7. Jealous Much?
7
Jealous Much?
As we drive around Colton Gate, I watch the small but luxurious town parade in the rearview mirror of Haze’s black car. I can’t stop myself from wondering how I went from crashing at Thomas’s place to living with Haze Adams in less than forty-eight hours. How I went from eating takeout food with my cousin to going on a shopping spree with his enemy in a town whose mall is meant for millionaires.
I wonder how his parents could even afford a place like this.
“What do your parents do for a living?” I try.
He shifts in his seat. “Nothing that would interest you.”
Predictable.
“You must have one hell of a boring life according to all the topics I wouldn’t be interested in.”
“Something like that.”
I grow annoyed. “You do know that the more you dodge my questions, the more I want to know, right?”
“Yep.”
I roll my eyes. “Jerk.”
“Prude.” He smiles.
I can’t erase the grin creeping in the corner of my mouth. I have no idea when or how “jerk” and “prude” became our thing, but somehow, it did.
Haze takes a right and pulls up into the mall parking lot. It looks just like any other mall, but the sign at the parking entrance indicates that mostly expensive clothing stores are located inside the building. I’ve always had a slight problem with expensive clothes. Unfortunately, to me, expensive doesn’t always mean “pretty.” And, from what I can tell looking at the clothes displayed in one of the shops’ windows, the millionaires in this town have strange taste.
This won’t be easy.
Haze stops the car and makes a face, indicating that he’s having the same train of thoughts as I am.
We exchange looks and smile.
Let’s go shopping.
“You are not going to believe it,” I say, fidgeting with the price tag of the most hideous polka dot slash floral dress I’ve ever seen.
“How much?” he asks.
“A hundred and fifty.”
Haze smothers a laugh, on the other side of the changing room. We’ve been going around the mall and trying on the most ridiculous clothes we could find for two hours now. Haze found what he needed in like minus two seconds. Finding plain T-shirts isn’t a very demanding task, apparently.
As soon as we walked inside the mall, a million missed calls and messages came rushing in on my cracked phone screen. My dinosaur could barely get signal at the lake house, but it’s way stronger at the mall.
They’re all from Kendrick and Maria. They must be worried out of their minds.
I don’t even want to think about how Maria reacted when Kendrick told her that I left Tom’s “safe” house.
“Who on earth would pay almost two hundred dollars for this?” I take off my clothes the best I can to put on the dress.
“Yeah, well, it’s either this mall’s clothes or driving two hours out of town. I told you, we’re a bit isolated.”
“What is this place anyway? Like a top-secret town for the Kardashians?” I struggle with the tight fabric.
Haze cackles, then speaks to someone. The clothing store employee, I assume.
“Yes, Mr. Adams, right away,” I hear a female voice say.
I furrow my eyebrows. Mr. Adams? First, how the heck does the employee know Haze’s last name? And why so formal to someone who’s younger than her?
He brings his attention back to me. “It’s just a wealthy area.”
It’s a gated community with huge houses and a mall filled with luxurious brands. I’d say this is more than just a wealthy area, but I guess for Haze this is an everyday thing.
“This isn’t even close to a bit isolated . We’re in the middle of nowhere. If you left me here, I’d die. Especially since my ancient phone won’t let me use the GPS.” I laugh, catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Good thing this dress doesn’t have a zipper.
“How’s that going, by the way? Living without your phone? It’s been a while since you…” He pauses, erupting in laughter. “Since you threw it in the toilet.”
Here we go.
It’s official. He is never going to let me forget this one.
“Shut up.”
It takes him a few seconds to stop laughing. “Are you done yet?” He knocks on the door.
Someone’s getting impatient.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” I wince.
“That bad, huh?”
“More like disastrous.”
“I’m sure it’s fine. Come on out.”
I fidget with the sleeves of the dress. “Okay, but if you take a picture, I’ll stab you in the eyes, rip your eyeballs out, and slowly make you swallow them, are we clear?”
“You’re creepy as fuck, Kingston, you know that?”
