He grew quiet suddenly though, his eyes narrowed on me.
“You know what the first thing someone said to me when I got here? How there was this hot girl here with two coloured eyes, and how they couldn’t wait to show her the real college experience.”
I blanched. Well that was awkward, and super creepy.
“That’s the kind of guys you’re hanging out with. You two are out of your league and you don’t even know it.” He stepped back. “But I won’t look out for you anymore, Chloe. You want to be some guys notch, go ahead. See if I give a shit.”
I clenched my fists, heat infusing my cheeks. “I have more intelligence than that, thank you though, for your vote of confidence. If there’s anyone here with notches to worry about, it’s you.”
I distantly heard Cat suck in a breath. Where was all this fight coming from? I was usually the calm, passive aggressive type person. You know, keep it in, and maybe let it out by running or something, until I felt better. Instead, I seemed to just be making him angrier.
Jax appeared at that moment, his eyes looking nervously between Kyle and I. “Listen, Briggs, I’ll watch out for both of them, I promise. They’re safe with me.”
Kyle didn’t look away from me, our eyes locked as we both breathed heavily from our anger.
“This doesn’t concern you,” he said darkly, still not looking at Jax.
“Chloe doesn’t really concern you either, man. You keep acting like she’s yours or something.”
Wrong.
Wrong thing to say.
Could the ground just swallow me up right now?
Kyle finally looked over to him, one eyebrow cocked. “Is she yours?”
Jax stammered nervously. “Well, no, but-”
Kyle turned away from him, looking at Cat. “I want you both in the car,” he said, “Now.”
He walked away, leaving us without a backward glance again. Cat gave me an apologetic look.
“We should probably go,” she said.
“I can drive Chloe if she wants to stay,” Jax offered.
I gave him a smile, shaking my head. “Thanks, but I don’t feel like partying anymore right now. I’ll see you Monday at school.”
He nodded and we both left, ignoring all the people watching us. When we got back inside, I noticed Rannon standing there watching me with an interested look.
“Leaving so soon?” he asked.
“Apparently,” I said, walking by him without waiting to see what else he had to say. I really didn’t want to have to listen to someone else chew me out.
This had been, officially, the worst party ever.
Cat fell back on her bed as soon as we made it to her room. She stared up at the ceiling, shaking her head.
“I can’t believe how mortifying that was,” she groaned. “Could my brother be any more embarrassing?”
“No, I don’t think so,” I said, dropping my purse and kicking off my heels. I sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at her. “Not really the best party to start off our senior year, huh?” I said, trying to lighten the situation.
Cat laughed. “So true.” She sighed. “At least we looked hot, even if it was for only a short amount of time.”
I lay back beside her. “It will just make us seem more mysterious,” I said.
“Oooh, I like that,” she giggled. “Way to spin it.”
I chuckled. “I try.”
She turned her head so she faced me. “My brother’s pretty ridiculous.” It wasn’t a question, but I could tell she was looking for my opinion.
“He’s just looking out for you,” I said.
She gave me an oh please look. “I think we both know he’s a bit much.”
“Yeah,” I admitted. “You need to start sticking up for yourself, otherwise he’s going to kill your social life.”
She sighed. “I know. You’re right.” She appeared thoughtful for a second before giving me a funny look.
“You know, most people never talk back to Ky, especially when he’s that mad. I can’t believe you stood up to him the way you did.”
I winced. “It was bad, huh? You think he’s going to hate me now.”
“Oh no,” she giggled, “I definitely can’t see that happening.”
“What does that mean?”
She shrugged, a small grin playing on her lips.
We both dropped the subject, getting up to change into our pjs. I slept on a makeshift bed on her floor. Cat looked down at me as we turned the lights off.
“Good night, Chloe,” she whispered.
“Night, Cat.”
“I’m really glad you came tonight, even if my brother ruined it for us.”
“Me too,” I replied, meaning it.
