With my door locked, I free the beast and fist it with two hands, trying to calm the fuck down. But then I remember Jenna in those jeans. They were so tight, they cupped her ass and showed off her curves. I imagine what it would feel like spinning her around and taking her mouth. That wide and sassy mouth of hers has captivated me from day one of meeting her. Slowly, I begin to stroke myself. I picture picking her up and finding the nearest wall, pressing her there for tempting me the way she does. Nothing between us will be gentle in that moment. It will be primal and raw. And she’ll take all of me, screaming my name and begging for more. It isn’t long before cum spurts in jets. The fucked-up thing is the need to be inside Jenna still consumes me. There is no way I can wait a month. She has to see reason.
The next morning I’m in the kitchen making coffee when Braedon walks in.
“Sorry for the biology demonstration last night.” But the look he gives me says he’s not truly sorry at all. “Kym needed me,” he says cheekily. “Plus, I didn’t think you’d be home so early.”
“It was past midnight.” But there isn’t heat behind my words.
“That’s early, man, or have you forgotten?”
Ignoring his jab, as I do best, I ask, “Are you coming in with me today to work on cars or what?”
“Or what?” he replies.
I ruffle his hair and smile. My little brother is living the dream.
“She’s still here, isn’t she?”
When he nods, I can only shake my head. “I’ll be in later. I swear,” he protests.
I don’t bank on it. Sometimes I envy him.
“It’s your call. I’m only trying to help you. Doing your own oil changes can save you down the road,” I say over my shoulder before heading out the door.
“But I’ll always have you.”
Closing the door, I hope he’s right. Besides, what I really want is for him to finish college, not be a mechanic like me.
Saturdays are always busy at the shop. They are also the days when I get the least amount done, as I’m stuck at the front because Dana refuses the job and it’s not Jeff’s thing. Dana complains that women come in wanting me to handle them personally, so why should she waste time doing that job? I have to admit, more than half of my customers are women. Business is business, I think. The color of money doesn’t change because a woman is the one paying. Just when I think I can leave the office, Mom walks in.
“Brandon, honey.”
She carries a bag she sets on the counter before me. “Is your brother here? I brought you guys lunch.” Her eyes scour the area for my baby brother.
“He’s not here.”
Disappointment is evident on her face, and I try not to be hurt by it. Since Braedon moved out after graduating high school, he doesn’t go visit her that often and avoids her calls. So, of course, she wants to see him, I tell myself. I don’t mention to her that he might be by later. He won’t thank me if I do.
I eye the bag. Despite all her faults, she’s a pretty good cook.
“Make sure to save some for him. I’m not sure what you boys eat these days.”
“I do cook.” I learned it from you.
She waves me off as Dana walks in.
“Do I smell food?”
Mom frowns. “Yes, I made lunch for my boys.”
There is emphasis on the last part, making it clear Dana isn’t invited to have any.
“By the way, have you found someone yet?” Mom asks her, inviting trouble. She doesn’t like Dana. But it’s too late to stop it as Mom continues. “You’re not a bad looking girl. I’m sure some boy will look past all the tattoos you have.”
Dana grins like a cat that’s spotted a mouse. She moves to stand right next to me, placing a possessive hand on my shoulder. It’s like watching a tidal wave come onto shore.
“Brandon doesn’t mind them.” Dana gives her a toothy smile.
Mom immediately goes into an attack dog mode. “No man will turn away free milk from a cow.”
“Okay,” I say, throwing my hands up. “Dana, go back to work. And, Mom, just stop.”
Dana’s glare in Mom’s direction is all teeth. When the door closes, Mom says, “I never did like that girl. You should be careful. You’re using condoms, right?”
I rake my fingernails through my hair. “Mom, don’t go there. I don’t say anything to you about who you choose to spend time with.”
“Brock thinks the world of you,” she cuts in. “He says he’s going to pay you back for our trip, which was lovely by the way, even though you didn’t ask.”
