Jayded (34 page)

“
You know, it just wasn
’
t meant to be for right now. My perfect house is out there, though. I know it,
”
I respond with a wink.

I look over at Kinsey, and she
’
s watching us intently. Shit! She furrows her brows and squints as though she
’
s trying to figure us out. By the end of the night, I guarantee she will be asking what the deal is.

“
So, Kinsey, did you have a good flight?
”
Jeff asks.

I roll my eyes. He just opened up a can of worms.
“
Ugh! I swear, next time I will just drive. I understand why we have to go through all the madness just to get through security, but for such a short flight it is
so
not worth it! They need to create an express lane!
”
she says, exasperated.

We all laugh at her madness.
“
Well, so sorry I asked!
”
Jeff jokes.

“
So, someone please tell me about this band,
”
I say.

The waitress comes around with our drinks.
“
They
’
re called Crank. They
’
re kind of a hip punk rock band. You
’
ll like them, they
’
re different,
”
Jeff responds.

“
Um, is there going to be a bunch of teenie boppers there?
”
I ask.

Kinsey joins in.
“
Yeah, some underage drinkers who wipe off the
‘
X
’
on their hands?
”

“
Wait, what
’
s wrong with teenie boppers?
”
Jeff asks.

I laugh.
“
Oh, that
’
s right, you still are one.
”

“
Um, that would make me one as well,
”
Kyle adds.
“
And I am
way
past teeny,
”
Kyle says with a smile.

Jeff throws up his hands.
“
Dude! No one wants to know that!
”

Poor Elise doesn
’
t know what to say. Jeff whispers something to her every now and then, and she giggles. She
’
s got it bad. I
’
m not so sure it
’
s a good thing. I don
’
t know much about Jeff, but from what I gather, he is most definitely a bad boy. I would hate to see her get her heart broken.

“
So Kyle, who are you banging at the office?
”
Kinsey questions, very direct and to the point. She
’
s not a bullshiter. I learned to be so direct from her, but she
’
s way worse than I am. Kyle just might want to walk away.

He almost spits out his drink. Kinsey looks proud.
“
No one at the moment. Why? Are you in line?
”
he teases. I personally don
’
t find it funny.

“
If I was in line, you would know it. Let
’
s cut the crap here. I see how you look at my friend
—”
she begins to say. Jeff and Elise quietly watch this shit go down.

I know all too well where this is going.
“
Kins
—”
I try to interrupt. She holds her finger up to me to hold my thought.

“
If you hurt her, I will wring your little neck and then stomp on your face until it
’
s unrecognizable. Got it?
”
she says, pointing her finger at him.

I cover my face, completely embarrassed. She is just so over-the-top sometimes, but she means well. She
’
s seen me hurt, and she won
’
t have it happen again. She didn
’
t really care for Cody, but she tolerated him for my sake. I
’
m sure she won
’
t do that again.

Kyle looks her straight in the eyes.
“
I don
’
t plan on breaking anything of hers. She means way too much to me,
”
he confesses. She continues to stare him down, but then she stops. It
’
s almost as though she can see his honesty.

I let his words sink in.

“
Okay, as long as we
’
re on the same page,
”
she says, backing down.

Jeff holds up his beer.
“
On that note, salute!
”
he yells.

We all put our drinks up.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

Kyle

Wow! That is all I
’
m going to say about Kinsey. She is one crazy chick, but I think I
’
m going to like her. Anyone who is willing to put their neck out for a friend is definitely someone I want on my side. I periodically peer at Jeff and Elise, and he seems very attentive to her. I haven
’
t really witnessed this side of him before, so it
’
s actually inspiring. If he can change, maybe I can too.

Geez, thinking this way seems a little foreign to me, a little domestic. Is this okay at twenty-four? Shouldn
’
t I be on the prowl for the next easy thing? I look over at Max. No, definitely not.

We get our appetizers and inhale them down with another round of drinks. We all have to drive, so we cut ourselves off until we get to the Smoke House to see the band.

The Smoke House is a little dive bar near the beach. It
’
s jam-packed, but the energy is upbeat and the vibe is good. Everyone seems to be having a chill time.

