Unraveling Read online

  I took a deep breath.

  It’s all about moving on and letting go, I told myself.

  “Okay,” I finally answered him.

  “Okay?”

  “Yeah,” I took another deep breath. “Just this once, I’ll trust you anyway.”

  He smiled. “Thank you, Katy-”

  “Dude! Get your ass in here!” someone yelled from the training room Jared worked out in.

  Jared gave me an apologetic look. “Sorry about him,” he tossed his thumb over his shoulder. “I better get back in there.”

  “Not a problem,” I turned to head out the door.

  “Katy,” he said and I turned back to face him. “I’m really looking forward to Friday.”

  “Me too,” I answered automatically, and surprisingly, it wasn’t even a lie.

  Jared grinned from ear to ear. “Good.”

  “Jaaaaared!” The voice yelled again.

  “Bye, Katy,” Jared said and disappeared into the room.

  “Bye, Jared,” I whispered to the now empty space.

  ~***~

  Oh my God, I was going on a date with Jared.

  I had completely gone and lost my mind.

  I didn’t even know his last name!

  Oh gosh, I could feel a panic attack coming on.

  I sat down on my bed and took a deep breath. In. Out. In. Out.

  Okay, that was better.

  Just a little.

  Not really.

  Calming thoughts, Katy, just think calming thoughts, I told myself. Besides, it’s not really a date. We’re just… going out. There’s a difference. A big difference. There are no preconceived notions about kissing and other stuff if you’re just ‘going out’. A date implies something more.

  Oh, who was I kidding, there was no way I could calm down until this night was over.

  I grabbed my cellphone off my nightstand and called Rollo and then Piper.

  Thirty minutes later there was a knock on my door.

  I slowly peeled myself off of my yellow comforter and to the door.

  Piper stood there, beaming. I could see Rollo walking down the hallway.

  “Thank you, guys, so much, for coming over, at such short notice. I’m freaking out and I really need your help.”

  “Not a problem,” Piper smiled, “I didn’t have any plans.”

  “And you know me,” Rollo said, “I’d cancel a hot date to be here for you, baby cakes.”

  “Get in here,” I motioned them inside and closed the door. I was actually surprised Rollo hadn’t pushed his way in already, the way he always made himself at home. “Rollo, this is Piper. Piper, this is Rollo.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Piper said.

  Rollo scared the crap out of her by wrapping his arms around her. “I’m so happy Katy has finally found a girl friend. I can only help so much with the girl stuff,” he said, pulling away. He grabbed a piece of her hair and held it up. “I love the pink.”

  “Thanks,” she said. “I like your shirt.”

  “Finally! Someone that appreciates them!” Rollo exclaimed.

  “Oh Lord,” I smacked my forehead. “Which one do you have on today?” I asked.

  Rollo turned so I could see. It read: Some Dudes Marry Dudes. Get Over It.

  “Sometimes I wonder why I hang out with you,” I muttered.

  “Because I’m-”

  “Fabulous,” I cut him off. “I know. You remind me of your fabulousness daily. Now, can we please stop talking about this? I have to leave in-” I looked at my watch “-less than an hour in order to meet Jared on time and I really need you guys to help me.”

  “Say no more,” Piper said. “Where’s your closet?”

  I motioned down the hallway.

  “We’ll have you looking even more beautiful in no time,” Piper assured me. She was already walking down the hall.

  Rollo and I followed her.

  She threw the closet doors open, scanned the clothes there, and then started opening my dresser drawers.

  “Where are you going? That definitely plays a part in what you should wear,” she said, flipping through some sweaters.

  “I don’t know,” I put my hands in my back pockets.

  Piper’s jaw dropped and she pushed a piece of black hair behind her ear. “You don’t know?” she practically shrieked.

  “No,” I shrugged. “He asked me to trust him and I said I would.”

  “Damn girl,” Rollo said. “You really are giving Jare-bear a chance.”

  I giggled; I had withheld that information from Rollo the other day.

