Bridget King does not believe in ghosts. She just doesn’t.
That’s why when she finds herself being haunted by not one but two spirits, the only possible explanation is that she has completely lost her mind.
Her best friend, Aiden, has been acting a little crazy himself, lately. When Bridget meets the mysterious Eli, Aiden all but demands that she never sees Eli, again. A dark past looms between the two guys, but Aiden outright refuses to let Bridget in on the feud. Boys and their damn secrets.
Of course, Bridget has a few of her own secrets these days. For one, her sexual urges are starting to take on a life of their own. For two, her dreams have a tendency of coming true. Which wouldn’t be too bad if all she dreamed about were boys, but she soon dreams of a dead body. Then, the cops find said body.
Her dreams seem to lead her toward the serial killer that’s been terrorizing the city of Lincoln. When Bridget begins uncovering clues, she realizes they are leading her close to home. If she doesn’t discover the killer’s identity before he/she/it realizes she’s onto them, her own dead body may be the star of her next dream.
Targeted Age Group:: 17-28
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
A few years ago, I had a dream about a girl who was living in foster care. This spurred the idea for Secrets Abound even though a lot changed as the I developed the story line. In my dream (and in the original first chapter), Aiden was Bridget’s foster brother. However, the dynamic between the two made this a difficult situation, so I decided to change it.
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
They kind of created themselves, more or less. Like I’ve said before, Bridget and Aiden were their own beings from the moment I dreamed of them. Of course, Eli was a character that came along afterwards. I still feel like all my characters take on a life of their own.
Book Sample
CHAPTER ONE
A GIRL, A BOY, & A BONFIRE
Dread shoots through my entire being. My eyes are wide as they soak in the view before me. There is a single tree, formidable in every right. It dominates the scene with its enormous size. There is something almost wicked about the way its branches twist and reach for the sky, as if to pluck the full moon right out of its orbit. Unimaginable power ripples from it in waves.
A small noise draws my attention. A woman lies underneath the tree. Wait, there are two women. They wear cloaks pulled up over their faces, but their dainty hands and feminine stature give away their gender. One is standing while the other lies down. Familiarity tugs at my brain, but I cannot find the connection. There is no memory to connect this to. I have never met these women before. I would remember. Still, I cannot shake the feeling of recognition.
A booming shriek fills my ears, and I realize it comes from the woman lying on the ground. She is in pain. She yells again, louder this time. I press my eyes shut, unable to watch. Silence settles over me. When I open my eyes again, I am no longer at a distance from the tree. Instead, I am staring up at the woman. All of her features are blurred except for her smile. Her smile is warm and perfect. It comforts me.
The peaceful moment is eradicated as I am seized by the other woman. Terror grips me, once again. She carries me, but I do not know where to. I am being taken away from the woman with the warm smile. I feel alone.
“Miss King!” My eyes flew open at the sound of the familiar, shrill voice. Mrs. Conner’s eyes glared me down from the front of the classroom. “It would seem you lack the ability to remain awake during my class. Am I to assume that you find my lecturing rather dull?”
“Ummm…No?” I was sure this was a rhetorical question, but her eyes seemed to demand that I answer. Although I kept my gaze on Mrs. Conner, I could feel the other twenty pairs of eyes watching me.
“Then, I suggest that the next time you feel the need for a nap, you do it on your own time, not mine.” She scolded.
I nodded. A flush of embarrassment rose to my cheeks as I sank further down into my seat. I stared intently at my textbook as Mrs. Conner moved on with her lesson plan. However, my thoughts were far from WWII at the moment. The dream replayed in my head. It was the same one I’d been having ever since I could remember. I usually brushed it off, but this time it was so vivid.
The sound of the bell rang loudly, startling me out of my train of thought. Mrs. Conner rattled off our homework assignment which I rapidly jotted down. This was the last class on a Friday, so students were darting from the room as if it were on fire. The room emptied within seconds.
I maneuvered through the rowdy crowd attempting to reach my locker. I heard someone yell, “Bridget!” over the chaotic noise of the hallway. I knew who it was, immediately. There was only one person at this school with an Aussie accent. I twisted around to see Aiden Matthews dodging a few guys that were tossing a football back and forth as he made his way over to me. Aiden moved here from Australia last year. He and his brother bought the house next door to my foster home and we’d been best friends virtually ever since.
I leaned against my locker as I watched Aiden’s struggle. Aiden’s hair was dark brown, almost black with the mousse, messy style. My eyes lingered where his clothes clung to his muscles. I glanced away before he noticed my wondering eyes. He had a remarkable physique and I always had to catch myself from staring. Not that I had a crush on him or anything, but he was definitely attractive.
“Guess what?” His smile became mischievous.
“Monkeys captured Principal Heckler and are holding him ransom for one million bananas?” I replied as I placed my pinky to my lips, giving my best Dr. Evil impression.
“No, this is much better.” He laughed.
“Not possible.” I lifted a brow skeptically.
“Well, then I suppose you don’t want this extra ticket I have to go see Psycho Sally in two weeks.” He teased, holding up the supposed ticket.
My eyes grew wide. “No way! I thought this concert was sold out!”
“It is, but I know some people.” He smirked.
