Sonny with a Chance

by JJ Ross

  He slowed the truck and pulled to the side of the road, jerking the truck into “park” and turned to me.

  “That’s just it. I don’t want you to break up with him for me! I don’t want you to look at me the way you once looked at him. I feel like I am betraying my own brother. The worst part is, the absolute worst part is, I can’t stop myself from feeling how I do. I have tried to push you to the back of my mind. It’s useless, though, because you are always on my mind. You are special to me, in every way possible, but you are the one girl I can’t have. …”

  “But I’m telling you that you can!” I pleaded.

  “I am telling you I can’t. He is my brother, Sonny. It’s not right. Breaking up with someone for another person is wrong. You should break up with him because he doesn’t make you happy. And if he doesn’t make you happy, then you should have broken up with him a long time ago. So, which is it Sonny, are you playing games with me or him?”

  “I’m not playing any games Drew. This hurts me…all the time…”

  “Does it hurt when you are with him? Do you think of me when you are with him, or do you forget me, like you do him, whenever you are with me? Like today, in the waterfall, did you pretend you were single and available to me? Or, do you just pretend I don’t exist until it’s convenient for you?”

  “That is not true, Andrew, and you know it. I had tried endlessly to contact you since you left. I care about you. I think about you all the time. I feel like I have this huge secret that I can’t even share with anyone. I have to be conscious of how many times I even say your name in a conversation! I can’t even tell my best friend about you because I don’t want anyone to know, because then Chance could find out and I don’t want to hurt Chance…”

  “Because you care about him.”

  “Of course I care about him, but it doesn’t even begin to compare what I feel for you!” I felt the tears well in the corners of my eyes as I pleaded my case to him.

  “Sonny, I can’t be that guy. I can’t be the jerk that takes his brother’s girl. He loves you too much, and he has for a long time.”

  “Well, you have too. Why didn’t you just tell me!?”

  “Does it matter? Are you going to keep bringing up old crap? It’s done and over. What do you want me to do? I can’t change the past.”

  “Okay….but you can change the future! Be with me…” I cried desperately.

  “I can’t be with you until you are completely done with him. There are a lot of things that need to happen before ‘we’ can happen, Do you get what I’m trying to say?”

  “Whatever, Drew. I think you are being ridiculous. You are just playing it safe. I’m not gonna hurt you, Drew! You know what, forget it. Just take me home!”

  “I…Sonny…come on…Sonny, don’t get mad…”

  I folded my arms across my chest in protest and looked straight ahead, taking a vow of silence.

  “Fine,” he said sharply and swung the truck back onto the road. We rode in silence all the way home.

  I jumped out of the cab of his truck and slammed the heavy door. I turned to storm off, but he grabbed my arm and pushed me into the truck’s door before I could get away. He pinned me against the truck with his body, making it impossible for me to even want to get away.

  “Look, I want to be with you. Don’t ever misunderstand that, but I refuse to be with you until you are available, both literally broken up with him and emotionally ready. Okay?”

  It was hot, the way he commanded the situation. I nodded slightly, letting out a slow breath.

  “And, don’t cry like that again,” he teased as he wiped a tear that rested on my cheek, “It’s not fair. I am completely weak for you, and then you throw in the water works, well, it’s just not fair at all.”

  He smiled as he pulled me into a hug.

  “Thanks for coming out to the river, Sonny, I had a great time,” he assured me as he kissed my forehead.

  “Me too,” I said quietly as I hugged him back, not wanting our day to end. I looked up to him, locking eyes with him, and his lips dropped to mine. It was the sweetest kiss he could have given me to end our day.

  “I’ll see you soon, okay?”

  “Will you call at least? Or at least answer my texts?” I asked, hopeful.

  “Of course.”

  He finally let me go and we parted ways. I didn’t know when I would see him again, but I knew it would be almost unbearable until I did. I was beginning to come to a point where he was all I wanted anymore. I wanted to eat, breath, and sleep Drew.

