You Were Never Honest (The Never Series Book 2) Read online

  I pick up a few more books to pass the time and I’m feeling such trepidation as Roxie comes in and drags me out of the store and over to a bench.

  “Happy birthday you gorgeous woman, these will suit you have no fear,” she pops her hip out as she says it and shoves the bag into my hands.

  The first box I pull out has me jumping up and down before I whip my trainers off and replace them with a pair of black leather cowboy boots, with silver skulls decorating the top, I love them so hard. She’s smiling like a loon but is telling me to look at the others before I thank her.

  There’s a pair of black wedge sandals, with a ribbon that will wind around my ankle to keep them in place and a pair of silver ballet pumps with gold ribbon details. Damn can this girl shop or what!

  “These are perfect, thank you so much Roxie,” I say, throwing my arms around her neck as I slap a massive kiss on her cheek.

  “Anytime baby girl and remember, I’ve got you no matter what.”

  By the time we are re-joining the guys, I can’t get the smile off my face. I’m having a great time and I’m so happy they have organised all of this for me. Although I’m not going to lie to myself, I’m bricking it over what they could have gotten for me but they’ve made it clear. I won’t find out until I get my surprise.

  Five

  “I can’t believe you did this.”

  I’m standing with my guys behind me and my friends at either side of me and right before me, is my Dad. He’s joined by Elisa and her husbands, I love these guys.

  This restaurant is so quaint, and it screams authenticity from the menu, to the Italian waiters.

  We are not wasting any time to get our orders in and I feel so relaxed, there isn’t a single person here who I don’t like. And I can’t think of anyone, other than Mattias that I would want here with us. We all order our food and Dad is already handing me my gift, crying out loud man please don’t make me cry this time.

  I open the bag to find a new phone, thank you Dad, and a teddy bear holding the number eighteen.

  “Thanks Dad, I love it,” I say, standing up to give him a massive hug before returning to my seat. I will not become an emotional wreck tonight, I refuse to.

  “Happy birthday sweetie, this is from all of us,” says Elisa as she hands me a bag with a pair of cubic zirconia studs and a matching T-bar bracelet and necklace set. It has a silver heart dangling in the middle of the chain, with my initials engraved in the centre.

  “I don’t know what to say, thank you so much,” I will not cry, I will not cry.

  Noah gives me a beanie hat, scarf and gloves set with little skulls on them and a keyring with a picture of us on it and our nicknames written on the back. I’m giving his hand a squeeze now, but I’m going to thank him a lot better later when we’re in the club.

  Elijah has got me a bloody digital camera with multiple lenses, a tripod, wrist and neck strap and a ridiculously sized memory card. Blow me, they are making this a birthday to remember for sure. I give him a light squeeze as well, before Amias takes my hand and draws my attention over to him.

  “In comparison mine seems real crappy, but here,” he says as he pretty much throws it at me. I’m laughing and I know he’s not appreciating it which unfortunately, makes me laugh harder.

  I can compose myself, and I really should look to see what he’s given me. I don’t really have any words, I’m trying to take it in but, I can’t.

  There’s this beautiful dark oak box with an inscription on the side,

  Henleigh’s,

  To house everything that will never be forgotten.

  There’s a picture inside of Elliott and me and it’s in multiple forms, engraved, photo, laminated and even printed on some type of plastic. How could he ever doubt my love for this, and then I see something laying in the bottom of the bag. I fish it out and find a crystal threaded on a leather band, okay I have no idea what this is for?

  “The box is for your memories, whatever you find or have that you want to keep safe and I knew the first thing you’d want in there would be your brother. Your father helped me with that one,” I look to my Dad and he’s looking at us with confusion but he’s smiling, that’s a good sign at least. “The crystal however is to keep you safe from harm, I know not a lot of people put much stock in the power of crystals, but I know a few people who swear by them.”

  He looks really embarrassed, and it’s right now that I spot it, he has a crystal of his own. Tied around his wrist and just hidden by the sleeve on his shirt.

