Right Kind of Wrong Read online

  Right Kind of Wrong

  Copyright © 2015 by Shelly Jones

  Photographer: Kruse Images & Photography: Models & Boudoir

  Editing: Jody at Pardo & Associates Consulting Services

  Cover Design By: Cover To Cover Designs

  Formatting: Champagne Formats

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved.

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Epilogue

  Playlist

  Acknowledgments

  “YEAH, YEAH, YEAH I know but really Mom. It’s been four months and Dad still won’t talk to me. I’m still the same Emily that left. This time, I’m doing it on my own and enjoying life.” I tell her over the phone. “Ok mom, well I gotta go. I guess I’ll talk to you soon. Tell Dad I love him.”

  “I’ll let him know. I love you and be safe.”

  “Always Mom!” and I hang up.

  My parents are pissed at me that I left my small town of six hundred people in Wisconsin, and moved to Phoenix Arizona. Yeah, I know, pretty much clear across the country, crazy right? Well, it’s not like I was moving to a city where I didn’t know anyone. I do have my cousin Mel. But if it was up to my dad, I would be living in Wisconsin, working at the church and I’d marry one of the guys from church. I love my dad, but being a pastor’s daughter isn’t easy, and I want to follow my dreams.

  The day I told my parents I was leaving, was also the day I told, my then boyfriend, that we were done. I found out later, he was going to ask me to marry him later that night. I loved Chad, but it was in more of a “friend” way. Somewhere I fell out of love with him and when I got the job offer here in Phoenix, I took it as a sign and ran with it.

  I was lucky enough that Mel wanted me to move into her three bedroom house with her. We’ve always been more like sisters than cousins. She’s been introducing me to her friends here and there, but tonight I’m going all in. We’re going bar hopping around the city.

  This should be interesting, I know these bars won’t be anything like back home. Back home they’re small and the majority of them play country music, my favorite kind of music, but not around here. There are some country bars but a lot of these bars are clubs and unless it’s a line dance, I don’t dance.

  “Oh shit Em, you’re really going to wear that?” Mel says behind me.

  “What’s wrong with this?” I reply, looking at myself in the mirror. I’m wearing a gray cotton tank top, my distressed dark blue jeans and my black cowboy boots, giving my 5’3” height an extra two inches. My brown hair is off to the side in a fishtail braid and make-up is barely there. My small silver cross falls just at my collar bone, and silver hoop earrings. To me, I look fine.

  “Hun, you know you’re not in the country anymore, right?” She chuckles.

  “Yes I know that. I’m just comfortable.” I shrug.

  “Whatever floats your boat.” She giggles.

  Mel’s dressed in a pair of dark skinny jeans, a green strapless top and black platform four inch heels. She’s 5’6” but with heels she’s almost six feet all! Her brown hair is curled and cascades down half her back and her make-up is done darker then what I would wear.

  The doorbell goes off and Mel answers it, its Scott, Mel’s boyfriend, Caleb, Lucy, and Max. We do our greetings and then head out. Mel, Scott, Caleb and I get into Scott’s Trailblazer, while Lucy and Max follow in their car.

  I sit in the back next to Caleb. I have no clue where we’re going and I’m starting to feel really uncomfortable. Not sure why, but my stomach hurts and I’m just feeling really uneasy.

  We end up going to a few different clubs, I dance a few songs and I had only a couple beers. I’m not really into this scene. I’d rather be at home reading, or be out in the back yard with a bonfire going, but around here, I guess that doesn’t happen, unless you go camping.

  We get to what I hope is the last bar of the night. From the outside this bar looks smaller, kind of like the ones back home. Out front there’s couple of guys on motorcycles talking and smoking. We get out of the truck, I look up to see where we’re going and I make eye contact with one of the guys for a couple of seconds. The grin he gives me is sexy, yet cocky. Of course my fucking face warms and turns red, he must have noticed because I heard a chuckle come from him.

