Chapter 3
three
Idunk another Oreo in the milk as I watch the old Western show Dad enjoys. I never paid much attention to it before, but The Rifleman isn’t such a bad show.
I hear the lock turn in the door, making me sit up. In walks my brother, holding some groceries.
“What are you doing home?” I ask.
“Boss let us go early with pay. Said he had some things to do. So I stopped and bought some things.”
“Oh. That’s nice of him. We are watching The Rifleman if you want to join.” I settle back into my seat, popping another Oreo in my mouth.
I hear Will rustling in the kitchen before he comes in and sits on the opposite end of the couch.
“Why don’t you go out? Dad is almost asleep anyway.”
I turn toward him. “You could go out, you know.”
He shakes his head. “I want to play some video games and then crash. You should go enjoy being a college kid. Go to a party or something. It’s Saturday night. There has to be a party going on somewhere.”
He’s right. There is. The hockey house is having their first party of the season. I could go, but Kyle will probably be there.
“I don’t really want to go,” I mumble.
“Is it because of that douchebag? I will go beat him up right now. Say the word. Want him dead? I’ve lived enough life. I can spend the rest of it in prison.”
I roll my eyes at him. “You are such a drama queen. No, I don’t want him dead. It’s just…” I trail off.
“Let it all out. You know this is a no-judgment zone.”
He’s right. He always is.
I sigh. “When Kyle broke up with me, so did all my friends. I thought they would have my back, but instead they flocked to him. Ashley actually told me that the group was for WAGs only and I was no longer one. So I don’t have anyone to go with.”
He nods. “Okay, so you go get dressed. Look like the gorgeous woman you are, and you go to that party. Then you find at least one person to make conversation with. It doesn’t have to be something mind-blowing, but it is a small step.
You can’t let that man ruin your senior year.
Go enjoy the party, and if you hate it after thirty minutes, then come home.
If you need a ride, call me, and I will load Dad up, and we will come get you. ”
I think over his words. He isn’t wrong. Why can’t I go to the party? Sure, my supposed friends were shitty, but I could always make new ones. Besides, a drink with some music does sound good.
With my mind made up, I stand up from the couch. “Thank you, Will. You really are my rock.”
He laughs. “That’s a scary thought. Leave the Oreos.”
I hand him the package before taking my glass of milk to the sink to rinse out.
Then I set out to getting ready for the party.
Standing outside the hockey house, I am second-guessing myself. I could wait out the thirty minutes then go back home and lie to Will. I don’t want to do that, though.
Standing up straighter, I make my way up the porch. I don’t bother knocking. The music is pumping so loud, no one would hear anyway. As I make my way inside, I am relieved no one seems to be looking at me weird.
You can do this, Lyla. Make conversation.
I go to the kitchen first.
“You want a beer?” a younger guy asks.
He’s cute. He has a baby face, dark hair, and a nice smile.
“Only if it’s not opened,” I tell him.
He nods. “Of course. Here you go.”
He pulls out a can of beer and hands it to me.
“Thank you.” I open it, standing awkwardly next to the guy. “This is some party, huh?”
“Yeah. It’s my first one. It’s different than I imagined. I think it’s because Kellan and Wyatt keep a tight control on what happens here.”
I turn to him. “My name is Lyla.”
“Jason.”
“So you are on the hockey team?” I ask.
“Yes. Goalie. I won’t start this year with Wyatt still here, but I am lucky he decided to take me under his wing. I am a shoo-in for his starting position next year. Shit, sorry. Wyatt says I shouldn’t say that because nothing is guaranteed.”
I smile at how shy the kid looks. “Yeah, but it’s okay to acknowledge good things too.”
He laughs. “Yeah, Wyatt is good about giving advice. He says the egotistical ones always fall the hardest, so I am trying to stay humble. I’m not blind to the risks of playing hockey.”
“Oh? Are there many of those?”
He nods. “Did you hear about Brett Woods? He was medically redshirted two years ago for an injury. I wasn’t here for it, but Coach still talks about it. It scares me if I’m being honest.”
“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
He says something else, but I miss it because my attention is drawn toward the couple kissing as they fall against the doorframe of the kitchen.
It’s Kyle and Macy. He wasted no time at all moving on. I mean, I knew they were together, but seeing this is like a shot to the gut. It makes me feel physically ill.
Tears start to fall unbidden as I stare at the man I once thought was my future and put himself so far in my past that I don’t know how I was ever stupid enough to look twice at him.
“Is there somewhere I can get air?” I ask Jason.
He looks up at me, a frown on his face.
“Are you okay? Want me to make him leave?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No. I just need air.”
He nods. “Back door is that way. No one is allowed in the backyard, so you should have space. If you need anything, let me know.”
“Thanks, Jason.”
