HIDDEN CREEK KISS: a hidden creek high novel, page 19
I stood there, holding her shirt, my jaw dropped.
She ran into the ocean and screamed when the water hit her skin.
I gave her a few seconds before I took my shirt off, stepped out of my shoes, and dropped my phone to the sand so I could join her.
I smiled as I walked toward the water.
I had found someone who was actually a little crazier than me.
Chapter 16
Nova
Cherry slid a plate across the table toward me. She put her hands flat to the table and looked at me.
For a second I thought I was in big trouble.
I was instantly nervous.
Scared to death actually.
I blinked fast.
“Morning,” I whispered.
“We need to talk,” she said.
“Okay.”
“Can you go tell Elijah to come downstairs and have breakfast with us?”
Red hot heat flooded my cheeks.
Busted.
I knew we had made too much noise the night before. Sneaking into the house soaking wet from splashing in the ocean together. And it was my fault because I had been a little bit drunk and feeling really good and really flirty, riding that sense of a high after breaking every window in my mother’s brand new SUV.
I slowly stood up. “Cherry… I promise you…”
“Novalee,” she said. “Do what I said.”
I nodded and instead of leaving the kitchen, I got my phone and sent Elijah a text.
Cherry knows. She wants to see u ASAP. If ur gone, get back here now
I stayed standing as Cherry stayed with her hands on the table, staring at me.
I had no idea what she knew and what she assumed.
All of which was probably right.
Because Elijah and I didn’t just come back to the house and peacefully fall asleep. There was a good amount of time before sleep where… you know…
His hands and lips left invisible marks on me. Not to mention what the rest of his body did…
I turned my head, my face burning hotter.
I couldn’t calm down.
If Cherry made me leave… like for good… I was so screwed.
There was no way in hell I could go back home. I could not face my parents, no matter what. I wasn’t afraid of them or what I had done. I just couldn’t live in a world where they were together. Where they were fake for now and then watch the demons of my father slowly start to show themselves.
It would be something stupid too.
Like a dish in the wrong spot. Or food that wasn’t perfect.
And it would start with a broken glass.
Him yelling.
Then the threats.
Then… the rest.
I lowered my gaze when I heard the front door open and shut.
Elijah strutted into the kitchen. “Morning, Cherry.”
“Front door?” she asked. “Was I born yesterday?”
“I was walking to my car,” he said.
“Both of you. Sit.”
We listened when Cherry spoke. That was for damn sure.
Elijah reached for my hand under the table.
Cherry pushed away from the table and went to the counter and got Elijah a plate of pancakes and a cup of coffee.
Elijah and I shared a glance.
He looked calm and cool because that was how he always was.
Me… I was freaking out inside.
Cherry almost tossed the plate of food to Elijah.
Then she put her hands back to the table.
“I’m not stupid,” she said.
“Never said you were,” Elijah said.
“Anything happening in my house I know about,” she said.
“Cherry… I got drunk last night,” I blurted out. “And Elijah helped me…”
“I wasn’t done talking,” Cherry said.
I shut my mouth.
Elijah sipped his coffee.
“I keep replaying it all in my mind,” Cherry said. “Of what your mother did, Novalee. Of the way I reacted. Taking her back there. Then telling you. The way it all happened was wrong. I owe you an apology.”
“You’re apologizing to me?” I asked. “But I…”
Cherry sat down. “Do you think I don’t know for a second that Elijah has been climbing in and out of the window upstairs? He’s been doing that for years. And he still walks with heavy feet. Like a damn elephant.”
“Sorry, I’m not a graceful stepper,” Elijah said.
“Cherry…,” I said but had nothing.
“Novalee, listen to me,” Cherry said. “I walked away from you. I told you what happened and just walked away. The truth was because I came inside to cry. On my own. And I wanted to break something. Or someone. It was dark for me. That entire thing. Your mother was so happy here. And I liked having her here. I enjoyed the company and had no problem with her staying as long as she needed and wanted. We were even talking about what to do next. Find a lawyer. Get things moving. Slowly. The right way. And then she…” Cherry swallowed hard. “What I’m trying to say here is that we shouldn’t hate her.”
I looked at Elijah.
I pictured her SUV.
Oops.
“She ran back to him,” Elijah said.
“And she’s scared,” Cherry said. “She’s running back to comfort. And I know, that sounds strange. How can getting hurt be comfort? It is. Just trust me. What she needs is us. Maybe not in her face, yelling at her. But a day will come when she realizes it. And we need to be there for her. And I’m sorry for how it all happened and looked. You deserved better, Novalee. You deserved someone to hug you. Someone to be your caretaker. A parent. A relative. A grandmother.”
“You’re not that old, Cherry,” Elijah said with a wink.
She pointed at Elijah. “I’ll pour that hot coffee somewhere and then you’ll have no reason to be sneaking in Novalee’s window. Got it?”
Elijah showed his hands.
I laughed, my face still burning hot. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Cherry said. “But I want to make sure you know you’re always welcome here. Elijah too. I’d prefer him sleeping on the couch, but I get it. We’re all adults here. The situations in life…”
A sadness washed over Cherry’s face.