  “Come on, let’s get you something to drink!” Mel wraps her arm around me and leads me inside. There’s not very many people in this bar, which makes me happy. There’s music coming from the jukebox, it’s not country music, but I know this song, it’s “When I Come Around” By Green Day, this song was played a lot at parties back home. We find a table in the back and the guys go get us drinks. Mel grabs the darts, puts quarters in the dart board and we play darts.

  A few songs have played, mostly rock, but when the jukebox starts to play “Porn Star Dancing” by My Darkest Days and Zakk Wylde, My skin starts to crawl, “Ugh, I hate this song!!” I say out loud.

  “Let’s go put money in that bitch and pay back the bastard back!” Mel says and we start laughing. We walk over to the jukebox and put money in choose our song, “Kiss You” by One Direction. “That’ll teach the fucker!” Mel says.

  Mel, Lucy and I start dancing by the table, singing along with the song. I start scanning the bar and notice it’s more of an older crowd in here, but I keep scanning when my eyes connect with the same eyes that met me when we got here. He gives me that same cocky ass smile. My stomach does flips and I’m ready to throw up. Him and his buddies start to walk towards us. His eyes never leave mine. When he walks past me, he winks at me and walks over by the pool table.

  “Son of a bitch!” I whisper.

  “Do you know him?” Lucy asks me.

  I shake my head “No.”

  “Well shit girl, maybe you should get to know him. He’s hot!” She says. I shrug and laugh uncomfortably.

  Fuck, this guy is hot, he’s tall, 6’0” at least, and he’s wearing a white t-shirt, baggy blue jeans and Converse shoes. His T-shirt hugs his body showing off his muscular build. He has tattoos going up both arms. He’s wearing a black baseball cap turned backwards, but I can tell his hair is dark brown, but fuck his eyes though, I could get lost in those dark brown eyes. There’s mystery in his eyes, but yet you can tell he knows he could have any girl he wanted. He’s not my type but he’s hot as fuck, there’s no denying that.

  “Damn it Emily, snap out of it! It’s not gonna happen!” I say to myself.

  Everyone in our group is drinking and having a good time. Caleb has come on to me a few times tonight and I need to get away from him. When I walk outside the warm air hits my face and I start pacing ba
ck and forth to try and calm myself down.

  “Why did you agree to come? You could be at home reading or something. Anything is better than getting hit on!” I say out loud.

  “Cuz you wouldn’t have met me . . .” I hear a man’s voice from behind me and it startles me to the point I jump.

  “What?” I ask quietly, turning around slowly and it’s those damn eyes again!

  “You wouldn’t have met me if you would have stayed home.” He smiles. “Do you always talk to yourself?” He asks with a laugh.

  “Only when no one is listening.” I say quietly.

  “Well babe, you shouldn’t be talking to yourself outside. Some people might think you’re crazy.” He tries to hold back his laughter, but fails, and laughs at me some more.

  “Gee thanks!” I roll my eyes and start to walk towards the door.

  “I can give you a ride home if you want.”

  I stop look at him and his bike and giggle “Yeah, I don’t think so, but thanks anyways.”

  “Well if it’s because your daddy told you never to ride with strangers, well . . .” He puts out his hand. “I’m Xander Hunt. I own Hunt Electric.” He smiles.

  “Thanks, but I’ll be ok.” I reply giving him a small smile.

  “Hey, I’m holding out my hand, it’s rude not to shake it.” I can’t tell if he’s trying to be funny, or if he’s being an ass.

  I give him my hand and the moment we touch I feel like I’m going to throw up. “And you are . . . ?”

  “Emily.”

  “Emily . . . what? And what is it that you do Emily?” Before I can reply, “Wait let me guess. . . . Babysitter? Lawyer? No you’re not that stuck up to be a lawyer. You’re definitely not a Bartender or a Porn star dancer.” He smiles a little bigger.

