“Stevie…” She sighed. “Come with us, please? I think Chris could use friends right now.”
“Why?” Dread squeezed my throat.
“Jones says he’s been really distant lately. Making up excuses not to hang out, saying he’s busy. Turning down every offer to go back to supercross.” Hunter popped out of his seat.
Wow. That did not sound like Tarzan. Supercross was his world. Even when he pretended it was just a fun hobby, I saw past all his fear of failure and knew how much it meant to him. Especially when he started doing really well at it.
“I’m only coming because it sounds as if aliens might be tearing through his stomach soon…and I’m curious to watch that,” I grumbled, climbing out of the back.
“Of course.” Hunter snorted.
Chris lived in a row of two-story townhouses with a private deck above and a carport below, where he kept his motorcycle and car. The patio on the roof, which we had christened so many times it was obscene, was cool as hell. But the serious flaw in the design was you could pretty much see everyone else’s sundeck. The poor neighbors avoided their own patio for months after catching us for the fifth time up there. Okay, it was probably more like the fifteenth time.
Tarzan had been a glitch in my program. A short circuit in my brain, which left me addicted to him far longer than I was to anyone else. Someone who wasn’t supposed to be anything more than a Disney moniker I used on all hookups. The sexy loincloth-wearing Ape-boy I met at a scavenger hunt years ago. Nothing more. Normally I couldn’t get away fast enough. Sex and go. But I didn’t run out the first morning. Nor did I the next. I couldn’t get enough, which was the first time in my life I had ever felt that way. And I couldn’t deny it stopped only because he left. I’d never been hooked on anyone else before. I enjoyed sex, but most of the time it didn’t go beyond that, and I liked it that way. Emotions only got in the way. My way was clean and simple. We got what we wanted in the moment and then we walked away.
The sun blazed down on my shoulders and back, but I wrapped my arms around myself like I was battling a Nordic wind, my body a mix of fire and ice.
It had been almost a year since I’d even set eyes on him, and we’d avoided each other then.
Get yourself together, I mentally yelled at myself, lifting my chin. He probably was completely over it. I mean, it had been a long time. Knowing him, he probably had forgotten we even had a thing, blocked out by dozens of girls since. We had that in common. He was as much of a womanizer as I was.
I pressed my hand into my stomach, the queasiness not getting the memo that I no longer cared about Ape-boy.
Hunter pounded on the door. Ten seconds. Thirty seconds. Nothing.
“Singer, open the hell up.” Hunter hit the door again. “I know you’re home. Both your car and bike are here.”
Silence.
“I’m not leaving,” Hunter stated, putting his hands on his hips. “It’s hot and I need a beer.”
“Chris?” Jayme stepped up to the door. “Open the door, please.”
The moment Jayme spoke, I saw a shadow pass over the small crescent window on the top of the door and heard footsteps across a wood floor. Chris could probably ignore Hunter, most certainly me, but not Jaymerson. Chris was, at heart, a gentleman. He liked and respected girls, except maybe a few he had slept with, but even those knew the score up front. Actually, he and Hunter were gentlemen with a really naughty bad-boy steak.
There were a few more beats, as though he was still debating, before the door handle jiggled.
Run!
The need to escape, to get away before the door opened, vibrated in my legs, backing me up. I started to turn, the desperation to not see him overriding the need to. Without even looking or speaking, Jaymerson’s fingers wrapped around my wrist, keeping me from bolting.
The door creaked open.
Fuuuccck.
Frozen in place, my gaze greedily took in the guy standing in the doorway, my mouth dropping.
Shirtless, wearing only a pair of baggy shorts, his tan-rippled physique had my thighs clenching. Whatever I thought of him, Tarzan was sexy as shit. Tall, lean, ripped, with a body I wanted to lick from top to bottom, especially his ass. Caramel-colored shoulder-length hair and hazel eyes. A tattoo, which I never asked the meaning of, stretched along his side. Tribal designs marked up his ribs with a sunburst in the middle.
