The Solitarian: Part 1 of The Amaranth Series (7 page)

“I have learned quite a bit since we have met. The moment that I saw you in the mountains hiking with your parents I knew that I felt a certain way about you. I didn’t realize that you would change my life. You are such a beautiful young woman McKenna. And Rylan is a very lucky gentleman. Good thing that we are family or I wouldn’t look any further for my mate. You understood my complicated story and helped me. I think that I will love you for that forever. I don’t care how long I live. I will tell my children and wife about the beautiful red head young lady that stumbled across my dwelling.”

“So you think that you will love me forever? I don’t think your future wife will approve.”

“Yes I will. I never thought that you would have done the things that you are doing for me.”

“Its fate I guess.”

“I guess. Let’s watch some more TV.”

The clock ticks and the time for the party to start swiftly approaches. Keyan and I talk and laugh for so long. I don’t check the clock until Eddie Jo’s Company flashes across the screen. It is my favorite sitcom and comes on at 5:30. We were enjoying our conversation so much that I didn’t bother to notice that the time is now 5:46pm. I jump up from my bed and scramble to prepare. I assist Keyan with his ensemble and then my own. We take turns showering, careful not to intrude on one another. He dresses in his room and I in mine. After we are ready we hurry out of the door. I look at my cell and Rylan has already called three times. He said that he and Adami will be meeting us there. He got tired of waiting. He texts me the address and we head out. I text him back explaining how sorry I am for being a scatter brain lately. On the drive there I notice that Keyan is fidgeting.

“What’s wrong? Are you nervous?”

“Extremely. I haven’t been to any type of party in a long time.”

“No shit.” I laugh. He shakes his head not digging my choice of words.

“Anyway, I hope I don’t came off as a weird guy.”

“You won’t. Just be yourself. You are quite charming. You charmed me with the body hair of bigfoot.”

He laughs and that loosens him up. I drive up the highway heading toward Greenwich. I decide to swing by the college so that Keyan can see the campus. We take a quick peek and head to the party. I arrive a little after 7pm. The party has definitely started. The pile of cars in the lot is a dead giveaway. I park as close as possible, and we make our way inside. I hear the music thundering as we approach the door. I turn to Keyan.

“Take a deep breath and remember that times have changed but people are still people.” He nods. I knock on the door and someone swings it open. We step inside and I don’t recognize the person that is inviting us into Greg’s place.

Even though it’s early the party is in full swing. I spot Laine first then Callie. They run screaming in my direction. “Oh my god Kenna! You look great! The mountains in France has surely been good to you.” Laine shouts.

“We’ve missed you terribly and you’re leaving us again shortly. It’s not fair.” Callie pouts. “I heard that you missed hanging out with us at the beach yesterday because you were shopping with a hottie at the mall. But I said that it was total bullshit. You would never ditch us for some guy, let alone cheat on Rylan.”

“It wasn’t a complete lie.” I pull Keyan forward. “This is my friend Keyan.” I explain things the exact same way I did to Rylan. Callie nods while checking Keyan out and Laine’s eyebrow is hitched in my direction.

“Were you smooching with my friend in France hot guy?” She asks Keyan.

“No, we are just friends.” He attempts to speak over the music.

“He is hot as hell, Kenna. Are you sure this is innocent? I would have to cheat on Adami. Are you sure that you still possess your V card?”

“Of course! How could you ask me that Callie?”

“I’m just saying. This guy is totally gorge.” She winks at Keyan. “I would have given you mine if I still had it, hot guy.” She says as she leads us to the kitchen. “Rylan, McKenna is finally here.” she shouts as she enters. When he spots me he runs over to me and scoops me up into his arms. He kisses my lips and I wrap my arms around his neck.

“Oh god I’ve missed you.” he looks me over. “You look awesome babe.”

“Thank you Rylan.” He says as he sets me back down, continuously kissing my lips, cheek, and neck. I don’t feel the immediate fire that I usually feel when he touches me. Maybe it’s because we haven’t seen each other in months. I introduce Keyan and Rylan mean mugs him. His jealously starts to spew immediately.

“Why can’t you get your shit together yourself guy?”

“I could, but things move along a lot smoother for me when McKenna does them.” He returns. I smirk because I know that he is being extremely sarcastic.

“Come on babe. Let’s dance.” I say snapping my fingers to the song that just started to play. I grab Rylan and yank him back into the main room to dance. We begin to dance to the grove of the music as it changes from fast to slow.

Before I realize, two or three songs have played. I finally forget about Keyan and enjoy being back where I belong. I close my eyes and allow myself to feel the love between us. He caresses my back as he feasts on my neck I think about giving in once again.

