First Love (7 page)

"Do you still love her?" he asks, even though he already knows my answer.

"Yes, I do. I wasn't really sure before, but I was the second I saw her again."

"Think about this then, what if you walked in her house and saw what she saw? Some dude naked in her bed? Would you really want to face her to hear some bullshit apology or excuse that would surely follow? Plus, she was only eighteen. Hard to handle something maturely when you aren’t really mature yet."

"No way. I wouldn't have just left the state without talking to her, or at least beating the shit out of the guy."

"What about the time you went to find her in Atlanta and left without talking to her?"

"That was different. The guy was proposing to her. She said yes. She looked happy. Oh God, I never thought about him. What if they got married? Is he here with her?"

“Relax, dude, that's why she came back. Holly said she never married him. She came home and found him in bed with another chick. So, she left his sorry ass and came back here."

"So, all I have to do is figure out how to get her to fall in love with me again." Maybe I would get lucky and she had never stopped loving me. One could hope.

"Good luck with that. Right now, though, we have some music to play." With a slap on the shoulder, we headed out to play our set.

Being on stage, playing music, always relaxes me and helps me clear my head for a while. While I was in L.A., I realized really fast that I didn't want the life of a famous rock star. I never really did. After I met Paul and we formed Bleeding Hearts, we found Marcus and Angel. We played around L.A. for three years and were starting to get pretty well-known. Even that early on. I didn't like who I was becoming. The other guys felt the same way. I wanted to come back to Oakville and the guys came with me. My dream was always a place like KC's. Amber and I used to talk about opening a place like it all the time. I’m surprised Amber never realized this place was mine. The most obvious hint is the name being my initials. The color scheme for the place are her favorite colors, purple and black. Amber worked here back when the place was The Shack. Our first date was here. Shit, the booth that has "Kyle luvs Amber" carved into it is still in the back corner. I was thrilled when I came back and saw it up for sale. I bought the place a week later and started the renovations.

It was then that I decided I needed to find her and get her back. Even though I had no idea as to why she left, I didn't care. I was willing to fight for her. I went to see Amber’s grandmother and begged for her to tell me where she was. She told me that she believed we belonged together. She thought we had already been apart for too long and gave me her address. Two days before I was supposed to leave, we found out my mom had breast cancer. My trip was put on hold until my mom was healthy again. I was afraid to leave her, plus, I just opened the bar. Then, my father passed away. By the time it seemed right to go to find Amber, two more damn years had gone by. A little over a year ago, I finally got in my car and headed to Atlanta. I had to do something. She may not want me, but I could finally stop wondering. At the very least, I would have the chance to ask her why she left in the first place. I had a million scenarios in my head for how this trip could play out. What actually happened wasn’t even on my radar.

I knocked on her apartment door, but no one answered. I decided to go to the coffee shop across the street and wait a while. I sat by the window. I could see her if she came home from here. I was so damn nervous I didn't know if she was going to slap me or hug me when she saw me. I was really hoping for the latter. But, it didn't matter. I couldn't live without her anymore and I was going to prove that I wasn’t going anywhere. I have never loved anyone the way I loved her. I never would. If I didn’t have her, I would spend the rest of my life alone.

Just like that, there she was, more beautiful than ever. My smile quickly faded when I saw that some douche-looking guy was with her. They were holding hands. He stopped her right in front of the window of the coffee shop. Then, Mr. Douche got down on one knee and pulled a black box from his pocket. Really? Who proposes on the street in front of a coffee shop? I wanted her to say no so badly, I didn't realize I was holding my breath. I could see the look on her face. She's shocked, but happy. He opened the box and pulled the ring out and slipped it on her finger. As if my world hadn't been turned upside down enough in the last few years, I saw her nod her head in agreement. I watched them walk across to her apartment building and go inside. I got up and left, driving straight back home and head first into the bottle. I didn’t come up for air for three weeks.

We finish our last song, I head over to the bar for a beer with the guys, and then head back to my apartment for the night. As soon as I walk in, I know someone is here. My heart stars to race in my chest. Was it Amber? Did she come back to talk to me? Does she still want me? I pick up my pace, walking faster to my room. I push open the door and see Darcie. FUCK! I have been trying to get rid of this woman for over a year now. She is not taking the fucking hint. I met Darcie in the bar after I got back from Atlanta, I was drunk all of the time and screwing a different woman every night. I went home with her one night. We were just about to finish up when her husband walked into the bedroom. She never told me she was married. I may have been a whore, but I had morals. I never messed around with someone else's girl. To top it off, her husband just happened to be Beau Hartly. He and I never got along in high school. That night ended with both of us in jail.