What I knew about Cherry made her a badass. What I didn’t know was a mystery that probably made her even more of a badass.
“Cherry, this thing goes both ways,” Elijah said. “We all take care of each other.”
“I would love to have my big dinners here again,” Cherry said. “But I need to know a brawl won’t break out. Because at this table, everyone is welcome, Elijah. That includes Weslee. And his family.”
“For you, Cherry, I will sit next to Weslee fucking Jackson and tell stories and laugh and make him my best goddamn friend,” Elijah said.
Cherry laughed. She pointed at Elijah and looked at me. “He’s the only one I let curse at my table. Why am I so partial to him?”
“It can’t be his looks,” I said with a smile.
“Oh, please,” Elijah said. “I’m the full package. Good looking. Bad attitude. A crazy story about life. And somehow I manage to hold shit together.”
“Yeah, right,” Cherry said. “If that’s what you call this… holding shit together?”
Elijah put his arm around me. “Are you saying Nova isn’t the most beautiful and perfect girl you’ve ever seen in your life?”
“That much I can’t argue,” Cherry said. “I hope you tell yourself that every day, Elijah. You forget that for one day and she’s gone.”
“If there’s one thing in this world I could never forget, it’s Nova,” Elijah said.
“Okay, stop talking about me,” I said. “I’m sitting right here. This is weird. I don’t like it.”
Cherry laughed. “Eat and get out of here. I already called Larry to make sure the road to the cabin is cleared. And to make sure it’s stocked with supplies.”
“Cabin?” I asked. “Wait…”
Elijah winked at me.
I stood up and pointed to Cherry. “It’s yours?”
“Do you think Elijah owns a cabin?” Cherry asked.
“No,” I said. “But…”
“Don’t worry about it, Novalee,” Cherry said. “I haven’t been there in forever. It’s good for someone to use the place. Check up on it for me.”
“Who’s Larry?” I asked.
“Just someone I know,” Cherry said. “He keeps an eye on the cabin when I need him to. He’ll have everything ready for you two. It’ll do you both good to step away for a night.”
I was shocked.
And pissed.
But pissed in a loving way though.
I looked at Elijah. Then at Cherry. Then back to Elijah.
Elijah leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Babe, your breakfast is getting cold.”
* * *
“I didn’t know Cherry owned a cabin in the woods,” Wes said with a frown.
“Neither did I,” I said.
“I think there’s a lot we don’t know about Cherry,” Aira said. “She’s probably richer than all of us combined.”
“Or maybe she’s secretly in the mob,” Charlotte said.
“Really?” Kailey asked.
“You think Cherry is out there ordering people to kill people?” Emma asked.
“Have you met Cherry?” Charlotte asked. “She scares the hell out of me.”
“True,” Emma said.
“She’s a sweetheart,” Wes snapped. “She’s rough and tough when she needs to be. There’s always a reason why.”
“Calm down, Wes,” Leo said. “We’re just messing around.”
“Is that jealousy I smell?” I asked.
Wes looked at me and curled his lip. “No. She’s got a big heart. Especially for fucked up people like Elijah. Believe me, it’s not out of love or care.”
“Yeah, that’s total jealousy,” I said.
I looked at Aira and smiled.
Aira started to laugh.
Wes got pissed at all of us and walked away.
“Have you seen Britt?” Kailey asked me.
“No. Why?”
“She said she would be here today.”
“Ah. You’re all friends now, huh?” I asked. “Told you she was cool.”
“She’s cool,” Emma said. “The rest of those bitches aren’t.”
“She’s probably with them again,” Charlotte asked. “She’s cool. Nice. Badass. But a pushover.”
“Hey,” I said. “Britt isn’t a pushover. She just tries to see the best in everyone. She wants everyone to be friends.”
Aira let out a loud HA! sound. “Good luck with that. Not in this town.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Whatever. If I hear from her I’ll let her know to text you.”
“That’s right,” Kailey said. “You won’t be around. You’re going to your little screwfest in the woods.”
“Wow,” I said.
“It’ll sound like a horror movie in the woods,” Charlotte said. “With Nova screaming. Oh! Oh! Elijah! Oh!”
“At least he can make me scream,” I said.
“Ouch,” Emma said.
Charlotte curled her eyebrows down. “Maybe I’m not just a screamer.”
“Maybe Flynn’s peanut can’t hit the spot it needs to,” Kailey said.
“Flynn’s peanut is just fine,” Charlotte said.
“You realize we’re saying peanut, right?” Aira asked. “As in… small… we’re not saying pe-”
“Why does every conversation turn into this?” Emma asked. “You all talk like you haven’t gotten any in forever.”
“Meow,” Kailey said. “I think we know who hasn’t gotten any in forever…”
Emma waved her middle fingers at all of us.
“Seriously though,” Aira said, “a cabin in the woods? God, that’s so hot.”
“Make him chase you around,” Charlotte said. “You be the lost, lonely girl. And he’s the strong mountain guy.”
I lifted my eyebrow. “Is that the stuff you’re into?”
“No,” Charlotte said. “Just a suggestion.”
