This Love of Mine (Raine Series #1) (2 page)

When I
finished dragging my sorry ass up the small hill to where the lands connected,
I all but threw myself onto the ground. Who would've thought that turning
eighteen would be so fucking hard. I groaned as I searched my jean pockets for
my pack of smokes and lighter. As the orange flame met with the thin paper, I
sucked in the biggest drag of smoke my lungs would allow. I let it out with a
loud sigh and instantly felt better. I shaded my face from the burning sun with
my baseball cap before taking another long drag from the burning cigarette in
my hand.

I had
been coming to my grandparent's farm since I was twelve to help out. My father
and I used to come up here almost every other weekend when I was younger, but
since he landed himself in jail for a robbery three years ago, I had been on my
own. My mother had passed away when I was four from cancer and I could barely remember
her anymore. It was sad and I wished everyday that the picture of her in my
mind, would stop fading, but it was almost gone. I missed her terribly, but I
had been the man of the house for far too long to even think twice about
needing a mom around.

I put
the butt of the cigarette up to my lips one last time, sucking in the nicotine
that I so craved. I put the rest out on the grass next to me, before crossing
my arms and closing my eyes. I knew I had to get to feeding the horses, but I
just wanted a second to myself for once. I loved coming to the farm in the
summer, but man my grandfather was constantly on my ass day in and day out. It
got tiring and old, real fast.

All I
could think about lately was going home. Our house was only about six hours
away from my grandparent's farm, but it was far enough that I didn't have to deal
with any parental units, except for the old lady next door to us, who promised
to keep an eye on me while my dad was gone.

When dad
was put away, I was supposed to be sent to live with my grandparents, but I
made sure to make a big scene about not wanting to leave school or my friends.
In the end, my grandfather agreed to let me stay in our house as long as old
lady Rickles checked on me everyday, and that my grandparents could pop in
anytime they wanted. I was desperate and needed to stay close to everything I
knew, so I stupidly agreed.

At seventy-six
years old, my grandfather made it a point to drive the six hours from
Abernathy, Texas to our small little town, to check on me at least once a week.
I honestly never thought that he would spend so much time checking on me, but
it was nice to know that someone cared enough to do it.

My dad
had been a great dad, when he remembered that he had a kid. He was a bit of a
gambler and a good one at that, but his luck eventually ran out and so did the
money, hence the robbery. Him and his buddy left late one night after he had
thought I was asleep and never came home. I woke up to the phone ringing and an
officer saying that my father was in jail and wouldn't be getting out for quite
sometime. That was the night I went from a teenage boy, to an adult. I had no
choice.

Part of
my agreement with my grandparents, was that every summer I was to put all my
other obligations aside and come help out on the farm. I agreed, mainly because
they deserved my help. After everything that had happened to our family, it was
the least I could do and it got me away from everything for three whole months.
Out here I could ignore the entire world for that time and when I finally
returned, everything had basically remained the same. I reached for another
cigarette when I heard a loud thundering sound, shaking the ground. I quickly
shot up, scrambling for my hat, when I saw the fifteen horses from our property
come barreling at me.

SHIT!!

I
quickly got to my feet and clasped down on the mane of Rocket just as he came
rushing past. Of course the horses didn't have saddles, so I had to tighten my
grip with my thighs and hold on for dear life to his mane. I tried multiple
times to slow Rocket down, but something had spooked the whole lot of them and
they were running for the hills, literally. After about half a mile, they all started
to slow. I reached around Rocket's neck, patting him just below his head and he
eventually came to a full stop. Once Rocket stopped, the entire heard stopped
and began grazing the hay bails randomly placed throughout the land we owned.

After I
caught my breath, I turned to count just how many of them had made it out this
far. As my count reached fifteen, I suddenly remembered what my grandfather had
asked me to do. "Shit, I forgot to fix the latch on the gate. Son of a
bitch!" I shouted to myself thinking no one was around.

"You're
darn right you forgot." My grandfather's voice traveled through the thick
humid air, and I silently wished I were anywhere but here.

"I'm
so sorry, sir. I swear I was just about to go do it." I was lying and I
was pretty sure he knew it.

"Don't
you dare sit there and lie to me boy. Your lucky I don't hop down off this
horse and give your ass a good whoopin. Now pick up your darn cigarette butts
and get your ass back to that house and help out your grandma. Obviously you
can't be trusted to take care of something so small as a latch. Now get!"
He roared.

I tugged
on Rocket's mane and clicked his backside with my heal. We took off in the direction
of my mess and after gathering the one cigarette butt off of the ground, we
made our way back towards the house. I knew I was in some serious trouble now.
Damn it!

Kayla

"You
are out of here first thing tomorrow, do you hear me?" My mother's voice
was like nails on a chalkboard.

"Yes,
ma'am." I was silently jumping for joy, knowing I would be free of her in
less than twenty-four hours.

"Go
flush that shit down the toilet before Richard gets here. I swear you're about
as stupid as they come."

I
grabbed the small baggie of weed off of the floor where it had fallen, and
walked straight to the downstairs bathroom. I had no qualms with flushing the
drugs, seeing as they weren't even mine. Trust me, I had done my fair share of
drugs over the years, but I had quit practically everything cold turkey about
six months ago. Of course my momma wouldn't know that because she was barely
even awake, let alone present throughout the day.

Just as
I flushed the toilet, I heard the front door open. I knew it was Richard for my
momma, but knowing that us being nice to one another really pissed her off, and
the fact that I was leaving first thing in the morning, I decided to push her
buttons. I came around the corner, baggie in hand and saw Richard walking towards
me.

"Hey
Richard, looking good. How has your day been?" I was all smiles and I
could feel the anger radiating off of my mother. She never showed her true
colors in front of Richard, and I used this to my advantage, knowing I would
pay for it later.

