Tegan Maxwell

I am reposting this prequel story to Between Friends before I finish it, just to refresh your memory and get you in Megan’s head before her book comes out. I really love Megan’s snarky character, but don’t let her exterior fool you. You will see a completely new side to her in the next book. --Susan 

Megan:  The Summer before Between Friends (Chase’s brother)

Today, I met the girls downtown for lunch. I sat facing the river on the large wooden deck as we discussed Sarah’s new boyfriend. She seemed a bit overwhelmed by her new relationship, but I guess that’s understandable. I don’t know what I would do in her situation. Though I’m happy for her, I don’t think she is being realistic. The relationship won't last and she's going to get hurt.

After lunch, I ran into Tegan Maxwell on Main Street in front of the yogurt shop. I had parked by the antique store, my mom loved so much, and was walking back to my car when I heard my name called from across the street.

I almost didn’t recognize him. The last time I saw him he was a round-faced sixteen-year-old, but today he was all grown up. The toddler in his tattooed arms, a testament of his maturity, dawned the same dark hair and sapphire blue eyes as Tegan. Those eyes. I knew those eyes well. They were identical to the ones I’d stared into for years in high school. Though his hair was dark, his eyes looked the same as Chase’s.

Tegan wrapped me in his arms and kissed my cheek as if I was his long lost sister.

“Megan, I can’t believe you’re walking the streets of Stillwater.”

“I’m not a streetwalker,” I said with a laugh. “I am from here.” I didn't know if I should admit I was living at home for the summer.

“No, that’s not what I meant.” He gripped my arm and squeezed, breaking into a huge smile. “It’s just great to see you.”

“It’s great to see you, too. WOW, you’ve got a kid, Tegan.”

“Yeah.” He looked down at his feet and I saw a glimpse of the sixteen-year-old little brother of my ex I remembered. “It’s a long story.”

He introduced the boy. And as I greeted him I thought about his Uncle Chase. It must have shown on my face because Tegan said, “Chase went to rehab, you know. He’s clean.”

This news slapped my consciousness, pulling thoughts of Chase and me that I had buried deep back to the surface. I always used Chase’s drug problem as a barrier between us, but with him sober, what crutch would I use to keep away from him?

Tegan explained all the gritty details that led to Chase’s recovery and as I listened, I realized the story had more to do with me than I wanted to admit. An hour passed as we stood on the sidewalk talking. The toddler’s sapphire-colored eyes had long since closed and he lay limp in his daddy’s arms, exhausted by the summer’s heat. As we readied our goodbyes, fear must have shown on my face because Tegan looked at me as if he wanted to say more, but then tightened his jaw and said, “I better get this guy a proper nap. Maybe we’ll run into each other again.”

I wanted to give him my number to pass along to his brother, I really did, but I couldn’t. The number Chase had for me was changed long ago in a deliberate effort to keep him out of my life. I’d worked so hard to erect the wall between us, I couldn’t risk bringing it down. Copyright 2015 Susan Schussler

Megan's Blog: August 7th

Megan:  Romancing the Cook (Part 3)

We stop at the big white cooler before joining the crowd at the fire pit and Kellen digs around until he finds a bottle of water. He hands it to me with a smile and says, “You do drink, right? You’re not one of those religious types who doesn’t want to meet his maker drunk?”

“No, I’m not afraid of dying drunk.”

“Then you’ve either been through treatment or you’re close to someone who has.”

My mind immediately goes to Chase, even though his problem was drugs, not alcohol. “I drink. I just don’t want to tonight.”

He rummages through the cooler again, pulling out a beer and cracking it open. He takes a sip, penetrating me with a humorous gaze and then says. “This is our third date, counting our two lunch dates.” He licks his lips, pulling his lip ring into his mouth with his tongue and then releasing it. “There are certain expectations on a third date.”

“Really?” I say because if he thinks I’m sleeping with him, he’s wrong.

“Yeah.” He grasps my chin ever so softly and trails his thumb over my lower lip. “I should at least get to kiss you on our third date.”

I smile and before I can say anything his lips are on mine. I brace my hands on his broad shoulders, really strong shoulders, as I deepen the kiss. I thought his piercing would be awkward rubbing against my lip, but it’s sensual, erotic even. He pulls back just as I want more.

“See that wasn’t so bad.” He licks his lips again, and I want to suck that ring into my mouth.

