Chasing Destiny (2 page)

“Did you see him? He’s freakin’ hot!”

I nodded and finished my beer. “I’m going to get some more.”

I walked toward the small kitchen where the keg was located and started to fill my cup.

“Let me get that for you,” a guy standing next to me with long, brown hair and caramel eyes said.

“Um, thanks,” I replied. Since he was offering, he could have at it. Besides, he was hot.

“Here you go,” he said, handing my cup back to me as muscular arms wrapped around me.

The sleeve of tattoos gave away who it was, but I would have known anyway. I’d recognize his cologne anywhere. “Carson,” I said, whipping around to face him, “what are you doing?”

“Giving my flower girl a hug,” he stated, a huge grin on his face and blue eyes sparkling. “Hmmm, you kinda ruined my chances with that guy by hugging me,” I said, pointing to the guy’s retreating form.

“He’s not good enough for you anyway.” He tucked a piece of my brown hair behind my ear. “You ready for tomorrow?”

“Not really. But I need a roommate to help pay the bills.” I was kidding, of course, and Carson knew it.

“You can’t wait until I’m moved in,” he said, watching a girl with huge boobs walk by. “Look, I’ll catch you later. I’ve gotta go talk to that girl.” He leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

I rolled my eyes and laughed. He could chase after a girl but drove the guy talking to me away.
Glad to see things are even
. “Make sure to wrap it up.” Carson loved women, which reminded me I needed to set some ground rules about where he could sleep with these girls. The living room and kitchen were off limits. Walking in on him was not something I wanted to do.

“Always do,” he called over his shoulder as he walked away.

I laughed and took a sip of beer, then walked back to where Holly was now sitting with Justin, Todd, and the blond guy.

“Dude,” Justin hollered as I sat down next to Holly, “your friend here was just telling us some stories about you. You’re going to be fun.”

“What stories?” I asked, even though I probably already knew. I had gone through a “wild” stage during high school. I would drink myself into oblivion and people would dare me to do crazy things—I never turned down a dare.

“You went bridge jumping while hanging onto the hood of a car?”

“Oh,” I said, flinging my hand out as if bridge jumping were nothing. “Yeah, I did that once. Not one of my smartest moves.”

They just laughed and the blond guy placed his arm around my shoulder. It wasn’t something I technically wanted, but I was tipsy enough not to care. “I’m Xander, by the way,” he whispered into my ear.

“Kristin.”

“That’s a beautiful name.” I was so hoping he was drunk and not normally this lame. “You ready to go?”

“Sure,” I said, looking at Holly, who was undressing Man-bun—I mean, Justin, with her eyes. “Holly!”

She snapped her attention to me. “Um…yeah, let’s go.”

After making our way into the cold night air, we walked toward Todd’s 4-Runner. I zipped up my jacket and shivered. “You okay?” Xander asked.

“I’m fine. Just cold.”

Xander smiled and wrapped his arms around me. “I’ll warm you up.”

I smiled and pulled away as we neared the vehicle. Xander was a nice guy, and at first, I was drawn to him because he reminded me of Adam, but now I was starting to withdraw
because
he reminded me of Adam.

I only hoped I’d be able to push past it and enjoy the rest of the night.

Carson

My head was pounding. Rolling over, I fumbled for my phone on the nightstand and was immediately blinded by the damn sun glaring through the curtains. I’d be so glad to be out of this sun box of a room. Sure, I could’ve put up blackout curtains, but I was too lazy.

I wanted to promise myself I would never drink again, but I knew that wasn’t true. I’d just be a little more prepared next time. I usually was—Gatorade and painkillers on my nightstand—but I had packed up all my shit and it slipped my mind before I left for the party.

My phone said it was ten-thirty and I knew I needed to get my ass up. Ryder was meeting me in an hour to help me move my bed.

Groaning, I rose from the bed and rifled around in my basket of clothes to find something to wear so I could at least take a shower. I seriously stunk.

After standing under the scalding water until it turned cold, I turned the faucet off and stepped out. I still felt like death, but a little less dead. After drying off, I dressed in my wrinkly jeans and old t-shirt that had a faded cigarette brand on the front.

I opened the door and stopped.

“You look like shit,” Ryder said, perched on the side of my bed.

“Thanks.”

“One day you’ll need a liver transplant and wish you hadn’t partied so much.”

