Vincent (4 page)

Chapter Six

The Infamous Walk of Shame

Lake was mad. No, Lake was furious.
He didn’t have to treat me that way!

She swung open Adalyn’s bedroom and ran straight to her closet, jerking off her dress.

“Lake, are you all right?” Adalyn yelled from the other side of the door.

“I’m great,” Lake mumbled.

“What happened?”

She thought for a moment. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” There was no way in Hell she was going to tell her best friend she had kissed her brother. Plus, it was her way of lying to herself.

Lake opened the door when she was changed into an old T-shirt and shorts and saw Adalyn already in her pajamas on the bed.

“
Your brother
said to take him the dresses,” Lake snapped, tossing her dress on the bed.

“Um, okay…” Adalyn started to get off the bed.

“No, actually, I’ll do it.” Lake picked the dress back up and grabbed Adalyn’s off her dresser. She then went back down the steps and headed for Vincent’s room.

Knock, knock, knock
.

Vincent opened the door to see a sweetly smiling Lake before she threw the dresses right in his face.

“What the…?”

“Goodnight.” She quickly turned on her heel while he was still in shock. Lake wasn’t dumb; she knew when to run the hell away.
Especially after poking a bear.

She went back up the stairs again and into Adalyn’s bedroom, lying on the bed beside her. It was quiet for a few minutes.

“Lake, are you sure you’re okay?”

She turned on her side, not wanting to face Adalyn. “Yes, I’m fine.”

She was thankful when Adalyn turned off the lamp and decided not to question her anymore. Lake didn’t even know how she could start a conversation about that.
Oh, hey, your brother and I just made out.
No, Lake was going to take that to her grave.

She lay in bed for hours before she couldn’t take it anymore. She figured it was the guilt which wasn’t letting her sleep, but that truthfully wasn’t it. Vincent had sparked a fire in her and he hadn’t put it out, causing the flame to burn higher. Lake had never felt like that before, and that was how she had come to the conclusion of guilt.

She couldn’t stop replaying the moment again and again and again in her head. The way Vincent felt…

Stop it!

Lake got out of bed, careful not to wake Adalyn. She simply needed to stretch a bit.

She took a seat at the bay window, looking out at the night. She didn’t know how to feel or what to think about her first kiss. She was pretty sure she was supposed to be happy about it, though.

Something started to draw her attention in the yard. She couldn’t make anything out other than something really shiny moving. When it reached the lit driveway, however, her heart sank to her stomach.

That something shiny was a gold, sparkle dress. She knew the dress from earlier because the girl wearing it was the one Vincent had taken on a date. Lake might have thought their date had been cut short, but it had merely been put on hold. The girl was carrying her heels to the parked car down the street and despite being naïve, Lake knew the infamous walk of shame when she saw it.

A tear slipped down her cheek as she got back in bed.
I am so stupid.

Lake knew you only ever got one first kiss in your life, and it had been wasted. She finally realized how she felt about it.
Complete and utter regret.

*  *  *

“Mom made breakfast, so wake up!”

Lake felt groggy as Adalyn forced her awake. She had no clue how long she had even slept. Her eyes felt swollen from the silent tears she had shed throughout the night, and she made sure to wash her tear-stained face before she went down for breakfast. The only reason she was going was because she figured Vincent wasn’t going to wake up until the afternoon.

Lake took a seat at the table, thankful she had been right about Vincent.
I dodged a bullet there.

She started to fill up her plate with pancakes and bacon. “Thank you, Carla. It smells—” Her attention was drawn toward Vincent shuffling in, wearing nothing except shorts.

Or not.

Lake snapped her head back toward Adalyn’s parents. “Delicious.”

Carla smiled at her. “Thank you.”

When Vincent took a seat beside her at the head of the table, she tried not to look at him.
Just eat your bacon.

“So, what were you two up to last night?” Vincent said, making a plate.

Lake and Adalyn quickly looked at a smiling Vincent.
What the hell?

“Oh, we just went running around. You know, to the mall, to eat, then the movies,” Adalyn said.

Lake noticed he looked like shit. Well, shitty-looking for a god.
Hmm, two can play this game
.

“Long night, huh?” Lake stared at him as she popped a piece of bacon in her mouth.

Vincent started to chew his food slowly, looking right back at her. “Yeah.”

Lake wasn’t going to break eye contact; she wanted to see his reaction. “Did you leave in the middle of the night? Because I could have sworn I saw someone leaving when I looked out Adalyn’s window on the way to the bathroom.”

Vincent leaned back in his chair. “Nope, wasn’t me.”

