A Life Unexpected: Holly Nather Book One (Holly Nather Series) Page 3

  He looks at his phone. “10:00.”

  “I should probably get back to the dorm. My parents would freak if they found out I stayed at some guy’s apartment.”

  He laughs. “What if I told you they already know?”

  I groan. “Great.”

  “I called them to tell them how you were, and that I was keeping an eye on you.”

  “Did you tell them that you’re literally keeping an eye on me?”

  He laughs. “I didn’t mention my stalker type qualities, no.”

  I sit up and rub my forehead. Luke brings me my shoes, kneels down in front of me and slips them on my feet. He’s about to stand, and stops. He doesn’t say anything, doesn’t even blink as he stares at my feet.

  “Luke?”

  No response.

  I touch his shoulder. “Luke?”

  He finally snaps out of it and looks up at me. “Shit. Sorry. I—” He stops talking as he stands.

  “You what?”

  “I just remembered something. It’s no big deal. You ready to go?” He grabs his jacket and keys.

  I nod and grab my jacket off the back of his recliner. I put it on as we walk outside. The snow is really coming down. We drive to my dorm in silence. Luke seems lost in thought and bothered by something.

  He pulls up to my dorm and comes around to open the door for me. “Thanks,” I say, hugging myself to keep warm.

  He walks me upstairs and stops at my door. “Don’t forget to get a new phone.”

  “I won’t.” I put my hand on the knob. “Hey, are you okay?”

  He nods. “Yeah. Talk to you later.” He turns and hurries down the stairs.

  I walk into my dorm and see Blayne with her ear buds in, reading a book. She smiles when she sees me and pulls the ear bud from her right ear. “Hey, clumsy ass.”

  I take off my jacket as I walked over to my bed. “How could you bail on me like that and leave me at Luke’s apartment? He could’ve done anything to me while I was knocked out.”

  “He’s a good guy, Holly.”

  I lay down. “We don’t know that for sure.”

  “You should’ve seen him while they were running tests on you. You would have thought you two were married the way he was so worried about you. I don’t think you have anything to worry about with him.”

  “But that’s not weird to you? The way he acts so weird about me?”

  “Yeah it’s weird, but it’s also ridiculously sweet.”

  I laugh. “It kind of is.”

  As I’m drying my hair I hear my new cell phone ring. It’s Luke.

  I shut the blow dryer off and smile. “Hello?”

  “I’m taking you out tonight.”

  “Oh really?”

  “Do you own a dress?”

  “No but I’m sure I can borrow one from Blayne. Why? Where are you taking me?”

  “Don’t borrow one from Blayne.”

  I laugh. “Why not?”

  “Because I’d have to kill some guy or guys because they wouldn’t be able to keep their eyes off you. Her dresses are too—”

  “Revealing?” I laughed.

  “Exactly.”

  “Do I have I to wear a dress?”

  “Yes. My frat is having a formal tonight to raise money for St. Jude’s.”

  “I could go shopping real quick.” Dressing up isn’t my thing, but I want to hang out with Luke.

  “Think you can be ready by 8:00?”

  I look at the time. That gives me 3 hours to get ready. “Definitely.”

  “See you then.” He hangs up and I look at Blayne.

  “Ummm, Blayne?”

  “Yeah?” She asks from her awkward yoga pose.

  “I’m screwed.”

  She straightens out and laughs. “Why?”

  “Luke is taking me to a formal tonight, and I know nothing about dresses or fixing my hair.” Why did I agree to going with him? Stupid me. I start digging through my closet. “This wasn’t on my planner,” I say aloud.

  Blayne starts laughing and jumps to her feet, grabbing her keys.

  “Thank goodness you have me in your life! Let’s go!” She grabs me by the arm and practically drags me out of the dorms.

  I look in the mirror and don’t even recognize myself. Blayne proudly claps her hands as she looks at me over my shoulder.

  “I look ridiculous.” I touch one of the million pins holding my hair up. She smacks my hand away.

  “You’re just not used to it. You look amazing, I promise.”

