Welcome To Hickville High (Hickville High Series Book 1) (18 page)

Justin stood too, but something was off. He had a wild look in his eyes.

Austin took a step back. “Are you freaking crazy!”

He started for Austin again, but Eric Perez held him back.

Kelsey pulled up in Hannah’s car and opened the door. “Get in!” Austin dove for the car. As soon as he was mostly in, Kelsey took off. He managed to get the door closed and his seat belt on before they were out of the parking lot. “Damn, Kelsey. Who knew you had NASCAR talent?”

“What was that all about?”

“Who knows? Justin has a few screws loose.”

She pulled up to a red light and they both took a deep breath. She leaned her head against the headrest and looked at him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Just a little bruised from the fall.”

The light turned green and she pulled forward. “Crap, Austin, I don’t even know where I’m going.”

“Turn around and head back to Hillside.” A slow smile spread across his lips. “There’s a special place I want to show you.”

In Texas, it is illegal to milk another person’s cow.

Kelsey parked Hannah’s car close to the road. “What do I do with her keys?”

“Just toss them on the floor mat. They’ll be safe. Come on.”

“Seriously? In Chicago if I did that the car would be gone in thirty seconds.”

“Yeah, but this is Hickville, remember?”

“Okay, but if the one thief in Hillside jacks her car, it’s your fault.” Kelsey chucked the keys on the floor mat and slammed the door. They walked side-by-side, like at the courthouse when they were so close their arm hairs touched—only this time he took her hand. A small part of her brain, way in the back, hinted that she was treading close to cheating on Drew. But she wasn’t going there. Austin was a friend and they were having fun, that’s all.

Kelsey headed toward his truck, but Austin tugged her toward the house. “We’re not taking my truck.”

She followed, but slow enough to pull on his hand. “Okay. Where are you taking me?”

“Ever ride a four-wheeler?”

Her feet stopped moving. “What do you think?”

He grinned. “Come on, you’re going to love it.”

She stood her ground, but her insides were revving for an adventure. “It’s almost dark.”

“The sky’s barely pink and besides, it has lights.” He checked his phone. “Besides, it’s just eight thirty.” He led her to the carport and the machine. “Climb on.”

“But I’m in a dress.”

“I won’t peek.”

She straddled the engine. “Don’t these things flip?”

“I’ll go slow. Besides, it’s the best way to take you where I want to go.”

He grabbed a blanket from a shelf, climbed behind her, and showed her where to hold the handlebars. He placed his hands behind hers and spoke into her ear. “Just relax. You can trust me. I’m not going to do anything stupid.”

She felt safe with his hands on either side of hers, but still was all giddy and nervous on the inside. Riding a four-wheeler at night, how cool was that?
Alone with Austin on that four-wheeler?
She shook her head.
Enjoy the ride, girl.

He drove across the pasture behind his house toward the trees. They started slow. He leaned forward and spoke in her ear. “You okay?”

“Yeah, this is fun.”

“I’m going to go a little faster. Tell me if it’s too much.”

“I’m ready for a little excitement.”

“Atta girl.” He rotated the handlebar grip and sped across the ground. Now that was fun. The wind against her face, flying across buffalo grass and cow poop—this was a Facebook worthy experience.

When they reached the end of the pasture, he slowed the machine and followed a trail through the trees. They climbed a steep hill, but she felt safe with his chest against her back and his arms around her. It was almost dark when he stopped the four-wheeler.

“It’s just a little way from here.”

“What?”

“You’ll see.” They climbed off the machine and he led her to a place where the trees opened onto a bluff.

She looked at the striped land below and the farmhouses dotting the landscape. “This is beautiful. But we’re going lose our view. It’s almost dark.”

“No. That’s when the real show begins.” He spread the blanket on the grass. “The sky is amazing out here.” He sat and stretched his legs out.

A blanket in the middle of nowhere?
She told herself nothing was going to happen, she wouldn’t let it. Kelsey sat with her knees tucked under and pulled her dress over her thighs. “Don’t forget, I have to be home by eleven.”

“Not a problem. I’ll set my phone alarm.” He plinked on his phone and set it on the edge of the blanket.

They sat a few inches apart, close enough to touch, but they didn’t. Kelsey’s heart raced anyway. She stretched her legs out, crossed her ankles, and leaned back on her elbows. She dropped her head back and took a deep breath. “Smell that?”

He sniffed. “What?”

“It’s clean.”

