“It matters that you’re putting words in my mouth. I hate that.”
“You said I could never be Brice.”
“Did you expect to kiss like your sister?” I scrunch up my face and throw my hands in the air. “Please don’t answer that.” I can’t believe we’re talking about this. “It won’t happen again, okay?”
Kimber crosses her arms. “Fine by me. It wasn’t great for me either.”
It’s a kick to the balls. At least in her eyes. I snicker and shake my head, which is obviously enough to get her blood boiling. “Why are you laughing?”
“Because you’re ridiculous.”
“About what?” She plays stupid.
“I’m a good kisser.”
“No you’re not!” Kimber makes her way into the living room. She’s at the kitchen door before I catch up. “You’re not and we’re never talking about this again.”
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“To that motel?”
“It’s where I live, West.”
I sigh. It’s hardly the time to bring up her moving, but what the hell? “You should bring your things over here.”
“What? You’re kidding right? You think I’ll want to just move in here with you and your brothers now that we made out?”
I chuckle. “It has nothing to do with that. I asked before we kissed.”
There’s a rumbling upstairs and then I see Caleb. “There was kissing and I missed it?”
Kimber covers her face while her head shakes like she’s never been so embarrassed.
“It was a drunken slip,” I explain.
Now she’s the one laughing. “Which time?”
My brother will never let this go now. “Okay, the kiss is off limits.”
“Kisses,” she corrects. “It was multiple.”
I surrender. “I give up. Stay at the fleabag motel forever, Kimber.”
“Good, I will.” The back door slams shut and I’m standing across the room from my very curious brother.
“So, you kissed Kimber?”
I nod. “It’s not like that.”
“I thought you couldn’t stand her. You told us not to go anywhere near her.”
“She’s different now. She’s been through a lot. It just happened. It’s not a big deal. Get off my back about it.”
“Touchy!” Caleb taunts. “If it’s no big deal why are you so sensitive about it?”
“Because. It’s Kimber.” I sit on a stool and try to clear my head.
“Did she sleep here last night? Did you hook up with her?”
“No!” I’m defensive for a reason. He’s has the wrong idea. “Kimber and I miss Brice. We’re both still hurting. Coming back has been harder than I thought. When I was away it was easier. I didn’t have reminders everywhere I went. Man, I can’t drive down the road without thinking of a conversation or circumstance. This island is like a time capsule of my life with Brice. It sucks. You don’t know how hard it’s been to not turn around and leave again.”
“We don’t want you to go, bro.”
It hurts to think about leaving them again. “I know.”
“Look, we don’t care about what you and Kimber do. I was just giving you a hard time.”
“She’s living in the motel across from McDonalds. Her parents split up and they’ve pretty much written her off. She could use some friends, and if Brice was here she’d want us to do what we could to help her.”
“Man, that sucks.”
“I told her to move into the room upstairs. I even said we could make the office a space for her until she gets back on her feet. She’s family.” I shake my head. “I know how awful that sounds after we made out, but you get what I mean.”
“Oh, now you made out.” My brother has no filter.
“I give up.”
Caleb makes us egg sandwiches and we watch a little of the sport’s network before he heads out to work for Dad. It doesn’t take long for me to realize I’m alone surrounded by walls that feel like they’re suffocated me. I change into a pair of jeans and haul ass out of there. After picking Bee up from Oyster Cove, I decide to head to the beach. When I pass the motel I see Kimber’s car. At least she’s predictable.
The beach is always a good place to reflect on life. It’s soothing, and helps me focus. For as long as I can remember my heart has been broken. I’m lost, and coming home hasn’t changed that. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over Brice, or even if I want to, but what I do know is that when I kissed Kimber the second time, I wanted it to happen.
I’m not saying I’m interested in Kimber. It’s not like that. I just wanted to connect with someone. It was a mistake and now she probably won’t let me help her, which is a shame.
On the way home I stop by the motel. I can’t force her to move, or change jobs, but I at least want her to know she has other options. I knock twice and wait for her to answer. When the door cracks Bee pushes her way inside. I remain where I am until I’m invited to enter. She waits until I turn around to speak to me. “What do you want, West?”
“Do you work tonight?”
She shrugs and looks at Bee. “I quit last night.”
“What? Did something else happen?”
“No. Well, it was the argument with you. I felt terrible and knew if I left I’d be fired, so when the boss came in I quit.”
“You quit your job so you could come apologize to me? How did you know where to look?”
“I didn’t. I went looking everywhere.”
I lean against a crappy dresser and take in the sight of the room. It’s not much different from the ones upstairs. “You need to get out of this place. Come stay at the house. We’ll make the office your personal space. You won’t even have to see any of us, and you’ll be more comfortable.”
“You don’t have to do this, West. You said it yourself, you don’t even know if you’ll stay.”
“All the more reason for you to move in. The house needs life in it. The twins are hardly home.”
Kimber fidgets with her fingernails. “It would be nice to not have to take my laundry anywhere.”
I chuckle. I know that’s not the only perk. “Do you have a lot to move?”