  I offer him my right wrist, the same one that he has chosen and ask him to put it on me, his smile is glorious and my resolve is weakening. I’m going to fall hard for this guy, I just know it.

  I can’t imagine it will take a long time to get ready for a club, but clearly I know nothing in these matters.

  “Go and get showered and then we’ll get started on your hair and makeup,” orders Roxie and she’s even slapping my arse, this girl is crazy.

  The shower is heavenly and I’m spending longer in here than I really need, but if I can’t dally on my birthday, when can I?

  Once I’m out, Roxie quickly shoves me down in a chair and all I’ve got on is my underwear and a dressing gown. They are curling my hair and doing my makeup, but they won’t let me look until I have my dress on. Girls are exasperating, but I’m not going to lie to myself and say I’m not having fun.

  I put on my dress and my wedge heels and then they’re pushing me over to the mirror. My lips are painted red and my eyes are smoky with black eyeliner, she contoured my face perfectly it’s amazing. My hair is plaited around the crown of my head and then falls down into a pile of loose curls, it’s so effective and I think I’ll let them dress me any day if this is the end result.

  Bella is in a halter neck sixties dress with a skater skirt that falls to her knees and Roxie is in a black mini skirt with a pair of stilettos with spikes running down the back and a cream tank top. We definitely shape up nice, Mikaela is wearing a dark blue body suit that comes to just above her knees, she looks a little uncomfortable but she’s smiling which is always a good sign.

  “Come on bitches, let’s go make the guys drool,” Roxie says as she wraps her arms around mine and Bella’s shoulders while I link arms with Mikaela before she steers all of us down into the lobby.

  The guys are all in jeans and black boots while Amias is wearing a black top with a red collar, Elijah is in a skin tight, long sleeve navy top and Noah is wearing a red shirt. They all look so damn yummy and they’re all looking at me as though I’m the only girl around.

  I’m holding my hand up, why am I doing that I look like such a numpty.

  “Hey beautiful,” Elijah says as he wraps his arms around me and drops a kiss onto my cheek, the other two do the same and then we are bustling our arses to get in a taxi and find ourselves a decent night club.

  The club is heaving, why do people enjoy these places? I can’t think and it’s hard to move, I’m just lucky Mikaela is a master at finding a place to sit down and rest.

  Roxie and Declan are already on the dance floor and Amias is off getting us drinks, I feel so out of place I’m just glad Noah and Elijah are with me.

  “You ready for some fun?” Elijah asks, bumping his shoulder against mine.

  “Umm I think so, not really sure this is my scene though,” I reply.

  “Mine either, but you only live once,” comes from Noah as he watches Roxie and Declan disappear.

  “Drinks up.”

  That is a lot of drinks, shots, beers and some mixers I think. Is he trying to get me drunk? Because I can’t see it taking much.

  I pick up one of the shot glasses and all of us, minus Mikaela and Noah throw one back, followed by a beer.

  “I’ll have one and that’s it, someone needs to keep an eye on you guys,” he says and I admire and respect him for it.

  We have a few more before I’m feeling brave enough to start dancing, I take Bella’s hand and we hit the floor. She’s so
fun to dance with, as we bump and grind and spin one another. I’ve got a gentle buzz going and I’m having a lot of fun.

  It’s only intensifying as Only the Brave surrounds me and Amias’ arms wrap around my middle. I’m not thinking, losing myself in the music and swaying my hips to the beat. He’s squeezing me tighter and I can feel how much I’m affecting him. I throw my arms up around his neck and he trails his fingers down the inside of my arms, leaving tingles and goose bumps in his wake.

  I’m turning to speak to him but his jaw is clenching and he’s staring towards the exit, what has he seen to cause this reaction in him. He’s coiled tighter than a spring.

  “I’ll be back,” he whispers in my ear, but his voice is as cold as ice.

  He walks over to the door and I see him leave and someone quickly follows him out, I’m not just going to wait around for him to come back. He may need help, and it’s too crowded for me to see the others.

