For A Reason

by T. N. Cole

  I gave her an unconvincing smile. “Everything we talked about earlier is still valid, babe. We’re going to be fine. I just need to make sure nothing happens to you.”

  Mel snickered. Just like you didn’t let anything happen to me?

  And with that thought, I let go of Kate and walked out the door.

  HOW WAS I SUPPOSED to concentrate tonight with Kate looking like that?

  Like I had told her I would, I picked her up from her apartment at six o’clock and I had to resist the urge to run away when I saw her. Either that or take her to the nearest bedroom and explore every inch of her.

  Her hair hung down in long, shiny curls. She had on a tight, one-shouldered dress. It was light pink and it matched the hue of her cheeks when she started to blush under my long stare. I couldn’t help it—once again, she had rendered me speechless as soon as she opened the door. Her shoes were tall, gold, and sparkly. I wanted them digging into my back while I pressed against her. Shit, that was definitely not what I needed to be thinking about tonight. Tonight was all about putting my plan into motion.

  I cleared my throat. “Sorry. It’s just that you look so…”

  “So what?” she prompted.

  “Untouchable,” I finished softly. And it was true. She was the girl I shouldn’t be allowed to have. Except I was masochistically fascinated by her and the feelings she evoked in me.

  She frowned at that and stepped in front of me. “Touch me,” she breathed, looking up at me. Mesmerized by her, I slowly lifted my hands until they were cradling her face. She automatically gripped my hips to bring us closer. I bent my head and softly brushed my lips against hers. Once. Twice. I was quickly developing an addiction to her taste. Hell, I was fast becoming addicted to her, period.

  When I dropped my hands, she gave me a coy smile. “Does that even count as a touch?”

  I laughed—she always caught me off guard—before I crushed my lips to hers. She sighed as she melted against me, and I used that opening to tease her with my tongue. I groaned and then I pulled away. “You’re beautiful,” I breathed as I grabbed her hand. “Ready to go?” She nodded, adjusting the thin strap of the small evening bag she wore on her left shoulder with her free hand. “You don’t need a jacket? It’s November now; Texas might actually start getting cold.”

  She laughed. “I’m fine. I’m not a five-year-old. Let’s go.” I shook my head in amusement and then I pulled her out the door.

  The dinner was at a low-key, fancy restaurant in the city.

  I spotted Adam first, and I held Kate’s hand as I made our way over to where he was standing near the hostess stand. “Adam.” I greeted him with a handshake. “Where’s Mom?”

  “She had to run to the powder room. Already.” He laughed, but the way he spoke about my mom was just as adoringly as always. He was wearing a suit with a royal blue tie. He looked every bit the lawyer he was. But even I had to admit that he wasn’t some sleazy lawyer. I knew he made my mom happier than she had been in years, and even if I wasn’t that close with my mom, I was still happy for her.

  As I was about to introduce Kate to Adam, my mom called out my name as she approached us. She did a cute run in her heels to fling herself into my arms. “Hi, baby! I’m so glad you were able to make it.” The color of her dress matched Adam’s tie, and she was practically glowing. It was very clear that she was in love and more than content with her life.

  I carefully returned her embrace as I caught her. “Of course, we came.”

  “Hey, how come I don’t get a greeting like that?” Adam joked.

  She glared at him before she loosened her grip and leaned back to get a good look at me. “You cut your hair.” She fondly brushed it back. I had gotten it cut after I left Kate’s. If I needed my mom to help me, then I needed as many brownie points as I could get with her.

  I grinned at her, but otherwise I didn’t respond. Instead, I turned and said, “Mom, this is Katelyn Sharp. Kate, this is my mom and her boyfriend, Adam.”

  My mom gave me a sly look before catching Kate in a hug. “It’s so nice to meet you. Please, call me Carly. My goodness, I don’t think Tristan’s ever introduced me to a girl before.” She laughed as she stepped back so that Adam could greet Kate. He shook her hand quickly and chuckled at my mom’s dramatics.

  “Really, Mom?” I rolled my eyes and snaked my arm around Kate’s waist, bringing her so close to me that she had no choice but to lean against me for balance. She placed her hand on my chest to steady herself, and I realized my heart was beating faster than normal. Kate had both a calming and exciting effect on me.

