers were still filled with shorts and t-shirts. Maeve couldn’t help but realize that the two of them stuck out like soar thumbs in their blue jeans and sweatshirts. She wrapped her arms around her knees and cozied up to her sister just as Clare let out a holler when Jackson got a base hit.

“Yay!” Maeve shouted, then crinkled up her face in disgust. “Why do girls always sound like such idiots cheering for sports.”

“Speak for yourself; do you think they have hot chocolate over there?” Clare gestured toward the makeshift stand set up by the PTA.

“No.” Maeve laughed. “Whoa!”

“What? Good play?”  Clare came back from her chocolate dreams. “Oh.”

Maeve was staring at one of the most beautiful men she had ever seen. He looked like one of the men she had moved up here to escape, dressed impeccably, hair perfectly cut in golden locks and a smile that could cut through any cold demeanor.

“Oh? You know him.”

“Yeah we go way back, that’s the guy I was telling you about.” He stopped in front of them at the foot of the bleachers, never taking his eyes off of Clare. His face questioned her and she gestured for him to come up.

As he wormed his way up through the crowd Maeve tried to get a quick answer from her sister.

“Huh?” There had been a few.

“When I was taking pictures a few weeks ago.”

“Oh!” He was getting closer and Maeve nudged a little further.

“We got it on in the Saturn.”

“Oh.” A grin spread across her face and she felt the sudden pang of jealousy. There, making his way up the bleachers was Clare’s ability to be completely impulsive. And her bad habit was gorgeous and the complete opposite of someone she would picture her sister going for.

Keaten leaned over to discipline the two. “Excuse me ladies, I’m trying to watch a ball game.”

“Sorry.” Maeve giggled.

“Cold?”

“A bit.” He curved his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. She didn’t like it, what if Jackson saw? What if it made him upset?

“Hey there,” she heard her sister say to the hottie, lack luster.

“Hello,” he responded and bent down to kiss Clare’s cheek.

“This is my sister, Maeve, and that’s Keaten. Guys this is Jasper Clay.”

“Hi, how are you?” He leaned over Clare and extended his hand to both of them.

Jasper Clay had, amongst his other attributes, a great handshake. Maeve was also grateful because Keaten had to take his arm from around her to be polite.

“My grandmother and her boy toy are over watching by the fence.”

“Clare.” Maeve gave a warning tone.

He sat down comfortably next to Clare and the two immediately began bickering like an old married couple. Maeve pretended to watch the game but eavesdropped instead.

“I don’t remember inviting you.”

“So we’re back to this?”

“I just thought we were meeting after.”

“Sorry your plan did pan out, but I wasn’t going to wait around all night to see you.”

Maeve could tell this one threw Clare off a bit because she didn’t have an immediate rebuttal.

“Did you bring the wine?”

“Bought it on my way over.”

“Good, go get it I’m cold.”

“I’m not going to bring a bottle of wine to an elementary school baseball game. Unless you would like me to get arrested?”

“Could have its benefits.”

About this time Maeve legitimately tuned out as Jackson was up to bat again. The score was tied in the fifth and before she knew it she found herself yelling out above the crowd.

“Go Jackson!” Keaten looked over at her as she beamed down at the field. Jackson turned from the mound, at first his face was confused by the female voice that had called his name, then finding his dad he waved with a big smile. His gaze shifted a bit to Maeve and his smile faded a bit, still he gave another wave, than brightened again when he saw Clare.

This hurt, but part of her understood. Clare was younger and hipper. When he looked at Maeve he only saw an uptight woman who was desperately trying to get him to like her, all the while stealing his father’s attention. She would have hated that person too.

The pitcher wound up and threw a strike. She heard Keaten mutter something under his breath and instinctively reached for his hand. They gripped each other tightly as Jackson settled into his stance again.

