Linden: Rocking Pleasure: New Adult College Romance (Coral Gables Series Book 3) (17 page)

Chapter 7

After Nathaniel and Draven have finally had enough, we go home and prepare dinner. It’s actually my turn to cook, but the boys are helping me cut vegetables. I’m not a great cook, but my wok-style stir-fry always comes out great. While I’m searing the strips of turkey breast, Draven comes to stand next to me, setting down the bowls of sliced carrots and mushrooms. I don’t really like the latter, but the guys love them, so into the stir-fry they go.

He looks at me. “You seem pensive.”

“
Surprise! I’m actually thinking about something,” I say sarcastically.

“
About what?” he prods.

“
What to do tonight. I don’t want to just sit here, so I was thinking about calling Hailey or Cami and asking them if they want to see a movie.” I stifle a smile. The boys don’t know that
I
know that my second party is on, so I pretend. “Or maybe I should call Linden and ask him. He told me earlier that his girlfriend dumped him out of the blue. He might need a little distraction.”

“
You’re not a distraction, Thally,” Draven scolds. “And I bet he has enough friends to take care of him.”

I smile at him. “True. Then maybe I’ll stay home and study again after all. That will be for the best.”

Draven grins. “Do you need any help?”

“
Do you understand anything about the theory of structures? Statics and all that?”

“
Uh, I know a building will collapse if it’s not properly calculated,” he ventures.

I start to laugh. “True again, but I know that much already, so it doesn’t help much.” I pour the veggies into the wok and stir.

“
All right, no helping then.”

I nod at him. “Nope.”

When I finish preparing the food, we sit down to eat. The boys have set the table, and we all remain silent as we focus on the food on our plates. I don’t want to annoy them with talking about Linden again, and they rarely talk much while they’re eating, anyway. Colton used to be very quiet at the table, too, and come to think of it, I’ve yet to meet a man who genuinely enjoys a nice dinner conversation. Men, I guess.

After we’re all done, I retreat to my room. When I sit down on my bed, the guitar in the corner catches my eye. I fetch it and play a few chords. It’s way out of tune. With a patience that is unusual for me, I tune it and then play the chords again.

After I’m satisfied with the sound, I start to play a song. I rarely look at sheet music; I usually play by ear.

“
When I call you at home and he answers the phone or I get your machine and I don’t hear me. When I lie in my bed with the thoughts in my head, when we danced and we stand and we laughed all night. Ooh da bop bop, baby, please, don’t let me go. Can’t live my life this way
.” I sing with abandon as soon as I find the rhythm and melody of it.

I play the entire song, singing along with all the soul I possess. Here in the U.S. it isn’t a song many people are familiar with, but I was in England when it was a hit there. I remember buying the album after just one listen. I normally don’t like pop music, but I loved these guys. I wasn’t even thirteen, but I bought all Westlife’s CDs, and I still like to listen to them sometimes. Too bad they broke up.

There’s a knock on my door, and I immediately fall silent. “Yes?”

Nate sticks his head in. “Are you singing?”

I nod. “I was, but I’m done now.” I put the guitar aside.

“
But why? I was lured here by your voice. Why don’t you play another one?”

I sigh. “I can’t sing in front of people.”

“
Have you tried?” He comes in and sits down in the armchair in the corner of my room.

“
More than once.”

“
Would you try again?”

I take a deep breath. “Only if you promise you’re not going to laugh at me.”

He makes a victory sign with his right and nods. “Promise.”

I take another deep breath and tell myself it’s only Nate, not a professional singer. Then I grab my guitar again and start plucking. I start singing another Westlife song, “Soledad,” again aiming to put a lot of soul in my voice. “
If only you could see the tears in the world you left behind. If only you could heal my heart just one more time. Even when I close my eyes …
” During the first verse, I pay attention to what my fingers are doing.

Then I launch into the chorus. “
Soledad. It’s a keeping for the lonely. Since the day that you were gone. Why did you leave me, Soledad? In my heart you were the only and your memory lives on. Why did you leave me, Soledad?
”

I stop and look at Nate. “Tell me it was bad, go on.”

He looks at me with wide eyes. “I don’t know the song, but that was amazing, Thally!”

Someone clears their throat, and I stare at the door.

“
If I hadn’t peeked, I would have sworn it was a CD,” Draven says, smiling.

I blush. “That was a one-time singalong, and you’re not going to hear it again,” I say softly.

“
Aw, come on, Thally. You’re really talented, so why would you keep that from people?” Nate demands.

I shake my head. “You’re the first who have ever heard me sing like that. I didn’t even do it for Cami and Hailey, even when they begged.”

“
Well, that’s a start,” Draven says. “You don’t have to go on stage or anything, but you could sing for your friends.”

“
Guys, don’t pressure me now. I’ll sing again when I feel like it, but you’re going to have to stay in the hallway and listen secretly,” I say with a self-deprecating smile.

“
I can live with that.” Nate chuckles.

“
Me, too,” Draven agrees.

I grin. “Fine. Now get out so I can study.”

They leave the room, and I close the door behind them. I should start getting ready for the party, but I feel rather tired. A short nap can’t hurt.

***

When I wake up, it’s already six thirty. I jump out of bed and rush into the bathroom, ejecting Nate, who was in the process of styling his hair. He can do that in his room, but I need the shower
now
. I quickly shuck my clothes and step into the shower. I lather up and wash my hair in record time, because I want to have enough time to do my makeup properly.

When I’m done, I towel myself dry and put on the clothes I selected for the night. Then I blow-dry my hair and take the curling iron to it. I pin back the curls into a messy, sexy bun. The bangs fall into my face, but that’s exactly what I want. And then I finally put on some makeup, but not too much. Even if this is my birthday bash at a club, doesn’t mean I have to go all out, does it?

