I Need You (Meant For Me Book 1) Read online

  I knew I was lying.

  CHAPTER 2.

  I was glad when school was officially over. Having another class with Deklan and free period together wasn’t something I had looked forward to. During free period he sat at a picnic table with me outside the school. I don’t know how he knew I was out there, because I’d made sure I lost him on the way to my locker. But then he’d come out of nowhere and asked if he could sit with me; like he didn’t know he got on my nerves. I tried to say no, but what came out was another mumbled ‘whatever’. What was the deal with having four periods together?

  While I doodled in my notebook, Deklan had taken out his drumsticks and played them on part of the table and his book bag. I wanted to be annoyed, but I couldn’t. Deklan was really talented and I had a feeling that he’d be fantastic when behind a set of drums. I wouldn’t tell him that, though.

  My last class was Art with Mrs. Palmer. It was my favorite class and one that always relaxed me. Ever since kindergarten I’ve loved art, and painting was a passion of mine. Mrs. Palmer never stopped encouraging me and telling me how talented I was. She was best friends with my sister and had a wonderful gift. She had what we liked to call an ‘artist’s eye’. She saw and did things differently than most people.

  When I’d walked into class she hugged me tight, as if it’s been years since I’ve seen her and not a couple weeks. For ten minutes she told me about an art show she had seen over the weekend, until I finally told her the class was waiting. She was eccentric and had a very out-there personality, which was only part of the reason my family and I loved her.

  When the day was over I just wanted to get home so I could go to work. There weren’t any assignments from any of my classes today, because it was the first day, so I threw my bag into my locker and made my way to the parking lot. Aria was leaning against her bumper with Zane and the others, minus Deklan.

  “You taking your own car tonight, Em, or do you want me to ride with me?” Liam asked and I shook my head.

  “I’m not going to practice tonight, guys.”

  “What? Why?” Zane asked.

  “What up with that?” Reggie asked at the same time.

  Aria and Bianca frowned, but nodded their heads. I knew they wouldn’t need an explanation. They were my girls and knew better about what was going on than the guys.

  I shrugged and tossed my purse in Zane’s jeep. “I’m not really feeling up to it tonight, and my mom’s going to be home after I get off work.” That wasn’t a lie. When my mom wasn’t at her office in Los Angeles, she traveled all around, going to fashion shows to photo shoots that were promoting her clothes. With her being gone so much you’d think that my parents would drift apart, but they weren’t like that. My father worshiped my mom, and she loved him just as much.

  Zane dropped me off at home so I could get ready for work.

  We all worked at Al’s. Aria, Bianca, and I were evening waitresses, although Aria’s father had trained us to be able to work any position there. Our pizza and sub cooks were Luke and Eduardo/Eddie; Aria’s older brother. Jeff and Reggie worked in the large game room, at the prize counter, while Liam and Zane ‘walked the room’ as we put it. They both had to walk around in these referee uniforms and make sure that people were having a good time, and help if someone had a question or needed something fixed. I always thought they looked like they were representing the Foot Locker, but whatever.

  I loved working with them and Mr. Alvarez, because he was laid back and really funny. Work shouldn’t be so much fun, but we all loved our jobs. Over the years we became a little family, which made it easier to work with them.

  I walked inside my house and headed toward the winding staircase. Another piece of advice; if you only feel like having two children after getting married, and you’re never home, don’t buy a mansion that resembles the freaking White House. When I was younger Kat would always play hide n’ seek with me. Let’s just say that we could hold the record for the longest game. My mother had most likely picked the house, and my dad just went along with it to make her happy. She had a pure heart and a gentle nature, but Cecile Van Buren sure had her moments.

  Before I could head up to my room I heard loud barking. The swinging doors to the kitchen flew open and hit the wall with a bang, and Nitro and Rocket came hot footing it into the grand foyer. They were both black, but Nitro had a white splotch on his chest. They were big dogs – playful – but big.

  “Hold it, big guys!” I said, putting my hand up to stop them before they could crash into me. They screeched to a halt a foot away from me. I giggled and bent down so they could lick my face in greeting. Not that I had to bend down all that much, seeing as how I was short enough not to.