I laughed as I walked over to the bed and wadded up my comforter. “Didn’t you spend a lot of time in juvie when we were younger, and didn’t I just get shit-faced with you last weekend? Your girlfriend had to come get you.”

“Yeah, but as you can see, I didn’t get shit-faced last night. And the juvie thing happened when I was like sixteen. It’s called growing up.” He picked up a box and scrunched his nose. “What the fuck is in here?”

“My dirty clothes,” I replied, my voice even.

He dropped it. “Next time warn a person.”

“Let’s just get this mattress out to the truck,” I said, picking up one end.

“Fine by me. The sooner I get this over with, the sooner I get to go back home to Megan.”

We picked it up and carried it to my truck, then went back for the box spring. “Anymore furniture?” he asked as we tossed the box spring on top of the mattress. “We can fit it in the back of my truck.”

“No. Just boxes, so it should all fit in mine. The apartment I’m moving to is already furnished.”

We loaded the rest of my boxes and clothes into the back seat of my truck, then took off toward my new place.

“So, have you set a date?” I asked.

“No. It’ll be a while,” Ryder answered while texting on his phone.

“Is that Megan? Tell her she can come over and help me christen my new place if she wants.”

He scowled at me. “I will beat your ass.”

I laughed and turned up the rock music coming from the speakers even though my head was still pounding. I loved messing with Ryder about Megan. She had always been the good girl from what I could tell, and…well, Ryder used to get in trouble a lot. They were complete opposites and a nauseating couple.

I backed the truck into a parking spot close to the apartment and got out. “I’m just going to go unlock the door. I’m not sure whether Kristin’s here or not.”

“Okay, I’ll get started un-strapping the mattress.”

I climbed the steps and unlocked the door, swinging it open. Kristin was sitting at the small dining table, eating cereal with her dark brown hair piled up on top of her head. She looked adorable.

“Hey,” I greeted.

She swallowed. “Hi,” she said, glancing at the clock on the microwave. “I really wasn’t expecting you this early.”

I already knew the answer, but I asked anyway. “And why is that?”

“Because it’s Saturday. I figured you’d be hungover.”

“I am,” I said. “Do you have any painkillers?”

“I do,” she replied, then went to the kitchen and opened a cabinet. “Is it just your head?”

“Yeah. Surprisingly, I’m fine otherwise.”

She rifled around for a few more seconds, then slammed the cabinet. “Here.”

I walked up to her and took the bottle out of her hands. “You are a lifesaver, flower girl.”

“Now that we are roommates, you need to stop calling me that, Janson,” she said, a smirk forming on her lips. “I can easily smother you in your sleep.”

“Please do,” Ryder interjected as he strolled into the apartment. “The world would be a lot better place.”

“Shut up, juvie,” I replied as Ryder scowled.

Kristin shook her head and laughed. “Do y’all need any help?” she asked as I filled a glass with water and downed the pills.

“We’ve got it.” I looked back to Ryder, who was smiling as he watched Kristin and I. “You ready?”

“Yep,” he answered, still smiling.
What the hell is he smiling about?

We jogged down the stairs and both went to opposite sides of the truck. “I think you’ve met your match.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I questioned as I grabbed the box spring.

“I don’t think she’ll put up with your shit. You need someone like that.”

I let my gaze settle on him. “We’re just friends. I’ll admit she’s hot, but I’m never going down that road again.”

“We’ll see,” he said, lifting his side. I rolled my eyes and began walking, holding up the box spring.

Once we got it up the stairs and into my new room, we went back and retrieved the mattress, rails, and boxes. “I’ll get my clothes later,” I said. “Thanks for helping, man.”

“Anytime.”

“You hungry? I’m starving.”

“I could eat. I’ll call Megan and see if she wants to meet us somewhere.”

Nodding, I went down the hall toward Kristin’s room. I knocked on the door before pushing it open. “You wanna come eat?”

“I just had cereal,” she replied, looking up from her laptop.

“That’s like a snack. Come on, get dressed. Or don’t,” I said, looking at her exposed long legs. “I like the short shorts.”

She glared at me, but cracked a smile. “Give me a minute.”

I winked and closed the door. I really liked Kristin. When I’d first met her, she was reserved and hardly spoke to me, but it turned out she was in a depressing relationship and her true personality was being smothered. She was actually funny, smart, and beautiful. Even the potent smell of all her flowers was growing on me. If I were in the mood to settle down, I’d pick someone like her, but I wasn’t.

