Chapter 15
All Jeff could do was smile and shake his head at the
convertible as he pulled the blanket from his trunk.
She had gramps wrapped around her finger. Gramps would
give her the moon if he could pull it out of the sky.
Of course, so would he. She was the type of person who
wanted nothing but deserved everything.
He pushed his way through the bushes, stopping to
stare at her on another blanket. Her knees drawn up to
her chest, her arms wrapped tightly around them. He
walked up behind her placing his knees on either side
of her, "Hey." He extended his legs around her
wrapping his own arms around her shoulders.
"Hi." She wiped her face before looking back at him.
"What's wrong baby?"
"Nothing now that you're here." She bent her head
around, kissing him.
"No you've been crying. Tell me." He pressed his cheek
up against hers, wanting to be as near to her as he
could.
"Do you like my new car? Another present from Gramps."
"It's very nice now stop avoiding my question."
"Gramps got me another gift today too. Want to know
what it was?"
"Kendall you're stalling."
"He bought me a beautiful loft downtown today."
Jeff picked his head in shock, "What?"
"Yep my reaction too. I'm moving out of my parents'
place. The moving van is coming tomorrow morning after
my parents leave for the office. Granddaddy planned it
that way. By tomorrow afternoon I will officially be
on my own."
"When did you decide this?" he kissed her cheek, not
knowing what to do or say.
"That's the best part. My father was having me
transferred back to NYU. Apparently he thought getting
me out of Cameron was better than having me with you.
He told Gramps and Gramps retaliated with this."
"I'm sorry." Was all he could think of to say.
She leaned forward, looking back at him, "For what?"
"This is all my fault. If it wasn't for me none of
this would've happened. I'm sorry." He bit his bottom
lip.
"God Jeff don't." she touched his face, "Believe it or
not this isn't about us anymore. It's about my father
and his need to control everything now. My granddaddy
saw this coming and he's getting me out of the way.
You didn't do anything. You did nothing wrong."
"Yeah but I'm the one who set the monster free to
wreck havoc on your life."
She knew he was right about that but she wasn't going
to let him believe it to be true.
"No you're not. He's been different for months. It's
not your fault. Don't you even believe that one bit."
She rose up to her knees, pulling him to her. Jeff
laid his head against her chest as she stroked his
hair, feeling her lips brush the top of his head every
now and then.
"Do you know how much I love you already?"
She smiled, "Not more than me."
"Oh yeah wanna bet?"
"Put your money where your mouth is Hardy."
"No I'd rather put my mouth where your mouth is."
She pulled his head back by a handful of hair, kissing
him thoroughly then pulling away, "How did I get so
lucky?"
"Fate got us here baby."
"Ah I see." She settled back down between his legs,
snuggling into his chest.
He reached around grabbing his blanket, spreading it
over her, "So tell me about this loft."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah of course."
"It's really big. The front door slides open. It's a
type of very heavy metal and it has one of those
handles that are a slide lock. There's a bar that
separates the kitchen from the living room. Also there
is a tiny space by the door that's where I think I'll
put my table, if I ever get one. Around the corner is
the hallway that leads to the bathroom and a bedroom.
Gramps says that the spare is where he's going to
sleep once this is over." She giggled before
continuing on, "There is another bedroom off the
living room. It's bigger and it's mine of course."
"Of course. How are you going to pay for this? If you
don't mind me asking."
"I told you, Gramps bought it. You buy lofts, you
don't rent unless you sublet." She ran her hand
curiously down his thigh then back up resting on the
bend of his hip and leg, "I still need everything. I
wasn't prepared but gramps said not to worry. So I'm
not. Well not that much."
"What's freaking you out?" he kept her conversation as
he slid his hand up her thigh, dipping under her
shorts, slowly tracing what felt like lace on her
panties.
"I've never had my own place before and I'm a bit
freaked about being all alone in it. What are you
doing?" she felt him fingering the lace, the contact
making her stomach flutter.
"Nothing. So what's left for tomorrow?"
"Hold it." She giggled grabbing his hand, "What has
gotten into you?"
He smiled, "You. I was just curious about what you
wear under there. I'm sorry I'm not doing very well
with listening. You are having a terrible day and all
I can think about is what kind of underwear you're
wearing."
"It's ok. They're lace bikinis since you're so
curious."
He made a silly face at her, "Reeeeaaaalllly? Do you
still need to pack?"
"Yeah as soon as I get home I have to start. My
parents are out again so I have to hurry before they
catch me. That should be interesting. I'm supposed to
be all gone when I break the news tomorrow night so
they can't make me stay."
"Are you ok with this baby?" he pulled her closer than
before, nuzzling her cheek as he whispered.
She heard the concern in his voice, "Yes I am.