Shortly after, I could hear her breathing even out. I, on the other hand, lay there staring into the darkness around me, my mind still going a mile a minute. I couldn’t help but wonder what Kyle was doing in his room. No one had talked the whole way home, the car filled with an almost tangible tension.
Unlike usual, I’d kept my gaze on Kyle from the backseat, taking in the stiff set of his shoulders, and the way he’d gripped the wheel. His mouth had been set in a permanent grim line, his eyes even harder looking than normal, as if the whole world was pissing him off.
I didn’t want to fight with him. But I also didn’t want him to think he could treat me the way he did Cat. For one, he wasn’t my brother. Another, I could take care of myself. But mostly, I didn’t want him to see me as some sort of sister figure. I wanted him to see me...differently. As a possible love interest? I snorted into the night. That was never going to happen. Especially not after tonight.
Rolling onto my side, I closed my eyes, willing myself to fall asleep so this night would be over. From down the hall I heard a door open, followed by a low, muffled voice. Instantly I knew it was Kyle, recognizing the deep tone. It sounded like he was talking on the phone as he made his way closer.
“I’ll be there in ten minutes,” I heard him say. He chuckled, the sound causing goose bumps to rise along my arms. I shivered beneath my blankets from the sexy gruffness to it.
“I’m looking forward to seeing you too,” he said. My breath lodged in my now aching throat. “Yup. Okay, bye.”
I squeezed my eyes shut as I heard him descend the stairs. An ugly feeling spread throughout my stomach. He was going out to meet up with some girl? I shouldn’t be peeved, and yet I couldn’t help it. He’d given us crap about boys, but he could go out and do whatever he wanted with girls? How was that fair?
Kyle Briggs, and all his hypocritical ways, could just bugger off for all I cared. I don’t know why I had even considered him attractive. Sure, he was beautiful on the outside. But clearly on the inside he was just a miserable old man. Yes, that’s exactly what he was. A crotchety old man. He wasn’t worth me lying here stewing over him. It was time to forget about him, and this entire night.
With a firm mental nod, I went back to focusing on falling asleep, telling myself that from now on I would not be dreaming of him anymore either. I was done with Kyle, both in real life and in fantasy. I just hoped my brain listened.
10
Kyle
The sun peaked through the blinds, casting an early morning glow about the room. I blinked my eyes open, the stress from the previous night hitting me all over again. If I had thought a good sleep would help, I was sorely wrong.
Just the image of Chloe in her short dress, her eyes bright with anger as she mouthed off to me had my mood plummeting just as it spiked my desire. Again. I’d never wanted to grab someone and kiss them as badly as I had then. Sweet little Chloe Morgan had some fire in her, and it had been directed at me. She amazed me, while at the same time pissed me off.
I still couldn’t believe my sister had been stupid enough to go to a college party. I knew Cat could handle herself, but they had been out of their league last night. I knew the majority of the guys there, and not one of them was good enough for either girl. There was so much bad shit t
hat happened at frat parties. If something had happened to Cat...or Chloe...I couldn’t even think about it.
As I lay in bed, I knew that I needed to stop thinking about Chloe so much.
“Chloe doesn’t really concern you either, man. You keep acting like she’s yours or something.”
That fucker needed to get a clue. Chloe might not be mine, but she wasn’t going to be his either.
Why not? What’s stopping her? My mind argued. I ran a hand down my face. Fuck, I was so torn with this girl.
As much as I didn’t want to look at her, think of her, want her - I also didn’t want anyone else to either. That wasn’t fair to her, and I knew I couldn’t keep it up forever. Eventually Chloe would find a guy she liked, and he’d treat her like a queen.
That was how it should be. Not only could I not date her because she was Colt’s sister, and Cat’s friend, but I wouldn’t be able to give her a real relationship. My head was so messed up, I was no good for anyone, especially not someone like Chloe.
