by Eden Finley
That was another thing I thought was strange about Reece and Paul. They’d been dating for a year, yet she had never taken him to meet our friends on our Friday nights at the pub. I was sure Pip had met him, but none of the guys had. Well, until tonight, then.
“Five more minutes,” I said to Cody and then shut his door. I turned to Paige. “They asked you to babysit?” I tried keeping my tone calm, but I didn’t think it worked.
She shook her head. “I volunteered. They were going to wait until you came to pick him up, but I said I was going to be home anyway, and I could look after him until you got here.”
I nodded. I supposed that was fair. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get snappy, but it annoys me that she has one set of rules and I have another.”
“I get that,” she said quietly. “Did you want something to drink?”
My palms were sweaty from just being around her. I managed a nod. “Water, please.”
We made our way back down the hall. “So, how’s work going?” she asked as she started puttering around the kitchen.
I smiled at the awkward question. It came out so stiff and formal. She was as nervous as I was. “Okay, I guess. It’s work.”
She placed a glass of water down in front of me. “Okay, question?”
“Go ahead.”
“What would you be doing if you hadn’t dropped out of uni?”
I let out a sigh. “I was studying environmental science. It was probably a useless degree, but if I could’ve gotten a job on a city council or something, it would’ve been worth it. I just wanted to work outdoors. Instead, I’m stuck in a stinking-hot factory all day.”
“Ever thought about going back and finishing your degree?”
“I’m twenty-seven, I’m not going back to uni. Not to mention I work full-time and rarely see Cody as it is. I wouldn’t give my time up with him for anything.”
“Fair enough. I just thought there might’ve been night classes or something.”
I appreciated her effort, but it was just another thing to add to the list of why I wanted to be with her. I’d started keeping that list as well, and it was getting longer every damn day.
“Kicked any more puppies lately?” I asked, making her grin.
“All the time. It’s become a favourite pastime. Eaten any Brussels sprouts?”
“Last night.” I smiled.
She screwed up her face and shook her head. “Did you want to stay for dinner tonight? Someone has to look out for Cody’s health. Subjecting your kid to Brussels sprouts should be concern for child services.”
My smile faded. I knew she was only joking, and she didn’t know any better, but Reece had actually called DOCS on me before, so I didn’t really find it funny. “I … I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Cody’s here. It’s not like I’m going to jump you or anything. I do have some self-control. And we’re bound to run into each other. I always cook too much so there’ll be plenty to go around. While we can’t … you know … date or whatever, we’re kind of forced to at least be friendly.”
“I know. It’s just …” I let out a loud breath. “It’s hard …”
She looked down at my crotch then back up again with her eyebrow quirked.
“Not that! You’ve got such a dirty mind.”
“I can’t help it when I’m around you. You bring it out of me.”
Damn this girl. “There! That’s the reason we can’t stay for dinner. You can’t say stuff like that to me, it goes straight to my—”
“We can’t stay for dinner?” Cody’s voice came from behind me, making me jump. Thank God, I hadn’t got my whole sentence out. “Paige’s spaghetti is the best.”
The realisation Cody had eaten Paige’s cooking on more than one occasion stung. Even she got to see him more than I did.
“And it just so happens that I’m cooking spaghetti,” she said to him with a smile before looking at me. “Seriously, Cole, it’s fine. Stay for dinner.”
I bent down for Cody as he leaned into me to whisper, “I promise, Dad, it’s better than Mum’s.”
I laughed. “If you really want to stay and eat spaghetti with your sister, then we will, okay?”
“Paige said she’s not my sister.”
Standing up straight again, I shot daggers at Paige who winced. “Why did she say that, bud?”
“She said it’s the older sister’s job to snitch on little brothers and do other mean things. She said she doesn’t want to be my sister, she wants to be my friend instead. That way, she doesn’t have to be mean.”
My anger disappeared and I tried not to smile, but I knew I was totally failing. “Okay, well then, how about we stay here for dinner and eat with your friend?”
He nodded. “Can I go back to playing PlayStation until dinner’s ready?”
“Go for it.”
He ran back to his room, and Paige started busying herself in the kitchen, refusing to make eye contact with me.
When she did finally look up, I was still smiling. “Don’t want to be his sister, hey? There couldn’t be another reason for that, could there?”
“Shut up,” she whined. “I said that to him before we decided this couldn’t go anywhere. You know, the second time we decided that, not the first.”
“Is there anything I can do to help to get dinner ready?” I asked, letting her off the hook, even though I loved the way her cheeks were flushed.
“It’s all good. You not being able to cook is one of the things on my list, remember?”
I laughed. “I never learned how to. I’m great at picking up takeaway.”
“How you and Reece survived at all while you were married is beyond me.”
“Cheese toasties. We were very familiar with those.”
“But spaghetti is so easy. Come here, I’ll show you.”
“Really? You’re going to teach me how to cook?”
“For Cody. He can’t live on takeaway while he stays at yours.”
“Hunter’s actually pretty great in the kitchen. Another reason why I never had to learn.”
“Well, you’re not going to live with him forever, are you?”
