“You ass!” Cherry cried out in her aged voice.
“You cursed at me,” I said.
“You’re not a kid anymore.”
I laughed. “Sorry about that. Just wanted to check on that cough of yours. See how you’re feeling.”
“Are you a doctor now?”
“Maybe,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.
“Keep that sandwich,” Cherry said. “You need to eat. Real food too. Not some garbage at the shop. You’ll end up looking like your grandfather.”
“Hey. Thanks.”
“Sure. I just won’t eat.”
I put the plate down on the counter. “Are you trying to make me feel guilty?”
“A little,” Cherry said. She shuffled to the sink and leaned against it, trying to catch her breath.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” she said, waving her hand. “You just scared me.”
“I’m sorry about that. I wanted to check on Noelle. Then you.”
She nodded. “How’s your stolen motorcycle thing going?”
“It’s died down,” I said. “Dusty has nothing on the shop. Not that he would have anything either. I have Ryker and Walker keeping their eyes open over at Tech. Just in case there’s chatter.”
“I’ll make dinner this weekend,” Cherry said. “Big dinner. Invite everyone over. Okay?”
“Yeah. Sure. Family dinner.”
“Family dinner,” she said, eyeing me in a way that irked me.
So many unsaid words in this damn town between everyone.
My phone buzzed in my pocket and it was a text from Aira.
Julia’s car won’t start. She’s pissed. Can you help? Also - she saw us on the deck … so you sort of owe her one.
I laughed.
“Sure, I love a good laugh through stupid phones,” Cherry said. “Those damn things are going to ruin us all.”
“Hey,” I said. “Before we get into anything too serious here, it’s a text from Aira. You know Julia…”
“Of course,” Cherry said.
“Well, Julia’s car won’t start. And I’m laughing because Aira says I owe Julia a favor because I was kissing Aira and Julia saw.”
Cherry’s eyes went wide. “Weslee…”
“It’s okay,” I said. “It’s all in fun.”
“I shouldn’t have said a thing. Don’t break anymore hearts.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s a family curse, Cherry.”
She snorted. “Take your sandwich and leave.”
“You made it. You eat it. Love you, Cherry.”
“Love you too, Wes,” she growled.
I walked to the porch and snuck up on Noelle. I hooked my fingers to the wire of the earbuds and pulled as hard as I could.
“Ouch,” she cried out. “You fuck.”
“See you around, No,” I said.
“Whatever.”
I leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
Then I called Jett.
His day was about to get all sorts of messed up.
* * *
“Hey, want to make out quick?” I whispered to Aira.
She swung a fist and hit my arm. “Shut up.”
Aira sat on the front porch steps and I was next to her. Julia was inside, doing all she could to avoid seeing Jett.
The tension and awkwardness spilled everywhere.
I looked at Aira.
“What?” she asked.
I hurried to steal a kiss from her.
Just a quick little kiss.
Enough to get me by.
I jumped forward and walked to Julia’s car.
Jett stood with his left hand holding the hood up because the pole to hold the hood up was missing.
“What do you think?” I asked Jett.
He looked at me, a nasty scowl on his face. “You think this is a game?”
“No. We’re just helping someone out. It’s good for us. Considering how much everyone hates us.”
“I don’t want to be here right now, Wes.”
“What’s the deal with you and Julia then?”
“Don’t push it. You have no idea what you’re thinking right now.”
I looked down at the engine and grinned.
“Probably the starter,” I said.
“You got one of those hanging around?” Jett asked.
“Nope,” I said. “Bet there’s something at the shop, right?”
“Not for a car. I’d have to hit another…” Jett gritted his teeth. “You know what? She could get it towed.”
“That’s cold, Jett,” I said.
“Cold, huh?” He backed away and let the hood go. I jumped back before it smacked my head or fingers. “You think you’ve got it all figured out, Wes? You and Aira are all hot for each other, huh?”
“Sure thing,” I said. “I’m just trying to keep her safe in this town. You know how things go. How things are.”
“Yeah, I know exactly how things are,” Jett said. “The more she hangs around, the more she’s going to get hurt.”
“No, Jett. Not with this one. This is more than that.”
“That’s what worries me the most,” he said.
“You worry about me, huh? That mean you care about me?”
“Why don’t you call one of your cousins to bring what we need here?” Jett asked.
“So you’re going to stay and fix her car, huh?”
“I will hurt you, Wes,” Jett said. “I’m going to have a smoke while we wait.”
I shot Ryker a text telling him what we needed and that he had twenty minutes to get his ass in gear or he was screwed.
Julia emerged from the house long enough for me to tell her what we were doing. Her eyes kept looking for Jett but he stood stoic and stubborn with his back to the house, leaning against his work truck, enjoying his cigarette.
Then it was down to just me and Aira.
“Thank you so much for this,” she said to me.
“You can make it up to me later,” I said.
“Oh?”
“Use your imagination, darling.”
“She’s embarrassed, you know?” Aira asked.
“Who?”
