by Simone Elise
“Who’s party?”
Ryder broke out in laughter. “You’re funny.” He pointed a finger at me, looking amused by my serious question. “So that’s a yes then.”
I slowly nodded my head. “Um, sure, I’ll be there.”
He winked. “Good, see you Saturday.”
Even after he left, I stood at my bedroom door a bit longer - confused.
What had I missed? I must have missed something.
What was this Saturday?
I racked my brain for an answer, but couldn’t find one.
***
“I told you it isn’t like that,” I snapped at Blake. I swear if he didn’t wipe that smug look off his face, I was going to wipe it off with the back of my hand. “Stop laughing!”
Blake shielded his face. “Come on, Allie, it’s funny.”
“No. NO IT IS NOT! What type of friend forgets a friend’s birthday like that?”
I had got my answer to what was this Saturday night. It was Ryder’s birthday.
“Especially seeing as he is your ‘special friend.'” Blake began to chuckle again.
How many times did I have to say it! “Ryder isn’t my special friend! I told you it isn’t like that.”
“Like fuck it’s not, he was giving you the eyes at the meeting last week.”
I roll my eyes. “You think everyone gives me the eyes.”
He shrugged his shoulders and turned his attention to the television. “Not my fault you don’t wear much.”
“I’m starting to regret this movie night idea,” I grunted, turning on the couch to look at the television.
“Missing Ryder already? OUCH!” He rubbed the arm I had just punched.
“One more reference to Ryder and I having sex, and I’ll hit you again.”
“Always so violent.”
“You haven’t seen violent.”
He flicked the channel. “So, what do you want to watch?”
“Don’t really care to be honest.” I crossed my arms, the bad mood he had put me in was starting to show.
“Oh, come on, Allie.” He nudged me with his shoulder. “I was only joking.”
“It wasn’t funny.”
“Kind of was.”
“WASN’T!”
He flinched away from me. “Ok. Ok. It wasn’t. Don’t see why you are getting so touchy about it.” His eyebrows slowly arched. “Unless it is true.”
I groaned in frustration. “That’s it, I’m going home.”
Blake’s laughter got deeper which made my mood sourer. Why was he in such a good mood anyway? Usually, he was all pissy.
“Why are you in such a good mood?”
He stretched his arms across the back of the couch. “If you really want to know, I got laid this morning, and it was fucking awesome.”
I scrunched my nose up. “God, you are disgusting.”
“You love it.” He winked at me. “So, do you want to watch Misfits or not?”
“That’s a TV show, not a movie.” I felt like being picky, seeing as he had annoyed me to my limit.
He gave me a challenging look. “So, you don’t want to watch it?”
“I didn’t say that.”
The smirk now on his face annoyed me a bit more. “Well then, let’s watch.”
I was regretting agreeing to hang out with him more than ever, but when the start of Misfits started playing, that regret lowered.
Amazing what my favorite TV show could cause.
***
I was into the episode when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I was half expecting it to be Blake, being childish, so my eyes widened when I saw Zane’s name across my screen.
Why did my stomach drop like that?
Fuck, that wasn’t healthy. I opened the message.
‘So, mom was thankful for our help today.’
Just reading something from him caused a stupid smile on my face. I quickly answered back. ‘Here I thought you just made those jobs up…’
‘ ;) wouldn’t do that.’
‘Uhuh…’
‘You busy?’
I glanced at Blake, who hadn’t noticed I was on my phone yet. ‘Just at Blake’s.’
‘Leave you to it then.’
I chewed my bottom lip. How did I get across to Zane that Blake and I weren’t doing anything like that? Why I wanted to get that across to him, I wasn’t sure…but I did.
‘Can’t miss out on the details of his latest woman, can I?’
Was that clear enough? Why the heck did I care so much? My questions were interrupted when my phone buzzed again.
‘Haha, good friend aren’t ya. Coming home soon?’
I snuck a glance at Blake. Usually, I would stay the night, but if I had a reason to head back to the pack house, I’m sure Blake wouldn’t care. ‘Not sure.’ I sent back to him.
‘You should.’
‘Why?’
My heart seemed to beat faster than it should, and I was surprised Blake hadn’t turned to see why I was having a heart attack.
Then my phone buzzed again.
‘Cause I want to see you.’
I bit back a grin. ‘That’s a bit sweet.’
‘ ;) so?’
Zane, the tattooed, muscular sex beast of a man, wanted to see me? Why did that make something in my stomach flip-flop around?
‘Yeah, I’ll be home soon.’ I re-read it twice before sending it. Was it wrong to want to spend time with him? And if it was so wrong, why did I enjoy talking to him so much?
It was official! I was turning into a hormonally crazed teenager.
Chapter Twenty-six
I may have felt like a lousy friend ditching Blake early, but now I just felt terrible altogether. For some unknown and stupid reason, I had expected Zane to be waiting up for me.
So, my shock lasted a few moments then was replaced with this terrible feeling of disappointment.
I had slowly walked up to my room and not once did Zane show his face. I had even sent him a message half an hour ago, saying I was heading home.