“Why don’t you spend the night with me tonight? Your parents are gone and you could tell them that you stayed at Laine’s.” He whispers seductively into my ear sending chills down my spine.

“I can’t stay tonight. But I will stay until we don’t miss each other so much.” I murmur.

“Come on,” he pulls my hand and I look around. This party has turned into a make out session for all. He twists the knob to a bedroom that is filled with football memorabilia. I assume that this is Greg’s room. He pushes me down on the bed. “I can’t wait another day Kenna. I’m bursting at the seams. I’ve had no kind of affection for months. I need you. He starts to unbutton my blouse. At first I allow him to and then I remember where we are. I grab a hold of his hand to halt his siege.

“Don’t you want to be with me? You said that we would do it when you got back. If we do it now, we can do it several times before you go.” He smiles gently pulling my breast from my bra. I stop his hand.

“You want me to lose my virginity in Gravel’s bed? No.” I stand and slide my boob back into its sling. I put my shirt on and he stands letting out a huge sigh.

“Come on Kenna. I’ve waited all summer for you to come back. And first you don’t call me when you get back, then you hang out with some random dude, and now you’re telling me that you want me to wait even longer. Shit I should just shagged Litzy!” he says out of anger. I’m not upset either. I understand his frustration. He has waited a long time for me. But I just can’t. I don’t even respond to his rant. “I’m going back to the party.” He spits.

“I’m sorry Rylan. I do love you. But I have a vision of how I wanted it to be. And this isn’t it. We can do the other things that we usually do. But if you really want Litzy I will understand.” He releases the doorknob and turns to face me.

“I don’t want to just fool around Kenna, and I don’t want Litzy dammit! I want to be with my girlfriend!” I feel his pain. I just can’t do anything about it right now.

“I can’t, not here, not tonight.”

“I’ve waited for you for three months Kenna. I’m getting blue balls.”

“I’m…”

“Don’t say sorry again. I can’t take that shit.” He slings the door open and I hurry behind him. We merge back into the sea of people dancing. I see Greg and Laine moving in unison. Then I spot Callie and Adami grinding. My eyes search the room for Keyan and I don’t see him. I start to physically search but I’m unable to locate him. I look at my cell phone and it is now 11pm. I left him alone for so long that he may have left me. I go over to Laine and she frowns.

“Did you lose the V yet?”

“No.” I frown back. “Why would I do that here?”

“It’s not the place Kenna, it’s the act.” She giggles.

“Are you drunk?”

“We’re all drunk. Including your hottie friend.” She smiles.

“Where is he Laine?” She giggles again. “Laine! Where is he?”

“Calm down girly. He is a grown man.” I tap my foot and blow out an exaggerated breath. “Okay…Litzy’s been pushing up on him since she got here. And I can’t blame her.” Greg gives her the stink eye. She covers her mouth and laughs. “Sorry babe.” She apologizes to him. “She took him into Adami’s room. You know that she works fast.”

“Yes I do. And you would know since you two are besties now and all.” I throw the words out like fire. Her mouth drops open and I storm away in search of Keyan.

There is no way that vulture will live forever. Geez, the world would be a terrible place with that slut alive for hundreds of years. I hurry to the room, turn the knob and shove the door open. I see Keyan laid back across the bed and she is on top of him naked, sucking the skin off of his very erect staff. His eyes are closed and his toes are curling. At first, I don’t say anything I just watch as she works her magic. I don’t know if oral qualifies as exchanging fluids but I sure as hell don’t want to find out.

“Keyan!” I shout. His eyes pop open and he sits up.

“McKenna.” He says pushing her mouth from him. I am horrified.

“I’m leaving. And you are drunk. Do you want to leave?”

“Yes.” He struggles to get up from the bed.

“I could take you home Keyan. We are nowhere near finished here,” she smiles her disgusting devilish smile.

“I am so sorry Litzy. It has been a pleasure. But I must go. I will certainly call you.”

“Alright.” She waves, then pulls her dress back up from the floor. She has no shame. I storm through the party and I’m furious. He almost had sex with the devil. Why would you willingly make the devil a permanent resident in your world?

As I make it to my car I see Keyan fumbling with his belt. He hurries behind me and hops inside of my car. I don’t say a word as he enters. I start the engine and take off. I speed toward home. Things are definitely not going according to plan. The ride is silent. I drive so fast that I make it home in forty five minutes verses the hour that it took for me to get there. I pull into the garage and shut off the engine. I still don’t say a word as I snatch the keys from the ignition and let myself inside. I don’t bother to turn on any lights as I stump up to my room. For some reason no matter the situation, Litzy comes out the winner. I strip away my clothes as I ready for bed. I don’t even bother to hide myself. If Keyan knows what’s good for him he will keep his eyes on the road to his bed. After I stuff my head into my gown. I throw myself across the bed and I don’t bother to cover myself. Before I know it tears has begun to fall onto my pillow. I sob into the feathery pile not caring if he hears.

