Twisted Luck

By Julie Solorio

I’m Kaitlyn.

In my life, rarely are there dull moments. I seem to land myself in these...situations a lot. I am 25, and in college (yes, still!). I have just met the most gorgeous guy, Cole, in my math class. The only problem is that he is a little guarded. Just when I start to make progress with him, my crazy elderly neighbor Marge disappears after visiting some questionable dating sites. Who the hell has even heard of onlinebootycallhookups.com?!

Anyway, since my best friend and roommate Hailey and I have kind of adopted Marge, we join forces with her grandson Matt to help find her. Cole even decides to join in the hunt! Along the way, we cross paths with Ben - a creeper who might also be really dangerous.

Will I be able to keep us safe and out of trouble, find Marge, and land the guy? Or will my Twisted Luck screw everything up?(

• Language: English
• Publisher: Julie Solorio
• Release date: Jul 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311809933

Julie Solorio

Julie is a mom, a wife, a substitute teacher, a blogger and now a writer! She has always liked telling stories and making people laugh. Being funny has saved her on more than one occasion and she continues to use that as her most reliable form of self defense. She thanks you for reading Twisted Luck and hopes that you enjoy!

Book preview

* * * *

Twisted Luck

a Run of Luck novel

Copyright © 2014 by Julie Solorio

Formatting by JT Formatting (http://www.facebook.com/JTFormatting)

ISBN:

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved.

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products, bands, and/or restaurants referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

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Chapter 1: The Math

Chapter 2: Marge Wants a Booty Call?

Chapter 3: Hot Date

Chapter 4: The After Math

Chapter 5: Missing Person Report

Chapter 6: One for the Record Books

Chapter 7: Reno and a Shit Ton of Old People

Chapter 8: Celebrity Sighting

Chapter 9: A Trip to the Bar and the Emergency Room

Chapter 10: The Downside of Viagra

Chapter 11: Jackpot

Chapter 12: The Return of Mr. Monopoly

Chapter 13: Let the Games Begin

Chapter 14: Moons, Hammy, and Home

Chapter 15: It's All Fun and Games Until the Intervention

Chapter 16: A Few Firsts

Chapter 17: Who Wears Your Pants?

Chapter 18: Barking and Clucking

Chapter 19: Missing, Or Insane?

Chapter 20: Not a Wolf

Chapter 21: Halfcocked Plan

Chapter 22: Scared

Chapter 23: The Lost Days

Chapter 24: When Readings Go Wrong

Chapter 25: Dark Aura

Chapter 26: Homecomings and Reunions

Acknowledgments

About the Author

***

To my husband.

Thank you for loving me at my best and at my worst.

I love you, too.

***

HAVE YOU EVER heard the phrase playing it cool? So have I, but I don’t actually know how to do it. Right now I’m smiling like an idiot to myself in a room full of people not in on the joke! Pull yourself together Kaitlyn. But really, how does no one else see how strangely funny this is? People take life way too seriously.

I am, at the moment, in my extremely difficult mathematical theory class. I should definitely be taking notes and double checking my homework. Instead, I’m smiling like a maniac because my hippy professor has shown up barefoot.

My best friend Hailey has warned me about this teacher. She couldn’t wait for me to see him barefoot since feet completely gross me out. She thinks this guy is hilarious, and he is, but by the looks on the faces of my classmates, I’m the only one who thinks so.

College is funny. Half of the people here are here because they don’t have any better plan, and the rest as a means to an end. The ages of my classmates are all over the map and the only people who talk like they know each other are the sorority/fraternity people, and the ones that live in dorms and think college is, Like, the best thing ever! Maybe in a different environment I could nudge my neighbor and say, What’s happening with the bare feet? But not here.

Even as I take in the blank faces, Hailey’s description of his blackened caveman feet is all I can think of. I’m telling you, his feet are black like he rubs them with charcoal for some natural protection or something. My idiotic smile widens and I bite my lip in a failed attempt to pull myself together.

I look around the room trying to catch someone else looking at him and laughing to themselves, but if they’ve noticed they’re doing a way better job of playing it cool than I am. I’m admittedly a little old to be so titillated by such a silly thing, but really if 40 is the new 30 then 25 is the new 15, right?

I remember being little and thinking 25 was so old and I’d probably have a husband and kids. Yeah, well, I don’t have either of those things and, 25 or not, my teacher with bare-blackened feet is still funny as hell to me. And this isn’t even half as bad as the time my history teacher said Abe Drinkin instead of Abe Lincoln by mistake. I almost peed my pants that time. That was freakin’ hilarious!

Okay must focus. Dr. Scholl’s is asking us to prove that the set of rational numbers is an ordered field. An ordered field. Prove that. Okay, thinking caps on. I should know this, but I don’t.

Oh my God, did he just itch the bottom of one blackened caveman foot with the fat toe nail of the other foot? Eewwww, I snort out loud and then play it off with a fit of fake and slightly hysterical coughing. I really need to excuse myself to the bathroom or something.

