CRAZY FOR THIS GIRL : A Second Chance Romance, page 13
“I care about you,” he retorts as we cross the grass of the school. “They have no respect. Hence, why we’re not going to that stupid party.”
“Hey, Cal,” another male voice hollers out, and damn he’s Mr. Popular. “You going to the—” Cal’s head snaps around so quickly that I jerk back a tad.
“No, dude. I’m not—”
“You gotta go.” A skinny guy with another matching uniform steps in front of us, halting Cal and I in our steps. He smiles and doesn’t look like a typical jerk like the other guy was that just eye-screwed me a moment ago. “They’re throwing you a birthday party.”
“I didn’t ask for one,” Cal objects with a growl, and I’ve never heard his tone click that way. “And I have plans.”
“Let’s just go for a little while,” I coax gently. “It’s not a big deal. I’m here for the weekend.”
My best friend glances down at me at the same time the other guy says, “You only need to stay an hour, man. Then you can dip out with your friend.”
Cal opens his mouth, I’m sure to argue, before I cut in and say, “That’s fine.”
His jaw twitches before he gives me a curt nod.
Cal’s friend slaps his shoulder. “See you then, dude.”
We start moving again, getting closer to the school that’s nothing special, with a tan brick but fewer trees surrounding it like in North Carolina. Even the air feels different here, which is weird, but what do I know about traveling anywhere outside my state?
“Stay right here. I just gotta grab my keys from my gym bag.” Cal throws open the doors to the school and runs inside, leaving me standing with a bunch of players coming my way to do the same.
I get looked at a few times, and am only greeted with a few heys before Cal comes out and links his arm with mine.
“I won’t be long. I’ll take a shower at your hotel.” Heading toward the parking lot, I try one more time to see if he wanted to spend the night with his teammates. I crashed his night and didn’t think about there being a party.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go? I feel bad.”
“Why?”
“I forced you to go.”
He lifts his shoulders. “It’s fine. We’ll stay an hour like you said.”
We stop at a shiny blue BMW and my face twists. “Is this yours?”
He unlocks the car with a beep, alluding that it is, and opens the passenger door for me. “Yeah. Dad said you can tell a man by his ride. He’s delusional sometimes, but I didn’t turn it down. It has a killer stereo system”
“I wouldn’t either.” I climb inside and sit on the smooth leather seats before Cal leans over the opening, his arm perched over the door.
“Lock the doors, and listen to some music. I’ll be out in five. I gotta go grab all my stuff.”
“Okay.”
He stares at me for a second before leaning forward and pressing a chaste kiss to my cheek. My skin burns at the contact, even though his lips are cool.
I try not to gape at him, keeping my expression placid like it’s no big deal that my best friend casually kissed me, but the space just shifted.
“I’m so beyond happy you’re here,” he says evenly like he’s in a daze. “Seriously. I can’t believe it.”
“Me either,” I mutter, feeling the blush on my cheeks flame hotter. “But I wanted to surprise you.”
“I’m glad you did. Best birthday ever.”
The party is held at a mansion.
White stone, with solar lights exposing the perfect landscaping of pink and purple flowers and bushes that look like animals of some sort. Kids are hanging out outside with red solo cups in their hands, all dressed in bathing suits as we step up on the porch.
I feel overdressed in my shorts and white tank top, with my long blond hair pulled back in French braids, and I’m regretting my decision of telling Cal he should come. Bring Em Out by T.I. begins to play, causing girls to sway their hips to flirt with the guys watching while others talk amongst themselves as their eyes glue to me like prey at Cal’s side.
He received a few more high-fives as we strode in. The music is deafening as I’m bumped into by some shirtless guy with bulging muscles. He doesn’t even bother apologizing or acknowledging me, before the crowd breaks out in cheers of Cal’s arrival and he’s swooped deeper into the room like a wave just came in and dragged him into the ocean. People immediately begin to sing happy birthday as I step to the side while the group from outside strolls in to join the festivities.
