Chapter 22: 21- The Great Twenty Four Year Old Virgin Bethany Hamilton, Who's Into Celibacy

21

The sun hadn’t even risen when I made my way to the airport early Tuesday morning. The air was chilly as I tugged my sweater tighter around my body, waiting for my sister and her husband to emerge from the doors. Reese called me before the last leg of her connecting flight departed, about two hours ago, obviously not caring that I only had two hours of sleep and it was three in the morning from my where I stand. The sun wasn’t even up yet.

Liam was curled up at the backseat sleeping. He insisted to go so I let him. The kid didn’t see his parents for a month. And I really couldn’t leave a four year old alone in my house. My sister would kill me and I’d get in a butt load of trouble.

I dozed in and out of sleep most of the time I waited for them with my phone clutched in my hand as I tried my best to stay awake. It seemed impossible.

My eyes fluttered as I battled with myself to stay awake, my lids getting heavier as every second passed. Just as I was about to give up, my phone started vibrating like a person on a seizure, waking me up instantly. It wasn’t Reese. It was Blake.

“What?” I snapped.

“Someone’s cranky.”

I scowled. “Why are you up so early? Are transforming to a bat or something?”

“I can’t go back to sleep.” He admitted.

“So you decided to wake me up?”

“Well, yes.” I could almost hear the sheepish smile in his voice as he said the words. “And you did mention you were going to pick your sister up early in the morning. So I took my chances.”

“Right.” I yawned. “We just talked like less than five hours ago. I guess you just miss me so much.”

“I do.”

His response caught me off guard because that wasn’t what I was expecting. I was anticipating something along the lines of “In your dreams” or “You wish”. But then again I was talking to Blake Greene.

“Are you driving right now?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I’m just sitting down in my car waiting for my sister.”

I could hear him shift around and the sound of a fabric whipped telling me he’s still in bed. And most likely shirtless. Oh god. My face heated up at the thought.

“Bethany?”

“Yeah?”

Silence followed for a few seconds until I heard him sigh and started talking.

“I need to tell you something.” He said his voice in a low whisper as if he forced himself to say the words. I could hear him take a sharp breath of air but before he could continue talking, my phone started vibrating again against my cheek telling me someone else was calling and I knew immediately it was Reese.

“Can we talk later? I’m sorry but I need to hang up.” I said. “My sister’s calling, probably ready to yell at me where I am.”

“Okay.” He responded in a disappointed voice.

I ran my fingers through my hair to get them out of my face. “I’m sorry Blake.”

“It’s fine.” He replied. “I’ll come over later if that’s fine.”

A grin made its way to my face. “Definitely.”

I killed the call with Blake and answered Reese’s.

“Where are you?”

“You really need to learn to greet people Reese.” I sighed on my phone.

“Morning.” She snapped over the line. Jeez, my sister was grouchy,  and to think she woke me up at three in the morning. “Now tell me where are you?”

“Cranky.” I muttered and a smile crawled up to my lips when I remembered that’s the same thing Blake had said to me just a few minutes ago. “I’m at in the airport already.”

“I know that dimwit.” I could hear her roll her eyes. “You sent me a text. Where are you, specifically?”

She called me a dimwit. Looks like somebody woke up in the wrong side of the bed this morning, or in her case, wrong side of the chair.

Since she was already pissed and no doubt ill tempered, I decided to worsen it and smirked, “In my car.”

I heard her groan in frustration. “Damn it Beth! Just tell me. I’m already tired.”

“What do you say?” My smile got wider with every second that passed. As I have mentioned before, annoying people off is one of my favorite hobbies.

“I’m not saying it.”

“Well then.” I said, amusement in my tone. “Looks like I’ll be on my way then. You can take a cab.”

She sighed.

“Bethany Hamilton is the best sister anyone could ever ask for, the best aunt in the whole universe, and I love her more than I love anyone else.” She recited perfectly like she had been practicing it in front of the mirror for years.

“Thanks.” I said and turned the key in the ignition. “Now that wasn’t so hard now, was it?”

“I think I’m going to be sick.” She muttered. “Just please get me home.”

“Yeah alright.” I agreed getting tired. “Stay at the entrance. I’ll go get you.”

I pulled out of the parking space I had occupied and drove to the entrance of the airport building where a lot of passengers were waiting. When I made sure that I do not cause any traffic on where I parked my car, Liam woke up. He sat up, his hair in a mess as he rubbed his eyes.

“Is mommy and daddy here?” he yawned.

I smiled. “Yes.”

When Reese and Dominic spotted me waving my hand right to left like a crazy person, they towed their bag with them as they rushed to me. Dominic stuffed all of their things in the trunk; he joined his wife and son at the back seat leaving me all alone in front.

“Looks like I’m the chauffer for the day.” I uttered as I started driving.