“Julia. Because of the car. Everyone is so rich and she’s just getting by.”
“Why does that matter? Any car could break at any time.”
“I know,” Aira said. “And I could, you know, help her.”
“You are. You called me. We’re going to get it fixed.”
“That’s not what I mean,” Aira said.
I was going to ask Aira what that comment meant but the moment came and went with the whining sound of a street ride. Fucking crotch rocket coming our way.
And it wasn’t just one this time.
I stepped forward and made sure Aira was behind me.
The three rides approached, engines purposely screeching even though they weren’t going fast.
“Wes?” Aira asked.
Jett turned his head and looked at me.
I showed him my hand, telling him to let it go.
Ryland was first and I figured the two other rides were Nick and Dean. They were from a different time and a different fight. And it wasn’t a good thing that Ryland had them here.
They came to a stop and Ryland flipped up the visor on his helmet.
Their engines were quiet. Nothing like a real motorcycle. Like what I had.
I walked forward and Aira grabbed my hand.
I pulled her along with me even though I didn’t want her too close to this stuff.
“Car trouble?” Ryland called out.
“Just stopped for a smoke,” Jett said. “Great view around here. Almost as nice as what we have back at the shop.”
Ryland looked at Jett. He lifted his middle finger.
Jett did the same back.
I broke Aira’s hold and charged after Ryland.
Nick quickly jumped his ride forward and almost ran me over.
I had to move out of the way as Nick blocked m
e getting to Ryland.
“Fucking pussy,” I called out.
I shoved Nick and he had to scramble off his ride and let it fall to the ground.
He flipped his visor back. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
Without hesitation, the second he came within reach, I swung and punched him.
Yeah, I punched his helmet. Yeah, it hurt like hell.
But I sent my message.
“Christ, that’s enough,” Jett bellowed. “Ryland, get the hell out of here.”
“Nick, let’s go,” Ryland said. Then he looked at Aira. “You don’t have to live like this, sweetie. Life could be so much better. Faster. Wilder. Anything you could ever dream of.”
Ryland throttled his high pitched engine and kicked up dirt, rock, and sand as he took off.
I turned and wrapped my arms around Aira so she didn’t get hit with any of the debris.
Once they were gone, I stepped back but Aira grabbed my shirt.
“What was that?” she whispered.
“They’re just trying to mess with me. And scare you.”
“Well, it’s working,” she said.
“Don’t be scared. I’ve got you, Aira. I’ve always got you.”
I lifted my right hand and she looked at it.
“Holy shit, Wes,” she yelled. “Your hand.”
My middle knuckle was swollen from punching Nick’s helmet.
“I’m going to get you some ice for that,” Aira said.
She rushed away toward the house.
Jett came over to me and slapped my back. “I did the same thing once. For Julia.”
“What?”
“I punched something I shouldn’t have. Broke two fingers.”
“Good for you,” I said.
“Did you really think punching a helmet was a good idea?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
Jett hit my back again. “When we fall in love, we fall hard. And it gets dangerous.”
He walked away from me.
That burned in my head pretty hard.
Falling in love… with Aira…
* * *
“Go start the car now,” Jett said to me.
I got behind the wheel with one foot out of the car and turned the key. The car came right to life, the way it was intended to do.
Jett let the hood shut and he gave me a thumbs up.
Ryker was next to him, wiping his hands with a light blue cloth.
Julia and Aira stood far enough away as though me and Jett were diseased or something.
“Sounds good to me,” I said to Julia.
Something about her still seemed way off. Maybe it was Jett. Their history had been nothing short of crazy either.
“Thank you,” Aira said. She looked at Jett and cupped her hands to her mouth. “Thank you!”
“Sure thing,” Jett said. “I’m going to get back to the shop.”
I watched as Aira elbowed Julia.
That’s when we all walked toward Jett.
It was tense and weird.
“Hey, Jett,” Julia said.
Jett nodded.
“What do I owe?” she asked.
“Nothing,” Jett said. “Don’t worry about it.”
“You replaced a part though.”
“I got the part,” Ryker said. “I can tell you how much it cost.”
“Ignore him,” I said. I gave Ryker a death stare.
“I’m just kidding,” Ryker said. “Although a kiss… maybe from the both of you… at the same time…”
Before I could hit him, Jett punched Ryker in the shoulder.
He stumbled forward and grabbed his shoulder.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Jett growled. “Talking like that.”
“Damn, that hurt,” Ryker said.
“You’re lucky it wasn’t your mouth,” Jett said.
“You try kissing Aira and I’ll do worse,” I warned.
“Like you’ve done anything about it,” Ryker said.
“Actually,” Julia said.
“Ohgod, no,” Aira said. She covered her face. “Please, no.”
Jett started to laugh. He had this throaty laugh that made it impossible not to laugh when he did.
We were all laughing and that helped to cut the tension a little.
“The car is fine,” Jett finally said. “Nothing to worry about. Shit happens.”
“Thank you,” Julia said. “I mean it. I have a trip I have to take and I need my car.”
