Say It

Chapter 2:Flashback

Claudia has fallen asleep on the couch and I don’t have the heart to wake her. She insisted she drive most of the way because I have crazy anxiety when I drive. I cover her on the couch and leave her to sleep. When I get up in the morning, I find a note on the coffee pot. I’ve gone to the gym. Be back around noon. Xo Since she will be gone until noon, I decide to find a grocery store and grab a few things and we can ride out later for a little sightseeing.

I find a place called Fred Meyer that Google says is a grocery store. Since it’s nine in the morning, I don’t have to push by anyone to grab what I need. I grab a few things like lunch food and something I can make for dinner tonight considering Claudia burns everything in her path. I try not to put too much in the buggy because I want to make sure she gets things she likes too, my little health nut.

Although this place seems great, I am far too short to reach the top shelves. I start to climb up the very thin shelves to grab some jam. I fall backwards with instant regret and land flat on my cushiony ass as a couple of jars fall beside me.

“Son of a bitch.” Now my ass and pride hurt.

I look over when I hear a group of small chuckles. I think I must have hit my head instead because there is no way possible that someone can be so delicious looking. This tall beautiful creature is mesmerizing. Someone so sweaty in gym shorts has never been so appealing. With his running tank, I can see a few tattoos. I want to try and make them out, but I think I’m staring too hard. Who could blame me, though? I’m sure most women want to devour him. His hands look extremely soft but still masculine. Wait, how can I see his hand so clearly? I come to realization; he’s standing right in front of me with his hand extended out to me. I look away quickly and grab his hand to pull me up and steady myself.

“Are you okay? Though it was funny, it was a pretty far fall for someone so short.” He smiles. Man, what a smile. My heart stops and restarts evolving around his smile alone.

“Uh, what? Yeah. Yeah, I-I’m okay.” I stutter out.

“Sure? You seem a little zoned.”

“Yes. I’m okay. Thanks. I was just trying to-” I stop and look up. “ ‘A far fall for someone so short’? Maybe I’m not so short. What if you’re just so tall?” I stare back blankly. I’m not sure what I’m arguing for.

His head falls back, laughing like I just said that funniest thing ever. What I wouldn’t do to hear it all the time but involuntarily, I cross my arms not humored by the short jokes.

“Okay, so I’m tall and you’re short. I may be 6’2 but you’re still short.” He says.

“I’m 5’0 so… s-so I don’t think it’s that short.” Who am I kidding? I could fit in with kids that Claudia teaches.

“You’re.. kidding right?” he pauses. “Oh. Well… you’re shorter than my thirteen year old niece.” And now I’ve heard the most amazing thing twice. I finally start to smile.

“I am just not sure what you’re talking about. I think I’m a good height.” I say back

“Sure. Sure. Are you fourteen?” He laughs a little but has serious eyes. I think I’ll mess with him.

“No, I’m seventeen.” My face is very serious.

“Oh, well I’m sorry, but I shouldn’t be talking to you. It’s been a pleasure.” He smiles lighty and goes to turn on his heels and I reach for his arm to stop him.

“I’m twenty three. Young but an adult.” What a fool to think I was so young. I may be short and kind of slim, but my chest and backside make up for my height.

“Ah. Okay! You like to joke.” How can his smile possibly get better? “Well, now I know you aren’t the same age as my niece, can I have your name?”

He has the kindest eyes. They’re hazel mix of green and amber. When he looks up towards the window, I can see a hint of gold. My God, this man is beautiful. He tilts his head a little.

“What? Is something on my face?” he asks. I’m starring again.

“Beauty,” did I just say that out loud? My face flushes.

“Well, thank you; even though you stole my line. I’m Lincoln.” He extends his gorgeous hand.

As I take his hand in mine, I feel as if I just disappeared. The electricity shots through my finger tips and travels along ever nerve throughout my body and I can feel the instance bumps arise on my spine. I’ve never felt this kind of heat, not even with Eli. I didn’t even think it was possible to feel such things just by the touch of a hand. I think he feels it too because he closes his eyes for a second too long. Hot damn, I think I’m in trouble.

“I’m Cassie,” I proclaim as I shake his extended hand.

“So Cassie, what were you doing climbing the shelves?”

