Taking the Fall Read online

  She followed Molly through the vintage looking door with Molly’s sprawled on the glass in a less than flattering color and font. The inside was like walking into a time warp. All the booths were red vinyl with chipped laminate tabletops. The counter had round stools that all had rips in their vinyl covers. She tried to hide the horror on her face when she followed Molly over to the side off the counter, where she leaned over and kissed a hefty woman behind it.

  “Molly! You didn’t tell us you were coming today.” The woman smiled widely as she wrapped her thick arms around Allison’s slender counterpart.

  “Hi, Mom!” Molly answered before pulling away, and turning to Allison, she said, “Mom this is Allison, my roommate.”

  “Pleasure to finally put a face to the name. I’ve heard so much about you.”

  “Thank you so much for having me, Mrs. Sowards,” Allison said with her best pageant smile and artificial honey-like sweetness.

  “The invitation is always open, especially if you can get my baby girl to come home. And the name is Florence.”

  Molly turned to her friend and rolled her eyes. “Mom wasn’t too happy when I decided to go away to college, especially when she found out it was four hours away.”

  “I’ll see what I can do about that, Florence. You have my word,” Allison promised as she internally cringed.

  No wonder Molly wanted out of this rundown town.

  “You two go have a seat and I’ll get you something to eat. You must be exhausted after that drive. I know my Molly girl will have a BLT with extra bacon but what can I get you Allison?”

  Eww, greasy bacon.

  “I’ll just have a salad no dressing, please and thank you.”

  Florence Sowards smiled. “No wonder you are so petite and gorgeous if that is all you eat.”

  “Oh please, I’m well aware of what I look like, Florence. Your description makes me blush,” Allison feigned embarrassment. Truth was she worked hard to look the way she did and she knew she looked incredible at all times. She always made sure not a black hair was out of place and that her blue eyes twinkled. The fact that she only ever bought the best clothes that revealed her obsessed over body helped a lot, too.

  “Now, I didn’t mean to do any such thing. Just speaking the truth. Go on and have a seat. I’ll have those right out for you girls,” Florence said as she turned back to go into the kitchen.

  Allison followed Molly to a booth over in the corner. Molly took the seat facing the wall, so Allison took the seat that looked out to the whole restaurant. She let her eyes skim around all the patrons, mostly elderly farmer-like people, and tried not to show her disgust. If she wasn’t so set on her course to meet the guy who wasn’t buying Molly’s all-American girl who was as pure as the Virgin Mary herself act, Allison knew her view would be on a beach in the Caribbean rather than this.

  I mean, come on! Everyone has a vice, and apparently, this Hunter guy was Molly’s.

  Allison thought back on all the months she tried to get Molly to spill her deep secrets and the many rounds of rummaging through her possessions when Molly wasn’t in their dorm room. Allison was beginning to think that her roommate truly was from another planet. Allison would tell her fabrications of how she could not believe that Molly didn’t have a boyfriend. Or, how they would walk around campus and Molly would miss all the men staring after her. This fact was true on more than one occasion, and it pissed Allison off.

  And when Allison was pissed, she was challenged. Allison Doherty only ever played to win.

  On many occasions, men would stare at them. But it wasn’t Allison their eyes were following but rather Molly. They would engage her whenever they could, but Molly would be polite and sweet but never anything more. What was she, a nun or something? Even the nights that Allison asked Molly to scram from their dorm room so she could entertain, Molly never complained or wanted to play twenty questions afterward. It really was quite annoying.

  But then one night, Molly gave a hint of something that had Allison canceling the string bikini order from Nordstrom’s and ordering new jeans and Uggs instead. Molly had been up studying until the early morning hours when she had fallen asleep at her desk. Allison herself had been out partying and was sneaking in when she found Molly’s face planted against her book-covered desk.