I rolled my eyes. “You mean your brother knows some people.”
“All I’m hearing is that you don’t want to go.” He teased.
“No! I want to go. I’m sorry. I will never question your connections, again.” I smiled.
He seemed to accept this because he handed me the ticket. I squealed enthusiastically as Aiden watched on in amusement. Satisfied by my reaction, Aiden steered me outside. Wrapped up in our conversation about the concert, we nearly collided with Cassie as she halted in our path.
Cassie Fields was another friend of mine. Actually, she and Aiden were my only friends at this school. Cassie and I had been friends since I moved into my current foster home (the last of six) five years ago. She was the utter opposite of me. I had dark brown hair, pale skin, and light green eyes. She had blonde hair, tan skin, and brown eyes. She had always been taller than me, even in junior high. Now, she had the model look with her 5’8 height and her long legs. However, being only 5’5 gave me the freedom to wear heels, which always made Cassie jealous.
Cassie could easily be the most popular girl in school if she wanted, which she didn’t. She never had much interest in people our age. She preferred the older crowd. She was the cliché spoiled, rich girl. This made us appear to be an odd fit as friends since I was a foster kid, but in reality, it made us perfect. Bouncing around from foster home to foster home left me guarded with little interest in getting close with someone. Cassie was as superficial as they came. There was no chance she’d expect us to have a heart to heart, which left my boundaries safe.
“We’re still going to the bonfire tonight, right?” She asked me.
“Only if you promise not to ditch me, again.” I frowned.
“I won’t. I promise,” and even as she said it I didn’t believe her. “I’ll come by your house around nine. I’ll bring an outfit for you. I just bought a skirt that’ll show off your amazing legs. Later, B.” With that, she waltzed off.
“You know she’s full of crap, right?” Aiden commented once she was out of earshot.
“Wait, you mean to tell me that of the million times she’s ditched me at parties, this time won’t be different? Damn, I thought for sure she’d become a more considerate person overnight.” I said sarcastically.
Aiden rolled his eyes. “If you know she’s going to ditch you, then why are you going?”
My friendship with Aiden was different than the one I had with Cassie. He had a way of getting me to let down my guard, something no one had ever been able to do before. He was the first person I’d ever opened up to about my past. Well, most of it, anyway. It was terrifying and comforting at the same time.
“She’s remarkably convincing.” I shrugged. “You should come with us.”
“I can’t tonight.” Aiden told me. “My brother is making me go to his work thing. If I can sneak out early, I’ll meet you guys there, though.”
“Well, by then it’ll probably be only me. I’m sure Cassie will ditch me by midnight.” I predicted.
Aiden frowned. “I don’t like you being at a party all by yourself.”
“Technically, it’s impossible to be at a party by yourself.” I teased.
His frown deepened. “You know what I mean.”
I rolled my eyes at his overprotectiveness. “I’ll be fine. I always am.”
I knew he wanted to argue, but he remained silent as we continued down the sidewalk. Since we lived next door to each other, it had become our routine to walk home from school together.
“Crap, I forgot to pick up the camera. I’ll catch you later.” I told him.
I whirled around and dashed back to the school. Mrs. Walker was probably going to shoot me. I was supposed to meet her after school to get one of the school’s cameras for my photography project. The class was technically photography and yearbook, but she let me slide on the yearbook duties. What can I say? I was her favorite. I sauntered into the classroom as Mrs. Walker was gathering her things.
“I was almost out the door, Bridget.” She reprimanded without even glancing up. Apparently, being her favorite did not exclude me from the occasional scolding.
“I know. I’m sorry.” I hastily grabbed the camera off of the shelf.
“Don’t forget, your final project is due at the end of April.” She reminded me.
“I didn’t forget. I’m working on it this weekend.” I assured her.
I strolled home alone this time. The moment I stepped into the house, the distinct aroma of alcohol burned my nose. I knew what I would find even before I entered the living room. Judy, my foster “mom”, was passed out on the couch with the TV still on Jeopardy. I gathered the crushed beer cans that lay scattered across the floor.
Amy, the youngest of the five foster children that lived here, skipped through the living room into the kitchen. I followed behind her, arms full of cans. Dumping them into the trash, I saw her digging in the refrigerator.
Foster Care Tip #1: The dynamic of a “good” foster home is one where the older children take care of the younger ones and the foster parents stay out of the way.
“Would you like me to make you a sandwich?” I asked her.
“Yes, please.” She answered with an excited bounce.
By nine o’clock, I had my hair straightened and my makeup on. I stood in my underwear as I waited for Cassie to bring me the promised outfit. While I was perfectly content wearing a pair of old jeans and a t-shirt, Cassie would not approve. Cassie always bought clothes for me when she went shopping. She enjoyed dressing me up like her own personal doll. It was easier to let her have her way than to argue with her. If there was one thing Cassie was not accustomed to hearing, it was the word no.
Checking my reflection in the mirror, I took a moment to examine my body. My long, dark hair fell close to the middle of my back and contrasted with my creamy, white skin. I had always been jealous of Cassie’s slight frame. Anytime I commented on it, though, she reminded me that my chest was much larger than hers. She looked more like a younger Gwyneth Paltrow and I looked more like a slightly paler Megan Fox. I started feeling dumb for comparing myself to Cassie. I usually didn’t analyze my body this much, but I guess every teen girl gets angst over her appearance at one point or another. All in all, I was comfortable with myself, though.