First I think, the guy always makes promises about paying me back and I’ve yet to see a dime. I also want to tell her she hasn’t given me a moment to speak, so I couldn’t ask her about the trip. But I bite my tongue. I’d always promised myself to be better than my dad and treat her the way she should be.
Sucking it up, I ask, “How was your trip?”
Pleased, she launches into a story about what they did that wraps up with, “It was really good, actually. I got a little sunburned, but nothing time won’t fix. And how is your brother doing in school? He barely talks to me these days.”
She gives me her sad eyes that translates to it being my fault for not getting my brother to pay more attention to her.
“He’s good, just busy,” I say, making excuses for him and giving me an out. “I’m sure he’ll walk out of that school with a 4.0.” A perfect score, I think. And I’m good, too, Mom. Thanks for asking.
“Okay, I’ve got a spa appointment. Make sure your brother eats. He’s a growing boy.”
Spa appointment? Somehow I’ll be paying for it, and it doesn’t bother me all that much. Mom’s had a hard life even before we came into the picture. She doesn’t balk at working. She just has had the worst luck when it comes to jobs. If I can give back for all the sacrifices she made in life for us, so be it.
She leaves, and thankfully, no more customers show up. I work hard the rest of the day trying to exorcise Mom’s ghost from my thoughts. I’m closing up shop when I get a call.
“Lexa,” I say into the phone.
“Brandon. I’m calling because I’m heading out of town tomorrow, and I thought we could have brunch at my hotel. I’ve gotten the contract from the lawyer and figured we could go over it.”
“Does Jeff know?”
It’s my subtle way of asking if anything happened between the two and if she’s okay with it.
“He knows. He’s coming to see me tonight, which is why I can’t have dinner with you and why I suggested brunch.” She giggles. “I think I’ll be getting up late tomorrow.”
I laugh. “Sounds good. I’ll see you around eleven?”
“Make it noon.”
I hang up, laughing.
“Brandon.”
Frowning, I turn toward my office. “Dana, I thought you had left. I’m about to lock up.”
“Can you come back here? There’s something I need to show you.”
Sighing, I have a feeling what’s coming next. But I remember the food I’d left in the fridge and need to get it anyway.
As soon as I step inside the cramped office, Dana shuts the door. Her shirt comes off, and she stands in a bra that cups her small breasts.
“Dana,” I warn, picking her shirt up off the floor and holding it out to her.
“Brandon, you and I both know you have an itch. I see it in your eyes. I know you better than anyone.”
“I told you I’m not interested anymore.” I’m pissed, and I’m trying to remain calm.
“And I would have let it go if I didn’t know you need this. So stop thinking.”
She rises on her toes and kisses me. I don’t kiss her back. Her next move is to take a vise hold on my dick through the work jumpsuit I haven’t taken off yet.
“You’re thinking about this too much. You’re single and horny and so am I. Let’s just do this.”
Thirteen
JENNA
After seeing Brandon the other night makes
me regret that month-long dating hiatus more than I can say. All I can do is think of him, and when I saw him give that redhead a quick birthday kiss, my jealousy flared to the point that Berkeley had to clamp her hand on my arm. When I finally calmed down, she dragged me out of there and put me in an Uber, saying, “You need to call that dude before it’s too late.”
Her words keep ringing through my head, and all I can see are his thighs stuffed in those jeans, with his bulge showing. My palms constantly flex with the itch to touch him. It’s safe to say I’m driving myself batshit crazy.
Pushing those thoughts aside, because they only get me upset with myself, I get dressed and head to my parents’ house for the couple of hours of Sunday-dinner-torture. Well, I do get to eat Betty’s food, too.
Not wanting any more grief from my parents, because I’m already number one on their shit list, I decide to get there early. Prancing in, expecting their worst, I’m surprised to see Mom in a great mood.
“Hello, darling. You’re looking beautiful today.”
Me? Beautiful? When I broke it off with her favorite son-in-law-to-be?