  Allison looked over her shoulder to where the old beat-up PC sat open to the paper Molly had been writing. It was for their Sociology class. The professor had assigned a paper, asking for four people, one of each political, spiritual, historian, and personal who you admired and why, to be written. Familiar with the assignment since Allison was in the same class, Allison was about to leave her never-resulting-in-anything attempt when something caught her eye.

  Molly had oodles of information, some truly valiant points, and ethics listed for the first three, but the fourth was what sold Allison on this travel plan change. These sentences were disharmonious with the rest of the paper. Truth be told, they looked more like a young girl’s diary entry than a college student’s attempt at a formal paper. The particularly juicy lines were highlighted for what only Allison could assume was purposes of deletion but somewhere between hitting delete and falling asleep, Molly hadn’t completed the task.

  “Hunter Dennison is my choice for who I admire on a personal level. We grew up in the same town, and even though he didn’t know I was alive, I found one of my most favorite pastimes was watching him. Most people would say his ambitions were great from high school soccer star to student body president to valedictorian of his graduating class, which earned him full scholarships to many Ivy League schools. He organized summer soccer camps for younger kids and volunteered many of his weekends to making the town square and parks beautiful and pristine. Whether it was planting flowers, spreading mulch, mowing, raking, or shoveling, Hunter Dennison was just a genuinely unselfish person.”

  Blah, blah, blah, Allison thought. Give me something juicy!

  Ask and you shall receive!

  “However, none of these traits are why I am drawn to him. It is the way his dark hair falls across his forehead when he sits in the library studying. The way he tucks his pencil behind his ear, emphasizing the lush, thick locks of hair that you just want to run your hands through. How his hands and arms flex the corded veins that run up and down, regardless if he is carrying his books down the hall, to working the earth, or the way he affectionately used to pat Cocoa, my deceased and much-missed pet. So powerful yet also so gently. Those very hands should be forever encased in marble to show future generations the flawlessness that our creator put in flesh form. Dreams for years were centered around the magnificence of those hands and how they would feel against my skin. Would my body strum a beautiful symphony just because it is touched by perfection? However, let us not dwell only on his upper body. The other half of him is just as nice. The way the denim of his jeans molds and stretches over his skin, still showing the power beneath, could have encyclopedias written about them. His face haunts me even to this day. Every look and every smile permanently burned into my brain so as I will never forget witnessing such wonder. When he smiles, I pretend those are private smiles just for me. Even if we were in the auditorium for a school assembly, when he would speak, I would envision only me in the audience and every word, look, and movement of his lips were meant just for me. Never did a boy’s lips look so soft and inviting when he smiled, showcasing perfectly white teeth and just a hint of an overbite, as did Hunter’s.”

  Allison actually laughed aloud and rolled her eyes before bringing her own hand up to cover her mouth as to not wake up sleep delusional here.

  “But nothing compares to any of the previously stated precision than when he says hello to me. My stomach flips with anticipation and curiosity of being his in every way. What it would be like to be under him in an intimate and passionate scene that would incorporate every private and erotic thought I have ever had of him.”

  And just like that, Allison knew exactly what her next game would be.
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br />   She put everything back just as it was before acting as she just entered the room. She woke Molly with a gentle shake and cooed, “Molly, honey, you fell asleep. Come on, wake up.”

  Molly sat upright, wiping the sleep from her eyes and the drool from her mouth.

  “Oh, my goodness, what time is it?” Molly said, focusing on her computer screen. Apparently realizing what was still glowing on the screen, she applied the few keystrokes, and the screen dwarfed before shutting down completely.

  “Late. I told you; you need to have some more fun and not keep your pretty nose in those books all the time. Over at B7, there was an epic party. Logan was there, and he was looking for you . . .” The end of Allison’s statement rising in voice, giving a meaning that Molly seemed to ignore.

  “Oh, Allison, trust me, I would have liked to come, but I’m just not feeling the guy situation. I’d rather ensure my GPA stays up so I can apply for the Excelled Business program next semester rather than waiting until next year.”

