The grey baby
1278 Words
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End of Flashback
“What the f**k is this b***h doing here?”
The screeching question, sharp and vulgar, from Sam, ripped Kayla out of the terrifying labyrinth of her memories.
She was instantly thrust back into the tense, humid air beneath the bridge. Blake was incandescent with rage, turning his full fury on the intruder.
“Sam, we are no longer together. Get that through your f*****g mind! It’s none of your business who I am with or what the f**k I’m doing!” he yelled, his voice echoing under the concrete arch.
Sam, however, seemed unmoved by his outburst. She fixed her gaze on Kayla with a slow, derisive scrutiny. “So, you’re into brunettes with hazel eyes now, hmm?” she drawled, her voice dripping with artificial consideration.
“Well, she does have all the right curves, but she’s still too big in the stomach area,” Sam concluded with a cruel, dismissive laugh.
She then dramatically preened, puffing out her chest. “Hell, look at me! Skinny, perfect, firm breasts, shiny blonde hair with green eyes!” she praised herself, basking in a self-made spotlight like a delusional goddess.
Kayla didn't wait for the inevitable escalation. She seized the opportunity presented by their mutual distraction. She slowly, deliberately, began to make her way around the two yelling, crazy people.
Walking back toward the main dirt road offered an immediate, profound sense of relief. The tall trees swayed back and forth as the wind blew through the canopy, creating a mesmerizing, visual effect.
It made the massive trees look as if they were dancing in a slow, graceful rhythm. The sounds of the forest—the rustling leaves, the faint calls of hidden creatures running and playing—began to filter back in.
This would have been peaceful if she had come alone, she thought with a pang of regret.
Once on the road, she started walking purposefully in the direction of her parents’ house. That's when she heard it—the low, unmistakable rumble of a powerful engine and the sound of massive, off-road tires crunching gravel.
It was her grey 4x4 Z71 jacked-up truck. She looked behind her, and a genuine smile finally broke free as her “gray baby”—her beloved machine—crested the hill.
Her brother, James, was behind the wheel. He had borrowed the vehicle, ostensibly to impress some "college girl." James brought the massive truck to a stop next to her. “Do you need a ride?” he laughed, his voice casual.
“What’s happening?” Kayla asked, her smile still in place. She then decided to needle him slightly. “How’s your first year of college?”
She instantly saw the familiar flash of annoyance in his face. Oh boy, here we go, she told herself, bracing for the lecture she knew was coming.
“Look, I’m older than you, and your rich fiancé somehow got you into college earlier than you were supposed to be,” he complained, the injustice of it all still fresh.
Kayla suppressed a knowing smirk. Little did he know it wasn't him that got me in college, but me, she mused privately. The truth, too dangerous to share, was that the dean of the college was a close relative and an old ally of their father’s family—an allegiance that would soon be hers when she got her clan back.
She offered a small, mysterious smile to her brother, who remained blissfully clueless about the real world of their family's deep-rooted influence.
James continued his frustrated litany. “It’s just not fair! Y’all graduated at fifteen. You’re in your last year at eighteen. Your friend/bodyguard is twenty-two, he has a law degree, and was a cop. So please tell me, how are y’all so smart? You just skipped through school, then went on to graduate top of your class?”
“I don’t know what to tell you, brother,” Kayla said, shaking her head. Then, she changed the subject, stating a decision that would simplify her life and further her independence.
“But I’ve decided to move out of the dorms and into my house.”
“It’s about time!” he laughed, finally finding something they could agree on.
She dropped James off at their parents’ house, stopping the truck just long enough to shout one final offer out the window.
“My offer still stands! I will get somebody to build your house when you’re ready! And plus, I’m pretty sure that girl would love it too!”
As she drove away, she reached for her phone and calls Trevor. She asked him to arrange for someone to pick up Coda from the barn for her, and then she set her course for the dorms to pack her belongings.
She had missed the country, missed her independence, and missed her beautiful home—Wilkerson’s Saddle Creek Ridge.
Once she pulled up to the dorms, her spirits lifted further. She smiled genuinely at Trevor, who was sitting on a stone bench, awaiting her arrival.
He was a vision of effortless style. He wore a crisp white shirt with a black leather jacket draped over it, snug blue jeans, and classic square-toed boots. His entire look made him appear as though he'd stepped out of the movie Grease.
“Hello there, beautiful,” he beamed, his bright, hazel eyes crinkling at the corners. He rose and handed her a dozen peonies, her favorite flower.
“Always on your toes, huh, Trevor?” Kayla laughed, lightly patting his firm chest in a familiar, comfortable gesture. She allowed herself a moment to appreciate his striking appearance.
His hair was styled in a meticulous, high-volume quiff—his signature Saint Algue hair style. It was so profoundly black that it almost had a sheen of dark blue in the sunlight.
His bright hazel eyes were sparkling and clear. His face was perfectly shaved, save for a tiny, intentional bit of stubble. His body was fit as if he was born from a Greek god—muscular and beautifully proportioned.
He was the perfect size: not so big that he looked fake, but powerful enough that he would certainly intimidate you.
She can act like her old self around him, and she loves it. It was the purest relief she’d felt all day. She quickly shakes her head of the ungodly thoughts, reminding herself that this is her friend after all.
He had always reminded her of Austin. The difference was slight but significant: Austin had sandy blonde hair and sky blue eyes—a combination that could bring you to your knees.
Their moment of reunion was abruptly interrupted by another voice.
“Hey, James,” a pretty girl called out, approaching them. She quickly corrected herself, seeing her error. “Oh, sorry, Kayla. I thought you were James coming back to see me,” Summer said, flashing a flirty smile in their direction.
“It’s fine,” Kayla replied smoothly. “So, Trevor, you can go ahead to my room,” she instructed.
She watched as he gave her a quick, confident nod and ran toward the dorm entrance. She couldn't help but notice the fluid movement, the way his perfect, round ass shifted as he moved.
It was a momentary, involuntary appreciation that brought another flush to her cheeks. She was going to need to work much harder to banish these distracting thoughts.
- Writer
