Fumbling Perfect (Raymere Grove Series Book 1)

by Nikki Kwiatkowski

  After a great deal of thought, she called and sank the next one. Then another, and then the last of her group.

  “And finally,” she said, her voice harboring a hint of boredom. “8-ball, corner pocket.”

  Alice let out a small squeal and jumped up and down, the pain in her foot now nonexistent. Kyler hung back as she and Jolee made their way to Lilah.

  “There, are you relieved now,” Miles asked with a knowing smirk.

  “She beat Sean, so yeah.”

  Miles scoffed. “Whatever, man. You would have gone ballistic if he would have won and she would have gone through with–”

  “Drop it,” Kyler growled. He continued to watch Lilah for a just a little longer, but ultimately, she had her friends. She didn’t need him.

  For a moment Lilah expected Sean to make some rude remark or at the very least accuse her of cheating, but apparently his fragile ego couldn’t handle it. Immediately, he threw his cue stick on the table and stormed off, followed closely by Cash and Louis.

  “That was awesome,” Alice laughed, throwing a hand up for a high-five.

  “Yeah,” Jolee chimed in. “Way to show that idiot.”

  Lilah giggled slightly. The look on Sean’s face was worth it. It would be something she’d never forget. She looked behind her friends and attempted not to act surprised, but they noticed right away how her smile faltered.

  “I think he needed some air,” was all Jolee said, referring to Kyler.

  Lilah shook her head as though she didn’t care, and quickly changed the topic.

  Chapter 12

  Though socializing was a bit difficult, the girls found that they actually had a pretty good time. It wasn’t until late in the afternoon, early evening, that they decided to leave.

  Lilah didn’t want to come outright and say it, but before they left, she wanted to find Kyler. She was unsure why herself. Maybe she’d start with thanking him for the invite.

  “Are you sure that you don’t want us to wait for you,” Jolee asked for the fourth time as Lilah walked with them to the exit.

  “I’ll be fine,” Lilah laughed. “Antonio will be picking me up at the park. It’s basically right across the street.”

  She told her friends goodbye and made her way in the other direction toward the double doors leading out to the pool, patio, and lawn. The last time she had seen Kyler he was headed outside, but even though it contained a much smaller crowd, she still didn’t see him anywhere.

  She pulled out her phone and clicked on the message tab with his name. It was at that point that movement in her hands stopped. Anything she thought about saying suddenly seemed stupid. Before she could come up with something, her thoughts were interrupted.

  “He’s not out here,” a dainty yet venomous voice spoke from behind.

  Lilah quickly turned, only to have the oxygen sucked from her. There before her, hands on her hips, in an outfit suitable for a Barbie doll stood Sarah, eyeing her from head to toe. Lilah subtly glanced around, half expecting Britt or Abby to jump out from hiding, as they were generally glued to their leader.

  Not that it was any of her business, but Lilah responded with, “I just came out to get some air.”

  There was that annoying and high-pitched chipmunk laugh of Sarah’s. “You must think I’m stupid.”

  Lilah truly wanted to reply with what she was thinking, but opted to play dumb. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “He told everyone that you’re tutoring him,” Sarah barked out.

  Lilah was stunned. She didn’t think Kyler wanted anyone knowing that. From the very beginning he seemed adamant about it.

  Sarah took a step closer, a look of revulsion plastered on her face. “Just be sure that you remember that’s all you are.”

  Growing agitated, “And what is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means,” Sarah huffed. “You’re just helping him with his homework, because we all need him this season. Don’t start thinking he’s your friend, or heaven forbid, anything else.”

  Lilah kept a straight face, but somewhere deep inside those words caused her to feel a little sick. Maybe she was starting to think that she and Kyler could be friends, or…No. Sarah was right, and those words shouldn’t bother her.

  “Well, thankfully I’m not a delusional ditz and I know the bizarre social constructs of high school.” Her voice had grown cold; however, the dumbfounded look on Sarah’s face told her that her words had flown over her head.

