Lonesome Beds and Bumpy Roads (Beds #3) (9 page)

“You think it’s big enough?” I ask Nate, pushing the display mattress with my fist. Nate adjusts his fedora then walks around the bed.

“Where you gonna put it?”

“In my room.”

A small laugh tumbles from his lips. “Not sure if it’ll fit.”

“It’ll be fine.” Really, I have no idea if it will, but it’s on clearance. I turn around, rest my butt up against the edge, then fall back. “It’s soft, yeah? Girls like soft?”

Nate plops down on the other side. “Firm too. Perfect soft to firm ratio.”

“Kinda big.” I stretch out and I don’t even touch Nate. “Maybe it’s a California King.”

“I don’t think it’s that big.”

“I do.”

“Big is good though, right?”

“Not much excuse for cuddle time.”

“You can make it work.” He turns on his side and throws his leg on mine.

“Dude, get off me.”

“I get no love for
bed browsing
with you?”

I lay a fist hard on his thigh, giving him a dead leg. He rolls over twice and still doesn’t land on the floor. Yeah… the mattress really is too big.

But it’s on clearance.

“You think she’ll like it?”

“I think I need a doctor.” He laughs as he runs his knuckles over his thigh.

“Maybe I’ll just get the queen.”

“Isn’t the king size like, your guys’ thing?”

“Like killing innocent animals is your and Kaylee’s thing?” I say with a smirk, remembering the story of how Nate accidentally fried Kaylee’s hamster, Mr. PeePee in an exhaust pipe.

“Apparently lying about where you are all the time is our thing now.” He narrows his eyes at the rafter ceiling before sliding his fedora down over his face.

“Come on,” I say. “You know Kaylee. She’s probably got some embarrassing zit or something and she doesn’t want you to see it.”

“Is that what it is? Because I know she’s been with you.”

“It’s nasty, man.”
Kaylee’s going to kill me
. “Takes up half her face.”

“She’d still look cute as hell.”

I make a whipping sound. He lifts his fedora along with one of his eyebrows and looks pointedly at the mattress we’re currently on. Yeah, yeah, like I’m one to talk.

“Anything I can help you with, gentlemen?” a lady in a red vest asks as she steps up to the side of the mattress.

“Yeah… this is fifty percent off that ticket price, right?”

I point to the stand that has the amount in big bold black letters. The lady—nametag says Caroline—nods with a friendly yep-I’m-a-salesperson smile.

“That’s correct. Mattress and box spring.”

“But the frame…”

“Sold separately.”

I blow out a long breath and sit up. So much for that.

“They have those adjustable metal ones, right?” Nate asks. He slides to the edge and we both push to our feet.

“Yes. But you’ll need to get one that fits the California King.”

“Knew it was bigger!” I say, pointing at Nate with a laugh. He rolls his eyes at me.

“How much do they run?” he asks Caroline.

“We have a few for $99.99 with the purchase of a mattress. Otherwise, you’re looking at $130.00.” Caroline smiles and pulls out an order slip. “Are you two paying in full or would you like to apply for a loan?”

Nate’s brow furrows, and I bust out a laugh. “Bed’s just for me,” I tell her, and when it hits Nate he takes a purposeful three steps away from me. “And I’m hoping to pay in full. Depends on how much taxes and delivery and all that other extra stuff turns out to be.”

She laughs, nodding as she jots down the product number. “If you want to follow me, I’ll ring it up at the register and we’ll see what we’re looking at.”

We walk past the regular sized kings, the queens, the fulls, bunk beds—which I have to admit, a part of me
really
wants—and then we reach the frames. The wood ones that are all fancy and stuff are about a grand a piece. I may not be going to college but I don’t have the money for that.

Caroline steps behind the counter and Nate wanders off to the wardrobes. Probably looking for a usable magic prop.

Caroline’s nails clack across the keyboard as she types in who knows what. She has these long fake nails that have been airbrushed with some sort of flower or sun or starburst looking thing on the tips. Something Lex would love but wouldn’t keep on her nails for longer than a day, per usual.

I wonder what color they were yesterday.

Caroline clicks her mouse, then swivels the computer screen toward me. “The total—with purchase of a frame, taxes, and delivery fee—will be this bottom number here.” She circles the green number in giant font with the tip of her pen.

And I crap my pants.

“Ouch,” I say, then let out a long whistle. “Yeah… what are payments looking like on it?”

“With clearance items, they’ll need to be off the floor within three months of purchase.”

