In Too Deep (16 page)

Chapter
32

I
n the morning I avoiding the cafeteria and slip out of the building quietly when my parents arrive. I don’t want to see Colt, especially after the way I acted last night. Like a love sick little girl. I’m disgusted with myself. Even though this break is only two weeks, it’s a much needed reprieve from seeing Colt. I needed this break. Another night like last night and I’d end up opening my big mouth and admitting how I feel about him, or worse, go crawling into his bed.

My parents are
giddy at the sight of me. We chat nearly the whole drive back to Pennsylvania. I can tell they’ve missed having me around. The house must be pretty quiet with just the two of them.

Piper and I made plans to lie out at the community pool every day of my break. She
works as a life guard there, but assures me we can hang out while she works. It would be nice to get some sun and relax, and not worry about bad guys or potentially corrupt hacking assignments.

When we pull into the drivew
ay of our split level house, it’s smaller than I remember. I guess living in a mini-mansion for the past couple months will do that to you. My room is as I left it, except for the thin coating of dust covering everything. Within minutes Piper’s beat up green car pulls into our drive way. She wrestles a bouquet of balloons from the backseat, along with a package of my favorite chocolate cookies and heads up the walkway.

I
giggle to myself and jog down the stairs. She screams when she sees me. I can’t help but let out a little yelp too. Her excitement is contagious.

My dad is making my favorite dinner tonight, grilled skewered chicken and pineapple
, and Piper is joining us.

The meal is perfect, and after dinner,
Piper and I sit on the back deck watching my dad build a bonfire while my mom cleans up the kitchen.

“So give it to me straight. If I’m going to run into Wes, I’d rather have you tell me which girl I’ll see him with.”

Piper shakes her head, looking serious for just a moment. “No one. I heard he wants you back. He’s excited to see you.”

That’s insane.
It’s a terrible idea, right? What good could come of that? But part of me is flattered and vindicated knowing that he recognizes what he lost.

“So what you do think?” Piper asks.

“Bad idea. With a capital B.”

She nods, agreeing. “Yeah, if I had to see you like that again, after he…”

“Dumped me, you can say it.”

“After he dumped you, I couldn’t bear it. I’d beat his ass myself.”

“Thanks Piper.” I love how she always has my back. I look out over the backyard, watching my dad squirt lighter fluid into the fire pit. Even I know that’s a bad idea. But his skills are limited to computer programming and cooking. “Besides, I already have boy troubles. I don’t need anymore.”

Piper grins and folds
her legs up under her. “Spill.”

I laugh. “His name
is Colt.”

“That’s sexy.”

“Yeah, so is he. And the problem is he knows it. He is a bad boy of the highest order.”

“Do you have a picture of him in your phone?”

“No.” I shake my head. That would be a terrible idea. I’d probably stare at it every night before I went to bed. “Wait, there might be one online.” I don’t know why it had never occurred to me to look before. I do a search, and sure enough he has a page on one of the popular social networking sites. It’s pretty barren. But there’s a profile pic. It’s him outside the barn by the looks of it, smirking at the camera. His hair is a wreck as per usual, and his cheeks are scruffy from a few days missed shaving. He looks incredibly sexy. Dangerous. Bad for you. Everything I wanted. I squeeze my eyes shut.

“
Lemme see!” Piper wrenches the phone from my hand.

How long had
I been lost in my thoughts staring at this photo?

“Oh God!
Look at his fine ass. I would soooo hit that…Oh, hi Mr. Beckett.”

“Hit what?” My dad asks
, setting down the lighter fluid and matches on the railing of the deck.

“Nothing!” we both squeak
at once.

“Sheesh
, Piper. Keep it clean.” I pull the phone back from her.

“He does not look like any high school student I’ve ever seen. More like a male model.”

“Um, yeah. About that…he’s not in high school.”

She flips her blonde hair over one shoulder, studying me. “What do you mean?”

I rub my temples. She’s totally going to flip out over what I have to say next. “He’s, ah…a teacher there.”

“WHAT?!”

I clamp my hand over her mouth just as my dad looks our way again. “Shhh.”

“Dude, you’re banging a teacher?
Freakin jail bait.”

“I am not
banging
him. And he’s not like a regular teacher. He graduated last year and he’s filling in as the martial arts instructor. It’s more like we’re partners on assignments and stuff.”

She
looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. Maybe I have. “Let me see his picture again.” She reaches for my phone. She grins as she inspects his photo again, zooming in on his face. “Damn. Sex on a stick. So…what’s the hold up? Are you guys going out or what?”

I roll my eyes, grateful for Piper’
s friendship, the way she doesn’t judge me at all, even though I just admitted to lusting after a teacher. “No. We’re just friends.”

