Chapter 9
After his world-class blunder, Brian spent the night losing sleep and wondering how everything had gone so wrong. He couldn’t push Sarah from his thoughts no matter how hard he tried. He’d spent the last year doing everything he could not to think about her and had somehow dug himself into a vast lonely hole. He spent an entire year doing things that others wanted for him. Sure a part of him wanted to start this business but only because he knew it would create an escape rout for not only him but Nick as well. And sure he was happy to be done with his schooling a year early, but he’d missed out on so much in order to do so. Sarah’s unexpected arrival stirred feelings in his heart that he didn’t think he was capable of anymore. He suddenly had an overwhelming desire to actually live his life. What good was all the hard work if he wasn’t going to take the time to make himself happy?
As the hours grew later into the night Brian’s thoughts grew more extreme and his need became more urgent. He couldn’t help but think of Nick. Nick was always so quick to follow his heart. Until now Brian had always thought that a foolish quality but as he looked back on the last year he realized that Nick was happy. Nick would start college in the fall just like everyone else and he would then decide what he wanted to make of himself and he would eventually get there, but Nick was going to be able to look back on his college years with a smile. Brian couldn’t do that.
Brian finally decided that there was nothing wrong with stopping to smell the roses once in a while. It was high time he did something for himself, something that he could enjoy, and something that would make him happy. His thoughts automatically returned to the beautiful brunette he used to watch change the oil on his car. He smiled at the treasured memories. The smile faded though, the moment he thought of that evenings events. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for himself. He was sure that Sarah was one thing he would never get right. Even without competition he didn’t think he had a chance, but now with Nick paying her attention he knew it was a lost cause.
Brian found himself looking into the depths of despair again and was determined not to fall. If he couldn’t have Sarah then he just had to find another way to cheer himself up, but what? There were so few things in life that Brian really enjoyed. He figured in the morning he would take the day off and go for a nice long drive to clear his head and think. Being on the open road was something he’d always really enjoyed. He began to plan out his mini road trip and he thought of the Volvo sedan sitting in the garage downstairs, the one that replaced the sporty classic he used to drive. Couldn’t exactly pull the top down on that. For a brief second Brian thought of stealing Nick’s Corvette just for the fun of it and then it dawned on him. If he enjoyed the old classic cars so much, why not drive one? All thoughts of a road trip disappeared and Brian found himself excited at the prospect of buying a new car in the morning. Once he was able to put his mind at ease, he was finally able to get a little rest in the few hours that remained before the dawn would call him from his bed.
And arrive the day did, sooner than Brian would have liked, yet he still had no trouble pulling himself from the covers and into a nice hot shower. By 8:30 he found himself enjoying a hot cup of coffee at the kitchen table as he googled some of his favorite cars on his laptop. As he browsed the information of a promising choice, the ringing of his cell phone startled him. He cleared his throat in an effort to answer professionally when he recognized the phone number for the bank through which all of his business dealings went through.
Brian was in high spirits by the end of the conversation. His small business loan had gone through and he now had the money to convert his newly leased building into the perfect shop. He was officially self-employed. All of Brian’s hard work had finally paid off and he and his brother would be in business within the month. There was only one thing left to do. Brian needed Deanna’s signed partnership agreement.
Brian was soon joined by his very groggy little brother. Nick shuffled past him and headed straight for the coffee pot. Brian noticed the dark circles under his eyes and guessed he wasn’t the only one who had a long night. “Late night?” he asked with a bit of a chuckle.
Nick merely responded with a groan and poured some sugar into his otherwise black coffee. “Hey did Deanna sign the contract last night?”
“She was a little preoccupied.” Nick said still flustered but the previous nights events. “You know that dress she was wearing? It’s the dress she has to wear in the wedding. She was completely spazzed. I had to drive all the way to Detroit last night to find a 24 hour dry cleaners.”
Brian frowned. Not having Deanna’s signature made him nervous. Without her cars, there would be no business. “At least your good deed got you out of the dog house, right?” Brian asked hoping he would be able to get the signature today.
“Was I in the dog house?” Nick asked.
Brian smirked. His brother could really be clueless sometimes. “You’re kidding right?”
Nick shrugged. He honestly didn’t have the slightest clue what Brian was talking about. “When a girl wears a dress like that she doesn’t just fall into the pool.”
