How I Wish

Chapter Eighteen

He gripped the dashboard tightly as I swung the car into the parking spot. His eyes were wide with fright but I was feeling great. It was about time I got some driving experience!

"How was that?" I smiled

"Do you want an honest answer?" He muttered as he leaned back into the seat, his hand on his heart.

"Yes" I pouted as I leaned over to rest my head on his chest. His fingers gripped my hair tightly as he bent and consumed my mouth. I could taste all of his emotions as he held me securely.

"We will work on it" he breathed as he grabbed his bag from the back. He pulled out a large book with driving illustrations. "We should work on your three-point turns."

"Alright." I smiled as I eagerly took the car out of 'park' and placed it into 'drive'.

"Hold on" Trent begged as he grabbed the edge of his seat.

I was already on the road and heading down the street, my feet on the gas.

"Control your speed." He murmured as calmly as he could. I eased my foot from the pedal, and touched the break lightly. "Good" he rewarded, rubbing the inside of my thigh. I moaned instinctively at the feel of his fingers.

He chuckled as he removed his hand and returned to the book. "Pay attention to the road" He scold playfully.

"Alright, stop here" he ordered. He placed the book in front of me and explained how to conduct the turn safely. When we were ready, I began to execute it. Everything was going well until my feet eased on the gas a bit too hard sending us forward and into a pole.

I froze in the chair and my heart raced. I just crashed his BMW, I swallowed. "I'm so sorry" I muttered. It wasn't hard enough to deploy the airbags but it was enough to jerk the car roughly.

He stepped outside the car after a side glance over at me. "Are you okay?" he called from outside.

"I'm so sorry" I said again, avoiding his question.

The front of the car was scraped from the sidewalk, and the pole created a large dent.

"f**k" he grumbled as his fingers found his hair.

"I'll pay to fix it" I promised.

"It's customized paint, Leigh." He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. He walked off to talk to the person while I found a seat on the grass.

I was just so eager that I wasn't listening to any of his warnings. After a few people came over to check if we were okay, a tow truck came by. Trent gave them an address and indicated that it was a garage.

"Let's go" Trent waved me over to the truck, but I shook my head.

"I'll walk home" I muttered. I felt a little shook up and I didn't want to be in a car right now. "You go with him. I'll talk to you later."

He paused to look at me, then turned back to the driver. After a few minutes, he closed the truck door and the truck took the car away.

He sat down beside me, wrapping an arm around me. "I'm sorry I raised my voice" he mumbled, his head resting against my neck.

"I just f****d up your car, don't apologize." I informed him. "I'll pay, I promise."

"It's fine." he promised as he gripped my fingers. "Have you thought about who to invite to the cottage with us."

"Do you really want to talk about spring break right now?" I turned to him. He pecked my lips assumingly, and nodded.

I sighed, trying to refocus on something else. "Well Xavier and Ashley will be coming, but I also want to invite Sean and Jess."

"Are you sure about Sean?" he asked, his fingers brushing against the grass.

"Why?"

"I don't like the way he looks at you." He murmured, his eyes filled with seriousness.

"We're friends, and it's been really awkward between us lately. I really want to fix that."

"Having him come along with us on spring break isn't the best thing, Leigh."

"You just don't want him coming along period." I pushed him playfully as a slight smile touched his eyes.

"So you get the hint."

"Whatever" I rolled my eyes. "Who are you inviting?"

"My step mother's sister, Yale, and Renee." He muttered.

Yale was a year younger than us, and a bit on the attitude side. She was the blond he was with a few weeks ago. She didn’t seem to like me very much but then again, I couldn't give a s**t.

"Why Yale?" I asked the easy question first.

"It was the only way to get my dad to lend us the cottage for the week." He sighed.

"Why Renee?" I tried to keep my voice even, not to show my dislike.

"It was the only way to get Yale to come along." he turned to me. "I guess we both have people we don't like coming along next week, huh?" he smiled.

"Good one" I muttered sarcastically as he kissed my cheek. "But if she tries anything, I will break your legs" I warned.

"And if he tries anything, I'll break his." Trent retorted.

I laughed, stretching out my hands. "So we have an agreement" He took my hand, and kissed the back of it.

"We do" he nodded, helping me to my feet. "Let's get going. We have a long way to go."

--

I sat on the steps of my house as I rest against the door, my eyes closed. It was four in the morning, and I was waiting for everyone to show up so we could all leave out together.

"Are they here yet?" My dad's head appeared outside the house, his eyes wondering the streets. He was up with me all night as I packed, making sure I didn't forget anything. Now he was insisting he waited with me until I left.

"Not yet." I yawned, my eyes drooping. "Can I ask a question?" I wondered.

"Sure honey" he smiled as he sat down beside me. Staying up all night changed how I saw him. He would tell me about his job and what he did. I would tell him about some parts of my life that he missed. And we would laugh at certain things. I felt like I knew him better, as if he was actually my father.

"Do you have any other kids?" I muttered.

"Just you and your brother" he smiled, rubbing his hands together.

"So… you and your wife didn't want any?" I pushed forward, asking my intended question in a different way.

My dad sighed. "Leigh, I know its hard for you to understand all of this but-"

"Try me" I challenged.

He paused as he glanced down at me, the sighed one last time.

"My wife and I got married young. We were in love at the time, but we slowly became distant once we realized we couldn't have children together. Then I met your mother." He paused before continuing. "I fell in love all over again. I already contacted my divorce lawyers, but my wife and I were separated when your mother and I became serious." he promised.

I remained quiet, captivated by the story. I have been waiting to hear his side of things the minute I found out he was married.

