Until Kelly by Vera Quinn

Chapter Ten

Trask

I can’t believe I let my dad and Branton distract me with their bullshit and Kelly just disappeared. She’s not answering my calls or texts. I am going crazy and my dad said well maybe it is for the best, she doesn’t fit in. Didn’t fit in? She’s the best thing that has happened to me and I don’t give two flips if my family likes Kelly or not.

I got my head out of my ass and left the damn party I didn’t want to be at to begin with. I thought if I had Kelly with me that it would be bearable. Instead of it being an enjoyable time for the two of us, my dad made a spectacle of himself along with Branton. Kelly got the message loud and clear—they don’t like her. At least she had the good sense to leave. I swore to my parents before I left that house that I wouldn’t attend another one of their pretentious parties.

I run to my truck so maybe I can catch Kelly. She didn’t bring a jacket and there is a chill in the air. I make my way down our long drive and I see Nick’s old truck at the end of the drive blocking my way. I don’t know why he’s here. He and my parents aren’t friends. I see Nick isn’t alone and I jump out of my truck to get my woman. It’s dusk and it is getting hard to see. I’m only glad she didn’t get too far. I go to her side of the truck and I see her talking to Nick, but she opens the door.

“I’m sorry, babe. I should have never brought you here. These people don’t deserve to know such a good person like you. I have no words for the things that just happened, except, I’ll never let it happen again. Please, forgive me.” Kelly smiles at me and I don’t wait for her to talk. I take her in my arms, and I kiss her like my life depends on it, because I think it does. I deepen the kiss and her taste is so sweet on my tongue. Then I hear a throat clear. I look up and Nick is smiling.

“I’m sorry Nick. I got carried away. Thank you for picking my girl up,” I tell him.

“You need to get away from that family of yours, Trask. It’s time.” I think about what Nick said. He’s right. “Kelly, if you are alright with this young man then I will be getting on up the road. Lyric is expecting me.”

“I’m good, Nick, and thank you,” Kelly tells the man. I give him a head nod. I shut the door and take Kelly’s hand and we walk back to my truck as Nick speeds off.

“Trask, we need to talk. This isn’t going to work if you expect me to be around your family. I don’t like them. I’m sorry, but it’s the truth, and I won’t pretend to. I also won’t change for them. If I do, I would only resent them and I would come to resent you for wanting me to,” she tells me with a tremble to her lip. I know she’s freezing.

“Let’s get in my truck and I will turn the heater on full blast to warm you up. We can talk on the drive to your house or I can take you to town for a bite to eat.” Kelly should be more upset. She should be screaming and yelling at me. Why isn’t she? Maybe she’s too cold to react. I’m being a horrible date. I walk Kelly to her side of the truck and open the door. I pick her up and sit her in the seat and then I walk around to my side of the truck and get in. I turn on the heat full blast. “Your place or town?” I ask while we are parked in the middle of our driveway.

“You don’t need to take me to eat. I understand what your parents meant tonight. They know I’m not good enough for you or their friends and family. It’s alright. They are just looking out for you.” Not what I expected at all. Kelly should be outraged, but she’s taking up for my family’s actions. This isn’t right.

“That’s the biggest pile of horse pucky I’ve ever heard. They are wrong and you should be mad. No, you should be furious. I am. I won’t let anyone treat you that way!” I’m almost yelling by the time I’m finished. Kelly smiles at me even if I am acting like a mad man.

“Thank you for thinking that and for taking up for me, but you should listen to them. They are your family. Branton was out of line though, and you’re right, he was drunk and acting a fool. He’s nothing like you by the way,” Kelly tells me looking at her hands.

“I don’t care if they are my family. Why are you taking up for them? My parents were rude and Branton was obnoxious. Why aren’t you outraged?” I ask, not understanding her calmness.

“I like you Trask and while I know I have done nothing to make your parents suspicious of me and I would never hurt you, they don’t know that. They are trying to protect you and I’m glad you have someone looking out for you.” Kelly hesitates. “I come from nothing and I have no plans for my future. Right now, I am just existing in this world. They don’t like me or maybe it’s they don’t like me for their son. If I had a son, I wouldn’t like me. At first, my feelings were hurt because they didn’t like me, but I always try to see other people’s side of the story before I jump to conclusions. I didn’t one time when it had to do with someone I cared about and now I regret it. I don’t like having things I regret in life because no one is promised another day. What if what you said to your dad before you left that party is the last thing you ever say to him? Would you regret it?” I see the tears in Kelly’s eyes, and I know she is remembering something very painful. I wish she would open up and tell me about it. But why would she after what just happened? “You should at least text your mom and dad and tell them you love them. You never know what could happen.” I reach over and take Kelly’s hand in mine. I bring it up to my lips and kiss it.

“Kelly, I could very easily fall in love with you. Don’t break my heart.” I see a tear start to fall from Kelly’s eye.

“Don’t say that unless you mean it. I won’t hurt you, but you could easily destroy me,” Kelly says just above a whisper.

“Never. I would never hurt you.” Kelly wipes the tear away. I don’t know why I lie to Kelly. It’s not that I could fall in love with her, I have fallen in love with her. I think I fell in love with her the first time I saw her. I have never believed in love at first sight until now. I know that Kelly is it for me. I don’t want to scare her away so I will bide my time, but one day, this woman will be my wife and I won’t accept any other outcome. I pull out of the driveway and head to Kelly’s house.