Chapter 13
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Kayla
My week has been surprisingly calm. After agreeing to talk with Coty this weekend, he hasn’t pushed for more. He hasn’t disappeared, though. He texts several times a day and only calls once. He also shows up at nearly every place I go in town. He keeps his distance, giving me space. Guess I have a stalker. At least Coty isn’t creepy. I know he’s there, and it doesn’t really bother me. When something’s going on with the club, Mack assigns protection for their friends just in case. Naturally, Coty would volunteer to be my protection.
I stayed three nights at Emily’s. By Tuesday afternoon, there were no major incidents around town, so I went home. I love Emily, and hanging out with her is great. After a year of living alone, I prefer being in my own place.
The Roadhouse didn’t have any problems last night. The atmosphere was off, though. It was weird. I can’t explain it. The customers were mostly from out of town. I’m not sure if the locals stayed away because they’re mad at the McLeods or if people saw the news and showed up to see if something would happen. Only crazy people would put themselves in the middle of a feud. Is this a feud? Well, if something more happens, the McLeods won’t start it.
Let’s hope tonight goes smoothly, too. I’m looking forward to having the next three days off. My phone rings while I’m getting dressed for my closing shift at the Roadhouse. Surprisingly, it’s a friend from college and not Coty.
“Hey, Kira.”
“Kayla!” She screams so loud that I hold the phone away and switch it to speaker.
“Hey,” I say again. “Long time, no talk.”
Kira and I were roommates in college. We meet in Nashville a few times a year. We text more than we call. She only calls when she has something exciting going on.
“I know. We need a Nashville trip soon.”
“Sounds good. How many bars you wanna hit?” I tease.
“We could paint Nashville red, or I have a better idea.” I can practically see her wiggling with excitement.
“Oh.” I’m almost afraid to ask. Her better ideas aren’t better.
“Or you could come spend next weekend with me in Knoxville.” Her voice is filled with excitement.
A weekend in Knoxville is not a better plan. Knoxville is where troubles happen. I’m not fond of going back there. I only drive through it when I have no choice.
“I have an even better idea. You can come stay with me for a few days. I could introduce you to a few sexy bikers.” She teased me often for being part of a motorcycle club.
“I think not!” a male voice says sternly.
Who is that? His voice is familiar, but I can’t place it. I know him. I can almost picture his face.
“Well, I’m going to have to pass.” Kira giggles.
Oh, that’s not good. She’s only giddy when she’s making bad decisions. The dude in the background is no doubt part of her newest bad decision.
“What’s up, Kira?” She’ll drag this out even more if I don't bluntly ask.
“I’m getting married!”
I groan and drop my head. Yep. It’s another bad decision. The girl doesn’t have an active cell left in her brain. Married? Kira Mitchell, her family’s and half of Middle Tennessee’s wild child, is getting married.
“Congratulations.” I don’t share in her excitement.
“You’re my Maid of Honor, so I need you here next weekend to plan everything,” she informs me.
Now, I know this is a horrible idea. “Kira, I have to work and check on my family. I can’t just up and leave town on the weekends. I can’t miss work to help you plan a wedding.”
She knows I work in a bar. It’s why we have always met in Nashville on a weeknight. I’ve already worked out my schedule with Bankz for the next two months. I need the extra tips for a down payment on a car. The part about checking on my family isn’t true. We rarely talk.
“You’re my Maid of Honor. I’m getting married two weeks from today. I need you here,” Kira snaps.
Whoa. This is beyond a bad idea. For starters, she didn’t ask me to be her Maid of Honor. She’s mental and should be committed somewhere. Who plans a wedding in two weeks? And nothing good ever happens to me in Knoxville.
“Come on, Kayla. Please,” she whines. “I don’t have anybody else.”
She would if she hadn’t cut her entire family off. Of course, I can’t say much. I have my family. We just don’t get along. I pause and tap my fingers on the bathroom sink. Maybe I don’t have my family.
“Kayla,” she whines again.
Oh, good grief. I don’t want to do it, but I don’t want to lose a friend, either.
“Look. I can come during the week to help you plan. I’ll talk to my boss and see if I can switch out days and get off for the wedding next Saturday. That’s the best I can do on such short notice.” Yes, I threw the last part in to make her feel guilty. It’s not like she’s not playing on my feelings.
“Yay! Thank you. Can you come this Tuesday?” She believes she’s won. Maybe she has.
“Sure. I’ll be there around noon, but I have to leave by six.” She knows my usual days off. If I don’t give her a timeframe, she’ll have me there all night. An all-night stay in Knoxville is a really bad idea.
It’s not like this is going to be a big fancy wedding. You can’t plan a nice wedding in two weeks. It sounds more like a shotgun wedding to me. I stare at myself in the mirror. My mouth falls open, and my eyes widen. Oh no. Could Kira be pregnant? It would explain the rush. Oh, this is bad, so so bad.
“Thanks, Kayla. See you Tuesday.” Kira ends the call.
Wow. I don’t want to assume anything, but if Kira’s pregnant, that’s going to be a disaster. She could barely take care of herself in college. Her aunt paid her tuition balance after state and federal scholarships so she’d have a better life. Sadly, Kira wanted to party more than work for a degree and a promising career. I can’t say anything there either. Oh well, I’ll get all the details on Tuesday. It’s Saturday night, the best night for tips. Work is calling my name. Well, tips are. I need that down payment.
I finish getting dressed and grab my keys. My phone rings again before I pull out of the driveway. It would have been better if this call were from Coty. My father’s name lights up on the screen. Uh. I should throw it out the window.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Kayla, you ok?” His tone is sharp, as always.
“I’m good. Just heading to work.”
“Right.” Of course, he’s disappointed with me. “Saw the trouble on the news.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head to no one. The trouble happened a week ago, and this is the first I’ve heard from anyone in my family.
“I’m good.”
“Well.” He huffs. “Your mom’s planning a family dinner tomorrow. Be here by six.” He abruptly ends the call.
Great. Just one more thing I don’t want to do. I don’t want to go to Knoxville. I don’t want to be Kira’s Maid of Honor. I seriously don’t want to have family dinner with my family. I don’t want to talk to Coty Michaels. Thinking his name pauses my emotional spiral.
“Coty,” I whisper.
Then again, maybe I wouldn’t mind seeing him.