DAWN PAIGE GREY Young Adult Romance

Chapter 20 - Annie's Lie

Annie had her head down as she ran upstairs to the room she shared with Dawn.  She was counting the stares trying to get the vision of Luke together with Dawn out of her mind when she bumped into Chris.

“Hey Annie where’s the fire?” Chris laughed as he caught her in his arms. He held her close and looked down into her face. “Annie whatever is the matter. You look downright miserable.”

“I’m just so worried about my Dad being left on his own while I’m here having fun.” She lied crossing her fingers behind her back.

“I thought you had a full time Nurse staying with him till after the wedding.”

“Yes we do, but it’s not family and if something went wrong ….. Well I’d never forgive myself for not being there.” She looked up at Chris and an unexpected tear rolled down her cheek. She knew the tear was not for her Dad but for the emotions that would not stay under control. Luke was marrying Dawn her best friend. She should be happy but she was sad, yes she had to admit it, she was sad it was not her.

“Oh dear Annie,” Chris hugged her, “let me run you home then and I’ll drive down every day to fetch you and take you home again in the evening, or whenever you feel ready to go home. That way you can spend time with your Dad and still be here to support Dawn and maybe we could go riding together sometimes.”

Tears welled up in Annie’s eyes. Chris was so nice, why oh why couldn’t she just have feelings for him instead of Luke. There had been an attraction between them when she first bumped into him …. But then Luke kissed her and she kissed back and now her head and heart were at war.

“Thanks Chris, I’d really appreciate it if you could take me home now please.”

“Of course I will Annie. I’ll just grab my car keys and we’ll go. Do you need to get anything from the bedroom?”

"No thanks Chris; if I’m coming back tomorrow I can leave it all here.”

“Of course you’re coming back tomorrow. I’ll fetch you at whatever time you wish. Maybe we can have breakfast together on our way back to the ranch tomorrow.”

They walked downstairs together and Chris tried to take her hand, but Annie politely avoided his and ran down the stairs.

“WOW! Annie you sure are in a hurry to get going. Are you going to let Dawn know you’re going now, say goodbye?” 

“Ummm, no I think not Chris; she has gone for a walk with Luke. Don’t want to interrupt. You can tell her for me later.”

“Okay, let’s go then, my car is parked out back.”

They drove in silence for a while before Chris placed his hand over Annie’s. She looked down at his hand and then up at him.  His eyes were on the road and she felt him squeeze her hand.

“Annie your Dad is going to be fine. I’m sure you are worrying needlessly. But whatever happens I am here for you.  You only need call and I’ll come running.  I’ll be your Knight in shining armour.”

Annie laughed, “Thank you Chris, you are such a gentleman. Any girl would be thrilled to have you as their Knight.”

“Any girl?” Chris asked glancing at her quickly. “There is only one girl this Knight has his eye on.”

Annie blushed uncomfortably and slid her hand out from under Chris’s pretending she needed to find a tissue.

“Aaah my maiden blushes so prettily.”

“Chris I …..”

“Okay Annie, I’ll stop teasing you for now. I know your thoughts are centred on your Dad at the moment, but I hope in time when he is well; you might spare a place in those thoughts for me.”

Annie was lost for words and just smiled. She did not want to hurt Chris’s feelings. There was no point in telling him there was someone else, especially when that someone else could never be hers and was going to marry her best friend.

Annie did her best to make small talk the rest of the way to her home and talked about the wedding, the bridal shower and anything else to avoid responding to Chris’s hopes of a relationship with her.

When they arrived Chris rushed round the car and opened Annie’s door before she’d even undone her seatbelt. He offered her his hand and helped her out the car. He did not move as she stood right up against him and was totally caught off guard when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.  She did not respond. Chris let her go and looked at her puzzled.

“I’m sorry Chris … I was not expecting that …. I’ve just got so much on my mind at the moment … sorry.”

“Would you like to try that again, now that I have your attention?” He tilted her chin up and looked into her eyes, “you might find you like it and even kiss me back.” He joked.

Annie closed her mind to thoughts of Luke and tried desperately to respond to Chris’s kiss. His lips were warm and inviting, but the electricity and excitement she had felt when Luke kissed her was just not there. She sighed deep within herself as Chris’s kiss deepened.

‘Maybe in time’ she thought to herself ‘I might feel differently. Once Luke and Dawn are married and I know I have to move on.