He sniffed again. “I smell dirt. What are you talking about?”

She laughed. “Well, I’m not smelling city. It’s grass and wildflowers.” She looked at him. “And you.”

“Me?” He bumped her with his shoulder. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“You smell like pretty things.”

“Pretty things?”

He looked in her eyes. “Yeah, like flowers and stuff.”

Kelsey laughed and dropped to her back. “Look. The stars are coming out.”

Austin laid back and looked up. “The sky is so clear out here it’s like you could reach up and touch them. Keep watching.”

“For what?”

“That.” Austin pointed at a bright streak screaming across the sky. It was gone almost as soon as it appeared.

“Oh my God. I’ve never seen a shooting star before. How’d you know we’d see one?”

“It’s the Perseid meteor shower. It happens every August. We learned about it in sixth grade. I come up here a lot this time of year.”

“Aren’t you supposed to make a wish or something?” Kelsey searched the sky for another streak.

“Yeah, I think so. Go ahead, what are you going to wish for?”

“I can’t tell you. First rule of wishes: it won’t come true, if you don’t keep it a secret.”

He laughed and said, “Close your eyes and make your wish.”

She squeezed her eyes shut and wished time would slow, just a bit. When she opened them Austin was propped on an elbow looking at her. “What?”

“Nothing? It’s just—I like seeing my world for the first time.”

“What?”

“Everything is so new to you, it makes me appreciate what I take for granted.”

She reached up and glided her fingers through his hair. She hadn’t intended to pull him toward her and she wasn’t really sure she did, but he lowered his mouth to hers and stars burst in her head. They kissed long and slow. When the kiss broke, she turned on her side to face him. Their gazes locked and she felt eagerness mixed with hesitation and fear. Guilt lingered somewhere in the distance. Not now. She wasn’t going to deal with that now. She tilted her chin just enough to reach his lips.

As they kissed, he pulled her against him and ran his hand down her spine to just below the small of her back.

She rolled back, bringing him with her. He broke the kiss and supported his weight on his forearms. “Kelsey…”

She stared into his eyes breathing so hard and fast her head was spinning. She couldn’t think.

He kissed her softly and said, “I promise, I won’t…”

She nodded.

He kissed her again and she wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him tight. They kissed long and hard. Then he trailed soft kisses up her neck until he captured her mouth again. His hand drifted to the hem of her dress, but instead of plunging beneath it, he smoothed it over her thigh.

Every second he was with her, she wanted more. More kisses, more touches, more everything.

He pulled away and stroked her hair. “You are so beautiful—we have to stop—or we’re not going to be able to stop.”

She nodded and barely squeaked, “Yeah.”

He rolled on his back and scooted so close their shoulders touched.

She tried to watch for more meteors, but then he turned his head to look at her and she couldn’t resist tasting one more kiss. As soon as her lips touched his, she was gone again—kissing and touching him—losing her mind. And then, his phone alarm sounded.

She broke the kiss. “I have to go.”

*

Austin stood and helped Kelsey up. He gave her another little peck on the lips and pulled away. He stretched his arms above his head and stood on the edge of the bluff. The breeze had kicked up again—just what he needed to cool down.

It was stupid to bring her here. As much as he’d like to tell himself shit happens, this was premeditated. He’d come up with the idea when they decided to leave the coffee shop. He shouldn’t have flirted with her.

He took the folded blanket from her and kissed her again. “Ready?”

“No, but my parents get freaky about missed curfews.” She straddled the engine box and he climbed on behind her. He nuzzled her neck before starting the engine and heading back through the trees. He wanted to pull her against his chest, but he knew he had to back off and calm things down a little. He just hoped he hadn’t screwed up their friendship.

But it wasn’t like he’d forced her to kiss him. She’d been more than willing. Thank God he’d set that alarm. Things were close to getting out of hand. He’d never do more than she wanted, but he had the feeling she was in willing and regret mode. If things ever went that far with them, he didn’t want her to regret it later. Hell, he didn’t want her to regret tonight either, but he wasn’t sure that wasn’t going to happen. He had to back off, leave her alone.

Yeah. That idea lasted about two seconds. As soon as they parked the four-wheeler and stood in the carport, he kissed her again. And it wasn’t a sweet little peck. It was a long, hungry, I can’t get you f’ing out of my mind kiss.

Kelsey pulled away first. “We’d better go.”

Austin nodded. “Yeah.” They held hands as they walked to his truck.

