Nola Scott
If there's one place I never expected to see the most horrendous face on the planet, it'd be my house, right in my front yard. Yet, here I stand, jaw on the floor, ready to slash the tires of this stupid, black Lamborghini.
I inch toward the car, knocking on the window three times. Miles' gray eyes look up at me, his brows furrowing with something that looks like confusion. He rolls down his window a marginal amount. "You on the wrong side of town, kid?" he asks, looking around. Asshole! I fake a smile and give him my middle finger. "No, are you? I live here."
I can't even take him seriously right now. Who the hell drives a Lamborghini around town? I thought people just got them for decoration. His eyes widen slightly, but he doesn't let the 'I didn't know' look on his face last too long. "My buddy is here. Had to meet up with some girl for an assignment or something," Miles says casually, as if he hasn't just intruded on my personal space.
I already knew that. Well, not the full story at least.
Today is November 15th, my brother Brooks' 15th birthday party. My parents decided to do something for him in our not so small backyard and invited friends and family over. Ember had told me she wanted to come with me, so I let her. But her being little Miss A+ student didn't let classwork go undone.
She told me this guy named Jason Tayler was coming over. When I was made aware that he was a rookie who played for the Los Angeles Kings, I almost spat out the ice cold water in my mouth. Why did that stupid team feel the need to follow me everywhere? Including my childhood house?
Now, I had no idea that Miles was the 'friend' who was waiting in the car for him in my front yard when he introduced himself to me. I wasn't even going to check out who it was either, but some burning sensation in my chest told me to go. After all, I didn't want any creepers around my parents' private property.
And of course, with my luck, Miles Dempsey sits pretty in his Lamborghini in my parents' front yard. I'm going to kill Ember for giving them the code to come in here.
"Uhm, well, this is my house. You can't just be parked here dripping gas on the driveway." I'm aware of how dumb I sound right now, but I don't want him anywhere near me or my house, especially with the knowledge that my family knows who he is. Hell, Brooks recognized Jason almost immediately.
Miles lets out a low, deep chuckle that rattles my core. "I can come inside. Introdu—"
"Not happening," I interrupt, holding a finger up at him. He puts his hands up in defense and shrugs. "Looks like I'll just sit here and drip my gas then." His face remains expressionless, which ticks me off to new extremes. I'm surprised he's not more offended by what I told him last weekend. I was sure he would be crying about it from how upset he seemed at my honest judgment of him.
His gray eyes pierce through me when I don't reply to his comment. I don't back down, staring back in challenge. A small smirk crawls onto his lips, but he rubs them to make it disappear. I narrow my eyes a fraction at his dumb smile. When his eyes finally fall, they take me in. His eyes burn through my 5'4" self, igniting with something unfamiliar to me as he returns his silver eyes to mine.
"You—"
My phone rings in the pocket of my blue jeans, cutting him off. I stare at him shortly before pulling it out. It's Ember. After pressing the green answer button, I walk away from Miles' car and pull the phone up to my ear. "Yes? Is your classmate finally leaving?" I say in almost a whisper so Miles won't hear me. Ember groans on the other line.
"He can't! I'm not done with him yet. I was going to call and ask if you could invite his teammate, Miles, inside. He's parked in a black Lambo in your front yard. Sexy, right?" My eyes shut tight at all of her words. Ember knows nothing about my interaction with Miles at Blazing Ice. She's not aware I know this dude all too well. I don't want to tell her right now, but I surely cannot invite him inside my house either.
"No. You've had enough homework time! My parents are looking at you like you are crazy. Put the book down and celebrate my little bro!" I try and convince her. The line stays quiet for a couple of moments besides the background chatter of the party. "Please, Nola. I promise you, I won't take any longer than thirty minutes. Please!" Ember pleads. I roll my eyes, pinching my nose in frustration.
The amount of pathetic I am about to look all because I'm a good friend.
I blow an angry breath out of my nose before hanging up the phone. Before turning around, I take a moment to myself, breathing in and out a couple of times. When I turn to face Miles, he's busy on his phone. "Hey, you," I say lowly but loud enough for him to lift his chin. "Let's go inside. Before I change my mind," I say through clenched teeth. He looks at me warily. "I could stay out here—"
"No. Stop. I'm not an asshat, come on." As much as I wanted to be one, Ember had a change of plans for me. Miles looks at me suspiciously, as if I'm about to play a trick on him. He slowly turns off his car and gets out of it looking too cool and annoying. I roll my eyes at the sight. As I start to walk up to the front door, Miles steps next to me.
"Uh-uh, no. You walk in front of me. Go. I don't want to walk in with you." I input the code to get the door to open, pushing the large thing inward. He looks at me over his shoulder and I motion my head for him to go inside. Miles chuckles and shakes his head, walking the first long hallway in my childhood home. "Whatever you say, Scott."
Before he's able to step outside, I get in front of the back doors. "It's my brother's birthday, so find him and say happy birthday," I warn. He nods his head at my command before I open the back door that leads to the huge party outside. Luckily, no one glances our way too quickly and I try to walk a good five feet behind Miles who walks into the party, turning to me for assistance.
I shake him off, mouthing for him to turn around. He does.
"Nola, hey! Where were you, girly?" My aunt's voice stops me in my steps as she wraps her arm around me. She's wearing heels, which makes her taller than me at the moment. She usually isn't at 5'3". Miles stops abruptly, and I mentally curse at him. His focus lands on me and my aunt.
"Oh my lord, who is this hunk?" Aunt Nova says, catching my attention. "What?" I question, turning my head toward her. Her eyes widen. "Did I just say that out loud?" she whispers down at me. "I'm Miles. Miles Dempsey. Nice to meet you. . ." Miles holds out his hand toward my aunt whose cheeks are a light pink now. "Novalee or Nova. I'm Nola's aunt," she says quickly.
Miles shoots her a smile. "Nice to meet you. Beautiful name." God, fucking kill me. Is he flirting with my aunt? "And what is this interaction?" Another voice comes into the conversation. All of a sudden, my aunt's arm is unwrapped from my shoulders as my uncle wraps his around hers. Nova drops her hand from Miles' instantly. "Oh, uhm, husband! This is my husband!" Aunt Nova says, leaning into Uncle Valdez's chest.
"Nice to meet you, sir. I'm Miles Dempsey." Miles introduces himself, sticking his arm out again. My uncle eyes him warily for a second before shaking his hand. "That name sounds very familiar, have I met you before?" Miles shakes his head, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
"I play in the NHL. You were that all-star safety for the Rams, right? Nola, I didn't know you had famous athletes in your family." Miles smirks, looking at me shortly. I roll my eyes. Again. My uncle grins at the praise. "He sure was!" Aunt Nova says for him, looking up at her husband admiringly. "You say NHL? You're that big shot for the Kings this year?" My uncle questions.
"Actually, I'm the big shot every year. I've been in the league for six now. That would be my friend," Miles turns to point at Jason, "over there. He's this year's hotshot rook." My uncle looks over at the other hockey player, nodding his head. "How old are you?" Uncle Valdez asks. "24, sir." Miles answers and my eyes widen slightly. I didn't even know that. I knew he was older, but I would have guessed 21.
My uncle's eyes widen, and he turns to me. "Your dad is going to absolutely kill this guy, you know that right?" he tells me. "What? Oh my god