My stomach knots up as I speak about my younger years and allow memories of a time I’d rather not think about ever again flood my thoughts. Killian’s grip on my hand tightens slightly as his thumb rubs gently, and affectionately over my hand, making the knot in my stomach warp into a thousand butterflies fluttering in my belly.
“I’m so sorry, Summer. I feel like an asshole now. The last thing I want to do is bring in bad memories when we’re supposed to be out on a date having fun.”
He stops walking and I snap back gently as my body reacts to his abrupt halt. Turning, my skirt whips against my legs blowing in the wind and my auburn hair dances in front of my face as Killian slides his eyes over me before pulling me towards him. The beach is less occupied down this way since there’s nowhere to swim or surf as it’s nothing but rocks that go out a few feet beside the pier.
I tilt my head up, locking my hazel eyes with his piercing greens and give him a faint smile as I push my hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. “It’s okay. You asked. It’s normal for two people out on a date to have a casual conversation about life. That time in my life doesn’t matter anymore because I’m content with where its lead me. I love it here. I may not have a lot, but I have everything I need.”
The mega-watt smile that spreads across Killian’s face stuns me to the point that I swear my heart just did a summersault inside of my ribs. He has this look about him that makes me feel genuinely happy when I look at him. It’s the strangest thing I’ve ever felt in my life. It’s as if my eyes would be content for the rest of their life if all they had to do was stare at this man. It’s not just his looks; it’s something in his eyes. They’re magnetic, drawing me into him and making it so I don’t want to see anything but him.
With his free hand, he reaches out, gripping my hip. His index finger that’s slightly callused rubs against my bare skin peeking out from under my tank top, causing goosebumps to raise all over my stomach and back and a cool chill to course up my spine.
“You are a breath of fresh air—you know that?” He pauses as he slowly darts his tongue out to lick his lips and instantly my thoughts wander to kissing him.
Will tonight end with me tasting his kiss? Normally I make a guy take me out a few times before I even think of allowing them to get a good night kiss. Too many are douchebags and are only looking for one thing. So I make them prove to me I’m more than a notch on their bedpost. But with Killian, I’m suddenly finding the thought of wanting to taste his perfectly shaped lips, and feel what it’s like to have them pressed against mine torturous.
Laughing, I tuck my unruly hair once again behind my ear as I blink up at him, “I’ve been told that a time or two.”
“Where I’m from, everyone’s lives revolve around money and who has what. Everyone’s constantly trying to outdo the other person. It’s destroyed so many lives. The need for money, power and materialistic things. That’s actually why I’m here. I needed an escape from that toxic lifestyle. I’m really glad I made the choice to come here, because if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be on a date with the sweetest, most gorgeous girl in all of Newport Beach right now.”
I bite back a grin as his words sink in. I can’t ignore the way they make me feel hearing them. But I don’t want him to think I’m some naive girl who falls to a man’s knees after a few compliments. “I’ve already agreed to go out on a date with you. The time for flattery has long gone, Killian. Now what do you say you try to win me the most ostentatious stuffed toy the pier has so we can do the cliché date thing and have you carry that baby all over Newport Beach before you finally walk me home to bid me goodnight?”
Shaking his head, Killian removes his hand from my side and brings it up to his flat brimmed ball cap, lifting it off of his head and tilting his head back he whips his shaggy, black hair back before resetting the hat on his head. His eyes connect with mine, sending a shiver down my spine, as he smoothly says, “Whatever your heart desires tonight, Summer. I’ll be sure to give it to you.”
Excitement is simmering inside my chest as we head towards the pier. I can’t wait to see where this night takes us.
Chapter Four
To my surprise, Killian didn’t try anything with me when he brings me home at the end of our date. I can only hope that it’s because he’s trying to be a gentleman and not because he wasn’t interested in me. From what I can tell, our date went great. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. We spent an hour at the pier where, of course, he won me a giant dolphin that is now lying on the floor beside my bed. Blue is now sleeping on it like a monstrous Dolphin shaped dog bed.
