by Amanda Heath
“I was thinking we could catch a movie and get lunch. How does that sound?” Spencer asks as we back out of the driveway. As we head down the road, he puts his hand on my thigh and I shiver. I’m wearing jean shorts so it’s skin on skin. Since I’m wearing a silver metallic tank top (that shimmers when I walk), I notice that they are broken out in goose bumps. That’s almost embarrassing.
“That sounds fine as long as we don’t have to watch a chick flick,” I tell him. I’m having a war in my head over whether or not to put my hand on his. I really want to, but I have no clue why.
“You’re not into chick flicks? That’s a relief. My ex-girlfriend dragged me out to see one every week.” He shudders and throws me a wink.
“What happened with her?” I ask. I didn’t even know he had an ex-girlfriend. He never had anything serious in high school.
“Her name is Marissa. I was supposed to stay with her this summer, but she broke up with me right before I was supposed to move into her apartment. She, of course, said it was her and not me. Whatever. Her daddy wasn’t happy that I’m not rich and she is.” He gets scowl on his face. All I can think is “what a horrible thing to break up with someone over.”
“Damn, that’s harsh. If I break up with someone, it’s because they aren’t right for me, not because my dad doesn’t like him. Not that I care what he thinks anyway. I’m an adult now. He wouldn’t be in my business in the first place, unless the guy is beating me or something.” He looks at me and gives me a faint smile.
“It really wasn’t a big deal. I wasn’t all that into her. She is a total bitch most of the time. I just thought I would be bored out of my mind this summer.” He winks at me. God, I’m glad it wasn’t serious!
I finally decide to put my hand on his. He curls his fingers with mine. I smile to myself and revel in this small act and how it feels so right. We drive in comfortable silence the rest of the way to the movie theater.
We pick out some random zombie flick and sit in the back. Spencer raises the arm rest between us and I cuddle into his side without him having to say anything.
The movie was really good. I’m a sucker for a good zombie flick. I’m really surprised that Spencer didn’t try anything. There were only two other people in the theater. He totally could have gotten to third base!
Walking out of the movie, he asks me “Where do you want to eat?”
“I don’t care. I’m fucking starving, though. I could eat anywhere right now.” My stomach growls to put my point across.
He chuckles and grabs my hand pulling me out to his truck. We go through a drive-thru at some random fast food place. Then we go to the park and sit at one of the tables to eat.
Spencer
I honestly thought that today was going to be weird, but it’s been far from it. If there is silence, neither one of us feels likes it should be filled with stupid nothings or small talk. It’s nice. Harley is such a wonderful change from Marissa, who talked nonstop about anything and everything. I’m also surprised we haven’t fought. Here’s hoping that doesn’t change.
“So, I’m wondering why you decided to take me on this date,” she says to me. We sit on the tabletop facing the pond to watch the ducks swimming.
“I took you on a date because I want to move on from the past. I want you to see that we can be good together. I know you’re going to try to run from me; that’s just who you are.” I take a bite of my burger and wait for her response.
“I’m not going to run from anything. There’s nothing to run from. You think because we fooled around the other night, you have some claim over me. I’ve got other news for you. No one has a claim on me.” By the end of that statement, she was standing with her finger pointed in my face.
I quickly grab it and pull her in between my legs. “Baby girl, I do have a claim on you. You’re the only girl I have ever had true feelings for. Do you really think I’m going to pass that up?” I nuzzle my nose against her jaw and feel her shiver.
Her hands stay by her sides and I feel a pang of disappointment. “Stop calling me that. I’m not a baby and I am not your girl. You can have feelings for me all you want, they are not returned.”
I’m starting to get pissed off. I’m not being cocky about this either. My feelings are the same as hers. They are there. I can see them in her eyes. All that fire in those dark blues is for me. All the pranks and fighting were just foreplay. “Yes, you do. Stop denying what you feel, Harley. It’s not good for you and only hurts us both.”
