In Pieces

by Gia Riley

  Wyatt opens the car door, ushering me inside. “Just get in the car. This is turning into a production.”

  Maybe so, but this is one production that demands a happy ending, and I’m determined to make it happen for my brother and my best friend.

  “DUDE, BECCA DITCHED me for your girlfriend,” Jake tells me, as we pack up our bags to head home for the night.

  “Sorry, her brother’s in town until tomorrow, she wants to stay in tonight.”

  He tosses his shirt over his head, yanking it down with a little more effort than necessary. “Wait, you’re going to?”

  “Kinsley asked me to come.”

  “You’re so pussy whipped it’s ridiculous.”

  “No, it’s called being in a relationship.” He can call me any name he wants because like it or not, I’m going to take the chance to hang out with Wyatt and Kinsley. I see the rest of these guys enough at as it is.

  “Since the party will be lame without Becca, I’ll just come with you. At least I can see her at Kinsley’s.”

  Jake’s my best friend, and I don’t want him to be pissed about me choosing a girl over him, but there’s no polite way to tell him he’s not invited. So, I do the only thing I can—I try to make the night sound as boring as possible so he’ll want to go to the football party instead. Kinsley will kill me if I show up with Jake, effectively messing up Wyatt’s chance to talk to Becca. “It’s not a party or anything. We’ll probably watch one of her girlie movies she loves and then I’ll go home.”

  “So I’m not invited?”

  “I didn’t say that, but it’s just me and Kinsley.”

  He throws his bag over his shoulder before tossing his cleats into the bottom of his locker. “And Wyatt and Becca. Now it makes sense.”

  “Carson lives there, too, you know. It’s not a couple’s thing.”

  He kicks his locker closed with his foot, slamming it hard enough that it knocks over the bottles I have on the top shelf in my own locker. “That’s bullshit and you know it, Rhett. Maybe I will show up—make things a little more interesting.”

  “Please, don’t ruin this for Kinsley. She hasn’t seen her brother in weeks.”

  “I’ll behave, but if Wyatt touches Becca and you don’t tell me, that’s bullshit, too. Although I think I already know where your loyalties lie.”

  He turns and walks toward the exit, but he needs to understand I’m not the one who came up with the plans. Sure, I agree Becca and Wyatt need to have a conversation—it’s been a long-time coming. It doesn’t mean I want her to give up on Jake though. Bottom line, someone’s going to get hurt, and I have no idea who it’s going to be yet.

  I catch up to Jake before he’s in his truck. I’ll be honest with him, and hopefully he’ll do his part if he wants to have a real relationship with Becca. Because the way I see it, he’s only with her so he can have a little fun. “Look, give Becca tonight to sort things out. Talk to her tomorrow and tell her how you feel. If you really want to be with her the way you say you do, it won’t be hard for you to convince her.”

  “Since when did you become Dr. Phil? You talk like a man in love.”

  “Maybe I care about my best friend.”

  “Well, before you get all warm and fuzzy, I need to decide what I’m doing.”

  I open my door, but before I get inside, I encourage him not to be the asshole he’s capable of being. “Go to the party, Jake. Don’t screw it up before you know the facts.”

  He nods his head, seeming to understand where I’m coming from—that playing by the rules, even if he doesn’t like them, might be the best option for him right now. Especially if he has any shot at hanging onto Becca.

  But when I drive through two stop lights, and Jake’s still on my tail, I realize I should probably send Kinsley a warning text that it’s about to go down. Just as I’m about to send it, Jake finally comes to his senses and turns onto the last street before Kinsley’s apartment.

  With the drama out of the mix, I knock on Kinsley’s front door with a sigh of relief. Wyatt answers, looking as frustrated as Jake did a couple minutes ago. When he lets me in, and I walk toward the living room, I see why. Becca’s sitting on the sectional sofa waiting for him.

  I turn toward the kitchen, not wanting to interrupt their conversation. Kinsley’s standing in front of the island pouring soda into some glasses. Her hair’s all piled on top of her head, and she’s wearing bunny slippers on her feet. She looks adorable.

