Loving Cross

9.

*Anson's POV*

Well, it's Friday now. The first week of school was great, other than the factor of Garret. He's no longer chasing me, but has made it very known that he is moving on. Good for him.

Piper ended up having to stay home tonight, because she is going out with Dyson tomorrow, but she'll be staying tomorrow. And I am now down in the shop in soft shorts, my cowboy boots, a cut off and a ball cap, waiting for Parker because he said he would be here to help me. But, after about an hour of waiting, I just started changing the oil and switching the gas out myself.

"Baby?" My dad asked walking in with Dan, Cash, and Kevin. "What're you doing?"

"My usual Friday." I nodded. "Hi Cash, HI Mr. Miketish."

"Kevin sweetie, how are you?" He smiled.

"Good." I smiled. "Coming to check out your brand new bike."

"Come on Belle, you know how excited I've been for it." Cash laughed.

"I know." I laughed. "That's all you've talked about. At Lunch, Coffee, everywhere."

"You guys have been hanging out that much." Dan laughed.

We both nodded. "I like him better than Parker and Dyson."

"And I don't have friends." Cash shrugged.

"Oh you have friends, just you're not interested in the kind of friendship they have to offer." I pursed my lips.

"What can I say, new kids draw attention even when it's not wanted."

"Yeah, it has nothing to do with you being 6'2, jacked with bright blue eyes huh." I laughed.

"Oh shut up." He laughed and shook his head.

"Cash boy, I think you've finally met your match." Kevin laughed.

"And little Anson finally met hers." Dan laughed. "You ready to see your bike."

"Absolutely." He nodded.

"Baby you coming?" My dad smiled.

"Yeah, I was done anyway." I nodded.

We walked in to the bike storage, and the look on Cash's face, was absolutely priceless.

"Oh my god." He smiled.

"What do you think?" My dad smiled again.

"I have never had a bike this pretty." Cash shook his head.

"I think the yellow made it." I nodded. "Makes other colors pop."

"We finally got a bike on the first try." Dan nodded.

"This calls for a drink. Kevin you interested." My dad looked at Kevin.

"Oh, I rode with Cash." Kevin shook his head.

"Yeah, because you wanted to make sure I wasn't beating the hell out of my car." Cash laughed.

"I'd beat the hell out of that car." I nodded.

"We can drive you home if Cash wants to head out." My dad nodded.

"Or he can hang out with me, I'm not doing anything." I shrugged.

"You don't have plans on a Friday night?" Cash gave me a look.

I shook my head. "I did, but, didn't happen."

He nodded. "I can hang out until you guys get back."

"Alright bud." Kevin smiled.

"Water jugs, towels, phones in the lock box." My dad pointed at me.

"Now what makes you think we're-"

He cut me off. "I know you. Do not break your truck."

"I'm not getting on a mattress." Cash shook his head.

"We'll see." I shrugged.

We all rode back up to my house, the dads left in Dans truck, and Cash and I went inside to grab a drink.

"Momma?" I yelled.

"Yes baby?" She asked walking in to the kitchen.

"Dads went for a drink, Kevin went with them, and Cash and I are gonna go play for a little bit." I nodded.

"Hi Miss Sherry." He smiled.

"Hi honey." She smiled. "Water jugs-"

I cut her off. "Towels, phone in the lock box." I nodded.

"And please, windows up." She shook her head.

"That just takes all the fun out of it." I shook my head.

"Cash, make sure those windows stay up." She looked at him.

"You got it." He nodded.

"Have fun." My mom smiled.

We walked out, he lifted me in to my truck, and he climbed in the passengers seat.

"Am I gonna die?" He looked over at me.

"Well, I'm alive, and Dyson is alive, and Piper is alive. SO." I shrugged.

"Now what exactly does mudding entail?" He pursed his lips.

"You'll see." I smiled. "And you know, I can get in here myself, right?"

"Oh I know, just shouldn't have to." He shrugged.

"Such a gentleman, Cashew." I pouted.

"Don't ever call me that again." He laughed.

We put our phones in the lock box in my center consul, and we pulled up the driveway and up the hill to the tree's in the back yard. We got up to the trails and I looked over at him. "Hold on." I smiled.

"Wait a second, why. Why am I holding on." He shook his head.

"You see that big old mud hole right there?" I pointed in front of us.

"Whoah now, no. No there is no way you're driving this through that." He looked at me wide eyed.

"Bet." I nodded and pushed my gas pedal to the floor.

"No, no, no, Anson!" He yelled and grabbed the handle above the door.

"Welcome to Georgia." I laughed as we ran through that muddle puddle, and mud flew everywhere.

"Oh my god you are insane!" He yelled.

