Coastal Runaway (Coast to Coast #1)

Nineteen

nineteen

Luke

Ever since the twins' birthday, things were civil. More than civil, they’ve been normal . It’s as if the note accompanying Keegan’s gift unlocked a part of her that was buried deep. Nolan, Keegan, and I had spent practically every moment together for the past two weeks outside of classes and practices. Hell, I even went to my first college football game to cheer on my best friends.

Things were good.

I’d just gotten home from my last class on Friday when I heard a knock at the door.

“Anyone expecting a delivery?” I yelled to the house. I knew Aiden and Maeve were home.

“No,” Aiden yelled from upstairs.

“Not mine!” I heard Maeve yell from the pool lounger that she was currently sprawled out on.

When I opened the door, I paused, stunned by the man standing in front of me. Sean Cavan was my spitting image, except fifty-three years old. He was wearing a navy suit, meticulously ironed, with a perfectly aligned baby pink tie and light brown loafers. The man looked like he just stepped off the set of a GQ catalog.

“What are you doing here, dad?” I asked, not masking my irritation.

“What a kind greeting, son. And after I flew all this way just to see you.”

I arched a brow and opened the front door wider, gesturing for him to come into the house.

He looked past me with disgust, “I actually have reservations at the golf course. Thought we might get some lunch.” Of course he did.

I sighed, knowing there was no way out of this, and headed into the kitchen to grab my phone and wallet. Once they were securely in my pockets, I followed my dad out to his gaudy sports car rental.

Lunch was awkward as fuck. We sat in silence, eating and sipping whiskey, while my dad scrolled through the news on his phone.

He cleared his throat, “Okay, Luke, lay it on me.”

“I’m sorry?” I asked.

“I just want to know what this mental breakdown is going to cost me in therapists,” he chuckled and pulled out his checkbook to add onto the joke.

“I'm not having a mental breakdown,” I gritted out.

At least not anymore.

“Then please enlighten me about your choice to give up a spot at an ivy league institution to become a beach bum,” he scoffed, tossing back the last of his whiskey and holding up a finger for the waitress to replace it.

My dad equated leaving an ivy league school to setting your money on fire with a blowtorch. He saw my decisions as reckless, as if this was all some huge act of rebellion and not my future.

“I literally go to one of the best schools in the country and you’re calling me a bum? How predictable.”

My dad always tried to control every decision I had ever made in life while simultaneously being as far away from me as physically possible. I was his legacy; a sociable tool to climb the ladder.

He used to use money to control my choices. He would threaten to stop paying for school or to cut me off completely, but I gained access to my trust on my twenty-first birthday, so my money was now completely out of his hands. It drove him insane and I was sure he was trying to think of a new way to use me like a puppet.

“I just want the next leader of this company to have a respectable degree?—”

I held my hand up, interrupting his statement, “I’m going to stop you right there. First of all, Owen Kelly has the same degree I am on track to receive in May, and second, I am not taking over the company.”

He looked appalled, “Owen Kelly? Please. He has as much knowledge about money as his father, who would have run that company into the ground without me. I have given you all of the freedom you could ever ask for. All of the money you could ever need. It’s time to stop messing around and get serious.” His voice had a stern tone.

“I’m serious, dad. I’m taking the LSATs in a few weeks and I’m applying to law schools,” I said sitting back in my chair with my arms crossed.

He scoffed like going to law school was a cop out instead of something that was admirable. It wasn't his idea so naturally it wasn't a viable option.

“This is about that Kelly girl isn’t it?”

“Don’t act like you haven’t known Keegan Kelly since the day she was born, and she has nothing to do with this.” I was defensive. I didn’t like Keegan’s name coming out of his mouth.

“Please, you’ve been like a love-sick puppy for her since you were in high school. The best thing that girl ever did for you was run as far away as possible. Trust me son, I made the mistake of marrying the wrong woman once. One that didn’t live up to the Cavan name.”

He was talking about my mother. Yes, he’s had a few marriages after, but the one that stung the most was her. My mother left him because of his terrible personality and she refused to accept anything from him—no property, no money, not even me. His other wives accepted the divorces and the money that would set them up for life.

As much as I resented her for that, I understand she needed to get out from under Sean Cavan’s thumb with a clean break.

I stood, my chair scraping against the floor loudly, “you have no idea what you’re talking about. Don’t act like you know a single thing about me, my life, or my plans. I didn’t need you when I was a child, and I don't need you now. This lunch is over.” I turned and stormed out of the club. My skin was on fire from the mix of whiskey and rage.

I started walking down the long winding driveway of the golf course, unsure of where to go. My adrenaline was flowing through my veins and I needed to calm down. Pulling out my phone, I sent a text that I hadn't in three years.

I need you.

Tig

Tell me where to go.

Keegan and I were standing at the edge of the Santa Monica pier, looking out over the ocean. I sent her my location and she picked me up in Baby Blue. When she asked me where I wanted to go I told her to just drive. We drove the Pacific Coast Highway and let the relaxing melody of Tame Impala fill the car. Eventually Keegan pulled into the pier parking lot and dragged me out here.

“This is where I go when I’m sad and need space,” she said, still not looking at me, “my mom used to take us here when we’d visit my dad in LA. I don’t remember it but I’ve seen the pictures. I like to watch the rides and think about what we would’ve looked like on them.”

“My dad thinks I’m a disappointment.” I blurted out.

“No offense, but I have always hated your dad,” she laughed.

Something about her laugh broke the tension that I was holding in my shoulders, “yeah, me too,” I confessed, glancing over at her.

“You’re not a disappointment, Luke,” she rested her hand on top of my arm as I leaned on the railing, “you’re one of the strongest people I have ever met. Anyone who doesn’t see how great you are doesn't deserve to be in your life.”