Australian, his light accent alone could make my knees buckle. I had been with male models and actors in New York but could still easily walk away from them. Tarzan had something that made my body tingle and flush with need. Like a drug.
On my second round of ogling, I did notice the small changes since I’d last seen him. He had lost weight, his usual gorgeous hair was stringy and unbrushed, and his scruff was almost a beard. Besides being gaunt with exhaustion, the sight of him still made me ache to grab him by the back of the neck and clench a fistful of his hair like I used to. I loved his longer hair. Great to hold on to…
But now the go-lucky Aussie was gone, and the guy standing before me pulsed with edginess, even hostility. He nodded at his friends before his gaze fell on me. Hard. Unforgiving. Ruthless.
Of course, it only turned me on. If what I felt inside had a noise, it would be the rip of fabric as I tore off my clothes.
Dammit, Stevie. Get it together. You and Tarzan are long over.
“Nice.” Tarzan scowled at his friends, his speech a bit slurred. Is he drunk? He shook his head and stumbled to the side to let us in. He glowered at me before sauntering back into the dark house. Fuck him. He was the one who left. Why the hell did he hate me?
“Is that how you greet friends you haven’t seen in months, asshole?” Hunter stomped in after him, his brows furrowed. Jayme and I trailed after, stepping into the living room. The air smelled stale, no lights were on, every curtain was closed, the rushing AC the only sound. The only light came from the TV. The black leather sofa was dented as if he had been lying there for weeks, rows of empty beer cans and a few plates littered the coffee table.
The Chris I remembered may have been easygoing, but he liked his place clean. He was a bit of a germophobe, which made me laugh, since his dick had been in so many germy places it should be vaccinated.
“What the hell, man?” Hunter opened his arms, scanning the room.
“What?” Chris rubbed his head, strolling into the kitchen, opening the fridge.
“What do you mean, what?” Hunter faced him. “What the hell is going on?”
“I was taking a nice nap; that’s what was going on.” Chris slammed the fridge closed. “Sorry, out of beer.”
“Yeah, because you drank it all.” I pointed to the copious bottles on the table. He glared in my direction but wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“I like beer on a hot day. Sue me.”
Jaymerson sighed deeply, her nose wrinkling up, hands on her hips. “Chris.” Her voice coiled with crossness. “We are your friends. Talk to us.”
“Wow.” Chris smirked. “Is that an order, Mom?”
It was a blink, a fraction of a second, when Hunter rushed forward, slamming his friend into a wall.
“Whatever bug you have up your ass, you take it out on me. If you ever talk to her again like that, I will have no problem kicking the shit out of you. Actually, you look as if you need it.”
For a second, sorrow and regret flickered over Chris’s face before it disappeared behind the wall he had up.
“Sorry, Jayme,” he replied coolly.
“I’m not fragile, Chris. I can take whatever you throw at me. We’re here because we care, and we’re worried about you.” She touched Hunter’s arm, and he let Chris go.
“Why? Is this because Jones is upset I didn’t take the contract?” Chris brushed past them, putting the small island between himself and his friends, like a barrier.
“Don’t be an asshole.” Hunter rolled his hands into fists. “He’s really worried about you. Not any contract. You never want to ride on a circuit again? Fine
. We’re still your friends, douchebag.”
Men. Anytime they skimmed close to a “feeling,” they had to counter it with an insult. Wait a minute. I did that too. Dammit! I was a man, wasn’t I?
Chris sneered, muttering to himself. “Never want to ride on a circuit again. Yeah…” He looked to be having an internal dialogue. With his attention on himself, I really took him in. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his shoulders were tense and bowed as if he were weighed down. And he was thinner than I first thought. His formerly carefree demeanor bristled with anger and defeat. My irritation at his attitude fell away and genuine concern seized the spot.
We had tried to keep our little tryst light and easygoing, but we had spent a lot of time together. Neither Hunter nor Jaymerson realized how much because we didn’t want anyone getting on our backs about it being a “relationship,” which it wasn’t. We sometimes lied to them, never disclosing that we had spent almost every night together in a haze of unbelievable sex. These times would turn into hanging out, neither of us running for the door. I found him easy to be around. To talk to.