I shrugged. “Maybe. He certainly doesn’t seem to want to settle down anytime soon. I won’t ever either, so who knows, maybe I will live with Hunter forever. Besides, his looks won’t last much longer. He won’t have any money to move out.”
“I dunno. I think Hunter’s the type of guy who only gets better with age.”
I narrowed my eyes and studied her face. “Are you blushing?” I asked. “Do you have a crush on my roommate?”
“Would you be jealous if I did?” She turned and stared at me, that impish grin of hers appearing. I cocked my head to the side, making her laugh. “I don’t. I can just appreciate an extremely good-looking man.”
“Yeah, okay, even I’ll admit he’s a good-looking bastard.” I walked around the kitchen bench so I was standing next to her. “Okay, teach me how to cook spaghetti.”
****
It was so easy being with Paige. There was no drama, no attention seeking. Cooking together and eating at the table with her and Cody, it was like getting a glimpse of what our future could possibly be. But then I remembered that it could never be like that. It wasn’t a possibility, and by letting tonight happen, I was setting myself up for more disappointment.
“Dad?” Cody said as he shovelled in his last forkful of pasta. “Are you ever going to have a fiancée?”
I was glad I had nothing in my mouth or I’m sure I would’ve choked. “Huh?”
“Well, Mum has a fiancé, and he’s going to be my stepdad. Am I going to have a stepmum one day?”
“Probably not, buddy.”
“Why not?”
After a lengthy silence because I had no idea what to say, Paige tried to come to my rescue. “Because your dad doesn’t even have a girlfriend.”
“Why not?”
Welcome to the land of kids, Paige. It’s never that easy.
�
��Because … uh …”
“Because I don’t want one. Girls have cooties.” I shuddered exaggeratedly. “How about you go play while Paige and I do the dishes, and then we’ll head home, okay?”
“Okay.” He was out of his seat and in his room before I’d even stood up.
I started clearing the plates to put them in the sink.
“You don’t have to do that. I can do the dishes,” Paige said, following me into the kitchen.
I didn’t think, I just pounced, pinning her against the bench, my hands going on either side of her. Slowly pressing my body against hers, I almost let out a contented sigh. I belonged next to her. It was where I was meant to be. But I couldn’t have her and it was killing me.
“Cole,” she said, almost completely breathless.
“You never call me Hemsworth anymore.” I pouted.
“Don’t pout. It’s not sexy.”
I laughed.
“And I do. You just don’t see it.” She pulled out her phone, showing me our recent text conversation. I’m in her phone as Hemsworth. “Sara calls you either Luke, Chris, or Liam on any given day. Sometimes Thor, sometimes Gale. You’re still very much a Hemsworth to us.”
“You talk to Sara about me?”
“No,” she said quickly. Too quickly.
I moved my head closer to hers, our cheeks touching as I whispered in her ear, “That sounds like a lie, Shortcake.”
She tilted her head away from me, giving me access to her neck. My lips kissed her gently, causing her to moan.
“Why can’t I stay away from you?” I whispered against her skin.
“Probably the same reason I practically pushed Reece and my dad out of the house before, just so I could see you.”
“I think we need to go on a date. A proper, real life date.” I found myself saying the words before I’d actually thought them through.
She stilled against me. “Isn’t that against all your rules?”
Screw it, it was out there now. “Do you think me wanting to fuck you on this kitchen bench fits in with my rules? Clearly, we suck at this not touching thing. Shouldn’t we at least give this a go? If there comes a time where we think it’s getting serious, we’ll talk to Reece and your dad about it, and we’ll try and work it out. But until then, there’s nothing really to say, is there? We might go on a few dates and decide we’re all wrong for each other …” Although, I doubt it. “All I know is, I want to spend as much time with you as I can.”
She nodded. “I want to go on a date with you.”
“Sunday okay for you? After I drop Cody off?”
“Sunday’s good.”
I desperately wanted to kiss her, but I knew if I started, I wouldn’t have been able to stop, and I wasn’t going to risk Cody walking in on that. So instead, I pulled back and headed towards the sink to start the dishes with the biggest smile on my face.
****
Shortcake:
Are we still telling each other why we shouldn’t be together? If so, I should probably tell you … nope, I can’t do it. It’s too much. I …
I kind of love Justin Bieber’s new song.
It’s over, isn’t it?
Cole:
As much as I wish I could unsee that text, even the power of the Biebs isn’t strong enough to knock the smile off my face when I think of you.
Looking forward to tonight. X
Shortcake:
Hope you leave the cheese at home. There’s one for my list. I don’t do cheesy. Go be mushy with someone else.
Can’t wait to see you naked tonight.
Cole:
One day soon, you’ll be begging me for cheese. And we’re not having sex tonight. It’s a first date.
Shortcake:
Whatever you say, Hemsworth.
“You’re dressed up to drop Cody home,” Hunter said with a smirk.
“Shut up.” I looked down the hallway to the closed bathroom door where Cody was showering, hoping the sound of the running water would drown us out.
“Am I going to have to vacate the apartment again?”
“Nope. I’m not going to sleep with her.”
“Mmhmm, then why are you going out with her?”
