Hearts Attached

by Scarlet Wolfe

  She helped me through my problem and has more faith in my abilities and future success than anyone else. The way she gazes at me ... it’s as if she would entrust her entire being to me.

  But I need to remember that I have Kenzie as a friend every day. We’re there for each other and always will be, so I can’t have her physically, too.

  There’s no way I could be that lucky to have both. Something would mess it up, and I’d lose her altogether.

  “Luke,” a girl yells. I come to a stop on the pavement and turn around.

  “Allison, hi.” Glancing around, I see no one with her.

  “Hi, Luke. Sorry to interrupt your run.”

  As I wipe the sweat from my forehead with the back of my arm, an uncomfortable feeling hits me. She was Noah’s girlfriend until she dumped him yesterday, so the last thing I want is to be seen with her.

  “What’s up?”

  “I was here alone and saw you, so I thought I’d say hi.” Allison is reaching up, playing with her blonde hair that’s in a ponytail, and I’m beginning to think it’s so she can stick her rack out at me. “Um, how was Noah today?”

  “Uh, he didn’t say much to me, so I’m not sure.”

  “Luke, I don’t know what to do now. Noah and I have been together forever, so I’m already lonely.”

  “Why don’t you call one of your friends? Or maybe you shouldn’t have broken up with him.” I wipe more sweat from my forehead and realize I’m probably not going to get to finish my run. Allison begins to cry.

  “I’m sorry, Allison. I didn’t mean it like that. I meant that maybe you don’t really want to break up with him.”

  Allison throws her arms around my waist. Oh, shit. I’ve never hugged this girl before. Her head is against my chest as she softly cries, so I barely put my arms around her.

  “Um, Allison, we probably shouldn’t be hugging. You only broke up with Noah yesterday, and he’s a good friend of mine.”

  “Noah and I have been together so long that I’m afraid no one else will date me.” She’s sniffling while keeping a tight grip on me.

  “Um, you have to give it time. Then, I’m sure someone will.” Not letting go, she raises her head and gazes up at me. I still have my arms around her, unsure of what to do with them since she is latched onto me tightly.

  “You think?”

  “Yeah. I’m sure, but guys need to see you aren’t going to get back with him.”

  “Um, would you happen to be one of those guys?” Ah, hell. She’s looking at me seductively, and I came here for a damn run to release sexual tension.

  Glancing toward the parking lot, I think of the safest way to answer this, and when I think things can’t get any worse, they do. In the distance, I see Kenz standing next to her car, staring at us.

  She’s in her gym clothes, meaning she was likely coming here to run with me. Waiting only a few seconds more, Kenzie scurries back into her car.

  “Dammit!” I let Allison go. “I have to leave, sorry.”

  She whips around and sees Kenz leaving.

  “Is that McKenzie Baker?”

  “Yes, and she saw us.”

  “Why are you freaking out?”

  “I don’t want Noah pissed at me, Allison.”

  “No, you don’t want Kenzie pissed at you,” she says with an attitude. “When are you two going to get it on? It’s pathetic the way you follow her around.”

  Turning my head, I glare at Allison.

  “We’re good friends. Maybe you need to be closer to yours, and then you wouldn’t feel the need to cause me problems. Go cry to someone else.”

  Taking off toward my vehicle, I’m desperate to get to Kenzie, but she’s driving away by the time I reach the parking lot. Once home, I bang on her front door and yell, but she doesn’t answer.

  “Kenzie, I know you’re in there. Open up!”

  “No! Go home, Luke.”

  “Let me explain.”

  “Explain what? That you’re not who I thought you were?” She’s yelling and pissed, and I can’t fault her for that, but she wouldn’t be if she would listen to me.

  “I’m not leaving. You need to let me explain.” Not hearing anything, I find the key hidden in front of her house. After opening the door, her eyes narrow in on me.

  “I don’t want to talk to you, Luke.”

  “Fine, but you’re going to listen.” She looks away and bites on her nail. “I didn’t do anything with Allison nor do I want to. I was running and minding my own damn business when she stopped me.