She points to the dresser and a small closet. “Everything I own is in this room.”
It’s very disheartening. This once spoiled woman has nothing left.
“When do you want to bring everything over?”
She falls backwards on her bed with her arms spread out. “My life is such a mess.”
“I’m trying to help.”
“You’re driving me crazy.”
A guffaw escapes me when I sit down on the mattress beside her and fall back. We’re staring at the same old stained ceiling now. “I didn’t expect to come home to this.”
“To what? You’re girlfriend’s sister living in filth?”
“No. I wasn’t looking for someone who could understand what I’ve been going through, someone who could be my friend, a real friend that’s not a relative.”
Kimber leans on her elbow and looks at me. I lean up too so we’re facing one another. “I loved my sister more than myself most of the time. Don’t ever forget that, West.”
“I admire you for it.”
“I’m going to move into the house until I can get back on my feet with a better job.”
“Okay.”
She sits up and sighs. “And no kissing. Friends don’t kiss.”
“Got it. No kissing.”
“Good. Let me get my stuff together.”
When she moves to the other side of the room I see a picture on the nightstand. It’s her and Brice hugging with big matching smiles. It’s a great picture of both of them. I lean over the mattress until I’m able to reach it and pull it closer. I wonder what Brice would say if she knew I’d kissed her little sister. I try to think if she’d be upset with me, or understand. It’s weird, but I think she’d understand.
“Thanks for getting me home last night,
Kimber. I apologize for being out of line.”
“It’s cool. You were funny for the most part.”
“Caleb thought we slept together,” I add.
She stops what she’s doing. “You mean, like we…”
“Yeah.”
“Eww. Gross. Did you tell him we didn’t?”
“He knows.” I sit the picture down and start helping her carry things out of the efficiency. Things are weird between us and that’s my fault. I’ll be better from now on. I have to be, because this girl needs all the help she can get.
Chapter 26
Kimber
I moved into the house with West and his brothers a month ago. I have to say, I’m enjoying the comforts as well as amenities, not to mention living with three good looking guys, who happen to love being shirtless. West said I could work as a server at the restaurant, but I told him I wanted to take some time off. I’ve spent the past year and a half struggling and I just want to have some time adjusting to the new changes before jumping into a new job. Plus we’ve yet to clean out the office and I’m not looking forward to it either.
Caleb and Coop decided to go away for the weekend before the crowds start coming to the island. We have roughly one more week left of peace and quiet. For the past seven days I’ve been planted to the sofa binge watching television with a giant furry companion at my side. Bee and I are besties. We snuggle and play, and I even paint her toe nails. West didn’t seem that excited about it when I showed him, but at least he didn’t get mad.
West spends his days out on the water with the guys just like old times. I think he missed working. He told me how much he’d make in two weeks in Alaska. It’s pretty amazing, but from what he said it’s hard work and dangerous.
Every night the two of us sit across from one another and have dinner. He talks about his day and I bore him with binge worthy shows he needs to catch up on. It’s weird living together. We get along like old friends and seem to enjoy each other’s company. I don’t feel uncomfortable around him. It’s the opposite. I like knowing I’m not alone. In a lot of ways West is taking care of me. To pay him back I clean the house and attempt to cook edible meals. He’s been teaching some things to improve the way things turn out. Bee never seems to complain about my cooking, but she’s a dog and I do rub her belly for hours at a time.
When it’s time for bed West and Bee head into his room together, while I go upstairs to my little bedroom. My comforter set sits on top of a much more comfortable bed and I don’t have to worry about bugs or creepy people knocking on my door at night.
If someone would have asked me where I’d be several years ago, it wouldn’t be here with the guys. They’ve made me feel like I belong. We all kid around and get along. I actually think they like having me, especially when they have their clothes washed and folded when they get home.
With the house to myself, I sometimes have moments where I get emotional. It was especially hard the day I told Mom I’d moved in with West. Of course, she didn’t know he’d returned, and then I had to hear a bunch of shit about how inappropriate it looks to be living in home with three grown men.
I’m sure at some point my father will hear the news, not that I care. I owe him nothing. At worst, he can take my car back. I’m not too upset about it. West has two trucks, and I can ride Brice’s bike anywhere on the island I need to go.
On the day the twins are set to go away the guys are home early. West yanks me off the couch and drags me to the steps. “Go change your clothes. Hurry up.”
I place my hands to my hips. “I’m not going anywhere with this hair.”
“Not even surfing?”
I stop talking. “Seriously?”
“The waves are good today. I figured we could go before sunset, like old times.”
“Are you sure?” He’s been reluctant to go. There’s a lot of things that are off limits with West. The lighthouse is and will probably always be one of them. Surfing was another, so this is a surprise.
He closes his eyes and smiles, a mellow toned answer coming with it. “I’m certain. Are you going to come with me?”
I’m already running upstairs to find my wetsuit. “Be ready in five.”