I’m quickly left behind as everyone waltzes farther into the giant house, and that’s when I get a chance to breathe.
I don’t mind his friends carrying him off to celebrate his day. I was here by surprise, after all, and it’s interesting to see how he interacts in his own habitat.
That’s if I could see him.
The happy birthday song commences, and people urge him to make wishes and blow out his candles. When the throng grows louder, the music comes back on, Milkshake by Kelis, and everyone goes back to dancing and drinking.
I notice a few people moving to get outside, and I follow, coming up to a giant pool that people have already made use of. Beach balls fly every which way, and girls are seated on guys’ shoulders, playing chicken fight.
It’s not until something brushes on my other side that I notice the tall, blonde dude from earlier that looked me up and down at the end of Cal’s game like I was a piece of meat.
“Hey,” he greets with a sly smile that makes me immediately uncomfortable. Something about his vibe is totally off. Like he preys on shy girls and likes to have control. I’m someone new, and I get a feeling he’d like to take advantage of that. I know his type; football jock, who thinks he’s cooler than anyone here because he can catch a ball. I don’t need to know him to not want to talk to him. “I was hoping I was gonna see you here.”
“Hey,” I reply back, automatically looking for a way out of this conversation. I want to ask him why he was even thinking about me being here, but that would open the door for him to talk more.
“You from another school because I haven’t seen you around.”
I bob my head. “Yep.”
“Which one?”
“Blueberry Hill High.” I meet his heavy stare, not particularly caring if he buys bullcrap or not. I’m never going to see him again.
His brows furrow, probably wondering if that’s a real school name or not. “Huh, where’s that?”
“East of here.”
“Alright, alright.” He jerks his head to the pool, already moving to the catch of why he’s standing in front of me right now. “You wanna go swimming.”
This dude may know how to play ball, but his game on picking up chick is severely lacking.
“No suit.”
“No problem.” He shrugs his wide shoulders and jerks his head to get some of his stray blonde hair out of the way. “Nobody’s gonna care.”
I hate this guy already.
“Not really looking to walk around in soppy wet clothes all night.” I gesture for the pool. “But feel free to knock yourself out.”
“I’m Josh.” He holds out a large hand for me to shake, but I hold mine up in the air.
“Germophobe.” I can hear my mother’s chiding in my head. No matter who Josh really is or how his mannerism plays out, I’m obligated in her eyes to act like the southern belle she tried to raise me to be.
Hate to say it, but she failed because she prodded and attempted to shove it down my throat too much. I’m more like my father than anything.
“You got a name?” Josh presses, dropping his arm and latching his annoyance to my face. I could care less, but I’ll bite.
“Laynee.”
His blue eyes bulge at that. “You’re Laynee?”
“Yeah…” I raise my brows. “And you said it like that because…”
A mirthless chuckle rumbles off his chest, and I’m the butt of the joke apparently. He pushes his bottom lip out with his tongue. “I’ve just heard a lot about you.”
I don’t know what to say to that, so I don’t say anything at all.
“You’re the summer chick Cal always hangs out with.”
“That’d be me.”
He hits me with a look that questions my brain cells. Like I’m stupid or something. “You know he dates, right?”
Unfortunately.
“I would hope so. But I’m still waiting on the part where that’s supposed to be funny.”
“I guess it wouldn’t be.” He heaves his wide shoulders, dismissing whatever he thought I was going to do or say. “So…are you like…his friend with benefits?”
Wow.
“I’m really trying to figure out the whole reason you’re talking to me now, Josh. Are you trying to insult me or just being a plain dick?”
He shifts his weight, but doesn’t appear totally put off. “You’re from out of town. I was thinkin’ maybe we could have some fun while you’re here.”
