Thoughtful (Thoughtless, #1.5)(128)

“Yeah…someone came into the house and got the keys. You didn’t hear that?” The girl had an incredulous expression, like it should have been as plain as day to me.

Gritting my teeth, I said, “I was a little preoccupied. Heard what? What happened?”

She shrugged and jerked her thumb at the door. “Some girl came in the house, rummaged around the next room, called your name, peeked in the door, then ran down the stairs, slammed the front door, and took off in your car.” Proud of herself, she smiled. “I have pretty awesome hearing.” Then she frowned. “I thought you knew she was watching, and that’s why you held me down. I thought maybe you liked having an audience.” She shrugged again. “I thought it was pretty hot.”

I could only stare at her in disbelief as I processed everything she was saying. “She stole my car. She…stole…my car. No way. No f*cking way.”

My date only lifted her shoulders in an expression of Oh, well, what can you do? Narrowing my eyes, I zipped up my pants and grabbed my jacket off the floor. “We’re leaving,” I bit out.

She raised her hands in the air. “How? She stole your car.”

Storming out of the room, I ran downstairs. Picking up the phone in the kitchen, I dialed the first person who came to mind. Luckily for me, he answered. “Yeah?”

“Matt. It’s an emergency. I need your help.”

“Kellan? What’s going on?”

“Kiera stole my f*cking car, and I need a ride to get it back.”

Matt started laughing. “She…what?” I didn’t share his sense of humor about the matter, and stayed silent. When I didn’t return his laughter or respond in any way, he coughed and said, “Okay, yeah. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

I hung up the phone without saying a word, then yanked open the fridge and grabbed a beer. Popping it open on the counter, I chugged it until it was gone. She stole my f*cking car. I couldn’t believe it.

My date came down while I was opening my second beer. “Can I have one?” she asked. Furious, I ignored her. “Okay,” she muttered. “Well, I’m gonna catch a bus back if that’s okay with you.”

I raised my hand in a Whatever motion.

“Awesome. Well, thanks for…that…and I hope you get your car back.” She left the room, then left my house. I felt bad for being so dismissive with her, but then I remembered that Kiera stole my baby, and all I felt was anger. Why the f*ck would she do that to me?

When Matt finally showed up, I was sipping on my fourth beer, trying to calm down. It wasn’t working. The minute he stepped into my entryway, I stormed toward him, beer bottle in hand. “She’s at Pete’s. Let’s go.”

Matt grabbed my arm as I stalked past him. “Wait, Kell, maybe you should calm down first. I’m sure she had a good reason?”

Yanking my arm away, I narrowed my eyes. “I’m perfectly f*cking calm. Let’s go.”

Matt sighed but followed me out of the house. I downed the rest of my beer in his car. “You gonna be able to drive once we get your car back?” he asked.

“I’ll be fine,” I seethed.

“Right…”

I didn’t wait for Matt to park the car; I shoved open his door while he was still pulling into the stall. “Jesus, Kellan,” he was saying when I shut his door and strode over to the bar. I glanced to my right and saw my Chevelle. Thank God she was all in one piece. If Kiera had dinged her though…

I burst through the front doors of Pete’s and immediately looked for Kiera. She was back in the band’s typical section. Her eyes widened when she saw me, and she glanced around like she was going to run. She could try…but I wasn’t leaving until I got my keys.

Matt caught up to me and put his hand on my shoulder, trying to hold me back again. “Kell, wait…”

I jerked my body away as I spun around to face him. “You said your piece, now back the f*ck off.”

Knowing I was at my breaking point, Matt raised his hands in the air and stepped away from me. I turned back to Kiera and focused all of my ire on her. You did this to me. You loved me, used me, hurt me, wanted me, then rejected me. And then, on top of all of that, you stole one of the only things that matters to me.

Kiera looked afraid at first, but then she raised her chin in defiance. God, she was attractive. I wanted to suck those plump lips she was pursing at me. I wanted to grab a fistful of her hair and pull her mouth to mine. I wanted to turn her around, bend her over the table, and take her in front of everyone. I wanted to tell her I loved her.

I couldn’t do any of those things though, so all I ended up doing was anticlimactically holding my hand out. Kiera looked mildly disappointed by my reaction. Did she want me to bend her over the table? Would that be less disappointing?

“What?” she asked, her voice full of that snotty tone that riled me up.

“Keys,” I said through clenched teeth.

“What keys?” she asked, a daring fire in her eyes.

I wanted to pull her into me so badly, my groin ached again. Matt was right, I needed to calm down. “Kiera…my car is right over there.” I pointed to where it was outside. “I heard you take it—”

That got her attention. “If you heard me take it, why didn’t you try to stop me?”