Page 16 of Drive Me Wilde

"Looks like the old, temperamental Jameson is back. Why the hell are you so pissed off all of a sudden? I thought you'd finally changed."

Jameson's gaze always pulls me in like a magnet, and as hard as I try to look away, I can't manage it. His eyes glint with an emotion I can't easily define. "Why the hell does everyone say that? Why does everyone expectmeto change? Maybe you're the ones who need to change—you and Zach and West—the whole fucking town. Maybe my brothers and me were the only thing real and genuine about this town, and it was the rest of you who needed to drop the fucking act. How did that big quest for a spectacular future and career go for you, Indi, cuz after you showed up on my doorstep looking as wet, hungry and lost as a stray puppy, something tells me it was a big fail—" He stops when he sees the tears, tears I try desperately to stop. He sighs and shakes his head. "Sorry."

"Apology not accepted." I swipe clumsily at the tears and pick up my duffle. "Thank you for the food and shelter."

"Indi, wait." He reaches for my hand as I swish past him.

I pull it out of his reach and look at him through tear-fogged eyes. "I won't be in town long, so I hope everything goes well for you and Rio."

The jaw twitch starts up. He nods. "Hope all goes well for you, too," he says quietly.

I can still hear Zach and Rio talking and laughing in the dining room as I hurry to the entry and slip out the front door. Then I let the tears fall like rain.

seven

. . .

Indi

Abank of fog is sitting off the coast, hovering like a wet blanket over an otherwise blue ocean. Summer in Rockhurst isn't an endless series of blazing hot days like down south. It comes in mildly, meekly, with long, hazy mornings that burn off to sunny, mild days. And there's always salt. It stays on your lips, on your skin, and you can even smell it in the briny air.

The tears dried up quickly. I'm starting to get hardened to the ways of the world. I suppose I have Cruella to thank for that, but the last few days I've been an emotional mess. Jameson's words were harsh and hurtful, mostly because they rang true in more ways than I care to admit. I spent my school years working hard and diligently, determined to find a big, brilliant career path. I thought working with Genie was the start to that path, but the more I think about it, the more I realize the job was a great career move, but it wasn't a great life move. I was always so stressed working for her, I rarely found any time just to laugh and have fun.

After high school graduation, Zach and I parted ways. People thought we were meant to be together, only we slowly realized that it wasn't meant to be at all. I was going south for college, and he had a football scholarship with a school back east. Weparted as friends, promising to keep in touch, but that never happened. I learned through Weston that Zach got married, but apparently, that match wasn't meant to be either.

I'm still reeling from the last few minutes with Jameson when my phone rings. It's Kinsley. "I just saw Zach's post on Instagram. You're in town, and you didn't tell me? I'm hurt, insulted and utterly devastated."

I feel a smile break out on my face. "Kiki, I can't tell you how good it is to hear your voice. And, for the record, I went to your house first last night, but you weren't home." I continue walking in the direction of Kinsley's house.

"Nev needed help in the stockroom at the sandwich shop, so we worked late." Somewhere during one of our quick, sporadic conversations, Kinsley mentioned something about her sister, Nev, buying the old ice cream parlor and turning it into a sandwich shop. I was always so wrapped up and, frankly, selfishly concerned with my own life, I couldn't be bothered to remember any of the details. "Where did you end up?"

I'm reluctant to tell her, only, in my defense, I thought I was going to the Dixon house. "Well, it was pouring rain, and I was exhausted and cold and hungry, and I'll explain that state of patheticness later, but since you weren't home, I went to Zach's parents' house."

Her giggle is still the same. "I'll bet you got the shock of a lifetime there, eh?"

"It was a series of shocks, actually." I'm still stinging from my conversation with Jameson, and I don't want to relive it, so I change topics. "I currently find myself between jobs and apartments and cars and, since I'm laying out all the dirty laundry, between boyfriends, so I'm hoping my best friend, Kiki, will have a couch for me to crash on. I'll try not to be too big of a blip in your lives. I know you're both busy."

"Are you kidding? I can't wait. It'll be like our old slumber parties. I'll let Nev know. I'm sure she won't mind." Kinsley's sister, Nev, is a year older, and the two sisters couldn't be more different. Kinsley is bubbly and carefree and an extrovert. Nev is quiet and likes to keep to herself. She's one of the smartest people I know. She got accepted to many big colleges, but in the end, she thought she'd be happier staying in town. She said the world was too big and mean for someone like her. I'm starting to think she was right.

"I really appreciate this, Kiki. I'm heading your way now."

"Actually, we're in the sandwich shop. Come on by."

"Great, I'll be there in a few minutes."

A text comes through as I head toward the shop. It's from Zach.

How about lunch tomorrow? I'm free. We could take it down to the beach.

Zach is more anxious than me to revisit old times, but I text back.

Yes, sounds great.

I arrived in the dark and in the pouring rain, so I didn't get to see much of the town. Some of the brick buildings have been painted light pastel colors giving them a much more beachy vibe than the old red brick. The town was one of those historical places that sprang up out of nowhere to accommodate the influx of nineteenth century gold miners. I always loved the Victorian architecture, lush evergreen landscape and coastal views. Some of the older, more obsolete businesses, like the shoe-repair and the gift shop, have been replaced by more modern stores, like a cell-phone shop and a nail and lash boutique. Nev left the candy cane striped columns that used to let you know you were aboutto enter ice cream heaven. The building is painted lavender and the wordsSandwich Portalare scrawled across the front window in silver paint. Nev was always a science fiction buff, so the name makes sense.

The shop is closed, so I knock a few times. Kinsley comes out from the back. She's cut her hair short. It's spiky and adorable. Kinsley's big brown eyes stare out from a fringe of razor-cut bangs. Summer just started, but her cocoa-tinted skin is already glowing with a tan.

She swings open the door and squeals as she throws her arms in the air. My ribs are feeling better with each passing hour, but I still hold my breath for our exuberant hug. We squeeze each other tightly and even manage to hop around in a circle still stuck in the embrace. There's a nice little dose of pain for a second, but it disappears fast.

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