The Right Kind of Wrong Read online

  "What's stopping me from just taking all the credit?"

  I knew he'd ask that. "Oh, don't worry about that. You'll never get my sources. And as we both know, no source equals no story. So you can either take the deal or leave it."

  He squints at me. "Fine. What's the news that you think will blow this thing wide open?"

  I hand him the file and when he reads it, he smiles so wide, I see every single pearly white. "Holy shit!"

  "I told you."

  "So basically, a professor at Sacramento State is running the identity fraud ring?"

  "Makes sense. Who would know how to scam the system better than a technology fiend with an advanced degree? I couldn't figure out what connected all the students together, but I guarantee when we cross reference members of the ring with students in his class, we'll have a match. The kicker? His wife is head of the criminology department, too."

  "Hot damn."

  I can't help but smile. I knew this was going to be huge. Kyle looks manic as he stares at me.

  "There's one problem."

  I look at him confused. "What's that?"

  "How are you going to prove all this? Just because your source gave you a piece of paper with what's going on doesn't mean it's the truth."

  He underestimates me.

  "What kind of journalist do you think I am? I'm meeting with my source. Who has photo evidence," I say the last part mockingly.

  He shakes his head and smirks at me. "You know, maybe I was wrong about you," he says as he walks to me. I back up, but he keeps his eyes trained on mine. I take another step back and Kyle's hands pin me against the wall and he kisses me so hard it hurts. There was a day I'd have found this sexy but now, it feels dirty. Wrong.

  "Kyle, stop. I didn't call you over for this."

  "Shh, I know you missed me while you were gone." He traces the soft spot of my neck and I shudder. It's all wrong. Where he's rough, Vince is gentle.

  "What the fuck?" Vince's voice sounds from the front door.

  Shit. Shit. Shit.

  He storms out the door. Kyle smirks. "I knew you would come around to my theory."

  I push him off me and I rush out the door after Vince. When I see him halfway across the highway, I run.

  "Vince, wait! Wait, dammit."

  He turns to me, his eyes red rimmed and glassy. "What?" he screams.

  I try to grab his arm but he shoves me away. "That is not what it looked like."

  He laughs manically. "That's what they all say. I think you can be a little more creative."

  "My source left me the info I need to break the fraud story. I needed Kyle's help to get it to Roderick. That's why he came over."

  "Really? He looked like he was really helping you out."

  The tears are starting to fall because I'm not sure there's anyway out of this mess. "Vince, I told him to stop."

  He looks at me and shakes his head. "I don't believe you." He turns and walks off. I chase him.

  "Vince, please, let's talk about this."

  He stops. "There's nothing else to talk about. Just leave me alone, Kara. I don't want to see you again." Then he walks away so fast, I know there's no point chasing him.

  I walk back to my apartment and Kyle is gone. So is my file.

  Fuck me.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  The amount of times I call and text Vince is ridiculous. I walk around my apartment practicing my speech for when he decides to call me back. If he ever calls me back.

  And Kyle, that asshole. He stole my file. Thank god he didn't know about the meeting place. I rest my head against my knees and rock back and forth on my bed. What am I going to do? Why is my life such a fucking mess all the time?

  My computer dings and a new message pops up. I open it and it's from Vince. It completely shatters my heart.

  I uploaded all the footage for you. You're on your own with this one. Don't worry. I'll get out of the way so you don't have to worry about me fucking it up.

  I download the movie file and it starts to play. The film starts at the library where the camera follows me through the book stacks. It moves through our road trip, catching every jilted syllable, all the tension between us. The World War II museum is incredible and it's like he caught every facet of the tanks.

  I watch us go from two people who couldn't stand each other to a boy and a girl who start to fall for each other against both their expectations.

  Even when I was so mean to him, his camera always found its way back to me. He cared about me even when I couldn't be bothered to believe him.

