In Pieces

by Gia Riley

  “Yes, I need a dress for the dance and a business suit for the game. I still don’t know why we have to look like a bunch of secretaries at a football game, but it’s tradition.”

  “See, you need shit. So, if you want to go, lets do it.”

  I smile, thankful he volunteered himself. Chances are, I wouldn’t have ever gone on my own. “Okay, but when you’ve had enough, just say the words, and we can leave.”

  “I promise I’ll survive.”

  The mall is pretty empty considering it’s only one o’clock in the afternoon on a school day. We even get a parking spot close to the main entrance. “Where do you want to go first?” Carson asks, as he walks around the back end of his car.

  “I have no idea. First place we come to, I guess.”

  We cross the parking lot, and walk with purpose down the corridor inside the mall. Carson laughs when the first store is in front of us. “I’m not sure this is going to cut it.”

  “Okay, let me rephrase that. First store that sells dresses.” We’re standing in front of Hot Topic of all places. The exact opposite of what I’m looking for.

  After walking for a couple more minutes, we’re inside Macy’s, heading toward the juniors’ department. I browse the racks, and once I have three choices in my hands, we find the nearest dressing room.

  There’s a chair next to the entrance, and Carson plops into it. “Go for it,” he says. “Toss’em out to me if you don’t like them.”

  “How are you so good at this? It almost seems like you like shopping.”

  He smiles. “I like shopping with you, Kins. There’s a difference. Plus, you forget I have three older sisters. I’ve been through this show more than once.”

  “I’ll hurry,” I tell him, as I slip inside the first dressing room. I wish I had enough time to make something of my own, but with work and school, plus my assignments, I’ll never get it done in time.

  I unzip the first dress, a bright blue taffeta with a halter style neck. Stepping into it, I pull it up and over my hips, but when I pull the zipper up, it’s a little too snug.

  A full-length, black satin dress is next. The fabric is cool against my skin, even giving me goosebumps as it trails down my legs to the floor. Right away I know it’s not the one. This too, goes back on the hanger.

  They say the third times the charm, and I think it might be when I slide into a white dress with three-quarter length sleeves, a cut-out back, and silver, sequin scrollwork. The hem hits mid-thigh, and though it’s shorter than I imagined myself wearing, it’s my favorite.

  “Are you planning on showing me any of the dresses?” Carson asks, as he sticks his head around the corner so I can hear him.

  I open my door, running my hands down the front of the dress, making sure the sequins are lying flat against the material of the dress. “The first two didn’t work, but I think I like this one.”

  “Shit,” Carson says, catching my attention.

  When I look at him, his eyes are fixated on my legs, and they slowly work their way up the rest of my body. He says nothing, just continues to stare at me with a nearly blank expression. “It’s too short, isn’t it? I can try on another one. Just let me get changed.”

  He shakes his head, words failing him. “No,” he mumbles.

  “Tell me the truth. I want your honest opinion.”

  Finally, he says, “You look amazing, Kinsley. That’s the one.”

  “Really?”

  He holds out his hand, and I walk toward him. “You want the truth?”

  I nod my head. “Always.”

  “Okay, the truth.” He pauses for a moment, and I have no idea where his mind is. Wherever it is, it looks pretty serious. “Rhett’s a lucky guy. I hope he knows it.”

  I take my hand out of his, letting it drop to my side. “I hope so too, Carson.”

  Like he’s trying to pull himself out of a fog, he blinks a couple times. I catch my reflection in the mirror once more before walking back into my dressing room. Closing the door, I lean against it, needing a second to shake off whatever just happened out there.

  I take my time getting changed. I even fiddle with my phone for a couple minutes, but reception is spotty inside the store, and my wi-fi doesn’t even work. When I can’t stall any longer, I leave my safety net.

  “Carson?” He’s no longer sitting in his chair. In fact, I don’t see him anywhere. Where’d he go?

  “Over here.”

  I follow his voice, and find him with a pair of shoes in his hand. “What are you doing?”

