Chaste (McCullough Mountain) (2 page)

“Sorry,
Dad. We were just talking about the game.”

Frank
’
s lips pursed. “I
’
m sure. Get your arse in bed and
go to sleep. It
’
s
a school night.”

Their
father shut the door and they were silent for a minute. When he met his
brother’s stare they both stifled a laugh. “Get out of here, Fabio. I got a
test tomorrow.”

Kelly
grabbed his shoes and hat and said goodnight.

The
following morning he woke and bounded down the steps for breakfast. He was
anxious to get to school and see Rachel, maybe make some plans for that
afternoon.

Feeling
like the king of the world, he slid into his seat across from his little sister
and grabbed the box of cereal. Oats went scattering across the surface of the
table when something hard cracked him in the ear. After shaking off the
unexpected blow, he turned and found his mother scowling at him, both hands
fisted and wedged into her rounded hips. “
Ow
, Ma!”

“What
did you do?” she snapped.

“What
was that for?”

 
“Don
’
t you go playing all innocent
with me, Kelly McCullough. A mother knows.”

Sheilagh
snickered over her bowl of Frosted Flakes. He met Bray
’
s wide eyes and quickly turned
back to his mother. “I didn’t do anything!”

Her
green eyes contracted into small points hidden behind her fiery red lashes. “I
can tell when one of my sons is up to something.”

“I
’
m not up to anything.”

She
rolled her eyes. “You
’
re
so full of shit your breath stinks. Whatever you
’
re acting all cheeky about this
morning, you better knock it off.”

He
turned back to his bowl and scooped the spilled cereal inside. Mumbling as he
poured the milk, “Christ, can
’
t
a guy be happy in the morning?”

“All
of your life you
’
ve
lurched into this kitchen like a
zombie. Today you come bounding down the steps like you
’
re leading a bloody parade. Not
in my house, young man.”

“Fine.
I
’
ll
go back to being a grump in the
morning.”

“Damn
right, you will. And whatever you
’
re
up to knock it off.”

The
rest of breakfast passed in silence. He
wasn
’
t sure how his mother sensed what
he
’
d been up to,
but she knew. By the end of the week there was a surplus size box of condoms in
his sock drawer, right where she put his fresh laundry.

Talk
about awkward. He
couldn
’
t meet her gaze for almost a
week. When he finally built up the courage, she
’
d stared at him in such a knowing
way paranoia had him blinking away. How the hell did she know?

The
following weekend, just as Kelly was rushing out the door to meet some friends,
his father stopped him. “Kelly.”

He
skidded to a halt at the front door and hooked a left into the den. “Yeah,
Dad.”

“Sit
down for a minute.”

Hitching
his thumb toward the door, he said, “I
’
m meeting some friends—”

“I
said sit.”

Recognizing
the stern tone in his father
’
s
voice, he dropped onto the couch.

“I
got a call last week from Jerry Blackwell.”

Oh,
fuuuuuudge
.
Jerry
Blackwell was Rachel
’
s dad.

“Apparently,
Rachel
’
s
been sneaking out at night. She won
’
t be doing that any more now that her parents caught
her.”

“Dad—”

“It
’
s different with boys. You five
do stupid stuff all the time. Even Colin had his moments of idiocy. But I keep
thinking about Sheilagh. Next year she
’
ll
be in high school, just like
Jerry
’
s
daughter. I look at my little baby and I try to think what I
’
d do if I found out she
’
d snuck out with some punk kid.”

Everything
in his gut solidified, as he understood the implication. Sheilagh was their
baby sister and if anyone ever—ugh, he
couldn
’
t even think it. “I
’
m sorry, Dad.”

“I
don’t think I
’
m
the one you should be apologizing to. Is this lassie your girlfriend, Kelly?”

He
shrugged. They were friends. They had fun together. They liked fooling around.
“Not really.”

His
father leveled him with a hard stare. “
Then I
’
d say it
’
s not really
right for you to be touching her.
I
’
m not ready to
be a grandfather.”

“I
was safe.”

His
father
’
s
large hand pinched the bridge of his nose. “Kelly, sex
isn
’
t about getting in and getting
out clean. That
’
s
important, but it should be more than that. It should mean something. Now, I
know your mother’s upset. Colleen convinced her to get you some condoms, but I
’
d rather see you practice
abstinence.
 
You
’
re young. You have your whole
life ahead of you. Having a child changes everything. It ties you to that
person for the rest of your life. What happens when that person
isn
’
t
the woman you love?”

He
understood what his dad was trying to say. Kelly barely knew Rachel. They were
fourteen. The rest of their lives was a long time. “I hear ya.”

“Do
you?”

“Yeah.”
He nodded. “I
’
ll
be more careful.”

