Undo Me (The Good Ol' Boys #3) (4 page)

He chuckled, a throaty sound escaping his lips. “If I had to choose I would prefer the latter.”

“Well, thank God you aren’t then.”

He slowly nodded. “This how you gonna play it? Cuz I’m fixin’ to be a gentleman here, but that sassy lil’ mouth of yours is makin’ me all sorts of crazy, baby.”

“A gentleman?” I looked around, pretending to see if someone else was there. “You might want to look it up in a dictionary because you are doing it all wrong,” I said, feigning shock on my face.

He shook his head, flashing me that boyish grin before tugging on the ends of my hair like he had earlier. “As always, it was a pleasure.”

With that, he stood and left.

I was dismissed once again.

“There’s a spot open over there.” Austin pointed to the only available parking spot on the grass.

The empty land by Ian’s house had turned into our private parking lot, it looked like a small car dealership. From Mercedes to beat up Hondas. Our little town was diverse in almost everything, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at our groups.

It was Saturday night and Ian was having one of his signature parties at his parents’ house. His parents were known for always being out of town, traveling around the world and letting someone else raise their kid. That was the beauty of living in a small town, everyone knew everyone else’s business, and gossip spread like wildfire. We tried not to pay attention to it, but it was hard to ignore when everyone’s dirty laundry was aired out in the open for everyone else to see.  

Like any dysfunctional family, we always took care of our own.   

Ian’s place was fucking huge, and the best part of it was its location. Private beachfront property, where there was so much distance between houses, the cops were never called on us for disturbing the peace. It was the perfect place to let loose and not have to worry about the consequences. His parents never found out or maybe they just didn’t give a fuck. Everyone partied near the pool where country music blared through the expensive speaker system. Later in the night, the party would move down to the beach for a bonfire.

I was surprised we even found a free spot tonight. We usually had to park down the street and walk our happy asses to the house. It was almost seven by the time the boys and I made our way to the beach. Of course, Alex was home, she didn’t do the party scene. I’d bet my right nut that Lucas wouldn’t stick around for long, making some lame excuse and casually leaving the party to go over to her house. He never stayed for more than one drink.

Pussy.

Time just sort of seemed to fly by at these parties. Before you knew it you were there for hours, drinking and fucking around with everyone.  

“So… is it my turn to have a chance with the famous Dylan McGraw?” Chloe purred. At least I thought her name was Chloe. Faces and names seemed to blend together over time for some reason.

“I’ve been told about you and your skills. When am I going to get a turn to show you mine?” She pouted.

I smiled wide. “Why don’t you enlighten me on what you’ve heard? I do enjoy a good bedtime story,” I baited, knowing my words would have an effect on her.

She took a deep breath, trying to play her part. “I’m just saying that I’ve been told, you’re quite the ladies’ man, and that you know your way around a girl’s…” She raised her eyebrows. “
Heart
.”

I sucked in my lower lip and narrowed my eyes, letting them wander to her hair that was long enough for me to pull nice and hard as I was slamming into her from behind. To her mousy face, down to her perfect tits that would fit in the palm of my hand. She would do just fine for the night.

“I’m going for a walk. Would you like to… come? Because I’d really love to see you come…”

Nothing excited me more than a girl’s response to my touch.

She nodded, trying desperately not to seem easy, but failing miserably in her attempt. I leaned forward, my mouth close to her ear.

“Besides everything you’ve heard,” I whispered, pausing while my lips lightly brushed the nook of her neck, my trademark move that drove girls wild, her chest lifted, flushed, but she tried to remain in control, “I’m also an asshole,” I added, kissing the same spot that got their panties wet and their hearts racing, knowing I was getting the reaction I craved.

It worked on every girl. Except Aubrey.

I extended my arm and she followed suit, linking her fingers with mine. We walked hand-in-hand as I took her down to the secluded part of the beach that I was very much familiar with. But I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw her.

Speak of the devil…

Aubrey.

There was something about the way she was sitting on the sand, looking out at the water with her hair blowing in the light breeze. The sight of her literally took my breath away. That had never happened before, me taking an interest in another human outside of my family and friends, especially some chick I had just met. I’d only had two conversations with this girl, and yet I found myself completely mesmerized by the vision that sat in front of me. As if she appeared out of nowhere.

So consuming.

So blinding.

So real.

