“Oh totally,” I agree, feeling a strange sensation in the pit of my stomach.
“He’s Liam’s best friend. I am kind of always stuck hanging out with him, but you’ll get used to him.”
“Right,” I state, hoping that he has left with his skank. I shake my head at my mean thought. I don’t know him or that girl. I shouldn’t be judgmental. We leave the bathroom and Killian and the girl are gone. Our pizza has been served, and I try to shake the feeling that someone is staring at me as I settle back into the booth next to Woodrow and grab a slice.
Killian returns once half the pizza is gone. He takes a slice and places it on a napkin. “You guys ready to go or what?”
“Yup.” Liam and Woodrow toss some money on the table, and I follow them out to Killian’s car feeling awkward.
“Shotgun,” Woodrow yells and hops in the front passenger seat. I slide into the back behind him and Liam and Hayley get in behind Killian. I sink back in the black leather bucket seat.
The scent of leather, cologne, and smoke fills the air as Killian lights up a cigarette. The cancer-causing stick dangles between his lips, and I feel his gaze on me through the rearview mirror as he backs out of the parking lot. The car rumbles and vibrates under my butt. Hayley and her boyfriend are sucking face, and I wish I would have walked back to the dorm instead of filing into this car. I adore my cousin, but I know I don’t fit in with this group of misfits. I fight the urge to cough as the smoke fills the car. The windows go down giving me a reprieve, and Killian guns it down the street. The streets pass by in a blur as loud music thumps in my ears. Some old song talking about making love plays through the sound system, and Liam mock sings to Hayley.
The car rolls to a stop outside of a large brick home. Woodrow is kind enough to push the seat up and hold his hand out to help me out of the car. “Thanks.” I drop his hand as soon as I climb out the back. I meet Hayley and Liam around the front of the car. Killian has already gone in ahead of us, and Woodrow stays close to me. He seems like a nice guy, but I hope he doesn’t think that we are here together.
“Having fun?” Hayley whispers in my ear.
“So far.” I offer her a weak smile and take in the scene as we stroll up on the porch. A guy is holding back some chick’s hair as she is puking over the porch railing. Classy. This is exactly the sort of stuff my mom warned me to stay away from. Inside the house it’s extremely loud. Music is playing and most of the furniture in the front room has been pushed out of the way to create a dance floor.
I follow Hayley and Liam to the kitchen where they grab some red solo cups. Hayley hands one off to me. “One drink won’t kill you.”
I nod and take a cautious sip of the fruity drink. “What is this? It’s not bad.”
“Hooch,” Liam informs me. “Let’s go out back.” He tugs on Hayley’s hand, and I grab onto one of her belt loops of her tight blue jeans terrified I will get lost in the crowd if I don’t keep hold of her. I sip on the drink as we move toward the back of the house. I see a group sitting on a couch passing around a joint. My mother would kill me if she knew I was here.
Out back isn’t as crowded. There’s a small group seated around a firepit on a patio off to the side of an in-ground pool that isn’t filled. It’s spray painted with graffiti and some dude is using it to skateboard in. We must have lost Woodrow somewhere along the way when we left the kitchen. I take an empty seat next to some guy who introduces himself as Ben. He’s cute in that jock way. He’s muscular and has short red cropped hair and his nose is sprinkled with freckles.
“You a freshman?”
“Yeah.” I take another sip of the hooch and my insides heat up. I lick my teeth and stare at the flames as they dance in the pit. Hayley and Liam are to the left of me. She’s seated in his lap, and he has a protective arm wrapped around her waist. They actually make a really good looking couple.
“Fresh meat.” Ben rubs his palms together and laughs. “Just kidding,” he says, bumping his shoulder into mine when he sees the ‘what the crap’ expression on my face.
“Sure.” I finish off my drink and sit the cup on the cement patio.
“There you are,” a female voice purrs at him. I look over and see the same chick Killian was making out with at the pizza place wrapping her arms around this Ben guy’s neck and kissing his jaw.
It’s none of my business I remind myself.
