The Read And Weep Bundle: Anonymous, Perfectly Hopeless, Run

by Holly Hood

  “She is and always will be,” he said. He pursed his lips, scanning my eyes for a hint of what he should do next. My heart pounded in my ears. He took my hand, pulling me closer. He was edgy and a bit shaky.

  “You look just like her,” he breathed, his hand running across my arm. I stared into his eyes totally sucked into the moment. He was a good looking man. Sometimes there was something about a man old enough to know better that made me curious.

  He looked at the door again. His hand quickly slipping underneath my shirt, his fingers sliding up, his eyes pinned to mine. I moved closer, running my fingers down his chest, pulling at the buttons of his shirt. I coaxed his hand to my shorts, and without much urging he slipped a hand down the front of them.

  “You can do whatever you want,” I whispered.

  “I don’t think you mean that, Kendall,” he whispered back, undoing my shorts. I bit my lip as his fingers slipped past my underwear.

  He used his other hand to drag my shirt up, running his hand across my breast. I waited for him to kiss me, wanting nothing more than his lips against mine.

  My breath quickened at the feel of his fingers against me, the way they moved, the power and skill behind them. I wanted more. I wanted to feel more then Roger’s fingers.

  “I can’t be doing this. I don’t know what it is about you,” he stammered, pulling his hand from my shorts. He studied me, trying to pull it together. I pulled him by the shirt, bringing him closer, my lips grazing his gently. I slowly kissed him, running my tongue across his bottom lip, taking hold of his neck, tugging on his shirt, my body ready to burst. Nothing had ever turned me on more than this moment. I felt dysfunctional for wanting this man.

  I kissed his neck. He grabbed and pawed at my body. Stopping every couple seconds to look at the door and then his mouth would meet back up with mine. He kissed me hard, holding tight to my waist, his fingers digging into my flesh so passionately. His lips warm, his facial hair rubbing against my chin. His tongue gliding perfectly against mine, he knew what he was doing.

  “Hey, Dad!” Noah yelled from outside the workshop. Roger pushed me away, shocked. I hurried to pull my shirt down, buttoning my shorts in a flash.

  Roger adjusted himself, rubbing his hands across his face.

  Noah appeared in the doorway. He gave us a strange look. “Mom needs your help with something,” he said, eyeing me. Roger grunted, heading out of the shed in a hurry to get away.

  I sighed. Before I could make it out of the workshop Noah was in the doorway stopping me.

  “My dad is a good man, but he is a man. My mom is a good woman, but she will still kick your ass,” he said, staring me down.

  “I was looking at his woodwork.”

  “Yeah, woodwork.” He rolled his eyes.

  “Whatever,” I said. I shoved him, but it made no difference he wasn’t budging.

  “Looks to me you’re in a sticky situation. You’re a gypsy. You need a place to stay. I could run in there and tell my mom you were out here getting felt up by my dad, or you and I could work something out.” His expression proved he wasn’t joking. He moved closer.

  “What does that mean?” I asked, taking a step backward.

  “I want what you were willing to give my dad,” he grinned.

  I had to admit he was clever. I nodded, allowing him to pull my shirt up.

  “Couldn’t be that bad, I’m a good looking guy right?” he asked, pressing his lips into mine.

  I nodded, closing my eyes as he kissed down my neck, his hands groping my chest. And then he returned to my mouth.

  “Take your pants off,” I whispered in his ear. He did as I asked in an instant. He kicked his pants off, standing in his boxers, tugging his shirt over his head.

  “You like what you see?”

  I nodded, motioning him over with my finger. I slipped my hands to his shoulders, holding on tightly and in a swift second I brought my knee up, hitting him right in the groin with enough strength to drop him to his knees.

  He groaned, falling over. “You stupid bitch!”

  I stood over him, amused he would be so stupid. “You’re a stupid kid,” I told him, watching him wither in pain. “Go ahead and tell your mom. I’ll tell her you tried to have your way with me.” I headed out of the workshop pleased.

  Being able to put someone so arrogant in their place was a rush. I grabbed the railing, heading up the stairs. I knew he wouldn’t say anything after I humiliated him.

