Chapter Nine
Kylie wheeled Taylor’sfuchsia suitcase down the stairs to the parking lot. “Tell your grandmother I said happy birthday.”
“I will.” Taylor stopped in front of a blue Mazda and popped the trunk. “I wish you were coming with me. I worry about you.” A frown creased her forehead.
“Don’t spend your weekend worrying. I’ll be fine. Besides, security is keeping an eye on me and Ricky asked Andy to watch over me too. Have a good time. I really do need to catch up in some of my classes.”
“I should be staying and catching up,” Taylor groaned. “I’m so fucking behind in Ashcroft’s class. I’ll be pulling a lot of all-nighters for the next couple of weeks.” She hugged Kylie. “I’ll be back Monday afternoon. I’ll call you, and you better answer your phone, otherwise I’ll be freaking out.”
Kylie pushed her affectionately. “Go. I’ll answer my phone. See you on Monday. Drive safely, and call me when you get to Durango.”
Taylor waved and backed out her car, Kylie watching her drive away until she exited the parking lot. Swinging around, she sprinted up the stairs, happy to have the room to herself for a few days. She made sure her door was locked then cranked up Twisted Sister’sWe’re Not Gonna Take It,thinking how the sentiments of the song fit her situation. She’d decided she wasn’t going to take anymore shit from the jerk in the Corvette. It’d been so liberating when she’d told him off, and she was pretty sure she wouldn’t see him again. Bullies thrived on fear, and she’d shown him she wasn’t afraid.
As she took outWuthering Heightsto begin her paper for English Lit, she thought she’d heard a knock on her door. Turning down the music, she waited and listened.Knock, knock.Taking a deep breath she shuffled to the door, her pulse pounding in her ears. What if it was Marcus, or worse, the Corvette guy? Not wanting to invite trouble in, she asked, “Who is it?”
“It’s me.” Jerry’s voice was a husky whisper, sending a surge of adrenaline through her. She flung the door open and bit her inner cheek as she saw him standing before her in his tight jeans, black T-shirt that showed off his ripped chest, and black leather jacket. He had a goofy, lopsided grin on his face, and his silver earrings caught the fluorescent light. “Are you gonna invite me in?”
“Oh, sure.” She jumped back, making room for his broad physique to pass through the narrow doorway. Crossing her arms over her chest, she leaned against her closet door. What washedoing here? Butterflies battled each other in her stomach, and she gripped her arms to steady herself.
“Aren’t you happy to see me?” He slid his eyes over her, his gaze scorching her skin.
“I’m more surprised to see you. Did you come to see your friends?”
Shaking his head, his gaze lingered on her mouth. “I came to see you.”
“Really?” Tingles chased up her spine.
For a long moment, he looked fixedly at her. “Really,” he said in a low voice.
His voice, deep and sensual, sent a ripple of desire through her. She shifted in place, her mouth dry. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“You got beer?”
“No. Diet Coke, bottled water, orange and cranberry juice.” Kylie exhaled forcefully. She could do this, act like it was normal to have Jerry in her room. Handsome, buff Jerry, who exuded sex from every damn pore on his body. It was cool; she’d be nonchalant, like the club girls who didn’t know the meaning of “shy” or “nervous as hell.”
He chuckled. “Gimme your car keys and show me the way to the nearest liquor store.”
Twenty minutes later, Jerry was popping the top of a twenty-two-ounce beer bottle, his brown gaze on her blue one. Taking a long pull, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Fuck, I needed that. Want one?”
“Okay, but I want the smaller size.” When she took the bottle from him, their fingers touched and strange twists churned in her stomach. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to Crested Peak?”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, you succeeded.” She took a small sip. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“That’s good. For a while there, I thought you may have been pissed about me comin’.”
“No. Why did you want to see me?”
He moved one shoulder in a shrug, lit up a joint, and inhaled deeply. “Want a hit?”
Kylie took it from him, the weird sensations hitting her again when his fingers grazed hers. The weed calmed her down; she should’ve thought about smoking some when he’d first come into her room. Mellowing out, she put some music on from Shinedown and they began to chat easily. “How’re things in Pinewood Springs? You know, I almost went home this weekend, but changed my mind at the last minute. I have a shitload of stuff to do for school, so I thought it’d be nice to have the room to myself. Taylor went to Durango to see her family. Wouldn’t that have been funny if I went to Pinewood and you came here?”
Hunger filled his brown gaze. “You’re alone for the whole weekend?”
“Yeah.” Insecurity nipped at her weed-induced confidence.
“I’ll be damned.”
