Caught (3 page)

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Quinn

“Someone spiked your punch,” I say, lying between hurls. I know damn well I did this to myself. That seeing Chace’s hand all up in Finley sent me overboard with the booze.

“You really need to learn your limits,” Finley lectures as she holds my hair back.

“Hold that thought. I’ve got some limits to learn.” I lean further over the toilet, puking my guts and limits out. I fall over against the wall, closing my eyes, and pray for death—or sleep—whichever comes first.

“Seriously, Quinn. Why do you do this to yourself?” I hear the faucet turn on and I know she’s wetting a washrag. Fin always has this overbearing motherly instinct about her. I wish it was of a nurturing nature, but it’s more of a controlling one.

I crack my eyes open and peer at her. She acts like I do this all the time. I don’t. Tonight is a fluke. She walks over to me with sad eyes as she holds out the folded rag. I give her a go to hell look as I stand, pushing her hand away. I flatten my hands against the wall to steady myself. Once I have my footing, I’m about to let my best friend have it. Let out a bunch of shit I’ve suppressed for longer than I should have, and spill the beans on the real reason why I got shmammered and almost showed my goods to all the guys outside.

“Do you really wanna know why I ‘do this to myself’ as you like to call it?” I sneer at her.  The saying “a drunk mind speaks sober thoughts” pops into mind.

She props a hand on her hip in an attempt to look firm and unmoved by my behavior. “Yes, I do.”

“Well, to be perfectly fucking honest, I was handling my alcohol intake well until I saw something that bleach can’t even burn from my mind.”

She lets out a sarcastic huff. “And what was that, Quinn?” Like she really needs to ask, but she does, daring me to finally admit it.

I want to punch her…sucker punch her in the gut with my words. But before I can the door flings wide open.

“Everything all right in here?” Chace asks with concern.

“Just peachy,” I say, grabbing the washcloth from Finley’s hand and pushing my way past Chace.

I hear him hollering for me and Finley encouraging him to just let me be. I make my way out the front door without him following and realize he took her advice. I don’t like the way if feels as I sit down on the front stone steps and contemplate my choices for the night. I can’t drive and I damn sure can’t walk. I pull out my phone and do the only responsible thing I will do tonight and call my parents.

“Quinn,” my dad says through a yawn. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” I sigh. “I hate to ask, but can you come get me?” I hold the cool cloth to my forehead with my free hand.

“Is something wrong with your car?” he asks, and I can hear my mom whispering as he reassures her I’m fine.

“Car’s fine. I’m just not in the position to be driving it.”

Dad clears the sleep from his throat before speaking again.  “Can’t you just sleep it off there?” 

It was a valid question.  I hardly ever called for a ride home.  I had no trouble sleeping where I fell.  But tonight is different.  I need space.  “Well Dad, if you must know, in addition to my being annihilated, I’m also having a cringe attack following my fall from grace.  I just really want to get out of here.”

My dad lets out a heavy sigh. “We’ll be right there.”

Great! Tag team’s coming to get me.

I lay back on the rock and wait for my parents to arrive. I mentally prepare myself for the lecture I’m sure to get as I begin to doze off.

“Hey,” I hear him say, sitting down beside me. I don’t know why I ever doubted him.

“Hey,” is all I can reply. I’m slightly embarrassed to face him after what I witnessed and the actions it triggered. Then I force myself to sit up, remembering he’s my best friend after all, and no matter what he always will be. “If you’re out here to critique my limits, then you can go back inside.”

“I wanted to make sure you and your limits were okay.” Even though I’m not looking at him, I know he’s smiling…or smirking. Or the deadly combo of doing both.

“I’m fine. I wish people would quit asking.” I groan as the throbbing in my head gets stronger.

“Yeah, you sound fine.” Chace laughs, making me want to smack him. I know I’d miss, so I don’t even waste the effort.

“I don’t need a babysitter, Chacer.” I lay back down, closing my eyes. “You can go tend to the unfinished business you and your girlfriend started.” Sober Quinn would care that I possibly just spilled the beans, but passing out begging for death Quinn doesn’t care at the moment. She just wants silence and to be left alone to lick her own wounds.  Thinking in third person isn’t creepy at all.