  I sneak up behind her, pressing my front to her back. At first she jumps, even spilling a little of the soda she’s pouring, but once she’s realizes it’s me, she leans against me while she finishes. “You scared me, I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “I couldn’t get here fast enough,” I tell her, as I breathe in the sweet smell of her shampoo. “It looks a little intense out there though.”

  “Yeah, they have a lot to figure out. Help me carry these drinks in, and then we can wait in my room. The pizza’s already ordered.”

  I pick up two of the glasses and follow behind her. She sets two down on the coffee table, and jerks her head toward the hallway, so I follow. “Is Wyatt okay with this?”

  She waves off my concern. “He has bigger problems to worry about.”

  “Don’t lock the door,” Wyatt yells from the living room.

  We both laugh as Kinsley pushes the door almost the entire way shut, but leaving a tiny crack to keep her brother happy. “I figured we’d give them a little space until the food comes.”

  After setting our drinks on her desk, I walk over to her until the backs of her knees hit the edge of her mattress. She has no choice but to lay down when I keep inching forward, moving over top of her, until she’s flat on her back. She reaches up, wrapping her arms around my neck, pulling me down toward her. “I’ve wanted to kiss you all night, Sunny.”

  Like all our kisses, the first leads to many more, and the more we kiss, the more I want to take things farther. I slide my hand underneath her shirt, and her back bows off the bed. She reaches for the quilt on her bed, pulling it overtop of us. “Just in case they come in here,” she says, against my mouth.

  “There’s so much I want to try with you, Kinsley.” She stares at me with her gorgeous brown eyes, and all I want to do is show her how much I love her with my body—to show her what she does to me from one simple look.

  “Now?”

  “No, not with your brother a couple feet away. I just got on his good side, I can’t screw it up already.”

  She giggles, knowing I’m right. Still, she cuddles as close as she can. “When?”

  Knowing she wants this too only makes waiting that much harder. It’s pure torture. “Maybe next weekend. We’ll be in our own tent for two nights. I’m sure we can come up with something.” The thought alone makes my heart race. Spending the night with Kinsley in my arms, without any interruptions or worrying about getting caught, makes me crave her even more.

  “I’m nervous, Rhett.”

  “There’s nothing to be nervous about. It’s just me and you, Sunny.” Before I can try to convince her how perfect our weekend away will be, there’s a crash in the living room that makes the both of us jump off the bed.

  “What was that?” she asks, latching onto my arm.

  “No idea, but I’m going to look.” I slowly inch the door open, and all I see so far is Becca in the corner with her hands covering her face. But the closer I get to her, I hear the grunting and grappling of bodies.

  It takes me a second to realize who’s fighting Wyatt, but as they spin around, I get a clear look at Jake—and it appears he’s had a couple beers before coming here. I warned him not to do this. That coming here and starting trouble wouldn’t do him any favors.

  Before I have a chance to break it up, Kinsley rushes in between her brother and Jake. I grab her around her waist, hauling her away from them before she gets hurt. “Stay out of it, Sunny.”

  “Stop them, Rhett. Please.”

  I take a second to
try to calm her down, but she won’t even look at me. Her eyes are zeroed in on the fight. Determined as ever, she manages to wiggle out of my grasp, and puts herself in between Wyatt and Jake again. “Kinsley!”

  A punch from Wyatt, intended for Jake, just misses her jaw, but Jake’s elbow connects with her eye as she dodges the punch. Her hands fly to her face and she falls to the ground, her body curled up in pain. Seeing my girl on the floor, stops time. With superhuman strength I didn’t even know I was capable of, I grab my best friend by the back of his neck and throw him on the couch. Wyatt’s still mid swing when I grab his arm and spin him around, pining it behind him. “Enough,” I seethe.

  Jake rolls off the couch, and then attempts to stagger toward the wall, trying his best to get to Becca before Wyatt can try to stop him again. Wyatt finally sees his sister laying on the floor in a protective heap, and forgets about Jake entirely.