That’s over, I told myself. Tarzan is not your concern anymore.
Chris ran a hand over his eyes with a grunt, like he felt ill. Probably hungover.
“Guys, I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine. Really. I just need a nap.”
“Thought you just had one?” Jayme motioned to the sofa.
“Well, you know me; I was up all night.” He waggled his eyebrows, his gaze darting to me, then back to the pair. “She was relentless. Couldn’t get enough.” He tried to laugh, but it came out flat, falling at his feet. “So…a little crabby…and fuckin’ sore. I mean, it was nonstop.”
Hunter’s lips thinned, watching his friend. He dipped his head, but I could tell he didn’t believe a word Chris said.
Neither did I, but his words still slithered up my back. His declaration about the nightly escapade with the next venereal disease in his bed made me want to punch something.
I could start with him.
“You know about Krista and the baby, right?”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “Fucked up. Poor kid.”
I could see Hunter’s expression almost say, Where the hell were you? You should have been there. But he gritted his teeth, a nerve pulsing at his jaw.
“We’re gonna get some rest and then head back to the hospital this evening. I know it would mean a lot to Krista if you came to visit.”
“Yeah.” Chris blurted out quickly, not meeting any of our gazes. “Of course.”
Hunter’s mouth opened, then closed, but he nodded.
“Okay. I’ll text you when we’re heading back over.” Hunter touched Jayme’s side, moving for the door.
“Cool.” Chris walked behind us, trying to herd us out. Jayme and Hunter stepped out first. “See you later.” Jayme squeezed his arm before she and Hunter descended the stairs.
I stood for a moment, staring at him. He gripped the door handle, his feet and eyes dancing around. He could feel my eyes burning into him. Only for a second did he look at me, our eyes locking, before he jolted them away, staring out the door.
“Good to see you, Stevie.” He spoke robotically.
“Yeah.” I bit down on my lip and walked out of his house, not looking back, forcing myself to remember Ape-boy was not my problem. Whatever he was going through, some other girl could deal with it.
“Do you mind taking me home instead?” I asked as I crawled back into the car.
“You don’t want to hang out anymore?” Jayme pulled on her seatbelt.
“Actually, I had a crappy night’s sleep too. Didn’t get in until really late.” I wasn’t really lying. “Want to take a quick nap, shower, then I’ll meet you guys later. We can hangout tonight. I’ll be in a much better mood.”
“I know your bad moods.” Jayme pulled the jeep out of the spot. “You aren’t in one.”
“Yeah, well, I got a sudden case of crabs.” I chuckled dryly. “Probably from just touching the doorknob in that place.”
“Okay.” In the rearview mirror I saw her eyebrow curve up knowingly.
I grumbled and sat back in my seat, staring out the window the rest of the drive to my house. We all knew something was up with Chris, but none of us mentioned it.
It’s their problem, Stevie. Plus, he’s a big boy; he can take care of himself.
But the nagging sensation wouldn’t leave me. Even when I was back home, away from everything that reminded me him, except the few dozen times he crawled through my window. We made a game of how quiet we could be, my mom’s room being right next to mine.
I flopped on my bed, shoving out the images of us tangled in these very sheets. I tried to take a nap, but my mind was restless, returning to Tarzan over and over.
“Dammit!” I yelled at my ceiling, making Hendrix, who was next to me, jerk his head up. “Asshole.”
Tarzan shouldn’t bother me one bit. I should have been falling into a beautiful serene slumber, my head free of any tangled webs.
This was why I didn’t let myself care.
Chapter Five
My flip-flops tapped against the pavement, my heart beating like a rabbit’s. The tail end of light rimming the horizon was swallowed up by darkness, the moon bright in the sky. The night hadn’t cooled down much, the humidity still latched on to my skin, dissolving the freshness of my shower.
Turn around. Go back.
