Authors: Kelly Harper
Ruined by You (27 page)
“I liked the way you looked at me,” he said. “Do you know how long it’s been since someone got to know the real me? The me without all of the cameras, and all the expectations?”
I froze in my tracks, and my neck slumped. I shook my head.
“I’m such a fool, aren’t I?” I said. “Scottie knew who you were all along, didn’t he?” I looked up at him, searching his face for any bit of truth it might reveal.
He looked at me sternly, and then he nodded once.
“And Lisa?” I said. “She recognized you because you’re some famous rock star. And so did that guy this morning. Didn’t they?”
He held his palms out and shrugged.
“I guess,” he said.
I blew out a sharp breath, and shook my head again.
“You guess?” I said. “Unbelievable.”
From the corner of my eye, I spotted my other sandal, and I raced to put it on. Haden remained in the doorway, blocking the way.
“Please move,” I said.
“Maggie, please, don’t leave like this,” he said.
“What does it even matter?” I said. “You’re going off on your big tour tomorrow. I’m sure by next week I’ll just be a memory. Maybe you’ll use me for one of your songs.”
“It’s not like that,” he said.
“Please. Move.”
He gave me a pained look, but he stepped to the side and let me by.
Kyle was still on the couch watching the video. As I came into the room he waved the remote at the TV.
“You have to see this part, it’s my favorite,” he said. He had a boyish giddiness that would have been charming if it wasn’t so evil.
I ignored him, grabbing my purse from the coffee table where I’d left it. Haden was close on my heels, but I could finally leave. I could finally get away from him. Far away.
I marched down the entryway and pushed the button on the elevator door repeatedly. Haden was right behind me, his breathing strained.
“Maggie, can we talk about this?” he said. “Please, I’m begging you.”
I kept my eyes locked forward, silent.
“Come with me,” he said. “Come with me tomorrow. We can get away from here together.”
I turned and looked at him.
“You think I’d trust you after this?” I said. “What happens when we’re on tour, in some strange city, and I find out you’ve got another girlfriend? Or what happens when you get bored with me, and need to
find you ‘thing’
all over again?” I stared at him, not believing that he was the same person I’d given myself to only a little while ago.
The elevator door dinged, and slid open. I stepped onto it, and stopped in the front, not leaving any room for Haden to follow.
“That won’t happen, Maggie,” he said. His face was red. His eyes were red. “It won’t happen because I’m in love with you.”
A tear fell down my face.
“I gave all of myself to you,” I said. “Because I thought you were someone else. I thought you were different.”
“I am,” he said.
“I let you into a place where no one’s been,” I said. Another tear fell. “You ruined me, Haden. I’m ruined. I’ll never trust anyone again. I hope you’re happy.”
The elevator door slid shut, and the last thing I saw was Haden falling to his knees.
The wind groaned against the Corvette as I drove. Lightning and thunder cracked overhead, and the windshield wipers beat furiously, washing away sheets of falling rain with every swipe. But they did nothing to clear my eyes. They did nothing to calm the fire I breathed.
How could I be so stupid? Hadn’t I been warned time and again about guys like Haden? I had been immature, though. Disbelieving. Mom had told me that Haden was trouble. She didn’t even need to meet him, and she knew. That was the last time I’d ever take her for granted.
I wiped at my cheeks again.
Thunder cracked overhead, and the sky lit up as blue fire ripped through it. It was one hell of a storm, alright. Just like Sarah had promised. I just wanted to be back home in Jersey, curled up in bed. But that wasn’t going to happen. I was stuck in Green Falls for three more months. I hated this place. Hated everything about it.
I took each turn painfully slow. The rain made it hard to see anything. It was late, and I didn’t have my phone. If something happened, no one would find me. Maybe that would be for the best, though. Maybe when you’re as lost as I was, you didn’t deserve to be found.
I took the final turn toward my aunt’s house painfully slow. I was almost there. I was going to curl up and go to sleep. Maybe I would sleep for the rest of the week. Something sounded nice about that.
I saw Huck’s truck parked in the driveway.
He’s here late.
I glanced at the clock, it was after midnight. I wondered if Sarah was having a night similar to what mine had been earlier. Hopefully, it wouldn’t end the same way mine had.
Shit!
I slammed on the brakes with only inches to spare.
Whose car is that?
I had been so distracted by Huck’s truck that I hadn’t even noticed someone had parked in the pull-around, under the porch. Since I’d been in town, only the Corvette had ever been parked there. Someone was lucky it had such good brakes.
I climbed out of the car as the front door opened. Sarah and Huck appeared in the doorway, huddled close together. I sprinted under the porch, and out of the rain, as someone appeared next to them. Someone familiar.
“Aunt Denise?” I said. “Is that you?”
My aunt gave me a tight smile, and she pushed forward through the two others. She walked up to me and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me in tight.
“You’re back from your vacation early,” I said into her shoulder. “We weren’t expecting you for another week, at least.”
When she finally let me go and leaned back, I knew something was wrong. Her face was red and puffy. I studied her for a second.
“What happened?” I said.
Her face pinched together, tightly. Sarah appeared at her side.
“You left your phone here,” Sarah said.
I nodded. “I forgot it when we left,” I said.
“Maggie, we’ve been trying to call you,” she said. Her voice sounded desperate.
I looked between the two of them, and realized they’d both been crying.
“What happened?” I asked, again. My pulse raced. “Where’s Grandma?” I asked, waiting for them to confirm all of my fears.
But what they said was worse.
Much worse.
“Oh, sweetie,” my aunt said. “I’m so sorry.”
My eyes went wide as the horror set in.
“It’s not Grandma,” Sarah said, letting out a sob.
“It’s your mom.”
To be continued…
SAVED BY YOU
July 25, 2013
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Harper is an Amazon Coming of Age Best Selling Author. She’s primarily writes New Adult Contemporary Romance, but also dabbles in other things. If you enjoyed RUINED BY YOU, be sure to
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Books by Kelly Harper
Sinful Nights (Calvin Black Series #1)
Sexual Negotiations (Calvin Black Series #2)
Calvin Unleashed (Calvin Black Series #3)
Calvin’s Control (Calvin Black Series #4)
Frisked 2 (Frisked & Fucked #2)
Frisked 3 (Frisked & Fucked #3)
Frisked 4 (Frisked & Fucked #4)
The Wild One (Spring Break Sluts #1)
Ruined By You (Maggie & Haden) - Available Now!
Saved By You (Maggie & Haden) - Coming July 25, 2013!
Acknowledgments
This is the first acknowledgment I’ve ever written, so I will try to keep it simple.
These are a few authors that I talk to on a semi-frequent(ish) basis. They’re awesome people, and I encourage you to check out their work.
Mimi Strong, Dalya Moon (because 2 is better than 1), Elle Casey (I’m rocking the Palatino!), JS Cooper. Thank you for all the support you’ve given me.
Tanya, you’re wonderful. Thanks you for keeping me on track when I disappear from time to time.
Jaimie, you’re a torch on the darkest nights. This may not have been written if we hadn’t met. Thank you.