She was like a mythical creature that was luring me toward my destruction. In that moment, in that second, there wasn’t even a choice to be made. For the first time in my short life I wanted to blow off the opportunity to get my dick wet in favor of just a conversation, and it didn’t faze me in the slightest. I found myself gravitating toward her. Before I even registered what was happening, I pulled my arm away from the blonde girl who was ready to spread her legs open for me like so many had before her.

I glanced at her. “Run along, sweetheart.”

She jerked her head back, looking in the direction of my stare, realization quickly claiming her face. “You ass—”

“I do believe you were warned, darlin’,” I simply stated while walking away from her and towards Aubrey. All the snide comments coming from behind me were trivial.

Wasn’t the first time and it sure as hell wouldn’t be the last.

As I got closer I realized she was crying. A sense of curiosity piqued my interest, but it wasn’t only that. An unfamiliar emotion of wanting to know her reasons and caring to make it better came over me. My feet shuffling in the sand broke her trancelike state, she immediately peered up and over at me, wiping her eyes, camouflaging her distress before recognition settled in.

She scoffed and stood to leave as I gripped her wrist, stopping her, and for some unknown reason, she let me.

“What’s wrong?” I questioned, sincerity laced in my tone, surprising us both.

“None of your business, McGraw.” Her face frowned. “I saw you come out here with one of your hussies. You should probably head back to seal the deal. I’d hate to be the reason your dick doesn’t get wet tonight.” Her voice was laced with an equal mixture of anger and sadness.

Was she jealous?

Her response stung a bit, but didn’t shock me in the least. We were strangers, she barely knew me. She had only heard awful things about me. I couldn’t blame her for not wanting to open up. If anything, I was happy that her first instinct was to protect herself from assholes like me. At that moment, all I craved was to break through her icy demeanor and bring down a piece of her wall.

Most of all, I wanted to see her smile.

I wanted her to let me in.

“If you wanted to hang out with me, all you had to do was ask, maybe even throw in a please for good manners, though I am enjoying your stalker tendencies.”

She smirked.

“I’ll settle for that smile.” I paid her no mind and sat in the same spot she just stood from. “You know, I was born and raised in this town. Actually born at Dosher Memorial Hospital in South Port,” I disclosed, catching myself off guard. I never opened up to anyone. “This beach holds a lot of fond memories for me. I rode my first wave-” I nodded toward it, “-at that peak point past the breaks when I was six. I got tossed off my board for the first time when I was eight at that same exact spot. I had it coming to me ‘cause I was a cocky little shit and had to show off to my boys. Getting caught inside the wash of the wave is like unexpectedly being thrown into a washing machine, not knowing when the cycle would end and let you go. I was scared shitless. I didn’t know which way was up and which way was down. I thought I was going to drown. Damn,” I chuckled, shaking my head. I never admitted that to anyone.

“The boys were terrified for me, it was written clear across their faces. I still remember opening my eyes and seeing Half-Pint crying for the first time, when the white-wash dragged me back onto the shore.”

“Half-Pint?” she asked, finally taking a seat beside me.

“No, darlin’.” I turned to look at her. “Your turn.”

I walked down the beach to be alone.

Finding a spot on some rocks nearby, I sat watching the sunset over the horizon. The sky always made a scenic panoramic view over the water. All the beautiful colors blended together preparing to shift into night. Mother Nature’s private work of art. Sitting there listening to the soft lull of the waves dragged me into its calming rhythm, bringing a sense of peace over me.

The ocean was my happy place.

It was one of the things I missed most about being back home. We lived within walking distance from the beach, but here in Oak Island it was a car ride away. It was another reason I couldn’t wait to get my license. Watching the waves reminded me of my dad, he was a surfer. That was how my mom met him actually. She used to tell me the best stories of how he tried to impress her and ended up eating shit. Nevertheless, she loved his efforts.

Being lonely was the hardest pill to swallow. I missed California. I missed the house I grew up in and the friends I’d known since childhood. I missed every sight, smell, and sound. I had lived there my entire life.

Home.

The familiarity of it all.

The comfort.

Most of all, I missed my aunt and my dad.

In the blink of an eye, nightfall was upon me. The stars that shined bright above, illuminated against the darkness of the sky with the moon smiling high like a Cheshire cat. The ocean breeze brought a slight chill to the air. I hugged my knees to my body in a reassuring gesture, shielding myself to create some warmth around me. I sat there alone thinking about how much my life had changed in such a short time. I didn’t even realize I’d started crying, spilling tears over everything, over nothing.