  Kinsley’s crying, her hands still covering her eye as I bend down to help her. Wyatt tries to get close, but I hold my arm out, giving her some room to sit up with a little help from me.

  “Kinny, are you okay?” Wyatt asks, softly. I can tell the adrenaline’s still pumping through his body, but he does his best to catch his breath and let go of his anger. “Look at me, Kin,” he begs.

  “Rhett,” she whispers, ignoring her brother entirely, as her body shakes with every tear she sheds.

  “I’m right here, Sunny.” I scoop her up and carry her to her bedroom where I place her gently on the bed. Everyone follows, except Becca. Suddenly, she’s disappeared. “Can you open your eye?”

  She drops her hand, her eye lashes slowly opening despite the bruises already forming. “Yes, but it hurts and it won’t stop watering.”

  “Your vision’s okay? Nothing’s blurry?”

  She shakes her head. “It’s okay, just feels like I got poked really bad.”

  “Do you want me to take you to the medical aid down the street?”

  “No, I’ll put some ice on it. I’m not explaining this to anyone.”

  Wyatt stands behind me, watching our entire conversation. “I’m so sorry, Kinny,” he says over and over. He’s calmed down, but he’s still shifting from side to side, anxiously.

  Next thing I know, Jake’s standing next to me holding out an ice pack for Kinsley. Wyatt makes no move to punch him again, or to say a single word. Whatever they were arguing about has been forgotten—at least for the time being. “I’m sorry, Kinsley,” he says.

  “I suggest you leave, Jake. I told you not to come here in the first place. If you would have listened to me for once in your life, she never would have gotten hurt.”

  “It was an accident,” Kinsley says in his defense. Why she feels the need to stick up for Jake, I have no idea. As far as I’m concerned, he’s not welcome here anymore. He’s lucky I’m too worried about my girlfriend or I’d be the one punching him in the face.

  “I’m sorry, Kinsley,” he says one more time before turning and walking out of the room. Shortly after, I hear the front door open and close. Good, let him go.

  “Sunny, can you put this on your eye for me, please?” She turns toward me, opening both eyes ever so slightly. I’m careful when I rest the ice against the swollen bruise, but she flinches anyway. “Sorry, I’m trying to be gentle.”

  Finally, she relaxes again. Now that the ice is on her eye, and I know she’s okay, I look to Wyatt for an explanation. “What happened?”

  Back in defensive mode, he crosses his arms over his chest, and shakes his head in disgust. “That douchebag came to my house trying to pick a fight with me. Becca and I were finally making some progress, and he barged inside and ruined it.”

  I thought I warned him into staying away, but I should have known better. When Jake drinks, anything’s possible—especially when it comes to something he wants. “He was pissed about Becca coming here when we left the locker room. I didn’t think he’d actually go through with a fight though.”

  “All this over some girl.”

  “She’s not just some girl, Wyatt,” Kinsley says, with her head resting on her pillow. “You have to find her. Make sure she’s okay.”

  “I’m more worried if you’re okay. She could be anywhere by now.”

  “I’m sure she didn’t go far,” I tell him, hoping to lift his spirits a little.

  Defeated, Wyatt shrugs his shoulders. “I guess I have my answer if she left with Jake.”

  Kinsley sits up, the ice covering most of her face. “Find her, Wyatt. She wouldn’t have left with Jake, so she’s here somewhere. She may be confused, but I know my best friend better than anyone. She wants to be with you.”

  Like his sister’s words were enough to remove any doubt he was having, he pushes off the wall he was leaning against. “I’ll find her,” he says, convincingly, before leaving the room.

  Now that we’re alone again, I slide into bed next to Kinsley. She rests her head on my chest and the coldness from the ice seeps through my thin shirt.

  “I have a black eye, don’t I?”

  “Yeah, it’s a pretty nice shiner.”

  “I can’t go to the dance tomorrow night looking like a freak, Rhett.”

  “I think you should show it off, it’s pretty badass.” She smacks me and presses the ice pack against my face. “Shit, that’s freezing.”

  “It’s such a great story. My boyfriend’s best friend beat me up while he was fighting with my brother. It will be front page news at school in no time.”

