Pretty Toxic - A New Adult Romance (Imperfectly Yours) (3 page)

Chapter Five

“Let’s run away.”

My dad sits quietly on a hospital bed, watching the nurse stitch his skin together. His expression barely changes. I look down at my phone. I sent a text to Mikki on my way here telling her to meet me at our spot.

“You were late,” Dad mutters as the nurse nods and leaves the room.

“What happened?”

“Exactly forty-three minutes,” Dad continues. “You made an unscheduled stop didn’t you?”

“You’re worse than Paige,” I roll my eyes.

“Your sister went through great lengths to plan you that homecoming,” he scolds. “The least you could have done was show up on time.”

“Really you’re going to lecture me right now?” I stare down at the bandage on his calf. “Your leg was sliced open and all you want to talk about is how I was a few minutes late coming home?” He scowls. “Dad, what the hell happened to you?”

“Just an unfortunate accident,” he says quietly. I shake my head. He may be a hardcore negotiator but I can always call his bluff. He gets the same look on his face as me when he makes something up. He expects me to come clean, but he can lie to my face whenever he wants.

“Fine,” I respond. “You tell don’t me . . . I don’t tell you.” Dad clears his throat then grins.

“So you
did
take a detour on your way home.” He raises an eyebrow. My hand fiddles with my cell phone. And the questions begin. From this point on it’s best to stay silent. “Listen Dane, I know what you’re thinking. It’s none of my business.” I tilt my head. He’s right, it isn’t. “But see it actually
is
my business.”

“Dad-”

“Dane,” he raises his voice. “It’s time you grow up.”

“Whatever,” I mumble. “I’m leaving.” I turn towards the door, thinking of nothing but Mikki’s face and how much I want to get out of Seaside. I’ve only been back for a whole of two hours tops.

“You’re not.” Dad stands up though the nurse told him to take it easy. He limps in my direction, a head taller and muscles just as firm. I stop still. “I’m not finished with you.”

“Dad-”

“Sir,” he corrects me. “And speaking of growing up I have a job for you.” He glances up and down the hallway, making sure we are definitely alone. “Tonight I was paid a visit by an old . . . colleague.”

“A colleague huh,” I respond.

“Don’t interrupt.” Dad places a firm hand on my shoulder. I clear my throat, avoiding his deathly glare. “There’s an urgent matter that needs to be taken care of, and for that I need your help.” I nod in agreement, feeling like I don’t have much of a choice.

“Yes sir.”

“Where ever it is you’re going, stay close to home. When I contact you . . . you must respond immediately, you understand?”

I went to a school I hated because of him, studied a subject I didn’t care for, put up with a roommate that’s an absolute dick. I went through the trouble of making sure I’d never be able to return once I left, and all for what? To keep on doing what I’m told. Not anymore.

“Actually . . .” I glance down the hallway and wait for a few hospital staff to linger near the door. Maybe if there are witnesses, Dad won’t punch my lights out for refusing. “You’re on your own.” I watch him lift his chin and intensely study my expression.

“Sir,” I add.

He exhales.

“Just think how disappointed your Mom will be when she finds out.”

No, not him too.

“What?” My throat tightens. How did he know about me and Mikki?
Paige, you idiot.

“We went through great lengths to get you into a good school,” he continues. I shrug.
Relief.
This I can deal with. “Imagine how heartbroken she will be when she finds out you’ve been suspended.” I can’t help but laugh. He thinks I care about
that
?

“Go ahead,” I smile. “Tell her. See if I care.”

“It’s obvious to me you don’t care, son. But your mother will insist on severe
consequences make no mistake. Maybe going as far as cutting you off.” My heart leaps back into my ribcage. My cheeks start to feel hot and the muscles in my torso start to flex.

“Okay,” I say through my teeth. “What am I supposed to do?” Dad’s smile spreads across his face.

“For now . . . nothing.”