"What are you doing in my apartment?"

"It's been so long, Kyle. I know you miss me. Come on, I can make you feel
very
good." She thinks she sounds sexy, but she doesn't. A year of pulling shit like this and not giving up just makes her desperate. She knows what kind of guy I am, no woman more than once and definitely no relationships.

"Look, Darcie, I’m starting to sound like a fucking broken record. I do not want you. That is not going to change,
ever
. If I find you in my apartment again, I will have you arrested. Now, get out." I try to keep my voice even, calm. The last thing I want is to set her off.

"I would never walk out on you like that bitch Amber did." How did she know about Amber? I'm sure Beau has seen her since she started working at the bar. He always did have a thing for her.

"You are pushing your luck, Darcie. I suggest you shut the fuck up."

"You really think once little miss goody two shoes finds out how many women you have been with she is going to want anything to do with you? You'll be back in my bed again." She smirked and out she went. I lock up behind her and make a mental note to change the locks. I am starting to think she is the kind of bitch that boils bunnies.

I turn the shower on as hot as I can stand it. I relax under the spray of the water and close my eyes. The only thing going through my mind is Amber … how good she looked with a tight KC's t-shirt and her ass in those short jean shorts. I place my hand above my head on the wall, rest my forehead on the cool tile, and start to stroke myself. Just thinking about how she looked got me hard. I want to touch her, though; it has been too long since I have had her warm and naked beneath me as I am kissing every inch of her soft curvy skin. God, I have to get her back, if I get this worked up thinking about her, it is going to be so amazing to actually feel her again.

I
PARK
my car in the driveway and slowly get out. I am so stupid. I could have saved us both a lot of heartache and tears if I would have just talked to him instead of running away like a child. No wonder he hates me. How could he not? I bypass the wine, grab a bottle of tequila and a shot glass, and flop down on a stool at the island. I fill the small glass and tip it back, letting the alcohol burn down the back of my throat.

He’s right. I didn't trust him. I knew in my heart he would never hurt me, that he loved me, but the second that I saw something that made me question it, I bolted instead of giving him a chance. I tip back another shot, hopefully after a few more of these I will be too numb to think about it. I should have known better. He would have never touched Nora. I knew he hated her as much as I did. She should have been my first sign that something was off. Shot number three … starting to feel better now. I grab the tequila and make my way outside.

I sit in the chair by the fire pit and take another drink. The tears start and they won’t stop.

Kyle’s hand is running along my cheek and tracing my lips. "Amber, wake up," he whispers, his voice deep and sexy. “Mmm,” I reply, feeling goose bumps rise on my skin as his hot breath grazes my neck. I wait for the kiss, for his tongue to run across my skin. I can feel myself become needy, waiting, anticipating his next move. Instead, his voice gets louder, "Wake up, Amber!"

I jump out of the chair and quickly realize this is not a dream. He is standing right in front of me. “Jesus, Kyle, you scared the shit out of me! What are you doing here? What time is it?" The tequila is still in full effect because I am spinning, and damn, if I thought seeing one Kyle was hot and sexy, seeing two is even hotter. I giggle at the thought of two Kyles and continue to check him out. Of course he sees this. He is looking at me with a raised eyebrow, that sexy smirk of his playing on his lips.

"Easy, Princess, one question at a time."

I stumble back down into the chair. I haven't been called that in so long; it was what he always called me. What is he doing here? Did he come here to yell at me some more for being so damn stupid? God, I hope not. There’s only so much my heart can take within twenty-four hours.

"I’m sorry I scared you. I was trying not to, but you were out cold. I can see why." He picks up the bottle of tequila and shakes it ... I try to grab it from him, but it is no use seeing as he towers over me. "I don't think you need any more of this tonight." He looks at his watch. "It’s three in the morning. I’m here because I needed to see you. I was a dick earlier." He looks down at the ground and runs his fingers through his hair. “I never should have let you leave earlier. Can we go inside? Have some coffee and talk?" All I can do is nod. If I try to talk, I am going to sound like a blubbering idiot.

Kyle follows me into the house. He puts the cap on the tequila and puts it away while I start a pot of coffee. "Wow, the kitchen looks great. I heard that you did some remodeling a while back," he says, that killer smile planted on his lips.

“I think I always knew I would be back here someday and this place only needed a few touch-ups to make it perfect."

"I know how much you love this house and what it means to you. I am really sorry about your grandparents, you know how much I cared about them. They were the closest thing I ever had to grandparents growing up."