Flame- Wild Hearts

by Marie Scully

  “Sorry,” Liam and I both say sheepishly as we head back out into the hall. We don’t dare turn around but hear him close the door with a bang before locking it. I look up at Liam, and he’s trying to hold in his laughter, causing me to start.

  “I haven’t been caught in that situation since I was fourteen and my dad walked in on Lizzie Graham kissing me,” he says, chuckling.

  I laugh harder, picturing a fourteen-year-old Liam in that situation. I have to ask, “Did she kiss you or the other way around?”

  “Oh, she kissed me. My first kiss. I was nervous, and she got tired of waiting for me to make a move, so she made it for both of us.”

  The band is still singing and playing in full force. Thankfully the others are now doing the electric slide. I move to the table and rest my arms on it, watching them groove. The band’s singer is trying to concentrate on singing and not laughing, but I keep seeing his lips twitch as he watches the others from our group. My leg starts to move to the beat under the table, and I feel Liam’s eyes on me, but I don’t look up. I’m not entirely sure what I want to say.

  ❖

  Liam

  This night hasn’t turned out how I was expecting it to when I invited Katie and the others out. I had no clue that Ben was taking Jimmy and Danny for pizza. Honestly, the only reason I wanted to go out was to get away from my father. He’d only been in the house for ten minutes when he started on one of his rants. The only reason I stay in that house is for Lex, because as much as she wants to, she can’t just pull the trigger and leave.

  Seeing Danny and having the opportunity to mess with her was something I couldn’t pass up though. I’d stopped by to see Ben and, honestly, her as well, but each time I went over, hoping for the chance to talk to her, she avoided me. Monday, I heard her coming down the hallway till she heard me in the kitchen—the next thing I knew her steps stopped, and she never showed. Tuesday, she was conveniently taking a nap, though I somehow doubt she’s a nap-taker. Wednesday, she jumped back into the barn like a cat that saw a snake as I got out of the car, and Thursday, I caught her coming down the stairs, only she ran out the door yelling she was late for work, to which Ben yelled she had thirty minutes till she had anything to do.

  By Friday I’d given up hope that she wanted anything to do with me; however, I couldn’t help my need to challenge her a little when I asked her and Ben to join us. I wanted to see that fire in her eyes. I wasn’t expecting Katie to freak out over cheese and make us both look like fools though. I was thankful when she said she had to get home and couldn’t join us at the bar. I only asked her out hoping to get my mind off Danny. I never expected Danny to get jealous.

  I’ll take jealousy over avoidance. Jealously at least means she cares. At least somewhat. I’ve never felt such an intense chemistry with someone or enjoyed their company the way I do with Danny. There’s something about her that draws me in. As if she’s a wounded soul that’s survived more than anyone will ever know and has come back stronger. Her strength draws me.

  I knew I was in trouble when I told her about my mom. I don’t talk about that, not even to Lex or Ben. But every time I see Danny, I want to learn more about her, and every time she tells me about herself, she acts surprised and closes up right after, as if she can’t let any more sneak out.

  When I walked away from her after telling her she was jealous, I had a feeling that she was going to follow me just to tell me off. I never expected her to kiss me. Just thinking about that kiss gives me ideas. The others start dancing randomly to rock. My friends have unique personalities, but that’s what I love about them. I can’t help but wonder what Katie would think of them. If I had to put money on it, she would have walked out as soon as she’d walked in… however, Danny is watching the others dance with joy and her leg is moving to the music with some of her own beat mixed in.

  “You want to join them?” I find myself asking.

  “You mean make total fools of ourselves? Oh yeah. Let’s do it.” Surprisingly, she grabs my hand and pulls me with her to the dance floor.

  We dance and drink for a few hours before we all call it a night. I offer to give her a ride back, but she rides with Ben. I do get her to agree to go on another date this week though.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Danny

  “I love walking around town as much as the next person but, Megan, you’re starting to kill my feet. I work on a ranch all day, so that’s saying something,” I moan hoping she takes pity on me and says we can stop.

