Chapter 10
A little less than an hour later Sarah
found herself standing in front of Nick’s house. Its appearance was somehow
different in the daylight, not nearly as magical. Or maybe it was just that
today Sarah really, really didn’t want to be there. The sun was shining and the
birds were singing yet as Sarah stared up at the house something loomed heavily
over her heart. Every step she took toward the door seemed to make her
physically ill.
Sarah was unable to push the jitters
from her stomach as she walked past a truck that had a trailer hooked up to it.
Why was she here? Why would Brian ask for her to go with him after the way he’d
treated her the night before? Why had he been so cold and insulting in the
first place? That wasn’t like the Brian she remembered, not that she’d ever
paid much attention to him. He was three years older than her and she only ever
saw him when she was at the shop with her dad. Brian had always been quiet but
at least he’d been nice. Last night he was neither.
In fact Sarah didn’t understand it at
all. In the day that she’d been back she’d seen more of the personal side of
the Harper brothers than she had in all her life and Brian wasn’t the only one
that puzzled her. The fact that Nick was paying attention to her had her
stumped as well. What had happened around here after she left? Were things
really that different in Whitmore Lake, or was it her that was different?
Sarah looked down at her low-rise
jeans and form fitting tee and then ran her hand through her long brown hair.
It was a shade or two darker now and wasn’t being held captive by an elastic.
Sarah’s brow furrowed. She certainly looked different and to be honest she felt
a little different on the inside but in her heart she felt as if she were the
same girl she’d always been. She didn’t feel she deserved the harsh treatment
she’d received from Brian, nor the praise she’d gotten from Nick for that
matter. Her heart fluttered thinking of the way Nick held her close while they
danced. She tried not to get her hopes up and reminded herself that he did blow
her off without explanation and that it was Brian that called her this morning,
not him. Maybe he didn’t like her as much as she thought. Maybe it wasn’t her
that was different, maybe it what them. “I can do this.” Sarah said and took a
deep breath. She walked up the steps with determination. If they were going to
be jerks then there was no reason for her to waste any more time being hurt by
them. It was their problem not hers.
She was about to knock on the door
when she heard Brian’s voice coming from inside. Suddenly her confidence was
gone and replaced with that sick feeling she’d had when she arrived. What was
she going to say to him? Sarah quickly stepped down from the porch and walked
away from the house. She couldn’t do it after all. Brian could find someone
else to go with him. He wouldn’t be mad at her father if Sarah didn’t show. He
may have been a jerk, but stupid was just something Brian Harper was not. He
would understand why she wasn’t there. Sarah got as far as the driveway when
the front door swung open and a familiar voice called her name. “Sarah!” he
said, “Just the girl I was coming to find.”
Sarah was surprised by the tone. He
sounded almost excited to see her. She held her breath nervously as she turned
to face him. She forced a smile and within seconds his arms were around her.
“Hi Nick.” She finally greeted completely surprised by the loving embrace.
Sarah was relieved that she was faced
with Nick before Brian and she was glad that he was happy to see her. The
tighter Nick hugged her the more he squeezed any negative feelings toward him
right out of her and by the time he let go all anger had vanished and Sarah was
back to her love sick self. “I was just coming to see you. I hope you can
forgive me.”
Nick pouted expertly and Sarah
couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face. He was so adorable she
would have forgiven him even if he’d acted the way Brian had. “I got caught up
and then Brian said you’d left. I felt awful. I was on my way to see if I could
make it up to you.”
Nick gave Sarah more puppy dog eyes
and held up a picnic basket. Sarah peered curiously at the lunch. “What do you
say we go out to the lake? It’s a gorgeous day.”
A day at the lake with Nick? The offer
was a dream come true and Sarah desperately wanted to accept it. It hurt to
have to turn him down. “That’s really sweet Nick.” She said, “But I was
actually here to see Brian.”
The always calm and collected Nick
briefly lost his composure as he felt the sting of jealousy and disappointment.
