Outsider (Outsider Series) (3 page)

“Should you have known?” I asked quirking a brow.

He dismissed my question with a wave of his hand. “I didn’t know anyone was coming and
as you can see
you gave me quite a fright,” he said motioning to the spilled cupcakes. But I felt like he was
lying about something. Hiding something. The way he had looked at me? It was like a blind man seeing the light for the first time and then to act like he had the right to know I was here? It was all a bit strange to me but I chalked it up to the fact that he worked here and the only other employee was Gram
and some older lady
so it probably was a shock to see me come in the door. He probably would have looked at any girl who came through the door like that. I was nothing special. I had brown hair and brown eyes, plain
and normal.

I wiped off the floor and then washed my hands. When I turned around Caeden was standing there with that same strange look on his face like I was everything he ever wanted.

“So,” I said. “You can go now.”

He shook his head like he was clearing it. “I’ll go after I make some more cupcakes to replace the ones I dropped. You can cover the front.”

Just then the front door chimed.

“Okay fine,” I said. “Show time.”

Like promised Caeden
made
more cupcakes before leaving and it was a good thing because the front was extremely busy and there was no way I would have been able to make more while manning the front. At six o’ clock I was finally able to lock the door and clean up. Gram’s little store had apparently taken off. It had never been this busy on previous times I visited. In the past it had been all she could do to hang onto the small little cupcake shop.

Once everything was sparkling clean I headed out. I locked the door behind me and went home. Gram’s car was still gone. I wondered what she could possibly be doing this long.

I grabbed the front door and went to open and then realized it was locked.

“Shit,” I moaned.

A neighbor sitting on their front porch glared at me. “Sorry,” I said.

I pulled out my cell phone and rang Gram. She didn’t answer so I tried again starting to panic. I didn’t want to have to sit outside all night.
She finally answered and I sighed into the phone. “Gram, I’m locked out. I don’t have a key.”

“Oh, you poor child don’t worry,” she said and hung up.

I sat down in the cracker barrel rocker and waited. I had a book in my purse so I pulled it out and started to read. I didn’t know how far away Gram was so I might as well get comfortable.

A few minutes later the rumble of a motorcycle disturbed the peace. Peeved I looked up to glare at the person only to find that they were pulling in my driveway.
I stood up and watched the
person climb off the bike. He went to pull of the helmet and I immediately realized who was here.
Caeden.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

He shook a set of keys. “Rescuing a damsel in distress. Doesn’t everyone do that in their spare time?”

I laughed. “You must think I’m pathetic. Wait, how do you have a key?” I asked.

He chuckled. “It’s a long story. But the jist is that your grandma trusts me.”

I crossed my arms over my chest while he opened the door. He held it open for me so I went in and tossed my purse on the hall table.

I turned around to thank him and found his chest only inches from my face. I gasped and his woodsy scent filled my lungs. I must have staggered because suddenly his hands were
on
my arms to steady m
e. They were warm and calloused and felt wonderful. Tiny zings pulsed through my body at his touch.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I breathed. “Thanks,” I said. “For unlocking the door,” I added.

He chuckled and then deposited himself in one of the flowery arm chairs. Noticing my raised eyebrow he said, “Lucinda asked me to stay with you.” He put his hands behind his head and leaned back in the chair, sighed, and turned the
TV
on.

“I don’t need a babysitter,” I snapped at the gorgeous boy that seemed out of place in Gram’s flowery living room.

He chuckled. “I’m not about to cross Lucinda so you can take it up with her later.”

Exasperated I threw my hands in the air and stormed into the kitchen. I quickly decided that I better make the most of having this gorgeous guy in my house so I called out to him, “Are you hungry?”

“Starved,” he said.

I looked through the refrigerator and saw some steaks that were getting close to going bad and decided I would make those. I was sure Gram would be hungry whenever she got home.

I mixed up my special marinade that kept the steaks from getting dry and then started the grill. I stuck some baked potatoes in the oven and mixed up a salad with homemade dressing. Deciding I couldn’t avoid the living room anymore I took a seat on the couch.

Fox news blared through the room. I laughed. “You watch the news?” I asked.

“Doesn’t everyone,” he said in his silky voice.

“I just pegged you for more of the
football, chest pounding, type,” I said with a laugh, pulling my legs up and making myself comfortable.

He laughed. “Don’t get me wrong, I love football, but I’m kind of a nerd.”

We sat in companionable silence until the timer for the steaks went off.
I got up and got them and was pleased with how they turned out. I fixed us each a plate, put one in the microwave for Gram, and set out some toppings for the baked potato since I didn’t know what Caeden liked.

“It’s ready,” I called.

For someone as big and muscular as Caeden was his steps were practically silent. He sat down and I appraised his reaction. He inhaled. “
Mmm
, smells delicious.”

“Thanks,” I said and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.

“But I don’t eat salad,” he said pointing to it. His large smile made the words less cutting. “Anything green is not a part of my diet. I’m a man not a caterpillar.”

“It’s good for you. Try it. Jus
t one bite and I won’t bug you,” I said using my fork to point at him.

He scrunched up his face, picked up his fork, and speared a piece of salad. Dramatically slow he moved the fork towards his mouth. Finally, he took a bite. He chewed and then swallowed. A slow smile spread across his face. “That’s actually pretty good,” he said and took another bite.

