Chapter Five

Amanda awoke the next morning, smiling. The night she’d spent with Colin had been wonderful. She rolled over to press against Colin’s body, only to find his side of the bed to be empty. The bedroom door had been left wide opened, and she got up from the bed and peered around the door, hoping he’d only left to go to the bathroom.

He was gone! She started to panic. Why had she given him her virginity, only to have him leave before she awoke? It was early morning and there was no sunlight coming through the window and she grew cold, standing in the dark room with nothing on. Knowing her bikini wouldn’t be much warmer, she searched the closet and found a pair of men’s skinny jeans and a baggy sweater. They were much too large for her and she felt silly wearing men’s clothes, but they quickly warmed her up.

She heard the front door open, and then heard Colin’s voice calling her name. She rushed out to greet him, relieved to have him come back.

“I was worried you left for good.” She blushed, realizing how silly that sounded. If this was just a fling, she wouldn’t have freaked out when she found herself alone in the cottage.

“I didn’t want to wake you,” he assured her. “I went to the mansion to get breakfast. I had searched the kitchen here, but there was no food. And I was starving.”

He set the bag he’d been carrying down on the kitchen table and took out its contents. “I’ve got muffins, doughnuts, and biscuits. I wasn’t sure what you liked, and Nathan had just gotten back from the diner. I told him I’d see that you got fed. The cook’s off on the weekends, and I sure don’t know how to cook. Sorry.”

“Nathan knows I’m here with you?” Amanda asked, eyes widening. Was Colin the type to score and then tell?

“Oh, if he does, I didn’t tell him,” Colin said shrugging. “I told him I already made plans to hang out with you today. He said he knocked on your door this morning and you didn’t answer. I told him you might have gone down to the beach to watch the sunrise. I said I’ll go looking for you and feed you.”

Amanda sighed with relief. “That was kind of you, not to tell him about last night. I don’t think he’s okay about us being together.”

“Yeah, he said something about him seeing you first so it was unfair for me to get you, but he needs to realize that there is more chemistry between us.”

Amanda nodded. “Yeah, I explained to him that I could only see him as a friend.”

Colin opened the fridge and took out two cans of soda. “I hope this is okay. I didn’t think to get drinks but as I was walking down the beach, I remembered I had left a six pack of Colas in here a week or so ago.”

“Do you come here often?” Amanda asked. What she really wanted to know is if he brought other girls here, but she refrained from sounding too jealous. How could she be jealous when he wasn’t even her boyfriend?

“Sometimes I come out here when I need to get away from that mausoleum. I could never call that place home. My grandmother always has the ability to make me feel like I should be grateful that she took us in after my parents died. I am thankful, but it seems nothing will please her, no matter how hard I try.”

Amanda hadn’t thought the mansion to be a gloomy place, but she was just a guest in the place. Colin had been living in it for years. She was starting to feel frightened of his grandmother. Would Nana be mad that Nathan invited her to stay with them without consulting her?

“Nathan made it sound like your grandmother would be warm and welcoming when I met her.”

“Oh, she would be. She has an image to uphold, after all, she is a Parker. She just likes to be the one in control and hates when she’s not.”

“Well, that sucks,” Amanda said and began to nibble on a blueberry muffin. “Man, this is good.”

Colin smiled. “Those are from Minnie’s.”

“I should have known! Nathan and I went there yesterday for breakfast. The owner is very sweet.” Amanda suddenly thought about what Colin had said last night. “You’re going to be a lawyer?”

Colin nodded. “Yeah, I get my BA in criminal justice next month. Then in September I’m headed to law school at Stanford.”

“Wow, Stanford.” Amanda was impressed. Colin wanted to be a lawyer. It made sense; he did come from a wealthy family.

“I’ve got to be at work at nine tonight, but I thought we could spend the whole day together,” Colin said after they finished eating their continental breakfast. “I thought we could take a drive up the coast to Charleston.”

“How far is Charleston from here?” Amanda asked as they exited the cottage. She had taken the men’s clothes off and was now wearing her bikini and miniskirt. They were walking back to the mansion, so she could change her clothes.

