Beyond Repair (Broken Girl Book 1)

Copyright © 2016 Annie Hughes

All rights reserved. No parts of this publication can be transmitted in any form or by any other means. Failure to do so will result in legal action against you. This is a work of fiction, any persons mentioned who resemble persons pasts, present and future is purely coincidental. Ownership of this novel is protected by Copyright and belongs to the author.

Cover Art by Dedicated Ink

Editing and Formatting by Dedicated Ink

"Get the coffee on, bitches. I'm home."

I wince at the volume of her screech. From the sounds of it, Lydia Baker hasn't changed one single bit. She never has been a quiet girl, not even as a kid - wild, untamed, and loud.
Really loud
. I turn my head in time to see Joe, my cousin’s other half, pull a face that screams
oh fuck
, which only deepens the scowl on my own. I should have known Kate would still be picking up her childhood friend from the gutter. Lord knows why, the girl’s bat shit crazy. Has been since she was five. I wince again as I listen to a high pitched squeal filter from the kitchen, no wait, make that two squeals. Great. She's been here for thirty seconds and it's already resulted in my, usually mature cousin, turning into a fucking banshee. I fix Joe with an imploring look, mouthing "what the fuck" in his direction. He grunts out his hushed reply.

"From the sound of that," he inclines his head to the direction of the kitchen door. "I'd say little Lydia Baker was moving back home."

"Home? I never knew she left. Who the fuck let her out of town?"

His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. I shrug. How the hell would I know? I haven't stepped foot in this lame little town for almost six years.  I left for college and then stayed there, with the hopes of never having to return. I'm only back now because the company I was working for turned to shit and I have nowhere else to go. You fuck up, you go home. It's a universal rule. Joe doesn't get to reply, as a whirlwind of bright red hair and expensive perfume comes barreling into the lounge. Her mouth moves a million miles a minute as she continues her conversation with Kate, consecutively gulping at her drink. I'd be impressed at the multi-tasking, but I really can't stand this girl.

"...so obviously I told him he could kiss my fine ass, and then I high-tailed it outta there quick time."

"You just left? Middle of the night, just like that?" Kate asks, motioning to Joe to move from the couch to the recliner.

I hold back a laugh as he does, flipping me the bird on his way. He always has been pussy-whipped by Kate. Not that I can blame him. She’s damn scary when she got one of her moods on her. They've been together since her junior year in college - he was her professor but that’s a whole other story - and married for the past two years. I didn't make the wedding. I was too busy living my asshole life in the city. I have some serious ass kissing in my immediate future.

"Yeah, I just left. I was sick of his emo-ass using all my fucking eyeliner," Lydia laughs. "I mean, it's not like that shit grows on trees."

Kate laughs now too, then looks over and offers me an apologetic smile. She'd gotten the call from her friend roughly forty-six seconds before her loud mouth showed up. It sent her into a panic, flurrying around the place and I still don't know why. I mean shit, they grew up together. Like she'd give a shit about the tiny bit of mess on the damn coffee table. I return her smile, so she knows I'm fine, then focus on the red-headed disaster herself. Her eyes fix on mine at the same time, bright blue and still as crazy as ever. I watch the recognition register in them before a lazy smirk graces her heart-shaped face.

"Well, holy shit. Callum Fucking Reeves."

I offer her a two finger wave, then try and recall the last time I saw the psychotic bitch. I internally click my fingers when the memory comes front and centre in my mind. It was the day before I left for college. I had to go and pick Kate up from her school dance because, and I can only assume, Lydia had lost her shit. I saw her in the rear view mirror, wrestling with her poor father as he tried, and failed, to get her in the car. Her hair was as black as night then, falling in long thick curls over her face. She never could stick to one style. Even now, its fire engine red, all toppled on top of her head, with random strays falling down. She looks like she’s just crawled through a bush, but somehow it works for her. Lydia is beautiful, always has been. No matter what hair color she had.

I’ve always felt bad for her dad. It must have been difficult living with someone so volatile and impossible. He raised her alone after his wife died giving birth. Mark Baker is the Mayor of our little crap-fest town, and his daughter was a spoilt little bitch, probably still is judging by the perfectly manicured nails and designer clothes clinging to her figure. I can't even begin to count the amount of times I heard she had ran off, only to be found a few days later by the police.

Kate refused to say a word that night when I picked her up from school, despite my best efforts. She just sat and cried silently on the passenger seat beside me. I never did find out what happened. It was never spoken of again and I left the following day anyway. I figured Lydia had way too much alcohol (again) and fucked the whole night up (again). She always ruined things for Kate. I have no idea why they're still friends. I force a smile on my face and reply.

"Hey, Lyds."

Her smirk deepens.

"Looks like Golden Boy went off and became a man," she licks her lips and I try to ignore the way my traitor dick appreciates it. "Hot damn, Reeves."

I let my gaze drift over her body. She is still as tiny as she's always been, but now she has curves and is all fucking woman.
Why is it always the crazy ones that are the hottest?
She shifts on the seat and leans forward towards Kate, the white shirt she’s wearing moving with her, teasing me with a glimpse of the pink lace beneath.
Holy mother of God.
I force my eyes back up to her face.

