"I need a hand with a few things out at the barn, ya think you'd be willin' to help?"
Ugh, workin' outside was the last thing I wanted to do at the moment, but whatever.
"Yeah, let's go."
I followed my grandfather out the back door and in the direction of the barn. He wasn't sayn' much, but it was pretty clear that he had somethin' on his mind. "Everything okay?"
He removed his hat from his head long enough to wipe the sweat from his brow. "Just a little tired today. This old man needs a break."
If that wasn't the understatement of the year. He needed more than a break, he needed to retire and let someone else take over all together.
"I hear ya." I walked into the stalls and straight over to Rocket, giving him a nice big pat to his side. "Hey buddy, how's the old man been treatin' ya?"
"Like gold and you know that Madison."
"I know sir." Some days I swear I felt like I was constantly bein' scrutinized.
"Alright boy, just muck the stalls and replace the hay and we should be good. I forgot I got a doctor's appointment today, so I'll catch up with ya later." He turned to head back towards the house, when he stopped without turning around and began to say something I couldn't quite hear.
"What's that, Sir?"
"Make sure you're home for dinner. We need to have a chat." And with that, he was gone.
I looked over at Rocket with a confused look. "Wonder what that is all about." I shook my head and went to grab the shovel and wheelbarrow to start cleaning out the stalls. About two hours later, I realized it was almost time to pick up Kayla and I hadn't even showered. I quickly latched all of the stalls and ran back to the house. The grandparents were still out, so I jumped in and out without interruption. Once I was dressed, I pulled my cap onto my head and ran for the door. Just as I reached for the front knob, the door came swinging open with the force of a hurricane wind.
"What the fu-" I caught myself just before unleashing a slew of curse words in case the person on the other side, happened to be one of my grandparents.
"Glenn?"
"Hey hey bro, looks like I'm back too. And, I brought a little surprise with me."
His surprise was little alright. Five foot nothin' little.
"What the hell are you guys doin' here?"
Cami rushed over, bringing me into a deep hug and Glenn just patted my shoulder. "It's the weekend, and Glenn had some big news to share with you." A smile broke out across my face, knowing that Kayla was goin' to be elated when she caught sight of her best friend.
"Alright, well you can tell me on the way to pick Kayla up from school. Oh and by the way, your little brother is tryin' to move in on my girl."
As we were all squeezing into the cab of my truck, I couldn't help but notice the devilish grin Glenn was now sporting. "What's with the look, Green?" Five minutes in and I was already beginning to get extremely irritated by him.
"Did you honestly think that my brother wouldn't take notice of Kayla? You must not know him too well."
"Dude, number one I totally don't think it's funny. And number two, they both swear they're just friends."
He just kept laughing. "Well of course they do. Hey, I don't doubt that that's all it is for Kayla, but I'm willing to bet ya a million bucks, that's not Joey's only intention."
My knuckles began turning white as I tightened my death grip on my steering wheel. I knew this whole being friends thing was gonna backfire. I just didn't know that little Joey Green was goin' to be the cause of it.
"So what's your big news?" I honestly didn't care at the moment, but I knew it was better to get it out of the way now.
"Well, I'm comin' home too. I know shocker, but dude now that you're back here, I think we should get the band goin' and kick it into high gear. It also helped make my decision that much easier, when one of my buddies got a hold of me and said they have a opening at the music festival in Dallas this winter. There's a chance to get a signed deal with Stealy Records. How fuckin' cool is that?"
My eyes went wide with excitement. "Are you serious?"
"Yes, on all counts."
"Holy shit, this could be the break we've always wanted. Are Bryce and Brandon in?"
"Hell yeah. I called them this mornin' and told them, and let's just say, I now have a broken eardrum from all the girl screaming those two did. So I'm going to assume you're in as well?"
"Fuck yeah!" And just like that, my mood went from incredibly shitty to once in a lifetime happy within seconds. I pushed my foot a little harder against the gas pedal wanting to get to Kayla sooner rather than later. I had been excited to see her anyway, but now to be able to tell her this, she was gonna be stoked.
We pulled into the school lot ten minutes later just as everyone was startin' to get out. "Wait in the truck guys. I want her to be surprised."
I jumped down from my side of the truck and leaned back against the door all James Deanesque. I stood there scanning the large crowds of people, when her light brown hair came into view. That's when I saw him next to her, his arm around her shoulders as she looked up into his eyes, laughing.
Damn it!
I kept my cool and tried not to waiver from the spot I had taken up temporary residence. When she finally looked up and caught sight of me, a smile as wide as the Grand Canyon spread across her face. Knowing that I could still do that to her, made my heart jump, along with another certain body part.
She turned quickly, giving Joey a hug and then came running at me full speed. My arms instantly opened up, awaiting her body to jump into them. I bent down just as she reached me and I scooped her up, spinning her in circles as she wrapped her legs around my waist. Okay, maybe this whole hug thing was a bad idea. Her body pushing against mine, had me fully erect now and I knew she could feel it by the look on her face.
"I see I still have an affect on you cowboy." She winked and then wrapped her arms around my neck before placing a kiss on my cheek.