  “This is always the next stop, right?”

  I look at what he’s holding and realize they’d match my dress. “I was going to borrow a pair of Kate’s.”

  “Na,” he says. “Pick out ones you want. They’re on me.”

  “No, Carson. I can’t let you do that. You bringing me here was enough.”

  He pins me with his stare. “Tough. I’m buying.”

  I don’t bother arguing, considering he doesn’t look like he’s going to budge. I browse the rest of the shoes, but end up coming back to the ones he showed me first. They’re perfect—and now it’s really obvious he’s done this before.

  We go to one more store, The Loft, before I leave with an outfit so sophisticated, I’ll probably wear it to a job interview someday.

  “We make a good team, Kinsley. I’m just sorry I won’t get to see you in any of this.”

  “You won’t be here this weekend?”

  “I was planning on leaving Friday afternoon for Penn State to watch Wyatt play on Saturday, but if you need me, I’ll wait and go on Saturday.”

  “Oh. That’ll be fun.” I try to hide my disappointment that he’s not going to be around, but he sees it, even if he assumes it’s because I’m not going to get to see my brother.

  “Maybe one weekend you don’t have plans, we can go up together and catch a game.”

  “Really? I’d love that.” It’s been Wyatt’s dream to play for Penn State since we were little. Being able to see that for myself, would be amazing. Especially since I know how much it bothers him that his parents aren’t there to see his dream come true.

  “You got it, we’ll figure out which game when we get home, and then make it happen.”

  “You’re the best, Carson. Seriously.”

  “I’d do anything for my best friend.” He accentuates the friend part of his statement, reminding me the friend zone is the last place he wants to be; let alone stay.

  Rhett’s not going to like it if I go away with Carson for even an hour. Which is why I panic a little when we pull into my driveway, and he’s sitting on the stairs leading to my apartment—waiting for me.

  I EXPECTED TO find Kinsley asleep when I got to her apartment. What I didn’t expect, was to find her car sitting in the driveway while she’s nowhere to be found. She hasn’t answered any of my texts since she left school, and my calls went straight to voicemail.

  It’s not like her to ignore me.

  All I can picture in my head are her tears, and the way she fought to keep it together, even though she was out of breath, and practically hiccupping. When she told me all she wanted was for her dad to come home, I hurt for her. I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to be in high school without parents. Mine may drive me crazy sometimes, my mom over-protective, and my dad always expecting the best from me, but to not have them—it’s unimaginable.

  Most days, she hides her pain well, but today, it came tumbling out of her—and it killed me. Though I don’t feel quite as torn up when Carson’s car pulls in next to Kinsley’s and she’s in the passenger seat, laughing at whatever he’s saying to her.

  Suddenly, I’m more possessive than I ever thought possible, cracking my knuckles and grinding my fist into my palm. She’s my girl, and he’s testing my patience. I’ve tried my best to overlook their roommate status, even told myself I was overreacting or making something out of nothing, but this is proof that Carson has an agenda of his own that has nothing
to do with honoring my relationship with Kinsley.

  Better yet, they’re so wrapped up in their conversation, neither of them spot me until they’re practically on top of me. Kinsley doesn’t notice until she almost falls into my lap. “Rhett, you scared me. What are you doing here?”

  “I was worried about you,” I say, with my eyes directly on Carson’s. He gets the hint, and moves past me, carrying a bunch of bags in his hand.

  “I’ll be inside, Kinsley.”

  “Okay,” she responds quickly before sitting on the step below me, her body angled toward mine. “You’re mad, aren’t you?” she asks, nervously.

  I think about how I want to answer her before I say something I’ll regret. The more I think about it, it’s not her I’m really mad at—it’s Carson. Considering they live together, he has so many opportunities to take advantage of her situation, and it bothers the piss out of me. Plain and simple. “I’m trying to keep my cool.”

  “I had to leave school, Rhett. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t do it today.”

  “I get that. We all need a break sometimes, but you ran from me to him, Sunny.”

