by Shaw, Robin
“I’ve moved on from that. I am in school, I am apart of a great football team. I have a contracted job that I am gonna start any day now. I’ve got you, and the rest of our friends.” He said it as if he was spelling something out to me. His evasiveness, coupled with the cooler water, doused my arousal and my good mood.
“Does Pierce know what the fight was about?” I asked. “I know that you don’t really talk to Rylan, or Joel, or even Gavin since you moved in here. But Pierce is your best friend.”
His expression flattened. “No, he doesn’t pry.”
“Oh, is that what I am doing? Prying into your life? My boyfriend’s life?”
A regretful look flickered over his features. “Babe, I didn’t mean—”
“No, Chase. You meant it,” I told him. “I am gonna shower. Alone.”
He gave me a tentative kiss on the tip of my nose, stepped out of the shower, and grabbed a towel from the cabinet. Briskly, he toweled himself off, his back turned to me. I adjusted the dial to a warmer temperature, and when the water beat down my back, he was gone.
***
“Babe,” Chase whispered a couple of hours later. He slid his arms under my head and pulled me against him. I opened my eyes and my hands chilled. My entire body absorbed his warmth, and it hit me how much I’d craved being with him since I’d asked him to sleep in the living room after I’d showered. I felt his thickening erection pressed against my rear, but he didn’t move. He was all too used to denying his body when he was around me.
“I didn’t mean to get so angry with you,” I said, feeling bad about how I’d rejected him earlier this morning. When he’d asked if I wanted to stay over in the car, the first thought that had crossed my mind had been that I’d get to wake up with him. I’d pushed him to talk about how he’d gotten that scar and I’d remembered that Pierce had said that Chase hadn’t pushed him to talk about he and Mona—or anything, I gathered. In fact, Chase hadn’t pushed me to talk about Cindy. I’d just wanted to let him know about her because I’d begun to trust him and because I missed her. It just hurt a little that he didn’t want to confide in me like I had with him.
“My heart is in this,” he said. “You’re important to me, but this is all new.”
“I understand,” I whispered back, which was partially true. I still disagreed with how resistant he was to talking to me about his life, but I didn’t want to burden him with what I wanted from him.
“But this is where I am at.” I rotated around and grasped his large hands. I fixed my gaze on his handsome face, noting that he hadn’t looked like he slept much, and I felt like a bitch. Determination filled his hazel eyes. “You don’t know how hard it was for me to tell you how loose I was.”
“I saw,” I said. “I am just asking you not to stop trying.”
“We’ve got one more hour of sleep before I drive you back to your uncle’s so you can get dressed for work.”
Chapter 12
Chase
“Did Mr. Penverick approve the seventh version of the logo?” Pierce asked. He propped his feet up on the coffee table in Bri and Gavin’s living room. It’d been three days since I’d been employed by Mr. Penverick to do his logo, redo the menu, and edit their online commercial for the bakery company he had out in Miami. He was already established in the competitive restaurant business. I knew that I was cheaper than graphic designers with a degree and more experience, but working for Mr. Penverick had been a real learning curve for me. I didn’t feel like I was being cheated.
I read the short email that I’d just opened up. “He did.” Pierce slapped me on the back. “And I finished editing the video for their online commercial.” I closed my laptop and eyed him. “How’s everything with you?”
“I broke it off with Mona yesterday.”
I spoke flatly to keep the skepticism out of my voice. “Is this temporary or forever?”
“Forever, man.” He grimaced.
I excused myself for a second and went into the kitchen to get us some iced tea, and returned to Pierce on the other side of the couch. He pushed his feet off the coffee table and I placed his glass of iced tea on it. “Wanna tell me what went down?”
A look of surprise flashed across his face and changed to relief. I gulped some of my drink down, feeling like a grade-A dick for not knowing that he wanted to talk about it further. “Mona said that I looked through her.”
I frowned. “Huh?”
“While we were…smashing, she was saying that I wasn’t into it.”
