Circle of Lies (Red Ridge Pack) (14 page)

“Okay, but try to hurry. I only got Teagan to go out with me because you were going to be there,” I admitted.

Dad raised his eyebrows, so I told him how Teagan didn’t trust me because I was too good-looking. Dad laughed, and then Alli laughed. Finally, I joined in too. It was pretty funny. Teagan was absolutely gorgeous. It was her that shouldn’t be trusted.

“All right, Pops, I’m off. Wish me luck. And you,” I said, pointing to Alli, “Text me when you leave.”

My sister nodded. “Go get her, tiger.”

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my coat and keys.

On the way out, I heard Dad ask Alli if she ever remembered me being this worried over a date. I thought about that while I was getting into the car. I didn’t remember ever being nervous about a girl. Ever. I’d heard about guys being nervous in middle school when they first asked a girl to dance, or being nervous to tell a girl that they liked her. I’d never felt that way until now. Not until Teagan.

The closer I got to Teagan’s house, the more anxious I became. My palms started sweating, and I felt that weird itchiness on my skin again. By the time I reached her driveway, I felt like I might be sick.

I took a deep breath and walked up to the door. Before I even raised my hand to knock, however, the door opened. Teagan was standing there, looking amazing in jeans and a fitted sweater. I smiled, and all the tension I was feeling just disappeared.

“Hey, you look amazing,” I told her.

She blushed. “Thanks. Not looking too bad, yourself. I just need to get my coat.”

I didn’t know whether to stay on the porch or go inside, but before I knew it she was back outside with her purse and coat. We soon were getting into my car, and Teagan was asking about Alli and Cade. I told her that Cade had been held up, but assured her that they would both meet us at the restaurant.

We slipped into an uncomfortable silence about two minutes from the house. I panicked. I needed this date to go well, and I couldn’t think of anything funny or witty or intelligent to say. I turned the music up, just as something to do, but quickly regretted my decision. “Baby Got Back” pounded through the speakers.

Teagan giggled. “You like big butts, do you?”

“And I cannot lie,” I agreed, smiling. The silence was broken.

She turned the music up a little louder and started to sing along with Sir Mix-a-Lot. By the time we got to the restaurant, we had slaughtered the song but were both visibly relaxed. Thank God for ’90s hip-hop.

I checked my phone as we walked inside. Still no text from Alli. We got a table for four, then went ahead and ordered an appetizer for us all to share.

“Maybe you should text Alli and see if they’re still coming,” Teagan suggested.

Nodding, I sent a quick text:

Aiden: Are y’all on your way?

As I waited for a response from my sister I said, “Alli told me that you’re from Texas, too. This is a big change, huh? New Mexico.”

Teagan nodded. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it. I knew it would be cold here, but I never imagined how cold. I mean, it’s just one state over. Last winter, we had this big blizzard… I swear I nearly froze to death!”

I was just about to say I thought I was getting used to it when I got a reply.

Alli: Sorry, Bro! Not going to make it. Don’t hate me. Tell Teagan I’m sorry.

Shit.

When I handed my phone to Teagan, she just looked at me and smiled. “Guess we’re on our own.”

I wasn’t sure what that meant. Was she happy? Was she mad? Why had a double date been so important before when now it wasn’t?

The waiter came and took our orders, saving me from too much more pondering. As soon as he left Teagan asked, “Did you like the musical the other night?”

Oddly, we hadn’t talked about it. Things hadn’t gone so well at the pizza place after the show, and then after she agreed to the date we’d spent the whole time talking about stuff like schoolwork and our old hometowns.

“Honestly?” I said. She nodded, so I admitted, “I’m not a fan of them. I only went because Shari was in it and we promised we would be there. What about you?”

“Honestly?” she repeated. I grinned. “I’m not a fan either, but I promised Sean.”

She looked like she wanted to ask me something then but was afraid. I hurried to reassure her: “What? You can ask me anything, you know.”

“Well, it’s just that…did you happen to notice Cade’s father staring at us during the show? I know it sounds weird, but I could have sworn he was,” she said. “And then after the show…”

I guess I was a little surprised that Teagan didn’t know who Marcus was, at least in regard to me. Alli really was a shitty friend. Or, maybe she just thought it wasn’t her secret to tell. Marcus had been pretty obvious about his disapproval.