“So split it by three?”

“The first month is interest free. We can run a credit check and give you an estimate on the remaining months’ interest.”

“I don’t have credit.” I rub the back of my neck.

“This’ll be a great way to get you some,” she says brightly. I try to manage a smile but I can’t. Adult shit sucks already.

I want this. I wanted to surprise Lex with it on her birthday, but I’m SOL there. My eyes flick past Nate locking himself inside one of the displays and to that California King. Right now I don’t have rent or utilities or a car payment. Seems as good a time as any to buy a bed for a new place…

“All right,” I say, stifling a laugh as a floor sales guy makes Nate get out of the closet. I look up at Caroline and slide my ID across the counter. “Can you see what the payments will be?”

***

After plopping down half of my paycheck on the first month’s payment on the Cali King—or The Best Present Ever, I’m gonna call it—I swing by my place and pick up Brett. Grams called and said if she has to hear him clunking in the garage and taking the Lord’s name in vain every time he hurts himself, then she’ll develop a drinking problem.

“That truck… is a piece of shit,” Brett says as he swings his door shut. “Jack’s off his damn rocker if he thinks I’ll get it running.”

I push my lips together and force my laugh back. Pop-pop and I started that “POS” last night while Brett was on yet another date. Pop-pop threw his head back laughing when I turned the key. Brett had been working on it all day trying to figure out the starter issue. When I was done, Pop-pop took a wrench and put the engine back to where it was before I touched it.

“Boy’s got it in him,” he said. “Just needs to figure it out.”

I turn onto the freeway and listen to Brett piss and moan about the truck, listen to Nate piss and moan about Kaylee, and I’m about to tell them both to shut it because I was supposed to be doing this with Lex, and now I have to do it with them.

I asked Lex during our lunch break—in between kisses. I mean, we gotta multitask since our time is getting more and more infrequent—if she was free tonight. But she had Brewster to walk (normally I’d walk the big dog with her, but I had a bed to not deliver), and then she had her shift at the coffee house. I’m starting to think I pissed off God and this is my living hell.

“I think you missed your turn, bro,” Brett says, pointing stupidly as I pass the entrance to the apartment complex.

“Whoops.” I make a U and turn in, the car taking the deep dip at an angle that it scrapes. Dammit.

Nate makes his sunglasses appear out of thin air before putting them on. I squint, wishing I’d thought to grab mine as we make our way to the managers’ offices.

“It’s got a nice pool,” Nate says, gesturing at a couple of bikini-clad girls lounging out.

“Yeah. It’s the
pool
.” Brett jokes, then waves at the girls. They either don’t see, or choose to ignore him.

I swing the front door open and let my eyes adjust from the bright sun.

“It smells like a dentist’s office,” Brett says, and Nate nods. I flip them both off for being buzz kills.

“Can I help you?” the girl around the corner asks. She steps around her desk, which is the messiest desk I’ve ever seen. Post-its, staples, and manila folders galore.

“Uh, yeah. I had an appointment I’d switched from yesterday.”

“Ryan Parker?”

I nod and take her hand when she extends it. “I’m Marisa.” She then shakes Nate and Brett’s hands, and Brett finds that hilarious for some dumb reason.

“I’ll need your license, and then we can head to our show room.”

“Cool.”

After handing my license over for the second time today, Marisa takes us back outside, asking what I’m sure are the standard get-to-know-you questions like where are you from, why’re you moving, what’s your sign…

I mutter the answers, wishing Lex were here because I know we’d have fun with this. She’d probably make up some crazy lie about us running from our parents and then watch as my ears steam up and my face goes purple when I try to go with it. An unexpected laugh pops out, and everyone gives me a funny look.

“Okay, here’s our one bedroom, one bath,” Marisa says, pushing the door open and letting us walk in first. They have some pretty pricey furniture set up, but the TV is just a cardboard cutout of a screen put up against the wall. The kitchen is right as we walk in; the only thing separating the two rooms is the bar.

“Go ahead and look around.” Marisa smiles and shuts the door, and Brett immediately goes down the small hall to the bedroom. Nate presses his ear against the shared wall and knocks once.

“Not too thin,” he says, and I shake my head and follow Brett. The moment I step into the bedroom my stomach plunks.

“Uh… what size is this bed?” I call out to Marisa. The show furniture is nice, but the room isn’t all that big. The bed takes up most of the space.

“That’s a queen.”

