Chasing Butterflies (10 page)

We stood in
our kitchen as Mom gave me a speech and then a list of the rules.

“It’s one night,” I said, slightly annoyed she thought I couldn’t take care of myself.

“And a school night,” Mom added. “We trust you, honey. We really do. It’s just…” I tried really hard not to roll my eyes, but I failed. She sighed. “Here are the keys to my car so you can drive yourself to and from school. I’ve texted you the hotel information, and you can call us if you need anything. We should be home by dinner tomorrow. If not, I’ve left some money in the cookie jar for you to order pizza or something for both nights.”

I nodded.

“Come on, let’s get going. I want to beat traffic,” Dad called from the front room.

“All right,” she said, angling her neck as if she could see Dad. Then she turned back to me. “Be good.” She kissed my forehead before walking out of the room.

I waved for good measure. Once the front door closed, I raced to the window and watched them drive off before I danced around the living room.

“Freedom,” I called out.

I gripped Mom’s keys tightly in my hand as I continued to dance through the house. It wasn’t often I was given such a gift. I was actually quite happy it was a school night. If it had been the weekend, Ox or Debbie would have found a way to ruin my solitude with a last minute party. Instead, I grabbed my backpack and headed for school.

After school, Ox hovered over me like a mother hen. “You don’t need a ride?”

“No, I told you I have Mom’s car.”

“You don’t want me to come over?”

My glare did nothing. “They trust me. For all I know they’ll come back home tonight to test me. And if you’re there I’ll be grounded for life.”

He sighed. “Fine. But I’ll call you later to see if you changed your mind.”

The nod I gave him didn’t match the unspoken words in my head.
Don’t worry, I won’t change my mind
.

As I got in my car, I thought about how Debbie didn’t even know my parents weren’t home. She and I had barely spoken in days. She’d spent more time with the other cheerleaders on the squad, and I felt like the odd man out. Cheerleading had been her dream, which was why I considered quitting. She’d barely talked to me at practice and neither of us made the effort to call the other in over a week. I considered ending our stalemate by inviting her over for dinner. We could watch movies or do something like we’d done before boys came between us.

I slowed the car as I watched Kelley walk achingly slow down the street.

“Need a ride?” I called from the open window.

He jerked in my direction with a wince on his face.

“No, I’m good.”

“Don’t be like that. Your place is like two miles away. Let me drop you off.”

I pulled to a stop on the side of the road. He came over to the car and peered in. “Won’t your mom be waiting for you to arrive home on time?”

“My parents are out of town. No one’s waiting on me.”

He opened the door without giving me a response and slid into the seat. He had to crank it back to comfortably fit his long legs. Mom’s Subaru Forrester masqueraded like a family car but it was a compact version of one.

Before I could strike up a conversation, he turned on the radio and found a station he liked. Sitting back, he closed his eyes and effectively ended any possibility of conversation. I sighed, knowing it was for the best. He’d warned me off so many times, why was I pushing the possibility of a friendship with him?

Parking the car near the garage, he got out without a word. He set his backpack on the stairs then headed over to my side of the car. I rolled down the window.

He leaned down and got so close. His lips were there, and I’d bet money they’d be as soft as they had been the last time I’d kissed him.

“You should go, princess, before your ride turns into a pumpkin. Your parents probably have GPS installed and are tracking your movements. Or maybe your boyfriend does. Wouldn’t want him to find out you’re here with me.”

He tapped the top of the car and strode toward a side door. I turned off the car, not wanting to be so goddamn predictable.

“Wait,” I called out. He had the door open as he turned back to me. “I’m not the perfect princess you think I am.” I marched over to him with confidence I couldn’t quite pull off. “Yes, my parents trust me. But that’s not a bad thing. I’m free to do what I want even if it means spending time with your grumpy self.”

Those lips of his bent in a smile. “I know how we can spend that time.” He winked at me. My jaw dropped as if I should be surprised. “But I have something I have to do first.”

Okay, he hadn’t exactly told me to follow him, but I did anyway. At the first opening on the left, he turned in. I was already there before I realized I shouldn’t have been.

“Who’s this?” a beautiful woman asked from the confines of a bed.

His floppy hair covered one eye as he tilted his head back in my direction. “Mom, this is Lenny, or Lenora. Lenny, this is my mom.”

As awkward as it was, I walked forward to take her hand. Only she tugged me closer. Taken off guard, the little pressure she exerted pulled me closer to the bed, so I was practically dropped on it.

“Nice to finally meet you.”

I couldn’t hide my shock. Had Kelley talked to his mother about me? A scattering of wings beat in my belly.

“Mom,” Kelley admonished.

She let go of my hand, and I took a step back. “She is the girl you were telling me about?” He gave her a curt nod but avoided looking at me. “It’s not often, how about ever, that my son talks about a girl.”

“I told you she has a boyfriend. So don’t start, okay?” he gritted out.

“So she’s a friend. You need more of those,” she said to him. Then her bright green eyes met mine. “He’s a very private person. He never likes to talk much. So be patient with him.”

“Okay, this is over.” He stood. “Lenny, it’s time for you to go.”

A small woman came in. Her smile grew as she took in the three of us. She didn’t look at all like his mother. Her skin was a natural golden tan I would have killed to have. Still, I guessed it could be his aunt.

