Kismet, page 13
And she did.
She was drunk but alert. Young but beautiful. Enticing but forbidden. And I had desperately wanted what I couldn’t have. When her lips finally found mine, my fate was sealed. From that moment on, Granger Cariou was slated to be a bleeding wound that would never heal.
I went over to Taj’s house again the next night, but Granger wasn’t there. I sat in the driveway until one in the morning waiting for her. It was a borderline stalker move. When she still hadn’t returned, I backed my truck out and headed home with the mindset that I would try again tomorrow.
And don’t you know, persistence paid off.
Not only was she home, her car was the only one in the driveway. I glanced over to my passenger seat at the Chinese takeout bag. Tonight, I wasn’t going to give her the chance to turn me down about going to dinner—I brought it with me.
I exhaled a deep breath, trying to gather my wits. Relax, Collin.
Grabbing the food, I got out of my truck and walked up to the house. My fingers hesitated over the doorbell for a few seconds before I got the balls to ring it.
After standing there for a few minutes and no one answering, I looked around, feeling out of place. Maybe she isn’t home after all…
I pressed the ivory bell key once more. Just as I was getting ready to retreat, the door opened.
“Collin,” she said looking surprised.
It felt weird, like I had shown up at the wrong house and a stranger answered the door.
“I came by to check on you,” I replied lamely. Why else would you be here, Collin? She certainly didn’t call and invite you over.
Granger’s eyes went all the way down to my shoes, then back up to my face. “What’s that?” She nodded to the bag of food.
Reminding myself to tread lightly, seeing the last time I was standing here I didn’t fare so well, I held the bag up and offered her a nervous smile. “Are you hungry?”
She cut her eyes at me. “I’m always hungry, you know that.” Accepting the bag, she looked inside. “Is it Chinese?”
“Yep.”
“Sweet and Sour Chicken?”
“On white rice.”
“How many spring rolls?”
“Two, and a side of sour cream.”
We were silent for a moment and I felt proud of myself for remembering the exact way she liked her takeout. If anything could get me through this door, it would be food.
She raised her eyebrow and pursed her lips. “Is Heidi at home?”
Goddamnit.
I rubbed my jaw as her knowing look drew an invisible line between us. For every step I took forward with her, I went back ten. “No. Heidi is in Louisiana with her mother for the week.”
“Is that why you told Taj that you would come and check on me? Because your girlfriend was going to be nine hundred some miles away?”
I know how this looked; I would give her that. She had every right to be mad at me right now, but I had nothing to lose by being honest with her. “Honestly, Granger, when I told Taj that I would come by and check on you, Heidi had not made plans to leave. It was a last-minute thing with her mom; she flew out the same day that she told me.”
Glaring at me, she absorbed my words, nodding. “I understand.”
Inwardly, I breathed a sigh of relief. “I know that you—”
Then she cut me off. “While the cat is away, the mouse will play. But not with me you won’t. I’m not your toy, Collin. You cast me aside once, and you’re a fucking fool if you think I will let you do it again.”
Her serrated words cut deep.
“Thank you, for coming and checking on me, I’m sure Taj appreciates it. I know he has a lot on his mind. But as you can see, I’m perfectly fine without you.” She took a step back inside. “Oh, and thank you for dinner. It was very thoughtful.”
With that, she slammed the door in my face.
Past
I jumped out of my new pearly white Audi a5 coupe that my mom and Ghabi let me pick out last week for my seventeenth birthday. Smiling, I bit my lower lip as I walked up Collin’s front stairs. I was beyond cloud nine—he was finally home.
It had been almost a month since we had last seen each other, and the late-night video chats were hardly cutting it. These days it seemed like he was in Chicago more and more. But this contract with Clive Fortenberry was a tremendous opportunity to further his business and I wanted him to succeed. For that to happen, I had to set aside my wants and desires now so that one day we could reap the benefits.
I inserted my little pink key in the lock and pushed open the front door. To my surprise, I was greeted with balloons filled with delicate confetti and a huge bouquet of red roses at the foot of the staircase. There had to be at least twenty or more dozen roses altogether. Bending down, I read the note that was attached.
Granger,
Happy Birthday & Happy Anniversary!
I am always in love with you.
xo, Collin
We had been together a year, and it had been full of breathtaking highs and inevitable lows. But at the end of the day, my love for him didn’t waiver, and it was worth every feeling it evoked in me.
I plucked one of the roses from the bouquet, twirling its long stem between my fingers, breathing in its delicate fragrance. “Col?”
“I’m in here, baby!”
I set my purse on the entry table, taking out the little gift box I had gotten him for the occasion. I wandered through the house until I came to the kitchen. Leaning against the wall frame, I watched him for a second as he laid two freshly grilled steaks on our plates.
He wore perfectly fitted jeans and a close-fitting V-neck that showed off his muscular physique.
How did I get so lucky?
“Whatcha making, babe?” I asked, coming to stand beside him.
“Steaks, grilled asparagus, and your personal favorite, macaroni and cheese,” he said, setting his utensils down and wiping off his hands. “I have to feed your bottomless pit.”
