“You look surprised.”
I shrug.
Sebastian kisses my forehead, reminding me of Percy’s evilness.
“Sorry. It’s bruised. Had a run-in with the dashboard while bending to get something.”
“Ah, and your lip?”
“Had it tucked in my mouth when we hit a speed bump. Cars are not my friend.”
“I’d say.”
“Sebastian?”
“Yeah.”
“You think maybe we could make out a little?”
“Heck yeah.” He moves the plate off his bed, then guides me to it, where I’m on top of him. I love how he lets me be in control. It’s so different from the way Percy uses me.
Sebastian brushes my hair with his fingers, sending tingles to my scalp. My lips press his as I rub his chest.
He pulls away. “Did you brush your teeth with my toothbrush?”
“Yeah, is that okay?”
He strokes my back. “A turn on, actually.”
I kiss his neck then sit up and tug off my shirt.
Sebastian’s hands meet my hips, soft and relaxed, like my body is made of butterfly wings, not something to search and destroy.
“I love you, Brayleigh.”
Love. This beautiful, sexy man loves me. All I want is him in me to cover my hidden scars and make me see the girl he sees. The girl I may never be, and he doesn’t know he can’t love.
My eyes water, giving into the lie. “I love you, too, Sebastian.”
“You okay?”
I press his hands to my chest, but he doesn’t do anything. “Sebastian? I don’t want to pressure you, but I need you.”
He moves his hands to my neck. I stop myself from flinching. Percy had his hands around it minutes ago, choking me then biting my lip.
I taste the iron of his teeth marks. “Please.”
Sebastian wipes away a tear and pulls me to him, kissing me again. Then he rolls us to our sides, massaging the curve of my waist. “Brayleigh, you know I think you’re hot. My decision to be celibate wasn’t easy, especially when you came along. It might sound weird because you know I’ve slept with a lot of girls, but I’m serious about wanting to wait.”
“I know you want it to mean something, but wouldn’t it? We love each other.”
“That’s why I can’t,” he says, bringing my fingers to his lips and kissing them individually. “Sex has ruined every relationship I’ve ever had. I don’t want to ruin ours.”
“You’re waiting for marriage?” Outrage floods my voice. It’s wrong to expect sex, but I don’t even know if I want marriage. I do want sex. And I refuse to be a cheater, so him waiting for marriage doesn’t leave me many options.
He closes his eyes. “The summer before we met, my parents forced me to go to church camp. I thought it was lame, but on the last night, we had an all men’s discussion about dating and sex. It changed my way of thinking. I made a commitment to God and to myself to be a better man. For me that includes being celibate. I’m sorry. I know that’s not what you want to hear.”
I roll to my back and hold his hand. “No, but I understand.” Not! God doesn’t care. He probably doesn’t exist. If He did, my first time wouldn’t have gone down like it did.
“Does it change things, now that you know it’s long term?”
I shake my head. “No. I love you.” I mean, I can’t break up with him for his beliefs, even if I do think they’re ridiculous.
Sebastian kisses my cheek, and I try to forget how sucky this is.
His alarm goes off. “Time to get the guys.”
“Is Farren not coming with us?” Maybe there is a God and He answered my prayers.
“They broke up this morning.”
“Poor Zain,” I say all serious, though if I were alone, I’d be laughing like one of those memes where the person laughs so hard they start choking on air.
We look at each other, and I laugh. They were horrible together.
“Let’s go,” I say.
“Put your shirt on first.”
Chapter 5
Eight hours after spewing lava all over Farren, I find myself a single man and incredibly intoxicated. I’m not drunk because I broke up with my girlfriend; I’m drunk because I’m celebrating the end of two long years. I’ve wanted it over for the past year, but I always worried Coach would kick me off the team. Reason number two I stayed with her for so long.
The desire to play in college is gone thanks to no interest from college coaches, and basketball season is halfway over. If he kicks me off now, so be it. He’ll only be hurting the team’s chances of winning the Basketball Bash and coming out ahead in the season games.
Johnson hands me another shot glass. “Here’s to being single.”
“Amen, brother.” I knock it back, and the clear liquid burns on its way down.
“You gonna let everyone believe she broke up with you, aren’t you?”
I shrug. What does it really matter? If she needs to inflate her ego by saying she’s the one who ended it, I’ll let her have that glory. Besides, less than six months remain of our high school career. Most of these people will fall off my radar.
“You’re the laughing stock of Snapchat right now. She’s claiming you cried like a baby.” He turns his phone toward me, his screen displaying our prom photo, torn in the middle, with me wearing a cartoon diaper and crying my eyes out.
I grab my phone and text her to ask if that’s really necessary. Think about it, Zain. Don’t communicate with her at all. Your silence will totally burn her up. I exit our text thread and send Sebastian a message.
TO
Where are you?
TO
Be there in ten.
“I still don’t understand how you stayed with her so long.” Theo fills the bottle of vodka with a little water and puts it back in his parents’ bar cart. “I can’t stand to be around her for more than a second.”
“Truth? I don’t understand it myself.” But I do. Call me selfish. I didn’t have to work for sex with Farren, and being with her helped suppress the feelings I had for someone else. Someone who is totally off limits.
