"What?" she asked, coming into the kitchen. She wore tight jeans with rips on the legs, showing some skin, and a white halter top.
"Your phone was ringing," I said, pointing at it.
"Did you answer it?" she asked in a panic and grabbed her phone.
"No, why would I do that? I just saw it flashing," I told her. As if on cue, the phone went off again and she quickly hit ignore.
"Shh," she said just before the phone started vibrating again. "Hello."
She was quiet for a few moments while I heard noise on the other end. Kallie watched Scarlett's bedroom door while she listened. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and shot a quick text to my sister.
Quiet. K on phone - R
I watched her listen and thought about leaving her alone, but then realized this may be the only way I would find out anything about her.
"Yes, mother," she finally said into the phone. "I'm fine." Another pause. "I was just out taking a walk and I really need to get back to studying, so I will call you tomorrow. Goodbye." She quickly hung up and shut the phone down.
"Studying?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
She looked back at me, caught off guard. "Long story," she said while looking down at the floor.
"Well, Scarlett is doing her makeup, so I think we have time," I said, half-joking.
"No, I'm all done, your turn, doll," Scarlett said from her doorway. She gave me a knowing smile. She knew she had just busted my investigation.
Scarlett quickly escaped into the bedroom. I wondered if my sister knew her story and was protecting her. Scarlett was always fiercely protective of the ones she cared for. I just couldn't understand how Kallie won her over so quickly. I would have to ask her. She never could lie to me.
I paced the kitchen and waited for the girls impatiently. After several threats to leave without them, or not going at all, they finally emerged. Kallie's hair was pulled into a high ponytail. The bow Scarlett drew on her was completely visible with the halter top and her long blonde hair out of the way out.
Her eyelashes were dark and thick, emphasizing the blue of her eyes. She wore cowboy boots and jeans that would fit in perfectly at the party. Scarlett was in a black skirt with a purple corset top. Her hair was curled and excitement was written all over her face. I was in a lot of trouble tonight.
We went down to my truck. Kallie slid over to the middle and Scarlett took the window seat. I could almost feel the nerves rolling off Kallie. Scarlett chatted most of the way to the edge of town. She told Kallie about some of the notorious parties at Logan's and gave her a quick rundown of some of the people that would be there.
"It's been a while since his last one. There is probably so much to burn," Scarlett said, bouncing in her seat. Almost everyone in town knew to drop off any scrap wood to be burned at his place. Since the last party, Logan took a few weekends off. She was right, the wood was piling up.
We pulled up to the old farmhouse and the yard was already filled with cars and trucks. I could see the woodpile in the backyard, waiting to be lit. I got out of the truck and came over to the passenger side. I opened the door and helped the girls out of the truck. I held Kallie's hand as she tried to balance herself on the tall grass where she jumped down.
"Ready?" I asked her.
She looked back up at me. I could see how uncertain she was. "Yep," she lied.
I followed behind the girls back to the pile. Guys shouted at me and I waved back at my friends. If you came to a party here, you knew Logan and me. If you didn't know us, you had no business being here. I made my way through the dancing bodies and around the random coolers to find Logan waiting by the stack.
"Holy shit," I said to him as I patted him on the back and eyed the tallest pile I had ever seen there before.
"My thoughts exactly," he said, not sounding excited. "Ladies," he said, bowing down to the girls. He swooped Scarlett up into a hug. "Kallie, right?" he asked when he finally put my sister down.
She nodded and eyed the massive stack, like we were. "You guys are lighting that on fire?" she asked.
"That's the plan, darling," he told her. "Just been waiting for you guys. Ryder lights every single one. It's tradition. Let's get this started!" People around us cheered.
"You should move back," I whispered in Kallie's ear before walking away to grab the two cans of gasoline waiting for me and walking over to the pile.