I shook my head.
“Just imagine going up there for a party,” Kailey said.
“Which is why Cherry never told us about the cabin,” Aira said.
“But now Nova will know where it is,” Emma said.
“Are you insane?” I asked. “You think about going up there without Cherry’s permission… she’ll kill you.”
“She probably would,” Charlotte said. “And get away with it.”
“Because she’s in the mob…,” Kailey teased.
We all started to laugh.
Emma then nodded and pointed.
I turned my head and saw Elijah walking toward us.
Smoking a cigarette.
It brought a smile to my face.
I stepped back until my body crashed into his when he got close enough to hold me.
It was just instant sparks.
No. Fuck that. It was flames.
Wild and crazy flames between us.
His right hand wrapped around my body and my left hand reached up and back, grabbing for his hair.
“What’s he doing over there?” Elijah asked, nodding to Wes. “Pouting about something new?”
“Jealous over the cabin,” I said.
“Don’t worry, Aira,” Elijah said. “We’ll wash the sheets before you two take a run at it. Of course, that’s if Cherry offers it to you.”
“So funny, Elijah,” Aira said. She flipped Elijah off. “Cherry only does things for you because she feels bad. You’re a project and nothing else. Like a baby bunny without a family and a bad leg. You know?”
“I’m hopping just fine,” Elijah said. “Why don’t you go tend to your hurt, baby bunny over there?”
“God, I hate him,” Aira said to me.
“I know,” I said. “But you still love me, right?”
“Of course,” Aira said. “Have fun. Be safe. Leave Elijah there.”
“I’ll consider it,” I said.
“Let’s go, babe,” Elijah said.
He turned me around and everyone behind us started making sounds. Not a single sound was appropriate either. Moans. Groans. Screams. Trying to make the sound of a bed squeaking. Either that or someone stepping on a bird.
I shook my head.
“For the record, babe, you don’t sound like that,” Elijah said.
I looked up at him. “Shut up.”
* * *
Elijah zipped up his bag and threw it over his shoulder.
I stood, leaning against the dresser in his room.
There was no sign that Elijah lived there. The room was immaculate. Like some kind of glorified guest room. Which I guess it technically was.
Everything Elijah had was stuffed into a couple bags.
He never even attempted to unpack.
Something about it hit my heart hard.
He had no home.
He was… homeless.
I mean, it wasn’t all that bad, considering he got to sleep in a mansion. But I knew Elijah. That meant nothing to him. That’s why he crashed at Cherry’s so much. Or in my room at Cherry’s. Or he just slept in his car.
He was like some kind of sexy nomad dude.
And I was the messy haired girl who surfed.
We were so crazily perfect for each other it was hard to believe.
“Next stop, the cabin,” he said. “Maybe we can just stay there forever.”
“You think?” I asked. “Learn how to live from the woods.”
“Yeah.”
“I’d miss the ocean though,” I said. “Can’t surf in the woods.”
“I’ll build you an ocean, babe,” he said.
I laughed. “Yeah. Okay. Build me an ocean? Sure.”
“I’d do it for you.”
“Of course you would, Elijah.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“Tell you what… let’s just enjoy a night away. Then we’ll talk about building oceans, okay?”
“If you say so,” he said, shrugging his shoulders.
The door opened next to me and I jumped to get out of the way.
Annie entered the room, short, round, one of her fingers waving right at Elijah.
“You’re alive,” she said.
“Sadly, yes,” he said.
“Don’t get snippy,” Annie said. “And she’s here again?”
“I’m not in his bed this time,” I said.
She gasped. “This is why the world is what it is today.”
“Agreed,” Elijah said. “We’re getting ready to leave, Annie. No worries. And, look, the bedroom is in one piece. I haven’t even slept here in a while. I’ve made your life easy.”
“Easy?” Annie asked. “Never. You make everything hard.”
“Actually, Nova makes everything hard,” Elijah said.
My jaw dropped. My cheeks turned red.
I mouthed what the fuck? to Elijah.
“I’ve been looking for you,” Annie said.
“Why? Did you miss me?”
“Ha!” Annie yelled. “Someone needs to talk to you.”
Right on cue, Elijah’s father appeared.
Alexander had a very serious look on his face. Wearing a suit. His eyes narrowed and were beady. The same look I had seen on Elijah’s face many times. And even the same eyes I’d seen on Ryland. Except Ryland’s were dickhead eyes. Elijah’s were… dark. Scary. Serious.
Just like his father.
“I’m leaving,” Elijah said. “Not for good. But for tonight.”
“She almost hurt herself because of you,” Alexander said.
“Who?”
“You know who,” Alexander said. “My wife.”
Elijah laughed. “Really? You’re throwing that on me? On top of everything else…”
“You are not allowed in that bedroom. Ever.”
“Noted,” Elijah said. “Just wanted to take a look around. Sometimes it’s hard to believe he’s actually gone.”
Alexander’s nostrils flared. “I know you’re lying. And I promise you this… son… if you ever do anything to hurt my wife again… I will make sure we never see you again. Not just me or Rosemary. But everyone. Understand?”
