Chapter 4
Kailey
Arriving at our destination, I see multiple rows of vehicles that are already parked, indicating this is where we’re supposed to park the truck.
In the distance, smoke is dancing into the dark sky.
Music can be heard blasting through portable speakers, but we aren’t close enough to decipher which song is playing.
The scent of burnt wood and citrus invades my nose.
I breathe the air in deeply. “I love this.”
Instant regret consumes me with each step taken.
My sandals have gotten stuck in the mud multiple times on this walk.
Finally, we make it to where the actual bonfire is being held.
Looking down, I notice that there are multiple coolers opened, with all types of alcohol options on display.
I don’t need alcohol to have a good time with friends, so I continue my walk past the coolers, only pausing when I notice Brittney stopping, bending down to grab two unopened cans of Jock’s Hard Lemonade for the both of us.
She hands one to me, ice still clinging to the bottom of the can.
Brittney wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer as we walk together. “Just one. It’ll be fine. Sip on it and enjoy this beautiful summer night.” Her vanilla bean lotion smells amazing.
Remembering my motto from earlier, not being a Debbie Downer, I smile back at her, clinking our cans together.
We always stick together in public, never taking a sip of an opened drink, and never leaving a drink unattended while we’re out.
Jared and Greg are in a discussion about crotch rockets.
Steffan is now wearing a backwards baseball hat, his team logo embroidered on it, shirt unbuttoned, showing off chiseled abs.
A line of hair starts at his belly button and teases down his V into his jeans, making imaginations go crazy.
Yep, our guy besties are truly very sexy.
Steffan is flirting with a brunette, who’s wearing a short denim dress, sitting cross-legged in a chair by the fire.
Brittney and I continue our walk around, enjoying the view.
When we walk past them, Brittney’s steps falter slightly, her body stiffening. That is… odd. We sip on our hard lemonades, bodies bouncing to “No Diggity” by Blackstreet, Dr. Dre and Queen Pen. Not a care in the world, until the smell of cinnamon invades me from behind.
“There you are,” a husky voice whispers against my neck. Turning my body slowly, preparing myself, I realize it’s Jared. Of course it is. This man is like a dog on a hunt that caught my scent earlier, and tracked me down. Okay, Kailey, think. What should you say?!
Emerald eyes meet mine. “Hey,” I mutter.
It’s official: I’m an idiot… Brittney lightly shoves my upper back.
My sandal trips over a stick and my body hurtles into him.
Jared catches me by my elbow, steadying me.
Instant heat from his calloused fingertips travel up my arm, and down into my core.
His searing touch makes my head fuzzy, making my heart race.
Is he a drug? All I’m capable of doing is staring back into his green eyes, holding my breath.
Brittney’s voice cuts through my body’s temporary malfunction. “I’m gonna go introduce myself,” she tips her head in Steffan’s direction, “to his new flavor of the week.” Is that a hint of jealousy I hear in her tone? No, it can’t be.
Before I’m able to tell her I’ll go too, she’s gone.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, I casually look around.
There are a lot of people at this bonfire.
Jared continues to stare at me, and I feel my cheeks grow hotter with each second.
“Are you always this hard to get to know?” Turning toward his voice, I see that he’s smiling, and close enough I can smell the beer on his breath.
He continues to study me, mesmerized, his breath now on my cheek.
Looking at him fully, my mouth goes dry.
My god, his face is pure perfection: sun-kissed, flawless skin and a sharp jawline.
His emerald green eyes appear to be sparkling from the flames dancing behind us.
His bottom lip is plump and full, begging to be sucked.
I feel a need to crush the small distance between us and lick his bottom lip, wondering what he would taste like on my tongue.
Nope. No. Not going there. I do not need a man after Brandon’s cheating ass. I was left questioning my worth.
“I’m just trying to enjoy the night. You should know,” gesturing my hands between our bodies, “I’m really not looking for anything right now.” Smiling up at him, he has to be six two or six three. Awkwardly, my feet shuffle back and forth. Why does he have to be so damn sexy?
Clutching a hand over his chest, in mock relief, he jests, “Whew, that is perfect because I just want to make friends in this new scary place I’m to call home.” Okay, he’s trying to joke with me. Closing my eyes, I shake my head and laugh. Jared is kind of funny.