"My
day is going pretty good so far KJ. You seem rather chipper today."

I had to
admit Richard was extremely good looking for his age. He was about thirty-two,
tall and had muscles that I don't think any boy my age even knew existed. He
was only a year younger than my momma, but she looked at least forty these
days. I caught sight of her enraged face standing at the kitchen island before
I answered.

"Well,
it has been a fantastic day so far, and I just found out I get to go stay with
my grandparents for the summer. I leave tomorrow morning." I smiled in his
direction, before bending down and scooping up the strip of condoms off of the
floor.

"Well
that sounds fun. I hope you have a great summer then. Maybe I'll see you when
you get back." He smiled in my direction, but I knew that look. I had seen
that look on many other boyfriends’ faces of my momma's. He knew he wasn't
going to be around when I got back. Part of me was sad, simply because he made
my mother a little more bearable, but I would survive.

"Thanks.
I'm sure I'll see ya around." I headed up the stairs as fast as my feet
would take me and quickly closed the door behind me.

I
reached for my cell phone as I flung myself onto my bed. I had to call Wren and
let him know what was going on. He knew it was a possibility that I would have
to leave, but he didn't know that I was all but banking on it. Wren and I had
been together now for almost a year. I had just turned seventeen last month and
he had turned seventeen in January. Things had smoothed out a bit over the last
six months for us, but he was still extremely possessive and I wasn't exactly
sure how he was going to take the news, about me, or the drugs.

"Hello?"

"Hi
baby, what are you up to?" My voice sounded strained and I knew if I
didn't change it soon, he was going to catch on too quickly.

"Hanging
out at home with everyone. What's up?"

I could
tell by the tone in his voice that he was already as high as a kite. Great,
this was going to be fun. When Wren got high, he got mean. "I have
something to tell you, actually two things. Wait who is everyone?" I knew
when he usually said "everyone," he meant other girls as well.

"Seriously
KJ, you're going to start already? Fuck!"

I could
hear the anger growing but I was beyond caring. I was gone tomorrow regardless,
for three whole months. "Yes I'm serious! And I swear to god if you say
that Angela is over there, I'm going to flip my shit, Wren."

"So
what if she is. She's just a friend KJ. God damn, I don't know why I even
bother anymore. You're so fucking paranoid."

"Paranoid
is when you HAVEN'T fucked one of my best friends, Wren. So yeah, I question
your relationship with Angela. Anyway, the reason I called was to tell you that
your weed got flushed down the toilet. My mom found it and freaked out. Oh and
I leave in the morning for my grandparents farm." I waited with baited
breath for his answer or for him to flip out, but I was genuinely surprised
when he didn't.

"Cool.
Well have a good time. Make sure you leave me some money on your windowsill,
before you go. Drugs aren't free ya know."

I could
feel the anger flowing through my veins. I sucked in a big breath before
responding, as not to piss him off. "I'm sorry what? How the hell am I
responsible for your drugs? You're the one who left it at my house last night,
so it's not my fault my mom found it. Oh and by the way, she also knows we are
having sex."

"ARE
YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?" His voice raised about three octaves as I held
the phone out away from my ear. "Jesus Christ Kayla, what the fuck?"

"It's
not my fault. She ransacked my room and found the thing of condoms you left
here, yet again." I was over being nice and placating his ass. I was done.
This relationship was toxic and now was the perfect time to get out.
"Whatever Wren, I'm done. We are done. I'll leave your money under the red
rock by the tree out front. See ya around."

I went
to hang up but heard him screaming into the phone. "NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
SWEETHEART!"

"We'll
see," I muttered under my breath before ended our call. I knew Wren
wouldn't come over while my mom was here, so I took the opportunity to start
packing my things for tomorrow. Maybe I could convince her to even let me leave
tonight. I grabbed practically my whole wardrobe and threw it into my suitcase
and duffle bag. There was no way I was leaving anything behind.

I tugged
my luggage behind me as I made my way down the stairs. I heard hushed voices,
but never imagined what I would walk in on. My mom stood at the kitchen counter
with white powder broken up in tiny lines in front of her and next to her
stood, Wren? Before I could even comprehend what I was witnessing, I was
running down the stairs full force and lunging myself at Wren. My fist
connected the first time with his jaw and the second with his eye. After that,
I didn't land a single punch.

Wren
gripped my wrists tightly in his hands, before pushing them behind my back as
he pulled me into a tight embrace. "Wren, what the fuck?" I looked
between him and my momma and almost laughed at the scene playing out before me.
It was as though I was transported into a movie, with a
really
bad director.

"Now
if you're going to behave, I will let you go." He whispered softly into my
ear.

I
nodded. "Fine, let me go."

I could
feel the bruises already starting to form around my wrists and I made a mental
note to ice them later before bed. I looked up at my mom and saw that she was
oblivious to what had just happened. She was happily sniffing shit up her nose,
without a care for me or anything else I'm sure. Wren glanced over at my mom
and then back to me, and let out a throaty laugh.

"Sweetheart,
this is how you're paying me for
my
weed that
you
flushed. I was already
on my way over to your house when you called. Your momma here decided to pay me
in full for the weed and buy a little something extra for herself."

I let
out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding, before unleashing all my pent
up rage onto my momma. "You're nothing but a piece of shit, you know that?
You call me a slut and every other word in the book, yet you are doing drugs and
drinking like you’re my age. I'm done, with both of you." I quickly ran up
to my room to gather all of my odds and ends that I hadn't packed yet, and slid
my hand underneath my bed. When my fingertips grazed the cool tin, I slid it
out and shoved it into my purse along with everything else. I didn't need this
shit anymore, and I sure as shit didn't need either of them.