Accepted Fate (8 page)

He places one hand on my left side cupping my waist and grabs my right hand. He is now completely touching my entire back side with his, causing my heart to race. His voice comes out low and deep beside my ear. "Try it this way." He places my hand in the handle above the dashboard beside the door frame. "Now place your foot on the bar." I do as I'm told and he runs his hand down my right arm, causing me to shiver. He places it on my right side mirroring the left and lifts me, helping me into the truck.

My stomach is in knots. I sit down after he releases my waist, turning towards him. "Thanks," I say not sure what else to say at this point. He is staring at me, clenching his jaw with a predatory look in his eyes. He stands there for a good while not turning away from me, before he finally shuts the door and walks around the truck.

He slides inside and shuts his door. Putting the key in the ignition, he looks over at me. "Where to? Lady's choice."

I'm not sure what the look on his face means. He kind of looks guilty; as if he's doing something he shouldn't but wants to anyway. Maybe I should just go home. "We don't have to go anywhere. You can just take me home or I can call a cab. I don't live that far."

"No way, you need to eat. I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to." Now he kind of acts like he's scared I'm going to back out. He is confusing the heck out of me by his sudden change in facial expressions. I feel like it's giving me whip lash.

"Okay, what about BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse? I think it stays open until midnight." Everything should be closing down soon, leaving nothing much but partying and late night movies.

"Lead the way," he says and turns the key, firing up the engine. The truck roars to life. I didn't even know trucks could sound like that. It causes me to jump. Right then I hear him chuckle in amusement.

"What's so funny? Do all trucks sound like this?" I look at him in wonder. I don't know why anyone would want to listen to all that noise while they drive.

He shakes his head, still silently laughing. "No, all trucks don't sound like this. Ryland has Flowmaster pipes installed. It's a country boy thing, I guess." This southern thing, I have to admit, does have my interest peaked. I roll my eyes, teasingly, as he finally backs out of the parking lot and heads for the restaurant.

I pull out my phone and quickly send mom a text.

Kinzleigh: Just letting you know I'm fine.
                              
Heading to BJ's to eat with a friend.
                              
Be home in a little while.

Within five minutes I get a response.

Mom: Okay sweetie, thank you for letting me
                        
know. I'll leave the porch light on for you.
                              
We will talk tomorrow. Love you.

Kinzleigh: Love you too. Goodnight.

I place my phone back into my clutch and put on my seat belt. We're heading down South Coast Highway, when we pull into the restaurant. BJ's is still pretty busy for being so late. I look down, just now remembering I'm a little overdressed for this type of eatery. "Maybe we should just order something to go. I'm not really dressed for this place." 

He smiles and softly takes my hand, looking me over. He shakes his head, "You look perfect. Let's go." He steps out of the truck before coming around the front to open my door. I put my heels back on my feet and turn towards the door, placing my feet on the step bar. He is standing in the doorway. I place my hands on his shoulders and he picks me up by the waist and helps me down, not straining at all.

He starts to close the door when I realize my purse is inside, on the seat. "Wait, I need my purse." I start to reach for it but he takes my hand shaking his head. "I invited you. Why would you need your purse?"

"Why would you pay for my food? This isn't a date." I begin twirling my finger in my hair, staring at him in curiosity. Usually when we go out as friends, whether a group or just a couple of us, we pick up our own tab, except for the people in relationships.

He begins running his hand through the back of his hair, looking lost in thought. He then shuts the door. "Date or not, where I come from, girls don't pay for their food when a man is around. If my parents knew I took a girl to eat and didn't pay, they would have a heart attack and my dad is a cardiologist so he's a health nut."

By the look on his face, there is no point in arguing. He seems pretty sure of his stance on this subject. "If you insist, but it's really not necessary," I say. He sounds the alarm, locking the doors.

His smile comes back. "I insist," he teases, "Thank you for your cooperation. Come on, let's go eat. I'm pretty hungry myself." We begin towards the door of the restaurant, side by side.

