Wild Card (North Ridge #1)

So, no matter what happens with the truck, if I’m lucky enough to have it or not, that punch in the face was certainly worth taking.

“Listen,” Grandpa says, putting his hand on Fox’s shoulder. “You’re twenty-two years old. Shane is sixteen. He may be a bit of a wild card sometimes, but you’re the oldest and you need to take the high road here and set an example. Let Shane have the truck.”

“What?” Fox erupts, and when he looks at me I swear I’m dead to him. Then again, I always thought I was. “Why the fuck do you let him get away with everything!”

“He doesn’t get away with everything,” Grandpa says calmly. “I just think, maybe this time, it’s for the best. You’ll get your money for the truck, I’ll see to that. Your father will pay for it. And then Shane will work that off. The kid oughta be getting paid for his work anyway. I’ve told your father that many times.”

It sounds fair to me, but I know Fox hates it. And while I would sometimes do anything to get him to pay attention to me, including stealing his truck, I don’t want him to hate me any more than he does. I know he resents the fact I was born, that it was because of me that our mother killed herself.

And I know he’s right too. It’s a truth I can’t escape from.

“You think you can just float through life without any punishment for the things you’ve done,” Fox says, poking his finger hard into my chest. “Stay the fuck away from my stuff.”

Maverick steps forward, ready to push Fox off but Fox shrugs him away and storms out of the room.

I exhale, giving them both a sheepish look. “I’m sorry.”

Maverick shakes his head at me. “You need to be more careful with him. You know he’s a loose cannon. He could have killed you.”

I shrug. “He always wants to kill me.”

Grandpa sighs and puts his hand on my shoulder. “You need to keep your head on straight, boy. I know you love Rachel. We all do. But next time you need something, just ask. I know you and Fox have it rough sometimes, and I can only hope that gets better as you both get older, but one of you has to be the bigger person, and it’s always better if you both are. Try and play nice for the rest of the holiday, okay? It’s Christmas for crying out loud.”

And with that, the two of them leave my room, closing the door behind them. When they’re gone, I take out my phone and text Rachel.

Hey, baby. Bad news. Fox found out about the truck. I won’t be able to take it again. Good news is I might be able to save up and buy it off him. I’ll have to see what my father says.

She texts back: Shitty. How mad was he?

I text back: He punched me in the face and I had to tackle him. That mad.

She texts back: Oh no! Are you okay? I’m so sorry.

I’m smiling as I send: The punch was worth it.

So no movie tonight?

I had planned to try and get the truck again and take Rachel to the movies. I wanted it to be a real date. Then I wanted to give her her Christmas present early.

Then I wanted to tell her I loved her, over and over and over again.

Then I wanted to…well…I’m getting ahead of myself here. Still, I’ll be prepared.

I can have Mav drop me off at the theatre. Or maybe you could just come here and we can do the movie another night?

She waits a few seconds before responding. I’d love to but I won’t be able to get a ride.

This is probably for several reasons. Her mother is often drunk and can’t drive. Her father is usually on duty, and if he’s not…well…he wouldn’t do it. He doesn’t like me, doesn’t like Rachel seeing me. And even though she doesn’t talk about him much, she’s absolutely terrified of him. The less that they interact, the better.

I’ll have Mav come get you, I tell her. Be ready in an hour, okay?

K.

Poor Mav doesn’t even realize he’s volunteered for this and I know I have to tell him now before he starts tucking into his nightly beers. Thankfully, when I tell him, he just rolls his eyes and agrees. Maverick is girl crazy so he’s usually willing to help me out when it comes to Rachel. Says he understands though I don’t think Mav has even felt a fraction for anyone of what I feel for my raven girl.

It’s not long before Maverick’s beat-up truck is pulling up to the house, sliding in the snow until it comes to a stop. I can see Maverick laughing behind the steering wheel at his fancy driving skills. He’s such a show-off.

Rachel seems immune to his charms and is rolling her eyes as she steps out of the truck and into the snow. She glances at me in the window and smiles.

My chest glows with heat. That smile of hers has the ability to rewrite all my bad days.

She comes inside, and I immediately pull her toward me, kissing her. I don’t care if my grandfather is sitting on the couch watching or if Maverick is behind her, making slurping noises.

“I missed you,” I whisper to her as I pull away, still cupping her face in my hands.

She gives me a shy smile, obviously too embarrassed to say anything in front of my family. She waves hello at my grandpa, and I take her hand, leading her to my bedroom.

My dad is out at the bar with some friends and if he were home he certainly wouldn’t let me take her to my room, but grandpa has never cared.

“Where’s Fox?” she asks in a hush after I’ve closed my bedroom door behind her.

“Sulking somewhere,” I tell her. I slip my hands around the small of her waist and nestle my mouth into her neck. She tastes like vanilla.

She lets out a breathy sigh as I suck at her skin, relishing the feel of her, the need for her burning inside me. I’m hard in seconds and press myself against her hips, making sure she knows it.

“Shane,” she says softly, her hands sinking into my hair. “We can’t do this here.”

“Why not?” I murmur. “And do what?” I add as I glance at her, searching her eyes for any and all signs that she wants this.

“Anything,” she says, pulling my hair back slightly. My eyes close in bliss. I love it when she plays with my hair.

“But we’ve done it here before,” I tell her, leaning in to nip at her lower lip, taking it between my teeth. “Why stop now?”

“Not when your grandfather and Maverick are downstairs. You know how thin the walls are.”

Good point. And I know how loud she can be when my head is between her legs. And besides, I love her. I want more than just getting each other off. I want to sink deep inside her for the first time.

Somehow, I manage to pull myself away. For the second time today I’m breathless and my skin feels hot, but for completely different reasons. “Let’s go for a walk.” I turn around and open up my desk drawer, quickly taking a small jewelry box out of there and discreetly putting it in my jeans. I do the same with a couple of condoms.

“A walk? In this weather?”

I shut the desk drawer and turn around, grinning at her. “It’s not snowing. It’s brisk. We’ll go to the barn.”

“The barn?” She doesn’t look too impressed.

“I have a present for you,” I tell her.

“Is it a horse?”