Laney (6 page)

Chapter 8 - Enchiladas

I got home in record time, tossed the tortillas on the counter, and rushed to my room while Kiera stared after me from the kitchen.

I fumbled around with myself a bit, fixing my hair, and adding a little lip gloss. I was turning into such a girly-girl. Then I went to help Kiera in the kitchen.

“I think I’m too nervous to eat,” I confessed, as I helped her finish rolling the second pan of enchiladas. I knew we had enough tortillas. She had only used three from the new bag for the unneeded second pan.

She was still having little giggle fits over the tortilla avalanche story. It was a little funny now, but I mainly focused on Oliver’s cool touch and strong arms saving me, not the mess of tortillas. The thought of his hands on me gave me a funny feeling inside—like excitement and nervousness rolled together.

“I hope it goes better than the last time we were all together.”

Her giggles stopped. “Me too,” she replied quietly. I could tell she was getting nervous as well.

Just as the oven timer buzzed to inform us dinner was ready, there was a knock at the door. We both took a deep breath and smiled nervously at each other.

I answered the door to a very happy Carter, but only Carter. My heart sank. He had changed his mind.

“Hey, Laney,” Carter said as he stepped inside. “Oliver said he’d be here in a few minutes.”

“Oh.” My excitement immediately returned. As I turned back to close the door, I was surprised by my handsome Knight standing in the doorway with that same mischievous smile he had sported at the grocery store.

“Sorry if I kept you waiting.” His voice was as smooth as velvet. He came in, shutting the door behind him.

“You’re fine,” I breathed, locking my eyes with his. I would’ve given him anything and everything right then and there.

“Wow, dude. How’d you get here so fast?” Carter blurted out from just behind me. I blinked and looked at the floor. I shook my head a little trying to shake some sense into myself.

“You walk slow,” Oliver said with a hint of laughter.

“Dinner’s ready,” Kiera announced from the kitchen. “Oliver, are you sure you don’t want any?”

“I’m fine. Thank you. I’m here for the company,” he said, meeting my eyes again. “Shall we?” he said, gesturing to the kitchen table. He gently put his strong hand on the small of my back and guided me to the table. His touch caused my knees to weaken and an excited shiver ran through me. He pulled a chair out for me.
Can he be for real?
He took a seat beside me.

Carter tried to follow his lead, but Kiera wasn’t paying attention and had a seat in the last unoccupied chair. It was impossible to keep from smiling at how oblivious she was to his gesture and his obvious interest in her.

I was right; I was way too nervous to eat. Kiera, on the other hand, seemed ravenous again. We couldn’t help staring at her. She was starting to act like she had the other day with the Chinese food. That was odd; she had been fine all week, but now that the four of us were together again…hmmm. I glanced at all three of their faces as I rolled the thought around in my head and then mentally shrugged. Maybe I had just never noticed that she ate like a pig. I took a couple of small bites hoping nothing got stuck in my teeth. It was good, but I was really much too nervous to eat.

“Are you not hungry?” Oliver asked.

“Not really,” I said, sitting back in my seat.

“So, why are they famous?” Oliver asked me as he folded his arms and rested his elbows on the table.

“Oh,” I giggled, “It’s a funny story.”

He smiled, waiting for me to continue.

“Well, during our junior year, Kiera was in charge of a basketball fundraiser at the high school. I had helped her with getting it set up and as we were bringing everything into the gym, Kiera was carrying a big pan of enchiladas that she had made. She tripped over a power cord and her pan went flying. She caught her balance, but it was too late for the enchiladas. All we could do was watch as the pan flipped over and landed on one of the players that was sitting at a nearby table.” I giggled a little at the memory and Kiera and Carter started to snicker. Oliver glanced at them and returned his gaze to me, his hint of a smile never fading.

“Well, that basketball player, having a great attitude, wiped some from his face and tasted it. We were shocked as he looked up and smiled at us and said, ‘Great job, girls; but, next time, can I have mine on a plate instead of my lap?’ After we helped him scoop the enchiladas off of his jersey and back into the pan he stood, sauce dripping from him onto the floor, and announced that Kiera Blake made the best enchiladas in the world—even when they were served in your lap.” I laughed at the memory.

“I was so embarrassed—and thankful I had made two pans,” Kiera said, shaking her head, but still giggling and still shoveling food into her mouth.

“Yeah, your enchiladas did great that night,” I reminded her.

“And, I still stand by that. They are the best in the world, but a pain to get out of a basketball jersey,” Carter said, taking another bite.

“It was you?” Oliver asked.

“Yep.” He smiled. “It was a good day. We won our game, the fundraiser did great, and I became close friends with these two.”

“Yeah, who would’ve thought enchiladas had the power to do so much?” I joked.

Oliver smiled and then chuckled a little.