The next pitch was a ball and all three of them yelled out the clichéd “good eye!” Clare was now engulfed too, her stare burning holes in the diamond. Another ball whirled by and Maeve couldn’t help but notice how hard the young pitcher was throwing the ball. Strike.

“Damnit!” Clare yelled out and Maeve turned towards her. Jasper’s hand was possessively on her sisters thigh, but it was more to make a point to Clare then to anything else. He affectionately ran his thumb over her knee.

Just as she turned back to the game Jackson hit the homerun he’d been talking about last week. Straight shot right out of the park! 

Clare screamed and leapt straight into the air, then proceeded to turn and kiss Jasper right on the lips. Maeve smiled over at her sister, one minute she can’t stand him the next she can’t stay away, truly crazy. She felt a tug on her arm and turned towards Keaten, he was glowing with pride. Pride that he wanted to share with her, he wrapped his arms around her in a big bear hug.

That wave of family came over Maeve again, but it felt wrong. Thinking about the way Jackson had looked at her, all he’d been through. This would never fit because he rightfully doesn’t want to trust her. Again Maeve had to pay for the sins of others.

She went to pull away but he held her in place just a second longer. Just before they separated he brushed a kiss along her forehead that sent heat pulsing through her.

“Games almost over, so you won’t have to freeze much longer.”

“Not going to be a problem.”

Clare tried to slip her hand out of Jasper’s as they walked towards his car. How it had even got there she didn’t know. He was annoying her and she wanted him to go away. But at the same time she liked how he annoyed her, the way that he touched her with affection, as if he’d been doing it since they were teenagers.

It was weird though, Clare knew she couldn’t trust it. Suave men like this were just assholes trying to conquer something. All his affection was for shit when you knew it was just to get into your pants. But that’s what she wanted, so she let him play his game.

The three of them joined Gram and Mike as they waited for Keaten to grab Jackson from the dugout. Great, Clare thought, another awkward introduction.

“Gram, Mike, this is Jasper. I can’t seem to shake him.”

“Jasper.” Mike shook his hand like a father would, holding on a little bit longer and tighter then needed.

“Down boy.” Gram took Jaspers hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“You as well.” He seemed to glow with the refined upper class that won most people over. Clare giggled to herself knowing that it would never work on her grandmother.

Maeve had fallen quiet, her eyes set on something near the dugout. Clare looked and wasn’t surprised by what she saw.

A woman about his age wearing very little clothing was draped delicately around Keaten as he stood waiting for his son. That wasn’t the upsetting part; the thing that was bothersome is that he didn’t seem to care. He was laughing and smiling right along as if she was the funniest thing that had ever happened. Acting like her sister wasn’t forty feet away talking to her future father in law.

Jasper must have felt her tense up, so he followed her gaze. His demeanor changed slightly as he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Go get ‘em.” He whispered in her ear.

Clare looked up at him, how had he known? Why was he egging her on? She snapped back out of it and looked to her sister. Maeve was pretending to listen to Mike and Grams conversation on the game, but it was obvious to Clare that she had other things on her mind.

Clare pushed off from Jasper and started towards the fence. She heard a muttered objection from Maeve, but just kept on walking having no idea what she was going to do. The only thought that was running through her head was how pissed she was that he had played her, so that’s what she led off with.

“Wow, Mr. McGuire I have to admit you had me completely fooled.”

Keaten looked stunned and the woman leaned back slightly, as if ready to pounce.

“Introduced me to your friend,” Clare continued, not yet prepared to give up head of the conversation. She watched his eyes train on Maeve; he’d obviously noticed the reasoning behind this assault. She knew when he had caught her sister’s eye because his shocked face turned suddenly sullen.

“Clare, this is Sandra. Her son Adam is on the team with Jackson.”

“Great to meet you, Sandra. Wasn’t that just the game of the century?”

“It was alright.” Sandra wasn’t buying it and Clare couldn’t have been happier.

“Are you kidding me!” She put on her greatest impression of an annoying teenager. “That game was incredible! Jackson hitting that homer! He is just a true athlete. How was your son’s game?”

