“What’s up?” I ask, trying to act casual, but my voice is a bit squeakier than normal.
Lindy seems to catch on, her brows twitching before she shrugs and continues, “So! I set up a date for us tonight.”
“A what?”
I feel Kellin stiffen next to me.
“A date…you, me; hottie from Chem for me, and his friend for you.”
I grit my teeth as I try to come up with a response that doesn’t sound utterly bitch-tastic.
“You didn’t even ask, Lind,” I manage in a level tone.
She puts her hands on her hips, cocking her head at me as she flutters her lashes. “Come on, Ree. You totally need to get out of the house. You’ve been so stressed out about work and school–you just need to relax! So I took it upon myself to arrange a little something.”
“What if I have plans?”
“Don’t worry about it, Ree. I’ll be okay by myself,” Kellin cuts me off, standing and leaving the room.
Lindy looks at her brother’s back as he takes the stairs two at a time, before grabbing my hands and pulling me to stand. “We need to get ready. The boys are meeting us at Margaritas in an hour.”
“Lind–” I begin.
“No,” she replies, wagging her finger in my face, so I go cross-eyed as I look at it. “No, Lind-ing me. You’re coming with me, and that’s that. Now go put on something less… baggy.”
My anger is ratcheting out of control as I stare at her. “Why don’t you just dress me too, Lind? Huh?”
She misses the cue that I want to smack her and instead bursts into a wild smile. “Great idea!”
I squeeze my eyes shut as she drags me into her room. She pushes me down to sit on her bed before she starts digging through her closet. Finally, she comes out and hands me a navy blue summer dress and a white sweater.
“You’re joking!” I hiss as she hands it to me. She shakes her head and points to her attached bathroom. I grumble a bit to myself before standing and going to change.
How in the hell am I going to escape Lindy and get to the tattoo parlor?
I slip the dress over my head and pause to look in the mirror. The deep v-neck and skinny straps make it so I can’t wear a bra. I roll my eyes as I slip the sports bra off and then tie the halter again. My stomach drops as I look in the mirror. This is almost as good as the swimsuit. The neckline plunges, showing the roundness of my chest at the edges and highlighting the smallest part of my waist before flaring out. I yank the sweater on, but it’s more of a shrug than anything, and there are no buttons that I can use to cover up myself. I close my eyes and count my breaths.
One Mississippi, two Mississippi.
I jump as I hear the front door slam and Kellin’s truck rev out as he speeds onto the street. It only reminds me that once I figure out how the hell to get away from Lindy that I’m going to show up in this.
“What’s taking you so long?” Lindy hammers on the door. “I still need to do your makeup.”
I open the door, catching her mid-knock and shake my head. “No makeup.”
“Come on, Ree!” she says.
“This is bad enough!” I reply, crossing my arms, but then realize my boobs are busting out and put them to my side where I feel bare leg. “Could this get any shorter?”
Lindy smirks and signals down to her summer dress. It’s shorter and pinker, but she looks amazing with her hair in a braid down the side of her shoulder.
“Now, what to do about your hair?” Lindy asks, tapping her pointer finger to her lip as she stares at it.
“I didn’t have time to straighten it today,” I reply as I yank it unnecessarily hard out of the bun it’s in. It falls over my shoulders and Lindy’s eyes widen.
“Well, that solves that,” she replies.
I shake my head, twisting to look in her bathroom mirror again. My hair is perfectly crinkled from being in the bun and flows over my shoulders in soft brown waves.
“Too bad we couldn’t get rid of your glasses,” she says.
I roll my eyes. “So how far do you think your date with Chem boy is going to go?”
She sits back on her bed. “It’s our fifth date, so it’s not going to go that far.”
I nod as my mind kicks into gear. “Well, why don’t we take separate cars, just in case you and him want some time alone after?”
Lindy runs her teeth over her lower lip, and time seems to stand still. If she says no, I’ll have no other way to get to Kellin.