“So,” I said. “How old are you?”

He chuckled. “Why? Do I look old?”

I blushed. “No, that’s my backwards way of asking if you’re still in high school or not.”

“In that case, yes, I’m still in high school and I’m eighteen.”

“So, I guess I’ll see you around school then? You do live around here, right?” I asked and took a sip of water to have something to do with my hands.

He chewed and swallowed. “Yep, you’ll see me. Do you have your schedule yet?”

“I have no idea, actually,” I said.

He smiled. “You’re a senior right?”

“Yeah,” I said.

“Well, maybe we’ll have some classes together. At least I hope so,” he said and then got that funny look on his face again.

I blushed and looked down at my plate.
“That would be nice,” I said.

He grinned. “School starts in two days. Why don’t I take you over there
tomorrow
and we’ll get your schedule and then I can show you around so you’re not completely lost on your first day.”

“That would be great,” I sighed. “You’d think as many times as I’ve moved I’d be used to being the new kid but it never ceases to stop bothering me.”

“You wouldn’t be
halfway
human if it didn’t bother you. But don’t worry I’ve got your back. Plus, almost everyone is nice.”

“
Almost
?” I asked.

He chuckled. “I’m not going to lie. There are some people there that get under my skin.
”

It was so easy to talk to Caeden and I found myself leaning closer to him as if pulled by some kind of magnetic energy. He seemed to be doing the same. Just then the front door opened and startled we jumped apart.

“Lucinda?” Caeden asked standing. He stood in front of me and his stance suggested he was ready for an attack.

“It’s only me,” she called and then came around the corner into the small yellow kitchen. “Something smells divine,” she said.

Caeden sat back down and leaned the rickety wooden chair back on two legs. I didn’t know how the old chair didn’t snap. “Sophie is an amazing cook.” He rubbed his stomach. “She might be even better than you.”

“Take that back Caeden Williams,” she said a smacked the back of his head lightly.

He laughed and deposited the chair back down on four legs. I was amazed at their light banter. I had never met Caeden on any of my previous visits with Gram but the two acted like old buddies.

“I put a plate for you in the microwave,” I told Gram and she proceeded to warm it up.

Suddenly the room felt heavy with tension and the only noise was the low roar of the microwave.

“I better get going,” said Caeden. “Bryce and I have to do something. He’s probably standing on top of his head.”

“
Be careful,” said Gram, “and don’t worry about work tomorrow. We open later on Monday’s anyway so Sophie will cover it.”

Caeden nodded his head. His face looked dark with worry about something. I wondered what was going on. It looked like something was passing between Gram and Caeden.

He started to leave. “I guess I’ll see you when I see you,” I called.

“Yeah,” he said not turning around.

Puzzled I
turned to look at Gram. “What’s
going on?” I asked her.

She sat down in the seat that Caeden had vacated and then proceeded to take a couple bites of food.

I repeated the question.

“Nothing,” she said. “I don’t
know what you’re talking about,” Gram added.

“Oh, I don’t know maybe the voodoo mind magic going on five minutes ago?”
I said.

Gram laughed. “Sophie, you’re just like your father. He always did have an overactive imagination.”

I sighed and went to the sink to clean my plate.

It was still early but I turned to Gram and said, “I’m going to bed.”

“Don’t forget to call your parents,” she chimed as I left the room.

“Kay,” I called over my shoulder.

I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and got in my pajamas before calling my parents. Neither answered so I just left a message and then climbed under the covers and was out like a light.

Gram was gone when I woke up which I thought was strange because I hadn’t overslept. I made myself breakfast and then showered and got dressed. I put my cap and
Lucinda’s
shirt by the door so I wouldn’t leave either
here by mistake
. I noticed before she left Gram had attached her house key to my key ring. I smiled to myself. If she hadn’t done that there would have been no doubt that I would have locked myself out. I might have even done it on purpose just for the chance to see Caeden.

Sometime later a knock sounded on the door scaring me to death. I put a hand to my racing heart. I had never been so jumpy before. This place must be messing with my head.

I slowly opened the door so that, if necessary, I could slam it shut quickly.

But to my relief Caeden stood outside. He looked flawless in a
pale
blue t-shirt, which brought out the cobalt of his eyes, and his motorcycle jacket.

“Hey,” he said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I wasn’t scared,” I defended. He gave me a look that told me he didn’t believe me.

“I told you that
I would show you around the school, today,” he said and grinned at me.

“Oh right,” I said awkwardly and just stood there.

“Are you coming?” he asked after a moment.

“Yeah,” I said shaking my head and grabbed my stuff. I didn’t know how long it would take at the school and Gram would have my head if I opened the store one second late.

I shut the door and saw that Caeden was holding out a helmet to me. I scrunched up my nose. “No thanks,” I said. “I don’t wish to be road kill.”

He chuckled. “Don’t you trust me? I would never hurt you. Come on it’ll be fun,” he said and tried to get me to take the helmet.

I clicked the button to unlock my car and
it
beeped cheerily. “We can go in my car,” I said and motioned to it like I was
Vana
White on Wheel of Fortune.

“Fine,” he grumbled and put the helmet back.

I climbed behind the wheel and he got in a moment later. The radio blared on and I immediately turned it off.

Caeden studied the car and rubbed the leather seats. “
This
is your car? Your parents must love you,” he said with a laugh.