“You’re good,” Jett said. “I really need to get back to the shop.”
There was hesitation that made me a little sad.
Jett inched away and when he got into the work truck, he took off, kicking up dust.
Julia frowned and swallowed hard. She then clapped her hands together. “I need to get to the bakery. This day needs to end soon.”
She got into her car and drove away.
Now it was just down to me, Aria, and Ryker.
Ryker rubbed his shoulder.
“Here,” I said and tossed him the ice pack Aira had given me for my knuckle.
“What happened to you?” Ryker asked.
“He punched some guy’s helmet,” Aira said.
“What?”
“Ryland, Nick, and Dean showed up,” I said.
“Fuck,” Ryker said. “They’re looking for a war.”
“A war?” Aira asked.
“Nothing,” I said. “Don’t listen to him.”
“Those other two guys…”
“They’re not in HCH anymore,” I said. “But they ride with Ryland if need be.”
“You’re not telling me the entire story,” Aira said.
“Not even close,” Ryker said.
“Then you speak up,” Aira yelled at Ryker.
His cheeks turned red. “What?”
“Do it and I’ll give you that kiss,” Aira whispered. “Maybe more…”
Ryker’s cheeks turned even redder. “Holy shit… I’ll tell you everything…”
“No you won’t,” I said. I slipped a hand to Aira’s waist. “And she’s not allowed near you. In fact, you know what? Get out of here, Ryker. You did what I needed. Now go. Before I get pissed off.”
“Jealous?” Aira whispered to me as she looked up at me.
Yeah, I’m fucking jealous. I’m driving myself crazy over you, darling. And it’s not making sense. I just want you to stop hurting yourself and want to make sure nobody around here hurts you. I want you to stay forever so we could finish all those firsts we wanted. But damn, you need to leave before things get too real.
“I’ll see you around, Wes,” Ryker said.
“Keep your eyes open,” I said. “Anything happens, let me know.”
When we were finally alone, I faced Aira.
“That was interesting,” she said.
“Everything has been interesting since you showed up, Aira,” I said.
“I agree,” she replied.
She touched my face.
I wanted to keep her safe, not fall in love.
But in the back of my mind I saw her then and I saw her now.
And if I wasn’t there with her, someone else would be.
And that thought was enough to send me over the edge.
Chapter 17
Aira
“Maybe you should come with me,” Julia said.
She had been standing at her car for a good half hour, trying to debate what to do.
I would have never guessed in my life that people who owned bakeries could go to conferences or meetings or whatever she was doing. The plans had been made months and months in advance of me arriving.
“Everything will be fine,” I said. “I promise.”
“You promise,” Julia said. “I still keep picturing you kissing Weslee.”
“And I still keep picturing the tension between you and Jett.”
“Not fair,” Julia said.
“What am I supposed to do? Just keep running from things? You
may not believe me, but right now, I actually feel comfortable. I never felt that way where I used to live. Not for a single day.” I took out my phone and showed it to Julia. “Do you realize that nobody has called me from there? Not a single person. So any of those assholes who called themselves my friends…” I shook my head.
Julia shut her eyes and sighed. “I’m so sorry, Aira. I hate that place. I hate your parents for it.”
“Maybe it’s good my house burned down then.”
“Don’t ever say that,” Julia said.
“It brought me here,” I said. “And maybe I like Wes a little. Maybe I like being near him. That doesn’t mean anything is going to happen.”
“I wasn’t born yesterday, Aira.”
“Neither was I,” I said.
Julia groaned. “Just hug me and say goodbye. Then tell me you and your friends are going to hang out and watch crappy movies and eat junk food.”
I hugged Julia. “We’re going to run on the beach and drink crappy smoothies. We’re going to eye hump cute boys. And that’s it.”
“No drinking,” Julia said. “No boys over. Not even on the deck. Got it?”
“Got it,” I said.
We stared at each other and she knew I was lying through my teeth.
“I need this,” I whispered. “I mean, all of this. Being here. Trying to fit in. Not thinking about the fire and my parents. This means a lot to me.”
“I know it does,” Julia said. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“I called Miss Carson and told her I would be out of town.”
I groaned. “Why? So she could babysit me?”
“No. Just so she knows. It’s been hectic for you. And right now you have yourself distracted with everything. Which is good. But…”
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “I swear.”
Julia kissed my forehead.
I watched her get into her car and drive away.
When she was gone, I sighed with relief.
I finally had a true sense of freedom.
I looked at the beach house and I slowly started to bite my lip.
Alone. For two full nights.
Butterflies kicked up in my stomach again.
I needed to see Wes.
* * *
I had no car so I had to walk.
That was the only real downfall.
But with some music playing and the beach oh so close to me, I was perfectly fine. My eyes kept scanning left to right, waiting to see Ryland or his motorcycle guys. Or Mika. Luckily for me, that bitch had kept her stuff for class and in the halls.
HIDDEN CREEK SECRETS: a hidden creek high novel Page 12