“I guess it’s funnier to us,” I said, a hint of laughter lingering.

“No, it is funny,” he said. “You girls have interesting ways of meeting boys.” He winked at me and gave me a quick half-smile. My cheeks warmed. “But I’m wondering why it took enchiladas for Carter to notice you two.”

“Whatever, dude,” Carter chuckled.

The amusement trickled away. Carter was finished and, with a big smile, a stretch, and a little pat to his tummy indicating he’d enjoyed himself, complimented Kiera on her enchiladas. Then he went on, “I was talking to Ashton today and we’re planning on going out tomorrow night to celebrate and blow off some steam after our first week back at school.”

“That would be fun,” Kiera said, scooping in another forkful of food.

I glanced at Oliver, waiting for his response.

“Would you girls want to go? The Lunatic Stallion has “Eighteen and Over Night” tomorrow night. It’ll be fun,” Carter said, pleading hopefully. Kiera nodded quickly at me with excitement.

“Um…I was planning to go home to my aunt’s tomorrow after school, but I guess I can go Saturday morning instead.” I glanced at Oliver again. He caught my glance this time and smiled at me. With a fluttering stomach and my heart racing up into my throat, I worked up my nerve. I took a breath to steady myself and quietly asked, “What about you, Oliver? Would you like to go?”

I felt his knee graze mine under the table and tingles ran through me.
Holy crap!
Just his knee touching mine sent excited shivers up my spine
.
“Sure, if you’re going,” he said. My heart skipped a beat and the blood rushed to my cheeks once again. “Sounds like fun,” he said, giving me his mind-blowing smile.

“Cool,” Carter said, seeming pleased with his plan.

Kiera began cleaning up and Carter offered to help.
Sweet, I don’t have to
. Oliver and I sat at the table quietly for a few moments while Kiera and Carter chatted and cleaned the kitchen.

Oliver broke our silence. “Did you all go to high school together?”

“Yeah, but I met Kiera a couple years before that.” I didn’t need to mention the disaster of a dance class I met her in.
“
Kiera and Carter have gone to school together since Kindergarten.”

“You didn’t go to the same grade school as them?” he asked with sincere interest.

“Well,” I said hesitantly, “we did, but I was a grade below them.”

“Really? How are you on your second year here if you were a year behind them?”

I took a deep breath and exhaled. “I was able to get all my credits in three years and graduated high school a year early. My aunt wasn’t very happy about it; she tried to get them to keep me where I was. I think she wanted to keep me home as long as possible.” I felt my cheeks warm a little and I stared at the table where I was shredding my napkin into tiny pieces out of nervousness. “

My overprotective aunt didn’t understand why I wanted to leave high school when Kiera did. She’s the only really close friend I’ve ever had, one that I truly trusted, and the thought of an entire year of high school without her was unbearable. I quickly added, “I honestly believe she thought the sooner I graduated, the sooner I would leave, and she was afraid to let go, or even that she was afraid of losing me like she did my mom.” I glanced up at him and he seemed lost in thought for a moment and then, as quick as a flash, it vanished. His smile returned.

“It’s understandable that she’d want to keep you as long as possible.” he said, his smile still sincere.

“I guess so, but it’s not like I really moved away; just grew up. I totally appreciate what she’s done for me. I just wish that she would live her life now. I think maybe it’s been so long since she’s thought of herself that she might have forgotten how.”

“I imagine it will come in time. You’ve only been out on of her house for a few months; she’ll adjust.”

“Actually, it’s been almost a year.” Kiera and I had moved into the apartment together in the middle of our freshman year. The drive had been doing us both in. I didn’t know why I felt the need to correct him. I didn’t remember telling him that information. Maybe I forgot. Random stuff tended to fly out of my mouth when he was around.

“So,” I hesitated a moment, then continued shyly, still fiddling with my shredded napkin pieces, “what have you been up to the last couple of days?”

He looked at me curiously like he didn’t understand the question and I raised an eyebrow at him. He let out a small, single huff of a laugh then said, “I’ve been at my sister’s.”

“Oh.” I nodded and gave him a curious smirk while nodding like I understood. That was kind of weird. We had just started school and he was already taking the middle of the week off.
Oh, my God! I just totally sounded like a crazy, suspicious girlfriend!

He laughed again and I shot him a crazy one-eyebrow look. I shook my head and smiled at him. Maybe I wasn’t the crazy one here. The thought amused me.

Carter and Kiera finished up in the kitchen and were leaning against opposite counters, facing each other, talking. He was so into her. That made me happy.

“We should get going; it’s getting late,” Oliver said, pushing himself up from the table. Carter seemed as disappointed as I felt. Kiera, on the other hand, still seemed oblivious to Carter’s interest in her. I was so going to have to point this out.

