by Claire Adams
Dedra got in as I started in on them.
"Just ask what? I'm not interested in him. Okay?" I turned a hard gaze onto Emily, and then turned to make sure Cindy saw it, too. "Not. Interested."
"Okay. Okay. Put your teeth back in your head, Cujo." Emily lifted her hands and laughed. "They were all good to me, Brody included. He's hilarious when you get to know him a little."
"Excellent. Glad you had fun." I pulled the car out of the driveway and ignored the need to scream at her. I needed to get myself together. I wasn't at all the type of person that would attack my friends due to something internally that I was wrestling with. It wasn't their fault that the center of my wet dreams was a demanding asshole who wasn't going to let up until I gave in.
Or maybe he would?
I couldn't help but remember how quickly he'd moved from giving me attention to ignoring me on Friday night. It almost seemed worse that he would pretend that I wasn't there at all. It was part of his game, and he was damn good at it, but I could play a few games of my own.
Stop it. Shit.
"So, here's what I'm thinking," Cindy began, leaning up into the front seat a little as I drove toward town, "You need to find a cute guy that's not Brody and get laid. Your mood has gone from good to worse to sucky. We're going to throw your pretty ass in the lake if you don't stop being crabby."
I laughed, unable to help myself. Emily was usually the one to set me straight and threaten my life, but never Cindy. She was too sweet and motherly for that.
"Wow." Dedra chuckled. "That's what I'm talking about. Let's get our girl laid by a non-Brody stud and we'll be back on track."
"Alright. Thanks for the offer, but I can rein myself in. No need to pimp me out." I shook my head and pointed to a café across the street. "That looks good. You guys wanna try that one?"
"Absolutely. The quiche is fantastic there and there are ten different ones to try." Cindy's voice lightened a little as she sat back. "Drop me and D off at the door, and we'll go grab a table. It gets crazy packed. You can park just about anywhere you find a spot."
"Alright, sounds good." I glanced over at Emily, who was smirking at me over Cindy, verbally popping me no doubt. To see our friend out of her shell a little was almost worth my mini-ass chewing.
I dropped them off and pulled into a spot near the water before turning to face my best friend.
"I'm sorry. Forgive me?" I reached over and squeezed her hand.
"What? Are you kidding me?" She tugged her hand away. "I've known you most of my life. You don't have to apologize. I know you're interested in Brody, and I know that having any desire toward him scares the hell out of you. I was there when that shit went down with Brandon, remember?"
"Yeah." I pulled my hand back and turned the car off, but didn't move to get out. "He's so damn hot. I can't stop thinking about him, and yet...there is no way in all the realms of hell that I'm letting him near me. I don't need the drama in my life, Emily."
"I agree. He's not the kind of guy that settles down, from what I can tell. The guys teased the heck out of him last night for screwing the whole damn city." She reached for her door handle. "But, I will say this..."
"No, don't say it," I chuckled and got out of the car, breathing in deeply and letting my eyes scan the faces around us. As much as I prayed that I wouldn't run into him again soon, I sure was looking for him to pop up.
"Yes, I am." She walked around the car and looped her arm into mine, tugging me toward the bistro. "He's a funny guy. I think there is more beneath the surface than he's willing to show in front of his friends. You know how guys are."
"This isn't about how he acts with his friends." I glanced down at her as I worked to pull my hair from my face with my free hand. "It's about him sleeping around. I don't care if he's cocky. I actually prefer cocky, confident meat-heads. It's that he's the exact kind of guy that would be found sleeping around, no matter what commitment he promised to make and keep."
"You're looking for a fling, though.”
"I'm done talking about this." I pulled my arm from hers, once again fighting the need to turn into a bitch. "I love you like crazy, and I'm stoked that you and Clay might have started something, but I'm not considering Brody for anything more than what he is. A good-looking guy who's part of the friend group that I'm going to be around this summer. Nothing more."
"Alright. Suit yourself." She shrugged and held the door open for me. "I guess I won't tell you how many questions he peppered me with last night."
