by Lacey Wolfe
He plopped down on the ground next to me. His woodsy cologne hit my senses. Damn, what was he wearing? I could bottle that scent up and inhale it all day.
“This doesn’t seem like your scene,” he said. “Boyfriend bring you along?”
Boyfriend? Evan. “He’s just a friend.”
“Didn’t seem that way from where I stood.”
I smiled and tried not to stare at him, but it was hard. “I’ve known him my whole life.”
He set the two bottles down in the grass in front of him, and leaned back on his arms. For the first time, he wasn’t looking at me. “How was your coffee today?”
I smiled. “Good.”
“Think you’ll be back?”
I tried to suppress the giggle. Why did he care? “I guess.”
“My parents own the place. You’ll find me there often.”
“That must be why you thought you owned the sidewalk.” Crap, had I just said that? I quickly drank from my beer, though that was probably the culprit.
Gabe chuckled. “I get tired of trying to find a parking place. And, technically, I guess we do own that little patch of sidewalk.”
“Apparently.” I held the bottle to my lips, but didn’t drink.
I couldn’t believe I was sitting outside, drinking a beer with this guy. He watched me again. Normally I’d be freaked out, but for some reason I liked it. His shirtsleeves were rolled up, and I noted some ink on his forearms. That’s more like it. He’d seemed way too clean cut earlier. Now the bad boy was showing. Wonder what was so “bad” about him? He seemed like a nice guy.
“Paisley,” Evan called as he approached the rock. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” Better than fine. Half a beer and I felt a little woozy already. I really should’ve eaten before I got here.
Gabe stood. “It was good chatting, Paisley. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime. You know where to find me.”
“Or maybe she won’t,” Evan snapped.
This was a new side I’d never seen before. “Evan.”
Gabe walked away laughing, but I didn’t find the situation funny at all.
Evan was mad. The anger was practically rolling off his body as he crossed his arms. “Why was he talking to you?”
“Chill.” Jeez. “I met him earlier today at a Blue Mountain Coffee and he came over to say hi. His parents own the place. He was just being friendly, something you’re having a hard time with.”
“I don’t like him.”
I hopped off the rock and noticed Gabe left both the beers. “You don’t know him.”
Evan groaned. “Just stay away from him. Promise me.”
I stared hard at the star filled sky. “Yeah, okay. Whatever.”
Headlights shone on us. I glanced over my shoulder and when the lights were off, I recognized Kristy’s car. Finally. Now maybe I could get away from Evan and his weird possessive self.
Kristy walked up, looking as cute as ever in a black dress with a pair of brown cowboy boots. I should’ve dressed better. I had on skinny jeans and a white flowery top. I’d never been a fashonista.
“This is a little away from things, huh?” She put an arm around me.
“Guess that’s why they have parties.” I held up my beer.
“Ooh, look at you. You’ve got a drink.”
“Shut up.” I laughed.
The three of us headed back inside. Kristy knew just where to go to get her beer. I hoped she didn’t want to go hang out with Pete as well. The way he looked at me gave me the creeps. Glancing in his direction, however, I knew we wouldn’t be going over there. The brunette chick was now straddled in his lap, and he was maneuvering his way to third base with her.
“If I ever act like that at a party, please stop me,” I leaned close and whispered to Kristy.
“If I ever do, don’t stop me. It’s been way to long since I made out with a guy.” She grabbed a drink, popped it open, and practically chugged it down. Then with a flirty smile, she said, “Let’s have some fun.”
I laughed, not able to contain it. Evan had wandered off at some point, but I was sure he’d be back.
Kristy and I found ourselves a corner. I sipped a bit of my beer, finally getting the bottle a little more than halfway gone. Nursing the drink wasn’t the best idea, but as long as I kept this in my hand, I didn’t feel like such a loser. Maybe my friends were right. It was time to quit taking the easy route. I needed to have fun.
“Who is that hot guy? I think he’s checking you out.” Kristy poked my side.
I followed her gaze. Gabe.