He opens the door, allowing me to enter first. "Welcome to BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse. Is it just the two of you dining tonight?" We come to a stop at a podium and see a tall slender girl with short, blonde pixie like hair. She looks from me to Breyson, stopping on him, and she bites her lip when her eyes look him over. For some reason the look she has towards him bothers me. I look at her and narrow my eyes.

I'm not jealous but it's just rude to look at a guy that way when he's with a girl. She has no idea I'm not his girlfriend. I did just kiss him so that has to give me dibs for the night. She is still staring at him and doesn't seem shameful of it at all. I'm really starting to get angry and I can feel the look on my facing showing it. "It's just the two of us. Can we get a seat somewhere private please," Breyson asks beside me.
HA! Time to get a move on it sweetie. The stare fest is over.

I start twirling my hair again as a competitive smile begins on my lips. It's a nervous habit I developed years ago. I turn to look at Breyson and he is staring at me, barely acknowledging the hostess, with that cocky grin on his face. Dang it! I really need to pay more attention of whose watching when I'm going to stare daggers at another girl enjoying the view of the man in my presence. He always seems to notice my stupidity. I can't even blame the girl, he's gorgeous and available. Come to think if it, he's probably a man slut so I'm better off not even thinking about it. The thought of him with another girl begins eating away at my thoughts. I have got to think of something else.

The hostess quickly grabs the flatware and menus, suddenly seeming embarrassed by her behavior, "Of course, right this way." She then leads us to a booth in the back and sets the table. "Your server will be right with you."

We haven't been seated longer than about five minutes when a server appears, "Hi, I'm Anna, what can I get you kids to drink tonight?" She's a little older, probably mid-thirties. Her brown hair is pulled back in a low ponytail. She has dark brown eyes and a set of dimples when she smiles.

"I'll have a tropical tea please," I say, glancing up to the server.

"Iced tea for me please," Breyson says glancing over the menu.

"Tropical tea and iced tea," she writes down, "I'll be right back."

"Did your parents tell you where you're moving?" I look away from my menu and to Breyson, who now has his hands crossed over his closed menu as if he knows what he wants.

Before I can answer, the waitress returns, setting down our drinks. "Are you guys ready to order or would you like another minute?"

"I think I'll have the seared Ahi salad, please, dressing on the side." She writes it down on her notepad and looks to Breyson.

"What'll it be for you sweetie?"

"I'll have the grilled chicken club, light on the mayonnaise." The server takes our menus and leaves the table.

Breyson is looking at me, waiting on an answer as he adds sugar packs to his tea. I turn my nose up in disgust. He is going to end up in a diabetic coma doing that. I look back up and I shake my head, "No specifics," I say.

"Oh come on, are we still at that? I just want to know a little bit about you besides your name and that you're a cheerleader with a brother." He raises his hands in surrender, "I promise no stalker tactics at hand." He smiles at me. That smile I can't deny that makes me feel things I know I shouldn't.

Contemplating what I can give him to satisfy his desire for more information and my desire to keep it to myself, I sit in silence. I'm not one of those people that just volunteers endless, meaningless details about myself to other people. There are some things even my best friend of seventeen years doesn't know. "Fine, if you must know, we are moving to the...south at the end of June. My father is a contractor and CEO of the family business my grandfather started right out of high school. He just signed a major contract to build strip malls across the entire southern region of the country. I guess this could change the face of the company, making it a multimillion dollar enterprise. So now, daddy dearest is moving me and my mother across the country and I'm not happy about it. Happy now?" I ask teasingly hoping that is enough to satisfy his interests.

"All jokes aside, it may not be that bad. You may like the south," he winks playfully. Of course me, earning a D minus in the subject of Flirting 101, just sits here stupefied. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to get a few training tips from Presley. Oh no what am I saying, that will never happen. "I'm guessing telling me the state, in question, would violate your confidentiality rule?" He raises a brow taking a sip from his tea.

"You’re catching on quickly," I laugh. Ask me what my reasons are, to be honest, I'm not sure. Since I will never see him again after tonight, I don't really know what it would hurt to answer his personal questions, but if I don't answer his questions then I can't ask. The less I know about this sexy, southern boy, the better.

