All the Wrong Reasons (10 page)

When a soft snort escaped my body, Morgan kicked me. I turned my snort into a cough when Amber’s green eyes fell on me. I smiled apologetically. “Sorry – fighting a head cold.”

“I don’t think we’ve met,” she said. “I’m Amber Gordon. And you are?”

“Irelyn Colby. Bailey, Morgan, and I are roommates,” I told her. She eyed me speculatively before smiling smugly. I ignored it. She had no reason to be smug – she may have the looks and the body but I had the man.

Amber placed a stack of quarters on a pool table to mark her spot in line before returning to our table. She sat next to Bailey, motioning for Holly to pull up a chair. “I saw you guys at Rusty’s Friday night. Do you like Out Back?”

“Yeah,” Morgan said, glancing nervously at me. “They’re good.”

“I know,” Amber said. She picked at the chipped nail polish on her thumb. “Damn. I hate this cheap shit nail polish.” Sighing, she dropped her hands. “Yeah, they are. And so delicious, too.”

My heart perked, preparing for whatever this skank had to say. My fists clenched under the table but I was busy concentrating on keeping my breathing even.

“Hey, didn’t you say you had a date with Lucas Friday night?” Bailey asked in a perfectly cool voice. She turned her head slowly to Amber, a semi-interested brow raised. “I thought you mentioned that in class last week.”

“Oh,” Amber said with an eye roll. “That was a miscommunication on my part. I didn’t get to go out with him Friday but I did go downtown Saturday to watch him play at the Horse Shoe Club. We got together after his set.”

My heart splattered against my ribs as jealousy, fury, and pain battled to be the dominant emotion. My fists clenched tighter, my stubby nails bit into my skin. I gnawed on the inside of my cheek to prevent my mouth from opening. I absolutely could not let this girl know that I was seeing Lucas. I didn’t think she knew my grandparents or Dustin, but I couldn’t take the chance.

Still, I wanted to punch her in the full lips and kick her in the gut so she knew exactly how I was feeling.

Bailey was slightly ruffled. Her carefully controlled mask had slipped and I could see a little concern and shock in her eyes. “Oh, really?” she said in an effort to appear nonchalant. “What did you two do?”

Amber’s painted lips curled into a knowing grin that I did not like at all. “Oh, I’m not the type to kiss and tell.”

Something inside of me snapped and it was Morgan’s inconspicuous hand on my shoulder that kept me from lunging across the table at Amber. I clamped my lips shut, sucking oxygen in through my nostrils.

Bailey tensed as she hurried to end the conversation. “Hm, so, I suppose you’ll see him again Friday at Rusty’s, huh?”

“Of course,” she said as a pool table opened up and she rushed to claim it. “He can’t get enough of me.” She stuck her quarters in the slot while Holly chose a pool cue.

I got up and stretched, trying to keep my anger from becoming obvious. I smiled at Amber’s friend. “Well, I need to finish my English essay,” I announced to Morgan and Bailey. “I’ll see you two back in the room.”

“I have some reading to finish,” Morgan said. “I’ll come with you.”

Shrugging, Bailey joined us.

“Irelyn,” Morgan began as soon as the rec room door shut behind us. “She’s probably lying. And even if she’s not, you know you have no right to be mad at him.”

“I’m not mad,” I said, though I didn’t even sound convincing to myself. “Not at all.”

“You are so pissed,” Bailey said with glee. “What are you going to do?”

We made it to our room but instead of taking off my coat, I grabbed my bag and keys. “I’m going to his house. We’ll hash this out once and for all.”

***

My anger surfed a wave of emotion – dancing up and down- the whole way to Lucas’s house. By the time I parked in front of his place and stormed up to the porch, I didn’t even know what I was feeling.

I pounded on the door, determined to get answers.

“Come in!” he shouted from inside, setting my heart into orbit.

Pulling the door open, I stepped shyly inside – my confidence remaining on the porch.

The living room was smaller than my mother’s with mismatched furniture and a huge television. Posters of popular bands were taped to the walls in place of fine art and photographs.

And Lucas lounged on the sofa, in jeans and a white t-shirt, remote control in hand, feet propped on the coffee table. Dropping his legs and the remote, he got to his feet, astonishment in his eyes.

“Irelyn,” he said in surprise.

Collin peeked around the kitchen door and grinned. “Hey, Irelyn. Hungry? I can heat something up for you before I put all this away.”