He still hadn’t replied.
I slipped my pajama pants on and collapsed on the bed. I turned my phone on, and still nothing.
The whole night he had been writing back to me flat out and now nothing. What happened?
***
ZANE
Relief flooded through me when I read her message. She was coming home. Thank fuck. Knowing she was with Blake just made my skin itch and my blood boil.
I changed into a fresh shirt and started to come up with a way I could run into her by accident. Took me a total of two minutes before I realized it just wasn’t going to happen.
The knocking on my door pulled me back to the moment. Who would that be? Couldn’t be Allie, she had only just left.
I opened the door and wanted to strangle someone.
How the fuck could my luck be this bad?
“Hey, Zane, I know it’s late.” Ebony wouldn’t look me in the eye. Instead, she spoke to the floor.
“Yeah it is, Ebony, and I’m in the middle of something so…”
Her head snapped up. “It’s important.”
All night I had waited for Allie to come home and now… I groaned internally. “What’s wrong?”
“You know how Taylor has been all depressed lately?”
“Nope, hasn’t come to my attention.”
Her expression blanked. “Seriously?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Taylor and I don’t have heart to hearts you know.” I stepped out of my doorway and nodded for her to come in. The last thing I needed was Allie showing up and seeing Ebony at my door.
That would cause a shit load of drama for sure.
“So why is he all emotional?” I couldn’t suppress the grin. Taylor and emotional were just two words that didn’t go together at all.
Ebony plopped down on my bed. “I think…” She chewed her bottom lip dragging out the conver
sation.
A conversation I wanted to wind up, so I could meet Allie in the foyer.
“Come on, spit it out, Ebony.”
“I think he found his mate,” she rushed out.
My body stiffened. “You’re joking, right?”
She slowly shook her head. “No, I really think he has. He is all moody, and turning down all the pub crawls I’m offering him.” She frowned. “I think he is either slipping into depression or he has found his mate.” She scrunched her nose.
“So, what has this got to do with me? I’ve got my own mate problems if you don’t remember.”
“Oh please.” She crossed her arms. “Don’t start boring me with Allie shit.”
Ebony had a habit of turning nasty at the mention of Allie’s name. “Fine then. What do you want me to do about Taylor?”
“I want you to talk to him.”
“Can’t, got shit I need to do tonight. I will tomorrow.”
She arched her eyebrows, and her expression hardened. “So, who is more important than your best friend? Who has always been there for you when you needed him?”
“Don’t start.”
“Ok, let’s go then.” She jumped up off the bed.
“I didn’t mean that,” I groaned. “Why can’t I see him tomorrow? It’s late!”
“Exactly.” She gave me a pointed look. “So, what do you have on that is so important?”
“Allie is coming home.”
“Oh man up, Zane. I’m sure she will be around tomorrow.”
“So will Taylor.”
She turned sharply, a harshness in her eyes. “Fine. Don’t come, and I’ll tell Taylor how his best friend is more interested in getting laid then helping him.”
“If he really is depressed, he won’t care,” I fired back at her, but the look that covered her face had me adding, “Fine, let's go.”
Chapter Twenty-seven
Taylor hadn’t found his mate. He was depressed because his mother was threatening to send him to a military academy for the rest of the year. All because of his stunt with Allie.
I could’ve killed Ebony for dragging me out to see him, especially when I found out Taylor wasn’t even depressed.
Things had gone to hell with Allie. I had sent her a few messages and never got a response. Then she was trying to not be around when I was.
I had overheard Ryder telling dad that Allie was trying to find a rental property. Apparently, the girl had money because of her dad passing away.
Ryder’s party was in full swing now. Checking the time on my phone, it was after eleven and Allie had still to make an appearance.
Ryder’s party had taken over the outside area. People were swimming in the pool, the music was pounding, and people were still arriving.
Ebony was wearing a tiny orange bikini, and some might mistake her for a model that just stepped off the cover of a magazine. The girl knew how good she looked, and she was milking the attraction off the boys around her.
“Seem lonely, brother.” Ryder slapped my back, and his breath smelled of vodka. “Come on, where is the partier known as my brother? Thought you would have half the girls naked in the pool by now.”
I would have.
If shit had been different.
If Allie hadn’t come and twisted my mind to fucking obsess over her.
“Have you seen Allie?” I asked him before he wandered off. He shook his head, and his eyes were locked on Ebony.
“Got to go, brother. Talk to you later.” He waved me off and headed for her.
Two whole days I had forced myself to not reach into her mind to see what was going on, but right now I was losing that will.
Didn’t help that the run was meant to head out on Monday and the whole point of the fucking event was to help her, and right now I didn’t even think she was going.
Screw it, I’m going to face her. Striding through the crowd, pushing drunks out of my way, her rejection filtered through my body at a rapid rate.
***
ALLIE
I pulled down the blinds in frustration, trying to drown out the roaring party. Normally I would be down there enjoying it but no, not tonight, thanks to my bloody English teacher.
I huffed, slumping back down at the desk. I flipped the page of my textbook.
