INFLUENCED: A Good Girl, Bad Boy Love Story

by Keyes, Janae

  “Peaches,” I whispered to her. “Peaches, wake up. We’re at a friend’s house until I can take you home.”

  “Wwwhat?” she said, eyes still closed.

  “Come on, Peaches, time to wake up.”

  “But I don’t wanna,” she pouted.

  “There’s more vodka inside,” I said, pandering to her alcoholic brain.

  “Fine,” she exclaimed, grabbing her door handle and wrenching it open.

  By the time I was out of the car, Megan was already half way up to the porch, with no shoes on. I hadn’t even noticed her taking them off. Did she leave them at the club? I couldn’t remember if she had had them on or not.

  “Wow, Spence!” Kyle said, opening up his screen door. “This is Megan. She’s fucking hot.”

  “Don’t even think about it, Kyle,” I growled, closing in on Megan and throwing my arm around her.

  “Hey man, I’m just fucking with you. Come on in,” he said, putting his hands up in mock surrender.

  Once Megan was seated inside, I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and handed it to Megan.

  “Drink,” I ordered.

  “This isn’t vodka,” she said, disgusted, holding the bottle out for me to take. “You said I was getting more Vodka.”

  “Peaches. You know you can’t have anymore alcohol. I have to have you home in an hour and your parents might be home.”

  Realization dawned on her face, as she pulled the water back to her lips, unscrewed the cap, and took a big healthy swallow. It seemed mention of her parents was enough to elicit a very quick sobering.

  “Where’s my clutch?” she asked, her eyes frantically searching for it.

  “It’s in the car, what do you need?” I asked, preparing to go get it.

  “Ibuprofen. It’ll help, and my phone,” she said, taking another drink of water.

  “I got some in the kitchen, hold on one second,” Kyle said, leaving us alone in the living room.

  “What do you need with your phone?” I asked, pulling mine out. I didn’t really want to leave her alone, even if it was with my best friend. I wasn’t sure where this over protectiveness was coming from, but it was starting to grate my nerves.

  “Text Lucinda, here’s her number,” she said, closing her eyes and reciting me the number from her head. “Tell her the situation and find out if my parents are home. Tell her I’ll be home soon and to be ready to take me in the back way. She’ll understand.”

  Doing as she asked, I waited for a response from her sweet house keeper. Kyle came out a few seconds later with a bottle of pain meds and cracked it open for her to take some and swallow down.

  “They aren’t home yet, she says, and she’s ready whenever you are to meet you out back. Do you want to go now?” I asked, looking up from my phone.

  “Give me another ten minutes and then yes, I will be,” she said, looking around and taking in her surroundings. “Where are we?”

  “Oh, shit, sorry about that. Kyle, this is Peaches, I mean Megan. Megan, this is my best friend, Kyle. He’s from the UK, and he moved here with me when I came back.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Kyle. Why did you move so far away? Don’t you have any family or anything back in the United Kingdom?” Megan asked.

  “Nope. Spence here is my only family. Been best friends since the day he got off the plane and ran into me at the airport, knocking all my shit to the ground.”

  Megans laughter filled the air. She was definitely coming down from her intoxication, and her laugh was heavenly in my ears.

  “Fuck you, Kyle. You always tell people that story. I was new and you weren’t paying attention. Too busy texting that fucking money hungry chick. What the hell was her name?” I asked, stumped as usual.

  “Alyssa,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain.

  “That’s right, Alyssa,” I said.

  My phone vibrated in my hand. An incoming text.

  “Shit! Time to go, Peaches. Your parents are on their way home,” I said, reaching for her hand.

  Waving goodbye to Kyle with a promise to call him soon and a thank you, I jumped into the driver seat and watched Megan fumble with her seatbelt.

  “It’s gonna be close, Peaches, but we should beat them.”

  “Ok,” was all she said.

  Peeling out of the drive, I drove the streets of Atlanta as if I’d never left them, and luckily for us, the street lights were on our side, always being green when we needed them to be.