  Allison stripped in the middle of the dorm room wanting to roll her eyes again at the boring academic efficiency of Molly but knew if she was going to play this right, she had to play it perfectly.

  “Oh, I’m sure you will get in. After all, I’m sure with your can-do attitude, you must get everything you really want.”

  Allison literally wanted to rub her hands together at the utterly lost look on Molly’s face, knowing this wasn’t going to be just any old game; this was going to be the game.

  “Allison, you are always too kind to me but so far off the mark,” Molly said as she grabbed her bathroom kit and made her way out the dorm room door.

  Allison finally did cackle. Falling onto her bed, feet in the air, she wiggled in adrenaline-filled glee.

  Oh, I can’t wait to get to that hobunk town of hers and meet this mysterious Hunter. And then once we check that off the list, I will make him mine.

  Allison moved so she could bring the covers over her and switched out the light. Not caring that Molly still had to come back in. She hated the light shining on her when she was trying to sleep.

  I hope he doesn’t have zits. I hate zits. But other than that, this should be like shooting fish in a barrel.

  Allison fell asleep quickly, consumed in joy with the thoughts of misery she was about to unleash.

  “Here you go, girls,” Florence said placing first the salad down and then Molly’s BLT while bringing Allison out of her thoughts. “Can I get you anything else?

  What the hell is this? Iceberg lettuce? I thought that stuff was just a myth.

  “No, it looks incredible, Florence. Thank you.” Allison smiled sweetly.

  When left alone again, Allison looked across the table at Molly happily biting into the colossal sandwich that had mayonnaise running down her chin. Allison picked up her fork and nonchalantly pushed this poor excuse for a salad around on her plate.

  “It’s good, Ally, I promise,” Molly said with her mouth full of her lunch.

  “Looks delicious,” she answered, piercing a hunk of tomato and placing it in her mouth, trying not to gag.

  “So, what would you like to do with the afternoon? Like I told you, there isn’t much party atmosphere around Clearwater Falls.”

  “Whatever you would like, I’m just happy to be here with you.”

  Molly smiled and took another bite of her sandwich before saying, “I know I’ve said it already, but I’m really surprise you gave away your trip to come up here with me. But I’m glad you did.”

  “Me, too,” Allison answered wanting to roll her eyes at the mushiness.

  The bell that announced the opening of the restaurant door sounded, catching both Molly and Allison’s attention.

  Suddenly, Allison knew the fish were being dropped into the barrel.

  In walked three of the most gorgeous men Allison had ever laid eyes on. All three were tall with dark hair and walked with obvious comfort in their sexy as hell skin. She watched as they took a seat at the counter, ignorant to the corner booth. None of them looked at a menu but greeted Florence joyfully.

  From this vantage point, Allison had a clear view of all three, and she had to admit, none was worse on the eyes as the other. Looking at her booth mate and noticing the blush and attempt at making herself smaller to go unnoticed gave Allison the undoubted conclusion that one of the sexy trio was in fact Hunter.

  Hmm, but which one. Maybe there is something up here in the water of the great woods of Northern New Hampshire if this is how they grow them.

  “Who’s that?” Allison asked making her voice soft while still looking toward the eye candy.

  In an equally soft voice, Molly answered, “Uh, one of the families from around town.”

  Oh, you do want to keep this close to the vest.

  Too late.

  Molly pushed her plate away, leaving what was left and fiddled with her napkin.

  Now, how am I going to get an introduction? She obviously isn’t going to do so. Guess I will just have to make the magic happen myself.

  Allison took a quick bite of something in her salad and acted as if it was now stuck in her throat. Soon she feigned a cough, actually hitting the table with her palm to increase the need for attention. Molly was up and out of the booth, rushing to get her friend something to drink. She returned to the table with a glass of cold water and Allison made a great effort to show how well the drink remedied the situation. And in doing so, all the eyes from inside the restaurant were now on her, including three sets of dreamy blues.

  Florence, who was now at the table, asked, “Oh goodness, Allison. Are you all right? Can I get you anything, more water or a piece of bread or a roll?”