  “It was you, huh?”

  “That’s my song sweetie,” He gives me a crooked smile and winks at me.

  I roll my eyes at him, “That figures.”

  “So was I close?”

  “No, I’m a teacher.”

  “Ahh babysitter, teacher all the same.” He winks and my knees weaken.

  “Emily! There you are! I was scared shit less trying to find you!” Mel says, flying out the door. I pull my hand away from Xander’s. “Why are you out here? He’s not bothering you, is he?”

  “Mel, I’m fine. I just needed to get away from Caleb and No he’s not bothering me . . .”

  “Ok, good. Well let’s go home, shall we? Caleb can find his own way home.” Mel wraps her arm around my shoulder, leading me to the truck.

  “Hey Emily!” I hear coming from behind me and I turn to look.

  “It was nice meeting you, maybe we’ll meet again and you’ll let me take you for a ride.” He winks and walks back into the bar. I let out a small laugh and shake my head. What the fuck! I say to myself.

  “What the hell was that about?” Mel asks.

  “I have no idea.” I say quietly. My heart is racing and I can’t get that smile or those eyes out of my head. I shake my head trying to clear it, because this can’t and won’t happen.

  When we get home, Scott and Mel go to her room and I go into mine. I change into my pajamas, a tank top and cotton shorts. I grab a box out of my closet and sit on my bed. I start going through it and looking at the pictures. When I left Wisconsin, I didn’t just leave my family. I left my friends and my boyfriend, well my ex-boyfriend. I just couldn’t do it anymore with Chad. He was great and all, but he wanted marriage and babies and wanted me to stay at home. I want a career and a life.

  I’m looking at all these pictures and I decide, right then and there, it’s time for a change. New city, new life, new Emily! I put the box away and crawl into bed. Laying there, trying to fall asleep, my mind keeps drifting back to Xander.

  The next morning, I get up and put on a pair of nylon shorts, sports bra and a tank top, throw my hair in a ponytail and grab my purse. I head into the kitchen grab a glass of orange juice and drink it quickly. Mel or Scott aren’t up yet, so I sneak out the door without anyone knowing. I want to do this alone and I want to get it over quickly. I drive a couple of miles to the salon. They weren’t too busy and I was able to get in pretty quickly.

  “Emily?” A man with very bright blue and pink spikey hair says.

  I take a deep breath and stand up. “Hi,” I say.

  “Hi Emily! I’m Shane, So what are we doing with you today beautiful?” He says while we’re walking to his chair.

  I tell him what I want and he knows exactly what needs to be done. I’m in the chair for almost three hours. He’s cut so much off and changed the color so much that when he finally turns me around, I don’t recognize myself.

  “So what do you think?” He says smiling at me.

  I stand up to get a closer look, I shake my head and my eyes start to water.

  “Emily? Are you ok?” He asks.

  “I’m fine, just Wow,” I say, looking at him through the mirror. He’s cut my hair in what he calls, a layered shag. My hair hit right at my shoulders and the color. Holy shit! The color, he managed to take my light brown hair and turn it blonde! I’m a blonde, holy shit! This is just crazy.

  “I love it! I do not look like the same girl.” I smile at him give him a hug. “Thank you so much!” I smile.

  “Oh honey, no problem! I’m so glad you like it. Now remember I’m your guy. Anything you need, you call me. Hell, I’ll even make house calls for you.”

  “Thank you, Shane.” I take care of my bill and give him a bigger tip then what most people would.

  I walk into the house and I’m greeted by Mel, “Seriously! Do you like to scare the shit out of me?” She says rounding the corner at me. I just stand there waiting to see if she’ll notice.

  “Holy fucking shit balls! What the fuck did you do to your hair?” She shouts, walking over and looking at my hair.

  “I needed a change,”

  “Yeah, no shit, and you did a good job at that, but shit girl. That’s a huge change.”

