Third Wheel (Elton Hall Chronicles Book 3) Read online

  “No, you almost killed me,” I shouted as I stalked over to where he was standing. He had a leather jacket on and ridiculous driver gloves. When he took his helmet off, his usually perfectly gelled hair was mussed, but there was a spark in his almond eyes as he met my glare. It was nearly impossible to keep the fury in my eyes as I stared back at him. Something about Shane’s face was just so animated it distracted me and I almost forgot why I was annoyed with him in the first place.

  “Oh, please, I had it under control. I’ve been riding one of these since I was fifteen. At this point, it’s practically second nature.”

  “Will you teach me to drive it?”

  “What?” He looked at me, shocked, and if there was a mirror, I probably would have had the same expression. To be honest, I didn’t expect to say that. It just came out. But I wasn’t sorry that it did. The thought of learning to ride a motorcycle, with Shane’s hands wrapped around my waist, sounded awfully appealing. Besides, even though my dad had one, he’d never allow me to drive it. Shane was my only chance. Well, my only chance if I didn’t want to go to a biker bar and ask some guy named Bubba.

  “I mean it. You want to know what will impress me? Well, that’s it.”

  “All right, let’s go.” He swung a leg over his bike and patted the seat behind him.

  “I have class now. But maybe later?” I asked him hopefully, nervous he’d back out if I gave him too much time to think about it. He probably didn’t want me messing up his bike. Though, that was possibly a good thought on his part.

  “Sounds good.

  “I guess I’ll see you around.” I was about to turn when he grabbed my hand.

  Shane pulled a pen out of the pocket of his leather jacket and scribbled something on my palm.

  “Just in case you feel like getting a little reckless. Give me a call.” Shane climbed off the bike and headed into school, leaving me to stare as he walked away.

  What the hell was this kid doing to me?

  Chapter 2

  The first week of classes went by, but nothing really exciting happened. I didn’t run into Shane again, and I hadn’t called or texted him. I started to a couple of times, but I wimped out. I should have given him my number so that he could make the first move. But I did manage to work on my “livin’ it up” list. So far, I’d managed to add four other things I wanted to do.

  1. Learn to drive a motorcycle

  2. Take an exotic cooking class

  3. Go skinny dipping

  4. Spend the day watching movies with my girlfriends. Eat too much junk food, no makeup, and enjoy no worries.

  5. Have sex with someone I shouldn’t, somewhere I shouldn’t (Just to get it out of my system for good)

  I figured this would be a good way to start, but it was by no means the end. Tucking the list away, I went to get ready for the EET event. I still wasn’t really feeling the idea of an illusionist. To be completely honest, it kind of freaked me out. There was no need for anyone to mess with my mind. It was a dangerous enough place for me to live in as it was, but I didn’t want to let Annabelle down. She told me she had her eyes set on Vice President next semester, so she had taken the lead on this event to start proving to everyone she could handle it. I knew she could do it, but I wanted to help out any way possible.

  But if I was going to go, I’d need to get dressed first. Initially, I put on some faux leather leggings and a red blouse, but when I looked in the mirror, I had to laugh. If I showed up like this, Annabelle would definitely start calling me Magician’s Assistant Barbie, or something like that.

  So I grabbed a pair of shorts that showed too much leg, but no ass, a light pink tank top, and added a grey sweater in case it got cold. Then the real work began. I rolled my hair in curlers and started the strenuous task of contouring, perfecting my cat-eye liner, and applying my favorite red lipstick. I took the rollers out of my hair and ran my brush through it gently. Slipping on a pair of pink sneakers, I left and headed to school. I was dangerously close to running late and having to answer to the wrath of Annabelle, who showed up everywhere twenty minutes early.

  I made the fifteen minute drive in about nine minutes, thanks to my lead foot and quite possibly running a red light. I pulled into a parking spot when my phone went off. I almost didn’t look at it, knowing it was probably Annabelle complaining that no one was there to help her.