“Er, thanks, Mom. You’re looking pretty darn good yourself.” I lean in to give her a peck on the cheek. “Where’s Dad?”
“He’s out back, doing some man thing, I believe.”
“Man thing?” What the hell does that mean?
She waves me off and pats the seat next to her. Now this is weird. She never does this.
“So, Jenna dear, tell me about your week.”
“Uh, it was the usual. Work and stuff.” She never wants to know about my week. Has she been nipping out of the moonshine jug that Betty keeps in the kitchen for special occasions? Yeah, I discovered that by accident when I was in high school.
“Do you like working for that boat thing?” I finally caved about a year ago and gave up my job at Charleston Spaces due to the overwhelming pressure I was getting from Kenneth and my mom. Neither of them wanted me to work, but I insisted on doing something.
“Mother, it’s not a boat thing. It’s the Charleston Tour of Yachts, and it’s a huge event. You are aware because you’ve actually been to it.”
There goes her little hand wave again. “Yes, well, you know how I forget.”
“You only forget because you don’t think I should have to work.” Bingo. I hear a car pull up in the drive and am so happy I want to run out and hug my brother’s neck. But then my mom stands up and clasps her hands together, which is super weird. She never gets up to greet us when we come over. We’ve been trained to come in and pay her our respects. So, what’s up with this?
When he walks in the room, it all makes sense. I’d wondered why Kenneth hadn’t called me all week, begging to come back and save him from ruin with his family. He’d been uncharacteristically silent, but I’d passed it off as he knew I was serious about the breakup. Boy, was I stupid. These two must have been conniving.
“Jenna, love,” Kenneth says, as he kisses my cheek, and hands me a gigantic bouquet of fresh cut flowers. Holy botanical gardens, this thing weighs a friggin’ ton.
“Jenna dear, you must close your mouth. You appear as though you are catching flies,” Mom says.
My jaws clamp together with a loud click.
Mom continues in her happy-go-lucky tone. “Isn’t this wonderful? Kenneth is here, and he wants you back. We all know what a huge mistake you made when you broke off the engagement with him. But, darling, everyone gets the prenuptial jitters. It’s quite normal, as I was telling Kenneth when he called. I’m sure you two can work out your differences, and we can all have our lovely wedding after all. Isn’t that right, Kenneth?”
“Yes, I think so. Jenna, you know we are great together, and that you will love being Mrs. Balfour. Just think how much you’ll enjoy your role as my wife.”
Wait—is this the same man I caught with a dick up his ass, and he still thinks becoming his wife is a possibility? What the hell is wrong with him?
“You seriously think that after …” I have to pause and regroup for a second because anger clouds my thoughts. But Mom butts in before I can continue.
“And, Jenna darling, you won’t have to work such tedious hours at that yacht thing anymore, freeing you up to play tennis and golf.”
My gaze bounces between them like a tennis ball in a match between Venus and Serena. “What? Are you two crazy? We can’t possibly get married!”
“Of course, you can. All you have to do is say, ‘I will,’ when the minister prompts you,” Mom insists.
They’re nuts. Both of them. Kenneth and my mom stare at me with glazed grins, waiting for my response. Here I was trying to be the nice guy, while Kenneth is conspiring with my mom. He is delusional. Now what am I supposed to do?
“No, we can’t get married. And do you want to know why?” As I speak, I drill Kenneth’s eyes with my own. The color bleeds from his face as though I’ve severed his carotid artery. His head starts to shake from side to side. He looks like he’s having a seizure. “Because he cheated on me!” I say through clenched teeth.
Mom grabs his hand, asking, “Kenneth, are you all right?”
“Albeokidntno,” is all he mutters.
While he’s having his fit, I walk up to him and put the death grip on his arm. Whispering into his ear, I say, “Enough of this game. If you try this shit again with my mom, your little secret with Horace won’t be a secret anymore. When you can speak, you tell her you don’t want to marry me. Got it?”
