The Love Story (The Things We Can't Change Book 4)
Read The Love Story (The Things We Can't Change Book 4) Online
Authors: Kassandra Kush
Tags: #YA Romance
The Things We Can’t Change: The Love Story
The Things
We Can’t
Change
The Love
Story
Kassandra Kush
Dedication
For the love of my life,
whoever you might be
The Things We Can’t Change: The Love Story
Kassandra M. Kush
Copyright © 2014
All rights reserved.
Smashwords Edition 2015
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except in the case of a reviewer, who may quote brief passages embodied in critical articles or in a review.
The information in this book is distributed on an “as is” basis, without warranty. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this work, neither the author nor the publisher shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover Design © Regina Wamba
Mae I Design
Models: Kelly Kush & Kate Luzniak
ALSO BY KASSANDRA KUSH
The Fallen Chronicles
Guardian
Protector
Messenger
The Things We Can’t Change Series
The Prologue
The Struggle
The Healing
The Love Story
The Epilogue
The Lightwood Legacy
The Summer I Gave Up Boys
The Summer I Gave Up Boys: Isaiah’s Story
Coming Soon:
The Fallen Chronicles Book Four:
Light Bringer
The Summer I Got Back with Cooper Grace
A
The Things We Can’t Change
Novel
Staring at the Stars
Shatterproof
Ezekiel
83
I stumble into the apartment and close the door behind me, leaning back against the wood and closing my eyes. I try to catch my breath but I can’t. I can still feel Evie’s lips on my own. Warm and soft, tinged with salt from the ocean and sweet from all the candy we’d been eating. They feel branded on me, a new permanent fixture on my body.
It used to be touching her hair was epic, that just smelling her was a turn on. But a kiss? Her arms around my neck? Body pressed up again me?
Holy shit.
Catching my breath is impossible. I can’t come down from the realization that Evie of all people, Evangeline-freaking-Parker, wants
me
.
Wants
me. It’s mind blowing.
I hadn’t been able to think of a damn thing to say, either. Not when she pulled back, not when she looked at me with those big purple eyes. Not even when she’d given me a wide smile and said she would see me at school. Nope. Probably for the first time ever, I’d been struck speechless. I’d just watched her climb into her car and drive away before stumbling into my own house.
It’s unfathomable. I can’t believe that she actually made the first move. It’s so unlike her and yet… This is the new Evie. And if I wasn’t so poleaxed by the action I would be proud of her.
Suddenly my face lights up in an uncontrollable grin. Regardless of whatever else, Evie Parker
kissed
me. Whatever else happens today, I have that. Dom and Koby will shit a brick when I tell them. Thinking of my friends pushes me into action and out of my stupor.
A glance at the clock tells me I only have an hour and a half before school starts. I need a shower, some water, and I’m desperate for some food with low sugar content. I turn around—and there is my dad.
He’s staring at me, hands dangling loosely at his sides. A strange flicker of emotion passes over his face. Relief? Before I can process that startling idea, a mask of anger settles over him and distracts me.
“Where the hell have you been?” he asks flatly.
“Noticed I was gone?” I ask coolly, even though I know it’s beyond stupid to bait him. I can’t help but immediately become defensive. Especially since he didn’t even call me once while I was gone. “I’m shocked. Or was it because there was no one here to help you mow the complex?”
To my surprise, he doesn’t immediately come at me or even point at me. “Don’t take that tone with me. I was ready to call the police if you didn’t show up for school today.”
“Worried about my education? I’m touched, Dad. Especially since you never cared before.” I take a step forward, wanting to dodge around him and escape before this devolves further. Especially since I can’t seem to shut my mouth.
“I saw the two of you.”
My foot is on the first step but I’m turning back before I can help it. “Saw us… who?”
“You and the Parker girl. On the porch. You know…” To my shock, Dad actually looks uncomfortable. “Kissing.”
“And?” I fold my arms. “We drove to Florida, Dad. I think us kissing on the porch is the least of your worries.”
I meant to shock him but he doesn’t flinch. There’s just a strange look in his eyes as he says, “I know I haven’t been the best dad, Zeke. I’m more aware of that than you might realize. But I’m warning you now from personal experience that you shouldn’t get involved with a woman that’s farther up in the world than you are. Evie Parker and you are very, very different.”