“Are we clear?” I ask again.
He chuckles. “Yes, ma’am.”
I get on my crutches and push the changing-room door open. Haze instantly starts laughing, and truth be told, I can’t really blame him. I don’t consider myself to be a fashion expert with unbeatable style, but this… this is something else.
“You look like my grandma’s curtains.” He snorts.
I mean, he’s not wrong.
“You know what? I think I’m good with my clothes. Like you said, it’s only for a few weeks.”
Again, special shout-out to Kendrick for making sure I only had the ugliest clothes in my closet to wear during this “let’s keep Winter safe” adventure. Sometimes, I think he did it on purpose.
Maybe somewhere, deep down, Kendrick knew Haze would show up and that’s why he decided to have me wear hideous pajamas every single day. What better way to make sure Haze wouldn’t make a move on me than to make me look like a hobo? My oversized sweatpants and band T-shirts aren’t very attractive, to say the least.
“This isn’t just ugly. It’s uncomfortable, too.” I wiggle, the dress itching. “I need to change.”
Haze checks the time on his phone. “There’s something I have to go do real quick. I’ll be thirty minutes tops. You going to be okay on your own?”
“Sure. As long as you don’t leave me here—you’re supposed to protect me, remember?” I taunt.
He smiles. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back. Plus, you have the nice employees to keep you safe. Not that anybody would want to make a move on you dressed like this.” He looks me up and down.
“Jerk,” I mutter under my breath.
“Prude,” he says as he walks away.
I watch him disappear with an idiotic grin on my lips and turn around to find myself alone with the pile of clothes I have yet to try on. I did find some decent clothes in the discount section. Nothing was below fifty dollars, but this will have to do. I’m hoping they’ll fit and I’ll be able to look semi-cute from now on. I spend the next thirty minutes making faces and throwing clothes in the “never again” pile. I’m happy to get at least a few items to bring back with me.
I’m about to step out of the changing room when my phone rings. My heart sinks at the caller ID.
Maria.
I take a breath and pick up.
“Winter, thank God. Where are you?” my aunt says as soon as I press the button.
“Hey, Aunt Maria,” I say, careful not to be too loud.
“Are you okay? We’ve been trying to call you since last night.” She speaks rapidly.
“I’m okay, I promise.”
She sighs in relief. “What in the world happened?”
“Kendrick didn’t tell you?”
“He just said you’re with this Haze kid. Tell me where you are. I can come get you right now.”
I proceed to tell her exactly what happened. I start with how easily Haze tracked us down, and she listens to every word. No matter how much I wish I could stay, I know that she’s probably right. This is insane. She’s my guardian. I can’t stay here if she doesn’t want me with Haze.
“I’ll text you the address,” I say in defeat when I’m finished with the story.
She doesn’t speak for a few seconds.
“Don’t.”
“What?” I ask, certain I heard that wrong.
“I hate to admit it, but we don’t know what we’re doing. We can’t protect you right now. If what you’re saying is true, if it really took him fifteen minutes to find you, I… I think the safest place you can be right now is with him.”
Joy, surprise, disbelief—so many emotions fill me when she says that. Deep down, I’m happy because I don’t want to leave.
“Are you sure?”
“Trust me, I don’t like the idea, but this is for the best. You just need to stick it out until school’s over and you can go back home. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes,” I agree.
“We should really tell your mom about this though,” she says, guilt overwhelming her.
“Please, like she would care. She hasn’t called me once in the whole time I’ve been living with you. I’ve only talked to my dad. She’s happier not hearing from me, believe me.”
“Oh, sweetie, don’t say that. You know how she is. Lauren’s not too good with emotions. I’m sure she’s just been busy traveling with Harry,” she lies to make me feel better.
“Busy hating me maybe,” I grumble to myself. My aunt doesn’t want to admit it, but there is a reason my mother jumped at the opportunity to join my father—well, technically stepfather, but I consider him to be blood—on his work trip. The less she has to look at my face, the happier she is.