  I turned around, looking at Roger and Anna’s house. My heart picked up beats at the thought of Roger’s kiss. The memory of his hands touching me was exciting. Something about it pulled at my mind. I wanted another run in with him.

  I looked back down and found Mason staring up at me. I turned, going inside the duplex. I had nothing to say to him. He had hurt me one time to many. And he hadn’t said anything for days about.

  Aunt Wanda was gone, I wasn’t sure where. This left me alone. But that soon ended when Mason barged right in without knocking. He stood there just waiting. He didn’t utter a single word, he just stared at me.

  “What did you do?” he said finally, once he knew I wasn’t going to be the first to speak. He eyed me suspiciously.

  I scoffed, looking out the window. The sun was starting to set.

  “You seem to forget something,” he said, crossing his arms.

  “What’s that, Mason?” I asked, humoring him.

  “I know you. I’ve known you for a long time. You’re going to sleep with that woman’s husband, but you’re pissed off at me for kissing his daughter.”

  I laughed to myself, turning away from him. There wasn’t anything to say when he was right.

  “He’s in his forties. What could he possibly do for you that I can’t?” Mason grabbed a hold of me. “For the record, Kendall, her lips met mine. I had no intentions on kissing her. I didn’t even want to kiss her. I was trying to go along with it so I didn’t ruffle any feathers,” he said, I slapped him in the arm offended.

  “What happened to the Mason in the car who gave a damn?”

  “I’m not thinking about sleeping with Lainey. I don’t want to. But you, you’re willing to let that man have his way with you. He’s old, Kendall. Think about why he would want to do such a thing,” Mason said. He pulled at his hair, turning away irritated with me.

  “Men are men, they’re all alike. You proved that today. Just when I thought you were proving me wrong,” I said.

  “If you sleep with him, Kendall, I’ll… god I don’t know what I’ll do, but it won’t be good.” He wagged his finger in my face like I was some child he had the right to tell what to do.

  “Mason, shut up,” I said, daring him to make any more of a deal out of the situation. I didn’t want to talk about it anymore. He was used to being pushed around, and although I hated to push, he deserved it.

  “No, I’m not shutting up. This was supposed to be me and you. And your letting this flaky family get between us. I still care about you, Kendall. And I know you care about me. Or you would have never mentioned me kissing Lainey.”

  “Oh don’t flatter yourself,” I said, rolling my eyes. My cheeks heated.

  “It’s never been an issue before. Don’t lie to yourself,” Mason said, throwing his hands up in defeat. He left. The sounds of his heavy footsteps echoing, he was angry and I didn’t care. Maybe he was right, but at the moment I didn’t mind being wrong.

  June 27th

  We were still at Roger’s. Aunt Wanda had no luck getting her hands on any more money. She was playing it safe to maintain what connection she had with Roger and Anna. This was not something I had ever seen her do before. Most of the people she knew were either dead or wondering where they could find her so they could beat the tar out of her.

  It was a unique situation. I knew that she wouldn’t hurt Roger and his family. I tried to crawl inside Wanda’s mind, to figure out the weird loyalty. Maybe deep down somewhere this was the man Aunt Wanda had a thing for. He was good looking,
what woman her age wouldn’t want him?

  Anna had convinced me to come outside and garden with her and Lainey. She had me pulling weeds and digging holes for her flowers.

  I did my best, trying to keep busy so neither one would talk to me. My knees were sore from resting in the dirt for so long. I wiped the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand, my shoulders aching.

  “Almost done girls, I’ll get us some lemonade,” Anna said sweetly, taking her gloves off. She pecked Roger on the cheek and went inside. He took a seat in front of us at the patio. Lainey oblivious to her father’s presence as she went about covering roots with fresh dirt.

  “Looking good,” he said, chewing on a toothpick. He flicked it back and forth between his lips. I tried my best to keep him out of my head. His eyes glued to my ever move. They were all over me and he probably was getting quite the view as I dug the holes.

  I fumbled with the straps of my camisole, hoping my chest wasn’t visible from the position I was crouched in.