“We’ll see about
that.” She taps the screen on my phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Now you’re friends with him.” She smiles innocently, handing the phone back.

I look at the screen, confirming what she’s done.
Just great. “Piper, that was not helpful. You’re supposed to let the guy chase after you, not the other way around.”

She shrugs. “You’ll live.”

I study the screen, as if looking at it alone will undo the request she sent him. The phone chimes.
Wait a second.

“What is it?” Piper asks.

I smile. “Colt accepted the friend request.” I tap another key. “And he sent me a private message.” I take a second to read it, my heart picking up speed. “He wants my number.”

“You’re welcome.”

I hesitate.

“Give it to him! Are you crazy? Or do I need to show you his picture again
?”

Oh no, that image was etched into the hard drive. I look down at the phone in my hands. “I don’t want to seem too easy.”

She rolls her eyes, reaching for my phone.

I clutch it tightly. “Okay, okay.” I type a message back, asking why he wants it. A little sassy, maybe, but I think that’s what Colt likes about me. I’m not one of the many falling at his feet, giving him anything he wants. 
I refuse to be one of the mindless girls, lining up outside his bedroom door. No thanks. I want everything, or nothing at all.

The phone chimes again. I smile as I read his words.

Because I’m bored already. Need your number to chat before bed tonight. Please?

I know what happens when he’s bored.
I quickly type my cell number in before I change my mind. This wasn’t going to help me stop falling for him, but I was already in too deep, what’s the difference?

Chapter 33

After
saying goodbye to Piper, I head upstairs, ready for bed. I’m exhausted from the day spent traveling, and catching up with my parents and Piper. I glance at my phone, wondering if Colt’s going to call soon. I am not going to be so love sick over a boy that I wait up all night. Probably.

I change into my pajamas and bring the phone into the bathroom with me as I brush my teeth.
As I’m gargling the mouth wash, my phone rings. It’s a number I don’t recognize, Connecticut area code. I spit the mouthful of blue into the sink and dive for the phone, wiping my mouth on my sleeve.

“Hello?”

“Taylor?”

“Yeah?”
My voice comes out squeaky, too high.

“It’s Colt.”

“Um, hi.” It feels incredibly strange to be talking to him on the phone. I have no idea why. At first I have no clue what to say to him, but soon find we settle into easy conversation. He has me laughing in no time telling me about his day spent going for a jog where a bird nearly assaulted him and how empty the school seems, and how even though there’s still some kitchen staff on site, they refuse to cook for him.

I head back into my room and toss my dirty clothes into the corner. I sit down on the edge of my bed, nervous energy dancing around inside me.
I resist the urge to pace my room while we talk, and instead lie back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

“I’m going stir crazy here. Can you come back early?” Colt’s asks, his voice sounding even deeper over the phone.

It’s only been one day, so he’s obviously being over-dramatic. I do my best not to swoon at his words. “I’m sure you can survive without me there to entertain you.”

He groans. And in my mind, I imagine that’s the sound he’d make with me pressed close to him, driving him wild with desire. But then I’m brought back to reality. There was probably nothing I could do that he hadn’t already experienced, and done more skillfully than I ever could.

“There’s always Internet porn,” I suggest.

He chuckles. “I’m not a complete animal. God, Taylor. I can control myself.”

“Sorry, I didn’t know.”

“I mean, yeah, I’m a guy. So I have certain…needs. But I need other stimulation too. Like intellect, humor, et cet
era.”

I shift on my bed so I’m sitting crossed legged. “Well, I stand corrected. I had no idea there was such depth to Colt Palmer.”

“Well, now you know.”

“So seriously, how is it that you have time to chat late at night with the sheer number of girls you’re likely to be entertaining?”
I don’t mention
Yes
. I don’t have to. I know we’re both remembering my little episode last night.

Bedsprings groan and he lets out a soft sigh. I imagine him getting comfortable on his bed, stretching out so his feet hang off the end. “There’s no one here that interests me.”

“Nice. Thanks for calling then. It’s comforting to know I’m a last resort when you’re lonely.”

“No. That’s not
it at all,” his voice gets serious for a moment. “You entertain me.” I hear the smile in his tone.

I
entertain
him? What does that mean? Like a little sister? I’m quiet for a few seconds trying to decipher all the hidden meanings, all the clues to figure out how Colt really feels about me. I’m not sure why I say what I do next, but in the darkness, with the distance between us, I’m feeling bold. “So I entertain you mentally while the others entertain you physically?”

He chokes on his breath and breaks into a coughing fit. “Would that bother you?” he says, once he’s recovered.