“Well like you said, I’m short. I tend to have to climb shelves when I’m at the grocery store. They don’t exactly make these this for the vertically challenged.” Mission accomplished; there’s that beautiful smile. I can’t help but join. I don’t think I could ever understand why I feel this way when I’ve only just met him. I just want to hear him laugh. “anyway, I was climbing to get some peach honey jam. Don’t worry my ass saved me.” Now he’s laughing but there’s something different in his eyes. Oh.

“What a lucky floor,” Oh. “I can’t say I blame it for working with the shelves to break as you climbed them,” he says.

I’m speechless for the second time today and it’s not even ten in the morning. I begin biting my lip, not because I’m embarrassed, because I’m trying so hard to keep the things on my mind from falling out my mouth. That must do something to him because his eyes darken and slightly close. He leans in the slightest bit and my lips involuntarily part. I’m not sure how things could possibly get heated in a grocery store just by a few words, yet here we are. The aisle seems smaller and the temperature has risen at least twenty degrees. Finally, we are pulled back when a woman about our age comes around and begins to talk. I realize we are still holding hands so I pull away quickly.

“Hey! Linc, did you hear me?” the girl says. She must be around my age. She’s maybe 5’6 with a beautiful tan and blonde hair. She of course has bright blue eyes and a beautiful figure. Figures; that would be his taste in women.

“Uh.. what Stacy?” he ask as he turns to face her.

She doesn’t seem to notice me, which I don’t mind.

“I said I grabbed the last of what we need for tonight. We can go now.” She says.

I’m already walking away to grab something to clean the mess I made. I’ve already rounded the corner before he can realize I’m gone.

Lincolns POV:

What the f**k was that? I’ve never in my life felt that kind of electricity and getting hot in the middle of a*****e by just a touch. I involuntarily leaned in but the way her lips parted because she was waiting for me; that was f*****g hot. I know what I wanted, but she wanted me too. Damn, if my annoying ass sister hadn’t rounded that corner I would have had her up against those very shelves she fell from.

“Okay, Stacy. Just give me a minute while I talk to-” She’s gone.

“Talk to who, Linc?”

“The most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes on.” I whisper. She doesn’t hear because she begins rambling on about this stupid party tonight.

I half listen to her and walk past her to check out. This store isn’t that big so how in the hell haven’t I seen her again? Cassie. It’s so simple; I be damned if it doesn’t fit her though, but I think she is far from simple. f**k, I hope I see her again. I don’t think I will be able to get her off my mind.

Cassie’s POV:

By the time I’ve made it back to the aisle, he’s gone. I guess it’s for the best since he had a girl with him. I’ve only just got to this town, I should be figuring out what this change is going to be like and not some guy.

The lady helps me clean the area and tosses some glass shards in the trash. Even though I offer to pay for them, she tells me not the worry about it. I check out  as I apologize for the thousandth time and head back home.

When I get back, Claudia is still gone so I make some lunch and finish reading a manuscript Greene House sent me to turn in on my first day as a kind of trial run. This one is in the guys prospective and is quite intriguing. He isn’t sure why but he can read what people are thinking and has visions. He works as a detective who falls in love with another detective who happens to be on the case of her missing sister. He knows that she was killed and has seen her die a dozen times, although, he doesn’t know who done it. Marco, the main character doesn’t tell her, Leesa, that her sister is dead or that he even has those abilities. The story line seems to be solid and never seems to lose me, even though most stories like these do. I’m not sure how I would feel knowing someone was keeping such a huge secret from me.

 I’m in love with the world of literature and becoming a part of the books I read, but for some reason, I can never stay in toned with this kind of fiction in a book even though movies are different. It happens to be the opposite with romance. I can hardly sit down and watch a romance movie, but there is something different about a romance novel. They seem to capture the details that are missed in the movies. I read a story of love and can feel every touch, shiver, and break that the characters do. I place myself in their world and embody their spirits. It’s so much better getting lost in a book than a roll of film.

I’m finally done with my manuscript and realize the showers running. I must have been so caught up in my own world that I didn’t hear Claud come in. I walk into the living room and begin to shout at her when I notice someone near the couch. I stop and slowly turn and see him. Some guy just staring at me like I’m the one that’s out of place. I begin to yell and run the bathroom and bang on the door.

“Claudia, open the door!” I shout through the door. “I’m calling the cops so better leave now!” I shout towards him just as Claudia opens the door.

“Hey, calm down! That’s Jason. I’m sorry, I didn’t think you were home or I would have let you know.” She just stares at me. “I am so sorry. Knowing everything that has happened I should have made sure, Cas. I am so so sorry!” She grabs hold my shaking body and wraps her arms around me. I hadn’t even realized I wasn’t breathing normal.

