“Spoilsport. What can I get for you two?”
We place our orders, and Simon promises to be right back with our drinks.
“So today was stressful, huh? Take it you haven’t found a replacement tech for the shop yet?” Sully asks once we’re alone.
His question takes me by surprise. I offhandedly mentioned needing to hire a new tech and doing interviews, but I didn’t think he was paying much attention, let alone would remember it later.
“What?” he says when I don’t answer, picking up on my shock. “Even when it doesn’t seem like I’m listening, I’m paying attention. Isn’t that what a good boyfriend would do?”
Yes, but you’re not my boyfriend…are you?
“Right.” I force myself to smile, and if the slight downturn of his lips is any indication, he notices that too. “I haven’t pulled the trigger just yet, but I might have found a good candidate. He’s still in high school, so we’d only be able to use him part-time, but I’ll still have more hands on deck, and we need whatever we can get.”
“Are you guys always this busy?”
“We used to only really see a spike in the tourist season, but since the owner of the shop in the next town over retired two years ago, we’re getting all his business. It’s why we finally opened the second location. We’ve just been growing as the town grows. You’ve lived here a couple years now, so you see how much that is.”
“A lot. They’ve put in at least two new subdivisions since I moved down. It doesn’t seem like much to big-city folks, but around these parts, all those new faces stick out.”
“Right! It’s probably why I never noticed noticed you before.”
“You sayin’ I’m nothing special to look at?”
Oh, Sullivan Scott, you’re more than something special. “Eh, you’re okay. I’d still bang the shit out of you though.”
“Really, Althea? I’ve watched you grow up, so that’s as bad as hearing my daughter talk about her sex life. Now I have to go pour hot grease in my ears and pretend I didn’t hear anything.” Simon shakes his head, depositing our drinks, then hurrying away while muttering about how he needs a vacation.
“Althea, huh?” Sully’s brows are raised, intrigued by this new information.
“Ugh,” I groan. “Unfortunately.”
“What’s wrong with Althea? I think it’s cute.”
“It sounds so…old, and just not me.”
“I don’t know, I think it’s pretty unique, and you’re a unique person.”
“That’s mommy-talk for difficult.”
“Mommy-talk?”
“Yeah, like when you’re a kid and you draw some ugly-ass picture and your mom tells you you’re the next Picasso.”
“Picasso wasn’t that great,” he says.
“You know what I mean.”
“I guess.” He takes a sip of his water. “I think you’re full of shit, but whatever.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re so annoying.”
“Annoying, or right?”
“Annoying, but you have a nice ass, so I’ll let it slide.”
“I’m starting to think you just want me for my body, Althea.”
I curl my lip at him. “And I’m starting to think you don’t ever want to touch my body again.”
“Are you threatening me with sex?”
“No. I’m threatening you with no sex.”
“I’ll remember that later when you’re begging me to eat—”
I shove my finger against his lips. “Don’t you dare finish that sentence. We’re in public.”
Like the tease he is, he darts his tongue out, swiping at my finger.
Like the idiot I am, I don’t move away immediately.
I squirm in my seat, recalling what his tongue feels like between my legs.
“Still gonna hold out on me, Thea?”
Fuck no. “Yes.”
He chuckles. “That might be what your mouth is saying, but your body is making a different statement.” He presses forward, never breaking eye contact. “I can see your nipples through your dress.”
“It’s cold in here,” I argue, though we both know that’s bullshit. It’s never cold in Slice, too many bodies packed in for it to get cold.
“I feel like I’m interrupting something here.”
We pull apart, Sully turning toward Simon with an air of ease, like none of this is affecting him.
Jerk.
He refills Sully’s glass. “Your pies will be out in about five minutes. Try not to maul each other in the meantime.”
“What’s the fun in that?”
“Yeah, Simon, what’s the fun in that?”
He looks at Sully with hard eyes. “Is her smartass mouth rubbing off on you? You used to be the quiet one. I liked you more then.”
