Hunt’s grill was crowded with people as usual. However, Lyle was nowhere in sight. I’d been hoping he’d be here or somewhere in town. This desperate need to see him kept my heart rate up every time I saw a tall, dark haired man from behind. I kicked a chair. Maddie sat at the booth we’d picked out, along with Eric and Paul, boys we knew from school. I was standing up near the bar where I’d first met Lyle.
“Looking for someone?” a familiar voice asked. It was the guy from last night. I just stared. He and Lyle obviously had to be related. “Alright. I’m Wayne, Lyle’s brother.” Of course! I felt so stupid for not putting two and two together. I crossed my arms. He should know where Lyle was.
“Is it that obvious that I’m looking for him?” Wayne grinned showing his perfect teeth.
“He’s at home, and believe me he isn’t coming to town today.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re here.” A pang went through my chest. I thought that Lyle had changed his mind about trying to avoid each other. My arms dropped to my sides. “You frustrate him. Did you know that?” I shook my head. “I could take you to him?”
Something told me not to trust Wayne. Nausea washed over me when I thought about being in the car with him, alone. Still. . . I needed to see Lyle. I had to find out what he wanted before I got too attached to him. Because what if he didn’t want to see me ever again? What if he never wanted to kiss me like he did last night? “No,” I grumbled and stomped back to slide in the booth next to Maddie.
“What are you sulking about?” Eric asked. His long blonde hair fell over his face and covered up most of his brown eyes. He took a sip of his sweet tea, before continuing. “Did that guy refuse to give you his number?” He nodded his head in Wayne’s direction. He was leaning against the bar and had a mysterious smile quirking up at the corners of his lips.
“I don’t want his number.” I rolled my eyes at Eric. He just shrugged.
“So what about Lyle?” Maddie whispered in my ear.
“Oh, God. Here they go Paul. We’d better give them some privacy.” Eric shoved Paul out of the booth, and they went over to the arcade area and began a game of Pac-Man.
“I think Eric likes you,” I said. Maddie gave me a “look”. “What?”
“Don’t change the subject.” Maddie was my best friend for so many reasons, but one of them was that she really knew me. She could see through my façade.
“I don’t know. Last night. . .” I trailed off thinking of the way Lyle had held me in the lake. Of the way he’d kissed me in his car. But then I thought of that growl. Anyone would brush it off as a wild dog or coyote, but it sounded off. It sounded unnatural. A shiver went down my spine.
“Last night, yes. What happened after you left the fair?”
“He kissed me.” My cheeks warmed. I fumbled with the napkin that held my silverware.
“Well did he meet your standards. Or are you upset because he didn’t?”
“Oh, he reached the standards.” The thought of his lips gently brushing over mine made my chest ache.
“Then what’s wrong?”
“It’s just all very confusing.” I sighed and rubbed my hands over my face, hiding there momentarily.
YOU ARE READING
Lost Blood
Teen Fiction"Tell me the truth," I demanded. Lyle's beautiful eyes had darkened. He was putting up a wall, blocking me from finding out what was really going on. "I can't." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Goodbye." I stood up, knocking the chair over as I...