Nick gave Brian a curious look. “What do you mean?” he asked, “You telling me you pushed her or something? Cause that would put you in the dog house, not me.”
“Of coarse I didn’t push her.” Brian explained. “But she wasn’t exactly watching her step either. Her attention was focused elsewhere last night.”
Nick stared at his brother not picking up on what he was getting at. He looked at Brian as if her were crazy and Brian shook his head. If Nick didn’t realize how upset Deanna was by now, then there was no point in trying to spell it out for him. He went back to his internet search and casually said, “Sarah looked very pretty last night.”
Nick choked on his coffee nearly spilling it on his clothes at the mention of Sarah’s name. It was the first time he’d thought of her since Brian had intercepted him at the door. “Sarah!” he gasped, “I can’t believe I just left her waiting like that.”
“She didn’t wait long.”
“Did you see her? Was she upset?”
Brian frowned as a picture of Sarah’s shocked and tearstained face flashed in his mind. He didn’t think upset was the right word for it. “She’ll get over it.” He finally replied in a slightly bitter tone.
“I’d better call her.” Nick said reaching for his cell phone.
“It’s a little early.” Brian said furrowing his brow.
Nick glanced at his watch with a frown and then pulled a sticky note from the fridge containing a flight number and the time 10:AM. “You’re right.” He thought out loud. “I’d better wait. I’ll stop by after I take Deanna to the airport.”
Brian peered at his brother over the top of his computer screen and managed to turn his jealous glare into a curious look. “I know!” Nick exclaimed completely oblivious to Brian’s stare. “I’ll bring her flowers. Flowers always soften a girl up.”
Brian smirked haughtily. The flower he’d given Sarah last night didn’t seem to help him any. Secretly he hoped that Sarah was really angry with Nick for not showing up and would slam the door in his face, although deep down he knew that wouldn’t happen. Brian opened his mouth to protest but Nick skipped out the door too quickly.
Brian sat for a moment listening to the sound of Nick’s Corvette speeding from the driveway. He was beyond annoyed. Once Nick returned from the airport, girlfriend-free, he would most definitely show up on Sarah’s doorstep holding an elegant bouquet and Sarah would no doubt forgive him instantly. Then Nick would drive her out to Whitmore Lake where he would win her affection thus causing him to break Deanna’s heart and shatter any chance Brian had at happiness.
Brian pounded his fist angrily on the table out of pure frustration. He had to do something. He couldn’t let Nick get to Sarah but had no idea how he would stop him. Nick was by far his superior in the dating game, but there was more at stake here than just a relationship. Brian had spent so much time and effort on a business that hung in the balance of Nick’s actions this week. Not to mention he’d just taken on a substantial loan to cover the start up costs of the project. Brian had to push his personal feelings for Sarah aside and look at the situation from a business standpoint. From that perspective things were very clear to him. It all came down to Sarah. She was the distraction. Remove her from the equation and everything would fall into place. Brian looked at the pretty blue car on his computer screen and sighed, fun and games were just going to have to wait.
Or were they? Brian was about to close his laptop when he was suddenly struck with an ingenious plan. Instead of shutting down he dialed the phone number highlighted beneath the car on the screen in front of him.
****
A clock sitting on a night table next to a pretty pink prom picture read nine thirty. The sun was shining on the beautiful summer day although you’d never know it from the darkness that filled Sarah’s bedroom. The curtains were still drawn and a wastebasket sat beside the bed overflowing with crumpled tissues. Sarah lay hidden beneath the security of her covers talking to a cell phone as if the weight of the world were on her shoulders. “Maybe I should just come back early. I’d probably have meor fun there anyway.” She sighed.
Across the country the sun had not quite risen yet but Lance sat in Sarah’s mustang creeping slowly through a beach parking lot. He clung to the steering wheel with one hand while sipping a latte with the other. He laughed into a mouthpiece that hung from his ear. “You know I would love for you to come back sooner, this boy sounds absolutely dreadful,” he spouted, “But are you really going to let him ruin your chance at true happiness? Honey you rattled my ear off about this Nick fellow for ages. You can’t give up on him just because he has Cruella Deville for a big brother.”
Lance parked the car and a seagull landed on the hood. Lance waved his hand at the bird. Sarah sat up in her bed letting the covers fall to her lap as she heard Lance shewing the gull through the phone. “Are you driving past the beach?” she accused, “In my car?”
