Troublemaker (Troublemaker, Book 1)

by Parker, Ava

  “Shut up Chase, you’re just jealous,” Jess says as she adjusts the top strap on her bikini.

  “Yeah shut up Chase. When’s the last time you got laid anyways?” Evan gently pokes Jess in the side, looking for some more backup.

  Chase scratches his chin. “Let’s see, when was the last time I got laid? Hmmm. I’d say around two days ago,” he pauses and looks at Evan, “with your sister.”

  “Gross! What the hell’s the matter with you?” Jess fires back. “Hey Kenz, maybe you were right about Chase.”

  I drop my Kindle in the sand.

  How. Awkward.

  Chase sits up taller and turns his attentions towards me. “Right about me? How so Kenz?” He puts his disgusting hand on my bare thigh as he reaches for a beer out of their cooler.

  “Get away from me jerk off,” I get up and move my towel to the other side of Jess and Evan.

  “C’mon McKenzie, you know you can’t say no to me.” Chase follows after me and lies right next to me.

  “Leave her alone, Chase.” Jess throws an empty soda can at him but he doesn’t budge.

  “What’s the matter babe, you afraid you don’t want to get too close to me again?”

  Such an asshole. Reminds me so much of my dad, I guess it’s no shocker my father’s been wanting the two of us to get married since the day he set eyes on Chase.

  “I’ve never been close to you.” I pick up my towel again and move it a couple of feet further away.

  Chase guzzles the rest of his beer and throws it at a seagull that’s nibbling on a piece of bread crust. “Get outta here ya’ fucking rat with wings.”

  “Chase will you chill out? Are you totally drunk or something?” Jess asks, looking at Evan for an answer. Evan shrugs his shoulders, caught in the middle.

  Between good and evil.

  I turn over on my stomach. I try to block him out completely as I dive into my kindle.

  “Come on baby, you love my shit.” He starts to rub the back of my thigh.

  “Get away from me, I mean it Chase.” I should really just scream. Or kick him in the balls. Or something. But then again I guess I’m kind of used to not getting my way.

  I’m so weak.

  “For real brother, leave her alone. We’re just chilln’ on the beach Chase.” Evan looks at Jess for some help.

  Chase runs his finger up my legs and mockingly spanks my butt. I see a dark figure in my peripheral vision come from out of nowhere. A surfboard goes flying through the air and nosedives into the sand.

  “That’s enough!” A thick, muscular arm rips Chase away from my body. “She said no more.” Chase’s body gets tossed into the sand like a rag doll.

  Cage West.

  I feel so relieved that Chase got what he deserved for once. But somehow overwhelmed at the same time.

  “You okay?” Cage looks at me, then looks at Evan like he’s ready to knock his head off his body. Cage’s long surfer guy hair is drenched from the ocean. He looked strong before, but now I can really see the definition in his body through the wetsuit.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. You didn’t have to do that. I can take care of myself.” I can’t finish the words without looking away from Cage’s eyes.

  Because the truth is I can’t take care of myself. At least that’s what I’ve always been told, and even though a part of me sometimes questions this, I’ve pretty much come to believe it myself.

  McKenzie, look at me! Look at your father! You’re weak McKenzie. And you’re nothing without me.

  Chase, still wiping sand off his face and out of his eyes, finally manages to pull himself off the ground. “Dude, what’s your problem? She’s practically my girlfriend.” It’s the first time I’ve ever seen Chase Bishop look intimidated.

  Cage looks at me. My eyebrows raise as I shake my head at Chase’s claim.

  Cage pulls his wet hair back and off his face. “I don’t care if she’s your wife,” Cage pauses and cracks his neck, “you’re lucky I didn’t break your face.” And it’s obvious that he means it. Cage looks almost uncontrollably furious.

  Chase scoffs at Cage’s threat, but looks scared to death underneath his façade. “C’mon Evan, let’s blow this shithole.”

  Justice is finally served.

  Then why do I feel like total crap? I think I’d rather get swallowed up in a giant sinkhole right about now.