“Jackie, this is Hayley’s cousin, Liri I think.” He looks to me for confirmation.
I nod and hold my hand out to her as she straddles his lap.
“Don’t care.” She rolls her eyes and shoves her tongue down his throat. Her boobs are spilling out the top of her crop top.
Okay then.
The drink has worked its way through my system, and I don’t feel too hot.
I turn to Hayley and Liam. “Where’s the bathroom?”
“Probably better off using the one upstairs,” Liam tells me.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Hayley offers, but I can tell she doesn’t want to leave her boyfriend’s side. I’m sure I can find it on my own.
“No. I’ll find it. Catch up with you in a few.” I get up from the chair and nearly trip over this Jackie chick’s foot.
“Watch it!” She snaps at me, and some of the group laughs. I stumble forward toward the firepit and a rough set of hands grip my elbows. Chill bumps fan up and down my arms.
“Easy lightweight.” I shiver as the husky voice sounds at my ear.
I turn straight into Killian as he smirks at me with those dark eyes.
“Thanks.” I inhale his woodsy scent and he smells even better up close.
“No problem.” He winks and the gesture shoots butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I smile and step around him. When I look back, he’s occupying the chair I just vacated, and some girl drops down in his lap. Annoyance flickers through me, and I don’t know why. I try to shake the feeling off and enter the house the same we came out earlier. There’s a beer pong table set up in the back room.
Woodrow spots me and waves. “There you are. Was beginning to think you left.”
“Oh. I was out back. I just came in to find the bathroom actually.”
“I’ll show you the way. These parties get pretty crazy.” He grins, and I accept his offered hand.
There’s a line for the upstairs bathroom. Four people are in front of me, and I tell Woodrow he doesn’t have to wait with me. I am sure he has other stuff he would rather be doing like returning to his game of beer pong, but he declines.
“You like Crestwood so far?”
“I guess. I’ve not really seen much of the campus yet. I only got here today.”
“We’ll have to change that. I’ll give you the grand tour tomorrow if you don’t have any plans.”
“That’s really nice, thank you.”
He shrugs. “I’m a nice guy.”
“You are, aren’t you? Thanks for taking pity on the new girl and hanging out with me tonight.”
The line moves forward, and it is finally my turn. I get inside the bathroom and lock the door behind me. This bathroom is disgusting. I hurry to do what I came for and wash my hands as quickly as possible.
Chapter 3
Liri
Woodrow is waiting outside the bathroom for me.
“Thanks. You didn’t have to wait for me.”
“It’s no biggie. I wanted to.” He runs a hand over his wavy, sandy brown hair. “Do you want a drink or something?”
“No.” I shake my head. “One was plenty. I should go find Hayley.”
“Cool. I’ll help you find her though knowing her and Liam they are off in a room somewhere.” He laughs and I smile.
He grabs my hand, but I pull away. His face falls and I feel bad, but I don’t want this guy getting the wrong idea. “Sorry, I didn’t want you getting lost in the crowd,” he offers as explanation.
“Of course.” I tuck my hand in the back pocket of my jeans and follow him out the back door.
&n
bsp; We get to the firepit and Hayley and Liam are no longer sitting where I last left them. Killian is still in the same spot, but the girl who was in his lap is long gone, and he is drinking a bottled water. He looks up at me as I approach him with Woodrow. His gaze filters between the two of us, and his eyes seem to grow darker if that is even possible.
“Hey, have you um seen Hayley?” I squeak.
“Yup. She’s gone off with Liam for the night. Don’t worry though I promised to drive you back to the dorms unless you have other plans.” His tone is icy and directed at Woodrow.
“No plans. I’m ready to go when you are.”
“I could take her,” Woodrow speaks up.
“You’ve been drinking,” Killian states. His jaw ticks and he gets up from his seat. I didn’t realize how tall he is before but now he is practically towering over Woodrow.
“Only a few beers. I’m cool to drive.”
“It’s fine,” I state hoping to ease the tension between them. “Killian can take me, but I will see you tomorrow for that tour, right?”
“Absolutely,” Woodrow answers but his eyes are on Killian almost in a challenge.