He figured she’d want to talk about things on the way home. He dreaded the I have a boyfriend talk. He didn’t want to think about the fact that because of him, she’d cheated on prick-boy.

But the words never came. He glanced at her a couple of times. She just sat there with her hands in her lap staring out the windshield with a little fake smile on her lips. And he knew he’d just majorly eff’ed up.

He parked in front of her house and turned to her. “Kelsey, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” But instead of looking at him when she said it, she dropped her gaze to her hands. It was a gesture that screamed shame and guilt.

He walked her to the door. He wanted to hold her hand or put an arm around her or something, but things had gone all wonky and awkward. So he followed her up the steps at a respectful distance.

At the door, she held his hands, looked into his eyes, and bit her lip before speaking. “Look Austin, tonight was amazing…”

“But…?” Here it comes—I have a boyfriend—he’s a douche but he’s mine…

“I cheated on Drew.”

“I know. I shouldn’t have…”

She popped up on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss. “Shut up and listen. It wasn’t just you. Like I said, it was amazing. But I cheated. And—I’m not sorry.”

“Okay. And…?”

“I don’t know. I’m so mixed up.”

“What’s to be mixed up about? I’m here. We’re here—together. He’s there. We’re amazing, he’s—there. Kelsey…” He kissed her again. He wanted her to think about him tonight, not the guy she cheated on. He was the guy she belonged with.

The kiss ended and she backed up a couple of steps. “I can’t keep kissing you. It’s not right.”

“So break up with him.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Sure you can. You say, Dan…”

“Drew.”

“Drew, I’ve met this amazing guy in Texas. So it’s over between us. Problem solved.”

“Look, don’t pressure me right now.”

Austin took a step back and held his hands up. “Okay, no pressure. Do you want me to pick y’all up in the morning?”

“Of course. This doesn’t have to change anything.”

“Sure. Hey, you’d better get inside. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He kissed her on the cheek and opened the door for her.

He cranked the music up on the way back to his house. What kind of game was she playing? I love kissing you, but I’m not breaking up with prick-boy. Why couldn’t she see that she belonged with him? They were so much more than what happened tonight.

When he rolled into his driveway, Hannah and Shelby were pulling out. He lowered his window and shouted, “Hey. Y’all okay?”

Shelby answered. “Yeah. It was pretty boring. I guess everybody was at Latte’da. Oh, but just before we left, Courtney and her crew showed up. Sabrina told everybody how Justin would have beat your ass if your Yankee girlfriend hadn’t brought my car around.”

“Seriously? What a loser.”

Hannah yelled, “What really happened?”

“Justin jumped me in the parking lot. All he did was knock me down. The guy is too big a wuss to know how to fight.”

Shelby said, “Be careful, Austin.”

“I can handle Justin. Be careful going home.”

They said goodbye and Shelby pulled onto the highway.

Frustration and anger swirled around inside Austin. Kelsey was sweet poison. He knew he couldn’t stay away from her, and this kiss me—no don’t scenario of hers was killing him. Between that and having Justin go psycho on him pretty much made the evening one big ball of suck.

He kicked a rock as he walked up the gravel path to the steps leading to his door. He understood why Justin hated him and if things were reversed he might feel the same way. But, as much as he wanted to, he couldn’t change things. But one thing for sure, if Justin jumped out of the bushes at him now, he’d beat the crap out of that sonofabitch.

*

Kelsey crawled under her sheets and tried to untangle her thoughts, but her mind was going in a thousand different directions. She couldn’t blame Austin for what happened. She wanted to forget she had a boyfriend waiting for her. She’d come on to him, flirted with him, wanted to make out with him. She knew what she was doing—and it was great.

More than great. It was mind blowing. She closed her eyes and tried to relive one kiss after another. She felt little pings of excitement as she thought about how his lips felt against hers. She’d dated Drew for eight months and not once had they made out like that. Oh, they’d kissed a lot, but not like that. Their time together was so…civil.

Austin’s kisses were raw and passionate and if the alarm hadn’t gone off she might have taken a walk in Ryan’s world. Not all the way, but closer than with Drew.

But that last kiss was the scariest. It was demanding. It was a you’re mine kiss. It was a kiss that reminded her she was already somebody else’s. And when the kiss broke, guilt loomed large in her mind.

She texted Drew.

Kelsey: Are you up?

She’d hoped he was too busy to answer, but a reply dinged instantly.

Drew: Yeah. What are you doing?

Kelsey: Getting ready for bed, you?