  I stand and pull at my silver, knee length dress. The sleeves are long and practical for the cold weather. These red heels hurt my feet. I want my vans or even my black combat boots.

  “Shouldn’t formals be like…oh, I don’t know, in the summer? This is ridiculous.”

  Blayne secures a stray hair with a bobby pin and smiles. “Anytime is a good time for a formal.” She says securing more loose hairs. “There, perfect.” She smacks my ass and squeals. “Now go get laid and be back super late!”

  I catch myself on my dresser when she smacks me, to keep from falling. The heels are total bitches. “You’re insane.” I laugh.

  “I know I am.” She grins. She picks up her purse and slips on her shoes. “You have fun and call me as soon as you get home! I have to meet my sorority girls for a meeting.”

  I nod as I stare at myself in the mirror and adjust the wide shoulders of the dress to hide my bra straps. I put my hands on my hips and sigh as I look down at my throbbing feet. I look back in the mirror. This isn’t me. I don’t do stuff like this.

  I start to pull pins from my hair. By the sixth one, I get faster. I want them out. My hair falls around my face; I kick off my heels and pull on my combat boots. Looking in the mirror makes me smile proudly. Much better.

  The knock at the door startles me. Before I can answer it, Luke walks in.

  My eyes grow wide. “Ummmm, what if I wasn’t dressed?”

  He laughs. “I just saw Blayne, and she said you were ready.” His eyes drift to my boots and trail up my legs, finally stopping on my eyes.

  “Well, I was just about to text you and tell you I wasn’t going. And I really can’t now. I messed up Blayne’s hard work.”

  He looks at me and smiles. Damnit, he looks good in his suit. “Holly Nather, there isn’t a thing wrong with the way you look. It’s completely you, and I like it.”

  “Liar.”

  He shakes his head and smiles. Luke holds out his arm to me. “You look beautiful, and I’d be honored for you to accompany me. Combat boots and all.”

  I bite my lip and tap my foot. I smile and take his arm. “Alright, but what if someone makes fun of me? Won’t you be embarrassed?”

  We walk out of my room, and I try not to make it obvious that I’m smelling him. He smells great.

  “The only person that will be embarrassed is the person who does after I punch them in the ear.”

  “The ear?” I laugh.

  “Or wherever I can hit them first.” His sly smile makes my heart race.

  I try really hard not to smile too big as I got into his black Camaro. My cheesy grin fades fast and is quickly replaced with a frown. I look at him as he buckles. “You! You were following Blayne and me that night!” I put my hand on the door handle.

  “Yes I did.” He seems unfazed that what he did was downright scary.

  “That’s all you’re going to say?!” I pull a little on the door handle, readying myself to get out of his car.

  “I was making sure you made it back to the dorm safe. Can’t you just trust me?”

  I don’t want to trust him, but for some stupid reason I do. Completely. I let go of the handle. “Trust isn’t something I’m good at, Luke. I don’t just trust someone. They have to earn it.”

  “But you trust me, don’t you? You let go of the handle just now. If you didn’t you would have made a run for it.”

  I stare at him. His eyes lock on mine, and if I could look away, I would, because it makes me un
believably uncomfortable, yet giddy inside.

  I sigh in defeat. I do trust him and any wall that I was trying to build when it comes to Luke Denton, comes crumbling down. “Don’t make me regret trusting you.”

  I know right then, when that cheesy smile spreads across his face, I’m hooked. I smile back. I’m a stupid, stupid girl.

  WEEKS HAVE PASSED since the night Luke and I went to the formal. We text and talk on the phone every day and once in a while we meet for lunch or dinner. The two of us made an agreement the night of the formal that we’d take this thing between us slow. It all started so fast, and I just needed things to slow down. And that’s what is so great about Luke Denton. Of course he agreed because he wanted what was best for me. We haven’t even kissed yet and it’s not because he hasn’t tried or that moments haven’t been perfect for a kiss. I’ve just stopped him before it could happen. I don’t want to kiss Luke just because, I want our first kiss to happen when I know that I am completely invested in our relationship.