“Go talk to him.” She pushed me.
“I, uh, I already did.”
Her eyes lit up. “Seriously? Well, who is he?”
“I met him before work at a coffee shop. He stared at me the whole time. Then tonight, when he got here, he watched me like he is now.” I should feel self conscious, but I didn’t. “As I waited for you, he came and talked to me, but Evan chased him away. To be honest, he’s freaking me out a little.” Kind of, but he intrigued me so much more.
“He can’t keep his eyes off of you.”
She was right. Even as he spoke to the guy with him, his gaze never left me. My heart raced. I honestly didn’t know what to think. It wasn’t like I’d never dated before. I’d had a few boyfriends in high school, but nothing serious.
“Go talk to him,” Kristy pressed.
“Who?” Evan showed up at just the right time. Go figure.
“No one,” I said quickly.
“She’s being silly. That guy.” Kristy pointed. Great, now he knew we were talking about him.
“She needs to stay away from him.” Evan put his arm around me again, only now he put a little more weight against me. If I didn’t think he’d fall, I’d have moved.
Kristy stared at Evan’s arm a moment then asked, “Why? He’s hot.”
“I don’t know. But my roommate says he’s trouble.”
Of course he was. He parked his bike wherever he wanted. “I need to use the restroom. Hold my drink.” I handed it to Kristy.
I wandered around the house. It was two stories, surely they had a restroom down here, but I didn’t find one. I headed up the creaky stairs. Sounds of groaning welcomed me at the top, making me giggle. Some people were having a lot of fun.
After using the restroom, I checked my appearance in the mirror. I turned by head back and forth. Maybe I did need to let my hair down. Tugging the elastic out, I let my long locks fall over my shoulder. I fluffed it with my fingers. The crease wasn’t so bad, and besides, more than half the people here were drunk. They weren’t going to care how my hair appeared.
I left the bathroom and stopped in my tracks. Leaning against the opposite wall was Gabe.
“Uh, hey again.” I grinned awkwardly.
“Having a good time?”
“I guess.”
A girl walked up wobbly, holding the wall the whole way. She pushed me out of the way, slamming the bathroom door. Now I stood close to him. Near enough I could touch him if I wanted.
“You sure that guy isn’t your boyfriend?”
I nodded. “Positive.”
“He comes across like he is.” His blue eyes bore in to mine.
“Well, he isn’t. Why would I lie?”
He shrugged. “Walk with me.”
I glanced around. We were upstairs, and there wasn’t anywhere to go. I knew once I went down stairs and Evan saw, he’d stop us. “It’s not a good idea.”
“Why?”
I leaned closer to him, inhaling his intoxicating scent and said, “From what I hear, I should stay away from you.”
He chuckled. “Is that so? And what do you think?”
I think I should see where he wants to take me, but I didn’t say that. “I don’t know you.”
“Then get to know me. Come on. One little walk. What could go wrong?”
The bathroom door opened and the drunk girl reemerged. “Awesome party!”
I laughed and watc
hed as she concentrated on walking. Poor girl. I hoped she made it down the stairs.
“So?” He raised an eyebrow.
It was tempting. Take a walk with him, talk, get to know him, and find out why everyone thought he was trouble. “I think I’m going to pass.”
The cutest smirk I’d ever seen appeared on his face. “Paisley, you’re really going to make me work, aren’t you?”
The sound of my name on his lips was like music. “How did you know my name?” That was stupid, he could’ve asked someone.
“From the coffee shop when you got a drink.”
“Oh, yeah.”
He reached out and brushed a lock of hair from my face. My breath caught when his fingers lightly touched my skin, and I swear every nerve was on end.
“I like a good challenge.” He walked away, leaving me standing there, speechless. I was in trouble when it came to him. I wanted to know him, but had a feeling the talk was true. He was bad news. That fact alone made me that much more attracted to him.
As I went down the stairs, walking away from the girl who had caught my attention, I had the desire to go back, grab her by the hand, and whisk her away. She captivated me.