Sully grunts out at a laugh as Simon walks away.
“Ha! I knew I was right pegging you as the quiet one.”
“Don’t forget you called me soulful, too.” A small grin pulls at his lips. “My mom calls me that all the time.”
“Are you two close?”
“We used to be closer. I’m the oldest of three, and shit got rough when my dad was in prison. I was all she had as far as help, but since he came back, it’s been…hard.”
“Wait a minute—your dad came back? Like to your mom? To your house?”
“Yep. My mother took him back.” His knuckles turn to white with how hard he grips the cup in his hand, and I worry if he squeezes any harder, it’ll bust.
My heart aches for him. It’s obvious he loves his mother but struggles with her decision to stick by her husband. I can’t imagine that’s easy for him to witness.
“Oh, Sully. I…I didn’t know. Is that why you moved here?”
He nods. “I made my way down the coast and settled here after trying to fight Winston one night. He took me in after that, and I’ve been here since.”
“You met Winston trying to fight him?”
Sully grins. “Yep. I was over at Gully’s, and I might have been drinking a little too much. Some douchebag was there hitting on some girl who wasn’t at all interested. He wouldn’t let up, so Winston stepped in to help, the guy swung at Winston, and my drunk ass got involved and took a swing at the wrong guy. Wren clocked me for trying to hit her brother.” He grabs his jaw like he still feels it. “Winston took me home after that, and the rest is history.”
Holy shit…
My heart rate picks up again, and this time for a whole new reason.
Sully continues, “It was a risk to stay here, but I’m glad I did. I—what? Why are you looking at me like that?” he asks, head tilted, studying me.
“I was the girl.”
“What?” He shifts back, looking as shocked as I feel. “No you weren’t.”
“Yes, I was. Jaden was supposed to be meeting me for drinks and was running late. I didn’t learn until later it was because he was dickin’ his way through his office, but yeah, that was me. I was the girl you guys were defending.”
He stares at me, mouth slackened.
“Things are a little fuzzy because I had already taken a couple shots before it all went down, but I remember some guy swinging at Winston. I didn’t realize it was you. I was so distraught over the whole ordeal and being stood up that I booked it out of there as soon as Winston stepped in. I’m kind of sad I missed Wren punching you.”
Sully grunts. “She’s fucking feisty.”
“I feel like that’s putting it nicely,” Simon says, putting our pizzas in front of us. “She’s been a pain in my ass since she was born.”
“She’s your favorite pain in the ass.”
“She is.” He looks to Sully. “And don’t you dare tell Winston I said that. I’ll deny it until my very last breath. Enjoy your pie.”
Simon leaves us to our food. Unable to resist the delicious smell, I tuck into my pizza right away.
I notice Sully hasn’t made a move for his at all.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, looking ove
r at him.
His elbows are up on the bar top, hand running over the stubble that always seems to be lining his jaw. His well-loved ball cap is spun backward on his head like it always is.
“I…I’m honestly fucking shocked right now. I can’t believe that was you,” he murmurs.
“I know. It’s kind of weird, isn’t it?”
“Yeah…weird.”
“Almost feels like fate, huh?”
Sully’s eyes find mine, and the stare he gives me almost knocks me off my stool.
It’s so intense, so profound.
So fucking raw.
“Almost feels like fate.”
Slice Sixteen
Sully
“Is it dumb I’m nervous?”
“Yes. You know all these people. Hell, you’ve known most of them longer than I have.”
Thea picks at her nails, her bottom lip tucked between her teeth. She has no reason to be nervous, not just because she already knows everyone, but because there’s no doubt in my mind they’re going to adore her as much as I do.
We’ve spent every day together since we caved to our impulses, and I can’t see myself growing tired of her anytime soon.
Last night after dinner, even after all our flirting, we didn’t even have sex.
We cuddled.
Fucking cuddled.
