Grinning, she rubbed my arm. “You didn’t know. And by the way my mom likes you and so does Scott.”
“Half way there,” I said, sighing.
“I break the tie.”
“Great, so half of the family hates me most of the time,” I said and she nudged my arm.
When we got to the counter, I almost died. Looking up at the ceiling, I shook my head. This guy was a regular for Joel. He was in and out of my apartment more than I was.
Clearing my throat, I pulled my card out. “We, uh, need a game.”
“Sure thing, Hayze,” he said, taking my card. He handed us shoes and pointed us in the direction of our lane. Taylor took off to the lane, putting our names in.
“Why’d you leave our names as one and two? I had the perfect names picked out,” I said, teasing her.
“I thought you were trying to be nice to me.”
Smirking, I shrugged my shoulders. “I am. This is as nice as I get. Besides, you don’t know what I was going to name you. I would have to tweak it a little, but something like your tits are…” I didn’t get the sentence out of my mouth before she ran over and clamped her hand over her mouth.
“Hayze,” she said, warning me.
She pulled away, pointing at me as she grabbed a ball. Chuckling, I watched her walk up and unsuccessfully chunk the ball down the lane. Unsurprisingly, it goes straight to the gutter. Turning, she glared at me and I tried to look sincere.
She’s competitive. This should be interesting.
I grabbed a ball and threw it down the lane, knocking over every pin. Her face was beat red when I walked back.
“Seriously? You didn’t even want to bowl,” she said, complaining. I wrapped my arms around her, laughing as she swatted at me.
I leaned into her ear, “I’m good at everything.”
She rolled her eyes at me, watching me skeptically as she grabbed her ball. “Name one thing I’m not good at…That’s what I thought.”
She bowled a second time, knocking over three pins. Clapping, she turned and pointed at me.
“Ha! I’m warming up!”
“Wow, three pins. That brings your grand total to three,” I said, smirking. She didn’t like my joke; she grabbed her ball and stalked away.
“I still have one more,” she said as she lobbed the ball down the lane. God, her form is terrible.
“I really didn’t see that one coming,” I said. She collapsed in a chair away from me, huffing.
“Obviously competitive dates are going to be a problem for us,” she said.
“If you don’t like losing, yeah, they will,” I said, chuckling. I walked over and sat beside her, pulling her to my chest. “I won’t say anything else, promise. You can stop pouting.”
“I’m not pouting! It’s your turn, so I just sat down over here,” she said coming to her own defense.
“Whatever you say,” I said. I grabbed the ball and threw it down the lane, leaving all the pins up.
“Hayze! Don’t lose on purpose,” she complained.
“I already have ten points; it would be impossible to lose,” I joked. When she glared at me, I held my hands up. “Let me help you.”
With much reluctance, she grabbed her ball and stood in front of me. I stood behind her, coaching her until she had it down right. She threw the ball and knocked over half of the pins.
Even though we have another game, we left after our first. I took my shoes back to the counter.
“Is Joel restocked?” He asked.
“I wouldn’t know. I’m done with all of that,” I said, nodding in Taylor’s direction. He looked over my shoulder, pointing at her.
Shit.
I jogged back over, reaching for her hand. “Ready to go?”
“Who was that guy?” She asked, taking my hand in hers.
“That guy,” I asked, pointing behind me. She shook her head yes. “Oh…He use to work at the bar.”
I held the door open, watching her face as she walked by me. She probably knew it was a lie, but she wasn’t calling me out on it.
On the drive back, I was nervous. I kept thinking she was going to bring up that guy or what Chandler said. But she didn’t, and that almost made it worse. I was affectionate, kissing her hand at every stoplight. Attempting to take her mind off everything.
“Why are you being so nice?” She asked as I pulled into the dorms.
“I don’t want tonight to end. We’re actually getting along,” I said honestly.
