Wilson Mooney Beyond Eighteen Teaser from Gretchen de la O

Teaser from Beyond Eighteen, Wilson Mooney #3

The driver’s side door flung open and the freezing chill that lingered and tapped on the windows found its way in. Max plopped into the driver’s seat, preoccupied and inattentive he pushed the keys into the starter and the engine roared to life. Max stole a glance, his eyes dark and distant; like something beyond what problems I caused for us by kissing Nick. He forced the shifter in gear and took off. The car hugged the road, round the curves and bends. I tried to find the courage to say something but couldn’t. Finally, when he reached for the radio, I said something to break the silence.

“You know, Joanie didn’t come with us so we could have some time to talk, alone.” I looked over at him, his expression stoic as he stared at the road. The muscles in his jaw flexed, his lips compressed tight, as his eyebrow bent heavy around his narrowed expression. I swallowed hard, waiting for the pins and needles to stop attacking my skin.

He looked like he wasn’t going to engage in a conversation. His head swayed back and forth, like he was trying to clear away unwanted thoughts. I felt the influence of the car’s speed increase against my chest before I felt my body sway and push toward him. The seat-belt pulled at my shoulder and suddenly, we were stopped on the side of a mountainous road as the sun dropped behind the trees and the night decided to take over.

He turned off the car and sat silent for a moment. His head dropped, his damp black hair tumbled forward. An endless break in our lives sat square between us as I waited anxiously for something to come out of his mouth. I wanted to reach over and grab him. I wanted to annihilate the vacancy growing between us so we could just be Wilson and Max again; a couple of people who fell in love, even when everything screamed we shouldn’t.

Max turned to me, his emerald eyes were narrow and clouded with red as every moment of forever lingered between us. His lips struggled to formulate the words locked in the wreckage behind his eyes. It was like he wanted to love me, but something was stopping him. I wanted to know what the hell it was. What changed from the point of coming back for me and right this moment?

Max cleared his throat before he whispered the thoughts that crowed his head. “I can never take back my mistake of never coming for you; just like you can never take back kissing—” Max choked as he dropped his eyes from mine. My heart crumbled in my chest. My eyes burned with regret. He continued, “Do you think we can find a place where we can bury our mistakes and pick up where we left off?” Max looked at me. His eyes narrowed and dampened as they vacillated up my body to my face. “Wilson, I am so sorry I never came for you. I’m sorry I let you…down,” he uttered regretfully.

Silently, I reached over, tangling my fingers in the random pieces of his hair that dangled in front of his eyes, I pushed them over as my thumb trailed against his forehead. His skin was so soft, something I’ve missed feeling. He caught my hand and dragged it down to his lips. I felt his warm lively breath push against my palm; his damp soft kiss as he closed his eyes.

“I love you so much,” I answered as he opened his eyes.