  “She was crying over Noah and feeling lonely or some shit, and she hugged me. I barely had my arms around her, and it was awkward as hell.”

  Kenz glances back at me and frowns.

  “I’m telling the truth. You know I’d never do something like that to Noah, and lord, I’d never ever do that to you.” Closing the gap between us, I pull her against me.

  “I’m sorry you saw that, but it was nothing. Say you believe me.”

  “I believe you.”

  I lean back to see her pretty face.

  “Were you coming to run with me?”

  “Yeah, and to talk. I’m sorry, but it shocked me to see the two of you, especially after our time together last night. I wanted to be the one you had your arms around.” Kenz drops her head, but I take her chin and lift it back up.

  “Sweetheart, it’s likely it will always be you.”

  “Then be with me, Luke.”

  God, she’s gorgeous and wants me, and I want her more than anything in the universe. I grab her face and slam my lips to hers. She yanks me to her and begins to open her mouth to let my tongue in, and we can’t. Fuck! I jerk away from her.

  “We can’t, Kenzie. I told you last night that I won’t jeopardize our friendship.”

  “Luke, we’ll always be friends.”

  “Allison was a sign to show me that isn’t always true. She and Noah have been friends since like the third grade, and now, I don’t believe he’ll ever speak to her again.”

  “You’re looking for an excuse. Is it because you really don’t want to date me, and you’re afraid you’ll hurt my feelings if you tell me?”

  “That’s not it, Kenz, and you know it. I told you last night; I’m not gambling our friendship.”

  “Fine, then don’t be pissed when some other guy has his arms around me, and it’s going to happen one day you–you confusing boy. Get out!”

  I grip my hair and groan before I storm out of her home.

  McKenzie

  “So, Kenzie, when are you giving me that date?” A flirty grin is reaching from Stew’s mouth to his dark eyes. Brushing a hand through his brown hair, he appears nervous, yet he still exudes this intimidating charm.

  Stew always has a girl, so I don’t know why he’s determined to get me to go out with him. It’s probably because he’s heard I’m a virgin. He’d like to change that, I’m sure.

  “Um, Stew, I’m sorry. I’m interested in someone else, so I shouldn’t have told you I’d go out. It was really sweet of you to ask.” I scrunch my forehead, feeling like a total bitch.

  “Oh, I think I could take a guess at who it is.” He sounds disappointed and aggravated. I feel bad. “Well, my offer is there if things don’t work out.”

  I reach the door to my class. “OK, thanks, Stew, for being understanding.”

  He attempts a smile before he strolls off. Good grief. Taking my seat, I hear my phone go off. I don’t need to guess who it is.

  Luke: Geez, Kenz, you’re scaring me here. Please tell me you truly don’t want to go out with him.

  Me: I don’t want to date Stew, and he won’t be bothering me anymore. I told him I was interested in someone else, and I think he’s on to us.

  Luke: Good. He better leave you alone. Monday we’re telling Liv, and Tuesday, everyone will know we’re together!

  Me: You’re ADORABLE when you’re angry.

  Luke: Don’t forget; you WILL be trapped in my room later.

  ***<
br />
  Ugh, this party blows. The guys won’t stop hitting on me, and I also don’t drink, so over fifty obnoxious teenagers are on my last nerve.

  “Have a drink, McKenzie,” Amanda says.

  “No, Amanda. You want to be able to get home, don’t you?”

  She giggles and starts to fall over on me.

  “I knew you were good for something.”

  “Real nice, Amanda. I love you, too.”

  “Oh, I’m playing. I wish you’d lighten up and live a little like the rest of us.”

  “Please don’t drink anything else. You’ve had a lot already.”

  “OK, Mom.” Amanda rolls her eyes and staggers away. I can’t take any more of this. I find the stairs in this colossal house and walk up them to the second floor.

  There are two guys and two girls sitting in the hallway playing cards, and one of the females has her top off. Strip poker. Seriously?

  I slowly open a door to what appears to be a female’s bedroom. I don’t even know who lives in this house, so I look at the photos sitting around and recognize one of the girls from downstairs.