Damn it, this girl was going to be the death of me, I swear it.
"I have a surprise for you pretty girl."
"Oh do you now? I think I can already feel the surprise."
"Ha ha, no not that. Look in the truck." I placed her back down on the ground just as she caught sight of Cami perched on the front seat.
"What's goin' on slut? How the hell are ya?" Ensue the girlish screaming.
Joey caught sight of our little reunion and Cami by the look on his face, and then he saw Glenn.
"Hey little brother."
"Holy shit dude, what are you doin' here?"
I backed away from the truck, as Glenn came around the front to give is baby bro a hug. "I'm comin' home, and my girl wanted to see her best friend. So, here I am. How's it goin'? I hear ya been weaselin' your way into Kayla's little heart."
"What, wait, you're the guy Kayla talks about all the time?"
A satisfied smile settled into my expression, "that would be me."
"Bro, I had no idea. It's not like that though, Kayla and I are-"
"Just friends." Glenn and I both chimed in at the same time.
"Whatever. Well, I have football practice. I'll see y'all later. Bro, mom and dad know you're back yet?"
"On my way over there now. I'm gonna introduce them to Cami."
Joey's loud laugh vibrated off of the school walls. "Good luck with that. See ya tonight."
"What does he mean by that?" Cami chided.
"Nothin' baby, you have nothin' to worry about."
I chuckled and shook my head as I opened the door, lifting Kayla up and into the cab by her ass. She looked back and smiled that all knowing smile.
I had a whole day planned out for us, to start my days of wooing her back, but of course Glenn and Cami's arrival fucked that up. So now we all were headed to the swimming hole. I can't say it was all that much of a loss because now I got to spend the rest of the afternoon staring at Kayla in her itty-bitty bikini.
Chapter 16
Kayla
Cami w
as going on and on about what had been happening between her and Glenn, when I caught sight of Madison climbing out of the water. The water dripping from his glistening pecs was driving me mad. If I wasn't already in the water, I would need to get in just so no one would notice how turned on I was at the present moment. My sunglasses provided enough security that he wouldn't notice me watching him, so I continued to stare and gawk at his amazingly perfect body.
He lifted his tattooed arms running his hands through his hair, which pulled every muscle tight over every inch of his body. My eyes made heated trails from his taut biceps, to his pecs, down to his abs and eventually down to that perfect "v" let led down to the exact thing I longed to feel inside of me. His board shorts were hanging lower than usual because of how he had gotten out of the water, and as he turned around to start climbing up the rocks, I caught a small glimpse of his high tight ass. God this guy would be the death of me. Although, I already felt as though I had died and gone to heaven. A heaven where only hot guys with tattoos existed.
"Hey, your eyes are gonna pop right out of your head if you don't stop staring."
Cami's voice broke through my dirty revelry and I wanted to smack her for interrupting such an amazing view.
"How can you even tell, I have sunglasses on."
"Oh trust me girl, I can tell. And, I'm pretty sure he can too, or he wouldn't have just put on that little show for you."
"Seriously? You think he noticed?"
"I'm pretty sure he planned that shit out, just for you. You two are being ridiculous. If you forgive him and he still loves you, then why can't you two just cut the shit and be together already?"
"I was ready to. Even after he told me about the dirty skank at school and what he had done, I was ready to forgive him. Hell, I was about to tell him that I loved him, but then he basically told me that we needed to just be friends. It wasn't me being the girl this time."
"Speaking of that skank. I ran into her before Madison left school. I almost beat the shit out of her, but Madison held me back. Trust me, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. That boy is head over heels in love with your ass."
"Ugh." I pushed myself deep under the water and let out every ounce of air I held in my lungs, until it hurt. When I broke through the surface, I came face to face with the most glorious face I had ever seen. His sparkling green eyes pierced straight through mine and touched me deep, deep down.
"Hey pretty girl, you wanna jump with me?"
God he was gorgeous. There was no other way to explain the way he looked. My eyes dropped down to his sun kissed, plump lips and I yearned to have them against mine. My tongue came out and licked my bottom lip in anticipation that he might kiss me. When he leaned forward a bit I thought he was about to, but then just like that, he pulled back, taking me with him. Damn.
"Okay, yeah let's go jump."
His hand slipped down to mine, squeezing it tightly into his. His skin felt like fire against my cool skin, but it was a welcoming feeling. I squeezed back just as our eyes met again. He pulled me up the wall of rocks to the very top, where I had never had enough courage to jump from the handful of times we had come here. I pulled back as we reached the edge. I knew he could feel my hesitation, because the next thing I knew, he was pulling our interlocked hands up to his lips, gently placing a kiss against them.
"I promise I won't let go."
That sentence held more meaning to me than I think I thought possible. I looked up into his eyes and smiled. "Promise?"
"I promise. Never."
Seconds later, we were standin' at the edge looking at each other ready to jump. "Madison, I think there is something you should know."
"Oh yeah pretty girl, what's that?"
I stood there, looking up into the only eyes I ever wanted to look into for the rest of my life, but something inside of me stopped me from saying those three little words. I knew just by saying them, they had the power to change everything between us. They could potentially change whatever this was that we were doin', into so much more, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I needed more than anything to have him say them first. Because by him saying them first, it was as though he was proving to me just how much he wanted us to work. So I just smiled, "never mind." I whispered.
