Impacted (Conflicted Encounters #2) (23 page)

"I got to stop at the shop for something after we drop off your tux," she told me as she put it back in the bag.
 

"Then to Denny's?" I asked, suddenly starved for a greasy breakfast.
 

"Yep. I need bacon," she nodded. She packed up some more clothes and twirled around, making sure she had everything.
 

Once we were in the elevator, Kallie's hands flew to my shoulders. She pulled me down to her, and I willing met her lips. This felt right. It felt like us. I just didn't know if it felt like us for "right now". I pushed her back against the wall only to be rewarded by the opening doors. I sighed and pulled away from her.

"You should've had your way with me last night," she smirked as she walked backward through the parking. "It's gonna be a long day."

My dick flinched, and I quickly caught up to her. "I'll make up for it tonight," I growled in her ear and as she wiggled out of my hold.
 

I unlocked the car door for her so she could get in. I put the bags in the trunk and it took only a few minutes to get to the mall. I grumbled the whole way there about traffic. The cars were barely moving, and I felt boxed in by the tall buildings surrounding us. I was glad it wasn't a bigger city, like New York or Chicago. I would have lost my mind.
 

We turned in the tuxedo we borrowed, and Kathy was just as nice as she was yesterday. She gave me a flirty wink before I left and I laughed it off. I was used to getting hit on and it was worse with the older women. It was like they grew out of their filter and did whatever they wanted. Kallie gave the woman a hug and warning look before dragging me out of the store.
 

She stopped in front of the glass doors of the jewelry store and took in a deep breath. I watched her as she squeezed her eyes shut, raised her chin, and walked inside. I spotted Ivan behind the counter immediately. A bell rang, announcing our presence, and his eyes darted to her right away.
 

"I need the Elizabeth," she told him as she strode behind the counter like she owned the place. Probably because she practically did.
 

"What? Why? No," he stuttered.
 

"Ivan, open the safe. They are mine to do as I please with and I want them. Now," she told him with her hands on her hips.

He looked at me wide-eyed, almost like he was asking for help. I just shrugged. I had no idea what was going on.
 

"I'm with a customer," he said quietly. A man about our age leaned against the counter with three rings on pedestals in front of him.

"I got him," she waved. "Tell me about her," she said, turning to the confused customer.
 

"Uh," he stuttered, caught off guard. "She's beautiful, smart, and loving. She does ballet," he offered quickly, like he was taking a pop quiz.
 

"Then this one," she pointed to the middle ring.

"But it's smaller than these," he pouted.

"And if she does ballet, she's probably small and fit. These two will look ridiculous on her little hand. This one," she said, pushing it forward. "This one will look stunning, but not gaudy. Classic and traditional."
 

He scratched his chin and picked up the ring, examining it in the light. He slid it over his pinky and a small smile spread across his face. "I'll take it."

Kallie nodded and led him over to the computer to finish up the sale. After shooting Ivan a glare, he retreated to the back room. Kallie quickly had the customer happy and walking out the door. I roamed around, looking in the glass cases and eyeing the expensive accessories. Kallie talked to another young woman who seemed to be looking for a gift for her mom.
 

"So, she's not a robot," I heard beside me. Ivan stood next to me with a black box in his hands. He was watching Kallie as she joked with the teenager about picky mothers.
 

"What do you mean?" I grunted. I wasn't his biggest fan.

"I worked here with her every single day for six months," he told me. "She came in, she kicked ass and worked hard even after we closed up for the day."

"Your point?" To rub it in that he got to see her everyday for the last half of a year and I didn't?

"She was a robot. Going though the motions. Fake smiles, dead eyes, hallow voice. That's a different girl behind the counter. She's alive and," he paused, watching her, "different."

Is she? I may not have seen her in the last six months, but I believed his description. I knew how her heart wasn't into what she was doing, which was why I was so angry with her for letting it happen. Looking at her now, with her messy hair and lounging clothes, I really couldn't imagine her working behind that counter every day. So why did she stay for so long? Why wasn't I enough for her to leave this place?

"Is that it?" Kallie called over as she approached us.
 

"Yes," Ivan nodded, handing her the box he was clutching to.
 

"I will bring it back," she reassured him.
 

"It's yours."

"I'll bring it back for safe keeping. Thank you," she smiled at him. He nodded back as she tugged me out behind her.
 

"What is it?" I asked once we were seated in my car. It was killing me, but I didn't want to ask in front of Ivan and let him see that I had no idea what my girl was up to.
 

"It's a necklace. It was passed down from generation to generation," she said quietly as the thumbed the velvet of the box. "It's made of Elizabeth diamonds, known for their blue color. Also, what my middle name and great grandmother was named after."

"Why do you need it?"
 

"For the wedding. It's the perfect color, and I think Scarlett should be the most beautiful bride in the world," she whispered, opening the box.
 

A deep blue shone through the car. The rocks were the size of a thumbnail and crystal clear. The blue mixed with a light green, creating a vivid color and reflected light. I would imagine that if you could catch the ocean and trap it in glass, it would look just like those stones. She ran her fingers over the precious diamonds lovingly. I imagined the white gold chain draped over her skin. I could see Kallie in a white dress with the color of the diamonds bouncing off the necklace and bringing out her eyes.
 

I put my hand over the box, closing it. "Let's go," I choked around the lump in my throat.
 

