Circle of Lies (Red Ridge Pack)

by Sara Dailey

  Without looking his way I replied, “Didn’t plan on it.”

  “Seriously, Teagan? You’re kinda killin’ my swag here.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. Then I wanted to kick myself for sounding like one of those giggling idiots who followed Aiden around every day. Aiden didn’t seem to mind, though. He leaned my way and spoke again in a whisper. His breath tickled my ear.

  “I like it when you laugh. You should do it more often. I can help you with that, you know. I’m kind of a funny guy—when I’m not a stammering fool.”

  This time I couldn’t stop myself from looking. Those radiant green eyes burned into mine, and I reminded myself to speak. “A stammering fool? You?”

  “You seem to have that effect on me,” he said. A small smile played across his lips, and it took every ounce of self-control for me to not lean over and kiss him. I’d been dreaming about it non-stop.

  Against my better judgment, I flirted back. “Why, Aiden Wright, I have no idea what you are talking about.” And this time, there wasn’t a speck of hostility in my voice. Not an ounce.

  He noticed. Leaning in even closer, he let his lips almost graze my ear. “Oh, Teagan Rhodes, I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.”

  I suddenly caught Alli and Cade staring at us. Shit. I moved over a bit and smiled in embarrassment, but Aiden’s sister was grinning ear-to-ear. I don’t think I’d ever felt so uncomfortable.

  “I’ll be right back,” I said.

  I scooted out my chair and hurried toward the restroom. My head was down, so when I reached the door and moved to push it open I couldn’t see whose hand gently grabbed my arm. I turned to find Aiden standing there. He’d followed.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Just needed to go to the restroom,” I lied.

  “You sure?”

  “Aiden, I just don’t know what to think of all this,” I finally admitted.

  “What do you mean? Just tell me, Teagan,” he pleaded.

  I didn’t know what to say. I was so unlike everyone else sitting at that table, so average—and that was being kind. And then there was Becca, the would-be new queen of the school who practically threw herself at him every chance she got. Why me? Why would he possibly want me?

  “I just don’t get you,” I blurted. “Are you really interested in me, or is this all just a game? Because I’m not into games.” There, I’d said it. I’d admitted that I thought he liked me and opened myself up for ridicule. Still, I felt a bit relieved.

  Aiden stood there shell-shocked. “Really, a game? You think I’m playing some sort of game with you?”

  “Isn’t that what guys like you do? You have every girl in school eating out of your hand, so you want the one who isn’t standing in line waiting her turn to hang on your arm. That’s a game if I’ve ever seen one.”

  “It’s not like that. Why would it be like that?” He eyed me, and a new expression crossed his face. “Why is it so hard to believe that I like you? I, Aiden Wright, like you, Teagan Rhodes.”

  “Because life doesn’t work that way,” I snapped. Then I marched into the restroom without turning back.

  I hurried into a stall, locked it, and cussed the tears that filled my eyes. And I cursed Aiden. Damn him! Now what was I supposed to do, stay in here all night?

  I hung out in the stall long enough to get my tear-reddened eyes under control. The last thing I wanted was to go back to the table and have everyone ask what was wrong. Would they even notice? Alli would.

  As I made my way back to the table, I immediately noticed Aiden’s chair was empty. Way to run him off, Rhodes. Alli shot me a look from across the room, but all I could do was shrug. Thank God the waiters were headed our way with the pizzas, and I took the opportunity to get the hell out of there.

  Throwing my purse over my shoulder I announced, “Hey, I gotta go. My dad needs to borrow my car.”

  Alli frowned. “Okay. I’m glad you came. Be careful getting home. Call me tomorrow?”

  I nodded as everyone else waved goodbye. No, I couldn’t eat. Aiden’s mysterious disappearing act had made my heart sink, but I also knew I’d done the right thing. Regret was better than disappointment. Much better than heartbreak. I just had to remember Alex Foster. Or I could just ask my dad.

  25.

  Aiden

  “Are you ever going to ask her out?” Alli asked the next night.

  We were sitting in the family room watching TV, and the expression on my face must have showed everything.