  Rather, sleep with Drew.

  Chapter 12

  Early the next morning, I woke to the sound of his truck roaring to life. I sprung from my bed and watched out of my window as he drove away, smiling to myself as I cherished our day together. I recalled the waterfall and felt my ears burn. It was one of those moments I could never share with anyone but I wanted to share with the world.

  Sigh. One day.

  Chance came back later that day, sometime after dinner. When his jeep pulled up, I was sitting on my bed flipping through channels on TV, waiting on him to come over, or rather, hoping he would.

  We had a lot to talk about.

  He had left with us fighting, but I knew he would come to see me. Of course, within minutes of him coming home, he was in my room, sitting on my bed as if nothing had happened. We sat quietly for a while until I finally initiated conversation.

  “How was the trip?”

  “Great. Me and Shayne roomed together.”

  “Good.”

  “Did you know that him and Maggie broke up?”

  “No, she never mentioned it.”

  “Yeah,” he sighed, “She was telling me how he wanted to be really serious and she just wanted to have fun. It was a little awkward”

  “I can imagine.”

  “How was your week?”

  I paused for a moment, “Well, I had a lot of time to think about some things and I just wanted to say that I am sorry for the way I have been acting. I have really pushed you and Maggie away from me since Christmas and I don’t really know why.” Liar, liar, pants on fire. I did know. It was Drew.

  “I’m sorry too. I guess I could have been a little more understanding or supportive of whatever it is you have been dealing with.”

  “Yeah…”

  “What’s been going on?” he asked concerned.

  “Well, not much and a lot at the same time,” I confessed as I thought about Drew, again.

  “Anything I need to be concerned about?”

  “I don’t know. I’m really confused.”

  “So, what happened?”

  “Nothing,” I lied.

  “Did you do anything fun, or just stay in the house all week?”

  “Actually, Drew invited me to the cliffs yesterday.”

  “Drew? Oh really?”

  “Yeah, it was a lot of fun. There were a bunch of guys from the frat house and one other girl. She was a sweetheart. Drew was amazing for inviting me and forcing me to get out of the house,” I stayed cautious with my wording. He sat watching my face and looked deep in thought.

  “Did you cheat on me?” he asked bluntly.

  “What? Cheat on you? What are you talking about Chance?”

  “You have no idea what I’m talking about?” he asked unconvinced. It was now or never.

  “Chance, look,” I said as I held his hands, “I care about you, but I think we need some time apart. We need a break.”

  He thought for a moment, “You want to break up?”

  “I don’t know. I just think we need time apart. To think. There has been a lot going on the last few months. I guess I thought you and I would be an easy thing. I never thought it would be this complicated,” I felt a tear burn at the corner of my eye.

  “Sonny, great things take time.”

  “I know,” I admitted.

  “I just know that what we have is makings of something great…so it will just take time. I love you.”


  “Me too,” I was still allowed to tell him I loved him right? If we didn’t stay together, it wouldn’t change how I felt about him. I would always care about him.

  “I’m sorry…for everything,” he apologized as he pulled me into his arms. I felt secure in his hug, as if nothing could ever happen to us. But I knew…something would. I knew I would ruin us and I would do it for my chance with Drew.

  “I love you,” he whispered as he kissed my forehead, “be right back,” he said as he let me go and walked toward my bathroom.

  Just as I heard the door click, his phone buzzed. I looked down at it vibrating on my bed. Then it stopped.

  But, it started to vibrate again…and again…until finally, curiosity got the best of me. I took a deep breath and picked up his phone. The uneasy feeling in my stomach told me I wouldn’t like what I found.

  I miss you.

  Did you tell her?

  HURRY UP, Chance!

  I want to feel your mouth on me again. Just get over here already.

  I stood in horror as I read the texts and I couldn’t move. I stood frozen, holding his phone when he walked in. I don’t know if I had the right to be mad, considering my weekend, but I couldn’t help being furious. The color had drained from my face.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Chance…what is going on?” I asked softly.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Why is my best friend texting you?”

