by Gigi Birtie
She gives me a thumbs up and a wink.
I just rolled my eyes.
I would have to tell her the whole story in homeroom tomorrow morning.
When Dane and I make our way up the stairs, I feel his hand on the small of my back as we get through that crowd and onto the street. It's not as loud outside but my ears are still buzzing from the loud music. The sweat on my body dries instantly with the cool breeze, sending a shiver down my whole body.
Dane puts his jacket, that I didn't even see him holding, around my shoulders. All I could do is blush and smile as I slide my arms in. I take a whiff of his jacket and it makes my senses come alive breathing in his woodsy scent.
“Hey, are you hungry?” Dane asks.
“Are you serious?”
“I never kid about food, Sloane.” He laughs.
“I am, but I'm sure my brother gave you some kind of warning to stay away from me.” My voice drops at the last few words, and I look down at my feet.
I feel Dane’s hand come to my waist while his other lifts my chin, so I'm forced to look at him.
“Yeah he did, but he didn't say I couldn't hang out or get to know you over a burger and milkshake over at the dinner on Bancroft.”
All I could do is give him a small smile. Food, however, sounded too good right now for me to care about everything else.
“Okay,” I whisper. “I'll ride with you, since I didn't drive tonight, is that all right?”
“Yeah, I'm just right down this way.”
Dane slides his arm around my waist as we walk towards my car, and it just felt right. Like I was meant to fit to his body. I couldn't help but melt into him further as I slide my arm around his waist. He was so solid, muscles everywhere. What I wouldn't give to run my hands all over him as we got naked and sweaty.
I let out a loud sigh as I pulled my keys from my jeans front pocket.
I hit the alarm to unlock the doors. Dane stays with me, right up until I get to my door. He opens it as I slide right in, Dane’s holding my door just staring down at me, making me self-conscious as he closes my door, I quickly check my face to make sure I'm not too much of a mess as he goes to the passenger door. My mascara has run a bit down my cheeks. No wonder Dane keeps looking at me, what I thought was lust coming from him, it was probably more him just holding back some laughter. I give those streaks a quick wipe, straightening myself up the best I could before he jumps in the passenger side.
I knew where we were going so I didn't have to ask for directions.
“So, you somehow got stuck with me.” I said knowing my brother put him on watch, since he was occupied with a girl who was obviously down to get dirty.
“I didn't get stuck with you. Before I knew who your brother is, I was actually going to ask you to have a meal with me anyway, so this all is working out in my favor.”
I look over at him, seeing that lopsided smile that's making my stomach flutter.
“Yeah, but Reese has already said I'm off limits so what's the point.” I sigh with defeat.
“He didn't say that to me. All he said that I heard was walk his beautiful sister to her car.” He says with a smirk.
I look at him like he's not all there, because you'd have to be a few short to think that was ok.
“You think I'm nuts don't you?” He asks.
“Yeah just a little bit.” I laugh.
“I'm not going to disrespect your brother, but I am wanting to get to know you. Nothing wrong with having a late-night meal either. Then we can take it from there, deal?” He flashed me that brilliant smile again.
“I guess.”
I already know how this will play out, I could be friends with Dane but once the warning of hands off was there it was going to stay there. I hate to see my brother fight, so I would keep my distance after tonight.
The friend zone was the worst. Too much fake, I'm happy for you bullshit once they move on, and I'm still here single as fuck watching a crush make out with his new love interest.
I just have to keep telling myself only a few more months to go and I graduate, start a new life at a college far from here, but knowing my luck I'll end up attending Cal as well.
There was parking right in front. As soon as my car is parked, Dane jumps out rounding the back again to open my door. He held his hand out to me, to help me out of the car. My heart starts fluttering in my chest with my cheeks feeling warm. I take his hand, but I can’t look at him, but I felt his eyes all over me as I straightened myself. Dane leaned in and kissed my cheek by my lips.
“I just wanted to see you blush again, it's a beautiful shade of pink that makes your eyes even bluer than what they are.” Dane says, as he brushes a thumb across where he just kissed me.
I blush even further, so much so that my cheeks felt red.
How embarrassing!
This isn't me ever, I'm the tough girl not the blushing and gushing girl.
Dane laughs and takes my hand, pulling me down the street to the dinner. Once inside, Dane’s leading me by my hand to a corner booth as it's a seat yourself kind of establishment. I plop myself into the booth and he sits after me. We sit right next to each other with his thigh touching mine. There is no space between us. I like it.
The waitress comes over with water and menus but, Dane and I both say at the same time, “I already know what I want to order.”
We all laugh, then place our orders.
We both order burgers but not quite the same kind with fries for him and onion rings for me.
What do I care if I have onion breath it's not like we’ll be all hot and heavy after this.
Once I'm done with my order, I turn to Dane.
He's just staring at me with his mouth open.
“What?” I ask, not trying to sound as irritated as it came out.
“Nothing, I'm just so use to vegan chicks that I keep meeting in this town. You're the first in a long time that's ordered red meat.” He smiles that smile that I'm more than starting to enjoy. “It's refreshing to meet another fellow carnivore.” Danes laugh his contagious laugh.
