Chapter 21
KELSEY
Iguess you could say I’ve become quite acquainted with Teegan over these last two months.
Ryder gave him the weighted task of training me in extreme combat and self-defense.
From hand to hand to using knives and firearms, I’ve become a human weapon.
Teegan is wildly skilled in just about every aspect you can imagine.
I understand why Ryder hired him and trusts him with his life and mine.
“I’d say you’re ready to graduate,” Teegan pants.
“Bout time. I’ve been kicking your ass all week.”
He chuckles, tossing his head back while his hands remain braced on his knees, “Don’t get ahead of yourself, kid. I’m just getting old.”
“I knew that,” I sass whimsically. “How old are you anyway?”
“I’d lie and tell you thirty, but this gray beard only comes with age and stress. I’m fifty-three.”
“No, shit,” I say in disbelief. “You honestly don’t look a day over forty.”
He jostles the top of my head with his hand, roughening up my hair.
After our training sessions, he meets with Ryder to tell him how it’s gone.
Today, he will be thrilled to learn I’ve officially graduated from Teegan’s ass-kicking program.
I don’t know what it’s actually called, but that’s what I’m sticking to.
I don’t know what I’ll do with all this free time, now that I’m no longer training or in therapy.
Ansley was hesitant to end the sessions; she doesn’t believe I’m actually “mentally sound”, but Ryder reassured her that between his sister and Hayden, all three could manage me on their own now.
I’ve been off the crazy meds for three weeks, and I’m not entirely sure how I feel.
I’ve had my moments with losing my temper, but I’ve always been short fused anyway.
I went to two more races, of course, RAGE won, but I was shocked at how fast Japan replaced their leader. I suppose to them it’s just a job and was a mishap that was easily fixed, unlike losing family or a close friend.
In the past two months, I’ve learned I’m not so much a party girl as I thought I would be.
Jessie, however, is an absolute carouser.
Partying is how Jessie survives, I have no doubt.
She can’t go a single day without socializing before she goes batshit crazy.
Funny how we are best friends yet we’re polar opposites.
I typically spend my time in the garage with Hayden learning about cars or with Ryder learning how to race them.
Both of which Jessie doesn’t care to partake in, another thing I find funny, considering her brother started this whole operation from the ground up, revolving around cars and racing.
Hayden and Ryder seem to be on better terms with one another, thank God. I was losing my mind, stressing about those two. Since I underwent the combat training with T, it’s allowed Ryder to relax enough to forgive Hayden.
“…She’s done great, man. She’s ready for anything that comes her way.” I stop in the doorway of the basement when I overhear Teegan talking to Ryder.
“You have no idea what this means to me, T. Thank you, and I’ll have that bonus deposited to your name by this afternoon.”
“Sure thing, but I’d be careful pissing that one off. She’s a real machine. She kicked my…”
I emerge from the doorway, faking clearing my throat, “Yeah, don’t piss me off, Ry,” I tease, brushing past Ryder at the kitchen counter, making sure to bump my shoulder against his bicep.
“You were saying, old man?” I full-on grin at Teegan, who’s standing with his hands against the bar’s edge, his head drops below his shoulders.
When his head lifts, his cheeks are a shade redder than they were after our session, and a grin splays across his face, “That one’s fiery,” He says, pointing in my direction, but his eyes are on Ryder.
Ryder looks down at me with a smirk, “Tell me something I don’t know.” He chuckles when I shove his arm hard enough that he takes a step sideways.
“I’m stepping out for a smoke, wanna join?”
“Nah, I gotta go shower, I’ll join you next session.” He says, wrapping his muscular arm around my shoulders and pulling me into a side hug.
“Alright, your loss.” I get a whiff of his pits and wrinkle my nose, “But you really do need a shower.” I flap my hand in front of my nose, desperately trying to wave in untainted air, drawing a smoky chortle from Ryder.
Kicking back on the front porch like I normally do for my smoke seshes, I set the rolling tray on my lap and grind the little nugget between my fingers into the rolling papers, then carefully roll the sweetness between my fingers, sealing it, then light it up and inhale deeply.
The smoke chokes me up, I cough, hacking up a lung, and wave the smoke from my face.
A soft laugh bubbles up my raw throat, damn, this shit is strong.
