Undone (The Unexpected Series Book 2) (35 page)

“Did you dye the tips of your hair pink?” She shrieks not moving an inch and blocking me from making my way to class.

I finally look up and notice a look of disgust across her face.

“There is nothing wrong with my hair, Emie. You’re just a prude,” I comment taking in her appearance.

When they say opposites attract they were talking about Emie and me. She is shorter than me, curly blonde hair that flows down to the middle of her back, bright blue eyes that pierce you with any stare, and her clothes could land her in a commercial for The Gap. She is captain of the cheerleading squad and student council president. She is the opposite end of the spectrum from me. At five feet seven, I’m on the taller side, medium length brown hair, with bright pink tips, as Emie so nicely pointed out, no makeup over my green eyes, and I usually have paint on some part of my clothes that were purchased from Walmart.

“I’m not a prude,” she says insulted. “I gave it up to Todd Mitchell over the summer. You my friend still have yet to lose your V card.”

I inwardly smile thinking about last night and how amazing it was. Shaking away the thoughts, I continue the trek to my first class. “Where are you off to?” I ask.

She sighs twirling a strand of hair between her fingers. “Gym. Can you believe that? Who wants to get all sweaty first thing in the morning?”

We walk together down the hall, and I try not to acknowledge Ryder Blake as he walks towards us.

“Oh my God, Had. Did you see how sexy Ryder looks today? He gained some sexy muscle over the summer.” Emie quietly gushes over the most popular guy in our class.

At over six feet tall and pulled in all the right directions black hair, with the greenest eyes you have ever seen, he makes the rest of the guys in our class look like boys. He is on the varsity football team but tends to get into trouble. Because he is the quarterback, and he helps our crappy team win most of their games, teachers tend to look the other way when he does whatever the hell he wants.

He walks past us, eyeing my body up and down, before a sideways smirk crosses his lips. His jeans fit snugly to his body, and his long fingers grasp the black straps of his backpack over his hunter green shirt. I try not to smile.

“He’s alright,” I answer her shrugging. “Nothing to write home about.”

“Ugh, Hadley,” she says annoyed. “You really are blind, you know that?”

I leave her at the door to the locker room and walk the rest of the way to art.

I feel at home as I enter the art room. I’ve spent a lot of time in here over the past three years. I had the chance to go to Chicago High School of the Arts this year, but decided I wanted to stay here. I’d like to say it was because the program here was good, but I knew better than that.

The large rectangular shaped wooden desks are positioned in the same places, and I stop mid-stride when I find Ryder sitting at one of them talking to the teacher, Mrs. Cray.

When he notices me standing there his eyebrow quirks up.

“Hadley!” Cray greets me. “I was just asking Ryder here to pull some supplies out of the storage closet. Do you mind helping?”

I place my bag on a table at the opposite side of the room and nod my head unable to find my voice.

Ryder passes by me invading my personal space, and my heart rate picks up. Regardless of what I said to Emie, he is smoking hot. You’d have to be dead not to notice.

Following behind him back down the hall, he opens the door to the closet lifting his arm for me to cross under. The door slams shut, and darkness fills the tiny space.

Ryder’s hands find my hips and whirl me around, pushing me up against the door. His soft lips crash into mine like a freight train and I reach up gripping the hair at the nape of his neck between my fingers.

He pulls away, but I can still feel his lips close to mine. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to wait until tonight to touch you again,” he whispers kissing me again. “Are you sore?”

My focus goes to the arousal starting to pool between my legs feeling a slight discomfort. “A little bit,” I answer.

“It’ll get better.” He comforts me. “That was just the first time. Next time will be easier.”

“When can we tell people we’re together?” I ask breathless.

He kisses my nose and drags his mouth down to my lips. “Soon, I promise.”

His hand slips up my tank top finding my cotton covered breast. He pulls the left cup down and takes my nipple between his thumb and pointer finger. It feels incredible and thoughts of last night rise to the surface of my thoughts again.

“Ryder,” I quietly moan out.

“I’ll always treasure what you gave me yesterday, Hadley. I promise. I love you,” he tells me causing all sorts of fluttering in my chest.

“I love you too, Ryder,” I breathlessly tell him.

First and foremost I want to say thank you to my husband (the man who still finds me sexy, even after over a decade together), and my children (my greatest accomplishments!). You have yet again let me skip dinner, stay up late, sleep in, cry, laugh, throw things, and still love me in the end. I’ve never felt so loved and supported as I have these past few months. I love my red heads!

To my Beta Bitches: (Amber, April, Elizabeth, Krista, Jenn, Khloe, Valerie, and Venus) There are no words for all the hard work you put into my dream of writing book two. You pushed me and picked me up when I second guessed myself and you were so patient. I don’t think I have ever laughed so much as when I saw your messages and your notes. Hashtags, claiming my characters, and all around fun made this experience such a blast. Thank you!

Valerie: Even though you are so far away you still are there for me no matter what. You’re one of my biggest supporters and I love BB watching with you!  I can’t wait until I get to see your face again. I miss you and love you to Uranus and back. (It’s further than the moon! lol) And so the world knows…Trent belongs to Valerie!

Amber: My “sessions” with you could probably pay your mortgage. Thank you for listening to me vent, talking me down off of my ledge and just being all around awesome. Love you girl!

April: I have to say you kept me laughing the whole time. I’ve never seen so many different words for the male anatomy. I love our “bitch” sessions and I am so glad you wanted to help me. Love you and all you do!

Jenn C: Having your support and the fact that you loved the book gave me validation. Thank you for keeping me afloat and for giving me the line “I’m going to punch you so hard in the snot box you will feel it in your g-spot.”  I love it and I love you!  You’re pretty awesome! Now commence your hiking with hookers.

Kathy: Wow! That’s how I have to start. You have been so kind and understanding. I know I put you in a time crunch and you didn’t bat and eye. Thank you for always being “mine” :) I appreciate all you do for me and this book is “over the top fantastic” because of you. I can’t wait to keep this new relationship going!

Louisa: Again, you have ROCKED out my cover and always with a friendly FB messenger smile :) I’m so glad that you loved the picture from minute one and am looking forward to many more with you! (At LEAST 5!)

Angel: As usual my book looks beautiful. Thank you for formatting it and taking so much stress off of me. You have no idea how much it means to have your “no problem” attitude. I can’t wait to meet you next summer!

Sydney Lane: You still are the BEST mentor out there. I love how much you take the time out for me!  Thank you for becoming a great friend in the process!

Unexpected Promo Team, Unexpected Series Discussion Group and my ADORABLE Street Team: Thank you for pimping me out like a hooker! I’ve never felt so much love as I do when you all promote me, tag me, message me and harass me into teasers. (Sherry! Lol).

Leanne C and Marnie W: The two of you helped me out like it was your day job. Love you both so much!! Thank you for loving my babies :) I hope, one day soon, to meet the two of you!

Heather at Book Plug Promotions: For all of your help getting my name out there again! Best promo lady EVER :)