“Hey,” Jenna said, sitting down next to me. She handed me a Coke.
“Ooh, caffeine and sugar. Just what I like. Thanks.”
“Where’s your watchdog?”
“Karen is two rows up, directly behind me.” I sighed.
Tim wandered over and sat next to Jenna. He was loaded down with candy and the biggest cup of pop I’d ever seen.
“Think you have enough sugar to get you through the game?” I asked with a smile.
“I’m not sure. I think I’ll make it to halftime, but beyond that remains to be seen. Here, I bought this for you.” He handed me a stick with a big blob of pink cotton candy on the end.
“Yum! I love cotton candy. Thanks. You are officially my best friend.”
“Hey!” Jenna scowled. “Brought you a Coke, remember?”
“Hmm, I guess you guys are even then,” I said, shoving the pink sugar in my mouth. “This is good.”
“Hi, Willow,” a smooth-as-velvet voice glided over me, making me shiver like a finger had just slid up my spine. I turned toward him, cotton candy filling my mouth and a handful melting between my fingers, making them a sticky mess.
Swallowing the gooey candy, I said, “Oh, hi, Brody.” His eyes followed my tongue when I ran it across my lips, licking the sticky sugar from them. Something fluttered deep in my stomach. “What do you want?”
“Just stop to say hi,” he said.
I looked next to him. Sarah sat pressed against him, her hand high on his thigh.
Ew, she really gets around.
“What happed to Tanya?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “That didn’t quite work out.”
“Ah, so you’ve moved on to your next conquest. How nice for you.”
“Something like that.”
“Well, I advise you to get a good supply of penicillin. You’re gonna need it.”
“That’s so sweet. You’re worried about my health.” He reached up, slipping a lock of hair behind my ear, and a grin pulled at his lips. “Don’t worry, I have it covered. Literally.”
“Ugh. You know, after meeting you, I’m thinking of becoming a lesbian. You’re disgusting.”
Laughing, he stood. “Later.” He walked away, Sarah following him like a puppy with her tongue hanging out.
“He’s with Sarah now? He’ll do anybody,” Jenna said, popping a piece of popcorn in her mouth.
“I guess so.” I shuddered.
He’s gonna drive me insane by the end of the school year.
When the game ended, I waited for Jaden on the sidelines like always. He jogged over to me, but instead of giving me roses and kissing me like always, he left the roses on the bench and jerked me to him. His fingers dug in to my arm, and I bit the inside of my cheek against the pain. He whispered in my ear, “Wait for me in the car.” He let go of me so fast I stumbled backward.
Great. He’s in a mood.
I wandered back to where Jenna and Tim were standing. “What was that?” Jenna asked.
“No idea.” I shrugged a shoulder.
Tim glanced at the players’ bench. “No flowers tonight? That’s new. He always gives you roses. He’s pissed about something. What’d he say to you?” Tim forced another stick of cotton candy at me.
I shoved some of the spun sugar in my mouth and talked around it. “He told me to go wait in the car. That’s it.” I pushed more of the sticky candy in my already full mouth. I ate when I was nervous or upset. I was both. Jaden had a temper, and I was afraid I was on the wrong side of it.
“Let me drive you home, Willow. You don’t need to put up with his crap. Let’s just leave.” Jenna pulled me toward her car. More cotton candy went in my mouth.
“I can’t just leave. He’ll harass me until I talk to him. I’ll just get it done with now.” Another bite of cotton candy. The big cloud of pink sugary goodness was already half gone.
“Dump him, Willow,” Tim said under his breath. “You don’t need him or his hang-ups. Your relationship isn’t healthy. No one should be that possessive.”
“I know.” I sighed. “I know.” I shoved a huge piece of cotton candy in my mouth. “I need to go. I’ll text you both later,” I said.
I wish I could explain it to you. Tell you everything. Why I can’t leave Jaden.
Jenna’s face was pinched with worry. She raised her hand and waved. Tim just shook his head and turned to leave. Neither of them understood. I knew Jaden was an idiot. But even though he had his bad traits, he was a good guy—somewhere deep, deep inside. When we first started dating, things were different, better. He was loving and caring.