Frank
stared at him for a long moment. “Boys will be boys, Kelly. I remember what it
was like. Just… don
’
t
mislead anyone and don
’
t
do anything you’re not prepared to take accountability for. Carelessness comes
with consequence and if you screw up, you
’
re responsible for the mess. Don
’
t volunteer if the repercussions
are too much to handle. As an Irish Catholic family, you know certain things
are off the table and not an option.”

He
swallowed. “I know.”

Later
that night, after hours of considering what his father said, he found some of
his excitement evaporated. He
didn
’
t want to ruin his future by
having a baby when he was just a kid. Rachel
wasn
’
t around because she was grounded
for sneaking out. Guilt for getting her in trouble
wasn
’
t pleasant.

He
and his friends met up at the local pizza parlor in town and he
wasn
’
t
really feeling social. “Hey, Kelly.”

Kelly
looked up from his soda and grinned at Lauren. “
Hey, Lauren.
”

She
slid into the booth, her dark hair tickling his arm. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing.”

The
rest of their friends were crowded around the video games at the back of the
restaurant. “I
’
m
bored. You wanna go somewhere?”

He
was bored too. He
didn
’
t have money to waste on games
and his head hurt from thinking about his father
’s lecture.
“Where?”

She
shrugged. Her shoulders showed in one of those neat shirts that tied around her
neck. “Let
’
s
go for a walk.”

Kelly
nodded and followed her out of the pizza shop. They walked for a while and
wound up at the elementary playground sitting on the swings. Lauren was easy to
talk to. She
didn
’
t say much, but she laughed at
the stupid things he said.

When
it got dark they seemed to run out of things to discuss. Lauren climbed off her
swing and slowly came to stand in front of his. “I like you, Kelly.”

Taken
by off guard by her confession, he stared at her for a moment. Lauren was
really pretty. Her full lips and big brown eyes shined under the moonlight. Her
darker Cherokee skin was flawless.

The
scent of her hair surrounded him as she leaned lower and brushed her lips over
his. They tasted like cupcakes. She must have put some sort of vanilla lip
stuff on. He licked his lips slowly. “You taste like sugar.”

She
giggled quietly and stepped over his knees. His sneakers pressed into the sand
as his fingers tightened on the chains of the swing. Her body lowered, fitting
perfectly over his lap as her mouth found his again.

They
kissed for a long time, losing themselves in so many new and exciting
sensations. His hand slid into the back pocket of her jeans and she moaned into
his mouth. It was dark and the only light was several yards away.

Lauren
leaned back, her hands disappearing beneath the curtain of her black hair. When
she lowered her arms, the ties of her top came with them.

“Christ.”

She
smiled and he lowered his head, placing his lips on the soft swell of her
breast and kissing over the lace of her strapless bra. Kelly should have been
thinking about lots of things in that moment, but the only thing on his mind
was Lauren. His body was rock hard and screaming for more. He never expected to
get more, but when Lauren stood and led him to the tunnel in the jungle gym, he
didn
’
t
have the sense nor inclination to say no.

* * * *

“You
’
re a pig!”

Speechless,
Kelly stared at Rachel as the entire cafeteria went silent. “
Rachel
—”

“How
could you?” Her lips thinned as she shook her head in disbelief. “I gave you
everything,” she whispered. “And none of it mattered to you.” Leaning close,
she hissed so only he could hear, “I haven
’
t even gotten my period yet!”

His
blood ran cold. “Are you late?”

She
shrugged and stepped back. “
I won
’
t
know for another week or so. If you were so concerned maybe you should have
kept it in your pants.” Her blond ponytail whipped into the air as she pivoted
and marched out of the cafe.

The
whispers of onlookers slowly climbed to the ordinary roar of the lunchroom.
Girls watched him and whispered behind the backs of their hands as guys smirked
and nodded his way. He glanced around, knowing the back of his neck was bright
red, and stilled when his gaze collided with Lauren
’
s. Those brown eyes were no
longer big and soft. Her face was pale and she quickly stood, carrying off her
tray and leaving the room without notice.

A
shadow fell over the table and he turned to find Finn standing there. “Wanna
get out of here?”

Kelly
swallowed. “Yeah.”

His
brother nodded and Kelly followed him out of the cafeteria and right to Finn’s pickup.
They
didn
’
t talk until they drove some distance and wound up
at the hunting cabin on the outskirts of their property.

“Come
on. Dad and Uncle Paul were here last week fixing the water heater. Chances are
there
’
s
probably beer left over.”

Kelly
nodded and followed Finn inside. His brother was right. The old fridge was
stocked with bottles. Kelly made to toss one to Finn but paused when his
brother waved him away. “One of us has to drive home.”

Nodding,
he cracked open the beer and took a long swig.

“Wanna
tell me what
’
s
going on, Kelly?”

“Not
really, but I will. I had sex with Rachel Blackwell.”

“You
did?”

Finn
’
s expression gave away quite a
bit about his brother
’
s
long-term relationship with Erin. “You
’
ve
done it, right, Finn?”