Love Begins with Fate

by Owens, Lindsey

“I’m going to bed. I’m cold.” Kelsey yawned and slurred as her teeth chattered. She stumbled to her feet.

  “I’ll walk you.” Parker said standing up. Ryder glared that ‘don’t you dare take advantage glare.’ “I’m just going to make sure she gets to the right room.” Parker muttered for Ryder’s benefit as he gripped hold of Kelsey’s arm as she began to stumble to the ground.

  “Here kitten,” Parker shook his head “Let me help you.”

  “Hannah, why don’t we head in too?” Ryder leaned toward Hannah whispering into her ear.

  Hannah giggled nodding her head. Ryder stood taking her arm and leading her toward the cabin “Night guys.” He waved as they walked away.

  The guys were all laughing, whooping, and cheering for the two guys, which caused Ryder to roll his eyes and chuckle.

  Parker had lifted Kelsey up into his arms. He couldn’t believe her brother had gotten her so drunk but she still kept the secret of his mystery girl locked up tight. The girl in his arms was amazing. He felt so lucky now to know the secret, but what would he do about it, he wasn’t so sure.

  She was his best friend’s sister… Parker shook his head, no… this little temptress he had fun with at the club was definitely the girl he wanted. She was so sweet and shy but had to be an amazing vixen in the bedroom. He would have a lot of work to do to get Ryder on his side.

  He brought Kelsey over to the large bed in the center of the room and tucked her underneath the covers, she had fallen asleep in his arms, and she looked so sweet. Parker leaned down and kissed her forehead before walking away.

  Parker stretched as he walked over to the couch and curled himself into the pullout bed there. His eyes were just about to fall asleep when the bedroom door burst open. Ryder stood furiously staring in. “Dude?” Parker questioned. “Is something wrong… you’re going to wake your sister.”

  “Oh uh… no,” Ryder mumbled “Sorry.”

  PJ shook his head lightly before closing his eyes and falling to sleep.

  Chapter 16

  Kelsey woke with a massive headache. She groaned pulling the covers over her head, hating how the sunlight was pouring in the room. “Here,” A voice said. “This should help.”

  Slowly and cautiously, Kelsey pulled the cover back and looked up into the beautiful blue eyes of a man. “Huh?” she mumbled.

  “Hang over.” He smirked. “Here” Parker said holding out a bottle of water.

  “Thanks.” Kelsey grumbled as she slowly sat up. “Why do I have such a hang over?” She moaned, rubbing her temples.

  “Ah…” Parker chuckled. “Blame the brother.”

  “Stupid boy,” Kelsey hissed.

  “Hey he was just trying to find out our secret,” Parker shrugged.

  “Didn’t work though, did it…” Kelsey smiled softly.

  “Nope, but I think it helped him score some tail.” Parker smirked.

  “AH!” Kelsey screeched quietly. “Don’t want to know!” She covered her ears and closed her eyes.

  “Kay kay,” Parker laughed. The girl was too innocent and cute for her own good. He pulled her hands down and kissed her softly and quickly, pulling away before Kelsey could say anything.

  Kelsey downed half a bottle of the water then looked back up at Parker. “I think I’m going to get something to eat.” She yawned slipping her feet from the bed.

  “Remember, something light, or you might be in for a bathroom run.” He reminded her as Kelsey made her way toward the door.

  Parker chuckled to himself as he repositioned himself on chair; feet propped up, and book in hand, he had one more page to go.

  Kelsey padded her way through the room; she went into the bathroom and tugged on her bikini then pulled her jersey pants and tank back over top. She hadn’t really remembered going up to the room last night, nor did it really bother her, but what did bother her was the fact her brother had gotten her drunk. “I’m going downstairs.” She called over to Parker.

  He nodded “Meet ya down there” he told her standing up so he too could change his clothing. Kelsey stormed down the stairs until she came to the kitchen. “Hey Kels,” Hannah beamed. “Finally you’re up…”

  “Hey sis. How was your sleep?” Ryder asked. “PJ kept to himself right?”

  “Don’t ‘Hey sis’ me!” Kelsey yelled but then her voice turned into more of hiss from the hangover headache.

