Page 29

The front door slammed and Alyssa paused. “Mom?”

“I’m home, honey.”

“Hi!” she yelled from the other room. Flipping her silky blonde hair over, Alyssa blow dried it until it was pin straight. She applied black eyeliner on both the top and bottom lids with small wings to help accentuate her sapphire eyes and then finished off with a light dusting of blush and clear lip gloss.

She checked the mirror one last time before heading to see her mom. John would be there to pick her up within the hour and she wanted to spend some time with her mom.

“Hey mom,” Alyssa said, kissing her cheek.

“Hi, honey. Where you headed to?” Lauren asked.

“To hang out with John and his friends for a little. They’re going to build a small fire and just hang out on their trucks … or something,” she paused. “I guess? I’m not really sure to be honest.”

Lauren gave her a quizzical look. “What?” Alyssa asked. Her mom smiled, shaking her head. “We live such a different life now, don’t we? I can’t imagine you ever doing that back in California.”

“I had the day off today and went mudding.”

Lauren barked out a laugh. “No way!” Alyssa beamed, thinking about the amazing day she had with her friends. “Sure did! It was so much fun too!” She dropped her clutch on the counter and sat on a barstool. “At first I was going to kill John for covering me, head to toe, in mud—”

“Mud?” Lauren made a sour face.

“I know, I know, but then he let me drive his four wheeler!” she said excitedly “I’ve never ridden one of those things, but now I wish we had one.”

A light smile displayed on Lauren’s face. “Well, it sounds like you had a blast today.”

“I did.” Alyssa couldn’t remember the last time she had so much fun.

“But now you’re going out with him again?” she asked with a tilt of her head.

“Relax, mom. He’s just a friend, nothing more.”

“It’s not that sweetie, but have you made any girl friends?”

“Not really …” she shrugged nonchalantly. It didn’t bother her though. It was never easy making girl friends, so she usually had mostly guy friends. No attachment.

“Do you need the car?”

“No, Johnny is picking me up. You’ll have the chance to meet him. He’s a really good guy, mom, and comes from a good family. I think you’ll like him.”

Lauren eyed Alyssa, but said nothing. She just slowly nodded her head. “And he isn’t your boyfriend?”

“No.”

Knock, knock, knock.

Alyssa smiled from ear to ear. “There he is.”

Walking through the living room, Alyssa opened the front door to John. Their eyes locked and he smiled, his dimples drawing her attention. Johnny was looking mighty delicious. His distressed jeans, camel colored boots and white shirt that was only tucked in the front with the rest hanging out made him look effortlessly hot. She took a deep breath and inhaled, stepping in to give him a friendly hug.

“Hey,” she said softly. A mixture of cologne and pine invaded her senses and it was oddly alluring.

“You look beautiful.” His gaze traveled the length of her body, and then stopped on her shoes.

“Really? I thought we went over this.”

Alyssa popped out her hip and placed a hand on it. Her sassy attitude was brewing. “Hey, now, country boy, this is me,” she waved a hand down her body “And I’m not changing for anyone. No one said you, or anyone else, has to like my shoes.”

John put his hands up to defend himself.