  “We are just friends…what’s the problem?”

  “Why does she want your mouth on her...AGAIN!?” I raised my voice.

  I saw the blood rush to his face as he stood stunned, “Why are you going through my phone?!” he asked defensively, trying to turn this situation around, snatching the phone from my hand.

  “What did you do!?”

  “Nothing…it was nothing….”

  “It doesn’t seem like nothing. Just be honest with me.”

  “Please calm down and sit down. We need to talk.”

  “What happened?” I asked, fighting tears.

  “Please, Sonny, let me explain. It was a crazy week and Maggie and I just started talking about how you have been acting lately. We talked about how you have been pulling away from us and how much I missed you. We were pretty trashed and then, she reached over and kissed me, and I kissed her back…next thing I know, we were kinda hooking up.”

  “You didn’t kinda’ hook up. You did hook up. What are you doing to me?”

  “What am I doing to you?! What about me?”

  “This isn’t about me. It’s about you. Do not turn this around!”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really, Chance!”

  “Right,” he said sarcastically.

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “What happened with Drew?”

  “Nothing. What are you talking about?”

  “Maggie said you two slept together”

  “And you believed her without asking me!?”

  “Why would she make it up?”

  “Why wouldn’t she? She obviously wanted you! You should have asked me!”

  “Well…I thought….” He started.

  “So you thought you would sleep with my best friend to get back at me?!”

  “So, nothing happened with Drew?”

  “Chance, I did not sleep with your brother!” I defended myself, careful with my words.

  “I don’t know. I just…I gotta go. I need to sort some things out.”

  “No. Please don’t leave. Why would you think that?”

  “Well, because after the way you talk about him more often and then you going to the river with him yesterday, it made sense to me. It answered my questions of why you have been acting so weird and why you are pushing me away, but you still talk to him.”

  “I’ve just been a little distant. I am not pushing you away.”

  “Yes you are,” he said as he stood up to leave.

  “Where are you going? Are you going to her house?”

  “Yeah, I am. I need to talk to her. Besides, you don’t even know what you want anymore.”

  “I know what I want and I thought I had what I wanted. Maybe it’s you that doesn’t know what they want.”

  “I know what I want. I wanted to be with you, but I can’t keep riding this emotional roller coaster with you, Sonny. I need a break, and that is why I gotta go. I need space.”

  “You mean she has sex with you whenever you want…or is it that she gives blow jobs? Chance, it was supposed to be us, you and me, the first time.”

  “Sonny, I’m sorry. It has nothing to do with sex. We’re just not good for each other right now.”

  “Fine, we probably aren’t good for each other ever, then! So let’s give each other space.”

  “Like I said, I need a break…” and then he left, slamming the door behind him.

  I stood in shock as I heard the front door, downstairs shut behind him. A break?! He wanted a break? I didn’t know what to do, or did I? Should I go after him? Should I stop him? Did we just break up? Either way, I couldn’t just stand there. Didn’t I want this? Was this my out? This was my chance to go after what I really wanted. This was a sign.

  It was after 8 o’clock that night and I knew I had to get out of my house. I ran to my car and pulled out of the driveway with a screech. My cell phone began to beep signaling a text message.

  Where are you going?

  It was my mother.

  I ignored it and continued to drive, as I turned my phone off completely. I didn’t know where to go or what I was going to do. As I thought more and more, I made a decision and continued to drive for a few more hours until I pulled up in front of a house.

  I didn’t know what the Greek letters stood for and I wasn’t impressed by the toilet paper on the trees in the yard, but the address was right. I fixed my face, wiping the trails of mascara that ran down my cheeks and put on lip gloss in an attempt to look half decent. I got out of my car and walked up to the door as I took a deep breath, hoping for the best as I rang the doorbell.