  “It’s called retail therapy. It’s exactly what I need today, and lucky for you my normal victims were all unavailable—that left you my number-one target.” She says this as if it’s the most obvious answer in the world.

  “Oh, lucky me.” The bags dangling from both my hands, filled with an array of clothes, shoes, and make-up, are beginning to feel like they’re full of rocks. I was out watching training when she caught me. Unfortunately for me, she gave me her puppy-dog eyes and asked when I was off. Instead of just telling a white lie I told her the truth and sure enough ten minutes after I finished, she pulled back into the driveway.

  From there she drove us into town to shop till I think I’ll quite literally drop. She and Ben got into a fight after the rest of us left the bar last night, she told me, and she needs to have a girls’ day. I was surprised she’d asked me and not Lex or Nicole, though maybe those two were smarter and hid in a closet.

  “Are you going to talk about what happened last night?” I finally ask, holding the glass door leading to the next money hole. After leaving the bar Megan and Ben stayed in his car to talk, but Ben came home an hour later in a mood and said nothing on his way to bed. Megan stops halfway through the door, turning back to me with a grin.

  “Nope. Not until we find you the perfect outfit. Then maybe,” she declares. I let out a groan. She’s been trying to get me to buy something all day. All the bags I’m holding are hers; everywhere we went, she would find outfit after outfit for me to try on, looking like I kicked her puppy every time I told her I wasn’t going to buy any of them. I didn’t need new clothes, and I didn’t want to spend the money.

  “Megan, how are you today?” the overly cheerful worker says as she sees us enter the shop. I’m not surprised in the least that the women here know Megan by name. The last five stores, everyone knew her as well.

  “Stacy, it’s good to see you. How was the trip to Vegas?” Megan moves to give Stacy a hug. I head deeper into the store.

  “Great. Won fifty bucks. Lost fifty bucks. You know how it is. What are you looking for today?” Stacy asks with dollar signs in her eyes, mixed with general fondness for Megan.

  “You know, I never know till I see it. Stacy, this is my new friend. Danny’s been very patient today and not hit me with a bag yet. My new goal is to find her a killer dress.”

  My face pales—now she has it narrowed down to a specific thing. Stacy gives me a warm smile as she looks me up and down, as if dressing me in different outfits. “I think I have the perfect thing. You guys keep looking out here, and I’ll be in the back for a sec.”

  Megan glides through the store, pulling different shirts, pants, and dresses off the clothing rack and holding them to her body. I sit the bags on a nearby bench, watching as she moves through the store like a cat towards its prey. The sound of clicking heels indicates that Stacy is returning, hopefully empty-handed. But Megan lets out a small gasp, quickly heading towards Stacy and saying breathlessly, “It’s perfect.”

  Her hands touch the fabric. I crane my neck to see what the dress looks like, as Megan’s blocking my view. I’m intrigued and also a little frightened by Megan’s reaction. Then she moves to the side, lifting the pale blue cocktail gown to my gaze.

  It is a spectacular dress. I inch closer. It’s off the shoulder with a mid-length slit down the side; it’s classy in a sexy way. Something that would draw eyes and looks. Something that I couldn’t pull off in this lifetime or the next.

  Megan still only has
eyes for the dress as she says, “You have to try this on, Danny. It’ll look amazing on you.”

  “Megan, I don’t need a dress. Especially not that one. Where would I even wear that to?”

  “It never hurts to have a beautiful dress at the ready. Come on, Danny, humor me and try it on. We don’t even know if it’ll fit yet.” Based on the twinkle in her eyes, I don’t doubt that it’ll fit me perfectly. I give in to the temptation to see myself in it and Megan places it gently into my arms as if it were a newborn. Stacy unlocks a dressing room and quickly shuts the door. I don’t need to see Megan to know that she’s just outside.