The main thing is that I feel comfortable, and I do the way I look now. As a final touch, I put on some lipliner and gloss, rubbing my lips together to distribute it evenly. The glossy auburn finish will prevent me from readily kissing anyone—that would smear and ruin the look.

“
I’m done in the bathroom,” I yell, but there’s no answer. I return to my room after cleaning up. They boys have probably already gone to The Heat to help or something. One glance at the clock tells me that I managed to get ready just in time.

And as if on cue, the doorbell rings. I run to the intercom. “Yes?”

“
It’s me—Ave. Are you coming down?”

“
Give me five minutes, tops,” I say. I race back into my room, fetching a suitable handbag from my closet and pouring the contents from my regular one into it before leaving the room again.

“
Hey, hey, pretty woman,” Avery greets me when I get outside.

“
Hello, hottie,” I answer with a smile, after I’ve looked him up and down. This is not your typical Avery Morrison outfit. He’s wearing long jeans, which is rare in itself, and a black formal shirt with white pinstripes. It does have short sleeves, however. “All dressed up.”

He grins. “I need to look good for one of my best friends, don’t you think?”

“
Of course I do, and dear God, now I wish I were in Dahlia’s shoes,” I joke.

His eyes widen in shock for a second. “What? No!”

“
No,” I laugh and give him a hug. “You’re a great friend and maybe you’re also Prince Charming, but not
my
Prince Charming.”

“
That’s a relief. It was a piece of work, getting Hailey to accept Dale as my girlfriend, and it took ages to get there.”

“
I remember how she didn’t like Dale in the beginning. And that I thought it was dumb, because she has Logan, so what was her problem? But you know Hailey. She gets that way if she doesn’t get what she wants.” I grin.

Avery opens the passenger door of his car. “May I ask you to get in now, Miss Leroux?”

“
Oh, that’s too kind of you, Mr. Morrison.” I giggle, take his hand, and slide into the car.

He walks around and gets in the driver’s side. “Sweets is totally excited and anxious about getting it right tonight, after last week’s disaster,” he says as he starts the engine.

“
Well then I don’t want to disappoint her. I’ll do my best to scream in surprise.” I smile.

“
You do that. I’m already looking forward to the ultimate trademark Leroux scream.”

I laugh. “It’s not my fault you can’t keep anything secret.”

“
That’s true.” He nods as he makes a left turn. “Did you have to cancel any hot dates for tonight?”

“
No, but I invited Linden to come. Seems his girlfriend gave him the slip today, and he was adamant about seeing me again. I thought the party was a good starting point, because I don’t want to be alone with him,” I explain. And then the whole story comes tumbling from my mouth, including the small skating accident, meeting Trish, Linden’s text and call, and the conversation with Delsin afterwards. I tell Avery everything.

“
Man!” he blurts at the end. “That sounds like some screwed-up movie plot.”

“
I know, and it’s damn awkward,” I reply, staring out the window at the passing palm trees.

“
Why is it awkward?” he asks.

“
She broke up with him because he looked at me … the way he looked at me. I didn’t see anything wrong in his gaze, but obviously she did. And Nathaniel said the same thing.” I tell him that part a second time, and in more detail, because sometimes it’s better to be extra detailed with Avery, or else he forgets it all within five minutes.

“
Right, that’s what you told me before,” he sighs. “Sorry, I’m a little frazzled today.”

“
Oh, why is that?”

He clears his throat. “Dale and I had an argument,” he admits.

“
What do you two have to argue about?” I ask, genuinely puzzled.

“
I was a little upset about her always talking about you and Linden. It was really dumb, but I asked her if she likes him and whether I should get out of the way. She started crying. And then she yelled at me that maybe she should end things if I managed to be jealous of a guy who only has eyes for you.”

“
Oh. Sometimes I want to switch positions and have your kind of problems,” I murmur.

“
I don’t know what got into me, honestly. We made up in the end, but she’s been avoiding me since. I don’t understand why she seems to be taking this so seriously. When I told her earlier that I love her, she didn’t answer. She got into Cami’s car and ignored me.”

“
Maybe she just wanted to get back at you. I mean, Dale is nineteen, and you’re twenty-four, and in many ways you’re worlds apart. You know we’re the only friends she’s ever had, and that she has a hard time dealing with affection sometimes. Maybe she also has a hard time dealing with arguments, Ave.”

He sighs. “Maybe I should take her aside when we arrive and try to tell her again how I really feel?” he says tentatively.

“
Yes,” I say with conviction. “Yes, you should. And also explain why you were jealous. It’ll be okay. I’ve never seen anyone as much in love as Dale is. She loves you with all her heart, Ave, so don’t screw it up because you’re jealous.”

“
I was just annoyed, Thally. Since Sunday, she hasn’t talked of anything else. At first I thought it was cute, but Sweets and her don’t talk about anything else. It’s nothing but Linden Priest.”

“
So what? Remember when Cami talked about nothing but Delsin for weeks? It never bothered you. I’ve been talking about Colton for weeks. Hailey never seems to talk about anything but Logan. It’s a universal problem. But what counts is that she loves you.”

“
I know. You’re right.”

“
There you go. That is what Aunt Thally wanted to hear.” I giggle.

“
It’s good to talk to someone who understands me.”

“
Delsin would understand you, too, don’t you think?” I venture, amused.

“
Yeah, but he’s always off to the beach whenever the girls start chatting. I’ve started doing the same thing. But when I wake up, Linden is the topic of their conversation. When I go out, they’re still at it, and when I come back, they’re still talking about him. Seriously! No wonder I reached a breaking point.”

“
I get that, yes. I wouldn’t want to talk about Linden all the time either,” I say with a half smile.

“
But you do,” he protests.