I dumped the gasoline on the pallets and wood. I shook the cans to try to reach the top of the pile. When the cans were empty, I grabbed the blowtorch from Logan. The crowd moved back and cheered while I walked around, lighting parts of the pile. The flames quickly grew and I retreated back, away from the heat. We stood and watched the flames grow taller than I have ever seen them. When the bonfire was going strong, the crowd went back to partying.
"We're gonna get some drinks," Scarlett yelled at me as she pulled Kallie over to the keg. Logan watched them leave before looking over at me.
"Who the fuck is she, dude?" he asked with wide eyes.
"I can't even begin to explain. I have no idea," I told him, shaking my head.
"Is she, by chance, the hot blonde you were seen leaving Hank's with a few nights back?" he asked and gave me an evil grin. "She just couldn't get enough or what?"
"It's not like that," I told him, looking back to make sure they were still at the keg. "Her car broke down and you know Scar," I said.
"Sure," he told me. I could tell that he didn't believe me, but he wasn't going to keep prying.
"How you doing?" I asked him, trying to say more with my eyes.
"Fine," he said before Scarlett came busting in and interrupting.
"Here you go," she said, handing a red cup to Logan. He shook his head at her. " You don't want it?" she asked, shocked.
"Nope. Taking a break from drinking," he told her.
Kallie handed me a cup and took a drink from hers. I saw the flicker of disgust and forced myself not to laugh out loud.
"Okay, then," Scarlett said. "We are going to go mingle," she announced, pulling Kallie away.
I wandered around the large yard and talked to friends. After several beers, my worries and dread about tonight wore off. I was laughing with the guys and throwing more wood on the wall of fire. I would see Scarlett and Kallie around every now and then. They seemed to be keeping out of trouble… for now.
I watched as Kallie talked to people and drank her beer. It seemed the taste was finally growing on her. The bow on her back looked as real as a tattoo. The glow from the fire danced across her skin and I got stuck staring at her. She turned and found me in the crowd. Her blue eyes met mine and I quickly turned away and went into the house.
I eventually came out of the house with a pack of hot dogs to cook on the fire. They would just burn immediately, but it was always fun to try. I met back with Logan and another friend, Caleb. We tried to cook the hot dogs, but they would either catch on fire or we couldn't get close enough. We laughed as we grabbed more and kept trying.
"Hey, you," a voice came from behind me as fingers wrapped around my arm.
"Crystal," I said, looking down at her. I never could avoid her at these parties, but always hoped to.
"I've been looking all over for you, baby," she cooed, snaking her hands up my arms. Her top was low cut and her skirt almost showed her ass.
"Been around," I said, trying to wiggle out her grasp. She was another complication I didn't want to deal with tonight.
We all went to high school with Crystal and she slept with most of the guys we knew. She was usually good for a fun night, but I had too much on my mind tonight. Plus, I couldn't exactly take her back to my place with a houseguest staying on my couch. If I blew her off long enough, she’d move on to one of the other guys. I looked back at my friends for backup only to see they abandoned me. I was left all alone with her.
"I missed you," she said, pushing her body close to mine.
"It hasn't been that long," I told her while I searched the crowd fo
r Logan or Caleb to help.
"Come dance with me," she whined. I looked down at her and sighed. Dancing was harmless enough. I didn't want to be a complete ass to her.
We walked over to a truck playing music and danced for a few songs. I drank some more while she danced around me and I enjoyed watching her move. She always had a great body and knew how to use it to her advantage. After I drank too much to be coordinated, I sat on the tailgate of the truck.
"So, who's the chick you came with?" she asked as she moved to stand between my legs.
"Friend," I told her, remembering Kallie was here somewhere.
"She seems to be making friends well," she said.
I followed her line of sight and saw Kallie leaning up against a truck on the other side of the bonfire. A guy was leaning in close as he talked to her. He leaned in close to whisper in her ear and she laughed. I looked around and eventually found Scarlett sitting in the back of a truck with Logan.
