True. A couple of years ago, West found out that both his parents were cheating on each other; had been for years. They finally got a divorce after being married for years and everyone thinking they were the perfect couple. Even West thought so. When they divorced, his view on love changed. At least, that’s what he told me one night after we raided Blaine’s dad’s whiskey cabinet. Blaine had passed out after three shots—the dude’s such a light weight—and West and I stayed up playing cards.
I hugged him that night and, for the craziest moment, I thought he was going to kiss me. But he didn’t, and I’m pretty sure I misread the entire situation. Wouldn’t be the first time. Thankfully, Blaine woke up and puked all over the floor. Yeah, it was gross, but it stopped me from doing something stupid, like leaning in with my lips puckered like a fish.
I’m yanked from my thoughts as Masie nears the car, shouting meaningless apologies at the top of her lungs.
“West, please, pretty please, get me away from the raving lunatic running right at your car,” I say in a desperate plea. “I don’t know what I’ll do if I talk to her, and honestly, I don’t want to deal with it right now.”
“Oh, yeah, right,” he says, like he forgot all about Masie, which would definitely be a first for a guy. He revs up the engine. “Let’s get you out of here.” He shifts gears and presses on the gas, the tires spinning and kicking up a cloud of dirt as we peel out of the parking lot.
I peer over my shoulder out the window and get a sick, satisfying smile on my face at the sight of Masie, surrounded by a cloud of dust, her hair messed up and missing one shoe.
Okay, now that’s a picture I thought I’d never see.
“You look way too pleased right now,” West teases as we speed down the road.
“Sorry.” Not really.
He chuckles. “You don’t need to be sorry about it. Masie deserves a face full of dirt.” He sighs, gripping the steering wheel. “She deserves more for what she did to you.”
I pick at my fingernails, feeling squirmy over how much he seems to understand the situation. I hate feeling squirmy. I like control. Control keeps you from getting hurt. Control stops the pain. Right now, I’m not in control, and that’s probably why my heart aches so badly.
“How long have you known? I mean, about me … liking …” I blow out a breath, unable to say it.
“Blaine?” he finishes, and I nod. He lifts a shoulder, giving a half-shrug. “I first thought you did when we were about sixteen.”
My insides tighten. “How? I mean, what gave me away?”
He moves one hand off the steering wheel to reach over and graze his finger along the corner of my eye. “It was the way you looked at him.”
“Oh.” I crinkle my nose, disappointment in myself. “I didn’t realize I was that obvious.”
“It wasn’t that obvious,” he assures. “At least, not enough for Blaine to catch on.”
I almost relax. “So, he doesn’t know?”
He shakes his head, returning his hand to the steering wheel. “He’s never said anything to me.”
I release a breath of relief. “That’s good.”
He crooks his brow. “Why?”
“Why the hell would I want him to know I’m in love with him?”
His fingers tense on the steering wheel. “So, you are in love with him, huh?”
“I thought you already said you knew?”
“I knew you liked him, and I guessed you might be in love with him, but I wasn’t completely sure.”
I eye him over. Why does he seem so upset about it?
He looks away, focusing on the road, seeming tense.
We drive in silence for an uncomfortable amount of time. I get distracted by the car tailing us. At first I think it’s just some asshole riding our ass, but every time West makes a turn, so does the car.
Weird.
Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but ever since I left Masie’s house, I swear someone’s been following me. Maybe it’s just Masie and Blaine, but what if it’s the asshole who stole my car and left me the note?
“Are you sure you are, though?” West asks so suddenly I nearly scream.
My heart races in my chest as I look at him. “Am I sure what?”
“In love with him.”
Great. Is he still on that?
“What kind of question is that?” I sound offended, and I don’t even know why. He didn’t do anything to me. None of this is his fault.
“I didn’t mean to piss you off,” he says. “But, sometimes people think they’re in love with someone, but their feelings are more of an infatuation.”
“You act like you’re speaking from experience.”