It took a moment for Lance to answer because the bird had jumped off the hood and he was chasing it out of the way. He laughed nervously. “Honey I had too! There’s this armature surf competition going on today.”
“Don’t you dare wreck my baby because you’re too busy ogling surfers to look where you’re going!” Sarah warned.
“I wouldn’t…” Lance’s voice trailed off as his attention was sidetracked to two guys heading for the sand. One of them had a chiseled body and carried a surfboard and the other looked devastatingly familiar. Lance mads eye contact with the old acquaintance and gasped into the phone. “Guess who is here!” he said very disgustedly.
“I have no idea.” Sarah humored.
“JC!” Lance yelled in a whisper ducking deep in his seat.
“Who?” Sarah replied teasingly.
“He dumped me two days before the prom for that guy?!?!” Lance gasped ignoring Sarah altogether now.
Sarah couldn’t help but laugh. Part of her wanted to lie in bed depressed all day but part of her was glad that she’d called Lance. He had a magical way of cheering her up when she needed it and after last night, she needed it badly. She sat there for a moment listening to her best friend whine about the boring ex who’d landed himself a gorgeous surfer until her father knocked on the slightly open door to her room. Sarah waved her father in and he entered holding the telephone in his hand. Sarah interrupted Lance’s rant. “My dad’s here. I gotta go. Don’t crash my car!”
Sarah flipped her cell phone shut and clenched her eyes closed tightly when her father pulled open the curtains. She drew back from the sunlight as if it were painful. “Didn’t mean to break up the party.” Mr. Thompson said when she hung up.
“Actually your timing was perfect.” Sarah giggled.
Mr. Thompson eyed the Kleenex in her hand and then noticed the condition of her room. “Everything ok?” he asked trying not to sound like an over protective or nosy father.
Sarah nodded convincingly and Mr. Thompson smiled. “Good.” He said sitting at the foot of her bed. “Listen squirt, if you don’t have any plans today I could really use your help with something.”
“Lot going on at the shop?” Sarah asked.
She gave her father a loving smile and was a little excited at the idea of working with her dad again. Part of her missed that time with him a lot. “Uh, not exactly.” Mr. Thompson started, “Well yes. I do have stuff at the shop, but that’s not what I need your help with.”
“Really?” Sarah replied somewhat surprised. “What is it?”
“Well I have a really important client who is buying a car. He needs someone to go with him and check it out for kinks.”
Sarah grinned from ear to ear. “You know I’d never pass up the opportunity to bust the chops of a used car salesman.” She said eagerly.
“Great! Then get dressed. He needs to leave as soon as possible.”
Mr. Thompson kissed his daughter on the forehead and headed for the door. “Dad?” Sarah asked making him freeze in the doorway. “Who is this really big client?”
“Brian Harper.”
The name sent a chill down Sarah’s spine. She felt her stomach tie into knots. “Are you sure you’re alright?” Mr. Thompson pressed seeing the change in her mood.
He re-entered the room and sat back down on her bed a little closer to her this time. Sarah caught her breath and shook her head. “I’m sorry Daddy. I just can’t go.” She whispered.
Mr. Thompson stared at his baby girl puzzled but quickly became concerned as the blood drained from her face. “Sarah Honey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Sarah replied pushing back a couple tears, “It’s just, Brian Harper.”
“Is this because of Nick?”
“No.” Sarah said shaking her head although she wasn’t sure that was correct, “Brian Harper and I sort of had an argument last night. It would just be too awkward.”
“That’s funny. He asked for you personally.”
“He did?”
Sarah looked into her father’s eyes searching for answers that he didn’t have. Mr. Thompson gave her a sympathetic smile and gently patted her leg. “I’m sure whatever it was he’s already forgotten all about it. He was probably just stressed out. He’s starting his own business you know. One that will bring us a lot of business.”
Mr. Thompson sighed heavily and put a comforting arm around his daughter. He really didn’t want to ask her to do it anyway, but he didn’t have much of an option. “I hate to ask you to do something you don’t want to do, but I could really use your help this time. Brian Harper will be my biggest client here shortly.”
Sarah saw the sincerity on her dad’s face and she simply couldn’t say no. He loved her so much and had always worked so hard to take care of her. The least she could do was return the favor this once. “Ok, dad.” She agreed and then pulled herself from bed.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Oh you guys, I promise I haven't forgotten about this story. I hope to get the enxt chapter up this week too. :)