I join him in the laughter, as I know Berkeley can be tough on the normal front.
“So where are you from Dane?”
“Oh…I,” he looks at me with a second of hesitation, before continuing; “I'm from New York City born and raised.”
“Why did you hesitate in wanting to tell me that?” I ask.
“You noticed that huh? I'll have to remember you're not like other girls who just want to fuck a jock. It seems you pay close attention.” This time it was him looking down while avoiding eye contact.
I'll take it as he doesn't want to talk about home.
I change the subject to the present.
“So, what made you go to the strip tonight, for the side show?” This shouldn't be as awkward, but I was wrong. Dane was shifting in his seat.
“What?” I ask.
“Well I was there to see you.” He's not looking at me as he talks. “I was wanting to hustle some bets while I was there, but one of the guys from our dorm was talking about you.” Now he's looking right at me.
Not as awkward as before.
I take a deep breath, as I'm unsure in what he's heard, as all the stories are more different than the next.
“The one that was most believable; was that this total knock out, with curves for days, long wavy light brown hair, the bluest eyes you'll ever get to stare into, named Sultry Sloane has an Oldsmobile 442 and wasn't afraid to really drive the shit out of it!” Pausing for a moment to really stare at me, and making my stomach flip yet again.
“I also saw your race from about a month ago, when you were driving someone else's Cuda and wrecked. Looks like you walked away unharmed.”
Fuck that's all I need for him telling Reese about that.
“Look Dane that can't get back to Reese. I'm not going to ask you to lie but avoid that conversation at all costs.” My eyes were pleading with him.
“Yeah not a problem, I won't say a wo
rd, but you know that's the talk right now and Reese does go to these side shows too, so at some point he's going to find out. What happened with the dude that owned that car was he pissed?”
That was an understatement.
“Yeah, that didn't go to well, but he wasn't mad at me, someone cut his brake line. If you remember, I still won the race, so his winnings will pay for the damage.”
Now if it was my own error, I would have been made a grease spot. That night I realized I would never race someone else's car. There are just too many people that hate each other in this underground scene. Sometimes I think that I was set up or maybe Otto was, but I'll never know the truth, as that's a crowd I'll never mingle with again.
Just then our waitress came out with our food. A comfortable silence fell over us as we ate.
For just meeting this guy, it sure has felt like I've known him for a long time. Everything just felt…. comfortable.
With my burger sitting heavy in my gut, I was ready to roll home and pass the fuck out.
“So, Dane do you need a ride back to the dorm?”
“Actually, I know this is weird, but do you mind if I crash at your house? Reese will have that blonde over and knowing my luck I'll end up in the communal area sleeping on one of those padded cement blocks”
Dane was giving me what seems to be his best pleading eyes. I licked my lips eyeing him up and down pondering what to say.
“Stop eye fucking me, Sloane.” Dane says loud enough that some people across the diner turn to see and laugh.
“OMG I was soooooo not eye fucking you Dane.” My voice was a typical girly high pitch reaction.
“You so were.” He laughs mocking me.
“Whatever, I wasn't, but on you staying at my house you're more than welcome to, but I'm going to leave it to you to tell Reese, okay?”
“Deal!”
“Are you riding with me or do you need to grab your car and just follow me over?” I ask.
“I think I'll grab my truck and follow you. That way you don't have to drive me back up here in the morning”
“Okay sounds like a plan. It's not too late if you want we can watch a movie once we get to my house. A little Netflix and chill.”
I can't believe I just said that.
We both laugh as soon as I say Netflix and chill as I sounded so ridiculous.
Our laughter lightened the mood, as the fast track to the friend zone has begun.
Chapter 4
After the long hassle of driving Dane to his truck, which by the way surprised me in being a Chevy C10, but it was all new on the inside. This was a custom restoration job, done by a highly skilled garage. Plus, it was totally air bagged which gave it that little extra of being so extra.
Once we pulled up to my house, I opened the garage and pulled all the way in leaving room for Dane to park in there as well. We had a tandem garage that could park six vehicles in a row, but that's how houses were throughout the Bay Area. I close the garage as we're still in there and Dane takes my hand as I lead him to our lounge area. Our house wasn't a mansion, but it wasn't small either and you could definitely get lost in there, if you hadn't been there a couple of time or was just plain drunk.
I skipped the grand tour only showing Dane the kitchen and bathroom along with the guest room where he can crash in.
I tell Dane I'm going I get ready for bed and be right back.
“Put on a movie for us to watch Dane.”
I say as I scramble to my room to change, wash my face and brush my teeth.
I know I won't be up much longer with having someone in the house with me.
I put on my worn-out sweats that have a few holes, an old paper thin, low cut tank top while topping off my look with a messy bun on the top of my head.
As I enter the lounge I see Dane has set us up on the couch with a bunch of blankets and pillows
I laugh looking at his handy work.
“What's going on here?” I beam.
“I built us a nest to chill in.” His smile must be mirroring mine, because it was pretty big.