I grab us all a round of drinks as we squeeze into the only open bar table. The only advantage of this is I can be close to Max without even trying or seeming suspicious.

“
Wow, this is some crowd. Do you go to these things a lot?
”
Max asks me.

I have to speak right up to her ear.
“
No, not really
—
every now and then. Before my college years, Jeff and I would sneak into these places through the back,
”
I say, pointing to the back door.
“
But they obviously caught on to that.
”
I smile as we watch the bouncer guarding the back door with his life.

The opening band begins. Some stop to listen, but most continue on with their conversations and wait for the headliner.

“
This is actually great!
”
Kinsey screams. She
’
s right next to us. I laugh. I
’
m glad everyone is having a good time.

Max just bobs her head to the music, and Elise seems to be enjoying herself. Tonight couldn
’
t have been more perfect.

After the band ends, the bar starts to empty. We head to the parking lot. I stop Max to speak with her while Kinsey gets into the passenger
’
s seat.

“
Hey, I had a good time tonight,
”
I tell her. God, I want to kiss her so bad.

“
Me too. Kinsey really enjoyed herself.
”

“
Can
’
t you drop her off and sneak away?
”
I beg. I
’
m just dying to have my lips all over her body.
“
I
’
ll make it worth your while,
”
I say coyly. I will try anything to influence her decision.

She sighs.
“
I can
’
t. God, I want to, but I can
’
t,
”
she says with a pout.

“
Please don
’
t make me beg,
”
I plead.

She shakes her head, denying me. I drop my head in defeat.
“
It
’
s only one night. We can be without each other for one night.
”
She puts her palm against my cheek, then walks away.

I don
’
t want to go a night without her next to me. How the hell did I become so addicted? I straighten myself up and say goodnight to Jeff and Elise before I head to my car. I can do this. I don
’
t need anyone sleeping next to me. I was fine two weeks ago, and I
’
ll be fine now.

As soon as I get into my apartment, I strip off my clothes and dive into my bed. No matter how much I want to deny it, I can
’
t stop thinking about Max. I do what I never do this late at night unless it
’
s a booty call: I text her.

“
My bed
’
s cold. I wish you were here.
”

I
wake up early to meet Jeff at the gym. He
’
s already there, warmed up and starting his cardio. I begin my stretches.

“
Dude, you
’
re late,
”
he scolds.
“
I went to bed the same time you went to be
—”
He doesn
’
t even finish before the light bulb in his head lights up.
“
Unless
Maxine stopped by?
”

He
’
s digging. He
’
s trying to get the lowdown. I should be doing the same with him and Elise.
“
No man, she didn
’
t come by. I spent the night alone if that
’
s what you
’
re getting at.
”

“
Well, that sucks. Are you losing your touch already?
”
he teases.

Before I can put in my rebuttal, Jeff
’
s younger brother Julian comes by.
“
Oh my God! You should have seen the chick I snagged last night!
”
he brags while slapping me up.

“
Oh yeah?
”
Jeff taunts.
“
Did she have a dick?
”

I snicker. He
’
s freaking crazy. Julian
’
s face is priceless.
“
Nah, you dumb fuck. She has a nice pair of tits and a huge ass. Don
’
t hate.
”

At this point, I am dying. I can
’
t even contain myself.
“
Julian, you freaking kill me!
”
I tell him between laughs.

After an hour of catching up and laughing, I head out. I think I worked my ab muscles more than anything with those two guys. I drive home to shower and take a nap before heading to my parents for dinner. My mom called yesterday to say she was making sauce and wanted Junior and I there. I just couldn
’
t say no and disappoint her. It
’
s not her fault we
’
re assholes. I haven
’
t had a home-cooked meal in a while. My mom
’
s just been too busy to find the time. Now that my brother and I are grown, there
’
s no need for the family dinners every night. Not like my father was always a part of those, anyway.

I finally get a text back from Max. She must have just woken up.

“
Hey, I slept like shit if it makes you feel any better
…”

“
Me too. Wanna have an afternoon nap with me?
”
I reply.

“
Hmm, what time?
”

I do a quick, excited dance.

“
Now. I
’
m getting in the shower,
”
I write.