“We should really stop starting our days like this.”
Hayden saunters around the edge of the house from the garage, his white T-shirt splotched and smeared with black grease, his navy pants and boots not much better.
I stick my lip out in a fake pout, “Aw, but I like starting my days this way.” I take another hit off the joint and hold it out to Hayden in silent offering.
Hayden and I went through an awkward patch, but he’s slowly become another best friend to me.
I have really enjoyed living here at the Langley mansion.
It doesn’t feel right calling it a house.
It’s far too massive. Every day is something new and eventful, which is a vast difference from my life before them.
“I have a surprise for you this evening,” He says hoarsely as he exhales the smoke.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, and don’t ask what it is, it’s a surprise.” He passes the joint back to me, “Wear something comfortable.”
Hayden finally takes the chair beside me instead of standing awkwardly on the top step of the porch, leaning against the railing. He tells me about a classic Camaro SS he wants to buy. Says it runs like a dream, just needs a new interior and a paint job.
“What colors are you gonna go with?”
“What do you think?”
I think about it for a moment. When Dad and I talked about building a car, we always wanted to paint it dark cherry red on the outside with all black leather interior and red stitching.
Since my Dad and I haven’t built a car yet, and neither of our schedules aligns to make that dream happen, I tell Hayden that’s what I’d do with the car.
He gave me a pinched look of thought, leaning forward with his hands on his knees.
“That’s a good idea, sweetheart.”
“Can I at least have an idea of where you’re taking me?”
“Nope, but wear tennis shoes, not vans.”
“I don’t have tennis shoes.”
He immediately pulls out his phone, sending out a text. “You will soon.”
“You don’t know my size,” I shoot back.
“Why do you always underestimate me?”
My lips purse and eyes thin to slits as I stare at him, trying to read him. I jerk my head away and down, cursing myself when his face is too blank to read. Asshole.
“Alright, alright,” I huff like a defiant child.
I don’t really like surprises, I mean, I do, but the suspense of them eats me alive and makes me nervous.
I take two more hits off the joint and pass it off to Hayden to finish, then I plop my feet off the rail and make my way back inside to get ready.
I feel his eyes on me the entire time until I toe the door shut behind me.
Feeling the buzz from my disturbed smoke sesh, I giggle from the unexpected anticipation of this evening with Hayden.
One thing’s for certain. I have plenty of comfortable clothes to choose from, considering that’s all I wear.
Did Hayden know I wouldn’t have enjoyed an upscale evening, and that’s why he chose something like this?
But what in the world would he have planned in a small town like this?
There is almost nothing to do here, in tennis shoes, much less.
Jessie stopped by my—Ryder’s—room during my outfit change and invited me to lunch, so that’s where we’re heading now.
A little barbecue place in downtown that might as well be historical, granted it’s under new ownership.
They’ve preserved the original characteristics of the place, for example, the bright ass red roof and all the southern vintage knick-knacks.
They have these huge hushpuppies, they’re my favorite, and don’t get me started on their fried pickles. I could live off them.
We take one of the tables in the far back, away from any windows… Just in case. I keep watch of the entrance while Jessie chats her ass off. I’ve learned how to tune her out ninety percent of the time and snap back into conversation when I hear important words or if she…
“Kelsey, are you even listening to me?” If she does that.
Sighing and drawing my eyes back to hers, “I’m sorry, what were you saying?”
“Nothing.” She huffs and crosses her arms over her chest, plopping back in her booth seat. “So, you really aren’t going back to campus classes?”
“Nope,” I pop the P for emphasis. “Gonna double up on online classes and graduate in half the time.”
She leans forward, elbows on the table, “Good! Because I spoke with the admin this morning and changed to online too.”
My eyes widen, “No way! I thought you wanted to go back?” I can’t believe she switched. She’s always been so social and loved campus life.
Jessie went on to tell me her reasoning for making her decision—me. That filled me with a strange guilt. I don’t want to be her reason for not pursuing something she finds joy in, but I also don’t want to tell her not to. UGH!
“Jess, don’t do something you don’t want to. I know how much campus life means to you.”
“I need to do this. With everything going on in…” She glances around, leaning in closer, then whispers, “RAGE, I can’t afford to be hours away. Besides, like you said, this way we will graduate in half the time.”