“Let’s go,” Killian snaps and stalks off toward the side of the house.
“Later.” I wave at Woodrow and take off after Killian afraid he will leave me here. He seems like the type who would. He is seriously rude.
By the time I catch up to Killian he’s already seated in the driver’s side of his classic Mustang and revving the engine. I quickly climb into the passenger side and go to pull my seatbelt on but it’s stuck.
“Here. I’ll do it,” he practically growls at me, and I can’t help but wonder why he insisted on driving me back if he is annoyed by doing it. Killian leans across me. His face is centimeters from mine, and the woodsy scent of his cologne overpowers me. I suck in a breath as his elbow rubs over my chest. He doesn’t seem to even notice. “It sticks sometimes.” The jerk pauses and smiles at me. Our eyes meet, and I feel dizzy. His cellphone rings, and he pulls away once the belt clicks into place.
“Lo,” he greets. “When? Now. Fuck.” His hand smooths over his hair. He looks at me, and I turn my head out the window and fight a smile. “I’ll be there.” We peel out of the driveway and start in the opposite direction that we would travel to return to campus. “Been a change in plans. I have a pitstop to make then I’ll take you home.”
“Sure okay.” I fall back in the seat as he speeds through the streets like a freaking race car driver. I close my eyes and try not to panic that we are going to crash and burn. I try and remind myself that Hayley trusts him. The ride is quiet and awkward. The stereo is turned down low enough that I can’t make out what’s currently playing. “Where are we going exactly?”
“I’m going to need you to trust me.”
I look over as he grips the steering wheel. Our eyes lock, and once again I feel those damn butterflies fluttering low in my belly. Everything about Killian screams danger, but I softly say, “I trust you.”
He laughs and looks away as the light turns from red to green. “You shouldn’t.”
He really is an ass. I keep quiet and hope he isn’t involving me in something illegal. We hit a two-lane dirt road and when Killian starts to slow the car down, I see taillights up ahead. “Stay in the car,” he instructs, and I nod even though he doesn’t wait for me to do as I am told.
I can see him leaning into the driver’s side window, but I can’t hear what is being said over the sound of his car. He seems to turn his head and motion in my direction. He taps on the top of the red Charger and walks back in my direction. He looks like he stepped straight off a movie as the lead bad boy in his leather jacket and faded dark gray logo tee. He lights up another cigarette and climbs back in the car.
“You know smoking is unattractive,” the words slip out before I can stop myself.
“Good thing I don’t care what you think,” Killian quips, and we go around the red car continuing down the dirt road until we come to a clearing that holds about eight other cars. He tosses his half-smoked cigarette out the window, and I want to ask what we are doing here but refrain. The engine cuts off and he says, “Come on.”
Reluctantly I exit the car and he waits for me at the front. Is this a private party or something? I join him where he stands with another guy who appears way too old to be hanging with college kids. The man has a full beard has a bit of a gut on him that is hanging over his jeans.
“Where you been hiding this one?” The man says as he sizes me up.
I don’t like the way he looks at me and apparently neither does Killian. He drapes a protective arm over my shoulder and pulls me into his side, confusing me, but I like the way his possessive touch feels. “She’s Hayley’s cousin.” The way he says it though makes it sound like I am his responsibility.
The guy holds his palms out and laughs. “That’s too bad. What are you doing here with this one?” He motions to Killian. His grip on me tightens, and I get the impression he’d rather I don’t answer, so I stay quiet.
Two cars start up and line up in the center of the clearing. Their engines are revving loudly, and a busty redhead stands in front of them. She pulls her white belly top off, and all the men standing around whistle at her being left in a black bra and cut off denim shorts. She holds the shirt over her head. “On three,” she announces. I watch curiously as she counts to two and then drops the shirt down to the dirt and the cars speed past her.
It doesn’t escape me that Killian still has an arm around me, but his grip has loosened significantly. “Do you race?” I look up at him, he seems to realize that we are still standing close, and he takes a step away from me.
“Yup. You wanna ride with me or stand here with Rusty?”
