Six Years Gone (Gone #1)

by Jessica Gouin

  She wastes no time taking shirts off hangers and tossing anything of mine out of the way. “Try this tank top on. The blue will really make your eyes stand out.” She flings clothes over her head in my direction.

  I stare at the little piece of fabric in my hands as though it’s growing tentacles. “I’m not wearing just a tank top.”

  She glances over her shoulder at me like I’m the one with tentacles. “Did you really say that? I know you’re not wearing just a tank, Sawyer. I brought my jean jacket for you to put over it. Wear it with those capris you bought a few months ago and those wedges over there.” She waves her arm in various directions, and I don’t even know what she’s talking about.

  I turn away from my irrational best friend to take off my shirt and put on clothes as instructed. “Why are you doing this, anyway? Don’t you have anything better to do on a Friday night?”

  A snorting sound escapes her mouth. “If you must know, I do not. Besides, this is where I’m needed.”

  I finish dressing, turn, and let my arms fall to my thighs with a slap.

  “Yes! You’re perfect. He is going to be stunned when he comes to pick you up. Would you at least smile?”

  I face myself in the mirror with a forced smile and brush my long untamable hair once more then add some black eyeliner. Why do I hope she’s right? I’m so out of my comfort zone.

  Half-hour later, I’m sitting on the couch in the living room, staring at the TV with Owen and Sloane, when headlights glide across the wall.

  He’s here.

  I stand up to grab my bag.

  Owen clears his throat. “Sit down.”

  I turn to my big brother. “I’m sorry, what?”

  “You don’t move until he comes to the door.” He settles further in his chair and crosses his arms, a smug expression that I’ve never seen before on his face. “It’s a test. If he’s a good guy, he won’t just honk the horn, expecting you to run out at his command. A good guy will come to the door and ring the bell.”

  I glance to Sloane who is staring at Owen the way she studies math equations she can’t solve. And the night just keeps getting better before it even starts….

  I put my hand on my hip and narrow my eyes at Owen. “What’s with the dating advice, Dr. Phil?”

  “You’re my little sister. I’m just trying to have your back. Besides, who else is going to give you dating advice if I don’t? I know you must like this one because you let Sloane dress you.”

  I give her a what the fuck look, begging her to say something so I’m not the crazy one here, but instead of taking my side, she bites her bottom lip to keep from laughing.

  The three of us stare at the door as though it’s a ticking time bomb. We all jump when the bell chimes, but no one moves to answer it.

  The doorbell rings again.

  I don’t know what the protocol says to do next, so I glance at the expert. Owen finally gets up and crosses the living room to open the front door.

  “Hi, mate. Sawyer here?” The sound of his voice does nothing to settle the erratic wings fluttering in my belly. I take in a deep breath and slowly let it out. I’m seventeen years old, and this is my first actual real date with a guy that couldn’t possibly be more inappropriate for me. Two realms are about to collide, and I’m not sure if either will survive the crash.

  “She’s here. I’m her older brother, Owen.”

  “Lachlan.” I watch them shake hands, and neither blinks away from the other’s stare down.

  I step to Owen’s side, and Lachlan’s focus shifts to me as he does a sweep from my legs up to my face. I shiver at the way he drinks me in, like he can’t look harder or memorize the details quick enough. As though he needs to commit me to memory.

  “Hi, you look beautiful. These are for you.” He hands me a tiny bouquet of wild flowers that I’m pretty sure he picked from his aunt’s garden. Sloane aws from behind me.

  I take the flowers and suddenly wish Lachlan and I didn’t have an audience. “Thanks, they’re pretty.”

  I turn to face Sloane who’s staring at me with such pride. I’ve never been given flowers before, and I’m not quite sure what to do with them. As I stand there, my cheeks begin to warm.

  Sloane rushes to me, taking the flowers, a lopsided smile plays on her mouth. “I’ll go put these in some water for you.”

  “Thanks, Sloane. Are you taking off, or are you and Owen gonna hang out for a bit?”

  Her focus darts past me then returns. “Not sure. I might stick around for a bit. Have fun and call me tomorrow, okay?”

