Read Self Destruct Online

Authors: K. D. Carrillo

Self Destruct (8 page)

17

Rebecca

 

I put my last bag into my trunk.  Aiden wrapped his arms around me and spun me around.  “Can’t you two separate for a few minutes?” Nick
sneered.  “Sure we can, but where’s the fun in that?” Aiden teased while he continued to spin me around. 

“Leave them be Nick,” Jeremy uttered.  “She must be magic in the sac to have you this whipp
ed within two weeks.  When you're done with her I’d love a shot to see what she’s got going on,” Nick jeered. 

Aiden let go of my waist and started toward Nick.  I grabbed his sleeve and
pulled.  “Aiden, look at him.  He’s trying to piss you off.  Don’t give in,” I begged. 

“She’s right Aid, he has a bug up his ass about something.  Let’s just ge
t out of here and away from him," Jeremy advised.  Aiden pinched the bridge of his nose and nodded once.

“Let’s go Aiden,” Jeremy ordered
more forcefully.  He gave Aiden a friendly push to his car.  He turned to me and gave me a half smile.  “I’ll see you in a couple of hours Red.”

I walked over to him and kissed him, until he groaned softly.  “See ya in two
, hot stuff,” I replied.  “You’re evil Becca, how’s he supposed to drive in the condition you just left him in?” Jeremy teased.  I looked up through my lashes and pretended not to understand him.  Jeremy shook his head laughing. 

Toni jumped in my passenger seat.  “Ready to get back?” I asked.  “Hell yeah, I’m ready to have wheels again.  I’ve been here for three weeks.  Although the first week with my parents wasn’t near as entertaining as the last two with just you and me.” 

“Aww. I am more fun than your parents.  You're such a sweet talker,” I joked.  “Shut up brat.  My parents are awesome,” Toni replied in mock outrage.  “They are truly, but they are also in their sixties and are usually in bed before nine,” I responded.

She shuddered.
“If I ever start going to bed that early please get me help.  You know, unless there is a man joining me.” 

“I promise to keep you up all night, unless you are going to bed with a man not for sleeping,” I vowed raising my right hand. 

“Ok nerd, when are you going to bed for non-sleeping reasons?” “I think I need to make a stop by Planned Parenthood when we get back to town,” I hinted.  “Oh!  My little girl is growing up,” Toni gasped dramatically placing her hand over her heart.

“Enough smart ass.  A
re you going to go with me or not?” I demanded.  “What are friends for?” Toni answered casually.

“Thanks Toni
, for making me come up here.”  “I am great, aren’t I?” she asked rhetorically. 

"Speaking of great.  You and Jeremy seemed to get close," I said fishing for information.  Toni smiled.  "Yeah he's awesome.  Too bad he's gay." 

"I thought you and Miguel were on again?" I asked confused.  "Nah, that only lasted a few days.  Hell, he didn't even make it down to visit.  Clark, Miguel's best friend, let it slip that he was hooking up with some chick," she answered reluctantly.

"Isn't Clark your friend too?" I asked confused.  "Yeah he is. But I'm not a guy.  The two of them were always closer.  Clark and I drifted apart when I started dating Miguel."

"I'm sorry that happened.  I wish you could leave Miguel in the past.  He isn't good enough for you," I told her.  

"Miguel is my weak spot.  Anyway, Clark felt really bad for being the one to tell me what Miguel was up to this time.  Not because he wanted to keep the secret, but he didn't like seeing me get hurt." 

I reached over and patted her hands that she was mindlessly twisting on her lap.  "He sounds like a good friend.  Don't let him be lost in the fall out with Miguel."  Toni turned to stare out the window.  "I won't."

Two hours later we pulled up to our house off Capitol Ave, close to the hospital where Kate worked.  “Oh my,” Toni said fanning herself.  “Is that Cameron’s car?” 

Cameron is Kate’s twin brother.  He is stunningly beautiful, and a long time object of Toni’s lust.  He is one of the sweetest, smartest, and funniest guys I have ever met. 

“Why do the really hot ones have to be gay or dating you?” Toni whined.  “Because you are still in love with you-know-who, and purposefully find guys you can never be with?”
I answered with a question.

She waved her hand to dismiss
what I said.  "Well you-know-who is a douche and I'm ready to be done with him," she said trying to convince herself.  

"So this Clark you never talk about is ugly then?" I pestered.  "Lord no, that man is H-O-T hot.  But it would be weird.  So, yeah, not going there ever," she said emphatically.  "Well there is always gawking at Cameron," I said to lighten her mood.  "Thank god for that!" She exclaimed, and hurried out of the car.

