by R. M. Lynn
He nods and says, “Yeah, the parents went with Noah to return some clothes someone got him for Christmas. My mom wanted to spend some gift cards, too. They’ll be back in an hour or two. Let me take your stuff upstairs.”
He leads me by the hand up the stairs. We walk past a bathroom and an office before turning into his room. The walls are white, but he has a ton of music memorabilia on them. His bed is in the center of the room, in front of a dark colored dresser with a TV on top of it. His closet is right next to the entryway of the door
“You have a balcony?” I ask with an exhale.
He nods. “Yeah, when we moved in, Mom and Conner were worried about how well I’d adjust so they kicked Noah out of here and gave me the nicest room. He’s still pretty bitter about it.”
Dropping my coat onto the bed, I move over to the glass door and push it open. The bitter wind of winter flutters through my hair. Stepping out onto the snow-covered balcony, I look out over the spacious yard with a covered pool to the side.
“Your house is beautiful,” I murmur as I hear him up behind me.
“Yeah, it’s nice,” he mutters. “Better than the shithole we used to live in before they got together. It’s freezing out here.”
He pulls on my hand gently, pulls us back into his bedroom, and closes the door. I sit on the edge of his bed as he leans back against the dresser across from me.
“I just can’t even believe you’re in my childhood bedroom right now,” Kyler says to me with a smile.
“What do you want to do first?” I ask quietly. “What’s there to do around here?”
He bites back a grin and shrugs. “Not a whole lot.”
“Maybe we can just watch a movie?” I offer. “Before your family comes back. Noah might want to hang out with us.”
“Yeah, sure,” he says. “The TV downstairs is bigger. If you wanted to watch down there? I have a bunch of movies in the closet.”
He moves to the closet, opens the doors and reveals some clothes hung up on a rack, shoes on the top shelf, and a shelf underneath the clothing that's full of blu-rays. I smile at him and crouch down to take it all in.
“Which one?” I ask softly.
“Whichever one you want, Livy,” he murmurs. I grab one from the bottom of the shelf and show it to him. He raises an eyebrow, frowns, and asks, “St. Elmo’s Fire? Really?”
“What’s wrong with it?” I laugh out.
“My mom bought it for me when I was sixteen or something,” he tells me. “I watched it once and said never again.”
“It’s so good,” I insist. “We have to watch it now that you’ve matured.”
“I don’t know about matured, but okay, whatever you say,” he mumbles and pulls me to my feet. “Let’s go watch it.”
We head downstairs, and when we reach the living room, I curl up on the couch while Kyler sets the movie up. He returns to the couch as the film begins on screen, flopping down next to me. His arm goes around my shoulders, and he pulls me into his chest. The movement alone makes me sigh, and I nuzzle further into him. The whole thing seems so normal, as if we’ve been cuddling and watching movies for years. Half way through the movie, I’m so content, and I look up at him. He gives me a small smile.
“I’m glad I’m here,” I tell him quietly.
His arm tightens around me, and his lips brush over my hair line. “Me, too. You have no idea.”
I think he’ll kiss me. His hand is in my hair, tipping my face up to his. We hear the front door open and people chatting, and his hand immediately drops. I bite my lip to hide the disappointment from showing on my face.
He stands from the couch and runs a hand through his hair just as we hear, “Well, I’m just saying my coupon should have worked. It was only expired a day.”
A dark-haired woman who looked about forty, presumably Kyler’s mom, comes into view. When she grins, I can see Kyler’s smile in hers. She’s shorter than I am, slim, and very pretty. The man next to her, Kyler’s step-father, is tall like Noah with the same dark blonde hair and brown eyes. I stand from the couch as Kyler introduces me to his parents.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Alivia,” his mom, Veronica, says as she hugs me tightly against her. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
When she pulls away from me, Noah steps forward and gives me a hug. Conner shakes my hand gently.
“Well, we don’t want to interrupt your movie,” Veronica says and looks up at Kyler. “Is there anything special you want for dinner?”
He shakes his head and mutters, “I didn’t really think much about it.”