I contemplated wearing my hair in a ponytail as I gathered it into my hands. I glanced in the mirror to my bedside table on top of which lay my hairband. As I turned, I caught a glimpse of movement under my bed out of the corner of my eye. I let my hair fall down as I darted toward the bed.
“Harley, if you crawled through my window again, I am going to-” I lifted my bed skirt, but there was nothing there. I had expected to see Mrs. Henderson’s cat. Instead, I only found a few dust bunnies. “Hmm…” I must be seeing things.
I lifted myself back up as I tried to recall what I had been doing. Oh, right. My hair. I gathered my hair once again and turned to walk to my bedside table. As I rounded my bed, something that felt an awful lot like a cold hand wrapped around my ankle causing me to face plant on the floor.
I twirled around to scan under the bed, but it was still empty. My heart pounded in my chest as I studied my ankle. What the hell just happened? There was nothing in the floor for me to trip over. Plus, it felt distinctly like a hand had grabbed me. I glanced up at the sound of Cassie crawling through my bedroom window. Since my room was on the ground floor, it was easier to use my window than the front door. This way I could avoid Judy, altogether.
“What are you doing on the floor?” She arched one of her perfectly shaped brows.
“Just doing some yoga.” I joked, not wanting to explain the whole “hand grabbing my ankle” thing.
“Did you trip over your own feet, again? You are seriously the clumsiest person I know.” She teased.
Had I tripped over my own feet? It wouldn’t be the first time. It made more sense than anything else. I nodded accepting this explanation.
Cassie tossed me a shopping bag. I examined it to find a blue spaghetti strap and a black mini skirt. I lifted a brow at the scant outfit and rolled my eyes. Luckily, I had predicted such an outfit and had shaved my legs meticulously after I got home from school.
As I got dressed, Cassie studied my wall of pictures. Dozens of photographs I had taken of Cassie, Aiden, and I over the years covered the wall nearest my bed. Cassie’s eyes fell on a picture of me and her from junior high. It was Halloween night and we had dressed up as Madonna, each from a different era in her career. I was dressed in her mid-eighties style with a large cross necklace and cut off shirt. Cassie was wearing the infamous cone bra with her hair in a ponytail with a braided base.
I smiled to myself as I thought back to that night. Cassie and I had gone to a high school party where I got wasted. That was the night I had met Chad. Chad became somewhat of an older brother to me. Well, an older brother that got me into trouble more times than I could count. We had been close. Unfortunately, he graduated a year ago and joined the Navy. I received the occasional phone call from him, but he’d been at sea practically since he finished basic training.
“Okay, let’s go.” I grabbed the camera and a jacket.
“Must you bring the camera?” She pressed her eyebrows together.
“Actually, yeah, I do. I have to finish my project.” I frowned.
“Then you can title it ‘Exhibit A’ since it’ll be used as evidence when the cops bust us.”
“This is for school. Obviously the pictures will be kept G-rated.” I rolled my eyes. Yeah, as if I’d actually take pictures of everyone drinking. “And don’t worry; I’ll be sure to get your good side.”
“Bitch, please. I don’t have a bad side.” Cassie lifted her arms in a model pose. I snapped a couple of shots of her, feeding her ego. As if her ego needed to be fed, obese as it already was.
We silently snuck out the window with expertise. Rounding the house, we strolled to her BMW, which she parked down the street. You could never be too careful with Judy. Even if she was completely hammered and so passed out that she appeared dead, she still somehow managed to wake up at the most inopportune moments. That’s usually when she’d get violent.
As I slid into the passenger seat, I choked on the new car smell. “What is it with rich people needing everything to smell new?”
Cassie shrugged her shoulders as she shifted into drive. “It’s all about appearances.”
A truer statement had never been spoken. Everything was two dimensional in the world of overindulgence. I rolled my eyes.
I stared out the window as we drove along a highway that was lined with thick trees. I glanced at the glowing clock on Cassie’s car radio. Anxiety gripped my chest as I realized how far this party was from Waverly. I had become accustomed to being ditched by Cassie at parties, but they had never been more than a couple miles from my house. Aiden might meet us later, I reminded myself. The thought brought relief with it.
Cassie had texted Aiden directions to the party earlier for me. I didn’t have a cell phone, so I was unable to do it myself. My part time job at Betty’s Diner was barely sufficient for buying groceries and school supplies. There was no extra cash for a monthly bill. Aiden had offered to buy me one, but that seemed like crossing the line between friend and charity case. Besides, I would hopefully have my own phone in a few weeks. Aiden and I were entering a contest where the prize was a new smartphone with a two year paid contract.
After a few more minutes of driving, Cassie finally turned off of the highway onto something that seemed less like a road and more of a path that just so happened to be free of trees. After a bumpy ride, we ended up at a large clearing amongst the trees. Cars were parked along the edge of the tree line. In the center of the clearing, there was a bonfire that appeared to have been burning for a couple of hours. A few feet away were some tables set out with a keg and various types of liquor. There were a couple of guys that lingered near the drink table. They were obvious as they checked Cassie out.