“You’re just grasping at straws, Spencer. There is nothing between us. I can’t even stand you,” she huffs, but I can see the lie in her eyes. She may have a cool façade on the outside, but all you have to do is look into her eyes. Her emotions are always in them.
“Want to bet?” I don’t give her a chance to back away before I brush my lips against hers. She gasps and I quickly swallow the sound and slide my tongue into her mouth. Before I know it, she throws her arms around my neck and clings to me. I love every second of it. In between kisses I say, “I thought you didn’t feel anything for me?” I kiss her again before she can say anything.
The kiss goes on for a while before she breaks away to say, “I don’t feel shit. You don’t do anything for me,” even though she’s looking right at my lips. She takes my lips again before I have a chance to tell her how wrong she is. Knowing Harley like I do, I can imagine she’s not wearing any panties. Let’s just see about that “not feeling” shit.
I drop my hand down to her thigh and slowly slide it up just under her shorts. I slip a finger inside to find that I am right. I push my finger toward her sex and find her wet. Leaving my finger there, I break away from the kiss and say, “You don’t feel shit? Why are you so damn wet?” Her cheeks turn the color of her hair. “Are you blushing?” I develop a huge smile on my face. She doesn’t find it funny and rips herself out of my arms, stomping off in the direction of my truck.
I finally make it over to the truck and hop in after picking up all the trash and tossing it in the garbage. She’s pissed off and I’m not surprised. I might not know a lot about Harley Maxton, but I know that she gets really angry when you bring up her feelings. It’s almost like she doesn’t want anyone to know them. She’s always hated that I could read her so well.
“Look, Harley, I didn’t mean to piss you off. I just wanted you to know where I stand with you.” I look over at her with the same puppy dog eyes that always work on my mom.
I see her eyes soften as she fights back a smile. “Where exactly do we stand, Spencer?”
“You and I are exclusive. No other dudes get to touch you, dance with you, hell, even talk to you.” I smile and start up the truck.
“Well, then, the same goes for you. No sluts on the side.” She glares at me. I roll my eyes; like I would even want another woman with her around.
“Why did you decide all of a sudden that you have feelings for me?” She looks like she doesn’t think I will answer. Boy is she wrong.
“I’ve always had feelings for you. The strong ones didn’t come around until you starting looking like a human being instead of that ice bitch.” I think back on the first day I saw her and smile a little. “Hell, I’ve been half in love with you since that day you killed my doll when we were playing in your front yard. You were just weird then...”
“I wasn’t weird! I was just going through a lot. I didn’t need anyone else in my life that was going to leave.” I spy a tear slipping down her pale cheek.
I reach over and brush it off. “I know you had just lost your mom, Harley. I don’t blame you for how you acted. I didn’t want to feel anything for you either. That’s why I fucked with you just as much as you fucked with me.”
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” She throws my hand away from her and turns to stare out the window.
Chapter 7
Harley
Spencer has been taken over by a pod person. I’m completely serious. Why now, all of a sudden, does he want some kind of rela
tionship? It makes no damn sense whatsoever. Add the fact that no one is surprised that we hooked up; I think aliens have taken over the town. It’s completely ridiculous.
Spencer makes me feels things I don’t want to feel. Makes me relive things I don’t want to relive. I should just push him away like I’ve been doing since I was six years old. Yeah, it would be nice to be with him, date like normal people. I’m just scared to death that he will leave me. I know the kind of feelings he would provoke in me, the kind that would change me forever. I don’t want that either.
Love isn’t something that I give away easily. My family has my love, that’s a given. The girls, well, they were around before my mom died. They were here for me in the aftermath. That’s true loyalty to me.
My cell phone rings, jarring me out of my thoughts. It’s Carter. “Hey,” I say through the mouthpiece.
“Hey, chick, what are you up to tonight?” I hear her cheerful voice through the phone.
“It’s still early, so I haven’t made any plans yet. What are you up to?” I ask, twirling a strand of hair around my finger.