  I cry into my pillow. Loud, heavy sobs come out and I wish Vince would believe me that I don't have any feelings for Kyle. Nothing. It was always nothing. I'm so lost in my thoughts, I barely hear my phone ringing.

  It's my grandmother.

  I try to pull myself together. To sound normal. "Hello?"

  "Kara? Are you okay? You sound weird."

  I don't say anything for a minute.

  "What happened, honey?"

  I burst into tears and tell her what happened in between sobs.

  "He's probably just hurt. Men don't think straight when it comes to this stuff."

  "But he thinks I'm lying and I'm not. I was trying to get Kyle away from me."

  She sighs. "I don't like this Kyle character at all."

  "Grandma."

  "All you can do is apologize to him again. Tell the truth. Hold onto the things you love because when you lose them, guilt and blame will build up around your heart until one day it's like you're walking around as nothing more than a zombie. Trust me. If you love him, which I think you do, you need to go after him. Don't accept anything except a chance to explain yourself."

  I sniffle and think about what she says. I have to make him see that he's the one I want, not Kyle. "Okay. You're right."

  "And, Kara?"

  "Yeah?"

  "You're a Pierce. It's not in your nature to give up."

  I smile. "I know, Grandma. Thanks. Love you."

  "Love you, too. Call me if you need anything."

  When we hang up, I'm refreshed with the hope that I still have a chance with Vince. I pull myself together and decide to get him back.

  I drive to his house but when I get there, it's completely dark inside. I knock on the door. No answer. I walk around to the back and try that door. Same thing. I use the stack of bricks in the back to stand up on to see through his back window. Darkness.

  I don't even have to think about where Vince is. I already know. I drive to Monroe's Theatre and park at the curb right as Vince is walking into the garage.

  When I get to the entrance, he's sitting in the egg chair, his computer in his lap. I clear my throat and say, "Pretty dead in here tonight."

  God. I suck at apologies.

  "What are you doing here?"

  "Looking for you," I say.

  "I told you I didn't want to talk to you again."

  I sit down in the chair beside him and plead with my eyes. "I know, but I'm not lying when I tell you that it wasn't what you think it was. That lead from my source? It's huge. It'll get my job back. I need Kyle's reputation to back it."

  Vince shakes his head. "That's just it, Kara. You don't need him, you never have. You know you can do this on your own."

  "Roderick would never take the story on without Kyle, he even said—"

  Vince grabs my arms. "So you make him. Just like you did with this entire project. You made all of it possible. You don't give yourself enough credit and then you let people use you because you think you can't do it on your own."

  My head is reeling and I cross my arms over my chest. "That's not fair."

  "No. You know what's not fair? Watching someone you care about throw away a good thing in their life for something as stupid as a news anchor wannabe and stupid story lead."

  "I suppose you think you're the good thing, right?" I mumble, trying so hard to break the tension. And to my surprise, it works.

  The corners of his mouth tu
rn upward and despite his best efforts, he smiles. "God. You drive me crazy sometimes."

  "I do? What about you? You're like a damn rollercoaster. Half the time you're doing something sweet and adorable and the next you're a complete jackass."

  "But a very attractive, good-in-bed jackass, right?"

  I slug him in the arm before turning serious again. "But you know that I wasn't trying to get back together with Kyle? He kissed me. I was trying to get him off me."

  Vince sighs. "I don't know, Kara. It didn't look like that."

  "I haven't stopped thinking about you since I dropped you off at home. When you sent me the video footage, my heart shattered into a million awful fucking pieces. I knew if I didn't come find you, I'd never be able to put them back together the right way. I don't know how it happened, but somewhere in between Utah and now I started to fall for you. I can't imagine anyone else experiencing what we did in a week. Please, Vince, believe me when I tell you I don't want Kyle. Or anyone else. I want you. Even if you are my right kind of wrong."

  His blue eyes shine against the orange glow of the popcorn machine and even though he looks like he hasn't slept one bit, he's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. He pulls my face forward and his lips are like coming home. "I went crazy when I saw you two together. I had to leave otherwise I was going to kill him."

