by R. Linda
But Nate didn’t. “I’m not fighting you.”
They scuffled. They swore. Brody threw a few more punches, and Nate let him. After a while, Brody stopped. He must have realised Nate was letting him beat the crap out of him because Brody was hurting. An eye for an eye.
Brody walked away to his car and kicked the tire. Getting in the car, he slammed the door and peeled out of the parking lot, leaving nothing but a cloud of dust and his bleeding cousin behind. I wanted to follow him, chase him and explain, but I knew better. He needed time.
“Up you get.” I held out my hands to help Nate up, but he pulled me down on top of him instead.
I laughed as he flipped me onto my back and ignored the pain of the gravel and stones digging into my skin. “What are you doing?”
“This.” He leaned in and kissed me. It was slow. Deep. Passionate.
I sighed in contentment and brushed his hair out of his face. His lip was bleeding. There was a cut above his eye, but other than that, he looked unharmed.
“We should get you cleaned up. You’re bloody and covered in dust.”
“I don’t think I can go home just yet.” Nate kissed my neck.
“True. Come upstairs with me.”
Once upstairs, I pushed him toward the bathroom and said, “Strip.”
His eyes flared, a fire burning behind them as he slowly, so slowly, began removing his clothes. He raised an eyebrow. “Now what?” His voice was thick and husky and so sexy. My insides liquified.
I turned the shower on and waved him in. He shook his head and stepped toward me. “Your turn,” he whispered in my ear.
I’d never really stripped for anyone before. Obviously, I took my clothes off, but it was usually rushed, frenzied as we pawed at each other, trying to get closer. I’d never actually stripped for Nate while he stood back and stared admiringly.
It was thrilling. Powerful. And so embarrassing. I was not sexy. At all. I fumbled with my shirt. Struggled to get my jeans unzipped. Almost tripped trying to pull them off. But Nate didn’t seem to notice. He watched with rapt attention, taking in every detail, every curve, every flaw on my body.
“I am luckiest fucking guy in the world to get to keep you,” he said and promptly picked me up, wrapping my legs around his waist before he kissed me.
“You want to keep me?” I asked as he stepped us both under the spray of the shower and backed me into the wall.
“Right here.” His lips pressed into the crook of my neck. My now favourite spot for him to kiss. It never failed to send waves of delight through my body.
“Naked in the shower?” I asked, wrapping my arms around his neck as he moved my hips to align with his.
“In my arms. Forever.” He wanted me forever. My heart clenched, my body ached for him, and I couldn’t stop the cheesy smile from spreading across my face.
Forever.
“I’m okay with that.”
Our foreheads pressed together, he pushed his hips forward, sliding into me, drowning out my moan with one of his own. “Naked in the shower works too,” he breathed, bringing his mouth to mine.
Naked in the shower definitely worked.
We were so good at being friends. We played together really well. Perfectly. Amazingly.
Our tongues danced in sync with the increasing rhythm of our hips. Our hearts beat as one. Fast. Erratic. Hard. Until we pushed each other over the edge. Laboured breaths. Sloppy kisses. Heavy limbs. Happy. Content.
I was completely at his mercy, and I was okay with that.
“So, what now?” I asked after we’d finished our shower, wrapping a towel around my body. It took longer than it should because, you know, kissing. And Nate wanted to wash my hair. Which led to him washing my body. Which led to him getting distracted by my nakedness. Which in turn caused me to reciprocate.
Yeah, the shower lasted forever.
“Now, I take you on a date, friend.”
“A date?” I looked up at him with wide eyes and bit my lip excitedly.
He nodded and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Our first date?” I traced my fingers over his hard chest. The excitement was building rapidly. We’d not had a single date. How messed up was that?
He nodded again, his eyes sparkling. “In public.”
I squealed just a little, and he laughed, bringing his lips to mine.
Screw the consequences.
Epilogue
Nate
Turned out I really didn’t need therapy. I just needed Harper. I hadn’t had a nightmare for weeks. Her sleeping beside me every night was enough to quiet the sounds in my head. She brought peace and calm. We weren’t living together because we weren’t ready for that, but if she wasn’t at my place, I was staying at the roadhouse.
