He snorted, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
I saw Taylor sitting by Lea across the dining hall. Without saying another word to him, I walked toward her. They were talking about Christmas and going to her parents. She didn’t look up until I slid in beside her.
“I wanna meet your parents,” I said.
“You sure about that?” She laughed, eyeing me skeptically.
“Yeah, why not.”
She looked to Lea for help, then her eyes landed back on me. “Um, for starters my dad’s an asshole.”
“He won’t say anything to me.”
She screwed her lips to the side, thinking. My brows bunched together as I scowled. She didn’t want her family to meet me. I knew I wasn’t good enough for her; as I watched her consider what I asked, I knew she thought her family wouldn’t think I was good enough either.
“If you want, but don't say I didn't warn you,” she said. She looked at Lea. “When’s your flight?”
“Four, ugh, I’m leaving after lunch,” Lea said, rolling her eyes. She hated flying, but she promised Anna she would go for Christmas.
“I’m so jealous. Take lots of pictures!” Taylor said and I cringed. I should’ve gotten plane tickets to go.
“I will! I’ve never been to Colorado before and Anna said they live close to the ski lift! So what are you tellin’ your mom?” Lea asked, amused.
“She just texted me again,” she said, pointing to her phone. “I guess she knows I’m ignoring her. I mean I guess I could handle a few days there. Maybe I can go tomorrow? That’s only four days before Christmas. I could leave that night.”
“You would probably survive that,” Lea laughed. “What are you two doing tonight?”
“Joel wanted to go to the cabin. There’s a couple four wheelers there and he’s swinging by his parents to get his. But now that I won’t see Taylor for a few days…” I said, watching her reaction. She was frowning.
“That sounds…dangerous. Oh my god, Hayze, what the hell are you going to do without us? Taylor and I will both be gone the entire Christmas break,” Lea said.
“Um, I didn’t say that,” Taylor said, wide-eyed.
I shrugged, ignoring Taylor’s freak-out. “Won’t be that long, I guess I’ll go to Taylor’s on Christmas Eve and stay the night…”
They burst into laughter. “Did hell just freeze over? Taylor’s dad isn’t going to let you within a mile of that house when the sun goes down,” Lea said.
Taylor nodded, “The only things that are open after dark are legs and the ER.”
“Shut up! He did not say that,” Lea howled with laughter.
“I’ll just come Christmas day and we can ride back together?” I asked and she shook her head in agreement. “You okay with riding four wheelers at the cabin tonight?”
“Yeah, sounds fun,” she said, forcing a smile.
“You two be careful, okay?” Lea said.
“We will, Mom,” Taylor said, rolling her eyes.
When we get back to the dorm Lea grabbed her carry-on and hugged us before she left. I helped Taylor grab her clothes and everything she needed to go to her parents. When we were finished, I took the bag to my Mustang and drove us to my apartment. When we got there, of course Joel already had girls over drinking.
“When we goin’, man?” He asked as soon as I walked in.
“I’m riding down there in an hour to gas up before dark,” I said.
“Alright, we’ll see ya down there. I’ve gotta go by my parents first. Is the cabin unlocked?”
“The key is under the mat, but don’t go in there and fuck around,” I said, already annoyed with him. He looked amused as he opened the door with the girls following after him.
“I won’t do anything you wouldn’t do,” he said before closing the door.
“My next roommate will sign a very detailed contract.”
Taylor laughed, “What’s wrong this time?”
“That son of a bitch always has girls over here. He needs to do that shit at their place,” I said. I walked over, grabbing whiskey from the cabinet. I poured it into a glass with sweet and sour and took a sip.
“What’s wrong with having them over?” She asked, smirking.
“We’ve been through this,” I said, rolling my eyes. I knew she like to get a rise out of me.
“Do you guys go to the cabin a lot?” She asked, sitting on the couch. She tucked her feet to the side, making herself comfortable. I sucked down the rest of my drink and made two more.
