“She changed her hair.”
“Emily always changes her hair. That’s her thing. You’re acting like it’s something new.”
“No. It is new. It’s not a different color scheme. Or a trend of the week. She went old-school Emily. All natural reddish brown with some streaks of light brown or some shit in it.”
Maddy gasps. “Are you joking right now?”
“Why would I think that’s something to laugh about, Maddy? You’re the one who brought up how she’s been acting strange. Now I’m telling you you’re right. She didn’t even tease me. Tell me that’s normal?”
Madison glances at her feet. “She won’t tell me what’s going on. She keeps saying ‘everything is fine.’ But there is something in her voice. This isn’t like her. Do you … do you think I should tell someone?”
I shake my head. “No. Not now. Give her a little time. Look, when we leave for our vacation and if she doesn’t tell you what’s going on within two weeks, then we gotta tell someone. Agreed?”
“Okay. What if she gets out of control though? Does things she normally doesn’t do?”
I nudge her with my elbow. “Don’t worry. That’s why I’m there. To make sure you all stay in check. But if she does get out of hand, I’ll take care of it.”
She nods. “Okay. Thanks, Kyle. You are the best brother ever.”
“I know.” I hug her, then return to the dishes in the sink. Wonder if she’ll think I’m the best brother ever when she finds out how much I want her best friend.
Chapter Six
Emily
My parents eyeball me at the table during dinner. I’m pretending not to notice, but it’s hard not to with the loud sighs and then the scrunching of brows. Before they start softly whispering as if I’m not in the room at all, I set down my fork. “What?” I ask.
“Nothing, honey,” my father says.
“Are you still upset with us for leaving for the holidays?” my mom asks.
“You mean the holidays where you left your only child behind to fend for herself? No. I’m over it,” I answer with a bitterness in my voice.
They both look at me with worried eyes. I hate it. “I’m going up to my room.”
“Sweetie, you’d tell us if something else was bothering you, wouldn’t you?” my mom asks.
I smile. “Yes, Mom,” I lie. There is no way I’m telling her what’s going on with me. She’ll sign me up to see one of her stuck-up shrink friends. No offense to them at all but I don’t need anyone knowing about this or how I even got myself in this situation. Think about how it would come off: “I love sex and how it makes me feel. So I use guys for about a week or two of kinky stuff in the bedroom and move on. No. I’m not looking for love. The last person I did this with couldn’t handle the ‘no strings’ part.”
See? It sounds crazy. It also makes what Vince did to me like karma. Maybe it is karma, but I’m honest with people. Until Vince, everyone was fine with it. Not one of them kept calling or started stalking me after I broke it off. Only Vince.
I leave the table and trail up the stairs. My cell rings. A shiver travels down my spine until I glance at the screen. “Hi, Maddy.”
“Hey … um … you okay?”
“Fine. Why?” I’m getting annoyed with everyone asking me this. I know I shouldn’t be.
“You just sound off. Anyway, I wanted to know if you want to go to the mall with me tomorrow. I need to pick up some things.”
I laugh. “Madison, just say it. For goodness sakes, you’re engaged. You have an apartment, and you’re in college. Just say ‘Em, I need you to help me buy sexy girly things to excite my man.’ Come on … Say it,” I tease. I don’t even have to be in front of her to know she’s blushing beet red.
“Omigod! That’s not what we’re …” I hear a door shut. “Nice one. My brother could have overheard that! Ugh! You’re the worst friend ever.”
“Aw, you know you love me. So how are we doing this? Do I come get you or are you coming over here?”
“Either way is … hold on.” She shouts, “What? … No … Oh, shut up!” Then she sighs. “Kyle totally heard you, thanks. I’ll come over tomorrow. Is eleven good?”
I giggle. It feels good to laugh even if it’s at my best friend’s mortification. I know its mean, but I haven’t laughed in a long time. “Yeah, that’s fine.”
“Okay. I’ll see you then.”
“All right. Bye.”