  “She likes you,” Alli rushed to say. “You two had some serious chemistry last night. It’s obvious,” she continued. “At least when you stay in the same place long enough.”

  “You think?” I wasn’t so sure. “Last night at dinner she all but said she doesn’t trust me. She thinks I’m playing some kind of game, chasing after the one girl that doesn’t want to get caught.”

  Alli frowned. “Maybe she’s just scared. Maybe she was burned before. But, trust me when I say that deep down she likes you.”

  Well, there was definitely something between us; I knew that. But possible attraction wasn’t the only problem. The apprehension I’d been feeling wasn’t just coming from Teagan or my pull to her; it was coming from everyone who had ever watched us interact. This was a complicated crush at best.

  “Is it even smart?” I said. “I mean, Teagan and me getting together. I’m not sure anymore.”

  Alli looked pissed, really pissed. I’m-about-to-kick-the-living-shit-out-of-you pissed. Her hands flew to her hips as she scolded, “Why the hell not? I thought you liked her. The going gets rough and you fade into the background? Maybe she’s right and you did just want a challenge. Maybe the challenge is too—”

  “Calm down, calm down. I do like her. Why are you so hell-bent on us going out, anyway?”

  Alli’s hands dropped from her hips, and her face softened a bit. “I don’t know. I like Teagan. She’s my only normal friend here, and it would be cool if y’all got together. We could all hang out, you know? And I’d have to kill you if you ended up with someone like Becca!”

  “Don’t worry. That’s sure as shit not going to happen. But, it’s just…did you happen to notice the not-so-loving looks Teagan and I were getting from Marcus last night? I have a strong feeling that he doesn’t approve,” I said.

  Alli’s face fell. Then she set her jaw. “Since when do you care what Marcus thinks? Anyway, I don’t think he would approve of anyone. He certainly didn’t approve of me. He made that very clear.” There was a hint of sadness in her voice.

  “See? That’s what I mean. It hurt you to hear those things. I don’t want anyone making Teagan feel like that. And it’s not just Marcus. I don’t think anyone on the estate would approve, except maybe you and dad. Think about it. Teagan’s a human. Mom had to run away and leave her family to be with Dad for that exact reason. Would ours be a doomed relationship before it even starts?”

  Alli glanced pensively at her feet, but I could tell she wasn’t convinced. She was probably trying to figure out what to say to make me to take a leap of faith.

  She finally tucked her legs under her and reached for her Coke. “I don’t think you should over-think this, Aiden. It’s just a date. One date. Maybe the only chemistry you two have is physical. Maybe once you get to know each other, you’ll realize you don’t have anything in common after all and it’ll fade. But you’ll never know until you ask her out.”

  She actually made sense, my know-it-all sister. I mean, I wasn’t pledging my eternal, undying love here. It was just a date, assuming I ever got up the nerve to ask. And maybe the way I asked could convince Teagan I was worth taking a chance on in return.

  “You’re right, Alli,” I said. “Do you know what time she gets off work?”

  “She’s closing, so about nine thirty.” My sister smiled. “If you leave now you can make it.”

  A short time later, I stood by my car in the almost empty mall parking lot. It wa
s only a few minutes before I saw Teagan. She was with two other girls that I recognized from school.

  I didn’t want to scare them, so I called out her name as I walked forward. The other girls looked excited to see me, but not Teagan. She looked a little freaked out.

  “Hey, Teagan. Ladies,” I added.

  “Hi, Aiden,” cooed the girl with the big eyes from my physics class.

  I smiled politely. “Teagan, I was hoping that we could talk. Maybe get some coffee or ice cream or sodas or something,” I added nervously.

  I could tell that Teagan was about to turn me down. Thank God the big-eyed girl spoke up. “She would love to. Actually, she was just saying how she skipped dinner, and now she’s starving. Weren’t you, Teagan? Maybe Aiden here can take you for a late dinner.”

  I could see Teagan’s scarlet cheeks even in the semi-darkness of the parking lot. I held my hand out and said, “Come on. Let’s get you some food. I’m always hungry.” She hesitated for a moment, but with a sigh she took my outstretched hand.