Dammit. There’s no way I’d be able to fit the bed I just put a down payment on in this room with all mine and Lex’s stuff. I mean, I doubt even her dresser drawers would open.

“There’s a walk-in closet, dude,” Brett says, his voice echoing somewhere to my left. I glance in and let out a little sigh of relief because the closet is big enough to fit Lex’s stuff. Probably not mine in there with it, but what do I need a closet for?

My phone buzzes, and I reach into my pocket and tell everyone to
shhh
when I see Lex’s name displayed.

“Hey.”

“Hey. Guess who got off early?”

I hang my head.

“Where you at?”

“Nearly to your house. Did Grams make you something vegetarian and delicious or would you like me to bring you something?”

Dammit, dammit, dammit.

“Shoot, Lex. I’m not there.”

“Where are you?”

“Uh… out with Nate.”

“Where? Can I meet up with you guys?”

“Hang on.” I cover the phone and look at Marisa. “Um, when do you guys close?”

She checks her watch. “In about fifteen. You’re the last appointment for the day.”

Shit. The drive is a half hour at least. I put the phone back to my ear as Marissa leaves to the kitchen

“Sorry, babe. But I’ll be home in like forty-five minutes. Please tell me you’ll be there.”

She lets out a long sigh. “Okay. I’ll hang with Kaylee till—”

“She’s not home,” I blurt. It’s the truth. She’s doing invitations and crap. It’s my job to keep Nate occupied. “I mean… I think I saw her puking during eighth period.” My ears go up in smoke. “Could be the stomach flu. You don’t want to get the shits, you know?” Yeah… Kaylee is going to kill me.

“Ooookay.” Lex pauses for a long moment, and I look at Brett who’s laughing his ass off and kick him in the foot. He tries to tackle me to the floor.

“Well, I’ll hang out with Pop-pop and Grams till you get home,” Lex says.

“Sounds good,” I mutter, now wrestling with my brother. “Love you.”

“I love you too!” Brett sings out in a disturbingly authentic girly voice. I shove his face down and get him in a headlock.

“Um, love you,” Lex says, then hangs up. I get Brett in a chokehold and he taps out just as Nate pulls his phone from his pocket. He waves it by his face with a grin, Lex’s picture displaying on the screen.

“Guess who doesn’t believe you’re with me?”

The coffee house is a freaking mad house tonight. This is what happens when I volunteer to cover someone. Luckily I’m only working until seven then I have the rest of the night off. Ryan of course is busy, but that’s okay. I have plans with Nate to stalk…uh…
follow
Kaylee around.

Nate hasn’t come out and said it, but I know he’s scared she’s cheating on him. He’s an idiot. Kaylee loves him more than her magazine collection.

But ever since he proposed over Spring Break when he thought she was pregnant and she said no, he’s been a little insecure about their relationship.

“Lexie, a customer is requesting you. He’s cute too,” Paige, my coworker, says with a wink, and if she wasn’t old enough to be my grandmother, I might trust her opinion.

I glance up, hoping Ryan found a minute to stop by. My eyes scan the counter and I’m surprised when they spot my dad with his arms crossed against his chest, leaning against the wall. I finish pouring milk into the coffee I’m making and walk it over to the girl in the corner. I walk back, wiping my hands on my apron.

“Hey,” I say as I make my way towards him. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see my little girl in action. Your mom told me I could find you here.”

“You talked to Mom?” I ask and poor Roger flashes through my mind.

“I stopped by your place to see if you’d want to grab a bite.”

“I have plans,” I say, and the skin on the bridge of his nose bunches.

“Of course you do. I just thought I’d give it a shot. Having a countdown on my life and all I figured if I want to do something I should just do it. Instead of sitting around thinking about it.”

Sadness streaks his features and even though he abandoned me for years, seeing the look on his face is seriously making me feel guilty.

“How about tomorrow?” I have plans with Ryan, but I’m sure he’ll understand. We have forever while my Dad has a timecard.

“Sounds perfect, munchkin.”

“Would you like something to go? On the house.”

He points around me to the glass display case. “I’ve been eying that chocolate croissant since I walked in the door.”

“Oh it is so good.”

“Sold,” he says and I grab a to-go bag then toss it in before handing it over.

“Here you go.”

He pulls out a couple crumpled up singles and some change. I hold my hand up. “I told you, it’s on the house.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure,” I say and make a mental note to put the dollar ninety-five in the drawer before I leave.