  “What did I do?” Ryder grinned slowly standing up from his position at the table. He knew Kelsey was dangerous when she was angry. “Guys…” Ryder said slowly.

  “You can’t hide behind them!” She growled stalking forward. “How dare you get me drunk!”

  “Hey, you willingly participated.” Ryder argued with a smirk.

  That was it Kelsey snapped “Gah!” She yelled as she lunged.

  Ryder jumped out of the way and took off running toward the door. Kelsey had been wearing her jersey pants, a tank, yet was barefooted. Ryder chuckled as he slammed the door. Kelsey grabbed the door and yanked it open then raced after her brother. Chorus of laughter followed the twins out.

  Ryder had run toward the water, tossing his clothing as he ran. “Come and get me!” He laughed as he jumped off the dock.

  “You are going down!” Kelsey screamed. She began to tug her pants down then she took menacing steps forward. “I am gonna kick your sorry ass. I am not ever going to tell you who the girl is! Drunk or not!”

  Whistles and hoots behind her made Kelsey turn and glare. “Don’t start with me.” She snapped as she lifted her shirt up. Ryder’s laughter died and the guys behind her were silent.

  “What the hell?” Ryder hissed as he swam back toward the dock. He had forgotten that he was running from Kelsey, she stared at him confusedly. “When did you get that?” He yelled as he hoisted himself up onto the wooden platform. He remembered PJ mentioning a star tattoo on the girl of his dreams and was dreading it was his sister.

  “When did you get that?” He questioned again this time poking her in the ribs.

  Kelsey gulped. Then she looked up at her brother. “What?” Kelsey questioned ignoring her brother’s question and raced toward the water. Maybe if she reached the water; she could change the subject.

  “Kelsey Ashlyn Lodge!” Ryder yelled. She could tell he was angry now, but she didn’t want him to catch her. She raced harder toward the water, away from her brother, and jumped doing a double flip into the water, diving deep, and swimming away.

  When she rose back up, Ryder was scowling in her direction with the ‘we will discuss this later’ stare. Kelsey dove back under the water and swam away. She swam until she couldn’t breathe, rose up then dove back under again.

  There was a small dock out in the middle of the lake. Normally it wouldn’t be one for many to actually swim out too but she wanted her time away. When Kelsey finally made it to the dock she tiredly pulled herself up onto the small dock, dropping herself onto it with a heavy sigh.

  She looked back toward the shore where some of the guys had started to play football. Her brother, Parker, and Hannah were nowhere in sight. She had hoped her friend would keep her promise, but as the minutes passed, she heavily doubted it.

  “Is the girl he’s looking for, my sister?” Ryder hissed. He had stomped up to the cabin, grabbed Hannah by the hand and dragged her to the living room telling her to sit down. He was now gesturing toward PJ.

  “I can’t…” Hannah began.

  Parker walked out of the kitchen yawning and stretching. “Hey what’s up?”

  “Don’t you hey what’s up me!” Ryder hissed. “You’re trying to get with my sister?” The words came out in more of a question than Ryder had meant it to and PJ just stared at him confused.

  “Man, I swear I didn’t touch her…” Parker backed away with his hands up in self defense.

  Ryder jumped up. “I told you to keep your distance!” He rushed PJ flipping him over the back of the couch.

  Hannah yelped as the two guys crashed to the floor in front of her.
They were wrestling and punching each other. “Guys!” Hannah screeched.

  The commotion could be heard by some of the closest guys to the cabin and they came rushing in. “Wow, wow, wow.” Jeremy said as he grabbed hold of PJ and pulled him up off of Ryder. “Ease off the guy, Parker.”

  “He’s the one who started it!” He growled shaking Jeremy off his shoulders. Ryder took that chance to rush him again, tackling PJ.

  “Get some help, Hannah!” Jeremy yelled at her as he struggled to pull the two guys apart.

  Hannah scrambled to her feet and raced toward the door. “Guys help!” She screamed.

  Multiple guys scrambled from their positions to the door. As soon as they saw the two guys rolling around, they reached for them all. “Hey stop!”

  Will, Colt and Jeremy pulled Ryder out of the mix, while Quinn and Brandon put themselves in front of PJ. “What is going on here?” Jeremy yelled at Ryder. It was more than obvious that Ryder was attacking PJ because he was struggling to get free and attack again.