Granddaddy's right. I need to get away from daddy
before he does something more drastic, like try to
send you away." She heard his low growl, "It's getting
late and I still have that packing to do."
"I don't want to leave you." He kept yanking her back
every time she tried to get off the blanket.
"JEFF!" she screamed as she lost her balance falling
back hard on her butt, then fell against him, "You
have to let me go."
"Nope that is not in the cards. Not now, not ever. But
I'll see you tomorrow night though right?" He finally
let her up, helping her fold up the blankets, pulling
her in for a kiss as they met up; "I can't stop
touching you tonight. You're driving me insane."
"Thanks. Gramps is actually very excited about this.
Should I meet you at your place or how do you want to
do this?"
"We gotta leave by four at the latest because of the
long drive out. Can you be at my place by then? Wait I
gotta go right through town to get there so I'll pick
you up at your loft." He wiggled his eyebrows at her.
She liked the sound of it after all, "Ok pick me up at
my place. It's the tall brick building across from the
hardware store. I'm on the third floor. No elevators.
Door on the right. Got that Hardy?"
"Yeah snippet."
"Oh I see how you are." She chucked the blanket on the
ground jumping at him and kissing him on the cheek.
She wrapped him up in her arms, rubbing his back. They
stood in the dusk, holding each other tight. Neither
one was ready to let go of the other.
"You make me happy Kendall." Jeff finally spoke, "I'm
at peace when I'm with you. No one has ever made me
feel this way before."
She kissed his chest before looking into his eyes,
"You make me happy too. I feel safe with you. Like I
can take on the world and no one can touch me."
"You ARE safe with me and I'll never let anyone hurt
you." He kissed her forehead then walked her to her
car.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"No over there please." She pointed to the empty space
by the door; "I'd like the table over there please."
She kicked the boxes out of the way as the other set
of movers brought the leather couch through, "In the
middle right there. If I get sick of it I'll move it
later."
Her grandfather stood against the doorframe huffing
and puffing. The sweat beading up on his forehead and
soaking his shirt, "Next time you move without me."
She chuckled as he dropped her suitcases then sank
down on the couch, "Oh cupcake this is hard. Just
lovely on the ass."
"Oh quit your bitching. You don't have to sit on it
all the time. I do."
"The bed is all set up miss." One of the other movers
came from her room.
"Thanks. I think I have everything. Right?"
"Yep I carried the last from the van and her car is
empty." He fiddled in his pocket and handed over their
money, "What time is Jeff coming for you?"
"Around four."
"It's three now."
"WHAT? Gramps!" she whined running frantically around
the living room, ripping open boxes.
He watched her in amusement, "What are you yelling at
me for?"
She ran over grabbing his shoulders, "You couldn't
have told me the time earlier? Like 2:30."
"Oh I'm sorry but I was gasping for air on the second
flight of stairs. Next time I'll remember." He rolled
his eyes laughing as she shook his shoulders.
Kendall kissed his cheek, "I'm gonna find my clothes
and take a shower. Hopefully I'll be able to find my
towels. I'll be out in a few."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kendall pulled her tight fitting black shirt over her
head. She tugged at the bottom to cover at least down
to her navel, scowling when it just crept back up to
her bra line. She fastened the buttons of her Levi's,
the ones she'd cut off the waistband on because she
thought it wasn't important.
"They have five buttons instead of a zipper, why do I
need the waistband? Besides all the kids are doing
it." She had explained to her father when he yelled at
her for it.
She looked at herself in the mirror. Even though she
was out of his house, his overbearing ways were still
in her every thought. She ran the comb through her wet
hair, tousling the natural wave into limp curls before
spritzing it into place.
"Granddaddy when are we gonna tell my parents? Aren't
they going to get a little suspicious when you come
home and I don't?" she stopped herself looking at the
empty living room, "Where did he go?"
She fastened her watch, spying the note on the bar,
"Cupcake ran across the street to buy fresh clothes.
Be back for a shower. Love Gramps."
"Did you miss me?" he carried a white handle bag as he
closed her door, "This door is awfully heavy for even
me."
"It's fine. Yes I missed you. I was talking to
myself."
"Oh did someone answer you?" he kissed her forehead,
making a face, "I just kissed you hairspray."
"Cute. Serves you right for picking. No I asked you
when we were going to tell mom and dad. Won't they get
suspicious when you come home and I don't?" she tilted
her head to the side, watching him as he cut off his
tags with his pocket knife, "Be careful with that
thing."
He glanced over at her, "I'm fine. Leave it to me. I
think I should be the one to tell him anyway. Seeing
how I moved you in and all. I have to get ready. I'll
be right out."
She looked at her watch, gasping, "Hurry up it's
quarter to four."
"Me? You're the one who took over a half hour." He
yelled from the hall, prompting her to giggle.
back to Chapter 14