She jumps up and links arms with me as she grabs her purse. “And same for you!“
I try to ignore the thought of the fact I’m going to be wearing this outfit around Kellin as I slip my flip flops on. It must show in my face because Lindy squeezes my elbow and hands me her lip gloss.
“No need to be nervous, Ree. I’m sure Tyler is going to love you!” Lindy says.
I heave a sigh before taking the lip color and putting some on. “Happy?”
She nods. She isn’t going to be pretty soon.
“Let’s go!” she replies, her voice high-pitched with excitement that I don’t share.
Not only am I dressed like this, but I’m also going to have to drive into the city by myself. I’ve never done it, and I’m deadly afraid of driving in the city. Even when Kellin drives, I have my hands gripped tight on his seats. I swallow.
I have to do this; it’s Kellin’s last tattoo.
Lindy smiles at me in my rearview mirror as she backs onto the street, and I follow. When we reach the light where you go straight to Margaritas, I take a right onto the highway and don’t look back. The instant I merge with traffic my cell phone starts ringing in my purse. I can only imagine how pissed she is right now, but it doesn’t matter. I only hope by the time I get to the tattoo parlor Kellin isn’t already done. I have no clue how big the tattoo is or how long it will take. When I get off the exit to the city my stomach is already doing flip flops for so many reasons, I can’t think straight.
Just get to the tattoo parlor.
My knuckles are white as I glance right and left before the only nice person in the city waves me to go in front of them. It’s slow moving, and my eyes keep darting to the all-too-bright clock on my dash. It’s already six o’clock, and the sky is dark where the city lights don’t reach it. I glance around, hoping I’m going in the right direction. Then I see the tattoo parlor a block ahead of me, and the tightness leaves my chest for a moment before returning as I look for parking. There’s one spot on this road that’s open, and I’ll have to parallel park.
I signal as I whisper to myself, “Oh, God…Oh, God…Oh, God.”
When I finally shift the car into park after jerking back and forth to wiggle into the spot, my hands are numb. I look at the clock again: 6:15 PM. I grab my purse and jump out of the car into the milling bodies on the sidewalk. A Friday night in this part of the city means lots of college kids hitting the bars and happy couples on dates. I click the auto lock on my car as I move into the swarm of people, pushing my way through as I begin to jog. At least Lindy didn’t convince me to wear high heels.
Chapter 9
When I finally reach the tattoo parlor, I’m winded, not from running, but from the anxiety now coursing through my body.
I did it.
I drove my ass into the city and even parallel parked to get to Kellin. I swallow as I open the door and step in.
What will Kellin think of that?
What do I think of that?
The doubt lifts as soon as my eyes meet Kellin’s. He’s standing at the counter, leaning over as he points at a drawing in front of Temp.
“Wow,” he mouths as his hands go into his hair.
“Yeah,” I reply, stepping forward with my heart still hammering against my ribs. “No kidding. I even parallel parked.”
He presses his lips together before pulling me into his arms.
“Thank you, Ree,” he says into my ear, making my skin tingle where his breath touches it.
I look up at him. “An
ything for you, Kell.”
He winks at me before letting his hand fall to my waist, where it stays as he pulls the drawing forward and spins it so I can see it. “What do you think?”
I stop breathing as I stare down at it. Even if I was able to find the words, I don’t think I’d be able to speak.
“I thought it was perfect, instead of lyrics, it’s that visual representation of Beneath the Tides Taking lays my heart,” Kellin says as I continue to stare, unblinking at the drawing.
At some point during my shocked coma, another tattoo artist comes over and looks at the drawing.
“That’s going to make an awesome tattoo. Did you design it, Temp?” she asks, looking over at him.
Temp shakes his head, nodding at me as he crosses his arms and smirks. “Reese did.”
The girl looks me over before her eyes settle on Kellin’s hand on my waist. “It’s sick. Did you design the typeface too, or did you pick that up somewhere?”
Somehow, words finally reach my mouth. “I designed that, too.”
“I love how it follows the shape of the wave. You ever think about being a tattoo artist?” she asks, cocking her head at me. She’s a petite strawberry blonde, and her pale skin is the perfect pallet for her vibrantly colored tattoos. The tropical flowers that cover her arms and chest are as stunning as her eyes.
