Sheep's Clothing by Gary Lewis (free ebook reader for pc txt) 📕

and David hit the high beams while speeding around the snaking curves of the dark, wooded streets. "Practically admitted it in front of all of us," David said aloud as he hit the steering wheel. Then even darker feelings poured in with the black clouds that now dumped a torrent of rain that washed into a waterfall across the glass in front of him, violently tossed side to side by his wipers. The pain he felt over Janice's father pressed the air thick in his chest. David rolled the window down letting the rush of air spray spatters of cold water across the side of his face as he sped through the night on his way home.

Chapter 13

#Janice#

Janice scooted her end table a little closer to the bed before firmly planting her night lamp back to its proper home. It was the final cornerstone to her newly organized room. Clothes were folded away, old projects were stacked together in her polished oak filing cabinet, the bed was neatly made and her old yearbooks stood perfectly straight in chronological order on the book stand. Things were finally looking up, she thought as the bright afternoon sun shined rays between the curtains. She walked over to spread them further apart.

Looking out the window at the drooping willows that stretched across the side of her yard, she remembered when her and David used to try climbing them when they were little. "After all the years," she said softly to herself. "Why did you wait until now?" She ran her fingers through the side of her hair, hanging it behind her ear as she turned to see her clean bedroom glisten with the light of the sun. Only one thing missing. 

She strolled closely to her mirror and reached up. Carefully, she pulled out the photo of her dad on his boat. It was the first time she had looked at the full picture since last fall. "There," she said, placing it fully visible at the center in front of the others.

Her phone vibrated from her pocket as she pulled it out in a hurry to see.

"Tonight is on," from David.

Earlier, she asked if they could campout tonight since her mom would be away at work.

"Mom leaves at 8," she anxiously replied.

Her phone promptly buzzed again. "I'll be there." She could feel her eyes lighting her huge smile as she took a deep, slow breath and set the phone aside.

By the time Janice finished her supper she already had her clothes ready on the bed. She didn't want to make the mistake of dressing up again, so some loose jeans and a gray t-shirt seemed just right. The sound of her mom's minivan pulling out of the driveway caught her attention. She slid out of her evening clothes and got dressed in a hurry before sitting on the bed to pull up her jeans. On her way out the door, the thought of ticks stopped her just past the medicine cabinet and she scrambled to grab the bug repellent just before running out.

The now darkened street began to brighten with the glare of headlights as the red of David's car became visible and he slowed to pull in. Without a thought, she ran to the passenger door and leaned to jump in. Something was visible in her seat. She focused to adjust from David's bright headlights that had just been in her face. A large basket with a bouquet of roses and a box of chocolates occupied her spot.

She could feel the skin on her face stretching into an uncontrollable smile as she peered in at him. "What if I sat on those?"

She could see David smiling back at her through the dark interior as she lifted the basket to rest it on her lap and finally settled into his car.

"Well, I didn't think about that," he said. "Listen, Jan..." He reached to take her left hand within both of his as she held her breath, waiting for him to continue.

"I just want you to know that after everything we've been through, I've never felt like my life would be complete without you somewhere in it."

His words were the gasoline that lit the warm fire deep in her heart. It spread into her arms as she reached her other hand to grasp his. She continued closer until she wrapped around his body, leaning across the car to press her face into his chest. Janice cried into his shirt as she squeezed harder. She wished she could sink into him forever.

"You okay, Jan?" His voice sounded deep, calm and secure now as she felt his hand firmly press on her back and begin rubbing her shoulders from one side to the other. "Should I finish what I was going to say?"

Janice sniffled hard to avoid getting his shirt messy as she took a long, steady breath. "There's more?" she asked, turning her head to peek out from its nesting place.

After a few seconds of silence, she raised herself slowly up to her seat and looked at David.

"I just wanted to say that I love you, Jan. I always have."

She could feel her throat get heavy with emotion. "Stop, David. You're killing me," she said with a warm smile.

"The glove box," David said, reaching over swiftly to pop it open, revealing a stack of unused napkins from various fast-food restaurants.

"Look," his voice began to sound a little worried. "If I shouldn't have said that, we can just-"

Janice reached her finger up to press against his lips, stopping him mid-sentence. "It was perfect. Too perfect," she said while cleaning her face. "All of that was just to tell me you love me?"

"Well, yeah. But I didn't mean to upset you, Jan."

"You didn't," she said, finally drying her face and regaining her composure. She reached her right hand over to his left shoulder. He leaned right back into her face. "It was the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me," she said softly into his eyes as they pressed