Before I can ask him a question someone screams, “COPS!”
Chaos abruptly unfolds. Everyone stops what they’re doing, deciding to take off, running deeper into the woods.
I attempt to turn around and look for Brittney, when I feel a warm hand lock onto mine, tightly.
Jared leads us through the herd of people, his death grip pulling me alongside him.
I’ve already tripped twice, trying to keep up.
Goodbye, black sandals; they’ll be trash by the end of the night.
My body hums to feel his touch on more than just my hand.
Behind us, sirens echo out into the darkness, bouncing off of the trees we now run through. I look back just in time to see the guy running next to us trip over something, his body rolling on the ground, landing in a pond.
No! Not just some guy—my cousin Brian! I chuckle into Jared’s arm when I see that he’s back up and running.
Yikes, that’s going to hurt tomorrow. Jared’s body tenses as my lips connect to skin in the crease of his elbow.
Jared slows his pace, causing my steps to line up with his; we’re now walking side by side.
Casually, he pulls me up against him behind a tree.
Laughter, along with leaves rustling and sticks breaking, can be heard all around us as heavy breathing rushes past us.
Looking down at my feet, a thick coat of dirt engulfs my toes. Wiggling them, I attempt to break apart the dirt. That’s just flipping awesome. “Gah!”
Standing tall, I check my surroundings. It’s then that I realize it’s pitch black out here in these woods, and I’m with a guy I don’t even really know, who could potentially be a serial killer, who’s currently still holding my hand.
Relaxing my fingers, I unlatch his hand from mine awkwardly, putting a few steps between us.
My hand is already missing the warm contact he was freely offering.
Adrenaline is wearing off; I bend over to catch my breath, resting my hands on my knees.
Shit! I must’ve dropped my can at some point.
I slowly shake my head back and forth. “I really don’t want a ticket for being underage with alcohol on my breath.
” Standing back up, I look at Jared. “I’d have to call my parents, who would for sure be disappointed in me.
I vote we hide here until we hear that the police officers have left. ”
Jared, who isn’t even the slightest bit out of breath, takes his hat off, running his fingers through his thick dark hair a few times before placing it back on backwards. Am I making him nervous?
Grinning, he looks up at the dark sky then back down at me. “Well, this is definitely not how I pictured getting to know you.”
Right now, in this exact moment, I can feel the warmth starting in my cheeks and spreading down to my core—my body’s reaction to the way he’s looking at me, devouring me.
“I am legally old enough to drink. I’m not sure why I ran.” Shaking his head, he looks back toward where the red and blue lights are streaming.
A laugh bubbles out of me. I point in the direction we came from. “Yeah, you totally could have just hung out back there, and what? Make conversation with those cops?” Sarcasm drips from my tone.
That’s my crutch. I like to be sarcastic and blunt. Some people can handle it, while others not so much.
Leaning into my neck, he slowly moves my hair out of the way, whispering, “Yes, I think I’ll survive your company for tonight, Dimples.” A faint touch of his lips on my neck seals his statement.
Dimples?! That nickname should not make butterflies erupt in my stomach. Oh, alright then… nope… don’t react. My body craves much more from him. His breath on my neck sends an electric surge right to my pussy. Okay, she’s starved, aching to be touched by... him? Cap Guy?
Jared tells me he’s from California and only moved here because his granddad passed away, leaving him and his brother an estate in the area.
He tells me how he felt a little guilty since they hadn’t really visited him since he was a little boy, and isn’t sure what to think about a place that has bonfires for fun.
He keeps the conversation going, stopping for me to add my two cents about my life, job, and college courses.
I feel at ease talking to him; no pressure or judgment linger in those emerald eyes.
I’m not sure how much time passes out here in the woods.
My phone beeps in my pocket. Flipping my pink Razr open, a notification shows a text from Brittney.
Britters
Where are you?! I tried to find you when all hell broke loose… and you were GONE. I’m with Steffan and Greg. We can come to you. Please tell me you aren’t dead in the woods?!:P
Me
Haha, you are sooo funny!! I’m cackling over here next to the big bad wolf by a tree in the woods... -.- Actually… I’m with Jared… Do you know if the cops are gone?
Britters