Cuffs and Kisses

Chapter 12 - An Idahoan Potato Dinner

Heather

I dreamt about Ryder last night. It was really just a memory of a conversation that we had shortly after breaking up. I found out that he had cheated when we were together, but somehow his words turned the situation back on me when he found out I slept with someone else. The word slut was spat out at me. 

That wasn't the worst part though. He told me that I was dead to him and that he wouldn't talk to me ever again. For the rest of the dream, I ran through my old house looking for him in the different rooms of the house. Finally, I found him in my parents' bedroom, lying on top of my mom, pressing kisses into her neck. 

I woke up with extreme uneasiness, being reminded of that conversation. My phone lit up with a text from Mac asking if I was okay. I didn't feel like answering her, so I left her on read. It seems cruel, but she knows what I'm going through and I can't lie to her and say I'm okay when I'm not.

I missed school today. I was so depressed that I couldn't leave my bed even to get breakfast or lunch.

Thankfully, I was feeling well enough to go to Kayne's house that night. I don't know whether that says more about my little crush on Kayne or my day of rest.

I just slip into a t-shirt and black leggings, not caring to dress up for Kayne today. He's already rejected me anyway. I put Max in his crate and wrangle it into my car. I don't feel comfortable letting him roam around the car while I'm driving as I take the backroads to Kayne's house. 

Kayne

I tidy up the little cabin after school, trying to make it not look like a 21-year-old guy lives here. Plus, I need to dog-proof the room—meaning remove all valuables that a puppy might want to chew on—since Heather is bringing Max with her. We are going to have dinner with Alice and then hang out for a while.

I fluff up the throw pillows and arrange them on opposite ends of the couch. I fold my blanket up and hang it on the back of the couch. As I move around the room, picking up stray socks, I think more on my predicament. I feel that since Heather did so well when we studied at the coffee shop that maybe we should do that more. 

In fact, I think it might be best to try out her strategy again on a stakeout. I need to be out in public enough to meet more people who could possibly be suspicious. It was easiest to do when Heather came with me. She's so personable that no one could possibly suspect that she is working for an undercover cop.

A car pulls up the gravel driveway. I call out for Heather to come in and she appears with Max in his travel carrier. She's struggling to carry it and puts it down a little too hard. Thankfully, Max doesn't seem bothered.

Heather's outfit surprises me. She's normally dressed in preppy-style clothing. Today, she's dressed in a plain t-shirt and some type of tight, athletic leggings. She looks a little pale as well, which might explain why she missed school today. 

Heather lets the dog out and he runs immediately to me for a belly rub. I reach down and run my hand through the black and white fur coating his stomach.

"You didn't have to come if you weren't feeling well," I assure her. 

"I wasn't feeling well earlier, but I'm okay now after a restful day." She still looks pale and tired. Her annoying chipperness is also absent. 

It goes silent between the two of us, which led me to believe that Heather wasn't telling me something. Before I can call her out on it, she speaks up. 

"I figured it would be best to leave him in his carrier while we had dinner," she says. 

"You're probably right. The last thing we need is him running into Alice's china cabinet," I reply.