I clenched my fists. We left her all alone and she was with some strange guy now. All I could see was red when I saw his hand reach up to touch her hip and he moved closer to her. She tilted her head up to look at him and I thought, for a second, they would kiss. I pushed Crystal away from me and stalked over the two.
When I got closer, I saw it was Caleb that had her pinned up against the truck. I put my hand on his shoulder just as he started to lean into her again. He turned back, and the anger on his face turned into confusion when he saw it was me interrupting him.
"Fire needs more wood," I growled, glaring at him. I saw understanding flash across his face.
"I'll take care of it," he said, low and with double meaning. He clenched his jaw and walked away, bumping his shoulder into me as he passed.
CHAPTER TEN
Kallie
Ryder and I watched as Caleb walked away. He finally turned back to look at me.
"What was that?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest.
"What? Nothing."
"No, it wasn't nothing. You scared him off," I yelled at him. "Why? He was nice."
"You don't even know him," he growled, glaring down at me.
"I don't know anyone here," I snapped. "I have to start somewhere."
"I'm just trying to look out for you," he said, sounding exhausted.
"Why? You don't owe me anything. You don't even know me," I said, throwing my hands up in the air. "I don't need anyone to look out for me."
"Where the fuck is Scarlett?" He changed the subject and looked around the party.
"Stop it," I said, smacking his chest. His hand grabbed mine and held it tightly. "I don't need a babysitter." I pulled my arm free and pushed past him.
I walked around the roaring fire and toward the house. I just wanted to find a dark corner to hide in. I was finally starting to loosen up and forget who I was, then Ryder comes in and ruins it for me. I leaned against the house and watched the party. I have never been to a party like this before, and the people-watching was fascinating.
I was watching Ryder while he danced with some girl earlier when Caleb came to keep me company. His brown hair and eyes looked comforting and honest. He gave me another beer and we talked for a while. He was cute and I knew he was checking me out when we first got here. It made me nervous because I wasn't sure how to act, yet I was excited at the same time.
I was never flirted with. With Carter, I was just his and everyone knew. He asked me to be his girlfriend in high school and that was that. There was no flirting or trying to figure out what the other was thinking. It just happened, and now it was gone. I didn't know how to be without being with him.
Caleb and I talked about music and TV for a little bit before Scarlett and Logan disappeared. I didn't even realize he was leaning into me until Ryder came and interrupted. It was then that I realized that I had forgotten who I was for the moment. I was briefly a normal young adult at a party. I was one step closer to being a new person.
"I'm sorry," I heard from behind me.
"Forget it," I snipped, although I was shocked to hear an apology.
"No, really. I didn't mean to piss you off," he said, coming closer.
"You know what? You can't just sleep with me and expect that you can never talk to me again, but never let anyone else near me either," I said and turned around to glare at him.
"What?" he asked, putting his hands up in surrender.
"You heard me. I'm not yours to get possessive over," I said. "If I want to go out and do something stupid, I will. It's no one's business but mine. You have no right to me."
"Is that what you think?" he asked, coming closer.
"Yes. I'm a grown woman," I said, putting my hands on my hips. "I can make my own decisions."
"You think we slept together?" He was close enough that I could see his eyebrows raised and his eyes filled with amusement.
"Yes. No. What?" I stuttered.
"You think that I took you home from the bar, slept with you, and then left?" he asked, lowering his voice.
"I shouldn't?"
"No."
My face burned red from embarrassment and then anger. "What? Like that's something you would never do," I threw back at him sarcastically.
"Oh no, I would. I just didn't. Not with you. I took you back to my place because I didn't know where you lived or anything," he told me, leaning down to my face.
"But I was in your clothes," I whispered.
"You stripped. I gave you the shirt," he said smirking. "And if I did have you," he said as he moved close to my ear, "you wouldn't forget it."
My stomach dropped and my breath caught in my throat. I looked into his eyes and saw the challenge in them. My heart raced as he overwhelmed my senses. All I could see was him. His smell was all around me and the party faded away in the background. His hands grabbed my hips and he pulled me roughly into him. My body was flush with his and I couldn't breath.