"Questions about what?" I walked in as my chest constricted.
Don't say questions about me. Don't say-
"Questions about you." She walked by me and shrugged as I stopped dead in my tracks. "You might not be interested, but I can tell you one thing for damn sure: he is."
Chapter Eleven
Brody
"You guys want burgers for lunch again?" Clay walked into the living room and crossed his arms over his chest.
I glanced up from playing a game on my phone and shrugged. "Whatever is easiest."
"Burgers it is." Daniel got up and rolled his shoulders. "Come on, buddy. You know you're the best at grilling."
He tapped my foot and stepped over my extended legs.
"I think Clay should have to cook seeing that he's the only one that got laid last night." I smirked and pulled my legs down before standing up and tossing my phone onto the couch behind me. Something about Clay sleeping with Cora's best friend left me feeling far more jealous than I should. The sexy waitress from the burger hut had been a fun lay that afternoon, but I was left wanting more than she provided. Typical disappointment. I was starting to think that swearing off sex until I found the right girl might actually be a good idea.
I'd never say it out loud in a million years to my friends, but entertaining the thought kept my emotions on an even-kilter.
"Just call me Grill Master." I popped Clay in the chest as I walked to the kitchen.
Derek was on the phone, the smile on his face wide and a little cheesy. I couldn't help but eavesdrop.
"Naw, you don't have to do that. I mean, if you want to, I'll eat that shit up, but..." he chuckled and glanced over at me. His expression hardened just a little as the smile slipped from his lips. "I'll see you tonight, alright? We're all looking forward to it." He put the phone down and smirked. "What? She's making me a dessert."
"Who?" I picked up the plate of raw burger patties and grabbed a spatula. "Come open the door, big guy."
"Cindy." He moved up beside me and opened the door.
"The girl with red hair from Friday night?" I walked out, trying to ignore the new wave of jealousy that washed over me.
"Yeah. She's gonna be a chef. Open her own restaurant and such." He held the door and walked out languidly beside me before dropping down into my favorite lawn chair.
"Nice. Is she willing to share this dessert, or is it just for you?" I chuckled and started up the grill as Daniel walked out onto the patio.
"Are you guys talking about a real dessert or sharing a girl in bed? You know that never goes over well for you, Brody." He adjusted his glasses and handed me the salt shaker. "Don't forget to season the meat."
"Thanks, buddy." I sat the burgers and salt down, ignoring his comment as Derek stepped in to give him hell. The serenity of the water across the road from us called to me, and I tried to access the calm I needed so badly, but found myself stuck in my angst.
Going over to Cora's that night was sure to be a disaster, and part of me wanted to chicken out and just let the rest of the guys go without me. I could find someone to hang out with, and taking the boat out by myself wouldn't be a bad idea, either.
"You not with us anymore, bro?" Clay patted my back as I opened the grill and started to lay out the burgers.
"Hmmm?" I glanced over at him. "Sorry, I was reliving the quickie I had with our lovely waitress from the Burger Barn."
"It's called Jaspers, and her name was Lisa." Daniel chuckled and moved up beside me. "The
water looks great. We should just invite the girls to come over and spend the evening on the boat."
"Speaking of..." I bent down to turn up the heat a little. "I'm thinking I'll just let you guys go tonight. I'm not much for cock-blocking, and seeing that I'm the sexiest among us…"
I laughed as the two of them started pushing at me playfully.
"Emily's only got eyes for me, buddy. You lost your chance with that hot little number." Clay smiled, his eyes lighting up in a way that I hadn't seen in a long time. Maybe this chick was more than a quick roll in the sheets for him. Good. He was the long-term kinda guy.
"She is a pretty girl." I glanced over at Daniel. "And you? You going for the lovely leader of the pack?"
"Cora? Heavens no." Daniel pulled his glasses from his face and started to clean them with his t-shirt. "I honestly think I might try to grab Dedra's attention. My parents were rather against me dating a black girl, but I just don't feel the same. She's beautiful, isn't she?"
