Part 16 (1/2)

Reason 14: I need crave you.

I'm late. Really late. First date for Hayles, and I'm beyond any excuse. But I have to sort out my head before I see her. Because I know once I'm with her, there will be little thought process.

I'm pulled over about a block away from her house, half expectin' her to come skipping-no, she'd be stomping by this point-down the sidewalk and findin' me here.

Is it wrong for me to like Hayley? To want her and not Quynn. Am I just as bad as Gabe and the dad I don't normally claim? I stare at my tattoo again and trace the symbol, but that only reminds me of when Hayles did that in cla.s.s a few days ago.

I wonder what she'd think about this. Say I was fallin' for a different girl other than Hayles. Would she slap me and tell me to stay focused on Quynn, or would she tell me to go after the new girl?

Oh dude. I'm so dumb. Makin' a big deal over this. I have no claim on Quynn. I never did. And she has no claim on me. I'm feelin' guilty over something I haven't done, but why? I'm figurin' out what I want before makin' a mess like my brother did.

And I want Hayley.

How could I want anyone else? She's amazing, that girl. d.a.m.n s.e.xy, funny, and just knows how to make me feel... all that c.r.a.p you're supposed to feel when you're with the girl you just have to be around.

I need her.

No, I crave her.

And right now, I'm bein' a real jackhole *cause I'm over an hour late for her first date, not only with me, but ever.

Okay, Brody. Erase all that c.r.a.p about Quynn, about Gabe, and just be with Hayles tonight. It's her night.

It's like I'm on autopilot, and I'm at her house without knowing how I got there. She's sitting on her porch steps, picking the leaves off the bush next to her. Her hair is down. I've never seen it that way before. It's so long, coming just under her b.o.o.bs, which are definitely amazing in the s.h.i.+rt she's wearing. Low cut, but not so low that I can see anything more than just a little cleavage. d.a.m.n s.e.xy.

Then I remember. s.h.i.+t. I was supposed to text her before I picked her up. This is not goin' my way.

I jog up the walk, and she doesn't look at me. Still pickin' at that bush.

”Are you mad?”

That's the dumbest question in the history of questions. I'm really makin' this a memorable date for her.

Her eyes flick to my face, and what looked like anger flashes to confusion. Forehead puckers in that cute way of hers, and her mouth pops open. ”I was a little peeved.” She stands. ”But now I'm more worried about that look on your face. Are you okay?”

No. Quynn's at my house, and I just beat my brother's face in. And I spent who knows how long in the car tryin' to calm down. But right now I'm with Hayles, and I don't want to think about all that c.r.a.p.

”I'm fine.”

I scratch my nose, what I always do when I lie my face off... which is why I don't lie to my parents *cause they know this.

”Gracious little fairies, Brody!” She grabs my hand. ”You're bleeding!”

Yeah, b.l.o.o.d.y and swollen knuckles. My hands are shakin' too. Don't know how I missed it. It's pouring rivers down the back of my wrist.

”Would you look at that.” Smooth, Brody. On top of bein' a jacka.s.s, you're now an idiot.

She tugs me inside, not lettin' go of my arm and nearly sprinting to her kitchen sink. Can't even process that I'm in her house. Only thing going through my brain is her touchin' my skin, running water over my knuckles and was.h.i.+ng my arm. The blood doesn't bug her or nothin'. Her face isn't calm, worried as h.e.l.l, but I like that.

She's worried about me.

I know I'm testing my boundaries, and I have no right to be this close to her after showin' up late with b.l.o.o.d.y knuckles, but I trap her between me and the sink, leaning over her head. She still has that mint chocolately scent, but it's mixed with some sort of fruity lotion or something. Things are movin' down south just off her smell.

Yeah. Hayles is definitely the girl I want. I can't even remember why I was so confused before.

I almost whip her around and kiss her, but she lets go of my hand and ducks under my arm, going for the freezer.

”I don't need that,” I say as she pulls out the ice pack. ”I'll be fine.”

”You sure?” She tosses it between her hands, face going a little pink.

I shut off the water. ”Yeah. It feels better already.” *Cause it does.

She grabs a towel from the counter. ”Heads up.” She tosses it over her shoulder as she puts the ice pack back in the freezer.

I wonder if she even realizes I'm in her house. The one place she doesn't let anyone near. It's not a c.r.a.phole, which is what I expected since she treats it like the plague. It's clean, and there's a b.u.t.tload of expensive stuff. Stainless steel appliances and place settings at the table even though it doesn't look like anyone's going to be eating soon. There's framed flowers and other c.r.a.p like that hangin' on the walls. Looks like I've walked into one of those showcase houses.

But she's giving me one of those *are you really okay?' smiles, so pretty sure my hand is all she's concerned about right now.

Again... I like that.

I'm losin' control over my body. Don't know how I end up where I do-inches away from her-but she doesn't shy away. She grabs my hand from under the towel and pokes the skin around the cuts.

”You going to tell me what happened? Or will I have to guess?”

I smile. ”You like guessin' games.”

She shakes her head and tries not to smile back, but fails. ”All right. I'll try to guess on our way to... wherever it is we're going.” She pauses. ”I mean, if we're still going out.”

”He... heck yeah. It's your birthday.” c.r.a.p. That should've been the first thing I said to her. ”Uh... Happy Birthday.” It's a little late now, Brody.

Her smile fills her face. ”Thanks.” Then she tugs me outside like the place is going to blow.

”Okay, be honest,” she says just as we get to the car. ”Is what I'm wearing date appropriate? I tried to go comfortable like you said, but still... girls dress up for stuff like this, right?”

She's givin' me permission to check her out, which I've been doin' since she walked me to the gas station in the rain, but now I don't have to be discreet or anythin'. Sweet.

And yeah, she looks s.e.xy as h.e.l.l. Now that I'm closer, I can see how soft her hair looks draped over her rack, and she's got on one of those big belt girls wear around their stomachs and it hugs her curved body makin' her look thinner than she is.

”Brody?”

”Yeah, sorry.” I open the car door and try to get the calm cool guy to come out, instead of this nervous pervert who keeps lookin' at her cleavage. ”You look hot, Hayles. And it's definitely appropriate for what we're going to be doin'.”

Something in my stomach goes wa-bam! She's going to love what I got planned for her tonight.

She plops in the seat and puts her feet on the dash. I'm smilin' like a fool, but everything... I mean all of that stuff I was dealin' with before I headed over here, it's just... gone.

”Okay, home fry,” she says as I get in the car, ”where are we going?” Her voice is calm and all gangster-like, but by the look of her face and the s.e.xy spark in her green eyes, she's excited.