  “I know. It’s what I was hoping for and then some.” I shrug my shoulders.

  Mel and Scott leave for the rest of the day leaving me home by myself. I grab my box of paperwork with my lesson plans and my class list and get started on it.

  Over the last month I’ve been focusing on getting everything ready, school starts in just a week and I’ve been so busy getting my classroom set up and organized that my mind has stayed busy.

  Tonight is open house and we get to meet our students and their families. Six o’clock rolls around and the students and their families start to come in. I greet everyone as they enter my classroom and talk to each one of the parents one-on-one to get a feel for their child. These kids are so cute, a few of them are wild jumping off the tables and throwing blocks around the room. I know I have my hands full.

  It’s close to seven thirty and I’m walking around getting the packets leftover from the parents and students that didn’t make it to open house. I hear a knock on the door.

  “Sorry we’re late . . .” a woman says. I look up and see a beautiful blonde haired little girl standing with either her grandmother or her mom; I can’t tell. The woman is taller than me, probably 5’8” slender build, with medium length blonde hair and brown eyes.

  “Oh it’s no problem, come on in.” I give them a smile. “Hi I’m Emily Hayes. Miss Hayes” I say, holding out my hand.

  “Ellen Hunt, this is Harlie.” Ellen shakes my hand.

  “Hi Harlie, would you like to see where you’re going to be sitting?” I ask, holding out my hand. She nods, and takes my hand. I show her that she’s sitting at the blue table and show her around the classroom. I let her walk around on her own for a little while so I can talk to Ellen.

  “Again, sorry we’re late. Her dad should be here any minute.” She says.

  “No problem, so you’re her mother? Grandmother?” I ask.

  “Oh crap, I’m sorry. I’m her grandma. Her mom isn’t in the picture. It’s either me, her dad or her grand
pa.”

  “Oh ok, well, sorry to hear about the mom.”

  “No need to be sorry, Hun. It’s for the best. Trust me.”

  Ellen and I talk about Harlie and I give her the school emergency paperwork that needs to be filled out.

  Suddenly, I hear Harlie scream, “Daddy!” I turn around to look and I think I’m going to be sick.

  “It’s about time you get here. Miss Hayes would like to go home sometime tonight.” Ellen says sharply.

  He looks over at me, shakes his head and then smiles. That fucking smile. Keep it together! I think to myself.

  “Miss Hayes, this is my son, Alexander. Alexander, this is Miss Hayes.” She introduces us.

  “Hi, it’s nice to meet you.” I give him a small smile and hold out my hand for him to shake it.

  “Hey, call me Xander, please.” He reaches for my hand and shakes it.

  The moment our hands touch, my knees go weak and I want to bite my bottom lip. Son of a bitch, this has never happened to me before.

  “Ok, Xander, I gave your mom all the emergency contact paperwork that needs to be filled out. And gave your daughter the tour . . .” I trail off.

  “Well, can you give me the tour? I mean I would like to see where my daughter will be spending her days at.” He says in a cocky tone.

  “Sure,” I roll my eyes. I show him the blue table where Harlie will be sitting, and where her cubby is for her to put her school supplies and her backpack. Also, I showed him where the “dance” area/reading area is at. “Well thank you, Miss Hayes, for sticking around and letting us meet you.” Ellen says.

  “No problem,” I reply. Turning my attention to Harlie, “Harlie, I cannot wait to see you on Monday. It’s going to be a lot of fun, I promise.” I look over at her. She gives me a sweet smile.

  “Well, lets you get home. We will see you on Monday.” Ellen says.

  “Great, I’ll see you on Monday.” I smile back.

  They leave and I’m left in my classroom alone. Holy fuck! Really? This is going to be an interesting school year.

  “I like the new haircut.” I hear, and I look up to see Xander in the doorway.

  “Thanks,” I smile at him. He walks back into my classroom, “I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but I’d like to go home.” I say, gathering my purse.