Craving You (TBX #2) (5 page)

I raise an eyebrow in her direction. “Statin’ the obvious, Kels. Better start packing now. We’ll be there one night, so don’t pack your whole damn closet.” A small smile plays across her face.

“So I have to make the hour drive alone? How’s that fair.” Tim pouts.

“You can ride with Colt. Kelsey and I will ride alone.” At my confession, her eyes meet mine. The need I see in them is almost blinding. I’m positive mine reflect the same.

I fuckin’ can’t stay away from her.

Kelsey

Everything about Parker scares me. I know that. Yet, I just willingly agreed to head out of town with him, alone, for the most part. When I told Brealynn, she looked at me as I expected—crazy.

“Have you lost your ever-lovin’ mind? I thought you were going to try to avoid him? How does that work in this situation? Please, explain.”

Ugh. I should have just kept my mouth shut. “I can’t.” My voice sounds whiny.

Confessing that I’m drawn to him is not going to work. That something deep within me screams for him. That’s insane. There’s no such thing as one person for the other. That’s fairy tale shit. Happy endings don’t exist. The prince never shows up to save the damaged princess. That’s just how it is, and I’m okay with that.

“I think you’re drawn to him. You fight it, but here you guys go again,” she predicts.

I huff out a laugh. “Brea, you’re going right?”

“Yes…”

“Then why can’t I go? Can’t I be there for Colt and even Parker without havin’ to have any feelings for them?”

She pauses and looks into my soul. “Sure, but that’s not why you’re going. Fool yourself, fool Parker, but you can’t fool your best friend.” She’s right. “Give it to me straight. I don’t want to be a part of your game with Parker.”

“Brea, there isn’t anything to tell. We had a few good nights, and now, it’s over. He knows it’s over and so do I. We both accept it. So let’s all just move on. I want to have a good weekend and maybe find some BMX hotties.” I laugh, fanning my face and batting my eyelashes.

“Okay, fine. I hope you’re telling me the truth because if you care anything for Parker, take it from me and let him know. These boys, they don’t get it. They don’t get that someone could do something so selfless as to love them back. I’d hate for you to lose Parker to his own demons.” Little does Brealynn know, I have my own demons that still haunt me.

“I hear you loud and clear. Parker knows we can’t be anything,” I assure her, but I don’t feel so sure.

Parker’s voice flows through my doorway as smooth as whiskey, “It’s getting late, and Colt and Brealynn have already left. Are you ready to go?” I look up from my suitcase to his brown eyes, my gray ones taking in his plain white tee and blue jeans. I bite my lip while nodding my head and closing my bag to zip it up.

“Yeah. I’m ready if you are.” We both stare at each other, neither of us saying a word, but a million thoughts run through my head. The moment passes when he picks up my bag and we advance to the stairs. Parker is right next to me; once we reach the truck, he loads all of my bags like a gentleman.

Half of me thinks this is a good idea, half of me thinks this is a horrible idea…

Here we go…

Parker

Kelsey’s unease fills the cab of the truck while we make our way onto HWY 35. “Where’s your auxiliary cord?” She begins to snoop around my truck, lifting up the center console and digging around.

I smirk. “Like hell you’re getting my auxiliary cord. You’ll probably play shit like Taylor Swift or some other top twenty pop song.”

“Pshhh, don’t act like you know me. Hand it over.” Her little hand hovers over the console waiting for the cord. I look at her and a pout takes over her face. I’ll be damned. It’s the cutest face I’ve ever fuckin’ seen. I’m so fucked where she’s concerned, so I surrender the cord without a fight.

Maroon 5 takes over my speakers, and I regret giving her access immediately. As the lyrics filter through my speakers, I can’t help but agree with Adam Levine. When we’re together, she’s all the sweetness I need in my life.

Kelsey sings along to the lyrics, the wind from the rolled down window blowing her hair all over the place as I watch her in my peripheral vision. Hand tapping on her thigh as she belts out the song. It’s nice to see her so carefree. If she only knew this song pretty much sums up how I feel when I’m with her. She’s an addiction I can’t quit. She started this hiatus between the two of us, and I’m beyond ready for it to end.

I decide to lighten the mood and sing along with her. “Yes! Please!” I belt out in my best sexy voice, face scrunched up in passion, or I hope that’s what it looks like. It’s not as good as Adam but still. She looks over at me and begins to laugh, her smile lighting up her face as she continues to sing the lyrics. I continue to shout out my one line, each time earning more laughter from her.

The yellow lines on the road blur one by one as we make our trek to Dallas. Once our sing-a-long is over, she switches between local radio stations. I casually glance over at her, hair still flying all over the place. She insisted on having the window down.

“What?” she questions to my obvious stare.

“Nothing.”

“Parker… I’m proud of you, you know.” I try to take in her expression before I focus back on the road.

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yup. The cover of
Ride or Run
is amazing. I can’t wait to see you guys ride this weekend, to watch
you
ride, Parker. You have a lot of talent.” I don’t look at her. I can’t, so I continue to focus on the mile markers we pass.

“I don’t know about great. I know I’m pretty amazing but great? Nah.” I joke trying to lighten the conversation.