I sighed as I joined him on the couch. “We’re seeing if there’s actually anything between us or not.”
“Like for real? For real, for real?”
“For real, for real,” I said with a laugh.
Hunter sat back in his seat and stared into space like he was lost in thought.
“Just say it,” I complained.
“Are you sure you’re ready for that? And with her? I mean … I know I told you to go for it, but I didn’t actually think it’d turn into anything. Why her?”
“Are you trying to get me to talk about my feelings and shit? Because you know I don’t do that.”
Hunter rubbed the back of his neck. “I just didn’t think you’d be dating again. That’s all.”
“Neither did I,” I mumbled.
“I’m worried you might be excited by the chase of her, the fact you’d have to keep it a secret. You know Reece would flip her lid if she found out.”
I shrugged. “Maybe that’s what it is. I think both of us would prefer that. It’s why we’re seeing where it could lead before we go telling anyone about it. It might be nothing, but we kind of can’t stay away from each other. We tried.”
Hunter got a weird look on his face, something I’d never seen from him before. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was jealous. “Just, try not to fall into that dark hole I had to pull you out of when Reece left you. It kinda sucked seeing you like that, bro.” Oh, not jealousy, but concern.
“The only way that’ll happen is if I fuck this up. And I’m determined not to do that.”
“So there’s like an eighty percent chance?”
I threw the couch cushion at his head and then stood to go hurry Cody out of the shower. “Thanks for the pep talk.”
“I’ve had all of two conversations with her, but I like her. Please try not to fuck it up,” I heard him say as I left the room, his tone no longer joking.
It was the one thing I was terrified of, and the one thing I knew that was most likely to happen.
12
- PAIGE -
“Why are you so nervous?” Sara asked. She was sitting on my bed, watching me pace my room. “You’ve slept with the guy twice now.”
“But both times I knew it couldn’t go anywhere. I didn’t even consider a possible future. I didn’t let myself. Now …” I shook my head. “Why am I doing this to myself? He was just meant to be a one-night stand.”
“Because he’s hot, good in bed, nice …”
“I’m starting to think you want a relationship with him.”
Cody’s voice travelled down the hallway, landing in my gut. “I’m home!”
He’s here. Five PM on the dot.
As if on cue, my phone chimed.
Hemsworth:
Parked up the street.
“Time to go,” Sara sing-songed out of my room.
We walked out to the living room where Dad, Reece, and Cody were already settled down, watching TV.
“Bye, guys, we’re going out,” I called out.
They barely acknowledged us except for a “have fun” from Reece and a “goodnight” from Dad which was fine by me.
Sara started walking with me down the street. I was so full of nerves, my legs were wobbling. “Are you drunk?” Sara asked.
“Shut up.”
“Hey, Liam,” Sara said as we reached Cole leaning against his truck.
“Hey, Sara,” he said, leaning in to kiss me on the cheek. “Hey, you.”
“Hi,” I tried to get out, but it sounded more like a croak.
“Okay, you guys are too cute. I’m going to have to go before I want to smack both of you down in a jealous rage. Have fun.” She headed back to her car.
I turned to Cole. “She was joking. Mostly. She’s only ever tried to smac
k me down once before. It didn’t work out too—”
I was cut off by his lips on mine. He spun me so I was up against the door of his ute, and then he deepened the kiss, his tongue working its magic. My skin flushed and I began to feel hot. The sudden urge to take all my clothes off right there on the street was trying to consume me. Or maybe it was just Cole doing that.
When he did finally pull back, he was smiling. “Sorry, couldn’t help it.”
“Do you start all your first dates off like that?” I asked, breathlessly.
He stepped back and ran his hand through his hair. “I’ve never had a first date before.”
“Huh?” I blurted out crudely.
“Let’s get going before Reece or your dad sees us.” He started walking around to his side of the ute.
“Where are we going?” I asked when we started driving.
“Somewhere you love.”
Not long after that, we were pulling up to the last place I’d expected. “But you hate the beach.”
“I know. You need to roll around in the sand so I’m not even tempted to touch you again. We’re meant to be doing this right.” He got out of his car, came to my side, and opened my door for me. I didn’t realise I hadn’t moved yet. “Coming?”
I slid out of the cab and waited while he grabbed a blanket and a cooler from the flatbed of the truck.
The sun was starting to make its descent. Surfers and swimmers were making their way in from the water, and families were packing up and going home. We were the crazy ones setting up a spot, just where the sand met with the grassy picnic area. The autumn air was chilly but not freezing. It was still a vast contrast to a few weeks ago, though, when swimmers and surfers would still be out for at least another hour.
“You really hate sand that much?” I asked, noticing Cole was refusing to step onto the beach.
“I know it’s weird, but I can’t help it.”
“Then why did you even bring me here?”
“Well, I really wasn’t joking about you getting covered in it.” He cringed as he pushed me so my feet sunk into the soft white sand. “That’s better.” He sat down on the picnic rug, bringing his knees up and wrapping his arms around them, casual and loose. “Secondly, I had to Google what to do on a first date seeing as I’ve never been on one before. It said—”