  “What’s the girl’s name PJ?” Ryder hissed.

  PJ thought for a moment. “What do you need to know that for?” PJ evaded trying to ignore the question.

  “The girl you’re looking for is my sister, isn’t she. You know…!” Ryder snapped as he struggled to get free again.

  “Nah,” PJ chuckled. “Your sister doesn’t have any tattoos man…” PJ lied. She did have tattoos and he was just hoping Ryder didn’t see them.

  “She’s got a tattoo, I just seen it.” Ryder snapped as turned his gaze over to Hannah. “You knew, you both knew!” He stated dryly. “How long have you known?”

  Hannah dropped her gaze to the floor not wanting to meet his eyes.

  “Don’t snap at her!” Parker barked. “The amazingly beautiful girl I shared a room with last night, is the very same one… I danced with at the club.” PJ began. He couldn’t help the smile that was forming on his lips. “She’s the very same one I shared my first kiss with. The one I have loved for years from afar.”

  “You better not have…” Ryder snarled.

  “Honestly, all we did is kiss.” PJ admitted.

  “She’s too good for you, get this through your thick head, you are not going to go out with my sister. You’re not going to sleep with her, and you’re not going to have anything to do with her!” Ryder hissed.

  “She’s too good for me?” PJ scoffed. “I never thought I would hear that from you…” PJ rolled his eyes. “What a great friend.”

  “You are not my friend if you go after her you hear me!” Ryder snapped as PJ slowly stalked past the group. “You stay away from her!”

  PJ turned his head and smirked at his old friend. “I think I am just going to let her decide that…”

  Ryder growled out as he tried to get away from his other friends. “Let me go!” He snapped.

  “You go up stairs and cool off. Kelsey will be okay. Let her and PJ talk…”

  Chapter 17

  Kelsey had fallen asleep on the small dock. She was intent on not returning back to the shore for a while. She was unsure of what she would do, so she figured she would stay there until she figured it out.

  PJ had a grin on his face from the moment he knew his girl was here with him. He knew she had run outside chasing Ryder at one point but now he was looking around. When he spotted her, he took a deep breath, pulled his shirt off, and ran off the end of the dock.

  Launching himself as far into the lake as he could, Parker swam toward the small dock where Kelsey had been laying. She had yet to see him coming and he hoped she wouldn’t get upset with him.

  “Kelsey?” Parker said slowly as he lifted himself up on the ladder of the dock.

  Nothing but silence answered him. For a moment he slightly panicked but then realized she must have fallen asleep in the warmth of the sun. Parker smirked. He was going to show off now, since he had her just laying there. Parker pulled himself up on the dock and pushed himself up into a handstand above Kelsey’s head, looking down on her.

  “Kelsey.” He said once again, watching as a drip of water from his hair dropped to her face.

  “Mmm…” Kelsey mumbled, the dribbles of water that had hit her face were tickling her skin; Kelsey reached up to rub them away.

  “Kelsey…” Parker chuckled softly.

  Kelsey’s eyes opened and she screamed.

  Parker laughed as Kelsey squirmed to get away. He had surprised her and it was funny, he thought. Parker rolled himself to the dock then turned his head to look at her.

  “Still think that tat is cute on you.” Parker smirked as he gently reached out and stroked Kelsey’s side.

  “Don’t touch.” Kelsey choked.

  “Awe, you don’t sound too sure of yourself.” Parker smiled.

  “What happened to your eye?” Kelsey questioned as she gently reaching up and stroking Parker’s face “are you alright?”

  Parker sighed. “It’s nothing. Why didn’t you come to me when you seen the poster?”

  Kelsey stood up, slowly walking toward the edge of the small floating dock. “Goodbye.” She said as she dived into the water.

  Parker frowned. He wanted to know why the girl evaded him. He wanted her in his arms. Quickly, he got to his feet and jumped in after her. Kelsey swam fast. Parker might have been quick on land but Kelsey was quicker in the water.

  She had reached the far side with quite an advantage. She hoisted herself up on the dock and ran. She picked up her clothing as she raced toward the house. She yanked the door open and came face to face with her friend. “I’m going home.” She stated.

