by L A Cotton
“I don’t wanna.” Her head rolled back as she tried to bat the glass away. I snagged her wrist, helping her find her balance again and then crouched down, bringing the glass to her mouth.
“You’ll thank me tomorrow. Drink.”
“You’re so bossy.”
“But you love me.”
“I love you.” Flashing me a toothy smile she parted her lips and gulped down the water. When she was done, I pulled her back up and helped her upstairs.
“Kyle?” A voice came from the hallway.
“It’s just me, Sum, go back to bed.” Nick had dropped her home a couple of hours ago and Rick marched her straight up to her room, ordering her not to come out unless absolutely necessary. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Summer, he just didn’t trust anyone else.
“Mom’s going to lose it tomorrow,” she called, and I smiled to myself.
“Mom doesn’t need to know.”
My hold on Laurie slipped, and she went flying into my bedroom door. “Shit, babe.”
“Ow, the room’s spinning.”
“Come on.” I picked her up and carried her newlywed-style to the bed. She buried her face in my chest and emotion swelled inside of me.
When I tried to lay her on the bed, she snuggled closer and we landed in a tangle of limbs. “Laurie, babe, let me undress you.”
“Don’t leave, Kyle. Promise me you’ll never leave me,” she said but her eyes were closed, her body a dead weight, as if she was teetering on the edge between consciousness and drunken oblivion.
“Leave you?” I brushed the hair from her face. “How could I? You own my heart, Laurie Davison. Without you, I couldn’t survive.”
My girl rolled onto her side and sighed again, and I realized she was asleep... that she hadn’t known what she was saying. But she’d said the words all the same.
Don’t leave me.
Is that what she thought? That one day, I’d walk away?
Fuck.
I clambered off the bed, removed Laurie’s shoes and managed to wiggle her skirt off her hips. Pulling back the covers, I slid in her legs and tucked the covers up around her. She looked like a sleeping angel, and there was something so staggering about that moment, that I felt all choked up.
She thought I was going to leave her.
I couldn’t wrap my head around that. All I’d ever done was love her. I’d given her no reason to doubt me, or us. If anything, I still came on too strong at times. I knew that and made no apologies for it. It was just the way I was wired.
All or nothing.
And I’d given Laurie my all. Or, at least, I thought I had. So if she was still doubting me and my motivations, what else did I have to do to prove to her I meant everything I said?
“I THINK SOMETHING DIED in my mouth. And my stomach,” Laurie groaned beside me. “Definitely my stomach. Ugh.”
“I’d like to say, I told you so, but since you snuck off to the pool house and had a little party for two, don’t come looking to me for sympathy.”
“Kyle,” she groaned again, flinging her hand out behind her. “Not helping.”
I pulled her closer, pressing my morning wood against her ass. “I do have something which might help.”
“I think I’m going to puke.” She tore out of the bed and ran into my small bathroom.
Feeling part-dejected, part-amused, I rolled over and checked my cell phone. Nine am. There was still time to get showered, have breakfast, and make the house look Loretta-standard tidy.
A few minutes later, the toilet flushed, and Laurie came back into the room clutching her stomach, looking pale. “I hate beer.”
“Famous last words. What happened with the two of you, anyway? When you said you were going to enjoy the party, I didn’t expect not to see you again.”
“Sorry.” She perched on the edge of the bed. “We went to get drinks, and some guy got handsy with Lo and—”
“What? Does Rick know?”
“What do you think? She handled it. But then some girls realized who we were, and we didn’t want to spend all night being scrutinized, so we went to the pool house.”
“And got ass-drunk.”
“Yeah, that wasn’t part of the plan.”
I gave her a pointed look. “There was enough booze in there to sink a ship.”
“I don’t know what happened. We were chatting and drinking, and then the room started to spin, so I drank more to make it stop.”
Shuffling to her side of the bed, I sat up and slid my legs either side of her body. “So I guess you can’t remember me carrying you to bed.”
“It’s a little blurry.”
My heart sank.
“I hope I didn’t say anything embarrassing.”