  "I'm so sorry." I kiss him, letting my mouth reassure him. We move to the couch and spend what feels like hours exploring all the undiscovered bends and twists of our bodies.

  "What about the project? We have so much to do and there's so much footage. I want to include it all," I say when we finally come up for air.

  "Everything?" He asks a mischievous grin on his face.

  "Okay, maybe not everything. We can leave out the part about us."

  "What about us?" Vince prods.

  "I'm still figuring it out," I say as I pull him in for another kiss. "But we've got a lot of time to work it out"

  Epilogue

  Monroe Theater is buzzing with chatter. Every seat is taken and more people are still filing in. Someone claps me on the back and I thank them with a smile. I look around and find Vince by the popcorn machine talking to a man. He catches my eye and shakes the empty popcorn bag.

  I settle into the chair and soak up every minute of the perfect content that fills my soul.

  "Is this seat taken?"

  I recognize the voice before I look up and see my father. I jump from my seat and hug him tight.

  "I didn't think you were going to make it."

  He smiles at me and he's practically beaming. "I wouldn't miss this for the world. I'm so proud of you, Kara."

  Vince walks over and shakes my father's hand. "Jack, nice to see you again."

  "You too, son."

  Vince glances at his watch and clears his throat. "It's show time. Be right back.” He walks to the front of the room and shakes a cowbell. I can't help but laugh.

  The room grows silent and every eye is on Vince.

  "Thank you all for coming tonight. It's a very special night for me and for…" He points at me and my face grows hot. "My girlfriend, Kara. We worked our asses off on this project and I have to say, I think it paid off. I'm proud to announce, Kara and I will be leaving for Massachusetts as the first ever couple to win the fellowship to The Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism. So, without further ado, I hope you enjoy the film."

  The lights go down and the white screen blinks to life with old pictures of my grandfather and Charlie. Vince slides in the seat next to me and puts his arm around my shoulder.

  He kisses the top of my head and leans over, his breath tickling my ear.

  "This was one hell of a project. Any thought on what we do now, Ms. Pierce?" He asks in his best anchor voice.

  "Yeah. What kind of crazy adventure are we going on next?"

