Hearts Attached (2 page)

That is true. She almost went all the way with her last boyfriend, Christian, but backed out at prom this past school year. He dumped her the next day, and she spent the entire Sunday crying in my bed. Luke came over and demanded to know what happened.

The following Monday, Christian was tormented the entire day on a rotating schedule, which Luke and the rest of the ice hockey team put into play. Needless to say, he was told never to even look in Olivia’s direction again. The problem with that is every other guy in school is afraid to go near her. I begin giggling.

“What are you laughing at?” she asks.

“I was thinking about Christian. Maybe by winter break, when the guys at this school see that Luke hasn’t killed anyone, some of them will ask you out again.”

“It isn’t funny, Kenzie.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll get a guy to ask you out. Who are you interested in? Name him, and I’ll go talk to him right now.”

“Bullshit. You don’t have the nerve.”

I was trying to show I was still her loyal friend, but I have a feeling this is going to backfire big time. She takes a swig from her water bottle and scopes the cafeteria before a big smile spreads across her face.

“OK. I’d like to go out with Dalton.”

“Liv,” I say, whining.

“You said you’d do it. Are you too scared?”

“Liv, your brother will kill me. He’s never going to let his closest friend go out with you.”

“You know I’ve had a crush on him since freshman year.”

I feel my stomach twisting into knots.

“Can I do it later? He’s in my English class.”

“Nope. You have to go right over to their table, pull him aside, and talk to him.”

Liv doesn’t think I will. It’s the only reason she is challenging me. She’ll die if I really tell Dalton she likes him. Oh, I’ve so got to do this, but I want to vomit.

“Fine,” I say as I stand from our table. I begin my stroll over to where there are at least ten guys eating together. I hear Liv yelling for me, so I look back over my shoulder in time to see her burying her face in her hands.

I’m a senior. I’m supposed to be brave enough to do crap like this, right? Then why do I feel the vomit rise to my throat?

As I get closer, Luke glances up at me and appears nervous. Dalton is sitting next to him, and Stewart is across with his back to me.

“Hey, Kenz, whatcha need?” Luke asks with a faint smile. Stewart’s head snaps up toward me. I’m standing between him and another guy.

“McKenzie, how’s it goin’?” Stew asks.

“Great, thanks.”

“I have a seat right here if you need one.” He pats his lap and chuckles.

Several of the guys at the table snicker. I’m still looking at Luke, who’s now glaring at him. How dare Stew try to embarrass me in front of almost every popular guy in our class?

“Aww, Stew. I don’t think I could find your dick that easily, but thanks for the offer.”

“Oh, burn,” I hear from someone at the table.

“She shot you doooown, bro,” Noah says. He’s Stew’s best friend. Every guy is laughing, especially Luke.

“Kenzie, what do you need, hon?” Luke asks, getting his composure back after chuckling. Aww, he hasn’t called me a pet name in a while.

I point next to him. “I’m actually here to speak with Dalton.” I smile brightly at the guy I’d consider the second most gorgeous male at our school. Luke is the first, of course.

Um, maybe I had an ulterior motive in doing this. I can’t imagine Luke will like it. Did I really come over here to see Luke and make him jealous?

“Will you walk with me, Dalton?”

I glance back to Luke. His mouth is hanging open, and he’s staring me down.

“Sure thing, Kenzie.”

“Mc–Kenzie,” Luke says, still staring at me.

Dalton shakes his head as he gets out of his chair. Yeah ... Luke doesn’t like it if anyone besides Liv calls me Kenzie. Dalton follows, and when I glance over to Liv, her eyes are huge, and now, she looks like she might vomit.

When we reach the hall, he shoves his hands into the pockets of his cargo shorts.

“What’s up? I can’t say I’m not curious.”

He peers at me, a bashful smile curling from his lips. Dang, he’s cute. He has thick, blonde hair and long eyelashes that set over a pair of light brown eyes.

“Um, what do you think about Olivia?”

“Olivia Harris?” he asks with a smirk.

“Yes, Olivia Harris. What other Olivia would I be talking about?”

“Uh, it doesn’t matter what I think about her but why?”

“She’s interested.”

“And she’s Luke’s sister.”

“What if Luke didn’t care? Would you be interested then?”

