All That Remains Page 11

  Twenty minutes later, Austin’s car pulls down a dirt path and they’re bumping their way along a small road. Wayward brush hits the side of his car every once in a while and he curses under his breath as he tries to avoid it. Something reflects in his headlights up ahead and they pull to a stop in the middle of the road.

  “Ladies.” Austin purposefully draws out his southern accent as he jumps out of the vehicle and opens Jules’ door for her. Offering her his hand, he adds, “Welcome to ‘The Hole’.”

  “The hole?” She squints in the darkness, the bright moon and stars are the only light they have. All she sees is a tangle of brush and trees surrounding them as Jess comes around and joins them on the driver’s side.

  “You’ll see.” He pops his trunk and pulls out two lanterns, handing one to each girl and a blanket of some sort.

  “Austin? You didn’t bring us out here for a misguided attempt at an orgy, did you?” Jess mumbles. The lantern lights half of her face and Jules cracks up at the trepidation written on it.

  “Awww, honey, contrary to popular belief not all jocks are pricks and I’m a one woman man.” He shuts the trunk smoothly and takes the lantern from Jess’ hand. “I like to be prepared, that’s all.”

  “Yeah, you’re a real boy scout,” Jules groans as they traipse into the brush.

  The path isn’t well worn, but she can tell others have trampled down some of the vegetation and she hears a few shouts and some laughter in the distance alerting them to the presence of others.

  They break through the thicket to discover an assortment of lights hanging from trees and abandoned on the edge of a large dark hole. As her eyes adjust to the new scene and lighting, she realizes they are at a swimming hole with a crowd of about twenty. A rope swing is tied to a branch and hangs limply over the water. Several people are floating on top of the dark pond in inner-tubes, and a few more are standing around the edge of the pond wading up to their knees and waists as they talk and laugh without a care in the world.

  “Hey, Rutledge!” an excited voice calls out, and Austin turns to Jules and Jess with an expectant face.

  “So?” he asks, clearly not sure what they might think of such a place.

  Jules, who’d been grasping Jess’ arm as they weaved their way through the branches to this spot, squeezes her friend and locks her eyes on her with a smile.

  “Oh, hell yes,” agrees Jess when she sees Jules’ face and they drop their arms. Making quick work of her clothing, Jess strips down to her bra and panties and hightails it into the water with a loud squeal as she dives under.

  Austin pulls his shirt off and looks at Jules. His body is finely sculpted from all of the workouts and football, but she doesn’t feel anything when she looks at him. The feeling comes as a relief and she nods, telling him silently to go jump in the water and cool off. He leaves his athletic shorts on and, after setting the lantern on the ground and spreading the blanket, he runs into the water and jumps at Jess, who is floating on the top.

  Jules drops Jess’ clothes to the blanket and watches Jess and Austin splash around playfully for a moment and she feels a tug at her chest. She glances around, half expecting to find someone watching her, but no one is there.

  “Don’t make me get out of this pond to get you in!” Jess yells from the bank. The moon is shining down on her wet skin just enough to cause several of the guys who have moved closer to them to stop and stare. “Get in here Ju-ju!” she teases, using Katie’s nickname for her.

  The last request breaks down her wall and Jules jumps up to strip to her underwear quickly before she can get too embarrassed and back out. Thankfully, the garments cover as much as her bikini would, especially in the dark. She plans to jump in when she sees a guy pulling the rope up to the incline next to the tree that sits over the water. She watches as he pulls back, leaps up, and dives in when he swings out into the center of the pond, and an idea forms.

  Go big or go home! she tells herself, walking along the dark edge of the water and ignoring Jess and Austin’s calls asking her what she’s doing.

  “Hey,” a handsome guy about her age says when she meets him at the tree. “Want a turn?”

  “Do you mind?”

  “Not at all. Ladies first.”

  “Um, I’ve never done this. Any instructions?” she asks shakily as she nears the tree and reaches out for the thick rope that he is holding.