I was happy for any distraction, so when there was a knock on my door, I was quick to tell them to come in.
Zane stepped in. What the hell.
“Um, what’s going on?” I couldn’t think of any real reason why Zane would be wearing such a frustrated look on his face.
“What’s going on?” His voice lowered into a hiss. “What the fuck do you think, Allie? You’ve been ignoring me for days!”
Ignoring him? How was that even possible if I hadn’t seen him?
Holding the textbook up in the air for him I said, “Try studying, Zane. Why would I be ignoring you?” Was he that self-centered? “Bloody hell, Zane. You do know we are in our senior year, right? I’m behind in finals and assignments, and I have a teacher up my butt about this.” I scrunched my nose up at the essay in front of me.
“So, you’ve been busy?” Zane’s voice twisted with confusion.
“Obviously! If I weren't, I would be at the party, not up here trying to study.”
“So, you aren’t ignoring me.”
“Are you dense?” I snapped at him. How many ways could I say it? I wasn’t ignoring him.
A small smirk crept across his face. “Would you like a hand?”
“No, I have two, but I would love your assistance on this essay.”
“Smart ass.” He dragged a chair up to my desk.
“Thought it was best I was clear with you.” I gave him a pointed look. “Seeing as how you like to jump to conclusions.”
He pressed his lips together but kept whatever he was thinking to himself.
So maybe studying could become more interesting. Suddenly, the thought of spending the night studying really didn’t bother me - not at all. Now there was something really wrong with that thought.
I wanted to spend time with Zane. I swallowed sharply; I can’t believe I was admitting that to myself.
Chapter Twenty-eight
I strongly believe history is overrated. Seriously, why did it matter how long you knew a person? Just because you have it, doesn't mean you'll have a future. My eyes slowly narrowed as I watched Ebony touch Zane's arm…laughing.
What the hell was so funny?
"Why are you gawking at Harris?"
Jumping, I spun on my heel to look at Blake. “I wasn't." Denial was way easier than fessing up to the truth.
"Sure, you weren't." Blake gave me a mocking expression.
"Thought you were meant to be ditching anyway?" I snapped, pulling my books from my locker.
I could feel Blake's eyes on me. "Why have you gone red?"
I gave him a sharp look. "I haven't." I denied it while feeling my cheeks heat up.
"You got a crush on him?" Blake nodded his head in Zane's direction.
Oh, for the love of God, why did I have to be caught gawking! "No!"
I would never admit to staring at Zane, checking him out, or stalking him between classes. Period.
Drinking a gallon of petrol sounded more appealing.
"You and he got something going on?" He continued to press.
"No."
"You sure about that?"
I slammed my locker door. "Yes! Would you drop it, Blake? I wasn't checking him out!"
Blake's eyebrows rose, and that perfect devil smirk of his spread across his face. His eyes shot over my shoulder.
"Hear that, Harris? She's not interested."
This couldn't be happening. I slowly turned around to be greeted by the one, the only, Zane Harris.
Why me?
"Hi." I shot an elbow back into Blake's chest, silencing his laughter. "So, um, nice morning, isn't it?"
"It's
raining." Zane gave me a flat expression.
"Well yeah, for people that love the rain it's a great morning." I was digging a hole. "Like, um, me. I love the rain." And the hole got deeper.
"No, you don't." Blake once again decided to use his mouth.
"I do," I hissed over my shoulder at him.
"You're always bitching about it ruining your hair."
Gritting my teeth, I turned to face my soon-to-be-dead friend. "Blake, don't you have somewhere to be?"
"Nope."
"You have English." Could the guy not get a hint?
His lips twisted into a grin. "With you."
"Piss off, Falcon, she wants to speak to me alone," Zane interrupted and, unlike Blake, had managed to get the message I was sending.
The playfulness in Blake's eyes disappeared, and he focused a new unfriendly glare onto Zane.
"And why would she want to do that?"
Zane stepped forward, and I was sure he was about to say something I would regret.
I placed a hand on Zane's chest, squeezing myself between the two.
"Because he is helping me," I said to Blake. "With all that homework I got lumped with."
"Then talk away." Blake gave me a firm expression.
He wasn't going to back down. Sighing I turned back to face Zane.
“So…”
Zane cut me off, “You got your phone?”
I nodded my head.
“I’ll message ya.” He gave Blake a scowl and walked off, heading back in the direction of Ebony.
He’ll message me. God’s sake. I had been dying to speak to him. I didn’t care if the conversation we had was completely pointless. I just wanted to talk to him.
“Thanks for that,” I huffed, slamming my locker shut. I clenched my books at my side.
Blake was wearing his usual pissed off expression. “So, you’re lying to me now?” His hardened eyes locked on mine. “Glad to know you give more of a fuck about him than me.”
I opened my mouth to explain that it wasn’t like that, but Blake had already stormed off before I could get a chance.
I groaned, and the morning got better. I watched my only real friend storm off with the shits.
My eyes flicked back to Ebony and Zane, they were laughing again, what the hell was so funny?
