Not Even Close (A New Generation)

by Elizabeth Reyes

  She nodded with a slight hesitant smile. “You like it?”

  Byron touched her thick brunette tresses. It felt just as soft as always. “Jesus, Savannah, you could have green hair and you’d still be beautiful.”

  That made her smile bigger. “Thank you.” She shrugged. “I’d been thinking of going solid brown for a while. So, when Nena mentioned going even lighter recently, I decided maybe this will finally help people tell us apart.”

  Before she could open the trunk, he pulled her to him, and she eagerly wrapped her arms around his neck. He kissed her, and as usual her response to his touch so genuinely reciprocated everything he was feeling for her.

  Determined to not ruin shit by getting all pushy or overthinking her ex wanting to reconnect, Byron enjoyed the taste of her sweet mouth a little longer kissing her deeper instead. Of course, her ex would still have feelings for her. How couldn’t he? But how could Byron blame her for that? She moaned then giggled against his mouth. He pulled away and was instantly smiling again at the sight of her bright eyes.

  “Oh my God, Byron” she said breathlessly with that now familiar dazed smile as she gazed into his eyes. “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of your kisses.”

  “Yeah, same here.” He adjusted his crotch not so subtly, which only made her laugh more.

  “To be continued,” she murmured turning to her trunk and opened it. “You can’t look in the bags and you have to give me a moment to set up in the kitchen so that it’s not so obvious what I’m making, okay?”

  Byron wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, not caring that there was no missing the intrusive erection that pushed up against her and kissed her shoulder. She stiffened slightly then laughed under her breath. “Tonight’s gonna be fun.”

  “Damn straight.” Giving into his feelings he buried his face in her neck breathing in the sweet, sweet scent of Savannah. “I missed you, baby.”

  For a moment she didn’t say anything, as Byron started to regret being so obviously whipped, and the slip of the term of endearment. Until she turned around suddenly to face him with a big almost surprised smile bringing her hand to his face. “I missed you too.”

  Gazing deep into her eyes, Byron wondered if she could hear his pounding heart. What the hell had she done to him in such a short time? She kissed him softly this time. Not frantically like they’d kissed earlier but emotionally it was still insanely intense.

  Byron kissed her one last time before grabbing a handful of bags from the trunk of her car. She grabbed a few bags and closed her trunk. “I’ll come back for my overnight bag later.”

  With the shop closed now and everyone gone home they had the whole place to themselves. Despite their hands being full the whole way up the stairs was nonstop kissing and giggling.

  As expected, once they reached the kitchen and rid themselves of the bags, they were once again all over each other. Laughing between frenzied kisses Savannah nudged him back gently. “I need to get started on what I’m gonna make and you need to vamoose it out of here until I’m all set up.”

  After stealing a few more hungry kisses, Byron complied and decided to take a shower and change out of his work clothes. He took a marathon quick shower and was out feeling like he couldn’t get dressed fast enough. Half dressed, he smiled wondering how something so trivial like the bracelet she’d made him had quickly become a safety blanket. Just like today when he’d played with it after her calls it helped calm his impatient heart. He grabbed it off the bathroom sink and wrapped it around his wrist before heading out of the room, forgoing a shirt altogether. He’d likely be taking it off soon anyway and his anxious heart wanted his lips on her again already. As quickly as he’d begun to make his way out into the kitchen, he slowed when he heard her hushed voice.

  “. . . because . . .” She paused for a second. “I know. I know but he already . . .”

  Her voice lowered even more to where he couldn’t hear what she was saying anymore, except he could definitely hear hushed talking still going on. Byron’s heart sped up as his mind jumped to all kinds of conclusions about the odd behavior. Though he glanced down at the bracelet she made him and reminded himself this wouldn’t be the first time he’d begun to jump to the wrong conclusion.

