This Love of Mine (Raine Series #1)

CHAPTER 6

Madison

The truck ride wasn't too bad as I slept, but after I woke up, it turned into an uncomfortable silence, real fast. The look on my grandpa's face led me to believe that he was thinking about something. I didn't want to pry though, so I just kept looking out the open window on my side of the truck. Grandpa was never one for small talk, but when he had told me to come along, I was hoping it was for a reason.

We were almost at the town limits, when I just couldn't take it anymore. I reached forward to turn on the old stereo in his dinosaur of a truck. I knew my options were limited to country or oldies, so I went for country. As I settled back against the bench seat, my grandfather took the opportunity to bring up, what I could only assume had been bothering him since we started this little adventure.

“Son, I need you to make sure you are on your best behavior around this girl. I don't reckon that you'll see her all that much, but she just needs to be left alone for a bit. You hear me?”

I didn't know exactly what he meant, but I simply nodded in agreement. I turned my attention back to the outside world, but now, I couldn't help but be curious about this "off-limits" girl.

“Sir, have you ever met her?" I knew the question sounded dumb, but I was sick of sitting in silence and whether or not I wanted to admit it, he had peaked my interest with his warning.

"Well son, you actually know her too. She is Jasper and Marie's granddaughter. You probably don't remember her all too well. She is a few years younger than you, but y'all used to play together when you were really little. Your grandma and Marie were best friends in high school, and Jasper and I were on the same football team all throughout school. When we moved up here to great granddad’s land, the property right behind us went up for sale, and Jasper and Marie swooped in and bought it up.

It's not as much property as your Grams and I have, but it's a fair amount. Because the land is still kind of far away from theirs, you and that little girl used to play together when her momma would bring her out. She's out here every summer though, same as you. Well not any more."

His face was serious enough, that I didn't want to push any further, but I found it quite odd that I hadn't seen her in the past couple years I had been coming out. "What's her name?"

"Kayla Anne, but I reckon everyone still calls her KJ. Better off you askin' her, just to be sure."

I didn't know what else to say, so I tugged my hat back down over my eyes a bit. I kept repeating her name over and over again in my head, but not one single memory surfaced. Obviously, we weren't like amazingly good friends back then. Now that I knew her name, I tried to picture what she looked like. Did she have blonde hair and blue eyes, maybe brown hair with hazel eyes, or maybe my favorite combination of brown hair and blue eyes? Who knows, all I knew was that I was gone in two days so it wouldn't really matter anyway.

That was the last bit of talking we did for the rest of the ride. I wasn't quite sure what to say to my grandfather and I reckon he felt the same. Now, my thoughts were consumed by this girl Kayla that I don't ever remember knowing, and it was driving me nuts. I couldn't quite fathom why anybody would take a bus to Abernathy from Phoenix, but far from me to judge anyone. And why wasn't she coming with her parents? Oh man, who the f*ck cares?

We were only about twenty minutes out now, and I wasn't looking forward to meeting this new girl, regardless of who her grandparents were. I'm sure she was some snobby, self-centered daddy's girl. No thank you. I had my fair share of those girls, and trust me they don't ever change. The way I led my life didn't really leave a whole lot of room for anything or anyone else. I just needed to stay focused, make it two more days and then I could get back to my own life.

I saw the big blue Greyhound sign as we turned onto the road leading to the next town. I let out an audible sigh and then felt my grandfather's hand connect with the back of my head.

"Ow, Sir. What was that for?" I started rubbing the back of my head to dull the pain he had inflicted.

"I told you to be on your best behavior. You better start straightenin' it out now."

"Alright, I'm sorry. I'm just sayin' though, if she is some rich, snotty entitled little princess, then I'm riding in the bed of the truck."

"Sounds mighty fine to me." He winked in my direction and I couldn't help but smile. My grandfather was such an amazing man, always looking out for others and never taking life too serious. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I strived to be exactly like him someday.

We found a close enough parking space and after my grandfather parked, he exited the truck without a word. I wasn't sure whether or not to follow him, seeing as he didn't say anything. I looked around and scanned the parking lot before exiting the truck also. He was standing against the tailgate when I approached him. We gave a nod and I leaned against the truck just as he was doing. I wasn't sure what time she was supposed to be getting in, but my grandfather looked as though he was willing to camp out, even if it took all night long. Luckily we didn't have to wait too long at all, because my grandfather elbowed me and tilted his head in a girl's direction a few minutes later.