"Then Darcy was diagnosed with level two breast cancer. She was a proud woman, and I knew she wouldn't accept my money to continue treatment once we divorced. So I left well enough alone. Your mother and I separated for a few months. But then we meet up again, and once we began, we couldn't stop. She got pregnant and you were born." He smiled down at me. "Then we decided to have Nate … and we were happy. Darcy is well-aware of both of you, and she understands. I just can't leave her to go through this part of her life alone sweetheart. We might not be involved intimately, but she will allows be my friend. I'm not asking you to understand, but I would appreciate your forgiveness."

I was speechless. It wasn't the explanation I was expecting. He had a hint of nobility about him now, and a sense of kindness. I felt horrible for the amount of punches I took at my mother for her involvement with my dad. This was way more complex than I gave it credit for.

I nodded and rested my head against his shoulder as his arms wrapped around me.

The silence was peacefully. We stared into the empty roads as we continue to embrace.

"Can I get a car?" I mumbled.

He slowly began to laugh, but it began to build. I eventually joined in. I felt unknown stress released from my body as I relaxed against his.

Slowly everyone began to arrive. Trent drove to get Ashley from Long Beach, while Xavier arrived with Jess and Sean.

As we waited for Renee and Yale to show up, Ashlee and I watched as they worked out the traveling situation.

"Why didn't Xavier pick you up?" I ask.

"We aren't really talking." she mumbled.

"You're joking…" I trailed off.

"I'm not. We stopped seeing each other. It was just a fling." her voice didn’t come off how she wanted it to. It was filled with hidden messages.

"Did he end it?" I narrowed my eyes at him, wondering how we could make him pay in the upcoming few days.

"I did actually." She shrugged.

"Okay, I seriously have to know what's happening." I begged.

A slick yellow car pulled up in my driveway. The music was on blast and the windows quickly rolled up. "Let's go people." Yale honked her horn.

"It's five in the morning." Trent frowned. "Kill the noise. Now."

Yale sighed dramatically, turning off her engine. "Great. I'm stuck with Mr. Bossy over here for a full week. Wonderful" she rolled her eyes.

"Why is she so dramatic?" Ashlee whispered over at me.

"A year younger and she's just extra." I yawned once more.

"Wonderful" Ashlee murmured, mimicking Yale's voice. I giggled as I stood to my feet, ready to get going.

"Okay, so who is riding with me?" Trent asked.

"I will" Renee offered nonchalantly.

"If she rides with him , then so will I" Yale pouted, not happy with this option.

"So there will be no room in that car and I am not riding without Leigh." Ashlee frowned, her irritancy becoming clear.

"Neither am I" Trent murmured as he glanced down at me.

"Alright, I'll take Yale and Renee" Xavier offered, his voice as calm and relaxed as always. "Sean, you in?"

"I'm down" Sean smirked as he glanced over at the two girls.

"Yay, we get the cute boys." Yale chanted, way too excited.

"Calm your t**s" Ashlee mumbled under her breath, hoping into Trent's freshly painted car.

"So I guess I'm with you guys" Jess smiled, hoping into the back beside Ashlee.

Xavier opened the door for the girls, but Yale hoped into the front beside him. "I'm riding shot gun" she winked at him.

"Watch yourself" Trent warned her as he ducked into his car.

She rolled her eyes and closed the passenger door. When we were all in the car and everything was packed, we headed to San Francisco for the week.

________

During the trip, I was in and out of consciousness. I didn't realize I was so tired, but I was. The five hours few by quickly and the next thing I knew, we were pulling up into the driveway.

The cottage look like a regular house, except with a lot of windows. We hurried inside after unpacking the cars to look around. Everything seemed so natural, if they there were hand made, nevertheless expensive.

"Okay, there are five rooms. How is this going to work?" Jess wondered.

"Leigh and I will share my room" Trent inputted.

"How about I get my best friend for this week?" Ashlee challenged.

They both turned to me after they stared at each other. Trent raised his brow and Ashlee used her eyes. It was clear that if Xavier and her were still together this wouldn't be a problem. She needed me or else she wouldn't have suggested it. She was pulled the friends' card.

"How about Ashlee and I share a room while you and Xavier share one." I offered.

Trent's eyes lowered at my maneuver, clearly we would be having a talk later on. "I'll just sleep by myself then," he threw towards me "and Xavier and Sean can share a room."

"That still leaves us three" Renee pushed in. "I guess I can share a room with Trent and Yale and Jess could share one."

"Or" Ashlee interrupted. "Leigh can sleep with her man, you can bunk with your friend, and Jess and I can chill."

"Perfect" Trent smiled taking my hand and pulling me to the room. When we got in, he pushed me towards the bed, cover my body with his. "What was that?" he mumbled.

"A best friend move."

"Mmhmm" He nodded "No more of those for now, okay?" he begged.

I giggled at his jealousy and his way of tell me he wanted me all to himself.

"You are needed my friend" Ashlee appeared at the door with a beer in her hands. Trent sighed and eased off of me, leaving the room. Ashlee sat beside me, and handed over the newly opened beer.

"Thanks, you don't want any?" I offered after I took a sip.

"I'm cutting back" she refused.

We began to talk about things to do first until my question early popped into my head. "Why did you break up with Xavier?"

She sighed. "I asked him a question and he didn't give me the proper answer."

"Which was?" I pushed.

"I asked what he would do if I was pregnant."

"That's a weird question to ask." I snored as I took another sip.

"Not if its true" She muttered. I held onto the beer bottle as I thought through her words.

"And what did he say?" I asked, unable to think at all. So many thoughts were going through my head.

"'Are you joking? That’s the worst possible thing that could happen.'" she mimicked Xavier's voice as she peered down at her fingers. "Don't worry, I can do this by myself."

"You won't have to. You've got me" I took her hands into mine and squeezed.