“I’m going to get us drinks.” She grinned. “I’ll be right back.”
She sauntered off in the direction of the boys. I seriously doubted she’d be “right back”, so I tugged out my camera. The party was well underway. The scale of drunkenness ranged between buzzed to speaking incoherently to a tree. Everyone seemed to be having an excellent time. Couples were cuddled under blankets having whispered conversations. There were a few guys having deep “drunken” discussions.
“Dude, I’m telling you, it’s all a conspirasssy,” some guy proclaimed rather loudly. His words were slurred and hard to understand. “The moon isss fraudu… fraudu…” He paused to regain himself. “It’sss not real. It’sss a hallogram.”
Laughing to myself over the guy’s crazy theory, I turned away. As I snapped pictures across the cluster of people, my eyes connected with someone else’s. It was apparent he had been staring at me, but he did not appear to be embarrassed over being caught. Ironically enough, his lack of embarrassment sort of embarrassed me. I bit my lip and glanced away.
I decided I’d taken enough pictures for now and found a place to sit near the fire. I glanced over to where Cassie was supposed to be, but she was nowhere in sight. I suspected she might have taken off into the woods with one of those guys. It was a record, actually. She ditched me in zero point two seconds.
“Hey.” I heard a voice say from beside me. The sudden noise made me jerk in a mortifyingly obvious way. I glanced up to see the guy that had been staring at me earlier. “Want a beer?” Being this close to him, I could make out his features. He was tall, tan, and had shaggy, light brown hair with dark brown eyes. His smile revealed a set of perfect teeth. “Is that a yes?” His smile widened and I realized I’d been staring at him.
“A beer sounds great.” A deep flush spread across my face as I accepted the second beer he was holding.
“Mind if I join you?”
“No, I don’t mind.” I answered.
“I’m Eli.” He told me as he slid down next to me.
“Bridget.” I smiled.
“I noticed your friend took off.”
“Yeah, well, she’s a Gemini.” I explained.
“Ah, so she’s superficial and flighty.” He nodded.
My eyebrows rose in surprise. “You know the zodiac signs?”
“My sister is pretty into the whole astrology thing.” He explained. “What’s your sign?”
“Cancer.” I smiled.
“Which makes sense since Cancers are loyal to a fault.”
“What makes you confident that I’m loyal?” I asked skeptically.
“You weren’t surprised that your friend ditched you, but you still came with her.” He pointed out.
“Fine, you got me.” I felt slightly uncomfortable with his freakishly accurate assessment of me. I was quick to change the subject. “What’s your sign?”
“Pisces.” He answered.
“So, you’re laid back.” I stated.
“I guess you could say that.” He smiled.
A sudden breeze blew across my skin causing goosebumps to rise and my muscles to shiver. I tugged my tiny jacket tighter, but it did nothing. Eli noticed and silently slid his jacket over my shoulders. It was still warm from his body.
“What’s with the camera? You some sort of narc?” He quirked an eyebrow.
“Yep, I work for the sheriff’s department. I’m going to have to arrest you now.” I teased.
“If you wanted me in handcuffs, all you had to do was ask.” He winked. “What’s the camera really for?”
“School project. I have to take pictures of ‘one hundred strangers’ and write a short biography about them.” I explained.
“Sounds like you might get to meet some interesting people.” He commented.
“In Waverly? Not so much.”
“That’s where you live? No wonder I haven’t seen you at any parties before.” He observed.
“Yeah, we usually don’t go to parties this close to Lincoln, but I guess my friend wanted to try something new.” I explained.
“I’m glad she did.” He smiled over at me. I bit my lip nervously under his gaze.
His grin grew at my reaction. He seemed to enjoy making me nervous. My attention caught on his mouth. His smile appeared to radiate a genuine happiness that was infectious. I couldn’t help but compare it with Aiden’s. Aiden’s smile was cute, too, but it was more of a smirk. I had never seen Aiden simply smile because he was genuinely happy for a moment. He always seemed to hide his emotions with quips and sarcasm. I never knew what he was actually thinking, which was both frustrating and intriguing.
“Bridget!” I heard Cassie shout as she sauntered toward us with some guy in tow. She had a bottle of tequila in one hand and the guy’s arm in the other. I could tell she was already buzzed and it wouldn’t be long before she was drunk. “See, I told you I wouldn’t ditch you. This is Bryan.” She flopped down on the ground next to Eli and me.
“Actually, it’s Ryan.” The guy corrected, sliding down next to her, but Cassie didn’t act like she heard him. She passed me the bottle of tequila and I took a swig.
“This is Eli.” I told her. “Eli this is Cassie.”
“Hi, Eli, you are cute. Are you single?” Cassie asked bluntly.
“Uh…Yeah.” Eli answered. I could tell he wasn’t expecting to be asked that right off the bat. He obviously didn’t know Cassie.
“Ah, really? Bridget is, too.” Cassie wiggled her eyebrows.
She was always trying to hook me up with guys. She desperately wanted me to lose my V- card. She thought that virginity was overrated, which was why she gave hers away so quickly. I didn’t know if the tight grip I held onto mine with had to do with my trust issues or if I merely wasn’t ready to let go of the one thing I felt I could control in my life. Maybe it was both.