  The Right Kind of Wrong Playlist

  Listen to the playlist on Spotify

  At The Beginning — Richard Marx and Donna Lewis

  Everything Has Changed — Taylor Swift Ft. Ed Sheeran

  One More Night — Maroon 5

  If You Asked Me To- Céline Dion

  I Want Crazy — Hunter Hayes

  Breathe — Taylor Swift and Colbie Callait

  Unpredictable — The Icarus Account

  Kiss Me — Ed Sheeran

  Right Kind Of Wrong — LeAnn Rimes

  If I Lose Myself — OneRepublic

  I Won’t — Colbie Callait

  If I Never See Your Face Again — Maroon 5

  Hope For Me Yet — Marc Broussard

  I Know Better Now — Maggie Rose

  Hands All Over — Maroon 5

  Rhythm O Love — Plain White T’s

  Hear Me Now — Boyce Avenue

  Back To Me Without You — The Band Perry

  Kiwi — Maroon 5

  Better — Maggie Rose

  Between Sheets — Imogen Heap

  Highway Don’t Care — Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban

  Where You Are — Marc Broussard

  Treacherous — Taylor Swift

  What Becomes Of The Broken Heart — Rod Stewart

  Little Of Your Time — Maroon 5

  Right On Back To You — Keith Urban

  Change Your Mind — Boyce Avenue

  Storm Warning — Hunter Hayes

  This — Ed Sheeran

  Holy Ground — Taylor Swift

  The Moment I Said It — Imogen Heap

  Haunted — Taylor Swift

  Crash and Burn — Savage Garden

  Stay — The Icarus Account

  I’ll Be There For You — Boyce Avenue

  You’re Not Sorry — Taylor Swift

  When A Heart Breaks — Ben Rector

  How Am I Supposed To Live Without You — Michael Bolton

  Just A Fool — Christina Aguliera and Blake Shelton

  I’ll Be — Edwin McCain

  [Kissed You] Good Night — Gloriana

  Give Me Love — Ed Sheeran

  It Must Have Been Love — Roxette

  I Almost Do — Taylor Swift

  Come Back To Me — Josh Hoge

  Iris — The Goo Goo Dolls

  Raining On A Sunday — Keith Urban

  If This Were A Movie — Taylor Swift

  Better That We Break — Maroon 5

  Skin — Zola Jesus

  Pieces — Rascal Flatts

  Get The Girl Back — Hanson

  Control — The Icarus Account

  We Both Know — Colbie Callait and Gavin DeGraw

  Last Kiss — Taylor Swift

  It’s Your Love — Tim McGraw

  I Can’t Make You Love Me — Bonnie Raitt

  Acknowledgments

  This book would not be possible without many, many individuals. Firstly, I'd like to thank my big, loud, amazing family. I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without your love. Thanks for understanding when I skipped out on family events or left things early because I had writing obligations to get to. All of your support means more to me than I could ever thank you for. You are my relentless cheerleaders and without you by my side, I would have quit this "writing thing " a long time ago.

  And Mom—thanks for grounding me to my room all those years ago—it was instrumental to my love of reading and writing. I’ll always be your little girl that dances to the beat of a different drum and I cannot express how much I appreciate you loving and supporting me in spite of it.

  And Aunt Tami—How could I EVER forget the little people?

  To the incredible Eby family—you have been an invaluable source of support to me and an enormous thank you goes to Julie. I felt the fear…and did it anyway. Thank you for believing in me when I felt like so many people didn’t.

  A million thanks go to Amy Dvorak—one email can change a life forever. Thanks for changing mine.

  Thank you to Mel and Spencer Pins, my go-to guys for WWII stuff. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me guidance when it came t
o WWII information. Without you—my grandfather's legacy wouldn't have seemed as authentic.

  I wouldn't be where I'm at today if it weren't for my amazing and wonderful critique partners and beta-readers. You guys talked me off the ledge, kept me sane but most importantly, you've given me the best critiques in the world and you helped shaped this novel into what it is today. For that, I'm eternally grateful. So a big thank you to Jade T., Emily H., Kathy J., Denice E., Dan M., Andrea H., all of the Constellation Society members, (Ellen R., Rachel S., Cheryl H., Cass M., Megan G., Marlana A., Kate T.) and lastly, my love goes to the girls of The Revolutionaries (Emily M., Clista S., Ketty M., Kristin A., Janda M., Amy S.,)—you've all given me the inspiration, support and confidence to make my dreams a reality.

  Thank you to Jerry R., who kept up with me throughout the years though he didn’t have to and has come to be one of my biggest supporters. Thank you for being an early reader and for inspiring me to be a better writer!

  A huge thanks goes to David W. who was the inspiration for my beloved Vince. You are every bit as charming and loyal, (not to mention as much of a smart-ass) as Vince is. Thank you for saving me from that basketball game so many years ago. I love you!

  I would like to thank the first set of eyes on my chapters—Terri L., Kelsey L., Breanne J., Molly P., Jessica Z., Kari W., Micaela C., and Victoria L.

  Lastly, I would like to thank all of the people in my life who have supported me on this journey, including the four teachers who instilled in me the love of writing. Kate K., Dee, Tracy H., and Angie A.—you have no idea the impact you've had on my life and my love of literature. Thank you. (And it’s still weird not to call you guys by your last names).

  About the Author

  Once upon a time there was a little girl who fell in love with books then she grew up to write her own.

  Jade has participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) six times and enjoys copious amounts of coffee. When she's not writing, she enjoys trashy reality T.V. and reading everything she can get her hands on.