Infatuated (20 page)

“I just went out to grab something from my truck.” His eyes went wide. “Jesus, Ally. You’re freaking ghost white.” He led me to the couch and sat me down.

I put my head between my knees and closed my eyes.
I’m not going to puke. I’m not going to pass out.
I chanted the words, but I wasn’t sure I believed them. How much could my heart take? “Stop scaring me.”

“I didn’t do anything. I came back in—”

“Didn’t tell me you were leaving. Thought you were gone.” Tears streamed down my cheeks and I couldn’t stop them. “Thought you were Earl,” I said, gasping for air.

“Damn it, breathe!”

“Trying.”

His hand ran down my back gently. “Shh. Just breathe.”

I didn’t move until the world stopped spinning, until the spots that danced behind my closed eyelids vanished. “I’m okay. I’m okay,” I said aloud. If I could talk, I could breathe, and if I could breathe, then I was okay.

“Want to tell me what the hell is going on and why you hit me?”

I raised my head only enough to glare at him.

“God, I’ve never seen you so scared before. What the hell, Ally?”

“What the hell, Kale?” I shot back. “Earl’s calling me, leaving me those messages, those notes, and now pictures. What did you expect?”

“What pictures?” His tone went cold and hard.

“The ones I tried calling you about. The ones I left you voice mails about. The reason I texted you this morning, asking you to call me back.
Those
pictures.”

“I never checked my voice mail. You called when I was outside the bar waiting for you, so I just came in.”

“Well, now you know. If you want more details, check your voice mail. I’m going to bed.”

He pulled me down onto his lap when I got up to leave. “You can tell me.”

“Your Neanderthal routine isn’t winning me over this time.”

“Just tell me.”

I didn’t answer immediately, only glared. “I found pictures under my door.”

“Of what?”

“Me. And some with you in them or Maxine.”

He practically shoved me aside and jumped to his feet. “And you’re just now fucking telling me?”

“Don’t fucking yell at me because you couldn’t be bothered to call me back.” I got up and shoved him. “I texted you first thing this morning to warn you about them.”

“You should have called me last night!”

“Why? Would you have taken my call then?” When he didn’t answer, I laughed. “There you go. And I didn’t call you because it was four in the morning and there wasn’t anything you could have done about it.”

“This is because I didn’t tell you about the notes and phone calls, isn’t it?” The cool tone and anger on his face had me taking a step back. It was the same look that crossed my dad’s face when he was in one of his moods.

“No. No,” I repeated, trying to keep my tone calm. “It isn’t. That had nothing to do with why I didn’t call you. That never crossed my mind. You had work this morning and I didn’t see the point in waking you up for it. I called the cops, they came, they took the pictures, and it was done. I’m going in Monday morning to see if I can get a restraining order against him. The pictures might be enough.” God, I hoped they were. I needed an end to the nightmare that was Earl.

“You should have told me.”

“I told you—”

“I know what you told me. Jesus.” He spun away from me and paced to the kitchen. Lightning fast, he punched the freezer door. The boxes of cereal on the top tumbled over.

I flinched. I could almost see my dad in his expression, just there, behind the surface. But the look was foreign on Kale’s face, mixed with misery. “I’m sorry.”

He reached out for me then stopped. “Fuck. I’m not mad at you, Ally,” he said, tone calmer. “I’m pissed because I want to be and I only have myself to blame for this.” He leaned his forearms on the freezer door and hung his head. “I should have called you back. I shouldn’t have made such a goddamn mess of this. No, fuck that. I should have been here in the first place, so you wouldn’t have been alone for this shit, so you wouldn’t have had to call me.” He shook his head. “I deserved that punch to the face, though it should have been on purpose.”

He looked even more miserable than I felt. “Kicking someone when they’re down isn’t as fun as TV makes it seem.”

“See? I can’t even fuck up right.”

“Kale.” I walked over to him and leaned against his back, wrapping my arms around him. “You didn’t fuck up.”