“It’s about an hour and half. I’d say we’d get there about noon and have more than enough time to sightsee before I have to get back for work,” Colin said.

“That sounds good,” Amanda agreed. When they reached her bedroom, Colin said he’d wait for her outside in the hallway.

“I don’t want Nathan to come by and find us alone in your bedroom,” he explained to her.

Amanda told him she’d be just a minute and quickly changed into a pair of Capri pants, flip-flops, and a tank top.

“You don’t have any more slinky dresses to wear?” Colin asked with disappointed when she exited the bedroom.

Amanda rolled her eyes. “Don’t you think you’ve seen enough of my body already? Besides, I wanted to be comfortable.”

“Okay, I suppose you’re right. And there’s always later,” Colin said with a devilish grin.

Amanda blushed, remembering their intimate time they shared last night. She had felt as if she didn’t know what she was doing and fumbled through the whole experience, but he hadn’t let on that he knew she’d been a virgin. She hoped he hadn’t known it; it was just so embarrassing! And to think, she could have sex with him for only four months. She didn’t know if she could let him go, but she had until September to think about it so she stopped analyzing over it.

It was such a gorgeous day, and Colin drove his Porsche with the top down. The highway ran along the coast and Amanda drank in the sunshine and ocean breeze. This was the life!

The day spent in Charleston had truly been a treat for Amanda. Colin showed her all the historical sites, took her to a driving range and showed her how to hit golf balls, took her to the mall and even gave her money to go shopping while he went looking around for something for his computer.

She had first tried to hand him back the wad of cash and he argued, saying he couldn’t help but feel the urge to lavish her with gifts. She sighed and took the cash, feeling as if he were buying her. Having only recently lost her virginity, she didn’t own any sexy lingerie and found herself awkwardly walking into Victoria’s Secret. She had felt silly spending gobs of money on something as simple as underwear, but knew it’d be worth it when she saw the look on Colin’s face.

For dinner, Colin had taken her to a fairly expensive restaurant and hadn’t even flinched over the ticket, although they had enjoyed many glasses of fine wine. She didn’t even feel underdressed, because they were sitting at a cozy, quiet table outside on the beach. It was her first time drinking alcohol and was feeling a little tipsy and got carried away, groping at Colin.

He, however, didn’t complain since their table was very private. He seemed to be enjoying the wine, as well. He reached under the table and touched in her in her special place. Amanda was tingling all over. Suddenly realizing how late it was getting, he suggested they head back to Pebble Beach.

Giggling, Amanda thanked him for the meal. “I had a great”—burp—“time!” She flushed with embarrassment. “Sorrry,” she slurred. Man, she sounded like an idiot!

Colin must not have minded, because he pulled her up from her chair and began kissing her passionately. “I wish I didn’t have to go to work, but I get off around one thirty, so there’s always later.”

Amanda began sucking on his neck. She purred and said seductively, “Oh, yes, can’t wait for later.”

The ride back to Pebble Beach had been pretty uneventful. The wine had also made Amanda sleepy and she slept most of the way, even with the loud, annoying heavy metal music playing in Colin’s car. Her last thoughts before falling asleep had been Man, we really don’t have anything in common but the sex sure is great.

“Wake up, Mandy; we’re here,” Colin said as he pulled the car into the mansion’s garage.

She awoke, yawning. She asked Colin what time it was.

“Well, it’s about eight so I’m going to start getting ready for work. How about I meet you at our cottage around two am?” Colin asked, getting out of the car. He walked around and opened her door.

She sighed with happiness. Colin was such a gentleman! And he’d called it “our” cottage. It was their special place. “That sounds wonderful.”

Colin walked her to her room and kissed her goodbye. She entered the room, thinking that she didn’t even know where his bedroom was and yet, she knew where Nathan’s was located. She found that strange, but shrugged off the thought. It didn’t matter anyway; she would be meeting him at “their” cottage later on.

Not soon after she had entered the room, there was a knock on the door. She had been emptying her bags from the mall and quickly tossed the lingerie in her suitcase and closed it. “Come in,” she called out, knowing that it could only be Nathan.