“Oh,” I said, flicking my eyes at my laptop.
“And I admitted to her that I felt nothing from it. Don’t even know how the man downstairs functioned.”
“No argument?” He shook his head. “She didn’t throw any objects at you?”
“Nah. Nothing like before. And she apologized for trying to get my attention by coming to La Floridita with Cassidy. She thought that I would’ve been mad at her, but I wasn’t.”
“Hmm.”
After a long pause, he asked, “Is that why you weren’t messing with any of the girls? ’Cause you felt nothing?”
“One of the reasons,” I admitted. “This has gotta be hard on you, because she was your first.”
“You know what’s really sad, Chase?”
I notched my chin up to him.
“I couldn’t tell her when the sex stopped meaning anything. Like, I don’t even know if it ever really did just because we were each other’s first.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah. And she knew it too. I told her we’d been each other’s crutch for too long. You know? We did our own thing for years, back in our schools and because we’re here, we went back to our old ways.”
I shook my head as Pierce stood up. “Drop by again after you go to your parents’ house,” I told him. “There’s an eighty year old bottle of scotch that’s collecting dust in the closet in my guestroom.”
“Sounds like a plan,” We bumped fists. “You don’t want me to send Nancy or Beth a message for you?” A corner of his lips tugged up.
“I keep in touch with my women,” I assured him.
***
Bethany
“Oh, Pierce!” Aunt Deborah ran out of the kitchen in her high heels and ran into the living room, holding Pierce at arm’s length, examining him. “You need a haircut.” His blond hair had grown to frame his face from the short cut he’d had weeks ago.
“The boys and I are gonna go for a haircut real soon.” He hugged her tightly and his expression fell when he took in her appearance. While Aunt Deborah was dressed in one of her impeccable suits and her chic bob was updated, upon closer inspection, it was clear that she had been dejected since the two most important men in her life had been at odds with each other.
“I can schedule an appointment for you with Seamus. Your friends, especially Joel, let their hair get all crazy.” She pursed her lips. “It was cute when you all were little.”
“We still kill it,” Pierce said. “Chase keeps his cut fresh,” he pointed out.
Aunt Deborah motioned with her head. “He does,” she agreed, as if there weren’t any conflicts where Chase was concerned. “And so should my handsome, bright, amazing son.”
She kissed him on the cheek and he bunched up his face like he had when he was a toddler.
“Plus, I don’t want one of my heads of guest services to look like a surfer instead of my employee,” Uncle Anton remarked from his seat at the dinner table, ignoring Pierce’s mention of Chase. A disapproving expression grew on Nancy’s face as she placed the pitcher of drinks on the table.
“Says the CEO who wears too-tight polo shirts, cargo shorts, and fugly sandals to work,” Pierce quipped.
“Pierce,” Uncle Anton said with a half-grin.
“Father.” Pierce matched his tone, and he stalked over to me and kissed my forehead. “Noodles.”
I patted his back and Cassidy came into the living room. I wanted to love her, but I didn’t even like her. And I didn’t even
want to dislike like her over a guy, but she didn’t have respect for anyone, including the people at this table who did love her. When it came to family I supposed one didn’t need to like them in order to love them. Liking your family just made loving them easier.
“Evening, everyone,” Cassidy said, and sat down next to me when there was plenty of room to sit on another chair.
Pierce released Nancy from his hug and he sat between Aunt Deborah and Nancy, whose face had brightened since he came through the door. He didn’t even look at his sister.
“Would you like more baked potatoes?” Cassidy asked after most of us were about done with our meals. Aunt Deborah couldn’t keep the smile from her face and Nancy kept checking that Pierce ate enough. Uncle Anton appeared to be content to have his wife close to him again, but he didn’t attempt to shower her with affection like I bet he wanted to.
“Thank you.” I placed a baked potato on my plate, spread some butter, and put some oregano on it. Cassidy had a twisted expression on her face.
