Bad Intentions: Chapter 7

By the time I ventured out of my room the next morning, my dad and his new ace hockey player were gone. Thank God for that. The rest of the night I’d tossed and turned, listening for the slightest sound in the hallway. Whether I was scared that Cayden would make good on his threats, or disappointed that he didn’t, I couldn’t look too closely at.

When I fell asleep, I fell right back into the same kind of filthy dreams I’d had before Cayden showed up last night. These ones were even worse. I’d scribbled them out in my journal the next morning to purge my mind of the depraved images I’d dreamed up. Maybe I’d finally reached the level of unresolved teenage hormones where I’d simply started to lose my mind. It had always been going to happen. Maybe Cayden West sleeping next door would be the tipping point.

Hopefully, by the time I got home today, the entire thing would just be a nightmare I could forget about.

I had to meet my dad after practice on Tuesdays. The team did their drills and coaching in the mornings, so Tuesdays, I went home with my dad. I didn’t have my own car, unfortunately. My parents thought it wasn’t necessary since my dad and I went to the same place every day. I’m sure they factored that into their dream of me attending HHU next year and living at home.

Hey, look at the bright side, that routine can continue if you go to HHU and carpool from home every morning.

I thumped my way down the rink stairs, despondent at the thought of the acceptance email for early admission to my dream school in California–an email that hadn’t materialized. Considering how unpopular I was here, I had no idea why I was expecting that anyone else would want me, never mind my dream school. The admission officer had probably looked at my application and laughed.

Finding the rink empty, I turned and headed for my dad’s office. I walked down the hall outside the locker rooms, hearing the ruckus from the team changing, even outside. Those guys couldn’t do anything quietly. I hurried to my dad’s office, knocking briefly before pushing the door open.

It was dark, but the joining room—which was more of a hallway that led through to a private bathroom and shower—was lit up like a Christmas tree. There was no end to the perks that Hade Harbor High could bestow upon its superstar coach…except for a decent salary, it seemed.

I’d wait for my dad in here. It was safer than the hallway outside where the players would soon pass through. Now that Cayden West was in the mix, I was even less inclined to run into them.

The door to the private bathroom was open, and a sudden movement caught my eye. Wait, is someone in there? I was about to throw my hand up and yell at my dad for not remembering to close the door when the shadow drifted past the opening again, forming into a person. It wasn’t my dad.

Cayden stood in front of the small bathroom mirror, steam curling off his gleaming skin. His torso was bare, and only a white towel swathed his hips. He was staring at his reflection, and his look of concentration gave me a chance to take in the sinfully hot picture he made. Last night hadn’t allowed much time to stare. I might hate the guy already, but I couldn’t deny he was beautiful to watch.

What I hadn’t expected was the extent of the damage. Turned out, I’d only seen a glimpse of it last night. The truth was so much worse.

Bruises clustered along one side of his ribcage, with crisscrossed welts overlaying the purple and blue. He had tattoos working down his arms, a couple of them, but I wasn’t close enough to make them out. Most noticeable of all were the thick scars high up on his shoulders and arms, the type that looked like bad stitches made it worse. A mess of white scar tissue sat low on one side, woven into the fabric of his skin. Was it letters? I could make out a few shapes that looked like letters: w-o-r. The other letter was out of sight. I tilted my head for a better view.

Had I drifted closer? Crap. I only realized I was approaching the room when the water bottle, stuck in the side pocket of my backpack, clicked against the door.

Cayden froze. He hadn’t been moving much before, but at the sound, an eerie stillness filled his tall frame. His eyes shot to mine in the mirror.

“I-I’m looking for my dad,” I said lamely.

He was tense, his hands curled into fists on the countertop.

“I–are you okay?” I heard myself say. “Your back…”

I hadn’t known it was possible for someone to get so still. A darkness entered his eyes that made me drop his gaze. Blue wrath and the promise of future pain was held in that look.

He didn’t like me snooping on him.

He didn’t like being seen.

“Anyway, I’ll just wait for him outside,” I babbled as I backed away.

Cayden had straightened up, and as I made it to the door, he half turned, his eyes tracking my every movement.

I really did feel like a bug under the microscope then.

With a stumble and heat flooding my cheeks, I spun around and ran from the office. I didn’t stop until I got back to the truck.

I hid in my room until dinner. The drive home had been tense, though my dad hadn’t seemed to notice. I’d shuffled down and tried to become invisible in the backseat, but regardless, I’d felt Cayden’s attention on me.

He was here again, next door, and this time, he’d be scarier than ever. I could feel it. There had been nothing teasing or light in his eyes when he’d caught me looking at his back and seeing that awful scar. Now, I was really on his shit list.

I paced my room, biting my nails, until my mom yelled for me to come to dinner. I left the room cautiously. No sounds greeted me. Maybe Cayden was already in the kitchen. I ran past the spare room and arrived in the kitchen, breathless.

Cayden straightened up from the dishwasher, having just put a bowl in. My mom stood at the sink and dried her hands, smiling at me.

