Charade (19 page)

             
“Hit the light, would ya?” he says before climbing into bed in camo boxer-briefs.

             
“You’re camouflaged. How will I find you?” I tease and he cracks a smile.

             
“I don’t think you can miss me.”

             
I turn off the light and get into bed wearing my panties and Colt’s t-shirt. I wait for him to kiss me. Or to lick or bite my neck. H
e
likes using his tongue and teeth.

             
Instead he pulls me to him, my back to his chest. His arm goes around my waist and it fits so perfectly there.

             
“I fucked up,” he says again. “That shouldn’t have gone down earlier.”

             
His words aren’t expected, but somehow they’re what I need. “I know. It’s okay.” Pause, and then, “I can’t believe she’s gone.”

             
Colt squeezes me tighter. Kisses my hair. “It’s easier to hide in the dark…but easier to let go too.”

             
And I know he’s hiding. Doesn’t want me to see him when he says stuff like that. Can’t be that close. Me? I’m letting go. Finally, a tear slips from my eye. I wipe it away and go to sleep.

~CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE~

Colt

I’m sitting in the passenger seat of Cheyenne’s car messing with the stereo. It’s the first day I’ve seen her since her mom’s service and I’m really fucking hoping we’re not going to have this huge ass conversation like girls like to have. Yeah she stayed and yeah we didn’t have sex. We both know what happened—or that nothing happened. The end.

             
“You have shitty music,” I tell her. When I resort to the radio, you know my options are limited.

             
She shrugs. “I’m not all that into music.”

             
This surprises me. “You dance.”

             
“Yeah and I listen to music for dancing. When music is on I’m thinking about my body and how to move and it makes me want to do more than just sit around.”

             
I look at her and grin. “I’m thinking about your body and how it moves too.”

             
She quickly glances at me. “I’m kind of impossible not to think about.”

             
I laugh because it’s true and she’s probably the only woman I know who would have the balls to say it.

             
“Or touch.” I reach over and slide my hand up her leg. Unfortunately she’s wearing jeans, but I let my hand creep higher.

             
“You’re distracting me.”

             
“That’s the point.” I never expected to have fun with her like this. I don’t have fun with anyone like this, but just like it’s hard not to think about her body, it’s hard not to enjoy her too. Yeah she pisses me off, but that kind of makes it better.

             
And then because we’re almost to the party and it’s only been a few days since she buried her mom, I ask. “You sure you’re cool with going out?”

             
Again she looks over at me. I can’t see her real well because it’s dark, but I know her eyes are on me. “Why Colt, one would think you’re a nice guy.”

             
Her comment annoys me a little. Not because I think I’m this nice guy, but because she’s always deflecting shit. She’s had a lot go down lately. I’ve seen her when she breaks and know she’s not doing as well as she wants people to think. Or maybe as good as she thinks.

             
But fuck. That’s what I’m supposed to be. A distraction. I knew that going into it and know it now so I don’t know what the hell my problem is with it. Maybe it’s because I’m in the same boat.

             
“We both know I’m not a nice guy. And we both know there’s a lot of shit in your head too. That’s why I’m asking. If you don’t want to answer, tell me you don’t. Don’t play me.”

             
“I don’t want to answer.” We’re quiet for a few minutes. I’m feeling way more pissed than I have a right to be. Finally she speaks. “It’s hard. I’m trying to deal. Distractions help. Fun helps. You…help.” The last part I can tell she didn’t want to say.

             
Did I want to hear it? I don’t know. “Good.”

             
“How’s your mom?”

             
Fuck.
Why did I start this? I just gave her shit so it’s not like I can’t answer her now. “The same…how else? There’s nowhere to go, but down.”

             
“You never—”

             
“You saw her, Chey. There’s no hope. She stopped treatmen
t. Hospice has been involved. We both know what’s going to happen.
” The words hurt coming out. I want to close my mouth. Trap them in, but it won’t make things any different.

             
Now it’s her hand that’s on my leg. “So…tonight… When we get home… Do you wanna?” There’s laughter in her voice.

             
“Fuck yeah I wanna.”

             
We pull up at the house for the party. It’s out of the way and on property and I can see the bonfire out back already.

             
I’m about to open the door when Chey asks, “What’s the deal with you and Gregory?”

             
I hit the interior light. “He’s a prick?”

             
“Nice try.”

             
I shrug. “That’s basically it. I fucking hate guys like him. Thinks he can get away with whatever he wants. We were out one night and we caught him fucking around with this kid. It was bullshit frat stuff, but they had the kid shitting his pants he was so scared. Him and his friends were making him go in and steal something. They threatened him. We kicked his ass. He didn’t like having his ass kicked and I liked doing it.”

             
When my eyes hit hers she has that lost girl look. No, not the lost look, but the one that says she’s thinking all sorts of things women don’t usually think when looking at me. “Don’t do that. It’s not a big deal,” I say.

             
She gets a huge smile on her face. A cocky one that says I’m not going to like what she says.

             
“Don’t worry, Colt. I won’t tell anyone that you’re really quite noble.”

             
She gets out of the car and slams the door, giving me no choice but to get out with her.