  I was half right.

  “I just parked. I’m on my way,” I said in a rushed voice.

  “Oh no, it’s okay. I, uh, I got caught up and I’m running a little late too,” she responded, a little out of breath.

  “Really? Is Jason the reason for that?”

  “What? No, I was…”

  She tried to come up with an excuse, but we both knew she was full of it. Since she and Jason got together, they’ve been going at it like rabbits. I was both jealous and excited for her. It was actually nice seeing her and Jason together. He clearly cherished her and she adored him. As cheesy as they were together, I was really happy for them. I wasn’t exactly a true love kinda girl, but it seemed to suit them.

  “Anyway, come meet me at my apartment, and then we can hand out some flyers on the way. Ticket sales aren’t what we expected.”

  “Okay, I’m on my way. Wait, are you guys sure you’re done?”

  “Shut up.”

  I thought about getting back in the car to drive over to the apartments, but the sky was clear and I wasn’t in heels. So I hiked my cream purse over my shoulder and started walking. The bugs were chirping and it smelled like heavy pine. It was peaceful. There weren’t any other students shouting or any skateboarders trying to impress their friends. It was rare to see the campus this quiet, so I tried to enjoy it.

  The problem with peace was that I could hear my thoughts. Like the ones telling me to text Shane. Here it was, another Saturday night, and I still wasn’t doing anything exciting. At the very least, maybe he could take me for another ride on his bike. I needed Violet. Annabelle would tell me to leave him alone because he’s trouble and she didn’t want to see me get hurt, physically or emotionally, but Violet was a hopeless romantic.

  I sent her a message through Facebook and asked if she was available to chat on Skype. Almost a minute later, she video called me. I sat on a nearby bench with a street light illuminating it. I needed to keep this spot in mind. The lighting made me look incredible.

  “It’s so good to see your pretty face,” I said as she came up on the phone.

  “Hey! What’s going on? Everything all right?”

  I explained to her quickly that I had taken a break from my relationship with Rob and was looking to let loose before we decided to settle down.

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Don’t you think it’s a bad sign that you don’t want to be with him right before you get married?”

  “I get what you’re saying, and it’s not like that. He’s away on some survivalist mission. They have class for two weeks, and then a mission for one week, and then it repeats. He said he didn’t have the time to focus on our relationship like I deserve, and I want to have the real college experience before I become Homemaker Barbie. We’re probably going to get back together when he’s back for Thanksgiving.”

  “Um, all right, so I still think it’s a bad idea, but I’m not going to judge your relationship. So, is that why you called, you wanted to talk about Rob?”

  “No, well, kind of. There is this guy, Shane, and he’s a bad boy, and sexy, and has a motorcycle, and I’ve always wanted to learn to drive one. So, he said he’d teach me and gave me his number. I haven’t texted him or anything, but I want to.”

  She smiled in a way that showed all her teeth and then she giggled. “I know who Shane is. I met him through Trent. He was a real charmer.”

  “Yeah, he pushes my buttons, but I think I like it.”

  “So do it. You wanted to sow your wild oats. Hop on the back of his motorcycle, feel the wind in your hair, do whatever makes you happy…hell, do him. Really t
ake advantage of this break to make sure that this future you have planned is what you want.”

  “You’re right. What’s the worst that could happen? I fall off the bike and die? Then at least I’ll have died trying to really live.”

  “And your hair looks great, so you’ll look good at the funeral.”

  “Well, that’s what really matters,” I replied, laughing a little. “How are you and Berneli doing?”

  “We’re good. Our classes start a little later, so I spent the day in the kitchen with David’s mom, Marlaya. She’s an amazing cook and is determined to teach me.”

  “Does she know what she’s getting into?” I asked, teasing her. Violet was a notoriously bad cook. I had tried to teach her a few things, but she had, like, a magic touch that burned everything.

  “Shut up. It’s getting better. I only burned the lasagna a little bit, and David chipped that part off. He even asked for seconds. I think he actually liked it.” She looked at me desperately.