“Maybe we can just order some pizza then,” Conner offers and grabs Veronica’s hand. “Will Dylan be joining us?”
Noah shrugs and says, “Maybe, I’ll text him.”
Kyler gives his mom a look, and soon, she’s heading upstairs with her husband in tow. Noah sticks around to dig around in the kitchen while Kyler and I head back to the couch. We don’t touch at all, until Noah retreats upstairs to his room. Kyler’s arm goes back around me, pulling me back against him. I smile to myself and try hard to focus on the movie.
After dinner, Noah tells us that Dylan wants to head to a local bar to meet for drinks. Once we’re ready, we make the ten minute drive together to a local dive bar. Kyler helps me out of the Jeep and adjusts my glasses on my face.
“Have I ever told you how much I like these?” he murmurs.
I bite my lip. “I forgot to bring contacts, so hopefully you do.”
“I definitely do.”
He leads me inside when a hand at the small of my back. Noah’s already at a table with Dylan. Kyler gives Dylan a wave, I smile, and follow Kyler to the bar. He orders me a vodka soda and gets himself a beer. We head back over to the table where Dylan stands to hug me.
“I can’t believe you’re in fucking Michigan right now,” Dylan exclaims.
“Me either,” I laugh out as he lets me go, and we sit.
“So, what made you come out?” Dylan asks with a grin. “Me?”
I smirk and say, “You wish.”
Kyler and Noah chuckle as Dylan replies, “You’re right. So, really, why come out?”
“Just to hang out,” I tell him, trying to remain nonchalant. “Did Oliver and Ayden already leave?”
Kyler nods and answers, “Yeah, after the gig last night, they stayed over at Dylan’s. They usually leave when they wake up. They’re from Indiana so it takes a while to drive home.”
“Got it,” I say with a smile. “What’re the plans for tonight?”
Dylan clinks his glass to mine and claims, “To get fucked up.”
◆◆◆
“What a fucking moron,” Noah mutters from the backseat of the Jeep with Dylan.
“Relax, I’m almost there,” Kyler snaps back.
I bite back a smile. A couple of hours of our night out turned into babysitting Dylan for the rest of the night. We had to leave his car at the bar, so now, we’re packed inside the Jeep heading back to Noah and Kyler’s. Out of all of us, Kyler’s the soberest, if not completely sober. I have a slight buzz going, which only makes the whole ordeal funnier to me.
“You better not fucking puke in here, asshole,” Kyler warns Dylan, who’s currently slumped over in the seat, his head in his hands.
“Fuck off,” Dylan retorts and follows it with a groan.
“Kyler, I don’t want to share a bed with him,” Noah whines, probably a drink away from being at Dylan’s level. “Let’s switch.”
“No,” Kyler states coldly.
“Liv, tell him to switch with me,” Noah continues. “I’m a good cuddler.”
I can’t help but laugh. Kyler shakes his head at the antics ensuing in his car. We pull into the driveway and pile out of the car. Kyler has to help Dylan get into the house. We get inside, and Dylan starts chatting about God knows what.
“Shut the fuck up,” Kyler whisper-yells. “You’ll wake Mom and Dad.”
Dylan cringes and gives an apologetic smile. Kyler d
rags him up the stairs, and I try to assist a stumbling Noah up as well. Kyler heads to Noah’s room and shoves Dylan onto the futon while Noah flops into his bed. Kyler follows me out of the room, closes the door, and moves us into his room.
“I should get into some pajamas,” I say when he closes the door.
“Yeah. Do you want me to leave the room?” he asks.
“I’ll just go to the bathroom,” I insist and grab my things. “Be right back.”
I change into a pair of shorts and matching tank top. I run a comb through my hair and brush my teeth. Once I’m ready for bed, I head back into Kyler’s room quietly and find him pulling his shirt over his head. He changed out of his jeans, and he’s now wearing a pair of sweatpants. When I click the door closed behind me, he looks up, his raking over me.
“You packed that when it’s this cold out?” he asks.
I shrug. “I do sleep indoors, so.”
He turns, and I swear I hear him curse under his breath. Biting back a smile, I ask him if there’s a guest room I should sleep in.