“Fine,” he caves, placing his hand near my knee and giving it a few squeezes. “Your ass better be up to par tomorrow.” I tilt my head his direction, cocking one eye open. I need him to remind me what’s going on tomorrow. “Heading up state,” he leads. “Most of us seniors.” He keeps going. “Staying at the place Finley’s parents rented out for us.”

I hear tread on the pavement and know my ride has arrived. I bolt up and instantly regret that decision as Chace’s arms shoot out to steady me.

“Easy there,” he says softly. Once I have control over my equilibrium his arms loosen their hold, and I instantly feel the loss of his touch.

“You can count on me.” I give him a playful salute before carefully walking to where the blinding headlights are parked.

I open the door to the sedan and slump into the back seat, buckling myself as I do. I feel disappointment rising up within me. Graduation night of all nights I had to go off the deep end. My parent’s will probably feel worse about me going off to college now. Probably thinking I’ll turn into some Girl’s Gone Wild chick.

“It was smart of you to call,” my dad says. I glance up and can tell his eyes are trained on me in the rearview mirror. I nod in agreement.

“It’s the only smart move I’ve made all day,” I groan.

“Yes, it was smart of you to call. But this is so out of character for you, Quinny,” my mother chimes in. I can hear her shifting her body as the leather seat squeaks. She lightly rests a hand on my knee. I look her way, knowing I won’t be able to fully see her. “What happened?” she asks with concern. I get wasted and my parents aren’t pissed, they’re worried—and not about the fact that I drank too much, but for the reason behind it.

“Stupid. I was stupid. Saw something and let my stupid feelings get the best of me.”

My mom’s hand rubs my leg in a reassuring manner. “College will be good for you.” I’ve been telling them this from the get go. Glad they’re finally seeing it from my perspective. 

****

“Quinn,” I hear off in a distance. “Quinn,” I hear again, this time louder. Then my bed dips and continues moving up and down.

“Make it stop,” I groan. The movement keeps going. I don’t have a water bed, so why am I feeling sea sick? Then it hits me and I bolt up and run for my bathroom, barfing up the rest of my limits.

“Aww. Shit, Q. I didn’t mean to make you sick,” I hear from the doorway.

I wipe my hand across my mouth and flush the toilet. I glance over and want to give Chace a death glare, but his hands are resting against the top of the doorway as his arms are stretched out above him. I check him out in record speed, taking in his cut off Abercrombie shirt that shows off his toned upper body. Then I see his bright swimming trucks and flip flops and remember why he’s here.

My scowl turns into a shit eating grin. I can’t help it. I’ve been healed.

“Your bed skills cured me.” I walk to my sink and begin to brush my teeth. I watch him from the mirror as his remains unmoved, watching me. I spit and rinse, then use my towel to wipe off my mouth. I examine my face, doing an assessment of last night’s damages. Few mascara smudges. But nothing a Q-TIP and some make up remover can’t take care of. I grab a hair tie and twist my brown locks on top of my head. I twist around and Chace’s eyes get a bit wider.

I look down seeing that I’m only in my panties and bra. Part of me wants to throw my arms across my chest and yell at him to get out. But the part that wins is the one that wants to flaunt my goods in front of him. He’ll see these same assets soon enough when I’m wearing my bikini later. But there’s something about him looking at me the way he is now—completely vulnerable.

I walk up to him and pat his cheek. “Thanks.” Then I duck under his arm, grabbing the first t-shirt I see. I toss it on before I start digging through my dresser for my bikinis. Yes, I will need to take more than one. I set my black and white skull one to the side, shoving the other three into my backpack. The rest of my clothes I practically pack blindly, not even caring. I don’t plan on being dressed that much anyway.

I turn toward Chace, who has made himself comfortable on my bed. Holding the strings to my bikini through my fingers, I ask, “Do you mind?”