Nathan entered the room, a frown on his face. “So, you spent the day with Colin, huh? Where did you go? What did you two do?” he asked, crossing his arms under his chest.

Amanda groaned inwardly. She knew Nathan liked her, but why did he have to sound so jealous? He’d said he’d try to be happy for her, regardless of the situation. Well, if this was what you called “trying,” he was certainly failing at it.

Before she could muster up a reply, Nathan stormed across the room and took her into his arms. “Mandy, what could you possibly see in my brother? He’s such a…”

“Don’t start,” Amanda said and pulled away from him. “What happened to being friends? Why can’t you be happy for me?”

“He’s going to hurt you!” Nathan cried. “I don’t want to see that happen. Besides, I bet he didn’t tell you he’s going to Stanford in the fall, huh? That sure is a long way from here and from Atlanta.”

Amanda sighed and said softly, “I already knew that. He told me last…” she trailed off, not wanting to admit that she had seen him last night.

“What were you about to say?” Nathan asked, stepping closer to her. “You were with me all last night. I thought you were headed to bed, but you went to see him, didn’t you? Is that where you were this morning, when I came looking for you?”

Amanda looked away from his accusing eyes. She knew she should deny it, to lie once more, but she was tired of lying. That’s all she’d been doing since she met Nathan and his family.

“You slept with him!” Nathan cried. “I thought you said you wouldn’t.”

“I couldn’t help myself,” Amanda whispered. She sat down on the bed, her knees weak. “I’m in love.”

Nathan was so angry that his face turned red as he yelled out, “You can’t possibly love him! You only just met him!”

Amanda had put her head in her hands and at that comment, she looked up. “Haven’t you ever heard of love at first sight?”

“Yeah,” he said sadly.

Amanda noticed the look of sadness and longing in his eyes. “Oh, no, Nathan, you couldn’t possibly love me.”

“I felt a connection when we first met and to know that you feel that same connection with my brother just disgusts me. I wish I didn’t have these feelings for you,” Nathan headed for the door. “I can’t take any more of this bull shit.” The door slammed behind him.

That night in her bedroom was the last time that Nathan had spoken to her. He returned to high school the next week and took an after-school shift working at Minnie’s. When he did run into at the mansion, which was rare, he avoided her like the black plague.

Colin and Nathan’s grandmother had met Amanda when she and Aunt Patty returned from their trip and offered to let her stay with them for the summer if she helped with some of the housework. Robin, the Parker’s maid, was taking a leave of absence to go to Chicago to take care of her ailing mother. Aunty Patty only stayed with them for a couple of weeks before deciding it was time to head back to Hope Springs. Amanda was relieved to see the ornery old woman go. She liked Nana much better and the two soon became friends.

Nathan disappeared and when Amanda asked Colin why she hadn’t seen his brother around, Colin told her he took a summer job in North Carolina as a camp counselor. Amanda knew he had taken both the job at Minnie’s and the camp job as a way to avoid her. His family was wealthy, why else would he need a job at age sixteen?

Colin and Amanda spent an amazing summer together. For two weeks in July, Colin rented a log cabin in the mountains and they spent the entire time isolated from the world, just enjoying each other. One night when they were fooling around in the Jacuzzi, he whispered into her ear that he loved her.

Amanda had been overjoyed and admitted her love for him, as well. When she asked him about their “summer fling” he didn’t know how to respond.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally shrugged and said, “Oh, Mandy, it’s not for two more months. Let’s not think about it and just enjoy these precious moments together.” Amanda had agreed and hadn’t mentioned it since.

It was now the end of August, and Amanda was dreading the beginning of fall. In just two weeks Colin would be headed to Stanford, and she knew she had to move on from Pebble Beach. She didn’t know if she should continue on to a new place, or if she should head home. She didn’t think she had the strength to live life on the run. And then Colin came up with a proposal for her.