We walked them to the door, not that it was a long walk in our small, two-bedroom, one-bath apartment. The kitchen, dining room, and living room were all together, just one big square, with the kitchen bar separating the kitchen from the living room.

We said “Goodnight” at the door. Carter leaned in and kissed Kiera on the cheek and softly said, “Thank you for dinner. It was perfect, as usual.” He left with a sweet smile on his face. Kiera stood there looking completely shocked, lightly touching her cheek with her fingertips where he had just kissed her. Maybe I wouldn’t have to point it out after all.

Speaking of shock—Oliver gently took my hand in his, lifting it to his lips. “Until tomorrow,” he said and then his cool, perfect lips kissed the back of my hand. I blushed as a familiar wave of energy ran through me. He smiled like he was pleased with himself, like he knew the effect he had on me. “Sleep well, Delaney.” I felt giddy.
Hey, wait a minute. He just called me “Delaney” again?

But he was gone before I could call him on it, closing the door behind him as he left.

Kiera and I just stood there as the shock lingered.

It took us a good few minutes to come back to ourselves, but when we did—let’s just say there were some high-pitched sounds, giggles galore, and a few hopping-up-and-down moments. It was very unlike us to act in such a way, which only added to the excitement.

“Unfortunately, Ashton will be there,” Kiera said, as we excitedly talked about tomorrow night.

I sighed. “He’s such a punk. I saw him tonight.”

“Oh? How did that go?”

“I almost slammed into the back of his car and I flipped him off.” She laughed. “In my defense, he flipped me off first.” I smiled like I was so innocent and that I had every right to act the way I had.

“Well…it seems like he has some competition now,” Kiera teased.

Ashton was an ass. No, he was an arrogant dumbass and we did not get along, at all. But, still, the thought that Oliver would be there made it bearable.

We talked for a bit longer and giggled with excitement as I finished eating one of the famous cheese enchiladas. “Carter’s right. These are the best in the world.”

Kiera blushed at Carter’s name, not the compliment. “Thanks, Laney.”

Chapter 9 - Shadows

After getting ready for bed, I rummaged through my purse trying to find my cell phone so I could charge it. It wasn’t there. I remembered taking it out of my back pocket as I got into my car when I was leaving the grocery store. I figured I must have left it in the console.

“Be back in a second,” I called to Kiera.

I heard a muffled “okay” through the bathroom door.

I slipped on a pair of flip-flops and hurried down the stairs to the parking area in my silky, star-covered, turquoise jammie pants and a black tank top. It was late and dark; I doubted I’d run into anyone.

I unlocked my car and reached in; my phone was where I thought it was. I grabbed it and saw something move out of the corner of my eye. I jerked back out of the car and stood quickly, hitting the back of my head as I did so.

“Frick!” I muttered through gritted teeth. That hurt.

I locked the door and shut it, gripping my phone and key tightly in one hand and rubbing the back of my head with the other.

I scanned the parking area. It was a long strip of parking; the side closest to the apartments was covered and had a few dim lights down the row. The other row of parking was open, with an old wooden fence behind it that was covered in climbing vines. I was parked under the covered side, right near the bottom of the stairs.

I had an eerie feeling. Fear began to rush through me and my heart started to race. There were too many places in the shadows of the fence for someone to hide. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I started to back away towards the stairs, keeping my eyes on the shadows. My head was throbbing a tiny bit. I spun around and started to run for the stairs and smacked into someone. I screamed.

“Hey, are you alright?” Strong arms and a familiar voice held me in place.

I looked up into Oliver’s beautiful face in relief. “I’m fine. I just freaked myself out.” I took a step back as he let go. I crossed my arms over my chest. I wasn’t wearing a bra.

“What are you doing out here?” he asked.

“I forgot my phone in my car.” I lifted my hand a little to show him my phone.

He scanned the shadowy fence and then his eyes met mine. “I’ll walk you back up to your place.” It didn’t sound negotiable. He placed his hand on my lower back and guided me to the stairs. My body tingled at his touch. He dropped his hand as we reached the stairs and the tingles faded. He glanced back one more time as we started up the steps.

“What were you doing down there?” I asked, my arms still crossed.

“I was checking to see if I locked my car.”

We reached my door. He seemed distracted and continued to glance around like he was looking for someone. He seemed uneasy.

“Goodnight,” I said as I stepped inside.

“Hey, Laney,” he said, just before I shut the door.

“Yeah?” I peeked around, trying to hide my bra-lessness.

His eyes held mine, the moonlight making his sparkle.
Damn, he’s gorgeous.
“Be careful. You never know what kinds of dangers are lurking in the shadows.”

I felt my body give a little tremble of fear. Had he seen something I hadn’t? I nodded, not knowing what to say to that.

“Goodnight.” He smiled faintly and my fear faded.

“Goodnight.” I returned the smile and closed the door.