“Oh, you may have slipped out one or two things.” I dipped my head, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. She was still in her glittery tank top from the night before, but I didn’t care. Laurie could have worn a burlap sack and I would have still found her as sexy as hell.
She buried her face into her hands, but I snagged her wrists, tugging them free. “Never hide. Not from me, babe.”
“I’m so embarrassed. It’s not like me to do that.”
“We all need to let off a little steam now and again.” Pulling her closer, I dropped my chin to her shoulder. “Now go shower, you stink.”
“Kyle!”
I kissed her before nudging her up until we were both standing, my arms still tight around her waist. “Towels are in the bathroom. Help yourself to shower gel. I’ll go start breakfast.”
“You’re going to cook breakfast?” She turned in my arms, her brow raised in disbelief.
“What? I cook. Ask Rick, or Macey, or Summer. Loretta doesn’t come every day, you know.”
“Whatever you say, chef. But I like my pancakes golden, not chargrilled.” Laurie smirked, holding my gaze. Rolling my eyes, I pressed another kiss—to her head this time—before moving around her to find a clean t-shirt and some pants.
Once I was dressed, I made my way downstairs while Laurie got washed up.
“Mom’s going to kill you.” Macey didn’t bother lifting her head from her bowl of cereal.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I glanced around the kitchen. Everything was right where Rebecca—or more to the point, Loretta—left it.
“Oh, come on, do you really think she won't find out you guys had a party last night?”
“We had a gathering of friends. There’s a difference.”
“So, where’s her vase?”
“W- what?” I almost choked, and she finally lifted her head, her deadpan expression giving nothing away.
“Mom’s favorite vase. Where is it?” She repeated slowly, sounding out every letter as if I hadn’t been speaking English my entire life.
“Did you see Rick already this morning?” I rubbed my jaw. She was joking. This was a joke.
“What?” Her brows knitted together.
“Rick, did you see him?”
“Oh my God, you’re evil, the lot of you.” Lo breezed into the room looking far too fresh for a girl who had to be carried to bed less than eight hours ago.
“I knew it, bitch,” I shot at Macey who arched her brow with a dismissive shrug.
“Vase or no vase, she’s still going to kill you. I heard someone puked in her daisies.”
“No one is going to kill anyone.” Lo glanced between us before helping herself to juice from the refrigerator. “The house looks as good as new and despite some questionable looking stuff in the pool, I think we’re good.”
“Stuff in the pool?” My eyes almost bugged, and she cracked a wide grin as she reappeared.
“Gotcha!”
“Cous, seriously, don’t do that to me.” I clutched my chest. “I don’t want to end up grounded for the rest of the summer.”
“Like that’s ever stopped you,” Macey added.
“Geez, Mace, what crawled up your ass and died?”
“Bite me.”
“Did lover boy dump you already?”
“Kyle,” Lo warned from her position over by the counter. She shook her head discreetly, but Macey saw and threw her spoon into the bowl, the clink of metal on ceramic echoing through the room.
“I don’t need you coming to my rescue like we’re friends.” She slid off the stool and stopped just short of Lo, her eyes flat and hard as she added, “We’re not. Clear?”
“Crystal,” Lo said standing her ground, but I saw the flicker of hurt in her eyes.
Macey stormed out just as Rick appeared. “What was all that about?” He looked to Lo for answers, but I rushed out, “You know Macey, always a hoot.”
“Hey, you okay?” He brushed Lo’s face, and she forced a smile.
“Fine. Kyle’s making breakfast; this should be fun.” She craned around his shoulder and mouthed ‘thank you’ at me. And what did I do? In true Kyle Stone fashion, I grabbed a frying pan and declared, “Prepare to be wowed.”
Chapter 10
LAURIE
“Are you okay?” Lo said as we rolled up our towels. “You know, after last night? I didn’t mean to go all Winston Churchill on you.”
“Who?”
“No one,” she said around a smile. “But are you sure you’re okay?”
“I think so. I mean, I want to go to USC with Kyle, so I guess that’s what I need to focus on. College, the future. I just don’t want to disappoint anyone.”