He eyes the small fabric within my grasp, then eyes me and gulps. With a string full of incomplete words and stutters, he exits my room, allowing me to change.

Afterwards, I run down stairs ready to get our mini vacay started. I bend over the back of the couch kissing my mom and dad on their cheeks. “Love you guys.”

“Be careful,” one says, while the other one says, “Have a good time.”

Turning to leave, I run straight into my annoying little brother.  “Outta my way, Juff,” I tease.

“It’s Judd, douche nozzle.”  He’s pissed, and I can’t blame him. He hates it when I call him Juff.  “I want to give you something before you leave.”

“That’s my word, by the way.”  I stop and huff in annoyance.  “What do you wanna give me?”

“I’m pretty sure you didn’t coin douche nozzle, but that’s irrelevant.  So, just because you’re an adult now doesn’t mean you’re invincible.  You need to play it safe.  Especially if you’re going to be showing a lot of skin. I have some protection for you.”

My mouth hangs open in shock.  Judd pulls his hand from behind his back, handing me a tube of sunscreen. “What?” he asks, giving me an all knowing yet innocent smirk. “Be sure to put some of that on your panis, too.” 

Rolling my eyes, I grab the tube and bolt for the door. I will not give him the reaction he’s looking for.  But it’s safe to say that my little brother has officially and successfully humiliated me; and pissed me off at the same time. I hate him for it.

Chace is waiting on the front porch, leaning against the railing. “Ready,” I say, smacking his stomach as I skip down the stairs.

I look at his empty truck and stop. “Way to be a team player and pick up the drunkard first.” I cross my arms.

“Oh, Q.” He playfully ruffles my hair. “You know how Finley is. She probably still won’t be ready by the time we get there.”

I pull my sunglasses out of my bag, needing to save my eyes and my slowly pounding head from the blinding sun rays. “Not gonna lie, Chacer, but this makes me feel slightly stabbity.”  Sliding my sunglasses onto my face, I shrug.  “Guess it’s just more perks of being the third wheel. I always get to take one for the team.” I sigh. “I call bed.” I toss my bag in the back and Chace pauses before opening his door. “Bed of the truck that is.” I look at him and smirk.

“Might as well sit in the front for now. We have to go pick up Greg first.” He gives me an amused expression.

“Shoot me now.” I hold my hand to my head in the shape of a gun. “I’m too hungover to deal with Greg and his wackaloon ways.  God love him.”  Chace has no valuable input, instead he just shakes his head and laughs.

The ride to Greg’s is quiet as I keep my head leaned back against the headrest. He might’ve cured my motion sickness when he rocked the boat, but this migraine is standing its ground. The truck stops, and before I can even lift my head or open my eyes, banging on my window startles me.

Greg hollers with excitement as he throws his shit over the tail gate and hops in. He stands against the back window, yelling as we make our way to Fin’s.

I look over at Chace, who just shrugs and laughs and I hold up my air gun at him. “Pew pew.” Then I blow the air smoke away.

Ten minutes later we pull up to Fin’s borderline mansion. Typically I’d go in as well, but I’m just not feeling it today. Chace opens his door to get out and I do the same to get into the bed of the truck with Greg.

“Grab me some grapes, water, and a bottle of pain killers.”

“Is that all?” Chace cocks a brow.

“Whatcha offering?” I tease, propping my hand on my hip. He just looks at me, momentarily stunned before the front door opens. I wave him off. “Yes, that’s it.”

I grab hold of the tailgate, stepping up onto the bumper. Greg wraps his beefy arms around me and hoists me up and over.

“Sup, Greg?” I mumble. My hands drift down his chest as he places me on my feet. I glance down to where my hands still rest and feel like my eyes are on the verge of bulging out. “My, Greg.” I grope his firm pecks sticking out of his tiny tank. “What big chesticles you have.”

“Nice to see you too, Quinn.” He laughs, taking a step back and giving me a once over. “No offense, but you look like shit.”

“None taken.” I sit, positioning my backpack behind me for cushioned support. Chace throws three bags over the side as Finley walks up with another.