He holds the bag up and smiles. “Thanks for this. See you tomorrow? Say six o’clock.”

“Sure, I’ll pick you up at your place,” I say.

“See you then.” Dad walks out just as Nate strolls in. I slip my phone out and check the time. Six-fifty. Wow that went by fast.

“Hey,” Nate says as he approaches the counter, adjusting his fedora.

“I’ll be ready in ten. Just have to wait for Chris to show up.”

“Take your time. I’ll just wait over here.” Nate pulls out a deck of cards from his shirt pocket and sits down on an open chair, shuffling, then flicking the bottom and retrieving a card from his fedora.

I laugh as the woman at the table beside him smacks her date and points in Nate’s direction. He’s so engulfed in his trick he doesn’t even notice.

Once I drop off the last of my orders and wipe down the counters, I untie my apron and clock out.

“You ready?” I say to Nate.

He stuffs the cards back into its pack then pulls his suspender aside and shoves them in his shirt pocket. “Ready.”

“So where exactly are we going?”

“Kaylee told me she was going to swing by the dance studio. Did she tell you the same thing?”

“She didn’t say.”

“Well if she is at the studio that means she’s helping Ava with a class, so we have at least an hour.”  

“To do what?” I ask.

“Her Dad works late on Tuesdays. And her step-mom and sister have some school thing.” Nate lifts his fedora and scratches at his dark hair.

“Okay…” I say, not exactly sure what he’s getting at, but wish he’d get to the point already.

“Have you ever broken into a house before?” Nate asks and I swear to all that is holy, my mouth falls open and hits the floor.

“You’re kidding.”

“When do I kid?”

“A lot,” I say dryly.

“I’m not kidding.”

He reaches into his back pocket and instead of a flurry of colorful scarves appearing from thin air, he pulls out two black hats.

“Seriously?”

“It seemed appropriate.”

“I’m not wearing the hat.”

“Oh come on.”

“I’m not wearing the hat.”

“You have to wear the hat.”

“And why is that?”

“Because…
please
?” He looks at me with pitiful dark eyes and
oh God
he pouts his lip.

“Fine.” I rip the hat from his hand and pull it on my head.

Nate pulls his elbow into him in victory and I laugh at his excitement.

“You’re driving,” I say and walk out the door to the parking lot.

Nate jumps in the Escort and leans over unlocking the passenger door. I slide in and slam the door shut.

“So what exactly are we trying to accomplish by breaking into Kaylee’s house?”

“I just want to go in her room and see if we find anything out of the ordinary.”

“If she finds out…”

Nate drags his hand over his face and I can see the frustration running through him. His usually bright eyes dull and he shrugs. “I know. But what am I supposed to do? She’s acting weird, making up excuses, always busy. I feel like she’s avoiding me and she only does that when something is going on and she doesn’t know how to tell me. I just need to know what’s wrong.”

It sounds all too familiar. I don’t think there is anything wrong with Kaylee. I just think she’s busy like the rest of us. Life isn’t about hanging out and going to school anymore. We’re growing up and we have more responsibilities.

It sucks.

I rest my hand on Nate’s shoulder and give him a reassuring squeeze. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

He nods, but I don’t feel like he’s convinced. I take his fedora off and pull the black knit cap onto his head.

“Let’s do this,” I say with a smile.

The brightness in his eyes finally returns and stays until we pull up to Kaylee’s house. All the lights are off so she’s definitely not home.

“Ready?” I ask before reaching for the door handle.

“What if I find something I don’t want to find?”

I take a second to think it over then with every ounce of confidence I say, “You won’t.”

He gives a curt nod and smiles as he gets out of the car.

I’ve never broke, into a house before. Unless you count crawling in and out of my and Ryan’s bedroom windows. And by the looks of it neither has Nate. He pops up and down in and out of bushes, somersaulting to the side living room window. I smack a hand over my mouth to keep from laughing.

He shimmies up the gutter and reaches over to the window. With a forceful shove it doesn’t open and he falls to the ground with a thud.

“You okay?” I whisper as loudly as I can.

He gives me a thumb’s up and then gets back on the gutter. There has to be an easier way. I look at my Toucan Do It If You Try nails then head to the front of the house. My eyes scan the perimeter, landing on the garden gnome that I swear comes to life at night. A chill runs through me at its beady little eyes and pointed hat. Then a light flicks on in my head, and I walk over to the creepy lawn ornament.

