“And you would have no problem picking him up since you were driving this way as well. I mean, what are the odds?” She chirped with thrilled awe. “Kyle called him back and told him you are coming to get him. I’ll text you the address where he had to take his bike.”
“Kas—”
“I can’t believe he will be coming. I haven’t seen him since graduation. My stomach is in knots. It’s been so long. Like, nine years.”
“Kase—”
“You know how much I liked him, Kins? I still think he’s the one. I think about him all the time. The one that got away…”
I tipped my head back onto my seat, my fingers pinching my nose. The one? The guy was an asshole. He treated her and every other girl who fell at his feet like trash. He even had a nickname, which seemed to simply encourage his behavior. I was five years younger and did not see what the fuss was about. He was the total bad boy with all the charming personality traits that went along with it. Gruff, arrogant, rude, and a total womanizer. The friendship between my brother and him was an odd-couple kind of thing. They met playing football, and for some reason, became really good friends. My sister was gaga over him, embarrassing herself by flirting outrageously, while I gagged and rolled my eyes. I felt I was the only one who saw him for what he truly was.
A genuine pig.
“Please, please, please, Kins,” Kasey pleaded into the phone. “He won’t come otherwise, and I feel this is kismet. I’m supposed to see him again.”
“Kismet?” I snorted. “Come on. He was a jerk to you. Why do you seem to forget that part?”
“He wasn’t. He just didn’t want to do anything to screw up his friendship with Kyle. But we’ve grown up. Things are different.”
“He might be married with kids by now.” Though I couldn’t see the guy I remembered ever settling down with one girl.
“No. He’s not. I guess he recently broke up with someone.” Her voice went up two octaves. “See? Kismet. I just ended things with Peter. Please, Kins. Do this for me.”
Ugh, Peter. Someone my sister dated for four and half years, after meeting him at college. He was so cookie cutter he made my skin crawl. It felt like he was playing a role in a cheesy Hallmark movie. When she found him cheating with his secretary, she realized he wasn’t so perfect. This only emphasized that he was so unoriginal his affair was even cliché.
“Kase, this isn’t simply picking up someone for a few hours’ drive. I was planning on taking my time getting there. A vacation.” I didn’t want an unwelcome passenger for a ten-day journey. I would not let him disrupt my plans. This was my holiday.
“That’s another thing I’d like to fight you on, since I need you here, but if you do this for me, I will forgive you for not helping me with Amie and Kyle’s wedding.”
“Why can’t he fly there?” I tossed out my arms, startling Goat, his eyes fluttering, still appearing bored with my conversation. “He’s not joining me for ten days.”
“I don’t know, but I guess it wasn’t an option. Kyle had to beg him even to come, and it took some time for him to agree to have you come get him.”
“See, neither of us wants to do this.”
“This is your only brother’s wedding. Don’t you want Kyle to have his friends there with him? Don’t you think he deserves this?” I could hear what was not being said, Don’t be so selfish, Kinsley.
My phone beeped, two texts coming through.
Can you do this favor for you brother? He really would like him here. It would mean so much to him. Love you—Mom
Hey, twerp! I know Kase is talking to you but want to add my plea. I haven’t seen him in years. It would mean the world to me. Thanks, Sis--Kyle
Fuuucck.
“Kins. Please.”
I sighed deeply, feeling my will crumbling; making my family happy overpowered my plans. What I wanted. What this trip meant to me.
Like my sister could smell blood in the water, she spoke quickly. “This would mean everything to Kyle. And, of course, to me as well. I’ve dreamed about seeing him again. That we would have this second chance. I feel in my gut we are meant to be.”
I glanced over at Goat, my shoulders sagging.
Shiiiitt. I couldn’t believe I was about to do this.
“What’s the address?”
During the entire drive to east Pasadena, I changed my mind every few minutes. One time actually turning around before pulling into a gas station and banging on the steering wheel until I circled back toward Pasadena again.
When I got close to the exit, I stopped to stretch and let Goat do his business, not in a hurry to get there. “He better not think he has a ride all the way there.” I kicked a rock, talking to my dog, watching him sniff and pee on every bush we passed. “Doesn’t he realize I’m planning to take my time getting there? Knowing Kasey, probably not. He probably thinks this is a straight shot there. I will gladly drive his ass to an airport.”
Goat looked up at me, tilting his head like he was thinking, Girl, get it together.
“Stop judging me.” Goat cocked his head the opposite way. “Yeah, I feel your judgy eyes.” I sighed, heading back to the van. Grabbing an iced coffee for me and water for Goat from a nearby cafe, I took a breath, climbed into the van, and headed for my destination down the street.
Seeing the name of the garage, nerves danced around in my stomach, pirouetting and sashaying across, causing acid to burn in my gut.
Pulling into the drive, I parked beside a motorcycle, a nervous fluttering vibrating from my throat as I took in the saddlebags attached to the sides.
S.B. monogramed on the side, told me there was no doubt I was in the right place. And inside, waiting for me, the infamous Smith Blackburn.
A.k.a.
Smug Bastard.
Chapter 3
Kinsley
That’s what everyone called him, on and off the field. Instead of being insulted by it, he took on the moniker with pride and caused the girls to fall even more at his feet with a cocky wink in their direction. I would sit in bewilderment at my sister and her friends when they came over to the house or when I did my homework waiting for my sister at cheer practice. They would giggle and act airheaded around the football players, especially Smith. My eleven-year-old mind kept wondering when they all got so stupid. They didn’t have that much brain damage the year before, right? My sister would laugh and pat me on the head like a child and say, “Just wait, Kins. You will be just as boy crazy. One day a guy is going to make you lose all sense.”
She was wrong. I never did. Not even with Jason. I was defensive and fought his attention for a long time, never believing the popular boy liked me. But I will give Jason one thing; he was in it for the long game, eventually winning me over. Ethan was the same, and after everyone telling me what a fool I was for not giving in to him, that he liked me so much, I finally did.
They both burned and crushed my heart, and I hadn’t been in love with either of them. I couldn’t imagine the capacity of someone to hurt me if I was. I vowed no guy would ever have that kind of power to destroy me.
“Well, Goat, here we go.” I scrubbed his nose before pushing the door open and sliding out of the van, wanting to crawl back into the cool air-conditioned car. The heat of the day blasted down on my exposed legs and arms.