Um, yeah.
But I don’t want to be too obvious. “That’s kinda a blow to the self-esteem, don’t you think?”

“Hmm.”
He’s quiet while he considers this new information.

Crap
. I’ve said too much, sounded too concerned. My feelings for him are someday soon going to ruin whatever chance we’ve had at a friendship. “Listen, Colt, forget I said anything. I don’t even know why I brought this up.”

“It’s okay. I think we should talk about this.”

I wait for him to continue, my stomach tightening in knots. I’m not sure if he’s going to bring up our kiss in the hotel bathroom or the meltdown I had in the hallway after seeing his one-night-stand leaving. God, I’m pathetic.

“We pretended that kiss didn’t happen and I guess I feel like I need to explain why I stopped it.”

Awesome
. The last thing I wanted to hear him put to words were: A) That he doesn’t feel that way about me, or B) That he isn’t attracted to me.

He clears his throat again, stalling. I’ve never heard him so unsure before. “It just didn’t feel right – doing that with you.”

I roll my eyes. What a dick. “Gee thanks. I know I don’t have one-tenth the experience that you do, but am I
that
bad of a kisser?”

He laughs lightly. “That’s not what I said.”

I’m more confused than before, but decide to let it go. Only, of course Colt doesn’t drop it. 

“What I meant was that my typical mode of operation is…well, you know, probably not the most respectable, and I didn’t want to ruin what we have or use you like that.”

“Oh.” My stomach drops. I’m too speechless to say anything else. I want to ask him exactly what it is we have, but of course I’m too chicken.

“I have fun with you and didn’t want you to hate me, Taylor. So that’s why I stopped.”

“I could never hate you.” My voice shakes, betraying me. I know I’m completely vulnerable, breakable, and I would be putty in Colt’s hands, regardless if the outcome left me in a heartbroken mess afterwards. 

“I’ve always been honest with girls about what I wanted and didn’t want
. I was always very clear that I wasn’t looking for a relationship, but that never stopped them from thinking they’d be different, that they would be the one to change my mind.”

I lie back against my pillows and close my eyes, imagining Colt doing the same thing in his bed. “So you were worried that I’d fall for you or something?”

He laughs softly again, his breath coming through scratchy against the speaker. “Sorry, I sound like a dick, don’t I?”

“Little bit.”
My voice is tight, mocking.

He laughs again. “I’ll make it up to you.”

“Yeah? How do you plan to do that?”

“Hm.”
He considers it, quiet for a second. “Once you’re back, maybe we can do something, just the two of us. I’ll take you out. It’ll be fun.”

“Out?”
I question, my voice full of surprise. I sit up in bed, waiting for his answer.

“Yes, out. You haven’t seen much of Connecticut.  We’ll go somewhere nice. I’ll make up for my testosterone induced behavior.”

“Like a date?” I question. Oh, God. Dumb question Taylor. Of course it’s not a date. Ugh.

“Yes, like a date.”

Wait, what?
“I thought you were seeing
Yes
.”

“I’m not seeing anyone.”

Hm
. I chew my bottom lip. I don’t want to be that girl.
Yes
was just in his bed– a bed that for all intents and purposes functioned much like a revolving door. “I’ll consider it.”

A hiss escapes through his clenched teeth.

He’s going to have to work for this – for me –and it isn’t something he’s used to. Colt’s never had to chase after anyone. I like the idea that I could be the first, however delusional I might be.

“I’m putting myself out there – asking you to go out with me Taylor, I think you should do more than consider it. Say yes.”
His voice is low, commanding.

“
Okay.”

“Okay?” His voice is higher than before. He sounds happy.

“Yeah. That sounds…pleasant.” Despite my best effort, I giggle. “What the hell have you done with Colt Palmer?”

“People can change, Taylor.” I can tell he’s smirking again.  “Taylor,” he breathes softly.

“Yeah?” I’m just as breathless.

“For the record, you’re not a bad kisser.”

My heart pounds against my rib cage, and my face breaks into a smile, but I stay quiet, barely able to breath, let alone speak.

“Taylor?” he says softly, again.

“Yeah?”

“Speaking of Internet porn, can I use your computer?”

That was the last thing I expected him to say. I should feel disgusted, but instead all my senses are humming. “Why?” I ask, my heart thumping erratically in my chest.

“It’s got a bigger monitor than mine.”

I shake my head. I don’t know if he’s being serious or messing with me, but either way I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to get that visual out of my head. “Sure. Just don’t get any love juice on my keyboard.”

“Will do.
Night Taylor.”

“Night Colt.”
There’s no way in hell I would be getting any sleep tonight.