  Piper went back to my closet and grabbed a pair of jeans. She threw them at me and commanded, “Put those on.”

  “Right now?” I squeaked.

  Piper rolled her eyes. “Duh, it’s not like you’ve got anything I haven’t seen before and I’m pretty sure Rollo here won’t care either.”

  “Fine,” I grumbled, taking off my sweatpants and pulling the jeans on.

  “Hmm,” Piper mused as she went searching through my closet. “Jared has made this difficult since he won’t tell you where he’s taking you. Normally, I’d force you into a dress, but that might not work for what he has planned. Hence, the jeans,” she pointed at me. “But you need a cute top. Not one of these,” she flicked the row of different colored solid shirts.

  Finally, Piper looked down at her own shirt.

  It was a lacy black tank top, with a gold colored lace overlay, that flared out at the bottom.

  She looked back up at me before peeling the top off. “You owe me,” she said, handing me the shirt.

  I took it and stared for a moment.

  Piper tapped her foot and crossed her arms over her chest, which made her boobs practically fall out of her black bra. “Trust me, it’ll look great. I’m going to take you shopping soon. All you own is jeans and t-shirts.”

  “Thanks,” I said, pulling on the top. I turned to look in the mirror and was surprised by how good it looked on me.

  “Damn girl, you got a body,” Rollo commented. “You’ve got to stop hiding under all those baggy shirts.”

  “Do you have a curling iron?” Piper asked.

  “Yeah, in the bathroom,” I pointed to the door across the hall.

  Before I knew what was happening, Piper had pulled me into the bathroom and motioned for me to sit down on the closed toilet seat lid.

  She found my curling iron and plugged it in to heat up.

  “I really need to go,” I looked at my watch. I bit my lip nervously, my knee jumping up and down in agitation.

  “Not yet,” Piper said. “This won’t take long.”

  She was right, in less than ten minutes she had my hair curling down my back, and she had redone my makeup. I barely recognized myself. I hardly looked like the girl that was afraid of her own shadow.

  “Oh my gosh,” I breathed, poking my face. I half expected for the image in front of me to shatter.

  It didn’t.

  “You have some serious skills,” Rollo high-fived Piper.

  “Thank you so much,” I told them. “You guys are the best. You didn’t have to come over here and-”

  “Stop before you make me cry,” Rollo held up a hand and pretend to sniffle.

  “You’re welcome,” Piper said with a smile, “but you better get going.”

  “Crap! I’m going to be late!” I exclaimed, clamoring out of the bathroom and down the hall. I grabbed my purse. “Thank you again,” I said to Rollo and Piper. “I’ve got to go. Lock up behind you. Love you guys!” I called, already out the door.

  I started my car and drove at least five miles over the speed limit the whole way to Fight For It.

  I was still four minutes late but it was better than ten. I parked next to Jared’s Toyota in the back lot but he wasn’t in his car.

  Instead of going inside, I stayed in my car.

  Excitement bubbled in my stomach and I couldn’t help but smile. In the short time that I’d met Jared, he’d turned my
world completely around, making me feel things I hadn’t felt for a long time. I could only begin to imagine the affect he’d have if I opened up and let him into my heart.

  A few minutes later, I saw him walk out the back doors. He wore a pair of jeans and a knit, black, long-sleeved, shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His hair was wet, making it appear black instead of brown. A red gym bag was slung across his shoulder.

  He looked up and saw me sitting in my car and a smile broke out across his face. I couldn’t help smiling in return.

  “Hey,” I said, getting out of my car.

  “I was afraid you wouldn’t show up,” he ducked his head down, and went to the back of his SUV. He opened the trunk and dropped his bag in.

  I pulled my jacket on. “I wouldn’t ditch you. I’m not that kind of person.”

  He finally looked up at me.

  “Oh my God! Jared! What happened to you?” I shrieked, looking at him in horror.

  He shrugged and leaned against his car. “It’s part of the job description.”