They ignored me. The three were busy having a mini reunion at the back whilst I was driving.

“Mommy! Daddy!” Liam cheered with delight. I didn’t need to take a peek to know he was hugging his parents.

I couldn’t help smiling but as I started thinking things through, my smile turned to a frown. As much as I love Liam, he wasn’t my child. I think I may have gotten too attached with him in the past month. I love him to death. Liam was probably the only boy I’ve grown to love until now. He was my adorable four year old nephew, the kid who annoys me, the kid who finds different ways to wake up me every day and that included pouring barbeque sauce all over me and started drawing on my face with a permanent marker.

Maybe I’ll just stick with adoption.

I was too preoccupied with my own thoughts that I haven’t realized that I we arrived at my sister’s house. The streets were pretty much empty since it was so early in the morning and I had not needed to overtake any cars or curse drivers for their stupid driving skills.

****

I tapped the end of my pencil on the table as brainstormed on a new design for a seventeen year old’s birthday party next week. So far I had come up with a five tiered neon ink splattered cake and matching cupcakes. The parents wanted nearly half a thousand cupcakes too. What on earth were they having? They’re ordering enough to feed an entire country.

A knock on the door knocked me out of my thoughts. I tidied up desk a little before letting the person in. It was Dani with my sister who was looking way much better than this morning. She looked like she had enough rest with the bags and dark circles under her eyes finally gone. Or it was just the makeup.

“What’s up my little sister?” Reese hopped in my small office, plopping down to one of the two chairs in front of me. Looks like someone’s not cranky anymore.

Dani mouthed me ‘Good Luck’ as she left us alone, clearly busy with something else. I turned to my sister with a scowl on my face. She was in a ridiculously good mood which meant she would be extra annoying. Wonderful.

“What do you want?” I eyed her skeptically, following her every move.

She grinned at me as she took one my paper weight. “I miss my little sister!”

“Yeah right.” I snorted. “The real reason?”

She frowned. “But I do miss you.”

“Yeah and the Earth is a cube.” I rolled my eyes.

“You got me.” She raised her hands up in defeat. “I’m on a mission to make sure you attend our little get together this Saturday.”

“I’m still thinking about it.” I snapped, disliking where the conversation was going. Reese knew I hated this annual event.

“Beth please!” she sighed. “Mom misses you. She wants to see you, you know.”

“I miss her too.” I muttered.

“Then what’s stopping you?” She stood up. “Go!”

“I told you, I’m still thinking about it.”

She groaned out loud.  “Bethany Hamilton. What’s the matter with you? Mom misses you, isn’t that enough?!”

I grumbled, leaning back to my chair and covering my eyes with my forearm. “It’s April I really don’t want to see.”

“April?” she parroted. “You mean the one that got drunk last year and almost started stripping in the dinner table?”

I scowled at the memory Reese had just implanted in my head. It wasn’t a sight to see. “The one and only.”

“But she’s not that bad!”

I pushed myself to sit straight as I narrowed my eyes at her. “You have no idea how terrible she is.”

She raised her brow at me. “Yeah? What’d she do?”

I debated on myself whether I tell her or not. I did bring this up on myself. And unfortunately, I was talking with Reese so I know she won’t let me move a foot from where I am sitting, let alone go home if I don’t tell her what’s going on.

“What’d she do Beth?” she repeated, demanding an answer form me.

Everyone has been recently mandating me. Am I not cooperative enough?

Reese continued to narrow her eyes at me, squeezing out every single resistance I had to answer her. She won.

“April said some…things.” I muttered, beating around the bush. My sister continued to glare at me until I finally spilled everything. I sighed. “April said that I had some STDs that’s why I don’t have I boyfriend. And that I disgust  the opposite gender.”

Her eyes grew wide as saucers. “No way.”

I nodded, amused by her reaction. She rushed towards my side of the table and grabbed my shoulders and started shaking me violently.

“No. Way.” She repeated. “No way!”

“Yes way.”

“No way!” she exclaimed again. “But she’s so sweet and nice!”

“Well,” I crossed my arms, feeling happy she believed me. I may have sounded crazy to her ears, especially everyone knew her as the sickly sweet and nice April. “She’s not.”

She grabbed the nearest chair and sat in front of me, determined to know more. I don’t know if I should be happy or not.

“Spill.”

So I told her what my dear sweet Aunt April told me. As I told her the story, I couldn’t help but grin at her facial expressions. She was obviously not happy about April’s real attitude and she only knew April’s facade.

After telling her my story, she stood up and paced around my office, as if thinking of a way of revenge. I’d rather not. A few moments later, I could see the little light bulb glow over her head, and I somewhat find myself frightened of what she had thought of.

Reese sat back down on the chair in front of me and I’m still holding my breath for her scary idea. I gulped.

“Bring Blake with you!” She cheered at her idea.

My jaw dropped. “No.”