  Allison drained the glass and contrived the difficulties she was still having. Then placed a smile on her face and shook her head toward the two concerned women. She closed her eyes and nodded her head, rounding out her performance.

  “Yes. Yes, I’m okay. I’m so sorry to cause such a scene.”

  “You don’t have to apologize for anything. I’m sorry that I hadn’t brought your water over,” Florence said, placing a hand on Allison’s shoulder. “Are you sure you are okay, honey?”

  Allison again nodded her head, clutching the empty glass between her hands.

  “Let me at least get you some more water. I will be back in a jiffy.” Florence walked away, giving way to the reward Allison had been hoping for.

  Two of the three men were now at their table. The one closest to Allison was a smidge taller than his brother, and in Allison’s opinion, the one to put the effort into, but given how red Molly had turned with the one who slid into the seat next to her, Allison would place her money on that one being Hunter.

  “Were you just going to sneak into town and not tell anyone you were here?”

  That brought Molly out of her shy stupor.

  She smiled at the still standing guy and answered sassily, “Just from you, Reed Dennison.”

  “Phew! Glad I wasn’t included in this misleading ruse,” the one she assumed was Hunter responded with a flirtatious smile.

  Son of a bitch! Maybe Molly wasn’t the only one who was keeping her feelings a secret.

  Allison watched as Molly looked toward the handsome guy next to her, and it was as if Molly was at a loss for words. He, on the other hand, had no problem looking her straight on, making it obvious to Allison that he was happy with the face in front of him.

  “Are you bothering these nice girls?” The third brother now joined them. Their looks were so similar, they had to be brothers.

  He was intimidating, Allison had to admit, but sexy nonetheless. He stood shoulder to shoulder with the one Molly had called Reed. The two of them were almost identical, where Hunter’s edges were softer. His features weren’t as harsh or his physique as defined, even through their clothing. But Allison had to admit that Hunter had his own attractive quality.

  Perhaps the perks of this game will be more than Allison had originally thought.

  �
��Not at all, Trooper Dennison. Just being friendly. Even if she isn’t being,” Reed answered with that sexy smirk as he pointed toward Molly before crossing his arms over his chest.

  “Is that true, Miss Sowards? Has college in the big city made you forget all small town rules?” the obviously oldest one inquired with a lift of his brow and a deep velvety baritone.

  Molly’s face lit up all of a sudden. “Oh, that is right. You passed your test for the State Police! Congratulations, Gage!”

  Now a smile, a sexy smile, graced the oldest’s face as he accepted Molly’s congrats with understated appreciation.

  They all remained silent for a moment before Molly physically jumped up and said, “Oh, I’m sorry, how rude of me. Guys, this is my friend Allison. She and I are roommates. Allison this is Reed, Gage, and Hunter.”

  “Finally a name to put with such beauty,” Reed crooned, as he slid into the both next to Allison.

  Gage and Hunter asked Molly how school was going and about her ride home before Gage excused himself back to his seat over at the counter.

  Allison really was beginning to fall for Reed’s spell, but she couldn’t make this trip all for not. She knew Reed’s kind was a dime a dozen. No, her head needed to remain focused on Hunter, the one who was watching Molly out of the side of his eye as she answered Reed’s unfiltered questions about her college experience thus far with pink cheeks.

  Oh, he has it bad! Doesn’t make the challenge any less winnable, just raises the stakes. Perfect!

  “Allison, if you are done with your lunch, we can head over to the house and get settled,” Molly said putting an end to Reed’s never-ending interrogation and Hunter’s quiet presence.

  “Uh, yeah, I guess so,” Allison answered, blushing innocently.

  Both men stood, allowing the girls to pass. Molly gave Florence a goodbye kiss before heading toward the door with Allison following behind.

  Reed trailed behind them to the door. “Ladies, some of us are heading over to the pit tonight about nine. Feel free to join us,” he offered, looking straight at Allison as he said it.