  “Job description?” I asked, staring at the purple bruise around his eye and another on his jaw.

  “You didn’t know?” he asked, puzzled.

  “Know what?” I was completely at a loss.

  “I’m a MMA fighter. I’m this place’s pride and joy,” he motioned back at Fight For It.

  “What’s MMA?” I asked, even though I felt like I should have known the answer.

  Jared chuckled, and scratched his jaw. “Mixed Martial Arts.”

  “So… you’re like paid to fight people?” I questioned.

  “Yeah, basically,” he groaned, looking sheepish.

  “Oh,” I whispered.

  “I swear, I’m not a hot head,” Jared smiled. “I just happen to be very good at-”

  “Beating people up?”

  He winced. “It sounds really harsh when you put it that way.”

  “Your job is to hit people, Jared. It seems to me, you’d have to enjoy hitting someone to do that,” I took a disgusted step back.

  “Katy, wait,” he begged. “I’m not a bad guy. I would never hurt you, if that’s what you’re afraid of.”

  I swallowed. “Jared,” I looked around the deserted parking lot. A street light flickered. “You must have violent tendencies-”

  “Jesus, Katy, I’m not like that. In all the time you’ve been around me, have I ever gotten angry?”

  “Well, at the club-” I started.

  He snorted. “I was defending you, Katy! Did you really want the bastard’s hands all over you?”

  “No,” I shrugged.

  “Exactly, I wasn’t hitting that guy because I just felt like it. Don’t judge me, or what I do, you don’t know me, Katy.”

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

  Jared took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair. “Is tonight totally fucked up or do you still want to go out?” his brown eyes met mine, and there was something reflected in his chocolate orbs. Something, that almost looked like fear that I would say no.

  “Yes… I still want to go out… with you,” I said, looking anywhere but at him.

  “Good,” he replied, and I could hear the smile in his voice. He walked around me and opened the passenger door of his car. “Hop in,” he nodded.

  I blushed and put one foot in front of the other. “Thank you,” I whispered, as I attempted to climb in the car. Jeesh, this thing was tall, and I was short. I needed a stepladder or something.

  “Do you need some help?” Jared asked.

  “No, no, I’m good,” I waved him off. The last thing I needed was him touching me, I’d either flinch and freak-out or… or I might actually somewhat enjoy it, like I had the previous times he’d touched me.

  I finally made it into the car and I could hear Jared trying to hide his laughter. I know I gave him quite the show.

  He pulled out of the parking lot and onto the street, heading out of town.

  “Where are we going?” I asked, my heart beginning to jump in panic.

  “I’m not telling,” He glanced at me and winked.

  I crossed my arms and looked out the window, going through a mental roster of possible places he could dump my body. I mean, why would a guy as good-looking as Jared want to go out with me?

  Not able to hold my tongue, I asked, “Why me?”

  “Huh?” Jared flicked his eyes my way for a second, before looking back at the road.

  “You could be going out with any girl of your choosing, tonight. Why me?” I twisted the seatbelt strap nervously.

  “Why not you?” he countered.

  I snorted. “I know I don’t come across as the nicest person. Am I just a challenge to you?”

  His jaw clenched and his knuckles turned white where he gripped the steering wheel.

  “You are definitely not a ‘challenge’ for me, Katy. Is it impossible for you to believe that I may actually want to get to know you?”

  “It’s just… I know guys like you. You’re used to getting what you want and when you don’t, you get angry,” I looked out the window, shrugging my shoulders. “You can have any girl you want, Jared. Just look at you.”

  “So, you’re saying, that because I’m good looking, I’m a douchebag?” he looked at me with a raised brow. With a sigh, he continued, “Katy, I don’t know what kind of guys you’ve dealt with in the past, but I’m not like that. At least not anymore,” he muttered under his breath. “As for the, ‘any girl I want’ part, did you ever think that, maybe, I want you,” he whispered the last word. It seemed to hang there, suspended, between the two of us.