I choke, and the guys’ laughter joins mine. I shake my head as I reply, “Not exactly. I’m a marketing major with a minor in graphic design.”
Her red-stained lips tip up at one corner. “We all have to start somewhere.”
I smile up at Kellin, and he shakes his head before looking at the woman. “I doubt Ree will be moving in that direction.
“I pretty much only like tattoos on Kellin,” I say before turning a thousand different shades of red. Not only does the statement clearly say I’m attracted to Kellin, but it’s also slightly offensive to the two people standing in front of me. Temp is tattooed all the way from his knuckles up to his neck and has the reddish blond hair and eyes that the woman has. They almost look like siblings.
“I mean…I…” I stutter before pointing between Temp and her. “Are you two related?”
Temp puts his arm over the woman’s shoulders. “Yeah, this happens to be my big sister Brianna. We share genes and artistic talent.”
“And you can work together? I can’t imagine working with Keith,” I reply, thinking of my older brother. We’re five years apart and completely different.
The woman raises an eyebrow. “Family business — not much of a choice.”
Temp rolls his eyes as she pats him on the shoulder and walks away. He takes the drawing off the table and nods to his station. “I’ll get the stencil ready for this. You want to take a seat?”
Kellin walks forward, stripping off his shirt and I follow him. Brianna’s eyebrows go up as she looks him over and then glances over at me. She sucks her cheek piercing in and winks at me. I clench my fists as my belly burns. Kellin settles in at Temp’s station, and Brianna comes over. I’m not sure why I’ve never met her before, but it definitely seems like she knows Kellin.
“You’re a lucky girl,” she says to me, her voice quiet so only I can hear. “It’s obvious how much he loves you.”
My jaw goes slack. “Huh?”
“He’s getting your drawing tattooed over his heart. That’s a pretty epic proclamation right there,” she says with a shrug. “That and whenever he’s in here he never shuts up about you.”
I look over at her, my brows furrowed and she laughs before going back to her station. I go and sit down on the stool next to Kellin.
“Nervous?” I ask, and he reaches for my hand, entwining our fingers.
“Not at all,” he replies, running his thumb over the top of my knuckles. “I’m just glad you figured out a way to escape Lindy.”
As he says her name, my cell phone starts ringing.
“Speak of the devil,” I reply as I swipe my finger across the screen. “Hey.”
“What the fuck, Reese!” she yells into the phone, and I have to pull it away from my ear. Kellin winces, eyes wide. Lindy never swears. “Where the fuck did you have to go that was more important?”
“I told you I had plans. You didn’t listen!” I reply, and my pulse rises with my voice. “What I’m doing is more important than some date with a random guy.”
“This is ridiculous. I set you up with a date, and you blow me off! I mean Jesus Christ, Reese, when was the last time you got laid?” she asks, voice venomous.
My hand drops from Kellin’s as my stomach hardens in mortification. Temp freezes with the razor on Kellin’s chest, and I can feel Brianna’s eyes burning into my back. Kellin is another story; his muscles are tense as his eyes burn into mine.
It’s like he wants to know the answer. I swallow, letting my eyes fall on my bare legs. The dress Lindy put me in hikes more than halfway up my thighs.
“You just crossed the line, Lindy. It’s none of your business when, if and who I get laid by!” I reply, hoping my voice is low enough that the person who just walked through the door doesn’t hear. I hit the end button, staring down at the cell phone as my body trembles.
“I’ll be right back,” Temp says, but I don’t look up. I keep staring at my cell phone, my nostrils flaring as I try to calm myself.
Kellin clears his throat. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to start a fight between you two.”
I look up, my nerves adding to the ball in my stomach. “It was my decision. I should’ve just been straight with her when she started pushing me around.”
Kellin leans forward, pushing a strand of hair out of my face. “She shouldn’t have reacted that way. I don’t know why she would think you needed her help getting laid.”