After we left the pier, we stopped by a small seaside restaurant that my friends and I frequent a lot. It only has outdoor seating and you place your order at a small window in the front of a shack the size of my living room, but it is seriously the best food ever. I learned quickly that Killian loves hearing all there is to know about me but when it comes time for him to open up about him, he finds a clever way to bring the questions back around to me.
The only things I know about him are that he’s one year older than me and from Los Angeles. He’s a musician traveling town to town for gigs. Killian’s an only child but always dreamed of having an older or younger sibling growing up, which is something I can relate to as well. Sure, I had other kids around me all the while growing up in foster homes, but I never had that long lasting bond with anyone. I left Nebraska without a single person begging me to stay. Other than that, I have no idea who Killian is. I just know that he has invaded my every thought since meeting him yesterday afternoon.
I swear I can still feel the warmth of his touch on my skin from last night. He kept finding the slightest excuse to put his hands on me and I wasn’t complaining in the least. I loved the feeling of being wanted by him. His eyes spoke volumes even though he said very little. That’s why I was so stunned when he didn’t even attempt to kiss me goodnight. He walked me to my door, set my massive stuffed dolphin at my feet and pulled me in for a hug that was, in my opinion, over way too soon. He told me good night and said he’d text me today to see if I was interested in getting together again this evening.
With that, he was gone. I stood in my living room hugging the gigantic grey dolphin while playing the night through my head a few times before finally going next door, grabbing Blue, and crawling into bed to text my friend Mila to fill her on my crazy, wonderfully random day.
When I fell asleep, my night was filled with dreams of Killian and leaving me eager to see him again as soon as I woke up this morning.
Right now, I’m finishing up my shift at the diner. I’ve been checking my phone all day as I’ve impatiently waited for Killian to get ahold of me so we can make plans or tonight. As the hours tick by, I grown more anxious. I keep running yesterday through my head, dissecting every little thing that happened, trying to look for any sign that maybe he wasn’t interested in me at all. Maybe be found me boring and has no intention of texting me today. It wouldn’t be the first or the last time a guy told a girl he’d call or text and then blew her off.
I’m beginning to feel like a fool for getting my hopes up. He’s a complete stranger. For all I know, he could be some crazy person who kills people and secretly dresses as a woman. I’ve watched way too many crime shows is the only conclusion I can come up with for the image I just painted in my mind.
Cleaning up my last table for my shift, I stuff the six one dollar bills into my apron and wipe down the table. The diner is packed with people as we’re entering our busy dinner hour. I breathe a sigh of relief as I hear the bell ring above the door and spot my relief walk in just on time. One too many times, Ashley has flaked on her shift leaving me to work a double shift to cover her being a no show. I’m still holding out hope that I’ll hear from Killian.
If I don’t, then I’ll text Mila and beg for her to come over and have a girl’s night of vegging out on ice cream and Channing Tatum to help ease the heartbreak of being blown off by the hottest guy to ever wal
k into my life...ever.
“Hey, Ashley,” I greet her with a tight smile as I follow her into the back break room to sign out on my timesheet.
Not even bothering to smile back at me, Ashley opens the filing cabinet and drops her purse inside of it and mumbles, “Hey,” before filling out her time sheet.
Ashley is one of those girls you can’t like no matter how hard you try. She is the epitome of mean girls and reminds me of every single girl from my old high school. You know the type. Girls who walk around the place acting as if everyone there should bow down and thank them for blessing them with their presence.
I never quite understood it. For some reason, some people are wired to be conceited and mean to anyone for any reason. While you have others like myself who were hard wired with the inability to be mean to anyone. No matter how rude Ashley is to me with her snide marks about how I wear my hair, the clothes I like and, of course, my choice of transportation, I can’t find it in me to ever be mean to her back. Some days, I wish I could muster up the ability to be as snarky to her as she is to me, but then I realize this is me. When I look at her and see how miserable she is all the time while I go to bed every night with a smile on my face, I’m happy to be the way I am.