She saw a slight hint of anger appear behind his blue eyes before it vanished.

“You saw someone in the yard?” Sam asked in concern.

“Oh, I’m sure she—I mean
it
—was nothing. Probably just imagined it.”

Vincent started to cough from choking on his orange juice.

Lake desperately tried not to laugh, but a few chuckles managed to escape. She proudly stared at him, proving she had won.

“You don’t mind, do you?” He snatched the last piece of bacon off her plate.

“Oh, not at all.” Lake mumbled the next part under her breath. “Wouldn’t be the first thing you’ve taken from me.”

“Well, if it didn’t look so good, I wouldn’t have.”

Well … shit.
She had no clue if that was a compliment or not.

Deciding to be done with the arguing—well, if that was what someone called deciding not being able to think of a response—she finally noticed Sam, Carla, and Adalyn looking at her and Vincent like they were crazy.

She began to feel embarrassed and hurriedly took a few more bites before setting her fork down. “I better go call my mom to pick me up.”

“I’ll take you home,” Vincent spoke.

“No, that’s okay.” Lake gave him a no-freaking-way face. “No point in you getting out.”

Vincent smiled. “I was going back to Dad’s, anyways.”

“Mom won’t min—”

“No point in getting your mom out.” He got up from the table and started heading out. “Going to take a quick shower. Be ready in five.”

He was taking back the win she had thought she’d gotten. Lake had no other option than to cause more of a scene.

God, I hate him.

Chapter Seven

Vincent Vitale is Dead to Me

Lake took a deep breath at the passenger side door. She wished she could sit in the backseat, but that would make her look childish.
Wait, maybe not too childish?
Yep, it definitely would
. Okay, fine!

She went ahead and opened the door, sliding into his dark car quickly then buckling her seatbelt. Lake stared straight ahead, unwilling to even look at him
. He never asked to take me home before, and now he just
has
to do it.

When the car didn’t begin to move, Lake looked out of the corner of her eye. Five seconds later, she turned her head to face him.

Vincent was merely sitting there, staring at her. She felt uncomfortable with that.

“Well, are we going to leave today?”

“Yeah, but I kind of have to know where to go first.”

Oh, shit, right…
She was clearly nervous.

“Um, it’s…” Lake contemplated what to do. She didn’t like telling anyone where she lived, and that was why she always ended up having her parents come pick her up.

Vincent looked confused. “Do you want me to take you to your dad’s, instead?”

“No!” Lake tried to laugh. “I mean, no, my mom is probably already upset I didn’t see her yesterday. Do you know where Magical Cupcakes is?”

He was looking at her like she was crazy. “Uh, yes.”

“Okay, just drive like you’re going there.” Lake smiled.

“All right, then.” Vincent put the car in drive then headed off.

Lake sank into the seat, looking out the window. She knew he probably thought she was crazy, but she didn’t care. She had to make a choice on which house she wanted him to see, and no fucking way was she going to pick her father’s house. She hated that she had ended up in the situation to begin with.
Yeah, all because he couldn’t keep his delicious lips to himself.

“So, do you split the time up evenly with your parents?” Vincent questioned.

She was a little taken aback. He had never really asked her a personal question before.

“Um, no. I spend the week with my dad and weekends with my mom.”

“How come you spend more time with your dad?”

Why is he asking me this? I really wish he wouldn’t.
“I don’t know. I just do.”

Vincent shrugged. “I just figured you would spend more time with your mom.”

Lake looked at him. “Why would you think that?”

Why does he have to be so freaking good-looking?
The worst part was when he asked about her, he got even better looking, and she had no clue how that was even possible.

“Well, since you’re a girl”—he turned to look at her—“and because it doesn’t seem like you care for what your father does.”

Don’t stare into his eyes!
She snapped her head forward, telling herself to come up with something. She knew Vincent was trying to get somewhere, and she didn’t like it.

“I guess I don’t want my father to be alone since my mom’s married.” She was glad when he turned his head back to the road and accepted her lie.

Lake was really starting to hate being alone in the car with him. Her nostrils were filled with his glorious scent and since he had just taken a shower, it smelled even stronger. Not to mention his clean-cut, light blonde hair was still damp, making him look sexy and adding to the aroma.
Ugh!
She hit the button to roll the window down.

He quickly pressed the one on his door to roll it back up. “What the hell are you doing? It’s freezing outside.”

“I just wanted some fresh air. Cracking the window won’t hurt.” Lake hit the button again.

“Yeah, well, you’re not the one with wet hair.” Vincent rolled it back up.

Exactly!
She went to roll the window down again.