The doorbell chimes repeatedly. I groan and throw on my robe, then head down the stairs. Where is our housekeeper, Deanne?
I swipe some sleep from my eyes and open the door. “Took you … did you just get up? I said I’d be here by eleven. Wow, your hair.” Maddy picks up a strand and then drops it.
I groan my morning greeting to Maddy and Sarah who seems to look about as thrilled as I feel right now. “Is it honestly eleven?” I can’t remember the last time I slept in.
Sarah mumbles while following Maddy into my house. “Be lucky it’s even eleven. This one had me up before the sunrise. Please tell me you have coffee.”
It’s taken a while, but Sarah is growing on me. Do I trust her? Not completely, but I’m not as forgiven as Madison. “I probably do; just don’t ask me how to make it. Spoiled rich girl.”.
Sarah smiles. “I miss being pampered.”
Madison scowls at us. “Go get ready.”
Right. Ready. I take a few steps toward the staircase and call back, “You better make a coffee stop on the way to the mall or you’ll be carrying me.”
“But I already had three cups today,” Maddy whines.
“And the rest of us poor defenseless beings haven’t had a drop,” Sarah says. “We’re stopping. Remember who drove us here.”
“Fine. We can stop. Go get ready, Em.” Madison taps her wrist like we’re on a time schedule.
I smirk back and make my way up the stairs to my room. Twenty minutes later, I am showered, dressed, and my lips are glossed. Instead of my contacts, I’ve got on my hipster glasses.
As we walk to Sarah’s car, I can’t help the sense of dread that washes over me. “What’s wrong?” Madison asks as she opens the door.
“Nothing.” I slide into the back while she slips into the passenger seat.
Maybe it’s just nerves. I haven’t been inside an actual mall in three months. Hiding in thick crowds of people didn’t stop Vince from finding me. No. It was like a game to him. He was the lion and I was the hopeless antelope.
A shudder rips down my spine just thinking about Vince. Sweat beads form. My breathing quickens. Shit. Am I having a panic attack?
I desperately want to curl up in a ball and rock myself back and forth. Madison and Sarah will eventually notice though, and then the questions will follow. I don’t want to rehash this crap with anyone. I’m free. Vince can’t hurt me. He’s not supposed to be able to affect me from this distance.
Clenching my fists, I will myself to calm down. He can’t hurt me. He’s not here. I’m strong. I’m me. No one can make me feel small but me. No one can kill the inner me but me.
“Em? You okay back there?” Maddy asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
I paste on a smile of the fakest proportions. “Yes. I’m fine. Why?”
“You look like you’re going to barf all over the backseat,” Sarah answers as she darts a glance into her rearview mirror.
“I’m good. Promise. I think it’s just your backseat is little and I feel kind of crowded.” It’s not exactly a lie. Lately I’ve been waking up in tight places like under the bed, my dorm closet, the pantry. The saddest part about this is I still have no idea how or why I end up in these places. I swear I go to sleep in my bed.
We pull into the mall parking lot which saves me from further scrutiny. Thank goodness.
Entering malls used to be my favorite thing in the world. The smells from the food courts, to the love of trying on and buying new clothes. But now, the thought of wading through a crowd of people, make me sick. I do not want to be to
uched.
Sarah keeps glancing back at me and I want to yell at her to quit it. Madison babbles on about some things she needs to get, but honestly, she lost me between the food court and Sears. Madison pops into Victoria’s Secret, and I’m about to follow, but Sarah latches on to me, then pulls me aside. “All right, out with it. You’ve been weird. You haven’t called me ‘bitch,’ rolled your eyes, or even spilled deets about your latest sex scandal. What’s wrong? And no, we’re not going in there until you fess up.”
I jerk out of her grip and take a step back. “Jeez, Sarah, nothing. Maybe I haven’t had any flings since Christmas break. Lay off.”