I’d much rather go through life without a care in the world then walk around as if I have Ashley’s over used flat iron rammed up my ass.
I don’t bother saying goodbye to her. Instead, I set my timesheet back in the bin on Rosie and Al’s desk, and then make my way back into the dining area. As soon as I push open the swinging door and go to yell goodbye to Rosie, I stop dead in my tracks. I feel my heart jump in my chest and my mouth to grow dry as I spot Killian standing in the doorway of the diner. He’s dressed better for the weather today in navy blue shorts, a pair of sneakers and white concert t-shirt again this time with Guns N’ Roses written on the front of it.
He’s dawned in yet another flat brimmed ball cap with it pulled down almost over his eyes, once again, shielding his face from the world. Just as I feel Rosie coming up beside me, Killian’s eyes find mine from across the busy diner. “Hey, sweetie. I see the gentleman from last night is here again. He’s been standing by the door for the last minute or so. I thought at first he was coming in to eat, but then I recognized him from the fella you were with last night. Do you need me to watch lil’ Blue again tonight so you can go out?”
I force my eyes to leave Killian, turn to my attention to Rosie, and reply, “That would be wonderful. I really appreciate all that you do, Rosie. Thank you.”
Patting me affectionately on the arm, she looks from Killian, then back to me, as she says, “I was young once. You work too hard, Miss Summer. You need to enjoy being young too. You don’t get these years back so you need to enjoy them while they’re here.”
The sound of clinking glasses and silverware hitting off plates along with the sounds of happy chatter around me seem to fade away as all I see and hear is him.
“Summer! I was worried I missed you. I got busy this afternoon and by the time I realized the time, it was almost the end of your shift,” Killian says as his voice warms my body that’s already flushed from working outside most of the day in the hot California heat.
Rosie walks past us, giving me a knowing smile as she states, “Just drop Blue off dear when you’re ready to go.”
“Will, do!” I say back before she disappears out the door.
I shift nervously on my feet as I hug my arms against my body. “That’s alright. We were really busy today with it being Saturday and all. It completely slipped my mind,” I lie. “But I think I like being surprised even better than a text.” His eyes light up at my confession. Reaching out, he grabs my hand and pulls me towards the door.
“Well, I’m glad to hear you’re not mad at me for being so easily distracted. I was trying to get everything set up for my gig at the Raze tonight so that I could grab something to eat with you before I have to do my show.”
I had no idea he was doing a show tonight. But why wouldn’t he be? It’s a Saturday night and he told me he’s traveling around for gigs. I was too distracted with my thoughts of our date last night that I wasn’t able to put two and two together. Suddenly I’m finding myself even more excited to go out tonight.
Rounding the corner of the diner, we climb up the wooden stairs leading up to the second story. Killian keeps his hand in mine the entire time. I’m trying to not like it so much but it’s an impossible task. He’ll probably be getting back on the road come tomorrow to head off to his next gig. When he does, I can’t be one of those clingy, sappy chicks who cries over a boy she just met. I need to enjoy this for what it is. A fun weekend fling.
“Since you’ll be playing tonight, is it okay with you if I text my friend Mila and see if her and her boyfriend want to come out to Raze tonight and watch you play?” At least if I have my best friend with me, she can help remind me to be realistic about all of this and not allow my mind to wander off into Disney mode where I’m daydreaming about fairy godmothers and Prince Charming swooping in and carrying me away on his white horse towards my happily ever after.
He gives my hand a gentle squeeze as we climb to the top of the stairs and stop in front of my apartment door, as he answers, “Sure. The more the merrier. Warn her I don’t sing that boy band pop shit. So if she’s into that, then she’s going to be disappointed. No matter how cute your best friend is, I won’t be taking requests for Five Seconds of Summer.”
