Accepted Fate (19 page)

"Presley is a little...different I guess. She knows that the new swimwear line comes in today. She refuses to have on the same swimsuit as anyone else, since it's her party. Don't ask me why, because I have no idea."

I just shake my head. Women are like a species from an alien planet. You can't live with them and you can't seem to live without them either. "I'm just the driver, tell me where to go."

We come to a stop light. Take a few right turns and Laguna Hills mall isn't far on the left. "You remember how to get to Bj's right? It's in that same location." I nod and follow her directions.

It really doesn't take as long as I thought to get here. Pulling in the parking lot, I find a spot and kill the engine. "What all do we have to get again?"

She hops down from the side step, upon getting out of the truck. "Just pick up the party favors and Presley's stuff. That's all unless something calls to me," she says with a smile on her face. "She called ahead for the party favors so we just have to pick them up. It may be several trips, though, for the party favors alone between three or four different stores. I think for the girls it's candles and cosmetics and for the guys I don't even know. I may have to call her. Probably sports memorabilia or watches or something."

"She really puts a lot of money into this doesn't she?" I don't know why it has to be so extravagant for a pool party. I'm really out of my realm on this one.

We begin walking to the huge mall standing before us. "Well her birthday is during holiday season and cooler weather so it's never a big deal. This is her way to make up for it I guess. She's had one every year since she was fifteen. It's just become a tradition now. I don't know what everyone will do when she graduates. I guess her little sister, Paxtyn, will take over. By the time we graduate, she will be in high school," she says shrugging her shoulders.

As we walk into the mall, I notice just how busy it is. Walking through the crowded interior I ask, "Where to first?"

She looks at me as she weaves through the mass of people. "I don't know, I guess Victoria's Secret is the best place to start."

I stop abruptly, before realizing there are several people behind me. A woman with a stroller almost slams into the back of me. I begin walking quickly to catch up with Kinzleigh. "You did not say anything about Victoria's Secret. Victoria can keep her secrets because there is no way I'm walking in that store."

"I don't know where you're from, but here you better keep pace or you'll become a floor mat." She laughs and keeps walking, not even fazed by the fact I'm silently as well as outwardly freaking out about walking in a lingerie store. For such short legs, she sure can walk fast. When I catch up to her she is at the edge of the store about to walk in. "Well, are you coming?"

I stand there looking into the store, filled with racks upon racks of lingerie and underwear. I have no experience underwear shopping; only removing the already purchased product. I begin running my fingers through my hair. I have never in my life been to a woman's lingerie store. Do men even go in these types of stores if they aren't married? She raises a brow at me, "Scared something is going to jump out and bite you?"

I cannot believe I'm so hung up over a hot girl that I'm fixing to walk in this place. It's a little intimidating. Sighing, I say, "You owe me for this and once I decide what it is, I will collect."

She rolls her eyes at me. "Whatever you say, lover boy, now come on," she says sarcastically. Funny, I actually like the sound of that. She is halfway through the store when I realize I'm still standing here, at the entry of the store. Putting my hands in my pockets, I walk quickly in her direction. Bypassing the store associates and bystanders, smiles begin turning up on each of them and they all ask me, "Is there something I can help you with?"

Smiling politely, I pick up pace to catch up with her. Shaking my head I reply, "No thank you. I'm just along for the ride," I say awkwardly, pointing at Kinzleigh digging through swimsuits on a table in the back.

I walk up beside her, smiling. "That is two things you owe me. Shall we continue to add favors?"

She looks at me, scrunching her nose. "Uh, how do you arrive at that assessment?"

"You just left me to fend for myself in a woman's lingerie store. The associates are eying me like flying vultures and I am the road kill in the middle of the road. They are waiting to swoop down and pick at me."

"Oh don't be so dramatic. Your uneasiness makes you stick out like a sore thumb. They sense your nervousness. Just play it cool and watch," she says holding out a swim suit top. I just eye it stupidly. How is this supposed to help? "Hey babe, hold this for me okay?" She says it loud enough the store associate closest to us hears.