“Beth.” She called out.

“What?”

“What way to stop April being a total bitch at you regarding your relationship status than by bringing a date?” She pointed out. “And plus, Andrea is going to get so jealous.”

“She’s married.” I deadpanned.

Reese arched her brow at me. “You think that stopped her?”

“Okay.” I rolled my eyes. “But I’m not bringing Blake.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to use him like that.” I said. “And plus, everyone, and I mean every single soul present there would be all over me, ‘The Great Twenty Four Year Old Virgin Bethany Hamilton, Who’s Into Celibacy’, asking on how I finally realized that being a nun won’t work for me and that no convent in the world would accept me.”

“Stop being such a drama queen Beth.” Reese rolled her eyes.

“I’m not!” I retorted. “I actually heard someone say that.”

“Who?”

I shifted in my seat. “April and Andrea.”

Reese rolled her eyes. “Of course you’ll hear it from the two demon bitches.”

A knock from my office door cut our conversation short. Dani’s head popped in between the open doors with a very, very huge grin. I eyed her suspiciously.

“Look who came to see you.” Dani sang as she pushed the doors open revealing Blake.

“Speak of the handsome devil.” Reese muttered beside me, loud enough for only both of us to hear. I smacked her shoulder. She’s married!

Being the impatient person that she is, Dani pushed Blake forward , and he came scrambling in my office. Before he could even turn around to do glare at Dani, she already had the doors closed on his face.

“Uh, hi.” He gave a small wave. “I need to talk to you.”

Then I remembered he said he wanted to talk this morning.

“Prefect.” Reese stood up and clapped her hands together. “Beth also has something to tell you, but you go first.”

“Oh, really?” Blake asked, looking amused with a crooked smile on his lips. “You go first though Bethany. Ladies’ first.”

“I honestly have nothing important to say.”

Reese was on her way out of my office mouthing April and Andrea’s name over and over again, as if to remind me. She closed the door behind her, and her words from earlier rang in my head. After the doors closed, Blake took the now empty seat in front of me, the chair which Reese dragged from the over side of my desk when she wanted answers.

“Hello Bethany.” He smiled at me. I smiled and greeted back. “Hello Blake.”

“So.” He started, raising his eyebrows at me. “What’d you need to say?”

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair, removing the locks that fell over my eyes. I bit my lip, debating with myself on whether Reese was right or not. I’m not going to lie; I do want to Blake to accompany me, but it not only feels like I’m using him, it feels like meeting the parents type of thing and I don’t want that.

On the other hand having there with me would make me breathe a lot easier and make things a whole lot better. It took me a few more seconds before I finally got the courage to make up my decision. I knew what I wanted.

“You do remember about this stupid family reunion I have, right?”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “You mentioned it to be for a few more weeks.”

“Well…”I trailed off. “ It’s been rescheduled. It’s this Saturday.”

He nodded, getting where I was going with this. “And let me guess you want me to-”

“Yes!” I exhaled loudly, sulking in my chair. “Please?”

“Yeah sure.” He shrugged.

“Thank you!” I pushed myself off my chair and hugged. He stiffened at my sudden action for a fraction of a second before returning my hug. I too was surprised at my sudden action but decided that I need to man up. “It’s nothing too special so please don’t wear a tux or a suit. No plain t-shirts though, so wear something like a button front shirt or something similar or one of my uncles won’t let you eat the buffalo wings, not even a single wing and trust me, that is one thing you wouldn’t want to miss out.”

“Wait, what?” he pulled me away, looking confused as a tourist in an exotic country. “Why would I wear a suit just to babysit your dogs?”

“Huh?” Now I too was confused. “You’ll babysit Bruce and Skittles?”

“I’m not?” He blinked a couple of times as we both processed our messed up information. “I thought that was what you wanted to ask me.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I wanted you to…uh….”

When he was finally on the same page as me, he smirked. “To what Bethany?” Now he was just teasing me, a little payback for teasing him at the beach.

“I was wondering if you could go with me.” I said in a small voice, my face heating up in embarrassment. “You could bring Allie too but at ten all the alcohols are released so the kids go up to either sleep or continue playing. Liam will be there.”

Blake shook his head at me. “No, I’m dropping Allie at my parents’ house this Friday for a week or two, depending on how long they put up a fight to keep my daughter hostage.”

I nodded. “So, you’ll go?”

He looked at me again, smirking. “Looks like you really are asking me out for a date.”

I frowned at him and grabbed the nearest object I could find which was sadly an eraser and hurled it at him. He laughed, dodging the eraser with ease.

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I'm sorry it took so long. My sister suprise visited us and I can't write when she's here.

So..... Sugar Rush received over 300 votes for the last chapter and well, I'm jumping with joy. Also this story reached #4 in Chicklit and #21 in Romance on September 2.

NUMBER FOUR!!!