My heart melted from the impact of her words. I pushed away from the railing and looped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in a hug; her head rested against my shoulder and her hands came up to my chest.

“Thanks for always being there when I need you, Tig.” I kissed her forehead and she sighed into my body.

Both of our phones went off; Keegan pulled hers out of her pocket.

Nolan changed the name of the “You’re All Paying For My Therapy, and Luke” chat to “Why am I alone in the house on a Friday Night? And Luke”

Nolan

Where is everyone?

I heard there’s a good party at sigma tonight.

Maeve

ooo frat boys, I’m in!

Aiden

Maeve, if you bring a frat boy into our house I will chase him around with a belt.

Maeve

That actually sounds so fun.

Aiden

eye roll emoji

Nolan

We pregame at 9 so get home losers.

Tig

Luke and I are on our way home! A party sounds fun!

“Uh, I never agreed to a party.” I looked down at a smiling Keegan.

“Please, for me?” She stuck out her bottom lip in a pout.

I sighed knowing that I would do literally anything that this girl asked.

Fine.

Nolan

OMG, did daddy just willingly agree to a party?

Don’t call me that.

But, yeah, I did kissing emoji

Maeve

Luke’s in a good mood. This is going to be a fun night.

Aiden

Tequila time!

Tig

Hey, Maeve, what does tequila do again? I forgot.

Maeve

It makes my clothes fall off!

Nolan

No tequila for Maeve.

Come on Daddy, let the girl have some fun winking emoji

Nolan changed the “Why am I alone in the house on a Friday Night? And Luke” chat to “Tequila is now banned from the Malibu house. And Luke”

“You girls are going to give us all a heart attack one day,” I said, guiding Keegan back towards the Jeep , my arm still looped around her shoulders.

“Ugh, I sure hope so or else we will have failed,” she laughed.

When we got to the car, Keegan stopped me from opening the passenger door. I furrowed my brow at her.

“You haven’t earned back your front seat privileges,” she said with a sly smile.

“Is that right?” I asked. She shook her head and bit her lip.

I hopped over the wheel well and into the back seat as Keegan got behind the wheel and connected her phone to her playlist: Songs that make college girls dance .

I scooted in right behind her seat and whispered in her ear, “I’m not sure this is a game that you want to play, Tig.” I slowly inched my hand up her seat and right over the column of her throat.

She sucked in a breath, “what if I like the game?” She asked and I squeezed a little tighter.

”Then, let’s keep playing.” With one last squeeze, I released her and sat back. She looked over at me with a beaming smile and threw a hand up in the air as we sped down the PCH.

She was belting out the lyrics to Mr. Brightside as the wind whipped through her hair. I couldn’t help but laugh and start singing along. I felt relaxed and free with this shining light of a girl in front of me.

I was so fucked.

Aiden, Nolan, and I were hanging out in the living room playing Xbox while the girls got ready upstairs.

“Yo, do you have any of that one cologne that makes the girls flock?” Nolan asked, referring to my signature cologne that I had custom made.

“Yeah, I can go grab it for you,” I said, standing and heading up the stairs towards my room. I grabbed the blue bottle and went to leave when Keegan caught my eye across the patio. She had her phone propped up and was taking pictures of herself with the sunset in the background.

She’s always doing that, documenting her life through photos and videos. Before I moved in, I wasn’t aware of the massive following that she accumulated since starting college, but it’s incredibly impressive. The girl was a natural at making people interested in her most mundane daily tasks; she was intriguing.

At first I thought the posts were stupid until Nolan explained that she made a lot of money through partnerships and brand deals. I couldn’t help but see the value in that; the power she held by making other people money through her creative lens.

She was wearing a sparkly gold crop top that was loose around her chest and tied in the back. If she lifted her arms then the whole party would get a view of her perfect tits. She paired it with high waisted skinny jeans and another pair of those sinful thigh high boots that drove me crazy, but in tan instead of black this time.

Her hair was in a tight ponytail with little pieces hanging in the front and she had something on her cheeks that glittered in the light when she smiled. My feet were moving towards the door before I could even register that I was walking towards her.

“What the fuck are you wearing?” I demanded as I approached her.

She twirled around, a look of defiance in her eyes, “a shirt,” She said simply.

“Oh okay, sorry, I didn’t realize that you wanted the whole party to see those perky nipples that are clearly on display.” I pointed down at her chest.

She did a little shimmy, “you don't think the boys will enjoy them?”

I growled and moved so fast that she squealed, grabbing her belt loops and dragging her into me. Her hands rested on my chest and her eyes sparkled with mischief. I couldn’t help myself; this possession took over me when it came to her. It’s becoming harder and harder to keep my distance.

“What’s your plan here? Threaten me with a good time?” She touched her pointer finger to her lip, “oh no! I got it! You’re going to rip my shirt off so I can’t wear it! No?” She went back to thinking, “ohhhh okay, okay you’re gonna?—”

“Keegan,” I cut her off, “shut the fuck up.”

I gripped the back of her neck and pulled her face to mine so our lips crashed together. She immediately melted into me and opened her mouth so my tongue could delve inside. A soft moan left her throat and I grabbed her ass and pulled her tighter into me.

Pulling away, I looked down at her puffy lips.

“What was that for?” She asked quietly.

“It was a reminder that no one will ever get your blood boiling like I can,” I teased placing a light kiss on her lips, “and also a warning that I will literally rip the arms off of any man who dares to touch you tonight.”

With that she burst into laughter.

She thought I was joking.

“Come on, you big brute, let's get drunk.” She laced our fingers together and pulled me towards her room.

When we got into the hallway, she spun in her heels and snuck one last kiss before we headed down to meet up with everyone who showed up to pre-game. As if it was the most natural thing in the world. This girl had the ability to be my undoing and she didn't even know it.