“Nah. It takes me a lot to fall in love with someone.”
“Have you ever been in love before?” I reach into my pocket to silence my phone as it buzzes for the hundredth time, and my fingers graze the edge of the note left in the driveway.
His jaw clenches as he stares ahead at the road. “Maybe once or twice.”
My heart twinges at the hint of pain in his tone. “Aw, West, did someone break your heart?”
Sure, we’re not BFFs—although, at this point, I might beg him to fill in the position since I currently lost two—but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about him.
He gives a shrug. “I’m not sure yet.”
I angle my head to the side in confusion. “That doesn’t really make any sense.”
“Of course it does.” He catches my gaze. “If I haven’t told the person I’m in love with them.”
My lips for an O. “Okay, I get it. So, we’re kind of in the same boat, then, since I haven’t told Blaine how I feel, either.”
“Maybe.” He restlessly taps his fingers on top of the steering wheel. “Do you think you will?”
I firmly shake my head. “Definitely not now.”
“Do you think you would’ve if”—he hesitates—“if you hadn’t caught Masie and Blaine doing … Well, you know.”
Honestly, no, I don’t know. Sure, I saw them kissing, but that doesn’t mean it was the first time they made out. For all I know, they’ve hooked up a ton and I’ve just been blind and naive. Then why did Masie keep insisting Blaine likes me and encouraging me to go for it? Who knows? Perhaps she was messing with my head and getting some sort of twisted pleasure out of watching my heart shatter. That doesn’t really sound like Masie, but at this point, I’m not sure I know her at all. Maybe I never did. Perhaps she was one of those plastic people—fake on the outside and on the inside.
I sigh, casting a glance behind us again to see if the car is still tailing us. Then I breathe in relief. It’s gone. I must just be paranoid.
“What is that in your hand?” West asks suddenly.
“What? This?” When I hold up the note, he nods. I fiddle with the edge of the paper. “Well, on top of finding Masie and Blaine making out in the pool, my car got stolen.”
“What?” West’s eyes enlarge. “Are you shitting me?”
“Nope. I’m one hundred percent shitting free right now, unfortunately.” I unfold the note. “And, on top of everything, I found this in the driveway where my car should’ve been.” I set the note on the console and flatten the edges down.
He quickly reads the note then focuses back on the road. “That is, by far, the weirdest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.” His confusion seems to deepen, and he looks a bit worried.
“So, you’ve never heard of anything like this before? Or seen the symbol?”
He shakes his head, his confusion doubling. “Did you try looking it up on the internet?”
I nod, folding up the note and setting in on my lap. “Yep, and nothing came up.”
He cracks his knuckles against the steering wheel, seeming restless. “Did you find the clue they left behind?”
I shake my head. “Nope. But I didn’t really get a chance to look because Masie came running out of the house and I took off.”
“Did you call the police?”
�
��The note said not to.”
“Yeah, so what? They stole your car. What do they think is going to happen?”
I anxiously tap the note against the palm of my hand. “The note said they’d tell Blaine that I’m in love with him.”
He raises his brows. “Is keeping that a secret really worth losing your car?”
“Who says I’m not going to find it?”
“You act like you’re kind of happy about this, and that you’re going to solve the mystery.”
I smile, and surprisingly, the movement doesn’t ache as much as it did early. I’m not surprised. If there’s one thing I love as much as Blaine, it’s a good mystery. In fact, I think I love mysteries a hell of a lot more right now.
“That’s exactly what I’m going to do,” I say, sitting up straighter in the seat. No more wallowing, Alexis! You’re tougher than this! “I’m going to solve the shit out of the mystery, get my damn car back, and then … Well, that’s all I have right now, but it’s a start.” I pound my hand dramatically against my legs
He chuckles. “Aw, look at you. A cute, little detective. Then again, I’m not surprised. You’ve always been into mysteries.”
“Yeah, I have.” I pause. Wait. Back the hell up. “Wait a sec. Did you just call me cute?”