“So, anyway, Ryan, do you live around here?” I asked trying to change the subject.
“I’m originally from Omaha, but I’m going to school in Lincoln, so I live on campus.” He said.
“Oh, what school?” I asked.
“I go to KU.” He answered. Cassie appeared to be bored with the conversation.
“Where do you live, Eli?” Cassie asked, steering the topic back towards Eli.
“Lincoln.” He stated.
“How old are you?” She pried.
“Seventeen.” He laughed, amused by her constant stream of questions.
“Bridget is sixteen and she doesn’t have a curfew. She’s so lucky. She can stay out as late as she wants. She doesn’t even have to go home if she doesn’t want to. No one would sick the cops on her like my parents do.” She was beginning to babble, so I knew she was getting tipsy.
“Absentee parents?” Eli asked me.
“You could say that.” I told him.
I hated telling people about my situation, so I usually kept things nondescript when it came to my parents. Not that I could be more detailed, even if I wanted to.
“More like a mystery. Her life is so dramatic. She could totally star in a soap opera. She doesn’t even know who her parents are. Those deadbeats abandoned her as a baby, no offense, B.” Cassie blurted.
“Cassie!” I scolded her, but she didn’t stop.
“Her parents are totally MIA. She’s been living in foster homes since like forever, and the foster parents she lives with now are total drunks. So, she can totally do whatever she wants.” Cassie said. I was furious at her for telling Eli things I told her in confidence. Unfortunately, Cassie was drunk by this point, which left her without a filter.
“Anything you want?” Eli said smoothly as he raised an eyebrow in question. I smiled in response as I pictured the possibilities. By now, Cassie had lost interest in us entirely and was making out with Ryan. Eli continued, “Such an eventful life for a sixteen year old.”
“It’s not as dramatic as it sounds.” I explained, hoping he wasn’t completely freaked out.
“Too bad. It would have made for an interesting biography one day.” He grinned.
“Yeah, it would.” I agreed with a smile. Eli really was laid back.
“Okay, we’re headed out. Bryan is going to give me a tour of his apartment.” Cassie announced with a giggle.
I knew Cassie was aware of Ryan’s actual name. This was merely her subtle way of letting him know he wouldn’t be around long enough for her to bother remembering it. She turned to Eli and asked, “Is there any way you can give Bridget a ride home?”
“No problem.” Eli replied.
Cassie didn’t waste any time as she staggered behind Ryan toward her car. I was relieved to see her hand the keys over to the mostly sober Ryan. Cassie was in no condition to drive. She was actually in no condition to be making sexual decisions, either, but last time I said as much, she nearly bit my head off.
“I have another friend that’s supposed to meet me here, so you don’t have to give me a ride.” I told him.
“I don’t mind taking you home.” Eli asserted. His eyes met mine with a gleam, and I felt a warm flush sweep over me. I glanced away in an attempt to hide it.
I cleared my throat. “So, you know a lot about me now, thanks to Cassie, and I know nothing about you.”
“You know my name is Eli and you know I’m a Pisces.” He grinned.
I pursed my lips. “And that’s all I know. That’s not exactly enough for a biography.”
“Is that all I am to you, just some project?” He said sarcastically dramatic.
“Shut up.” I laughed.
“Fine, you can ask me five questions, and I promise to answer them honestly, but I must warn you, there’s not much about me worth knowing.” He flashed a side grin.
“I’ll be the judge of that.” I told him. “Question one: Where do you go to school?”
“Wellington Academy, next question.”
“Wellington Academy, isn’t that a private school?” I asked.
I wouldn’t have guessed Eli was a rich kid, but now that I thought it over, I was starting to notice the minute things that separated him from all the foster kids I knew. He had on those ripped jeans that you could tell came already pre-ripped and cost a fortune. On his wrist, he wore a watch that looked like it was made of real gold. His shoes were a spotless white with a Nike symbol on the side. I remembered seeing the same pair at the mall. They cost a few hundred.
“Yes it is; next question.” He smiled. His words ripped me from my thoughts.
“Hold on, that was not one of my five questions. It was an extension question. I only asked because you gave me a nondescript answer.” I objected, entirely forgetting his expensive outfit.
“A question is a question.” He insisted with a smirk.
“Fine.” I gave him a mischievous smile. “Question three: How many people have you slept with?”
His eyebrows rose in surprise. “Ah, vengeful are we?”
“Yes, I am. Now, you said you’d answer my five questions honestly.” I reminded him.
“You’re right. I did say that. Okay, then, zero-.” He began.
“Bullshit.” I interjected.
“Zero guys.” He finished with a knowing smile. “And four girls.” He seemed more amused than embarrassed by the question.
“What is that mathematical equation used to figure out how many girls a guy has actually slept with? Don’t answer that. That was not directed at you.” I asserted making him laugh. “It’s three times whatever number they give you. Therefore, you’ve actually slept with twelve girls.”
“First of all, you have it backwards. It’s women that lie about how many people they’ve slept with. Second of all, I told you I would be honest and I was.” He smiled.
“Okay, I guess I believe you. Moving on. Question four: Do you have any siblings?”
