Attest (Centrifuge Duet Book 2)(45)
“Get it together, Lainey. You're making something out of nothing,” I mutter to myself. Why I'm even thinking about this, I have no idea. I'm still not one hundred percent sure he meant what I thought he did.
Complete darkness greets me when I venture outside. The lights in the yard and the town hall have been turned off in anticipation of the fireworks. Instead of attempting to find my way from the back of the hall to the front where everyone else is gathered, I make an on-the-spot decision to turn off the lights and stay here by myself. I can watch the fireworks from where I am, with the added bonus of not needing to deal with persistent idiots who want to ring in the New Year with kisses. Maybe this year Dad won’t feel the need to knock anyone out in my defence.
My dad’s not nicknamed Beast just because he’s a huge man. He also has a tendency to turn into a beast when he feels his family is being threatened. His explosions can be embarrassing.
Leaning back against the cinder-block wall, I listen as the countdown finishes and the fireworks begin. They’re spectacular as usual. As they’re reaching their peak, I hear someone moving next to me one moment before I’m pushed against the wall. Soft lips touch mine, a tongue prodding between my parted lips. My whole body falls rigid, my muscles tensing as I steady myself to deliver the full force of my knee between my attacker’s legs.
I abort my attack when Brendan’s cologne permeates my senses, relaxing my leg.
Sensing my hesitation, Brendan pauses our kiss. “Happy New Year, Maddi,” he whispers against my mouth. His minty breath blows over my face, our breath mingling together as I sigh.
Brendan Taylor is kissing me. I can’t believe it.
“Happy New Year, Brendan,” I murmur, returning his sentiment.
Confusion clouds my mind. I’m not sure how I should react to him. My confusion evaporates when, without another word and against my better judgement, he coaxes my arms around his neck and wraps his arms around my waist. He pulls me away from the wall and presses my soft body against his hard frame.
Feelings I’ve never felt before; feelings I can’t name course through me.
Without further thought, I follow his lead as he proceeds to give me the sweetest first kiss a girl could wish for. We’re still kissing when the lights come back on. The area around us grows louder as people begin milling back into the grounds, the pair of us ignoring them and continuing to kiss. After what feels like an eternity, Brendan steps away from me, smiling broadly. He gives me a quick, final kiss on the lips before he gently bites my clothed shoulder.
“You're so beautiful, and you're going to be all mine. I’m going to make sure of it,” he whispers against my neck before he turns and walks away without another word.
The passionate promise in his words takes my breath away, making me flush with excitement. They replay over and over in my head all night, along with my hope that he’ll seek me out at Kyle’s party. My wish isn’t granted because I don’t see him again for the rest of the night.
*
“Dad! Brendan Taylor’s at the door.”
My middle brother Joel’s yelling interrupts my attempted nap. My heart flips at the news. Jumping off my bed, I peek out of my bedroom door.
I had a little bit too much to drink with my friends last night—especially by my standards—so I’ve been moping around my room since I woke up just before lunchtime. Combining with my hangover is my confusion over what happened with Brendan last night. It’s resulted in quite the headache. I can’t see anyone in the living area so I assume they’re all out the back. Curiosity getting the better of me, I creep toward the back door.
I don’t know what to make of him turning up at our house after last night. He’s never been here in the six and a half years we’ve lived here. My biker family isn’t in the same social circle as the likes of Brendan and his fourth-generation farming family. In fact, they're polar opposites, considering Brendan’s father has been the local Member of Parliament for the last fifteen years and my dad’s the Vice President of an outlaw motorcycle club. The only time we mingle with their social class is at district events, and even then everyone tends to group into their own social circles.
“Madelaine, honey. Your dad wants you,” Wendy says quietly from behind me as she walks through the sliding glass door back into our house.
Startled, I almost jump out of my skin. My heart pounds harder, exacerbating my headache.
“They’re on the back deck waiting for you.”
“Who’s they?” I ask her, faking ignorance to see if she'll give me a heads up or pass on any gossip she knows. She smiles at me, seeing straight through my ruse, pointing toward the back of the house without saying another word.
Once she walks past me and into the kitchen, I check my reflection in the hall mirror, happy that I’ve at least had a shower and piled my long mane on top of my head in some semblance of an up-do. I wish I’d known that he was going to come here because I would have put some makeup on and worn something other than my normal tight jeans, singlet, and unbuttoned short-sleeved shirt. I giggle to myself at that lie—I’m pretty sure I’d still be wearing the same thing even with prior warning. The only really girly things about me are my long nails and my expensive addiction to designer shoes.
Walking through the house and out the back door, I find my dad and Brendan sitting in the entertaining area having a beer. Benji’s hovering as well; an unpleasant look on his face.