  There are letters on the wall that spell out “Kim.” I hope Kim doesn’t mind me sitting on her bed. I get my phone out and text Luke.

  Me: I miss you already, and I’m having a miserable time. I’d regret coming here if it weren’t for Amanda and Shelby needing a safe ride home.

  Luke: I miss you, too. I’m dying to tell Liv, but I’ll wait. Are guys hitting on you?

  Me: Um, they were, so I’m hiding in a bedroom.

  Luke: This is driving me mad! Soon, Kenzie, soon.

  Me: I’ll be glad when everyone knows, too. See you Sunday night.

  After an hour of watching TV in Kim’s room, and running off three couples looking for a bed, I tread downstairs to find my friends.

  “McKenzie, I’ve been looking all over for you? Where the hell have you been?” Shelby asks. Her light brown hair is a mess, and her hazel eyes are glassed over.

  “Um, I was hanging out upstairs with some people.”

  She pokes me in the chest. “Is McKenzie a closet slut?” Bursting into laughter, she starts to fall forward. A guy walking by grabs her just in time. I would’ve rather seen her fall on her face.

  I’ve come to the conclusion that Amanda and Shelby are bitches when they drink. I’m ready to get their asses home.

  Chapter Seven

  Luke

  It’s Sunday evening, and I’m going crazy. I have to tell Liv about Kenzie. I’m not listening to another guy talk about her in a perverted way. I’ll end up hitting someone, which will get me into a shit load of trouble with my parents and my coaches. I text Kenz when we’re getting close to home.

  Me: I’m telling her tonight.

  Kenz: No, I’m scared.

  Me: It will be OK.

  Kenz: I feel ill.

  Me: Sweetheart, I can’t take another day of this.

  Kenz: DRAMATIC sigh. OK.

  After we get home, and I see that my dad is settled in front of the television, I go to Liv’s room.

  “Can I talk to you?” I ask before walking in.

  “We were in the car together for two hours, and you barely spoke. What do you have to talk about now?”

  “I wanted to wait until we were home.”

  She’s sitting at the head of her bed with a notebook in her hand and two textbooks in front of her.

  “What is it? I have a ton of homework to catch up on. Thanks for getting my books, by the way.”

  “You’re welcome.” I’m reluctant to speak as I stand staring at her.

  “You’re freakin’ me out, Luke. What is it?”

  “I like someone.”

  “Finally,” she says with a big breath. She’s staring at me, and I’m ill now. “So, are you going to tell me who it is?”

  “Yeah, but I want you to know that we both like each other a lot. I need you to be open minded about this.”

  “For freak sakes, Luke. Who is it?”

  “It’s Kenzie.”

  The pen she’s holding drops to the bed and bounces off. “Tell me you’re joking.”

  “No. We’ve been together since the day you and mom left.”

  “How could you two do this?” Her eyes are filling with tears, and I don’t get it.

  “What is so wrong with it?”

  “It’s–it’s weird.”

  “No, there’s another reason you don’t want this to happen. What is it?”

  “I don’t know. I just don’t like it.” She’s pissed, and the tears in her green eyes are about to spill.

  “Liv, chill. You’re making this a bigger deal than it has to be. It doesn’t change the friendship you have with her.”

  “I don’t want to see the two of you touching and stuff. It’s gross.”

  “That you will have to accept. One of the reasons I’m telling you now is because I can’t go another day without touching her at school.”

  “Oh, my god. Has everyone known but me?”

  I lean back against her door and cross my arms. She’s getting exhausting fast.

  “No, Liv. That’s what I was trying to say. We’ve been keeping our distance from each other at school since you didn’t know. We wanted to tell you first.”

  She buries her face in her hands.

  “Get out.”

  “Liv, don’t be like this. You’re going to hurt Kenzie, and she’s been nothing but great to you all these years.”

  “Some great friend, Luke. She waited until I was gone to go after you.”