  “Trust me. You’re not the first person to say that to me, Carly,” Kate shared airily.

  My mom had frowned at me for a second before she broke out into a grin. “That just means Katelyn is a very special person then, isn’t she, Tristan?”

  I was saved from having to answer as the hostess notified us that our table was waiting. Adam and my mom followed the hostess first, hand in hand. I pressed my lips against the side of Kate’s head and kept my arm wrapped tightly around her as we trailed after them. I could only hope that this dinner would go well. She looked up at me, eyes twinkling, and that was all the reassurance I needed. For the moment.

  Dinner was going fine. I knew that having Kate here would make it easier for my mom and me.

  She was as captivating as usual. Kate did most of the talking with my mom and Adam, keeping up a light conversation the entire time. I mainly watched, more than enraptured by Kate’s charisma. Every once in a while, Kate would drop her hand to my thigh to squeeze it reassuringly, and I would cover her hand with mine, holding it there for comfort. I wanted to be touching her, any part of her. All the time. But I knew my mom was already thinking about a long-term future between Kate and me. And the last thing I wanted was for her to say something when I didn’t even know what exactly was going on between us yet.

  I only joined in the conversation when I was asked a question or when I wanted to say something to Kate. I saw my mom smile at me a few times while Kate was talking or when I would lean over to whisper in Kate’s ear, and I could tell that she was already starting to adore Kate. She had that effect on people. And I was counting on it to put my plan in motion—my plan to catch whoever was leaving me anonymous notes and make sure they left Kate out of my mess.

  My mom had told the restaurant that it was Adam’s birthday. The place was too fancy to make a big singing production out of it, so instead, they brought out a small but beautiful cake for him and then an array of elaborate desserts for the rest of us. We didn’t sing to him either, but we did cheer a little when he closed his eyes to make a wish before blowing out his candle—and by cheer, I mean Kate and my mom cheered while I smiled and clapped.

  Finally, I knew I had to make my move before I lost the nerve. I inhaled deeply and moved my arm from where it was resting on the back of Kate’s chair to lean forward. “I’m sorry to do this at your birthday dinner, Adam. But, I don’t know when else I’ll be able to see my mom in person. And I need her help.”

  My mom immediately straightened. “What do you need, baby?”

  I hesitated, looking at Adam. “Have you told him?” I swallowed. “About Mel?”

  She broke eye contact with me to meet Adam’s eyes. She reached for his hand over the table before turning back to me. “Yes. Yes, I have. He knows everything about me.”

  I nodded. That was good; it meant she was going to keep him around.

  “Does Katelyn—”

  “No. She doesn’t know.” I cut her off.

  My mom’s eyes flashed to Kate, but I didn’t dare look at her. I didn’t know what she was going to make of all this. Taking a breath, I pick up my phone and open my email. “I just sent you and Adam an email containing everything I’ve received. For the past few months, I’ve received several anonymous messages. They’re in unmarked envelopes left on my car and at my apartment, and a message was also left for me at the library in my tutoring room. I wasn’t
going to do anything about them until yesterday.” I kept talking as Adam pulled up the pictures on his phone. My mom gasped audibly as she looked over his arm.

  “Is that…” She couldn’t even finish her question.

  “Yeah, it’s Mel.” I swallowed forcibly. “But the ones from yesterday scared me the most. They have recent pictures of me…and Kate. Someone’s following us. And they left those pictures under Kate’s door, not under my door like a couple of the other ones. I don’t want anything to happen to Kate. I think she might need a bodyguard, and our apartments need surveillance cameras or some other kind of security system,” I continued. “And before you say anything, Mom, I’ll agree to a bodyguard if it makes you feel better.”

  “Oh, Tristan.” My mom clutched her chest with one hand and grabbed Adam’s arm for support with the other. “Why didn’t you come to me with this sooner?”

  “I didn’t think I needed to,” I told her as gently as I could. Although the truth was, I never would have told her about this. “But now Kate is involved and I can’t let anything happen to her. Especially because of me.”

  Adam spoke up. “I can assign bodyguards to the both of you. I think it would also be best if we rigged your apartment with surveillance cameras, Tristan.”