I stuck my finger into the macaroni and licked it off as I looked up at him. “Mm, it’s good.”
“Not as good as you.” He scooped me up in a kiss, and I eagerly returned it, putting my arms around his neck.
After a few moments, he pulled away. “Happy Anniversary.”
I smiled, handing him the little box. “Happy Anniversary.”
“What did you get me, Cariou?”
I gave him a smug smile, shrugging my shoulders.
Tearing the decorative paper off, he opened the box. Reaching in, he pulled out the Cartier watch I had picked out for him.
I was grinning like an idiot because I was so excited. I took it out of his hands and showed him the back. “Look. I had it inscribed.”
Collin read the inscription aloud, “It’s our time.”
“Do you like it?” I asked, anxiously waiting for a reply as he examined it.
Planting a kiss on my forehead, he held me for a moment before answering. “I love it. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now you can have all the time in the world with me.”
“It still wouldn’t be enough.” Collin took my hand. “Come here.” And he brought me back to the living room.
Sitting on the couch, he pulled me down beside him. “Close your eyes.”
Biting my lip, I squeezed them shut in anticipation.
“Hold out your hand,” he whispered in my ear sending chills down my spine.
Doing as he instructed, I felt something cool drop into my palm. Opening my eyes, I looked down at a lovely white gold necklace with a single pearl and diamond tear hanging from it.
I turned to him in surprise. “Collin!” I always expected my family to dump jewelry on me for holidays and birthdays, but this was the first piece he had ever given to me. Its simplicity was endearing, and it was just as beautiful as if it had been a whole strand of pearls.
“Put it on me,” I requested, handing the delicate chain back to him.
Reaching around my neck, he clasped it into place, dropping a kiss to my shoulder afterward.
“Thank you! I love it.”
“And I love you.”
I climbed onto his lap facing him with one leg on either side. Taking his face in both of my hands, I kissed him with a hungry urgency. No one could make me feel as wanted and gorgeous as he did. No one could make me feel love the way it poured out of me for him. There would never be anyone for me except Collin Stadlen.
I didn’t care what other people thought about us, or the stares from judgmental eyes when we went out in public together. They couldn’t feel my heartbeat when I saw him; they didn’t know that I had loved him for as long as I could remember. They didn’t see his thoughtfulness or know how wonderful it felt when he touched me. We burned the brightest behind closed doors and I never wanted to be without his love.
I felt Collin tug at the hem of my shirt, and I leaned away long enough to lift my arms and allow him to pull it off and discard it on the floor.
He traced his index finger over the lace pattern of the violet-colored bra. “Is this new?”
“Mm-hmm,” I murmured with intoxication as I ground my hips over his hardening dick.
“I like it,” then in a single movement, he flipped the clasp and removed the flimsy fabric, “off you.”
Anticipation and the cool air puckered my delicate flesh as he palmed my breasts.
I had been in moments like these a thousand times with him, and my body never dulled in response to his touch. Leaning forward, I caught his lower lip between my teeth and gently bit down.
A throaty growl came from him as I ran my hand over his cheek, feeling the sharp prick of his beard under my fingers. “Make love to me,” I whispered against his lips.
Collin slid his hand down into my shorts, making his way to my center. My whole body began humming with desire, and he knew it as he began to rub my clit.
I drifted along this wave of pleasure as I closed my eyes and leaned back. He kissed my neck, my chin, down my sternum between my breasts as he continued to move his fingers in my pussy.
“Collin?”
I froze, panic gripping me. I knew that voice.
“I called but you didn’t answer.”
It was my brother. Oh my God, what is he doing here?
“What’s with all the flow—” Taj’s words tapered off when he walked into the living room and saw us.
I felt like a deer caught in the headlights as our eyes met. His expression went from surprised, to shocked, to furious.
I covered my breasts with my arms as Collin propelled us to a standing position.
“Are you fucking my sister?”
“Taj,” he cautioned, immediately trying to abate the situation
“Oh, fuck no!”
In the back of my mind I knew this day would come, but God, not like this.
Still trying to keep myself covered, I quickly stepped in front of Collin as Taj rounded the couch. “Taj, please, just listen to me,” I pleaded. I put my hand on his chest to keep the two men apart, but he sidestepped me.
He came to a stop in front of Collin but spoke directly to me. “How long?”
I knew if I told him he would come unglued. “That doesn’t matter.” I dismissed his question by trying to insert my body between them. But Collin held his arm out, keeping me away.
“How. Fucking. Long?” he demanded through gritted teeth in a deadly calm voice.
Looking at Collin, I gulped. “Since my sixteenth birthday.”
Taj’s head snapped to me, then back to Collin, and in the blink of an eye, he swung his fist, striking him square in the jaw. “You sick fuck! You come to my mother’s home, sit at her table, and look everyone in the goddamn eye and all the while you’re fucking my sister?” Taj punched him again.
“Stop!” I screamed rushing to Collin’s side as he stumbled backward. I couldn’t believe this was happening.
Taj grabbed my arm and flung me into the couch.
“Don’t you fucking touch her!” Collin yelled, coming out of his shock from being hit.
