Playing (Inked Hearts 2)

Chapter Fourteen

Kaylee

Eleven.

How is it already eleven?

The numbers are there. A bold white against my cell background—the picture of the beach I took with Emma last month. The waves are crashing into the sand. The sky is bright and beautiful. And everything is simple.

Because Brendon isn't on a date.

A date that's going past eleven.

I don't know anything about her. I don't know her name or what she does or if she's pretty.

No, I'm sure she's pretty.

He used to date a lot. He didn't have a type, not as far as I could tell. Tall, short, curvy, thin, red hair, blond, brunette, tomboyish, girly, punk rock, corporate, white, Hispanic, black, Asian—there was only one thing all those women had in common.

They were all beautiful.

I've been through this a million times.

It never hurt this badly.

But that was when I was sure he saw me as a kid.

I don't know when things changed. But they have.

It was tolerable knowing Brendon was sleeping around when I was sure I'd never have him.

Now that I know he wants me too—

This is supposed to be what distracts me from everything with Grandma.

But it's even worse.

At least, with Grandma there's hope that it's not really that bad. That my parents are over-reacting.

I turn the page on my e-book even though I haven't absorbed a single word. This is the book Brendon recommended.

It should be fascinating.

It should be filling my head with thoughts of him tying me to his four-poster bed.

But it's not.

Every single word is a knife in my chest. Every single one is making me think of her. Whoever she is. This girl smiling at Brendon, looking at him with those I want you on top of me eyes.

I hate her.

I hate everything.

I pull out my cell phone and try to find a distraction.

Another message from Mom. My voicemail inbox is littered with my parents, and Grandma, reaching out. I pick up sometimes. But their check ins always come with excuses about why they're trying to run my life for me.

And I don't want to hear it.