Kaitlyn, are you okay? Did you get number four? Also, can I see what you got for the homework from last week? The questions come from behind me and jerk me back into reality.

I turn sideways in my chair and am struck by the beautiful green eyes of Cole the super-hot and equally hard to figure out demigod that sits by me.

Sorry Cole, I haven’t gotten that far yet. I hand him my homework from last week and try to ignore how hot my face feels. To say that I am affected by this guy might be an understatement.

Cole is the kind of guy that everyone likes, especially members of the opposite sex, myself included. I have seen the way girls try to send him not-so-subtle hints that they are into him. The touch of the arm, the leaning in while he talks, the laughing at everything he says while touching the arm and leaning in. It’s funny to watch but I only think that because he doesn’t return their advances. If he did I’d be less amused and more disappointed.

The first thing I noticed about Cole was his looks. He is gorgeous. He is around 5’10 maybe more since he’s a head taller than my 5’6. He has these amazingly toned arm muscles but he isn’t bulky. He is fit without looking like he spends his life in a gym. He has a strong often stubble-covered jaw that looks rugged and sexy without looking like he tried too hard. He almost always wears jeans, hats and lately has been rocking the thermal tee with arms pushed up to his elbows. He is so YUM! My favorite thing about him looks-wise though, are his full sexy lips. Specifically, the bottom lip which I frequently imagine having between my lips. I gently tug on his lip with my teeth while running my tongue across it before, wait where was I?

He’s funny in a way that isn’t forced or awkward like I can be. He is kind and considerate to all people in all situations. He is observant and sharp, not letting much slip past him. Once, in the library, a woman set her wallet down by a copier and a guy came behind her and picked it up. Cole intercepted him before he could leave with it. I couldn’t hear what was said, but he got the wallet back and then gave the guy some money out of his own wallet. When asked about it he just shrugged and said that everyone needed a break every once in a while. All the girls in our study group literally swooned at this. Yes, even me.

After the study group wallet situation, he and I got to talking. We hung back from the group as everyone was leaving and we had a great conversation. He talked about how desperate times make people do desperate things and how he felt bad for people that found themselves in those situations.

It touched me that he wasn’t judgmental and he was so empathetic. Then before I left HE touched me. He gave me the warmest most delicious hug as we parted ways. That night I went to sleep thinking of him. I hate to admit this, but since then I go to sleep most nights thinking of him.

I had really hoped things might progress after that talk but things are the same. We almost always sit next to each other during class and while studying. We usually manage to have side conversations each time too but he never texts or calls unless it’s school related. The most disturbing thing is that I know very little about him, just basic acquaintance-level information. I can’t figure out whether he is hiding something or just one of those people who gives nothing away. All I know for sure is that I like him, and I mean REALLY like him.

I have dated a few guys this year but no one has held my attention like Cole. (Not to mention the last guy tweaked my nipples like he was trying to tune some old school radio!) On top of his other swoon-worthy qualities he is so considerate, always holds the door for me and he smells like heaven. Yes I took a whiff when he got close enough, so what?

I just want the chance to get to know him better but I’m not sure how to bridge the gap between school friends and real life maybe you should come over and take off my panties friends. Sigh, Hailey and I really need to evaluate the situation later.

Hailey, Hailey, Hailey. Have you ever had a friend that you have so much fun with that even when you’re alone you smile like they are with you? That’s Hailey and I. She just gets me and I love that we can be goofy and have fun together as much as we can help each other out when life gets shitty. I just wish we had more classes together but since I had low priority for registration we aren’t even in school the same days this semester.

Did I mention that Hailey and I live together? We’ve lived for the last two years in a really cute 2 bed one bath apartment with a little balcony and a fabulously crazy downstairs neighbor whose name is Marge, but we like to call her Blanch. She would have been a Golden Girl if the Golden Girls were on last year and aired on MTV. What can I say? When we started spending time with Marge we became honorary old ladies, watching daytime TV and Golden Girls re-runs. Likewise Marge became an honorary college girl, watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians and MTV. Besides, Hailey and I were both really close with our grandmothers and they are all gone now. So, even though we help Marge out a lot, she is helping us too.

Cole asks me what I got for number 6 and I realize that I’ve been totally zoned out this whole time. Oops.

Oh, yeah, I’m still not there yet. Sorry. Now my face feels really hot. I hate that I get so embarrassed around him. Usually with guys I feel like I have the upper hand. Maybe that is because I typically find myself dating guys that care a little more than I do. There is something safe, yet inevitably boring, about dating guys that don’t give me butterflies in my stomach. I just haven’t, or hadn’t rather, found one that does in quite some time.

Cole turns his attention back to his work as I trail off once again. I am so thankful not to have his eyes on me as I know my face is tomato red. Okay definitely need to go to the bathroom now.