We walked in and greeted Kate and Cameron.  “Hey Cameron what did we do right to get a visit from your hot ass?” Toni flirted.  Cameron laughed. 

“Kate didn’t tell you?”  We both shook our heads no.  “I regi
stered for classes,” he explained.  “Really?  That's great!  Are you seeing someone?” Toni asked fishing.  “No, I’m single,” he replied a little confused. 

I knew where this was going.  Jeremy and Toni had become close friends at the lake. 
Toni was up to a little match making. 

“That’s good.  I met this guy while I was at my parent’s cabin.  He is unbelievably gorgeous, tall, muscular, black hair and light blue eyes. 
He is really charming and funny,” Toni taunted.  “Are you trying to make me jealous sugar?” Cameron asked smirking. 

They always flirted back and forth, even though they both knew the other wasn’t into it.  Toni’s heart was stuck on Miguel, whether that would ever work out again or not. 

“No see, I flirted, but he was never interested,” she said.  “Now that can’t be possible.  Any straight red-blooded male wouldn’t be able to resist you,” Cameron commented.  Toni smiled wickedly.  “Exactly.  Wanna meet him?” “You naughty girl,” Cameron playfully admonished.

My phone rang, and I went into my room to answer it.  “Jeremy is rea
lly upset.  He misses you a lot,” Aiden said.  “He is huh?”  I started laughing hard.  I may have even snorted. 

“What is so funny?”
Aiden asked confused. “Uhm,” I began, breathless from laughing, “Kate’s twin brother is here.” “So…” Aiden trailed off suspicious.

“Oh no
, Aiden it isn’t like that.  Toni is playing matchmaker. She wants you to come over for dinner, and…bring Jeremy.”  “Ah, now I get it,” Aiden said chuckling. 

“Should I tell him or spring it on him?”
he asked. “It’ll be a nice surprise.  Cameron is great, and if Jeremy’s tastes are the same as most women’s then he will be a happy guy,” I answered.

Aiden groaned.  “Red, I try and be all enlightened and shit, but my acceptance has limit
s.”  I sighed.  “Just come over for dinner."  “Are you going to cook for me Red?” 

“Now that
I know why you call me that it's kind of embarrassing,” I mumbled.  “Are you blushing right now?” Aiden’s voice rumbled over the phone.  “You know I am,” I admitted.  “You’re killing me Red.  Can I come over now?” 

“Actually I have an errand to run before I start dinner, but I’ll call you when I get
back and you can watch me cook,” I told him.  “Where are you going?  Wait, did you say you’re going to cook for me?” Aiden asked, getting distracted.  “I’m going to make lasagna,” I answered his second question.  “Oh Red,” Aiden moaned.

“Where are you going Becca?”
Aiden asked regaining focus. “You know where I’m going Aiden.”  “Do you want me to go with you?” he offered. “That is really sweet, but Toni is going to go with me.  She knows what it’s like,” I declined.  “Alright Red call me when you are ready and I’ll be there.”

 

18

Aiden

 

Before I could knock
, Toni threw open the front door.  She ushered us inside.  “You two are up to something,” Jeremy muttered.  I slapped him on the back. “Let’s go Casanova.”  “Huh?” he grumbled. 

“You’ll see Jer,
” Toni evaded.  “I think I hate you for this,” Jeremy said to anyone listening.  “Oh no baby.  You’re going to love me for this.  Trust me,” Toni insinuated.

“Where is Becca?” I asked.  “Gettin’ hot and sweaty in the kitchen.  Why don’t you go see her while I go introduce
Jeremy here to a friend of mine,” Toni answered, and pulled Jeremy in the other direction. 


You did not bring me into a set-up,” Jeremy argued.  “Jeremy are you the only guy on the planet who isn’t interested in hot blondes?” Toni asked facetiously. 

Becca came out dressed in tight jeans, a
frilly top, and an apron.  It was cute and sexy at the same time.  “I don’t want to miss this,” she whispered to me.  “Aiden, this is my roommate Kate Kennedy and her twin brother Cameron.  Guys this is my boyfriend Aiden Ryan and his best friend Jeremy Anderson,” she introduced. 

Toni sat on the arm of the couch, biting her lip in an attempt not to laugh
at Jeremy's glazed over expression.  Kate and Cameron were obviously related.  They both had thick honey blonde hair and large brown eyes. 

Kate was beautiful, in an understated and sophisticated way.  If Jeremy found her brother as attractive as any straight male would his sister, then he was in heaven right now. 

“I hear you’ve become good friends with our girl here,” Cameron said breaking the ice.  Jeremy nodded, still dazed.  “She’s a mischievous little hell cat, don’t you think?” Cameron asked, and winked at Toni. 

