When she saw what had been holding Eli’s attention for their whole meal, she wanted to cry. Abigail was sitting there, cozying up to Miles Holiday, a guy from their grade and a member of the track team.
Eli had been watching them the entire time.
“Let’s get out of here.” Eli placed his hand on her back and led her toward the doors.
More than anything, Kaley wanted to ask him why it bothered him so much to see Abigail with another guy. After all, they were supposed to be broken up.
He was the one that had called it quits with her, what should he care if she was moving on? But she would never say that to him, she wouldn’t have the nerve. Instead, she let him guide her out and away from her.
They walked to the cinemas, next door to the café. At least they would be able to sit in silence and it wouldn’t be awkward. Hopefully he would get over whatever was going on with him and they could enjoy their time together.
They entered the cinema and took a seat at the back. Kaley usually never sat at the back, it was always full of happy couples as they made out during half the movie. She preferred to see what was going on instead of listening to love birds.
Then a thought occurred to her, she was now one of those annoying couples. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad sitting through zombies and monsters.
As the lights started to dim for the commercials, Kaley felt Eli slide his arm around her shoulders. She smiled at him, finally feeling comfortable again.
However, as the previews started, Eli tensed up beside her. She looked around and saw the reason for it. Abigail and Miles were seeing the movie too, taking their seats across the aisle.
Eli stared at them in the dark, but Kaley wasn’t going to give up on him. She snuggled into his side, putting her hand on his leg. She wasn’t going to let him forget she was there too, she wasn’t going to concede victory to Abigail.
Not yet, anyway.
Kaley spent the entire movie trying to forget about Abigail and focus on the story. It wasn’t as terrible as she had expected, but there really wasn’t a complex storyline with a band of rogue zombies fighting a plethora of weird looking monsters. The scariest part was that someone gave a filmmaker millions of dollars to make it.
By the end, Kaley was glad to be going home. Once again, the shadow of Abigail and all her evilness had ruined something else. She didn’t mention it to Eli, but she wondered what was going through his mind the entire time. Abigail was probably only doing it to make him jealous and it seemed like it was working.
Eli dropped her home, she didn’t waste any time in getting out of the car. The front door was a sweet relief from the terrible evening.
She didn’t feel angry at Eli for reacting the way he did. Seeing an ex with someone else was probably troubling under any circumstances. The only way she could describe how she felt was disappointed.
She had hoped their night together would remind her how much they liked each other and how special he made her feel. Yet the whole thing was a bust. It was disheartening to say the least.
Georgie was sitting on the living room sofa in her leopard print pajamas, enthralled in a drama on the television. “How was your date?”
“Okay, I guess.”
“Once more with feeling?”
Kaley shrugged and sat next to her, not knowing what she could do to get out of her mood. Normally she would write about it, but even that didn’t seem appealing.
“Did something happen?” Georgie asked, putting her arm around her and giving her a hug. “Tell me all about it.”
“It’s nothing really, I just don’t understand guys,” Kaley sighed, needing the wisdom of someone much wiser than both of them combined. Mother Barbie would have to do.
“Men are simple creatures, really. They like food, pretty girls, and entertainment. If you’ve got those three bases covered, you can keep them happy. Did Eli do something?”
Kaley considered the question. Eli didn’t exactly do anything, that was the problem. It was what he didn’t do, like pay enough attention to her. “Not really. It’s just that I don’t know how to get him to forget about his ex-girlfriend. She was at the café and the movies. He spent the whole night watching her with some other guy.”
Georgie made a disgusted face. “He did? That’s terrible. It’s not about getting him to forget about her, it’s about getting him to appreciate you. You need to show him how great you are, that will make him forget about any girl he’s ever been interested in.”
“How do I do that?”
“My mother would say to just be yourself. But that’s not going to cut it, you need to stand out. You need to wow him with your awesomeness.”
Kaley was confused. “Again, how do I do that?”
“I didn’t say I had all the answers. I’ve only ever had one boyfriend and I married him. I’m not exactly a fountain of knowledge here,” Georgie laughed. “But I guess the best piece of advice I can give you is to follow your heart and do what feels right. Perhaps Eli isn’t the one for you. Maybe he should go back to his ex-girlfriend.”
“But I like him, a lot. I don’t want him to go back to her. I want to keep him.”
“If you feel that way, then fight for him. Do whatever you need to make sure he doesn’t forget about you. Make him want you more than air itself.”
Kaley leaned her head on her mother’s shoulder, no better off for having the conversation but strangely feeling a little better. Perhaps she just needed to talk it over with someone, even if they didn’t have any of the answers she needed.
“Just promise me one thing,” Georgie continued, “Don’t ever lose yourself for a boy. No matter what you do, you have to stay true to yourself. Don’t let him pressure you into anything.”
“I won’t,” Kaley whispered, wondering how far she would go for Eli. She had already taken on one of the meanest girls in school. How much further would she go to be with the guy she liked?
When they were together and he was giving her all his attention, she felt like she would go to any extreme for him. However, when he left her waiting outside the school or letting her have an entire conversation by herself, she wasn’t so sure. All she could do was wish it was easier.