"Nah." I shook my head. "Just, like having fun."

"It's the most terrifying adrenaline rush I've ever had." He nodded.

"What, mudding?" I gave him a look.

"No, riding in a vehicle with you."

"Wanna do it again?" I smiled.

"Hell yeah." He smiled.

We rode around and through holes for about an hour.

And stopped for a minute.

"Oh I love Georgia." He smiled.

"You wanna drive?" I pursed my lips.

"I thought rednecks don't let anyone drive their trucks." He shook his head.

"I am not a redneck." I shook my head.

"Anson, you are covered in oil from maintaining dirt bikes, you're wearing soft shorts, cowboy boots, a ball cap, and a cut off. You drive a lifted truck, and you just drove through a 3 foot mud hole for fun."

I pursed my lips and nodded. "OK, I'm a redneck." I laughed.

"But yes, I wanna drive." He nodded.

I put it in park, he got out and walked over and opened my door.

"So, you have no problem going through holes, but why not this one?" He motioned to the body of water behind him as he lifted me down.

"Can you swim?" I looked up at him.

"I can, why?" He gave me a look.

"Because this is why." I laughed and tackled him in to it.

"Anson!" He yelled and grabbed on to me as we flew in the water.

"I don't go through this because it's a 9 foot pond." I laughed as we floated back up.

"Oh you are so done." He laughed and pushed me back under.

Honestly, we just stayed and played in the pond for a half our or so.

"OK, so, I have a question." He swam over to me.

"What's up?" I nodded.

"I am, an observer." He nodded.

"You don't say." I laughed.

"And this week, I have observed that Garret Thomas, is a dick."

"Ha, you got that one right." I nodded.

"So, why would you give him the time of day?" He shook his head.

I raised my eyebrows, pursed my lips and nodded. "I'm a Cross."

"OK?" He gave me a look.

I swam over to the edge of the pond and jumped out, and so did he. He sat down next to me.

"You've met Dyson and my dad." I nodded.

"I have, and they're pretty great." He shrugged.

"And over-protective." I pursed my lips. "To the point where if people are interested in me, they won't show it, because of mostly Dyson. So, Garret, he's the first person who has been interested in me, and actually acted on it."

"So, that's all it takes. Someone to show you that they're interested." He nodded.

I nodded. "Someone who, gets along with my family, respects my parents, knows that Dyson will always be first, and would never try to come between Piper and I. Someone who isn't afraid to be seen with me in public and respects me to actually be with me in public. And, isn't afraid to make a move."

"So, me?" He shrugged.

"You haven't made a move on me." I shook my head.

He pursed his lips, nodded, then put his hand on the side of my face with his thumb under my chin, and pulled me in to a kiss. His hand moved to the back of my neck under my hair, and he pulled the kiss deeper. Then after a little bobbing and weaving, and some light lip movement, he pulled away and I pursed my lips with raised eyebrows.

"Move enough?" He smirked.

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Of all the girls who have came at you this week, why me." I shook my head.

"Because I have had my fair share of girls. Pretty girls, party girls, sporty, smart. But, I have never had an Anson Cross, which is a mix of all of them and more." He shrugged. "I get along with your family. I respect the hell out of your parents, Dyson is your brother, he's always going to come first. Piper, someone would be stupid to think that they could come between you and Piper. Pretty sure she comes before Dyson honestly. I don't know someone in their right mind who would not want to be seen in public with you. Clearly, I'm not scared to make a move. And, I'm interested. I'm more than glad to show it." He nodded.

"This is a great prank." I nodded.

"It's not a prank. I'm serious." He smiled.

"Cash look at you." I shook my head.

"And look at you. Anson, you are completely out of my league in every way, shape, an form. But if theres anything I learned from being a military brat, is you shoot your shot and don't bitch out. I know a lot went down with Garret, and I get that, but, let me show you how you should be treated. Not like a bit of fun. Hang out with me next weekend at tall point, think about letting me take you out the weekend after, get to know me a little more before making a decision." He nodded.

I sighed and smiled. "OK." I nodded. "I can give it some time."

"That's all I can ask." He smiled. "And you, are an incredible kisser by the way."

I let out a small laughed. "Apparently not incredible enough if I'm still a virgin." I shook my head.

"Wait, really?" He gave me a look.

I nodded.

"I mean, I'm in no rush. Completely your pace. But like, if you wanted to have sex with me I would happily oblige." He nodded.

"I bet you would." I nodded. I rolled my body and straddled his legs. "But for now, you can keep kissing me to help persuade me."

"That I can do." He smirked and pulled me in to another kiss by the back of my neck.

His hand moved down my body to my waist as the other made it to the back of my thigh.