  “He knows.” Hannah sighed.

  “What?” Kelsey gulped. She didn’t have much time to ask because an arm went around her waist and pulled her back to a rock hard chest.

  “Why did you run?” Parker breathed against Kelsey’s ear making her shiver.

  “Why can’t you answer a question?” Kelsey countered. Her answer came quickly though as Ryder stomped into the room.

  “Let her go!” Ryder snapped. “Kelsey, we are leaving, I’m taking you home.”

  Parker’s grip tightened slightly as he settled his head on Kelsey’s shoulder. “I don’t want to go back with you.” Kelsey rolled her eyes. “Actually, I don’t want to go with either of you.” She said pushing away from Parker.

  She stormed across the cabin and up the staircase to her shared room. She was still dripping from her swim and decided she would take a shower. She closed the door and stripped her swim suit as she walked. She would shower, get one of the other guys to drive her back home and then she would let Ryder or Hannah drive the truck back home when everyone was ready to leave.

  Kelsey closed the bathroom door, standing there naked and reached for the shower faucet. She turned the water on to a cool temperature and stepped inside. She squished the shampoo into her hair, and then moved onto conditioner and body wash. When Kelsey finally finished she shut off the water and opened the curtain reaching for her towel.

  “Hey.” A small female voice spoke.

  “What do you want Hannah?” Kelsey grumbled.

  “Listen, I know you’re mad and I’m sorry…” Hannah began.

  “Han, I knew it was bound to happen eventually. Don’t worry about it. Actually, to make it up to me, would you drive me home?” Kelsey asked.

  “Home?” Hannah asked.

  “Yeah, I think I had enough for today. I want to get back to the house.” Kelsey admitted.

  “What about the dirt bikes, Ryder, and PJ?” Hannah asked curiously.

  “You can take my truck back here and then they can drive it back with the stuff in it when they are ready.” Kelsey shrugged.

  “Okay… I guess.” Hannah frowned. She really didn’t want to get into the mix of things and she wanted her friend here with her.

  “Thanks.” Kelsey smiled.

  It was around dinner time when Kelsey finally came down the stairs with her bag in hand. She had missed lunch by falling asleep on th
e small dock. “Hannah, are you ready?” she asked as she came into the living room where a few of the guys were sitting.

  Ryder was scowling and glaring on the far side of the room while Parker was on the other side with his head in his hands. Another six guys were sitting sprawled around the room all watching a movie.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Ryder asked. “We are going to talk about this. You are too good for him.”

  “I am not going to stick around here and talk about this with everyone and I am sure by the bruising on both of you… and what I have heard, that you both can’t stay in the same room with each other.” Kelsey said as she stared at the blood encrusted scrapes on Ryder’s face and black eye. “I don’t want to talk about it right now…” Kelsey admitted. “I’m going home.”

  “Nobody’s home. You can’t stay there by yourself and it’s getting late. Why don’t you just stay tonight…?” Ryder told her. “We are going riding in the morning and then we are going home once everyone’s ready.”

  “Dinner’s ready!” Maggie called from the kitchen; she had taken it upon herself and her boyfriend, Jeremy, to cook the meals.

  “Come on.” Ryder said standing up. “Hannah?”

  “I’m starving. Come on, Kels.” Hannah said slyly. She knew her friend wouldn’t fight much.

  “Fine,” Kelsey groaned dropping her bag to the floor and walked into the other room.

  Chapter 18

  “So you two are …” Maggie asked what everyone was thinking.

  Parker looked up at Maggie hoping for a good answer. “No.” Kelsey said dryly.

  “Oh.” Maggie replied.

  “Sit by me.” Ryder said.

  Kelsey rolled her eyes and turned her head. Parker looked toward her with a soft smile, hoping she would sit near him. Instead, Kelsey took her plate, walked over, and squished between Colt and Will, settling her plate down in front of her and began to stuff her mouth.

  Kelsey was mad at her brother, but she was shy and nervous about Parker. Parker groaned, slammed his chair back as he stood up, and pushed away from the table. He stomped out of the room. “Poor PJ,” Maggie cooed as she finally sat down beside Jeremy.