His breath tickled as he whispered in my ear, "Trust me, if I ever touched you, you would never forget how good it felt." His hands moved to my lower back, holding me closer. I tipped my head up to look at him. "If I had ever kissed you, you would never forget how good it tasted," he growled.
I shivered at his words. His face came closer to mine, and I was nervous that he could feel my heart pounding in my chest. My entire body tingled with excitement and need for him, feelings I was unfamiliar with. I moved my hands up his chest, feeling the muscles and heat under his skin. I suddenly felt like I wasn't close enough to him. All my words were caught in my throat.
"There you are."
Ryder pulled away from me quickly, leaving me feeling cold. I almost whined with the loss and my body was on edge. Logan was smiling at us. Scarlett stumbled over and leaned against him. I pushed myself off the truck and held on to the side for balance.
"I can take you guys home," Logan told us.
"Sure, I'll get my truck tomorrow," Ryder agreed quickly. "Ready?" he asked, looking in my direction, but not at me.
"Yep."
I followed them and weaved my way through the few partiers still left. Logan pretty much carried Scarlett to his SUV. I climbed in the back with her and we rode back to the apartment in silence. I kept thinking about Ryder's words and how they sounded in my ears. His voice sent shivers through me. I practically ran up the stairs when we got back and laid on the couch. I couldn't stand it if he said another word to me.
I don't remember falling asleep. Light filtered in and burned my retinas. My head might have just split in half and I was probably leaking brain matter all over the place. My throat was on fire and my feet felt broken. Everything hurt. I felt terrible.
I laid there for what felt like forever, trying to avoid opening my eyes. I knew the light and any movement would be the death of me. After hearing coffee and whispers, I gave in. I couldn't expect them to tiptoe around me all day. I grunted and roughly took a stool at the bar. I folded my arms in front of me and laid my head down on them. I moaned loudly as a greeting, which was very lady-like.
A cup of coffee appeared in front on me.
"Does it always feel like this?" I mumbled into the counter.
"Not always," Scarlett laughed. I was pretty sure I was walking better than her when we left, yet she sounded fine.
"I never want to drink again," I whined.
"That's what they all say," she teased.
"This is awful. I'm dying," I said dramatically.
"Here, it helps," I heard Ryder say. I looked up at him and he pointed to the coffee.
I grunted again and took the coffee. I sipped on it and prayed for my head to feel better. Scarlett and Ryder drank their coffee in silence. I finished my cup and Scarlett gave me a refill without needing to ask. I slowly felt life seeping back into me.
"Well, I'm off to Mom's for lunch. You coming, Ry?" Scarlett finally said, breaking the quiet.
"And like every Sunday, no, I'm not going," he told her in a bored tone.
"Thought I would give it a shot. I'll be back later then. Be good kids," she said, grabbing her bag and keys.
I realized I was alone. With Ryder. I had no idea what to do or say. I instantly remembered the night before. The words he said to me and the way they had made me feel. My face grew hot and I hoped he couldn't tell what I was thinking.
All this time, I thought he had seen all of me. I thought he had a part of me that only one other ever had before. Now that I knew that nothing happened that night, I felt like I had something to hide, to keep tucked away from him.
"You never really drank much before, have you?" Ryder asked. I looked up and his eyes seemed to burn right through me.
"Never," I told him.
"Never? Really?" he asked, clearly shocked that someone in their early twenties never drank.
"Not like last night. I had wine at dinner sometmes," I admitted.
"Wow. So what else have you never done?" he asked.
I laughed. "A lot of things. You know, we never discussed what I would be paying for my stay," I said, trying to change the subject.
"Oh, I have no idea," he said, taking the hint.
"Well, how long will I be here? You have a better idea of how long my car will take?"
Jolted (Conflicted Encounters #1) Page 8