  Teagan knew of an all-night diner just on the other side of town. It wasn’t where the pack kids usually hung out; the place was pretty empty except for a few truck drivers and some guy with a laptop. We took a booth by the window and opened our menus. The waitress came over and eyed me like I was some sort of science experiment.

  “Teagan, honey, where have you been hiding this one?” she asked.

  Teagan smiled. “Barb, this is Aiden. Aiden, Barb.”

  I was about to say something like, “Nice to meet you,” or “A pleasure,” but I wasn’t given the chance.

  “Oooh…he’s a cute one, honey. I can see why you would keep him hidden.” Then Barb gave a high-pitched giggle that made me feel a bit uncomfortable.

  Teagan just smiled politely. “I’ll have a grilled cheese with fries and a Coke please, Barb. Aiden?”

  “I’ll take the same.”

  As soon as creepy-ass waitress left, I reached across the table and took Teagan’s hand. “About last night—”

  “Aiden, please. Can we just forget it?” She took her hand back as Barb brought us our Cokes. “Thanks,” we both mumbled.

  I decided to lay it all out on the table: “I like you, Teagan. I really like you, and I want you to give me the chance to prove that to you.”

  I couldn’t read her expression, so I had no idea what she was thinking. I decided not to say anything else until she did, and it was halfway through our sandwiches that she finally spoke.

  “I just don’t think it can work, Aiden. I’m sorry.”

  Rejected! It felt worse than being kicked in the balls. My emotions were all over the place. I was pissed that she didn’t want me. I was hurt that she didn’t want me. But more than anything, I was confused. I undoubtedly still wanted her.

  “Why?” I asked, surely sounding pathetic. It was new for me.

  “Come on, Aiden,” she said. “You want me to say it again? I told you at the pizza shop. You’re one the beautiful people at school. You could have any girl you want. I know that—”

  I laughed. “You can’t be serious. You won’t go out with me because I’m good-looking? That’s silly. You’re far more beautiful than I am.”

  Her cheeks went red. I couldn’t tell if it was because I was making her blush or she was pissed at me for laughing. It was clear she was still uncomfortable.

  “Teagan,” I said. I reached for her hand again, and surprisingly she let me take it. “Give me a chance. That’s all I ask. I don’t want all those other girls at school, I want you. One date?” I begged. I’d resorted to groveling, which I’d never done before, but didn’t care. “Let me prove to you who I am.”

  She looked up and met my eyes. I could tell she was teetering on the edge.

  “Okay,” I offered, pulling back a bit. “How about one double date with Alli and Cade? Come on, Teagan. Just one date, and you won’t even have to be alone with me. Your friend will be there to protect you. You trust my sister, don’t you?”

  She dropped my hand, and my heart dropped into my stomach. Had I said the wrong thing? Had I pushed too hard?

  Teagan picked up her sandwich and repeated, “One date with Alli and Cade?”

  I nodded.

  “Okay, Aiden. One date,” she conceded, but the look on her face told me that she doubted my ability to change her mind about things.

  I grinned. It seemed my work was cut out for me.

  26.

  Peter

  “Well, well, what do we have here?” Peter muttered to himself. He sat with his laptop at the last booth in the Black Diamond diner. The perfect suspect had walked in with a human girl. Stupid, stupid girl!

  The young man was clearly a wolf, or at least he had every characteristic on Peter’s checklist. He had the customary dark features, dark hair and tanned skin—and there was also something extra about him, something that made him stand out from the other possible wolves Peter had been watching in this town. Quickly, Peter began to take notes, typing as fast as he could. But he needed to a closer look. It was dangerous but necessary.

  Peter closed his laptop and decided to fake a restroom trip. Without being too obvious, he walked as slowly as he could. He listened to the two teenagers, who were talking about something said between them last night. From this direction, he could only see the back of the male, though, and nothing unique stood out. Peter walked quickly into the restroom and went over to the sink to wash his hands.

  “He’s one of them, Peter.”

