Broken Pieces (4 page)

“Please tell me you have another ride home because both of y’all are plastered,” he says, matter of-fact. He confidently leans into the bar where I can see the muscles in his arm tighten.

I don’t dare to look at him. “Uh … yeah … Lauren’s dad has a car picking us up.”
Ugh!
Why am I stuttering? I am a grown ass woman, a senior at The University of freaking Tulsa, and I live by myself. Well, that last part isn’t totally true, but I should still not let some random guy intimidate me. I have a new and improved self that I’ve worked hard to build.

Finally, I look up at him and say, “Thank-you for your concern, Drew, but we have it covered.” Okay, maybe that was a little too bitchy.

My eyes are locked on his again. Irritation flickers through his eyes, but he has this power in them that captures me. I wonder if he can feel it, too. How can he keep doing this to me? He is making me forget who I am, who I have become. I really do not understand why he cares about some pathetic girl at a club.

He relaxes. “Okay, I’m sorry to have bothered you, Karaline.” Well, I feel like a total bitch now.

He straightens to walk away. I put my hand on his arm before I realize what I have done. There is that feeling again. It’s like a drug, I can’t get enough. I have never felt this before. I know I should stay away …

He looks at me when I say, “No, it’s fine. I’m sorry for being a bitch. You were just being nice.”

I don’t move my hand when his other comes up to cup my face. His face has this soft but dead serious look, and his voice is the same. “It’s fine. Just don’t ever call yourself a bitch again, ‘kay sweetheart?”

Oh, butterflies. It feels as if we’re the only two people in this crowd. He’s slowly knocking down the walls …

I go to look down, but he takes the hand cupping my check and tips my chin back up. “Look at me, please.”

We stand there, staring into each other’s eyes. Everyone around us is as oblivious to us as we are to them. There is something there that draws me in; I could stare into those eyes forever. My instincts are still telling me to stay away, but for a totally different reason. I feel safe being close to him, but I don’t want to fall. I know what happens then. I tried it once and it ended badly. I’m not the same normal girl that I was before. I can’t just date a guy because, when he gets to close, the memories from the past come back. So I should just save both of us the heartbreak, but it’s hard fighting these feelings.

It felt like forever that we stared into each other’s eyes. It would have been one of those awkward silences with anyone else, but it wasn’t with him. Then he broke the silence. “Would you like to go grab a bite to eat?” He looks hopefully into my eyes.

Holy crap! Did he just ask me out? “Um … I’m sorry, but I don’t know you very well. I don’t go out with strangers. Plus, I came here with Lauren.” I hate what I’m saying because I really want to go. I know he is a good guy, but I just can’t. The thought of being alone with a guy makes me shudder, and not knowing the guy makes me sick.

It doesn’t matter how long you know someone, they can change in a heartbeat.

Just then, Lauren comes dancing up. “Go have fun, Kara! It’s fine, don’t worry about me! My daddy’s car is going to take me home.” She says, as she waves her hand dismissively in the air.

I give her this look that I’m sure says it all. She leans in and whispers, “It’s fine, Kara. I know him and he’s nice! Go!”

I look back up at him, then wish I hadn’t because the look on his face looks almost too hopeful. I have too soft of a heart and I know it. It’s the reason I get myself into the majority of shit that I do. “Fine. Okay, if you can take me back to the dorms after?” That was important because for one, I came with Lauren, and two, I don’t know my way around this city very well. My warning bells go off again. What the hell am I thinking going into a city that I don’t know with a guy that I don’t know? True, he does not feel like just any guy to me, but still. I know I shouldn’t go, but something is telling me it is okay.

“Of course,” he says, trying to hide that flawless smile of his.