“Mrs. Jackie and Mr. Kelley, I see you have a guest. I was just coming to ask about dinner.”

His mother spoke next. “Ah, my son has a friend over. Would it be okay to set another place for dinner?”

I still wasn’t sure who the woman was. “I have an idea,” she said. “Mrs. Joy and her husband are out for the evening. Why don’t I serve Mr. Kelley and his friend out by the pool? I don’t anticipate Mrs. Joy will be home tonight.”

“That sounds wonderful,” his mother said.

“Mom, Lenny probably has plans.”

“No, I actually don’t,” I said with a huge grin, opposite of his scowl.

“Wonderful,” his mother answered.

The cook or the housekeeper bustled off, leaving the three of us alone.

“Go take her around back.” She shooed us with a wave of her hand.

“Fine, but I’ll be back later to check on you.”

She smiled. “Don’t worry. Your father promised to be home in time to watch a movie with me.”

His frown deepened. “Let’s go, trouble.”

I followed him outside. The sun was still fairly high in the sky. We walked around back and entered an iron rod gate. Colorful flower bushes lined the fence, hiding it for the most part. A pool with water the color of one of Kelley’s eyes beckoned me to reach in and touch its cool depths.

“It’s beautiful out here,” I said, spinning around. He sat in a chair that was shaded by a table umbrella. I sat opposite him. “This is amazing.”

He said nothing as I spotted the cutest looking cottage in the back corner. It had to be a pool house. The housekeeper came out with a freaking tray of milk and cookies.

“Thanks,” he muttered.

She winked at him. “I’ll bring dinner out in a little while, and then I’ll leave you alone.”

What did she think we were going to do? Had he brought other girls out here? I dismissed that because his mom said he didn’t bring anyone around.

“Your mom seems nice.”

“She is. Now tell me, Len, why are you here? We already had this discussion.”

I took a bite of one of the chocolate chip cookies and nearly moaned. It was warm and gooey. “Oh my God.”

“Lenny,” Kelley warned.

“It’s good. You should try it. And your mother says you need friends.”

“My mother still believes dreams come true.”

“And who says they don’t?” I challenged.

“I do.” He glared at me. So I drank some milk. “You want to know why I was walking home?”

I shrugged. “If you’ll tell me.”

“I had to stay after school to use the computer in the library to do my homework and print it out because we don’t own one. I don’t have a cell phone either. I don’t own anything but the bed in my room. But when I leave, and I will get out of this hell hole, it will stay, because I don’t have a way to take it.”

His words punched me in my chest. But I wasn’t going to give him what he wanted.

“You need to stop throwing yourself pity parties. No one I know of has treated you differently in this school. I certainly haven’t. And surely no one knows where you live. Why don’t you enjoy the moment, enjoy this gorgeous day and accept my friendship?”

“I don’t do friends.”

“Joel,” I announced. “I’ve seen him around you.”

“He’s cool. But that’s it. And I don’t want to be your friend, Len.”

“Why not? Do something not in your playbook. Isn’t that what you’ve told me?”

Abruptly, he stood. The chair scooted back a foot when he did. “Fine!” Then he started to strip. “I’ve wanted to do this since the day I got here.”

I would have been impressed by the defined muscles on his body, but the darkish bruise caught my attention.

“Oh no, you’re hurt.” I was on my feet and gracing my fingers over his bare chest before it registered what I was doing.

“What, you didn’t believe me before?” His eyes bore into mine as I continued to let my fingertips travel over the muscles in his chest.

“I did. It’s just…”

He caught my wrist, and I felt like a spider trapped in his gaze. His eyes sparkled in the sun. They were beautiful. I almost told him, but he broke the spell by speaking.

“Seeing is believing.” He removed my hand.

Then he kicked his pants to the side, which left him mostly naked except for underwear that vaguely resembled the style of my boy shorts. Maybe that’s where they’d gotten the name. I stared at what he was packing, but glanced away when I realized I was looking.

He chuckled darkly. “It’s okay to look, Lenny, as long as you realize what comes after.”

Embarrassed, I glanced away. When I turned back, I got a view of him from behind, and holy hell. Before I could imprint the image on my brain he’d cannonballed into the pool. He shook his head when he reached the surface.

“Is it cold?”

He shook his head. “No. You could join me.”

I backed away as he came over and folded his arms on the edge and peered up at me.

“Oh, no, I can’t.”

“Yeah, right. You wouldn’t want to do anything impulsive. I bet Mommy and Daddy told you to date that asshole and you did, because you always do what you’re told.”

I knew he was baiting me, but he struck a nerve coming way too close to the truth. I didn’t want to be the good girl always doing the right thing.

“I don’t have a bathing suit.”

“Neither did I, and I didn’t let it stop me. Besides, isn’t a bikini not much more than what you girls wear under your clothes anyway?”

He was right.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I muttered to myself. I lifted the hem of my sundress over my head and stood there in my undergarments.

“Nice, you match.”

I scowled at him. The blush pink cotton set wasn’t for show, but comfort. If I’d known what was in store for me, I might have worn the sexy black set Debbie talked me into one day. I’d been saving it for that special day that had yet to come.