  “Here,” he says, holding the rope to her and pointing out where to stand. “It’s easy. Just stand here and when you’re ready you jump up and forward, lifting your feet and swinging out. You let go once you’re about half way out or further.”

  “It’s plenty deep? I’m not going to break my neck or something?”

  “Do you think I’d let you jump off this thing if it were dangerous?” he asks, a playful smile crossing his face and Jules is momentarily struck dumb with how good looking he is.

  “You don’t know me,” she points out diplomatically

  “Oh? Well, what’s your name then?” he asks and Jules laughs.

  “Jules. What’s yours?”

  “Levi.” His shoulders shrug in the moonlight. “See, now we’re like best friends. You ready to jump?”

  She looks back at Jess, who waves before splashing her arm towards Austin’s body. He retaliates in kind and Jules rolls her eyes at their flirtatious manner.

  “I’ll jump first and catch you. How’s that for a knight in shining armor?” Levi asks, pulling her gaze from her friends.

  “I’m sorry?”

  “I’ll jump in and prove to you it’s totally safe and then you can give it a whirl. No worries. I’ll be there to save you if you need me,” he adds with a wink before tugging the rope from her fingers and flying out across the water. His body hits the water with a splash and a few people clap and laugh around the pond.

  Jules leans forward, reaching for the swinging rope as it comes back to her. She steps back and brings it taut, taking a deep breath.

  “Nothing to be afraid of, Jules. Just jump in!” Levi yells.

  Jess’ voice joins in, “Jump!”

  The moment feels larger than it is and Jules wants to laugh and cry as she stands there half-terrified of jumping and half-terrified of not. It mirrors her life right now. She laughs at the crazy thought; she has no idea why her heart feels so heavy and strange tonight. Taking a deep breath, she closes her eyes and wills herself to make the most of this situation. The reminder to live tickles the back of her mind. She said she would live for Tanya and now is her chance. Tanya would have jumped three times by now.

  “Here goes nothing!” she tells herself as she launches her body into the air and then smacks the water feet first with a crisp swoosh.

  As she floats under the chilly, yet refreshing, water her mind chooses that moment to picture the symbolism of a baptism. A rebirth for one’s soul and the moment strikes her. She’s started fresh, she’s worked things out with Austin, she’s making new friends, and she’s starting to get over the past. The sentiment is probably crazy, but it sticks in her mind anyway and the moment she comes up for air, Levi is waiting not five feet away.

  “Ready to jump again, daredevil?” he asks, his southern drawl charming, as he wades the deep water.

  It doesn’t take her more than a brief second to think before a large smile creeps across her face.

  “Abso-freaking-lutley!”

  Eighteen

  West

  After talking with Austin, West’s head whirls with thoughts and ideas of Jules and how he can approach her. He’s meeting up with his family for dinner at a local steak restaurant, but all he wants to do is drive the thirty minutes to A&M and make things right. It’s rare he gets time with his dad these days, though, so he pastes on a smile and tells himself that he will figure it all out tomorrow.

  “There’s the star quarterback,” his dad’s booming voice carries across the dining area as the hostess shows him to their table. The pretty blonde gives him a once over when she hears this and
smiles seductively as she tells him to enjoy his meal. West nods and shrinks into himself, still not used to the looks he’s been getting because of football.

  “Really, dad?”

  His dad stands up and greets him, “What? I’m a proud dad.” He gives West a quick hug and a slap on the back. “Great game, son.”

  West bends down to kiss Mindy’s cheek and fist bumps Carson as he takes the empty seat next to his father.

  “The masses are starting to rumble, West,” his dad mentions once they’ve placed their orders and are all eating their dinner salads.

  “The masses, huh?”

  “I’m fielding more and more questions each day about why you aren’t wearing maroon and white. You keep your game up and the boosters will be clambering to get you.”

