Page 54 of Reviving Kendall

He checks his phone, “Fuck. The guys have called eighteen times. If my parents don’t kill me, they will for keeping you out like this.”

I don’t know why, but it makes me laugh again and Lucas smiles at me as he presses the call button. The sound of a ringing phone comes across the Bluetooth in the truck. Lucas pulls me to him, “No matter what the consequences, this was worth it.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” I say and press my lips against his.

Mav’s deep voice comes over the speakers breaking us up, “What the fuck dude? Please tell me Kendall is with you.”

It is in no way funny, but I can’t help the laugh that slips out of my lips at how much trouble we’re in.

Flowers

The week of Valentine’s Day comes up fast on us and none of the guys have mentioned doing anything, which I must say is exciting. I’ve never been one for big showy things, especially on that day. All it’s good for is making lonely people feel even lonelier. Lucas better be glad Goose covered for him two weeks ago, or he’d be grounded and not doing anything anyways. Thinking back on that day puts a smile on my face.

First, because of that one stolen moment with Lucas. I never thought that I’d fall in love with anyone else after the accident. I was walking through life with blinders on, not truly living. It would sound insane if I said so out loud, but it seems as though all of my senses have awakened after being asleep for the past two years. Everything is more colorful, and even smells and sounds better.

Second, because of the shit show that happened once we met up with the guys. Lucas and I talked about it on the ride back to my house that day, and decided it was best to tell them what had happened. Can’t have a relationship like ours and not have honesty in every aspect.

Their reaction wasn’t as bad as I was thinking it would be, which wasn’t all together a good thing. I honestly thought Mav was going to punch Lucas in the face for a minute, but he calmed down pretty quick. Goose wasn’t pissed at all, said he was expecting it when they couldn’t find us. Teagan was the one that worried me the most, because he was the quietest. Then he jumped in and said it’s his turn next, and broke up the tension. We all laughed with him, but I’m not too sure that he was kidding.

“Your food say something funny?” Billy asks, sitting down across from me at the lunch table.

I shake my head, “Just thinking about something. I’m so fucking glad that it’s Friday, though, for serious.”

“Yeah, me, too,” he says, before taking a bite of the burger on his plate. “I was thinking. You know tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, right?”

Uh oh. I know where this is headed, and it’s not good. Billy is an ok guy, and is probably the only one in this school who isn’t a giant douche, but I’ve got my hands full with the four that I have, not to mention the fact that I don’t even see any other guys like that anymore. I try to play it off, “Yeah. I guess it is, huh.”

Rhetorical question and he answers it anyways, “Yep, so I was thinking, why don’t we go to the movies or something? It doesn’t even have to be a real date if you don’t want it to be.”

“That would be fun,” I say trying to think of a way to let him down gently. “But, I can’t. I’ve got stuff going on, and I’ll be busy all day tomorrow.” I’m just about to mention the fact that I have a boyfriend or four when the bell rings.

He shrugs, “That’s fine. I’ll pick you up tonight. See you at eight.”

Then he walks away, leaving me with my jaw on the floor.

I search for him for the rest of the day, but he’s nowhere to be found. It isn’t until the final bell rings, and I’m headed out that I find him in the worst way possible.

The buses are getting ready to pull away as he jumps out in front of me with a dozen red roses in his hand, “Just thought I’d get an early start on tonight.”

When I don’t reach out to take them, he grabs my hand and I have a choice of grabbing them or letting them drop. I don’t want to be rude, so my fingers close around the stems. Surprising me even further, he leans in and drops a kiss on my cheek as he says, “See you at eight.”

I’m too shocked to say what I had planned to all day. Honestly, I can’t do anything but watch him walk away once again, with my mouth open catching flies. It isn’t until this moment that I realize that the buses have pulled away, and there stands Goose with his arms folded across his chest. Teagan is behind him, half in, half out of Goose’s truck. Both of their faces war between hurt and pure rage.

Walking over to them, I want to hide the roses behind my back, but it’s too late now. They’ve seen everything. I don’t say anything as I walk beside Goose and toss the flowers in the bed of his truck and jump into the middle of the bench seat. The ride to my house is silent and tense as a motherfucker.

I think I hold my breath the entire way, and don’t let it out until we’re inside my house. That only lasts so long, though, as Mav is about ten minutes behind us.

He storms into the house with Lucas right behind him trying to talk some sense into him. I am slowly taking my time to put up the dishes from the drying rack just to busy my hands. Shit. There’s going to be no easy way out of this. I feel his breath against my neck as his hands lean against the counter on either side of my hips, locking me in place.

“Who is he?” he asks in a voice that is barely containing the rage sitting under the surface.

Mav could have come at me in any other way than that one, and I wouldn’t have gotten defensive. I can’t explain it, but with those three words, I feel like he’s accusing me of something that I didn’t do. So, naturally, it kick starts my smartass mouth, “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His nose makes a trail from my neck up to my ear as his tone turns darker, “Don’t play with me, baby girl. Who was the guy who gave you the flowers and you let kiss you?”

I twist in his arms until we’re face to face, and I snap, “I didn’t let him do anything.”

Mav crowds into my space, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Lucas and Teagan looming right over his shoulder, as Goose stands on the other side of the counter. All with their eyes on me, waiting for an answer just as Mav.

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