Brody moved out and into my parents’ house while he looked for his own place. It was either that or The Love Shack, and I couldn’t blame him for not wanting to stay there. I also didn’t blame him for leaving. It was understandable, given the circumstances. He couldn’t live in the same apartment where his ex-girlfriend spent most of her time when she wasn’t at the roadhouse. I felt guilty for the way things happened, and I knew it was hard for him to see us together, but I also knew in time he’d move on and get over it.
We weren’t as close as we once were. Things were tense, and quite often he’d avoid any social situations if Harper and I were there. He still hung out with Linc and Ryder and threw himself into work. When he wasn’t working, he spent all his time at the hospital with Audrey, and I visited her when he wasn’t there.
My parents went and visited her frequently, spending time with her, getting to know her, and allowing her to get comfortable with them. It was awkward at first, and she didn’t understand why they were coming to see her so often, but I could tell from the tiny sparkle in her eyes that she enjoyed the company.
After Christmas, we all went in together, and my parents told her they’d like for her to come and live with them, and let them give her the family and support she needed. It was an emotional day. Tears everywhere. Sad tears. Happy tears. And while Audrey was hesitant and unsure, Brody reassured her that no matter what, her family could never be replaced. She was just getting a second family who would love her as much as her own. He promised her she wouldn’t be alone.
“Will you relax?” I grabbed Mum by the shoulders and forced her into an arm chair.
“What if she doesn’t like the room? What if she hates the house? What if she hates us?” She sucked in a panicked breath and stood again.
“It will be okay. Just give her time.”
Audrey was moving in today. Brody had gone with my dad to pick her up from the hospital, while Indie and I stayed home to help Mum prepare for her arrival.
“Drink this. It’ll calm your nerves.” Indie handed Mum a glass of wine.
“Indiana. It is ten in the morning. I am not day drinking,” she said with a stern voice, nonetheless accepting the wine and gulping half of it down.
Indie smirked. “Better.”
“I’m just so worried. It is going to be a big adjustment for all of us.”
“We’ll get through it together. Don’t worry.” I squeezed her shoulder gently and sat on the coffee table in front of her.
Audrey had a long way to go to recover fully, and I wasn’t sure she would ever completely get over what happened. She was going to need more skin grafts, more surgeries, and a hell of a lot of therapy to help her deal with her emotions, but if anyone could work through it with her and be there for her, it was our parents.
The front door opened, and Dad walked in first. Mum launched out of the chair and stood on the threshold of the living room, tears in her eyes as Brody escorted Audrey up the front porch and into the foyer. It was a slow process. She was still in pain, her movements slow and jerky from the tightness of her skin grafts. Her head was down, and she had her arm hooked through Brody’s.
“Hi, Audrey,” Mum said with a soft smile, discreetly wiping a tear as it
slid down her cheek. “Welcome home.”
Audrey didn’t speak. She simply nodded once.
Mum frowned in disappointment but quickly pushed the feeling aside.
“Let’s show you to your room. Shall we?”
No reaction. Just a small step closer to Brody.
“Come on,” he said quietly. “It’s okay.”
The poor girl. I was surprised she was doing so well, to be honest. No way could I have moved in with a family I didn’t know. The bitterness and resentment I would feel at losing my own would send me spiralling out of control.
Brody led her down the hall and into my father’s study. We’d decided it would be easier for Audrey if she didn’t have to walk up and down the stairs all the time to get to her room.
“I wasn’t sure what sort of things you liked, or what your favourite colour is, so I kept it white and grey and added a few feminine touches, a little bit of pink and mint. I hope that’s okay?” my mother prattled on nervously.
Indie rolled her eyes.
I was positive the last thing Audrey cared about was the décor in her new room.
“We also filled the closet with clothes for you. I wasn’t sure what your style was,” she said, opening the closet. Again, I doubted Audrey cared about clothes in that moment, but I knew my mother meant well. “The doctors suggested to keep things light and loose so it didn’t…it didn’t hurt your…well, anyway, if you don’t like them or you don’t like your room, we can always change it to suit you. That’s not a problem.” Mum took a deep breath and clasped her hands together in front.
Audrey was still staring at her feet. Still huddled against Brody. “What do you think?” he asked.
A nod. That was it. I guessed it was better than no response at all.
“Come on, love, let’s leave Audrey to get settled in.” My dad wrapped his arm around Mum and pulled her from the room.
“But what if she’s hungry? I didn’t ask. Oh, my goodness, what a terrible host I am.” Mum gasped and turned back around. “Would you like something to eat, Audrey? It was a long drive.”