“Oh, that’s real rich coming from you. I hope you got your feel up because you are never seeing her again.”
Collin swung at Taj, landing his mark. And just like that, these two best friends began pummeling each other as they crashed into the coffee table. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I grabbed my bra off the couch. I snapped it on, quickly looking around for my shirt, but I couldn’t find it. The scene playing out before me was like a nightmare. I never intended for this to happen when Collin and I got together. Unable to allow them to continue to hurt each other because of me, I screamed at them until they finally stopped.
I was full on sobbing at this point as I grabbed my brother and pulled him to his feet. “Please stop! Please!” I begged, trying to reason with him. “He doesn’t deserve this. He has been nothing but good to me.”
“Good to you?” Taj’s voice dripped with disgust. “You have no clue about anything if you call him sticking his dick in you, good to you.”
“I am seventeen years old and whether you realize it or not, I can make my own mind up about who and what I want!”
“I don’t care about the choices you think you can make.” He was so close I could feel the spit on my face from his words. “You’re a goddamn child!”
“She’s not a child,” Collin interjected, pushing my brother away from me.
“Is that what you tell yourself when you fuck my sister?” he sneered. “I ought to call the police and have you arrested right now.”
“There is nothing they are going to do about it. She was sixteen, perfectly legal.”
Taj scoffed. “And you just couldn’t wait to stuff your cock in her, could you? What is wrong with you? You’ve known her since she was born!”
“Get out of my house because this has nothing to do with you,” Collin barked, refusing to yield to Taj’s intimidation.
“She is my sister, so this has everything to do with me.” Bending over, Taj grabbed my shirt off the floor and flung it at me. “Put your clothes on and get out, now.”
I clutched my shirt to my chest. “I’m not leaving him or this house,” I defied poking my tear-stained chin out.
“If you don’t leave now, I swear to God, I will call the police, and I will find a way to have him arrested.”
I shuddered at his words, becoming sick to my stomach as I attempted to hold my ground.
“Do you want him arrested? Because I fucking do.”
I shook my head no as my bravado evaporated, not willing to test my brother’s ability to make good on his threat.
“Then get your shit and get out!” he screamed.
Throwing my shirt on, I ran devastated through the house. I waded through my balloons and flowers as I snatched my purse off the stand, slamming the door behind me.
A deep inhale of hot humid air hit me like a life preserver in a storm-torn ocean. I was crying so hard I could barely see the ground in front of me. I fumbled for my keys as I got into my car, shoving them into the ignition. Backing out, I began to pull away when I slow-rolled past Taj’s black DB11. It was parked off by itself, taking up two spots. A white-hot rage surged through my wounded heart as it pounded with fear for what I was going to do next.
With a death grip on the steering wheel, I spun my car around, and floored the gas. Screaming, I drove straight into the driver’s side of his Aston Martin. As soon as my car crashed into his, I heard the metal crushing, and it felt so satisfying. Throwing the car into reverse, I plowed forward, crashing into his car once again. Then I circled to the other side, wrecking my car into it. By now, his alarm was going off, and I saw smoke starting to come out from under my hood. I didn’t care, my mother would buy me another car tomorrow.
Then the final blow, I backed up as far as I could go and pressed the gas to the floor squealing my tires on takeoff. It felt like I was flying for hours, but it was only seconds, when I crashed into the front of his car.
I heard a horrible popping noise, and something soft and firm hit me in the chest and face.
Smoke filled the inside of my car as my airbag hung deflated from the steering wheel. Looking out my cracked windshield, I saw the backend of Taj’s car smashed into a light pole. I sat there numb to my actions, as I tried to catch my breath. My heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest and the adrenaline was thumping straight to my head as I heard my ears ringing.
My door opened, and a pair of arms pulled me out.
“Oh my God! Baby, are you okay?” Collin’s voice was hysterical, but I couldn’t focus on him. All I saw was Taj running over to us.
His face was stricken with panic as he rushed forward and tried to reach for me. “Granger!”
“Get away from me!” I screamed, kicking and clawing at him. “I hate you! I fucking hate you!” My nails caught his cheek and cut through his flesh—bright red blood appeared in their wake.
Taj’s hand shot up to his face. When he pulled it away, he looked at me in complete shock upon seeing the blood on his fingers.
Collin pulled me away with so much force we fell backward onto the grass. I bucked and thrashed against him, but he held my arms to my chest like a straitjacket.
“Granger! Stop!” Collin pleaded with his lips pressed against the side of my head.
Only I couldn’t; I was too engulfed in my rage. I will never forgive my brother for this.
“Bleed in Christ, Taj Bashara!”
Past
“Ma’am, is everything okay?” the officer asked, looking at my sister with concern.
Then, almost as if someone flipped a switch, her tear-stained features lit up as she spoke. “Everything is fine, sir. My brother and I just had a minor disagreement.”
He looked between Granger and me. “Would either of you like to file a police report?”
“No, officer, that will not be necessary,” I assured him before she could open her mouth.
“You will need it to file an insurance claim.”
I smiled politely. “We won’t be filing an insurance claim.”