A wave of emotions took over, mimicking the ominous waves in front of me, one right after the other. I looked back toward the party that seemed so far away, but still so near. I caught sight of McGraw parading another one of his conquests. All that came to mind was
man whore
. Rolling my eyes, I looked away from what was about to go down.

Seconds later I heard the shuffling of sand beside me. I immediately locked eyes with him and stood to get away. Wiping away all my tears, he’s the last thing I needed right then.

Except he wasn’t.

He grabbed my wrist to stop me and took a seat where I had once sat, after he made me smile with his relentless flirting. I couldn’t have left even if I wanted to.

And I didn’t want to.

I listened to him describe his childhood with the same sense of longing that I was feeling for my hometown. The sincerity in his tone had caught me off guard, making me feel like I was the only person he had ever shared these memories with. For the first time since we had moved to Oak Island, I didn’t feel so alone anymore. It shocked me that it came from the boy I had convinced myself I needed to stay away from.

The irony was not lost on me.

“Half-Pint?” I interrupted, sitting beside him. I wondered if it was the girl from the restaurant I had seen him with the day before.

“No, darlin’.” He turned to look at me. “Your turn.”

I stared into the eyes of the guy who was a walking paradox of contradictions. I was seeing a side to him that he wouldn’t show anyone, and I had no idea why…

All I knew was that I liked it.

I wanted more.

I needed more.

Something deep inside told me I could trust him. I was the first to break eye contact, looking back toward the ocean trying to reel in my emotions that seemed to be taking over, contemplating if I was really going to do this. I could still feel his gaze on the side of my face, burning a hole into my skin, and a part of me knew he sensed that.

The effect he had on me.

Taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth and murmured, “I’m lonely,” just loud enough for him to hear. My eyebrows rose, surprised with my own revelation. I finally admitted my truth out loud.

“My mom and I moved here from California a few weeks before school started. She packed up the only life I’ve ever known in one week, and we drove across country in a few days. I didn’t really have time to process the severity of the situation. I think I was in a state of shock from the news of our upcoming move that I didn’t think of how much my life would change,” I paused, needing a second to gather my thoughts and regain the courage for what I was about to say. For what I had never told anyone, not even my closest friends when they asked why we were moving.  

“My dad filed for divorce. I wanted to hate him, I tried to hate him, but I couldn’t. I felt so helpless not knowing whose side to be on or what I was supposed to do. My world was ripped apart because my dad decided he couldn’t do it anymore. Yet, I still love him. I felt like I was in the middle of a storm, not knowing which way was out. I had to choose a side, and in the end, I’m sitting here missing my dad. The same man who ripped my life to shreds, but I can’t fault him because my mom worked all the time. He was pretty much a single parent, we were lucky enough to have my Aunt Celeste, who would step in and help as much as possible. It’s comical how two sisters can be so different. My mom is a general surgeon. Back home she was the Chief of Medicine and ran the ER unit. She now runs the ER unit at the hospital in South Port. The one you were actually born at,” I chuckled, trying to break the tension in the air.

His stare never faltered. He just sat there patiently listening to every word, never interrupting me. I instantly looked down when I felt him gently place his hand on top of mine in the sand. It was a soothing gesture, reassuring. Maybe to show me he cared.

A little part of me…

Soared for the first time in months. A real connection was felt with another human being. With a boy who didn’t even know me.

“I’m by myself a lot. More than I should be at my age. My mom works more at the hospital here than she did back in California. Sometimes I think it’s easier for her to not look at me. I remind her too much of the man who broke her heart. A part of my father staring her in the face every time she looks at me.”

My eyes were still fixated on his hand that never left mine. In the dark, our hands were one, extensions of each other. His rough, calloused fingers were so comfortable resting over mine that I wanted to turn my hand over to feel him. When he reached over and lightly grazed the side of my cheek with his other hand…

Was I imagining this? Was this happening to me?

…his fingers moved to tug on the ends of my hair that framed my face. This simple yet meaningful gesture was the first crack on the wall I had built up against him. His knuckles grazed my cheek again, and I nervously licked my lips, peeking up at him through my lashes.

“Shit happens,” was all he said.

Nothing overly descriptive, nothing emotional, nothing loving, just, “Shit happens.”

“You make life, Aubrey, it doesn’t make you.”

And in that moment, it was the right thing to say.

It was exactly what I needed to hear.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would come from the mouth of the boy I needed to stay away from the most.