Page 17 of Rough Start

“You’re not unwanted.”

“Yes, I am,” Kye snapped, his eyes growing watery. “I’m a seventeen-year-old with barely a passing GPA, and everything I own fits in a backpack. Who would want me?”

“I want you,” Eliana said softly as she cupped his face. “You’re my best friend. I want you.”

“You’re leaving too, Eli. We haven’t talked about it, but you’re going off to school…”

“You can come with,” she said eagerly. “I have it all figured out. I have a room ready, and there’s a couple of garages that said they’d interview you.”

“I’m not going to get rich fixing cars.”

“Who needs to be rich? We’d be together. Is that… is that not something you want?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said, winding his hand behind her neck to turn her face up toward his. “I want to be with you more than anything. You’re my reason for living.” Her heart was pounding as his thumbs massaged her skin.

“Come with me then.” Her eyes were rounded and looked pleading.

“We’ll make a way to be together,” he said gently. “Don’t give up on me.” Now Kye was pleading. Remnants of her earlier anger dissipated when he kissed her. Sliding her hands around his neck, she pulled him closer. The heat they generated blocked out the night air and, for a moment, their kiss blocked out everything in the cold world.

* * *

“Come on, Dad,” Eliana encouraged as she helped her father across the threshold. As if her evening needed any more drama, her kiss with Kye had been interrupted when her phone rang. Dino, the owner of Dino’s Pub and Grub, was calling. Henry had run out of cash and was causing a scene when they wouldn’t serve him anymore. Valiantly Kye had offered to go to the bar with her and help, but they both had concluded showing up in his Demon cut wouldn’t deescalate the situation.

Eliana was still in disbelief that Kye had joined. The views on the club were mixed all over town. Some loved the business they brought to establishments, particularly the pool hall and strip club. The more domestic side of town couldn’t stand them. Their bikes were loud, they drank too much, and their profit in the drug trade was untaxable.

Having never personally associated with them, Eliana was on the fence. On the one hand, she was never going to be able to support illegal behavior. Wasn’t she going to school to defend the law? That wasn’t entirely true. She knew there would be times she’d have to defend criminals and see that the justice system was upheld. On the other hand, she knew Kye, and she trusted him.

“Just leave me here,” Henry groaned as he collapsed on the couch. Eliana brushed the hair out of her face and sighed. Taking the blanket off the back of the couch, she draped it over him. “That damn Dino thinks he’s better than everyone…”

“Dad, you racked up a hundred-dollar tab that I had to pay. It’s not Dino’s fault you can’t stop drinking.”

“Don’t you worry about the money, I’ll make more money. I got some money coming in,” he slurred as he dug in his pocket for his wallet. “I don’t have it now, but I got some comin’.”

“Right, when that comes in I’ll put it with the money you were supposed to set aside for the gas bill. We’re a month behind now.”

“I got it coming, don’t you worry…” Henry trailed off as he lay back and closed his eyes. Eliana briefly stared at her drunk of a father and wondered if her lot in life was any better than Kye’s. The agony of the foster system was beyond words but having to parent your parent was hell in itself too.

If only her mother hadn’t died. How different would life be for her? Eliana had few but powerful memories of her life when she was little. Her daddy was her hero, and her mom was her best friend. The three of them used to go for long drives on the coast. She remembered singing and laughing and feeling the world was a bright and shining place. Now it felt cold, and it smelled of cheap whiskey.

Moving into the kitchen, Eliana opened the fridge for a late-night snack. Her thoughts drifted back to her raven-haired heartthrob. She let the memory of their kisses be her escape as she tried to drown out the sound of her snoring father. Sitting at the dining room table with her sandwich, she set her phone by the stack of mail. Deciding the bills could wait until morning, she grabbed her phone.

I’m scared… She hesitated before sending it.

Baby, what’s scaring you? Her eyes welled up with tears at the pet name.

Drugs? Bullets? Motorcycles, you name it.

I have a helmet.

Will it deflect bullets?

I haven’t tested it. Maybe? Despite the morbidity of their conversation, his text made her laugh. Kye could always make her laugh. Before she could type a response, his next message came through. I don’t want you to be scared. What happened that night was a fluke.

Can you promise it won’t happen again?

I can promise that I’ll be careful. That’s the best I can do for now. It didn’t bring her much comfort, but she was grateful he was at least being honest with her now.

I wish we could just disappear. Go live on an island somewhere.