Perfect Kiss by Lacey Black

Chapter 23

Malcolm

My head is pounding. So. Fucking. Loud.

I open my eyes, but the thumping continues. It takes me a few seconds to realize it’s not coming from my head, but from the door.

I jump up, thankful to be wearing at least a pair of shorts, and stumble out of my bedroom. My legs are slow to keep up, thanks to the extensive workout I endured late last night, and then again early this morning.

Just as I hit the stairs to go down, I find a figure standing there, hands on her hips and tapping her foot on the hardwood. I feel like a scolded child all over again. “Took you long enough to answer the door. I ended up letting myself in.”

“I see that,” I mumble, walking down the stairs, past my mom, and straight to the kitchen for coffee. The timer was automatically set, so I grab two cups from the cabinet. “Want some?”

“Please,” Mom says, taking a seat at the table and waiting on me to join her.

“So, what do I owe this early morning visit?” I ask, setting her cup in front of her and grabbing the sugar.

“Early?” she asks, arching a perfectly manicured eyebrow heavenward.

I glance at the clock on the oven and wince. When was the last time I slept until almost eight o’clock? On a Wednesday? Never. “I had a late night, and since no client appointments until later, I decided to take it easy this morning.”

She sips her coffee delicately, but never averts her gaze from mine. I feel like a high schooler again, about to be interrogated by the great Alexandra Wright for something she probably already knows I did. She continues to just watch me, waiting.

“Why don’t you save us both the time and just tell me what I owe this spontaneous visit for?”

She grins. “Am I not welcome to drop by and say hello to my favorite son?”

“Your only son,” I start, taking a healthy sip of coffee and scalding my tongue, and grabbing a seat. “Considering you rarely stop by unannounced, I figured there was a reason.”

“Oh, there is.”

I glance up and meet her gaze, not liking the intensity and scrutiny reflecting back at me. “Well, let me have it,” I state, sitting up straight and preparing to take my licks.

After the world’s longest ten seconds, she finally asks, “Are you hungover?”

Her question surprises me. “No. Why?”

“Well, considering you were at the bar last night and were still sleeping at eight, I figured you tied one on last night.”

My eyebrows shoot up in confusion. “I went for a run late last night, and then again this morning at about three when I couldn’t sleep.” Her look is laced with skepticism. “How did you know I was at the bar?”

“You mean how did I know you were there and left with a certain woman who was not Lenora Abbott?”

I sit up straight and narrow my eyes. “How do you know that?” I ask, my mind racing. There were only a few others in the bar last night, some regulars, but they didn’t appear at all concerned with me or the woman who showed up looking for someone to buy her a drink.

“The question shouldn’t be how I know, but what did you do? I don’t need details. I’m still your mother, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who’d like to know why you were with that dreadful woman. I’d know she’d love nothing more than to sink her teeth into her next cash cow, but I had really hoped it wouldn’t be you.”

I shake my head, trying to process what she’s saying. “I was already there when Jessa showed up. I bought her one drink, but she was hitting it pretty hard. I escorted her outside to get some fresh air and then gave her a ride home. She was in no condition to drive.” I leave out the part where she threw herself at me the moment we arrived at her house, trying to get me to come inside.

Mom sighs. “Listen, Malcolm, you know how this town is. Nothing is private. I don’t know who saw you leave with her, but it’s all everyone is talking about.”

I close my eyes as dread fills my gut. I really was trying to be a good guy and help her home. Nothing happened. At least nothing more than her kissing me and grabbing at my dick, both of which I shut down right away.

The truth was, as much as I felt hurt by what I saw at Leni’s apartment, I couldn’t do anything with Jessa. How could I when I was consumed with a gorgeous brunette with big hazel eyes and a laugh that makes my heart so fucking happy, I can’t even see straight.

“Jesus,” I mumble, knowing what this means. “I’m sure Leni has already heard too.”

Mom sips her coffee. “I’d be surprised if she hasn’t.”

I jump up and go in search of my cell phone. Where the hell is it? I didn’t even notice I didn’t have it on me when I went for my runs, just wanting out of the house and to feel my feet pounding the pavement. When I run upstairs and check my pocket, only to come up empty, I return back to where I left Mom. “I don’t know where my phone is.”

“Listen, Malcolm, I don’t know what’s going on, but if you need to talk, I’m always here.”

“Thanks, Mom, but I really just want to find Leni right now, okay?”

She nods and goes to dump her cup of coffee down the drain. “I pray you find her and can work this out.”

I meet her gaze. “This is bad, isn’t it?” I really don’t need her to confirm what I already know.

“It’ll be okay. Just talk to her and tell her how you feel.”

Panic sets in. How I feel? Do I even know how I feel?

Yes. The answer is a resounding yes.

I’ve fallen in love with her, but when I finally say those words, it won’t be to my mom.

Mom gives me a knowing smile and heads my way, kissing me on the cheek. “Go find her and explain. I’m sure she’ll hear you out, but if not, that’s okay too. Give her a little time to think, but not too much time, okay? Be respectful and understanding, not overbearing and demanding like you were as a child.”