“Y-you know him?” is all I can manage.

“Yes babe. I’m so sorry,” she says again.

“It’s okay. Really. I guess I just started reliving everything.” She looks ready to cry. “Claud, it’s fine. I’m fine. I just.. I just panicked for a moment, but I’m okay.” I look over at Jason. “I am sorry if I freaked you out. I’ve been robbed before at gun point and some things trigger panic attacks.”

“Wow. I’m sorry that happened to you. Of course you were ready to stab me with your pencil.” He says. I look down because I hadn’t realized my pencil was still in my hand or positioned like I was ready to jab someone in the neck.

I slowly place the pencil on the counter and grab hold to steady my heavy breathing. I begin to relive every moment. I was home alone because dad was gone to help bring power back to the lower state of South Carolina after a big storm had knocked it out. It was around seven that evening and sun had begun to set. I was in my own world so I didn’t hear them come in. By the time they made it to my room, they had grabbed so much of value. They busted in my door and pointed a gun towards me like I took them be shock. I was made to pack anything that had value and I made sure to hide the necklace that belonged to my mother. The guy, who had the gun to my head, hit me with it because I wasn’t moving fast enough and knocked me to the ground. I remember falling to the floor and holding my head in my hands as blood started to drop. I was thinking he must have given me a concussion because everything became a blur and I was out.

By the time I had come to, it was dark outside. I crawled the best I could to my side table and grabbed my cell and called the police and I was out again. The next thing I remember, I was in the hospital and had been there a day. My dad, Susanne, and Claudia were there when I came to. They were just staring at me like I would break any moment. I had a mild concussion and since I was out for a day, they wanted to keep me for observation. A few days later the police called to tell us they got the guys who attacked me. One of them use to be my best friend and he felt “guilty” for that guy hitting me. I had nightmares for months and still have them every now and then.

“Hey, Cas. Are you there? Do you need your medication?” she asks pulling me from the past.

“What? Uh, no. I’m okay.” I answer.

She just nods. I can tell she’s freaked out and so is he. I take a few more deep breaths and I’m fine.

“So what are we doing the rest of the afternoon?” She asks.

“I was thinking we could ride around and maybe get a feel of the place.” I say back

“If you guys would like a tour guide, I volunteer. I know all the great spots around town,” Jason says. Claudia looks to me and shrugs. I just nod back.

“Sure. As long as you have time. Do you know where Greene House Books is?” I ask.

“Oh yeah.. On thirty-fifth, near the Harbor?” he replies.

I nod.

“Yeah I can show how to get there the fastest way I know. However, living here, you are going to want to leave about forty minutes before you have to be there because traffic can get nasty,” he says.  

We agree to let Jason guide us and head out. He begins by showing us his favorite pizza place called Round Table Pizza and only about maybe ten minutes from the apartment. He then drives through town to show us where some little stores are and we pass the little grocery store I was at earlier when I met the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen in my life. He lets me know we are getting on HWY 509 and I begin day dreaming about my handsome stranger. Lincoln is such different name, but it suited every part of him. He wasn’t overly buff with all his veins bulging out, but he was the perfect proportion of muscle and body. He had at least one tattoo that I could see. I think it was a rose but it had some words around it. All I wanted to do was trace along the edges of his perfectly inked body. His hair is dark brown like mine and eyes that could stop a train. I died this morning and part of my soul went with him. I can feel the absence, but I haven’t quite felt alone either. Jason’s voice pulls me from my mind.

“We are going to exit in Delridge and I’ll show you a few different roads you can take to get there.” he says.

The rest of the evening seems to go by quick. We drive by a few other places and get as acquainted as possible in a day. We grab some food and head back. Jason stays to eat with us and I think we have just made our first friend in Washington. It’s been a long day and all I want to do is shower and talk to my dad. So I do just that. Once I’ve showered, I call my father to check in. I miss him already so much, but I know I made the right decision leaving. I forget we are in different time zones and it’s around eleven there. So I leave a short voicemail.

“Hey, dad. I just wanted to call and check in with you. We are doing okay. Had a pretty good first day. We met a friend and got the exclusive tour. Ha, we are definitely not in Greenville anymore. Anyway, I’m sorry it’s so late so I’ll call tomorrow. I love you, dad.” I hang up and set my alarms. I pull out an outfit for tomorrow. It’s going to be great day, I know it.