Page 25 of Pining for Pierce
“Yes.”
“Are you sure? You don’t seem your usual self.”
“I’m just tired,” I say. It’s true. I’m exhausted… and scared… and worried about tonight.
He nods his head, giving me a knowing smile, and I imagine he thinks it’s that time of the month. It’s not, but I won’tdisillusion him with the truth. It’s bad enough trying to work things out by myself, without involving my boss.
Normally, if I was getting ready to go out, even if it was just with Pierce, I’d shower, fix my hair and makeup, and choose what to wear. Tonight, though, I just find a pair of jeans and a thin sweater, which between them cover almost every inch of my body. I don’t care what I look like. I just want to get this over with, and once I’ve changed, and pulled on a pair of sneakers, I head down the stairs, just as the doorbell rings.
He’s here already?
Damn…
I open the door, and Kaiden steps inside, uninvited, glancing around the lobby.
“Very nice,” he says, like a realtor, sizing the place up for a potential buyer. “Are you ready?” He looks me up and down, but doesn’t comment on my appearance, and reaches out, cupping my face with one hand, somehow pulling me closer and dipping his head to kiss me. His other hand wanders slightly, but not for long, and he pulls away, taking my hand.
“Kaiden… I…”
“I thought we could head back to Hart’s Creek,” he says, ignoring me, and barely giving me time to grab my purse before he drags me out the door.
I pull it closed and look up at him. “Why Hart’s Creek? There are plenty of places to go for drinks in Willmont Vale.”
“I know, but I kinda like MD’s.”
I open my mouth to ask why. I mean, it’s a nice enough place, but we’ve been there twice already. Before I can say a word, though, he’s pulled me over to his car, opening the door, and easing me onto the passenger seat. I’m feeling more than a little manipulated, and I sit still, fuming, as he walks around and gets in beside me.
“Can you…?”
“I’ll put some music on while we drive, shall I?” he says.
“I thought we could talk.”
He leans over, getting too close for comfort. “We’ve got all evening to talk.” I pull back as far as the seat will allow, my body stiffening, as he starts the engine and eases the car down the driveway and onto the street.
The music is too loud for talking, but fortunately the drive back to Hart’s Creek doesn’t take very long, and he parks out back, holding my hand as we walk around, while he tells me about his day.
“My mom insisted I do the grocery shopping for her,” he says, rolling his eyes. “So I could use a drink.”
I wonder why grocery shopping is so bad. It’s not the worst chore I can think of, and I step through the door into MD’s, relieved to be among other people. Just like last night, he orders our drinks and finds us a booth, sitting opposite me, as he gives me a smile.
“I was going to book us a table at that French restaurant,” he says, leaning a little closer. “But my mom’s gone out for the evening with her new boyfriend, so I thought we could go back to my place. I even picked up something to eat while I was doing the grocery shopping… so we’re all set.”
I realize now why he brought me back here, rather than staying in Willmont Vale, and I’m suddenly filled with fear. I have no way of getting home. He’s seen to that by driving me here, and he’s not taking no for an answer. In fact, he’s not even giving me the chance to say ‘no’ in the first place, and I glance around the bar, wondering how I’m gonna get out of this…
Chapter Six
Pierce
It’s one thing to discover perfection, and even to realize you’ve known it all along, and have been sharing Sunday afternoon picnics, taking it on the back of your motorcycle, and living in ignorance of what you’ve been missing. But when perfection doesn’t wanna know you… it’s kinda tough.
It’s worse than that. It’s torture.
I haven’t spoken to Harley for two days, and while that’s not unusual, I really miss her. It’s ludicrous, I know. We often go longer than two days without speaking. When either of us was at college, we went for weeks, or even months, without setting eyes on each other. But never like this. Never when she’s been mad at me, and never when I’ve known she’ll be hanging with a guy who’ll treat her like she’s his property, to do with as he pleases.
Because that’s what Kaiden’s like, and whatever Harley might think of me, I’m not.
I never have been.