Just then jeers break out from the crowd around the fire. I look over and everyone is staring at us. He takes a shallow bow as if we had just performed on stage, places his hand at the small of my back motioning me to walk, and we head toward the onlookers. Kellen pulls up two chairs as the circle widens to accommodate us. Everyone is watching as we settle into our seats. After he introduces me the conversation returns to its previous level of chatter, and he pulls my chair closer to his, resting his arm on the back of it.

The discussion burns through strategy based type video games and the idiocy of politics, finally, it settles on the latest Comedy Central star to hit the big screen and whether she was hot enough to do. Most of the guys agree that there is something about her which makes her desirable. I’m quiet, for me, as I scrutinize the group. It’s interesting to watch Kellen interact with his friends. Maybe I am a little more detached because I don’t know anyone or maybe it’s because I’m not drinking that I enjoy the carefree silliness of their dialogue.

I’m relaxed and I don’t care that I don’t know anyone because I’m enjoying the date. Kellen’s sweet, but not clingy. His leg is pressed against my knee. I’ve never understood the way men sit. Is it a peacocking thing to sit with your legs spread as far as possible? Are they airing out their junk or showing it off? I guess it’s not that different from women crossing their legs. My tiny white shorts would be obscene if I sat like him.

I am very aware of his body. The heat emanating from him is incredible. His arm trails along the back of my chair as his fingers gently stroke my neck. It feels good and I am not going to disrupt him by changing positions to cool off.

Several people have just arrived and are helping themselves to drinks at the cooler when Kellen leans in and says, “Crap. I didn’t know she would be here. She shouldn’t be here. Sorry in advance for anything she may say to you.”

I look to the group coming toward us and then back to him with a questioning expression. He’s nervously sucking that luscious ring into his mouth again. “The brunette in the skirt is my ex.”

“I figured that. She’s the only girl. How ex?” I ask as she stares at me, and if he says yesterday I’m leaving.

“A month.”

“OK. How long did you date?” She's still glaring and if she had laser eyes I’m sure I would be a pile of ash by now.

“Not that long.”

“That was vague.” I look into his eyes to see what he’s hiding.

“About eight months.”

“Why’d you break up?”

A coy smile crawls onto his face. “Did anyone ever tell you that you ask a lot of questions?”

“Is that rhetorical?” He looks at me as if he doesn’t know the meaning of rhetorical, so I say, “No.”

“She’s crazy. Nutso, schizoid, certifiable. That’s why we broke up.”

“Is she going to stalk and kill me on my way home?”

“Probably,” he answers twisting his lips in a smirk.

“I guess I better make this worth it.” I lean in and mesh my lips with his. It takes about a heartbeat before he realizes what I’m doing. Then his hand at the back of my neck pulls me in closer. I suck his ring into my mouth and tug on it with my tongue—very erotic. The groan he makes is way too loud, and if the crowd hadn’t noticed us before, they have now. I don’t know if it was the smartest move to flaunt the kiss in front of his ex, but if she hadn’t glared at me I would have played nice. It’s childish, but so much fun. I let the ring go and pull back. He smiles. I refuse to regret it. We aren’t the only couple making out in front of everyone tonight. I saw at least two other couples coupling. I sit back in my chair, and his fingers dig softly in my hair.

I look up and the ex is sitting on the edge of her seat with her back to us as she talks to another girl. I’m not usually such a bitch and I don’t know the whole story, but she started it with her hatred eyes. I glance around and no one seems to be paying attention to the two of us. Kellen raises an eyebrow and says, “She’s going to kill you for sure, now.”

“I can take her.” I laugh and then he smiles.

“I believe you can. I need another drink. Are you sure you don’t want a drink? One drink’s not going to kill ya.”

“I’m sure. Another water would be good.” I smile appreciatively and his whole face lights up as he heads for the cooler.

When he returns he’s got another newcomer with him. I didn’t see them come down to the fire pit because I was talking to the guy next to me, but I can feel the heat coming off of Kellen’s body. They’re standing behind my chair so I turn and try to stay composed.

“You’ve got to meet my best bud. We’ve been friends forever. Megan, this is Tegan Maxwell.”

I swallow hard and smile, readying to spill my past to my date.

That’s when Tegan extends his hand and says, “It’s great to meet you, Megan.”

