by K. I. Lynn
“Nah.”
My head jerks back in his direction. “Nah?”
He shrugs and throws me this adorable little smile.
I cross my arms and repeat my question. “Why are you here?”
“The one thing I truly wanted for my birthday wasn’t there.” He looks straight into my eyes as he says it.
I inhale sharply, trying to hide it, trying to ignore everything I feel. I can’t ask him what he really wants because I’m afraid I already know the answer to that.
He lifts his hand and runs his fingers through his hair. It’s a slow movement. Almost deliberate.
My eyes lock on the inside of his wrist.
For the last few weeks, he’s been walking around wearing that leather cuff. The one that drove me insane, made me want to rip it off so I could sink my teeth into the inside of his wrist.
There’s something on the inside of his wrist all right, and it’s not my teeth marks.
It’s ink. A tattoo.
A dark, gray adorable cat. But it’s not the cat itself that shocks the breath out of me.
I only see it for a few seconds, and I’m standing at least five feet away from him, but I still make out the cat’s eyes.
The unique color of those eyes.
A color both I and my brother share.
One last smile from Brayden. “Goodnight, Kitty.” Turning, he walks into his room and slowly closes the door.
He doesn’t lock it.
The urge to follow him into his room leaves me shaking. I don’t know how I manage to get back into my room, but when I do, I make sure I lock the door, hoping it’ll be enough to deter me.
To keep me inside.
To stop me from going to him as my body so desperately wants.
June 6th, 2015
Black squares fly through the air. Burgundy tassels twirl around.
I wish I had a camera on me to snap a picture of our caps against the brilliant blue sky. It’s beautiful, the moment electric.
Everyone is screaming, including me, jumping up and down. Excitement streams through the crowd, and down the way Jenna pushes her way toward me. Her arms wrap around me and we bounce together, giggling.
“We did it!” Her smile is blinding, and I know my own matches.
“Yes!”
I turn back to the sea of family members, searching out my own clan. I spot Mom first, camera in hand, beaming with pride. Steve is beside her, talking to someone, and Ryan is on her other side with Dana wrapped around his arm.
Next to them I know is Brayden before I even get there, because I can almost feel his stare boring into me. I’m surprised to find a relaxed smile on his face. It makes my stomach flip and confuses me more.
I didn’t want him to come, but getting Brayden Hunt to not do something is a skill I have yet to master.
“Come on, let’s go find Marilyn and Ashley.” Jenna grabs my hand and pulls us through the crowd.
Hugs find us on our way as classmates say goodbye, and I realize it may be the last time I see some of them. After a few minutes we finally break out into the walkway and right into Ashley and Marilyn.
More squealing and hugs and jumping before we make our way to our parents.
“I can’t wait for tonight!” Jenna says.
“You’re just hoping to hook up with Sam,” I say with a wag of my eyebrows.
“I hear he’s endowed.” Ashley grins, causing Jenna to fan herself.
“Kira!” Mom calls out.
I stop and take a step away. “Gotta go. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
“Want us to pick you up?” Marilyn asks. “Or is Brayden taking you?”
Ugh. Bringing him up makes me almost wish I’d kept quiet that there was anything between us.
“No. Austin is, right?” Ashley winks at me.
Jenna sighs. “Lucky girl.”
“Lucky?”
Marilyn rolls her eyes. “Kira, you have two of the hottest guys our school has seen chasing you.”
“Sshhh!” I hush them. The devil’s ears are perking up. I can tell by the way his stupid face is lighting up.
They giggle and make their way out while I squeeze through.
When I reach my family, Mom is almost in tears, Ryan trying to console her, while Steve shakes his head.
“I’m okay.” She beams at me, her bottom lip quivering as she reaches for me and pulls me into her arms. “I’m so proud of you.”
Ryan ruffles my hair. “Good job, kid.”
I slap at him, but I can’t connect thanks to Mom’s iron grip. “Jerk!”
Mom finally lets go, and I try and fix the rats nest he’s created. Ryan laughs and I swat at his stomach, hitting hard. He grabs my wrist and pulls me until I collide with his chest for a hard hug. My feet leave the ground as he picks me up.
“Congrats, baby sis. Love you.”
I should beat on him to let me go, but I’ve missed this, missed him, my brother. “Love you, too.”
There’s a familiar chuckle beside me as he sets me back down that makes me tingle.
Fucker.
I turn to Brayden, unable to stop myself. His green eyes are bright, almost sparkling.
“Congratulations.”
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Thanks.”
I’m almost clear of touching him, but when he steps forward, arms open, I grimace inside. Not wanting to cause a scene, I allow his arms to circle me. It’s brief, his restraint obvious in the tension of his muscles, but it’s more than enough to cause my heart to speed up.
“What are your plans tonight?” Mom asks as we turn toward the parking lot.
“There’s a party.”
I promised Mom we’d have a family dinner. Though to me family is her, Ryan, and I’ll add in Dana. Steve’s not my dad, and even though I’ve lived with him for three years, we’ve never gotten very close.
Then there’s Brayden, the complicated thorn in my side.
Thankfully dinner goes off without complication. A.k.a. Brayden behaved himself.