Chapter 28
The Sandyridge Stingrays were twenty points up when the final bell was moments from ringing. There was no way their competitors, the Stanton Sharks, were going to be winning on their turf.
Kaley was sitting in the stands, willing the bell to ring so it would all be over. The game had been a tight one, at half time the Stingrays were losing by five points. The lead had gone back and forth for the entire game.
She had never been one for sports, but even she had to admit there was a certain thrill to cheering for her team. Especially when her boyfriend was their star player. She wanted Eli to do well, she wanted the win for him.
The seconds ticked by, growing closer and closer to the end. The ball went back and forth between the teams, but got nowhere near any goal posts. The Stingrays were filling in time, waiting for the buzzer so they could claim victory and be done with the whole game.
Kaley waited, counting down with the crowd. Three… two… one. The bell rang and sounded the end of the game. Everyone in the stands stood and cheered for the win. All those except the few that accompanied the Sharks.
The players left the field, heading for their lockers. Kaley looked around, trying to locate Harper in the mass of bodies everywhere. The cheerleaders, Abigail at the helm, continued their cheers for a while longer, making sure everyone knew of their school spirit.
She finally spotted Harper, her violin in hand as the band started to pack up and disburse. She wasn’t alone, she was smiling and talking to someone. Kaley squinted, trying to see through the crowds as they quickly tried to exit.
Cooper Sutton.
She was talking to Cooper, actually talking to him. All without her intervention or the high of a live performance to spur them along. It brought a smile to her lips, finally Harper was getting some
where – it was about time.
Kaley made her way down to the bottom of the stands, waiting for either Eli or Harper to join her. They were probably both busy at that moment, she was the last thing on their minds.
After a few minutes, Harper hurried over with her violin still in hand. Her eyes were alive with excitement.
“What’s going on, Harper?” Kaley asked, her happiness infectious.
“Cooper just asked me to go to the dance with him!” She hugged her tightly, unable to remove her grin. “I’m going to the dance with Cooper Sutton. I think I’m going to die.”
“Well don’t die until after the dance, then.”
“What do you think he’ll wear? What will I wear? There is so much to organize. I can’t believe it, I’m going to the dance with Cooper Sutton,” Harper rambled on. “What about if I can’t dance as good as him? What about if we have nothing to talk about? Oh, gosh, now I’m going to throw up.”
Kaley placed her hands on Harper’s shoulders, looking directly at her. “Everything will be fine. We’ll get your dress sorted and it will all work out for the best. Understand?”
Harper nodded, catching her breath. “It will be fine, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“We both have our dream dates to the dance now.”
“We do.”
“Maybe we’re not so invisible anymore.”
Kaley nodded, wanting to believe it. “Perhaps not.”
They were interrupted by Eli, creeping up behind Kaley and running his arms around her waist from behind. “Hey, beautiful.”
She spun around to face him. “Hey, great game. Congratulations.” She kissed him quickly. “That’s what people say after a football game, right? Congratulations?”
He laughed and kissed her again, not taking his arms away from around her. “They do, that’s appropriate. You want to get out of here?”
Kaley turned to Harper. “Do you have a ride home?”
“My dad is here somewhere. You go, have fun.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Harper punched her on the arm playfully before picking up her violin and leaving. Kaley watched her go, happiness bubbling over for her.
“Come on,” Eli whispered in her ear and finally let her go. He gripped her hand in his sweaty palm. Leading her through the stands and into the parking lot, they headed directly to his vehicle. He held the door open for her while she climbed in.
It seemed to take forever to get out of the parking lot, but they eventually made it to the road. Instead of driving Kaley directly home, Eli took a detour.
He drove to the cliffs high above the beach and parked. It was a beautiful spot both in the daylight and nighttime. In the darkness, the lighthouse shone its bright light over the ocean, making a complete circle every few seconds.
“What are we doing here?” Kaley asked, a little confused. She knew it was a place couples parked to be alone, but that didn’t explain why they were there.
“I thought we could hang out for a bit,” Eli replied, shrugging. “It’s a nice view.”
“You can see almost the entire town from up here. All the lights are so pretty, like a twinkling Christmas tree.”
“I guess so,” Eli laughed. He leaned over, shuffling closer to her. “But I prefer the view inside.”
Gently, he kissed her on the neck, his lips moving closer to hers with each one. Kaley felt herself melting into his hands as they caressed her cheek and then moved to her waist.
She tried to cease all her thoughts, losing herself in him and the heat he was sending through her body. Her heart was beating so fast she thought for sure he must be able to hear it. She placed her hands on his chest, they were so close she could feel his pounding heart without a problem.
Every time his lips left hers, she hungered for more. She slid her hands around the back of his neck, pulling him closer so he couldn’t get away. She could feel his hands all over her, rubbing her back, her shoulders, her legs.
There didn’t seem to be an inch of her he wasn’t discovering. Nothing seemed to be off limits and it felt good. He sent shivers up and down her spine just with his touch. She had never wanted something more than she wanted him in that moment.