“Well, the girls and I were wondering if you wanted to head over to The Hangover. Its ladies night so we don’t have to pay the cover…”she trails off hopefully.
“Sure, I’ll go. I’m bored out of my mind.” We agree on a time to meet, and hang up.
We live in a small town in Arkansas. We all grew up here and that’s not saying a lot. Duke has a population of five thousand. Everybody knows everybody and this place holds no secrets. The Hangover is a little bar on the outskirts of the county line. It’s about thirty minutes from my house. As long as you have a fake ID, you can drink whatever you want. We used to go all the time in high school.
*****
Walking into the bar, the first thing you notice is the smell. It’s a mixture of smoke, sweat, and cheap alcohol. It brings back the good ole days when the four of us used to hang out here every weekend.
I have hardly ever been apart from the three girls with me. This past year away at college has been hard without them. Sure, we keep up with emails, texts, and phone calls. It’s just not the same.
“Grab a booth, I’ll get us some drinks, okay?” Carter says from her position ahead of me.
The rest of us nod and go off in a search of somewhere to sit. I don’t see anywhere until Lucy points at a table near the back. Guess who’s sitting there with all of his stupid friends.
Paige was right when she said that he hangs out at the same places. It’s not like he’s stalking me, though. There are only so many places to go in Duke. He looks up like he could feel me staring at him. His pale eyes are hooded and burning holes through me. A smirk lifts the corners of his mouth until he catches what I’m wearing. His mouth forms a perfect O when his eyes rove over my barley-there shirt. It’s strapless and hugs every one of my curves. It’s black just like my skirt, which is tight around my hips and flares out at the bottom.
When his eyes get to my legs the look that passes over his face makes me shiver. They leave a trail of fire wherever they pass.
I look away from him when there is a tap on my shoulder. “Hey girl, you want to dance?”
I smile at the six foot brunette and nod my head yes. He grabs my hand and pulls me out onto the dance floor. “What’s your name?” I ask him as he puts his hands low on my hips.
I place my hands around his neck and sway to the music. “Liam. What’s yours?”
“Harley. Why do you look so familiar?” I ask him. He has these intense green eyes and I recognize him from somewhere. It’s on the tip of my tongue.
“Like the motorcycle? I look familiar because I’m the lead singer of Hush Hush.” He pulls his full lips into a smirk. I’m to shocked to even tell him, that I am in fact not named after the motorcycle.
Oh, fucking shit. “Does Carter know you are here? Oh my god, she is going to kill me for dancing with you!” I slap his chest, but he only pulls me in closer.
“Well, I only planned on making her a little jealous, but this should work even better. I can’t believe that I didn’t place who you were.” He laughs, shaking his head. “Red hair and dark blue eyes; she talks about you all the time.”
I squint my eyes at him. He can’t be serious! “She is going to kill me, then you! What are you even doing here?”
“I came to win her back. I messed up big time and I really want to make it better.” He looks at something over my shoulder and I start to turn around when he says, “No don’t look. It’s not Carter. It’s some guy. I’m thinking looks real jealous right now. See? We can help each other out.” He grins.
“That’s just Spencer. I don’t care if he’s jealous. He can go rot in hell for all I care.” I roll my eyes and try to push away.
“Not so fast. Just help me, please? I’m really sorry for what I did to your friend, but I’m trying to fix it.” He looks deep into my eyes, trying to make me understand.
“Fine, but keep your hands in the proper places. And if I get hit for this, I get free tickets to your next concert.” He nods his head immediately.
Before I know it, Spencer is standing next to me looking like he is going to beat the shit out of Liam. “Do you mind if I cut in?” He asks, with a menacing tone.
Liam looks at me and I roll my eyes. “Go away, Spencer. No one wants to dance with you,” I say, even though I do want to dance with him. He’s got one of those tight cotton t-shirts on and low hung blue jeans. I keep getting flash backs from the other day when he kissed me in the driveway. I got a thrill when he pulled me into him. We fit perfectly together, hardness to softness.