“Yes, an older brother and an older sister. I haven’t seen my sister in over a year, though.” He answered.
“I’m curious about your sister, but I won’t ask since you’re so technical with the rules of this game.” I jested.
He let out a laugh. “I’ll give you a freebie. My sister’s been working in Ireland, so she hasn’t been around much. What’s your next question?” He switched subjects before I could comment.
“Okay, question five: What’s your biggest secret?” I asked him, lowering my voice for dramatic effect. A mysterious expression I could not pinpoint passed Eli’s face briefly. It was barely a millisecond before his normal nonchalance was back.
“If I told you, then it wouldn’t be a secret.” He pointed out.
“Elijah! Would you get your ass back over here?” We heard someone yell before I could argue with him. We both twisted around to see who it was. It was one of the guys Eli had been sitting with before he came to talk to me.
“Come sit with us.” Eli offered as he rose off the ground.
“Okay.” I agreed.
We gradually made our way over to the group. Three guys and two girls lounged out on the ground in a circle. The guys scooted over and made room for me and Eli. We slid down on a blanket they had spread out.
Then, Eli began introducing everyone to me. “Bridget, this is Grey.” He said pointing at the guy who had summoned Eli back to the group. He had spiky, blond hair with blue tips. “This is Hail.” He gestured toward the guy who had been talking to Eli right before he came to sit with me. He had shaggy reddish blond hair. “This is Jordan.” He said pointing to the last guy whose hair was almost as dark as Aiden’s. “And this is Tiffany, Hail’s girlfriend, and Nicole, Grey’s girlfriend.” Tiffany had long brown hair a few shades lighter than mine and Nicole had shoulder length, blonde hair.
“Hi.” I gave a general wave to everyone.
“Aren’t you freezing in that skirt?” Tiffany asked me.
I envied the jeans and sweaters she and Nicole wore. I silently cursed Cassie for the skimpy outfit. It was the last time I’d relinquish wardrobe control over to her.
“Yes, I am.” I told her.
She tossed me a blanket. “Here, it’s our last one so you and Eli will have to share.”
“I’m not cold.” He told me, but it would have been more convincing if his arms weren’t covered in goosebumps.
“Well, either we share or you’re taking your coat back.” I insisted with a smile.
He moved closer to me. As he covered us up, his hand brushed across my leg and lingered for a moment sending tingles through my numb legs. Now, we were close enough that I could feel the heat from his body. I resisted the urge to press myself closer against him, but I was extremely aware of his body’s movements. After a few minutes, the warmth brought feeling back into my legs.
“What happened to that hot blonde you were with?” Jordan asked me.
“She left.” I answered.
“How are you getting home?” Grey asked me.
“Oh, I thought I’d do some camping tonight. You know, pitch a tent, roast marshmallows, sing Kumbaya, that sort of thing.” I said jokingly.
“But it’s freezing out!” Nicole exclaimed with wide eyes.
Either she was too drunk to realize I was kidding or her personality matched her blonde hair perfectly. Nicole was as skinny as Cassie but not quite as tall from what I could tell while she was sitting. She wore her hair down in curls that seemed unaffected by the moist air. In fact, not a hair appeared out of place on her head.
“She was joking Nicole. I’m going to take her home.” Eli laughed.
“Oh, okay, good.” She said, appearing happy, again.
“You guys are all from Lincoln?” I asked the group.
“Yeah.” Grey said. “Jordan, Hail, and I go to school with Eli.”
“Nicole and I go to an all-girls prep school in Lincoln.” Tiffany said.
“Have you ever been to Lincoln before?” Eli asked me in a low tone.
“I went once with Cassie on one of her shopping sprees, but I didn’t see much of anything outside the mall.”
“Well there’s definitely more exciting things to do in Lincoln other than going to the mall. We hit all the clubs on the weekends. You should join us sometime.” Eli’s voice was smoky, causing shivers to race down my spine.
“Yeah, that’d be fun.” I breathed.
“So, can I get your number? Or would you rather I just stalk you online?” Eli asked.
“Well, I don’t have a phone, so I guess you’ll have to stalk me.”
“I’m into role-playing. Have any other fantasies I need to know about?” He said as he rubbed the outside of my thigh.
“That’s privileged information.” I responded flirtatiously.
Eli leaned within inches of my ear and whispered, “I have ways of making you talk.” With Eli so close, our bodies were pressed together making it hard to ignore the hormones that were ignited. My body felt on fire. A peal of shrill laughter cut through the moment and the spell was broken. Eli leaned back, breaking the intimate proximity between us with a disappointed expression.
“Or I could give you Cassie’s number and she could give me your messages.” I suggested, my tone mirroring his expression. He handed me his phone in agreement.
“Did anyone catch that Huskers game last night?” Grey asked while I was putting Cassie’s number into Eli’s phone.
“Yeah, that ref was a total douche.” Hail growled.
I wasn’t into sports, so I didn’t know if they were talking about football or baseball. I didn’t even know what was in season, right now. Obviously, Tiffany felt the same way because she turned to me and gave an extremely puzzled look. However, the guys were getting into their discussion, including Eli.
“I think we lost them.” Tiffany said to Nicole and me.
“Oh yeah, they are lost in boy world, now.” Nicole giggled.
