I pulled my phone out and texted my sister.
Me: Dear God, Lana is worse than you when we go out. Body shots off the drop dead gorgeous hottie that walked in a minute ago.
Liz: I see you’re ignoring my question about Mr. Green-eyes, Dre though…
I scrolled up immediately, remembering she had texted me back after I sent a picture of him to her earlier. What I saw there stole the breath from my lungs.
Liz: You do realize who that is, don’t you? Mr. Green-eyes.
Me: Oh. My. God. You’re right. It’s the guy from that day on the train!
Liz: That makes it suck so much harder that Lana had him first, huh?
Me: I wish you were here.
I lamented in my last text, because now more than ever, I needed my sister. She was the only one who would understand now. I had obsessed over that guy for years. I still had a copy of his picture in my wallet in the hopes that I would see him again one day. Sadly, I had been so blown away by our encounters that I’d never connected the dots. Now that I had realized, it sucked, because he was totally off limits.
Liz: I’ll be there soon, sis. HUGE HUGS
Me: ☺
I couldn’t believe my luck, or lack of it.
“Hey girly, you texting with Liz?” Lana asked while clinging to Gage’s side.
“Yeah, she’s counting down the days until she gets here.”
“I bet,” Lana laughed, but she was eyeing me suspiciously. She must have noticed the change in my demeanor.
“Hey, that jerk from earlier put a damper on things for me. I think I’m going to finish this, and just head back. Please, don’t end your night on my account. You guys seem to be having fun.”
“How about we walk you home to make sure Ryan isn’t lurking anywhere, and then Lana can decide if she wants to extend our night or tuck in with you.” Gage’s offer was sweet, but also made me a bit frightened. I had planned on walking back to the apartment by myself. It wasn’t that far, after all.
“Would he do that? Jesus!” I questioned.
Gage shrugged. “No telling. He’s usually just a douchebag, but I saw how he was being before he got tossed out.” Gage gave me a pointed look then that I wasn’t sure how to decipher. “He seemed especially fixated. Better to be safe than sorry.” I didn’t miss the quick glance to the loft area that Gage made. When I turned I caught the brief head tilt Dre gave and I huffed, but didn’t say anything. Now, it suddenly dawned on me why Gage was so one-track minded with Lana. He was playing the part of the distraction. I’d seen the move used before. My sister’s exes had tried to employ that one a few too many times, and none of them ever succeeded. My sister and I had a code. Granted, with as often as she dated new guys, it didn’t leave a lot left in the dating pool for me. Of course, that hadn’t been an issue, because for the first couple years we were at college I was lost in a fantasy world with the green-eyed man I was meant to be with. I couldn’t help but laughing at my own stupidity now. While I’d been crazily pining away for a man I’d only ever seen in a picture, he’d been back here fucking my aunt. That fact was not lost on me by a long shot. Hell, I was still a damn virgin because of that damn picture. Yeah, I was a little off the deep end, probably. The thing is, I made up these stories in my head about this perfect man existing only for me somewhere. It was a feeling in my gut, that tug I got every time I looked at his picture. The feeling I’d had before getting on that train. I did try dating, a couple times when my sister worried about my lack of social life. It never felt right. No one ever held my attention enough to pull me out of my books and schoolwork long enough to build a relationship where I thought I might want to go all the way with someone.
I was 21 now, and still a virgin. So, I probably didn’t have the experience to be dealing with any of these people that Lana knew. Just like with the guys that were always around my sister, I felt like I was in way over my head here. I was definitely not lost to the fact that the one man I’d dreamed of for years was no longer a viable option for me. I wish I could explain the pull I felt toward him so that I could find a way to turn it off. Until I did, I would have to try to avoid him.
Dre and his friends may have been trying to play matchmaker to keep my aunt distracted, but they seemed to forget I had a mind of my own, and they definitely didn’t know shit about me. I was happy to sit indoors and read a damn pile of books for a couple weeks while I waited for my sister to get here and help keep me occupied and distracted too.
By the time we got back to Lana’s apartment, Gage had been all over her, kissing down her neck, whispering in her ear, no doubt getting her all hot and bothered. It was a little uncomfortable having to walk with them, even if it was a short distance. Obviously, by the time we got to the apartment door, Lana only looked a little bit torn about leaving me there alone.
“Go, have fun. No point in your night being ruined too. I’m going to call Liz and then watch a movie until I fall asleep.”
“Are you sure, Iz?”
“Positive,” I smiled at her. Gage winked in my direction, a thank you for pushing her out the door with him. “Have fun.”
They were gone quickly, and I had the door locked up tight once they were. I checked the few windows she had in her place to make sure they were locked up too, and then I went to get changed into something more comfortable.
Once I was ready, I called my sister.
“It’s about time. I’ve been waiting for your call since we stopped texting,” she complained immediately.
“Well, hello to you to Liz.”
“Hi. Now, tell me everything.” That was my sister, straight and to the point.
I explained to her everything that happened since I got here. I told her all about the creek, finding out who Dre was, seeing him tonight, the creepy guy Ryan, and how I suspected Gage was running interference for Dre with Lana.
