Deceitfully (Sinfully Series) (12 page)

“All right. But you better call or text me every day until you’re for real better.”

“Bye, peanut,” I told her with a smile.

“Hey, I thought you were peanut butter and I was the jelly?” she questioned me, but I could hear her smile on the other end of the line.

“I like you being my peanut more. I’ll be your butter. Deal?” I asked.

“Deal. Get some rest, butter. I’ll talk to you soon.” With that, I effectively crossed one item off my list and was ready to conquer the next.

“Hey, Tyler. Have you heard from any of the guys?” I turned and walked over to the fridge, grabbing a water before heading back to the couch.

“Uhh, kind of. What do you know?” Tyler’s voice had changed. It was lower and full of concern. I watched him whisper into Polly Pocket’s ear, and she walked quietly to the guest bedroom.

“I know about Cylas if that’s what you’re asking about.” I knew it hadn’t quite sunk in yet that he was really gone. The past two days had been a complete clusterfuck of events and emotions. One of my best friends had been killed. Was he targeted or random? Why did it have to be him? Every time I thought about it, I wanted to escape and be alone. The problem was that it wasn’t an option, and I wasn’t ready to deal with those emotions yet.

“Graham somehow broke his leg, and Matt wasn’t hurt, but he’s playing nurse to Hilary. I haven’t been in touch with Trevor yet. Graham was going to see a specialist today to see if he needs orthopedic surgery.”

The night was coming back to me. At least, bits and pieces were. Images of Hilary on the floor, how she pulled me toward her when Victor walked past us looking for movement. Rachel’s lifeless eyes staring back at me. Her features were so soft, her eyes looking straight at me while blood poured from the hole in her forehead. After holding Stella in my arms, I never saw the guys or anyone else. The smoke was too thick and the room was dark. I should have fought harder. I should have been there for Cylas.

Tears leaked from my eyes and I excused myself and headed to the bathroom. I spent a few minutes thinking about Cylas, how they always said the good ones died young. He had so much passion for life. He followed his beliefs and lived life as he thought was best. Cylas had taught me so much throughout the years I had known him and I’d never get to see him again.

I wanted to be comforted. Thoughts of Stella ran through my head and I was done waiting. I was going to find her, today. Walking back out, I asked Tyler, “The girl who was in my room with me, I want to thank her. You have any idea how I can contact her?” Polly was back in the room now but stayed quiet. I didn’t know enough about her yet to judge, but Tyler seemed happy with her.

“Bakery chick?” Tyler questioned.

“Huh? The girl who you walked in with originally. Stella.”

“Yeah. Bakery chick. She works down at Cakes, Cups, and Pops. I knew I recognized her from the hospital, but I didn’t know you two knew each other. She’s always there when I stop in,” Tyler said as if he didn’t just give me the exact information I needed.

How did I not know she worked there? I’d only been in two or three times but had never seen her there before. Looking at my watch, I told them that I had to run an errand and that they should go grab a bite to eat and to enjoy themselves. I didn’t need a fucking babysitter.

I got to my car after fifteen minutes of back and forth fighting with Tyler, and in the end, I didn’t win. He told me to stay put and that after dinner, they’d be back to help me with whatever I needed. I’d sat on the couch as they left, pretending to relax while I was planning my escape. The dumbass left right after the argument, and I waited a few minutes to give myself a buffer so they wouldn’t see me leave.

He wasn’t my caretaker, and I didn’t answer to him. I’d deal with him later. It took me a half an hour to get to my car and buckled in. Looking back, I should have just had Tyler drive me but I was determined. Traffic was slow, just getting into rush hour traffic time, and I was getting antsy. Would she be there? Would she want to see me? By the time I pulled up to the store, I had convinced myself that this would work and she had the same feelings I did.

Walking into the store, the aroma of icing and sugar immediately assaulted my senses. All sorts of cakes and cupcakes were on display, with a small section for cake pops on the side. The store had an open concept that allowed customers to watch the decorators in the back of the shop, and I couldn’t help but smile when I saw her decorating a three-tier cake in front of her.

Her concentration never wavered as she went round and round, placing intricate details around the layers. This was her other home just as the gym was mine. Funny how this would be the place for me to cheat, and it was where she spent most of her time. She was going to be my indulgence and I had a feeling that I’d never get my fill.

“Can I help you?” One of the girls behind the counter addressed me, pulling me out of my trance.

“Oh, um. Yeah.” I looked at the counter in front of me and had no idea what to get. Looking at all the options, I decided to go for it, and asked, “Can I have two of the Stella’s favorite desserts?” and prayed they didn’t look at me as if I was a stalker.

“Huh?” She looked thoroughly confused.

Yep. This might not have gone as well as I originally planned. “Stella, the girl in the back. Doesn’t she eat some of this stuff?” I nodded my head toward where Stella was still working away to clue the girl in.

“Oh. She likes the cake pops. I’ll put a couple in a bag for you. Would you like me to get her for you?” she asked as she got out an overly fancy box from below the counter that seemed a bit of overkill for two balls.

“No, um. Yes?” Shit, I didn’t know how the best way to approach her would be. I scratched my head, but the girl chuckled lightly and nodded her head before heading to the back.

I was nervous. I never got nervous around girls, but fuck if I wasn’t worried about what was going through her mind. In her eyes, she probably saw me as a self-centered dick who only had one thing on his mind. This was partially true, but she was really the only thing I’d thought about since I left the hospital.

When Stella walked up front, it was evident that she had no idea I’d be the one requesting her presence. With box in hand, I asked her, “Are you able to take a break and take a walk with me?” I held up the box as a peace offering and prayed she didn’t reject me in a store full of customers.