  “Em, honey, is that you?” my dad called out from the sitting room.

  “Yeah Daddy, it’s me.”

  He walked in and smiled. He was forty-six and still looked good for his age. His dark blonde hair was streaked with grey and his blue eyes were behind thick black glasses. “How was school, Princess?”

  I shrugged. “It was okay, I guess. Just another normal day.” I wasn’t about to add the fact that I met the school’s new delinquent, and I found him so fascinating that I thought of him instead of paying attention to my classes – even when the guy purposely got on my nerves.

  “Good. Your mother will be home before you get off work tonight.” His eyes brightened and his grin widened. “I set reservations at Pinciotti’s for eight.”

  “But Daddy, I don’t get off until nine tonight.”

  He frowned and shook his head. “It shouldn’t be hard to get off an hour earlier. I’ll call and talk to Al.”

  “That means I’ll only work for like four hours. I can’t do that to Al, Daddy. It’s not right.” I groaned and started up the stairs, calling for my dogs to follow. I stopped at the third step and turned to smile at him. “You guys just go on without me. Tell Kat to stay home and we'll have lunch in a few days. You and mom can make a date out of the night.”

  I can see I suggested something perfect, if the way Dad’s eyes lit up was any indication. He walked over and kissed my forehead before heading back into the sitting room. I rolled my eyes. How two people could still be so in love with each other after so long was beyond me; although, it warmed my heart to see how much my parents cared for one another. I’m glad I suggested the date idea, though. My parents would enjoy a night alone and I didn’t have to bail on Al.

  Snow and Twinkle were lounging on my bed when I walked in with the boys. They were white and the only way you could tell them apart was that Twinkle’s eyes are bright blue. The shine in them was how I thought of her name. Snow’s eyes were gray, but they were both beauties.

  I tossed my purse on my vanity and walked to my closet to pull out my uniform, scratching Snow and Twinkle’s heads as I passed the bed. Our waitressing outfit consisted of a black skirt with a white button top – which you could choose either a long-sleeve or short-sleeve – and a black tank top underneath it. It was actually cute, but my mom looked appalled when she first saw the black converse shoes I was wearing with it. I’d laughed at her expression, and to this very day my mom glares at down at the shoes when I wear them.

  “You guys behave,” I told the animals and grabbed my purse. I left my door open so they could come and go throughout the night.

  When I got to the restaurant I pulled Miracle in next to Aria’s Mercedes behind the building, where all the employees parked. I saw a black Camaro next to Liam’s street bike and figured it was Deklan’s. It actually suited him; I bet he looked darn good in it, too. Visions of his hulking body revving the Camaro’s loud engine ran through my mind.

  Ugh, blah. I was pathetic.

  Shaking my head, I went in through the back, which brought you into the kitchen.

  “Eyyy, Miss V.B., how’s it goin’?” Eddie bellowed as he pulled a pizza from the large oven. I winced as the door shut behind me. After years of knowing him, it was still hard to get used to his loud voice.
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  “Hey, Ed.” I hung up my purse and grabbed an apron. “Today could be better, but I’m doing all right.”

  “Where’s that smile that always brightens my day, Nina? You should be happy; your madre will be home soon.”

  I shrugged. “I’m sure I’ll be fine in a while, Ed.” He was like a big brother to me and I loved him like one. He was short, about 5’10, but he was bulky…like huge kind of bulky, with long, black hair that he tied back into a low ponytail.

  When I walked into the office to clock myself in I smiled at Al. He was a short man like his son, with bushy eyebrows and a mustache that looked like it would tickle. His salt and pepper hair was slicked back under a black visor with the company logo on it.

  “How’s my favorite girl?” he asked me in his booming voice. Now you know where Eddie got it from.

  “I’m fine, Al.”

  “We got a new fella starting today, name’s Deklan. Try and make him feel at home.”

  I bit my lip and nodded. I already knew he’d be working here, but I had tried to block it from mind all day. And make him feel at home? No way, I’ll leave that job for the guys.

  “So, what’s he doing?” I asked.