  I tell her I will, wave good-bye, then Lachlan and I walk down the pathway to his car.

  “No later than midnight, Cinderella,” Owen yells from the doorway.

  I stick my tongue at him over the hood of the car and get in. In an instant, I’m greeted with the same scents that welcomed me the last time I was in here. He’s becoming familiar to me.

  Lachlan slides in a few seconds later and starts the engine. It hums to life in an almost inaudible sound. “You ready?”

  No. “Yep. What kind of car is this anyway?”

  “Chrysler 300. Limited.”

  He reverses out of the driveway, and, once Sloane and Owen’s appearance in the front window fades from view, I relax a little.

  “Thanks again for the flowers.”

  “Of course. I’m glad you like them. I wasn’t kidding, you’re beautiful on a regular day, but tonight you’re gorgeous.”

  He might think I’m gorgeous, but, next to him, I’m basic and uninteresting. He’s wearing dark jeans and a beige button-up under a thin black sweater. His sleeves are rolled to his elbows, and the muscles on his forearms clench as he grips the steering wheel. He could be an Aussie model.

  I didn’t know I wanted a boy to ring my doorbell and bring me flowers. Turns out, I do. This is nice, a perfect way to start the night. Such a different feeling than having to meet Drew in a dim parking lot.

  “You clean up well yourself.”

  His mouth curves into a smile and lets out a breath. Is he as nervous as I am? This cannot be his first date, so I’m not sure what he has to be nervous over. “What’s the game plan for tonight?”

  He slides one hand to the bottom of the wheel. “I was thinking Mile High? We could eat then maybe go for a walk or play mini golf. Have you been to the Putt-Putt across from the golf course?”

  When I was younger, maybe seven or eight, I begged my parents to take me to the Putt-Putt. We drove past it one day, the waterfall in the front hid most of the course, but, from what I could see, it looked like it would be the most amazing fun. My parents always said maybe next weekend, and, when next weekend came, they would make another excuse. This went on for a while. When I realized that weekend would never come, I stopped asking. I learned early to stop asking for things because the chances of getting anything I wanted were slim.

  The Putt-Putt was the first place I vandalized. My lifetime ban is still in effect.

  “Dinner sounds good,” I say, not wanting to tell him why I can’t play mini golf.

  Lachlan manages to find an empty space in the packed lot when we arrive at the restaurant.

  I scan my surroundings, trying to peer into the window of the restaurant. “Looks busy tonight.”

  Not for the first time, the thought of the two of us walking into a place so public, knowing people from school will be there, makes me a little hesitant and a lot nauseated.

  He chuckles as he cuts the engine. “You embarrassed to be seen with me, Sawyer?”

  The way his accent wraps around my name. More butterflies. Damn that grin of his. The one that contains a thousand secrets. “I would hate for your friends to think you’re slumming it. You know, trash from the wrong side of town and all.”

  He laughs even harder. “Slumming what?” He reaches for the door handle as he shakes his head. “I doubt my friends will care who I walk in there with.”

  “Umm, do you even know who your friends are?” I grab his arm
to stop him from exiting the car. His muscles flex under my grasp, and my breath catches.

  He leans over, bringing his fingers up, tucking my hair behind my ear. His knuckles trail down my cheek, to my chin, and pauses.

  Wait, is he going to kiss me? I would be lying if I said I haven’t constantly thought about him pressing his lips to mine.

  “I’m here with you, because I want to be here with you. All I want is to get to know you better, Sawyer. So stop worrying about everyone else.” His hand drops from my skin, but the electricity buzzing in the air around us doesn’t dissipate. If anything, it’s stronger.

  It grows to where I don’t care who the hell is in that restaurant, or what they say or think. I want to know him, too.

  He pulls back slightly, sucking in a deep breath as he goes. “I don’t really understand whatever this is between us, but it’s intense, and I doubt it will just go away if we ignore it. We owe it to ourselves to find out why I can’t get you off my mind.” He extends his hand, palm up. “You with me?”