He rolls his eyes. “I’ve called you cute before.”
Now I roll my eyes. “Yeah, when you were teasing me, which you do all the time, FYI.”
“How do you know I’m teasing you?” he questions, appearing highly amused. “Maybe I mean everything I’ve ever said to you.”
“So, you really believe I’m a fairy princess from the Realm of Spoiled Brat?” I repeat the nickname he gave me in fifth grade.
“Hey, that was a long time ago. You can’t hold that against me, or I’ll hold it against you that you called me West the Pest Who Lives in a Rat’s Nest.” His muses over something. “You know, when I really think about it, we were pretty clever for grade schoolers.”
“I may have been clever,” I tease. “You were just cleverly stupid.”
Narrowing his eyes, he reaches over and lightly pinches me on the thigh in a ticklish sort of way. I nearly jump out of my seat. I hate, hate—let me stress hate—being tickled, and West knows that.
He repeats the movement. “Take that back, Alexis with pretty blue eyes.”
“Never.” My eyes water as he continues to tickle me, but through the laughter, my heart aches a bit.
“Hey, no frowning.” He slants his head to the side, sending strands of blond hair into his eyes. His hand is still resting on my leg, only now, instead of tickling me, his fingers are tracing a light path up and down my thigh. “Come on, Alexis; cheer up.”
I resist a shiver, despite the tingling sensations kissing across my legs, arms, neck—everywhere. WTF.
Push his hand off, Alexis. This is West.
“I didn’t realize I was frowning.” And I don’t think I am anymore.
I cast a casual glance in the mirror on the visor, and yep, sure enough, I’m not frowning. I don’t think my confused, doe-eyed, lost in la la lust land look is any better.
What the fuck am I thinking right now? Is that, like, my getting turned on face?
His finger continues moving up and down my thigh from my knee to the bottom of my shorts, back and forth … back … and forth …
Okay, okay, okay, what the shit is happening?
My eyelids flutter shut as a moan fights its way up my throat. I swear I hear West groan, but the noise is cut off by the screeching of brakes.
My eyes fly right back open as I’m thrown forward, my seatbelt locking up and throwing me right back against the seat.
When I blink dazedly at the front of the car, all lust goes flying out the window, which I’m freakin’ grateful for … I think.
I narrow my eyes at Masie standing in front of the car with her hands out in front of her, eyes huge, breathing fierce, her face bright red.
“What the hell is that crazy woman doing?” West mumbles as he shoves the shifter into park. Then he sticks his head out the window and yells, “Do you have a death wish or something?”
“Oh, shut the hell up, West,” she snaps, her gaze skating back to mine. She swallows hard, her eyes watering. “Alexis, please, just listen to me, okay?” She positions herself in front of the car, putting her hands on the hood and raising her voice over the grumbling engine. “I didn’t mean for it to happen … We were just swimming, and he kissed me.” She shakes her head. “But that’s no excuse. I’m your best friend, and I should’ve talked to you first before I did anything.”
For a brief moment, I feel kind of bad for her. She looks so tormented, so upset … But hold up. Wait.
“Are you saying you wanted to kiss Blaine?” I grit through my teeth. “That you’ve thought about it before?”
More tears pool in her eyes, her bottom lip quivering as she fights not to cry. “I didn’t mean to fall for him, but it just sort of happened.”
I’m not sure whether I’m heartbroken or pissed off.
“For how long?”
A crease forms at her brows. “What do you mean?”
“How long have you two been hooking up?” I bite out. Yes, it’s an assumption, but I know Masie very well. When she wants a guy, she doesn’t mess around; she just goes for it. So, if she’s saying she likes Blaine, then …
I swallow the lump crammed in my throat. Her silence says it all.
“So, it’s true, then?” My voice cracks. “That wasn’t the first time you guys kissed?”