“Definitely, too bad I can’t be attracted to her,” Jeremy pretended to be disappointed.  “I know right?  If only I was attracted to women, it would be you demon,” Cameron told Toni. 

“Demon huh?” I asked Becca.  “You’ve met her right?" Becca asked me.  I smiled.  She had a point. "Come in the kitchen with me.  Let’s leave them to entertain themselves,” she ordered, and pulled me into the kitchen.

The kitchen was hot from the oven running.  Becca opened a bottle of wine and left it on the counter to breathe.  It smelled like oregano and marinara sauce.  I leaned in to kiss her when my phone began to ring. 
Becca looked away from the food she was examining.  “Is that the Imperial March from Star Wars?” she asked. 

“Yes, and it is so hot that you know that.  It’s
actually my mother’s ring tone,” I admitted. “I think I’m going to need you to tell me that story, but you better answer it,” she said gesturing to my phone.

I really didn’t want to talk to my mother.  I didn’t have the kind of relationship with her that I did with my father.  “Hi mom,” I sighed into my phone.

“Aiden why didn’t you tell me you and Vanessa broke up a week ago!” she demanded.  And it began.  “I didn’t realize you needed to be updated on my relationship,” I answered sarcastically.  “Aiden, think of how this looks.  You know people know about the scandal.  How are you going to show your face in society?”

“Mom, I don’t give a shit what your snobby friends think.  I couldn’t stand to be with her for one more minute so I ended it. 
Plus, I’ve met someone else.  I’m happy for the first time in years.  Can’t you just be happy for me?” I asked tired. 

“You’ve met someone already?  Aiden you can’t possibly be over Vanessa, you have
been in love with her for years,” she argued.

“No mom.  I love Becca.  I was
trapped
with Vanessa for years.  There’s a difference.  I never felt for Vanessa a fraction of what I feel for Rebecca.”  I grabbed her apron and pulled her to me.  I needed to hold on to her.  Talking to my mom made me afraid she would disappear and my happiness would leave with her.

“Don’t be ridiculous Aiden.  I expect you to fix this right away.  If you don’t I’m going to speak to your father about cutting you off financially,” she threatened.
  “Go ahead,” I challenged. 

“I’m not kidding Aiden.”  “Neither am I mother.  You may learn a few things about me.”  “Your father and I are stopping in Ellensburg tomorrow.  We would like for you to join us for lunch at that restaurant your father likes.  I think I would like t
o meet this girlfriend of yours,” she said in a derisive tone. 

“I won’t bring her if you are going to be nasty,” I warned.  “Give me some credit, I know how to behave in public,” she snapped.  “We’ll see.  She’s important to me mother.  I’m only going to give you one chance with this.”  I hung up and gave Becca an apologetic smile.

“I get to meet your parents tomorrow?” she asked anxiously. “I’m sorry in advance.  You’ll like my dad.  But regardless of what either of them think I love you, and nothing they say or do will change that.  You believe me right?” I asked.

“I believe you, but I’m still nervous,
” she said, looking away from me.  I kissed her gently. “Don’t be nervous.  I think you are perfect,” I reassured. 

She smiled sadly at me.
“I’m far from perfect Aiden.  I know I’ve told you most of my secrets, but I’ve done things I’m not proud of.”  “And none of it matters to me.  You are perfect for me and that is all that matters,” I insisted.

Jeremy burst into the kitchen
ending the tense and sappy moment.  “I think I’m in love!” he gushed.  Becca giggled.  “How could you not be Jer?  He’s as hot as you are,” she said flirtatiously.

I scowled at her.  “I don’t think I like anything about that statement.”  “Honey, you might not see it, but Jeremy here is smokin’ hot.  I’m surprised the house isn’t burning dow
n with the three of you in here,” Becca teased, and fanned herself dramatically.

“I’m included in this description then?” I grumbled.  Jeremy and Becca nodded enthusiastically.  “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with you agreeing with her Jer.”

“Aiden, just because you are like a brother to me doesn’t mean I don’t see what Becca sees,” Jeremy teased.  “It’s the eyes,” Becca said dreamily.  “Honey, it’s the entire package,” Jeremy agreed.  “Mmm, true,” she sighed. 

“Enough you two.  Jeremy
, go talk to your new friend.  And Red, I would be more than happy to show you my package in private” I suggested.

“I pl
an to take you up on that offer.  In one month,” she murmured.  I leaned close to whisper in her ear, and I felt my voice drop low. “There are things we can do in the meantime,” I propositioned.  Her blush told me she would think about it.

 

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