Never in his life had he been given such a response. He quickly plastered the
smile back on his face though. To be rejected for his brother? She had to be
messing with him. “You’re here to see Brian?” he asked trying not to laugh at
the idea of the two of them going out.
“He needs me to go with him to look at
a car.” Sarah replied still heartbroken over the fact that she couldn’t go to
the lake with Nick.
Nick began to laugh but Sarah wasn’t
sure what was so funny. “You had me worried.” Nick confessed, “For a moment
there I thought Brian was trying to steal you away from me.”
Sarah felt her cheeks get hot and she
forced a nervous laugh. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. How
could Brian steal her away from Nick? That would have to mean that she was
Nick’s to steal. What exactly was he saying? Nick smiled when Sarah blushed and
he held up the basket again. “When you get back then.” He said, “After all I
still owe you a ride.”
Sarah was so excited she was unable to
say anything. Finally it was her turn to be that girl riding next to Nick.
She’d wanted to be that girl for so long and now it was almost happening. In an
hour or two she would be back from her excursion and then she would happily
spend the rest of the day at Whitmore Lake with Nick. She’d spend forever with
him if he wanted. Sarah didn’t care what Brian had to say about it, she was
going to follow her heart. She nodded shyly, accepting Nick’s invitation and
his face brightened up at the response. “It’s a date.” He said as charmingly as
he could.
“What’s a date?”
Sarah’s perfect moment was ruined by
the reality of her present situation as Brian emerged from the house. The
butterflies returned to Sarah’s stomach as she snuck a glance Brian’s
direction. He placed a briefcase into the truck and looked back to Sarah and
Nick with a questioning look. His eyes met Sarah’s briefly but she quickly
turned back to Nick. Nick smiled and then placed his arm around her waist
before walking her to the truck. He held open the passenger door just like the
perfect gentleman and helped her into the car. Every look he gave her and every
move he made caused Sarah to fall for him that much more. Nick placed a kiss on
Sarah’s cheek and whispered the words, “Hurry back.” in her ear. Sarah shivered
and stared dreamily as Nick shut her in the car.
Brian felt sick watching the way Sarah
looked into Nick’s eyes. He gripped the handle of the driver’s side door with
white knuckles watching the girl of his dreams fall for his smooth talking
brother. He couldn’t stop the anger from growing in his heart. He was angry at
Nick for trying to steal Sarah. Nick could have any girl he wanted and yet he
picked the only one Brian cared for. And what hurt the most is that he knew
Nick didn’t really feel anything for Sarah.
He was also angry at Sarah for letting
Nick do this to her. How many countless girls had she watched Nick play
throughout high school? How many hearts had he broken? Was Sarah really so
stupid that she would let herself get hurt like that? Did she really not see
what was going on, or did she simply not care? Brian cursed them both under his
breath for being so stupid before getting in the truck. He knew he shouldn’t be
angry; after all it wasn’t entirely their faults. He’d never breathed a word of
his feelings to anyone, but still, it hurt all the same.
Nick blew Sarah a kiss as Brian slowly
pulled the truck away from the house. Sarah waved sending him a soft smile.
Brian’s heart couldn’t help but soften a little when she smiled. He was as much
a lost cause for her as she was with Nick. Brian turned his attention back to
the road ahead of him and when he turned the corner leaving his house and Nick
behind Sarah was forced to look ahead as well. Suddenly they both realized how
uncomfortable they were. Brian kept glancing at Sarah and she could feel him
looking but refused to acknowledge it. She turned her gaze out he window. She
smirked thinking that this felt strangely similar to the last time they’d been
in a car together. “Something funny?” Brian asked glad to finally have a reason
to break the silence.
The smile left Sarah’s face when Brian
spoke. She shot him a dirty look and then went back to staring out the window.
Brian shifted uncomfortably in his seat; maybe this wasn’t such a good idea
after all. The silence was killing him. “I wasn’t sure you would come after
last night.” He said trying again to get her to talk to him. “Thank you for
doing this for me.”