  I think we both knew he didn’t like it, but I wasn’t going to clarify that. But I did make a mental note to bring her over when she gets back to try again with the cooking lessons. David was too good of a guy to die early.

  We talked for a few more minutes and I promised to keep her updated about Shane.

  “Here goes nothing,” I said to myself.

  Christie: Hey, it’s Christie.

  I slipped the phone into my purse, got up, and started walking—almost running—to Annabelle’s apartment. I needed something to focus on or I’d stare at my phone and will a text to come through. Five minutes later, I was in front of Annabelle’s dorm and itching to check my phone. Instead, I knocked on the door and she opened it almost immediately.

  “Finally, and you’re not even wearing heels,” she chastised.

  “Sorry!”

  “It’s okay. Here.” She handed me a stack of flyers and we started passing them out to people hanging out around the dorms, along the path to the main buildings, and in the cafeteria. We grabbed some drinks and sat down at a table to hydrate for a few minutes before we had to be up in the green room to meet the illusionist.

  “He’s going to play tricks on you. I have no idea why you want to meet him,” I insisted, a little nervous myself.

  “Oh, don’t be such a sissy. It’ll be entertaining.”

  “At the very least it will be entertaining for me to watch you fawn over him.” I snickered at her and she forced a fake laugh.

  Then my chair vibrated violently and I almost fell out of it. It must have been my phone. I grabbed my purse off the chair and dived in to try to find it. Naturally, it was buried underneath a whole lot of crap that I didn’t need but would never take out.

  Shane: Took u long enough.

  I rolled my eyes.

  Christie: I had nothing better 2 do.

  “Is that Rob? You’re blushing! Did he send you a dirty text?”

  “Uh, no. Rob and I aren’t talking right now. It’s that guy who chucked the football at me.”

  Annabelle opened her mouth, as she was about to say something, but then closed it. Instead, she raised her eyebrows at me and pursed her lips. Luckily, she didn’t have a chance to say anything else as the biggest distraction in her life appeared.

  “Those flyers must have done it, we just sold sixty more tickets,” Jason said.

  “Well, Annabelle and I flashed the soccer team and they bought a bunch of tickets,” I teased.

  “Thanks for taking one for the team, ladies. Maybe next time, get the freshmen to do it. You’re sophomores now, you shouldn’t have to do the grunt work,” he said, and leaned down, kissing her on the cheek.

  They talked a bit more and I returned to my phone.

  Shane: If ur bored, I’ve a few ideas.

  Trying to keep the excited smirk off my face, I pressed my lips together and looked up at Annabelle. She was too busy staring into Jason’s eyes to notice that I was playing with fire.

  Christie: Care to share with the class?

  Shane: Where r u? I’ll pick u up and u can see for yourself.

  Christie: Nothing dirty.

  Shane: Only if u ask nicely.

  Christie: I’m at school. Pick me up in an hour.

  Shane: Whatever u say.

  I put the phone away and sent Violet a message, telling her we were going out tonight.

  “Ready to meet the illusionist?” Annabelle asked, completely oblivious to what just happened.

  Part of me wanted to tell her Shane was coming to pick me up. I’d never hidden anything from her since we met last semester. Okay, I had played a few games to get her closer to Jason, but nothing else. And besides, that was for a good cause. This…this was definitely for a bad one. Also, I didn’t want her to be disappointed I wasn’t going to stay for the whole show. She didn’t need my help when the show was going on.

  “Yes, let’s meet this guy.” I plastered on a forced grin and headed out of the cafeteria with her.

  I looked over at her. She was practically skipping, she was so enthusiastic, and it was contagious. The way her face beamed as she started telling us about one of his latest tricks she’d seen on YouTube won me over. Before I second guessed it, I linked arms with her and we bounded up to the green room together, with Jason rushing to keep up with us.

  “Promise me you’ll try to be open?” She looked deep into my eyes, and I saw the pleading. Well, that and I saw her pouted bottom lip.