He leaned back, careful not to hit me, and pulled me into his arms. He rested his chin on my head. “Did Earl get in?”

“I don’t think so. He just shoved them under the door.”

His hold on me tightened. “He could have gotten in here. He could have been waiting for you.”

I shuddered. “A thought I’m seriously glad I didn’t have yesterday.”

He leaned back to look at me. “You’re staying with me or I’m staying here with you until this fucker is behind bars.”

I wasn’t sure what to say to that. “Kale—”

“You’re not going to be alone again.” The steely edge to his voice made me raise an eyebrow. He rolled his shoulders. “You mentioned something about a restraining order?”

“Yeah. One of the cops suggested it. I have to wait until Monday, and then I do…something. I’m not even sure.” I rubbed my eyes. “I think I have to talk to the district attorney or something. Getting a restraining order isn’t that cut and dry, apparently.”

“We. I’m going with you. I meant what I said, you’re not going to be alone.” His eyes lingered on my face. Reaching out, he brushed a finger gently across my cheek. “Don’t take this the wrong way, babe, but you look like shit.”

I laughed. “Yeah, you’re not looking so hot yourself, Romeo. How’s the face?”

“Feels like I got slugged by two by four.” He rubbed the spot on his jaw. “You’ve got a killer right cross.”

I grinned. “My dad taught me how to punch.”

“Good skills to have. Bad for whoever’s on the receiving end.”

“Let me see your hand,” I said, even though I was already lifting it up to check it myself. The knuckles weren’t busted open, but they were swollen and beet red. “Has to hurt.”

He shrugged. “I’ll live. How’s yours?”

“I’ll live.”

“Smart ass.”

“Mom taught me that one.” I pulled away to open the freshly-dinged freezer and grabbed out the ice pack he’d left with me. “Ice…something.”

He lay it over his hand and looked down at me. His eyes were dark again. Troubled. “Are you still mad at me?”

I thought about it before answering. I was pissed at what he’d done, not the reasoning behind it. It didn’t absolve him though. I’d done the same thing to him, whether I had the right to or not. “Maybe a little,” I told him, speaking honestly. “But I’ll get over it.” I looked up. “You mad at me?”

“No. Maybe. Hell, I’m not sure.”

I yawned and then had to struggle to figure out which Kale was which. There were currently two in my vision. “Sorry. There are two of you now.”

He brushed the hair from my eyes. “Can I stay with you?”

I nodded.

“You’re swaying, babe.” He had me in his arms a second later.

I let my head fall to his shoulder. “Just a little tired.” I blinked at him, struggling to keep my eyes open. “Can you get the door?”

“Yeah, I’ll get it.”

My eyes closed against my will, and the next thing I heard was the click of the locks. I tried to say something, but my tongue was too heavy.

“Sleep,” he said as my head touched down on something soft. His arms went around me and he held me close. “I’ve missed you, Ally Cat.”

“Missed you, too.” I clutched his arm. “Don’t want to be alone.”

“Shh. You won’t be. I’ve got you, babe.”

CHAPTER 16

G
etting a restraining order wasn’t simple like I’d hoped it’d be, but finally, nearly a week later, I had one against Earl. There’d been a hearing where he could contest the stalking claim, but when he never showed up, the restraining order had been given. Legally, Earl couldn’t come within three hundred yards of me without being arrested.

Three hundred blissful, Earl-free yards. No more following me to stores or school, no more hanging outside the bar. No more Earl.

For the first time in months I felt good. I had control over the Earl situation. Maybe the restraining order was only a piece of paper, but it was like pure gold to me, worth more than anything else I owned.

“You’re smiling,” Kale said as he pulled up to my apartment. “How do you feel?”

The smile only grew. I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath. It felt like the first one in months. “Free. Well, more free, anyway. I’m not picky, so I’ll take it.”

He reached across to grab and squeeze my hand. “Good. Keep smiling. It looks good on you.”

