Remember Love (The Forever Love Series)

by Rhea Rhea

  He pulls his lips from mine again and trails kisses across my cheek to my ear. I roll my hips against him and he groans in response.

  “You’re killing me, Brenna,” he whispers in my ear then bites me in the curve where shoulder and neck meet.

  He presses his erection harder against me and rocks his hips slowly, bringing a moan from deep within me. My panties have gone from damp to soaking in a matter of minutes. Just as I turn to meet Tucker’s lips, a knock on the door interrupts us.

  “Pizza’s here!” Lexi shouts from the living room. I forgot she was still here.

  I rest my head against the wall, trying to catch my breath. Tucker has his head on my shoulder, doing the same. He releases my hair and puts his hands on my hips, holding me as I unwrap my legs from his waist. We stand holding each other for a few minutes before Tucker releases me and steps back.

  He says, “You go ahead. I think I need to wait here a minute.”

  “I think that’s a good idea.” I grin and kiss his cheek, running my hand across his stomach as I step away.

  As I head back into the living room where Lexi sits alone, a shit eating grin on her face, I wonder what she’s been up to. She opens the pizza box and grabs a slice. After taking a bite she says, “That was hot.”

  “You better be talking about that pizza you just stuck in your mouth.”

  She shakes her head, then nods toward my bedroom, still grinning like the fucking Cheshire cat. I’m gonna beat her. I take one of the pizza boxes and carry it to the front door. “Night, Lexi.”

  She laughs, and with an eye roll says. “Oh hell, Brenna, I went to the bathroom, and I only saw him lift you, and your legs go around his waist. Calm yourself.”

  She stands and walks to the door, placing a big, smacking kiss on my cheek as she passes by.

  I let out a laugh as I shut the door behind her. Leaning against the wood, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, blowing it out slowly. When I open my eyes, Tucker is standing in right front of me.

  Chapter Eleven

  Tucker

  I sit on the edge of Brenna’s bed. No way am I going out there in front of Lexi with an erection. I hadn’t intended to take things so far just yet. I need to make Brenna mine, but not till she’s ready for more. I want forever with her, not just this weekend.

  I can hear her talking with Lexi but can’t make out their words. Whatever they are doing, Lexi is laughing. The door closes and I hear silence. I guess Lexi went home. Taking a deep breath and slowly releasing it, I stand up to head into the living room.

  Brenna is leaning back on the door with her eyes closed. I step as lightly as possible, which isn’t really easy when you’re my size; a little over six foot two inches tall, and weigh two hundred pounds. I stop in front of her, just as her eyes open. I can see in her eyes that she wants me as much as I want her. I just need to know that it’s more than physical.

  “Hi,” Brenna says shyly, slightly blushing.

  “Hi.” I step forward and run my fingers across her cheeks.

  I should have known she’d be a little embarrassed. This is new territory for us. Before today we had held hands, hugged, and kissed, but nothing more. She was too young back then, and by the time she was old enough to want more, Wesley entered the picture.

  I grit my teeth at this thought. We must have this conversation, and I’m not sure how she’s going to react. Taking her hand in mine, I lead her to the couch where I take a seat and guide her down beside me.

  She asks, “Do you wanna watch some TV while we eat or would you rather just talk?”

  “Depends on what we’re gonna talk about.”

  “Wesley,” she says softly.

  “Oh.” If I hadn’t been sitting so close to her I wouldn’t have heard her response.

  “I guess we could eat and talk. You want something cold to drink?”

  “That’d be great. Thanks.”

  Brenna stands and watch her backside as she makes her way to the kitchen. What can I say? She has a great ass and I’m a guy.

  A few minutes later she enters the room, giving me a big smile. Then she takes her seat beside me again.

  This really isn’t a conversation I want to have with her, but I need to make sure he is finally out of her life. She needs to know about all the things he told me while they were together. He’s such a dick. I’ll never figure out what she saw in him.

  I say, “I know what Wesley told me, but I want to know your version of those two years.”

  “Okay, I guess I’ll start at the beginning. I met Wesley on my sixteenth birthday. I rode to the Shell station with Angie, you probably don’t know her, but she was at my party and didn’t want to ride alone. Anyway, he was in the parking lot talking to another guy and was just watching me. When we came back outside and Angie said my name, his friend hollered ‘Hey are you Brenna James?’ I nodded my head at them and Wesley walked over.”

  Grinding my teeth hard I knew that fucker lied to me.

  She continued, “He introduced himself and we stood there and talked for about thirty minutes or so before he asked me out. I agreed. We exchanged numbers and then a few weeks later we started dating. I didn’t know y’all were friends until after the second or third week we started dating.”

  She’s looking at me now, and I’m trying hard not to let my anger build.

  “Brenna, he was never really my friend. I knew him from school and we had a few of the same friends, but he was never my friend. I found that out the hard way.”

  “What do you mean? What did he do to you?”

  “I will tell you after you finish your story.”

