Collide: A Riverbend Novel (4 page)

I looked up towards her
window and saw her bare back. She had forgotten to shut her
curtains. Thankfully.

She slipped off her skirt
next.
I changed my mind about this whole
arrangement. Mom was my favorite person right now.

I watched as she bent over
and pulled on a pair of sweats. She slipped on a t-shirt then a
hoodie. She opened her window next and climbed out. She sat on the
first story roof and looked at the stars, her knees pulled tightly
to her chest. She put her head on her knees and cried.

I finished my cigarette.
I'd be damned if I let her ruin another one for me. She quit crying
and noticed me watching her.

"Don't mind me."

"Shit!" She yelled then
almost fell off the roof.

I laughed as she got
herself re-situated safely back in her spot.

"You know, if you wanted to
give me a strip tease, you could've just invited me up to your
room. I wouldn't have said no."

Her mouth opened like she
was going to say something then she closed it. Her face turned even
brighter. She locked eyes on me. "I...I..."

She shook her head then
climbed back into the window. She closed it and the curtains, but
not before looking at me one last time.

REESE

I laid awake for hours
while everyone else slept. I had slipped into sleep a few times,
but was awoken by the nightmares. I got up and put on a pair of
blue jeans, socks, boots, a t-shirt, and hoodie. I walked outside
and looked Havock's truck over. I found some tools and got to work.
I worked for a few hours until I was satisfied that it was going to
run better and got the passenger door to work.

I hurried inside, took a
quick shower then started cleaning. If I couldn't sleep, I may as
well help the people I'm staying with. I deep cleaned the house and
started breakfast when Mrs. Johanna came down the stairs and into
the kitchen.

She gasped as she looked
around.

"Did I do something wrong?"
I asked as I became nervous.

She smiled as she walked
over to start coffee. "No. I've just never had anyone do something
so kind. House full of boys." She laughed to herself and started
scooping coffee into the filter.

"I'm usually the one who
cooked at home. Dad can't cook to save his life." I stopped talking
and cleared my throat as tears filled my eyes. I turned away and
went back to finishing up breakfast.

She impatiently stared at
the coffee maker while it did its job. "I'd have an IV drip of this
stuff 24/7 if I could." She came over and nudged me out of the way
with her hip. "Has the counselor at school met with you?" she asked
as she finished breakfast.

"Yes, Ma'am. I met her
yesterday. I have to meet with her everyday between my first two
classes. I have a thick file," I stated as I sat down and started
to read one of the books I got out of the bookcase upstairs. "I
like coffee as well, but I like it with all the stuff in it that
I'm not supposed to have."

She sat down across from
me, setting a plate filled with eggs, bacon, and toast in front of
me. "I spoke with your doctor and he said it's all about moderation
and eating well most of the time. He did say it was okay to cheat a
little as long as you keep up with your readings and take the right
amount of insulin." She handed me a fork.

I took the fork and started
eating. I'm always hungry in the morning, but not most of the rest
of the day.

Havock sleepily walked into
the kitchen with nothing but his pajama pants on. A tattoo of words
in a thick font wrapped his whole left shoulder. He opened the
fridge and took a drink of the orange juice straight from the
container.

I stood up and walked to
the sink. I washed my dish as Havock sat down and started eating. I
had to keep my mind occupied. I tried to keep it off of that sexy
tattoo and his six pack. I also tried to keep it off of how messy
his hair was and how I wanted to run my fingers through
it.

What. The. Hell? My heart
started beating faster just thinking about him.

Johanna cleared her
throat.

He looked up. "What?" He
asked with his mouth full of toast.

She looked at his bare
chest. I looked at his six pack. He looked at me. "Does this bother
you?" He asked after he swallowed his food.

I shrugged like I saw a
body like that everyday, when in fact I felt like I was going to
pass out. Dammit, he was hot. I looked out the window to get
focused. I stood on my tiptoes as I saw a lab running around the
yard with puppies in tow.

"You have dogs?" I asked
with excitement. It was actually my first bit of excitement in a
while.

"Against my will, yes.
Havock found them wandering in the rain on his way home from school
last week." She gave him an irritated look.

"It was my good deed for
the week," he teased taking a bite of bacon.

About that time, Garrett
walked in wearing nothing but his pajama pants.
Damn, what did they feed these boys?
Of course, as I looked at him my heart didn't speed up, and I
didn't feel the urge to get closer to him.
Weird
. Personality wise you would
think I'd go for Garrett not Havock. Huh? Strange.

Their mom sighed. "Okay.
New rule. You must be fully clothed when you leave your room." She
got up and started fixing herself a cup of coffee.

"May I go outside?" I asked
as I looked back out the window.

"Of course, dear. You don't
have to ask."