Nodding, I tell him in my best serious tone, “Duly noted. You’ll be happy to hear she hates boy bands and thinks they’re destroying the music industry as we know it.”
Killian’s face lights up even brighter if that’s possible as I unlock my apartment door and this time, pull him inside instead of asking him to wait for me outside on the porch.
“I think I’m going to really like this best friend.”
Spinning around, I give him a serious look as I furrow my brows together, and peer up into his sea green eyes. “Thankfully she has a boyfriend she’s mad about or she’d try to steal you away from me tonight," I tell him. "Especially after she finds out not only are you drop dead gorgeous but you also sing.”
Bringing his right hand to my face, he tucks my hair behind my ear and grins down at me with the sexiest crooked grin, replying, “Even if she was single, Summer. You’d have nothing to worry about. I couldn’t look at another girl if I tried. When you’re around, everyone else fades into the background. You shine so brightly when you walk into a room that it’s simply impossible for me to look away.”
Wow. He may not talk much, but that right there has to be the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. Now I know I’m doomed for heartbreak because even though I keep telling myself not to fall for this guy, I find myself free falling. The pavement below is looking more and more like it’ll be making an acquaintance with my face soon enough, as I’m still falling with a goofy grin plastered across my face.
Chapter Five
The bar is packed with people as Mila, her boyfriend, Rick, and I all try to find a place to sit close to the stage so we can have a front row seat to Killian’s show. He already headed into the back of the bar to get ready for his gig while we waited in the line at the bar that seemed to go on forever for our drinks. Now I can only pray that we don’t get stuck sitting in the back of the bar. I didn’t think this through properly. If I was smart, one of us would’ve saved a table while the other two grabbed the drinks.
The karaoke machine next to the stage is blasting Black Widow by Iggy Azalea right now, helping boost my mood and helping me relax. I’m nervous as I wait to hear Killian sing. You always have that tiny fear in the back of your mind thinking maybe they think they’re awesome but the reality of it, is they really suck. I really don’t want that to happen to him because these people can be brutal here. They’ll boo your ass straight off the stage if you murder a cover of a song they love.
We finally spot a table and quickly slip onto the tall bar stools before a
nyone else can claim the table. It’s not directly in front of the stage but it’s close enough to give us the perfect view of the stage.
Mila and Rick are twenty-one so they’re drinking while I sip on my Coke. It doesn’t bother me though because I have no desire to drink anyways. I’m dancing in my seat as we attempt to talk over the music.
“I wish we knew his last name so we could’ve YouTubed him before his show tonight. I’m really excited to hear how he plays, especially after our conversation on the car ride over here. He has some wicked good taste in music,” Mila says as she taps her fingers against the glass to the beat of the music.
“I know I’m really hoping he blows us all away tonight. I can’t wait to hear what he sings. I've tried to get him to give me a private session back at my apartment but he refused. He told me I have to wait and see him in his element here on stage,” I reply, shaking my head as I laugh. “Men. They are always feeling the need to show off and impress the ladies.”
We spend the next fifteen minutes chatting amongst ourselves, well more like shouting. As the minutes tick by inching closer to eleven o’ clock, which is Killian’s scheduled performance time, the more packed the bar is becoming. Even with an eight dollar cover charge to get in tonight because there's a live performance, the place is almost to full capacity. Raze is well known for the all up and coming SoCal bands that perform here. The bar owner has pictures with everyone from struggling artists to bands like Beyond Redemption, who are now multi-platinum selling artists plastered all over the walls behind the bar. Every single one of them autographed.
I know after tonight, if Killian kills it up on stage, his picture will be going up on the Raze Wall of Fame right alongside all those other band pics.
Checking my phone, I see it’s five of, which means Killian should be getting on stage any minute now. My feet are jumping on the pole to my bar stool as my nervous energy bubbles to the surface. The feeling of hands grabbing my waist from behind startles me, causing a loud squeal to escape my lips. “Ohhhh!”
Anywhere With You Page 2