Accepted Fate (54 page)

"I see. What have I done Kinzleigh? He doesn't want the same things as I do. He said it was just sex; that he had no feeling inside. He was emotionally dead. I love him. I've loved him since I was ten years old but he always just saw me as your best friend. Now that he's finally noticed me, he's broken and damaged from that stupid tramp. I swear I want to kill her."

"How do you know he doesn't want the same thing? You're not making sense. Just start from the beginning. I know Konnor better than anyone. Let me be the judge."

She blows out a breath as she is clearly gathering her thoughts. "Okay. Well the day that we got here and he showed me my room we were just having casual small talk and without thinking he kissed me. Before I could even react, he was apologizing and saying he made a mistake and shouldn't have done it. It hurt but I understood. It didn't stop though. The flirting and glances have been getting more frequent all week. Long story short, last night he came in my room with a movie and said he couldn't sleep. I tried not to get excited, I really did. I couldn't help it though, because he chose me instead of Preston to come to." She pauses briefly before she continues.

"At first it was innocent, but then I felt him staring at me. When I turned to face him he got all weird. He said he wished he had noticed how beautiful I was before and how now he is too dark to be good for me but that he wanted me because he was selfish. He kissed me and I felt a little bit of the passion that he used to have shining brightly. I got lost in the moment and things got heated. He said that all it could be was a night. I thought it would be fine because I've had friends with benefits before, like Ryland and it was no big deal. Something was different though Kinzleigh. With him, it was beautiful. The second we connected it was on every possible level. I know he has to feel something too. He would let it slip in certain moments. He made love to me three times. It was love making, not fucking. Sorry for the harsh language but I know the difference. He made love to me three times, but the second he left that room, it was as if he left the real Konnor behind. He hasn't spoken to me since. He only looks at me briefly. As soon as you came upstairs, he left."

"Where did he go?"

She shrugs her shoulders and her eyes are so blurred with tears, it looks like a wall of water. Her blue eyes don't hold the sparkle they usually do. They look dull and jaded. Everyone that knows Presley, knows she is a beautiful soul; a one of a kind. Her personality is bubbly and spontaneous. She doesn't let anyone break her down. She is one of the strongest people I know. She can hide and show her emotions better than anyone. She keeps her feelings completely hidden unless she wants you to see them and then like a light switch turning on, she gives you insight to her inner self.

Those she trusts enough to see her for who she truly is, are forever hooked. Girls want to be her friend and guys want her in any way they can have her. She's that special. If I compared her to an object, it would be a diamond: strong, luminescent, and rare; one of those things that aren't easily obtained. Seeing her broken over someone else makes me want to hurt him; my brother or not.

Looking at her, her lips are quivering and she isn't wearing a speck of makeup, which is a rare occasion for her. "I can't go back to being his friend and loving him from afar. It would kill me to see him with someone else now. I love him so much. I will never love anyone else. I've tried and that was before I had him for myself. What do I do? I thought things would be better this morning but instead they're worse. He's avoiding me."

Usually, I can pinpoint exactly what Konnor is thinking, but since Sophia cheated, he's unpredictable. I don't know who he's trying to protect; himself from more pain or her because he now has trust issues. "I don't know Presley. Konnor is different now. You've seen the tattoos and piercings. Give me a few days to feel him out. Maybe I can talk to him and see what's going on in his head. You still have a week and the New Year's Eve party. I don't think you should let him go back to school without telling him how you feel though. Maybe right now he's just as confused as you are and is trying to sort out his emotions. Konnor is the type of person that won't discuss an issue until he has it worked out in his head. Play it cool for a few days and see if it sorts itself out. If not, you need to talk to him at the party. It's a masked ball so there will be plenty of time."

She nods and goes to stand up. Standing with her I give her a hug. "I hope I don't lose him, Kinzleigh. My heart will never be the same." I hope she doesn't either because I know exactly how she feels. Only time will tell.

