Double Clutch - Реинхардт Лиз - Страница 72

“That’s all you get?” I tried to wrap my head around such boring, repetitive gifts. “Every year?”

“Yeah. It’s kind of weird that I get a flashlight every year, since they last. My father buys really good quality flash lights.” Jake opened his closet door and pointed to the top shelf. There was a collection of flashlights, all black and industrial looking.

“That’s so thoughtless and depressing,” I griped, disliking Jake’s father even more.

“I do get fifty bucks, Bren,” he pointed out. “So I can go buy myself something I like. Don’t feel bad for me.” He put his arm around me. “We have a tree and Dad buys turkey TV dinners. We even watch It’s a Wonderful Life together. I get to do Christmas stuff.”

I shook my head. Jake’s entire home life seemed so bland and depressing. How could someone so creative and passionate and loving have sprung to life in this soulless place? It didn’t seem possible. “It just seems…”

“Depressing?” he finished. “Only if you’re expecting something else. I’m not. I promise, it’s alright.”

It was just one of the many topics concerning Jake that it was better to avoid. It seemed to bother me more than it bothered him, so why argue about it? I forced myself to let it go. “Hey, I got you something for tonight.” I was happy to change the subject completely. His worn t-shirt made me remember. I grabbed my purse and pulled out a rolled shirt. “It’s one of the designs they’re selling tonight, but I did some extra stuff to it.”

“Thanks, babe.” He put it on right away. “What do you think?”

“Sexy.” It was a good fit. I had never seen him in anything but the boring neutrals, the blue button down (which was the fanciest clothing in his wardrobe), and his motocross outfit.

We got preoccupied with kissing for a while, and I almost didn’t want to leave. Despite the general sterility of his house, it was the most alone and relaxed we’d been able to be together. But he was intent that we get to the Folly show early.

“It’s your big night, Bren.” He pushed up off the bed and crooked his finger at me.

“It’s actually Folly’s big night,” I pointed out, still sprawled lazily, my head nestled in his pillows.

“Made even bigger by the fact that everyone will be wearing your shirts and it will be super cool. So let’s go.”

I groaned as he pulled me up off the bed, and laughed when he threw me over his shoulder. It looks thrilling in the movies, but it’s actually pretty uncomfortable.

“Ow!” I whined. “Your bony shoulder is digging into my gut.”

“Then you should have gotten your lazy ass up,” Jake said, still bumping me along, out the door and up the driveway. He flipped me into his arms like a baby and put me down in the car. “Oof. I’m glad I lift my dirt bike so much. You’re heavier than you look.”

I jabbed his arm. “You’re just weak. Maybe you should do a sport. You’re becoming a big lazy driver.”

“I don’t have time for sports.” He pulled my seatbelt across my lap and clipped the buckle. “Unless you consider pumpkin chucking a sport.”

“How did I wind up with such a hick for a boyfriend?” I griped happily. Jake laughed as he started the engine and we passed a few minutes with the only sound the constantly changing radio station, since I couldn’t find anything I liked. When Jake spoke next, he brought up what I knew had been bothering him all day.

“So, did Saxon bug you at the track?” His mouth was a tight, hard line.

“No.” I thought about Saxon walking away from the track after waiting for Jake to acknowledge him somehow. “Jake, I know he’s been crazy, but he really does care about you.”

“You’re getting sucked in again, Bren,” Jake warned. “Don’t fall for his shit. How many times does he have to screw you over before you believe that it really is all an act?”

I nodded. “You’re right,” I said, even though I didn’t think that at all. “It’s just, he was really concerned about you at the race.”

“He was probably praying I broke my neck on every jump so he could steal you away from me and have his wicked way with you.” He looked at me and wiggled his eyebrows like an evil villain in a bad play.

“Whatever,” I sighed. “I was there. I saw him.”

“Saw him putting on a convincing concerned-friend act. Trust me, he doesn’t give a shit about me. He was the one who gave me my first cigarette when I was ten.”

“You smoked?”

“Yeah, like a chimney, right up til I stopped hanging out with Saxon. He poured me my first shot, hooked me up with the first older girl I was…uh…with.” He blushed a little. “Just because he’s interested in hanging around you to get close to me doesn’t mean he really gives a crap, okay? He’s sneaky, but you’re smart. Don’t let him trip you up.”

Jake was being really understanding concerning the night before and my humiliating confessions. I had to drop it, even if I felt like there was something that just didn’t make sense.

The Folly concert was being held at a local bar called the Red Pony. It was a pretty sad bar, but it had a stage and it was available. By the time Jake and I pulled up, there was already a nearly full parking lot.

And everywhere you looked, people were wearing my shirts!

I saw Kelsie working a table with a set of cardboard boxes marked “S,” “M,” “L,” and “XL.” I dragged Jake with me and we looked at the piles of my designs.

“That’s cool.” Jake picked one up and held it in front of him. “What do you think?”

“I think you’re wearing that shirt, you adorable fool,” I said cheerfully.

He kissed me. “You are both an entrepreneur and a sweet, sweet woman.”

“That’s me.” I kissed him back.

“Brenna, these are selling like crazy!” Kelsie called. “We only have five medium shirts left!”

“How many did we start with?” I ran my hand over the piles of t-shirts that were being snatched up right in front of my eyes.

“Seventy!” she called back.

Wow. Kelsie got preoccupied, and Jake and I made our way to the Red Pony’s entrance when my cell beeped. I checked the text and held Jake up. “It’s my friend Devon.” We went to the parking lot where Devon was getting dropped off by his mother, who was still yelling cautions after him as he walked towards us. I waved, and she stopped yelling, then waved back. Maybe it relaxed her, because she pulled out and left.

“Hey Devon!” I gave him a quick, awkward hug. “How are you?”

“Good.” His smile was a little strained.

“This is Jake, my boyfriend,” I introduced.