Eli was just as hungry for her. He held her tight, making her unable to get out of his grip but not wanting to either. He kissed everywhere he could on her face, neck, and chest. Every one leaving a patch of tingling skin where his lips once were.
It felt heavenly, so much pleasure in such a small gesture. She surrendered to the feeling, not even thinking about anything except how dizzy she was being wrapped up in the happiness.
Kaley felt his hand slide up her top, before she knew it, he was holding her breast. Perhaps it was her self-consciousness or the fact nobody had ever done that before, but it was like a switch went off in her mind. She was suddenly back in her body, her mind working again and telling her to stop. She stiffened, letting go of him.
“What’s wrong?” Eli whispered, only stopping to utter the words.
“I think we should take a moment.”
“It will be alright, I promise.”
Kaley tried to resist the kisses, but they felt so good on her skin. Perhaps it would be alright if she let him continue, do whatever he wanted while it felt so divine. After all, it was just kissing, they weren’t doing anything wrong.
She felt his hand underneath her top again. It did feel good, she had to admit. But he was getting more intense, pulling her closer and closer. Closer than she was comfortable with, she was practically on top of him.
“I can’t do this, Eli. I’m sorry,” she whispered.
For just a moment, Kaley didn’t think he would let go of her. The arm at her back did not relent, holding her firm. She knew she wouldn’t be able to move unless he let her.
Suddenly, Eli sighed and relaxed his grip. He didn’t move while she shuffled back to her seat. She could tell he wasn’t happy, he didn’t look at her or speak. She instantly wondered whether she had made the right decision.
Perhaps she should have gone along with whatever he wanted, anything to make him happy. He promised it would be alright, perhaps it would have been.
“I’m sorry,” Kaley said again, silently begging for his forgiveness. She felt so awkward and uncomfortable in the car now, like everything they had shared had suddenly vanished into thin air.
“It’s okay,” Eli finally replied.
He started the engine and backed out of the lookout. He didn’t say another word as he drove her home.
Chapter 29
“What do you think about this one?” Harper held up a green dress printed with gold bows. It was more appropriate for a burlesque show than a high school dance.
“Let’s keep looking,” Kaley replied, desperately looking through the clothes racks to find something more suitable.
Strom had given her his credit card and told her to find something she always dreamed of wearing to the dance. She had been so happy about the gesture she forgot to ask about the budget. His silence meant there wasn’t one, at least it did in her book, anyway.
“I can’t believe we are both going to the dance with the men of our dreams,” Harper gushed as she searched. “Cooper Sutton and Eli Stone. It’s crazy.”
“Yeah, who would have thought?”
Despite the ending to the previous night, Kaley wasn’t going to let herself dwell on it. So she refused to go any further with Eli, that was her decision. It wasn’t the end of the world.
She had every right to say no to him, and if he really liked her, he would respect her decision. It should be that easy, so she was determined to make it that way.
If he wanted a girl who went along with his advances, he should have kept Abigail. She wasn’t going to put herself into a situation she wasn’t comfortable with just to be a good girlfriend. Her mother had raised her better – surprisingly.
It all sounded good in theory and every time she reminded hersel
f. However, Kaley still couldn’t help but feel a little off by the whole situation.
Eli had texted her earlier with a sweet little good morning message. Perhaps he was over it already too, but it didn’t erase the memory. For now, she was trying to concentrate on the dance.
“What did Cooper say when he asked you?” Kaley hadn’t heard the story yet and was dying to. The illustrious Cooper Sutton would surely have said something cool and charming. He was a rock god in the making, after all.
“He was kneeling down on the ground putting his drum away. I was doing the same with my violin. He looked over and was like ‘wanna go to the dance?’ and I was like ‘on my god, yes’.”
“And then?”
“Then we got up and he went home and I went to find you.”
“That’s it?” Surely there had to be more to the story, she had heard better love stories in horror films.
“Maybe you had to be there.”
Kaley laughed. “I’m sure it was very romantic.”
“It was. How about this?” Harper held up a navy blue dress with a zipper down the front. It cascaded down in layers with crystals dotted around in a starburst pattern. It was beautiful… and perfect.
“I love it. It’s frilly without being too girly.” Kaley took the dress and held it up against herself in the mirror. It matched her eyes and contrasted really well with her dark hair. “I’m going to try it on.”
They hurried to the fitting rooms, Harper in tow with several dresses she found. They quickly changed and admired their reflections in the mirrors, turning every way to check all angles.
Kaley didn’t have to keep looking, she knew she had found the one of her dreams. The dress hugged her figure, a belt cinching at the waist to emphasize her curves. The neckline showed just enough cleavage to let people know she had some, but not enough to be showy.
She loved it and knew Eli would too.
Harper tried three dresses before she found one she liked. She settled on a dark purple number that was strapless with an empire waistline. From under the bust it fell like a waterfall to the ground. When she walked, it shimmered with a thousand different colors.
Love Songs (Secret Songbook #1) Page 23