“Actually, yeah. I’ve always liked Liv, but Luke will never go for it.”

“Hmm, let me work on that.” I take a peek at his face and smile.

“If anyone can get Luke on board it would be you.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Come on, McKenzie. How blind are you? There’s only one reason every guy in this school isn’t asking you out. It’s because Luke turns into the biggest bitch if a guy even breathes your way. Stew’s catching so much shit right now.”

“Oh, please. He’s only protective because we’ve been friends since we could walk, and I’m sure you’re exaggerating.”

“Don’t you
ever
tell Olivia, but he’s way more protective of you, and it’s because he has always liked you. Why do you think he doesn’t date?” Dalton scratches his head. “Damn, I’ve said too much already.

“Anyway, I’d like to go out with Liv, and you can tell her that, but I’ll be shocked if you convince Luke, and he better not be trying to kick my ass tomorrow. The guy has like two inches and twenty pounds on me.”

The halls are filling with students now. I push Dalton’s shoulder with my hand and grin at him.

“He’s not gonna try to kick your ass. He’s a big softy underneath.”

“Are you two finished?” Luke asks after walking up to us in the hall. He looks and sounds pissed. Did he hear us? Dalton glances over at me and smirks.

“Yeah, we’re finished.” He walks away, and Luke falls into Dalton’s spot before we begin walking again.

“What was that about?”

“Can we discuss it outside of school?”

“Are you into, Dalton? Is that why you turned Stew down?”

“Why does it matter to you?” I’m both flattered and irritated that he’s the reason guys have never asked me out. All these years, I’ve thought it was me.

“I’m curious. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Cutting through the crowd, I stand at the side of the hallway and turn around, somehow knowing Luke would follow.

“First of all, Dalton is your best friend, so I doubt you’re worried he would hurt me. Second, I would have to actually go out with someone for them to dick me over, yet no one ever asks me out. You wouldn’t happen to know why that is, would you?” I ask bitterly.

He nervously looks away. “No.”

“So, you don’t mind if I go out with one of your friends?”

He sighs loudly and looks back at me.

“If that’s what you want, then no.”

“Fine. I’ll take Stew up on his offer. Ugh, you’re so annoying sometimes,” I feel the tears coming, “and–and confusing.” I stomp away, leaving him behind.

I’m not upset that he sabotaged any dating I could have ever experienced. I’m upset because
he
hasn’t dated me.

Luke

W
e’re already into cross-country season, so I’m at a home meet after school. I get across the finish line, and I’m trying to get my breath, pacing with my hands on my hips, when I spot my sister and Kenzie.

Liv told me they would be here to support me, but I imagine it’s only Liv since Kenzie is clearly pissed at me. I take a glimpse at them again and notice that Dalton, Noah, and Stew have joined them.

Instead of my breathing easing up, I feel it quickening. I don’t think Stew could be sitting any closer to Kenz, and I hate it. When I rejected her, a year and a half ago, she warned me that she would be with someone else eventually. How long do I expect her to wait?

After the meet, I walk over to them.

“Great job, Luke. First place as usual,” Liv says, smiling at me.

“Thanks. Are we grabbing something to eat? If so, I want to shower first.”

“Yep. You can meet us.”

Kenz stands up from the grass and dusts off her shorts. “It’s time for me to go. Mom’s actually home this evening.”

Liv points up at me, from where she’s sitting on the ground next to Dalton. “You can ride with my bro,” she says before giggling. What has her in such a good mood?

“That’s OK. Stew offered to take me home.”

Like hell he will. “Kenzie, I’ll take you. I’m right next door.”

“I don’t mind,” Stew says. I’m sure he doesn’t. He’d like nothing more than to get inside her pants.

She gives me a satisfied smile, and I believe she’s trying to get back at me. Is it because she thinks I’ve been keeping guys away from her?

If so, then she must not want to date me anymore. I barely say bye to everyone before I walk to my car. After I’m home, I take a shower and wait.

It’s embarrassing the way I’m staring out the window, watching for Stewart to bring Kenzie home. Fifteen minutes pass, and I text her, hoping he dropped her off while I was showering.

Me:
Are you home?

Kenz:
Yes. Why?

Me:
I wanted to make sure Stew got you here safely.