“I’d heard that you and Mona broke up,” Cassidy said, and it brought a sad look to Aunt Deborah’s face. Uncle Anton forced himself to straighten his face.
“I thought you two got involved at too young an age.” She rubbed his back and Pierce didn’t act like he was unaffected.
“She’s a great girl,” Pierce said. “We’ve been putting this off.”
“And I hope this is it for you two. You have no business—”
“Anton!” Aunt Deborah reprimanded.
“Mom, he knows everything, remember?” he said facetiously. She sent Uncle Anton a scathing look that meant he wouldn’t be sharing a bed with her in the near future. “On that note,” Pierce said, taking out his cell phone as if he was checking for messages or any missed calls. Pierced touched the screen on his phone and the sound of strong winds and water played in the background. It was a recording.
“Just the person I was looking for,” Chase had said. Cassidy’s utensils clattered on top of her dish. Uncle Anton was about to interrupt but Aunt Deborah shushed him.
Cassidy had snickered. “I knew you’d eventually come around,” she had remarked.
“What exactly do you mean?” Chase had feigned ignorance.
“That I can make you forget about her,” she’d urged.
“Put your top back on!”
She’d giggled. “Oh, come on, I don’t think you’re a prude. I’ll show you what you’ve been missing.”
“Nah. Tell your dad the truth and then we’ll talk,” he’d lied.
“Get over it, will you? I told Father that I didn’t discourage you—”
“But that’s another lie,” Chase had cut in. “And I don’t fuck with women who act like children.”
“Turn that off,” Uncle Anton ground out, his stormy blue gaze making Cassidy’s face blanch. Nancy started gathering all of the dishes and went into the kitchen, not risking a glance at anyone.
“I think this means that you owe my boy a big apology,” Pierce told Uncle Anton. Aunt Deborah laid her hands on Pierce’s arm.
“Father, I can explain—”
Uncle Anton’s eyebrows shot up, lining his forehead. “Not another a peep out of you until I say so.”
“Excuse me,” I murmured and trotted towards the staircase.
***
Chase
“How come you didn’t tell me that Cassidy came to you here and that you recorded the conversation?” Beth asked me while we sat on my chair on the beach.
Last night Pierce had played the conversation I’d recorded between Cassidy and I when she’d approached me on the beach during his family dinner. He didn’t come by after he’d had dinner, but we’d talked on the phone after he’d gone to his room at Rylan’s house.
The moment I saw that it was Cassidy on the beach, I’d decided not to get riled up and use the situation to my advantage, to play it smart, not act on my impulse to bark at her for her actions. I’d had a part in the mess Cassidy had caused, and I’d fed into her sickness when she’d been on the beach, making her think that she’d been right all along and that I just needed some more coaxing. I’d gotten the truth out of her once and for all.
“You would’ve told her off at La Floridita.”
She softly sighed, with an expression that told me I was correct.
“Uncle Anton looked wrecked last night,” she said. “It was a really harsh way for him to learn about his daughter.”
I rubbed her arms from underneath the gray hoodie she carried with her regularly. “It was, but Pierce told me that Cassidy needed to be put on the spot in order for her behavior to sink in. Did she come up with any other lies?”
“She was going to.”
“And if Pierce had handed his dad the recording, Cassidy wouldn’t have been taken off guard or may not have been embarrassed. Sometimes those very emotions make you realize that you have a problem.”
Beth shook her head as her phone chirped, and the image on the screen was of some pretty-ass motherfucker with a thick head of brown hair that was picture perfect for a L’Oreal commercial.
“Jake!” Beth exclaimed and sat up on my lap, her legs on either side of my waist. I immediately felt better, and so did the rest of me. Her gaze didn’t waver from me. “Well, I told you to clean out your room years ago… You know if I was there, I’d be doing the cleaning while you fixed me something.” She rolled her eyes. “My cooking isn’t that bad.” Her chuckling washed over me. She loved her best friend, but I didn’t see any trace of anything more in her face or in the sound of her voice.