Ten minutes later, the horn blares, and we stumble in the back of Sebastian’s 4Runner.
Bray fans her face. “OMG. Who took a bath in whiskey?”
“That would be Theo.” I smack Theo’s back. “He drained the rest of his dad’s Jim Beam. I stuck to the odorless vodka and only drank half the bottle. It’s easier to hide the missing contents with water.”
Sebastian pulls out of Theo’s driveway. “Where are your parents, Johnson?”
“My sister finally went into labor. They left this morning. Probably won’t be back until next weekend.” He rubs his hands together and sings, “All by myself.”
Bray frowns and faces forward.
“Happy birthday.” I shove a hot pink gift bag and attached card toward her.
“Why’d you get me a gift?”
Sebastian raises his eyebrows in the rear-view mirror. “Yeah, Zain. Why’d you get her a gift? You trying to make me look bad?”
I smack him on the back of the head. “You don’t need any help doing that.”
She opens the card first, revealing a pop-up birthday cake. The card was more than the socks, but the color reminded me of her eyes.
“It’s so pretty. Thank you. This will look great pinned on my wall.” Her sing-song laughter fills the vehicle when she pulls out the socks. “I have to put these on. They match my shirt and dummy me forgot to put on socks.”
She lifts her red sweater, revealing the same Oh, Fudge! tee I have under my basketball sweatshirt. It’s the same t-shirt I wore on the day we met over a year ago.
I lift my jeans to reveal my matching socks. She starts laughing, or is she crying?
Sebastian grab
s her hand and rubs it. “Babe, you okay?”
“Yeah, just happy the Schneiders didn’t kick me out now that I’m eighteen.” She reaches back and squeezes my hand. “Thanks, Zain.”
I grasp her hand and gaze into her ice-blue eyes that swim with tears. “You’re welcome.” Her lip is cracked and puffy. “Are you okay?”
She moves her hand from mine and faces forward. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Silence fills the car on the remaining drive to the county fairgrounds for the Jingle Jam. I swallow my current misery and think about being in Bray’s shoes. I need to be more thankful for what I have: three pain-in-the-butt siblings, two overbearing but loving parents, and a roof over my head.
Chapter 6
It sucks having a curfew, especially knowing I’m going to be punished the second I walk through the door. I’m early, but after threatening Percy, that’s not going to matter. Maybe it’ll all work out. Beth could’ve dumped the trash. He’ll be clueless but scared, and I’ll still have leverage.
Sebastian lays his hand on my thigh. “Sure you’re okay?”
I rub my socked feet against each other under the floorboard heater. “Yeah, just cold. Sorry for making you leave early just to get me home.”
“I don’t mind. Besides, Theo and Zain were a bit much. Hopefully, they’ll calm down before I get back.”
If I could only drink my problems away like Zain.
Sebastian sighs. “I thought you might be mad at me for only making you cookies and getting you a ticket. You got emotional when Zain gave you those socks.”
I put my shoes on as he stops in my driveway. “My life has changed a lot this year. Those socks brought the memories full circle.”
He comes around to my door and helps me out. “If you need to talk about it, I’m here.”
I hug Sebastian and kiss his cheek. Inside is a mystery, out here with him is safe. The house is quiet and dark. Percy and Beth must be in bed.
“You should spend the night with me. We could cuddle. Make out a little.”
A car stops behind us, and Izzy gets out. “Gracias, Maya. Hasta luego.”
“De nada, adios.”
Sebastian holds me close. “I wish, but I should go. The guys might want to leave soon.”
We kiss on the lips, and I’m left wanting more. We’re calm seas when I yearn for a raging storm. Maybe kissing would be enough with cinematic chemistry, but we’ve never had that level of passion. We have comfort, and it’s beautiful but leaves me with desire.
He climbs back in the driver’s seat and waits for Maya’s sister to back out.
Izzy and I move toward the house. “How’d it go?”
“What in the world?” Izzy says, ignoring my question.
I follow her eyes to the porch. Two giant black trash bags with a small white object on top rests by the front door.
I sprint to the porch and slip the pregnancy test in my back pocket. Izzy tugs on the door, but it doesn’t open.
She huffs. “We need our own key.”
“Someone’s always home.”
“Apparently not.” Izzy knocks as I open one of the trash bags.
“No.” It’s filled with my clothes.
“What is it?” Izzy bangs on the door.
“Locked out?” Sebastian yells with his head out his window.
“Yes,” I respond, retying a bag.
Izzy turns around. “What the hell?”
Maya and her sister are gone. The Schneiders have disappeared. We’re stuck outside on the porch for who knows how long.
After a few minutes, bright lights surround Sebastian as he gets out of his vehicle.
The Schnieders.
I stand and pull my hair at the scalp.
“Thank goodness,” Izzy says, going to greet them.
I run beyond her and yank open the backdoor, undoing Milo from his booster seat.
Sebastian frowns. “Is everything okay?”
I squeeze Milo to me, tears dripping on his shoulder.
“Put him down, you lying whore,” Percy says.
I kiss Milo’s cheeks and walk backwards.