  “Is that your way of calling me stupid,” Sarah spat.

  Lilah put on the fakest smile she could and very sweetly, “Of course not.”

  Apparently that only fueled Sarah’s rage, and she stomped right into Lilah’s face, nearly losing a flip-flop along the way.

  “Listen, and listen good. What Kyler and I have is not going to be interrupted, especially by you.”

  There was so much about that statement that caused her blood to boil. First of all, she was definitely aware that Sarah, as well as all the other cheerleaders, hung all over the players. It wouldn’t be your typical high school if they didn’t. However, Kyler had never given her the impression that he was actually with any of them. While Lilah wasn’t very good at picking up on signals when it came to guys, and Alice constantly pointed that out with Simon, she could have sworn that there were super rare moments where it felt like Kyler might have been flirting. Either he was complete scum, or she really sucked at reading the opposite sex and those forms of social behaviors.

  What really struck her about Sarah’s words was that very last part.

  “What do you mean especially me?”

  Sarah scoffed. “Perfect little rich snob, Miss Know-it-all. You think you’re so smart, so pretty, you can get whatever you want with your daddy’s money,” Sarah began ranting.

  Lilah’s anger grew. Her looks were genetic, and her grades she worked for.

  “One thing you can’t and won’t get, Kyler. So. Back. Off.”

  Sarah stomped in front of her as though she were going to push her. Lilah knew it was just a scare tactic. Sarah would be stupid if she attempted to put one finger on Lilah. At the end of the day, assault was assault.

  Regardless how much Lilah did not want to cower down, there was no point getting into it any further with Sarah. She didn’t do drama, and drama followed Sarah.

  “Glad you got that off your chest,” Lilah managed through gritted teeth.

  Lilah proceeded to walk past Sarah. She no longer cared if she saw Kyler anymore. She’d wait until the next day and text him a quick thank you and that would be that.

  “Wouldn’t want to end up just like your mother,” Sarah mentioned just before Lilah was out of earshot.

  At that, Lilah spun on her flats. “What’s that supposed to mean?!”

  “Nothing.” The smirk on Sarah’s face told Lilah it was a whole lot more than nothing. “It’s just that the girls and I were out the other night and happened to see your mom having dinner with Doctor Greene. He’s married by the way,” Sarah whispered, although no one was around. She made an insincere face of pity before bursting into a giggle fit.

  “Maybe you should worry about your own family before you stick your nose in mine,” Lilah retorted.

  She knew nothing about Sarah’s family, but she couldn’t think of anything clever to say after that blow. She hoped it wasn’t true. Maybe it wasn’t. Her brother had mentioned a Rob. Doctor Greene’s first name was definitely not Rob. How many guys were there in her mother’s life?

  “Face it. Your mother is a homewrecker, and it looks like the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Sarah teased as she made her way back inside.

  Lilah wanted nothing more than to pull her long blonde curls and throw her into the pool, but she was frozen. Only once Sarah was back inside could Lilah breathe. She had no desire to enter that place again, and with Alice and Jolee gone, all she wanted was to get away.

  Past the lawn, down a slope, through trees lining the fenced in
property, there was a garden gate, right across the street from one of the entries to Raymere Park.

  Lilah quickly sent Antonio a text saying that it would be another hour or so and she headed across the lawn to the gate. Right now, she just wanted to be alone, and the park seemed like the perfect place to get some air.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Kyler cornered Sarah and her friends just as soon as he could get away from Miles. He had seen a good portion through the glass, and all he knew now was that Lilah was gone.

  “What did you say to her,” he growled, more possessively than he intended. He was sure Sarah picked up on that, as her smiled instantly faded.

  “Say to who?”

  “Lilah.”

  “Oh. She just wanted to know where the bathroom was,” she said innocently, though Kyler knew it was anything but.

  “Sarah, I’m serious.”