Breyson

I look down at my watch impatiently. Where is she? She should have been here by now. My parents want her to open the gifts from them and then I have to take her to Pops' to show her the beauty that is waiting on her patiently. I don't see her coming up the drive. I begin pacing the floor anxiously. I pull out my phone again for the fifteenth time in ten minutes with no texts and no missed calls. She should have been here thirty minutes ago. I have been waiting for today for what seems like a year. Her horse has been at Pops' for a week now.

I'm about to dial her number when I hear tires pulling up the pavement. Looking up through the window, she is coming to a stop in her black Range Rover. Finally. Next time I'm picking her up just like I said I was going to, to start with. Girls and their fashionably late nonsense is crap. Making my way through the house, I meet her at the door with an armload of bags and wrapped boxes. "Hi," she says as I open the door.

"Hi yourself." She looks beautiful; not that there's ever been a time that she didn't blow me away. The girl got the best of everything in the gene pool. She is wearing a pair of tight jeans with brown leather riding boots and a bright red sweater long enough to cover her butt. Her hair is pulled to the side in the big curls I love. My beautiful girl. "I was starting to think you were going to stand me up," I say teasingly.

She crinkles her face at me like she is about to scold me. "Do you really think I would stand you up?"

"Nah, I guess not." I kiss her on the cheek, then on the lips. I've missed these lips. We haven't gotten to be alone much this week with her house being invaded by everyone, especially one I'd love to throw out on his ass. My jealousy of him being in the same house with the hottest girl on the planet, knowing he wants her, is raging. 

She kisses me back with the same hunger as me and then breaks free, her lips now red from my assault. I guess I missed her more than I thought. "Babe. You know I could stand here and kiss you all day but these presents are getting heavy."

"Ah shit, baby I'm sorry. Give them to me. I didn't mean to be rude. I've just missed you." I remove them from her hands and lead her into the living room where the tree is. She must have bought a present for everyone. I told her not to, but it doesn't surprise me she would anyway. I'm ready to get this over with so we can go. "Mom, dad. Kinzleigh's here," I shout across the house as I sit the presents down in front of the tree. Turning back to her, I pull her into my arms. My brothers and sister aren't here so you'll have to see them open theirs later. Is that okay?"

"Sure babe. I'm more worried about you getting yours anyway." Her smile is extravagant when she is excited about something. It's full force, revealing those bright white teeth and thinning her pouty lips, making me wonder what on earth she got me.

"Oh yeah? What'd you get me?" I can't keep my lips off of her. It's been too long since we've had private time. She has turned me into some kind of raging teenager. I think of one other part that does not like the absence of her either. I can't get enough of her no matter how many times I take her body for myself.

"You'll never get it out of me. Presents are my favorite part and I love watching people open them, so I won't ruin the surprise. The only thing you can know is the best one is for last. Since you have to take me somewhere for one of my presents, I'll give one of mine then." We really need to get this show on the road. There is no way her present can top what I have waiting in that stall.

It seemed like it took forever to open all of the presents, but it could have something to do with this rare amount of excitement I have built up. It never happened before her and I don't really know how to release it in increments. Obviously, my mother really knows how to shop for a teenage girl because Kinzleigh got so much stuff she was falling in love with as she was opening hers; I was starting to get nervous. I guess never having a girlfriend to bring home, mom felt the need to catch up by showering her with gifts. She has been overloaded with all things female from purses to clothes, shoes, gift cards and more between me and my parents. That wasn't their big gift though according to mom. "Okay honey, Brooks and I have one last gift. This one is for you and Breyson together so he doesn't even know about this. It's kind of all of your graduation presents too," she says as she gets off the couch and picks up a wrapped box behind dads recliner.