  The air is cold as it brushes against my bare arms and I can’t see Amias anywhere, but I can hear him.

  “I’m not doing it, it’s done,” he says as I look into an alleyway and see him standing with a behemoth of a man.

  “Henleigh, what are you doing out here?” He asks, his voice harsh and kind of menacing.

  “I saw you leave and wanted to make sure you were okay,” I reply, I want to step closer but something is holding me back.

  “I’m fine, I don’t need you following me around. Just go back inside and dance with your boyfriend, I’ll be in when I’m done.” It’s like his tongue is a whip, threatening to tear my skin and leave my soul marred by the ugliness he is throwing my way.

  “You know what, fuck you Amias,” I’m pissed, how dare he talk to me like that. Fine he wants me with one of the guys, he’s about to get his wish.

  “That was harsh Amias, the boss will be pleased to hear you’ve seen the error of your ways,” comes from the behemoth, but I’m beyond caring right now.

  I get back into the club and dancing can wait, I need tonight to become a distant memory and a few more shots will definitely help with that.

  Roxie is dancing with Declan, and Mikaela is looking out for Bella, who is way past merry. Nope, still thinking more shots should fix that.

  I don’t even know how many I’ve thrown back but I’m ready to dance, the room is spinning slightly and it’s funny. Why is it funny?

  “Hey pretty girl, what are you doing?” Elijah asks, talking is useless it’s more fun to wrap my arms around his neck and gyrate my hips.

  His intake of breath is all I need to know I’m affecting him and I can’t help but moan as he returns my gyrations with his own. I don’t care that we’re dry humping to music in a crowded place, my blood is pumping and my anger is switching to a different emotion.

  “I think we should take a break,” Elijah growls out, as he steps back and scrunches his eyes closed.

  “What’s wrong big guy?” My emotions are either like a Yo-Yo or a tidal wave, either way, it’s hard to stay on top when they change so suddenly. From hot to confused in under a second how fun.

  “This is torture for me baby and apparently I’m more of a gentleman than I thought,” he says as he steers me over to our table.

  “What’s up birthday girl?” Bella asks as I flip down into my seat.

  “Apparently guys think it’s fine to tell me what I can and can’t do,” I say with more attitude than I even thought I possessed.

  “Noah sort your girl out, she should be happy and having a great time. What are you guys doing?” asks Roxie as she stumbles over.

  “It’s not my fault, I’ve been here the whole time,” he exclaims holding his hands out to pacify her.

  “Then do something to make it better, come on Noah you’re the best one of you three anyway no wonder she…” Declan throws his hand over her mouth to stop her from saying anything else.

  “You can lick me all you like, I will not let you finish that sentence,” he says, and his tone is warm enough to sizzle, and the way she’s gyrating against him I think it’s giving her ideas.

  “Come dance with me Leighbear, we’ll dance until we’re sore and aching,” he says as he holds out his hand to me and pulls me up into his arms.

  “It’s not your job to keep me happy and make up for those muppets,” I slur, oh no I’m slurring.

  “Isn’t keeping my girlfriend happy in the job description, in all seriousness, I want you to be happy and if I’m the reason, you are then so am I.”

  We move to the dance floor and the music is slow at the moment, it’s nice to sway to but while my head is on his shoulders, I’m feeling really sleepy. Once the music picks back up, I can’t help but twist my hips, rubbing against him as I do. He drops his head to my shoulder before a sharp sting floods through my shoulder and ignited my core. He bit me hard, I can’t believe it but it feels so good.

  “Mmmnoah,” it’s all mixing together and my head is spinning, why aren’t my feet on the ground anymore?

  “What’s happening?” Here comes Amias, yay can’t wait for him to be an arse again.

  “I’m taking her back to her room, she’s a little worse for wear.”

  “I can take her,” Amias says but he’s not leaving a lot of room for Noah to say no.

  “Not him, you,” I say as I snuggle in closer and I can feel his chest vibrating.

