When Our Worlds Collide (Our Worlds #1)(89)
“I have an idea at what we could do,” Violet states as she climbs into the passenger side of Dan’s truck. The three of us look to each other with fascination and fear. Violet’s head pops up over the roof of the truck. “Come on, assholes. We’ve got shit to do.”
Chapter FortyTwo
-Graham-
“What are we doing at the old high school?” Kennedy asks. Her attempt to look the three of us directly in the eyes is adorable, but not working. At least if I don’t look her directly in the eyes she won’t be able to see how I’m feeling being back in this parking lot. This place is one secret I’d like to keep.
The old high school has been vacant since the new one was built nearly a year ago. My grandfather donated the money for the new building making him more powerful in this town than he was before. I didn’t know that was possible. Money always makes others nervous and has the capability to hide secrets.
Grandfather is known for his donations and charitable contributions to the most important foundations in town. It balances out the fear in others. As good as a man my grandfather is, unannounced to him he raised a neglectful abusive son while he was too busy treating this town with his generosity.
Even with all of my family issues and bullshit, I like to think that I’ve become a decent guy. I haven’t always been on that side of the spectrum though. I have a past…a past that haunts me throughout Kennedy’s and mine relationship. Look what happened at the restaurant tonight with Veronica and then the accident with Kennedy. My choices haunt me every day. Trying my hardest to be the guy that she wants me to be is hard. Every mistake I’ve made that’s popped up makes it impossible to believe that he’s even in there.
“Is anyone going to answer me?” Kennedy asks again with nervousness. The silence is uncomfortable making it clear that there’s something that we are hiding.
Violet’s kicking at the dirt beneath her sandals while Dan’s playing with the buttons on his shirt feeling awkward. I’m biting the inside of my cheek with frustration and feeling eerily nervous leaning on the hood of my car. Kennedy saddles up next to me playfully elbowing me in the ribs. I wince at the contact. My reaction is a small part of a big story---one that I don’t want Kennedy to open the cover to. She already knows the words that are written on the inside. My story isn’t pretty---at least it wasn’t until Kennedy came along.
“What’s going on?” Kennedy asks me directly now not bothering on the other two. “Why are you guys acting so weird?”
“We haven’t been back here since…” Dan begins to explain. Violet shoots daggers from her eyes making him halt the words that threaten to come out.
“Since what?” Kennedy questions with curiosity. This time she takes her time to look at each of us individually. The wheels are turning in her head waiting for an explanation.
“Dan, take a walk with me,” Violet whispers pulling on his arm to drag him away from us. Kennedy and I stay silent until they are near the old track. I watch them under the flood lights. Violet jumps onto one of the old high jump mats that were left behind. Dan follows quickly after. That guy would follow her over a cliff if she asked him to. Pussy whipped is what he is.
Kennedy moves to stand in front of me snuggling closely between my legs. She runs her hands up and down my chest distracting me from the conversation I know is coming. I look down to her blue eyes that are always full of love. I need to be honest with her.
Violet wasn’t thinking straight dragging us out here. There are too many memories here, too many nights that I wish I could take back, one in particular. This place only reminds me of who I used to be, the guy before Kennedy came along and fixed me.
“Will you please look at me?” Kennedy whispers. When I do I see her eyes full of fear of the unknown. “What’s going on in that head of yours, Graham Black?”
“Violet wasn’t thinking when she brought you here, Ken. We should just leave,” I say in a panic trying to skirt around her to get to the driver side door. She pushes her hand against the metal making it slam shut. I turn towards her seeing her hands sharply on her hips.
“What is this place to you guys? To me, it’s just the old high schools parking lot but by the jumpy eyes and small comments I think I’m smart enough to assume that there’s more to it than that,” Kennedy says trying to act brave but I can see the apprehension on her face.
I grab her hand bringing it up to my mouth. I don’t kiss her. I just let her hand lay limply against my lips. Being near Kennedy only reminds me of how unworthy I am of her. There’s always this sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach that at some point the other shoe will drop.
Kennedy couldn’t possibly look at me like she is right now forever. There will be a time where the light fades from her eyes when they flicker over me. That perfect smile of hers will fall when she realizes how out of my league she is. I’m not ready for that day to come.
I look down at her and the sparkles still in those beautiful eyes of hers. God, I love this girl. I’m going to destroy her. My choices will destroy her more than she knows. The problem is that I’m selfish enough to keep her until she comes to her senses and turns her back on me.
“Do you know the real reason why the old high school was shut down? Why my grandfather donated the money to build the new one? It was to cover up my mistakes. My choices that affected not only my life, but someone else who deserved better than what I gave them,” I explain rubbing my hand over my face and down my neck. My frustration is boiling over. I don’t want to have to tell her, but keeping it from her isn’t an option at this point.