  “Dad, the boosters aren’t the ones I’m trying to impress,” West reminds him as he butters a roll.

  “Don’t you worry, son. The coaches notice, too. Your arm is amazing, your timing and precision. If only you’d never quit, I can only imagine the offers you would have received.”

  “Dad,” Carson mutters as West looks down and concentrates on his salad.

  “Hey, you know Austin was there today!” Mindy blurts and West snaps his gaze to her face.

  The level of awkward at the table increases and West cracks a small smile at his family. His dad harping on his quitting the game is something he’s gotten used to, so the comments don’t bother him as much as Carson seems to think they do. Mindy blurting Austin’s name is her obvious intent to fix what she thinks is still a messed up situation between Jules, Austin, and himself. He looks across the table at Carson and then to his dad and the feigned concentration they are taking to eat their food. Right when he is ready to ease the tension, their waiter appears to check on them and offer refills.

  After he leaves, West chuckles. “Austin and I talked after the game.”

  “You did?” The three of them echo, breaking the silence.

  “Yeah, he was waiting at my truck for me. It’s why I was late, we had a little skirmish.” He adds that part for fun, to get a reaction and he isn’t disappointed. All three of them reply with vastly different comments.

  “Damn! You two couldn’t wait for me before throwing down?” Carson grumbles.

  “Please tell me you two made up?” asks Mindy, her eyes pleading with him as she drops her silverware.

  His dad who only knew he and Austin were arguing about “something” shook his head. “You two need to get a grip and put whatever this is behind you.”

  “I dunno, dad. I think Austin has a good punch coming to him,” Carson confesses, locking his eyes with West and letting him know he supports him. Mindy slaps his arm in frustration.

  “He doesn’t actually,” says West, to the surprise of everyone.

  His explanation is cut short as a server shows up at their table with their food. Once their waiter has checked on them once again, West is able to explain.

  “They’re friends and have been hanging out, but nothing has happened.” When Mindy and Carson look at him with wide eyes, West nods, knowing they are recalling the night Jules spent with Austin and the phone call. “Nothing.”

  “You want to explain this cryptic conversation?” his dad asks and West decides to fill him in now that he knows he won’t have to deprive his father of his middle son.

  “I thought you were over her, West? Or at least, I thought you were moving on and concentrating on school and ball and letting that go for now?” his father points out.

  “I don’t think we have to discuss this right now, do we?” asks Carson. “Anyway, Mindy and I have news.”

  Mindy chokes on her drink and his dad stops mid-bite. Before his brother can speak, West sets his knife and fork down and turns to his dad.

  “Dad, I love her. So, no, I’m not going to let it go. I can’t let it go and, unless Austin is wrong, she can’t either and all we are really doing is slowly killing ourselves.”

  “Weston, I don’t want to see you fall back into old patterns again.” His dad using his full name is so rare that it actually softens West’s attitude.

  “I’m fine. I promise. Everything in my life is making me happy, except for one thing, and that’s Jules. I need to make things right with her.”

  “And if she isn’t interested? If she’s moved on?”

  “Then I know I explained what happened and I wish her well.” He shrugs. Those words were not quite true, but his dad doesn’t need to worry about him anymore than he always has.

  “So! What’s this big news, you two?” he all but shouts at Mindy and Carson as he throws a smile on his face. “Did you knock her up, Cars?” he teases with a wink.

  Mindy and Carson laugh, Mindy rolling her eyes and smiling at West as his father shakes his head.

  “We’ve decided to set a wedding date, actually. It’s kinda soon, but we don’t want to wait anymore. I graduate in December and we’re ready to start our life together, alone.” Mindy says pointedly as West shoots a sneer at her.

  “Not that we don’t love having you and Austin in our hair all the time, bro.”

  “Hey, man, I get it. I put a damper on the sexcapades.”

  “Can we please leave the sex out of this conversation, son?” his dad mutters. “So, what’s the date?”