Beth started squealing and her breasts jostled, reminding by how perky and round they were.
“I’ll find out… Uh huh… It’d be perfect if they said yes.” Beth handed me her phone. “Jake wants to talk to you.” I dragged my fingers from her behind and took the phone with a groan. She sent me an infectious grin.
“Hey, Chase. This is Jake,” he greeted me with a deep voice that didn’t match with his pretty-boy face.
“Jake,” I said. “What’s up?”
“Straight to the point. I like that. Mariska has got Saturday and Sunday off, and we’re gonna be at Paloma’s Edge on Saturday.”
I watched Beth’s delighted countenance. Jake and Mariska were a huge part of who she was. I wanted to see Beth through their eyes.
Beth started kissing my chest and continued down to my stomach. Fortunately, the umbrella shielded us from most people. She sat back up, taking the hoodie off her shoulders.
“See you then.”
“Yup. We’ll talk one way or the other,” he said with a touch of warning, but I wasn’t sweating it.
“For sure.” I returned the phone to her. The titillating gleam in her eyes disappeared. “Yes, Jake,” she said. “And I’ll text all the info to you and Mariska.” She pressed the end button and snuggled up against my shirtless chest.
I grazed my lips on her forehead. Once the sun set, we headed to Bri and Gavin’s for dinner.
***
Bethany
I stretched out on the other side of Brianna’s bed and switched to another picture that I had of Jake on my phone. I’d shown her the two photos I had of Mariska—the goofy one and her classic senior photo. Dinner with some of the guys and her had been great, but when she’d headed to her room and I’d come out of the bathroom because Rylan had been using the one by the living room, we’d stayed in her room. Pierce was still at work at the Paloma, since Claude went away with away his family for the weekend.
“Jake’s hot,” Brianna said as she finger combed her sandy brown hair. “He can sleep over here.” She patted the side of the bed she was on with her other hand and my mouth quirked up.
“What about Pierce?”
“What about him?” she asked nonchalantly, and I pursed my lips.
“You couldn’t peel your eyes off of him the other day. And he’s really single now.”
Brianna threw me an incredulous look. “They’ve un-friended before.” She
turned her lips down. “And not to gross you out, ’cause he’s your cousin, but Pierce looks good enough to eat without his shirt on. How couldn’t I have admired him in only his swim trunks?”
I titled my head to the side. “Same could be said for Joel and Rylan.”
“And if I get to see Jake without his shirt on, I’ll likely be in a momentary trance too,” she countered. “You’ve got Chase for your viewing pleasure whenever you want it.”
Nodding, my face heated. “You can actually be with a great guy who you can’t take your hands off of when you wanna date again.”
“I am looking over the hot items on the menu for the time being.”
I smiled. “No harm in that. And thanks for allowing Jake and Mariska to sleep over if they want to. Uncle Anton and Aunt Deborah don’t need more guests in their house.”
“Or to be around Cassidy,” Brianna said. “Has Pierce talked to you since last night?”
“I texted him about them coming over tomorrow,” I replied, “He’ll come to La Floridita after work tomorrow night.”
“He didn’t mention Cassidy?”
I’d told her about Pierce playing the conversation he’d recorded with Cassidy to everyone at dinner the night before. “No.”
“Have you seen her?”
“I didn’t get the chance to. I’ve rarely seen her in the mornings and I don’t think she’s been in her room most days. Have a good night.” I jumped off of the bed and headed to the door.
“You too, Beth.”
***
Chase’s guestroom was dark when I went inside. When I found the night table, Chase’s phone’s screen’s light went on. My gaze snagged on his massive body on that bed.
“Babe, is that you?” he asked, the words carrying in the room despite how he gentled his voice. It was crazy how just hearing him made me feverish, and I was practically always chilly. Once Brianna had said Chase’s name, I’d tried to stop thinking about how sinfully perfect his body was when he’d undressed in front of me in the bathroom and I’d washed him.