Wow. He’s as good of a liar as his older brother, Chase. © Susan Schussler 2015

Megan's Blog: August 2nd

Megan:  August 2nd

Today, I met the girls downtown for lunch. I sat facing the river on the large wooden deck as we discussed Sarah’s new boyfriend. She seemed a bit overwhelmed by her new relationship, but I guess that’s understandable. I don’t know what I would do in her situation. Though I’m happy for her, I don’t think she is being realistic. The relationship won't last and she's going to get hurt.

After lunch, I ran into Tegan Maxwell on Main Street in front of the yogurt shop. I had parked by the antique store, my mom loved so much, and was walking back to my car when I heard my name called from across the street.

I almost didn’t recognize him. The last time I saw him he was a round-faced sixteen-year-old, but today he was all grown up. The toddler in his tattooed arms, a testament of his maturity, dawned the same dark hair and sapphire blue eyes as Tegan. Those eyes. I knew those eyes well. They were identical to the ones I’d stared into for years in high school. Though his hair was dark, his eyes looked the same as Chase’s.

Tegan wrapped me in his arms and kissed my cheek as if I was his long lost sister.

“Megan, I can’t believe you’re walking the streets of Stillwater.”

“I’m not a streetwalker,” I said with a laugh. “I am from here.” I didn't know if I should admit I was living at home for the summer.

“No, that’s not what I meant.” He gripped my arm and squeezed, breaking into a huge smile. “It’s just great to see you.”

“It’s great to see you, too. WOW, you’ve got a kid, Tegan.”

“Yeah.” He looked down at his feet and I saw a glimpse of the sixteen-year-old little brother of my ex I remembered. “It’s a long story.”

He introduced the boy. And as I greeted him I thought about his Uncle Chase. It must have shown on my face because Tegan said, “Chase went to rehab, you know. He’s clean.”

This news slapped my consciousness, pulling thoughts of Chase and me that I had buried deep back to the surface. I always used Chase’s drug problem as a barrier between us, but with him sober, what crutch would I use to keep away from him?

Tegan explained all the gritty details that led to Chase’s recovery and as I listened, I realized the story had more to do with me than I wanted to admit. An hour passed as we stood on the sidewalk talking. The toddler’s sapphire-colored eyes had long since closed and he lay limp in his daddy’s arms, exhausted by the summer’s heat. As we readied our goodbyes, fear must have shown on my face because Tegan looked at me as if he wanted to say more, but then tightened his jaw and said, “I better get this guy a proper nap. Maybe we’ll run into each other again.”

I wanted to give him my number to pass along to his brother, I really did, but I couldn’t. The number Chase had for me was changed long ago in a deliberate effort to keep him out of my life. I’d worked so hard to erect the wall between us, I couldn’t risk bringing it down. Copyright 2015 Susan Schussler

Megan's Blog: May 19, 2013

Megan:  May 19, 2013

School’s done! We’re officially seniors. We should still be celebrating, but no... It’s Sunday and we have to be out of the rental by five o’clock. The girls who are subletting the house for the summer are already moving in boxes. I get it. They’re anxious to get settled before summer classes start, but couldn’t they give us a chance to breathe after finals. I thought about staying in the house for the summer. It wouldn’t be the same without my friends though. One of the girls, moving in, says that she has a dust allergy and will be dusting the entire house every day. Really? Everyday? Does she realize how much dust is in a hundred-year-old house? Is she crazy? She seems a little too uptight for my sanity and I’m sure I would rip into her a couple hundred times before the end of summer if I stayed.

Still, I’m not looking forward to moving home. I keep telling myself that it’s only three months. I can do anything for three months. I could live at Sarah’s. I know her parents would let me. Or I could live in my car. Either option would be better than my house. I’ll move my boxes home to store them, to make it look like I’m living there, to put up a show. I know I can make myself scarce, like last summer, only going home when I need sleep. It will make everyone in the house happier if I’m a ghost.

I wonder if I’ll run into Chase while I’m home—not likely. He’s probably DEAD. I’d never know. It’s not like his parents would call me. They still blame me for what happened. But I think I would probably know in my heart if he was dead. I’d feel it. Or maybe that connection has been severed forever. I used to think that Chase was my home—what kept me tethered to this earth. Used to. Too much has happened since then. I don’t know what keeps me here now.