  Straining to hear more, Byron stood still just outside the kitchen door but even the hushed talking was inaudible now. Was she off the phone now? When he finally decided to walk into the kitchen, she was doing something—leaning over looking at her phone screen that sat on the counter—then flinched noticeably when she heard him. She brought her hand to her chest with a gasp. “Jesus, you scared me.”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Oh, I was just checking my texts.”

  “Who were you on the phone with?”

  Her eyes widened as if his inquiry surprised her. Did she really think he hadn’t heard her? Byron tried not to peer at her too hard, too accusatory, but her unnerved demeanor really did make it feel like he’d caught her red handed. Question was, what the hell had he caught her doing?

  “My sister,” she said glancing away too quickly. “We were discussing what we’re getting daddy for his birthday.” She glanced back at him with a more genuine, less nervous smile. “It’s his birthday next week. Nena and I told him I have finals for the next few weeks and she already had a trip planned from way back, so he thinks neither of us will be there.” She smiled even bigger. “Our surprising him when we’re there next weekend will be part of his gift.”

  She proceeded to pour what looked like shredded meat in red sauce onto a saucepan. The tension drained from Byron’s stiff neck and shoulders because this did sort of make sense with the direction her hushed conversation seemed to be going. But why whisper? And why had she looked so unnerved when he walked into the kitchen?

  Byron decided maybe she hadn’t been. Maybe his whipped ass was just jumping to conclusions because his head kept going back to his initial misgivings about allowing this to move so insanely fast in the first place. Maybe his insecure ass was looking to find something that wasn’t there.

  Wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, he moved her hair aside and kissed her nape. He was done. Done, questioning everything. Done trying to justify his reservations about doing this with her. He’d just go with this and enjoy it. So far, despite all his doubts she’d been perfect. Well, except for still keeping in touch with an ex-shit, but then it’s not like she’d reached out to him or they were keeping in touch any other way. He’d just let it go. As long as nothing more became of it.

  “Can I start guessing now?”

  “No, not yet.” She reached for another container with more chili only a lot thicker than the first one and pulled out a strainer from one of the bags. “You’ll figure it out sooner than later. This is very common, so I’m pretty sure you’ve already had it. But my family’s restaurant adds a little twist to it. It’s been one of my favorite things on the menu for as long as I can remember.”

  As Savannah continued to prepare everything, Byron watched unable to keep his hands and lips off her for too long. Through it all, she returned the affection with just as much as her usual willingness. At times turning around altogether to give into his deep kisses, then exhaling all overly wistful and giggling at her own silliness.

  Halfway through the meal she prepared, Byron was just about convinced. The endearing way she responded to Byron was too genuine to be faked. She’d taken him home to meet her entire family for Christ’s sakes, and she said she’d been the first to do so. Her family’s reaction to him confirmed it. His inability to keep his hands and lips off her should’ve been annoying to her, it was so bad. Instead, she welcomed it as cheerfully as only she could. As usual she was full of happy energy as she laughed and spoke enthusiastically all the while accepting his lustful kisses and groping.

  Byron followed her around the kitchen like a pathetic little puppy dog and he didn’t even care anymore. He was sold now. Each time he kissed her, and she kept her eyes clo
sed even after he was finished, as if she wasn’t ready to stop enjoying what it made her feel, he knew she had it as bad as he did. She didn’t even try to hide how enamored she was feeling, and it was such a fucking relief because he was done trying to play his feelings down for her.

  She continued to cook, talking the whole way as she put it all together. Her cooking skills were impressive. Clearly, being raised in a restaurant environment it all seemed so second nature to her. From the way she strained the chili, to the quick way she began making homemade corn tortillas.

  He was standing behind her again, his hands roaming her body, from her dainty waist down the side of her hips. Savannah sniggered when his hands came around to her ass and he squeezed with a groan. “You know it looks and smells delicious, but I can hardly wait for this.” Rubbing his ready-to-burst cock against her ass, he sprinkled kisses on the soft skin of her shoulder again. “And this.” He nipped her neck, this time sucking a little harder, making her squirm away laughing.

