Chapter 9
Nine
Jaclyn
That kiss was still on my mind since I left the party.
No matter how much I try to forget that night or the moment between us in the closet, I keep thinking about it.
I ended up going to the bathroom to splash water on my face and then I went back downstairs to Natalia and pretended everything was okay. She was with Max and she asked me how the game was before looking down at my lips. They were probably super plumped from how he practically assaulted my lips. I told her it was fine before asking where Hayden was. She told me that he left the party.
We danced for a little more with Max and when she started getting beyond drunk I decided it was a good time to leave. When we got to her apartment, Hayden wasn’t there, thank god. I didn’t feel like facing him, too embarrassed from that night’s events.
Right when I got home I took a shower and I hated how the spot between my legs was aching. I tried to forget his lips while showering but every time I closed my eyes, I felt him. I ended up putting his bandana on my desk, expecting to give it back to him when I saw him next, which I’m not looking forward to.
As I park my car, my phone starts ringing, making me look at the screen and see “Mom” pop up.
I roll my eyes and ignore the call.
She has been trying to call me for the past few days but I always send her calls to voicemail. She calls Calvin and Calvin is always telling me to answer her calls so she doesn’t call him but I don’t feel like talking to her.
I moved away so I could get a break from her. She manages to get in my head every now and then. Now that I’m without her it feels like I am missing something or someone to decide things for me because she controlled every aspect of my life.
Calvin said that I need to do what makes me happy and not listen to that little voice inside my head.
Easier said than done.
I turn the engine off and get out before locking the doors.
Today I’m getting an oil change for my car since it’s due for one. I was supposed to get one last month but oil changes in Arizona are a lot cheaper than they are in California.
I walk inside the auto shop and go up to the front desk. “Hi, I made an appointment for an oil change.”
The guy behind the desk nods his head and types on his computer. “What’s your name?’
“Jaclyn King.”
“The BMW 230I?”
“Yes.”
He grabs papers from the folder on his side. “Okay I’ll just need the keys and then it should be ready in about two hours. Does that work for you?” he says before looking up at me. I nod my head and give him my keys. “Great. You’re welcome to wait in our waiting room or go down to the coffee shop across the street. Some people go there to do some work while waiting.”
“I’ll just wait here, no problem.” I smile before making my way to the waiting room.
I sit on one of the couches and pull out my kindle. I started reading a new book yesterday and wasn’t able to finish it because I was busy getting ahead on some assignments.
Currently I’m rereading Darling Venom by Parker. S. Huntington. It’s a favorite of mine along with many others. Tate might just be one of the best book boyfriends I know.
“What are you reading?”
I lift my head from my kindle and see Kayden who is wearing a black tank top with cargo pants. Oil covers his hands and he has a towel resting on his shoulder. Kayden, right now, looks like every girl's dream man. Kayden is a good looking guy and girls would love to be under his arm, yet I never see him looking at anyone with interest.
“ Darling Venom ,” I say, knowing he probably won’t know the book I’m talking about.
“My girlfriend likes to read.”
“I didn’t know you had a girlfriend.” I rest my kindle on my lap.
“I like to still think she is my girlfriend,” Kayden says which doesn’t make sense but I don’t question it because I don’t think he is the type to want to indulge that kind of information. “Why are you here?”
“I need an oil change for my car.”
“Is it the 230I that just came in?” I nod my head. “I haven’t worked on that kind of model in forever.”
“How long have you been working on cars?”
Kayden nips his bottom lip. “Since I was fifteen,” Kayden says in a low tone and he is staring out the window as if he sees a ghost. “Have you ever been to LA?” Kayden finally makes eye contact with me.
“Yea.”
“You like racing?”
I laugh. “Sometimes.”
“There is this track along the road under the Hollywood sign. It’s a cool track and very long and narrow. Barely anyone drives on that road. I would drive and race there all the time when I was younger,” Kayden says but his eyes are filled with grief and sadness.
It almost makes me want to ask him what the story is behind that road.
“I’m too scared to race. Plus I feel stupid when racing with random people and then will end up losing. But if I had an M5 like you I wouldn’t mind racing.”
“There is this racing track a few miles away from here. Maybe Natalia can show you and we can race sometime.”
“You would definitely win against my car.” I chuckle which makes Kayden crack a small smile. “M5’s are super fast and plus I’m pretty sure you put some sort of mods on the car.”
“Even with a shitty car I could probably win. I know how to drive,” Kayden says with a cocky tone.
“I don’t doubt it. I don’t think the car matters so much but the one who is driving the car, that's when you’re able to win a race.”
Kayden nods his head and I can tell he is in his own world again with a sad look in his eyes. “Yea. Well, I’m going to go back to work,” Kayden says, trying to conceal that sad look. “But think about it. I think it could be fun.”
I nod my head and smile at Kayden before he leaves to go back to work. As he leaves I can’t help but wonder what his story is and why he has that look in his eyes that makes him replay those sad memories in his mind.