Audrey shook her head.
“Okay, tell me if you change your mind. This is your home now, and we want you to feel as comfortable as possible. We’re so happy to have you here, sweetheart.” Mum rushed out of the room, wiping at her eyes again.
Indie and I stood awkwardly in Audrey’s room. Neither of us knew what to say as Brody helped her out of her jacket.
“It really is nice to have you here, Audrey.” Indie smiled. “I’m sure we’re going to be great friends. Come on, Nate.” She grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the room when Audrey didn’t respond.
“That went well,” she said when we walked into the kitchen where Dad was making coffee.
“I think so. It’ll take a while for her to settle in and get used to everyone,” I agreed.
“Oh, shoot. We have to go,” Indie said as she glanced at the clock on the wall.
“Call if you need anything.” Indie and I took turns giving Mum a kiss on the head. She didn’t even notice. She was staring absently out the patio doors.
“We’ll be fine,” Dad said, clapping me on the back and kissing Indie’s cheek. “Go. Say goodbye to Jack for us.”
Jack was heading back to uni, and we were meeting at the diner so he could have one last burger before he left, since Ryder flat-out refused to cook for him.
Word had somehow gotten out that Johnny had the best burgers in town, and business picked up. So much so that he had to hire staff and permanently left a reserved sign on our booth. When we walked in, the place was bustling with people. The jukebox was cranking out fifties tunes. The scent of burgers and fried onions wafted through the air.
Warm hands wrapped around my waist from behind. “How did it go?” Harper asked into my back. I turned in her arms and angled her face up to mine.
“And I’ll be leaving now,” Indie said, screwing her face up in disgust as I leaned down and pressed my lips to Harper’s.
“Good as could be expected. It’ll take a while, though.”
“Sorry I wasn’t there. Didn’t want to make it any more awkward.”
“You’re here now.” I brushed her hair out of her face. “And I think Brody living there will help immensely.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Guess all that time he spent with her in the hospital bonded them or something. She trusts him.”
“That’s good. He cares. That’s what makes him good at his job.”
We walked over to the booth and sat down.
A young girl, no more than fifteen, came to take our order, but Harper told her not to worry about it. Johnny knew we were there, and he also knew what to cook.
Burgers.
“Where’s Kenzie?” Indie frowned and slid into the booth next to Linc.
“Umm…” Bailey glanced at Ryder nervously. His hands were clenched, and he was rapping his knuckles on the table. “Dealing with Chace.”
“What happened?” Harper pulled out a chair.
“He showed up at the apartment last night, drunk as anything, demanding to see Cole.”
Everyone looked at Ryder as he ground his teeth. “I didn’t do anything,” he said in answer to our unspoken question.
“I find that hard to believe.” Linc laughed.
“No, really. Kenzie called the police and didn’t tell us until this morning.”
“Really?”
“She’s worried about Ryder. Doesn’t want him getting in any more trouble.” Bailey rubbed her fingers over Ryder’s knuckles, and he relaxed.
“Ha. Trouble finds Ryder wherever he goes. He’s like a magnet,” Jack said as the doors to the diner opened and closed once more.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Johnny’s voice called from the kitchen as he threw what sounded like a pan into the sink at the same time Jack whistled.
“Lookin’ for a place to stay. You got one?” someone answered in a vaguely familiar but rough voice that sounded like they’d smoked too many cigarettes.
“Depends.” Johnny chuckled.
Resting his head in his hands, his eyes bugging out of his head, Jack asked, “Who is that?”
We all turned to see who had caused such a commotion in the kitchen and that much admiration from Jack.
Johnny came out of the kitchen as the guy dropped his bags at his feet, brushed a hand through his hair.
“You stayin’ permanently?” Johnny asked and pulled him in for a hug.
“I hope so.”
“Then I got a place to stay.” Johnny smiled and pointed his spatula directly at Harper.
The guy turned around, and Harper burst into tears.
“Jeremy.”
About the Author
R. Linda drinks wine and writes books.
A coffee-addicted, tattoo-enthusiastic fangirl with a slight obsession for a particular British boy band and solo artist, she is a writer of Contemporary YA/NA Romance and Suspense, sometimes dabbling in Paranormal as well.
Renee lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband and two sons. When not writing, she can often be found reading books to her children and cuddling up with them on the couch to watch their favourite movies.
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