  “He’s on the floor with Zane and Liam, in the game room.”

  “Cool.” I opened the door and went out into the dining area. The room was spacious, pretty big really. It wasn’t always so large, but Al had it expanded when it became more popular. I tied my apron around my waist as I walked into the area and stopped at the cashier counter to grab a pad and pen.

  “Hey Shelly,” I greeted our cashier. She smiled as she cashed somebody out.

  “Met the new guy,” she said slyly. “He’s so hot that I’m still drooling a little just thinking about him.”

  I rolled my eyes and tamped down the green giant that had my chest hurting. I thought the guy was annoyingly cocky, so there should be no jealousy. But unfortunately, she was right; he was extremely hot. I simply shrugged and went to sit a table of two guys that walked in.

  I worked for two hours until I got a break. I wasn’t hungry for a change, so I went to the game room. I had caught glimpses of Deklan as he walked around the area earlier. He made the black and white uniform look damn good. The top was tight around his muscles and the black pants – whew, let’s not go there. He still had his piercings in, and I mentally thanked Al for not making him take them out, possibly because most the guys all had tattoos and piercings – just not as showy as Deklan’s sleeve tattoo.

  I put my pad and pen in my apron as I walked up to the prize counter. Reggie winked and handed a pink unicorn over to one of the girls that I recognized from my school. She giggled enthusiastically, like she’d just received an Emmy award or something.

  “What up, Slim?” Jeff asked and leaned his forearms on the counter.

  “On break, how are things over here?”

  He shrugged. “Eh, a little slow. I give it a week before all the girls in school realize Deklan works here. We’ll probably have to start kicking people out. It’s already bad with Liam working here.”

  “He’s not that hot,” I told him and looked around casually. I spotted Deklan talking to a couple girls by the ski ball game, tossing a small basketball from hand to hand. He was smiling an I-know-you-want-me grin, and the girls were just eating it up. Ugh, pathetic.

  “Hmm, I don’t know,” Jeff snickered and I snapped my head back to him. “Reg, what do you think?”

  Reggie shook his head playfully, his shaggy blonde hair falling over his caramel-colored eyes. “I think someone has finally caught our girl’s eye, Jeff.”

  “Yeah right,” I muttered and Reggie laughed out loud.

  “You’re a terrible liar, my love. Jeff, does her face look a little red to you?”

  “I think she may be a tad warm, my friend.”

  I groaned and turned away from them, ignoring their laughter. Jeff and Reggie have been like Siamese twins since forever. Jeff’s mom was married to Reggie’s dad, so they were stepbrothers. Being around just one of them was almost unbearable. Trying to handle both of them was a serious hazard to my sanity.

  My eyes instinctively sought out Deklan. I couldn’t seem to stop doing that. When I spotted him across the floor his eyes caught mine and it was like I had tunnel vision, seeing only him. There was no arrogant smile or any mischievous glint in his eyes, but there was something intense about that way he stared. My heart beat loudly and a ringing started in my ears. He was so good looking. I wanted to hear his deep, velvet voice, wanted to smell his musky cologne, and trace my fingers along his tattoos. I just…I wanted him.

  Then his lips slowly tipped up into a grin and he winked at me, breaking the connection. Without thinking, I brought my hand up and flipped him the bird, and his eyebrows rose high.

  “Emma, are you trying to get fired?” Liam chuckled next to me and I huffed and looked over at him. Liam was a cutie, I’d give him that. He had a mix of light and dark blonde hair that hung over his forehead, some strands falling over his bright blue eyes. Sometimes when he ran his hands through it I swear I’d hear girls sigh dreamily.

  I wouldn’t lie; if he wasn’t one of my best friends I’d think about going for him. The girls at school thought he was the hottest thing around. Along with his eyebrow piercing he had a tribal tattoo on his upper left bicep, and the band’s name ‘Coming Undone’ tattooed down his right side. Even with the appearances, Liam was one of the sweetest, most caring guys around. It was too bad that not only was he my best friend, but I was hung up on a guy that I only met twelve hours ago.