Maria fights my claims for a few more minutes and makes me promise to call her often. She also tries to get into a very awkward safe-sex conversation that I dodge like a pro.
“I have to go. I love you,” I say.
“I love you, too, honey. Be safe. I’ll be waiting for your call.”
I hang up and shove my phone in my jeans pocket. I step out of the changing room with all the clothes I don’t want in my hands, and the employee from earlier walks up to me with a black dress hanging from her left arm. She tells me that Haze wanted me to try it on. This is probably what they were talking about earlier.
“How much is it?” I ask.
“Two hundred and eighty.”
How about an organ with that?
I begin to decline but tell myself that there’s no harm in just trying it on. Minutes later, I’m out of the changing room and beyond conflicted. The dress looks like it was meant for me, even with my splint on.
“You looked fabulous.” The ginger employee smiles when I hand her the dress. I almost didn’t take it off.
“Thank you. But I really don’t have that kind of money for a dress.”
“I do.”
I’m a bit surprised when an unknown voice reaches my ears. I turn my head and see a guy who’s around my age standing a few feet away from me. Black hair covers part of his eyes, and his jaw is so sharp I’m sure you can throw a cucumber at it and have instant crudités.
“I’m sorry, manners. Name’s Ryder.”
He’s cute and all, but his offer pushes him into the slightly creepy category.
“Hi, I’m Winter,” I say politely.
“Are you new in town? I think I’d remember seeing you around.”
I almost scoff . Original. There should be a limit of uses allowed for cheesy pickup lines so you have to pay a fine every time you use one as old as time.
“I’m on vacation. Not staying for long.”
“That’s a shame. Well, enjoy the dress. It’s on me.”
“You really don’t have to d—”
He cuts me off. “I insist.”
The employee motions to follow her to the front of the store where the cash registers are.
Okay? Because this isn’t weird at all.
All I can do is stand back and watch this perfect stranger spend three hundred dollars on me. He pays and comes back to hand me the bag.
“There you go.”
I thank him. He starts walking but stops midway and turns around.
“Oh, and good luck for next Saturday.”
I nod faintly, confusion pouring over me. What is that supposed to mean?
What’s happening next Saturday?
Ryder waves goodbye and exits the store. At the same time, Haze walks back in with a bag of his own. He frowns and stares at Ryder until he’s out of sight.
“What was that about?” he asks.
“What do you know? Rich people are more generous than I thought. Dude insisted on buying me a three-hundred-dollar dress for no reason, can you believe it?”
“And you let him?” he blurts.
I’m a bit shocked by his reaction. “What was I going to do? Punch him? He didn’t give me much of a choice.”
The kind employee comes to my rescue. “It’s true, Mr. Adams. He didn’t give her a choice.”
I frown. This Mr. Adams thing again. Why would she call him that?
Haze barely acknowledges her, too focused on being angry for no reason. The employee knows how to take a hint and goes back to the storefront. I follow her, pay for the few items I’m getting and return to his side.
“Let’s go.” His tone is cold.
Am I sensing… jealousy?
We walk side by side for a few minutes until I can’t take it anymore.
“Why are you so moody?” I finally let myself ask.
“I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. You’ve been moody since that guy got me the dress,” I say.
“We have to go grocery shopping next.”
“Way to change the subject.”
“I mean, who does he think he is? Buying a perfect stranger a dress? That’s creepy. I don’t trust him.”
“Haze, it’s just a dress.”
“Whatever.” He shrugs.
“You know, if I didn’t know you any better, I’d say you’re jealous.”
He stiffens up. “Jealous? Please. I’m just wondering what motive this guy has. He’s probably never going to see you again, so why? Not to mention that we’re trying to keep under the radar.”
“It’s not like I’m ever going to wear a classy dress like this locked up in the lake house anyway.”
His shoulders seem to relax, his anger decreasing. He’s about to speak again when someone beats him to it.
“Haze?”
I can tell from the way his face crumbles that he knows that voice. I’d even go as far as to say that he’d recognize it anywhere.
