by Bowie, Emily
CHAPTER 2
I hear that sweet melodic voice of Shay’s and I pause midstep. That girl is going to be the end of me. I almost fell out of that tree when she stepped into the clearing, in the hottest bathing suit ever. Thank the fuck Kellen was midbelly flop or he would have kicked my ass for looking at her that way. When the hell did Little Shay not get so little? My hand goes to the back of my neck and I rub it, trying to work out the knot that is suddenly forming. I’m not sure if I should head on into the kitchen or avoid the place. So I stand there listening to Shay and my mother talk.
Shay’s bubbly personality seems to make the kitchen cozier. Shifting my weight a floorboard creaks under me, I have no choice but to head in now otherwise my mother will know I was eavesdropping.
Shay’s dark black hair is tied into a high ponytail on top of her head, causing it to fan out. She is in tight gray sweatpants that hug every aspect of her, showcasing her calves where the material ends. She’s wearing a simple tank top that has something about being a badass written across her chest. Her tits look magnificent especially with her cleavage popping out the top. I tear my eyes away from her shirt, still unable to make out the whole saying. Her beauty is understated. She has that fresh girl next door face but when you look at her, she is striking in that natural way. She doesn’t have to try. Her face is naturally beautiful and her lips a glossy red that seem to beg to be kissed.
For the first time, I am uncertain about how I should act around her. Grabbing an apple, I take a large bite out of it, chewing loudly just to annoy them. To my annoyance, they ignore me, continuing on with their conversation like I don’t exist.
I lean against the counter with my arms crossed, watching Shay interact with my mom. “What are you doing here, Shay?” I ask her between bites, trying to look uninterested.
“She’s hanging out with me,” my younger sister, Jewels, announces proudly with a twinkle in her eyes as she makes kissy faces behind everyone’s backs. I never realized that Shay and Jewels hung out, as Jewels is a few years younger than me.
“Huh?” I lift my eyebrow in question, enjoying the reaction I get from them.
Shay’s full attention is on me, making me grin a cocky smile. Fuck, she is beautiful. How she can be related to Kellen baffles me.
Her eyes narrow and I feel a jolt of electricity run through me. Why did Shay have to be my best friend’s little sister?
Wanting her to think she has no effect on me, I let out a chuckle before turning my back. Reminding myself that I shouldn’t have just openly checked out my best friend’s sister.
As my hand reaches the door handle to leave, I hear my mother’s warning ring through the house at me. “Make sure you’re home by ten, Luke Rogers. One of Shay’s brothers will be picking her up then.”
I walk out of the house just as Kellen is walking up. “You know your sister is hanging out with Jewels tonight?” I walk past him, trying to control my facial features before Kellen catches back up to me. One look at me and he would know the type of thoughts I may or may not have had about his little sister.
We both turn down my long driveway. “She mentioned she was going to hang out here tonight.”
Kellen and I have been best friends since we could run. With both of us being so far out of town we were stuck enjoying each other’s company, it was that or hang out with the family dog. I loved going over to Kellen’s at first because of all the kids. Kellen and I have been inseparable ever since. Nothing has ever changed the love we have for each other. We think the same, we love the same sports, we are the closest type of best friends. Nothing could ever get in the way of that. We have too much respect for each other. But that doesn’t even matter. We are so much alike that we are practically the same person.
We have plans to get out of this town and make something big of ourselves, hopefully the NFL graces us with its presence for a short duration. Then we might consider coming back here to help make this town even greater.
I want to be like Kellen’s oldest brother, Rhett. He left this town and headed to Nashville to make something out of himself. I want to do just that.
Stopping at the edge of my driveway, I dip down into the freshly mowed ditch into the bushes to pull out the six-pack of beer I hid there.
“Want one?” Taking one off the plastic ring, I hold it up for him. He just shakes his head, confusing me. All of the Steele boys have a high tolerance to liquor. It’s amusing to watch people call the Steele boys out on it, and then the Steeles are the ones carrying them out, unfazed by the liquor. It’s a talent.