I awkwardly take the swimsuit looking her in the eyes. She turns up one side of her mouth and has a mischievous look in her eye. "Okay..." Sure enough, as I take the swimsuit, the girl close to us wrinkles her nose in a look of disgust and stomps off like someone just stole her toy.

"You can thank me later," she says teasingly and goes back to rummaging through the pile of swimsuits. Thirty minutes later, we're checking out with two arm fills of items. One for Kinzleigh and one for Presley.

This is not changing my mind about wanting to do this again. I think I'll leave shopping to females. Usually, I just let my mom buy my clothes or run in one of a couple stores and have an entire new wardrobe in thirty minutes tops. The amount of money a girl can spend on underwear and swimsuits is insane to me. Five hundred dollars later, we're leaving the store ready to finish getting everything for the party.

The next two hours went by in a bit of a blur. Between hauling out hundreds of candles and other meaningless items, I'm ready to get to this party. If it wasn't for Kinzleigh being so freakin' hot, I would have never agreed to this. The girl seems to have me doing all kinds of random things I would never in a million years do, without even asking me to do it; I just volunteer. With all the constant trips back and forth to the truck, I'm sweating. We stopped about an hour ago and grabbed something to eat from Subway to replenish some of this lost energy.

Finally in the truck, I turn to Kinzleigh, "Please tell me we're done." At this point I'll tell Presley personally that she can do it herself.

Kinzleigh shyly smiles over at me, "Yes, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let you tag along. It was a lot of work." What she doesn't know is there was no way I wasn't coming along. Any excuse to spend more time with her, I'll take.

"Nah, it's okay but Presley can do the rest herself. I'm just not used to parties entailing so much work. Y'all do things a lot different around here. I didn't have anything better to do; I'm just giving you a hard time."

"We still have a little while until the party starts if you want to just drop me off at Presley's and come back later, when the party starts. She always times it to start in the afternoon and continue into the night, where she can turn on the pool lights and light up the tents." There is no way I'm letting her go this early. I can only imagine what kinds of dickweeds I'll have to go through to get her attention once everyone shows up. If what Ryland said was true, every male with something swinging between their legs will want to get close to her in a swimsuit.

The thought of someone else trying to touch her is starting to infuriate me. I let out a deep breath trying to get a grip. "How about we drop this stuff off and you can come with me. I have to go by Ryland's and get my swim shorts anyways. I didn't think about it when I left this morning. Ryland's parents were going to some kind of company BBQ so it'll just be us most likely. We can hang out for a bit and change there, then head over to Presley's a little before it starts, to make sure she doesn't need help. I think Ryland was helping her anyways."

"Are you sure? I don't want to take up your entire week here. I know there are probably other things you'd rather be doing. You don't have to occupy your time by the likes of me." The sheer fact that she actually is humble enough to think she is keeping me from something better than being in her presence makes me like her all the more. The girl could have any guy she wants and she really doesn't see it.

"I'm sure," I say pulling into Presley's driveway. That same Porsche is sitting in the drive from earlier, but now in the open garage. I wonder whose car that is. Just as I pull up, a guy walks to the driver side door and opens it. He looks about twenty or twenty one. When he looks at the truck, his eyes focus into the passenger side, clearly recognizing Kinzleigh. A snarling look comes across his face. "Who is that guy?"

She sighs as if not wanting to enter into this discussion. "That's Preston, Presley's older brother. He's home for the summer from UC Berkeley." Oh hell no. She stayed the night with that guy in the same house. I know that look on his face. He wants her and he is willing to do whatever it takes to get her. I've seen that look before. Now, I want to hurry up and get her out of here. The way he is staring at her is pissing me off.

Ryland's yellow jeep is sitting in the driveway beside me. "Will you be alright long enough for me to switch keys with Ryland?"