  She reaches for me, and all I want to do is hold onto her, but I can’t pretend her being with him doesn’t bother me. If I don’t speak up now, I risk losing the only girl who’s ever meant something to me because I didn’t fight hard enough to keep her when I had her.

  When I don’t accept her into my open arms, she sits back down on the step, completely defeated. “Don’t do this, Rhett. I didn’t run to him.”

  “I can’t help the way it looks, Sunny. Watching you run away from me today—again, hurt like hell. I wanted to be the one to put a smile back on your face. I wanted to be the one you needed.”

  “You are all those things. It was his idea to go to the mall, not mine. I was content going back to bed and waiting until school was over to talk to you, but I needed clothes. Clothes for a weekend I don’t even want to deal with.”

  “Then why go?”

  “Because I have to. Look, Rhett. All Carson did was drive me to the mall. It’s the kind of thing my brother would do for me if he wasn’t away at school.”

  Hearing her compare Carson to Wyatt, helps some. It still doesn’t take away all the time they spent together, but I can’t stay mad at her. It’s my job to build her up, not tear her down. So, I swallow my pride and get over my jealousy so we can move on. “Okay.”

  “Okay?” she questions. “You’re not mad anymore?”

  I only have one question for her. The way she answers will determine if I’m mad or not. “Did anything happen? I mean anything, Kinsley—no matter how big or small.”

  Without pausing or thinking about her response, she gives me a resounding, “No.”

  “Okay, then I’m not mad at you. I trust you.”

  She stands up, and climbs into my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Thank you for believing me.”

  And I do believe her. There’s no proof for me not to. I only hope it stays that way. “Did you get a dress?”

  Finally, she smiles. “Yes! And a suit for the game. Shoes, too.”

  “Do you feel better about the court now?”

  “Yes and no. I have clothes to wear, but the escort is still a problem.”

  I pull a piece of her hair out of her eye, debating if I want to bring up Carson again. “Did you ask anyone?”

  She shakes her head. “I told Carson about it, but I didn’t ask him. You said you’d help me figure it out, so I thought I’d wait and see.”

  That’s what I wanted to hear. “We’ll figure it out.”

  She glances at the time on her cell phone. “Aren’t you late for practice?”

  “They think I’m still at physical therapy.” I finished my final session last week, but I didn’t tell Coach yet. As far as he knows, I’m still going a couple times a week to work on the back pain I can’t seem to shake.

  “Do you have to go back, or can you stay for a little? I can make you something to eat if you’re hungry.”

  I trace the outline of her lips with the tip of my finger, remembering how sweet they taste. “As much as I want to stay, I can’t. If I don’t show up, I won’t hear the end of it.”

  “Will you call me later?”

  “Do you even need to ask?” I can’t sleep if I don’t hear her voice. I’ve gotten so used to talking late at night, it would be weird if it didn’t happen. “Now, go inside before I toss you in my truck.”

  She giggles like it might not be such a bad thing to have happen, and before she leaves the warmth of my arms, she leans in for one more kiss. “You’re killing me, Sunny.”

  “Sorry, you should probably leave before we get carried away.”

  I stand up and set her back on her feet. “Leaving you is always the worst part of my day. Talk to you soon, gorgeous.”

  She smiles adorably before turning and walking inside her apartment. I glance at the window in the kitchen before I go, and spot Carson staring back at me. He smirks, and it takes all I have to keep walking toward my truck. I even debate going back for Kinsley, but I have to trust her—I just told her I have faith in her. Though it’s not her I’m worried about. It’s Carson.

  He’ll get what he has coming—that much I’m sure of.

  BY THE TIME the end of the week rolls around, I’m so nervous about homecoming, I’d rather hide in my room and never come back out. I’ve asked Rhett a million times if he’s allowed to be my escort, but each time I ask, he simply says he has it covered and not to worry. Well, guess what? I am worrying. Especially since the game starts in two hours, and I’m still without a clue as to what’s going on.