  Cage looks at Jessie’s new fling. “Great idea, Evan. Get the hell out of here before I beat the shit out of you too.” Cage gestures with his hands for him to take off.

  I look over at Jess who’s jaw is practically on the ground. “Bye babe, I’ll call you,” Evan says. He pecks Jess on the cheek, then darts off towards the parking lot. Chase makes one last attempt at redemption as he turns around and shoots a dirty look at Cage. Cage’s lips form a smile, but his eyes tell a different story. He’s on the verge of killing someone.

  “Those guys friends of yours?” A calmness finally settles on Cage’s face as he looks towards me.

  I can’t answer at first. This is the most anybody, including family, has ever stuck up for me.

  Then why do I want to run as far away as I possibly can?

  “Not exactly.” I look over at Jess who’s still speechless. I pick up my towel, Kindle, and iphone and get ready to run as far away from this beach as I possibly can.

  Cage puts his hand on my shoulder. “You okay?” The warmth from his fingers is better than alcohol.

  “Yeah, fine.” I brush my bangs out of my eyes. The last place I want to be is right here.

  I glance over at Jessie who’s jaw is still practically on the ground. “Call me Jess,” I say. I throw my towel around my waist and head off the beach.

  I have no idea what just happened. Or why I’m so uncomfortable with someone helping me out like that.

  Even more important, why does this guy keep showing up in my life? Three times in one day?

  The hot parking lot pavement is scorching my feet, which somehow feels like a welcome distraction from the emotional storm inside of me.

  I reach for the handle on my Jetta. “McKenzie, wait up a sec.” I turn to see Cage jogging towards me, his chest muscles rippling through his wetsuit. I imagine him scooping me into his arms and carrying me home, or maybe even some place better than home. Some place new, with someone new.

  But not with a total stranger! He helped me out, that doesn’t mean he wants to marry me. Not to mention he’s pretty much the opposite of my type.

  “I’m sorry if I overstepped my bounds, but I couldn’t watch another guy treat a girl like that.”

  “Yeah, well, I had things under control.”

  Cage smirks. “No, you didn’t.” He picks up his board like he’s ready to take off, probably frustrated that I’m completely stone cold after he just rescued me from a complete asshole. “But whatever. Who am I to try to do the right thing?” He looks… hurt.

  Relax. Breathe. Trust.

  “Thanks, Cage,” I say. His back is now turned to me.

  “No problem.” He wipes some of the sand off the tip of his surfboard and looks back at me. “See you around.”

  I open my car door and throw my stuff across the seat.

  Real nice McKenzie. Real nice.

  My eyes well up… something that’s been happening a lot lately.

  * * *

  I get home and crash. I can barely get through a shower without passing out. I’m completely mentally wiped. I plan a night by myself, definitely not ideal, but I don’t exactly feel like hanging out with Jess and Evan. Not that they would even want me around after what happened today.

  After trying to fight off the pint of ice cream that was calling my name from the freezer all night, I surrender. Now my stomach’s killing me from trying to eat away all my pain. It never works, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to stop trying.

  Exhausted, I turn down the lights. I’m not a big fan of being alone at night, but it beats having the Colonel around.

  Anything beats be
ing with him.

  10:00. I strip down to just my underwear and a t-shirt and I get in bed. My head is reeling from what happened today, but my body’s had enough as I fade off into sleep.

  * * *

  I wake to a loud banging and Maroon 5 blaring in our sub-unit.

  “AND SHE WILL… BE LOVED!” I hear what sounds like two drunk people losing their minds.

  Cage.

  And someone else.

  I look at the clock. 3 a.m. I’m so pissed off.

  I turn on my bedroom light and start to throw on my pants to give him a piece of my mind. The two voices get louder. And closer. Sounds like Cage and some other girl.

  Jesus, it didn’t take him long to find someone to shack up with. I hear footsteps coming down the stairs that lead to our patio. I quickly turn off my light and start peaking through the blinds as the two of them make their way onto the patio.

  Wow McKenzie, this is a new low. Even for you.