  “That guy just gets on my nerves,” I told Liam and leaned back on the counter. “I had a momentary lapse in character, that’s all.” I’ve been having lapses in character all day, thanks to Deklan Mayfield.

  He nodded and crossed his arms over his chest. “I think he’s pretty cool. He’s almost as funny as Reggie.”

  “Hey, I resent that!” Reggie scoffed from behind us. “Dude, I got major skills. Nobody can top my shit.”

  I chuckled. “Shut up, Reg.” Aria walked up to us and took off her apron. “Hey, on break?”

  She nodded and scanned the room until she located Zane by the pinball machines. He acknowledged her with a smile and moved across the room to her.

  “How’s my baby?” he asked and kissed her cheek.

  “Impatiently waiting for the day to end.”

  I sighed. “I agree.”

  “Hey, Slim, new guy’s headed our way,” Reggie said cheekily and I felt my cheeks warm.

  “Callate cabron!” Aria scolded in Spanish. Or in English; shut up jackass.

  “Reggie’s just being an idiot,” I said and pretended to look down at my order tablet. I knew when he was there, because of his yummy scent, and the fact that I got a tingle in the back of my neck whenever he was around.

  “How’s the first day going, bro?” Jeff asked him.

  “I wasn’t expecting to have any fun, but I am.” That voice, God, that voice! It was like music to my ears. There was a low rumbling noise and when everybody turned to look at me I realized that I’d just moaned, out loud. If my face was red before, I knew it was an even deeper shade. I really hated that about my body.

  “You okay, Slim?” Reggie asked and I could hear the laughter in his tone.

  “I, uh…um, I stabbed my finger with my pen.” Did I mention that I was a horrible liar? Before I could humiliate myself further, I faked a coughing fit and hastily excused myself before I died on the spot. “I’ve got to get back to work.”

  “But Emma, don’t you have like twenty more minutes?” Reggie called out as I walked away. I shook my head and kept going before I could give in to the urge to punch that boy in the face. Sometimes, Reggie had a tendency to not know when to shut up.

  I bet everybody back there knew I had some weird obsession for the school’s bad boy – including the bad boy! I didn’t know what was happening to me, I’ve never experienced such strong feelings before. I feel this strange pu
ll inside me when he’s near, like my body needs to be next to him.

  This wasn’t the real me, I’ve never been so hostile before. I’ve been nothing but mean to Deklan since I met him and I just had the urge to choke out one of my best friends. I didn’t like the person Deklan brought out in me. I hated my reactions to him. But at the same time, I liked the sizzling of my blood when he was close, and the tingling in my fingers and toes. It was so new and intense. I just didn’t know which of my emotions to trust.

  I walked in the dining area and checked on my customers, even though Bianca already did for me. After that I went through the kitchen to get to the back door, a little panicky for fresh air.

  “You all right, baby girl?” Eddie called out from in front of the pizza oven.

  “I’m good, Ed, just need some air.” I waved at him and Luke and pushed open the back door. I welcomed the breeze that came with the California heat as it washed over me. San Diego was my favorite place, my hometown and I wouldn’t want to move anywhere else.

  I walked over to my car and tried to open my door, which was locked. Realizing that I left my keys in my purse, I turned to walk back. I stopped when I saw Deklan leaning back against the back door.

  CHAPTER 3.

  His toned arms were crossed over his massive, delicious looking chest. My eyes automatically roamed over every inch of him – my mouth drying instantly.

  Get ahold of yourself, Emma!

  I tried to play it off like he didn’t just make my heart stutter, and walked over to him, stopping far enough away so I wouldn’t have to tip my head way back to see his gorgeous face.

  “What are you doing out here?” I asked him. His tongue snaked out and whipped across his bottom lip, lingering on those rings. The fire in the pit of my stomach spread to places, very naughty places that were unknown to me. “Stop that,” I said in a raspy voice that I’m pretty sure has never, ever come out of my mouth. He knew what he was doing, I knew he did. He was playing with me and I hated that I was falling for it. He flicked the rings one last time before grinning smugly. I looked up and noticed that I wasn’t the only one who was being affected, by the way his eyes held nothing but dark hunger.