***

             
We’re sitting around a big ass fire, beer in hand. There’s about forty people out here. More in the house. None of Cheyenne’s pretty boys, so it’s more kickback than the frat parties on campus.

             
She’s sitting on my lap, my arm wrapped round her waist. Adrian’s sitting next to me with whatever girl he’s boning this week. He keeps giving me that look like he did in the kitchen that night. Like he knows or feels something else going on than is really here.

             
“Shut the fuck up,” I say when he winks at me.

             
“Huh?” Cheyenne asks.

             
“Nothing.” I bite her shoulder softly instead of playing Adrian’s game.

             
“Ah, so you’re the new flavor of the week. He’s good, isn’t he?” I look up to see Deena standing in front of us. I really didn’t want to do this shit and hoped she wasn’t here. I know she doesn’t want me. She just wanted to screw around like I did, but I also know she’s the kind of girl who wants to be on top. Who wants to show everyone she doesn’t give a shit and that she’s going to use Cheyenne to do it.

             
“Who are—” Cheyenne says at the same time I say, “Deena.”

             
I feel Chey tense, but she doesn’t move off my lap.

             
“Stop playing games, D. No one wants to hear it.”

             
Adrian laughs beside me.

             
“She can’t speak for herself?” Deena adds.

             
I know this can’t end well. Deena’s not one to back down and Cheyenne doesn’t take people’s shit.

             
“Actually she can,” Chey says. “And maybe you were only around for a week, but I’ve been here longer than that. It doesn’t look like I’m going anywhere anytime soon, either.”

             
I see the shock register on Deena’s face. She didn’t expect Cheyenne to fight back. She looks like the tiny dancer she is. Looks like the princess I’ve accused her of being. That’s what Deena expected.

             
“Good for you.” Deena grasps for something to say, but just stands there.

             
“Did you need something else? We’re a little busy here.”

             
“Bitch,” Deena mumbles before walking away.

I bury my face in Cheyenne’s hair knowing I’ll probably regret this later, but my buzz doesn’t seem to care. “You want to stick around, huh?”

Cheyenne laughs and says. “Well, you have your uses. She was right. You are pretty good and I like your mouth.”

She turns on my lap, straddling me. Her arms go around my neck and her lips find mine. I’m scared as hell I might want her to stick around too.

***

             
Adrian nudges my shoulder a while later.

             
“What’s up lover boy?”

             
“Fuck off,” I tell him. I rip my eyes away from Cheyenne as she talks to her roommate on the other side of the fire. Why the hell I’m standing here and watching her, I don’t know.

             
“You’re different.” Adrian takes a pull from his cigarette.

             
“Why do you do that? Want to read my palm too?”

             
He puts the cigarette out and pushes it into a beer can. “I’m not psychic and don’t think I am. I just pay attention to shit. I’m not afraid to say it either. You act like an asshole and I tell it how it is.” He shrugs and walks away.

             
I push every thought out of my head and get back to watching my Tiny Dancer.

~CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR~

Cheyenne

             
I wake up naked and in Colt’s arms. It’s becoming a habit—a planned one, but one all the same. His hand is latched onto my breast like it always is. I think he’d surgically attach it if he could. I don’t get guys and their obsession with boobs. Not that I have huge ones, but I still struggle with guys talking to my chest instead of my face.

             
Colt moves behind me and I can tell by the change in his breathing that he’s waking up. He shifts, his hand tightens and I know he’s really awake.

             
“Even in your sleep all you think about is sex,” I tease.

             
“Can you blame me? I’m good at it,” he nudges a knee between my legs. I moan it feels so good, but I have stuff I need to do. Plus, I’m not sure if we’re supposed to do the morning after thing. We usually don’t. I always leave.

             
“I can’t.” I jump out of the bed before he can change my mind. He looks all rumpled and sexy and I want nothing more than to climb back into bed with the jerk.

             
“I’ll be right back.” I pull on his shirt and a pair of shorts before heading to the bathroom. I see bodies lying in the living room. This place is always packed with people. I know it’s Adrian and not Colt, but it still gets frustrating.

             
I go to the bathroom and then brush my teeth with the toothbrush I hid here. When I head back into the room, Colt looks like he’s already passed out again. The guy can sleep more than anyone I know. His school schedule isn’t full time, but I wonder sometimes if he ever goes.

             
“I should go… I have homework to do.” I grab my bag so I can get into my own clothes. I probably should have done that from the beginning, but there’s something hot about wearing a guy’s
clothes that makes a girl feel
sexy… Loved. Not that I want to be loved by him or anyone else, but still.

             
Colt opens his eyes. He shrugs like what’s he’s about to say isn’t a big deal, but the nerves in my stomach tell me it is.

             
“So do it here. I have some to do too.”

             
Something happens inside my chest. I’ve been really good at keeping him at arm’s length so far. We’re nothing alike. I think he hates me half the time and we don’t belong together. We’re a means to an end, but with his simple request, I begin to soften inside. It’s that stupid girl heart-pounding, hearts-floating-by-my-head thing. Where the guy who fights so hard to keep the distance, does something so small, it’s huge. I can’t help but let it inside. Let it mean something.