by L. M. Heidle
“Alex, get in your car and lock the door, now.”
“Why? It’s hot in there.”
“For once in your damn life do what you’re told.”
I huffed, “Fine whatever.” I hung up with him and made my way to the car grumbling the entire way.
Five minutes later Luc’s Thunderbird flew into the parking lot, flinging rock everywhere. He flung the door open and stomped over to me with his lips set in a hard line. He pulled the door handle, but I kept it locked.
“Open the damn door.”
“Not until you calm down.” He took a deep breath, then another before he responded, “Fine, I’m calm, see?” He was anything but fine, but I still unlocked it.
His butt hadn’t even hit the seat when I started in on him. “I don’t know what your problem is. It’s a damn garage.”
His voice was hard when he spoke. “I don’t want you here.” I looked up at him in shock. Things hadn’t been the same between us since the accident, but damn. “Shit. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. You don’t belong here with all these idiots.”
“I wouldn’t be here if you’d pick up your phone.”
He faced the windshield, rubbing a hand over his head. “Sorry, I was busy. So what’s wrong with this hunk of junk?” I turned the key. Nothing, absolutely nothing.
“Can you fix it?”
He turned to me. “I’m sure I could, but I’m not going to.”
“Excuse me?” He had to fix it. I couldn’t afford another mechanic.
“This car isn’t worth the parts it would take to fix it.” I started to object but thought better of it. It’s not like I really needed it. “I’ll find you another one, but you’re not driving this anymore. If you need to go somewhere and Kass can’t take you, call me.”
I huffed, “Fine.” He tried to hide his smile. “But you’re taking me to lunch, your treat.”
“Oh am I now?” His smile full blown now.
I hadn’t seen him smile like that in so long that it should make me happy, but it didn’t. “I’ve missed you, Luc.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m right here.” I didn’t get a chance to answer, because he did what he always does, change the topic. “Now let’s get to lunch, I’m hungry.”
“You’re always hungry.”
He rubbed his belly. “I’m a growing boy.”
I shook my head. “Pretty sure a twenty-two-year-old isn’t still growing.”
“Says you.” I smiled as I followed him to his car. He drove us to our favorite little restaurant, Carlos. I was addicted to Mexican food, and this was the best place in town. We didn’t even have to order we’d been here so many times.
“So where were you?”
“I already told you I was busy.”
“Doing what?”
“You don’t want to know,” he replied as he focused anywhere but on me. He was being shifty, and I didn’t like it.
“What?” I demanded.
“I was screwing someone six ways from Sunday.”
I scrunched my nose in disgust. “Eww. Why’d you tell me that? You could have said I didn’t want to know.”
He threw his hands up in frustration. “I did. Those exact words actually.”
“Whatever,” I grumbled.
Thankfully the waitress came over to drop off our food before I could be scarred any further. We ate in silence for the next few minutes mainly because Lucas inhaled his food. “Did you not eat breakfast or something?”
“Of course I did, why?” he replied while still chewing. I swear he had no manners whatsoever.
“Because you just inhaled those fajitas like you hadn’t eaten in weeks.”
He shrugged. “I told you, growing boy.” I rolled my eyes and took another bite of my quesadilla. I remembered why I was always hungry after eating lunch with him when he started staring at my plate. With a sigh, I shoved it toward him.
The polite thing to do would be to ask if I was sure, but did he do that? Nope, he inhaled my lunch like he hadn’t just eaten three orders of fajitas. “You’re gross, you know that?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Remember when you dared Trip and me to join that pizza eating contest?”
“You guys tied, and when they handed you the trophy you two threw up in it. It was disgusting.” There was a heavy silence as we both remembered all the fun we used to have. “I miss him.”
He tugged at my hand, stopping me from shredding the napkin. “Go see him.”
I shook my head as I pulled my hand from his and started my napkin shredding again. “How is he?” I whispered.
“As good as you’d expect.”