“Dude, where’d you go?” my friend Erik asked.
“Bathroom.” I glanced around. “This party is lame. Want to get out of here?” Parties always seemed to be lame when you really weren’t into this type of scene anymore.
Erik pulled his phone from his pocket, looked at it, then shoved it back into his jeans. “Sure. It’s a bit too packed.”
Packed? Yeah, that was for sure. The party was full of younger kids just getting out on their own. It was loud; surely the cops would be showing up before long. I didn’t need to get mixed up with that. I’d worked hard to turn my life around. I’d been one of these kids once, and the path I had chosen had been the wrong one. It had taken walking away from almost everyone I knew in order to get back on the straight path.
At the door, I turned, feeling her eyes on me. Sure enough, there she was with another girl. She watched me. I could almost see the wheels turning in her head. She was as intrigued by me as I was her. I took a moment to take in the blouse and tight jeans she had on, saving the image to my brain.
I nodded at her slightly. A small smiled crossed her beautiful face as her cheeks reddened, and she gave me a tiny wave. My night had been made.
“Dude, you coming?” Erik asked.
Taking her in a moment longer, I turned to him. “Yeah.”
“Who’s the girl that’s caught your attention?”
I rubbed my hands together as we crossed the green lawn, seeing her blue eyes in my mind. “I don’t know. Something about her has spiked my curiosity.”
“Is it that she’s innocent?” Erik chuckled, annoying me.
Somehow I’d gotten a bad reputation. I blamed that jerk, Pete, for it, but I suppose I was just as guilty in it. Some parts of the rumors were true, but for the most part, they weren’t. I didn’t intentionally date innocent girls and steal their virginities.
“Yeah, she has a sweet face, but we know that means nothing.” I thumped him on the shoulder.
I climbed into the passenger side when we got to his car. I didn’t ride in vehicles often, most of the time I was on my bike. But I sure as hell wasn’t going to ride around with Erik on the back of my bike.
“Where to now?” Erik asked.
I had no idea. “We could go see a movie.”
Erik started the car and laughed. “When did you get to be such an old man?”
I smirked. He had a point. I worked so much, I didn’t really go out and party the way a typical single twenty-three year old guy did. What would happen next? I’d fall in love?
***
Paisley had been haunting my dreams since I met her. What was it about her? Ever since laying eyes on her in the coffee shop, she’d been on my mind. I hoped I’d see her again. Stupidly, I didn’t get her number. I’d left the ball in her court, but I had a feeling I’d see her again. She was as drawn to me as I was her.
I just wasn’t sure about that guy. He was possessive of her. However, she said he wasn’t her boyfriend, but I wasn’t so sure.
“Gabe, honey.” My mom, when she wanted to play the part, stood at the edge of the table I sat at in the coffee shop. “Will you do me a favor?”
I shrugged. “Depends.”
“We’re out of milk. Could you run out and get some?”
“Yeah, okay.” I closed my laptop and got up.
I’d go by the market and get the milk she needed and when I got back, I’d pack up my things and get out of there. Mommy dearest was in the mood to be nice, but could flip at any time.
I hopped on my bike, strapped on my helmet, and didn’t look back as I rode through town. Damn traffic was backed up, but it would be worse once school started with college kids galore. Maybe Paisley would be attending school.
Seriously, what was wrong with me? I’d seen her twice in my life, and I was already obsessed with her. Her sweet nature appealed to me. I’d always been attracted to the more sweet girls and it seemed to pour from her. However, since I liked this type of girl, I’d created a false reputation for myself. I couldn’t say the rumors weren’t completely true, but I’d changed. It seemed no one wanted to believe that, though.
I parked at the grocery store. It was time to get in and out. As I walked down the cold aisle to get milk, I heard someone walk up to me.
“God, I always hate seeing your face.”
I turned to see Pete with his sister—my ex—Kelly. Fuck, as big as this town was, why did I have to run into him? I’d just seen him the other night giving me problems. “I don’t like seeing you either.”
“Hi, Gabe.” Kelly smiled. “Remember me?”