  Mindy and Carson exchange looks, and West smiles at the way his brother’s entire demeanor changes as they smile at each other.

  “We were thinking New Year’s Eve,” Mindy says, “a destination wedding?”

  “In honor of mom,” Carson adds and West’s dad goes still.

  New Year’s was always a favorite of his mothers. She used to make a big deal of getting snacks and sparkling grape juice, and they would stay up all night dancing and playing games until the giant ball would drop in Times Square. She’d say the new year was a time for new beginnings and they could be whoever they wanted to be now. The slate was clean. West recalls how she would spend the month of January always yelling at them about how they couldn’t hold grudges, reminding them it was a new year. Eventually, the advice worked and they learned to never hold grudges with each other. A quick roll around on the floor, or punch to the gut and a sincere apology, and it was water under the bridge.

  He pulls out of his memories to hear his dad’s remarks. “She would have loved you Min, honey.”

  Mindy sniffles and runs her finger under her moist eyes. Carson agrees with his father and slings his arm around the back of Mindy’s chair.

  “I like the idea,” West chimes in.

  The dinner discussion turns to wedding plans and thoughts of the future. West is sitting half-listening to Mindy gush girly things and thinking about Jules when his cell phone vibrates in his pocket. Pulling out his phone quietly he finds a text from Austin that floors him.

  “I’m on the way to the hole with Jess and your girl. Meet us there, I won’t tell her.”

  Shit! Shit! And triple shit, he screams in his head as he re-reads the message. The hole. It’s fifteen minutes from the restaurant. He shoves his hand through his hair and yanks it with a groan.

  “Everything all right?” his dad asks, and West looks up to see three sets of concerned eyes on him.

  He growls low. “Yea, I… just. Austin just sent me a text. He’s bringing Jules and another friend to the hole. Told me I should meet them there.”

  “So go!” Mindy orders, as if it’s that simple.

  “What if it pisses her off? She’s not expecting me.”

  “How long are you going to pull the what-ifs, man? Just go,” says Carson.

  Feeling bad about skipping out on their family time, he looks at his dad, who’s leaning back in his chair. “Dad?”

  “What the hell are you asking me for? If you love her and you want to win her back, then go win her back.”

  “I’ll see you in the morning, then?” he asks, making sure his dad is still staying at the house, instead of heading back to Tyler.

  “Yep, now get out of here,
boy! That’s an order.”

  Mindy’s call of “good luck’ puts a smile on his face as he leaves dinner to go win his girl back.

  * * *

  Forty-five minutes later, West finally works up the nerve to walk through the brush into the clearing surrounding the swimming hole. He’s been frequenting the spring fed hole for years with his brothers and the locals. The place flies under the radar due to the heavy brush and shade. It attracts teens and college students who crave seclusion from crowds to play loud music, drink, and make-out with their dates.

  West can hear the sounds of laughter as he uses the flashlight on his phone to maneuver the thick roots. When he makes it to the edge of the brush, he takes in the spring, his eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness. The moonlight reflects off of the water slightly, but the area isn’t bright by any means. There are about seven lanterns lighting up the edge of the water and one hanging by the tree swing; that’s where West spots Jules. It takes him a moment to see she is talking to someone, and then a face shows up in the light and his heart clenches with jealousy before he can stop it.

  It’s just a guy, he tells himself as he watches. He hears Jess’ voice shout from the water and he catches a glimpse of Austin and Jess splashing around in the shallows. He returns his gaze to Jules in time to see the guy she was talking to jump from the rope swing. The swing flies back towards the tree and Jules catches it. From his vantage point he can make out her profile, the lantern on the tree hanging at the right spot to shine a yellow glow of light on her face. Even from this angle, he can see her hesitation and he waits to see what she will do. The guy in the water yells for her to jump and Jess chimes in, as well. That’s when West sees it - that look of determination she used to get on her face when she wanted something. Suddenly, she jumps and flies through the air, breaking through the water with her body.