  Fifteen minutes later, we pulled around the back of the house, her parents’ car nowhere in sight. Standing at the backdoor was Lucinda, holding a pair of silk shorts and matching top. I briefly wondered what it would feel like to have Megan wrapped around me wearing nothing but the sleek material.

  Turning to me, a gentle blush staining her cheeks, she looked into my eyes.

  “Thank you for taking care of me, Spencer.”

  As she turned away, reaching for the door handle, I couldn’t stop myself. Putting my hand on her arm, she swivelled back around to face me, giving me the opportunity to grab her chin and place a feather light kiss on her plump juicy lips.

  She tasted like cranberries, and alcohol, along with a spicy cinnamon scent that infiltrated my nostrils. Although my intentions had been a chaste gentle goodbye kiss, I couldn’t stop myself from delving in, and poking at her lips with my tongue.

  When her hand came up, for a second I thought she was going to push me away. Instead, her hands found my hair and laced her fingers through it, drawing me in closer.

  Damn this fucking center console!

  A knock at the window tore us apart and threw a bucket of icy water on me. Lucinda stood there smirking.

  Getting out of the car, I adjusted myself, yet again, through my jeans, and walked around to hand Lucinda the keys to Megan’s car.

  “Put these on, mija, and leave your clothes on the floor. Hurry up to bed and I’ll be up in just a minute,” she said, handing the clothes over to Megan, who walked hurriedly to the door.

  “An uber will be here any moment, Mr. Grant, to take you home,” she said.

  “Thank you, Lucinda. You’re a lifesaver!” I commented back, handing over the keys, Megan’s phone, and her purse.

  “No, mijo, I think you might be the lifesaver,” she smiled, turning away and heading back to the house, just as a car pulled up behind me and honked the horn.

  Lifesaver? What the hell was that woman talking about?

  Chapter Seven

  Megan

  His lips. I still felt their ghostly presence lingering on mine after last night. I'd gone to sleep feeling them and woke up the same. He'd surprised me and the one thing I craved was more. More of everything he could give, I was fully willing to accept. I ached to have his lips exploring mine, his hands touching me and holding me tight. I wanted the feeling of his locks slipping through my fingers again. When I arrived home, I was no longer drunk on alcohol, but drunk on Spencer.

  Though I was mortified at my drunken behavior, I let the alcohol get the best of me and I let my lips loose. Spencer wasn’t just now aware of my current desires for him, but the fact that I was a virgin. I'd made a fool of myself and there was no going back from that.

  By the time I'd gotten in bed, I heard the sounds of my parents returning home from their evening out. Lucinda left me to greet them and she informed them I was already in bed, I owed her so much.

  A knock came at my bedroom door. From the moment I moved, a sharp pain ricocheted through my skull, I was most definitely hungover. I moaned in response to the magnified sounds of the knocks.

  The door opened and in stepped Lucinda. I groaned at the sight of the tray she held in her arms, just the thought of food made my stomach turn.

  “Rise and shine, Mija,” she said with a soft chuckle. More than once, Lucinda had nursed me back from a drunken and then hungover state.

  “No,” I moaned as I covered my head with my blanket. “I'm so embarrassed.”

  “Why? It se
ems to me you had a good night. You even had your knight in shining armor bring you home and left you with a kiss. You know your parents won't be happy about you with him.”

  As she spoke, I could hear her setting down the tray and opening my curtains.

  Peeking out, I was greeted with the bright sunlight streaming through my windows, which did nothing to help my headache, and I groaned.

  “I'm not with him, I don't know what I am to him,” I mentioned with a sigh as Lucinda came to my side and began to help me sit up in bed. “He probably thinks I’m just some silly kid he gets to babysit...ugh.”

  “I know he likes you,” she commented as she turned to bring the tray to me.

  She placed the tray in my lap. I was greeted with toast, orange juice, and ibuprofen.

  “Thank you, I don’t really know what he feels for me, but I made a fool out of myself with him last night, like a dumbass and immature kid.” I took a bite of the toast in attempt to calm my queasy, growling stomach. Things I should have done: drank more water and eat.

