by Rye Hart
I bit down onto the inside of my cheek to keep from telling her that her own actions were what made Hollis feel that way. That if she hadn’t wasted eight years of her life on a verbally abusive and controlling asshole, Hollis wouldn’t think she needed saving. None of us would.
“But you?” she asked with a harsh laugh. “You, the man with the tattoos and the terrible home life and the business that’s all your own. You, who got everything you have now by breaking the rules and living life by your own means and on your own dime. You come out here and tell me I shouldn’t be out here exploring the reckless abandon I feel so deeply in my body waiting to burst out and claim a life I never got a chance to lead. And you try to frame it in the context of you giving a shit about me? If you cared so much, why did you stay away so long?”
Tears began streaming down her cheeks. Her words were like a punch to my chest. I did give a shit about her, more than she knew. I saw a strong woman struggling in front of my eyes, and I wanted to make it better. I thought that if I’d come into town and helped her get away from Ike that, somehow, it would make things better.
But it had made things worse. And I realized now that she felt I’d abandoned her. The thought of it nearly took my breath away.
“Don’t do it,” Theresa said. “Not you. I can’t—I can’t handle it from you. I’m used to it from everyone else. But not you, Grant.”
I watched her turn on her heels as she began to walk across the clearing. I resisted the monumental urge to run after her. I’d been looking at this entire process through a very biased lens. I thought Ike was the issue. I thought Ike was the reason Theresa had retreated into this pathetic shell of an existence. But all of this had started long before Ike came along. Her formative years that were supposed to be spent struggling to find a balance between what was expected of her and what she wanted from herself were instead used by others to manipulate her into what they felt she needed to be.
And in some ways, I had been no different.
Ike wasn’t good for her, and I’d never apologize for intervening the way I did. But it was manipulative, and it was me assuming I knew what was best for her instead of her deciding on her own. But she’d been with that bastard for years, and I wasn’t sure if she’d ever have left on her own.
I wasn’t sure of anything any longer.
I watched her walk into the woods, and she didn’t even bother to look back. She was angry and hurt, and with good reason. The sun was slowly beginning to set, and a chill was creeping in from the creek behind me. If Hollis saw Theresa walking out of the woods with me following, it would only make things worse.
So, I hung around until it got dark before I headed back to the house.
CHAPTER 13
THERESA
Ever since my trip to the creek and my reckless emotional dump onto Grant in the woods, I’d been itching for something else. Something greater. Something grander. Something even more reckless than before. I wasn’t sure what had seized me, but my heart was pounding for it. My soul was yelling for it. My body was begging for it. I wanted to do something so out of character it would shock even my best friend. I wanted to experiment. To travel. To throw shots back in a crop top and not give a shit as to the fact that my stomach wasn’t perfectly flat. I wanted to go somewhere and eat exotic food or run naked in the streets and try to narrowly escape the cops.
I wanted to feel alive.
“Did you seriously sunbathe topless by that damn creek?” Jane asked.
“I did. For two solid hours. A bottle of wine at my side and nothing but me and the animals,” I said.
“Fuck. Now I’m pissed I didn’t leave work to come with you. That sounds awesome! What the hell made you do something like that?”
“I feel—free. Like I’m no longer underneath someone’s thumb.”
“You mean Ike’s thumb?”
“It’s insane, the shit I put up with from him.”
“Whoa, I never thought I’d hear you admit that out loud. I’m liking this new Theresa more and more,” she said.
“But really. I put up with so much. I can’t believe I convinced myself that living the life I was with Ike was somehow normal. What the hell was wrong with me?”
“Theresa, the fact that you can admit that Ike was controlling you and suppressing you speaks volumes to the clarity of mind you have. And I know it makes you angry and I know it’s hard to look at now that you’re standing on the outside. But use this to make yourself stronger. You’re free of the man who shackled you. Who expected you to be someone you weren’t. Hell, Theresa. He was policing your damn clothes. You can wear whatever the fuck you want now!”
“I could wring my hands around that bastard’s neck.”
“Let’s maybe not consider murder as our reckless venture, though. Okay? I don’t think Hollis would appreciate that,” she said.
“Speaking of Hollis, you and I haven’t talked since the bar that night. What happened?”
“Girl, absolutely nothing.”
“What? What do you mean ‘nothing’?” I asked.
“We drove around and talked. He took me on a call.”
“He what?”
“Yeah. Took me on a damn call. I guess he thought he was being cool or some shit. Then we drove to this secluded place near the beach, made out for a while, then he took me the fuck home.”
“That doesn’t sound like Hollis at all.”
“I practically threw myself at him. I don’t know what happened, Theresa. Actually, I do know what happened. Nothing!”
I threw my head back and laughed as I fell back onto my bed.
“Well, maybe Hollis is one of those guys who tries to respect a woman he really likes.”
“I wanted him to fuck my brains out.”
“Can we keep in mind that we are talking about my brother?” I asked.
“Sorry. But yeah, anyway. It’s the weekend! What are we getting into?”