“And I’d want to do that with someone I haven’t had an intelligent conversation with, because…”
“Listen, babe, all you need me to know how to do shove my hard—”
“Finish that fucking sentence, Roberts, and I’ll fuck your entire life.” That voice…I know it, but it’s foreign out of Cal’s mouth.
The pure malice drenched in his threat, causes a slight chill to run up my arms.
Josh pivots and faces my best friend head-on with a renewed sense of confidence that I just tried to beat down, leaving me a full view of Cal’s menacing glare. “Aw, my bad, dude. I forgot the little obsession you had with her.”
Cal perks a brow, unimpressed with his trying to humiliate him. “My bad, bro, that a girl can be around me and not think of that STD she got last summer.”
“Watch your big ass mouth,” Josh snaps, clutching his hands into fists. “You’re needed for the next game. Wouldn’t want you to have an accident.”
Cal smirks and holds out an arm, extending his palm to me. “Real scary.” I immediately move and slide my hand into his, as Cal gently pulls me forward. “Look at her again, speak to her, and find out what happens. You’re a bottom feeder, remember that.”
“I’d love to see what happens,” Josh counters at my back as Cal wraps a welcoming arm around my shoulders. “You’re not going to be reigning king much longer if the girls around here find out you’re fuckin’ a hick.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t pass up the opportunity, though. No one has touched you in months since they found out that you got herpes from Samantha Fuchs.”
“Motherfuck—”
Cal raises a hand, halting his teammate to finish whatever he was going to say. “I can have your jaw wired shut if you can’t learn to follow directions. I’m feelin’ a little threatened, Roberts. Don’t make me lose my fuckin’ temper at my party.”
“We can finish this later, Harper.” He nods at me. “Have fun with your side piece.”
“She’s the main course,” my best friend answers back. “And all I need. She can say more than two sentences that don’t include the words mall and party. Samantha is around here somewhere. If I find her, I’ll send her your way. That’s if your dick hasn’t shriveled up and fallen off yet.”
Josh’s jaw twitches, but Cal doesn’t care, pivoting us back inside the house. People automatically part for us to get through, obviously catching some of what transpired between Cal and Josh.
I’m…shook.
I even glance up to make sure that the guy at my side who’s keeping me close and perfectly tucked into his side is really Cal.
I’ve never heard him swear so much within two minutes. I’ve never heard him severely threaten anyone either. However, it’s just him and I normally, and right now, I’m in his world, with his friend, in his state.
My best friend doesn’t stop moving, unbothered by the whispers and looks he’s receiving as we get to the middle of the makeshift dance floor in the center of the living room.
My Boo by Usher plays off the speakers, and Cal’s hand lands on my hip without so much as a question of asking me to dance or not. His other glides down one of my arms as he pulls it up to wrap around his neck, and I immediately feel that familiar crimson blush creeping up my cheeks.
“Sear this to memory,” Cal says with an easy smile as if he didn’t just go at someone’s throat a minute ago. “I don’t dance.”
“Well, you’re gonna have to at our wedding. You did say yes to my proposal after all.”
“Ah, right. I did.” He pulls me closer, and I try to loosen my body to not feel so stiff in his arms. My pulse races frantically in my veins because we haven’t been up this close since we kissed months back.
Kissed.
We kissed.
God, stop it, Laynee.
“Spring or fall wedding?”
“Huh?” I blink and shove my focus back to him. His greens glossed over in all seriousness and I shove my next words out. “Oh...doesn’t matter to me.”
“How about the Fourth of July, in the middle of the lake on one of those dangerous floating death contraptions?”
“No,” I seize out through an easy chuckle. “You will push me in that lake in my wedding dress. I don’t trust you.”
He tsks as if that’s totally ridiculous and so out of character for him. “Laynee, I’d never treat my wife like that. Why, how would that make me look?”
“Like a jerk.”
“Mhm…” His perfect lips curl a little, amused at himself and his idea that I just ruined. “I guess I’d have to make it up to you.”