“Good.” Sandra looked up to Keaten with frustration, as if waiting for him to shoo the obnoxious youngster away. When he wouldn’t even make eye contact with her she continued, “Adam had a few base hits.”

“They were good ones,” Keaten put in.

“Oh I didn’t notice.” Clare looked over her new friend towards the field. “Jackson!!!”

She ran over to the boy, who glowed as her ran into her arms. They stood about 10 feet from the “adults” and chatted. Jackson introduced her to Adam, who seemed just as enamored with her presence as he was. Clare exclaimed to him how phenomenal his game was and even poked at Adam for his great base hits, all the while keeping an ear open.

“Who the fuck is that Keaten?” Sandra hissed.

“An old friend.”

“You mean an old bitch.” He stiffened but didn’t defend her. Clare didn’t mind, that’s what she was going for. “Can I see you tonight?”

“No.” She couldn’t tell if he knew she was listening or not. She stole a look up and saw him watching Maeve. “We’re not starting that up again.”

“Oh. I can see that you’re… distracted. Come on, Adam.” Sandra grabbed the boy by the arm and stalked off.

“Jackson, your Gramps is waiting to love on you.” He ran off towards the car and Mike caught him in a huge bear hug.

Clare turned on Keaten and glared up at him, “You’re a shit McGuire. At least you could have looked like you weren’t enjoying it so much.”

She walked back towards Jasper, but locked eyes with Maeve who looked oddly relieved by her sisters display.

“I believe you have a bottle of wine for me, Clay?”

“Absolutely.” The two walked off towards his car. Mike hollered a goodbye after them but neither of them were paying much attention.

Maeve stood quietly next to the truck as Gram hugged Jackson and whispered with Mike.

“Do you mind if I ride back home with Mike?”

 A smile escaped Maeve’s lips, “Go ahead, but no sleepovers young lady.”

Gram cracked up at her granddaughter’s new sense of humor, it really was a hoot. She gave her a kiss on the cheek and walked off laughing.

“Bye Jackson.” Maeve called through the window of the truck. He muttered a something that sounded like he was half asleep. She nodded at Keaten and walked away.

“Maeve.” She wasn’t surprised by the rustle of gravel that meant he was following her, so she picked up the pace. “Maeve.” This time he said it with more force and frustration.

She was so annoyed, with herself more then Keaten. He didn’t need to answer to her, she was nothing to him. Obviously.

“Maeve!” They were at her car now and there was no where else for her to go so she turned on him.

“Hi.”

“She’s just a friend. I mean there was a time but there’s nothing there, our boys play sports together is all.” He seemed really pathetic.

“Ok. That’s really nice of you to share Keaten but you really don’t owe me anything. We’re friends.”

“Friends.” He said it flatly like he didn’t want to believe it.

“Yup, friends, I mean what else could we be?” She watched him with recognition. Maeve knew what she was doing, she was protecting herself. After tonight she realized that he was the catch of the island, no pun intended, and being with him would always be like that. Maeve would never be the type of girl to fight for someone’s attention; it was something she refused to do.

“Goodnight.” He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, lingering a little bit and making her warm up.

She climbed into her car without saying another word. If she was going to cry, which she wasn’t sure about just yet, she wasn’t about to let him see.

Chapter 12

Jasper kept his eyes on the road for the majority of the ride, only looking over at Clare once or twice to make sure she was still breathing. She wasn’t really in the car though, her mind was wondering to a hundred different places, settling on Keaten McGuire and what a slime he was. And every time it did she let out a frustrated grunt and rubbed the tension out of her eyes.

“You made him feel like crap.”

“Mission accomplished.” She rolled down the window to let some air in; it was suddenly feeling extremely hot.

“He definitely learned his lesson.”

“Yes.” She noticed for the first time where he was headed, he pulled up to the same beach they had been on the week before. “Oh, memories!” she said in a mocking tone.