Taking me off guard, she pressed her lips to mine. I want nothing more than to have my way with her in the back seat, but I pulled back.
“I love you,” I said, brushing my lips across hers.
“I love you, too. Thanks for the perfect evening,” she said. She grabbed her purse and held onto the door handle, waiting.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” I asked, sensing her reluctance.
“Lea mentioned doing something, why?”
I almost laughed out loud at her. Instead, I leaned over the console, looking into her eyes. “It’s New Year’s Eve, you’re not going out with my sister.”
“Don’t tell me what do, Hayze,” she warned me.
I fell back on my seat, groaning. I pinched the bridge of my nose, thinking. I don’t want to fight with her, but I hate that she goes out with Lea.
“If you respect the last ounce of sanity I have, you’ll go out with me tomorrow.”
Laughing hysterically, she said, “Do you hear yourself when you talk? You can go out with us.”
“I’ll go. The last thing I wanna do is piss you off after the night we had. But, Taylor, I’m always lookin’ out for you, I’m not letting you and Lea go off together on New Year’s Eve night. You probably haven’t thought about a DD or the idiots that go out.”
“C’mon, do we ever plan ahead?” She said, looking at me as if I’d grown an extra head.
“My point exactly, what time do you wanna meet up tomorrow?” I asked, starting my engine.
“I’ll have to talk to Lea,” she said.
“Or you could just stay over tonight. You wouldn’t have to worry about…” I said, wagging my eyebrows.
“Hayze!”
“No?” I asked, amused at her reaction.
“Goodnight babe,” I said.
She got out of the car, shielding herself from the wind. I watched as she ran to the dorm then drove off before I went after her. I don’t want to let her go, but…respect…or some shit. I’ll see her tomorrow, and this will continue to go smoother. I know it will.
When I got back to the apartment, Joel was sitting on the couch drinking. I tossed my keys on the counter and collapsed in the chair by him.
“Tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve. What’s going on?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m doing something with Taylor.”
Hopefully that something is sitting on this couch.
Chuckling, “I’ll see if Jenny’s down. We’ll do something.”
“Taylor and Lea have something planned,” I said, shrugging.
“We’ll keep it low key.”
“No offense, dude, but I don’t think Taylor will want to have the kind of night you’re planning,” I said.
He looked at me, amused, as he chugged the last of his drink. He pushed off the couch and walked toward his room. “Ya never know. She’s probably down…She’s not as innocent as you think she is.”
When his door slammed, I let out a sigh of relief. If he was in front of me, I would’ve punched his sorry ass again. He has no idea what he’s talking about. If she knew half of my shit, she would be gone.
That asshole probably already called Lea and had something cooked for tomorrow. Every time I’m around him with Taylor, I’m on edge. I know one of these idiots will slip up and say something one day. It’s not that I’m keeping it from her. I’m going to tell her…One day when it’s long behind me.
29
NEW YEARS EVE
I took her hand in mine, lacing our fingers together as I parked my car
. I’m probably over doing it, but I couldn’t stand the thought of being away from her any longer. I could write it off as being nervous about tonight, but it feels different. I think she’s finally changing me. I hope she is. Someone needs to.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” She asked, her brow cocked as she spoke.
“Like what?”
She pursued her lips together, thinking. “Like you’re afraid of me.”
I shrugged my shoulders. I’m afraid of what you could do to me. “You sure you wanna go out tonight?”
“Stop being a baby,” she said, climbing out of my car.
I followed her to my apartment, hoping to change her mind. I’m always on edge around my friends. One of them is going to slip up and say something one day. I’m one hell of a liar, but there will come a time when she no longer believes what comes out of my mouth. Even I have a hard time deciphering truth from my lies.
“I’m just saying we could have more fun here,” I said, tossing the keys on the counter. I stopped behind her, circling my hands around her middle. I never know where I stand with her, but the worst she could say is no. She twisted around, placing her hands on my chest.