We both turn around simultaneously and come face-to-face with a beautiful, short red-haired girl and a guy with loose brown curls. They look slightly older than us.
“Vic?” Haze seems a bit uneasy.
“I can’t believe it. How long has it been? Like two years?” The guy who answers to the name Vic pulls Haze into one of those bro hugs guys do to show their affection. I don’t speak male, obviously.
“Who’s this?” Vic asks when they pull away.
“Winter, this is Victor, my oldest friend. Victor, this is Winter, my…” He pauses, hesitant as to what word he should use. “Friend.”
There goes the F word again. I mentally curse, feeling myself fall deeper and deeper into the friend-zone hole.
“Nice to meet you, Winter,” he greets me. “This is my girlfriend, Beatrice.”
“But everyone calls me Bea.” She grins shyly.
I return their smiles. “Nice to meet you both.”
“What happened to you?” Bea asks, noticing my leg and crutches.
“I…” Think, Winter, think. “I fell.”
Haze holds back a small snicker.
What? That technically isn’t false.
Bea and Victor nod, satisfied with my answer, and bring their focus back on Haze.
“Why didn’t you tell me that you were back in town, man?”
“Because I’m not.” Haze shifts uncomfortably. “Well, not really. We’re just passing by. You know, not staying for long.”
“Still, you should’ve told me. How are things with you? We’ve barely even spoken since…”
Haze slightly clenches his jaw, and Victor cuts himself off like he just got too close to talking about something they promised to never bring up again.
He said Victor’s his oldest friend. They must’ve grown up together. I knew Haze had a past in this town.
This has got to be his hometown.
What else?
“I’m good. I’m great, actually.” Haze quickly fills the uncomfortable silence before it gets too thick. “How are you?”
A bunch of chitchat follows, and all Bea and I can do is stand by while the boys catch up.
“Good to see you guys are still together. How long has it been?” Haze asks.
Vic circles Bea’s shoulders with his arm. “Four years in a few days. We’re actually having a dinner party with a few friends next Saturday to celebrate our anniversary.”
“That’s great.” Haze nods.
No one speaks for a few seconds. Bea lightly elbows her boyfriend as if to make him realize something. On hit number two, he takes the hint.
“Oh, hey, do you guys want to come?”
Immediately, I feel Haze pulling away. Not physically, but mentally. He doesn’t even move a muscle, but his body language and the energy oozing off him scream that he’s not a fan of the idea. But I mean, that’s pretty much what he does every time someone tries to get somewhat close to him.
“We’d love to.” The words escape my mouth faster than I thought possible.
Haze tenses up by my side.
“Wait, really?” Vic’s eyes widen. “I mean, that’s great,” he corrects himself. He looks in disbelief that Haze said yes.
Well, technically, I did. But I spoke for the both of us.
It’s obvious that Vic’s tried to reconnect with Haze in the past and got repeatedly blown off.
“We have the day of the party off. What do you say we all hang out at our place beforehand?” Vic suggests, pushing it even further to see how long his luck will last.
“Sure,” I speak again.
Haze clears his throat, and I know it means “What the hell are you doing? Shut up,” but I ignore him.
“Awesome. Let’s exchange numbers,” Bea suggests.
Haze doesn’t oppose, nor does he entertain the idea. We all exchange phones. Vic and Haze are the only ones who don’t have to as they already have each other’s cells. Minutes later, we’re all set.
“This is going to be so fun. We’ll text you the time and address.” Bea claps her hands in excitement and looks at the time on her phone. “Oh, we have to get going, babe.”
“Okay. Well, we’ll see you next Saturday,” Vic says, turning away. “It was really nice meeting you, Winter.”
“You too.” I wave.
Haze forces a smile, and I bet to them it seems real. I think I’m the only one noticing those details because I’ve spent way too much time looking at his annoyingly perfect face. I could tell his fake smile apart from a real one with my eyes closed.
“Oh, and dress up.” Bea glimpses at us one last time before they walk away.
As soon as they’re out of sight, Haze turns to me.