  My phone rings while I’m on my way to the dorm after my last class of the day. Of course it’s Luke. A smile spreads across my face and my heart speeds up. “Hey.” I hold my phone between my ear and shoulder as I slip on my gloves. It’s freezing.

  “I know this isn’t on your calendar for today,” he chuckles, “but I’d like to take you out.”

  I laugh. “When?”

  “Now?”

  He’s right. This isn’t on my calendar, but a million other things are. “Sure.” Forgetting everything on my calendar to hang out with him is huge. Really huge. And this is like the billionth time it has happened in the past few weeks. I’m swooning hard over this guy.

  “I’ll pick you up in thirty minutes at your dorm.”

  “Alright.” I hang up and cheesy grin as I make my way up the stairs to my room.

  I set my things down and throw my messenger bag over my shoulder. I head back down stairs and wait on the bench outside my dorm. Luke pulls up and gets out to open my door for me. He always does that. Even though I’ve told him it’s not necessary.

  “Thank you.” I get in and throw my bag in the back seat.

  He climbs in and reaches for my hand, lacing his fingers with mine. “I want you to meet my friends.”

  “Okay. Is that where we’re going now?”

  “Not right this second. We’re going to meet up with them at their place.”

  “Sounds good. So, where are you taking me now?”

  Before he can answer, another car plows into the back of his, sending my body forward as much as it can go with the seat belt holding me back. My head hits the window and the worst of it wasn’t over. Luke’s car is pushed forcefully forward, causing his car to slam into a tree. The air bags deploy and I black out.

  I can’t move my head. I put my hand to my neck and feel the neck brace. I blink a few times and a nurse comes into focus.

  She smiles kindly. “You were in a wreck. You’re going to be just fine.”

  “Luke?”

  “Right here,” he says as he comes into focus. I feel his hand holding mine.

  “I bet I look really dumb,” I say and scrunch my eyebrows when it comes out in a slur. “What’s wrong with my voice?”

  The nurse smiles. “Really good pain meds, dear.” She touches my hand. After she lets go I bring my hand up to look at it and see the IV.

  I move my legs and as much of my body as I can to make sure everything still works.

  “Ms. Nather, I’m Doctor Simmons and I’m here to look you over. Are you hurting anywhere right now?” He smiles as he stands over me.

  “No, sir. But this neck brace is really annoying.”

  He laughs. “You were passed out and unresponsive when the medics showed up. It’s just protocol that they put that on you until a doctor assesses your injuries because you couldn’t verbally tell them what was going on.”

  He slips the neck brace off carefully and Luke smoothes out my hair so it wasn’t such a mess. I smile at him.

  “Alright, with my help, I want you to sit up so I can take a good look at you.” Dr. Simmons holds out his hand and I take it, easing myself into a sitting position.

  He looks me over and asks me a long list of questions. The ones about pain are hard to answer because I am so doped up on pain meds I can’t feel a thing. I am able to move fine so I assume that nothing is broken. A few tests were run to check for a concussion before I was sent back to the room to wait.

  The doctor comes in.

  “I think you’re good to go. I will write you a prescription for a few days’ worth of pain meds to help with the pain. For some reason, the third day after a bad wreck, you hurt the worst.” Dr. Simmons scribbles on his clipboard and while he does, I looked at a very worried looking Luke.

  “I’m fine,” I whisper.

  A hint of a smile appears on his face but that’s it. He doesn’t say anything. Instead, he watches the doctor.

  Before long and we are able to go. When we get out of the hospital I see Blayne’s car parked in front. She jumps out of her car and hurries over to me.

  “Holly!? Oh my gosh, I’m so glad you’re okay!” She hugs me. “I called your parents and they are on their way here!”

  “What? No. Blayne, I’m fine. There’s no need for them to come.” I pull out my phone to call mom.

  “Hello? Holly?! Are you alright?!” Mom asks frantically.

  “Yes, mom, I’m perfect. I’m leaving the hospital now. Really, I’m fine. There’s no need for you guys to come here.”

  “But, we—”

  “Mom, no. It’s late and too far of a drive.”