“Is this why you brought me over here?” She asked.
I shook my head, pointing to the stacks of papers on my couch. “I told you I’m moving. I need help.”
I dropped my hands as she walked away. She sat on my couch, quickly scanning through the apartment listings I found. Her brows bumped together, making her scowl as she looked to me and the listings. I grabbed a bottle of wine from the kitchen, pouring myself a drink.
“I don’t understand why you don’t just stay here…They have one bedroom apartments and you wouldn’t have to move your stuff far,” she said. I collapsed beside her on the couch, leaning over her shoulder, looking with her.
“This place is only college students. All anyone does is party here and I wanna get away from that. Besides, when you come to your senses and move in, you’ll want a quiet place.” I said, taking a sip from my glass. She threw the listings at me, shocked
“I’m not moving in with you. And why are you drinking already?” She asked, crinkling her nose in disgust.
“Babe, everyone will be here in an hour.”
She jumped from the couch, and I slid on the cushions, laughing. “What? I haven’t even started getting ready!”
She walked in my bedroom, dragging her backpack behind her and I followed after her. She tore her dress from the hanger as I leaned against the frame of the door. She shimmied from her leggings and tugged the shirt over her head. Turning from me, she stepped into a dress, pulling it up before she turned around. I knew her body better than my own. I knew every mark on it, and yet she was still modest.
“Will you zip me?” She asked, holding her hair up, she pointed to her back.
I walked over, grabbed the zipper, and slowly pulled it up her back. When I was done, I place a kiss on the back of her neck. She shivered and stepped away from my reach.
She was looking at anything except me. “Why are you putting your dress on right now?”
“I’m about to touchup my hair and I don’t want it to get messed up,” she said, pawing at her hair.
I nodded, unsure. It looked exactly the same as it had when I picked her up this morning. She plugged in some shit and pulled a bag out. I watched her from the mirror, hoping to God or whoever was listening that she would change.
“What do you think?” She asked, catching my eyes in the mirror. With arms crossed at my chest, scowling, she could tell what I thought.
She pulled her bottom lip in her mouth, nervously chewing. I walked over to her again, standing behind her, I could hear her breathing pick up.
I grabbed her waist, letting my hands fall to her bare thighs, pulling at the length. What is this thing? Lingerie? The thin black fabric clings to her curves, bringing out her figure in ways I’ve never seen. She’s the kind of girl I’ve dreamed about my whole life, but now that she stands before me with her perfect body on display for every fucker in this town, I see she’s more of a curse.
I nuzzled my face in the crook of her neck, hoping she would be on board with changing. “I think you know how I feel about this dress. You’re the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen, but if you leave out of my apartment with this on, we’re gonna have problems.”
She giggled, pushing me away. She wrapped a strand of hair with the iron, ignoring my request.
“You’re going to be on your best behavior tonight,” she said.
I clenched my jaw and left the room. If we’re going to get through the night without fighting, I need to get the hell out of this room. I walked to the kitchen, filling my glass with wine. I took a sip, but I knew I wouldn’t be where I needed to be with just alcohol.
I bent down, opening the far cabinet door. I reached in, grabbing a pill without pulling the sack out. I opened my mouth, dropping the pill under my tongue. When it dissolved, I grabbed my glass and walked back to room more relaxed.
“Is that another drink?” She asked, scowling at me.
“We’re taking a cab. What time is Lea comin’ over?”
She put everything and checked her phone. “She should be here in like fifteen minutes.”
“Do you want a drink?” I asked, pointing to the glass in my hands.
“Not right now,” she said, sighing. She stepped into her heels, turning to look in the mirror. I clenched my teeth, pissed, but I was more calm than before.
“Who’s coming?” She asked.
I fell on the couch and pulled her in my lap. “Chandler, Kassi, Lea, your brother,” sighing, “Joel, because the stupid fuck lives here.”
“I can’t believe my brother’s coming. So awkward,” she said, scrunching her nose.