  “Stop it, Richie—”

  Like tires coming to a screeching halt, the playing ceased instantly as both of them went stiff. Byron released her roughly feeling his insides igniting as she cleared her throat. “I mean Byron, I’m trying—”

  “The fuck did you just call me?”

  Twenty-Five

  Bushwhacked

  Byron

  Byron knew it. He fucking knew it. Only solace he’d take from this, was that at least he now had the heart twisting confirmation that he hadn’t been feeling like an insecure little bitch all this time, for no reason. That at a moment like the one they’d been having; Savannah would be thinking of not just Richard. Not just her fucking ex, but Richie, spoke volumes.

  “Richie?” Just saying it turned his already nauseated stomach. “Is that what you usually call him? Or is that only when he’s touching you the way I—”

  “No!” She shook her head trying to reach out for him, but he backed up not wanting any part of her touching him now.

  Worst thing is while she still hadn’t said much, the look in her eyes said it all. This hadn’t been just a slip. She’d likely been thinking of that fucker the whole time. “I just misspoke, Byron.”

  “Yeah?”

  As pissed as this made him, Byron wasn’t sure what made him madder. The fact that she looked guilty as fuck, or that his dumb ass was feeling something else than the only thing he should be feeling. He wanted the rage to drown out the infuriating ache in his heart. It had no business being there. She had no business being so deep in there, and he’d known it all along.

  “Misspoke? Just when I was—”

  “I’m sorry!” She brought her hand to her mouth as her brows pinched, and there it was.

  “Don’t apologize.”

  “It’s just that—”

  “Don’t be sorry, Savannah.” He realized he was getting loud, but he couldn’t help it. “Don’t be sorry that your ex, that still has feelings for you is on your mind even when—”

  “It’s not that.” She shook her head. “It’s only because I just spoke with him today—”

  “Bullshit!” Sucking in a sharp breath, Byron willed himself to calm down. “Not that it matters but don’t fucking lie to me now. It is what it is. You hung out with him today, like you’re hanging with me, right?”

  “You’re so much more to me than he’s ever been.”

  “But you’re thinking of him while . . .” He couldn’t even say it. What the fuck was wrong with him? “While I’m rubbing myself on—”

  “Byron!” she said uncharacteristically loud, as she brought her hand to her mouth, and spun around so she wasn’t facing him anymore.

  “Byron what?” he asked confused.

  She was going to cry now? Now that she’d gotten his name right? She turned around to face him again, and her eyes did look slightly glistened. But he wouldn’t fall for it. He wouldn’t give in like a chump and back off. He wasn’t being too hard on her even though seeing her nearly in tears did shit to him he should not be feeling. Especially after this.

  “I just misspoke,” she explained again even as her hand remained over her mouth. “I was thinking of him earlier. There was something I was going to mention to you about him and me earlier but then the conversation veered off, and I guess his name just stayed in my head.”

  Feeling his heart sink unbelievably deeper he stared at her almost speechless. “You and him?”

  “Well, no . . . I mean . . .” She fumbled with her words then went on. “I-It’s just that he wants—”

  Byron’s phone rang on the counter interrupting her stuttering lies but he hit the button to send the call to voicemail. “Get out.” He didn’t even want to hear what that fucker wanted, and she was obviously considering if she’d meant to run it past him. But mostly, he couldn’t stand the pain of looking into those beautiful eyes, knowing he’d been right about what he’d begun to feel. She was pulling back and maybe this was why. Maybe after seeing each other again at the barbeque they’d begun to reconnect. “Get the hell out, and don’t ever call me again.”

  “Byron no. Please, hear me out. I can explain.”

  “Explain what, Savannah? That you’re thinking of your ex while you’re spending time with me? And he’s asking for shit from you now that you’re considering?”

  “No!”

  She reached out and tried to touch him again, but he flinched his hand back. “Get the fuck off me.” He motioned to her phone. “Call Richie. Tell him you’re free to give him whatever he wants. That you’ve been free all this time, you just couldn’t hang with him tonight because you’d already made plans to hang with me.”