I debated on whether to tell Jane about what happened with Grant and me. It didn’t even occur to her that something else other than him taking me home might’ve happened. And that interaction was a real eye-opener. I didn’t want to be that woman. I didn’t want to be plain old Theresa any longer. I wanted to be mysterious. Strong. Able to live the life I wanted and be the person I’d always wanted to become. Bold. Brash. Headstrong and in control of her life.
I’d let Ike control me for far too long, and I was done being angry at something that was in the past.
“I don’t know,” I said. “But I’m ready to let loose.”
“Got anything special in mind?” Jane asked.
“I don’t know, but I’ve always felt like I’ve been holding myself back. First with my parents, then with Ike. Hollis, too. I feel like if I try to be myself, they somehow won’t accept it.”
“But you’ll always have me, and I’ll defend your right to be yourself until my last breath,” she said.
“Did you know I never even considered living anywhere but Bar Harbor?”
“What do you mean?”
“It was always expected of me to stick around and help my dad out with his practice. So, I never considered living any place else. I didn’t think it was in the cards for me when that wasn’t the case at all. I was simply allowing other people around me to dictate what was proper for my life,” I said.
“Are you wanting to move away or something?”
“Now that I have to look for a new place, I’m considering it. I could go anywhere. Do anything. Be anyone. Nothing is chaining me to this place.”
“Except for your job.”
“I can find a job anywhere. I’ve got four years of experience at my father’s practice and a business degree. I’ve always wanted to open a business of my own. But I let Ike shit on that dream like he shat on everything else.”
“You want to start a business this weekend then?” she asked.
“Very funny. I’m just word-vomiting at this point.”
“And that’s what I’m here fo
r, girl. I’m your best friend, and I support any and all endeavors as long as I get to be a part of them.”
“Like my tattoo.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea. Want another one?” she asked.
“All I know is I’m tired of being a good girl all the damn time. And do you know what bad girls do once they break up?”
“Oh, hell yeah, I do. We’re going to find you a fucking rebound.”
“I want a damn rebound.”
What I didn’t tell her was that it wasn’t a rebound from Ike. It was a rebound from Grant. If he worked that hard at the creek that night to stay away from me, then it was obvious he didn’t want me any longer. He’d gotten a taste of what he thought he wanted all those years ago, and he’d gotten it out of his system. So, screw him. I was a big girl, and I could handle that shit. I’d said my piece right to his face, and I felt okay with how I’d left things between us.
But it was time to find me a guy to erase all those shitheads and keep trucking forward.
“You got an outfit you can wear tonight? One that shows off those insane curves you’ve got?” Jane asked.
I grinned into the phone as I ran down the hall to my room.
“I’ve got the perfect outfit.”
“Then I’ll pick you up at nine, girl!”
I reached into my closet and pulled out the dress. It gripped me in all the right places and fell just below my knees. It was a dress I’d originally purchased to try and seduce Ike and get our love life back on track to where it used to be. But now? It was going to be a symbol of my ability to claim my life back. It was crimson red and fell off my shoulders and clung to every dip and curve I had. I put on a matching red lacy panty and bra set I’d bought years ago and never wore, then I rolled the tight fabric over my head and down my body.
I looked like a million fucking bucks.
I fluffed out my hair and put on some matching lipstick. I layered on the mascara, tinted my cheeks with a bit of blush, then rearranged my breasts so they were nice and full and just peeking out of the top of the dress. I slipped into a pair of black heels with red soles and surveyed myself in the mirror, and I was very pleased with what I saw.
It was going to be a hell of a night.
“Oh. My. Gosh!”
Jane squealed as she ran up to the porch and took my hand.
“We are so going to find you the hottest man to fuck your world upside down,” she said. “That dress looks fabulous on you! Where did you get it? When did you get it?”
“It doesn’t matter, and I don’t care. All I care about is turning over a new leaf tonight. Now let’s go get a drink.”
Jane and I strode into the bar, and all eyes were on me. Men were gawking, and women were getting jealous that their men were staring at me. Jane and I walked up to the bar and ordered our drinks, and I opted for a Long Island Iced Tea. I could wrap my lips around the straw as I locked eyes with men around the room instead of ruining my lipstick on the side of a martini glass.
Then, the music came on.
People cleared the floor in the middle of the room and I dragged Jane out there with me. All those dance classes my mother had forced me to take when I was younger were finally put to good use. I gyrated my hips and moved my legs, jiggling my ass and watching as men’s eyes widened around us. Even Jane was impressed as a smile spread across her cheeks. What started out as the two of us hogging the floor turned into men pushing their way through the crowd to get to us.
To get to me.
I loved it. Craved it. The power. The sensuality. I had a man’s hands on my hips and another man in front of me with his hands caressing my thighs. Two more men were at my sides whose necks I hooked my arms around. I swiveled my hips and danced in my heels, pressing my ass into one before rolling my breasts into another.
And Jane was having the time of her life with the men that had surrounded her. Hollis was going to be sorry he didn’t fuck her when he’d had the chance.
I’d never felt so powerful and wanted before, except for when I’d been with Grant. But that was all in the past, and I was determined to focus on the present. Focus on the man’s hands on my hips and gripping my thighs and begging to get a taste of the luscious alcohol painted on my lips.