My own fists clench before I can stop them. “Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence that I can better myself. Love you too, Dad.” I bite the words out. “The first piece of fatherly advice you want to give and it’s to say don’t aim too high? Nice.”
He doesn’t say a word, just regards me sadly. Craziest of all, it actually makes me feel guilty for what I said. But I’ll be damned if I take it back now. Instead I mutter, “I need to get ready for school.” And I pound quickly up the stairs to the bathroom.
The emotions are all roiling around inside of me and I hate it. They seem to take up too much room inside me and make me feel all tight and too small in my own skin. Anger at my dad and incredibly, guilt as well.
Speaking from personal experience?
Is he referring to Mom? Is that what happened? She’d been from a better, richer life and gave it up for my dad, only to cave when a rich doctor crooked his finger at her? Disgust comes up my throat like bile.
I wash away the last of the sand and salt with a sense of regret. My first and only trip to the beach and now all the evidence is washed down the drain. Only memories remain. Memories and maybe something… else. My heartbeat accelerates at the thought of Evie and I wonder what happens next. I can’t be sure.
I have a moment of indecision as I stand before my closet and eventually choose baggy jeans, steel-toed boots and an overlarge white t-shirt. It’s my old look, one I’m not sure is
me
anymore. Just the way Evie seems to have shed the look she had when she was with Tony—that of a miniature country club wife. But I know today is already going to be rough and I don’t feel like adding to the stress.
Baby steps, just like she and I have always done. I need the comfort of my old disguise, a little distance from others so I can adjust to the changes in myself before showing them to the world. Maybe next week I’ll be ready for casual cargo shorts and more fitted t-shirts.
I almost skip the kitchen when I see that my dad is still there but the draw for a bottle of water is far too strong and I brave it. My plan is to dart in and out and drink it on the go but my dad catches my arm just before I can escape out the back door.
“Zeke,” he says quietly, and I look straight into eyes that are identical to my own. “I didn’t mean to say it like that. I just meant-”
I jerk my arm away, not wanting contact with him. The anger surges up, even stronger and hotter than before and its nearly more than I can manage. I’ve gotten better but I’m still nowhere near recovered enough to let myself feel something this strong for very long. I need to get out of here.
“I know what you meant,” I reply stiffly. “Don’t try and claw out of the gutter. I get it. I’ll keep that in mind.” I bang through the screen door before he has a chance to reply.
It isn’t a far walk to school, only a block down Grandview Avenue and then a block to the left. I reach for my cigarettes as I walk, wanting the familiar act but I come up empty. Of course. I’ve barely been smoking since Evie and I… since we what? Started hanging out? Since I started being slave labor to her? Tried to fix each other? I don’t know what to label us but it’s clear from Evie’s kiss what label we
could
have.
I want to feel annoyed at all the confusion, at how that one kiss is giving me warm flushes of emotion that I am sure have nothing to do with simple lust. But it takes too much effort. And I’m still filled to the brim with anger at my dad and his whole reaction this morning. And I only know one way to fix it.
I scan the parking lot to be sure but Evie isn’t here yet. I’m a little early since I was so eager to get out of the house. Confident that Evie won’t think I’m ditching her, I head first to the office to get my schedule and then to room 208. It used to be my sanctuary, a place I could think, vent, create,
feel.
Then it became a place I avoided at all costs.
Now, though… now, partially driven by my promise to Evie and partially by my anger at my dad, I walk in without hesitation. Mr. Bryant is sitting at his desk but leaps to his feet as I approach.
“Zeke! Welcome back. What can I do for you?”
I hand him my schedule, keeping my face carefully expressionless. “I’d like to get this changed, sir.”
“What’s wrong with it?” He accepts the paper and looks at it with raised eyebrows. “Good range of classes here, although you know I’m going to say there aren’t-”
“There aren’t any art classes,” I cut in, because I did know what he was going to say. “That’s just it. There aren’t any art classes but I need help with my portfolio.”
Mr. Bryant holds carefully still for a long moment and then my words finally seem to process. The look on his face should be captured and displayed for all students to see. Hard ass that I am, I can’t hold back a smile.
“Really?” He sounds dumbfounded and I can’t really blame him. Our last few meetings haven’t been on the best of terms.
“Really,” I confirm and he’s off, talking about classes and competitions and portfolios.