  Peter looked up, and in the mirror was the face of his uncle. The shock of seeing him nearly caused Peter to scream. He had heard his uncle’s voice for a long time, but never had he seen his face.

  “Ray?” he said with a shaky voice.

  “Yes, Peter. Calm down. I’m sorry to have scared you, but I couldn’t risk you missing that wolf out there.”

  Peter shook his head. “There was no way to miss him. He fits the profile perfectly. But, Uncle Ray, there’s something different about him, too. That’s why I came to the restroom, so I could get a better look.”

  “Good, good,” his uncle said. “Find out everything you can about him—and about the poor girl he’s with. You never know what information will be important.”

  “I’ll find out,” Peter promised.

  “You’re doing a good job, Peter,” his uncle said. Then the image vanished.

  Peter splashed some water on his face. After a moment he walked out, and as he approached he began to compile final notes about everything he could: the exact color of the kid’s hair, the clothing he was wearing, his frame and build…

  Holy shit! As Peter neared the table, the young wolf raised his head and made eye contact. It was all Peter could do to hide his disbelief he felt. This wolf had bright green eyes. They could have green eyes!

  It seemed such a small thing, but Peter hurried back to his booth and grabbed his laptop and coat. If he was right and this boy was a wolf—and he felt the same assurance as did his uncle—he needed to get back to his motel room and safety. Everything he knew about werewolves could be wrong, the entire profile! And if that was the case…who else in the world might be a wolf without him knowing?

  27.

  Teagan

  One date. Jeez, what was I getting myself into? I couldn’t believe I’d actually agreed to this. Aiden Wright and me? With just one look, anyone would agree that we didn’t belong together. He was just so hot, and I’m…well, not. We’re like Ross and Rachel, except he’s Rachel and I’m Ross. I mean, seriously, in the real world guys who look like him don’t get girls like Jennifer Aniston. Wait…that makes no sense. Yes, they do get girls like Jennifer Aniston. Exactly like Jennifer Aniston. And I was no Jennifer!

  So, why on my drive home could I not stop smiling? Maybe he really liked me.

  Or maybe he just wanted to screw me and then screw me over like Alex Foster. Or like everyone else in my life, really.

  I pulled into my driveway to find my dad sitting on the porch,
surprisingly without a beer in his hand. I got out of my car, but he stopped me before I made it to the front door. “Hey, sweetheart. I’ve been waiting for you. I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for how I’ve behaved. I really want to make things right, and I’ve decided to go back to AA and give it a try. A real try this time.”

  I stood there staring, at a loss for words again. He always did this. Why did he expect me to just give in and believe him when every other time he’d turned his back on me and ended up three sheets to the wind at the bar down the street. I wanted to hate him, wanted to hate my mom for making him this way. I wanted to throw my hands up and tell him to fuck off. But, as usual, the look in his eyes—that look of utter sadness and regret—stopped me from admitting what I really wanted.

  “Come on, Teagan. Say something,” he pleaded. “I know I’ve messed everything up and you have no reason to believe me, but I really want to change.”

  I pushed my hatred deep down inside and said, “Okay, Dad. I’m glad to hear it. I hope it works out this time.”

  He stood and slowly put his arm around my shoulder, probably to gauge my reaction. When I didn’t shrink away, he pulled me in a bit tighter. “I mean it this time, honey. I really think I can do this. Please forgive me for…everything. I’ve put you through hell and back. I just hope you can learn to love your messed-up ol’ dad again.”

  His voice cracked. When I looked up, there were tears in his eyes.

  Don’t fall for it, Teagan. He’s full of shit and you know it.

  Before I realized what I was doing, I turned him and gave him a hug. A real hug. I couldn’t remember the last time we’d embraced. Tears stung my eyes as I said, “I do love you, Dad. I never stopped.” And it was true. After all the shit he’d put me through, I did love him, even if part of me hated him too.

  I pulled away and went inside. He followed and asked if I was hungry. I had just eaten, but I offered to make him a sandwich. There wasn’t much in our house, but I tried to at least keep some bread and lunchmeat around. God knows my dad didn’t do the whole grocery thing.