  Like I ever had a choice.

  I slide my hand into his, lighting up his face. “I’m with you.”

  At the entrance of the restaurant, I take a deep breath, willing it to calm my racing heart. As we step inside, there might as well be a spotlight shining on the two of us and theme music playing.

  Everyone, and I mean everyone, turns to gawk. I wish I had one ounce of the confidence Lachlan has as he follows the hostess to a table, chin up and seemingly not a worry on his mind. He strides past his friends with their wide-open mouths and gives them a casual nod to say hello. When we arrive at an empty table, he motions for me to sit.

  He might not notice the glares burning holes into our skulls, but I do, and as soon as the waitress sets a glass of water in front of me, I place a pill in my mouth. I take a long sip of ice water, tilting my head back to swallow.

  Lachlan’s arches a brow.

  “Just some aspirin for a little headache.” I wave a dismissive hand and return my attention to the menu and pretend to read it.

  He talks and I think he’s saying something about what he had to eat the last time he was here, but as I’m waiting for the pill to release its euphoric magic into my bloodstream, I find it hard to tune out his buddies and focus on anything he has to say.

  “So, what’ll it be, kiddos?” The lanky server pushes her black-framed glasses up her nose then hovers her pencil over the pad of paper.

  I stare, drawing a blank. What did she just ask me?

  Lachlan watches me then asks her to give us another minute. She walks away, and he leans toward me over the table.

  “Everything okay over there? Is your headache that bad? We could leave…if you want.” Pushing his menu aside, he rests his hand over mine.

  A gasp followed by a burst of laughter from the other side of the restaurant boils my blood.Anger consumes me, and my chest tightens, my hand shakes under his. My entire body grows warm. I don’t know which is more powerful; my rage or my insecurities. I hate feeling this way. I avoid self-doubting at all costs which is why I perfected my bitchy shell. But now, I’m a sitting duck, waiting for them to mock one of their own for asking out the town whore’s offspring.

  As much as I want to get to know Lachlan, I have to come to terms with the fact that I can’t. We don’t fit. We’re oil and water. I’m sinking to the bottom while he floats at the top. I won’t put myself down to be with a guy. I never settled with Drew when he cheated on me, and I’m sure as hell not going to start settling for a stranger.

  “I think we should leave.”

  “Leave?”

  I know this isn’t what he expects from me, but I shuffle out of the booth so fast he doesn’t have a chance to argue or try and stop me. He just follows. Before I make my getaway, Nathan hollers something from behind me, but I don’t hear what exactly he says—although I’m sure I could take a guess. I peek over my shoulder to see Lachlan stroll to his buddies’ table. For a bloodcurdling second, I panic with the thought that he’s going to leave me standing here alone. But anger flashes across Nathan’s tight face as Lachlan whispers words to him then turns his back to his friends. He’s at my side in the fastest second, interlaces our fingers, and tugs as we exit the restaurant.

  Together.

  The fresh air wakes me from my shock of what happened, and I rip my hand from his. The skin he touched sears, and I rub his ghost feeling away.

  Something that started so shiny has tarnished.

  “You can take me home.”

  Lachlan’s head recoils, as if he’d just been slapped. “If you don’t want to be here in this place with those guys, I understand and that’s fine. We can go somewhere else. Anywhere you want. But, I’m not ready to say good night. I’m sorry those guys are assholes. You were right about them, but they shouldn’t ruin tonight.”

  I lose myself in his eyes, drowning in their depths. I uncross my arms and walk past him toward his car. “Whatever. It doesn’t even matter. I just want to go home.”

  “It does matter.”

  I spin to face him. “Why? Why does it matter so much? What did you even say to them?”

  “Them?” He nods to the restaurant where there’s an excellent chance his friends are still in shock. “I told them to mind their own fucking business.”

  “You don’t get it, Lachlan. You are their business. Those assholes are your crowd. You’re not supposed to be out here with me, you’re supposed to be in there with them.” Moving through the lot, Lachlan matches me step for step. “I don’t know how things work in Australia, but here in NorCal, there are two sides. They’re on one, and I’m on the other. You belong with them.”