Mom is grinning from ear to ear. I'm wondering what she could have gotten us that would have to be included as Christmas and graduation. That is kind of extreme. She sits the package down in between me and Kinzleigh. It doesn't look that big. "You take one side and I take the other?" She nods and we both take a corner. Once we get the wrapping paper completely torn away, the box beneath is just a cardboard shipping box. I guess she really didn't want to give anything away. Reaching in my pocket, I pull out my pocket knife and open the blade. Point down, I slide the blade along the tape line, slicing it on the way. Once the seal is completely broken, I close the knife and put it away.

Together we open the flaps to the box and look inside. There is a pair of airline tickets, a hotel reservation confirmation with everything all inclusive, booked through their travel agent. Along with it, is two American Express gift cards with a note reading:

Kinzleigh and Breyson,

Brooks and I thought the six of you might like a fourteen day vacation together before you all take off for college in different locations or the same, whatever you all choose. Call it a break in paradise if you will, in your transition from high school to college. We love you all and are very proud of each and every one of you as you become adults. Enclosed you will find everything you need for room and board and flight information. The cards are to get you everything you need prior to leaving. Please use it to your liking, it is part of your gift. You will get your spending money for the trip the day of graduation so please do not keep the cards for the trip. This is something we chose to do. Each card is loaded with one thousand dollars for clothes, etc. Merry Christmas!

With love,

Mom and dad

I don't even know what to say. I'm completely stunned. Never in a million years would I have thought they would send the six of us on a completely paid vacation, all the way down to new clothes before we left. Not that Kinzleigh's parents are lacking in the financial department, but the thought of them caring that much makes me forever indebted to them. I go to stand and Kinzleigh beats me to it in a full on run in the direction of my parents. She hugs my mom first and by the closeness, I can tell it's a genuine hug. Mom looks at me over her shoulder and winks with a loving smile. I mouth,
thank you
and make my way to hug them myself as she changes to my dad.

"I don't know what to say other than thank you. I'm completely speechless. You are amazing parents and I'm so fortunate to know you both, thanks to Breyson." I thought she was going to give my dad a sideways awkward hug, but I was wrong. She hugged him the way I've seen her hug her own dad.

"You're so welcome, sweetie. Just make sure you keep that boy of mine happy and in line, will you?" He says it low but still loud enough for me to hear. Knowing that my parents love her as much as I do makes me ecstatic; overfilled with joy. So many guys have to deal with their girlfriends parents hating them or vice versa and I have been blessed to be excluded from that group of people. My parents love her and hers love me, as well as getting along with each other. It leaves me so much hope that this is just the beginning of an epic adventure with her. I just hope the road on the journey we're about to embark on is long and has forever at the end because she is the main character in my story.

                  
***

We pull up at Pops' ranch. I look over at her and she has one of those sleep masks on I borrowed from my sister's room. Before we left the house, I made her put it on so she didn't know where we were going until I took it off. It's too easy to put two and two together. As the truck comes to a halt and I shut down the engine, she looks over at me. Well, she turns her head; her eyes are covered and it makes me laugh. "Can I take this thing off now? I definitely won't take advantage of my sight after this ride. Not being able to see if brutal. Of course, you have to get a material that is completely opaque!"

"Not a chance. I'll be the one to take things off, beautiful; on all counts. I'm coming around to get you. Don't you dare take off that mask. If you do there will be consequences, understood?" Her face turns the shade of a crimson rose and she nods. I still have to thank Adalynn for the time we've had since her little dirty dream. Who would have known underneath all that innocence lies a little kink in the bed? We have tried a few things, but nothing major. I have been researching though and have plans in the very near future. I still prefer making love to her, but I would be worried I had lost my balls if I said I didn't thoroughly enjoy the wild stuff too. It does make me feel like I can give her something in return for her virginity to me, by doing things I never have before with other girls. I've had wild sex because I was never interested in sweet stuff before her, but my wild then and the wild I've discovered with her is two totally different things. What can I say; teenagers don't know what they are doing in the bedroom most of the time. Teenage boys only care about themselves. I can say that because I was one of them, but not anymore. It's all about her. Now it's time to become adults, leaving all the other stuff behind.