I took my sweet time finishing my drink so I could pull myself together before I go to eat with him. As I walk out of the club, he puts his hand on the small of my back, protectively. Who am I kidding? He doesn’t see me that way. I have been his charity case all night; I’m sure he doesn’t want to have another confrontation tonight. As we make our way to the door, he stops and looks at me. Being as self-conscious as I am, I start looking down at my dress, thinking something is wrong with me. When I look back up and meet his eyes, he’s amused.

“What?” I ask, confused.

He leans in really close. I tell myself that it’s because we are still in the club and I probably couldn’t have heard him otherwise. I can feel his hot breath on my neck, as he sternly whispers, “Stop. There’s nothing wrong with you. I was going to ask if you had a coat.”

Well, now I feel like an idiot. If I had been paying attention, I would have noticed that we had walked up to the coat guy from earlier. I feel as if I have lost my mind tonight. I turn to see the coat guy staring at me. “Do you have your ticket, ma’am?” he says, impatiently.

“I’m sorry, no, I didn’t receive one,” I say, trying to remember if they gave me one. Maybe I had more drinks than I thought.

Lights from inside the club flash on my face, and the coat guy looks embarrassed. “Oh! I’m so sorry, ma’am. You came in with Mr. Harris’s daughter, right?”

“Lauren Harris, yes.”

“Okay, let me get your coat, ma’am. I’m sorry again.” Why is he apologizing to me? Does he really think I expect him to remember me from all the other people that came in here tonight? Crazy!

“It’s fine, really,” I mumble, looking back at Drew. He is quietly watching me, while the nervous coat guy leaves to go retrieve my coat. There should be awkward silence, but there’s not. I feel comfortable. When I look into his eyes, there is no need for words because our eyes say it all.

“Here you go, ma’am.” The coat guy is trying to put my coat on me, but he is shaking and can’t quite find the right hole for the right arm.

“Oh, thank-you,” I said, but before he can put it on, Drew takes it out of his hands and puts it on me with ease.

“Ready?” he asks, ignoring the coat guy.

“Yup.” Oh, my gosh!
Yup?
Did I really just say that? He starts walking, shaking his head with a slight smile playing on his lips. Great, he’s laughing at me now. I am still amazed he asked me to go get something to eat with him. Now I’m really thinking he either does just feel sorry for me, or he just did it to get a laugh.

I stay quiet as we walk outside. I’m glad I brought a coat because it got cool. He leads me around the building where Lauren and I were parked before her dad had the car sent back to the dorms. About three cars back sits an all blacked-out Challenger. I’m not keen on cars, but I know a good looking car when I see one. He stops and digs in his pocket for his keys.

“This is
your
car?” I was shocked. He really did look my age, maybe a couple years older. How can he afford this?
Not any of my business
.
His parents could be loaded for all I know.

He looks up at me through those black eyelashes, and gives me one of those great smiles. “No, sweetheart, she … is my baby,” he says, as he pats the hood of the car.

Damn, not a guy that’s all about his car. “She?” I say, raising my eyebrows at him.

He shakes his head and opens my door. I carefully climb in, remembering that I have this freaking short dress on. Reminder: kill Lauren later! He gracefully walks around the front of the car, looks up and catches me staring. I look down real fast. He is going to think I am some kind of freak. He climbs into the driver’s seat, wearing the biggest smile ever.

I just sit there quietly, while he starts the car. As I feel the vibrations, I can’t help but think how hot this car is. Then a rock song starts to blast, and I actually know this song. I smile as he reaches for the knob to turn it down.

Looking at me sheepishly, he says, “Sorry. I get a little carried away when I drive alone.”

That intrigued me; I hadn’t realized that he was alone tonight. “Why would you go out on a Friday night alone?”

He looked taken back by my question. “I met a couple of friends there. Why?”

“Sorry, I’m being nosy.” I turn my head to look out the window.

He checks his mirrors and pulls out onto the road. He’s really quiet. Crap, I hope I haven’t already ruined tonight with my big mouth. The music playing in the background was another song I loved. “Saving Abel?” I say, turning to look at him.