  Brenna tells me about some of their dates. Their first Valentine’s Day, their first breakup. All of this should have been mine. This fucker swooped in, knowing that I was finally just about to walk back into her life. I’m only about halfway listening to her speech because I don’t want to hear those parts. I already heard them from that cocky bastard. Finally, she gets to the final breakup, and then to the day she saw me sitting with Wesley. The last time I saw her before last Friday.

  “Brenna, you asked me what Wesley meant that day and I’m going to tell you now.”

  “Okay.”

  “Wesley asked you out that day because he knew I was about to.”

  She opens her mouth to talk but, I place my finger over her lips to stop her.

  I continue, “He’d heard me tell stories about us and he knew how I felt about you. For whatever reason, to get back at me, he made sure he got to you first. I’m still not sure what I did to him, nor do I care.”

  I paused for a moment to give her a chance to speak. When she doesn’t I decide to tell her the rest. “I know all about your relationship with him. Everything from his mouth,” I put emphasis on everything. “He made sure I got every detail.”

  She gasps as this sinks in, and she realizes what I am talking about. “You mean he told you about us having sex? That’s what you mean by everything?”

  “Yes, down to the last detail. And none of it was ever good.” I think I just broke a molar. The hurt on her face pisses me off. Not at her, but at him. No one should know the things he told me, and I wasn’t the only one he ran his mouth too.

  After what happened between us a few minutes ago I know that most of what he said wasn’t true. It feels good to know that she responded to my body the way she did. A way she apparently never did with him if half of what he said was actually true.

  “Oh my God, Tucker! What a dick! Why didn’t you tell me before now? I spent two years going back and forth with that asshole and no one bothered to tell me he was talking shit about me behind my back?”

  “I was mad at you for so long. That’s why I’d leave when you came around. I couldn’t stand to see you with him. Then there was the fact that I knew what he was doing behind your back. I felt guilty because I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. I couldn’t get over my own hurt and anger.”

  “What do you mean by ‘what he was doing behind my
back’? Was there more?”

  I nod slowly, not really wanting to be the one to tell her, even though I’m the one who started this. “He cheated on you almost the whole time. There was always you and someone else. When you weren’t with him, any number of other girls were.”

  “That fucker! I should’ve known better and you should have told me, Tucker. How could you not? What did I do to you to make you hate me enough that you would sit back and watch while he made a fucking fool out of me?”

  Brenna jumps off the couch. I watch her as she rushes to the bathroom and slams the door.

  I feel like such a dick right now. I know I should have told her but I couldn’t. I was so hurt and angry then. But now, how do I make this right?

  I sit on her couch, debating about whether I should head home or try to make her understand. I can’t just walk away. I did that twice already, and I’ll be damned if I do it again.

  Chapter Twelve

  Brenna

  I can’t stop the tears that are rolling down my face. I have never felt like a bigger fool than I feel right at this moment. I shouldn’t blame Tucker though. It’s not his fault. I understand that he was hurt and angry too, even though I’m not sure why. It had been two years since I laid eyes on him when I met Wesley. So why should he care who I went out with?

  “Brenna, open the door and talk to me. Don’t shut me out now. Please don’t let this come between us. I just wanted it all out there so we could move forward.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me, Tucker?” I ask as I open the door with one hand and wipe the tears away with the other.

  “Damn, baby. Don’t cry,” Tucker says as he reaches out and pulls me into his chest, wrapping me in his arms. “Please don’t cry. Not for him. He’s not worth it.”

  “I’m not crying for him. I feel like a fool.” I sniffle and rub my face across his chest.

  “I’m the fool Brenna. Not you. I let him get to you and to me and I couldn’t see past my own issues to protect you. I should have protected you.”

  “You wouldn’t even talk to me. Why would you care that I was dating Wesley? I don’t get that.”

  “I won’t tell you yet why I quit talking to you. I will tell you this though; I had every intention of walking back into your life when you were old enough to date. He just beat me to it. I cared because I’d been waiting for two years to hold you in my arms again."

  Not sure how to respond, I don’t say anything for a minute. I still don’t get why he waited. Everything was perfect between us before that last summer. And then nothing. He was gone. “Why didn’t you say anything all the times me and Wesley broke up?”

  “Because I was young, hurt, angry, and stupid for listening to him. Knowing that he took your virginity broke my heart. I had waited for you, and to hear from him that you hadn’t waited for me broke me.”

  Fresh tears well up in my eyes. I lean back and seeing the tears in Tucker’s eyes breaks my heart.

  I broke his heart, and I didn’t even know it.

  I step back and gently push him out of the bathroom. Taking his hand, I lead him into my room and sit down on the bed pulling him next to me.

  “I’m sorry, Tucker. I know it’s a little late now to be saying this but I want you to know that I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I thought you hated me then.”

  “I’ve never hated you, Brenna. I tried to though, I just couldn’t.”

  “Is that all there is about Wesley? Can we officially close this conversation now?”

  “I have one more question and a confession, then we consider it closed. Are things still over between you two?”

  “Yes, that’s been over for a long time.”

  Tucker lets out a breath and a small smile forms. He has the best smiles, and I’m relieved to see it there again.

  He says, “After you left for college, Wesley came looking for me and was saying all kinds of shit. I knew it wasn’t true, but I lost my temper and beat the shit out of him. I don’t think he’ll ever get close enough to breathe the same air as you again.”