“We used to, not so much anymore. And Chandler would come, too. I think he’s coming tonight,” I said. I sat on the couch beside her, pulling her legs in my lap. I handed her a drink and she thanked me with a kiss.
“Have I met him?” She asked. Taking a sip, she frowned.
“No, he’s in the frat I was in…I got out of it but I still hang out with some of the guys.”
“Who’s all going?”
“Chandler, Joel, those chicks he was with. I think that’s it,” I said.
“Chandler isn’t bringing a slew of girls, is he?” She said and her face twisted into disgust.
I loved knowing she was jealous. I laughed, “I’m sure he’ll be entertained.”
I knocked her legs off of me and walked to my bedroom. I grabbed my backpack. Looking around the room, I shoved my pills inside just in case. When I got back to the living room, I threw my backpack near hers. I went to the kitchen, searching the liquor cabinet.
“What do you want tonight? Wine? Whiskey?” I asked.
She looked appalled. “Hayze we are riding four wheelers tonight, should we drink?”
“I’m driving. You’re riding, drink enough for both of us,” I said, winking. That only made her roll her eyes at me.
“I’ll be hung over when I see my family tomorrow, lovely. And you’ve already had a drink…”
“I have had one drink, stop insultin’ my manhood, woman. C’mon, we need to get down there before Joel fucks the place up,” I said, patting her thighs to get up.
****
“Thought I heard something,” I said, looking behind Taylor. The ATV’s were clean and gassed up. It’s just like my friends to show up after everything was done.
“Where’s Joel? He’s bringing Kassi and Jenny?” Chandler asked, walking toward us.
“He had some chicks, I don’t know their names,” I said, shrugging. I didn’t want to piss Taylor off…I’d been with Kassi a time or two, but she knew it was nothing and we were over it.
“And who are you? I’m Chandler,” he said, sticking his hand out. He could probably feel my death glare from yards away.
“That’s Taylor,” I snapped.
“Well, shit, you’re not a myth. Good to meet ya,” Chandler said, laughing.
A couple of car doors slammed and Chandler looked back, grinning. “Speak of the devil. Be right back,” he said, then turned and jogged toward the cabin.
Chandler walked up to them. Snaking his arms around Kassi’s waist, he gave her a quick kiss. Joel stood on the opposite side of the truck, motioning for him to come over. As he walked over, I noticed Taylor watching them as they made an exchange.
“Babe? Drive one to the front.”
“Yeah, sure. What were they doing?” She asked without taking her eyes off of them.
“Looks like he’s about to unload the four-wheeler,” I said, playing it off.
Sighing, she drove around to the front. I followed behind her on the second. When she got off, she was swarmed by Kassi and Jenny.
I walked over to Joel and Chandler, who were laughing like idiots on the opposite side of the truck. Thinking about slapping them in the back of the head, I exhaled a long breath. This shit shouldn’t surprise me at this point, I know they’re going to use.
“Could you be any less obvious? Taylor saw you idiots,” I said.
Joel laughed. He was amused that I fell for a girl as innocent as Taylor. He slapped Chandler on the arm then pointed at me. “What did I
tell you, man?”
I rolled my eyes. “Jenny doesn’t know about everything you do…So, don’t get me started.”
“She knows pretty much everything,” he said, shrugging. Grabbing a bag from is pocket, he held it out for me to see. “Taylor wouldn’t know what this was if I slapped her in the face with it.”
Seeing that I was getting pissed, Chandler stepped in front of him. “Let’s just get going.”
"Ladies. Are we ready?" Joel asked. Snaking his arms around Jenny, he pulled her to him.
"Ready," they said in unison.
I grabbed a plastic up from Joel’s tailgate and handed it to Taylor. I usually wouldn't do that, but I saw him make the drink myself. You never know what that stupid fuck might put in a drink if you aren’t watching.
I sat on the ATV, patting the spot behind me. As she stepped closer, Taylor’s eyes narrowed.
"You sure you don't want me to drive?" She asked.
"I don't understand your sense of humor. Drink that down before you climb on,” I said, shooting her a shit-eating-grin. I started the engines as she slid on behind me. Her arms wrap around me, holding me tight.