Or deal with a year of Mom and Dad’s attempts at talking me into Berkeley. I could just imagine it now. The family interventions. Dinners with the Nusacks and Marlsons, trying to ‘make me see USC was the wrong decision’. Or even worse, trying to fix me up with their sons. Their non-football playing, future lawyer or CEO sons.
“Laurie, no one is going to be disappointed as long as you make the right decision for you.”
Easy for her to say. She didn’t have Gabi and Mike Davison for parents. But that wasn’t fair because I knew things had been tough with her dad since they moved to Wicked Bay.
“Yeah.” I pursed my lips. “I guess. And what about you? Have you made any decisions?”
She looked out at the ocean, avoiding my eyes, and sighed softly. “Not yet.”
“You know he'll want you to go to Steinbeck, right?”
Her shoulder shrugged up and down. “Maybe. He isn’t pushing me to decide.”
Yet.
Maverick wasn’t pushing her yet. But he would because there was no way in hell he’d agree to Lo being at any college other than the one he was attending. It was going to be hard enough on him—on them both—when he left next month.
“You have time,” I said, not wanting to make her feel bad. She met my eyes and smiled weakly. “Yeah, I know. Come on.” Lo stuffed her sun lotion in her bag. “Let’s go find the boys.”
We walked in comfortable silence. It was one of the things I loved about Lo, not having to work at our friendship. In some ways, her arrival in Wicked Bay last fall had been fate. I saw the way Kyle was with her; protective and loyal, welcoming her into the family as if she’d always been there. It reminded me of all the things I loved about him. And I hadn’t told Lo or Kyle, but without her, I probably would never have given him another chance. Not because I didn’t love him. But because I couldn’t bear the thought of one day, losing him.
We reached The Shack, and Lo opened the door, letting me pass. “Phew, it’s hot out there.” I laughed as she tilted her face under the A/C and let the cool air beat down on her.
“Let’s get drinks then find the boys.” I still felt a little hungover after mine and Lo’s epic drink-fest. Earlier, when I’d finally left Kyle’s shower and changed into some fresh clothes, I’d found the Stone-Prince kids—minus Macey—in the kitchen laughing and joking and eating more food than I’d ever seen in my life. I knew Kyle could cook but it wasn’t something he did often. There was no need when you had someone like Loretta on hand. He’d gone all out, though. Pancakes. Bacon. Waffles. But my stomach had only managed one pancake before I felt ready to hurl.
“Sounds good.”
We made our way to the service counter and ordered milkshakes. “Babe,” a voice called across the diner. “Get me one and some fries.”
I rolled my eyes at Kyle, and Lo snickered beside me. “Where does he put it all?”
“No idea. Did you see how much he ate at breakfast? Pig!”
“But he’s your pig.” She flashed me an amused grin, and I nodded.
“Yeah. Yeah, he is.”
A favorite with the local kids, The Shack was busy; the lunch rush all looking to get rehydrated before an afternoon of sun and surf. I scanned the crowd, waving at a couple of girls from school.
“Oh God, he’s here.” I whispered under my breath when my eyes landed on Jared. “And he’s with Devon.”
“Shit. Devon’s here?” Lo craned around me to see and I yanked her back, trying to be discreet. “Well, I guess it’s going to happen. We live in the same town. Go to the same school. I just hope Maverick plays nice.”
“He’s still really hung up on that, huh?” We moved up the line.
“It’s just a guy thing, isn’t it? Devon liked me and then he hurt me. I guess it makes sense he’s pretty high up on Maverick’s shit list.”
“Yeah, but you smoothed things over with Devon, didn’t you? And he did defend your honor against Caitlin.”
Lo shrugged handing the server a twenty. “Yeah,” she lowered her voice. “But it’s not like we’re going to be BFF’s anytime soon.”
Jared looked up as if he felt me watching and I turned away quickly, heat flooding my cheeks at being caught. “Come on,” I said tucking my hair behind my ears. “Let’s find the guys.”