“So, Eli’s taking you home, huh?” Tiffany asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Well, I have another friend who might be coming later, but if he doesn’t show up then Eli said he’d take me home.” I told them.
“Another friend who’s a guy?” Tiffany asked.
“Yeah.” I answered.
“Are you guys together? Is he cute?” Nicole asked. I felt awkward at being put on the spot.
“It’s not like that, we’re just friends.” I insisted.
“Well, do you have a boyfriend?” Nicole glanced back and forth between me and Eli, whose attention was suddenly on our conversation. He had never gotten confirmation from me that I was indeed single.
“Nope.” I answered. The guys seemed to be done with their sports talk.
“Let’s play Never Have I Ever.” Tiffany suggested.
“Yes! I’ll go get us more drinks.” Nicole shot up and darted for the drink table, Grey following behind her.
“How do you play?” Jordan asked.
“Well, basically you say ‘never have I ever’ and then you say something you’ve never done before, and anyone who has done that has to take a drink.” Tiffany explained. “And no lying.”
Nicole and Grey came back with both arms full of liquor and beer bottles. She handed a cup of vodka to me and Eli and then passed out drinks to everyone.
“Okay, I’ll start.” Tiffany said. “Never have I ever gone skinny dipping.” Nicole, Grey, and I all took a drink. Wow, first one and I already had to drink. This was going to be an interesting game.
“Never have I ever played strip poker.” Nicole said, giving a knowing look to Tiffany who rolled her eyes. I guess Nicole was the only one who hadn’t because everyone except her took a drink, including me.
“Never have I ever had sex in the back of a pickup truck.” Jordan said. Nobody took a drink. Obviously, these people were not from Waverly.
“Never have I ever been arrested for kidnapping a pig.” Grey gave Hail and Eli a pointed look. They both took a drink.
“And why did you kidnap a pig?” I asked them.
“It was another school’s mascot. Any other animal and we would have gotten away with it. You may not be aware of this, but pigs are not the most cooperative creatures.” Eli explained.
“Sure, blame the pig.” I laughed.
“Never have I ever smoked cigarettes in the school bathroom.” Hail said, continuing the game. Nicole, Tiffany, Grey, Eli, and I all took a drink.
“Never have I ever been arrested more than twice.” Eli said. His expression changed to surprised when I took a drink. “Wow, from narc to criminal in under an hour.” He gave me an amused smile. I gave a slight shrug but remained silent.
“Never have I ever hooked up with a girl.” I said quickly, trying to change the subject. All the guys took a drink and then so did Tiffany and Nicole.
“With each other?” Grey asked them.
They gave each other a look and then shrugged their shoulders. They weren’t going to give away any details. However, that didn’t stop Jordan, Grey, and Hail from harassing them over it. The game seemed to have come to an end since the guys were completely wrapped up in this new revelation.
“Do you want to go for a walk?” Eli asked me.
“Sure.”
We told the group we were leaving, not that they were paying us any attention. We moved past the tree line further into the woods until the party noises were merely background noise. Eli pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.
“Do you want one?” He asked.
“No, I’ve mostly quit.” I told him.
“What does that mean, you mostly quit?” He laughed.
“It means that when my friends ask if I quit, I say yes but every once in a while I sneak one when nobody’s around.” I explained.
“I’m the only one here, now.” He pointed out.
“Well, when you put it that way.” I said, taking a cigarette from him. He lit mine and then his.
Aiden detested it when I smoked. He was the main reason I quit. It was a never ending nagging that I couldn’t take anymore. Of course, it was a daily struggle not to smoke one. If someone offered me one, it was next to impossible for me to refuse.
We both only smoked half a cigarette and put them out. “I had fun tonight.” I commented.
“Yeah, me too.” Eli said, coming to a stop next to a tree. He whirled around to face me. “I met this great girl with an amazing smile.”
“Cassie does have an amazing smile.” I teased, stopping right next to him.
He remained silent as he continued to smile down at me. Then, to my surprise, he bent down, gently grabbing my face, and kissed me. It was soft as his lips moved across mine almost as if he was asking for my permission. My lips tingled as he moved his face away from mine.
My body ignited with a fierce need that I had never felt before. It was as if all my senses were kicked into overdrive, and I never felt more alive. I connected with an unknown energy that seemed to surround us. My body seized control spurred on by that very energy as it coursed through my veins.
With a sense of empowerment, I gripped his shoulders as I twisted us so that his back was pressed into the tree. At his shocked expression, I closed the space between our bodies, and I moved my lips to meet his. His arms circled around my waist as I pushed my body flush with his. Taking control of the situation, I thrust my tongue into Eli’s mouth where I began to rhythmically massage his tongue with mine.
Overcome by my instincts, I didn’t feel like it was enough and had a craving for more. I began to rub him through his shirt. His chest was solid and I could feel the rippling of his form. I needed to be closer, so I raised the edge of his shirt, tracing my fingertips over his abs and on up.
Eli sucked in a surprised breath as I found the raised buds of his nipples. Inspired by his response, I moved their tips around between my fingers as I kissed down the side of his jaw in anticipation of moving lower. As things began heating up, an icy wind bit through my clothes, and my body shuddered. The moment was broken as I regained control over my body, and I pulled back.