“Isn’t it a little early to be starting? Your mom is still here.” This is a first for Kellen to be saying no, no matter the circumstances.
I eye him, wondering what’s up. “Your folks know there’s a party at my place tonight?” I try to deflect, wondering how far this new choirboy act goes.
He shakes his head at me, letting a silent bitter chuckle run though his body. “I have to stay the straight and narrow. Ms. Davis and my parents are threatening to kick me off the senior football team.” That now makes more sense to this new behavior.
“They can’t do that,” I snort, happy to get the conversation back to safer topics.
“They will if I fuck up again,” he tells me seriously, his face somber.
*
I weave myself in and out of the sea of people that litter my property. My thoughts staying on Shay. I want to go into my house and see her, but each time I start I talk myself out of it. Yet, I find myself standing in front of my back door once again. I really should make sure that Shay and Jewels are doing all right.
Reaching for the door handle, I stop midair when I hear hushed whispers from the dark corner of the deck. Straining my eyes, I see Shay much too close to a guy. His back is to me, and I watch as Shay’s eyes light up with whatever bullshit he is laying on her.
“Shay, is this guy bothering you?” I walk up close to them, leaning back on the low railing that outlines the porch.
Crossing my arms, I glare at my classmate Tom. Shay jumps back like she has been caught doing something wrong. My eyes lock on Shay’s and for the first time I am sure she feels the weight of my stare, and it feels anything but brotherly. I want to pull her to my side and tell Tom to fuck off but I refrain.
“Uh, what’s up, Luke?” Tom’s voice comes out shaky.
He should be embarrassed by his cowardliness.
“I didn’t realize you are friendly with Kellen’s little sister.” I know it’s a jerk move to bring out that card, and by the way she glares at me I know she doesn’t appreciate my interruption. Even though my words are meant for Tom, I ignore him and focus all my energy on Shay.
Seeing that Tom has yet to move an inch from Shay, I finally snap. “Get lost!” That finally sparks the fear I was trying for and he begins to walk away.
I wait until Tom has left the porch to invade Shay’s personal space.
“I thought you were babysitting?” My expression is hard only because I have no idea how to express how I really feel about her. Our bodies are so close I can feel her breath on my shoulder.
I watch as she visibly swallows, but when she doesn’t say anything, I speak again.
“How’s babysitting going?” I challenge, the idea of her and Tom out here in the dark making me more angry by the second. I can’t help myself, I wish I had come up here sooner, then I could have stolen a moment in the dark with her. Instead it was Tom, a benchwarmer. She deserves someone better than that.
“You’re an ass,” she tells me. Her words have no weight however, because the way she keeps looking at my lips tells me she feels what I am feeling too. In one more year she will be eighteen and I will finally be able to make a move on her. I can deal with any of the fallout from her family at that time. Until then, I think I have found my favorite hobby: eliminating all potential boyfriends.
She storms back inside and I feel like the king of the party.
Looking up I see Kellen walking toward me. “Word o
n the street is you’re going to ask that new girl, Kat, out,” he tells me. I look from him to the door and realize he saw none of the interaction between Shay and me.
“She’s hot.” While the statement is true, my thoughts remain centered on another dark-haired girl. I want to tell him the truth, that I’m not interested in Kat anymore, but I can’t bring myself to do it. So I lie and try to fool myself that I do like her. Opening the last can of beer from my plastic ring, I guzzle it down. That’s the last thing I remember until Kellen is hauling me back into my house with blood splattered all over my face and shirt. I want to stand on my own but my legs refuse to cooperate.
“What the hell happened?” Even in my drunken state, I can hear the slurring of my words.
“That kid Chase, from across the tracks, kicked your ass. And you deserved every second of it.”
“I deserved it?”
“I have no idea what’s gotten into you tonight.”