Driving the other two ATV’s, Chandler and Joel shot in front of us. I shook my head, already annoyed with them. They would probably end up getting hurt as usual.
"Let's hang back," I yelled to Taylor over the engine. With her head leaning into my back, she nodded.
They flew in front of us, staying on the main trail through the woods. I slowed down and turned off on another trail. Tree limbs slammed into us on the trail that was almost grown up. Trying to shield Taylor, I held my arm out, blocking the brush that hit her.
“It’ll clear out in a minute,” I said.
Speeding up to get away from the thick woods, we hit a bump, sending us flying into the main trail. Taylor slammed into me, and tried unsuccessfully to get back into place. When I saw headlights approach us, I killed the engine.
“We need music!” Kassi said.
“Here, plug your phone in the cooler, it has an aux,” Joel said, pointing to the cooler on the back. Hayze, come here for a sec.”
“Be right back,” I said, kissing Taylor.
Sighing, I climbed off and followed them into the woods. I knew if I didn’t go, Joel would smart some shit off in front of Taylor.
“What do you want?” I asked when we got far enough into the woods.
“You know what we want!” Joel held a bag out in front of my face, taunting me with it. Clenching my jaw, I took a step back, waiting for them to finish. After they took a hit, Joel held the bag to me.
“There’s not much to work with out here, man. Just make do,” he said.
I shook my head. “I told you I’m quitting that shit.”
He snorted, looking to Chandler. “You can quit doing it all the time…Just do it when we go out.”
I motioned around the woods. “We aren’t out.”
“Jenny and Kassi probably wouldn’t want us doing it, but you don’t see us acting like a whipped bitch over it.”
“You aren’t seriously comparing your fuck-buddies to Taylor, are you?” I asked, getting annoyed. At this point I just wanted to take a hit and get back so he’d leave me alone.
He looked between me and Chandler. “I don’t think those girls would like the way you’re talking about them,” he said, crossing his arms at his chest. “Besides you and Kassi not too long ago…”
I held my hand up, pissed. “If I snort some will you just shut the fuck up?’
“Hell yeah,” he said, grinning victoriously.
Snatching the bag from his hand, I emptied a tiny amount on the back of my left hand. I snorted and threw the bag back at him.
“You’re still acting like a bitch,” he said, laughing.
“You’re gonna piss the wrong person off one day,” I said. And that person might be me if you catch me on a bad day.
I walked back to the trail. Like the whore she is, Jenny is standing on the seat, dancing to get our attention. I don’t even look her direction. I stalked in Taylor’s direction, grinning. I feel better than before, but at the same time, I feel guilty. She’d be pissed if she knew the truth.
I slid on backwards, pulling her legs around my waist. I kiss her, deepening it as she tried to push back. Sighing, I leaned back.
“We’re in public,” she said.
“Nah, we’re in the woods and I’m pretty sure my friends have seen a kiss before,” I said, leaning into her. She stopped me, clearly mad.
“Not like that…. I’ve never even seen one like that.”
“You want some privacy?” I asked, kissing her neck. I could drive us to a trail away from them. Out of no-where, I had to have her.
“What…Hayze?” She asked, breathing heavy.
“Have you ever fucked on a four-wheeler?”
“Seriously, Hayze? What’s gotten into you? Why are you acting so weird?” She asked as she pushed me back. I gave up, letting my arms fall.
“If you two are done, we’d like to ride,” Joel yelled. Taylor ducked her head, glaring at me. Fucking Joel.
“Looks like we are,” I said. Turning around to the right position, I started the engine and drove off.
“Slow down!” She yelled, squeezing her thighs against me.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
She rested her head on my forehead, scooting closer to me. I cut off on another trail, wanting to be alone with her, but that didn’t happen. When I saw the taillights parked, I knew something was wrong. I jumped off and walked up, finding Jenny on the ground.
“What happened?” Taylor asked as she ran up.
“Jenny and I wanted to ride together and she was driving, we hit a tree,” Kassi sobbed.