“There is, but you’re staying in here,” he replies. “With me.”
The decision is final, so I crawl into bed as he flicks the lamp off and slides under the covers next to me. I face away from him, looking out the glass door at the snow that’s beginning to fall from the night sky. I hear Kyler still next to me, exhale, and then he turns on his side and scoots closer to me. His arm wraps around my middle, his knees slipping behind mine. I feel his lips brush my shoulder, and I shudder.
“Kyler?” I whisper into the dark.
“Yeah?” he utters back.
I swallow, hesitate for a minute, before finally mumbling, “Goodnight.”
He exhales and tightens his arms around me. “Night, Livy.”
I wake up the next morning with Kyler on his back with his arm around me as I curl into his side. My hand rests on his abs, and I blink sleep away. I sit up slowly so not to wake him and run my hands through my hair to rid it of knotty curls. I feel Kyler’s hand move to my back, and I look down at him giving me a sleepy smile.
I smile back and murmur, “Good morning.”
“Morning,” he replies, his voice husky. “Sleep okay?”
“Yeah, did you?”
He gives me a nod before sitting up and stretching his arms over his head. He pulls me into him and presses a quick kiss to my temple before climbing out of the bed.
“I might take a shower quick,” Kyler tells me as he heads to his dresser. “That alright?”
“Yeah, go for it,” I insist. “I’ll hop in after you.”
“Be right back,” he says and slips out of his room.
I stand out of the bed and head to the glass door to take in the fresh snow that covers everything. I look around his room once more and lift up an older guitar that sits in the corner of the room in the closet. Picking it up, I bring it over to the bed and cradle it in my hands. I try strumming and plucking the cords, but I sound nothing like Kyler when he plays it. I try making some sort of decent sound for a few minutes until Kyler walks in wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and a smirk on his face.
“What’re you doing?” he asks with amusement.
“I was just trying my hand at the guitar,” I mumble and move to put it back.
“No, I’ll help you,” he says quickly and moves to sit next to me. Pulling me back against him, he adjusts the guitar in my hands, his big ones covering mine. “You’re not relaxing your hands enough.”
I let out a breath and relax my hands in his. He moves my hand so a melody emits from the guitar. I look up at him with a big smile.
“I’ll never be able to make that sound again,” I laugh out.
“You will,” he assures me. “Put these fingers here and these up here.” He moves my fingers to specific guitar strings and takes his hands away from mine. “Now, go ahead.”
I strum, and the music that comes out sounds almost like how he did it, but not as great. Nonetheless, it sounds a lot better than it did before he walked in.
“See, you did it,” Kyler acclaims. “With just some practice, you’ll be a pro.”
I give him a skeptical look, and he laughs. I hand him the guitar and stand.
“I’ll take a quick shower,” I say. “Meet you downstairs?”
He gives me a nod and walks with me, parting ways at the bathroom. After a quick shower, I blow dry my hair and change into a maroon Edgewood University sweatshirt and skinny jeans. Sliding my glasses onto my face, I head downstairs and meet Veronica in the kitchen. She smiles at me as she prepares a cup of tea for herself.
“Want some tea, honey?” she asks with a smile.
I shake my head politely and say, “No, I’m okay. Where’re the guys at?”
Veronica rolls her eyes and walks over to the sliding glass door. “Take a look for yourself.”
I walk over and look outside, immediately smiling. The guys are all bundled up in coats, running around in the snow like elementary kids. Dylan is throwing snowballs at Noah while he attempts to create the bottom half of a snowman. Kyler’s laughing at the both of them as Noah begins to scold Dylan.
“You better get out there before they realize how cold it is,” Veronica says with a smirk.
I hurry back upstairs to bundle up with a coat and boots before heading back down and out into the backyard. As soon as the door closes behind me, I’m pelted with snowballs. I scream and try to take cover behind the covered patio furniture. Soon, Noah’s on my side, and there’s an all-out snowball war going on in the backyard. When I hit Kyler in the stomach three times, he chases me off behind the pool, cornering me at the angle of the fence.
“Nowhere to hide now,” Kyler teases as he steps closer to me, snowball in hand. “Do you surrender?”