“McKenna?”

“Please Keyan. I want to be left alone tonight, okay?”

“Alright.” He pauses. “Rest peacefully if you can darling.” He closes the door to his room and I fall asleep in a puddle of my tears.

The sound of my cellphone ringing wakes me from my sleep. My eyes are puffy and swollen from crying all night. I lost both of the men that I care about to the same skank. And it’s all because I’m afraid of a little snake. In Keyan’s case a python. I don’t know why I didn’t just give into Rylan. The phone stops ringing and starts all over again. I answer and the voice on the phone tells me to leave the ten thousand dollars inside of a mailbox in an upscale apartment building. He says that the package will be there. And after he witnesses the money drop I immediately get the goods. He says that he made a birth certificate, social security card, and passports. It is all under the name Keyan McAllister. He said that he even threw in the school credentials that he needed to start college in about a week. Which made it easier for me. After I hang up I grab the money and leave Keyan behind to go and get his papers.

I arrive at the apartment building right on time. I wait for his call and he rings me. I place the money into an open mailbox and wait in my car. I see a lady walk up. She grabs the cash and stuffs an envelope inside. As soon as she walks away I’m given the go ahead to approach. When I retrieve the envelope I check it and everything is in there. Even his school transcript and SAT scores. This guy is really talented. I hurry back to the house and Keyan is still asleep. I look over his paper work and call Greenwich. As I speak with an admission counselor I admire the work of this nameless man. The counselor reaffirms Keyan’s fall schedule and offers good day. I return. I sigh as I end the call and place my hands over my face. Before the tears can weld my phone rings again. This time it is the pawn shop owner.

“Good morning Ms. Duvall. I wanted to speak with you about the items that we have of yours.”

“Yes hello.”

“Well I am very excited to say that they are authentic. And if you have as many as we think we stand to make lots of money. You will be wealthy. You will be able to live well off of your findings. So would you like to sell your pieces?”

“We wanted to sell the ones that you already have.”

“Okay well I have a check for fifty thousand dollars. If you want to sell the rest I will make you a good offer okay?”

“Thank you I will be in later today.”

“See you then.” I want to run up and tell Keyan the great news. But I am still very angry with him for allowing Litzy to give him that kind of pleasure. I sit at the table waiting for a call from Rylan. After about an hour I look at the time. It’s 1pm so decide to go up and wake Keyan. It is really strange that he hasn’t come down because he usually doesn’t sleep in this late. When we were in Palasca he would be up at the crack of dawn. Maybe being in America is throwing him off of his schedule. I shove the door open and his bed is made and he is gone.

I begin to panic. Where could he be? He doesn’t even have a cellphone yet. He doesn’t know anyone as of yet so…I’m totally confused. My stomach is in knots until I see that he hasn’t taken any of his things. Maybe he is tired of me treating him like a child that has nothing and no one. But the truth is, he doesn’t. He only has me.

I grab my car keys and hurry out to the garage to search for him. I waste no time speeding out of my driveway and down the block. My eyes search the street as my heart pounds like a drum.
‘Where could he have gone?’
I think as I round the block one last time. I give up my search after circling about ten more times. I just can’t imagine where he could have gone. If he has left me for good I don’t know how I will take it. I have all of his worldly possessions but he could have thought the hell with it. Since I behaved like a total idiot last night.

I sulk as I slowly enter my house once again. The thought of never seeing Keyan again pains me. I go up to my room and sit on the edge of my bed. I lie back and remember the look of complete and utter pleasure on his face as Litzy the bitchy sucked him up. Tears build and stream down the side of my face and into my hair. I don’t bother to wipe because they start a constant flow. After a while I begin to drift but my phone startles me.

“Hello?” I anxiously answer.

“Hey there stranger.” Callie yells into the phone. “I guess you don’t hang out with us anymore.”

“I want to, but I’m trying to help Keyan get in school.”

“Can’t someone else do that for him Kenna? I mean he is nineteen. Shit he can do it himself.”

“I’m the only person that he has in this world. He has no one else.”

“Ummm, I beg to differ”

“What? Why would you say that?”

“Because Litzy picked him up from your house earlier and they are here at the beach cuddled up and shit. And your man is checking out the other produce at the market. So my suggestion to you is to get your ass into your sexiest bathing suit and come and get Rylan.”

“I’ll be there in twenty.” I yell.

“That’s my girl.” She ends the call and I hop to it.