When we pull into the driveway, I jump out and run upstairs to change. I kick the door behind me and grab the hem of my dress to pull it above my head and toss it in the hamper.
“Is Austin going to be there?” Brayden asks from the door, scaring the crap out of me.
“Jesus!” I whip my head around as I nearly jump out of my skin.
As his tongue swipes across his lips, I realize I’m only wearing a strapless bra and a thong. Oh well. I don’t even bother to cover myself.
“Shut the door, asshole!”
His eyes darken, and he steps in and starts to close the door.
I narrow my gaze on him and stomp forward. “That’s not what I meant.” I push on his chest until he’s back in the hallway and slam the door in his face.
Fucker.
“Is Austin going?” I can hear his anger through the barrier between us.
“Why do you care?” I shuffle through my dresser for a bra, wanting to get out of this strapless.
“You know why.”
I roll my eyes, then move to my closet. “He lives down the street, so I’m sure he’ll be there.”
“Did you invite him?”
I already picked out an outfit for tonight, but his presence has me all over the place.
“Not directly.” My fingers work the clasp of the strapless and it falls to the floor. I peek out the door. “Everyone will be there. Ryan said he’s going.”
“I know.” His voice sounds strained, but I think I just gave him some side-boob view, maybe even some nip.
Am I trying to tease him? Always.
Suffer, asshole.
“Are you going?” Damn curiosity.
“Yes.”
I pull the dress I picked out over my head. “Why?”
“Because you are.”
His answer irks me and gives me the damn happy vibes.
“This is the year-end graduation party. The biggest party of the year. Don’t expect m
e to pay you any attention at all.”
“Wow. When did I become the clinger?”
“When you started stalking me.” I throw a flip-flop at the door.
He chuckles. “It’s not stalking if I love you.”
I know he’s quoting some meme floating around the Internet, but fuck . . . those words. They stop me in my tracks, which is bent over as I slip on my shoes.
I stomp back over to the door and peek through. “Don’t start that crap up again. You had your fun. It’s my turn now.”
His mouth pops open, anger flaring in his eyes, then it’s suddenly gone. “You’re right.”
The words “I am?” almost slip from my lips. It’s such a departure from the norm that my whole system is in shock, leaving me to stare at him, wordless.
“I’m a jealous asshole. I know. I can’t stand the thought of anyone touching you, most of all Austin.”
I close the door and walk over to my dresser to pick up some bracelets and my wristlet, then throw open the door. His eyes go wide, running up and down my body, setting my skin on fire. “Well freaking get used to it, because you have no say in any part of my life.” I push him aside.
Before I can scoot by, Brayden grabs my wrist. The calm demeanor he’s mastered all day is gone, replaced by a fury that almost makes him look like a maniac.
“I’ll walk with you.” The party is only a few blocks away.
I wrench my arm free. “Walk by yourself.”
I make sure to push him hard on my way out, giving me time to race ahead and down the stairs.
My heart hammers against my ribs as I stomp off down the street. The party isn’t too far, and I plan to drink, so heels be damned, I’m walking. It also helps give me a Brayden breather and time to calm down.
The block is already parked up with cars when I arrive, and I can’t wait to find my girls. I pull out my phone to check a text I got on my way from Jenna, hoping she’s already here.
Sam IS well endowed. See you . . . sometime. lol!
A smile spreads on my face, and I shake my head. Looks like Jenna is getting exactly what she wanted for graduation.
I wave to some people I know who are hanging out on the lawn as I walk in. The music is loud, thumping all over the whole-house speaker system. There’s no view of Ashley or Marilyn, so I head toward the kitchen where the drink of the day is undoubtedly being served.
After dealing with Brayden before I left, I need a drink. Something strong to erase the tingling I can still feel from where he touched me.
It’s still pretty early, but the place has a ton of people, forcing me to weave through and giving the drink hand gesture to a few friends trying to pull me over. Before I can turn back around I slam into someone, my hands out, stopping on a belt.
“Hi, Kira.”
I crane my head back to look up at my tallest friend, reigning in at six foot eight. “Hey, Thomas.”
If basketball doesn’t work out for him, he’s got brains to fall back on. That, and classic farm-boy good looks.
“How are you?”
“Not bad. Haven’t seen you in a while.”
We were lab partners back in chemistry, and he’s helped me out more than once when calculus tried to kill me.
He chuckles. “Since Tuesday?”
I shrug. “Hey, in high school terms, that is forever.”
“Glad to be missed.”
“Yeah, well, soon you’ll be some bigshot at IU and you’ll forget all about me.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” he says. “Are you excited about college?”
“Definitely. You?”
“It’s gonna be hard, the practice schedule is intense, but I get to play for Indiana University.”
“That’s awesome.” I smile up at him, genuinely happy and excited for him.
“Too bad you won’t be there.”
“OSU calls,” I say with a shrug. “And I’m stoked that Ryan transferred and will be there.”
Thomas’s eyes dart around. “Is he here?”
I shake my head. “Not yet. That I’ve seen, at least.”
He blows out a breath. “Cool.”
“Why cool?”