“I’m not doing this for you. You’re an
important client of my father’s. End of story.” Sarah clarified without making
any attempt to spare Brian’s feelings.
Brian sighed. She was obviously still
a little more than angry with him. “I feel bad about last night.” He said. “I
was really mad at Nick and I guess I sort of took it out on you. I shouldn’t
have done that, and I’m sorry.”
That was the truth. Brian really did
feel horrible. The tears that he’d caused in Sarah’s eyes haunted his dreams
all night. Sarah said nothing in response to his apology. She knew it was
sincere but she wasn’t quite ready to forgive. She continued to stare out the
window until Brian turned off the road to Ann Arbor on to the expressway in the
opposite direction of Detroit. Sarah
frowned. “Where exactly is this place?”
Brian hesitated but then murmured the
word, “Chicago.” knowing that she was bound to find out sooner or later. The
muscles in his body tensed up as he braced himself for the explosion he knew
would follow his confession.
“Chicago!” Sarah screamed right on
queue.
Just as she yelled out their
destination, they passed a sign that said: Chicago 242 miles. Brian kept his
eyes calmly on the highway prepared for Sarah’s outburst but it didn’t come
right away. She didn’t yell at him right then. She was so mad that she didn’t
know where to start. She sat in her chair with her arms folded tightly across
her chest, fuming that he’d tricked her into a four-hour drive across state
lines.
She was so cute when she was angry and
whether he wanted it to or not, a smirk slowly spread across Brian’s face.
Sarah saw the smile and glared daggers at her travel companion. “Why didn’t you
tell me you were going to Chicago?”
“I didn’t think you would come.” Brian
answered trying to wipe the smile from his face.
“I wouldn’t have.” Sarah stated matter-of-factly.
“Well then I guess I made the right
choice keeping quiet.” Brian smirked.
Sarah’s face turned red with anger.
“You’re unbelievable!”
“You may want to relax just a little.
We’ve got quite a drive ahead of us.”
Brian smiled. He was becoming more
comfortable every second and was, not without a little guilt, starting to enjoy
giving her a hard time. His nonchalant behavior sent Sarah’s annoyance through
the roof and she let out a frustrated scream. Brian laughed but still felt a
little bad. Although he was thrilled that he would have her company for the
next ten or so hours, he knew that was not her ideal way to spend the day.
Four hours there, four hours back and
however many hours he might be able to talk her into wandering around Chicago
with him. If he could convince her to have dinner with him in the windy city it
would almost be like a date. Even if she hated him and hardly said two words
the entire day, it would still be time alone with her. Maybe he could wear her
down somehow. Maybe he could convince her that he wasn’t really a bad guy. Brian
viewed the day as his one and only shot to make her notice him but that would
never happen if he couldn’t somehow cheer her up. “It’s not so bad.” He said,
“Think of it as a mini vacation. When’s the last time you visited Chicago?”
“Vacation?” Sarah sneered, “That would
imply having a good time. This is more like… a business trip. To put it in
terms you might understand.”
“Can’t it be both?”
“Eight hours in a car with you?
Doubtful.”
Brian rolled his eyes and frowned
playfully at Sarah’s comment giving off the impression that her insult hadn’t
hurt, but deep down Brian was upset. Sarah retrieved an mp3 player from her
purse and cranked up the volume in order to drown Brian out. So much for
wearing her down…
Sarah was a stubborn girl and after that
she and Brian hardly spoke the entire four hours to Chicago. Having her right
there and not even being able to talk to her was torture on Brian’s heart. He
tried several times to start up conversation but never managed to get more than
a three or four word response. After the first couple of hours he was fed up
with her and he quit trying to be friendly. If she wanted to pout then so be
it, at least he’d accomplished one goal today. Sarah was not spending the day
at the lake with Nick. Hopefully spending the day alone was making Nick miss
his loving girlfriend and his little crush would soon be forgotten. Brian may
not be able to win Sarah’s heart today, he couldn’t even manage to scratch the
surface, but at least she wouldn’t get in the way of his only escape route.
***