I thumb through my swim suits and I find one that I purchased before I left. I was saving it for Laine’s end of summer pool party but it seems like I need to pull it out today. It is a bright red string bikini with white flowers on it. It ties around the neck and covers only the important parts. I shower and put it on along with a white Hawaiian inspired sarong. I search the closet for my black wedges that I can just step into. When I find them I’m off to the beach. I park my car right beside Callie’s truck and hurry to find the gang. Somehow, while I was in France, Litzy’s skanky ass wormed her way into my clique of friends. I guess all of the slutty girls hightailed it out of here for college to find new men to blow. Litzy stayed here in Myrtle Beach and found one. He is just not hers to blow. But if not hers then whose? I mow over the question in my mind. That’s what he came here to find out. I walk slowly approaching the gang as they all lay spread out on towels enjoying the late August afternoon sun.

“Hello everyone.” I wave as I step onto the awkward scene. My eyes immediately start the search for Keyan. I glance at Callie lying next to Adami, Laine fondling Greg beneath a beach towel, Rylan is standing and flirting with every half naked wench that passes, but then I spot them cuddling underneath a beach umbrella. She has on a kick-ass all white bikini. Everything is exposed except for her nipples, hairline between her thighs, and her behind. Keyan looks like a dream. He is resting on his arms that are tucked behind his head. She is lying on his chest and rubbing his rippled rock hard abdomen. I turn red with heat and I assure you that it is not from the sun. I sling my hair and start toward them.

“McKenna? I didn’t expect to see you today.” Rylan says pretending to be happy to see me. “I’m glad that you’re here though.”

He slides his greedy hands around my waist and I pull away.

“Hello.” I say dryly folding my arms.

“Are you still angry about last night?”

“No not at all Rylan. But I tell you this. I see your tongue hanging out each time a nipple flashes your way.”

“Come on Kenna, that’s not fair.” He leans in to whisper in my ear. “I’m dying here. You promised me that you would think about us going all the way when you got back.”

“Key word, think.” I say as I stomp past Callie and Laine straight over to Keyan. “Hello Keyan.” His eyes open and I stare at the blue pool colored peepers mesmerized as usual. “I didn’t know that you were hanging out today.”

“I was invited at the last moment and I decided what the hell.” He smiles. It weakens me. Litzy wraps her skinny arm around his waist and snuggles closer.

“May I speak to you privately?” I ask.

“No McKenna. Beat it! You’re ruining a great day with your blocking.” The bitch has the nerve to address me. I don’t bother to respond as bad as I am tempted to.

“Keyan?”

“Excuse me love. I need to speak with her for a quick moment.” He exhales, stands and dusts the sand from himself. He follows me as I lead him over toward the water.

As the tide covers our feet I look around. All eyes are on us, even Rylan’s. I could care less. I feel a sense of urgency so I have to warn him. “Don’t do this Keyan. She is no good for you. I promise you will find someone better.”

He looks around uninterested in the words that I’m saying to him. I’m practically begging him. “Please Keyan.”

“I like her McKenna. She does something to me. I’ve never felt this way before.”

“It’s because you’re horny Keyan. She is seducing you. She could never be a wife and mother.” I plead with him.

“You can’t make that determination for me McKenna. I like her and I think that I’m going to tell her tonight.” He blurts. I gasp, appalled at the words that just left his beautiful moist lips.

“No, no, no, no, no! She is not the one!”

“How do you know? My kind have found mates for centuries without your help.”

“Because… I am.” I blurt. “I’m the one for you. I know your secret and I welcome the life. I want to live with you forever. Make me your mate.” I say before I can stop the words from leaving my betraying lips. I pretend as if we are alone as I reach in and grab his hand. “It was fate that brought me into that cave Keyan. It was fate that willed you to help me. Envisages don’t lie. It is you and I that are destined to love one another for eternity. Can’t you see?”

He is stunned. He doesn’t speak right away. “But you said you looked at me like an old…”

“From the moment that I looked into your eyes I knew. Grossly covered in hair and all, we are meant to be.” I step closer and place my hand gently onto his face. I caress his satin smooth cheek as everyone watches. “I love you Keyan. I can’t help it. I love you.” the tears begin to fall and he wipes them away.

“I love you too McKenna. I knew that I loved you the day that I spotted you and your parents hiking. I knew that it was you, but I thought that you didn’t want me. I felt that I sickened you.”

“No.” I hug him so tight that I want to become a part of him. He lifts my chin so that our eyes meet. I stare into his and I desire to live there. As I’m gazing I spot his spiral life-ring and I smile. “I want all of you Keyan. I didn’t know it before but I was saving myself for you.”

“And I you, my love.” He leans in still holding my chin between his fingers. And as the water washes over our feet once more he kisses me. And it is magical. I feel little bursts of fireworks popping off inside of my heart. This is what love feels like.