  I nodded in agreement. “Do Kate’s apartment, too. If she agrees.”

  “No,” Kate broke in. “No, I don’t agree. With any of this. Not until you tell me what the hell is going on, Tristan.”

  I finally looked at her. Her cheeks were flushed with anger, and her eyes were locked on mine expectantly. I lowered my gaze. I couldn’t tell her. I didn’t want her to leave yet. And she would. After I told her, I knew she would run from me.

  “Why can’t you tell me, Tristan?” she whispered heatedly, leaning in closer to me.

  I stared anxiously into her brown eyes as I stalled. “I…I can’t. Not this part of me. I don’t want you to see it,” I managed to get out as I looked down at my hands.

  I could feel the weight of her stare on me, but I refused to look up. Her chair screeched back as she stood up. “Thank you both for having me. I’m sorry that our first meeting couldn’t end on better terms, and that I wish I didn’t have to leave. I hope you understand. Happy birthday, Adam. It was so nice to meet you both, Carly.” Then, she strode away, heels clicking on the wood floors. I tossed my phone on the table and ran both hands through my hair in frustration.

  “Tristan Kyle Westdyke.” My mom’s sharp tone caused my head to snap up. “I did not raise you to treat a woman like that. Especially not a woman as special as Katelyn. You better get up and chase after her. Now.”

  I hesitated. What was I going to tell her now? Screw it; I grabbed my phone off the table and swiftly walked after her.

  I looked both ways when I exited the restaurant but couldn’t see her. I decided to start walking left as I pulled up and dialed her number on my phone. Just before I could bring the phone to my ear, I saw her standing on the sidewalk thirty feet away from me. The cars zooming past her were lighting her silhouette. As I got closer, I could see that she looked upset, and I felt like shit because it was all my fault. I watched as she looked down at her vibrating phone and declined it when she saw that I was calling. I took a deep breath and jogged over to her.

  “Kate,” I breathed when I was a few steps away from her.

  She whirled around and narrowed her eyes when she saw me. “I’m perfectly capable of getting my own ride home, Tristan.”

  “No. Don’t go. Stay—” I pleaded.

  “Why? So you can talk more about me as if I’m not there? Talk in circles to keep me out of the loop? Embarrass me in front of your mom? Why? Why the hell should I stay, Tristan?” she seethed.

  I clutched both of her arms to stop her from leaving, and we stared at each other—my eyes searching and her eyes defiant. Finally, I let my hands slide down her arms so that I was holding her hands. “Come with me,” I said intently.

  She hesitated, breaking away from my contact, and crossed her arms. “Why?” she asked cautiously.

  “We need to talk.”

  “Why can’t we talk here?”

  “Because—” I shifted my weight in discomfort. “Because I have a lot to tell you.” I had no idea what I was doing anymore. I was just trying to follow my gut instinct. And somehow, I knew that telling her my secrets was the best thing to do for us. For me.

  She shook her head stubbornly. “You can tell me here,” she insisted.

  I huffed in impatience. I needed to do this before I could talk myself out of it. “Let’s go.” I grabbed one of her hands. She resisted me, digging her heels into the cement. I looked back and she tilted her chin up at me rebelliously. Fine. That was how she wanted to play?

  In one quick motion, I swooped down and grabbed her by the legs. She yelped as I easily threw her over my shoulder and walked back toward the restaurant so I could have the valet get my car. I kept one hand on her ass, making sure her dress didn’t ride up, and the other I used to hold her legs tightly. She was trying to kick her legs in a futile attempt to get down. She swatted at my back. “Tristan! You’re being ridiculous! Put me down!” I ignored her and gave my number to the valet, telling him that I needed my car immediately. His eyes widened at the sight of Kate throwing a fit while I still held her before he scampered off.

  “Kate. Stop moving,” I demanded.

  “Like hell I will,” she shot back. “Put me down. I’m not a child. Hell, I don’t even know what I am to you!”

  I gritted my teeth at that. I bent and released my hold on her so she could slide back to the ground. She glared at me as she pushed her hair back from her face. “I’m not going anywhere with you,” she hissed. “Especially when you’re acting like a caveman.”