I leave and walk down the hall to the restroom. I can’t believe I’m still in school. A year and a half ago I was a semester away from graduation when an exciting opportunity persuaded me to try my luck elsewhere. After seven months as a floundering wine promoter followed by 10 months as a pitiful excuse for a waitress, I’m back in school. I mean they made it sound so glamorous; Wine Promoter. All I had to do was flirt and drink wine and get people to buy it, right? Wrong.

Turns out people are very snotty about their wine. I tried to learn all the types and the right words to describe them like earthy, nutty, or dry. But every time I felt like I had it down pretty well, someone asked me a question including a word like bouquet (which, by the way, has nothing to do with flowers, I asked), or monolithic or austere.

The problem was that, while I thought it would be cool to call myself a wine promoter, I quickly realized I just didn’t think it was all that important. The way people talked about wine as though they were trying to cure world hunger just kind of set my teeth on edge. So after I spat some really nasty wine on a potentially big spender, the winery and I decided it was time to part ways. In other words, they told me to get the hell out and never come back.

The only good thing that came from my stint at a winery is that Hailey and I graduated from beer to wine which makes us feel much more sophisticated, especially when we are drunk. However, in my year and a half away from school the prerequisites for my bachelor’s degree have changed. So now, to add insult to injury, I have two semesters to go instead of one. It’s only a year, I remind myself now and on an almost daily basis.

It was a struggle for a while after leaving the winery to get back into school. Thank God I have my family and Hailey or I might be under a bridge or something. My family and Hailey’s are close and help us out a lot. We are really lucky. Our dads are both firefighters and work together for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention, also known as Cal Fire. They got close at work and then started doing the BBQ thing when they could. Luckily our moms hit it off instantly and as an 11 year old I welcomed a new best girlfriend whose first words to me were, You’re really rocking that braid, do mine so we can match! We’ve been BFF’s ever since.

For now Hailey and I are tutoring and babysitting. It’s really nice because we get to make our own schedules and the money is more than enough. You’d be shocked to discover how much some people will pay to not fail and to be able to leave their kids for a few peaceful hours. And okay, I’m not proud of myself (much) but I’ve even written the occasional paper for someone. There! I said it and it’s out there and now we can move on.

Hailey and I both have decent savings accounts. Mine because my parents were savers and have been saving for me since forever. Hailey because of the same reason plus she had some great uncle who never had kids and had buckets of money and left her a pretty nice sum. So here we are living the college life, and not doing too bad. Wine promoter be damned!

I make it to the bathroom and check my reflection in the mirror. I smile at myself just to see how I’ll look when I get back to class and smile at Cole. Holy crap! I have a piece of steak stuck in my teeth. Oh no! Don’t panic maybe he didn’t see it. Oh of course he saw it you idiot. I swear to myself to always brush after meals from now on. I pick it out and try to ignore the slightly redder reflection of myself as I reapply my lip gloss and smooth the crinkle in my brows. I practice my smile one more time, slightly better.

After the steak in the teeth disaster I decide a full body inspection is in order. I finger comb my medium length brown hair. I fluff my bangs and then push them back to the side. I look at my nose, okay I totally do a quick booger check. I really love my nose. It’s cute and buttony, but without making me look 12. My eyes are blue and compliment my complexion. Also, no eye crusties so check there. My perky breasts are a full B cup, but more than a mouthful is a waste anyway right? I do a slight bra adjustment and then turn around to inspect the rear view. I have a nice round butt and I’ve gathered over the years that I attract ass men. I wonder if Cole is an ass man. Cole! Right, class.

Back in class I see that Professor Caveman has asked everyone to work in pairs to solve a few of the harder problems. I glance around at all the pairs deep in thought. Everyone that is, except Cole. Oh my, he waited for me to be his partner! Nervous fluttering erupts in my stomach. He looks expectantly at me and all I can think is: Thank God I got the food out of my teeth. I sit down and realize I’ve been smiling since I walked into the room. Get a grip, Katy!

Cole sometimes makes me think he is interested. I really want him to be. I feel a pull towards him that gets stronger all the time. I feel like we have chemistry and I’ve even felt butterflies a time or two. The problem is that I can’t decide whether it’s only me having this experience in the pit of my stomach.

He makes me nervous and twitchy and I feel embarrassed even when I don’t have food in my teeth! I can’t quite figure out why I feel like this around him. That is one of the reasons I want to get to know him better. An admittedly small reason among many much more compelling ones mostly centered on how delicious he is.

So what are you doing tonight? Cole asks as we chat after we completed our three problems.

Oh, just going home and probably trying to get all this homework figured out. What about you? I try not to get too excited. He has been showing more interest lately. I feel like we are crossing a threshold. He is still sort of closed off and distant though, or maybe I’m just reading too much into things that don’t need to be analyzed. Like the time he smiled at me across the table of our study group. I spent 10 minutes searching for a reason for that smile and when I couldn’t find one, I spent another 5 watching to see if he smiled like that at anyone else.

I’m going to go to the gym when I leave here. Of course he is! Like that body needs any more sculpting. I casually glance at my purse to make sure my Snickers wrapper