I answered the door, and a shy smile curved my lips. He was gorgeous as always. His cologne drifted in with the breeze. I took in a big breath. He smelled spicy, woodsy.
“Hi.”
“Hi, Willow. You look beautiful. Every guy is going to be jealous of me tonight.” Jaden reached out, took my hand, and helped me down the porch stairs and into his car. He slipped into the driver’s side and turned to me. Cupping my cheek, he kissed me. So soft, tender, and filled with emotion.
The driver’s side door swung open, startling me out of my memories. Jaden jumped in the car, his hair still wet.
“That was fast. You didn’t blow-dry your hair,” I said, looking at his face set in hard lines. Jaden always dried his hair after his shower.
He grunted something in reply. I couldn’t make out what he said or even if it was an actual word. He started the car and peeled out of the parking lot, the car fishtailing in the gravel. I grabbed the dash for support.
“Jaden! What’s wrong with you?”
He drove toward my house, not even asking about Jamieson’s party. Pulling in my driveway, he threw the car in park, jerking us both forward.
“I saw you talking to him.” They were the first words he’d said since getting in the car.
“Who? Tim?” He knew Tim and I were friends. He’d never had a problem with it before.
“No. Brody Victor. Sitting there, on the bleachers, where everyone could see.” Jaden’s hands gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were white.
“We talked all of two minutes, and it wasn’t even friendly. We don’t even like each other, Jaden.” I laid my hand on his arm.
“It didn’t look like nothing. He touched your hair.” He pushed my hand away, and I flinched at the sound of his raised voice in the small space.
“He was with Sarah. She was practically hanging off him,” I yelled. “I’m so tired of this possessive crap. Get over it.” I got out of the car and slammed the door.
He rolled down his window and yelled, “Watch your mouth and check your attitude. You have no say in this relationship, Willow. The sooner you figure that out, the better it’ll go for you.”
He screeched out of the driveway and down the road. I sank to the porch steps. My elbows on my knees, I put my head in my hands and fought the tears that threatened to fall.
Breathe. You’re strong. Breathe. You won’t be broken. Just breathe
“How’d it go with Jaden last night?” Jenna asked.
I looked down and wiggled my toes in the lavender footbath my feet were soaking in. Jenna and I were having our monthly spa day. I loved the pedicure, soaking my feet in the silky water that smelled so good, and then having them massaged. There was nothing better in the world. It was total bliss.
“So? Are you gonna tell me or what?” she prodded when I didn’t answer.
“He was pissed that I was talking with Brody. He saw Brody reach out and push a piece of my hair behind my ear, and it sent him into a freakin’ fit.”
“You talked to him for like three seconds!”
“Doesn’t matter. Jaden saw it. Can we not talk about him? I want to enjoy my footbath.” I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes.
“Okay, let’s talk about Brody,” Jenna said.
“Why?” I opened one eye and looked at her.
“I can’t believe you share five classes with him. That’s fan-fr
eakin-tastic!” Jenna practically shouted.
“Shh! Jeez, Jenna, get a grip. You are way too over the top when it comes to Brody.” I laughed.
“Well, have you seen him?” she said, her eyes bugged out and eyebrows so high they disappeared under her ebony bangs.
I laughed harder. “Yes, sheesh, I’ve seen him. And, yes, he’s gorgeous—”
“He’s smokin’.”
“Yeah, that too, but he’s a pig,” I said.
“I heard he dropped Tanya like yesterday’s news. Didn’t even kiss her goodnight when he took her home, which, by the way, had to be a blow to Tanya’s ego.” Jenna held her hand out and inspected her manicure.
“Who’d you hear it from?”
“Luce.”
I opened both eyes and raised my eyebrows. “Luce? You’re kidding?”
Luce was the person to go to if you wanted the scoop on anyone at school. She knew everything about everyone—almost before they knew it themselves. If she said it, it was almost certain to be the truth. I’d never known her to be wrong. Of course, there was always a first time for everything.