  My hair’s curled, my skirt and blazer are on, and a pair of Kate’s boots are on my feet. I look the part, but the most important part of this equation is still missing.

  “Kinsley,” Kate calls from the hallway. She’s going into work late just so she can take some pictures of my special night. I’m bummed she couldn’t sit in the stands tonight, but her job is more important than some silly high school football game.

  “Coming.” Of course I fidget with my skirt, and itch at my tights. This is as good as it’s going to get. When I round the corner of the living room, my night completely changes.

  “Wyatt? You can’t be here. You have a game tomorrow—a big one.”

  There’s a collective chuckle from Kate, Wyatt, and Carson before Wyatt walks over to me. “I’ll still be at my game, Kinny. Don’t worry about me. Tonight is all about my little sister.”

  “I don’t understand. What are you doing here?”

  “I called him,” Rhett says, surprising me for the second time in as many minutes.

  I turn my head toward him, completely blown away he’d do something like that for me. “Are you serious?”

  “Rhett called me a couple days ago.” He pauses, laughing a little before continuing. “I honestly thought I was going to have to knock some heads around, but he told me about the homecoming court. I wasn’t about to let my little sister walk down the fifty yard line without me.”

  “Did you tell Carson to take me shopping?”

  “That was all him,” Wyatt says.

  “You mean all of you were in on this in one way or another, and nobody got hurt? Nobody threw any punches?”

  “Not a single one,” Rhett adds, proudly.

  My mascara’s going to run, but I’ll have to fix it, because the tears that are falling from my eyes aren’t going to stop anytime soon. The closest thing I’ll ever have to a complete family stands before me, and they’ve just given me the best surprise I could ever ask for. “Thank you,” I whisper, around a sob. “I’ve missed you so much, Wyatt.”

  Wyatt opens his arms and I practically fall into them. I’ve missed my brother and the security he’s always given me. I didn’t realize how much I depended on him until he wasn’t here.

  “Don’t cry, Kinny.”

  Rhett clears his throat, and I pull my head off Wyatt’s chest to look at him. “
I’m sorry,” he says. “But, I have to get going.”

  I swipe my tears off my cheeks, nodding my head. “Yes, go. You can’t be late.” As I stare into his green orbs, the magnitude of what he did for me—how much courage it took to call my older brother hits me. More tears follow the ones I’ve already gotten rid of. “Thank you, Rhett. I didn’t’ expect any of this to happen. I can’t believe you risked bodily harm for me.”

  He cups my cheek in his hand. “I’d risk it all for you, Sunny.”

  Without even thinking, the words tumble out of me like they’ve been waiting for this moment to be spoken. “I love you.”

  He sucks in a breath as my words slam into him. I panic when I realize I can’t take them back, but Rhett doesn’t seem like it’s a mistake. He simply tips my chin up with his finger so I have no choice but to look him in the eye. He doesn’t move at first, but slowly, he leans closer to place one soft kiss to my lips. “I was made to love you, Kinsley West. We were always meant to be.”

  Another tear falls from my eyes, and I don’t even care we have an audience. “You look beautiful. I’ll see you after the game.”

  “See ya,” I whisper.

  All the eyes in the room follow Rhett as he turns around and walks out of the apartment. Once he’s gone, they all focus on me. I wait for my brother to yell, to tell me there’s no way I could be in love with Rhett Taylor, but the words never come. His expression only softens when he sees my tears continuing to fall.

  Kate stands with her hand over her heart with tears welling up in her eyes. She manages to take one last picture of me standing next to Wyatt before she tosses her phone in her purse, and hurries out the front door without saying a single word. She doesn’t have to though. I already know she’s proud of me and how far we’ve all come.

  Wyatt rubs my back when I stare at the front door a little too long after both Rhett and Kate are gone. “We have a few minutes before we have to leave. Can we talk for a minute, Kins?”

  “Sure.”

  We walk to the couch, and when we’re both comfortable, he begins. “That was intense.”