I can’t remember the last time I cuddled with anyone, let alone my fake girlfriend turned friend with benefits…or whatever we’re calling this, because it’s starting to feel like a hell of a lot more than just sex.
“True,” Thea says, “but I haven’t really hung out with them since high school, and that feels like it was a long damn time ago. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t really have a lot of friends. I kind of just do my own thing.”
“You’ll be fine,” I tell her. “Just know you’ll likely be tired by the end of the night.”
“Oh.” She bounces her brows up and down. “Is that a promise of sex?”
“Well, yes, but also because they are all incredibly exhausting.” She pouts, and I laugh. “Let’s head inside before they all start—never mind, they’re already doing it.”
I nod toward the front of the house where Winston, Foster, Wren, and Porter all have their noses pressed against the glass, spying on me and Thea.
“Your friends are idiots,” she says on a laugh.
“Trust me, I am aware.”
We climb out of her Mustang she still hasn’t let me drive, and my hand finds the small of her back as we make our way up the drive to Porter’s front door, enjoying the feel of the stretch of exposed skin between her long skirt and her top. I almost want to ask her if she’s not wearing underwear like the last time I saw her in this skirt, but I don’t want to start anything I can’t finish.
“Seriously? You’re all a bunch of morons,” Dory chides as she pulls the door open. “Hey, guys. Come on in.”
“In my defense, I was just checking out the car,” Wren says. “I already know Thea.”
“Well, well, well,” Winston says. “Looks like I won our bet, ladies and gents. Sully and Thea are dating. Pay up.”
Porter, Foster, and Wren all groan, pulling money from their pockets and sliding it into Winston’s waiting palm.
“I’ll take my cut now.” Thea holds her hand out.
Winston slaps the money into her hand, grinning from ear to ear because he still won the bet.
“Thank you for letting me crash your thing,” Thea says as we make our way inside.
“Oh, please. You’re not crashing it. As you can see by the pitiful acting from Winston, we all knew you’d be showing up. I’m Dory, by the way. I’ve heard so many great things about you.” She points toward Porter. “That’s my idiot.”
“Hey! He resembles that remark,” Foster says, and then Porter punches him in the arm.
Dory rolls her eyes. “You’re just as bad, Foster. I don’t know how Wren puts up with you.”
“It’s because of my big—”
“I will end you,” Winston warns before Foster can finish what I’m sure is an X-rated sentence. Part of me thinks he just says that shit to get Winston going, but then part of me believes he’s just that dumb.
Foster scoffs. “Please, I could take you.”
“Not this again.” Porter groans. He pushes past them and approaches me and Thea. “Hey, I’m Porter. I don’t think we’ve officially met yet.”
“The billionaire, right?”
He grins. “Is that the word on the street?”
“One of them. The other rumor is you’re Bruce Wayne.”
“God, I wish he were Bruce Wayne,” Dory mutters, but then she sends a sweet grin to her fiancé. She points to the brown paper bag I’m carrying. “Is that them?”
“You know it.”
She claps her hands together, excited. “Oh, I cannot wait! I’ve been fasting since yesterday for this.”
“You never did tell me what’s in there,” Thea says.
“I’ll show you. Kitchen?” I ask Dory.
“Yep. Drew’s in there trying to make it all pretty like the chef she is. I’ll run these to her. You know how she likes to put on a show.”
Dory takes the bag from me and scurries off to the kitchen.
“It’s pointless,” Winston declares. “We’re just going to make a mess of things once the booze gets involved.”
“Once it gets involved? Were we not supposed to start drinking yet?”
“Jesus, Foster,” Wren complains. “You couldn’t wait?”
“Hell no. We’re kid-free—I’m getting fucked up, eating some chicken fingers, and bangin’ my hot wife.”
“But not in my bathroom!”
“I’m not the bathroom fucker. That’s your fiancée.” He winks at Dory. “Ouch! Dammit, Winston. Quit hitting me!”
“Quit talking about bangin’ my sister.”
