It Was You (8 page)

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Authors: Anna Cruise

BOOK: It Was You
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I tugged on West's arm. “Let's go.”

I took a step up the beach, but Jake jumped in front of me. He reeked of beer and sweat.

“Where you off to, babe?” he said, leering at me. “We just met. Let's party a little.”

West pulled me back toward him and held his beer bottle out to me. “Hold this.”

“What?” I said, reaching for it.


If I hit him with it, he'll bleed to death,” West said, his eyes locked on Jake

I stared at West. He was deadly serious and I felt my skin prickle with something other than desire. Fear.

It didn't last. Because suddenly I felt a hand on my ass. A hand that didn't belong to West. I whirled around.


Come on, baby,” Jake said in my ear. “West won't mind sharing.”

Before I could say anything, West's fist rocketed past my face into Jake's jaw. He bumped me with his shoulder and I stumbled to the side.

West was on top of Jake in the sand, his left hand on his chest, his right rising up then crashing down into Jake's jaw, over and over. The two friends finally jumped into the mix and it took both of them to pull West off. The crowd roared. West spun and hit the tall, skinny guy in the nose, a fountain of blood spurting into the air as he fell onto his back. I screamed. The shaved head had hold of West's left arm but that wasn't enough to hold him back. West drove his elbow into his throat and the guy dropped to the sand, gasping for breath.

A guy I hadn't seen before came out of the cheering crowd, bigger than West, wearing no shirt and a pair of board shorts. Blond hair down to his shoulders and a jagged white scar running horizontal across his chest. He grabbed West around the middle and my stomach dropped. I barely knew my date but the last thing I wanted to see was some guy kick the shit out of him. But he didn't. He held West tight as he struggled, dragging him from the prone bodies on the sand.

The guy smiled at me with emerald green eyes. “West kinda struggles with first impressions.”

West was huffing and puffing, blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth. He shrugged out of the guy's grip, his eyes narrowed, his jaw set. He spun around, but the blond guy stayed planted between him and Jake.

“You're done,” the blond guy said to West. “Don't be stupid. Let it go.”

West's chest heaved, his eyes focused on Jake, who was being helped from the sand. Kayla crouched next to him, clutching his arm. The other two were slowly being lifted up.

The blond guy looked over West's shoulder. “You must be Abby.”

I didn't think about why this guy knew my name. All I could focus on was what I'd just seen.  I'd witnessed fights before, but nothing so vicious, nothing so violent and fast. I didn't like it.

I set West's beer bottle down in the sand and rubbed my hands against the sides of my shorts. And then I headed for the stairs.


No,” I said, trudging through the sand, past both him and West. “I must be leaving.”

TWELVE

 

 

“Wait.”

West called after me but I didn't turn around. I slipped my flips off and hurried down the beach, kicking up a spray of sand as I walked.

A hand grabbed my shoulder but I jerked away.


Don't touch me,” I hissed.


Huh. Pretty sure you were singing a different tune just a few minutes ago.”

I whirled on him, my hands clenched at my sides. “Well, that was before you decided to go all Call of Duty on me.”

“I can explain.”

I shook my head. “You know what? I don't really care why you did it.”

“Well, I want to explain.”


Too bad.” I turned around and kept walking.


Montgomery.”

I slowed. “What?”

“My last name.” His voice was low. “Since you didn't get a chance to ask.”

If he'd said anything else, I would have kept going. Kept walking to my car without looking back, And that would have been the end of West.

But there was something in the tone of his voice. Apologetic. Resigned. Pleading.

I sighed. I knew what I should do. I should keep walking down the beach and forget I ever met West Montgomery.

But I was done doing things I was supposed to do.

I stopped walking. “Fine.”

We'd made our way back down the beach, close to the original bonfire. The breeze coming off the bay had cooled and I wrapped my arms around myself for warmth and waited for him to talk.

West shoved his hands in his pockets. “Jake and I don't get along.”

I rolled my eyes. “Really? I hadn't noticed.”

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “He's kind of an asshole.”

I nodded my head and waited. Surely he'd offer a little more than that.

He expelled a breath. “Kayla and I used to go out. Jake sorta holds that against me.”

I considered this, trying not to picture West with the blond girl I'd met earlier on the beach. I'd known him a day and I was already having a hard time picturing him with someone other than me. I shook my head, disgusted. No insta-love for me. No way, no how. I wasn't doing it.


OK,” I said.


Our breakup wasn't pretty. So Kayla makes shit up and sics her new guy on me every chance she gets.”


I take it you broke up with her?”

He nodded.

“Dare I ask why?”


Let's just say she needed some help with her vocabulary.” He noticed the puzzled look on my face and grinned. “Exclusive. She didn't know the meaning of exclusive.”

He moved a step closer to me and his eyes locked with mine. “I bet your vocab skills are outstanding, Abby Sellers.”

Before I could respond, he reached for me, crushing his mouth against mine. I put my hands on his chest, intending to push him away, but his arms snaked around my waist and he pulled me to him and it was like some crazy tractor beam was suddenly in control. I pressed my body against his and he groaned.


I want you,” he breathed. His hands inched toward my ribcage. “And I wanted to rip Jake's head off for touching you.”