Pulling myself up, I decided I would just go back to ignoring her like I had been, and stick with it. How hard could that be? I had plenty of other girls I could occupy my time with, if I needed to. Not that I was going to fill my nights with empty lays.
Just like I had last night. I shook my head at myself, as disgusted with my hook-up with Rachael now as I had been the moment I left her place last night. What the fuck was wrong with me? At least I knew she wasn’t going to be calling me anytime soon looking for something more. Not like someone like Chloe would.
Standing, I pulled on some flannel pants and headed down to the kitchen to get some coffee before I showered and went to the library to finish a paper. Last night was officially over, all the highs and lows of it, and I was going to forget it all, moving forward. Pouring a cup, I leaned against the counter, savoring the rich aroma as my brain slowly started to wake up with the rest of my body.
The house was pretty quiet, surprisingly. Looking at the clock on the stove, it was ten, which meant Mom and Dad were at church already. It also meant Cat was probably still asleep. She was not a morning person, even more so than me.
Movement outside had me turning my head, thinking maybe she had gotten up already. That was unusual. A glimpse of dark hair instead of strawberry blonde instantly corrected me.
Walking slowly, I approached the sliding doors, looking out at the small backyard and patio we had, to see Chloe sitting out there by herself, a steaming cup of coffee placed on the table in front of her.
Since she didn’t know I was there watching, I let myself soak up everything about her. Her face was turned upward toward the sun, clean of the sexy make-up she’d worn last night. Like this, she was even more beautiful. Her eyes were closed, hiding those unusual orbs, but all the freckles along her nose and cheekbones were visible, as was the natural pink of those plush lips.
There was a small smile on them, lifting the corners, but not enough to show those dimples that drove me crazy. She looked happy and content. When was the last time I had looked or felt that way? I couldn’t remember. Her expression had me riveted to my spot. If I witnessed her moment, would some of what she was feeling pass over to me?
Obviously not. And yet I couldn’t look away, as though I needed to feel it through her, even if it was just this once. Finally she opened her eyes, lowering her head to look at something in the distance.
I didn’t want to interrupt her private time, seeing that she was deep within her own thoughts, but I suddenly felt a strong urge to join her out there and smooth things between us.
I might not want to be friends with Chloe, or anything more, but I also didn’t want us to not be friends. If that made any sense. Having her hate me didn’t sit right in my gut.
On that thought, I pulled on the handle, sliding the door open to let in the fresh, mild morning air. Her head whipped around to look at me, surprise written on her pretty face. How could one girl look so edible in the morning? She wore her hair in a messy bun, a plain white tank top, and baggy pajama pants, and yet I couldn’t decide which version of her I liked more – this one, or the polished one from last night. Both had my blood boiling.
Hiding how she affected me, I gave her a weary smile, not knowing if she’d accept my company now that I faced her.
“Morning,” I said, my voice hoarse. “Sorry if I startled you.”
She gave me a tentative smile of her own, shaking her head slightly. “It’s fine,” she said.
“Mind if I sit?” I asked, gesturing to a chair.
“Of course, it’s your house.”
Her eyes briefly dropped to my bare chest, her cheeks turning slightly pink, before she quickly looked away, sipping at her coffee. The silence between us was awkward, and I hated that. I didn’t want us to be awkward around each other, even though I didn’t know how else to be with her.
Clearing my throat, I leaned my elbows on my knees. “Look, I just want to apologize for last night,” I started.
She turned to look back at me, biting at her bottom lip before replying. “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have gotten so angry.”
“I get why you did. I know I can be a bit overprotective when it comes to my sister. I had no right to get mad at you too.”
She just nodded.
“It won’t happen again, I promise.”
She smiled, her dimples coming out, making my heart ache for some reason. “Thanks, Kyle.”
“Now you promise that you and my sister won’t be going to college parties anymore,” I said with raised eyebrows.