“I thought you’d like it.” A smirk spread across his face as he put the car into park. “Wine?”

“Yes.”

Jasper climbed out of the Range Rover, walked around and popped the hatchback. A few minutes went by before she turned in her seat to find him sitting in the trunk, pouring a red into two glasses.

“Coming?” He asked, without turning towards her.

Clare climbed out of the car, not having the energy to fight with him. Her mind was entirely on that tall glass of deep red that she was planning on gulping down. A little buzz would clear her mind. She hopped onto the bumper and pushed herself inside the back, folding her legs she turned towards him.

He handed her a glass and held his own up to her.

“To good sex,” she said and tapped her glass to his.

He almost spit his wine out, but caught it just in time. By now he shouldn’t have been so caught off guard by the ridiculous things she said. He rallied himself…

“We’ll see.” He watched her take a long sip of her wine then turned towards the water.

They sat like that for a while, the water being the perfect distraction. It was low tide and the waves rapped against the shore, whipping the seaweed around. The moon was bright enough that she could make out the shapes that the white foam left on the rocks. The waves contoured to fit the rocks instead of change them, slowly wearing them down, creating the sand. A happy medium between the water and the boulder. Why couldn’t life be that easy? Why couldn’t things just meld together and fall into place as easily as when the ocean met the shore?

“What are you thinking right now?”

“Nothing interesting.”

“I’m sure I’d disagree.” He picked up a blanket and handed it to her; she draped it over her legs and looked over at him. The way he watched her should have been unsettling but it wasn’t, it was comfortable. This bothered her.

“Where are you from?” she asked. If she knew more about him maybe she could understand more.

“Chicago.”

“Where did you go to school?”

“Northwestern for undergrad and New York University for my Masters and Doctorate”

“Oooo a doctor. How old are you?”

“Thirty-six. And you Clare?”

“You should never ask a lady her age.”

“No, where did you go to school?”

“Ironically enough I went to NYU.”

“For photography?”

“For photography.”

The wind picked up and Clare tugged her legs tighter to her chest. It wasn’t much but now that she had some more information on him, it made the whole situation a little less odd. The wine and the company had taken her mind off the evening’s festivities and she could feel herself relaxing. What was it about this man that had her entire body switching objectives? They sat and talked, letting the night get away from them. There were times when things came out of her mouth that she had had no intention of sharing and when the subject slowly maneuvered its way to her parents, her mother, Clare realized that there needed to be a change of topic. She set her glass down and turned to fuss with the backseat, she knew it had to lie down somehow. You pay this much for a vehicle then the seats lay down so you can move things. Or maybe they don’t because you pay people to move them.

Before she could turn to ask for assistance he was over her, adjusting the seat down to make extra room. Clare turned towards him and was pinned, one arm on either side. She suddenly felt hot and wanted her sweat shirt off. But was that the weather, the wine, or the want to be closer to him? Taking a labored breath she reached for the hem of her sweatshirt.

Jasper leaned off, and helped Clare pull off the heavy layer.

“Hot,” she explained.

“Yeah.” He moved some bleached hair out of her face and began kissing her.

It was delicate and calm and everything she didn’t know that she’d been missing. Clare found herself grabbing at him, but not in the way she had before. This time it was because she needed him, she needed him to be near her in any way possible. It was like if she was with him then nothing else mattered. When she was with him she wasn’t the joke that she was with everyone else. It was as if he gave her substance, as if he saw something that everyone else had missed. She felt something wet on her face and realized that she was crying. Jasper noticed it too and pulled away.

“Clare…”

“Just don’t stop.”

He kissed her once on the forehead, then on her cheek, working his way back to her lips Jasper broke his promise. There was a date and there was an expensive bottle of wine, but they were in a car. Just not a purple Saturn.

The next morning Maeve woke to the sun shining through her window .What times was it? Rolling over she caught a glimpse of her alarm clock, 7:18.