"Very." I internally sighed with relief. It looked like Cora would be playing odd-man out with me. Good. She wasn't interested, or was working hard to hide it, and I was fighting against the need to get in her face and make my point. I wasn't the guy that had her turning her nose up at men for life, though I'd most certainly been that guy for a few girls in my time.
"Besides, I'm pretty sure the sexy brunette that keeps denying you only wants the attention of one man." Derek let out a chuckle from behind us.
I turned and lifted my eyebrow at him. "Did you see her with someone in town yesterday?"
"Nope." He pulled his hat from his face. "I've only seen a few girls in my time get pissy so fast, and having three sisters, I'm telling you that she's interested. She's pissy because she doesn't want to be interested in you."
"Interested in me? No. I don't believe it." I turned back to the grill and nodded as a large gaggle of barely-clad women walked in front of the house, stopping to turn our way. I pulled my t-shirt off and winked at one of them as they started with their cat-calls.
"We're taken men," Clay called out to them, shrugged and puffing out his bottom lip.
"They're taken." I motioned toward my friends before lifting my watch to my face. "I'm free...well, look at that...for the rest of the night."
"Nope, you're not." Daniel blocked my view and tilted his head to the side. "Why don't you just try a different approach? Not all girls are into the 'drop your panties and let me use you for an afternoon' attack, right?"
"What?" I rolled my eyes and flipped the burgers. "I'm not having this conversation, guys. Cora is one girl with a bitchy attitude and a great rack. Big fucking deal. I'm not interested. It's plain and simple."
"Oh, you're interested for sure." Derek laughed, and the other guys joined in.
I nodded. "Alright. I'm telling you that I'm not, but whatever."
"He's getting sensitive. Leave him be." Daniel pushed at Clay. "He's just flesh and blood like the rest of us."
"Nope." I looked over my shoulder as I flipped them off. "I'm boners and attitude. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Dumb. Just ask the girl out, Brody. Shit." Clay dropped down in a chair beside the grill.
"Dude. I'm not interested. I'd fuck her, yeah, but I'd fuck a lot of these girls. Shut up about it already, shit." I turned back to the grill, hating how close they were coming to my thoughts. I wanted to ask her out, to work on getting to know her a little, but the truth of the matter was simple. It couldn't have much to do with her. I wasn't that deep of a guy. It was the challenge of getting her to relent, to break down and submit to me. Once I'd reached my goal and won the prize, I would move on. That wouldn't work too well if she didn't hold up all summer.
My friends seemed to be interested in her friends, which meant that I was stuck with the possibility of seeing her for the next few months. Using her and walking away would only leave everyone pissy with me. I wasn't about that life. No thanks.
She wasn't worth that.
And yet, I was nervous as hell about going to hang out with them later that night. There was no way to talk myself out of trying to get her attention, even though I knew it was damning from the start.
"How was Emily?" Daniel asked.
"She was everything a woman should be. Soft, sweet, and moaned like a kitten in heat. It was amazing." Clay moved up beside me and took the spatula from my hand. "Go get a beer, dude. You need it."
I licked at my lips and turned without another word. Weariness rolled over me, but I shoved it away. I wasn't letting this girl get under my skin. It was my last summer of freedom before having to make some hard decisions. Would it be more school or a job that didn't pay enough to cover the bills?
My kinesiology degree was fun as hell and becoming a coach was all I'd ever wanted, but there was no way to get a high-paying job without working like a grunt for little to no pay for years to do it.
The cool air in the house wrapped around me as I walked in and moved to the fridge, my thoughts moving about in different directions.
I'd been straightforward with Daniel a few days before about not caring too much about my career, but I understood quite well that any woman that might consider something with me for the long-term would want stability.
"Long-term? Dear God, please shut up," I mumbled at myself and pulled a beer from the fridge.
Clay was standing at the entrance to the kitchen with his hands on his hips, staring at me with a knowing look on his face.