Their eyes drank me in, and I knew I’d have my choice of men to take back with me to devour.
Grant had made it very clear that I was just an obligation to him. Someone he felt he had to look after and keep protected. And that was far from the truth. I could take care of myself. I’d found my inner strength to throw Ike out of the apartment. To put my foot down with that abusive man and tell him he was no longer wanted. I knew I had it in me. The power to protect myself and fend for myself and pave the way for myself. I didn’t need Grant and the burden he thought I was to him.
I wasn’t a burden.
I was a wanted woman, judging by the looks on the faces of the men surrounding me.
“Turn around!” Jane exclaimed. “Look who just walked in!”
I swiveled my hips and turned to face the guy behind me as my eyes cast themselves over his shoulder. I grinned at the group of men coming into the bar. Of course, they’d all be here. Hollis, Grant, and Jim. The three of them had been inseparable in high school, so it didn’t shock me that Jim knew Grant was in town. They all walked through the doors of the bar, and their eyes scanned the dance floor, trying to see what all the fuss was about.
And when Grant’s eyes connected with mine, his expression fell.
His face hardened, and his eyes grew dark, and it served him fucking right. He had his damn chance, and he blew it by treating me like nothing but Hollis’ kid sister who needed a bodyguard. I swiveled my hips deeply into the man behind me before I passed off my drink, and another one was promptly set in my hand.
Grant’s face was seething with anger as Hollis’ eyes connected with Jane.
“Oh, they’re pissed,” Jane said.
“Good. They should be,” I said. “Show Hollis what he missed.”
“And you show Grant what he could’ve had if he’d stopped dicking around while he was in town.”
I smiled at the little secret I had deep inside of me as I leaned forward. I straddled the leg of the man in front of me and wrapped my arms around his neck. His hands fell to my waist, squeezing my ass as another man ground his cock into my jiggling ass. I saw Grant’s fists balling up at his sides. I saw the way his jaw clenched in anger. He looked like he wanted to murder someone. I looked over at him and smiled, letting him know that I was fully and completely in control of what was going on.
Then my attention fell back to the guy in front of me.
The guy who smelled a little too much like beer and not at all like Grant.
CHAPTER 14
GRANT
Fucking hell. She moved like a miracle. Full of grace and coursing with sexual energy. I wanted nothing more than to stride over there, throw that woman over my shoulder, slap her ass, and take her the fuck home. What the hell was she doing, grinding on all those men? They were pawing at her like dogs in fucking heat. Touching her all wrong and missing all the best parts of her. The guy in front of Theresa couldn't pull his eyes from her tits and the guy behind her was ready to shove his small dick up her ass. And the look in her eye—that mischievous little stare.
I wanted to see it as she looked up at me with my cock between those crimson red lips.
But, I couldn't. I was with Jim and Hollis, and I needed to keep myself in check. I’d run into Jim at the hardware store as I was picking up the last few things I needed to finish Hollis’ back porch. I’d decided to rip up the topical foundation and replace all that shit so no one would fall through the damn slats and kill themselves.
It’d been good to see Jim, and it seemed like a no-brainer to ask him to come out with us tonight.
After Theresa had stalked out of the woods that day, I’d told myself that I didn’t need to stay anymore. She was going to be okay on her own, and she didn’t want me sticking
around. But I had started a project with Hollis’ porch and I wasn’t going to abandon it when it was half done. That’s not how I ran my business, and not how I treated a friend. But as soon as the porch was completed to my satisfaction, I would head back to Boston.
At least, that was what I was telling myself. I wasn’t still here because of the girl on the dance floor, with her soft tits and her thick ass and her luscious thighs that trembled with her orgasms. It wasn’t because of her. That meant she had me by the nuts. And women didn’t have me by the nuts.
Women didn’t get under my skin.
I got under theirs.
“So how long you in town for?” Jim asked.
“Until I finish Hollis’ back porch. That thing was a shithole,” I said, finally pulling my eyes away from the scene on the dancefloor.
“It wasn’t that bad,” Hollis said.
“No, that thing’s pretty rickety,” Jim said. “I’m glad someone’s finally tackling it.”
“Because we all know you can’t,” I said with a grin.
“Won’t. Not can’t. I built that porch myself the first time,” Hollis said.
“And that’s why it wasn’t sanded or finished or primed or generally sturdy,” I said.
“I’d listen to the construction guru if I were you,” Jim said.
The two of them started talking about old times and reminiscing about our shitty high school days. But I was focused on Theresa. The guy in front of her was getting a little too grabby, in my opinion, and it fueled my need to go over there and break up the sexual heat gathering on the damn dance floor.
“Holy shit, Hollis. Is that Theresa?” Jim asked.
“What? Huh?” Hollis asked.
“Too busy staring at Jane, I see,” I said with a grin.
“She’s got like five men dancing on her,” Hollis said.
“You talking about Jane or your sister?” Jim asked.
“To answer your question, Jim, yes. The girl in the red dress is Theresa,” I said.
“What the fuck? What the hell’s my sister doing?” Hollis asked.
“It looks to me like she’s getting groped,” Jim said.