  I look through the blinds and see two dark silhouettes under the moonlight. One is Cage. And the other is whoever Cage is having his way with tonight. I get a shooting pain in my stomach, something worse than any pain I’ve felt in a long time.

  I’m jealous. Not of Cage, because I don’t even know him. And again, just because he’s hot, he’s totally not my type. Not even close.

  But their laughter, their joy… that’s what hurts most.

  You’re never going to have a good life, McKenzie. It’s not your fault, it’s just who you are.

  Thanks dad.

  Is he kissing her? I steal a closer look through the blinds.

  Pathetic McKenzie. Real pathetic.

  No kissing. Thank god.

  I shake my head, trying to get rid of the nonsense.

  But seriously, why the hell do I care so much?

  I don’t care. At least that’s what I tell myself.

  Cage pulls out his ukulele and starts strumming a Bob Marley song, not a care in the world. “I said a DON’T WORRY… ABOUT A THING.” The two of them start giggling feverishly. “EVERY LITTLE THING’S… GONNA BE ALRIGHT!”

  Is it really? Is it really gonna be alright when you start making out on my patio as I spy on you in my underwear?

  Suddenly it hits me… it hits me hard.

  I need to get a life.

  What the hell am I doing right now? I’m better than this.

  I can do this.

  I run with this wave of confidence, never knowing how long it’s actually going to last. I manage to pull my head from out of the dark blinds and put myself to sleep.

  Peace at last.

  * * *

  I wake up early the next morning and decide to start my day the right way. I throw on some spandex shorts and a t-shirt and head out for a run. I don’t run as often as I should, but it’s the one healthy thing I can do these days to actually feel decent inside.

  I come back from my five-mile loop and take a quick look at the sky. Fresh, open, serene… I decide to wash away the events from yesterday- the mysterious tenant, Chase, my nighttime spying debacle. I check my heart rate monitor and notice that I ran harder than usual.

  A good sign.

  As I stroll up towards my back door I can smell coffee. And hear music. I look out and see Cage sitting in my lounge chair. He’s wearing navy blue shorts, and nothing else. He’s holding his surfboard in one hand as he looks out into the ocean view. He looks so calm. So serious. So… beautiful.

  Crap, not this again. I really can’t go through this anymore.

  He’s a total stranger. And the other half of the human species that I pretty much decided to never trust again.

  Then why do I find myself wanting to know more… about him?

  “Morning, sunshine.” He turns away from the ocean and offers me the most incredible smile I think I’ve ever seen.

  “Good morning, Cage. Accommodations okay last night?” I ask. If only he knew that I was spying on him.

  “Not bad,” he says while caressing his surfboard. “I could use a bigger bed though.”

  I can feel instant nausea set in as I imagine why he would want a bigger bed.

  “It’s a queen size mattress. You got some pretty high standards for a…” I stop myself immediately.

  “For a what?” Cage sits up taller in our lounge chair and drops his surfboard on the patio deck. “Go ahead, say what’s on your mind Kenz.”

  “Say what?” I pull my sweaty shirt away from my body hoping to distract him.

  “You think I’m a loser, don’t you? Just some non-sophisticated idiot?”

  I shake my head from side to side, desperate to back track from my comment.

  I get defensive and raise both eyebrows. “I don’t know anything about you,” I say.

  Aside from your secret rendezvous under the moon last night.

  I adjust my posture for a quick boost of confidence. “I know you surf. You play the guitar. You…”

  “Ukulele,” he says, shaking his head in utter disgust.

  “Excuse me?” I inch my way closer to him.

  “You heard me,” he grabs his cup of coffee and pulls it to his nose but doesn’t drink. “It’s a ukulele, not a guitar.”

  “What’s the difference?” I ask.

  “That would be like me telling you that Uggs and high heels are the same thing.”

  I crinkle my forehead. “What? That’s an awful analogy.”

  “Whatever. My point is they’re two different animals.”

  “What’s two different animals?”