The server brings out our food and places it before us, along with the check. "Let me know if you need anything else. You kids have a good night and be safe."

We enjoy our meal mostly in silence since it's almost closing time. Once Breyson pays for the food, we stand to leave. I'm really starting to feel the fatigue setting in. It's been a long day. "Is it okay if we call it a night? I'm really tired from today's string of events."

He kind of looks disappointed, but nods in understanding. "Sure, just tell me where you live and I'll take you home." We get to the truck and he opens my door, helping me in.

Once in the vehicle, he starts the ignition. "How long are you here visiting Ryland?" I'm not sure why I asked since I don't plan on seeing him again.

"I'm only here until next Friday, then I fly back." He pulls out of the parking lot and heads in the direction I instruct him.

We spend the remaining twenty minutes with casual small talk before pulling into my driveway. The censored lights come on at the garage. Pulling to a stop he kills the headlights, assuming because there is something he wants to say. I gather my clutch in my hand and grab for the handle of the door. Turning to him I say, "Dinner was good, thank you. It was nice having some company aside from my friends."

When I start to open the door he pulls on my left hand stopping me. "Kinzleigh wait. Is it okay if I see you again before I leave?" I begin getting nervous. What am I going to say? I am not sure I want to see him again. It's just going to further complicate things.

"I don't know," I exhale, thinking. "I'll tell you what, if it's meant for you to see me again, you will. Obviously we know some of the same people now so we will see." It's the only answer I know to give.

"You're not going to make this easy for me are you? He asks, raising his brow in amusement.

"The best things in life are never easy," I smile, repeating his quote from earlier and open the door. "Goodnight Breyson." I reach the paved driveway and head for the front door, slipping inside and shutting the door. Placing my back against the cool wood of the door, I take a deep breath. After a few minutes, I hear him pull away.

Everything is dark but the spotlights over the fireplace, meaning my parents are in bed. Trying to avoid any questions tonight, I walk quietly to my room and shut the door. I am finally able to breathe easily for the first time tonight. I walk into my bathroom and wash off my makeup. I change into my favorite pink tank and Victoria's Secret boxer shorts and climb in my big king size bed, placing my phone on the bedside table to charge. As I slide underneath my black silk sheets and comforter my eyes grow heavy. The last image I remember before falling into a peaceful slumber were two beautiful blue eyes and a smile to die for.

CHAPTER 5

Breyson

I pull away from Kinzleigh's house, heading back to Ryland's. My mind is in a cloud, running crazy. I doubt I get to sleep any time soon and it's only twelve thirty in the morning. I would call Ryland because I want more information on Kinzleigh, but I don't want to be a dick knowing he's probably at Presley's.

Surprisingly, Ryland only lives about five blocks from Kinzleigh. As I pull into the driveway, I turn off the headlights trying not to wake his parents and park outside of the closed garage. After killing the engine, I step out of the truck. I walk through the fence to the back yard, where the pool is located, at the back of the house. It's a large infinity pool looking over a drop off. The house is set in the hills surrounding Laguna Beach. I love coming here because it's so different than back home.

I stand in front of the pool, enjoying the view down, looking at the different lights throughout the hills. Most of the lights are off at his house, except for the security lights. Continuing across the edge of the pool towards the pool house, the door comes into view. Unlocking the door with a key on Ryland's key ring, I open the door and step inside. His parents insisted, this year, that I sleep out here so I can have my own space now that I'm seventeen and we're allowed to go out. Usually, I just took the guest room down the hall from Ryland.

I didn't get a chance to come in here earlier, since we went straight to the beach as soon as we got here. Once we got back, I was catching up with Ryland and his parents before I got dressed in the main house. Shutting the door, though, I realize his mom has already put my suitcase inside the door. I'm really surprised Ryland hasn't moved in here as nice as it is. It's like living in your own house. The only lights on are the spotlights, dimmed over the fireplace wall.