  After undressing, I pull the silk fabric over my body. It hugs me in all the right places. I’ve never had anything this elegant on in my life. Not even for my father’s parties. I can’t stop staring at myself in the mirror. The dress falls right above my ankles.

  I can’t resist and do a quick spin to enjoy the feel of the skirt lifting in the air. I twist round, pulling the tag that’s digging into my arm up to look at the price, and almost have a stroke—$850. I should never have tried it on. I can’t afford this. Frustrated, I reach towards the back, trying to grab the zipper to get it off.

  “I know you have it on. Let me see,” Megan demands from outside.

  I don’t want Megan to see; I want to take it off and put on my jeans and T-shirt and pretend I never tried it on to begin with.

  “Danny, don’t you dare take that off without me seeing it. I’ll make you put it back on!”

  I have the zipper halfway undone and debate my options, but Megan’s never going to let me out of here without her seeing it. Letting out an annoyed sigh, I zip the dress up fully again and swing open the dressing-room door.

  Megan is beaming as she looks at me. “You look stunning. I knew as soon I saw this one that it was made for you.”

  I run my finger over the fabric again, enjoying the silky feel. “It’s an amazing dress.” Megan begins to interrupt but I hold up my finger. “But I’m not getting it.” Megan looks shocked before she pulls her face back together again.

  “Well at least let me help you unzip the darn thing,” she says, already grasping the zipper in her hands.

  Once I’m officially out of the dress, I hang it back up gently on the hanger. Megan keeps glancing between the dress and me. She looks as if she needs counseling. I place my hand on her shoulder and say, “Now now, Megan, I’m sure the dress will find a good home.”

  She smacks my hand away playfully. “Thanks, smart-ass. No one’s going to look as good in that dress as you. It’s a sin for anyone else to wear it.”

  “I’ll take your word on that. I’m starving—let’s go get lunch and you can tell me what happened last night,” I reply, trying to change the subject.

  “Oh, all right.” Grabbing the other shopping bags, we say goodbye to Stacy and go down the street to a small café to sit outside in the warm sun.

  “So?” I ask, swirling my straw in the glass, watching the ice dance. Megan leans back in her seat with a far-off expression.

  “There’s not much to tell. It’s the same fight every time. It’s like going around a merry-go-round.” Her gaze stay across the street, not meeting my eyes. “But sooner or later we all have to get off the ride or get sick. I think it’s time I get off. I got an internship offer.”

  I nod as she continues.

  “In New York. That’s where I’m from. I don’t know if you know that. I moved here in the fifth grade.” She lets out a humorless laugh, thinking back. “Ben was the first friend I made here. I think I fell in love with him a little on that first day of school. Anyways. I think I’m going to take it. I know I’m going to take it.”

  “Is that what you were fighting about? The job and moving?” I ask as the food arrives.

  Megan nods. “Yes and no. I’ve asked Ben to move with me before. That’s why we broke up in the first place. I asked him to move and he refused. He’s rooted to this place like a tree in the ground. I do love it here, but I need a change. There’s more opportunity for me in New York.” She takes a bite from her sandwich, moaning with delight as she chews. “You’re right—we needed food after all that shopping. But it is what it is. I gave him an ultimatum and he chose to stay here.”

  “When do you leave?” I ask, hoping it’s not soon. I like Megan and will miss her when she’s gone.

  “Not for a little bit. I still have lots of unfinished business here—but enough about all that. I want to hear more about all the places and jobs you’ve had. Ben told me that you worked in a bar with live bull riding.”

  “Yeah, the insurance company didn’t know about that activity.”

  ❖

  Later that day, Megan pulls onto the gravel road leading back to the Wild Horse Ranch. “So what are you up tonight?” I ask as the wind blows between my fingers, which are hanging out the open window.

  “The annual Blue Rose charity event. Liam’s father puts it on every year at the Chris Hall. It’s quite the show. In the past, Ben was always my date, but for obvious reasons, I’m not taking him. I’ll be flying solo tonight. Does that mean I can have a drink in both hands?”