  “All right, I surrender. For you, I will keep an open mind.”

  “Oh, I forgot to mention something else about him,” she told me with a wicked grin on her face. Annabelle leaned in and spoke softly so Jason couldn’t hear her. “He’s frickin’ hot. Like movie star level hot.”

  “Is that the real reason he’s here? You wanted to see him in person? You knew if I saw him, I’d have to give him a chance?” I looked over at my meek, innocent friend and she winked at me. I couldn’t help but be proud. Clearly, Violet and I had a good effect on her.

  “It certainly wouldn’t hurt.”

  We walked in the room, and the illusionist was standing with Nat and Clarissa, the president and vice president of the entertainment club. His back was to us so I couldn’t get a full look at him, but what I saw would make any girl swoon.

  “Maybe that’s his secret,” I whispered to Annabelle. “He can’t actually hypnotize anyone but he’s so damn good looking that girls just fall into like a coma thing and guys get so jealous they can’t function.”

  “That would make complete sense to me,” she said and we both giggled like school girls with a crush while Jason rolled his eyes at us.

  All the EET members started lining up and the phones came out so they could get a picture with him. Initially, I was just going to get a picture to make Annabelle happy, now I wanted one where I was practically groping him.

  We got to move toward the front of the line since Annabelle and Jason were on the executive board. She walked up to the illusionist, whose real name was Karl, and he wrapped his arms around her. Annabelle turned bright pink and smiled so big it looked like it hurt. He then signed her ticket and gave her a nod as he handed it back to her.

  I elbowed Jason gently. “Got some competition, bro. I think Annabelle would leave you for him.”

  “Nah, I know the way to Annabelle’s heart.” He leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Cookies, as long as I keep buying her cookies, she’ll keep coming back.”

  I looked back at him for a second, scrunching my face up. “Is that meant to be a code for something kinky?”

  “Nope, she frickin’ loves cookies. Before we got together, I knew she liked them, but now I know about all the places she hides them so people don’t know about her obsession. You didn’t hear this from me, but she almost always has at least two cookies in her tote bag, and there’s a package in her glove box at all times.”

  Seeing as how Annabelle never went anywhere without her bag, I guess she never went anywhere without a cookie. Girl after my own he
art, but chocolate was my kryptonite, and I carried it around in my purse on the regular.

  “So when you want a blow job, you just bring her a cookie and she gets so excited that she does it right then and there?” I liked teasing Jason about sex. His ears always turned bright red but he was such a good sport about it.

  “No, for a blow job I need to bring a package of cookies. You should see what I have to do if I want sex.”

  I stared at him open mouthed as he gave it back to me. I nudged his shoulder a bit and then walked up to the illusionist to take my picture.

  Karl took my hand and gave me a little spin. He dipped me and then smiled for the picture. I, on the other hand, panicked a little. I couldn’t dance as I have absolutely no rhythm, As if I needed to prove that to myself, I tripped when Karl tried to pull me back up from the dipped position. He caught me, but I was pressed up against his chest and his hands were a lot closer to my butt than my shorts were.

  Turning bright red, I quickly stepped away from him and ran over to Annabelle and Jason before anything else happened.

  “That’s crap. You have such a cute picture,” she complained. Jason had taken it on his phone for me and she was looking at it.

  “Well, I just made a fool out of myself and he copped a feel trying to make sure I didn’t fall over.”

  “Like a creepy copped a feel, or it was really an accident how did your butt end up in my hands kind of feel?” Annabelle asked, her serious face returning. “Is this another Finn kinda thing?”

  Finn was a campus security guard who had stalked and attacked Violet. He’d done a number on all of us, kinda leaving us feeling a little vulnerable, but Annabelle seemed to take it the hardest. She’d never gotten over the fact that if she’d forced Violet to report his actions earlier, she never would have been attacked in the first place. Now, she was an advocate for the police station in her spare time.