I run and plop right in. Dane hits the lights as he strips down to just his boxers. It may be a bit dark, but I can see he is all man. His well-defined boxers are leaving nothing to the imagination and I'm impressed however it has me guessing if he's a grower or a shower because right now it's definitely already scaring me. What I would give to find out though, but I'll be on my best behavior since I'm really liking Dane. I don't want Reese to fuck his handsome face up.
“You're doing it again, Sloane.” Dane breaks my growing thought of what it would feel like to be pressed naked to him.
I shake my head.
“Doing what Dane?” I laugh.
“Your eye fucking me.” He says, as he jumps into his self-made nest too, swooping me up in his arms with my face inches from his.
His breath cool and minty caressing my face, driving me to inch even closer, his hand runs up my back stopping on my ribs just below my breasts. I start to pant wanting to lose all our clothes, but I snap out of it quick. I pat his face and roll out of his hold reaching in the other direction of Dane to grab the remote. I flip on the tv going to Netflix.
“Anything special you want to see, or we can rent something too.” I turn to him, but his face went from playful to I'm not sure.
I put the remote down.
I give Dane all my attention and reach for his hand that's just resting in his lap.
“What's the matter?” I breath.
It's like he's seen a ghost.
”Your bruises!”
His hand comes out touching some that you can now see that are across the top of my breasts under my collarbone.
“It was from the crash you saw they're actually looking a lot better.” I shift placing my arm over them suddenly feeling very self-conscious.
Dane pulls my hand away then wraps his arm around my waist drawing me closer to him. He slips the straps of my tank top down getting a better look.
I don't stop him, his touch feels healing across that very tender area, yet I begin to tremble. He dips his head to my collar bone and starts to kiss me all along my bruising, his hand spread wide on my ribs below my bare breasts. I try to move so his hands would slide up, but Dane held me in place.
My breathing has increased as my top has slipped to my nipples. I'm fully exposed but I don't fix my shirt. No one has seen, me even half naked in years. This moment of being partially seen felt right. Dane pulls me onto his lap to where I'm now straddling him.
He brings my shirt down to my waist he can now fully see where the steering wheel slammed into my chest and my upper stomach. Luckily the scratches were gone, but it was strange the bruises were still there, but luckily they were in fact finally fading.
With Dane's attention to it, all I'm starting to think I did more harm than I thought.
Dane's eyes darken. I see the contemplation across his face.
“What's wrong?” I whispered.
I try to now cover myself.
This time Dane lets me, helping me put my tank top back in place.
“I didn't know it would be you driving, there was two crashes that night. I thought you were in the minor crash not the other one.” He exhales.
“What do you mean? How would you know? We didn't even know each other.”
“The guy, Otto, who was supposed to be driving, owes me a shit ton of money. I had to send a strong message, which I'm sure he received but it shouldn't have been at your expense.” He sighs.
“Why are you even telling me this, we just met you don't owe me any kind of explanation Dane. I didn't even give it much thought, you know accidents happen all the time at those gatherings, you crash you rebuild.”
Its true, accidents happened all the time. The main concern was always getting out of there before the cops came, and deal with your car just far enough to not get in trouble.
“Well everyone knows you're protected, no one will mess with your car due to Reese and I'll make
sure now because of me.”
“I don't understand.” I've never been more confused than right here and now.
“My name is Dane Price.” Letting his full name sink in.
I still sat straddling him as I slowly realized this is the Dane Porter Price. He was known as one of the best side show drivers and a hustler from New York he's also the quarterback at Cal. His family was powerful and ridiculously wealthy. I always assumed that the Dane I heard about was older. Word on the streets is, his father was a dirty businessman and a big car guy that knew how to stay under the radar. It's been said Dane is his father’s protégé.
This was definitely a family I didn't want to get mixed in with just by the stories I've heard alone. I just enjoyed doing stupid burn outs and racing fast down the road, so I can forget certain things. I never got mixed up in the politics of the guys on the side. My buddy Roland who painted my car always said to keep my head down. Go have a good time and leave.
That's what I always did too.
I slide off Dane's lap.
Looking straight ahead I numb my feelings that I was rapidly having for him before I say goodbye.
Swallowing past the lump in my throat I spit out, “Dane you have to go.” I continue, to just stare straight ahead still trying to absorb all of this.
I feel Dane get up with a sigh.
He gathers his clothes, eyeing me the whole time as he's getting dressed.
“I understand your hesitation, but I'm not my father.”
My head snaps in his direction.
“You've got to be kidding me! You cut the break line on the car I was racing. That sounds exactly like what your father would do.” I knew enough that I had to stay away from this man.
I have a feeling that getting to know Dane further would come at a price. One I would end up paying with my life or with a broken heart.
Dane is still staring at me now fully dressed. A twinge of regret fills me, but I push it back down. I have too.
“I'll walk you out.”
I get up, straightening my clothes, while rounding the couch nest Dane made. Grabbing his hand, it now feels like fire, but I lead him back to the garage to his truck. I push the button to open the garage door, but I see someone standing there.