I blinked back the tears as I stood up, the chair legs screeching as I did. “Ready to go? I need to get some studying done.” He stared at me a minute before silently getting up to take care of the bill.
After a silence-filled ride home, I leaned over kissing his cheek. “Thanks, Luc.” I walked into the apartment to see Kass sitting on the couch, tears streaming down her face. I dropped my stuff and ran to her. “What’s wrong? Is it your brother? Is he okay?” My heart rate went sky high at the thought of something happening to her little brother Marcus. He’d been born with a hole in his heart and was constantly in and out of the hospital.
She waved her hand at me as she wiped her nose with one of the million Kleenex she had laying around her. “Shh!” I followed her gaze to see Armageddon playing. “He’s just so selfless. He dies so his daughter can be happy.”
I sat down next to her, and within seconds my eyes were misty. I could practically recite the entire movie, but it still got me every freaking time. Wordlessly Kass passed me a Kleenex as we watched Harry say goodbye to Grace.
We sat there sniffling while the credits rolled. She blew her nose one more time before lifting the remote and turning off the TV. She turned toward me, putting her arm against the back of the couch. “Marcus is good. I talked with him earlier. He’s actually going on a date this weekend.”
“What?!?!” I won’t lie I’m a little shocked. Marcus is a great guy, but he’s a mix of Sheldon and Rajesh from The Big Bang Theory. “Do we know anything about this girl?”
“Remember my next door neighbor?”
“The one who stares at her feet?” Such a beautiful woman, but she’s painfully shy. Every time I tried to talk to her, she’d mutter something then run the other way.
“That’s the one.”
I smiled. “Well go, Marcus.” We spent the rest of evening watching Armageddon, and you guessed it— crying.
TRAYTON
“Alley Cat, you know I love you, but you’re wrong.”
“You’re supposed to be on my side!” she whined. I loved my cousin, but damn teenage girls could be annoying.
I sighed, “Alyssa, he’s seventeen, you’re barely sixteen. You’re out of your damn mind if you think I’d let you go, let alone your dad.”
“But it’s prom!! I’m like one of the only freshmen to be invited!”
“There will be other proms.”
“I hate you!”
I shrugged even though she couldn’t see me. “No, you don’t.”
She huffed, “Fine I don’t, but I don’t like you right now.” She hung up before I could say anything.
I smiled as I set my phone down and leaned back into the couch. Never a dull moment with her. I flicked the TV on and channel surfed, finally landing on a marathon of NCIS. The blonde on there got me thinking of another blonde.
I caught myself studying her yesterday. Everything from the way she walked to the way she smiled captivated me. She was beautiful, there was no denying that, but I’d seen and had plenty of beautiful women. There was just something more about her that drew me in. Maybe it was the wall she’d obviously built, never letting anyone besides the black haired chick close. Maybe it was her relationship with Eddie, and the odd feeling of jealousy I felt when he spoke her name. Maybe it was the desire to tear her wall down brick by brick to take away
the sadness pouring from her gorgeous blue eyes. No matter what it was, she was a puzzle that I planned on figuring out.
ALEX
I hated being late to class, and I especially hated being late to Geography. The professor was a serious dick. I knew he’d make a scene about me being late, but I couldn’t skip. He was notorious for throwing pop quizzes, and my grade was a shaky B at best. I couldn’t take a zero, so I rushed around my room throwing on sweats and a t-shirt, pulling my hair up into a messy bun and chewing on a tic-tac in lieu of brushing my teeth.
I tried to discreetly sneak in the side door, but of course, the teacher from Hell noticed. “So nice of you to join us, Ms. Parker. Hope we didn’t keep you from something important.” My face was so red I probably looked like a Hot Tamale. I muttered my apology as I slid into the closest open seat.
I spent the next hour cursing Professor Jerkface for humiliating me over and over again. In his sick, twisted mind he thought it’d be fun to check with me every ten minutes to see if he was keeping me from something. To make matters worse, he didn’t even give a pop quiz. As soon as he said class dismissed, I was out the door and headed to Coffee Fix for an Iced White Chocolate Mocha and a blueberry muffin.
