Page 64 of Finding Kyler
I gawp at Kalvin, letting him witness the full extent of my disbelief. He stares at me defiantly, stepping back from Addison. “Quit messing around, and stop sniffing near me and my brothers. When are you going to get it into your thick head? We don’t want you. We don’t evenlikeyou. Go prey on some other dumb sucker.”
Okay, now I’m confused. All these games are tying my brain into knots.
“That’s not what Ky was whispering in my ear this afternoon. Askher.” She jerks her head at me. “She was there.” I visualize myself lunging for her, clawing my nails down her smug face. It helps stem the growing tidal wave of fury taking root inside me.
Kalvin peers into my eyes and he sees the truth. Fixing a dangerous sneer on his face, he bends down so he’s at Addison’s height. “You listen to me, and you listen good, slut. Stay away from Ky. I fucking mean it. You’re not worming your way back in.”
Kalvin’s low pitch and venomous face state the truth. He isn’t joking about. So when Addison pushes him back, and laughs in his face, I have to reluctantly admire her balls of steel. “You, poor, clueless fool. Don’t you know that I always get what I want? And you really shouldn’t push me. You won’t like the fallout.”
Kalvin’s jaw clenches and unclenches. Turning his back on Addison, he takes hold of my elbow. “I need to speak to you. Right now.” His eyes latch on Brad’s hand, which is currently loosely draped around my hip. “Get your fucking hand off her.”
Brad stands his ground. “You need to chill out, bro.”
Kalvin stabs his finger in Brad’s chest. “I am not your bro. And Faye’s not available to the likes of you.”
That’s it. I’ve had enough of this macho-man bullshit. I take hold of Brad’s hand. “Let’s get a drink.” I shove Kalvin’s arm away. “You do not dictate who I spend time with. I will talk to you later, after you’ve calmed down.”
I ignore Addison’s hoot of laughter, as I let Brad lead the way.
My shoulders sag in relief when we step into the kitchen.
“Wow. That was fun.” There is zero humor in Brad’s tone or his look.
“You’re telling me. These people are flipping crazy.”
That brings a smile to his face. “You have no idea.”
“Forget about them. I know I want to.” I can’t decide if I find my cousin’s protective streak endearing or plain insulting.
“What’s your poison?” Brad asks.
“I’ll have a beer. Or ten.” So much for steering clear of alcohol.
He smiles as he swipes two from a large ice-filled bucket, handing one to me. “Let’s start with one, and see how we go. Do you want to stay in here or head outside?” he shouts over the drone of the music.
“Outside.” As far away from Addison is more the sentiment, but that one word will suffice. The heat and the noise die down the second we step out onto a sprawling patio. The crowded pool area is to our left. In front of us, and to our right, small groups and couples converse in private on the expansive lawn.
“Do you want to go sit there?” Brad points out an elevated wooden structure at the far end of the garden, and I nod in agreement.
The large, unoccupied pergola is positioned on top of a raised stone circle. Tiny tea lights hang from little lanterns in the roof. Wicker furniture with soft cream cushions surrounds a low table. Ornate pots of all shapes and sizes are scattered around the space. The setting is very romantic, and now I’m feeling a little uncomfortable. “Don’t worry. I won’t bite,” Brad teases, sitting down on a two-seater couch. I sit down beside him and cross my legs. “So,” he says, drumming his fingers off his knee. “What did you do to earn Addison’s wrath?”
“I exist.” I tip my head back and chug some of my beer.
“I figured as much. Addison strikes quick to neutralize any threat.”
“I’m not a threat. I don’t want anything she has. She’s welcome to it all.”Liar, a scheming inner devil hisses in my ear. I lean my head back against the soft pillow and stare at the twinkling lights above.
“She wouldn’t care to hear that. You are all everyone is talking about, and that’s enough to set her blood boiling.” He raises the bottle to his lips, and I take the opportunity to slyly study him. I can’t reconcile this boy and that bitch. Nope. Don’t see it. It doesn’t make any sense. Brad seems like a genuinely nice guy, and he’s the complete opposite of the Queen B inside.
As I examine his face, I notice the pale shadows under his eyes for the first time. Tired, fine lines crinkle the corners of his eyes, and his pallor is a little off-white. He looks wrecked, as if he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“What?” He looks perplexed.
I sit up straighter, realizing my mind had wandered. “What?”
“You were staring; not that I’m complaining.” He grins, flashing a set of perfect white teeth. “What are you thinking?”
I pump for honesty. “That I don’t understand how you ended up with her. You don’t seem the type.”