“Believe in yourself, Parker. I believe in you.” The strength of her voice causes me to chance a sideways glance in her direction again. Gray eyes shining with pride stare at me.

“Whatever you think you see, sweetness, it's not really there. I ride well enough. That’s about it. Okay?”

“Park-”

“That’s it.” I cut her off. She doesn't need to see more than what’s on the surface. I’m not worth the dig. Nothing is below.

She closes her mouth with a hurt expression on her face and turns toward the window adding in a whisper I’m not sure I was supposed to hear, “You’re way better than well enough, Parker.” I ignore her comment. I also ignore the hurt in her voice and the ache it put in my chest.

Kelsey

Loud music vibrates from the surround sound as people wander through the chaos. This crowd is intense. For a small competition, it’s packed. I’m being pushed forward toward the edge of the section we’re in. Girls screaming Colt and Parker’s names along with other riders I’ve never heard of before fill my ears. Colt’s run is first; he sits on the ramp staring down into Brealynn’s smiling face. The world must have aligned perfectly for those two. Every day, they prove me wrong, and I believe in love a little more, at least for them.

“Colt Taylor takes the run at full speed nailing his double tailwhip! Whoa, that was sick! Colt is the leading man for
Ride or Run,
ladies and gents. This is the top dog!” the announcer cheers on. Brea’s smile takes over her face as I stare at my blonde friend jumping up and down for the love of her life. Once Colt finishes, she rushes past the barricades, the ones keeping us a few feet from the ramps. Colt finds her soon, and sheruns toward him as well. Picking her up and twirling around, they kiss. Brealynn wraps around him in joy, and I can’t help but envy her.

My eyes find Parker. He’s atop the ramp prepping for his run now. Once he finishes adjusting his green helmet, those brown eyes land on mine with a look that sinks into my soul grabbing a hold so tight my breath hitches. The sound of the crowd fades into background noise while my pulse becomes deafening, my vision engulfed by Parker. I don’t know how he does it, but he unarms me from deep within.

“The Taylor boy who’s still available, ladies, Parker Taylor! He’s been steadily rising in the ranks. What will he give us today?” the announcer booms, sending a jolt through my body reminding me that Parker is not mine. Parker gives me what looks like an assuring smirk and tilts down the ramp as the crowd cheers.

“I’d like to ride him!” I hear shouted over my shoulder along with other comments. Why does it bother me? Parker isn’t anything to me, but the control I’m currently using not to throat check this bitch is award worthy. I watch Parker; my eyes stalk his every move. He makes jump after jump, some causing my heart to leave my chest. The roar of the crowd helps feed my addiction toward him, or that’s the excuse I use.

Parker exits the ramp once his run is over. Never looking again in my direction, the flame I felt is smothered before it has a fighting chance. He doesn’t owe me any lighter fluid. I’m just his…
friend
? I honestly don’t even know. A sense of sadness creeps its way into my chest, causing it to tighten. I try to rub it away with no luck.

“He killed it!” Tim yells with pride for one of his best friends. I can’t even begin to fight the smile from taking over my face. I’m so proud of Parker. He owned that ramp.

I’m actually jealous.
Of. A. Ramp.

“Which way did he go?” Scanning the crowd, I can’t spot him. I’m looking everywhere for his color—green. All the colors blend together; my eyes can’t or won’t focus on any one in particular. Time seems to stand still as my dizzy eyes dart across the crowd, the world seeming to cave in on me.

“I think I saw him head toward the truck. You want me to walk you over there?” Colt’s voice pulls me from my desperate attempt to locate Parker. Whirling around to face him, the sight behind Colt steals my breath away. Green fades away from me with a redhead close behind Parker. I let out a gush of air, releasing all the anxiety and desperation I was feeling. “Kels?” He looks to my line of sight.

Oh, that’s right. Colt was talking to me.

“Um- he seems to have enough company.” My hand obnoxiously rubs my elbow. I’m not this girl. Berating myself, I let it go. My arm and Parker…

Remembering my three rules of Kelseyism.

One: I’m awesome.

Two: I’m always right.

Three: I’m a badass.

I’m thinking about adding another rule; I don’t need Parker. It’s still up to debate, stupid feelings. Who needs them? Not me.

“That’s Ava with
Ride or Run
. She’s goin’ to be interviewing us later this month. She’s probably just gettin’ an exclusive since he just kicked ass.”
Exclusive
is how I heard that—as in sex with Parker. My eyes narrow in that direction, and Colt chuckles at my expression.

“I hate to break it to you, Kels, really I do, but the only one he’s wantin’ that kind of exclusive with is you.” My mouth falls open. Colt pushes his finger under my chin to close it. “Want me to walk you back there?”

“Yes!” Brealynn speaks up for me since clearly I’m a fish, opening and closing my mouth like I’m out of water. “Go congratulate him on his ride. Then maybe he will reward you with one.” Then she winks at me and adds, “
The ride
after the ride is the
best
.” Colt flashes her a sexy, probably supposed to be a secret smile.

“For fuck’s sake, you’re desperate to see him. What’s holdin’ you back?” Tim quips, clearly annoyed.