She nods, looking slightly confused. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well for starters, that guy is still standing there staring at you and looking like he wants to tear my head off every time he glances in my direction." I look back over and see him standing with the door open and he is clenching his fists by his sides. I normally don't like to fight or start any trouble; at least not over a girl, but if he wants to start anything over this one, I'm all in.

We seem to be having one of those man to man stare offs. The one where you both understand what the other is after and she is the prize.
May the best man win.
My hands tighten around the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white. I may have to leave her to him in a few days but right now she's mine. I will stake my claim if he doesn't back off. I hope this clown doesn't intend to hang around the party, trying to get her attention. He may be older and taller, but not by much and I'm twice his size.

"Preston won't hurt me; we just have some...unfinished business. It's fine, I'll go ahead and take my bags to the jeep. Let Presley know her stuff is here, will you?" She looks at Preston and opens the door. Great, now I don't want to leave her side. The faster I go get those keys, the faster I can get back.

"I'll let her know when I tell Ryland to come unload everything. I'll be right back." I jump out and head for the back yard, where the pool sits, in the opposite direction of the garage. I get to the back and see Ryland almost immediately. "Hey Rye, come here man," I say wavering him over in a sprint towards him.

"What's up? You look pissed."

"It's nothing; me and Kinzleigh are running by the pool house and we'll be back in about an hour. I need your jeep keys. I'm just going to let you unload everything from the truck."

Handing me the keys, he runs his other hand through his curly hair. "What's up with you? You cool?" I keep looking back towards the front of the house as if I could actually see what was going on with the two of them.

"Yeah man, I got to go. I'll be back." I grab the keys and take off towards the driveway. When I round the house, I see Kinzleigh leaned up against the jeep with her arms crossed over her chest and that Preston guy has a hand on each side of her head, against the door of the Jeep. They seem to be having some kind of conversation. Seeing him that close to her has me raging to hit something. I close my eyes and pop my neck to the side, trying to calm down before I lay him out on the ground and freak her out.

As I get closer to the Jeep, I grab her bags from the ground beside her feet and look at her. "You ready to go?"

He pushes off the Jeep, but doesn't put any more distance between them. "Where are you going? You're not missing the party are you?" His voice is deep but he sounds a little panicky.
That's right
, I think to myself,
she's going with me.

She rolls her eyes as if she's slightly aggravated. "Preston, this is Ryland's cousin Breyson. Stop being rude; it's not like you. He's visiting for a while." She looks over at me. "Breyson, this is Presley's older brother, Preston. I'm sorry, he's not usually like this," she says crinkling her brows in confusion.

In the split of a second, his face smooths out and he holds out his hand. "Kinzleigh's right. My apologies." He has a cocky grin and I know why. In all of that information he heard one thing; I'm visiting. He knows he has the lead because I'm leaving soon and he's not stupid enough to piss her off. Well, two can play at that game.

I hold out my hand grasping his, "Nice to meet you." His handshake says it all. My dad gave me the course on a man's handshake and what it means. He's overbearing in his grip. He's telling me she's as good as his. Well, assume away, because we shall see who she ends up with. I tighten my jaw as I look him in the eyes.

Kinzleigh clears her throat. "I hate to break up this little bromance that's brewing, but we need to go if we're going to get back in time." I can't help but to smirk, standing before him. I feel like a UFC fighter that's just won his match. Yeah she's coming with me. I drop my hand and open her door.

"I'll be waiting for you," he calls out as I shut the door, backing towards the garage, and just like that my temporary victory was just shattered. I should have known better. Of course he's going to hang around a bunch of high schoolers to be around her.

"I wouldn't count on it," I mumble, after closing the door. I get in and start the ignition, backing out of the driveway.

The drive to Ryland's was short and silent. I was mad and trying to sort through all these emotions pumping through my body. I've never had to deal with jealousy and rage when it comes to a girl and I sure as hell have never had to compete.

As I park and kill the engine, she looks at me from the passenger seat, "Are you okay? You haven't said anything since we left."

I really need to get my crap together. "Yeah, I was just thinking about some things. Come on and grab your stuff."