I said a silent prayer of thanks to the coffee gods when I saw there wasn’t a line. That’s where my luck ran out, though, because two bites in the chime above the door rang. I glanced up to see Trayton walking in. Of course, the guy I couldn’t get out of my head would walk in to see the hot mess that is me right now. I was dressed like a hobo for crying out loud. I looked down at my shirt and cringed. Pretty sure I hadn’t washed it yet considering there was a gigantic red stain on the front. I grabbed my Geography book to hide behind. I peeked over the top as he sauntered to the front, thankfully not seeing me.
I should have grabbed my stuff and bolted, but like an idiot I didn’t. Instead, I dropped my forehead on the table, which of course knocked my drink over and onto me.
I jumped up not only knocking my chair over in the process but somehow my muffin went flying five feet in the air. “Dammit!” I screeched. Could this day get any worse? Famous last words.
I was trying to mop up the mess when a pair of worn black leather boots appeared. I squeezed my eyes closed, it couldn’t be him. Life wouldn’t be this cruel, right? Apparently, it could because when I opened my eyes, I realized I was on my knees...directly in front of him. Oh. My. Freaking. Gawd! I slammed my eyes closed again. This seriously is NOT happening. I opened one eye slowly and realized that yes, yes it was.
He cleared his throat, and after a few very awkward seconds, I met his amused gaze. “Having a bad day?”
“Ah nope, everything’s peachy.” I jumped up and dropped my gaze while grabbing all my things and haphazardly shoving everything into my bag. I was two seconds from making my escape when his hand covered mine.
The tingling that shot up my arm took my breath away. As I stared at our connected hands, the tingling turned into the same warming sensation he’d given me before. When my hand started to burn my eyes slowly trailed up his tattooed arm, to his chiseled cheekbones, and finally landing on stormy blue eyes.
“I don’t think you need these.” His gravelly voice not only caused flutters in my stomach but broke me from my trance, and I realized I was getting ready to shove sopping napkins into my bag.
Would the humiliation ever end? “Oh yeah, guess not.” I slowly pulled my hand from his and started to back away. “I’ll just go throw these away.”
I tried to sneak my bag as I backed up, but he grabbed the strap before I could get it. “You’re not leaving.”
My sarcastic side came out. “Oh really? You planning on stopping me?”
He leaned in and when his lips touched my outer ear a shiver wracked my body from head to toe. “Trust me, baby, I’d enjoy stopping you.” When the Cheshire cat smile crossed his face, I gulped because I’m not entirely sure I wanted to know how he planned on doing that.
Wordlessly I walked over to the trashcan trying to figure out what the hell was going on. I hadn’t seen him my first two years, but this would make number three in roughly a month. I should make an excuse and hightail it out of here because Kass was right, he was out of my league. Problem was knowing that and doing that were two very different things, which was why I found myself walking back to the table and sitting down across from him.
He didn’t say anything when I sat down, only studied me. Pretty sure a bomb could have gone off and I wouldn’t notice because I was so lost in his cerulean blues. All his attention focused on me had my heart rate spiking and my body on fire. If a look could do this to me, I wonder what a kiss would do. Nope, not going there. I’m not going to think about how undesirable and life-altering it’d be. Dammit, I went there.
The silence bordered on awkward, and I cleared my throat. “So...” Seems my conversational skills around him hadn’t improved.
He smirked. “Tell me about yourself.”
“Isn’t much to tell.”
“I don’t believe that. Let’s start with something easy. You a sophomore?”
“Junior.”
“Hmm.” Hmm? What the hell does that mean? “What’s your major?”
“Psychology.”
“How old are you?”
“Are you the only one who gets to ask questions?” He chuckled and shook his head. “Okay then, same questions back at ya.”
“Senior, pre-law, and twenty-two.” Wow. I didn’t peg him as the lawyer type. “Now age.”