  “It couldn’t have been that bad, mija.” Lucinda shook her head and chuckled at my mortification.

  “Not that bad? I drunkenly suggested that he deflower me,” I groaned. I would never be able to face Spencer again. Though I knew I had to, there were work and joint functions between our families, including the Grant Family Fourth of July Celebration held at their beachside property on Sea Island in a couple weeks.

  “Oh--well… maybe he took it as a compliment,” Lucinda squeaked out, it was very apparent that she was trying to not burst into uncontrollable laughter.

  I took another bite of my toast before something came to mind.

  “What time is it anyway? I’m going to have to get ready for that luncheon my mom is hosting this afternoon,” I inquired before popping the ibuprofen in my mouth and swallowing them down with orange juice.

  “Just after 10 AM,” Lucinda answered. My eyes went wide as I tossed the tray to the side and moved to jump out of bed.

  “Oh shit, I need to get ready and I have no idea what I’m wearing.” I was speaking a million miles a minute.

  “Calm down, Mija. The luncheon was cancelled. One of your mom’s clients was arrested and she is down at the county jail. Your dad is off playing tennis with Steve Grant, it’s fine.” My nerves instantly calmed at the news.

  “You know the dance class that Joe wants me to teach with her?” I inquired of Lucinda.

  “Yes,” she answered as she picked up my dress from that night before that lay discarded on the floor.

  “I’m going to do it. Mom and dad can’t know though. I need an excuse for Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights,” I informed her.

  “We will think of something. I’m proud of you for doing it. I know you will have a great time and do something you love for once.” I knew Lucinda would understand, she was always understanding. Doing something that defied my parents wasn’t normally like me, but branching off was feeling like the right thing.

  I continued to eat my toast and,the more I ate, the better I felt in my stomach and my head. I had an entire free day ahead of me for once. The possibilities were endless.

  “I think I will go for a run, clear my head,” I said. A run would do me good, clear Spencer from my mind.

  It didn’t take me long to change into my running clothes. I stretched as I made it to the end of of the long driveway in my spandex running pants, pink sports bra, and tennis shoes. My iPod strapped to my arm and today’s mix of Ellie Goulding blasting in my ears, I began my jog off my parent’s property and onto the main road.

  Life had taken a shift, I’d gone from the teenage girl with the innocent crush to the lustful woman, yearning for the man I’d liked for as long as I could remember. Our innocent flirting had taken a turn from playful and carefree to enticing and evocative.

  Every corner of my mind was filled with Spencer, his scent, and his lips. I had to wash him away. As much as my family and the Grant family were close, my parents would never approve of a relationship with someone like Spencer. He was headstrong and didn’t cave to the will of his parents. He was the opposite of me and what my parents desired for my life.

  I kept pace up the road, I caught myself slowing as I passed the Grant Family home. I wondered if Spencer was still living in the pool house as he’d done before leaving for Europe. Picking up my pace, I looked ahead, wiping Spencer from my mind. There were so many other things for me to worry about, including my internship and figuring out a way to get out of work earlier three days a week.

  Turning off the main road, I headed down my favorite trail, ponytail swinging behind me. I loved our neighborhood because it was filled with nature. Lush vegetation bordered the trail on either side and the air, even with the humidity, unlike in the center of the city, was crisp and clear. My fogged mind was finding clearance as I moved forward.

  Yet, just like that, Spencer was back, literally in front of me and jogging in my direction. A grin spread across his face as he approached me. I tried to keep my mouth from gawking open as he ran bare chested. He had a huge tattoo and covered his shoulder, down part of his chest, and to his forearm. I had only seen a sliver of it coming from under the sleeve of his t-shirt at the club.

  As Spencer came to a stop in front of me, I stopped as well, still admiring his tribal inspired tattoo. I yanked my ear buds from my ears and did what I could to act as natural as possible, though I thought there was a possibility I was once again making a fool out of myself with this God of a man standing in front of me, his muscles almost flexing involuntarily.

