7. Kaylee
7
KAYLEE
I ’m giddy as I pull out of his drive.
My body feels alive in ways that I haven’t felt in a long time, maybe ever.
It’s no secret that I haven’t had the most confidence since everything happened.
And when you lack confidence, you don’t feel as good as you should.
That reflects on every aspect of your life.
I’ve been hiding in my bedroom, so there hasn’t been much need to get dressed up, do my makeup, or look my best.
But being around Austin these past couple of days has given me the desire to get back to being myself.
The person I was before I met Scott.
The girl who woke up each morning and did her hair and makeup, always wanting to look her best.
The way he looks at me makes me feel like I’m the only woman on Earth. The intensity in his dark eyes makes my blood warm and muscles tighten.
The butterflies in my stomach come alive, and the junction between my legs begins to throb.
I lost my virginity at seventeen, and I’ve never really gone any amount of time without being sexually active.
This is my longest stint, and it’s showing.
My needs make themselves known every time I’m around the man I shouldn’t want.
When I get home, I head for the upstairs bathroom and climb into the shower.
I shave and wash my hair and face. I scratch all the specks of paint from my skin, and then I take a deep breath as I remember the way he looked at me.
I thought he was going to place his hand on my leg, only he placed it on the table at the last second.
My eyes close as I pretend that he put his hand on my thigh.
I would lean back in my chair and spread my legs for him.
I imagine that his hand traveled higher up my thigh.
His dark eyes bounce back and forth between mine and his hand pushes its way up my shorts.
My hand dips between my legs, my fingertips rubbing against my clit.
I bite my lip and stifle a moan as I imagine his hand instead of mine.
In my little fantasy, he uses his thumb to swipe my panties to the side and then sinks his fingers into my heat.
As he thrusts into me, the heel of his palm rubs against my clit, and my fingers work faster.
My release builds, and I imagine fisting his shirt and pulling his mouth to mine.
I imagine our first kiss, the taste of his tongue, and the softness of his lips.
And then I find myself spiraling out of control as I let go of my orgasm, letting it ravish my body until every muscle is weak and twitching.
Friday night rolls around, and even though I’ve spent another day painting at the house, Kinsley begs me to go out to the bar and grill with her for dinner and drinks.
It’s not something I want to do, but I don’t want to hide anymore.
I want people to see me out living my life like nothing happened. I want them to see that I’m happy and don’t need Scott.
So, I get cleaned up and meet her there.
She’s already at a table with a pitcher of beer in the center.
Her glass is full while mine is still turned upside-down on the table.
I slip into the chair across from her, and she smiles. “I’m so glad you showed up.”
I flip the glass over and pick up the pitcher to pour a drink. “Have I ever stood you up?”
She rolls her blue eyes. “No, but I was starting to feel awkward sitting here all by myself.”
I laugh and shake my head. “So, what’s up? Why were you so insistent that I come out with you? Don’t you have friends you’d rather be with?”
She picks up her beer and takes a sip. “Everyone has something going on tonight. Trevor is stuck helping his dad pack for a trip they’re taking to their hunting cabin. James is going to help him in hopes of getting an invite to join them. Amy is sick, and Liz has a date in the city. You’re my last resort, so thanks for rescuing me.”
I laugh. “No problem, but just so we’re clear, I’m not staying out all night or getting hammered. I have a lot of work to do on the house tomorrow.”
“Why don’t you take a break? You’ve been there every day this week.”
“I know, but I like having something to do. Plus, I want to be out of Mom and Dad’s house by the end of the summer. That won’t happen if I don’t bust my butt and get this stuff done.”
The waitress comes over, and we place our order.
When she walks away, we go back to sipping our beer and talking.
The later it gets, the busier the bar becomes.
We eat our dinner and move on to drinking while a band sets up on stage.
It’s going on nine when Kinsley notices her two guy friends walk in.
“I guess they finished packing early.” Her brows are lifted, and her eyes are wide. I’m not sure which one she has a thing for, but I know it’s one of them.
I nod in their direction. “Go on. I was going to finish this and take off anyway.”
She gives me a hopeful look. “Really? You wouldn’t mind?”