*          *          *

I see Mikki waiting under a leafy oak. The night sky hides her face but I imagine her wide eyes staring into mine. She looks up when she sees me, and instantly I feel myself being drawn to her. I want to hold her, take care of her. Get the hell out of here.

“Are you okay?” Her soft voice is refreshing.

“You know what?” I grab her around the waist. “Let’s run away.”

“Dane,” she giggles.

“I mean it. Let’s go somewhere for a while. Just the two of us without annoying family members telling us what to do.”

She glances down at her shoes. Her hair blows in the wind, making her look like an innocent goddess.

“You know I can’t,” she whispers. “I can’t leave Scarlett. She needs me.”

“She can manage. She’s a big girl.”

“I wish I could.” Her voice enters my head and circles around my brain. My consciousness whispers. It’s hard to keep it from her. I stare at her face, her jewel-like eyes. I can’t. Now isn’t the right time to tell her.

Then when is the right time?

MIKKI

Chapter Six

“Let’s do it.”

Dane is holding me and asking me to run away with him. All of me wants to say yes, but in the back of my head I know what that means. We’ll spend every waking moment together and every night too. I start to feel anxious just thinking about that moment when we finally share
everything.

“Um,” I mutter. “Want to go the cafe or something? The one near the highway.” The only place he is willing to go. No one we know ever goes there. I pause, hoping he’ll go for it. He nods then kisses me. His hands rub the side of my cheek and pull at my hair. I close my eyes and imagine the two of us alone on a deserted beach. The sun is shining and my skin is perfectly tan. Dane pulls me down into the sand. His lips nibble at my neck and play with my bikini strap. My heart beats faster as he presses his body into mine, pushing me further into the sand. His lips move up to my mouth. I feel a tingling that I don’t want to leave. I want to lose myself in his embrace. I want this moment to last forever.

I open my eyes and realize we’re on the ground. My jacket is pressed against the dew-covered grass. For a moment I hesitate and pull my lips away from his. Dane gazes at my bare neck and visible collar bones.

“I’m sorry I . . .”

“Right.” He stands up and grabs my hand. “The cafe.” He pulls me close to the road and the two of us start walking towards his car. I shield my eyes as a car passes. The headlights are blinding. Should I say yes? Should I forget about Aunt Scar, my internship, and run away? That’s part of my problem. The reason I’m still a virgin. I’m not spontaneous enough. Aunt Scarlett mentioned it once when I wouldn’t go to Warped Tour with Zanna.

“Dane,” I sigh. “What if . . . I mean.” I can’t do it. My heart is beating too fast.

“Don’t Mikki,” he replies. “I was just being an idiot.”

“So you
don’t
want to go somewhere just the two of us?”

“Of course I do.” He stops, grabbing both my hands. Another car passes and nearly blinds me again. My chest pounds even more.

“Well then . . . maybe we should.”

Dane’s eyes go wide. His mouth opens but I think he’s actually speechless. I bite the side of my lip. This is it. I can’t change my mind this time. I’m eighteen. Years overdue on losing it, according to Paige Haskell.

“Mikki are you-”

I can hear his phone buzzing. He stops mid sentence and clears his throat.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “It’s my dad.” He answers the phone and says nothing. He’s nodding and listening. The look on his face stays solid like a rock. “Mikki,” he sighs. “I have to go.”

Last chance, Mikki. Be spontaneous.

“Let’s do it,” I blurt out. “Let’s go away together. Tonight.”

“Believe me I want nothing more but . . .”

My throat tightens. I’ve already screwed this up.

“Tonight I have some stuff to do,” he finishes.

“Oh.” I stare at my shoes. His hand reaches for my chin.

“But tomorrow I’m all yours.”

Chapter Seven

“Is something wrong, Officer?”

I never thought my first time would be with Dane. But I guess we came pretty close over Christmas break. I had to be sure our relationship wasn’t a sick bet. After a semester’s worth of emails and daily texts I’m sure that’s not. It’s real.