“How? By buying me pizza?” I snap my fingers together as an amazing idea comes to my head. “I know, you could let me wear my Good Charlotte shirt around you without giving me grief.”
His small smile doesn’t falter when he asks, “Where is that shirt, by the way?”
I frown, silently searching my brain for the last time I saw it.
At the cabin.
Then…never again.
I glower at him because there is only one place it could’ve met its fate. “Cal…”
“Yes, sweetheart?” He mocks innocence when we both know that’s a load of crap. The only thing he hated more than maybe that Josh kid was my black Good Charlotte shirt.
“I will kill you if you did something to it.”
Cal drags me flush against to his body to where there isn’t an inch of space between us. As if this dance is us practicing for the real event of becoming man and wife. “That’s no way to start off a marriage, Laynee.”
No remorse.
Zero.
Zilch.
Nodda.
There will never be a ceremony for him and I, because if he jacked my shirt, I’ll never wear a ring that claims me as his girl when he clearly ganked it from me.
“You stole my Good Charlotte shirt.”
“Nah.“ He shakes his head. "I lit a match to your shirt.”
My lips part at his admission. The betrayal he just admitted as if it was nothing but doing me a favor.
“I needed to save you. It was my duty to protect—“ I purposely step on his foot, and all he does is laugh through my grief. “I take this as you going to divorce me?”
“I already said I was going to kill you.”
“That would kill me. I couldn’t imagine my life without Laynee Reese in it.” I bristle in his arms, and he causes me to flinch a little when he bends forward, his shampoo of citrus mixing in with his familiar piney scent. “You gonna hate me forever now?”
No.
“Probably,” I grumble like a giant baby.
Cal presses a soft and sweet kiss on top of my head, and that’s when I know I’m in trouble. It’s that, no matter what he does, I will always be at his side. Cheering him on, being his anchor, his sidekick, whatever he needs. Precious t-shirt be damned.
“I missed you,” he mutters above my nose, his forehead flattening against mine. “This is, by far, the best birthday ever. I still can’t believe you’re here with me. That you actually kept this a secret.”
The air thickens between us, causing my throat to go a little dry. We’re but a breath away, the temptation of his lips but one good or bad decision away.
“Laynee?”
“Mhm?”
“Nothing changes between us, right?”
Holy shit.
My immediate thought is that he’s going to do it. He’s going to kiss me again, in the middle of a party, and I’m not going to stop him. There’s no Hailee stopping us or parents to call out and interrupt.
“Never,” I whisper, but barely. My hand cups around the back of his neck, the other lightly caressing the hairs just above.
“Good, because I’m not sorry I burnt that damn shirt.” I roll my eyes, and his nose Eskimo kisses mine. “I’m hungry. Buy me a pizza.”
“We’re not married yet,” I counter through my vanishing irritation. “And you’re awfully demanding.”
“Maybe, but damn girl, did you miss me. You bought a plane ticket and everything to come here,” he vouches, clicking back on his annoying switch. “I mean, how much was that? You must’ve done a lot of saving up to—” I reach up to bite his nose, which he quickly dodges, then dips my upper half so that my head goes upside down before he guides me back up.
“You’re a jerk.”
“And your best friend.”
“And a jerk,” I repeat through a weak scowl.
“Yeah, but I’m your jerk. And you’re my little obsessive Tone Deaf.”
“Oh, really? How’s that?”
“You won’t even divorce me for another woman to marry. You know, with everything you got, that it’s me. You’ll never leave. I’ve seeped into your brain cells and you can’t operate with my presence.”
This dummy.
He wraps his arm around my shoulders and begins to walk us toward the front door. “I want ice cream, too.”
“Oh, my God. Isn’t my presence enough?”
“Yeah, but I’ve already seen you. And I’ll get to see you when I’m downing my birthday snacks.”
“Add on that you’re selfish, too. The list is gettin’ a little long here, Cal.”
“Yeah…but you love me anyway.”