“What did you call her?” Izzy and Sebastian ask at the same time.
“She’s a liar,” Percy says, grabbing Milo’s ribcage.
Milo cries. “Sissy?”
“It’s okay, Milo. I’ve got you.”
Izzy helps Beth out of the car. Beth is pale in the moonlight with a stoic expression. She doesn’t look at me.
“Beth,” I beg, “make him stop. He’s hurting Milo.”
“Let him go,” Percy says.
“Brayleigh,” Izzy says, “what’s going on?”
“They’re kicking me out.”
“No. It’s your birthday.” Izzy squeezes Beth’s hand. “Don’t kick her out.”
Beth ignores Izzy and guides her inside.
Milo wails. “You can’t leave me again.”
Percy yanks Milo’s waist taking his breath away. “It’s okay, Milo. You’ll be fine without her.”
Izzy storms into the yard as Sebastian clocks Percy in the jaw.
“Leave them alone,” Sebastian says.
Percy’s lying on the ground, propped on an elbow, curling on his side. He spits blood and laughs. “You think she won’t do it to you? She’s a fickle whore who wants to pin her crap on whoever is closest. Tell me, does she complain about you in bed?”
Sebastian stills. “What?”
“He’s lying,” I say.
“Percy?” Izzy whispers.
Percy picks himself up and puts his arm around her small shoulders for balance. “Don’t worry, Iz. She won’t spread anymore lies about this family.”
Izzy wipes her tears. “What lies?”
“She tried to blackmail me,” Percy says.
Everyone is quiet. I can’t deny it or explain myself, though he’s the only villain here.
Milo clutches my shirt, head against my chest. I kiss the top of his forehead. “I love you, bubba.”
Sebastian is holding his wounded hand, seething.
“Give me the child,” Percy says.
I take a few steps back.
“Brayleigh,” Percy says, “do you have something you’d like to confess?”
“No.”
“Then, the child. I can call the cops right now and get your boyfriend arrested for assault, or you can take your bags and go.”
“Brayleigh,” Sebastian pleads, “if you screwed up, just confess.”
“If I screwed up. If I?”
Unbelievable. SOB has them all convinced.
“Leave now,” Percy says, “or I’ll tell him what you threatened me with. Then where would you sleep tonight?”
My stomach rolls. His power is like dead fingers rolling over my flesh.
“Milo, stay with Izzy and Beth. Don’t be alone with Percy. Promise me?”
“Sissy.” His tiny voice is layered in fear.
“Promise me.”
He nods.
I set him down, and he runs to Izzy.
I lean in toward Percy, keeping my voice to a whisper. “Stay away from them, Percy, or so help me I’ll crawl through your window and slit your throat while you sleep.”
He smirks. “You’re too weak for that. Besides, the cops would lock you up, and you’d never see Milo again.”
Chapter 7
A trail of light cuts through the drove of kids bouncing up and down to Red Rider and the Examination’s rendition of Jingle Bell Rock.
“There he is.” Farren’s cry rings out.
The light hits my eyes, blinding me. I squeeze them shut, then my head spins—vodka seeping through my mind three hours later.
I fight the bright light as a security guard comes into view.
; “Is this him?” He points his flashlight at the knight’s head on the front of my sweatshirt.
Farren nods, trying to hide her smirk. She’s up to something, and it’s not going to be to my advantage. She’s out for blood after the breakup.
I’ve been able to avoid her all night by sticking like glue to the three I came with, only catching a glimpse of her and her friends at the ice-skating rink when we first entered the fairgrounds. No one in my group was up for ice skating, thank goodness. We ventured to the stage area and lounged on the lawn under the late afternoon sun until the first band started.
“Zain, you need to come with me,” the guard says, gently tugging the sleeve of my sweatshirt.
“Why does he need to come with you?” Theo moves beside Farren, who crosses her arms over her chest. She swallows her smirk when the guard looks in their direction.
“I’ve been with him all night,” Theo says. “If she said he did something, it’s not true.”
“Well, maybe you’ve been drinking like he has, and you need to spend the rest of the evening in the drunk tank right beside him until your parents pick you up.”
I want to call Farren a tattletale, but Theo beats me to it.
“I’m the only one who’s been drinking here,” I say. No reason to pull anyone down with me. “Lead the way.”
He escorts me to the right of the stage to a field of portable trailers set up like an overcrowded school. He opens the door to a room full of Merryville High students who’ve had the same luck as me.
Another guard hands me a piece of paper and a pen. “Write down your name, your parent’s name, and their contact number.”
“I’ll save you the trouble. Just go backstage and tell my dad, DJ Mark Abner.” I hand back the pen and paper and slip into a chair next to Hunter Green, Merryville’s star quarterback. Even he isn’t above the law.
He extends his fist. “What up, Abner? I heard a rumor that the queen bee dumped you.”
I bump it and laugh. “Don’t believe everything you hear.”
“Then I hate to tell you I saw her sucking face with Devin Dawson earlier.”
“We’re not together. She’s free to do what she wants.” She must have found time between ice skating and torturing me to hook up with her fallback guy.
Unwrap My Heart Page 3