I have my first time all mapped out in my head. I have since I was thirteen. Candles. Rose petals. The perfect guy. Not a romp in the back of a van somewhere like Ciara Skanley during our sophomore year. She bragged about that for weeks. I want it to be perfect.
 Maybe that’s why I’m the last virgin in Seaside, but that will change soon.  
Very
soon.  And after last night, I can’t get Dane out of my head.

My night was filled with fantasies of his warm, radiant skin against mine.
 His naked torso leaning against my pounding chest and me longing for another kiss.  Just one more.  But I woke up to a dinging doorbell and a drool stained pillow.  No matter.  Tonight
my dream will be real.

My chest is still racing just thinking about the conversation we had.
 Dane is the one.  He was my first kiss and my soon to be first
everything else.  
I stand next to my mirror, staring at my baggy pajama top.  I’m not exactly the type of girl he’s used to.  His ex, Paige’s friend Maggie, is a foot taller with liquid gold for skin.  I run my fingers through my dark locks and take a long breath.

A loud knock followed by another ding of the doorbell startles me.

“Aunt Scar!”

No answer.
 

“Are you up?”
 
Guess not.

I roll my eyes, jogging to the front door and unbolting the lock.
 The coffee table is cluttered with magazines and used tea cups from this past week.  Today is mine and Scarlett’s cleaning day but I’m in too much of a daze to do chores. And I have to pack. I don’t have anything sexy. Not like the lace nighties girls wear on TV.
Is it too late to get one of those?

“Mikki Copelun?” A tall police officer stares right at me. I bite the side of my lip.

“Yes,” I gulp.

“Are
you
Mikki Copelun?”

“That’s me.” My chest feels heavy.
 
No.  Please don’t say there’s been an accident.  
“Is something wrong, Officer?”

“Yes,” the officer responds. “If you don’t mind I have a few questions for you.”

“Um.”  My eyes dart to the sofa just beyond the doorway.  “Do you want to come in?”

“No.”
 He shakes his head.  “This won’t take long.”  He hasn’t smiled once.  My head starts spinning.  What is he getting at?

“Okay.”
 This is my first conversation with an actual police officer that involves more than a ‘
hello sir’.  
It isn’t going so well.

“Can you tell me where you were last night?”

My chest freezes and I feel a bit faint.  It won’t surprise me if my face is chalk white right now.  I clasp the side of my collar bone.

“Just relax Miss Copelun.”
 He responds by lowering his voice so it sounds slightly more friendly.  “It’s only a question.  Where were you last night?”

“I was with my Aunt Scarlett . . . at the Haskell’s place.
 She catered their event last night.  Well, sort of. I was one of the servers.”

“What time did you leave the Haskell residence?”

“I don’t know.”  My mind jumps back to Dane’s deep, entrancing eyes.  The way he grabbed me and pulled me into his muscley arms. I can feel my breathing getting heavier and heavier.  “Midnight maybe?”
Quit lying, Mikki. He’s a police officer.
“Or earlier? I can’t really remember the exact time.”

“And you came straight home?”

The truth, Mik! The truth.

“Yes,” I quickly answered.
 
No.  Dane and I went to Riptide Park.

“And at the Haskell’s last night,” he continued.
 “Did you speak with Dane?”  More heavy breaths.

“No,” I swallow.
 “I didn’t even see him.”

“You’re sure?”

I raise my eyebrows and rub the side of my shoulder.  “Does it matter?” I reply.  “What’s with all the questions anyway?  I
haven’t done anything wrong.”

“It is very important that I know what was said,” the officer goes on.

“Why?”  I don’t see how it’s any of his business.  The things Dane said to me last night, the things we planned, those are private.  There’s no way I’m discussing my sex life with the Seaside Police Department.

“Because Miss Copelun,” the officer says, raising his voice.
 “According to an eyewitness, you were the last person to see Dane Haskell before he was reported missing.”