  A guy wearing a cowboy hat and no shirt answered the door. A hot guy, at that. I blushed slightly…

  “Helllll---ooooo darling,” he said, breathing on me as he leaned forward. The smell of beer invaded my nostrils. Great. A party was in the works.

  “Umm. Hi. I am looking for Drew Mitchell. Is he here?”

  “Wo ho ho…lucky lucky Mr. Andrew. Come on in. He is up in his room. Go on up. It’s the last door on the left.”

  I walked up the stairs slowly, cautiously making my way down the hallway, and then paused in front of his door. I knocked gently and waited. I began to regret my decision. What if he didn’t want to see me…or worse…what if he was with someone else? I quickly shook the thought. Not Drew. He wasn’t that kind of guy. There was a bit of rustling around and then he opened the door.

  He stood there, without a shirt, and only his pajamas pants on, hanging just right on his sculpted body, looking incredible. His eyes were squinting, as if he had just woken up and his hair was tussled. My stomach clenched with want.

  “Sonny? What are you doing here?” he asked sleepily as he opened the door wider. I was momentarily distracted by his defined chest.

  “Well…actually…I…uhh…” and then I broke down into tears. He quickly pulled me into his arms and closed the door behind us.

  “Awe honey, what happened?” he asked as he guided me to his bed to sit down.

  I wiped the tears as he pulled on the shirt that was on his bed and then he pulled me into his arms to hold me again. Through my tears and babbling, I ended up telling him Chance had slept with Maggie. I sat there quietly and watched his face.

  “I am so sorry he did this to you. Are you okay? I mean…I know you aren’t okay, I just…umm, what can I do?”

  “There is no one that I can go to. Chance is acting like a jerk, Maggie slept with him, and I don’t trust anyone else, except you. I really needed you right now, Drew, a
nd a phone call wouldn’t do it.”

  “Babe, come here,” he pulled me close and pulled a blanket around us. He stroked my hair softly as I lay my head on his chest and let the tears soak into his shirt. I was exhausted. I had my boyfriend and lifelong friend cheat on me, my best friend betrayed me, and I had driven hours on a whim for a guy I was sure I was falling in love with.

  I realized quickly, it was all worth it, as I lay on Drew’s chest, breathing his sweet smell in. He lightly kissed my hair as he held me tighter. Before long, I heard his breathing grow steady and he snored lightly. I smiled as I closed my eyes and dreamed of nothing at all. It was where I felt the safest, in his arms.

  I woke up to Drew talking on the phone. I pretended to be asleep with my back to him as I listened.

  “Yeah…she’s here…She’s fine….Yes Ma’am. I know….I think she had a rough night. No, I haven’t talked to my brother…oh, he told you…okay….I won’t. Yes Ma’am…I will. Okay…bye.”

  There was silence and I heard him huff loudly in exhaustion, as he paced the floor. I imagined he probably ran his hand through his hair in frustration, in that sexy way only he did. Poor Drew. He must have been on the phone all morning dealing with our families. Then his phone rang again.

  I heard him groan before he answered it.

  “What?!...No, I haven’t heard from her….What did you do?!....serves you right, I don’t blame her for leaving…No, I won’t call her for you, are you insane?!...She listens to me because I didn’t break her heart, stupid!...Chance, listen to me, you hooked up with her best friend. What is she supposed to think?...Well, I wouldn’t give you another chance…I don’t think so….whatever…okay…bye.”

  I smiled slightly to myself. I heard him walk around the room for a moment and then he crawled in bed behind me and wrapped his arms around me.

  “Sonny? Are you awake?”

  I stirred slightly as I stretched and turned to him, slowly opening my eyes.

  “Good morning beautiful,” he smiled, flashing his dimples to me, “How did you sleep?”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him close. He lightened his grip around me as he spoke, “I talked to your mother. She is worried sick. Well, okay, let me start over, first my mother called me because you mother was frantic, so I confessed that you were here. I told her you were fine, so then your mother called me. Apparently you left without a word and your phone is turned off. So, you left without telling anyone anything?”