Jaymerson had called me two hours earlier when Hunter and Megan left to visit Krista. She happily stayed back to watch Cody. Krista and Jayme would never be close, but they had learned to play nice and deal with each other for Hunter’s sake. They would always be in each other’s lives.
“Come over. I might as well babysit two toddlers instead of one,” she joked.
“Ha. Ha,” I barked into the phone, though it probably wouldn’t be far from the truth. My unsuccessful nap had only left me temperamental and ready to throw a tantrum.
“Sorry, Whiskey. Mom is laying the guilt trip on me. You know how she gets.” I stared at my mom’s closed bedroom door, knowing she was already sound asleep. A long day in the summer heat shopping with Della wiped her out.
“Yeah, I do.” Jaymerson laughed. “Okay, tomorrow is all mine. I need some Stevie time.”
Did I hate myself for lying to my best friend? Of course. I did have a heart somewhere in here.
“You got it. Girl time with a lot of wine.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Okay, see you tomorrow.”
“Night,” Jaymerson replied. “Oh, and Stevie? Go easy on him,” she said before hanging up.
My mouth gaped. Shhiiiiitt. That girl could see through me as if I were cellophane. Now I felt even more like an ass.
My fist now rapped on the door, not letting myself run back to the car and forget this stupid idea.
What was I doing?
“Hold on.” I heard a rustling sound behind the door before it swung open, dressed exactly like he had been earlier. He probably thought himself safe. All his friends were at the hospital where he should be, but I knew he had never intended on going.
“Fuck.” He blinked, taken back at the sight of me. Not waiting for an invite I would never get, I barreled past him into the apartment. The kitchen light was on now. “Sure, Stevie, come in,” he grumbled, turning to face me, his hand still on the open door.
“Please.” I rolled my eyes. “As if you would have invited me in.”
“And I’m not now.” He motioned for me to exit.
“No.” I folded my arms. “I’m not leaving.”
“Came over to pick up where we left off?” He tilted his head, a malicious smile creeping on his face. “If that’s the case—”
“Stop.” My hands went to my hips. “I’m not here for sex. It wasn’t that good.” Big. Fucking. Lie.
“Then I have no use for you.” He waved to the exit again.
“That right there tells me you do.” I brushed back the strands of hair st
icking to my skin. “You are a lot of things, Ape-boy, but you are not cruel. Especially to your friends.”
“And you consider yourself one of those?” His eyebrow arched up. Mocking.
“No.” I glared at him. “Not anymore. But Jaymerson and Hunter are. They love you…and you were beyond an asswipe to them. And the one thing I do know about you is your friends are everything to you because they are your family, unlike the douches back in Australia.”
His bare chest filled with air, rage rolling off him. He hated I knew things about him others didn’t. I was prepared for his wrath, but instead he looked away and exhaled slowly. He shut the door and silently strolled to the kitchen, opened the fridge and frowned.
“Is this what you’re looking for?” I opened my large, vibrantly printed hobo bag, pulling out a six-pack of his favorite beer, which I hung off my fingertips like a tease.
He chuckled, humor glinting in his eyes, a chink of his armor falling away. “Were you going to bribe your way in with that if I hadn’t let you in?”
“Call it an assurance.” I shrugged, moving closer to him. “A door fee, if you want.”
A genuine smile curved his mouth. “Forgot how devious you are.” He put his hands on the island, leaning onto them, looking as though he needed to keep himself steady.
“Oh, fledging, that should be the one thing you don’t forget about me.” I set the beer on the island, his body so close I could smell his familiar cologne and sexy boy smell, making my heart flop around.
He cocked his head to the side, peered down and took me in, his hair brushing his bicep. His eyes were guarded, but his gaze devoured me.
“Believe me,” he rumbled so low, his voice vibrated between my legs. “I haven’t forgotten anything about you.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. The word went off in my head like an alarm, ringing its warning down my body. Danger. Danger.
I cleared my throat and stepped back, pulling two bottles out of the container, shoving the rest into the fridge. By the time I turned back, the wall Chris built was back up, his jaw gritted.
Twisted Love (Blinded Love Series Book 3) Page 4