  “I never cared for tulips,” Lainey said, more to herself, she stared at Mason as he mowed the grass off in the distance. Anna found use for all of us. I didn’t think Mason was to upset seeing he didn’t want to talk to me since the temper tantrum he threw the other night at the duplex.

  I watched him use the bottom of shirt to wipe the perspiration on his face, his flat muscular stomach calling out to me, along with the dark happy trail reminding me about the parts of him that were quite impressive.

  I shook my head, wondering when I had become such a pervert. “I never cared for flower,” I told Lainey.

  She tossed her gloves down. Making it a little too obvious she was staring at Mason now. I wasn’t the only one who knew anymore.

  “He hasn’t said more than two words to me in days,” she said faintly. I caught her eyes, finding it a bit funny she would bring it up to me.

  “Mason is a jerk. Don’t waste your time,” I told her, tossing a hunk of soil in the hole I dug.

  “Yeah, but he’s so smart and carefree. And so nice, he’s got the most amazing eyes. He’s exotic,” she bit her lip, taking all of him in.

  “His dad was Spanish, that’s not exotic, he’s a mutt.” I laughed. Lainey looked at me agitated by my remark, her smile long gone.

  “It was a joke, I apologize,” I said standing up.

  “Not a very funny one, Kendall. Do you think he is upset with me?” She stood too. It was like she was lost in a dream, completely mesmerized by Mason.

  “I don’t know. Best way to find out is to ask him.” I jumped as a bunch of wood was dropped at my feet. Noah shot me the angriest glare, shoving the wheelbarrow past me.

  Lainey stared at him rather confused. “Now if you want to know what a jerk is, that’s one right there,” she said pointing at Noah.

  I laughed, watching Anna make her way out with a tray of lemonade.

  “Wow, good job girls,” she said, sitting the tray on the table.

  “Looks good, I agree,” Roger said in agreement. He leaned back, resting his arm on the chair beside him.

  “Have a seat, girls. I’m going to get Mason and Noah so they can take a break before they die of heatstroke.” She hurried off. I studied Roger’s pleased expression as I took the seat next to him. I ran my hands across my knees trying to get some of the dirt off.

  “Nothing a shower couldn’t fix,” he said, trailing a finger across my kneecap. I gave him a weird look growing a bit uncomfortable.

  “Lainey could you grab my paper?” Roger asked. She shot right out of her chair eager to please him and left us alone.

  “Sorry about the other day,” he said, waiting for me to acknowledge that day again.

  “Maybe it was for the best,” I said, my eyes pinned on Anna who was approaching with Mason.

  “Well, that’s a little disappointing to hear,” he said.

  “I think your wife is really nice. I don’t want to ruin what she thinks about me.” I felt a bit ill all of a sudden. The smile on Anna’s face as she closed in on the patio was nauseating.

  “I agree. My wife is a wonderful woman.” He nodded, watching Anna.

  “I’m glad we agree then, Roger,” I said.

  “I could make you feel amazing. I could do things to you that you never imagined. You’re a beautiful girl, Kendall. You have a lot to offer someone.”

  I pondered what he said. What it could mean. All he knew about me was the way my breast felt in his grasp. Or what my lips felt like against his neck. He knew nothing about me. To him I was a naïve girl. A girl who resembled her mother and that he found attractive. Someone he probably thought was stupid enough to let him have his way. Something his wife probably was not doing anymore. Or maybe it was just a thrill to him to almost get caught with the young girl on the run. I didn’t know, and odds were Mason was right. Roger was hoping to reach my mother through my female parts.

  “I’m sure I can imagine what it would be like.” I smiled as soon as Anna’s feet touched the patio. Mason plopped down next to me shirtless. I looked at him, Roger watched my every move.

  “I could really use a swim,” Mason said, looking at me to agree with him. I ignored him. Lainey came out of the house excited.

  “I forgot your paper, Daddy.” She gasped bringing her hand to her mouth.

  “It’s alright don’t worry about it,” Roger said dismissively.

  Mason grew uncomfortable as Lainey took the seat next to him.

  “I think you’re doing a great job on the lawn,” Lainey said breaking the awkward silence.