  “What were you thinking getting between two guys twice your size?”

  “That I didn’t want either of them to get hurt. And I hate seeing them fight over Becca. The girl needs to make a decision though because she can’t play both sides anymore.”

  “They’ll figure it out. Until then, how about we stay out of it. I can’t take you getting hurt again. Once was enough for me.”

  “Jake and Becca are our best friends, though. Wyatt’s my brother—it’s a little hard not to care.”

  I get what she’s saying. It’s tough when you care about the people involved, but at the same time, it’s not our battle. Until Becca’s honest with herself, nothing’s going to change. Which is why I’m thankful I have a girl who knows what she wants. It’s easy with her—I never have to doubt her feelings or get confused about my own. When I see her, I just know. “Not everyone has it figured out the way we do.”

  “I like what we have.”

  “Me too, Sunny.”

  “You’re not even a little freaked out about what I said earlier?”

  I think back to the moment she told me she loved me. It was genuine although completely unexpected—even for her. “I’ve never told anyone I loved them before.”

  “Me either, except for my family.”

  “You don’t want to take it back?” I give her a chance to think it over. To be one hundred percent sure she meant to say what she did, even if there’s not a chance I’ll ever forget the moment she told me she loved me for the first time.

  “I meant it. I love you, Rhett. Completely.”

  Again, it’s like a sucker punch to the gut. “Jesus, Sunny. You have no idea how much that means to me.” I run my fingers over her soft skin, pulling her as close as I can. “I love you so much.”

  Her stomach growls in response, making us both laugh. With all the craziness, we never got a chance to eat the pizza she ordered. “Sorry,” she says, as she holds her stomach. “That’s not very romantic.”

  “Don’t be sorry you’re hungry. Go get some pizza. I’m going to call home quick and then I’ll be out.”

  She climbs over me, not waiting until I get up. “Ugh, watch your knees, babe.”

  “Sorry,” she giggles. “Come get some pizza when you’re done and tell you parents I said hi. If you’re telling them I’m with you.”

  “Of course I’m telling them I’m with you. Where else would I be?”

  “I don’t know. Probably at the party with the rest of your team. Are you going to le
t me up?”

  She’s still straddling me with her ice pack in her hand. “If I have to.”

  “You have to, but we can come back to bed.”

  “Promise?”

  She smiles, sweetly, puffy eye and all. “Promise.”

  I’M FINALLY ABOUT to eat some dinner when the front door opens and Carson walks inside. He sets his keys on the table next to the door, and takes a look around the living room. Nobody bothered to clean up the spilled drinks or pick up the magazines that flew off the coffee table during the fight.

  Taking one look at it, he stares at me awkwardly while I’m in the middle of adjusting the ice on my eye. “What the hell happened in here?”

  All I want to do is eat my pizza, but Carson isn’t going to let this go until he hears the whole story. It’s just the way he is. “There was a fight.”

  “I got that much from the living room, but what happened to your face?”

  I set my ice pack on the counter, letting him see the damage that’s been done. “Probably looks worse than it is.”

  Carson stalks over to where I’m standing, bending to inspect my eye. “It’s definitely something, Kinsley. How did it happen?”

  I move away from the counter, taking my usual stool at the island. “It was an accident. Nobody’s fault but my own.”

  “Who did it?” he asks, again.

  “Just drop it, Carson. It’s over and done with. I’m starving and it’s been a long night.”

  He stares at me, silently scowling until he hears Rhett’s voice coming from my room. Before I can stop him, he takes off, obviously connecting the wrong dots. None of this has anything to do with Rhett, and he’s about to place blame on the wrong person.

  Here we go again.

  I run after him, pleading with him to stop so I can explain, but Carson’s already in Rhett’s face, asking him to explain my bruises. Rhett doesn’t feed into his anger at first, but as soon as Carson swings at his face, Rhett tosses his cell phone on the bed. “Back up,” he warns, but Carson doesn’t listen. Instead, he lunges toward Rhett, trying to knock him to the floor. But this time, Rhett’s ready for his advance and fights back.