"Thank you," I said as I
hurried out the door. I sat down on the ground and waited for the
dog to come to me. A chocolate puppy ran over and jumped on my leg.
I picked him up and played with him. I laughed as he licked my
nose.

"Don't get attached. Mom
called the dog catcher and he's picking them up today. She'll help
anyone but she doesn't like animals."

Havock walked over to his
truck. He crawled in through the driver side to get his cigarettes,
I assumed.

I frowned as I looked down
at the puppy. I pet his head until he curled up next to me and went
to sleep.

Havock pulled the hood of
his jacket over his head and lit a cigarette. "Want one?" He asked
as he exhaled.

I shook my head and pet the
puppy.

"Sorry about your
dog."

"Dad got him for me when I
was ten, and I asked for a friend," I said quietly.

"You've had a hell of a
life so far, princess." He smiled when he noticed the irritation
spread across my face.

“You don't know anything
about me,” I said with a frown.

His eyes locked on mine as
he let the smoke leave his mouth slowly. "So, your dad isn't really
missing and your mom wasn't killed when you were a kid?"

I looked away from him and
continued to pet the puppy.

Garrett walked out dressed
for school. "You riding with me or him? I need to leave early
today."

The idea of getting to
school early made my stomach drop. "I'd prefer not to get there any
earlier than I have too, but thank you." I'd also prefer not to
ride with Havock. I didn't know if I liked how those eyes made me
feel.

He nodded then slipped a
ball cap on and got in his truck.

"I'm picking up a friend on
the way," Havock said as he put the cigarette out on the bottom of
his shoe.

"I can walk," I said still
petting the puppy.

"My mom would kill me if I
let you. Go get your stuff. We're leaving in ten
minutes."

I scrunched my eyebrows and
picked the puppy up. He opened his eyes and licked my nose. I
smiled sadly at him then put him back down. I stood up, dusted my
pants off then walked inside to grab my bag.

I wiped a tear that fell as
I grabbed my bag and my medicine for later. I headed down stairs
and looked at Mrs. Johanna. "Bye Mrs. Johanna."

She grabbed her purse. "Bye
sweetie. Have a good day." She started to leave but stopped. "Oh
shoot! I forgot to give this to you last night!" She dug in her
purse and pulled out a cell phone. "Here. It has my number, Rick's,
Garrett's and Havock's just in case you need to get in touch with
us." She smiled as she handed it to me.

I looked down at it. "Thank
you." I put it in my pocket and gave her a weak smile.

"Don't give anyone that
number. The police are doing their best to keep you hidden until
they find out who's responsible for your father's
disappearance."

"I won't. I don't have
anyone to give it to." I thanked her again then walked out. The
puppy followed behind me, he grabbed my pant leg and wagged his
tail at me

Havock honked the
horn.

I picked up the puppy and
placed him a safe distance away then hurried to the passenger side.
I opened the door and climbed in, buckled my belt and watched sadly
as the puppy barked and whined. I had to go back to hell and he was
going to the pound. Our lives both sucked.

Havock looked at me
shocked. "How did you just open that door?"

"I pulled the handle." I
watched the puppy. "Can we go before the baby gets to close and you
hit him?" I asked quietly.

He started the truck on the
first try. “What the-?"

I hid my smile and looked
out the window. I bet he didn't get shocked often. And for some
reason, shocking him was fun.

Havock turned down a road,
and I saw a guy waiting by the curb. "That's Jude." He slowed down.
"Scoot to the middle."

"Can I sit in the back of
the truck?" My stomach dropped to my feet at the thought of being
in such a closed in area.

He laughed as he stopped
the truck. "That would be a no." He motioned for Jude to get in on
the passenger side.

I sighed, unbuckled, and
moved to the middle. I buckled back again then grabbed my bag and
held it close to my chest.

Jude got in. "When did the
door start working?" Havock shrugged and started
driving.

Jude held his hand out to
me. "Jude Byars."

I let go of my bag and
shook his hand. "Reese Johnson." I gave him a slight smile then
held my bag tight to me and watched Havock drive. I watched his
eyes cut to my chest. I looked down, blushed then loosened my grip
on my bag so it didn't press so tightly to my chest.

As he switched gears his
hand slid off the gear shift and hit my upper thigh. He grinned
showing off a dimple on his right cheek.

"Oops."

Jude laughed as he lit a
cigarette and cracked his window.

"Who taught you how to
drive?" I asked quietly as I ignored what he just did. I ignored
how it made my heart jump a little as well.

"The princess doesn't like
to be touched. Duly noted."

Jude leaned in close to me.
"He doesn't play well with others. Ignore him."

That jump in the heart just
crashed. No survivors. "Don't call me that, please," I asked
politely. "And you didn't answer my question."