Tears spill from her eyes as she slowly shakes her head. “We’ve been seeing each other for a few months. I’m so sorry, Alexis. I wanted to tell you, but I—”
I cut her off with a sharp laugh. “You wanted to tell me?” I laugh again, the sound hauntingly eerie.
West reaches over, placing a hand in mine. I don’t try to shove him away like I normally would, probably because I’m too distracted by the storm of anger grumbling inside me.
“Sure, you did. That’s why you continued to encourage me to go for it with Blaine. Why would you do that if you knew my heart was just going to get broken?”
She’s crying so hard now, snot running down her face. “I’m so sorry. I thought, if I kept pretending like nothing was happening between Blaine and I, you wouldn’t find out.” She sobs. “But things got so out of hand … And Blaine, he kept saying we should tell you so this wouldn’t happen. But I was so scared.”
I curl my hands into fist, nearly squeezing the life out of West’s hand. He doesn’t so much as flinch.
“You told Blaine I like him?” She’s lucky I’m not kicking her ass yet, but I’m getting close.
Her bottom lip starts to quiver. “I’m sorry. It just sort of slipped out. He was flirting with me, and I said I couldn’t date him. He kept pushing me, asking why, and I accidentally let it slip.” She rushes toward the passenger side of the car and grips the door. “Please, Alexis, don’t let this ruin our friendship. I know we can get past this.” Her gaze flicks to West, and then back to me. “Just come someplace with me. Someplace where we can talk. Just you and me. I know we can fix this, Alexis. Please, please, please.”
She’s babbling hysterically, and maybe if she’d just hooked up with him once, I could’ve gotten past this. But I can’t forgive how she told Blaine I liked him and how she continually pushed me to go for it with him when she knew I could never have him. How she’s been lying to me.
I turn my head toward West. “Just go before I get out and kick her ass.”
West nods and reaches for the shifter while Masie lets out a heart-wrenching sob.
“Alexis, no, no, no,” she babbles, trying to open my door. “We can’t just let this go. We need to fix this. You’re my best friend.”
I shake my head, lock the door, and start to roll up the window. “No, we’re not. In fact, I’m not sure we ever were.” The words cut against my lips, but only because they carry so much truth.
I
may have thought Masie and I were best friends, but that was nothing but a lie. Because best friends don’t do what she did to me. And the friendship we once had will never be the same.
Not ever again.
Well, that can never happen again
Alexis
After West drives away, leaving Masie in a cloud of dust and a sea of self-pity party tears, I remain quiet for a long time. So long, that I’m sure I start to freak him out. But I can’t find any words to follow what just happened. I mean, what are you supposed to say after your best friend begged for your forgiveness in the middle of the street after admitting that she stabbed you in the back and the heart?
“Oh, my God, feelings suck,” I mutter.
Well, I guess it’s better than I freaking hate my traitor, stabbing, heart-stomping friend.
West chuckles.
When I shoot him a look, he holds up a hand in front of him.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh at you.” He bites on his lip to keep from smiling. “It’s just that … I think that same thing all the time.”
“That feelings suck?”
“Yep.”
“Oh.” I pause. “Is that why you haven’t ever been in a real relationship? Or is that because of your parents?” I shake my head and look away. “You know what? Forget I said that. It’s none of my damn business.”
“No, it’s fine,” he promises, not sounding offended. “And the answer is neither.”
I flit a glance in his direction. “Really?”
He nods, amusement sparkling in his eyes. “Yes, really.”
Confusion does the disco inside my brain. “Why do you seem so smiley about that?”
“No reason.” He winks. “Besides, you should know by now that I’m a smiley sort of guy.”
I snort a laugh. “Sure, you are.”
He presses his hand to his chest. “How you wound me so, Alexis.”
I roll my eyes. “Easy, wannabe Shakespeare.”
He chuckles. “You know, normal girls like that romantic shit.”
“Well, I’m not a normal girl.”
“No, you’re not.”
Discovering Alexis: The Wildly Crazy Day Page 4