And we just sat there honestly just making out for a while, until the music in my truck cut out and I heard ringing.

"What is that?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Pretty sure it's one of my parents calling me." I nodded.

He lifted me up, carried me over to my truck and set me in my seat, I pushed the button on my steering wheel.

A; Hello?

D; Hey baby, just wanted to let you two know we're back. Everything OK?

A; Yeah, just stopped at the pond for a little bit. Nothing big.

He smirked at me as he got in and closed his door.

D; You guys on your way down?

A; We are, be right down.

I hung up.

"Nothing big." He nodded. "I'm offended."

"Now, how do you manage to be the biggest gentleman ever with more sexual innuendos than Parker." I laughed.

"Pure talent." He shrugged

We got down to the house, he said bye to my parents and Dan, and Margot who was now here, and he and Kevin headed out.

"Have fun?" Dan asked as I walked and sat in the living room.

"Well, he can swim." I laughed.

"You did not push him in that pond." My mom shook her head.

"Oh I 100% pushed him in the pond." I nodded.

"Guess it's a good thing he showed up, who did you have plans with anyway?" My dad shook his head.

I sighed. "Parker, said he would help me with the bikes. He didn't show." I shrugged.

"Wait a minute, my son, offered to help you with those bikes, and he never came? He told you he wasn't coming?" Dan gave me a look.

"No." I shook my head. "He didn't tell me, he just didn't come."

"Are you OK?" He nodded.

"Yeah." I nodded. "I had fun with Cash. He almost peed his pants, but, we had a good time, talked a little bit."

"About?" My mom let out a small smile.

"Stop it." I pointed at her.

"Your face is red." Her smile grew.

I sighed. "He asked me, to take some time to get to know him, hang out with him next weekend, and consider letting him take me out the weekend after." I nodded. "And don't get me wrong, Marcus, he's amazing. But, way to old for me." I shrugged. "So, unless theres a rule about team-members dating, I told him I would." I looked at Dan and Dad.

They looked at each other. "I like him." Dan shrugged.

"And Kev would kill him if he did anything he shouldn't." My dad nodded. "But, I'd like to talk to him since you kids are staying in the hotel next weekend, and the three of us will be at the camp at the track."

"Mom you're not going?" I gave her a look.

"Beginners classes all weekend baby." She nodded.

"You're not staying at the hotel with us?" I looked at the dads.

"We don't like you." Dan shook his head.

My face went flat and I just shook my head.

We talked for a little while longer til I decided to head up to my room and start working on my history paper.

I put on a pair of shorts and one of Dyson's t-shirts, and sat in bed listening to music until around 11:30 when Dyson came walking in to my room.

He plopped down and I took a headphone out.

"Little late don't you think." I let out a small laugh.

"Nah." He shook his head. "I told them I'd be late, I was getting some stuff to surprise Piper."

"Till 11:30?" I gave him a look. "Where'd you go, Atlanta?"

"Yes." He nodded.

"Wait, really?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Yeah. I planned something, needed to run to Atlanta for a few things." He shrugged.

"For what?" I shook my head.

"Mini Fruit Tarts from Sweet Hut, Crab-Cakes from OK, and that Orange hand bag she's been looking at from that Range place." He nodded.

"What is this date?" I shook my head.

"We're going to the trampoline park for a few hours, we have a bet going, and then, picnic under the stars down on the beach." He smiled. "I can make everything other than those fruit tarts and those crab cakes, so, I cheated. Hand bag was just so she knows I pay attention."

"I am impressed with you big brother." I held my fist out.

"I did good." He bumped my fist with his. "What'd you do tonight?"

"Well, I changed the oil and gas in the bikes, and went up to the pond for a bit with Cash while the dads went for a drink. Turns out, he can swim." I nodded. "You seen Parker?"

He shook his head. "No. He left try-outs after I did. He hasn't been home?" He gave me a look.

I shook his head.

"He's later than I am then. Jeeps not here." He shrugged. "Cash like his bike?"

"Why do you think they went for a drink." I laughed.

"Finally got a bike right of the first try." He laughed. "What you working on?"

"The fall of Rome." I nodded.

He took my computer and started reading.

"Well, mom and dad are going to love your F." He nodded.

"Why would you say that?" I shook my head.

"Ans, Rome, the city, didn't actually fall. The Empire fell." He shook his head.

I gave him a look.

"Invasions by Barbarian tribes." He nodded.

I shrugged.

"Economic troubles. Over reliance on slave labor?" He gave me a look.

I shook my head.

"Jesus Anson, government corruption and political instability?" HE shook his head.

I pursed my lips. "Help me." I scrunched my face.

"You ever going to write your own history papers?" He raised his eyebrows.

"No." I shook my head.