I take advantage to check him out again. His strong jaw pairs perfectly with the cute little dimple in his chin. How can a guy be so tanned? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining! His nose looks like it might have been broken at one time, but it still looks good. His sexy mouth turns up into a smirk as he says, “You know Saving Abel?”

“Yes, I like them. Why?”

“I just wouldn’t have pegged you for this kind of music, that’s all.” I wonder what he means by that.

“What would you have pegged me for then?”

“Oh, you know, either the girly stuff or that rap shit they were playing in the club.” I give him a look that says, You should know better than that. He laughs. “I knew you were different.”

“Different?”

“Not in a bad way. Don’t worry.”

“Okay …,” I say, skeptically.

I stare out the window, trying to distract myself from staring at him again. Another good song comes on so I start humming to it. It’s a bad habit of mine.

Not being able to be quiet any longer, I think the alcohol has given me some balls, I ask, “Where are you taking me?”

He glances at me. “Surprise.” I was waiting for more, but that’s all he says. Fine, I can play that game, too.

I start looking around the car, giving my eyes something to do besides stare at him. It has his smell. It is really clean for a … wait, I don’t even know how old he is! I am going to eat at midnight with a guy that I met at a club? One night and I’m doing something I would have done before … that night.

Ten more minutes pass by. I have no clue as to where we are now. Maybe I should have been paying attention in case I needed an escape route. It is getting close to one in the morning and I don’t have a clue what will be open. Then, we pull into an IHOP.

I’m trying to hide a smile as I look at him. “IHOP, really? That’s the big surprise?”

He shrugs his shoulders. “Sorry, it’s the best I can do at one in the morning. Next time, maybe I’ll have longer to plan a better surprise.” Next time?! He just practically said we would be going out again.

Seeing the look on my face, he backtracks. “Well, that is if … you know … you want to, of course,” he manages to spit out. This is a new side of him; he’s been supremely confident all night.

I smile and say, “We’ll see …,” as I go to climb out of the car.

I didn’t make it too far before he grabs my hand, making me stop dead in my tracks. Not from him, but from the feeling of his hand on me. It’s almost paralyzing. “You better let me come and help you this time,” he says, his confident self again. He winks and releases my hand, as he climbs out of the car. I’m still sitting there, frozen. Great, he obviously isn’t going to let that one go.

My door opens and I look up at him as he extends his hand to me. “Miss Karaline.” I take his hand and, as gracefully as I can, climb out. As we make our way inside, his hand finds the small of my back again. His touch sends electricity through me. It’s just the alcohol, I keep telling myself.

We make our way inside and are seated. I order water with lemon, thinking I probably need to sober up a little. I don’t even look up at him while ordering because I have to remind myself that I have a dress on. I’m not used to wearing these things. They suck! As I am fidgeting with the bottom on my dress, making sure I won’t show my ass when I stand, I notice Drew shaking his head and smiling.

“What is so funny?” I ask, curious as to what I did this time.

Smirking, he looks at me and says, “Oh, nothing. Just the waiter checking you out.”

Huh? I didn’t even see what he looked like. I was just trying to make sure I didn’t trip or do something to embarrass myself. “Oh, I didn’t notice him,” I say back.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m laughing at. That makes three … the preppy dick, the coat guy, and now the waiter at IHOP,” he says, smiling.

Man, he is gorgeous. His smile can make me melt, and his raspy voice makes me squirm in my seat. I hope he doesn’t notice but, by the look on his face, he did. The last time a guy could make me feel this way … he was the total opposite of the guy sitting in front of me. The guy sitting in front of me seems like a good guy, even though other people look at his appearance and think otherwise. His tattoos and bad boy look aren’t going to fool me. The person who made me the way I am today was the good boy in school, perfect all-star. He had everyone fooled with his charm, and Drew has been nothing but … real.

He gives me this look, and I realize he is waiting for me to say something back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. How many did
you
have tonight?”