  “Fancy seeing you here, Peaches,” he commented as he pulled his arms above his head stretching, this wasn’t helping my current situation one bit watching him in front of me shirtless and stretching his delicious body. “Feeling better?”

  “I’m okay,” I mentioned quickly. “Are you following me or something?” Spencer let out a roar of laughter.

  “No, I seem to be doing the same thing as you, out for a run,” his tone was sarcastic. I caught myself biting at my lip, as fast as I could, I removed my teeth from the bottom corner of my plump lip. “So, last night was…” his voice trailed off.

  “Honestly, I don’t remember much. I just woke up in bed this morning,” I lied with a shrug. Glancing at Spencer, a disappointed look flashed across his face. Instantly, I felt guilty for lying to him. I dismissed the feeling, though it lingered.

  “Oh-- you were something, Peaches,” he said, giving me a wink, causing an ache to find me between my thighs. I wanted to hide behind one of the many trees along the lane, my face beginning to heat.

  “Is that so?” I commented nonchalantly. Eager for him to allow me to finish my run, as in running away from him.

  “You honestly don’t remember anything?”

  “I mean, I remember going to the club and having a few drinks, but then it fades.” I hoped I was a good actress, but something about the smirk that found its way to the corner of his lips told me I was failing.

  “Ok, Peaches,” he said as if he didn’t believe a word I said. “Well, if the police show up about that body I had to bury for you, at least you have a good lawyer.” He gave me another wink. If that man winked at me one more time, I was going to have to jump him right then and there. I always wanted losing my virginity to be a special experience, but if it was done in the middle of a dirt walking trail, then so be it.

  “I wasn’t that bad!” I proclaimed, hands on my hips. Though something about that moment told me that I’d given myself up. Dammit. Oh well, I was going to keep it going. I couldn’t dare cop up to my drunken antics and that kiss I couldn’t explain.

  “Any plans for the weekend?” He was making small talk.

  “I might meet Joe today for a bit, but other than that, I will be at home watching one of the Harry Potter movies for the millionth time,” I informed him, slightly embarrassed at my huge lack of a social life.

  I’d never had much of a social life growing up. I was always eith
er with my parents at some stuffy event, studying, or practicing one of the three instruments I played. My parents expected a level of perfection from me that didn’t allow room for socializing, fun was rarely in my vocabulary.

  “Hmm, what are we going to do with you, Peaches?” Spencer appeared to be in deep thought. I wondered what kind of trouble he was trying to stir up.

  “What does that mean?” I asked. Spencer cocked an eyebrow and smirked. It was as if he saw something in me, fighting its way free, and he was enticing it.

  “It means you have no fun. How about tomorrow you meet me at the Georgia Aquarium at two?”

  “I don’t have fun, yet, you want to take me to a place that I’ve been to on a million school field trips?” I questioned, shaking my head.

  “That exactly, but it will be nothing like you’ve ever experienced. I promise you, Peaches.” With that, he went on his way, jogging away and leaving me shocked and breathless. I inhaled sharply. I didn’t know where this was going and though normally, I calculated every risk, I wasn’t going to think. One thing was for sure, my parents would be greatly disappointed with my lack of thinking.

  Meeting Jaylesha was a definite after my literal run in with Spencer. I hadn’t told her about the end of the night, but I knew she was eager to learn every single detail, as any best friend would.

  Pulling up to the playground, I spotted Jaylesha right away, sitting on a bench, waving to a small little boy, her son. I parked my car and stepped from my air-conditioned sanctuary into the humid atmosphere that was the south.

  Kheoni spotted me before his mom and he began to run as fast as his little legs could take him. Before I knew it, my legs were pulled into a monster hug by the three-year-old. He peered up at me, a huge smile plastered on his adorable and round mocha face, eyes wide and filled with wonder.

  “Auntie Moe!” He began to cheer over and over again at the top of his little lungs.

  “Hey there, Little Man,” I said happily as I picked him up into my arms pulled him into a tight embrace.