  “No, I haven’t done anything with him since . . .” She paused with an odd expression on her face, then shook her head. “A week ago?”

  “You were with him a week ago?”

  The blinding rage nearly blurred his vision as her words sank in. “Get the fuck out, Savannah!”

  “Baby, baby, baby!” She brought her hands to her mouth and to add insult to injury she squealed in laughter.

  “This is funny to you?”

  “It’s a prank.” He was still so incensed and utterly shattered he could barely breathe—think straight—the words didn’t register, even as he watched her hurry toward her phone. “A TikTok challenge like the ones Manny pulled on my uncle Romero.” She showed him the phone and the red light indicating she was filming. He’d been so busy being all over her earlier, he hadn’t even noticed the light was on. “It’s for our online channels. I haven’t seen Richard since the barbeque at my grandparents, and I still haven’t spoken to him in almost a year.”

  “Bullshit,” Byron said but with less conviction this time because Savannah was still squealing, and now he could see the glistening in her eyes earlier was probably tears of laughter.

  “Nena made me do it!” She clutched her chest barely able to catch her breath. “Oh my God. I can’t believe I held out that long.”

  If it wasn’t for her outright laughing Byron might’ve further questioned whether she was lying or not but, she actually did the little running in place thing he’d seen her do before, slapping her knee high in the air, while she cracked up all high pitched in front of the phone she set back down on the counter. “I got him!”

  She was just too damn excited about this, for this to not really be a prank. Then Byron remembered something. “I heard the dude on the phone, Savannah.”

  She took a few steps toward him, then stopped when he held his arm up not letting her near him. Slapping her knee again, she jerked her head back as she fisted her hand over her mouth and laughed so hard, she wheezed. Wheezed. “That was Taz!”

  “This isn’t funny.”

  Feeling the tension once again slowly drain from his completely pent-up body, it was at that moment Byron knew. He knew without a doubt because he’d been that ready to blow—ready to tell her to fuck off.

  Only Savannah.

  Only she could have him ready to punch a fist th
rough a fucking wall one minute and now here he was actually trying not to smirk. She went on to explain between laughing and wiping tears from her eyes, how her brother had showed up unexpectedly since he’d been in the area while she’d been on the phone with Sienna. Since she’d already told Sienna where she was headed her sister concocted the whole thing and begged her to please do it.

  “She’s been so mad all this time that she didn’t get any footage of what happened between you and Taz at the gym. Says our views would’ve gone through the roof if she’d been vlogging at the time. Which she usually is, no matter where she’s at. The brat knows I’ve been feeling guilty about not contributing much to the channel since I started school, so she convinced me to do this.” She paused only to exhale a bit exaggerated like she was exhausted. “I chickened out yesterday, and I almost chickened out today.”

  Byron crossed his arms in front of him unable to hide the smirk anymore. Not just because seeing her laugh so much, even if at his expense now, was still as breathtaking as it’d been all the other times he’d been witness to that huge smile. But because he almost felt high with the relief of knowing this hadn’t been the real thing. She hadn’t really broken his heart because as much as he might try and deny it, it’s exactly what it’d instantly felt like.

  “We got’em Nena.” She said into the phone screen then turned back to Byron. “I felt so bad when I said I’d been with him last week.” She was barely able to squeal the words out, then screeched when he grabbed her and pulled her into a mock head lock.

  “I should kick your ass.”

  This only made her squeal even louder with laughter and he pinned her against the counter searching her eyes even as the adrenaline continued to pummel through him.

  “You said the F word to me.” She pouted feigning looking hurt, though her animated bright eyes gave way to her still laughing mood.

  “You better not be lying.”

  “I’m not.” She shrieked as he pressed his body against hers hard. “I swear. I already made the intro and everything. It’s why I took so long to call you back. After I got off the phone, I put it together with Taz. But vlogging’s not his thing, so we had to retake it several times. I can show you after.”