She laughed. “Okay, I promise. Not that it’s really necessary, I’m pretty sure no one is going to be inviting us to a party after last night anyway.”
“Well at least some good came from it then,” I said with a smirk.
Chloe shook her head, laughing again. “You’re awful. I feel sorry for Cat.”
I leaned back, not missing how her gaze quickly flickered to my chest and stomach again, before meeting my eyes. She found me attractive, that was obvious. From the way she’d reacted to me last night, there was no doubt in my mind. We wanted each other, and neither of us was going to do something about it. We were quite the couple. My heart picked up speed at that thought.
I pinched my eyebrows at her. “You feel sorry for her? Do you know what it’s like having Cat as a sister? That girl gets her way more than anyone else I know.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.”
I smiled, thinking of all the scams my sister had run growing up, my parents and I completely wrapped around her finger. I shared a particularly funny one with Chloe that had her laughing loudly, her eyes bright like they were last night, but this time with laughter. Those dimples out in full force.
I’d never seen her like this, and all I wanted to do was keep talking so it wouldn’t stop. I even found myself laughing along with her, all the while mesmerized by the girl in front of me.
“Kyle?” a voice called out, interrupting us. I didn’t know where it was coming from, or who it was until I saw blonde hair peak over the side gate.
Shit.
Shit, shit, shit.
Rachel walked in, smiling as she swayed her hips in what I assumed she thought was enticing, wearing shorts so short you could almost see her ass.
“Hey, handsome,” she said, glancing at Chloe with interest. She stopped, placing a hand on her hip. “Was I not enough for you last night? You had to go and pick up another girl for round two?” She flicked her hair as I felt all the colour drain from my face. “I could have gone again if you had told me.”
I tore my eyes off her to look at Chloe, afraid of what I’d see there. It was worse than I was prepared for. All that laughter and happiness was gone, her eyes blank and cold, her body stiff.
“What are you doing her, Rach?” I asked.
She didn’t bother looking at me, her focus solely on Chloe, the way a hunter would size up a prey.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” she asked.
&n
bsp; “No,” I answered.
Chloe stood, clearing her throat as she grabbed her mug off the table. “I’m Chloe, his sister’s friend,” she smiled tightly. “And that’s all I am, for your information. But it was a pleasure meeting you, Rachel.”
She didn’t wait for a response. Moving fast, she headed inside, those eyes not acknowledging me once. My stomach sank, that familiar burn of anger rising in the pit of it. I swung my narrowed gaze to Rachel, furious that she’d interrupted the best morning I’d had in what felt like forever.
“Now that you’re done being a bitch,” I said, “want to tell me why you’re here?”
She didn’t look the least bit concerned about her attitude, or the fact that I was clearly pissed.
“You forgot your sweater at my place,” she said simply, taking the seat Chloe had just vacated, placing it on the table. It only pissed me off more to see her there instead of Chloe.
“And you couldn’t call me?”
She shrugged. “I tried. You weren’t answering.”
Shit, my phone was up in my room still.
“Well you dropped it off,” I said, giving her a blank look.
She huffed. “What’s your problem, Briggs? I thought we had fun last night.”
I shrugged. “That was last night.”
She stood, her face turning an ugly shade of red. “You are such an ass, you know that? What’s the problem, did I interrupt your quaint little coffee break with Miss. Jailbait?”
I stood fast. “Don’t talk about her,” I said. “You come to my house and are rude to people you don’t even know? I don’t think so. I thought you were cool, Rachel.”
For once she actually appeared sheepish. “Well how was I supposed to know she was just your sister’s friend?”
“You ask instead of just being a bitch about it.”
“It’s not my fault,” she huffed. “You came to me last night, remember? And then not eight hours later I find you with someone else? How do you think that makes me feel?”
“It shouldn’t make you feel anything,” I replied, rubbing a hand over my face. “Last night was just fun, Rach. I made that very clear.”
Deciding Love (Bloomfield #3) Page 7