  “And what? You belong with that guy?”

  “What guy?”

  “That guy who grabbed your arm the other day at the diamond. I saw you with him and I thought it was Owen until I met him earlier tonight. It’s none of my business, but who the hell was he and why was grabbing you?”

  “You’re right. It’s none of your business. Tonight was a mistake, and I should have known better. I did know better. I just thought for once…. Forget it. It doesn’t matter. Could you just take me home? Please?” We’re at his car, and I open the door to get in, wishing tonight would be over already.

  Lachlan slowly walks to his side, opens his door, and slides in beside me. Similar to what he did not even an hour ago. This time, there are no butterflies. No hope. No adventure awaiting us.

  As he slips his key into the ignition, silence echoes around us. A minute later, he pulls onto the road—in the opposite direction of my house.

  “What are you doing? I’m serious. I don’t want to go anywhere else. We tried, Lachlan. We gave it a shot, but nothing will ever change who we are and where we belong. It’s just not going to work.”

  “No, I don’t believe that.” He slows to a stop at a red light then turns to me. His stare is hypnotizing. “You’re the most interesting person I’ve ever met, and I barely even know you. All I’m asking for is the chance to get to know you better.”

  This guy sang to me. Offered help when I needed it. Forgave my attitude when everyone else writes me off because of it. He brought me flowers.

  Flowers.

  And, he turned his back on his friends.

  All for me. A girl he doesn’t know but clearly won’t stop until he does.

  Lachlan thinks the mere act of being with me, getting to know who I am, is worth something.

  The light turns green, and the car moves forward. I let my bag drop to the floor, take off my jacket, and prop my leg up on the dash to get comfy.

  Maybe there is something linking us. I am curious to see what happens to us when everything else is stripped away. When it’s just me and him.

  “I know a place.”

  Chapter TEN

  Lachlan

  We don’t drive for very long. She gives vague directions, and I somewhat know where we’re going, but she tells me it’s not what I think. Nothing ever is with her.
I still don’t know who that guy was, but I’m guessing an ex-boyfriend from the way she acted. I’m glad she’s still here, though, and I don’t want to push an obviously touchy subject so I make the necessary lefts and rights until we’re parked in an empty field, just as the sun is going down.

  She winks at me, which drives me fucking insane, and climbs out. I follow her closely, thinking I’d probably go with her anywhere. The warm air shifts to a cool breeze, making the hairs on my skin rise. We trample through tall blades of yellowing grass to a wall of bushes slightly taller than I am. Sawyer bends to parts the shrubs. “Watch your step,” she calls over her shoulder.

  Paranoid, I scan the field, trying try to see through the dense vegetation. Why do I get the feeling what we’re doing is illegal?

  She disappears, and I’m left to decide what’s more exhilarating—potentially being alone with her on the other side of this green wall, or getting in trouble for being alone while trespassing.

  With my adrenaline giving me the push I need, I replicate her movements and squeeze through with only a light scratch from a small branch.

  When I’m on the other side, I stand and walk a few feet to where she’s waiting. With that smile. The one that’s going to be my ruin.

  “Woodsview Golf and Country Club.” If I’m not mistaken, we’re near the sixteenth hole. I recognized the antique gazebo she’s walking toward. My aunt and uncle are members here, same with pretty much all of my friend’s’ parents.

  She drags her fingertips across the tattered wood as she circles the outside to the front entrance and climbs four stairs. Once inside, she turns to me and shrugs. “Yeah, this is kind of my place. Owen works here doing green maintenance. Sometimes, I don’t want to go home without him, so I stay here until his shift is over. I sneak through the back so the managers don’t notice. It’s after hours, so no one’s here.”

  It’s quiet. Just us and the million or so crickets in the distance. The waterfall splashes as it pours into the pond in the front of the gazebo as I pass by. Before I walk up the stairs, I look back to the greens, making sure she’s right and no one else is here. My vision follow a stone path that extends on either side of the pond and leads to the main house. Post lamps and flowers outline the paths.