I know precisely what’s gotten into me, a black haired beauty whose brothers would kick my ass if they knew the type of thoughts I have about her. Deep down I know I let the beating happen. I couldn’t do it to myself so I made sure someone else did it for me.
I moan as I begin to feel like I’m going to be sick.
“What happened to him?” I hear her voice behind me as Kellen continues to drag me to the bathroom, and I hug the porcelain god just in time.
“He’s going to have one massive hangover tomorrow.” I hear her tell Kellen. I can’t help but smile knowing that she is close. And once again my internal battle begins all over again.
“I’ll call Brax to pick you up and I’ll stay the night with them to make sure he and Jewels are okay.”
I hear their voices hush around me as I get sick again, moaning in discomfort. My eyes are so heavy but I still know it’s Shay holding the warm cloth to my head by the smell of her perfume.
“You’re so sweet, Shay,” I mumble, I want to say more but that is as complicated of a sentence that I can slur out. “And pretty,” I confess. She stays, keeping the warm compress on my forehead. “You know I would never hurt you, Shay,” I tell her but it comes out flat. I want to tell her to date me but I can’t.
When I wake up in the morning, Kellen and Jewels are already eating their breakfast. He tosses me a bottle of water as I head to the cupboard for some Advil.
I stay silent, hoping that the events from last night are not replayed for me. Small flashes of time play in my mind of me and Kat. Me trying to kiss her. Then Chase hammering me into the ground. I wish these images would stay black like the rest of the night. I know I would have never done anything to Kat, but no one else does. I had one thing on my mind and it was a fight. I’m embarrassed, not that I would admit it. I make a vow to myself to stop thinking about Shay, some things just can never be. In my own weird, warped way I think I was trying to show myself that last night, while trying to make sure that the rumors about me would scare Shay far, far away.
Chugging the bottle of water, I head back to bed, hoping the world will eat me alive so I don’t have to face Three Rivers at school on Monday.
CHAPTER 3
Senior year
My eyes are red and puffy, my nose looks like I belong behind a sleigh. The cold AC hits my swelling eyes at full blast as I try to keep the damage from crying to a minimum. Sitting in the large student parking lot, I am the only person in sight, the few vehicles scattered throughout sit empty, their occupants busy on the football field. I’m better than this; I’m a senior now.
Sinking down into the passenger seat, I hope my blotchy face will go away before students start arriving to school. It’s another beautiful day in Texas, the temperature is hot with a few clouds in the sky, which will surely bring kids to school earlier than normal. I never thought this plan through, I groan to myself. I should have locked myself inside my house and feigned some type of ailment to avoid having to be at school today.
The rumor mill will most definitely start running as soon as I am spotted. My bet is on something about Tom and I breaking up. I don’t think it’s common knowledge yet.
A knock on my window has me jumping in my seat and screaming. Turning to look out the window, I’m mortified to see Luke Rogers.
Opening the truck door, I give an annoyed flick of my hair. “You’re late for practice.” Refusing to meet his eyes, I look past him, hoping to avoid any awkwardness.
I can feel his eyes rake over me, like a physical touch, making my heart beat faster. I repeatedly tell myself it’s only a childish crush, which only annoys me further.
“Why you crying, Shay?”
I hate that he slowly stopped called me LS, giving my heart false hope. I don’t understand how people say he is a bad boy and pushes people away, I’ve never seen that side of him. My ma even said if you want to see how a man will treat you, see how he treats his mama. I have never seen him anything less than kind to her, or to me for that matter.
He opens my door a few inches farther for his torso to squeeze between the door and where I have planted myself. I try to ignore how his large biceps are resting against my door frame, the smell of spring soap infiltrating the truck. He has to duck down to keep his view line in the truck. His presence makes me realize just how tall he is, making me feel tiny beside him.
“It better not be that boyfriend of yours making you cry.”