  I shrugged, feigning aloofness. I was trying to figure out what I was going to say—how I was going to tell her everything—and wondered if I really wanted to do this. The valet guy pulled up with my car. Kate glared at me when I opened the door for her. I sighed and looked her straight into her eyes. “Kate, please get in the car. I need to tell you some things. I want to tell you this stuff—stuff that I’ve never told anyone. Will you please come with me?”

  And just like that, I could see the anger dissipate from her face. “Fine,” she muttered, and she let me guide her into the passenger seat before I tipped the valet guy and got in the driver’s seat. I chanced a glimpse at Kate. She was chewing her bottom lip pensively. I threw the car into gear and then zoomed off, steering us out of the city.

  YOU’RE GOING TO TELL her about me? Mel asked in a small voice.

  I glanced over at Kate as I flew down the highway. She was still chewing on her bottom lip as she stared straight ahead. She hadn’t said anything to me since we got in the car. She had turned the music way up and right now we were listening to a song about how you had to keep trying. How you had to fight for what you wanted. Was that what I was doing right now?

  I’m going to tell her everything, Mel.

  Ten-year-old me jumped, the crack of thunder scaring me. I threw my pillow over my head and tried to cover my ears. I wanted Mom to come comfort me. Usually when we had storms like this, Chloe would come crawl in my bed because she was scared. And then Mom would come and tell us stories until we fell asleep or the storm stopped, whichever came first.

  Except those days were gone. Chloe was gone. My mom was downstairs, asleep on the kitchen table. I was too young at the time, but now I realize that my mom had been waiting for them to come home. They never would, of course—Chloe was dead and Dad was never coming back. So instead, my mom would drink herself into oblivion.

  Another rumble of thunder shook my room, and I quivered in response. Then the door to my bedroom opened. “Tristan?” I heard a girl hiss.

  I threw off the covers and shot up in bed. “Who’s there?” I called out.

  Mel grinned and ran to the bed. She jumped and landed next to me with an, “Oof!”

  “What are you doing here?” />
  “What do you think? I snuck out.” Mel shifted to one side so she could roll her eyes at me.

  “Why?” I was dumbfounded.

  “Because I know thunderstorms scare you. So I snuck out and ran across the street. Did you know your front door is unlocked?”

  “But that’s dangerous!”

  Mel looked at me blankly. “And?”

  “And you can get in trouble?”

  She patted my cheek patronizingly. “I won’t get into trouble because I won’t get caught.” Then her tone turned serious. “Besides, I’m your best friend. I have to be here for you. Always.”

  I opened my mouth to tell her to go home, but a flash lit the room, followed quickly by a loud BOOM! I threw the covers back over my head and scooted down so I was halfway down the bed. Mel quickly followed me in.

  “See what I mean? You need me,” Mel declared smugly.

  I couldn’t reply. She reached over and grabbed my hand in the dark. “It’s okay, Tristan. You can sleep. I won’t let the storm hurt you,” she promised.

  I nodded my head, eyes wide. And we stayed like that, side by side under the covers and hands clasped until we both drifted off to sleep.

  You’re not here anymore, Mel. It’s time for me to let someone else in.

  “Shit,” I muttered. I had almost missed the exit because I was so lost in my own thoughts.

  I veered off the highway and glanced over at Kate, wondering if she was worried about where we were going. I didn’t know why I had thought to go here. The isolation probably. And maybe so that she couldn’t run away from me in fear. Well, she couldn’t run easily, at least. She was fiddling with her phone, but it didn’t look like she was messaging anyone. She was just scrolling. We were heading to a lake house that my family owned. I had wanted to go to Stonebridge Lake, but it was too risky with someone possibly following us.

  Turn, turn, turn, turn. Then, the road started to get rocky as we got closer to the house. I had already told her about this place with promises to take her here one day. Now was as good a time as any, I supposed. After I had put in the gate code, I knew Kate figured out where we were when she reached over to place her hand on my thigh, squeezing gently. I ignored the jolt of desire it sent to my cock. Instead, I brought our joined hands to my mouth to kiss the back of hers. I placed her hand back on my leg, needing to use two hands to park. I turned off the engine and we stared forward for a second, not speaking.