“Never,” I reply defiantly and grin up at him.
I think he’s going to throw the snowball at me, however, he drops it and steps closer, millimeters from me. His hands go into my hair, to the back of my head, tipping my face up to his.
Forehead dropping to mine, he whispers, “You look too fucking pretty out here for me not to do this. I really need you to tell me it’s okay.”
“It’s okay,” I murmur in a rush.
Before I can say anything else, his mouth descends on mine. His lips are cold, but his tongue is warm as it gains entry into my mouth. His tongue sweeps over mine, and a small moan escapes me. My hands roam up his chest and stop there. One of his hands leaves my jaw to drop down to the small of my back, pulling me tighter against him. My butt pushes back against the fence when his hips push into mine. His hands move to steady himself, and he grips the fence on either side of me. My hands move up his chest to rest at the back of his neck. Pulling him as close as I can, I relish in the feel of his body pressed to mine, his lips on my lips, his minty breath mixing with mine.
When we hear Noah and Dylan calling for us, he pulls away reluctantly. His forehead lays on mine, and his hand comes up to run through my hair.
“We should go warm up,” he murmurs.
“Okay,” I whisper and take the hand he offers me.
We walk back around the pool hand in hand, climb up onto the deck and meet Noah and Dylan.
“I’m freezing my nuts off,” Dylan whines. “Let’s go in.”
We follow the two inside, all of us putting our coats up in the closet at the front of the house. Kyler mutters something Noah about wanting to hang out with me for the day, and I don’t miss the look he gives him. Kyler pulls me upstairs to his room, closes the door behind him, and immediately pushes me back against it, taking my mouth into a deep kiss. My hands run up his shirt, hitting his abs, and a breathy sigh escapes me. Our tongues meet and dance together, and I could cry. I’ve wanted this for so long, and I know he has, too.
“Will you take this off?” I ask softly and pull on his t-shirt. “I want to look at you.”
His jaw clenches as if he’s struggling to maintain control, and he pulls the t-shirt over his head. My eyes take him in. H
is bare muscular chest, his abs, the v and happy trail of hair dipping into his jeans.
“I showed you mine,” he says and gestures to my sweatshirt with a nod of his head. “You going to show me yours?”
I bite my bottom lip. “Are we going too fast?”
“We can stop,” he assures me softly, but I know he regrets giving me the out.
Looking him over again, I nibble my lip, mulling over any and every consequence that may occur if we take this any further. The biggest consequence, though, is that if we don’t work out, I’ll lose him as a friend. It’ll be worse than when he was with Stella. At least I still had him in my life, even if he was mad at me most days. If we were to split up, what if we weren’t able to remain amicable afterward? Finally, I decide that I’m willing to take the risk. I didn’t drive the three and a half hours to not doing anything about the way I felt for him.
“I don’t want to stop,” I whisper and pull my sweatshirt over my head revealing a pale pink bra. My hands go to the back of it and hover over the clasp. “Do you?”
“Fuck no,” he nearly groans out.
With his words, I undo my bra and slip my arms out of it, letting it fall to the ground. My glasses are removed, and I lay them down on the dresser next to the TV. He curses lowly and takes in my body as I saunter over to him and throw my arms around his shoulders. His hands go to my bare waist and run upward to the curves under my breasts before slipping back down to my hips. My mouth takes his in a hungry kiss. When our tongues meet, he hoists me up and carries me to the bed. Laying me down, he undoes my jeans and peals them off of my legs. Tossing them to the floor, he looks over me laying on the bed in just lace panties. I bite my lip and squirm under his gaze. Within a moment, he’s crawling over me, his jeans brushing over my skin, and he cups the back of my head in his hand. Our mouths meet once again, and I moan as his hand slips behind my back and arches me up against him. I can feel him straining in his jeans between my legs. When I rock my hips up against him, he groans and drops his head in my neck. His lips run down my neck and across my shoulder. When his mouth hits my chest, I arch up further and moan, my hands going into his hair. His tongue runs over my nipple once, twice, and then he moves to pay attention to the other one.