My heart hammered wildly. I wanted him, too. This wasn't love; I wasn't naïve enough to think that. It was pure lust. And it was nothing I'd ever felt before.

His hands moved higher, cupping my breasts and I breathed in sharply.


Dude. Not on the beach.”

I pulled away. The blond guy with the scar had caught up to us. He stood just a few feet away, a grin stretched across his face.

West's eyes were dark. “Jesus, Griffin. What the hell?”

He nodded his head in my direction. “Pretty sure she's not looking to be mauled at the beach.”

I rubbed my upper lip, trying to hide my smile. West muttered something I couldn't quite make out. Griffin just laughed and stuck out his hand in my direction.


Nice to meet you,” he said, squeezing my hand so hard I winced. “West told me all about you.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Really? And what did he have to say about me? You know, considering we just met a few hours ago...”

Griffin grinned. “He said you were hot. And that he couldn't stop thinking about you.”

I felt the blush travel up my cheeks.

“Seriously, Grif? You feel the need to share that?”

Griffin thumped West on the shoulder. “Dude. Guys don't share enough of their feelings, man. Girls dig hearing that kind of shit.” He turned to me. “Right?”

“Uh, right.” All I knew was that the admission both thrilled me and terrified me at the same time.


See?” Griffin's smile was triumphant. “I know what the ladies want.”


And we know what they don't want,” West said. “You.”

Griffin staggered back, clutching his chest. “Shot to the heart.”

I giggled. I'd just met Griffin but I immediately liked him.

Griffin's fake pain subsided and he looked at West. “You cool?”

West nodded. “I'm cool.”

Griffin stared for a moment longer. “For sure, right?”

“Said I'm cool,” West said, a touch of annoyance in his voice.

There was something I was missing, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was.

I glanced at my watch. It was nearly eleven o'clock. “I should really get going,” I said.


I'm gonna walk her to her car,” West said. “I'll catch up with you after.”

Griffin saluted him, then smiled at me. “Good to meet you. See you again soon, I bet.”

“Maybe.”

Griffin laughed, then ambled back down the beach toward the bonfire. West and I walked up the sand and up the stairs. West asked me where I'd parked and I told him. We walked in silence and, at some point, he reached out for my hand. He held it easily, comfortably, like he'd been doing it since forever.

“He's your best friend?” I asked when we got to the car.

He unfolded his hand from mine so I could search for my keys. “Best of the best, yeah.”

“He seems nice.”

He smiled. “Yeah. Seems.”

“He's not?”


He's a lot of things,” West said. He reached out, taking both of my hands in his. “So. What time tomorrow?”


What time tomorrow what?”


What time tomorrow are you seeing me?” he asked, the corner of his mouth turned upward.


I didn't know I was.”


Well, now you do.”

He was so damn sure of himself. I wasn't sure if I was offended or thrilled by the fact that he assumed I'd want to see him the next day.

But I was leaning toward thrilled.


Good to know,” I said. “Anything else on my calendar I'm unaware of?”


No, but I'd free up the next few days for sure,” he said, pulling me closer to him. Warmth emanated from his body.

I struggled to find my voice. “Why's that?”

“Because I'm gonna be taking up a lot of your time,” he said.


Do you ever ask?” I said.

His hands went around my waist and he leaned down, his eyes staring into mine.

“Pretty please?” he whispered.

My stomach somersaulted again and my heart pounded against my chest.

His lips grazed mine and he backed me up against the car, deepening the kiss. I wrapped my hands around his neck and kissed him back. His hips pushed gently against mine and I felt him swell up against my thigh. He pressed harder and I responded, lifting my hips into his. He moaned into my mouth, then pulled away.


Keep doing that and you aren't going anywhere,” he whispered.

I swallowed hard. “I gotta go,” I said.

He kissed me one more time, gently, and then opened my door for me.


Tomorrow,” he said.

I slid into the driver's seat. “We'll see.”

I put the key in the ignition, turned on the engine and rolled down the window. He leaned in and kissed me again. I could've kissed him all night.

He finally pulled back, his arms on top of the car, his face just hanging in the window, smiling at me.

“Tomorrow, Abby Sellers,” he said. “Tomorrow.”

 

THIRTEEN

 

 

My sister was waiting for me when I got home.

In my room.

On my bed.

She lounged on her side, one leg crossed over the other, a nail file in one hand. She wore a pair of tight black leggings and a blue, ribbed tank top that matched her eyes. Our eyes.


Get out.”

She smiled. “No.”

I tossed my purse to the floor. “I'm serious. Leave. Now.”

She pouted. “Is that any way to treat your sister?”

I ignored her and crossed my room. I opened my dresser and rummaged through my bottom drawer, pulling out a tank top and pair of shorts, my standard sleepwear. I glared at her. “Leave.”

She inspected her fingernails. “Where were you?”

“None of your business.”


Oh, but it is my business.” She pushed herself into a sitting position. “You're my sister. My twin. We look out for each other.”

I burst out laughing. “Right. I forgot.”

“I'm serious, Abs.”

I thought about West's remark about Kayla and her less than stellar vocabulary skills. That same statement could apply to my sister. She had no idea what it meant to look out for me. She was too hell bent on destroying me.

“Since when does 'looking out for each other' include blowing the guy your sister is interested in?”

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