“Bullshit. I know for a fact you messed around with Kyle. Yeah. You’re not the only one acting all weird. One mention of your name, and he practically turns the color of a tomato. That’s not the only thing that’s off. Last year you walked in a mall with your head all high and like you were queen of the world. Just a few minutes ago, you barely lifted your head. And there was a cluster of hot dudes walking past you didn’t make a comment about how you’d like to take one home with you. So what happened?”
I glance around trying to pinpoint Madison from where we are. It was a little difficult, but I notice someone is talking to her as she stands near a lacy bodysuit. “It’s nothing. I just … shit … I had a fling that went wrong. It creeped me out pretty bad. I just need a little time to bounce back. Not a big deal.” Lies, lies, lies. I’m not creeped out; I’m terrified. The thought of that asshole’s threat of finding me becoming real, is literally too much.
Sarah frowns. “You’re shaking, and you look like you’re about to pass out. I’m trying to be a friend here. I’m not here to judge or tell you I told you so. Because honestly, it’s your life. I will say this eventually you need to talk to someone.”
“I’ve tried,” I blurt out. My body trembles. I need to leave this place. Go home and stay in my room.
“I mean a professional. Seriously. You have all the symptoms of a person suffering from anxiety. I used to have it a little when reporters were looking for me. They wanted my side of the story about my parents. Getting away helps, it does, but talking to a professional is better. You don’t need do it here. If you want I can ask my old therapist who she can recommend that’s in Virginia. I can be your cover or whatever if you don’t want anyone to know.”
For the first time in a while, I feel a little better. I didn’t have to spill the entire story on her, and she didn’t pry like she normally does. She’s truly being helpful, even if she’s still a bitch. I smile. “Thanks, Sarah.”
“What are you two doing? I need some help,” Madison shouts from the store’s entrance.
“We’re coming,” both Sarah and I say.
Chapter Seven
Kyle
I stare down the suitcase on my bed. Why did I agree to do this again? After the way Em has been acting, I must be out of my mind to go. For shit sakes, she practically bit my head off for even commenting about her hair.
A knock on my door draws me away from the box of condoms to the left of my suitcase. Yeah, not sure I should bring them. That right there is a red flag something is completely wrong here. I mean, if I was going off to Cali like I should, those damn things would have been the first thing packed not the last.
“Hey, I was just going to ask if you planned on driving too? Graham is, um … why are you looking as if you’re in pain?” Sarah asks.
Because I think I am. What the hell is wrong with me? Why can’t I decide if I should bring condoms or not? Emily! That’s the only logical reason for this. Ever since the whole fuck-me make-out session that lead to a lot of grinding of parts, then her pushing me aside, I’ve been off my game. Especially around her. Thought of having to spend an entire summer in the same house has me messed up. “I’m going to drive.” Yeah, I’ll need my car so I can leave the house with a random and not feel as guilty about it.
I snatch the condoms and throw them into my bag.
“All right. Looks like we’ll have three cars there then. Is it okay if Emily rides with you?”
Wait. What? Emily and I alone in a vehicle. Hell no! She can’t be in the car with just me. There are not enough gross grandma pictures in the world to help me not have a massive hard-on the entire trip. I shake my head. “Not a good idea,” I mumble.
Sarah slaps my arm. “Well, I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want to be stuck in a car with Maddy and Bryce. She can’t come with Graham and I. That leaves you, buster. Are you seriously going to be that big of an asshole you’d let Em feel like a third wheel?”
“I’m not an asshole.” Okay, I kind of am, but not when it comes to people I generally care about. I can’t shake the nagging feeling that being alone with Emily will end up a disaster. Although, if it’s just us, maybe I’ll get to the bottom of her new personality. Maybe she’ll let me know what the hell is going on with her. What if it’s me though? Shit. Screw it. At least I’ll know and maybe I can fix it.
I roll my eyes. “Okay. She can ride with me.”
“Great. I was about to say with three girls coming and we all know that one probably packs the most. Her shit would have been in your car anyway.”
“Thanks.”
Sarah leaves my room, and I zip up my bag. Summer vacation possibly from hell take one.