“Are you freezing, yet?” He grinned.
“Um…Yeah.” I said, still disoriented by the kiss.
“Do you want to go to my car?” He asked with desire still clear in his eyes.
“Sure.” I answered.
My body thrummed with unspent desire that seemed to lessen as we made our way over to the cars. Eli let out a grunting sound that drew my attention to him. He seemed to glare intently at something up ahead. However, when I did a brief scan to find the culprit, I came up short. I couldn’t figure out what had caused the abrupt mood change in Eli. It was only a moment later that Aiden appeared out of the shadows.
“Oh, there he is.” I told Eli. His expression was puzzled.
Aiden stomped over to stand directly in our path. His body was just as tense as Eli’s, if not more. I was dumbfounded by the whole exchange. Their entire demeanor screamed for a fight, which didn’t make any sense.
“What’s going on?” Aiden’s eyes never left Eli as he spoke.
“Nothing, I didn’t think you were going to make it, so Eli was going to take me home.” I told him. Their silent fight was beyond puzzling. Did I miss something?
“What’s up with you guys?” I asked them. Neither even offered a glance in my direction, as if I wasn’t even there. Annoyance filled me.
“Well, I’m here now, so you can go back to your party.” Aiden growled at Eli. “Come on, Bridget. I’m taking you home.” He said to me in a much softer voice.
“How about someone explain to me what all the tension is about before I go anywhere.” I barked, frustrated with them. Was I suddenly invisible?
“You’re crazy if you think I’m going to let her go anywhere with you.” Eli sneered at Aiden while simultaneously ignoring me.
“Let me?” Ok, now I was pissed. What the hell was going on here?
“I didn’t mean it like that. Listen, whatever you may think, he’s not your friend.” Eli said to me in a much calmer voice than he used with Aiden.
“Hold on, do you two know each other?” I asked, directing the question at both of them. An unsaid message passed between them that told me there was something they weren’t telling me.
“Our paths have crossed.” Aiden muttered, obviously not willing to go into any more detail than that.
“Fine, don’t tell me. Just leave me out of whatever feud you two have going on here.” I growled.
I tossed Eli his coat. As I did, I noticed Grey and Hail were also on edge. Although they remained where they were sitting, their eyes were glued on the three of us and they appeared as if they were ready to leap into action if a fight broke out. I truly hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but if it did, I wasn’t sticking around to watch. I took off toward the woods.
“What are you doing?” Aiden’s voice roared from behind me.
“I can’t deal with this. I’m choking on all the testosterone.” I threw the words over my shoulder.
I was so furious that I didn’t even feel the cold on my bare skin. My adrenaline was pumping hard as I raced on. I knew taking off was probably idiotic and over-the-top, but I didn’t care. I was drunk and pissed. I sprinted through the woods, dodging trees until my lungs felt like they were going to collapse. I plopped down, leaning back on the nearest tree and tried to catch my breath. Perhaps, I’d be camping, after all.
Eli:
Eli stared after Bridget. He was shocked and more than slightly amused at the sudden turn of events. So, her friend was Aiden Matthews, Eli thought to himself. Things just got exciting. But then Eli realized what this meant. Aiden was in town. What was he doing here? And why was Bridget calling him a friend? There was more to this story, but Eli couldn’t think about that, right now. He was much more concerned with what Aiden’s presence meant for Eli and his brother, Sam. He knew that if Aiden was poking around, they’d never be able to finish what they’d started. Eli had had enough of this douchebag for one lifetime.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Eli shot accusingly at Aiden. He clinched his fist under the jacket that now lay across his arm.
“I could ask the same of you.” Aiden shot back with a fierce glare.
“Oh, you know, cute girl, wild party. You can put two and two together.” Eli taunted.
“You lay one finger on her and you are a dead man.” Aiden threatened in his annoyingly arrogant accent, getting right in Eli’s face. Surprised by Aiden’s reaction over Bridget, he knew he’d found a sore spot he could exploit.
Eli moved even closer and whispered daringly, “Too late.”
Aiden swung his fist, catching the side of Eli’s face. It knocked Eli off balance briefly before he punched Aiden right back. Grey and Hail were on them instantly, forcing them apart.
“This isn’t the place. People are staring.” Hail warned. With neither side satisfied from the fight, tension still lay heavily in the air. Grey released Eli, but Hail still held on to Aiden. Aiden tore himself from his grip but didn’t attack, again. Instead, he took off into the woods. Eli chased after him, determined to find Bridget before Aiden did. He knew she was the key to distracting Aiden long enough so they could do what they needed to.
Eli spent twenty minutes searching for Bridget without any luck. She was apparently faster than he thought. He finally gave up and headed back to the party. He noticed Aiden’s car was gone too and he hoped that meant that Aiden had as little luck as he did. Maybe Bridget had found someone to give her a ride home.
On his drive to Lincoln, Eli thought about Bridget. He wondered why she had such a hold over Aiden. Yeah, she was beautiful. Okay, she was more than beautiful, but that couldn’t be everything. What was so special about this girl that had Aiden following her around like a lap dog? If Eli didn’t know any better, he’d think Aiden was ordered to protect her. But why?
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