I burst out laughing as Kellin smirks at me. “She doesn’t even know who I lost my virginity to.”
He runs his tongue over the inside of his cheek. “How didn’t she figure that out?”
“I believe she was in the bathroom when you knocked him out for breaking up with me the day after,” I reply, and the nerves disappear as we smile at one another. “Besides, it’s not something I talk to her about.”
“I don’t tell anyone about who I’m…” Kellin’s voice drifts, and he squeezes his eyes shut before opening them. “I get why you wouldn’t talk to anyone about it.”
“That’s because we all know you have no problem getting laid,” Temp replies as he sits back down, moving his tray of supplies closer to him.
Kellin’s jaw is set in a firm line, and his lips twitch as he stares at Temp, who shrugs in response. I know I shouldn’t care because it’s something I’m well aware of, but I can’t meet Kellin’s eyes when they come to me. The tattoo gun buzzes to life, and I let my eyes drift over Kellin’s body up to his chest. I suck my lip into my mouth as I try not to think of my many girls might have had his skin pressed against theirs.
“I was thinking about how we could work in that bass solo I showed you the other day into Emptiness,” Temp says as he leans forward and begins etching the ink into Kellin’s skin. I can still feel Kellin’s eyes on me as I watch Temp outline my drawing.
“What were you thinking?” Kellin finally replies, but his voice is flat. Temp launches into a full explanation of how he thinks it will work and I tune out the conversation as I watch the tattoo come to life.
Chapter 10
“You alright?” Kellin asks as he slips his shirt back over his head. “You’ve been really quiet since the Lindy thing.”
I take a deep breath, giving him a smile as I try to settle the feelings rioting inside me. The ones driving me nuts about who he might be having sex with, and the ones telling me exactly why that bugs me. There’s also a healthy dose of logical ones telling me I shouldn’t care.
“Yeah, of course. It’s just been a long week…” I sigh. “Well, a long couple of weeks.”
Kellin nods at Temp as we head out the door. “I get it, believe me. I wish I could tell you it gets
easier, but it really doesn’t. You want to get something to eat?”
I nod, and Kellin slips his arm around my waist as we walk down the sidewalk. While there are far fewer people crowding the space than earlier, it’s still loud with music and the sound of the restaurants and bars that are filled to the brim.
“I don’t know if I can make it through four years, especially when you won’t be there after this year,” I reply, rubbing my face with my hand. “High school sucked bad enough once you left.”
“There’s a difference,” Kellin replies, stopping and turning to face me. “I’m still going to be there for you. We’re still going to live in the same house. We won’t be hours away from each other.”
“Thank you,” I say as I look up into his eyes.
“This year has actually been easier for me,” Kellin says as we start walking again.
“Why is that?”
He knocks his shoulders against mine, and his hand tightens on my waist. “You’re here.”
I suck in the autumn air as my skin flushes with his response. “I didn’t realize I was that important.”
“This is the restaurant,” Kellin says as he stops and opens the door for me. “Two,” he tells the hostess. “For Lake.”
“You made reservations?” I ask as I look around the dimly lit Italian restaurant.
Kellin nods as we follow the hostess through the restaurant and up a set of stairs. When we reach the top, we enter a rooftop terrace lit only by the candles flickering on the tables and the lanterns hanging from the potted trees along the edges.
“I feel a little underdressed,” I say to Kellin as the hostess sets our menus on a table in a quiet corner.
“You look beautiful,” Kellin replies as he pulls my chair out for me. “Besides if anyone is underdressed it’s me.”
Kellin may be underdressed, but I’m pretty sure if anyone can pull off making a simple black v-neck tee-shirt look fancy, it’s him.
“This is incredible,” I say as I look around.
“We don’t come to the city too often, so I wanted it to be special. And to answer the question about how important you are…” Kellin begins, pausing as his eyes wash over my face. His Adam’s apple rises and falls before he continues, “You’re one of the most important people in my life. I mean, you got chewed out by my sister for me.”
Rebel Cause (Boys of Fallout Book 3) Page 5