"You ready?" He asked.
"With you? Always." I replied.
His smile worked its way from ear to ear and then I felt a small tug before my stomach flew up into my throat. I felt free and as though I was flying. I squeezed my eyes tightly shut just before our bodies broke through the surface of the water, and when I pushed myself up for air, I found he was still holding onto my hand. He hadn't let go, and it meant the world to me that he had kept his word.
I glanced over at him, just as he looked the other way. I wondered what it was that had changed from the time we jumped until now? I stared into the water where my now empty hand sat, questioning everything that had just happened. Had I said something wrong? Was it something I didn't say? Before I could question it any further, Cami was swimming up beside me.
"Girl, that was fucking high. Didn't that scare the shit out of you?"
I simply nodded my head and swam over to the side to get out. I grabbed my towel off of one of the rocks and began drying off. "Hey Madison, I need to get home soon. Can we leave?"
I watched as confusion settled into his expression. "Yeah, we can go whenever."
If it wasn't still considered summertime in Texas, I would've sworn a cold front had just moved in, pushing million miles away from him. I tugged my shorts on over my suit and my tank top over my head as I made my way over to Cami.
"Dude, what happened between the two of you?"
"Seriously with the dude stuff?" I growled.
"Whoa, I didn't do anything to you, so back off with the attitude. And secondly, what the hell did he say to you? DO I need to kick his ass?"
"No Cam, just leave it alone."
"No." And before I could say another word, she was power walking her way over to Madison.
"What the hell Madison? Who the hell do you think you are? Why do you find it necessary to fuck with her emotions like that? With everything she has been through, you think she deserves to have you treat her like that?"
I ran over to Cami, trying to stop her from going off on another tirade, knowing it was my fault, but I was too late. Madison pushed forward and was about to unleash.
"Look Cami, this time it wasn't me. You're friend over there," he pointed straight at me just as I made it to Cami's side, "she's the one who can't open up. This is not my fault this time. So if you wanna go all bitch on someone, maybe choose the right person."
Madison jumped into the cab of the truck and started the engine. We had officially gone from amazing to shitty in one afternoon. Things were going to have to change and not just on my behalf. So much for proving to me that he wanted more.
I grabbed Cami's hand and whispered I'm sorry to her, as I drug her around to the other side of the truck. Glenn had already taken the seat next to Madison, I assume to keep us separated, but either way I was thankful.
I mouthed a thank you to Glenn. This was not the day I had envisioned when I got out of school this afternoon. This day sucked and I just wanted it to be over.
Twenty minutes later, we were pulling up to my grandparent's house. Before Madison could even come to a complete stop, I was jumping out of the truck and gathering up my stuff from the back. "See ya later Glenn." I turned enough to notice that Madison wasn't looking at me, but staring out his open window.
Cami jumped down behind me, but I headed inside to give her and Glenn time to solidify their plans of her meeting his parents later. As soon as I went to reach for the handle on the door, I felt a warm calloused hand slip around my wrist. And before I could react, his lips were pressed against mine. My eyes fluttered shut as my hands pushed into the back of his hair. Our mouths moved slow and deliberately against one another, and just when I thought he was going to deepen the kiss, his lips lef
t mine and I was left wanting more.
"Just thought I should say a proper good-bye, you know, to my friend."
"Well, I hope that's not how you say good-bye to all of your friends."
"Just my special friends." He laughed.
"Madison, I'm-"
"Don't Kayla, we're fine."
I nodded as I stood up on my tiptoes to give him a hug. "Thanks or today cowboy."
"Anytime, pretty girl. See ya later."
I gave a small dazed wave, as Cami approached me. "What was that all about?"
"Who cares, as long as he says goodbye to me like that from now on, I'll be good."
We both went into the house laughing as the growl of Madison's truck disappeared down the drive.
****
I helped Cami get ready for her big "meet the parents" moment for at least three hours. I had never met Glenn's family before, but judging by the house I picked Joey up from every day and his response to the whole ordeal outside of school today, I'm gonna guess his parents aren't as easy going as their children.
I pulled the curling iron out of the last strand of hair and stood back smiling. "You look amazing Cam."
"Are you sure?"
I let her borrow my yellow and white striped sundress and a pair of beige Steve Madden wedges that made her at least five feet four inches now. "I'm positive. Don't be so nervous, they're just parents. What's the worst that could happen?"
Cami rolled her eyes at me and began fidgeting with the straps of the dress. I just shook my head and went and sat on my bed. I threw myself back against the mattress, arms splayed out.
"What are you doing?"
"What do you mean?" I sneered as I closed my eyes.
"With Madison, what are you doing with Madison? Why don't you just tell him how you feel?"
I propped myself up on my elbows. "I can't Cami, just leave it alone, please."
"I don't understand you guys. You love him, and he clearly loves you. Why not just go for it? God, I couldn't imagine not telling Glenn how I felt about him. It was liberating. It just sucks that I can't be with him in the same state for another year."
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