I shake my head. “No way. Go on. I’ve had enough of you anyway,” I joke.
She laughs and stands. She pulls me in for a hug before taking off toward the guys.
I watch as they greet her.
Both say hello, but only one pulls her in for a hug. I smile. I guess that’s the one she has a thing for.
I pick up my glass and take a sip, noticing that it’s more than halfway gone. I consider just leaving it, but something tells me to stick around a little longer, so I decide to finish my drink before taking off.
I turn my attention to the band and watch a few women dancing on the floor in front of them.
They’re smiling and laughing, and the guys in the band aren’t shy about checking them out.
I wish I could be that confident, carefree, and fun.
Something inside of me just always holds me back.
I pick up my glass and finish it off. I turn, ready to slide off my chair when Austin steps up to the table, two beers in hand.
“You’re not taking off, are you?”
I smile, feeling the flutter in my chest. “I was just going to get another beer.”
He places the glass in front of me. “May I?”
I motion for him to take Kinsley’s empty chair.
“What are you doing out all alone?”
“I was having dinner with my sister, but she ran off the moment her friends got here.” I nod over at the pool table.
He glances over his shoulder before returning his eyes to mine. “Ahhhh. Well, we finished up on that job today, so we’ll be at your place bright and early Monday morning.”
I smile. “That’s great news. I can’t wait to get started. I’ve spent all week painting. I’m thinking about switching over to the kitchen cabinets next week, just to give my neck a break. It’s so sore from painting all the ceilings upstairs.”
“Have you ever painted cabinets?”
I shake my head.
“There are a few steps you need to do before just slapping paint on them. I’ll show you Monday, if you want.”
I smile. “I’d like that. Thank you.”
He nods, his dark eyes falling to my chest before quickly leaping up.
“It’s nothing major. We’ll have to take off the doors and remove the hardware. They need to be sanded down, otherwise the paint will just scratch off. Then a good cleaning, and finally, they’re ready for paint.”
“Wow, that sounds like a lot of work just to paint some cabinets.”
He grins. “It’s easy, and it will give you plenty to do.” He sips his beer. “So, why aren’t you hanging out with friends tonight?”
I shrug. “Most of my friends are people I work with, and they’re all married with kids, so they don’t do the bar scene. I don’t either.” I look around, trying to think of the last time I was in a bar. “I’m only here because my sister wouldn’t leave me alone until I gave in.”
He laughs. “Younger, I assume?”
I nod.
“My younger brother is the same way. Well, half-brother, but still.”
“Yeah? Does he live around here?”
He shakes his head. “No, he lives in the city. The distance keeps him from pulling the same shit your sister pulled with you, but he used to be the same way.”
“What does he do?”
“He’s…” He stops to think over the right words. “He’s living with a friend. Looking for his place in the world, I guess you could say. Last I heard, he was the lead singer in some rock band.”
I laugh. “Wow. Is he any good?”
He shrugs. “No idea. I haven’t made it to one of their gigs yet.”
I take a drink of my beer as he turns to watch the band.
It gives me a moment to look him over.
His dark blond hair is combed and styled, and his face is shaved.
It’s obvious he got cleaned up to come out, so it leaves me to wonder who he was hoping to meet.
Was he looking to meet some woman in hopes of taking her back to his place?
If so, why would he be sitting with me?
Did he just come out to grab a drink and let off steam?
Has he been thinking about me as much as I’ve been thinking about him?
I can’t stop thinking about the evening we spent together, drinking and eating pizza in his kitchen while we discussed the work I need done on the house.
When I think of that night, my stomach tightens when I remember the look in his eyes.
I remember the smell of his house and how it warmed my blood.
I think about how I touched myself in the shower and pretended it was his hand rather than mine.
Our eyes lock, and his jaw flexes, almost like he knows what I was thinking about.
His eyes darken and my cheeks warm from getting caught thinking about something I shouldn’t right in front of him.
Is there a chance that he’s thinking about the same thing?
I offer up a nervous smile as I bring my glass to my lips, taking a sip and hoping the alcohol helps kill the need that’s quickly growing within me.