“Ugh.” She grunted and threw the covers back over her head. It was just a little over a month ago that she was up at 5:30 am every morning. Her agenda always the same; wake up, go for a run, coffee, shower, coffee, work. Now that she’d quit her running, the pudge was beginning to come back and she was even starting to rethink the importance of showers. Was she slipping into depression?  No, because she was happy at a job she enjoyed, working to live, not living to work. It wasn’t depression she realized, it was living.

She kicked the sheets off, that doesn’t mean she had to completely stop being healthy. Within minutes she was sitting on the edge of her bed tying her sneakers. There was a rap at the door and as it swung open to reveal Clare with last night’s sweatshirt and jeans, looking completely satisfied.

“Oh.” And Maeve burst out laughing.

“House rule number 3, honesty.”

“I’m fairly certain you don’t have to beg me to listen to this story.”

“No shit.” Clare sat next to her sister and began unraveling the tale. Starting with a quick apology she knew she didn’t have to make regarding Keaten.  She tried to explain the way that Jasper made her feel but couldn’t quite find the right words.

“It’s crazy because I don’t know him, but I feel like I do know him. You know? It’s just wild. Do you think I’m crazy?”

“No. But I’m going for a run.”

“Good because he’s in the shower and I’m about to go join him.”

“Clare!” Maeve threw a pillow at her sister. “House rule # 7 no sleepovers without roommate approval!”

“Well we didn’t sleep here so it doesn’t count as an actual ‘sleep over’.” and she was gone out the door.

Maeve giggled her way out to the porch and began stretching. She really was jealous of her sister’s ability to be so free and trusting. It seemed so simple for her to just fall into rhythm with someone new, it must be nice.

Setting out along the road she began to think about it. What would it be like, Maeve wondered, to give yourself over to impulse rather than dissecting every tiny detail. What would her impulse be right now, if she answered it? It would be to follow the contours of the island road the five plus miles it would take her to Keaten’s door and then she would act out the romance novel she snuck home the night before. Then once they woke up she would tell him that even though it scared the living crap out of her, he needed to know that she’s always carried him with her and now she planned on acting on it. That she knew it wouldn’t be simple, but she wanted to try and make it work with him. That she wanted to start to build a family with him, that she was willing to settle on this tiny island with him and make a life.

If Maeve could answer to her impulse, then she wouldn’t have to carry her need for him around with her, not knowing where he stood on the matter.

She padded along the pavement, wondering what his face would look like if she really did drop the love bomb on him. After how she’d acted last night, he would probably be livid at first. But if she could work without inhibitions it wouldn’t matter because she would get him into bed before he had time to think about her 180 degree opinion.

Why hadn’t she just done exactly what she wanted to last night? Why couldn’t she have just slapped him across the face? Told him to stay away from her, with all his forehead kisses and arms wrapped tightly around her shoulder. Why did he have to do those things? And why did she have to like them so much?

Her feet pounded against the asphalt as the frustration boiled up. Maeve worked to keep things simple in her life. After Sam had ended things with her, she settled into life as if she were that married housewife. Her friends got her out a few times, tried to get her to meet people but she wasn’t interested. Life was just simpler when her heart wasn’t involved.

If she didn’t give herself the option of falling in love, then it wasn’t going to mess up the flow she’d created. But then Clare had sprung the Maine idea on her and she just went for it. Why? She was comfortable with becoming a cat lady, why did she change that?

Because it hurt. Every time she was sitting at home in her PJs she cried during favorite movies and books where the characters fell deeply in love with passion that was unshakeable. That was the life she wanted to lead and that was the life she kept locked out. Until a month ago.

 A truck drove by and honked, bringing Maeve back to the present and scaring her right off the road into the brush.

“Damnit!” She looked down at her hands, “nice” small drops of blood dribbled down her wrists. Well, some things hadn’t changed in her life; she was still a complete klutz.