  Ooo this is comfy! Hang on, opening my eyes I can see Noah smiling softly as he lays me on my bed.

  “Mmm my Noah bear, are you taking care of me?” I ask, I feel sleepy but my body is buzzing from his proximity, these embers could be stoked into an inferno if he isn’t careful.

  “I’ll always take care of you Leighbear.” He whispers it against me as he pulls away and strokes down my cheek.

  “Don’t I get a good night kiss?” I ask, looking up at him and hoping like anything that he won’t say no.

  “How can I refuse the birthday girl,” he says, and he is actually winking, damn I like flirty Noah.

  He’s leaning down and connecting his mouth with mine, it doesn’t take much to knock him off balance so he falls onto the bed beside me. I’m threading my fingers through his hair as I remove any barrier between us, he groans as I nudge him onto his back and sit on top of his hips, straddling him.

  He’s keeping one hand on my waist and the other is cradling my face, our tongues are tangling and my hips are moving with very little thought on my behalf. My moans sound so loud to my ears and they’re soon joined by his, before he flips me off of him and I’m lying flat on my back.

  He’s hovering over me, but the only part of us that is touching are our foreheads. He’s breathing deeply, and a battle is waging in his eyes, he closes them before exhaling and dropping a light kiss upon the tip of my nose.

  “Not tonight Henleigh, not like this.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’m one of the good guys Leighbear, trust me when I say there is nothing I want more than to be with you right now. But I can’t, not like this. When we come together and I do mean when, not if, you will be completely sober and you’ll be wanting it for the right reasons.” His finger strokes across my collarbone, eliciting shivers through me. “Because you want me and not because you’ve been hurt, I don’t think you’ll even remember this conversation come tomorrow so I don’t mind saying this now,” he takes a deep breath as he lightly presses a kiss on both of my cheeks. There’s a battle waging within himself and I have no idea what will happen when it comes to a head and the victorious makes itself known. “I feel more for you than I’m willing to admit right now Henleigh Monterey and when we come together, there will be nothing and no one between us, physically or mentally. Get some sleep beautiful,” he drops a kiss on my head and I fall asleep.

  If this is what a hangover feels like, why do people keep doing it? It’s horrendous, my mouth feels like sandpaper, my lips are cracked and I’m stuck between feeling like I’m about to hurl and not wanting to move because my head is having a party wit
h a bloody drill. It is banging, please just go away.

  What happened last night? I remember dancing and drinking, scratch that, a lot of drinking! I was dancing with Amias, and then he... disappeared. I followed him outside and he was harsh, so I got more to drink and danced with Elijah who then told me I should sit down, I think. Eidetic memories aren’t so great when alcohol is involved, that’s a good tidbit to remember. Then Roxie came over and said some shit to Noah who took me dancing again and then I fell asleep.

  Hmm, I’m missing something I know it. It’s in the back of my mind, why can’t I remember what happened between me falling asleep in his arms and then waking up here, this is fan-fucking-tastic. I can’t ask him, what if it’s really embarrassing, oh no please tell me I didn’t make an utter fool of myself.

  “Open up sleepy head, your Dad will be here in thirty minutes,” Bella says through the door.

  Hang on, my Dad is coming. Why don’t these people tell me anything, it’s infuriating even if they have been super sweet. Excluding Amias of course.

  Jeans, my new cowboy boots, my oversized slouch jumper and my leather bomber jacket and I’m good to go. I find everyone waiting in the lobby downstairs, with their bags on the floor between them all.

  “There she is, how's the hangover baby girl?” asks Roxie and I can’t manage much more than an eye roll.

  I need an Elijah hug I think and a Noah one too, but I still don’t know if I humiliated myself last night or not. Elijah is opening his arms with a huge smile donning his face, I can’t help but snuggle into his warmth.

  “How are you feeling baby?” He’s speaking quietly, I don’t think he’s a stranger to a hangover himself.

  “I’m good, this headache is a killer though,” I reply and his chest is vibrating with sheathed laughter.