“Stop it.” Vincent grabbed her hand. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Lake tried to free her hand, but it was useless. “Let me go!”

“Are you going to roll the window down?”

Why does his hand have to feel so good?

She tried to fight him off again and again. It didn’t work. “Okay, fine! No, I won’t roll the window down.”

Vincent slowly let go of her hand and when Lake didn’t make a move, he responded, “Good girl.”

Oh, my God, get me out of here!

Lake unsnapped her seatbelt and turned to the side to squeeze between their seats to reach the back. She didn’t care if it was fucking childish anymore; she was going mad being so close to him.

“Lake, are you fucking insane? I’m driving!” He grabbed her waist with his free hand while keeping the steering wheel steady.

Yes!
She kept trying to squeeze through.

“Let. Me. Go,” she ordered through short breaths.

“Sit your ass down before I pull this fucking car over and spank you!” Vincent roared.

It took a total of two seconds for her ass to sit back down. Lake hated that a part of her regretted that decision, just to see if he would actually do it. However, she knew all too well that he would, which was exactly why she had sat down.

She crossed her arms over her chest and gave a
humph
sound.

“Put your seat belt back on,” Vincent demanded, still mad she would jeopardize her safety.

Lake kept her arms crossed.

His voice came out low, almost at a growl. “Sweetheart, you have three seconds before my arm becomes your seatbelt.”

She hurriedly reached for her seatbelt and snapped it back into place with a few fumbles. Although, from the way he had roughly called her ‘sweetheart’, one part of her wanted him to put his arm across her lap.

What the hell is wrong with me?
She thought she should be telling him to quit ordering her around.

“You are so bossy.” Well, at least she had met somewhere in the middle.

He laughed at her choice of words, going back to his normal self. “I wouldn’t be if you would quit fighting me.”

“
Sorry
I’m not obedient like the girl climbing in and out of your window for you.” Lake stared at him and thought she saw anger behind his eyes again.

I don’t know why
he
has a reason to be mad about it.

“We know you’re not obedient, because you can’t follow the fucking rules.”

“Fuck the rules, and fuck the mob! They are
completely
unfair and sexist. When I turn eighteen, they’ll hold no power over me, because I’ll be gone.” She watched him squeeze the steering wheel tightly, thinking it would break.

Shit, it was word vomit!
She really hadn’t meant to say it.

“Who gave you the pills?” he asked calmly.

Lake took a deep breath. “My mom did, and I need them back, Vincent.”

“Does your dad know?”

She had known that was where he was heading. “Give them back, and I’ll tell you.”

Vincent reached into his pocket and pulled them out for her to see.

“No, he doesn’t know. You’re not going to tell him, are you?”

“I’m thinking about it,” he said coldly.

Lake snatched them from his hand after a small struggle. She swallowed hard when she saw Magical Cupcakes ahead. She seriously thought about asking him to drop her off there, but by the way the car ride was going, she knew he wouldn’t. Therefore, she quickly gave him the rest of the directions to her house which, thankfully, wasn’t much farther away.

As the car settled back into silence, she heard Vincent take a deep breath, which made her turn her head. She could tell he wanted to tell her something, and it was only making her nervous.

“Um, it’s this one on the right,” she instructed, biting her lip.

“Holy shit, you live here? I didn’t know your mom married someone rich,” he said, driving up the long, private driveway.

Unfortunately.

She turned to look at the expensive house, which sat in an exclusive area of town. It was exactly why she didn’t want him to see her mother’s home, because looking at Lake, you wouldn’t have guessed it. To everyone else, she looked poor.
Like trailer trash.

She tried to give a fake laugh. “Yep.”

Vincent took another deep breath. “Listen, Lake, I made a mistake last night kissing you.”

Lake’s heart began to beat out of her chest. “Is that why you wanted to take me home?”

When he didn’t respond, she had her answer. Lake could have sworn her heart broke in that moment.
Don’t cry in front of him. Don’t cry in front of him.

“Lake, I’m sorr—”

“Don’t be. I’m the one who should be sorry for letting you take my first kiss.” She wanted to make sure he understood what it meant to her.

She was ready to get the fuck out of there so she threw open her door, set to jump out.

“Wait.” Vincent grabbed her arm before she could escape.

Lake stared at his hand around her then glanced up to his eyes, praying he would say something to make it all better.

“You didn’t tell Adalyn, did you?”

If her heart hadn’t been broken before, it officially was right then.

She snatched her arm back from his grasp and kept her gaze steady. “No, because as far as I’m concerned, nothing fucking happened to tell.” Lake got out of the car and slammed the door shut, coming to one conclusion.

Vincent Vitale is dead to me
.