Not wanting to talk about my sister and whoever the hell she might be doing today, I leaned into Taylor’s ear. “We have fifteen minutes…What to do.”
She moved from me. “Hayze…Lea will be early, you know that and Joel’s in the other room.”
Groaning, “You’re right. Fuck, this is why we need our own place.”
“You’re getting your own place…I already have one.”
“You wouldn’t have to share a room with Lea, you could shower alone…We could fuck in the living room without getting caught.”
“Hayze, no,” she whines. I know if I ask her enough, she’ll say yes. She wants it as much as I do. If I had her around all the time, I would have to throw out all the shit in my house. She’s the only one who can save me and I won’t give up until she’s moving in.
“Taylor, yes,” I said, mocking her with my best impression. Annoyed, she nudged me in the ribs.
“I have a dorm that’s completely paid for. It would be crazy. By the way, how is someone that doesn’t show up to work anymore paying for an apartment?”
I pat her leg, standing up. I can joke with her and be myself, but when she starts asking more it feels as if someone has knocked the air from my lungs. I’m so sick of lying to her.
Now would be a good time to tell her I sell drugs. It would also be a good time to tell her I have several hundred thousand dollars sitting in a trust. That also came from drugs. But I don't. I lie because the truth would make her run.
One day when this is behind me, I can be truthful. I could tell her about my dad and how I had to grow up and become responsible for my family at a young age. But right now, during the storm, I can’t burden her.
“I’m doing something else right now, I’ve talked to Randy about it. I’m not working there as much. No big deal,” I said, walking to my room.
“What are you doing?” She asked, following me to my room. With a pill to calm me down, I don’t overreact as I usually do when she asks me questions. I shrug and pull a black shirt from my closet.
“It’s nothing really…I…” There’s a knock at the door. Without another word, I walk past her to the living room. Shea and Lea are on the other side of the door.
“Tay,” Shea yelled. All the girls were dressed ridiculously. I looked down at my button down shirt and jeans and wondered if I should change.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” Taylor said, giving Shea a quick hug.
“I’m full of surprises. Hey, your brother’s running late,” Lea said. She made a drink, kicked her shoes off, and sat on the couch.
“This is gonna be so awkward,” Taylor complained. For some reason, she didn’t like that her brother tagged along sometimes. I didn’t get it. He was a cool guy.
Joel’s door swung open and Taylor’s eyes snapped to him. I can tell she’s ways uneasy around him; rightfully so. Jenny walked out, smugly swaying her hips. If she was as hot as she thought she was, she might be worth something.
“You guys have fun tonight. Some people have to work for a living,” she said on her way out. I rolled my eyes at that. That girl got everything she wanted; I don’t know why she even bothered working.
“Try working at a bar that’s closed during the week,” Shea fired back.
Joel walked in the living room, forcing a smile. “If you guys could not mention what you just saw, that would be great,” he said, motioning his hand between himself and the front door.
Lea laughed, “You mean don’t tell the new girl about the old girl?”
He nodded his head, “Yeah.”
“Yeah…I have no control over my tongue when I’m drunk, but here’s to a good night. May we make better choices in the new year,” she said, raising her glass in his direction. He flipped her off and walked in the kitchen.
“Does he have to go with us?” Lea complained.
I sat in the recline and pulled Taylor in my lap.
“Stop! Hayze is breaking his lease…This is the last time we have to endure him,” Taylor said.
“You’re breaking your lease? Are you two moving in together?” She asked, watching me suspiciously.
“Yes,” I said.
Taylor frowned at me. “No, we’re not.”
“Eventually,” I said, winking at her.
“How much have you had to drink?” She asked, looking between me and my glass.
“I’ve had three glasses of wine.”
Pulling away from me, she shook her head. “But you’re filling them to the rim! That’s double!”
Ruined (The Hazed Series Book 3) Page 21