“Nope. And word going around the texting world last night was he dumped Sarah at home right after the game without so much as a see ya later. When someone asked him about why he went out with Tanya and Sarah in the first place, he said he was still trying to figure out the hierarchy of datable girls.” Jenna looked at me and shrugged a shoulder. “Maybe he’s not as big of a player as people have made him out to be.”
“Oh no, he’s a player. He just wants to screw a higher class of girl, that’s all.”
“So. He’s only playin’ ya if you don’t know it. Maybe it’s time for the player to get played.” Jenna smirked.
I narrowed my eyes at her. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m just saying the tables can be reversed.”
I shook my head. “That would require him to become emotionally involved in someone. From what I’ve heard, that doesn’t happen.”
“Okay, so cut out emotions. Just use each other for fun.” Jenna grinned and winked.
“Who are you talking about?”
“You and Brody… keep up.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m with Jaden. We’ve been over this before. Several times, in fact.”
“Yeah, but you don’t want to be.” I opened my mouth to argue, but Jenna cut me off. “Please don’t try to deny it. I’ve been your best friend for too long. I can tell the spark fizzled on that romance a long time ago. You just stay with him because it’s easier than breaking up with him. But if someone came along that interested you, you’d drop Jaden in a hot second.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “And what makes you think Brody is the guy that interests me? I don’t even like him. And I definitely don’t want a relationship with him considering his reputation.”
“I didn’t say relationship. I said fun. Think of him as your rebound guy. The bad boy we all need before we find the good guy we want a real relationship with.”
“I think you’ve lost your mind,” I told her.
Jenna tapped her bottom lip with her fingernail and stared at me. Finally, she said, “You’re scared.”
“Scared? I am not.”
“Yep, you’ve been with Jaden so long you know what to expect from him. There’s nothing you don’t know about him. You, my friend, are in a rut, and you’re scared to climb out of it. You’re scared of the unpredictable, of losing control.”
“We’re not in a rut. We’re comfortable in our relationship.”
Jenna barked a laugh. “Delude yourself all you want. You need to get your freak on with someone who’ll turn your world upside down. Comfortable is for wusses.”
Monday. I looked through my T-shirts to find one with an appropriate saying for the day. I chose one that said, I hear voices and they don’t like you. I thought that would get my message across to Brody. Passive aggressive, but I didn’t care. I slipped into my jeans, pulled a zippered hoodie on, and drove to school.
“Sending a message, I see,” Jenna said when she saw me in the hall. “The question is to whom, Jaden or Brody? Hmm?”
I smiled. “Shut up.”
I walked into biology and sighed. He was already there. “You’re here.” Dropping my books on the table, I plopped in my chair.
“You’re here, too,” Brody said with a hint of a grin.
“I was hoping I’d be alone today,” I muttered.
He frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be here?”
“You know, you could develop a case of malaria or jungle fever or some type of disfiguring disease and wouldn’t be able to come to school for, oh, the rest of the year.” I dropped my head on my books.
He laughed. “Sorry to disappoint.”
I grunted in reply and closed my eyes so I didn’t have to look at him.
Why does he have to look so freakin’ awesome? And smell… wow. I wonder how I can ask what he’s wearing so I can get some for Jaden? Because he smells beyond yummy.
“Did you hear me?” Brody asked.
“Huh?”
“I said it was a good game Friday. I didn’t see you at Jamieson’s afterward. I saw Jaden, though.”
Yeah, I bet you did. I wonder who Jaden hooked up with.
“I didn’t go to the party,” I mumbled.
“Why? Don’t you usually go with Jaden?”
“No.”
“Oh. I thought you’d—”
“Do they ever shut up on your planet?” I snapped. A surprised look crossed his face, and he leaned back from me like I’d hit him. I sighed. “I’m sorry. It’s just, it’s Monday, I haven’t met my caffeine quota for the morning yet, and my head is already pounding. I didn’t mean to snap.”
