Unpredictable Love

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Karleigh's POV

I cannot believe he came in here. My head is spinning and I take a seat on the edge of my bed, to help gather my thoughts. Whatever this is that's brewing between Harry and I, it can't happen and it hurts too much to keep pushing him away. I'm not sure if I have it in me to run him off again.

I can't stay here any longer, I need to go back home. My eyes skim around the room, trying to remember where I had my cell phone last. When I finally notice my cell phone resting on top of the dresser, I grab it and dial up my mother's number.

The phone rings for what seems like eternity, when finally a soft click comes from the other end of the line.

"Mom?" My words come out in a breathy voice.

"Karleigh? Are you alright?" Her voice immediately fills with panic. This is the sad relationship that I've built with my mother, I only call her for emergencies.

"Yeah, I'm fine... Mom?"

"Yes Karleigh?"

"Can I come home now?"

There's an eerie silence from my mother's line. "I've learned my lesson." I add on. She lets out a long sigh.

"Is this about the boy your aunts been telling me about?" Her question takes me of guard and I'm not quite sure how to respond.

"What the fuck? No! This about me not wanting to come out to Dallas in the first place. Aunt Jocelyn doesn't know a damn thing about Harry, and he is none of your concern." My words are rushed, and anger is seeping into my tone.

"Karleigh, I'm just not ready for you to be back here yet..." She sounds pathetic.

"Dad would've let me come home. Dad wouldn't have forced me to leave to begin with." I spit through the phone.

"Karleigh Jane Gray, I will not have you speaking to me that way! Your father may have done a lot of things differently, but he would not allow you to disrespect me the way you are right now. You're staying in Dallas, and that's FINAL!" Her voice is sharp and stern, and I'm quite shocked at her outburst.

I don't say another word, just end the phone call. I'll probably go nuts if I stay inside of their room, or this house. In my clothes from dinner, I walk out to my car and type a quick text message. Thankfully, I don't run into Aunt Jocelyn as I leave her house.

*Can I come over to your apartment?* My text reads. Within a few minutes my phone rings and I open the message.

*yeah, c'mon over*

***********************************

I ring the doorbell the apartment and a tall, muscular guy answers the door. We stare at each other for a moment, and the guy's eyes rake over my body. Before I have the chance to ask him where the fuck my cousin is, he's shoved to the side.

"Hey Karleigh!" Travis greets me with a warm smile, as he throws his arms around me. His breath smells slightly of beer, but I seriously doubt that he's drunk.

Travis ushers me inside of the apartment and he has tons of company.

"Who are all these people?" I can't help but asking.

"Just some old friends from college," he explains and I roll my eyes.

"You didn't even go to college."

"Yeah, but they did, and we're all friends. Same difference." Travis defends and I shake slightly with laughter. Travis takes me to into the kitchen and gestures to everything laid out on the counters.

"So there's food, chips, dip, soda, beer, and other alcohol." He pauses, then looks at me. "Then again, maybe you shouldn't be drinking alcohol, considering your history..." He trails off and shrugs. Someone calls his name from the living room, and he leaves me standing alone in the kitchen. I step closer to the counter and grab a glass, filling it with sprite. My hand brings the class to my lips and I take a sip of the soda. Although the carbonation is soothing, it doesn't do the same justice as alcohol. Guiltily I grab a nearby bottle of some colorful rum and pour some into my sprite, stirring my sprite around to blend my drink. Another sip, and I'm much more pleased.

My back presses up against the counter and I continue to down my drink, when some asshole approaches me. "I'm Todd." He tells me, with a cocky smirk.

"And I don't care." I say without looking at him. He comes closer to me, and I glare at him.

"What's a beautiful girl like you doing all alone, in a place like this?" He asks, his breath hitting my face and I can tell he's high.

"Trying to avoid, perverts like you. Now if you could piss off, that'd make my night." I tell him. In the bitchiest tone I can manage.

Sadly, I'm used to dealing with guys like him at parties like these. When I was back home in Atlanta, this was all I did was party, drink, smoke, rinse, repeat. When I was dating Michael, he didn't even defend me so I got used to standing up for myself. This douche bag, presses his chest up against me and grins, as I'm taking the final gulp of my alcoholic beverage. I nearly drop the glass my drink was in, when Todd gropes my ass in his palm.

I attempt to take a step backwards, only to be reminded that there's a counter behind me. With my right hand I give Todd a forceful shove back, creating a small amount of space between our bodies. Todd chuckles and I scoff at him.

"I love girls that play hard to get." His voice sends shivers up my spine and I cross my arms over my chest.

"Believe me, I'm not playing hard to get, I'm playing leave me the fuck alone." I say through my clenched teeth.

He surprises me by grabbing my waist forcefully with his hand, his finger digging into my hip and I know there will be a bruise there tomorrow morning.