Reckless Mind by Heather Wiginton Page A

hour and a half later, dripping sweat and feeling good about my time thinking while I was dancing, I grabbed my cd and slipped my flip flops back on and headed out to my car. Brandon was leaning against the driver side door eyeing me as I walked closer. My throat instantly went dry. It was one thing to come to conclusions while I danced, but having those honey eyes focused on me it seemed harder to remember friends.
    Stopping a couple feet away from him I took a deep breath and smiled. “Hey, Brandon, what are you doing here?” It was a little strange he would be waiting for me outside. Had he seen me dancing? Shit, I really hope not, not that I wasn't good, it was just a more private thing for me when I was in that space and frame of mind.
    “Saw your car.” I wasn't letting him off the hook though, I wasn't going to say a word until he talked to me more. Letting out an over-exaggerated sigh and rolling my eyes, clearly I let him know I could stand around all day waiting for him. “Thought maybe you'd want to,” he ran his hand through his hair as if in frustration. “Never mind, it was a dumb idea,” he finished, turning to walk away.
    “Hey,” I started softly, and he turned, a look of sadness creeping over his face. “Don't do that okay? Don't assume things for me, just be honest with me. As honest as you feel you can each moment we spend together. But don't make me feel like you want to spend time with me one minute, then the next you keep walking away and leaving me. I don't want you to,” I almost said leave me, but I stopped myself before I got that out.
    “I'm trying, Kahlen, really I am. I just,” he thought for a minute about what exactly he wanted to say to me, or how much. “I need time, and when I'm with you, like last night, it's really hard for me to take things slow. I feel like when I look in your eyes I'm,” but he didn't finish, he just shook the thoughts from his head and gave me a crooked grin. “Just don't, don't run to him because I'm, well, being me.”
    I knew he was talking about Cole, but I frowned and shook my head a little in confusion. “I'm not running to anyone, not you and not him. He walked me home last night, Brandon, that's it. Cole knows I'm friends with Emma, so I'm sure he assumed I was friends with you and Jax too, which I think is why he invited me to your practices and shows. But I'm not,” he turned and looked away from me acting like he was unwilling to listen to me. I moved around to stand in front of him, placing my hand on the side of his face so he would look at me. “I'm not running to any man. Not even you.”
    He nodded at me and gently took my wrist in his hand and placed a small kiss on the palm of my hand. Instantly butterflies began swarming in my stomach, and then I remembered how gross I probably looked and smelled, shit I could still feel sweat dripping down my chest a little since standing out under the hot sun with him. I pulled my hand away from his repeating friend zone over and over in my head so he wouldn't be able to suck me right back into that rush I felt when he was near.
    Brandon moved to trail his finger from just under the top of my sports bra between my breasts, but I pulled away, shooting daggers at him with my eyes. My mouth dropped open at his audacity, but he laughed at me. “Come on, I'll take you home so you can change, unless you want me to help you workout some more?” His eyes playful as he questioned me. “I can think of several things I could do to you that would make you sweat.” He winked at me as he opened the passenger door to his car, but I stood unmoving.
    It was like once he received confirmation from me that I didn't have anyone on my radar as far as dating, he was able to take a deep breath again. His mood lightened, and his normal brooding nature subsided a little. I felt like I was getting a glimpse of the Brandon that used to be...I don't know what happened to him, but it had to be something horrible enough