"Damn, dude." I lifted the beer to my lips, drinking down half of it before continuing. "You scared the shit out of me. I'm not thinking that your new fling would be too happy with you watching me that intently. Might confuse the poor girl."
"What's up with you?" He walked to the fridge, nudging me with his shoulder. "You've been off more than usual."
"It's nothing, man." I shrugged and leaned against the counter.
"That's a fucking lie. You don't want to talk about it, cool, but don't think we don't notice." He turned to me as he popped the top on his beer.
"I can't come, alright?" I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling a little too exposed and yet knowing that Clay would keep nudging the truth from me until I spilled.
"Come where?" He took a sip of his beer as his expression softened.
"No, dude. I can't come. Like all this sex I've had over the last few years has left me, I don't know, numb." I shrugged and finished the beer before dropping it into the trashcan.
"Jack off, Brody." He stayed still, but watched me intently.
"I do, thank you very much. Still...nothing." I shrugged and let out a long sigh. "It's fucked up, alright? I'll see someone about it when we get back home."
"Yeah, you need to." He ran his fingers through his hair. "Are you shitting me? Because I know you like fucking around. You not coming sounds like one of your fucked up-”
"I can't come alright? Seriously." I brushed my fingers by my lips as the thought of Cora rushed past my mind. "I think I've objectified women too much. It's lost the thrill of what it should be."
"How long?"
"Since I came?" I glanced over at him as Derek walked into the house.
"Oh, shit. Count me out of this conversation." The big cowboy turned and walked back out of the house, causing me to smile.
"I did the other night because I thought about Cora, but before then? It's been a long time. Too long to think about." I shrugged and got out another beer. "Maybe something is wrong with me."
"Yeah, or maybe you're growing up." Clay reached over and patted my chest. "Try pulling back a little and waiting for a woman worth stripping for. Not all of them are worthy of that, bro."
"No? Could have fooled me." I winked and walked back toward the porch, tired of the conversation. I was the alpha dick of the group that used women and slept around, no matter where we went or what we did. It was my spot on the team, my designated position. We laughed over my escapades and joked about my sexual prowess all the time. It was who I was.
I walked
back out to the grill and took the spatula from Daniel's hand to start pulling the burgers off the grill.
"What should I wear tonight? I'm not sure if I should go for my swimsuit and a t-shirt or maybe some khakis and a polo?" Daniel turned his attention toward me. "I want to wear something that says I'm cool and laid back, but that I'm also mildly interested in looking good."
I chuckled. "Wear whatever you want to, Dan. Just be yourself, dude. You'll be fine."
"Wear the khakis." Clay moved up beside me. "Not all of us have your confidence, Brody."
"I wish I could bottle it up and sell it. I'd be rich and you guys would be broke mother fuckers." I smirked and moved back, trying to avoid their playful pushing again.
"Right. And, I'm the one that woke up with a pretty girl in my bed this morning." Clay took the burgers from me. "Maybe the tides are turning."
"Maybe so," I mumbled and glanced back at the lake. I was going over to Cora's with my friends, but I'd have to be on-guard. Something told me that the chase was going to thrill me beyond anything I'd encountered this far. I wanted it bad.
Wanted her bad. Maybe too bad...
Chapter Twelve
Cora
Emily hadn't done me any favors by telling me that Brody was asking about me. It was silly and childish, but the thought of bringing a player to his knees caused my blood to race with excitement. I didn't want to hurt him, but the thought of bending his enormous ego a little was rather enticing.
"What are you thinking about? You look like you're planning someone's doom." Emily chuckled and moved up beside me in the kitchen as I washed my hands.
All the snacks for the small get-together that evening were done and in the fridge. Cindy was taking a quick shower, and Dedra was headed back from town with beer and a few more bottles of wine for us.
"No, I was just thinking about my future." I lied with ease. "I think you're right about standing up to my parents."
"Good. Make sure I'm there when it happens?" She snorted and let out a yelp as a knock resounded on the door behind us. "They're here. Do I look okay?"