  “How did you know they weren’t true?”

  “I didn’t go far that day. I waited and watched as he drove away and then I followed you. I was hoping you were heading to the cave but you got on the interstate instead. And well… now, here we are.”

  “Here we are? But what are we, friends again? Or do you want more?”

  “I want whatever you want as long as it includes me and you.”

  “So if I said all I want is to be friends again, you’d be okay with that?”

  “You’d be in my life again. So, yeah. I’d settle for that.”

  “And if I said I wanted to be your girlfriend? You’d be okay with that?”

  “I’d absolutely be okay with that.”

  “What if I said I wanted to be your wife and have a house full of babies? Would you be okay with that?”

  I watch as the smile leaves Tucker’s face, and the most serious expression I’ve seen yet appeared. “I’d be okay with that, too.”

  “I was just kidding about that part. I just wanted to see what you’d say,” I tell him and shove his shoulder. I really wasn’t expecting him to answer that way.

  “I wasn’t.”

  Wow. Once again, he renders me speechless.

  I say, “Okay. So, you’re staying here tonight, right?”

  “Unless you don’t want me too. I brought some stuff with me in case I stayed.”

  “I want you to stay.”

  Leaning over and turning his face to mine. I place a kiss on his lips. “Go get your stuff while I get ready for bed.”

  Tucker gets up and heads out of my bedroom. I won’t let everything he’s told me tonight stand in our way. Being with Tucker is the most natural thing in the world to me, and I’m holding on with both hands.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Tucker

  Brenna may have been joking, but I wasn’t. I would marry that girl right this minute if that’s what she wanted. She’s not quite ready for that yet and that’s okay. It will happen someday. I thought I was about to lose her after our conversation about her ex. I hope she understands why I didn’t put a stop to her and Wesley a long time ago.

  Stepping out into the parking lot, I head over to my truck to grab my bag and lean back against the bed to give Brenna a little time to herself. I couldn’t say anything to her then. I hadn’t spoken to her in two years. What was I supposed to do, walk up to her and say, “Hey Brenna, I know I’ve been absent from your life, but Wesley’s a dick. Don’t go there.”

  Yeah, that would have gone over like a lead balloon. Here I was, an eighteen-year-old boy who was in love with his childhood best friend. I’d waited for her to be old enough to date, to share all her firsts with me; I should have fought for her. I shouldn’t have let anyone come between us. But I did and I hope she doesn’t make me pay for that now by throwing away this chance we have right out the window.

  Lost in my own thoughts, I don’t see Lexi getting out of her car until I hear her voice.

  “Hey Tucker, what are you doing out here?”

  “Just grabbing my bag.” Lifting my bag, I shut the door and start walking toward her.

  “Brenna’s letting you stay the night?”

  “Yeah?” This comes out as a question; by the look on Lexi’s face, I think this is something unusual.

  “Really? Well, that’s a first.”

  “Is it now? Did you think she’d make me drive home tonight?”

  “Actually, yes I did. As long as I’ve known Brenna, no one has ever spent the night at her apartment.”

  Lexi can’t possibly understand how happy she just made me with that little piece of information. I figured she’d dated and moved on with her life like most girls would have. Now I’m curious and I’m thinking Lexi is the best person to ask.

  “So, you’re saying I will be the first guy to spend the night with Brenna?”

  “Look Tucker, I know what you’re trying to do. You want me to
spill all the deets on Brenna, right?”

  I simply nod my head to say “yes” not wanting to say anything that may keep her from continuing. I know I could ask Brenna whatever I want to know but right now I feel like I need to hear what Lexi has to say.

  “All right, Tucker, it’s like this. I like you and I know a lot more about you than you know about me. I think you’re the best thing for Brenna and I’m willing to help y’all find your way back to each other.”

  I could almost kiss Lexi right now. “I appreciate all the help I can get.”

  “We partied a lot during freshman year and you know she hung out with a few different guys, but I’m pretty sure that’s all she done. She was pretty drunk one night and she told me all about y’all. From the moment y’all met to the time she moved away. That was the last time she got drunk. Brenna has pretty much been a recluse since.”

  “So, she doesn’t date?”

  “No, she doesn’t date. She goes to school and she studies. If it wasn’t for me busting in on her, I think she’d be alone all the time.”

  “Then I’m glad she has you.” I mean that, too. I don’t want Brenna alone and Lexi seems to care about her and her happiness, so I’m really glad she has a friend like her.

  “Thanks. I know I could never take your place in the BFF department, but I try to be the best friend she’ll let me be.”

  “I haven’t been a very good friend to her over the last eight years.”

  “You’re here now and that’s all that matters. You know she told me all about last weekend. She seemed to be really happy you stepped back into her life.”

  “I hope so, Lexi. I really hope so.”

  Lexi just smiles at me and starts heading to her door, so I follow, thinking it’s time to get back inside before Brenna comes out and hears us talking. Not that I’m trying to hide it. I just don’t want her to think I’m going behind her back to interrogate Lexi. Sometimes you need an outside source to help you see what you may be missing.