I am so not getting away with this one.
When we enter the lake house, Haze drops the many grocery bags he’s carrying on the counter. Silent, he starts unpacking and filling the empty fridge up.
“What’s the big deal? It’s just some dinner party.” I try to get him to warm up to me. He’s been cold since we left the mall. First, it was the dress, now this.
“You had no right to say yes,” he says and puts a cereal box away.
“Why don’t you want to go?” I hop to him and grip the counter to find my balance. “They seem really nice. Plus, what else are we going to do stuck in here for the next few weeks?”
“Just drop it. You already said yes anyway.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“You don’t get it, Winter.”
“Then explain it to me.” I stare at him.
“It’s complicated.”
I scoff. “It always is.”
I put the last of the groceries away and move over to the living room to get away from him. He can’t be upset with me and not want to tell me why. This whole “closed book” thing is really starting to get on my nerves.
A few minutes later, he joins me. He’s holding the bag he had walking in the store earlier after his mysterious departure. He tells me to scoot over and sits next to me.
“Remember what we talked about today?” He grins like we weren’t arguing barely a minute ago. He seems so excited I don’t question his sudden demeanour change. “About you not having a phone?”
“Yeah?”
“I thought it was time we did something about that.” He gets a box out of the bag, opens it, and takes my ability to speak away from me.
In the box… is a brand-new phone.
“Haze, you didn’t.”
How the heck am I supposed to be annoyed with him when he does things like that?
My eyes fly over the phone for a few seconds. It’s very recent—like this year’s recent.
“Are you insane? I can’t accept this.”
“You kind of threw yours in the toilet because of me. I figured I owed you one. Plus, having you walk around with a dinosaur kind of defeats the purpose of keeping you safe, don’t you think?” He grabs my phone on the table next to the couch and analyzes it. “What can you even do with that piece of crap anyway?”
“I mean… I can text and call.”
“Can you even take pictures on that thing?”
“Of course. As long as you don’t mind them looking like they were taken with a potato.”
“Do you have any?” he asks.
“No, it’s kind of useless.”
“What about apps?”
“Server doesn’t allow it.” I shrug.
“So, basically, you don’t have anything that matters on there.” He raises an eyebrow.
“Pretty much,” I give in. “But it’s not that bad. It survived a lot more than the new phones do.” I refer to the whole kidnapping hell.
He smirks and glances at my prehistoric phone in his hand.
“Let’s see if it survives this.” He gets up and starts running.
Dang it, Winter. How could you not see that one coming?
“Haze, stop! I can’t chase you. That’s cheating.”
I watch him open the large glass doors leading to the balcony. Before I know it, he’s on the floating dock next to the house and throwing my phone as far as he can into the lake.
He walks back into the living room seconds later, laughter wrapping him up, and sits back down next to me. I immediately punch him in the arm with all the strength I can gather and scowl at him. After a few minutes, I give up. It’s not making a difference. If anything, it’s just amusing him more.
“Please, I did you a favor throwing that nightmare away. You should be thanking me.” He leans forward and glances over my shoulder to see what I’m doing. “What are you waiting for? Open it.”
“What’s the deal with everyone giving me stuff today?” I admire the phone—forced to admit that it’s much nicer than anything I’ve ever owned before—and press the button to turn it on.
“Haze, I… I don’t know how to thank you.” I flip the phone around and assess it some more. It’s huge. How am I even supposed to put this in my pocket?
“You can call me Master for the next few weeks and we’re good.”
“You wish, you sicko.” I chuckle.
He tears his eyes away from me. “Had to try.” He gets up from the couch. “You hungry?”
“Famished.”
“What do you want? We got pizza, pizza, and pizza.”
I swallow a small laugh. “How about pizza?”
“Good choice. Coming right up.” He glances at me one last time before turning the corner. Deep down, I’m glad that Maria allowed me to stay here with him. I found out more about Haze in the one day I’ve been here than in the whole time that I’ve known him…
And something tells me there’s way more to come.