Good Vibrations (Welcome to Paradise) (14 page)

Chapter 15

Mallory

I wake up on a tiny, uncomfortable bed. Looking around, I see Evan slumped against the wall looking down.

“Ev,” I stop and clear my throat. It’s sore. 

He dashes to my side and strokes my cheek. “Don’t talk, baby.” He leans over and pours me a cup of water. After he helps me sit up, I sip from the straw.

My hand races to my head and I gently pat the bandage covering the side of my temple. “My head?”

“You blacked out. Fortunately, you only needed three stitches. You hit the reef when you were under water, so the doc said he wants to see you when you wake up.”

I chuckle. “I remember the beach and the blood.”

He sits on the edge of the bed still stroking my face. “You were super cute before you passed out if that makes a difference.”

“Super cute, huh?”
Why do I like that he thought I was super cute?

“Yeah, you were worried about getting blood in my car.”

“I didn’t, did I?” I ask, worrying again that I might have ruined the beautiful leather interior.

He drops his hand to his lap, then stands and backs away, suddenly unsure of himself. “Uh, no, there’s no damage to the car. I’ll get the nurse.”

Evan leaves the room so fast that it makes the pain in my head throb to watch. After a few tests, silly questions about fingers being held up, my birth name, and presidents—I could name all of them in order—the doctor said he was not only impressed, but releasing me.

I walk into the hallway, and Evan stands up from a nearby chair, and says, “I hear you’re free to go.”

“So they say,” I reply, a little snark seeping into my tone.

Thirty minutes later, we drive back to the beach in relative silence. When he parks, I say, “Thank you again for paying my bill. I guess my insurance isn’t as good as I thought.”

“Its fine, Mallory.” His tone has changed, just like the ocean tides in front of us.

We both get out, and I walk over to my shorts and slip them on. I grab my shoes, dusting the sand off of them then put them on. Evan walks to the broken board and carries the pieces to his trunk. He returns to the driver’s seat at the same time I get back into the car. “I still don’t understand why you broke my surfboard.”

“I’ll buy you a new board… when you’re ready and you’re not ready.” He shifts the car in gear and peels out. The short drive back to the apartment feels long and tension filled. He lets me get out without protest.

I lean back in, and say, “Pop the trunk and I’ll throw the pieces away.”

“No, I’m keeping them for now then I’ll dispose of them.”

Irritated, I slam the door harder than I should. I’m pissed that once again I’m being wound up and cut loose. I need a cigarette like nobody’s business.

He slides out his open window and sits on his door frame. “C’mon, Mallory, don’t leave mad. It’s a board, that’s all.” I have flashbacks of him saying something eerily similar to me that first morning after he dropped me off.

I turn around furious by his lack of respect and out of frustration. “Noah gave me that board. He put a lot of thought into it and spent money that you know as well as I do that he doesn’t have a lot of. So, it’s more than just a board, it was a gift from a friend that’s become close to me.”

“He’s using you to get to me—” His arrogance is revealed once again.

“No, he’s not! He likes me. We’ve spent time together.” I walk back, angry and irritated, and poke him on the chest. “Don’t talk to me about him using me. You used me, you asshole.” I know I’m also to blame, but he flipped this around on us. We were supposed to be easy, no strings then he said things like ‘make love’ and a string slowly attached itself to my heart.

I turn around and rush to the door. This conversation is pointless and doesn’t matter.
I’m done with Evan Ashford!
I stop to dust my hands together to emphasize my ending with him when I’m brazenly pinned against the door from behind. His breath hits my ear, and he whispers, “Don’t be mad, sweetheart. Although, I do think you’re sexy as all get-out when you are.”

I squirm, aggravated by the shameless entrapment of my body. His hands whisk around to my stomach and then separate—one goes north and the other one heads south. I threaten, “Let me go or you’re going to be feeling some major pain in two seconds.”

“Your feistiness is such a turn on,” he says, pressing his bulge against my ass. Wet kisses follow his remark, landing on my neck, and for some reason, I don’t fight him. My body caves, allowing him fuller access for his lips, hands, and cock, which is currently hard.

With my sensibilities still intact, I whisper, “I’m not yours for the taking. I… I can’t play this game with you anymore.” This is my only attempt at saving myself, and for some reason, I hope he doesn’t believe me.

His body leaves mine cold and alone, and he walks away. He stops and looks back at me. “That’s too bad, Mallory, because we are so good together.”

I want to stop him. I want to shout that he can take me whenever he wants, but I also know my heart can’t handle his hot and cold temperaments anymore.

* * *

The next morning, I wake up with a pounding headache. I take ibuprofen and lie back down on the couch. It
’s early and the bright day hurts my eyes. I roll over covering my head with my blanket and fall back asleep.

“UH!” I hear Sunny gasp above me. “Mallory, what happened?”

My eyes flash open causing me to wince from the light flooding the room. “Sunny,” I grumble, “you scared me. What is it?”

She drops to her knees besides the couch and gently rubs over my bandage. “What happened to your head?”

“
Oh
, that.” I roll over being careful not to put pressure on it. “I drowned, went to the ER, and got three stitches. It looks worse than it is.”

“Holy shit, Mal. Are you all right?” Hearing Sunny curse means she’s concerned.

“I’m fine—”

“What do you mean you drowned? You’re here.”

“Noah gave me a surfboard—”

“Wow! That’s nice.”

“Yeah, but I took it out surfing and wiped out. I was trapped under water, but Evan saved me—”

“You were with Evan?”