See, I knew this would be the first thing to pop up in people’s mind. On the inside, I allow for a satisfied grin to run through me before I school my expression. So he noticed I had a boyfriend…
I avoid the question, liking the idea of Luke coming to my defense if I were actually crying over an ex-boyfriend, which I am not. Looking down, I notice his foot is all bandaged up.
“What’s wrong with you?” Then I start to go into panic mode as the realization that he can’t walk hits. Luke is a starter for our football team; him not playing isn’t an option. This will mess up our whole team.
“Just a sprain, I’ll be back next week. No need to fuss over me now.” He steps closer, invading my personal space completely. “You going to tell me why you’re crying?”
“I was not.” I lie, allowing an eye roll to dramatize the fact I am perfectly fine.
“We’re friends, aren’t we?” He leans closer, his minty breath washing over my cheek, his presence taking over my senses. The way he states we’re friends has my heart fluttering and has me wanting to tell him what’s wrong.
“My parents are making me give away Peter Rabbit—to my rabbit eating uncle.” Looking straight at him, in all seriousness, I add, “I’ve seen him do it and he has a rabbit foot on his key chain.”
I can feel my eyes start to swell, knowing my poor bunny has run his life course.
“Come on, let’s go.” He opens my door farther, leaning over me to shut off the truck before tossing the keys under the mat, in case Kellen needs them. He’s practically on top of me, brushing against me with his lean, fit body. Slowly, I mirror his movements, following along beside him and getting out of the truck.
“You have practice.” The argument is weak but I don’t want him to feel obligated to cheer me up.
“I also can’t play. Come on now, before I think this idea through.” My heart wants this too bad to put up any real fight as to why I shouldn’t follow him.
He leads me toward his truck, as I think this has to be a dream. I feel adrenaline rush through me knowing that Luke wants to spend time with me.
“Is your ma home?”
I shake my head, afraid if I speak this moment will be gone and he will change his mind.
He opens his truck door for me, leaving it open for me to jump in as he heads to his door. Climbing in, I place my hands under my legs, not trusting what my hands may do, all the while pinching my leg to make sure I’m not dreaming.
Jumping in, he looks at me expectantly, causing me to think back to what he just asked.
“She is volunteering at the senior home this morning.” My voice s
lightly cracks as it tries to find itself.
He turns the key in the ignition, the engine roaring to life, and heads toward the main road. “Your dad?”
I shake my head. “He went to go pick up some food today.” Opening up the truck’s visor, I open the mirror to try to smudge away any mascara that’s left on my face.
We exit the town limits and begin heading down the long gravel road toward our ranch. It’s fields and animals for as far as the eyes can see.
The truck shuffles over top of the bumpy railway tracks, bringing us farther into the country.
We sit in comfortable silence the whole way, which I enjoy. I dislike having to talk just for the sake of making noise. We turn into my long driveway under the massive wooden sign that tells everyone they have now reached Steele Ridge Ranch.
Killing the engine, Luke jumps out, leaving me in my seat. It’s like I have forgotten how to walk or move. Luke and I are never left alone, and this is now our second time within the last year. He has never once suggested that we should hang out. Kellen would be furious knowing that he missed a practice for the sole purpose of hanging out with me. The thoughtful act hooks into me, making a small twitch of my lips curve up.
Then I remind myself that Luke is a gentleman and would never make any type of move on me. I’m his best friend’s baby sister; he is only trying to be kind.
Feeling Luke’s hand on mine, I look to see he has already opened my door and is tugging my hand to go. Snapping out of my hazed thoughts, I allow him to hold my hand to help me step down from his jacked up truck, enjoying the chivalrous moment. The moment ends far too fast, as I remind myself he is only being nice because he thinks of me like family.
He leads the way into my house, heading upstairs into my room where I keep Peter. Coming up the stairs, we stop when we are met with the sound of a headboard hitting the wall and Cynthia’s dreadful moaning. Oh gross, my brother is having sex in the middle of the Morning!