  “I made the first move. I was jealous over Stew wanting her, and then I was jealous when she wanted to talk to Dalton. I didn’t know it was about you, so I was furious, thinking Kenzie wanted to date him. I’ve been keeping guys from going out with her because I’ve always liked her.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

  “Liv, I’m accepting that my closest friend will soon have his hands all over you, so I think you can be fair and accept that I want to be with Kenzie.”

  “Go, I have work to do.” She leans over the bed and grabs her pen.

  “Please don’t tell Mom and Dad. Mom has enough to deal with, and I want to be able to tell her in person. Are you going to be nice to Kenzie?”

  “I don’t know.”

  I let out a loud sigh and leave her alone. I don’t know how my sister and I even came from the same mother. After getting to my room, I text Kenzie.

  Me: She’s upset.

  Kenz: Oh, god, how bad?

  Me: She won’t tell me if she’s going to accept it or not.

  Kenz: I’m going to text her.

  Me: She’ll get past this. Give her time.

  McKenzie

  Me: Liv, I’m sorry. I can’t help how I feel.

  Liv: I don’t want to discuss it.

  Me: We need to. Please don’t be mad at me.

  Liv: I’m not talking about it tonight. It’s disgusting, and I can’t believe you’d do this.

  I don’t text her again. She needs time to process the news and will only be mean to me. I feel chastised like so many other times in my life when I didn’t know I was doing anything wrong.

  ***

  Age 9:

  “McKenzie, you get your ass out of that treehouse right now. I told you not to go outside until you cleaned your room,” my dad shouts.

  Luke jumps from the thunder of my dad’s voice. His eyes are big and round because he knows what is going to happen next. I hurry and open the little door.

  “Dad, I did clean my room.”

  “You didn’t make your bed or put your dirty clothes in the hamper.”

  “Oh, no,” I murmur. My dad is holding his belt and has that scary look in his eyes. I turn around to tell Luke to go, and his eyes are squeezed shut. “Go, home, Luke.”

  “No, Kenzie. I won’t let him hit you again.”

  “You can’t stop him. I have to go, and you need to before Liv comes back.” I climb out of the t
reehouse, and my dad grabs my arm before I even have time to take three steps. He’s dragging me through the yard toward the house.

  “Get inside,” he yells after opening the back door. Letting go of my arm, he shoves me in front of him. Before I can even get my balance, I feel the hit to the back of my legs. I hate when he misses my butt. “Ow, Dad!”

  “Shut your mouth, McKenzie, or I’ll whip you harder.” He hits me again ... and again, so I bite my lip, trying not to yell or cry. He won’t stop if I do. I hate when my mom works at night.

  The tears tickle my nose as they run down my cheeks. I try to think of how it feels instead of how bad my butt hurts.

  “Get your ass in your room, and if you breathe a word about this to your mother, I’ll whip you every day she’s gone this week.”

  I run as fast as I can through the house and up the stairs to my bedroom. After shutting my door, I lie on my stomach and cry.

  Snot runs off my arm and onto my comforter, so I go to wipe it off my bed and see the blood. I’ve bitten my lip so hard that it’s bleeding and mixing with my drool and snot. I hate him. I hate him.

  ***

  My stomach is twisted in knots, and my hands are sweaty as I walk toward Luke and Olivia’s. I’m nervous to ride to school with them this morning since I have no idea what to expect.

  Luke meets me at the door. He’s smiling, but it’s not the whopping grin I normally get.

  “Hi,” he says before he pulls me into a hug.

  “Good morning. How is everything?”

  “I haven’t seen her yet.” His lips land on mine, and I want to melt against him.

  “Dear, god. I have to see this already?” Liv asks.

  I jerk away from Luke. “Hi, Liv. I missed you.”

  “Ah ha. It sounds like you were pretty busy while I was gone.” Liv is moving around the kitchen, gathering stuff for lunch.

  “Leave her alone if you don’t have anything nice to say, Liv.”

  “Taking sides already. Why am I not surprised?”

  “That’s enough, Liv!” Startled, I jump. “I wouldn’t have to take up for her if you weren’t treating her like shit.”

  It’s been a long time since she’s been this mad at me. “Liv, other than seeing us being affectionate toward each other, nothing has to change,” I say.