I can’t help but snort out a laugh. “Understood.”

She places her hand on my cheek and smiles softly. “It might not be easy, but anything worth keeping rarely is. Go get the girl, son.”

I take off up the stairs, determined to get ready so I can find Leni. As much as I’d love to just run out the door now, I don’t think me searching town in just shorts is the way to go about it. Even though I showered after my second run early this morning, I take another one. If anything, the cooler water helps wake me up and strengthen my resolve.

As I dress in a pair of khaki pants and polo shirt, I think back over last night. How I wanted to drown my sorrows in alcohol, but only being able to get two drinks down. How Jessa showed up looking like she just returned from the salon or the plastic surgeon or possibly both, asking me to buy her a drink. I did, out of sheer politeness, and maybe because I didn’t really want to be alone. I think back to the time we spent at the bar, only to realize now I don’t think she drank as much as she led me to believe. I recall the single drink I bought her, as well as one more from a regular down the bar. It wasn’t nearly enough to get her so intoxicated she couldn’t walk without stumbling. I was so damn preoccupied with thoughts of Leni and how I wanted to talk to her, I didn’t even notice what was right in front of me.

Jessa played me.

And now everything is fucked up.

Royally.

* * *

I spend all morning looking for her, to no avail. Without having my phone, I can’t call her, so I’m left with driving around. It’s Wednesday morning, so she should be working, but I can’t seem to find her car at any of the places I’d expect it to be.

Out of desperation, I pull up in front of her sister’s bookstore, One More Chapter, and get ready to face the firing squad, because if there’s one thing I know, if Leni is aware of the rumors about me and Jessa, her sister is too.

I step out of my car, shove my keys into my pocket, and head for the door. A bell announces my arrival. The moment my eyes adjust to the dimmer light, I find the woman I’m looking for behind the counter, glaring daggers.

Yep, she’s heard.

“Hey, Laken,” I say, slowly taking a few steps in her direction.

“What are you doing here?” she asks, averting her attention down to the stack of books on the counter.

“I’m looking for your sister,” I announce, deciding to not beat around the bush.

“I have no clue where she is.” Again, she refuses to look up, a sign she probably knows much more than she’s letting on.

I sigh and stand politely in front of her. “Listen, Laken,” I start, but am interrupted.

“Don’t you listen, Laken me! You have no right coming in here and asking for her. Even if I did know—which I don’t—you’d be the last person I’d tell after what you did.”

“I know this looks bad, but you have to believe me, I didn’t leave with Jessa. Not the way it looks,” I insist.

Laken rolls her eyes in a way that reminds me of her older sister. She turns and grabs another stack of books and practically slams them down on the counter, a sure sign of her agitation. “I’m probably not the one you should be telling this to.”

“No, I agree, but I haven’t been able to find Leni. I’ve driven everywhere in this town and can’t find her car. I lost my phone somewhere, so I can’t call or text her. I just want to talk to her, to explain.”

She finally meets my gaze. “I think you’ve done enough,” she whispers, her voice hoarse with emotions. It kills me because if she’s this upset, that means her sister is too. The thought of her off somewhere, crying, is like a knife blade to the sternum, and at this point, I think it might be welcome.

“That’s where you’re wrong,” I insist. “I won’t stop trying to find her, Laken. I need to explain what happened. It’s not how it looked, honestly. Yes, we were at the same place at the same time, and yes, I left with her to drive her home because she had been drinking, but I went home alone. I swear.”

The hardness in her eyes starts to ease a bit as she considers my words. I only hope she’s willing to help me out now that she knows I wasn’t off screwing Jessa. “Listen, I get how the gossip can run wild in this small town, but I really don’t know where she is. I haven’t talked to her since early this morning, okay? She was upset, as anyone would be. I texted her a bit ago, but she hasn’t answered yet.”

I sigh, wishing I was closer to finding her. “Okay. Will you do something for me, please? If she gets back to you, will you tell her I’m looking for her? I really need to speak to her, Laken. I just…I have to explain.” I close my eyes, dread filling my gut. “This can’t be the end. Not like this.”

When I open my eyes, she’s watching me. “I’ll tell her.”

I nod in appreciation. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the last handful of hours, it’s that there’s an explanation for everything. If the rumor mills have it wrong about me and Jessa, then I damn well could have it wrong about Leni and the mystery man from her apartment. When I think back to our time together, never did I think she was someone I couldn’t trust. If anything, it’s the exact opposite. I trust her more than I’ve ever trusted another human being in my life, outside of my immediate family.

That thought is startlingly soothing.

“Thank you,” I state and move to the door.

The sun shines brightly in the late morning sky, despite my mood. A quick glance at my watch confirms I need to go to the office. Despite preferring to continue my search for Leni, I know I’m at the end of the line. All I can do now is go to work, try to get a little done, and maybe get my mind off everything that’s transpired in the last two days. Laken said she’d give her sister the message to get ahold of me if and when she talked to her, so now all I do is wait.

It’s like the universe knows I’m terrible at that.

I need to find my damn phone.