“Great, you’re here. Let’s eat.”

“Good day at school?” my dad asked his go-to question to kick off dinner conversation.

Tonight, I could barely tear my eyes away from Cayden. Everyone acted like it was totally normal that he was here. A stranger, in our house, sitting at the dinner table. He watched me with a dark gaze.

“It was fine. Normal,” I muttered, dropping Cayden’s hot look and staring at my plate.

“Well, normal is good. Lily is a straight-A student,” my mom bragged to Cayden.

“Is that right? Well done, senior year is hard.”

I risked a glance at Cayden. He had his mask firmly in place. Cool politeness. My parents were falling for it.

“Well, you can get on track, too.” My dad smiled at Cayden. “Hade Harbor is a great school. Of course, your focus should be on hockey, but you’ll still have a much better senior year academically than back in Midnight Falls.”

Cayden was from Midnight Falls? That town, about an hour over, was notoriously sketchy.

“Thanks, Coach. Believe me, I mean to make the most of it.” Cayden was laying it on thick, but I wasn’t falling for it.

“I’m sure Lily can help you out here and there with some tutoring, if you want. She really is a very smart girl,” my mom chipped in.

“Mom!” I stared at her, horrified.

Cayden chuckled. “I might just take her up on that, seeing as I’ll be here, anyway.”

Silence fell at his words. He’ll be here anyway?

I turned to my dad. He had a suppressed sort of excitement about him. I knew that look. It was one I’d grown wary of trusting long ago. It was the expression that told us he was working all weekend or missing a family outing to go and scout some kid at a faraway game.

I looked at my mom, searching for a clue. Her eyes were bright. She seemed worried but excited.

“Cayden, have a second helping. You need energy for training.” She pushed the bowl of mashed potatoes toward him.

“Dad, what’s going on?” My voice sounded too loud inside my own head.

He picked up my mom’s hand, and they shared a look. Dread gathered in my belly. This couldn’t be good. Cayden was too confident, and my mom was too nervous.

“Lily, we wanted to tell you now, before it’s official… that we’ve made a very important decision for our family.”

Mom smoothed her hair back. “Honey, I don’t know if you realize, but your father has a very good chance of winning nationals this year. As you know, if he does, he’s got that job at HHU lined up,” she said.

I recognized the tactic immediately.

Dad took over. “But to win, I need help. I need this guy right here,” he said and nodded to Cayden.

I avoided his eyes at all costs. Keeping my mouth shut and not protesting what was coming was all I could do right now.

“Cade can’t play for his old school. It’s a waste, and they aren’t going anywhere. And besides, between us, his living situation wasn’t ideal,” my dad continued.

I spied Cayden’s fist curling into a ball beside his plate.

“So, what does it all mean?” I burst out, the suspense doing terrible things for my heart rate.

“It means Cayden’s going to stay here with us, we’re going to foster him…just until the end of the school year.”

I raised my eyes to my parents’ hopeful ones, my shock quickly turning to horror.

“You mean, he’s going to be living here for a year?” I asked, trying to keep the hysteria out of my voice.

“Yep, just long enough to win nationals, get a scholarship, and make local history, for both of us,” my dad said, with a megawatt smile.

“He’s too old to be a foster kid!” my accusation shot out.

My mom gave me a warning look. “Sure, he’s just about aging out. You guys are nearly the same age…but he’s already in a foster situation. It’s unorthodox to start a new arrangement so close to his birthday, but if everyone agrees…it satisfies the school board and means that Cayden can play on the Hade Harbor team.”

“But I don’t agree!” I was on my feet now. Panic was tugging at the edges of my mind. I was on the cusp of a full-blown spiral.

“Lil – stay calm. I know this is big news. Take a moment to process it.”

My dad’s voice usually comforted me, but today it had the opposite effect. He sounded so decided, it terrified me.

I tried not to look at Cayden as my dad stood and pulled me into a hug, but I couldn’t stop my eyes from colliding with his. The darkly satisfied flicker in his gaze chilled me to the bone.

He got up, his fit body moving lithely out of the low chair. He came around to hug my mom, whose laugh had a girlish edge, and my father slapped him on the shoulder, the two of them sharing a pleased grin.

As he reached me, I shrank back, fighting the urge to run away.

“No hug for your new brother?” he goaded me.

I crossed my arms over my chest stiffly as he leaned in and gave me a one-handed hug.

“You can do better than that, Lillian. Smile for your parents, we wouldn’t want them to think you’re upset.” He spoke just low enough for my parents not to hear.

“I hate you. You’re a psycho, and soon enough I’m sure everyone will see it,” I ground out around a fake smile.

“No, I don’t think they will. Most people aren’t that smart…I think it’ll be your cross to bear, and you don’t hate me yet. Not even close.” He leaned away and gave me a lopsided, handsome smile that would have stopped my heart if we’d never met before. Then he spoiled it. “And soon, you will.”