  She could tell from his eyes alone that he was not happy with her. “I don’t know, Kyler. She’s a little brat who probably didn’t get her way. I have no idea what’s wrong with her, but it was nothing I said. I don’t see why you care…” She dragged her words out as though there was a lingering question beneath them. If there was, Kyler gave her no answer.

  “Wow,” Britt gasped. “I can’t believe he just left.”

  Sarah crossed her arms and scrunched up her face, annoyed as she watched Kyler make his way across the room and out the doors leading to the patio.

  “Do you think something is going on between them,” Abby speculated.

  Sarah pretended to choke. “Of course not. He’s just using her to help him pass so that he can stay on the team. He’d be stupid if he thought of anything more with her.”

  “I know,” Britt chimed in.

  “She is really pretty though. I mean I guess I could see–”

  Sarah cut Abby off instantly. “You better not finish that!”

  “What is wrong with you,” Britt added, feigning disgust.

  “Well,” Abby hesitantly continued. “If he were into her–”

  “Just shut up,” Sarah snapped. “She’s a snob that has no friends other than those two losers, a science nerd and some goth. And she’s ugly,” Sarah added for good measure.

  Chapter 13

  Lilah ultimately decided on a bench near a willow tree shortly after entering the park. Surprisingly, it was pretty quiet. It would give her time to think. She clearly needed that, as her head was a complete mess.

  She had no idea what was happening to her family. They were perfect. Everyone said as much. After hearing what her brother told her, and now Sarah, she couldn’t imagine that there might have been signs that she was too blind to see. Worse yet, what if she was too stuck on herself, in her own world, that she had seen everything unfold right before her eyes, but she didn’t care, didn’t pay enough attention.

  Then there was Kyler. That was a different jumbled mess of confusion. They weren’t exactly friends, but he did invite her to the party, and since their spat at the hospital, which by the way, had never really gotten cleared up, they seemed to be on pretty good terms. While she knew that whatever Sarah was insinuating wasn’t true, maybe, just for a second, she had thought that there could one day be something.

  Lilah shook her head and laughed aloud. There was no one around to judge her. She closed her eyes and allowed her head to fall back. “You really are delusional,” she whispered to herself. “There’s absolutely nothing there.”

  Although when she said those words, she thought about that time in the library, and found herself touching the top of her hand. The tingles he left weren’t there anymore, but she could remember how they felt over and over again. Unfortunately for her, it was something that hadn’t gone away.

  “What’s not there,” a voice a few steps away on the path spoke.

  Lilah’s eyes flew open and she jolted her head up fast enough to cause whiplash. Her eyes had to be deceiving her. It had to be anyone other than him.

  After adjusting her posture, “What are you doing here?”

  “Fine, avoid my question,” Kyler joked.

  Lilah refrained from pointing out that he too avoided her question. He now stood right in front of her and she had a hard time looking up at him with the sunlight that had started to begin its descent.

  “Mind if I sit?”

  Lilah scooted over as far as she could to one side of the bench, although it was completely unnecessary. It could easily have fit three people comfortably.

  An uncomfortable silence ensued.

  When Kyler stormed off, he hadn’t thought about what he’d say or do if he found Lilah. Though there was an air of melancholy surrounding her, she looked alright.

  No, she looked like emotionally she was alright. Physically she looked beautiful, but he wouldn’t tell her that. It would be weird coming from him.

  She looked adorable in her outfit, so simple and casual. He loved it. Although, he had been right when he first saw her. As he scanned over her body, he saw that from sitting, her shirt had risen a great deal in the back, and he was painfully aware that if she were to stand, little hints of skin would peek out between her shirt and jeans. He had done a good job ignoring it when she was playing pool, but now he was so close to her that it was difficult.

  “I’ve been sitting a while,” Lilah began, with the smallest bit of hesitation in her voice. “Do you feel like walking?”

  “Yeah, sounds great.”