“You don’t have to tell me,” Teagan said, reading my face.

“No, it’s okay. Hell, it will probably do me some good to tell someone.” I paused and took a breath. “When I had my accident over Thanksgiving break, I needed a blood transfusion.”

“Omigod, Aiden. I didn’t realize it was that serious!”

“Yeah,” I said, “but the worst part was when I woke up. I needed blood, and it turned out neither of my parents was a match because…well, my dad’s not my biological father.”

Teagan covered her mouth with her fingers and gasped.

“Wait,” I said, “it gets worse. Cade’s father is my mom’s ex-boyfriend from like nineteen years ago. Apparently he’s my father.”

“That’s absolutely crazy! Aiden, I don’t know how you are managing any of this. I would be a total wreck.” She sat back in her chair and took a deep breath. Then, out of nowhere, she giggled, “I’m sorry, Aiden, I’m not laughing at you. I promise. It’s just… well, your brother is dating your sister.”

We both made the same disgusted face, totally at the same time, which sent us together into hysterics. It was awesome. I think the entire restaurant was wondering what the hell we are laughing at, though, and at that moment, sitting in that little Mexican restaurant, I realized I could listen to Teagan laugh every day for the rest of my life. Not only that, I wanted to.

I was in big trouble. At least, I was if I wanted Marcus to approve of my girlfriend.

29.

Teagan

Aiden opened the car door to let me in. Our eyes met, and his smile could have lit up every dark street in Red Ridge. Unable to hide my contentment, I returned the smile and slid into the passenger seat.

I thanked him as I did. Our date had gone so well that I wasn’t ready to go home, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to admit it; I knew if we spent much more time together, I’d be hooked and there’d be no turning back.

I watched as Aiden walked around to the driver’s side and got in. He started the car, and as he put it into reverse, he said, “I had a really great time tonight.”

I wanted to scream, “Me too, me too!” but held back. I couldn’t let him know just how much I’d enjoyed myself, so instead I simply nodded my head and we were off into the night.

We sat in silence for a few minutes before I couldn’t stand it any longer. “I had a good time, too,” I admitted.

He turned. “Really?”

“Yes, really. Maybe you’re not such a bad guy after all. I just hope you don’t make me regret saying so.” I smiled so that he knew I was joking. Sort of.

“You won’t regret it, Teagan, I can promise you that.” With his eyes on the road, Aiden added, “I just wish you’d give me a chance to prove it to you.”

How the hell was I supposed to respond to that? Maybe he really wasn’t like the rest of them, and really, were the rest of them all that bad? Maybe it
was
just Kendall. And who was I to judge the entire group? Wasn’t that exactly what Kendall did to me the day I tried to befriend her? Didn’t this make me a hypocrite?

It was all too confusing. For that reason, I put on my big girl panties and said, “Well, I guess you’ll have to prove it to me then.”

Shock registered on his face. Then he looked my way again, and his eyes were alight.

He didn’t say anything until he pulled up at my house; we had agreed that this date would be short and sweet, dinner at a restaurant and nothing else. I kind of regretted it now. Aiden put the car into park and turned his body toward mine, lifted his hand to brush the hair back from my face. He gently tucked the strand behind my ear and leaned my way, but only a bit.

“You are one confusing girl, you know that?”

I leaned toward him as well, almost unaware of what I did. I closed half of the distance between us. “I’m not trying to be. You’re kinda confusing, yourself.”

He leaned in a tad more and whispered, “I don’t want you to be confused. I like you, Teagan. A lot. I wish you felt the same.”

He brushed his fingertips along my cheek. Before I knew it, his lips met mine. Without thinking I reached up, grabbed him by the back of the head and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. His lips consumed me. I couldn’t be close enough. I didn’t ever want this moment to end.

I could have stayed wrapped in his warm embrace forever, but as our lips parted for a much-needed breath I noticed my porch light come on. That meant Dad was watching.

I pulled away reluctantly. “I’d better go.”

Aiden’s eyes were blazing, and they burned into me. A sweet smile spread across his face, and as I opened the car door he asked, “Can we do this again?”

I wasn’t sure if he meant the date or the kiss, but it didn’t matter. Before I shut the door I said, “Of course.”