“I feel like we should celebrate. Is it celebration-worthy?”

“It should be. When do you get off work?” He did a suggestive eyebrow-waggle. “Maybe we can have a private party?”

“Do you ever think about anything but sex?” I asked, laughing.

“When you’re around? No. No, not really.”

I laughed again, leaning in to give him a fast kiss. “Tonight, after work, you and me.”

“We’ll be naked, right?”

“Unless you want to have hot, sweaty sex with clothes on.”

“A challenge. I accept.”

I got out of the SUV when he made a grab for me, smiling and laughing. “Later. I have to suffer through class first, and then work.”

“Tease.” But he smiled when he said it. “I’ll see you later. Drive safe, babe.”

“Thanks. You too.” I ran inside to grab what I needed for school. I’d probably be late, but having Kale drive me to the hearing so I didn’t have to go alone had been worth it.

I drove like a maniac to school and barely made it on time. In this case, barely was enough. Concentrating through class was something else altogether. I thought about Kale the whole time, dressed, half-naked, fully naked. I probably drooled, but I was in a good mood and I didn’t care.

“Okay,” Maxine said after class, “either you’ve won the lottery and didn’t tell me, or you had mind-blowing sex before class. I might hate you for either one.”

“Nope. Something even better.”

“There’s something better than mind-blowing sex? Really?” She looked confused and scared. “I don’t believe you.”

“Well, maybe not better, but just as smile-worthy.”

“Tell me already, you’re practically jumping, and I have to pee and it’s not helping.”

I grabbed her hands and danced in a small circle with her. “I got a restraining order against Earl. He can’t come within three hundred yards of me!”

Maxine pulled away from me. She didn’t seem nearly as happy as I thought she’d be. In fact, she was frowning.

“Okay, so it’s not the best news in the world if you’re not me, but—”

“It’s not that.”

I frowned now. “Then what is it?”

“He’s over there, Ally.” She turned me around and pointed to Earl. He was talking to a dark-haired girl my age.

“Damn it! It’s only been four hours! He can’t be here. I have a restraining order. He can’t—”

“So…do something, Als. You can call the cops or something, right? They can arrest him. That’s what happens on TV.”

I nodded. “I don’t know what they’ll do. But you’re right.” I let out a breath. Maybe this was a good thing. If he broke the restraining order within hours of getting it, then they could throw him in jail for that, right?

It’s a silver lining.

Eyes on Earl, I dug out my cell phone and called the cops.

Within thirty minutes, Earl was being hauled away for questioning. I felt better, but only marginally. I couldn’t believe he’d break the restraining order so fast, so boldly. Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised. He’d been growing bolder and bolder, so maybe I should’ve seen it coming.

“This is a good thing,” Max said, nodding. “A good thing. If he’s behind bars, then he can’t bother you.” Her eyes went wide suddenly and she tried pulling me away. “Ally—”

“You bitch! You’re trying to ruin my family!”

I spun around as a fist connected with the side of my jaw. I staggered back, clutching my face. A dark-haired, dark-eyed girl with a sharp nose stood in front of me—the one Earl’d been talking to.

She raised her fist again but Max jumped in front of her. “What the hell is your deal?”

“You got my father arrested, you bitch,” she said to me.

The girl tried to get past Max, but Max just shoved her back. “Back off. Don’t take your issue out with her because your father’s a creep,” Max said.

“Stop! Both of you.” I stared at the girl whose gaze moved from my face to Max’s. I tried not looking her in the eyes, because now that I could see them clearly, I saw Earl in them. “I won’t apologize for him being arrested, but I’m sorry you had to see it. I have a restraining order—”

“Yeah, I know all about you. My dad shows up a few places you’re at and you flip out and accuse him of stalking you. Get over yourself. He’s been going to that bar for years. And he picks me up from here a lot.”

I believed the first part without question, but the second part was another story. Her eyes dodged mine when she’d said it and her tone sounded forced. “I’m sorry.”