“No, I was surfing alone.” She looks confused and I’m starting to feel a little confused myself. He never actually told me how he just happened to be there. “I hit my head on a reef and guess I drowned. He pulled me out and saved me. I started to bleed and he took me to the hospital where I got bandaged up. They told me I was fine, so don’t worry.”

“Let me get this straight. You and Evan spent time together?”

“Really? That’s all you got from my harrowing adventure. I drowned, Sunny!”

A huge grin covers her face, and she says, “But,
Evan saved you
. That’s so romantic.”

“Can you stop swooning for one minute and stick with me here?”

“Okay, I’m sorry. I’m focused again. You’ll be okay, right?”

“Yes, but my head hurts.”

“What can I get you?”

I look at the cable box clock and see that I’m due into work in an hour. “Nothing. I just need a shower and to eat something before I go to work.”

“You go take your shower and I’ll make you a sandwich. Sound good?”

“Sounds better than good. Thanks,” I say, getting up and walking to the bathroom.

Later, Sunny drops me off at work and I dive right into the busy afternoon. I prefer busy because it lets me put my attention on work instead of other things or certain other people. I have so many questions for Evan and don’t know when I’ll get answers since I told him to leave me alone, so it’s best to not think of him at all.

By eight, Noah shows up, smiling and handsome, as always. I still wish my heart could love him the way I don’t want to admit that I might be in love with Ev… No, I won’t even think about him.

I greet him with a hug.

Worry colors his expression, and he asks, “What happened to your head?”

My hand covers my wound. “Oh, this, yeah, it’s nothing.”

“It’s definitely something, Mallory. Tell me.”

I look down knowing my story will hurt his feelings, but he deserves honesty from me. I tell him all the gory details, but leave out the part about Evan breaking the board. He looks troubled and guilty. “I knew I shouldn’t have given you the board. I knew better, more than you’ll ever understand, but I wanted to be the one to teach you. I wanted us to have that to share so we could spend more time together. I’m sorry. It was a stupid gift.”

“Please don’t blame yourself. It was a wonderful gift. Really, the best gift I’ve ever gotten. It was very thoughtful. I’m just sorry it got broken.”

“Boards break. They’re just fiber-glass. I’m glad you’re all right. I might owe Ashford a thank you. That’s not going to be easy to do.”

“You don’t owe him anything. Please don’t feel bad, okay?”

Looking at his watch, he says, “You’ve been off work for a half-hour. You ready to go to the bonfire?”

I’m relieved he’s not upset about the board being broken. “Let’s go have a good time. I think we both can use one.”

When Noah and I approach the bonfire at the beach, he takes my hand and smiles. I can see the innocence in his eyes, so I don’t mind the gesture. There’s already a large crowd of people, and I don’t know any of them. Noah introduces me to a couple of his friends and then I hear Sunny. I turn and see her running toward me. Grabbing me into a hug, she whispers, “This is gonna be a great night.” She then hugs Noah, thanking him again for the paint job. Taking my hand, she turns to Noah and laughs. “I’m stealing Mallory for a little while.”

As soon as we walk away, she says, “Zach built a bonfire and there’s a small group over here.”

“You’re dragging me from one bonfire to another? Why?” I ask her at the same time I see him—Evan.

Zach greets us with a drink for both of us. I can smell rum and know I’m going to need it.

“Mallory,” Evan says, acknowledging me.

“Evan,” I say and take a large gulp from the plastic cup.

I maintain a safe distance from him and continue sipping my drink as Sunny chats about work, a new outfit, and the bonfire. She whispers Evan’s name several times, but I can’t say I’m really listening. I’m too caught up in him. Our eyes are locked, bonding us across the small fire.

That is until a girl bounces over to him, wrapping her arms around him like she owns him. She’s tan, pretty, blonde, and desperate for his attention. From what I can gather, his standard brand of girl. I, on the other hand, am not, which is why his interest in me is confounding.

He shifts, looking uncomfortable while keeping her at a distance. He seems surprised by her presence, yet anyone here can plainly see that she’s obviously with him. We remain wordless as our gaze remains locked until the blonde kisses him. Turning away, I see Sunny who looks like how I feel—upset. “I’m sorry, Mal.”

Turning my back on him, I ask Sunny who the girl is.

“That’s what I’ve been telling you. Didn’t you hear anything I’ve been saying?  I’m not sure what’s going on with him.”

I down my drink and leave the scene with my heart lying wounded in the pit of my stomach.

The wind is blowing and the ocean is loud, but I still hear Evan yell from behind me. “Mallory! Don’t leave.” His tone is demanding and I stop then continue to Noah’s side. A few people are watching us, my back is to Evan, but I know he’s coming. Like me, that string that bonds us together is tightening around his heart as much as it is mine. I wonder if I should give in, like he’s starting to.

“Hey, stay here and you’ll be fine. I can handle him,” Noah says.

He doesn’t understand. Hell, I don’t, but I know I’m going to have to deal with whatever this pull is between us and either end it or embrace it.

Evan calls my name again and I glance back over my shoulder. I hadn’t noticed his un-tucked, wrinkled shirt, or his worn jeans. I hadn’t noticed that his hair is messier than usual or that his beard has grown since I saw him yesterday. And when we were staring into each other’s eyes mere minutes earlier, I hadn’t noticed that he’d been drinking, heavily. But as he stumbles towards me, the whole picture is much clearer.  He’s a mess and drunk. The problem is that I’m not drunk enough to not notice these things about him now.