  “But your father and I—”

  “Mom!”

  She sighs heavily into the phone. “Fine but the second you feel any pain you call me and I’m coming to get you!”

  I laugh. “Yes, ma’am.”

  I looked at Luke and Blayne. “Since meeting you I’ve been in the hospital twice. Maybe it’s a sign that we shouldn’t be together?” I laugh as I sway a little. Luke catches me.

  “Or it’s a sign that you need someone like me looking after you.”

  Blayne smiles. “Are you staying at the dorm tonight or with Luke?”

  “Dorm.”

  “I’ll drive you there,” Luke says as he helps me into the car.

  As he drives I watch him. I see about ten of him which I don’t mind. He’s gorgeous. He looks at me and laughs. “What?” I ask smiling.

  “You’re looking at me funny.”

  “You look nice.”

  He laughs. “Someone is high.”

  “You know…I find it really funny that I’ve been hurt twice since hanging out with you. I fell down the stairs, and we got rear ended. It’s like you’re a bad omen or something.” I look out the window and scrunch my eyes when I see a group of men walking down the road, all dressed the same and staring at Luke’s car. I sit up straighter. I turn my head to stare at them as we drive past. After we pass them, I look out the back window and they are gone. No trace of them.

  “Luke.”

  “What?”

  “Did you see that group of men back there?”

  He looks in the rear view mirror. “No. Why?”

  “Well, I saw them, and then they disappeared. It was strange.” I look out the back window one more time, feeling like I’m being watched. No one is behind us.

  “I think they gave you too much medicine.” Luke takes my hand in his.

  We get to my dorm and he helps me in and crawls into my bed with me.

  “You don’t have to stay,” I say quietly, staring at his lips.

  “I know but I want to. I know they said you were fine but I’ll feel better if I stay to make sure.” He kisses my forehead as my eyes close.

  “That feels nice.”

  I feel his lips touch mine; he parts my lips with his and kisses me. Every inch of me feels tingly as I kiss him back. We stop when the door opens.

  “Don’t stop on account of me,” Blayne t
eases. We laugh.

  He kisses my nose. “Get some sleep.”

  I nod and lay my head on his chest. Within minutes I fall asleep to the sound of his heart beat and with a huge smile on my face. I don’t know where our relationship will end up, but I am willing to take the risk. Good or bad.

  I JUST FINISHED a late night of studying at the library and am about to call Luke to tell him I’m ready for him to pick me up when I see his car swerve into the parking lot.

  He jumps out of the car and runs toward me.

  He’s staring at me like he wants me to say something. Problem—I don’t know what to say. What do you say to someone who is acting like a mental patient? I go with the first and most obvious question that comes to my mind. “Are you okay?!”

  “Yes, now that I’ve laid my eyes on you,” he says in an exasperated tone. He hugs me. “You’re alright, right?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine.” I look up at him and touch the side of his face. “But you’re not. What’s wrong?”

  He tucks my hair behind my ears and kisses my cheek. “I wish I could tell you, but it’s complicated.”

  “Just tell me. Remember that night at the formal? We promised each other no secrets.”

  “Yeah, but this is really complicated.”

  “Look, like I said that night, secrets are definite deal breakers.” I wiggle myself from his grip.

  “I want to tell you, but I can’t,” he says with a pained expression.

  I shake my head and back away from him. “Not a good enough answer, Luke.” He moves closer to me, puts his hands in my jacket pockets, and slowly pulls me close. I freeze.

  In a whisper, he says, “You have no idea how much I want to tell you, but I can’t.” Suddenly fear fills his eyes. “We have to go!” Putting his arm around me, he makes me keep up with his fast pace.

  Should I dial 911 now? What’s going on here?! I don’t ask. I just keep running with him which is probably the shittiest decision I’ve ever made. We get to his car quickly.

  “GET IN!” He yells as he hops in on the driver’s side. I get in with no questions. This is a bad movie waiting to happen. I’m getting into a car with a guy I’ve only known for a little over a month. What the hell is wrong with me? I’m too scared to speak or run away. I quickly put on my seat belt.