“You were right—I’m totally going to be exhausted,” Thea whispers, leaning in close.
“Told ya so.”
“Speaking of chicken fingers…Drew, are you ready yet?” Foster calls into the kitchen.
“Listen, you impatient little shit—yes, I am, but you’re eating last just for being pushy.”
“Your best friend is mean,” Foster pouts to Wren.
“Your best friend is an idiot.”
“Wait—are you referring to me or Winston?” Porter says.
“Yes,” Wren answers, pushing past us all and making her way into the kitchen ahead of the crowd.
We all follow her to where Drew’s putting the finishing touches on our buffet with one hand, the other held up in the air, halting us from digging into our ritual feast.
We wait with bated breath, probably all having looked forward to this since our last meetup.
When she’s finished, she brushes her hands together, then holds her arms open wide.
“I give you: food!” she announces. “Let’s eat!”
The herd moves at once, grabbing plates and piling them high.
“Hold on, let me get this straight—this is what has everyone all jazzed up?” Thea asks, surveying the spread with her brows raised.
“Yep. Isn’t it beautiful?” Wren practically salivates.
“It’s…not at all what I was expecting.” She laughs. “It’s all finger foods.”
“Hey, there’s some mac ’n’ cheese too. We have to bust out the forks for that,” Porter says, grabbing his plate and loading it up with Drew’s homemade macaroni.
“Do you do this every month?” Thea asks.
“Yep. It’s our time to be kids again,” I explain, then point to the start of the line. “We have the macaroni, four different kinds of French fries and tater tots, mini corn dogs, mozzarella sticks, perogies, chicken fingers (Foster’s favorite), mini tacos, fried pickles, crab cakes—a Drew specialty, so you better act fast—and finally, pizza rolls.”
She narrows her eyes at Winston and Wren. “But your dad owns a pizza shop.”
“Yeah, an
d if you breathe one word of this, you’re never invited over again,” Winston threatens with a glare.
Wren slaps at him. “Ignore him. He’s kidding. But…maybe don’t tell our dad?”
“My lips are sealed,” Thea promises.
“Good. We might just invite you back yet.”
“What was in the bag?” she asks me.
“That was dessert.” Her eyes sparkle at the word, and I chuckle. “We all buy a fuck-ton of snack cakes, all varieties, and eat until we can’t anymore.”
“So you’re saying this is basically heaven? Junk food and liquor galore?”
“Basically.”
“You told me to come hungry, but I didn’t think you meant for this.”
“What’d you think he meant? Come hungry for his dick?” Winston remarks.
I eye him with a glare that promises physical pain later, and he just smirks at me like the bastard he is.
Wren steps up and smacks the back of his head. “You’re so fucking uncouth, you penis wrinkle.”
“I don’t think you can say ‘fucking,’ ‘uncouth,’ and ‘penis wrinkle’ all in the same sentence,” he fires back.
Thea leans into me. “I kind of hate you for not bringing me here sooner.”
“Because of the food or the entertainment?”
“Both.”
I laugh. “I promise I won’t ever leave you out again.”
“Hand turkey promise?” We smash our hand and fist together, and she narrows her eyes. “I’m holding you to that.”
We load our plates up with goodies, then meander outside to the extravagant patio Foster built for them this past spring.
There’s a fire pit already blazing in the center, and we all find a chair around the crackling flames.
“It’s beautiful out here,” Thea comments, taking the spot next to me on the loveseat.
“It’s damn nice,” I say. “If I ever gave up the boat and opted to live on land, this is exactly what I’d like.”
Something I can’t quite place my finger on flares to life in her eyes as she murmurs a soft, “Same.”
“Tequila shots!” Porter declares, breaking our connection as he takes up his post behind the bar.
He passes us each a shot.
“Blech. I hate tequila,” Thea says quietly.
Cheesy on the Eyes: Fake Dating Romcom (Slice Book 5) Page 16