“No, thanks,” I said, my hands trembling.

“Suit yourself,” he said as he disappeared back into the kitchen.

Standing in front of me, Lucas unzipped my coat. He removed it from my body and tossed it on top of a work shirt on a chair. “What’s the matter, love? Can’t wait until Friday?” His eyes smoldered and it took all I had to control my urge to slam him against the wall.

“I, um, needed to talk to you,” I said.

“Sure.” Lacing his fingers through mine, he led me to his bedroom.

“Oy, Luke,” Collin shouted from the kitchen, a teasing lilt to his voice. “I replaced the box you stole from my room. You owe me.”

“Thanks, bro,” Lucas laughed as he pulled me in his bedroom and kicked the door shut. He spun to face me, crossing his arms over his chest. His eyes grazed my body, drinking in my oversized sweatshirt and jeans. “What is it about you that makes me want you know matter what you wear or how you look?”

I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak. His eyes darkened as he lowered his head to kiss me. He edged back to grin.

“I didn’t come here to fuck you, Lucas,” I said, hanging on tight to my anger before it could turn to lust.

“Then why’d you come?” he asked, amused.

“Did you sleep with Amber Gordon Saturday night?” I asked as fire burned in my eyes.

Chuckling, he placed his hands on my hips. He kissed the spot behind my ear and dragged his lips along my jaw. “Did you sleep with Dustin Saturday night?”

I shuddered as his lips continued to scorch my skin. “No,” I whispered.

“So,” he said as he tugged my sweatshirt down my shoulder and kissed my neck. “You’re allowed to date Dustin and do me, but I’m not allowed to do Amber Gordon?”

“I…”I stuttered. “I don’t know.”

He laughed against my skin, causing my shudders intensify. Arousal claimed my body and I had a hard time concentrating on the topic of conversation.

“Are we setting rules now?”

Coming to life, my hands clutched his waist. I fumbled with the hem of his t-shirt and toyed with the waistband of his jeans. “I don’t know.”

“Do you suppose we should figure it out? Or just let things remain the way they are?” He yanked my sweatshirt over my head and kissed the valley between my breasts. Gasping, I jerked away from him.

I folded my arms over my bra, trying to hide. “I don’t know, Lucas,” I said, horrified by the tears that were blurring my vision.

He touched my cheek, his eyes tender. “Don’t cry, love,” he said and kissed me. “Sit down, we’ll figure this out.”

I perched on the edge of his bed as he picked up my sweatshirt and helped me put it back on. “Lucas, I’m sorry. I have no right to barge in here and demand to know what you do with other girls when I have a boyfriend. I’m sorry.”

Hugging me to his side, he kissed the top of my head. “I didn’t sleep with her. She showed up at the club and watched the show. When we finished, she hung out with us – at our table- that’s all.”

“You don’t have to explain,” I said in a whisper.

“I do,” he said as he tipped my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. “You’re obviously upset.” He gave me a crinkly-eyed smile. “And we can’t have that.”

I choked out a little laugh. “I’m fine, really. I just let my anger get the best of me.”

“I can figure out a better place to release that anger,” he said as his eyes clouded again. He released my chin to trace my lips. “If you’re game.”

But I couldn’t summon that fire that he usually started. My heart was out of lighter fluid. I heaved a deep, regretful breath and shook my head. “I really should go back to my dorm.”

“Or,” he said as he kissed me. “You could just spend the night here. I have to be to work early and I can wake you before I leave.”

A tiny smile crossed my lips. “Okay.”

He kissed the top of my head before he got up to fetch a t-shirt from his dresser. Tossing it to me, I quickly changed and crawled in his bed. When he joined me, I rested my chin on his chest. “Where do you work?” I asked.

“B & E Warehouse,” he said with a yawn. “Been there since high school. I used to lug the boxes around but now I’m a foreman.”

“Really?” I asked. He nodded. “Wow, you’re a boss.”

He laughed. “Well, I’m just in charge of my department. It’s not like I’m the supervisor.”

“You will be,” I said. “You’ll be running the whole place in no time.”

“And how do you know that?”

“Because you’re smart,” I said softly. “And wonderful. And I just get the feeling that you’re a hard worker.”

He kissed the tip of my nose. “And what does Irelyn want to be when she finishes college?”

I blushed in the dark. “Actually, I’d like to be a writer.”

“Really?” he asked and I nodded. “Hm, like, write books or music or commercial jingles?”