“Yeah.” Even though I wished I didn’t. Getting involved with her got me tied up in Pete’s life and started my downward spiral into drugs and alcohol. Not a person someone wants to get mixed up with.
“I saw you making eyes at Evan’s girl, Paisley.” Pete crossed his arms. “Stay away from her.”
“You sure she’s his girl?”
“Well, not yet, but he’s working on it.”
I wasn’t looking for a competition, but with Pete, everything was. “Paisley is a grown woman and I’m sure she will decide who she wants.”
“It won’t be you. Got it? You’ve already screwed up enough girls’ lives, let that one be,” Pete snapped.
Like Pete was one to talk. I’d never seen him with the same girl twice. “Whatever, man.” I grabbed the milk and started to walk away.
“Gabe,” Kelly called.
“Yeah.”
“Call me sometime.”
I nodded and walked away. I heard her brother snap at her that I was a jerk, but whatever. I wasn’t on this earth to please them, or anyone.
Maybe getting involved with Paisley wasn’t a good idea if it meant I’d have to deal with Pete, or even Kelly, again.
Who was I kidding? I couldn’t wait until she walked through the coffee shop door again. Even if it brought drama, I needed to know her.
Now, to wait until the day she sought me out.
“I’m running out for a bit.” I picked up my keys and purse from the table by the front door.
“Okay, sweetie. What time will you be back?” my mom asked as she wiped her hands on a dish towel.
I rolled the key ring around on my finger. “Not really sure. Why?”
“Dinner. I need to know if I’m feeding you or not.”
“Don’t plan on me.” Pushing the front door open, I turned back. “Where’s the key to my place? Think I might stop by.”
She winked and returned a moment later with the key dangling from her fingers. “Here you go. I figured you’d want to check it out before long. Don’t forget, I want to take you shopping for some kitchen furnishings on your next day off.”
This was getting more real. “See ya later. I’ve got my cell on me if you need me.”
I closed the door behind me. After climbing into my small sedan, I began to drive toward downtown. My parents lived about forty minutes from Athens. My parents…wow, perhaps I was finally beginning to consider moving out.
My phone buzzed on the console. When I came to a red light, I checked to see a text from Evan.
Party tonight. Want to go?
I set the phone back down. No, I didn’t want to go. It had been a few days since the last one, and the reminder of Evan puking in my backseat still lingered in the air. Since my car was equipped with Bluetooth, I asked her to dial Evan.
“Hey,” he answered right away. “Get my text?”
“I did. Not tonight.”
“Why?”
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel to get my frustration out. “I’m heading to Athens right now, actually, to check out my place.”
“At least let’s eat while you’re here. We need to move you here ASAP. I don’t see why you’re taking so long.”
Because it meant I had to grow up. Spread my wings and fly. “I think I’m just about ready. By the time classes start, I’ll be moved in. Mom’s taking me shopping soon for stuff.”
“Call me when you get here. I’ll come over.”
“Sounds good. See ya.” I pressed the end button on the steering wheel.
Athens was still a ways off. Cranking the radio up, I cruised along and enjoyed the ride. I was used to it, since I worked in town, but before long, the only time I’d make this drive was when I visited the parents.
By the time I got into town, I was yawning. I hadn’t slept well the night before. All these upcoming changes in my life had my mind running a mile a minute. I took the first parking spot I found. I didn’t have too far to walk, thankfully. Locking up the car, I set out for my new home. But on my way, I saw the coffee shop. This time I took note of its name. Blue Mountain. His bike was out front—in a parking space. I smiled, wondering if what I’d said had anything to do with him being off the sidewalk.
I needed to keep walking. Stopping would be a mistake. Gabe wasn’t the guy for me—or at least according to Evan and Pete. So why did I want to see him so badly?
Coffee was on my to-do list before I went to my apartment. Maybe he wasn’t even in the main area. Perhaps he was in the back doing stock or something for his parents. I pushed the door open and entered the cool shop and couldn’t believe I was here again.