I leave him standing in the kitchen as I slip out of the kitchen and down the hall toward the back door.
As soon as the door closes behind me, I let out a sob.
I don’t even know why I am so upset. It’s obvious we were never meant to be.
Still, it hurts knowing that he could cast me aside so easily.
There’s one thing I know for sure.
Kyle is dead to me.
I am still leaning against the house trying to convince myself not to go back inside and pummel that asshole when I hear the door open.
No one is supposed to come out here, so I turn to tell them to go back inside.
I’m stopped in my tracks when I see who it is.
Lyla Wayne is standing outside, not ten feet away from me.
My heart is in my throat.
Then I hear it. The soft sobs. She’s crying. I hate knowing she is so hurt right now. I don’t have to ask her why she is crying. I already know. She saw that useless piece of shit inside with that knockoff version of her. She is heartbroken.
Moving to her side, I try not to startle her.
“What’s wrong?” I ask softly.
I wonder if she will tell me the truth. Will she tell me about the cheating son of a bitch inside?
She looks shocked when she looks at me. I get it. We have only talked a handful of times. It’s not that I didn’t want to hear her angelic voice. No, it’s because I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from showing my true feelings for her.
Lyla has been the girl who haunts my dreams since I was a freshman. The one who got away, yet the one I never really had to begin with.
“Sorry. I know I’m not meant to be out here. I’ll leave,” she says, turning to leave.
My hand reaches out to grab her arm. She looks down at the contact.
“I’m not mad you are here. I want to know what has a beautiful girl like you crying in my backyard. Do I need to go deal with a problem inside?” I ask her.
She lets out a small laugh through her tears. “No. Thank you, though. You are the third person tonight to offer that.” She sniffles. “It’s going to sound stupid.”
“Lay it on me.”
She sighs as she starts to cry harder. “My boyfriend and I broke up a few days ago. We were together a long time, so seeing him with someone else hurts. I don’t want it to hurt, but it does.”
I step closer, holding open my arms. “Can I hug you?”
She steps into my arms without question, letting me wrap my arms around her.
I feel her slide her arms around my waist as she starts to cry harder.
I hold her through it all. I let her get out all of her tears on my chest while I try to push the anger I feel inside me down. I could strangle Kyle right now.
When she is finally all cried out, she pulls back, looking up into my eyes. “I’m sorry. I got your chest all wet,” she whispers as she uses the sleeve of her sweater to swipe across her nose.
Using the hem of my T-shirt, I gently wipe her cheeks. “No apology necessary. I’m happy I could be of assistance.”
She smiles. “I should sneak out before he sees me. If he sees my eyes all puffy, he will know he won. I can’t have his ego getting any bigger. I don’t even think these tears were truly for him.”
“What were they for then?” I can’t help but be curious.
“The loss of what I thought we had. Honestly, it’s a relief not to be his girlfriend anymore. Still doesn’t help my pride, though. I took a real hit.”
I don’t like how dejected she looks. She is strong. She will get through this, but I have to do something.
That’s when a crazy idea enters my head.
“Do you trust me?” I ask her.
She tilts her head. “I know we barely know each other, but oddly, I think I do. At least a little bit.”
“Good. Take your hair down,” I demand.
She does as I ask, her eyes no longer sad. They now look inquisitive.
I reach out and run my hands through her hair. I hold her face as if I were going to kiss her as I let my fingers mess up her hair.
Her breath catches as she looks up at me.
Then, I reach down and run my hand across her lips, smearing her lipstick a little. Using the bit on my thumb, I rub it over my own lips. It takes everything in me not to suck my thumb in my mouth to see if I can taste her on it.
I undo my belt, leaving it hanging.
Leaning into her, I whisper, “Just a little more.”
Rubbing my face against hers, I smile when she giggles as the little bit of stubble I hadn’t shaved off today rubs against her skin.
When I pull back, I am happy to see her look thoroughly ravished.
“Was your goal to make me look like a whore?” she asks, but there is no bite to her tone.
“No. Not at all,” I tell her.
“What is your plan then?”
I hold out my hand, loving when she places hers in mine. “I’m giving you the most coveted position on campus.”
I open the back door and step inside. No one notices us right away, which is good. It can’t look fake.
“Oh yeah? What is that?” She raises her voice to be heard over the music as we make our way into the living room.
I lean into her, saying into her ear, “My girlfriend.”
“Yeah, Scott! Get it,” a guy from one of my classes calls out.
“Don’t talk about my girlfriend that way,” I bark at him, causing shock to spread through the crowd gathered in the room.
I look up, smirking when my eyes meet Kyle’s. He looks angry as he stares at Lyla. Then his eyes meet mine.
I keep the smile on my face as I lead Lyla to the stairs.
Yeah, Kyle. You let her go. She’s mine now.
She’s mine, and I won’t ever let her go.