“Okay, I totally agree about the Gage thing. Yikes, about Ryan the creeper, stay far away from that dude, but seriously Iz, I’m surprised you haven’t come up with this solution to your problem all on your own.”
“What solution?”
“Well, first, I have to ask…” she sighed heavily, so I knew already I wouldn’t like what my sister was going to say. “Are you sure you want nothing to do with Dre? I mean he was the mystery green-eyed man you pined away for. What if there was something to those feelings you had? I mean, we do the twin thing, so who are we to deny the fact that there’s shit out there we can’t explain?”
“He’s been with Lana. According to her they’ve been seeing each other for months, Liz.”
“Yeah, I know,” she got quiet then, but I still heard her. “You saw him first though. It was just out of your hands to be able to go back and find him. Hell, you didn’t even know if he was local there or a damn tourist.”
“I know, but while I was not dating people, not out having sex, partying and whatever else, he was here screwing our aunt. I don’t think I can get past that even if there was some weird mojo thing happening that linked us together.”
“I get it. You know I do. We also have THAT twin problem with the idiot guys.” She sighed once more, and I was getting close to hanging up because her sighs were mirroring my inner thoughts. “Okay, so then, your solution is simple, and funny enough he gave it to you.”
“Huh?” I still wasn’t seeing the picture she was trying to paint.
“Distraction. You need one, and he needs a sign that you aren’t down for anything. So, grab yourself a man. Get flirty with someone else, hope he sees it or word gets back. Start dating while you’re there. You have a carefree summer before you have to get real, grow up, and get a job. Have fun with it!”
“Gee, thanks for the responsibility reminder.”
“Hey, you’re the smarty pants that wanted to graduate a year earlier instead of hitting frat parties with your sister.”
“So, your advice is for me to hit on some guys, date, and make it obvious I’m available to everyone but him?”
&nbs
p; “Yeah, and… well… not that creeper dude, but everyone else.” She laughed. “Hey, did he still have his Grizzly Adams sidekick?”
“What?”
“You know, the other dude from the picture?”
“Oh yeah, you know what? Now that I think of it… I’m pretty sure that was the Garrett guy from the lake. He’s a sexy damn giant. You should see him without his beard.”
“Hmm, maybe you should take a ride on the giant side then. That would send a quick message.”
I laughed at my sister. “You know I’m not riding anything like that, and I’m pretty sure his buddy would follow the bro code.”
My sister laughed with me. “Sadly, you’re probably right on both counts. Too bad, if he’s a sexy beast like you say.”
“Well, you would definitely be all over that, for sure!”
“But not you?”
“You know how it is, same as when I used to gawk at that picture. I only ever saw one person in it.” I flicked my wallet open and pulled the picture out. “Aside from the shave they both had, I don’t think either of them has changed at all in three years.”
“You should get me a recent picture of the sexy beast so I know who to target for a summer fling when I get there,” my sister joked. Although, knowing her, she wasn’t joking.
“They seem to be best friends. That probably won’t be a good idea.”
“Psshh. Sure it will be, because by the time I get there you’ll have proved your point that you’re not on the market for him, and hopefully you will have found a damn good distraction to make you forget all about Mr. Green-eyes. And hell, who knows, maybe you can find a hot mountain hunk to pluck that damn flower you’re hanging onto still. I’m telling you sis, you’re missing out on the best damn pleasures in life.”
“It’s not like I held onto it for a reason, just…”
“Yeah, I know, Ms. Focus rarely comes out to play.” She laughed then. “When I get there, if you haven’t done it yet, we’re changing that. You need some fun.”
~*~ DRE ~*~
I spit out the sip of water I’d just taken when I heard Izzy’s sister mention the fact that Iz, as she called her, was still a virgin. Garrett’s eyes went big right alongside mine. “That can’t be right,” I looked to him for confirmation.
“She didn’t deny it. In fact, she agreed. Well, that conversation held a shit load of surprise, didn’t it?”
“You could say that.” I swiped at the little bit of water that had dribbled down my chin when I lost my cool. I listened in again as Izzy and her sister said their goodbyes. Lana happened to live right above the soda shop that Garrett’s parents owned. His mom inherited it from her family when they passed away, and while our pack was taken care of financially, she refused to get rid of the last link she had to her human family. What Lana and Izzy didn’t know was that our hearing was good enough that we could be in the shop downstairs and still hear everything they were saying upstairs if we were tuned into it, and I was definitely tuned in.
“You know what this means, right?” Garrett asked.
I was puzzled. “What, what means?”
“Your mate thinks I’m a sexy beast. I wonder if she’ll take her sister’s advice and hit on me.” My growl came out louder than I would have liked, but Garrett should have known better than to taunt me about my future mate.
“OFF. LIMITS.” I growled out.
Garrett’s laughter was just as taunting as his words. He threw his arms up in the air in surrender when the low rumble from my chest was accompanied by the thrumming vibration of my skin. “Calm down, Dre. I was just teasin’, but maybe we should put the word out on just how off limits she is. If she tries to follow through with that plan, no telling how many dumbasses will try to take her up on it.”
“And die,” I added, completely serious.