  I laugh. “It may be frowned upon.”

  “True.” She stops the car near the front door. “You’re home once more and hardly any money spent. Thank you for coming with me.”

  I hop out of the car, stretching my legs. Poking my head back in, I say, “Any time. Let me know how tonight goes.”

  I shut the door, and with a final wave, Megan heads back the way we came. What to do now is the question. Sarah gave me the whole day off as I’d unexpectedly worked a double yesterday. I could watch a movie on Netflix. My fingers itch to recheck my phone for a message from Liam. I haven’t heard from him since last night. I’m starting to feel like a stalker waiting for a text from him.

  But that’s nothing a good horror movie can’t fix.

  ❖

  Drew Barrymore has just figured out who the killer is in Scream when Ben knocks on my door. Before I can yell at him to come in, he opens the door with a large box in hand.

  “What in the world is that?” I ask, moving off my bed to stand.

  Ben hands the package to me. “Hell if I know. It just showed up here with this note.” He hands me a card.

  Quickly I flip open the card and place the package gently on the bed. My luck, it’s breakable.

  Opening the card, I see the words:

  Since I’m not taking Ben, I can now take you. I know your first thought is NO and your second is you have nothing to wear. To answer the first thought, YES and to answer the second, open the box. I’ll be back to pick you up at 7—Megan

  Ben tries to peek to see who it’s from, but I close the note before he can make it out. I have a feeling I know what’s in this box and, sure enough, pulling open the package reveals the pale blue dress from earlier. Tugging the dress completely out of the box, I gently lay it on the bed. Under the dress are matching high heels.

  Instinctively, I think about the price. I need to send it back. The last time I wore a dress like this was at my father’s. I know Megan wants me to go with her, but this gift is too much. Picturing what I have in my closet now, I try to think what I could wear instead. Nothing comes to mind. If I were to go it would have to be in this dress. The price alone gives me flashbacks to the dresses and jewels I’ve had to wear in the past. I can even see my father’s face glaring at me as if he was in the room.

  No, Megan is nothing like my father. She doesn’t expect anything from me except to go with her and have a fun night. As Ben’s said before, Megan doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to. I have a choice whether to wear the dress, unlike in the past.

  Ben looks between the now-empty box and me. I can see the wheels turning in his head. Before he can ask, I say, “No, Ben, it’s not from Liam. It’s from Megan.”

  He raises an eyebrow. “Something you two want to tell me?”

  “Ha ha, funny. Nope. You messed up, and I get to go to the
charity event in your place.” My attempt at rubbing it in is a bust though—he’s well aware I don’t want to go.

  “Fun. For once I’m happy I royally pissed Megan off. It’s definitely an interesting crowd. Lots of people comparing third and fourth vacation homes.”

  Deciding not to comment on the last part, I say, “When are you going to work things out with her?”

  His face goes hard as he says, “What makes you think I am?”

  “Even though I haven’t known you guys long, I’m a good judge of character, and Ben, you have good character. You guys will work it out.”

  Looking lost, he says, “Most of the time I would say 100 percent yes, but this last time, something felt different. More different.”

  The next second the lost look disappears from his face and in its place is his goofy smile. “The good thing about this event is that it has good booze. It’s not as bad as I make it sound. You’ll have a good time. Megan’s sister may be in town for it as well, and she’s a blast.”

  “Her sister?” Megan hasn’t said much to me about her family except that they’d moved.

  “Yeah, Becky. She’s a high-end defense lawyer in New York. She’s older than Megan. Married, has some kids now. She’s lot of fun. Her law firm donates a ton of money to the charity event, and she comes down to give the check.” Ben thinks for a minute before continuing, “I do hope Megan doesn’t tell her about our disagreement. If Becky finds out, I’ll wake up tomorrow with my balls in a jar.”

  Laughter bubbles out of me in a rush. After it subsides Ben leaves me so I can get ready.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Liam