His eyes go wide. “Oh . . . N-no reason.”
I quirk my brow at him. “Tell me.”
“It’s just . . . I’m talking to you, and the guy is scary protective of you.”
Ah, I get it now. The Austin incident.
Jerk is always getting in my way.
“Are the rumors that bad?”
He lets out a nervous chuckle. “He always kept guys away from you, him and Brayden Hunt, but that was next level when he attacked Austin.”
I purse my lips. “Yeah, it was.”
“Ever since then, it’s been kinda hard to work up the courage to ask you out.”
I blink up at him. “What?”
He smiles and ducks his head. “You’re not with Austin, I hear. Can . . . can I take you out sometime?”
I stare back at him in shock. I like Thomas, and I can totally see him being a great boyfriend, but I’ve never thought of him that way.
Probably Brayden’s fault. I’m sure I can probably blame him for just about everything for the past few years.
“No,” I whisper, hating that I’m turning a great guy down. “I’m sorry. I’m a mess right now.”
His expression falls and he swallows hard. “Too late, then.”
“Or too early.” I smile up at him. “If things were different, I would say yes.”
He chuckles. “Thanks for the pity yes.”
“Hey, it’s not like that. I like you, but . . .”
“It’s complicated?”
“Extremely.”
“Well, if things become uncomplicated, give me a call,” he says as he backs away with a wave.
Turning down a guy with so many good points? I must be insane.
I take a left to the kitchen, suddenly bummed. What would it be like to date a nice guy like that? To not have two fuckers being a pain in my ass?
Maybe I should become a nun.
The counters are covered with red Solo cups and what looks like an entire liquor store worth of booze. Then there’s the keg in the middle of the room.
Perusing the display of bottles, I spot a familiar label and twist the top off.
Mmm, raspberry-flavored vodka.
“What did he want?”
I jump, the bottle slipping from my lips, vodka spilling down my chin. “Shit!”
Austin steps in front of me, offering up his shirt.
“You scared me,” I say, wiping my chin off.
He gives me that sexy smile of his. The one that should turn me into a puddle of goo, but as usual, it’s only mild excitement.
“You’re cute when you’re scared.” He looks down at my bottle. “What are you drinking?”
I blink at him, then look down. “Vodka.”
“Starting with the heavy stuff, huh?”
I shrug in response and take a few gulps. It burns the whole way down, making my body involuntarily shudder from the strength.
“You know, if you’re doing that so you can seduce me, you don’t have to. I’m ready, willing, and available for you.”
I start to laugh, almost at ease with his flirtation attempt, then I remember what happened and stop.
“Me and every other female.”
He cringes. “Ouch.”
Did that sting? Good.
“You know if I could go back, I never would have—”
“Fucked that slut?” I’m laying it all out, tired of all the bullshit.
“That’s not it.”
“What is it, then? Because I’m still pissed, Austin.”
“I never would have let you push me away. Then I never would have . . .”
His admission softens me. I know it’s Brayden and his past with her that makes me hate her so much. “I just can’t stand that of all people, why her? Jennifer’s fucked half the school. Who knows what diseases she’s carr
ying.”
“Excuse me? What the fuck are you saying about me?” Jennifer asks as she steps forward.
It’s then I realize we’ve gained a few prying eyes and ears, including slutty herself.
I take another swig of the open bottle in my hand. “I was talking about how you’ve ruined the pool of available guys in the area.”
Her blue eyes are wide, jaw tight. “Who are you to judge me? What makes you so special, Kira?”
“I don’t fuck every guy in a ten-mile radius.”
“No, you’re a cock tease who has them running to me when you won’t put out.”
My eyes go wide and I step forward, practically snarling. “You are so disgusting! Is that how you’re going to go through life? On your back?”
“Not just on my back, but on my knees, too. Not that little Miss Priss would know anything about that.”
“You don’t know anything about me.”
“And you know shit about me. So, stop running your prude mouth. Stuff a dick in there, and maybe you’ll see the fun in it.”
“Fuck you!”
She lifts the hem of her skirt and slaps her pussy. “Go for it, bitch! This pussy knows how to satisfy a man. Maybe that’s why guys run from you to me.”
I snap, lunging forward, my fingers clenched tight around the bottle, ready to smash it into her skull.
The bottle misses as Austin pushes Jennifer back, and I’m yanked away. An arm wraps around my waist, lifting me up into the air.
“Let me go!”
I turn back to find Brayden’s green eyes as he drags me away.
“What is your malfunction? I said, let me go!”
Her nails dig into my arm as I pull her through two rooms and out the back door. She doesn’t weigh much, but her flailing legs kicking around as she tries to break free make it tough to hold on.
There are a few people out on the deck who scurry away as we exit the house.
I set her back on the ground, and she sways, regaining her balance on her sexy-ass heels. They match her sexy-ass dress, and I want to fucking drag her away.
“Calm down.”
She scowls at me. “What the fuck? Couldn’t stand to see your fuck doll get hit?”
“It looked more like you wanted to kill her, especially with that bottle.” I point down to the bottle, which is in her death grip.
She shifts her weight from foot to foot, jaw locked tight.