Kenz:
I don’t need you looking out for me.

Me:
I’ll never stop doing that.

Kenz:
Why???

Me:
I care about you. You know that.

Kenz:
Ugh, you drive me crazy!

I don’t reply, unsure of what to say. I’ve avoided her as much as possible since the incident on my bed, in an attempt to shut off the feelings I have for her, but it hasn’t worked.

She was right about me keeping guys away from her. I haven’t told anyone they couldn’t ask her out, but I’ve made it obvious to friends that I would hate it if they did.

If I’m honest, I’ve wanted Kenzie since I’ve been old enough to know what that means, but I would turn it off after we shared “moments,” I’ll call them.

Over the years, we’ve experienced times when something would happen that brought us closer together. The moments were intense between us ... not only emotionally but physically.

During one of those times, over a year ago, I decided to stop letting the “moments” happen, and I was fairly successful until a week ago on my bed.

Kenzie’s gorgeous, and with her body changing, guys have taken notice. It’s getting that much harder to keep them away from her. I’m insanely jealous seeing another dude around her, and I can’t deny it any longer.

Liv has always run interference, never wanting Kenzie and me together, but I can’t sit by and watch Stew snatch her up. She belongs with me.

***

S
chool blows today. Stew makes a point to talk about Kenzie at lunch and in the three classes we have together. He claims she agreed to go out with him, but she didn’t say when, so I still have a chance.

I wonder what she wanted with Dalton. Does she like him, too? I don’t think he’d date her. Over the years, I’ve hinted to him about my feelings toward Kenzie.

After Liv and I get home from school, we find out my grandparents were in a car accident. They’re going to make it, but they’re beat up pretty bad, so Mom and Liv left out of here fast to go to Springfield, Connecticut to see them.

I’m outside playing basketball, trying to release some stress and sexual frustration, when I see Kenzie walking over. Shit. For once, Liv isn’t here to run interference.

I take a shot, and it rolls around the rim before falling in. She walks right past me toward the front door. “Liv isn’t here.”

Kenzie turns around and plants a hand on her curvy hip. “Where is she?”

Holding the ball at my side, I lift my shirt to wipe the sweat from my forehead. When I let it go, I see her eyes lift. I believe she was checking out my abs. Damn, I hope she still likes me, too.

“Grandma and Grandpa Harris were in a car accident. Mom and Liv left about fifteen minutes ago. They’re going to stay with them, and I have a feeling they might be there for several days.”

She begins walking toward me as I turn and take another shot at the goal.

“Are they going to be OK?” Kenzie knows my grandparents about as well as I do.

“Yeah. A doctor at the hospital talked to Mom on the phone. He said they’ll be alright, but I guess they have a long recovery ahead because of their age.” I go after the ball and take a three point shot from the side.

“That’s so sad.”

“Liv will probably text you soon.” I stop playing when I realize Kenzie hasn’t spoken for a minute. Glancing over, I notice she’s wiping tears away with the back of her hand. “I’m sure they’ll be fine, Kenz. Don’t cry.” I stroll over to her, unsure of what to do next.

“They’re sweet, and they feel like my grandparents, too.” She begins to cry harder, so I reach for the back of her head and pull her to my chest.

“Don’t worry, hon. I’m sure they’ll be fine. Dad didn’t even come home from work. If it was more serious, I’m sure we all would’ve went.”

“True.” She reaches her hand up between us and wipes her eyes once more before placing her palm over my heart. Damn, she feels good against me. I drop the ball and wrap my other arm around her.

I try to think back to the last hug I gave Kenzie. It was one day in early summer when we were playing ball against Liv and Jared, our neighbor. He graduated last year and is away at college.

We beat them every game, and I remember hugging her each time. I’ve never been so happy to see a person leave town. He always showed interest in Liv and Kenzie.

***

A
ge 10:

“We need to practice kissing,” Liv says, looking at Jared, Kenzie and me. “We’ll probably want to kiss someone soon.” We’re sitting in Kenzie’s treehouse, and this is awkward. I might have to rip the heads off Liv’s collector Barbies for this.

“I agree with Liv. We need practice,” Jared says, “and you can’t kiss your brother, so it looks like you’ll have to be my partner.”