To my surprise, Aiden got out of the car. He followed me to the front door, and as I stepped onto my doorstep I turned to face him, praying he would kiss me again. He didn’t.

30.

Aiden

I didn’t want to let Teagan go. Ever. Even if I didn’t remember what had happened the last time I’d dropped her off.

“You going to be okay?” I asked, praying I wasn’t overstepping my boundaries.

“Yes,” she replied. “Don’t worry.”

I think she blushed. I wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment about her father or pleasure at my concern, but it made my blood burn. I wanted to take her back to my car and continue were we left off. Kissing Teagan was unbelievable. The way she’d looked at me, the way she’d grabbed the back of my neck, the way her lips had molded to mine… Nothing compared. No girl. I hadn’t known a kiss could feel like that.

I was about to steal another delicious kiss when the door swung open, scaring the shit out of me. Teagan jumped, too. The man who stood in the doorway was a disaster. His clothes were wrinkled and dirty, and worst was the smell of cigarettes and beer that seemed to pour off of him.

“Who the fuck is this?” he slurred at Teagan. He stood there looking me up and down like he was trying to figure me out.

The memory of this guy belittling his daughter came rushing back. I could feel the tension in Teagan, and it made me sick. She tried to let go of my hand, but I wouldn’t let her. There was no way I was going to let this guy come between us. I hated him already.

Teagan looked at me, and for a moment I thought about picking her up and taking her away from all of this; the sadness and embarrassment in her eyes all but killed me. Reluctantly, however, I let her hand fall.

But I’d never felt this angry before. I couldn’t just let it go. He was a drunken bully used to pushing my girl around, and it wasn’t going to happen tonight. I would see to that. With full-on fury coursing through my veins, my jaw tight, I turned and looked her father straight in the eye. I poured every ounce of contempt that I felt for him into that glare, and her father visibly tensed. It made me want to smile.

I turned to Teagan, who was looking at her feet, humiliated. I lifted her chin with my fingers and grinned. I leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I’m going to wait out here until I see your light come on, okay? Call me if you need me. Anytime. Ever. I miss you already.”

Her smile made me bold. I grabbed her face in my hands and kissed her hard on the lips. I couldn’t help myself; I needed her dad to know that she was mine.
Mine.
And before I turned to leave, I stood toe-to-toe with him and said, “Lay a finger on her, you will regret it.”

Her father’s eyes narrowed and his body stiffened, but I stared him down until he finally gave up and turned to go inside. Teagan followed, but she gave me a final glance. It was nearly ten o’clock. I stood on the porch until the door closed behind her.

I’d thought that standing tall against Teagan’s father would calm me down and make me feel better, but it didn’t. I reached out to open the door to my car, and I saw blood. My blood. My fists had been clenched so tight that my fingernails dug into my palms and both hands were bleeding. I’d been so full of hate that I didn’t even feel the cuts on my palms.

Worse, seeing the blood triggered something deep inside me. My stomach cramped, my skin started crawling, and I was sweating like I had just run a 10K. I had to get out of there. Fast.

I jumped into my car. As soon as I saw Teagan’s light, I drove as fast as I could away from her house. With both windows down and the air-conditioning on max, I was still burning up. I knew what was happening this time, I was sure of the end result and I didn’t think it’d stop. Somehow, I just knew. I had to get home. I couldn’t do this. Not by myself. Not in this car.

I floored it and saw the city limit sign just as the pain became too much. I had to pull over. My breathing was ragged and urgent, my vision tunneling. How the hell had Alli done this? I tried to focus on something else, but it was so hard to think about anything besides the pain. With every ounce of energy I could muster, I parked the car and staggered toward the woods.

I wasn’t going to make it. I was going to change!

I remembered the kiss then: the soft feel of Teagan’s skin, the warmth of her mouth on mine. That memory was the only thing that got me into the trees.

Once in the woods, I fell to my knees. I rested my forehead on the ground. This close to the earth I could smell the clean soil, and it filled me with a need I had never before felt. My fingers dug into the cold earth, and I tried to take a deep breath. The pain was horrible, the fear nearly unbearable, but there was something about this experience that…just felt right. Thinking of Teagan again, I decided to let go, to embrace the pain and see where it would take me. I filled my lungs with the frigid night air…