Yes, I did. I don’t want to talk about the damn party. And I don’t want to talk to you. You’re being… nice. It’s freakin’ me out.
“No problem. Here.” Brody reached in his backpack, pulled out a Red Bull, and handed it to me. “That should help with your caffeine problem. It might hold you over ’til lunch.”
I sat up straight and immediately felt like the biggest jerk. He was actually being sweet. “Thank you. I need this so bad.” Our fingers brushed when I took the can, and my hand tingled from the contact. My mind wandered to a different time, a different boy, and I tried to remember if I’d ever felt the same sensations with him.
A quiet knock sounded against the door. I opened it immediately. I’d been waiting for him in the living room and saw him drive up.
“Hi.” Jaden smiled down at me. “You look gorgeous.” He pulled his hand from behind his back and showed me a can of Red Bull. Condensation ran down the sides. My throat could already feel the citrusy goodness sliding down it and the punch of energy I’d get to help me navigate my morning classes. Some people drank coffee or tea. I drank Red Bull.
I reached for the can, but Jaden pulled it away. “First a kiss?” he asked softly.
“Always. You don’t have to bring Red Bull for that. But it’s always a good incentive.”
He laughed and gave me the can. “Good to know.” His mouth took mine in a slow, soft kiss. His tongue dipped between my lips. Something in my chest trembled and warmth radiated from it.
Wrapping the arm holding the can around his neck, I fisted my free hand in his shirt. I leaned into him, and he deepened the kiss with a low growl.
Jaden moved his lips from mine and skimmed them along my jaw to my ear. “You’re killing me, Willow. We have to go to school, and all I’ll be able to think about is this kiss and the small sighs you make that drive me freakin’ insane.”
I smiled and cupped his cheek. “I guess Red Bull is right up there with oysters. A great aphrodisiac.”
Jaden nuzzled the curve of my neck a few seconds longer before threading his fingers through mine and pulling me outside to his car.
The memory fizzled, and I remembered I was sitting in my biology class with Brody staring at me. “What?” I asked.
“Oh nothing. I�
�m just trying to imagine you with a personality.”
So much for being sweet.
I pushed the unopened Red Bull across the table toward him and gave him a tight smile. Turning my face away, I lay my head back on my books until class started. I managed not to speak to him for the rest of the class period or through English.
It was lunch, and I stood staring at the vending machine when I heard his voice. We hadn’t spoken since the Red Bull incident and, for reasons that confused me, I missed talking to him.
“I figured I’d find you here,” Brody said behind me, his body so close to mine I could feel the heat radiate off him. His breath moved wisps of my hair. I stepped to the side. “Come to get your caffeine for the day? I’m surprised you made it until lunch without killing someone… or is there a body or two stuffed in the janitor’s closet I don’t know about? You certainly seem to have the demeanor to pull off a homicide when you’re caffeine deprived.” He grinned, his blue eyes sparkling.
Keeping my expression neutral, I turned and stared at him. I let my eyes glide slowly over his face. My breath stalled in my throat and my mouth dried. What started as a sarcastic comment quickly turned into something more. My eyes sucked in his rugged features. Brody was undeniably attractive, but not in a soft, baby faced way. He had a raw sexuality. It showed in the way he carried himself, the way he stood, and the way he gazed at me—intense and knowing. A lock of dark hair fell over his forehead, giving his strong features a small touch of boyishness. My eyes skimmed downward, from his mussed hair to his bright sapphire eyes, framed by thick, black lashes. I took my time memorizing the contours of his high cheekbones and slightly crooked nose, like it’d been broken at some point. I bit my bottom lip when my gaze fell to his full lips that begged me to taste them, and the slight scar on his chin that I wanted to follow with my tongue.
Oh, I need to stop this now. Jaden, Jaden, Jaden… nope, that doesn’t help. Brody. Why does that feel right?
Brody shifted from one foot to the other. “What? No snarky comeback? Did I catch you at a loss for words? This must be a first for you.” There was that amused grin. I was beginning to like it, even if it did irritate me.
Unspeakable (Freedom Series Book 1) Page 5