  “Thanks,” Mason said dryly.

  “I heard you say you wanted to swim. I don’t have anything to do, I could take you down there.” She smiled at him, hanging on for dear life.

  Anna handed me a glass of lemonade, agreeing with Lainey’s idea.

  “I think that would be great for all of you,” she said with a smile, sipping at her glass of lemonade.

  Noah groaned, loud enough for everyone to hear. “I don’t like them. And I am not going to sit here anymore and pretend I do,” he said, knocking his mother backwards into her chair. Roger’s eyes were huge and my heart plummeted to my feet.

  “Noah Wylie, these are our guest. Do not talk like that in front of them,” Anna said sternly.

  “I don’t give a shit. I’m sorry, but they could be the god damn president of the United States of America for all I care. I’m not playing nice and going down to the water. I want nothing to do with them,” he said, laying his eyes on me and me only.

  Anna pulled a smile from somewhere, her body rigid and seething with anger. She stood up, clutching her drink with one hand and pulling at her shirt with the other. “I apologize, Kendall and Mason. I don’t know where his manners went to. Noah I’d suggest you excuse yourself before I do something I regret later,” she said through gritted teeth.

  Noah stood, he nodded his head and gave everyone one more troubled glare. Lainey twirled a strand of hair, her jaw agape.

  Roger was as white as a ghost. He knew his son could bring him to his knees. I knew he wasn’t going for that. He wanted to voice how much he hated me now.

  “I’m sure we won’t be here much longer,” Mason spoke up, downing his lemonade an eyebrow raised at Noah’s theatrics. Noah stalked off slamming the door like an enraged child.

  Lainey looked around, chewing her fingernail. The girl was full of angst.

  I sighed finally giving in. I looked at Mason. “I have a swimsuit in my bag. Let me grab it,” I said, Lainey lit up from head to toe.

  “Mason are you coming to?” she asked. Mason nodded, heading back to the duplex with me.

  “You’re not one to be nice,” he informed me.

  “They mean no harm. They are the first people I met who are decent and kind.” I shrugged.

  “Are you falling in love with the thought of their happy family?” He grinned.

  “Mason, knock it off. She really likes you,” I said, Mason glared at me.

  “I’m no
t some prostitute you can pawn off. I’m not going to sleep with her to make you happy or her. What the heck is wrong with you people?” The shocked expression on his face made me want to laugh.

  “I didn’t ask you to,” I griped, heading up the stairs. He stared after me blown away. I was beginning to think Mason thought I had no morals at all.

  “I just want to get out of here,” he said, going inside.

  After throwing on our swimsuits we headed back through the woods to the water. Lainey proved to be quite the country girl. She knew every step of the way. To me it was nothing more than a mass of trees. I would have been lost in seconds if I was alone. I always thought it was funny how similar to her I was, but yet so different. We were both from the south, although I never felt like I was anymore. I had grown up in nearly every stare for a long time. The south had been sucked right out of me.

  “Well, here we are guys,” she said, standing at the edge of the water. Tall trees lining the edge. It was the sort of thing in the movies. I hoped I wouldn’t come out covered in blood sucking leeches.

  Mason pulled his shirt off and tossed it on the ground. He took off before Lainey could give him another dreamy look.

  I wiggled out of my shorts, dropping them at my feet. Lainey watched, before taking her own clothes off. She was comparing herself with me. That was a girl for you. I was comfortable in my skin, as comfortable as breathing.

  She was skinny, but in a sporty way not an underdeveloped girl way. Her body was like a piece of pale art. Her hair glistened in the sun, her purple bikini made her alabaster skin look even more porcelain like.

  “I love your swimsuit,” she said, pulling her hair back. I smiled, securing the ties on my hot pink bikini. It was the most girly thing I owned. And I loved it.

  I wasn’t skinny like Lainey—I wasn’t fat either. I was exactly what a woman was meant to look like. I had a tiny waist, small hips and muscular legs. Probably from all the running I did. My arms were long and thin, with a subtle muscular undertone. I had a rear that went well with anything I wore. My butt was my favorite part of my body.