I pick it up and, just as I remembered, there’s a secret door and inside is Kaylee’s spare key. Nate of all people should know this is here. I shake my head and with a laugh I run up to the front door.

The key slides right in and I click it open. I head back outside and lean around the corner. Nate is hanging from the window sill, his one leg raised over his head resting next to his hand while his other leg dangles and desperately tries to swing up next to the other.

“I don’t know about you, but it’s kind of cold out here. I’ll just be inside warming up.”

“Huh?” Nate turns his head, his dangling foot slipping and bouncing off the wall.

I hold up the key and his eyes widen. He pulls his foot down and lands safely on the ground.

We go inside and ease the door shut. “Let’s get in and get out,” Nate says and I take off after him up the stairs to Kaylee’s room.

“Did a tornado go through that I don’t know about?” I ask as I navigate past the pile of clothes on the floor and try not to trip over the scattered magazines and shoes.

Nate snickers and picks up a black lacy bra. “This is still here from…”

I hold my hand up. “I don’t want to know.”

He puts the bra back where he found it and starts rummaging through her desk.

“What exactly are we looking for?” I ask.

“I don’t know. Anything out of the ordinary.”

“How do we know what’s out of the ordinary? Do you see this mess?”

“If it was cleaned I’d be really worried.”

I scan the room, trying to determine what’s out of the ordinary. A banana peel sits on her nightstand and by the brown spots I’d wager to say it’s been there for a few days. Who would have ever thought cute, put together Kaylee has the cleaning skills of a frat boy.

The garbage on the other side of her bed over flows with papers and candy wrappers. Magazines are fanned out on her floor and I try not to step on them as I move around.

“What’s this?” I lift up a bag and oh my God what is that?

“Nate?” I manage without gagging.

He cocks an eyebrow at me and I plug my nose holding up a bag of I don’t even want to know.

“Eww, is that?” Nate walks over and peeks into the bag and we both gag. He takes his fedora off and covers his nose. “Oh man. That’s the cheesecake she brought home from dinner four nights ago.”

I squeal and throw the bag back to where it was. “You seriously need to have a talk with her. That’s gross.”

“It just proves she’s distracted about something. We just have to figure out what.”

I turn away from the bag of funk and try to get as far away from it as I possibly can. My eyes land on a box in the corner of the desk I’ve never seen before. “What’s that?” I say, pointing to the box.

Nate’s thick eyebrows scrunch together and he reaches for the box. He pops the top off and holds up a mess of receipts.

“What are they for?” I ask.

He goes to look closely when the downstairs front door opens and slams shut. Nate jumps up like a scared cat in suspenders and shoves the receipts back into the box. I run in circles, trying to figure out where to hide.

Nate wraps his hand around my arm and yanks me into the closet, tossing Kaylee’s clothes on top of us.

A few seconds later Kaylee’s bedroom door squeaks open.

“I see you cleaned for me.”

My eyebrows shoot into my forehead and Nate’s eyes narrow at Ryan’s voice.

“What is he doing here?” I whisper. “He’s supposed to be at the shop.”

Nate hushes me and presses his ear to the door.

“Shush your face and hurry up. We don’t have much time,” Kaylee says and I feel Nate stiffen beside me.

“Where?”

“The bed?” Kaylee says and both Nate and I stare at each other with disbelief. “Ow it’s too big,” Kaylee says.

“You okay? Let me do it,” Ryan says and before I can process anything, Nate flies out of the closet with Kaylee’s underwear stuck to his head, and tackles Ryan to the bed.

Kaylee, with her finger in her mouth, turns in shock and lets out a scream.

“What the heck?” Ryan screams and flips Nate beneath him, holding him in a choek hold.

“Nathaniel Hatfield, what is going on here?” Kaylee plants her hand on her hip and glares at her boyfriend. “Ryan let him go.”

Ryan’s arms slip from Nate’s neck and he gets off the bed holding his hands up.

I come out of the closet, tossing Kaylee’s clothes behind.

“I’d like to know what’s going on as well.”

“You’re here too,” Ryan says, scratching his chin because he knows darn well he has a lot of explaining to do. “I thought you were at work.”

“I thought
you
were at work.” Disbelief wears off replaced by frustration and anger. “Do you care to tell me what you’re doing in my best friend’s bedroom?”

He glances over to Kaylee and I snap my fingers to get his attention. “I asked you the question not Kaylee. Why are you lying to me?” I fight the emotion building inside of me. Push back thoughts of Kaylee and Ryan and her bed. “You two aren’t…”