“She’s coming,” I told Ryder, who had flopped down on the couch. “Make yourself comfortable.”

“I did, thanks.”

***

The four of us sat down at a table in IHOP thirty minutes later and my stomach growled. Breakfast food was my favorite. “We’ll actually need another chair,” I told the host as I glanced up from my phone.

“Okay.”

“Who else is coming?”

“Hayes,” I replied. “Mackenzie took Harley to meet up with her brother.”

“I remember Hayes. When I would come to visit, we would team up and kick everyone’s ass at football.”

“Well, he’s married with a kid now,” I sighed. “I feel sorry for him.”

“He’s a dad?” Ryder questioned. Ryder had moved to Norman about six months ago and although we hung out some, we had never been the type to sit around and gossip.

“Yeah. I’d fill you in, but it’s a long story and I doubt you care that much.”

Megan and Kristin both laughed as they looked over the menu. I tossed mine to the side, already knowing what I wanted, and began drumming my fingers on the table.

“Why don’t you still play the drums?” Ryder asked.

I shrugged. “I still do when I go home, but they take up too much space for a small apartment.”

“You play the drums?” Kristin asked.

“He can sing, too,” Ryder added. “Don’t let him hide it.”

I could also play the guitar pretty well, but the waitress arrived, saving me from talking about my musical talents. It wasn’t anything I wanted to pursue in my life, just a hobby I enjoyed by myself.

After we ordered, Kristin and Megan began talking about school starting up and Hayes showed up. “Hey,” he greeted. “Did you already order?”

“Yeah.”

“Damn it,” Hayes said. “Your food will come out before mine and I’ll have to watch you eat while I starve.”

“I doubt you’ll starve.”

“Mac left early this morning, I’ve only had a pop tart.” He glanced over at Ryder. “It’s been a long time. How are you, man?”

“I’m good. Heard you’re married.”

“Yeah. It’s been great.” Hayes’ face lit up and even though I wanted to gag a little, I was happy for him. I wasn’t opposed to relationships; I was just opposed to me being in one. I’d had my heart stomped on before and I wasn’t going to let it happen again.

“That’s great. Megan and I still need to set a date.”

Megan leaned over Ryder to speak to Hayes and myself. “I’m working on it. He says he’d like to get on a plane to Vegas tonight.”

Hayes laughed. “We got married at the courthouse. My dad married us.”

“Lucky,” Ryder muttered.

“What was that?” I asked, knowing he didn’t want Megan to know.

“Nothing,” he replied, scowling, as Megan said, “Lucky. He said lucky.”

“I still promised her a big wedding. I’m not off the hook yet,” Hayes added.

I glanced over at Kristin, who was enjoying the conversation—Megan’s raised voice and Ryder’s obvious frustration he would never admit to.

The rest of the meal was spent talking about old times and how everyone was dreading the new semester, but all I could think about was getting back to the apartment to take a nap. My head still hurt and the yelling kids sitting beside us were making it worse.

“I appreciate your help today,” I told Ryder. “I’ve got your meal.”

“Yeah, you do. I woke my ass up early on a Saturday morning.”

Megan rolled her eyes. “He wakes up early every day. Don’t let him fool you.”

“Shhh, babe. I really wanted him to feel bad.”

I laughed. “Not going to happen. I don’t feel bad for anyone who agrees to help someone move.”

Kristin let out a huge yawn and stretched her arms over her head. “Hey, you ready?” I asked.

“Whenever you are.”

“Let me go pay.” I snatched her ticket and Ryder’s, then decided to be nice and grabbed Hayes and Megan’s too. They all looked at me like I had grown an extra limb and I rolled my eyes. “I can be nice.”

Before they had a chance to reply, I left and walked toward the register located up front. I didn’t feel like waiting on the waitress to come back to the table.

After stuffing my card back in my wallet, I turned to see Kristin standing beside me and everyone else waiting by the door. “I really do appreciate your help, Ryder.”

“It was no problem. It wasn’t like you had all that much.”

I nodded. “True.”

Kristin waved goodbye to everyone and I nodded at Hayes as he walked to his Jeep. “I’m so tired,” Kristin remarked, stifling another yawn.