“I’ll ride with you.” This Rusty guy gives me the creeps.
He smiles at my answer. “Get in then. We’re next.”
“Okay,” I try to sound confident, but I know my voice sounds weak.
“She know what’s on the line?” That Rusty guy chuckles, and Killian shakes his head.
“What’s he mean?”
“Remember when you said you trust me?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Well…I need you to buckle up and trust me.”
This time my seatbelt doesn’t give me any trouble. The other two cars loop back around to the center and a girl gets out of the passenger side of the Trans Am and climbs into the winning car. The driver of the Trans Am jumps out and yells at the other guy but Rusty is shoving him back to his car.
“Why is that guy mad?” I look to Killian and he smirks.
“He lost his ass.”
“What?” I gape at him, but he doesn’t answer me. His focus is straight ahead as he lines his car up on the right next to a Camaro. The redhead stands in front of us between the two cars. “Do you mean he bet his girlfriend?”
Killian winks at me and cranks up his stereo. Thunder Kiss ’65 by White Zombie blares out the speakers. Killian has his hand on his gearshift and his eyes locked on mine. My breath is caught in my throat as he presses on his gas making the car vibrate and growl. My insides go warm at the sensation. A weird feeling settles below my belly. One I have never felt before, but it feels good. Exciting.
The other car shoots off the start line, and Killian grins at me. Then we take off following after the competition. I can’t take my eyes off the taillights of the Camaro. I am freaking out inside. Did Killian bet me? If he loses will I have to go with the other guy he is racing against? I can’t see anything other than the taillights in front of us. How does Killian even know where to go? I clutch the seatbelt scared of what’s next.
I steal a glance out the side of my eye at him and his face is hard and masked with pure determination. We are gaining on the Camaro and eventually we shoot past it. I let out the breath I have been holding. Killian loops back to the clearing and we arrive first. The Camaro pulls up next to us and the driver rolls down his window. “Gas or ass, man?”
; Killian looks at me then back to the car where the woman with this other driver looks ready to pounce on him. “Gas.” He chuckles and holds his hand out. The guy looks irritated but pulls his wallet out and shoves a wad of cash into Killian’s hand. He doesn’t count it and hides it down in the console.
I’m in shock as we leave the same way we came. “What the hell was that?” I demand.
“I never lose,” he tells me.
“There’s a first time for everything,” I snap at him and fold my arms across my chest.
“The women have a choice. No one does anything that they don’t want to.” He looks at me like I am a total prude and maybe I am, but where I come from girls don’t hop in cars with random guys and offer up their ass or gas in a race. “Don’t be mad. It’s all in fun.”
“Fun?” I scoff.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I would never send you off with anyone unless you wanted to go with them.” He looks sincere, but I’m still pissed. I spend the ride back to campus glowering out the window. I don’t even know this guy, and I basically had my life in his hands. My pulse is still ringing in my ears.
We pull up to my dorm, and I dash out of his car. “I’m sorry, okay?” I hear him call out after me, but I don’t look back.
I get all the way to my room before I realize I left my wristlet in his car. It has my cellphone too. Great. I sink to the floor with my back to the door. I doubt Hayley will be back anytime soon. My first day here and I have practically crossed out everything on the list of my mother’s don’ts. The elevator pings, and I look up to see Killian stomping toward me clutching my wristlet.
“You forgot this.” His voice is angry as his eyes narrow on me. He holds his hand out to help me up. I don’t know why I feel emotional, but I feel ready to cry any second now. I accept his hand and his fingers squeeze around mine, pulling me to my feet.
“Thanks,” I mutter.
“Don’t mention it.” His gaze softens as his dark eyes zero in on my lips. “Did you at least have fun?” His dark eyes sear right through me. I look up at him and part my lips. So many words hang on the tip of my tongue. Where do I even begin with all the things I should say to him? His finger tucks my hair behind my ear. My breath catches in my throat as I start to tell him that it was terrifyingly the best experience of my life.
The Story of Killian & Liri (Cruel Love Book 1) Page 2