"Looks like you did some growing up yourself, Little Bit."

Kate interrupts our stare off by clearing her throat and pulling Lydia's attention away. I'm grateful for the distraction, she was looking and me like I was her favorite steak dinner and I wasn't exactly hating it. There are some things in life you just have to say no to, and getting heavy with that little spit fire is a hell to the fuck no. I just wish my dick wasn’t so insistent on getting more than heavy with her. Then again, the poor bastard hasn’t seen the inside of a woman in almost four months, since Cerys and me broke it off. There’s another reason I’m home. Kate’s voice pulls me from my head.

"So what now, Lyds? You really back? For good?"

For the first time in, well ever, I see Lydia look unsure. Her brows furrow, eyes darkening, as her lips twitch at the corners in a small grimace. She shares a look with Kate, then visibly forces her face impassive, shutting down the usual spark in her eyes completely. Kate touches the top of her hand softly and leans in to whisper something to her. I sneak a glance as Joe who discreetly shakes his head.
Back the fuck off -
message received, loud and clear. What the fuck did I miss whilst I was gone? Lydia Baker might be a few things, but she’s the most confident person I know. She wears her individuality like a fucking neon sign, and doesn't give a shit whether you like it or not. She'll shove it down your throat anyway, and make you choke on her madness.

Finally, she speaks, but her voice is at least 2 octaves below the usual.

"Well, I guess I need to go find an apartment."

"Aidan Hashmore has the realtors now. I bet he could find you a place," Kate laughs.

"The only place he'd find is my vagina, with his penis," she rolls her heavily made up eyes dramatically. "Been there, done that."

"Twice."

Lydia winks at my cousin's comment, then the pair of them start laughing again. I mentally envision smacking my head against the wall, repeatedly. I really didn't want to sit here and partake in a discussion about Lydia's sex life. Kate leans forward, putting her face inches from hers.

"Are you telling
him
you're back?"

Who? Why do I care?
Shut up, Callum.
Lydia’s face transforms into a tight scowl, her perfectly shaped eyebrows furrowing together.

"I'd rather chew screws, and then shit them out again," she stands abruptly, blinking her big eyes a couple of times in quick succession. "Alright fuckers, I best go and get my shit organized. Thanks for the coffee Kitty, I'll call you later."

She turns to Joe and smiles, "As always, Mr Sherman, awesome chatting with you."

He rolls his eyes and chuckles under his breath. Joe isn't a man of many words, never has been. But the way he looks at Lydia is baffling, I could swear its gratitude and respect in his eyes. Her focus switches to me. I lean back, bracing myself for whatever ridiculous shit is about to come out of her pretty mouth. We’ve never really been friendly, "Callum, it was nice to see you again."

Huh?
Well that was... normal? She turns and walks towards the door, her bright pink skirt swaying around her legs.
Why am I looking at her legs?
Just before she leaves she clicks her fingers and spins back, her bright eyes alight with mischief even a man on death row would run from.

"Oh and Reeves," she starts. I turn my attention to her. "I'm staying at Park Bay Lodge if you wanna... you know... bump uglies to pass some time."

Her smile is wicked as she winks my way, then skips out, banging the door shut behind her. I stare in her wake, ignoring the laughter coming from Joe behind me, as Kate chokes on her coffee.

"Well," Joe says, the amusement still lacing his voice. "It looks like The Devil herself is home, and she's about to tear shit up."

The Devil. Yeah she's a sinner alright.

"I'm not losing my shit," I say and turn back to face them. "She's definitely gotten more insane, right?"

Again, I watch a look I don't recognize pass through the room. What the hell am I missing here?

"A lot happened with Lydia after you left," Kate says. "She can't really help being like that."

My confusion must show on my face as Joe pipes up then.

"She's not just crazy, dude. She's
certifiably
crazy."

"You mean... there's actually been something wrong with her this whole time?" I ask, unable to keep the shock out of my voice. Saying that, it does explain a lot. "Like Bipolar or some shit?"

Kate's eyes narrow on my own, her knuckles turning white as the grip she has on her cup tightens. Argh shit. I made her mad.

"There is nothing wrong with Lydia," she says, through gritted teeth. "She has a personality disorder, and some other stuff. It isn't her fault. She just sees the world differently, better than fucking most actually," she rises and storms to the kitchen, turning at the last minute to really drive her point home. "Assholes like you are the reason she had to move away, and leave the only person that ever gave two fucks about her, behind," she points her finger in my direction. "You better stay the fuck away from her. I'm warning you, Callum Reeves. You might be my cousin, but I'll damn well kick your ass if you so much as breathe the wrong way around her."

I hold my hands up in innocence, "I have no immediate plans to be anywhere near that girl," I say.
Even though she invited me to be more than near her
,
and a sick little part of me kinda wanted to accept
. "And I'll be sure to keep my breathing to a minimum."

She huffs out a frustrated breath and then storms into the kitchen, mumbling something not so sparkly about men. I glance at Joe who's shaking his head in my direction.

"You're just asking for an ass whooping."

I smile.

"Maybe."