“There’s my girl.” Kyle made a big scene of swaggering over to us and slinging his arm around my shoulder. I smiled up at him, aware of another set of eyes burning into my back. “I missed you.” He pecked my nose, and I leaned back, giggling at his PDA. This was the Kyle I was used to—the Kyle I wanted to go to college with.
“Dude, take your shot.” Trent flicked his head in greeting and I wiggled out of Kyle’s arm. “Finish your game,” I said, and he pouted before going back to the pool table.
“Hey, Laurie.”
“Maverick.” He already had Lo wrapped in his arms, his chin resting on her shoulder as they watched the guys’ game. “How are you feeling?”
“A little delicate still.”
“Lo insists she’s okay, but I’m not buying it. You two drank a lot.” He gave Lo a pointed look and she pinched Maverick’s arm.
“I told you, we just needed to let loose. It’s not like I do it often.” She shrugged dismissively but I saw the tension around her eyes.
“Please can we change the subject?” I groaned, clutching my stomach as it lurched at the mention of alcohol.
“Is that Lions?” Maverick’s voice turned cold. “What’s he doing here?”
“It’s a public diner. He can be here, Maverick.” Lo turned in his arms, gripping his jaw with her fingers. “Chill.”
“I’m chill. I just don’t like that fucker.”
She met my eyes, rolling hers with a heavy sigh.
“Let’s all just be thankful Caitlin is gone for the summer,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. But Maverick glanced at Lo who shot me a ‘what the hell’ expression. And it was my turn to sigh.
Who said being a teenager was easy?
WE HUNG OUT AT THE Shack all afternoon. Jared and Devon left, and the mood instantly lifted. The sun was brutal today, and although I wouldn’t admit it to anyone, I still felt a little green. But it had been nice, hanging out with Lo and the guys.
Until I spotted someone watching us from the other side of the diner. “See that girl?” I whispered to Lo, and she craned her head in my direction.
“You'll have to be a little more specific, the place is crawling with girls.”
“Her, with the boots.” I narrowed my eyes and gave a little flick of my head in the gi
rl’s direction. I’d tried to ignore her. Tried to tell myself she was no one. But there she was. Again. Turning to Lo, I said, “She keeps looking over here.”
“Do you recognize her?”
“No.” But I had seen her before. More than once. “She doesn’t look like she’s local.”
“An out-of-towner looking at us, scandalous.” Lo mocked, and I narrowed my eyes, blowing out an exasperated breath.
“She isn’t watching us, Lo,” I said unable to disguise my irritation. “She’s watching Kyle.”
“Oh.” Realization hit, and she widened her eyes. “Oh. Well, has he noticed? Maybe we should tell him?”
“What? No! We need to figure out who she is and what she wants.”
Although my mind had already conjured up various different scenarios... none of them good.
“Laurie.” Lo looked at me with a sympathy and understanding that made me want to claw off my own skin. She’d always been so certain he wouldn’t cheat—that Kyle Stone couldn’t possibly be that guy. But the clouds in her eyes made me wonder if she was having a change of heart. “Don’t you think honesty is the best policy?”
“Babe.” Kyle appeared out of nowhere and I smiled over at him. His gaze misted with something but then his easy grin slid into place. “You want anything?” He flicked his head to the service counter.
“Nah, I’m good.” I held up my shake, flashing him a tight smile.
“Cous?”
“I’m good too, thanks though.” Lo gave me a pointed look, but I mouthed ‘no’ at her. Her nostrils flared, and then she broke every friend code known to man. “Kyle,” she said before I could stop her. “Do you know that girl?”
“Which girl?” Calm. Smooth. Not even a hint of panic in his reply. Maybe I had it all wrong... maybe I was the one being paranoid.
“The one with the don’t-mess-with-me boots? She keeps looking over here and to be honest, it’s freaking me out.”
“Lo,” I hissed under my breath, but my best friend ignored me as she casually pointed her head in the direction of our fan club.
“Nope.” He shrugged. “Never seen her before in my life. But can’t say I blame her, I’m looking pretty damn fine today, even if I do say so myself.”