“Is she okay?” Taylor asked, moving closer to Jenny.
“She’s fine; she doesn’t want to go to the hospital. We are just giving her a minute,” Joel said, holding his hand up to block Taylor. I glared at him, daring him to upset her in anyway.
“If she hit her head I really think she needs to get it checked out,” Taylor said.
“Me too,” Kassi agreed.
“She said she’s fine,” Joel snapped.
“What’s going on?” I asked. Walking to Taylor’s side, I wanted to warn Joel before he pissed me off.
“Jenny was driving and she hit a tree! I really think she needs to get her head checked out but Joel is saying no,” Taylor said.
“I didn’t say no! Jenny said she’s fine!”
“Don’t yell at her,” I warned him. I glared at him until he backed off, then I turned my attention to Jenny. “Jenny? You wanna get your head checked out?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head.
Taylor grabbed my arm, pulling me from the group. She looked at me with big, puppy-dog eyes I could never say no to.
"Hayze I really think she needs to go to the hospital.”
"She probably does,” I said, shrugging.
"Then do something!"
"What do you want me to do? Throw her over my shoulder and run her there? We asked and she said no. End of story," I said, annoyed. Of course she needed to go, but I wasn’t in charge of all the drunk idiots here.
"Talk to Joel maybe he'll get her to agree. Or call an ambulance!"
"I can’t call an ambulance! Cops will come out here. Everyone here will get charged with something,” I said.
"You won't... You haven't even drank tonight and I can throw mine out!"
"Yeah but I’ve... Nothing, fuck, never mind,” I said, running my hand over my face. I knew I just screwed up. She was never going to let that go.
"Finish that, you have what?" She asked, grabbing my arm.
"Nothing! It's nothing! Look, I’ll go talk to Joel if it will make you feel better,” I said, storming off.
She caught my wrist. "What did you do, Hayze?"
"One thing at a time," I said, refusing to look at her. I walked back to the group. "Hey man, maybe we should get her to the ER
she probably has a concussion."
"She said she's alright," Joel snapped at me.
"I know but she's drunk so she probably doesn't know if anything’s wrong. Let's just drive her up there," I said.
"We’ll be there all damn night just for a doctor to tell her what we already know, that she's alright.” He stood up and walked near me. Although I knew it would come to this, I was kicking myself for what I would have to do to my best friend.
"That might be, but I think we should. If it was Taylor or Lea I would want someone to look after them. C'mon Jenny, Kassi do you wanna come?" I said, hoping they would come with me and he would drop it.
"Oh fuck. Holier than thou Hayze is back, what did I tell you Chandler? Listen man, when that girl leaves you, and she will, I don't want to hear you bitching about it after the way you have been acting," Joel said, laughing.
"Shut the fuck up Joel," I said, stepping toward him. This is his last chance to mouth off to me. I’ve been putting up with it more than I would anyone else.
"I’m just sayin' man don't act like a whipped bitch when she's around. Don't forget I was with you an hour ago when you walked into the woods and...." That's all it takes for me to throw my fist at him. Not expecting it, he fell to the ground and I jumped on him, punching him two other times before Chandler drug me off.
"Get the girls out of here. I’ll take care of this," Chandler said, pushing me back.
He grabbed his phone and calls for an ambulance to get Jenny. After a cramped drive back, with Jenny, Kassi, and Taylor, I dropped them off at the cabin.
"Ambulance should be here in a minute. Kassi, you think you can sit with her until then? I need to get Taylor home," I said.
“Yeah, of course, get her home,” Kassi says, waving at us.
I wasn’t waiting around to see the damage these idiots did this time, and I damn sure wasn’t letting my girlfriend get charged with anything.
“Do you think it’s a good idea to leave now?” Taylor asked as we got in the Mustang
I almost laughed out loud. It’s the perfect time to leave.
“Kassi said it’s okay.”
"Hayze, what are you hiding? What is so important that you had to punch someone in order to keep a secret?"
Ruined (The Hazed Series Book 3) Page 16
