“Just tell me whatever it is that you don’t want me to find!” I yelled, losing patience but he was gone before I finished and the sound of the front door slamming was my only answer. I slid to the floor in defeat when I realized that Keiran would never open up to me.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Where were you all of Sunday? I called you a hundred times.” I listened to Sheldon fuss as we walked down the hallway. It was lunch period and I’d just got out of volleyball, which wasn’t as fun without Willow. She texted this morning to say she was sick and skipping school.

“Sorry, I just had a lot on my mind and needed time to think.”

“Bummers. I wanted you to come with me to my audition. Felix is looking for a face for his new clothing line.”

“I’m really sorry, Sheldon. How did you do?” I asked, feeling like shit because I forgot about her audition.

“Canceled. I was too nervous. Dash had offered to go with me but he disappeared too.”

“Are you sure modeling is what you want to do?”

“It’s been my dream since I saw my first show. Dad says I have to go to college first but after that my dreams are my own.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“I guess so. Going to college isn’t so bad.” I shook my head and started putting my bags in my locker.

“Sheldon you have to think –”

“Is that a bite mark?” she asked, interrupting what I was about to say.

Shit. I’d become so used to Keiran leaving bite marks on me that I stopped noticing. I looked down to see my oversized sweater had fallen off my shoulder exposing the red patch and indentations where my neck met my shoulders. I quickly pulled it back over my shoulders and finished stuffing my books into my locker. I avoided her gaze and heard her laugh.

“Kinky. I like it,” she chuckled. “Dash told me you guys went to see your grandmother. I’m shocked.”

“Why are you shocked?’

“Because of Keiran’s obvious disdain for anything resembling a parent.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Maybe because he didn’t know his father and his mother dropped him off on a stranger’s doorstep?”

But bad parents don’t cause someone to become this troubled without something much worse happening. There were so many holes that only he could fill. “I wish I could get him to talk to me.”

“If anyone can get him to open up it would be you.”

“Why do you say that?”

“You’re the only one who affects Keiran in any way. He would talk…for you. You just need to know the right words to say.”

“Sup beautiful ladies?” Keenan came and hooked his arms around our shoulders with a cute grin on his face. “Do you know just by standing there together you’ve already fulfilled one of my fantasies? Now I just have to figure out how to get you two naked…with me in between.”

“Before or after Keiran and I take turns killing you?” Sheldon quipped.

“Semantics. What are you two whispering about?” he cast suspicious glances between us and attempted to look intimidating. I’m pretty sure he could if he wasn’t such a goof.

“Our periods,” Sheldon answered gleefully.

“Eww, babe.”

“You asked.”

“But you didn’t have to tell me that!”

Aaaaand they’re arguing again. I listened to them bicker back and forth. Sometimes I think they argued on purpose. Sheldon told me that makeup sex was out of this world but I’ve had Keiran’s angry sex so I don’t think it would be wise to pick fights with him.

“Guys I’m hungry,” I said interrupting their argument. “Anyone know where Keiran is?”

“He’s with coach. He told me to take you to lunch if he’s running late.”

“So I guess that means you’re still my body guard?” I asked, slightly annoyed. Did he still not trust me?

“In a way,” he smirked.

“Because I can’t be trusted. I get it.” I really don’t.

“No, because Keiran doesn’t trust anyone. Especially with you.”

“What happened to his parents?” I blurted. I was planning to ask that question in a crowded hallway during the middle of the school day but hey…shit happens. I was done skating around the issue.

Keenan froze and then glared at Sheldon who actually looked contrite for once. “What makes you think something happened?”

“Keenan…”

“I don’t know, okay? He doesn’t talk about it. He probably doesn’t even remember.” He looked away and I could tell he was either lying or holding back something. Just then Dash walked up to our circle with a scowl on his face.

“Where’s your girl?”

“You tell me…you were with her last.” He thumbed his chin and eyed me before rolling his eyes and fishing out his phone. He punched in some numbers, mumbling. After dialing into his phone three times he muttered, “this is bullshit” and walked off.

“Willow still won’t talk to him?” Sheldon asked.

“Would you?” I asked.

“I’d cut his dick off and hang it over my mantle.”

Keenan gave Sheldon a crazy look. “So you’d touch your brother’s dick?”

“Of course not. I’d make you do it, pumpkin.” She planted a loud kiss on his cheek.

“Oh no. I’m not doing that again.”

“Again?” We both asked at the same time.

Keenan scratched the back of his neck. “I uhh…lost a bet last year so I had to hold his dick for two minutes.”

My mouth fell open and Sheldon was bent over laughing. “Oh honey, you’re such a pussy,” she chortled.

“Hey, he had pants on!” Keenan said defensively. He looked at me pleadingly and said, “Don’t tell Keiran alright?”

“Why?”

“Because then he’d make me hold his dick.”

We burst out laughing and I fell to me knees clutching my stomach. Keenan’s face was surely a Kodak moment. “What’s so funny?” Keiran’s voice suddenly came from behind us. I was still on the floor laughing as he approached. “Why she is on the floor?” he asked, mean mugging Keenan.

“Whatever, you guys are lame,” Keenan muttered walking off. Sheldon followed after him, still laughing.

“Lake, get off the floor, baby.” Oh so now I’m ‘baby’ again? I rolled my eyes and ignored the butterflies that erupted in my stomach each time he said it. It always sounded so sexy and sensual and intimate. Now, he only used my last name when he was being a dick or I was being punished. He scooped me up when I took too long to move but kept his hands on my hips, tugging me into him.

“How was volleyball?” he asked pecking me on my lips. I stared at him in surprise considering what happened the last time we talked. It was becoming really hard to keep up with his moods. Or maybe I was the only one who carried grudges over an entire weekend.

“Oh you know…someone hits the ball over the net so I hit the ball back over. It’s sort of like playing hot potato but with a volleyball that’s not hot.”  He ignored my sarcasm and used the opportunity to feel me up instead. Thankfully, everyone had either gone to lunch or class so no one was left in the hallway but us. “What did you have to see Coach about?” It wasn’t important for me to know but I needed a distraction from the feeling of his hands on me.

“He wanted to talk to me about our next win.” I smiled at his assumption that the team would win their first game.

“Cocky much?” He gave me a lopsided grin that I thought made him look adorably human and started kissing on my neck.  “Are you trying to go pro?”

“That’s the plan,” he mumbled against my neck.

“Are scouts still considering you for college ball?”

“Coach said they’re eager to see me perform this year.” He lifted his head from my neck and look down at me with a serious expression. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that.”

“Okay.”

“I need to bring my game stronger than I have before considering the year I missed and the circumstances. I’m not blaming you so fix your face,” he added when I sent him withering look. “That year was justified for the shit that I have done.” Like murder a little girl? I masked the nauseous feeling that overcame me but realized I missed part of what he was saying. “…I’m going to be practicing a lot and won’t have a lot of spare time.”