“Twenty-one.”
TRAYTON
I hadn’t planned on stopping in for coffee. In fact, I hated coffee, but when I saw her sitting there, I couldn’t resist. She was more beautiful than I remembered, even in her baggy sweats and an oversized t-shirt. I was used to women who believed in the less is more motto, not the I rolled out of bed attire. I wasn’t one to get territorial over a woman, but I actually preferred this outfit to what she wore at the party, at least when other guys were around.
She went from beautiful to adorable—not a word I’d ever associated with a woman—before when her drink went flying. It took everything in me not to bust out laughing. I know she thought I didn’t see it, but I was watching her out of the corner of my eye the whole time.
When I walked over to see her on her knees, beautiful and adorable went flying out the window. They were replaced with red-hot lust. I wanted to drag her off the floor and devour her mouth. I’d been seconds away from tasting her pouty lips when I realized we were in public. Not something that normally deterred me, but I had a feeling she wouldn’t appreciate it. Instead, I settled for a Q&A session, which was another first for me.
“So what about your family?” The sadness I’d seen before paled in comparison to what I saw now. I hated the pain in her eyes, but at least now I had a piece of the puzzle. The pain stemmed from family. Instead of answering her gaze moved over my shoulder, out the window. I let her compose herself for a minute before reaching across the table and squeezing her hand. “Listen, let’s talk about something else.”
She grabbed her phone, checking the time. “I gotta go, I have class in ten.”
“Give me your phone.”
Her nose scrunched up as her brow furrowed. “Why?”
I simply stated, “I want your number.” I could be ruthless when need be, but another thing about me is I get what I want, always. I slid her phone out of her hand and added my number to her contacts, under Unforgettable. I sent myself a text before handing it back. “There, all done. Now you have my number, and I have yours.” I slid away from the table offering her my hand. Confusion still written all over her face, she let me lead her outside.
I lifted her hand to give it a chaste kiss before turning to the parking lot with a smile on my face. I glanced over my shoulder as I opened the car door to see her still standing there, cradling her hand to her chest. The sun glinting off her hair took my breath away, and at that moment she reminded me of all the love stories my mom told me as
a child. I may not remember a lot about her, but I remember that. She used to go on and on about how I’d fall in love with a woman, and I’d do anything to make her smile. I’m not saying that was Alex, but the fact that she made me remember those stories spoke volumes.
ALEX
I stood there watching him go, hand cradled to my chest unable to move. I was at a complete loss for words. I’d just spent thirty minutes with him and every second was amazing, well excluding my wardrobe, my clumsiness, and the family question. Okay so there were some rough spots, but it was still amazing. As dorky as it sounds it felt like I was walking on air. He left me with this weightless feeling like all my problems had disappeared. My phone dinging brought me back to reality. I made my way to class as I swiped to see the message.
Unforgettable: I thought you had to get to class.
Me: Unforgettable? Someone’s a little cocky.
Unforgettable: It’s not cocky if it’s the truth. You think that’s good, you should see what your number’s under.
Me: What?
Unforgettable: Not telling.
Me: Pretty please.
Unforgettable: What’s in it for me?
Me: Making me happy?
Unforgettable: Not enough. I want more.
Me: Okay...what do u want?
Unforgettable: A date. I choked on the sip I’d just taken. Was he serious?
Unforgettable: Hello?
Me: I gotta go. Class is starting.
I turned my phone on vibrate as I ran the rest of the way to Biology. I had slid into my seat seconds before the teacher started roll call.
I tried hard to focus on Cellular Processes, but my phone buzzed on and off throughout the lecture. The romantic part of me was dying to read what he said, but the sensible part of me said no. I couldn’t go there, not only because I refused to be a notch, but I also couldn’t imagine myself in a relationship right now.
It’s not that I didn’t want a relationship, because yeah I got lonely. I just don’t think a guy would want to deal with the baggage I’d bring. I could barely handle it some days so I couldn’t expect someone else to take it on.