I made my way out of the parking garage and tried not complain about the traffic as much on the way out. I waited until we were in the suburbs before pulling off the exit with a sign for Denny's. We were quickly seated and drinking crappy coffee in no time at all. Kallie seemed lost in her thoughts, and I didn't want to interrupt. I wasn't sure if she was planning or sad we’d left her home.
 

We ordered breakfast and Kallie wasn't kidding when she said she was craving breakfast food. She ordered the special with just about every possible breakfast food. I eyed her tiny body, wondering where the hell she was going to put it all.
 

"Is the Elizabeth supposed to be for your wedding?" I finally asked her.
 

"Traditionally, yes," she nodded before taking a sip of coffee.
 

"Then you should save it for yours," I said.
 

"You offering?" She raised an eyebrow at me. "I'm kidding," she waved me off.

"Wouldn't you want to wear it at yours?" I asked.

"I do. I want to," she sighed. "I just don't see a wedding in my immediate future. Plus, I think she deserves it. She needs something to make up for the cheap ring he put on her finger. And she's my family."

Our food arrived and distracted me from further questions. Kallie had two plates as opposed to my one. She quickly dug in, sopping up syrup and her egg yoke with toast. She shoved a piece of bacon into her mouth and moaned. My dick stood at attention, jealous that another piece of meat was making her sound like that.
 

"You think we should be worried about his gambling problem?" she asked with a mouth full of hash browns. "I mean, it's not necessarily illegal, but he's been lying to her."

"I don't know," I admitted. "She would be pissed without a doubt if she found out."

"I can't break her heart, Ryder."

"I know."

We ate in silence, and I paid for the meal when the bill came. Kallie argued, but the waitress took my bank card after I shot her my nicest smile. Kallie surprised me by clearing almost all her plates. I helped her out with some pancakes, but she did most of the eating. She barely ate any of the fancy dinner from last night, so I can see how she would be starving.
 

I rolled down the top of the Comet before we started the rest of the way home. Kallie didn't seem bothered by the wind messing up her hair and I enjoyed the sound of wind. I liked being with her like this. My mind kept asking the questions I’d been avoiding since she stepped foot in the shop a few weeks ago.
 

I wondered what would happen when we returned from Hawaii. Would she drive back home? What would she do when she got back? She didn't want to work for her dad anymore, so what would she do? A huge part of me ached when I thought of her leaving again. I wanted her here, with me, but I only wanted her if she wanted to be here.

I always divided her into two separate Kallie's. I saw the Kallie that I met and fell in love with. The girl who showed up broken, lost and determined to find out what she was gaining from her loses. That was the girl that forgave me for causing the death of an innocent man. She was the one that held on to me in the rain and said she loved me, no matter what. That Kallie chased away the nightmares.

Then there was the Kallie pre-Ryder. The Kallie that was destined to marry her high school sweetheart and become a corporate woman. She was to go to Georgetown and get her master's degree. She would have never had a hangover.
 

There were moments when I looked at her and wondered who the hell she really was. Some of her determination and creativity was a part of her I never saw. I watched her today while she sold an engagement ring to a guy based off a two-second conversation with him. Even looking casual and totally out of place, she aired an authority about her that was trusted. Was there a third Kallie now? Would she break my heart even more?
 

I dropped her off at her hotel that night. I hated that she was staying there, but I couldn't ask her to stay with me. That was too much and opening myself back up to the same mistakes made the first time around. With the three Kallie's running around in my head, I needed my space. I needed to think. I knew going on this trip would be the ultimate test.
 

"How did it go?" Scarlett asked as soon as I opened the door. She was cuddled on the couch with Adam.
 

"Fine," I told her.
 

"You guys back together yet?"

"No. Yes. Kinda," I sighed as I sat on the recliner.
 

"Elaborate please," she laughed.
 

"I was introduced as her boyfriend, and I made it clear I wasn't sharing her," I shrugged.
 

"But you didn't tell her you still loved her." It wasn't a question. She knew me better than I did most times. I shook my head.
 

"Are you just dumb, or do you wan to keep it a secret?" she snipped.

"What?"

"It's obvious, Ry. You never fall and you did. You fell hard and I don't think you will ever get back up. I understand you are angry and hurt. Hell, it pissed me off the way she just floated off like that, but I don't think it actually changed what you felt. What you still feel."

"Well, I'm not stupid. I'm not making the same mistake again," I told her. I hated that Adam was sitting her for this conversation.
 

"Of course you won't," she smiled coyly. "Because loving her wasn't the mistake you made."

"Whatever," I grunted and pushed myself out of the chair. I didn't need to hear her shit now.
 

I closed myself up in my room for the night. I only had to work half a day tomorrow and we would all be flying out the next morning after that. I texted Logan to see if he wanted to get a drink, but he didn't answer. I hoped he pulled out of his shitty mood before the trip. If this wedding fell apart, I would need him to back me up and keep Scarlett together.
 

There were few people she trusted in this world. There was me, Logan, and Caleb. We have always been the only men in her life that she kept around for more than a few days. The fact that she let Adam in made me hope we were wrong about him. If she let down her mask for him, if she loved him, then she deserved it. She should have all the love in the world, and I fell asleep hoping she would get it one day.
 

Kallie

I ran around the hotel room like a maniac. I practically moved in during my stay, and I was going to be checking out today. I threw around the towels and random clothing, looking for my phone charger. I was in a panic with only a half an hour to check out, and I had accidentally slept in. I spent the night going over the trip itinerary and trying to dig up more information on Adam.