  Kyler rose along with Lilah. Though she tried to pull her jeans up and shirt down, it was all in vain and only drew his attention more to specific areas of her body. He didn’t want to see her like that, to think of her like that. Why couldn’t she be in some prep school outfit like she wore to school? That image no longer helped either, as now he thought about the cute skirts she wore and how her heels made her legs stand out. He wasn’t aware that his internal groan was expressed vocally.

  “Are you okay,” Lilah asked, slowing her pace and falling into step at Kyler’s side so that she could look up at him.

  “Fine.”

  “Shouldn’t you be getting back to the party,” Lilah asked, still not understanding what he was doing in the park of all places.

  “They’ll be fine without me,” he laughed.

  “I doubt that.” She didn’t mean to sound bitter, but understood that’s how it came out. She also noticed that despite the two of them being alone right now, he had hardly said a word to her at a gathering that he invited her to.

  Kyler glanced at Lilah briefly and saw the stern and focused look on her face. “Are you mad at me?”

  Lilah scoffed and shook her head. She hadn’t been mad at Kyler. Maybe she was earlier. When she came to the park it wasn’t the case, but now that she had time to think…

  “Yes.”

  Kyler was genuinely surprised, and his steps faltered. “Why?”

  Lilah stopped and stepped in front of him so that they were no longer side by side and now facing each other. Looking at him was difficult in the setting sunlight. The light wasn’t the problem. The problem was what it did to his features.

  His seemingly normal blue eyes lit up like iridescent pools of the most serene waters. If she stared into them for too long, she’d become blind or hypnotized. Then there was his hair, his incredible hair. He didn’t style it much for school, or maybe it was one of those things she hadn’t noticed until today. If there was such a thing as a combination between messy, spiky, suave, and neat, he had nailed it perfectly. Though she would have said that the color was like a light brown, with the sunlight, she noticed little strands of gold in its unique color, making it appear just a bit lighter than the freshly washed look she had grown to know.

  “I think it’s a little rude to invite someone to a party and then ignore them.”

  He could no longer make eye contact with her. “I didn’t ignore you.”

  Lilah let out a sarcastic laugh. “You didn’t speak to me until Sean did, and I don’t even want to know what that was about.”
>
  “You had your friends.”

  “So?”

  He shrugged. “It’s a little weird. I don’t know them and–”

  “That’s how you get to know someone, by speaking.” Lilah nearly choked on her words, and cursed herself for being such a hypocrite. She hadn’t done a very good job at taking her own advice.

  Kyler stepped around her and continued walking. “I don’t understand why you had to make such a showing with Sean anyway.”

  “I didn’t make a showing! It was a simple game. I don’t see why–”

  “The two of you had to make it a stupid bet, that’s why,” he answered before she had the chance to finish her statement.

  “So,” Lilah pressed on. Kyler was exhibiting signs of the same frustration as before and she was too curious to let it go.

  “So? So what if you would have lost?”

  Lilah hadn’t really thought about it. She definitely wouldn’t have gone through with her end of the deal, but she wasn’t going to tell Kyler that. Also, she had never intended on losing.

  When she didn’t answer, “Would you have really kissed him?” Kyler held his breath waiting for her to respond. He didn’t picture her doing something like that, but then again, he never pictured her showing up at the party to begin with.

  “I don’t know. Does it matter,” she asked back, noting that her heartrate felt faster as the conversation progressed. She wanted it to stop but no thought nor deep breath could help with whatever feeling was racing through her.

  Kyler wanted to bash his head against a tree as soon as she asked the question and he silently answered it to only himself. Yes! Of course it mattered. Sean didn’t deserve that privilege. How he wanted those thoughts to stop. He didn’t want to think of anyone kissing Lilah, himself included.

  “Sean is a jerk. You could do better,” was what he finally said.

  “Thanks? But I’m not interested in Sean. It was just a game, and a silly bet. The only reason I went through with it is because I had no intention of losing,” Lilah teased, hoping to lighten a heavy air that was falling all around them.