  “Jesus stay with me here, will ya?” He takes a big swig from his coffee mug. “Ukuleles and guitars are two different musical instruments. Make sense?”

  I reach down to stretch my hamstrings. “You’ve lost me at this point. I just meant I don’t think you’re a loser.” I look up and catch his eyes directed at my legs. Normally I feel creeped out by this sort of thing, but for some reason, right now I don’t.

  I take the opportunity to notice his perfect jaw line. And the definition in his shoulders. And his abs. And…

  He nods in my direction. “How do you like being a landlord?” he asks.

  I think for a second. “I’ll let you know in a day or so. This is my first stab at it.” I rotate my neck in circles to stretch my muscles.

  He reaches for his ukulele on the coffee table. “I realize that you don’t know anything about me yet, even though you act like you do,” he pauses and starts strumming his instrument. “But how would you rate me as a tenant so far in these first twenty-four hours?” His lips form an adorable smile.

  Shit this guy’s got something going on.

  “So far?”

  “That’s right. So far.” He raises his hand up, encouraging me to make a call.

  I start to bite my fingernails, pretending to think harder than I’ve ever thought before. “On what kind of scale are we talking?” I ask.

  “Great question. I like where your head is at.” He bobs his head up and down as he thinks about the type of scale I should be using.

  This is pretty much the most ridiculous conversation I’ve had with anyone in the last decade.

  And the most enjoyable one.

  “Oh, and by the way, we don’t even have to factor in the fact that I saved you from that asshole at the beach yesterday,” he adds.

  I roll my eyes. Not this again.

  He tosses his ukulele onto a nearby cushion. “What? Are you still gonna act like you didn’t need my help?” His eyes widen.

  “Exactly.” I pause to stretch out my shoulder. “But obviously you feel the need to be a hero, so if that’s your thing…”

  “My thing?” He shakes his head in more disgust.

  I nod my head up and down. “I know you’re a Marine and all, but…”

  His body instantly freezes up as he grabs his cup of coffee and looks out at the ocean. It’s like he’s retreated back into himself. And away from me.

  Foot. In. Mouth.

  He looks over at me again as he
starts to talk, more serious this time. “My thing isn’t trying to be anything.” He drinks from his coffee mug and I can see the joy has completely vanished from his eyes.

  I have this effect on lots of men, so it’s not like I’m new to this sort of reaction.

  McKenzie, I’m your own father for Christ’s sake. And if I find it hard to be around you, how do expect anyone else to want to be around you?

  I liked it better when things were light between Cage and me. And I’m not exactly a master when it comes to damage control.

  But here goes…

  “Look, what you did yesterday was really nice. I just…” My eyes start to well up from the shame and embarrassment of the way Chase was treating me.

  He leans in closer, as if he actually cares about my feelings in this moment.

  But I can’t go any further. And to be honest I can’t believe I even took it this far.

  “I gotta run. I need to get cleaned up before work.” I take the sweaty headband off my head and pretend to stretch my calves out before I leave him.

  “Great idea. Somebody’s gotta serve up those yummy organic alfalfa sprout smoothies to the general public.” He snickers, but in a cute, non-threatening way.

  “Exactly. If for some reason you can’t find any chocolate-covered hot dog vendors in the area maybe I’ll see you in the café.”

  He pauses and takes a deep breath. “Doubtful. But miracles do happen, so I guess you never know.”

  I smile and think of all the clever ways I could end our conversation right now. But somehow nothing comes out.

  “Later McKenzie,” he winks at me and starts to recline in the lounge chair for a long day of god knows what.

  “Later, Cage.”

  Taking one last innocent look at him in the lounge chair, I can’t help but imagine how good it would feel to rub my fingers along his thick, muscular body.

  Please stop. Please don’t do this to yourself McKenzie.

  It’s going to be a long eight weeks.

  * * *

  I’m at the café slaving away, just watching the clock tic. My phone vibrates in my jeans pocket. It’s a text from Jessie.

  Hey k. Wanna hang 2 nite?

  I text back. Maybe. Just u and me this time?