I giggled. “I like to write stories – novellas I guess. I have a couple notebooks full.”

“Notebooks? You hand write everything?” he asked in disbelief.

“I don’t have much of a choice. The computer in my dorm is shared and the computer at my mom’s house is old and slow and in the dining room. When I write, I like to be in my own little space without feeling like someone is looking over my shoulder.” I sighed wistfully. “I’m saving up for a laptop but it’s taking a lot of time. My, um, grandparents give me a monthly allowance and I’m supposed to use it for meals and school stuff – that sort of thing. But I always tuck some aside every month.”

“Why don’t you get a job?” he asked.

“My grandparents have forbidden it my first year and since they’re paying for college…” I trailed off. He got the point.

Reaching across me, he set his alarm clock before snuggling into the blankets and situating me comfortably in his arms. “Let’s sleep, love. I’ll wake you before I leave.”

I kissed his cheek and closed my eyes.

***

We took our usual table at Rusty’s and as soon as the band set up their equipment, they joined us again. Spencer’s eyes remained on Bailey as we chatted casually. Grinning, I winked at Lucas. He patted my thigh, his touch sending a shiver through my nervous system, reminding that the best part of the evening was yet to come.

“So, Spencer,” Bailey said and he nearly fell out of his chair. “Irelyn tells me that you’re taking me out soon.”

Spencer’s eyes darted to mine, full of surprise. I nodded at him and he returned his attention to Bailey. “Oh, yeah, sure. Tomorrow night – dinner, dancing, the works.”

Narrowing her eyes at him, she pulled her lips into a seductive smile. “How about dinner, a movie then back to your place?”

His astonishment swiftly turned to pleasure as he sat back and placed an arm on her chair. “Sure – anything you want.”

We laughed and a little color brushed Spencer’s face. Bailey pressed a moist kiss to his cheek just as someone else approached our table.

“Bailey, you didn’t tell me you knew the band,” Amber said as she hovered over Morgan’s shoulder. “How nice.”

“Yeah,” Bailey answered as she traced the lip of her glass with her finger. “They are nice guys.”

“And it’s time for these nice guys to get on stage,” Collin said as he punched Lucas’s arm. Lucas squeezed my thigh before he followed the others to the stage. The suddenly crowded bar went nuts as Amber and Holly took the vacant chairs at our table. I groaned, not wanting to hear Amber drone on and on about Lucas, but I held my tongue, turning my concentration on Lucas instead.

She ran her mouth nonstop about how she met with the guys last Saturday night after their show, claiming they’d invited her to hang out with them and have pizza. She hinted that her evening hadn’t ended there but I ignored her. I preferred to believe Lucas.

As they neared the end of their last set, I started to panic. How was I going to be able to sneak out with him while Amber was in our presence?

“Are you going home with Lucas tonight?” Morgan whispered in my ear. I shrugged. “Well, I’ll help you if I can.”

I didn’t know how she’d manage that – certainly Amber would notice if both Lucas and I disappeared.

By the time the guys finished packing up their equipment, I still hadn’t come up with anything. I was hoping Lucas had because Amber hadn’t left and made no indication that she was.

The guys crowded around our table wearing matching, playful smirks. “Ladies,” Collin cooed. “We’re thinking of having a little get together at our place. Are you interested?”

“I am,” Amber announced to no one’s surprise. I looked at Lucas but he didn’t spare me a glance. He just gripped the back of my chair with a stoic expression on his face.

“We’re in,” Bailey said with a false smile and narrowed eyes. “We’ll follow you.”

“Great,” Lucas said. He rattled my chair and I stood. His eyes narrowed at me and filled with desire. I cursed Amber Gordon in my mind as I collected my bag, waiting for Bailey to join me.

“Lucas, can Irelyn ride with you?” Bailey asked in a sweet voice. “Morgan and I have an errand to run.”

“Sure,” Lucas said, his eyes sparkling. “Let’s go.”

I followed Lucas to his truck, not even chancing a look at Amber. I hoped she fumed.

As soon as he pulled out of the parking lot, I scooted to the middle and kissed his neck, my hand on his thigh. My desire exploded as I made contact with his body. I wanted nothing more but for him to pull over to the side of the road.

“Hold that thought,” he said, chuckling. “We’ll get rid of Amber, don’t worry. Collin said he had a plan.”

“If you hurry up and get home, we could…you know…before anyone gets there.”