Shattered

Chapter 22 Mark

"You never really know what's coming. A small wave, or maybe a big one. All you can really do is hope that when it comes, you can surf over it, instead of drown in its monstrosity." Alysha Speer

Bradley walked out of the door from the hallway that led from the kitchen with Cassie trailing behind her. Phil and Tommy grabbed the dog bed and large tote from her hands. "It has her bowls, food, and some toys," she explained. "Tommy, are you sure you don't mind if she rides in your car? I don't mind taking mine."

"I promise, it's all good," Tommy answered, climbing into the backseat of Phil's Jeep over the roll bar. Emma was seated next to him.

Mark opened his bag in the trunk and pulled a Detroit Tiger's baseball cap out. He wanted to offer it to Bradley so her hair wouldn't get destroyed in the convertible. "Hat?" he extended it to her as she slid in the front seat, holding Cassie's leash.

Bradley shook her head. "I don't think she'll jump out at red lights but just in case," she held up the leash. Cassie was sitting behind Bradley with her tongue out anxiously looking excited for a new adventure. Mark put his ball cap on backwards and the sports car's engine roared to life. He waived for Phil to drive ahead. Mark was too exhausted to lead the caravan. Besides, he was driving a much smaller vehicle than he was used to. Bradley started braiding her hair as they pulled out behind Phil. Minutes later, they were on the on-ramp and headed out of town.

Mark glanced over at Bradley and smiled. She was holding back pieces of her blowing hair, absolutely beaming. She gazed back at Mark and her smile grew wider, before she swiped the hat off his head. He laughed as she securely fastened it over her own head backwards, just the way he had worn it. With her right hand out the window, Bradley grabbed Mark's with her now leash free hand and rested it on his thigh. The touch was electric, suddenly filling his stomach with butterflies. She grinned at him as if she felt it, too. She was so beautiful.

"Look at them," she pointed to Phil's Jeep. "I can't tell if they're singing or laughing, but they're happy," she beamed.

Happiness was infectious and it was radiating from Bradley's body. This was a new freedom the boys felt. It had been months since they were able to relax and truly just enjoy being themselves. Senior year was about to start. Mark had a girlfriend for the first time in his life and he wanted to experience the last year of high school with his girl and his best friends at his side without being terrorized at every turn. This mini vacation was affording them the peace they so desperately sought, if only for a few days.

"Do you want to sleep with me?" he suddenly blurted out. Bradley gasped and then quickly smiled and nodded. His palms were sweating profusely. "I mean, in the same bedroom," his voice hitched. She tilted her head to the side. "Shit," he muttered. "Of course I want to sleep with you," he shouted nervously. She grinned at him. "Now that my friends are coming...I...I mean...we can wait until it's just us, alone. We can always come back another time, the two of us. And, crap, this is going to be really hard spending the night with you, but..." he ran his left hand through his short hair, "it might be harder to be apart from you in the same house."

"I still want you," she beamed. "I'm glad they're coming, they're all so happy. And, it doesn't have to change our plans."

"Ok," Mark agreed, his heart beating through his chest, a twinge of anticipation below his waist. "But still," he quickly shifted in his seat and leaned forward a little, "at the end of the day if it doesn't feel right or it feels too soon, we don't have to."

They arrived at Wal-Mart four hours later. Bradley and Emma went to the grocery section with Phil, while Brody and Tommy went to find a cooler and some fishing poles. Mark said he was going to get toiletries, which he didn't need, in an effort to break away from the group, so he could buy condoms in private, just in case. He had no expectations of hooking up with Bradley with his friends in the same house, but also wanted to be prepared because being alone with her and staying in control was growing increasingly difficult. He knew that the first night he stood face-to-face with her in her bedroom.