Mom cries out as I move to leave. “Jenna, many men have affairs. Kenneth can get over this, can’t you, Kenneth?”
Unbelievable.
He blabs some gibberish, and I walk away, leaving him with his cohort. I storm out the front door, in time to see Ben and Sam pull up.
“What’s wrong with you?” Ben asks. When I tell them what happened, neither of them can believe it. “Damn, Kenneth is really playing with fire, isn’t he?”
Sam chuckles. “From the looks of Jenna, I’d say he was playing with dynamite. She about has smoke shooting out of her ears.”
“Wouldn’t you?” I shoot back.
“Damn straight I would,” Sam answers.
“Ben?”
“Yeah. Same here.”
“Hey, let me ask you two something. Considering these circumstances, how long should I wait to get out in the dating world?”
They share a glance, and Sam says, “If I were you, and considering what he just did, not to mention he fucked around on you, I’d be out there already. If anyone asks, you can say he wasn’t faithful and leave it at that.”
Ben nods, saying, “I agree. Kenneth is a nice guy, but honestly, Jenna, he pretty much fucked you over. And I know what you’re going to say. But you never really loved the guy. Don’t try to hide it. So get out there and live your life. You know how I feel about that.”
They’re both right, and I didn’t love Kenneth the way I should have nor did he love me. I just never had the nerve to tell him. And in some ways we were in the same boat. However, I was never unfaithful to him.
Heading to my car, I say over my shoulder, “You all have fun. Tell Mom and Dad to enjoy dinner. I’m outta here.”
Their laughter follows me. But to say I’m pissed over what Kenneth did, doesn’t cover it. I tried to protect him, and then he stabs me in the back. If he doesn’t get Mom off my back, then I’m all out with his sexual preferences. A girl has to do what is necessary to protect herself. But the worst thing is, I want to call Brandon. Only I don’t. The last thing I want is for him to see himself as the guy I run to whenever a problem arises. But that month thing—fuck it. I’ll get through the next few days, and then it’s my turn to live my life exactly how I want to. And that includes having Brandon in it.
My resolve firm, I feel free for the first time in I’m not sure how long. I want to run through the streets of Charleston, naked. Okay, not really. But I do want to celebrate. Too bad Cate and Drew returned home or I would call her up and beg her to eat brunch w
ith me. I could really go for some mimosas or bloodies. I wonder if Berkeley and the girls would be up for it.
Shooting her a text, I wait for her response.
It’s almost noon when my phone dings.
Berkeley: Just leaving Kylian’s. What did you have in mind?
Me: How about The Rooftop at The Restoration? It’s one of the hot spots on the roof of a killer hotel.
Berkeley: I’ll round up the posse and meet you there at 1:00.
Me: Cool. See ya then.
For once I’m glad that Mom insists on eating early and I’m glad I went early. That gave me my opening for brunch with the fun brigade. Maybe by one, some of the church crowd will have thinned out, too.
We all arrive at approximately the same time and have to wait about twenty minutes for a table. It ends up being only Berkeley, Hayley, and me. As we stand in line, out walks the redhead, with Brandon in her wake.
“Jenna,” he says, clearly surprised to see me. The redhead grins like she’s watching the greatest show on Earth.
“The one and only,” I sass back.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
“Eating brunch. Why else would I be here?” My eyes move from Brandon to his companion.
“Brandon, aren’t you going to introduce us?” she asks.
“Oh, yeah. Jenna, this is Lexa, my business associate.”
Lexa extends her long fingers with their shiny manicured red nails, and I shake it as I stare at Brandon. “Business associate?”
“Yeah,” he says. “It’s a long story.”
“I’ll leave you two to chat. I need to meet someone. Nice meeting you, Jenna.” Lexa walks away.
The hostess approaches Berkeley, and she motions to me that our table is ready.
“I have to go. Our table—”
The Cruel and Beautiful Series Boxset Page 92