“Yeah, that’s what I meant to avoid by putting the word out.”
“Maybe you should do that, and spare the men of this town the violence that will ensue if they attempt to touch her. Izzy is mine, she just doesn’t know it yet.”
“I hate to ask this, Dre, but what if she doesn’t want this? I mean, she was pretty adamant about not going there with you.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I’d never deny anyone their mate, you know that, but neither would I want to force something on someone who isn’t feeling it.” Garrett appeared truly remorseful about having to bring up that particular scenario.
“You heard her, she was feeling it three years ago.” His brows pulled forward as Garrett thought about that. I wasn’t sure what to make of his silence as he tried to figure out what to say next. Of course, I hadn’t been expecting that particular question, and wondered why I hadn’t thought of it myself.
“That begs the question, how did she get a picture of us?”
“Good question. Maybe, we’ll be able to ask her soon. Put the word out. If anyone takes her up on her advances they will deal with me.” I couldn’t help the growl-laden tone to my voice as I passed on my directive.
“I hope you know what you’re doing, man.” Garrett’s head shook back and forth, almost like he didn’t approve of my order. I didn’t give him a chance to voice his disapproval though. I couldn’t make him understand what it was like seeing another man even near your Kindred, let alone talking to her, or trying to touch her.
“And find Jackson for me. He needs to make this shit right.”
Chapter Five
~*~IZZY~*~
Two weeks of avoiding a person will get under your skin like nobody’s business. I was biding my time until my sister could get here and serve as a proper distraction and a buffer. I’d gone out several times with Lana, and hit on so many guys it was embarrassing. The worst thing in the world was the hit my ego was taking, because I’d never been turned down so many times in my life. I was beginning to think that I would end up having to leave this town before my sister even got here.
“I just don’t get it, Lana.” We were out at a local Irish pub instead of going to the brewery tonight.
“Get what, honey?”
“What in the hell is suddenly wrong with me? I have no clue what I’m doing wrong. I mean, even back in college, without trying I had guys approaching me. I even hit on an ugly mountain of a guy to test things.” Lana crinkled her nose, but she wasn’t getting it. “I don’t think he had any teeth, Lana!” I whined to her. Laughter from a corner booth made me wonder if I had said that a bit too loudly, but there was no way anyone could have heard me all the way over there.
Lana’s eyes narrowed on the booth where the laughter had come from. “Hmm,” she made the sound thoughtfully. “I’m beginning to think I know what’s going on, sweetie, and it’s not a problem with you.”
“Yeah, well, at this rate I’m just going to go home instead of waiting for Liz to show up.” I poked my lip out, and Lana reverted her attention back to me fully.
“Don’t let this shit run you out of town. I have a feeling a certain idiot put the word out on how you’re not very dateable.”
“What? Why would someone do that?” The incredulity in my voice spoke volumes.
“Why, indeed, sweetie?” Lana’s eyes moved back to the booth where the laughter had come from earlier. It was quiet back there now though, and too dark for me to make out who was sitting there that might have captured her attention.
“Well, I’m going to the bathroom real quick. Can you get me another?” I shook my empty glass, and then hopped off my barstool.
~*~ DRE ~*~
“You have some explaining to do, you big idiot!” The minute her niece was out of sight Lana practically ran over to our booth. Her fury was flying before her.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” Garrett hid a snicker behind his Black and Tan.
“Oh, I think you do. What I want to know is why you’re so damn hell bent on driving my niece out of town after you were supposedly so crazy about finding her for all those years.”
My head snapped around then. I obviously h
ad heard Izzy threaten to head home, but I thought she’d been joking in that pouty way she was talking about her poor luck with the dating pool here in Bryson City. “The last thing I am trying to do is run her out of town, Lana.”
“Yeah, well, guess what? You’re dumb ass antics aren’t driving her to you, but they are making her miserable, and she’s ready to pack her damn bags. I had to talk her out of it earlier before I brought her out tonight. This night, is my last ditch effort to keep her here long enough to get her sister out here too. My momma would love to see her other daughter. The only way she’s gonna do that is if both of those girls, or at least one of them, stick around for a while.” She huffed out, realizing she was running out of time. “I don’t know what sick little game you’re playing, but it needs to end, NOW.”
Lana didn’t wait for a reaction from me. She took off back to her barstool and ordered another round of drinks. “Well, shit. Just one more way this whole nightmare has been fucked from the beginning.”
“Remove the order?” Garrett asked.
“Hell no, not unless you want some unsuspecting asshole to meet his end.”
Garrett laughed again as he finished off his drink. “So, what’s the plan then?”
“Why don’t you go hit on her? It’ll give her a little confidence boost, and I know you won’t mean any of it.”
“Um, no offense, because I love you like a brother, but I’m not doing that. She’s hot. Anything I say to hit on her I will mean one hundred percent, you’ll know it, and then you will lose your shit. So, how about you go hit on her instead. This waiting is killing you.”
“She’s out with Lana, in case you missed it.”
“So, what.” Garrett texted on his phone, then flagged down the waitress. “Can we get another round, sweetheart?”
Entwined (Vukodlak Brew Book 1) Page 6