  You.

  A word had never affected me the way that one did.

  “I’ve said it before, Katy,” Jared adjusted his grip on the steering wheel, “but I’ll say it again. You don’t know me, so don’t pretend you do. I want you to know me, but you don’t, not yet. So please,” he begged, “don’t make prejudices’ against me. I’m not judging you, the least you could do, would be to show me the same respect. Deal?”

  “Deal,” I gulped.

  11

  We rode in silence for a good thirty minutes before we entered a small town.

  I figured Jared was going to stop at one of the various restaurants, but instead, he kept driving.

  Five minutes later, we came to a small park; Jared turned onto the gravel parking lot and parked.

  “We’re here,” he announced, unbuckling his seatbelt.

  I looked around.

  “We came all this way, to go to a park?” I asked, incredulous.

  Jared chuckled. “Oh, how you doubt me, Katy.”

  “But I’m hungry!” To further drive home my point, my stomach growled, loudly.

  “Don’t worry, I’ve got the food part covered,” he hopped out of the car and jogged around to open my door. He held his hand out to help me. I glared at his hand. “I’m not going to hurt you, Katy,” he whispered.

  I took a deep breath and placed my hand in his.

  Just like at the club, I didn’t feel much of an urge to pull away.

  I let him help me out of the monstrous vehicle and promptly removed my hand, before I did something weird, like hang on.

  Jared laughed and shook his head.

  He moved to the back of the SUV and opened the trunk. He grabbed a cooler and a couple of blankets.

  “Are we planning on sleeping in the park?” I asked.

  “Only if you want,” he winked.

  I gave him a horror stricken look.

  “I’m just kidding, Katy,” he assured me.

  I almost wanted to tell him that my scared expression had nothing to do with his words, and more to do with the butterflies attacking my stomach.

  “This way,” he nodded for me to follow him.

  I shook my head to snap myself out of my thoughts. “Want me to carry something?” I asked, when I saw him struggling with the blankets.

  “I got it,” he said, adjusting his grip.

  I snorted. “J
ared, I won’t think you’re less of a man if you ask me to carry something.”

  He chuckled and looked down at me with those chocolate eyes. “You’re funny.”

  “I’m really not,” I said, struggling to keep up with his long legged stride. The guy was easily, six foot one, and I was barely five foot.

  “And that, my kitten, is precisely why you are,” he stopped and looked around. “This is the spot,” he said, sitting the cooler and blankets on the ground.

  I looked around and saw that there were other people sitting around with blankets and snack food.

  Jared had picked a spot a fair distance from everyone else and closer to a line of trees.

  He took one of the blankets, shook it, and spread it out, doing the same with the other.

  He sat down and opened the cooler, rummaging through it.

  When I continued to stand there, he looked up at me. “Sit down, Katy,” he patted the blanket beside the one he was sitting on. “Look, I even brought you your own blanket, I thought it would make it seem less like a date if we had separate blankets,” he grinned.

  “I do not understand you,” I sat down on my blanket, a good two feet of space between us.

  “Ah, on the contrary, I find you to be a far greater mystery than myself,” his brown eyes shimmered with suppressed laughter.

  I rolled my eyes. “We can just agree to disagree, then.” I folded my legs under me and tucked my hair behind my ears. “I know there’s more to your story than you let on.”

  Jared sighed. “Yeah, you would notice that.”

  “Why would I notice that, when other people wouldn’t?” I questioned.

  Jared sighed. “Kindred souls.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked, confused.

  Jared went back to rummaging through the cooler. “When people go through horrible, unspeakable things, it changes them, Katy.” He closed the cooler and turned to me. There was a haunted look in his eyes. “You can always recognize that pain in someone else.”

  I looked down, away from his eyes that saw too much.

  “It gets better, Katy,” he whispered. “I know, that right now, it doesn’t seem like that, but whatever happened to you… one day it won’t hurt as much.”

  “I doubt that,” I whispered.