Hesitation filled her features. She wrung her hands, looking everywhere but at me. Finally, she spoke. “Fine. You should know though, everything in me is telling me to say no. Everything except for my heart.” She waved at one of the other girls in back and put her apron behind the counter before following me outside.

It was another cloudy day but at least the rain had stopped. We walked side by side once we were out of the view of her customers, but I could feel the anger and confusion coming off her. She crossed her arms tightly across her chest and kept a distance from me. I wanted to pull her closer but knew it wasn’t on the table right then. She would have to be the first one to initiate any contact.

“Why are you here?” she asked. I stopped at a park bench and laughed when she sat as far away from me as possible without falling on her ass. Looking into her eyes, I could see the slightest bit of resolve behind her spitfire attitude.

“Because I want to be.” I continued peering into her brown eyes; I could get lost for days in them. She was what I needed to survive. Having her near me made all the other terrible shit that had happened a little less shitty. She was my drug that I never wanted to recover from.

She bit her lip but said nothing for a moment. She wasn’t the easiest person to read but the few times she briefly let me in, that was what gave me hope.

“Just because I was there when you were hurt doesn’t mean you owe me.” Her voice broke toward the end, and I almost broke my resolve to keep my distance. She had no idea what she did to me. My heart was beating wildly, and I’d never been so conscious of my actions around someone.

“Stella, I know we got off to a rough start. I know I didn’t give you the time of day back in high school, but that’s all because I never got the chance to know you. I’m dying to get to know you better, to get under your skin, to find out what makes you laugh, makes you smile, and makes you writhe. I want to know everything. I can’t explain the feelings I have but there’s such an intense pull, and I’m not strong enough to fight against it. When they discharged me and I didn’t get to say goodbye or get your number, I thought I was going to lose it. The nurse was supposed to give you my number, but I have a feeling that didn’t happen. This is new to me and it scares me a little but in a good way, I promise.”

I pulled her closer to me and although I could feel her resist, she gave in after a moment and snuggled into my side. “How do we do this? You’re hurting. You need time to grieve. If my sister finds out about us, she’ll freak out. I know I sound weak, but I’m not strong enough to go up against her. She knows my weaknesses and plays on them. She’s always come out ahead while I’m left trying to hang on to my sanity. Besides, saying yes to a normal date right now seems so cliché. It doesn’t fit us.”

Stella had put thought into us. She wasn’t negative in her tone. She wasn’t saying it wouldn’t work, but that it wouldn’t be conventional. Our connection from the reunion fast-forwarded where we were with each other. We’ve been vulnerable in front of the other, having been through a life experience that no one should have to go through, and we were together.

“We don’t have to do normal. Let’s see. We’ll count the hospital as our first date. You looked stunning, by the way. This is our second date. Can we skip over the twenty questions because, to be honest, I have more creative ways to find out about you.” I leaned in slowly, making sure that she was okay with it and gave her a long kiss on her forehead. It would have to do for now.

“I should have dressed better had I known this was our second date. Since we’re being different, can I suggest we move our date to another location? I’ll drive.” She pulled away and excitement filled her eyes. This girl had flour handprints on her jeans, a smudge of orange icing on her cheek, and she was rocking it.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “So now I’m handing over the reins to the chick? My man card is surely about to be taken away but what the hell. Take me away.”

She led me to her car after a short talk with her boss. It was clear that their bond was more than just professional, but it seemed easy enough for her to get off for me. Pun intended. I planned to make her come for me many, many times.

I was more curious than anything for where she would take me. When we parked near the airport, I couldn’t stop the question. “Are you kidnapping me or letting me in on the secret that you’re filthy rich? Because, either way, I’m game.” Her smile was radiant as she got out of the car and pulled out a blanket from the back. I followed along and sat next to her on the blanket once she had settled.

“I used to come out here all the time when I was a little girl. I’d watch planes take off and land for hours. It was
my
place. I don’t really get to come out here too often anymore so I figured today would be perfect to come back out here. Give it some new memories.”

“You do realize it’s cloudy and cold, right? We’re the only ones out here right now.” I looked around us. There was an observation area made up and the parking lot was empty besides Stella’s car.

“Mmmhmm. The perfect day. No one to interrupt us.”

“Did you have other plans besides watching?” I squeezed her hand, and she laughed without holding back.

“Is that all that’s on your mind?” she asked with a smile.

“Depends. You’re all that’s on my mind right now and at times, you’re in varying stages of undress. The mind is a wonderful thing.” I gave her a wink, which led to her leaning in for a kiss. It was the perfect kiss. Sultry, smooth, with just a bit of tongue. The moan that came from her made me hard. I was going to have blue balls around her. Constantly.

“So what do we do out here?” There were planes moving in the distance, but this was the first time I’d been out here.

“Wait for the big ones to take off or land. The roar of their engines dwarfs the regional planes. I don’t know why, but I get a rush watching the really big ones take off. I always wonder where they’re going and imagine myself jet-setting away to somewhere exotic, away from all of life’s problems.” There was excitement in her tone.

“Have you ever been anywhere fun and exotic, Stella?” I looked into her eyes and at that moment, I wanted to give her everything she wished for. I wasn’t letting her get away. She was mine.

After a moment, she shook her head slightly. “Sophia is scared of planes so we never went further than random road trips. We weren’t really the normal family anyway, so coming here was my vacation, my getaway. I’d love to see the beach, though. It doesn’t have to be somewhere remote and far away, just somewhere with sand and waves. It’s funny, I keep telling myself that I’ll treat myself one day and hop on a plane, but it’s never happened. Maybe one day, though.” She was staring off into the distance, and I interlaced my fingers on top of hers, hoping that one day she’d be able to have her escape.

“Maybe one day,” I told her and vowed to make her wish a reality.