“W-what are you d-doing here? Where’s Maddy?” Emily asks as I stand outside her parents’ house. She looks so different. Not alone is it her hair but she’s wearing some long shorts, t-shirt and has her glasses on. I haven’t seen Em in glasses since she got them in sixth grade. Even with all the sleepovers she had with my sister that girl always wore her contacts. Call me crazy but she looks even sexier. How the hell am I going to survive?“With Bryce. Didn’t they tell you the driving plans?”She shakes her head. “This means I’m stuck with you?”
“Don’t say it like it’s the worst thing in the world.”
She rolls her hazel eyes. “Don’t get cocky.”
Em pulls some luggage to the car. I grab the bags. “Leave it by the trunk.”
I notice her heavy sigh before she opens the passenger door. Can riding with me be that terrible? Maybe the reason for her change is me? Shit.
I rearrange some things and then put her bags in. It gives me a few minutes to think of how I can salvage the situation. We’re going to be roommates for a whole summer. Ground rules are probably a good thing. Well, it’s a must because if I see her bringing home some one-nighter, I’ll lose it. And if she’s acting like this when she cut our fun short, I’d hate to see how she’d react if I brought home some one-night wonder.
I shove the rest of her luggage in and shut the trunk. As I plop down in the driver seat, I smile at her. “How about you pick the music?”
“That’s all right. I’d like the silence for a while if that’s okay.”
“Sure.” I turn the key and let my car rumble to life, then shut off the stereo. As I pull out of her driveway, I ask, “Guess talking is a no-go then too?”
I dart a glance at her, and she sighs. “If you ask me if I’m fine, then yes.”
My eyes are on the road again. “Okay. No questions on your well-being. How about this one then—are you mad at me?”
“Why would I be mad at you?” I hear the confusion in her tone.
“Because of what we did on Christmas break. I thought … I misread the signals if you didn’t want us to fool around. I’m sorry.”
She giggles. “Kyle, you are too cute sometimes. I’m not mad at what we did. I liked it.” There’s a slight pause; then she says sternly, “Just don’t expect it again.”
I nod, hoping she can see me. I can’t look over at her now. Call it whatever you want but I don’t want to see the look on her face as she basically rejects the idea of us ever continuing our small bit of fun. Another reason why I don’t do relationships. I can’t get hurt from one night of fun. I can’t fall for anything or get attached.
I’ve seen some of my friends get in deep with girls and th
en the relationship went to hell. They’d mope around like a lost dog missing their nuts for months. Who the hell wants that? I don’t.
“I think we should lay down some rules,” I say.
“What kind of rules?”
I shrug. “You know so we don’t have to be caught in uncomfortable situations. I suggest this, if you’re thinking about bringing a guy home, text me. I don’t want to be home to see it or hear it.”
“Kyle, I’m not …”
I interrupt her. “Let me finish. I’ll do the same. Cool?”
“Do what you want. I’m not going to be hooking up with anyone.”
“Yeah. Okay.” I almost laugh at this.
She growls. “I’m not. I told you I’ve changed.”
No shit. The hair? The weird quietness? Fuck. “Are you seeing someone?” I say it through gritted teeth. I don’t know why it bothers me so much.
“No! We’re done talking now.”
I’m relieved she isn’t with someone, but I’m pissed she just cut off our conversation at the drop of a hat.
Whoever said road trips were the best didn’t ride along with a very pissed-off Emily Emerson. I ask her if she’s hungry? She practically rips me a new one. Which totally means she’s not hungry; she’s hangry. Delightful. I ask her where she wants to eat? She doesn’t give me an answer. So I pull into an Applebee’s, and she says, “What are you doing?”
“Going to eat. You coming?”
“I don’t want to eat here.”
“Well, you didn’t say anything. Where do you want to go?”
“I don’t know.”
I roll my eyes. “Pretty sure ‘I don’t know’ isn’t a place that serves food. What’s wrong with this place?”
Kyle (Scandalous Boys Book 3) Page 3