We’re rushing to beat the setting sun. We have hours, but surfing isn’t something that’s fast. It’s a lot of waiting. My wetsuit is loose, but it’ll work. I grab the board out of the truck and freeze for a moment as I look it over. The last person to use this was my sister. I run my hands down the base, the sticky wax scraping my fingertips. “You okay?” West asks from the other side of me. He’s got his board in his hand and his wetsuit pulled up to his waist. His bare chest stares me in the face. I accidentally take too long of a peek and hear him clearing his throat. “Earth to Kimber.”
“Sorry. Bad habits.”
He laughs and starts running toward the waves. I make sure I’m zippered before following him. He stands at the water’s edge and finishes with his suit before counting. Then we take off.
The cold water is refreshing. I battle the riptide to make it past the breaking waves. West makes it look so easy, but he’s a lot stronger than me. Once I’m poised on the board, and out of breath, I look over to my left and see him smiling. “You good?”
“I’m fine,” I tell him to play off the struggle. I’m out of shape.
I lean forward and rest my chin on the board while looking up and down the coastline. There are a few other surfers a ways down, but none close to us. The waves aren’t spectacular but we’re able to ride several in before the sun starts disappearing beyond the horizon. I’d forgotten how beautiful it was to watch. We lay on our backs floating while seagulls fly above our heads. I point to the sky. “Do you think she’s up there?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“I think she tried to stop me from killing myself. I swear something made me stop. Do you believe it could have been her?” West is the only person I talk to about Brice. It’s easy now. It’s something we share between each other. He’s become the best friend I’ve ever had. I trust him and know he looks out for me.
“I think she’d do just about anything to keep you safe and alive. Kinda like the organ thing.”
I look over in his direction and see he’s staring at me. “I appreciate you, West. You know that right?”
He chuckles. “Sometimes you say the weirdest things, but yeah, I get it.”
I don’t know why I feel like giving him a hard time, but an idea pops in my head and I go with it. “So I ran into this guy the other day at the grocery store. We dated a few times and he asked if I wanted to have dinner with him.”
West seems curious. “What did you tell him? Who is it?”
He’s being protective as usual, but lately I feel like there’s something else going on, and I’m not about to ask for another kiss when the last ended the way it did. “I said sure. I mean, it’s not like I’m seeing anyone, right?”
“Yeah, sure. If it’s makes you happy then you should go out and have a good time.”
I keep at it. “What if I want to bring him home? Would that be okay? I’m just trying to figure out if you’re going to act all protective over me.”
He looks away, but keeps acting like I’m amusing him. “I’m not your dad.”
“I never said you were.”
The wind whips and causes goose bumps to cover my skin. I shiver a bit and notice he’s rubbing the sides of his arms. “We should head in.”
We’re sitting side by side in the sand watching the last remnants of the sun. West lights a small fire in front of us as we cover up in two oversized towels. He’s brought a cooler of raw hotdogs and beer. It’s not exactly spectacular, but I happen to love it. We search the dunes for sticks we can use to roast the meat. I remove my wet suit while he starts getting the hot dogs ready to cook. My small bikini sticks to the suit fabric and starts to not cover certain private areas. Before I can turn to hide myself I catch him looking at me. Every part of my body is instantly hot. He’s never made me feel this wa
y before. I don’t know how to take it. Quickly I discard the wetsuit and throw on an oversized sweatshirt I grabbed from the laundry room. When I’m back at the campfire he refuses to look in my direction, even when he’s handing me a cooked hotdog. I burn my arm from his neglect and suck in a breath of air as I try not to scream. “Shit!”
“Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.” He takes my arm in his hand and looks it over. It’s too dark to even see where it touched me and to be honest it scared me more than it did damage.
I pull away. “I’m fine.”
Now his eyes are on mine. I don’t get him. We can’t keep doing this. Every single time we’re alone like this my stomach flutters and parts of me tingle. I have to be desperate. That’s all this is. I refuse to accept that I could be interested in Weston Wallace.
“So,” he starts while still staring into my soul. “You going to accept that date?”
I shrug and accidentally lick my lips. “I don’t know. It’s not like I’ve been seeing anyone.”
West does this thing where he tightens his lips and squints his eyes when he’s frustrated. He’s doing it now as I wait for his response. “You know, you probably shouldn’t date someone from your past. Weren’t you the one who said you hung around with the wrong people?”
I snicker. We’re inches apart, but it’s not in a way where it seems like we’re into each other. It’s more so we’re able to hear over the crashing waves in the distance. I bite the tip of my hot dog and chew as I answer. “I was just messing with you. No one asked me out. Guess you’re stuck with me forever, loser.” When I say it I take off.
He comes after me, sending me falling into a pile of sand. I squirm from his hold and dash away as fast as I can, screaming the whole time because I know he’s coming after me. I make it about two hundred yards before he latches onto the large sweatshirt and pulls me to the ground where I fall almost totally on top of him. We’re both laughing until we realize this is in fact a compromising, very comfortable position. “What are we doing,” he asks while brushing loose hair out of my face.
“We’re having fun, right? You’re my best friend. I like spending time with you.”
Waves of Despair: Oyster Cove Series Page 16