It was two days before Colin would fly out to California. They were lying on the couch in the cottage. They had just finished watching an action flick, something Amanda certainly hadn’t be interested in watching. While Colin was glued to the TV, she had been daydreaming during the two hours the movie played. She kept fantasying about the two of them. Oh, if only he didn’t have the desire to be a lawyer. Couldn’t he just stay here with her? They could live happily ever after in their little cottage.

Colin had turned off the TV and they were cuddling in each other’s others when he spoke. “Listen, Mandy, I’ve been thinking.”

“Yeah?” Amanda asked, toying with his sandy blonde curls. She was gazing intently into his baby blue eyes.

“I know it’s only your sophomore year in college, and this is asking a lot from you. But, I was wondering if you would take two years off to follow me to California? Or better yet, you could transfer to a school out there. I wish I had thought about this soon; sorry it’s so last minute. And money’s no issue, if you’re worried about paying out-of-state tuition. I love you, Mandy, and this has grown into something so much more than a summer fling.”

Amanda’s jaw dropped. She was astounded. Colin wanted her to go with him to California? She couldn’t believe it! She would finally be able to call him her boyfriend. Wow, she was dating someone nine years her senior. She suddenly felt sick. He thought he was dating an eighteen-year-old. She had to tell him the truth.

“I love that idea…” she paused, trying to think of how exactly to tell him.

“But?” he asked. “I am sensing a but in there.”

“Yeah, you remember our first night together when I told you I have some issues?”

Colin laughed. “And I told you that everyone has issues. I could call less about your past, Mandy. All I care about is that I love you and you love me.”

“I know, but I think before we make any big decisions, like me going with you to California, I should tell you some things about myself that you don’t know.”

“We’ve only been together for four months. Of course there are things about you I don’t know. And you don’t know everything about me. We have plenty of time for that,” Colin said with a sigh. He got up from the couch. “Come on, the bed calling our names.”

“You can’t just shrug this off, Colin! There are things that you may not like.”

“Like what? Are you secretly an axe murderer? Or better yet, are you married already? Do you have kids?” he teasingly asked. Then he got serious. “God, I hope you don’t have a family back in Georgia.”

Amanda laughed. “No, I’m not married, I don’t have kids, and I certainly haven’t killed anyone.”

“Then, what could it possibly be?”

“Well,” Amanda said and then took a deep breath. “Here goes! I am not in college; I ran away from home.”

Colin rolled his eyes. “You’re a grown woman. You’re entitled to leave when you want. Oh, wait, did you leave a crazy ex behind?”

“No, just a mother and her crazy boyfriend. Colin, I’m not technically a grown woman,” Amanda said while looking down in her lap. “I am only sixteen.”

Colin let out a very vulgar word.

Amanda watched him as he started pacing the floor. “I guess this isn’t okay?”

“Okay? How could this possibly be okay? I am twenty-five, Mandy, don’t you understand that? I could go to jail.”

“Not unless someone was to press charges, and that’s definitely not going to happen.” Amanda got up from the couch and stepped toward him.

“Don’t come near me,” Colin said sternly. “I can’t believe you lied to me all this time. How could you?”

“I tried to tell you, but you kept saying it didn’t matter who I was. I recall only minutes ago you telling me all that mattered was the simple fact that we loved each other.”

“That’s when I thought you were eighteen, when I thought you were legal!” Colin cried out. “I can’t deal with this.” He stormed out of the cottage, much like the night Nathan had walked out on Amanda. She fell to the floor, crying uncontrollably. It felt like a knife had been stabbed to her heart.

She couldn’t help but thinking that this must have been how Nathan had felt. She had broken his heart and now in return, she also had a broken heart.

She also couldn’t help but hope that Colin would think it over, change his mind, and then come running back to her.

“Yeah, that’s what’ll happen,” Amanda said to herself, nodding. “I just need to give him time alone to himself.” But I don’t have much time. He leaves the day after tomorrow.

Four months Amanda had lied to Colin. Why did she do it? Why couldn’t she have told him the truth, before they even made love that night? She doubted she’d feel so miserable, had she not allowed herself to fall so hard and fast for Colin.