“Well, you can say that all you want, Harley, but I know you want to dance with me.” He smirks and takes my hands off of Liam’s neck.
“I’m sorry, Liam, Spencer has no manners,” I say pointedly at Spencer.
“It’s fine. I can find someone else to dance with.” He winks at me before moving on. Great. I’m stuck with the dickhead now.
Spencer
When Dean called and asked if I wanted to meet at The Hangover, I jumped at the chance. I needed to let off some steam. I should have known that she would show up. Her and her posse always used to come here on the weekends when we were in high school.
Harley looks so sexy in that barley-there outfit. All my heads seem to think so. She’s not very tall, only about 5’3, but damn does she have some legs, and those sexy little heels make them even longer.
When the dark haired guy takes her off to the dance floor I feel myself tense up. Now I know I have it bad. I’ve never been jealous in my life before though.
“Dude, what’s up?” Dylan asks, sitting down behind me.
“Nothing,” I mumble back, not taking my eyes off of Harley.
“Is that Liam Bradley?” Dean asks no one in particular.
I look to where she is dancing with the dark haired guy. Shit that is Liam Bradley: the lead singer of Hush Hush. My jealously rises a notch. This is un-fucking-believable.
“Looks like your girl just got stolen by a rock star!” Dylan slaps hands with Dean behind my back.
“Nobody’s been stolen. They’re just dancing, not getting married,” I grumble.
“They look like they know each other. I heard somewhere that his girlfriend was from somewhere in Arkansas. It could be Harley.” Dean throws me a shit eating grin.
I stare at them swaying to the music, and they really do look like they know each other. Liam looks up at me and winks. Yeah, I have had enough of that.
In my next move, I’m out of my seat and on my way toward them. “Do you mind if I cut in?” I ask her.
She rolls her eyes at Liam and says, “Go away, Spencer. No one wants to dance with you.”
“You can say that all you want, Harley, but I know you want to dance with me.” She’s looking me over like a stack of ribs she wants to devour. I’m all up for that.
I take her hands off of Liam’s neck, bringing her closer to me. “I’m sorry, Liam, Spencer has no manners.�
�
“It’s okay. I can find someone else to dance with.” He winks at her and I feel my blood boil.
I grab her hips and bring her flush to my body. Now, doesn’t that feel great? “Are you dating Liam Bradley?” I whisper into her ear. She shivers and I really like the reaction.
“What a stupid question. If I was, I wouldn’t have hooked up with you. I’m not a slut, Spencer,” she says, nudging closer to me.
“I don’t think you’re a slut. Never have. I can’t believe that you just admitted to hooking up with me, out loud.” I move my hands to her lower back. I want to spread my hands over her perfect ass, but I refrain.
I really don’t feel like getting slapped tonight.
“Well, there’s no use pretending that it didn’t happen. I don’t lie to myself or anyone else for that matter. I don’t see the point. It only causes hurt and trouble,” she says rubbing her fingers up and down the back of my neck. Damn that feels good.
“Have you always been this sensible?” I ask with an eyebrow arched.
“I guess so. My mother told me that she was coming home the day she died. That was the biggest lie I have ever heard. You don’t tell your child you are coming home and then go off yourself.” Her eyes are far off like she’s reliving the day. “Anyway, since then, I make an effort to never lie about anything.” She shakes her head before laying it in the crook of my neck.
I kiss the top of her silky hair and rub her back in slow circles. I guess you have to realize that there is a reason for every action and a reaction for each of those actions. I can’t help but think that maybe Harley is only a bitch because she hides a deep pain that even I can’t even to understand.
“Have you always been such a good listener?” Her voice is a little muffled from her face being in my neck.
“Yes. My mom likes to talk a lot. I’ve learned from the best. She used to say there is no better quality in a man than a good listener.” I shrug, pushing my hands up under her top to rest at the skin on her waist.
