by Xavier Neal
“We’re not allowed feed the animals at the zoo. It’s against the rules,” I sneer pulling my legs underneath me to sit on them.
For a second she looks hurt, but then her sister, or friend, not sure if they are actually twins or not, jabs her with her elbow. “Cause we were dressed like monkeys last night! Duh!”
“Sure,” Erin says pushing her plate away before shooting me a look.
The first one speaks again. “Could you guys do us a favor and tell Unbreakable to call us?”
“He’s illiterate you know,” I speak again making Luke shake his head slowly as he shuts his eyes. “So that’s gonna be hard for him.” They stare at me blankly like they don’t understand.
You know, if I don’t fool around with Logan for any reason other than to remind him there are women who can count higher than 12, it would still be worth it.
“It means he can’t read.”
“But they’re numbers…” the second girl sighs, looping her arm through the first girl’s.
“Oh dear God,” Erin mumbles as I speak over her.
“He can’t read those either.”
“Oh…” says the first one making a pout face. “Sad…”
Do you have a headache now too?
“Don’t worry girls, I’ll make sure Unbreakable finds a way to get in touch with you,” Luke speaks up. “Have a nice day.”
They giggle at Luke like they could come after him next. Well that’s going to be a disappointment when they find out he’s gay.
That’s the thing I love and hate about him. Girls fawn over him and he disappoints them. It’s funny to watch until he points out that the dude you’re fawning over in a restaurant is on his team. Apparently I have no gaydar and Erin’s is Sherlock Holmes level. And yes, I watched a marathon while I couldn’t sleep last night.
Once the front door shuts Luke says, “Am I the only one here who feels that their IQ plummeted after being in the room with those two?”
“I feel like they should come with instructions on how to not pop them.” Erin stands clearing her plate. “Anyway, I have to get to work.”
“I thought you were off today.”
“I was until my boss called and asked if I could cover for a couple hours.”
“You know, you could always say no.” Luke puts on his father face before taking another sip of his coffee.
She doesn’t really need to work. The money their parents left behind is enough money for her and Luke to live comfortably until they’re at least 60. Hint: That’s why he hates that she works so hard all the time.
“I could, but I need the overtime.”
Calling her out on her bullshit, I take a bite of my pancake. “No you don’t.”
“Fine, I don’t need the overtime, but I like it.” The two of us continue staring at her as she rinses her plate. Finally she caves. “Fine! I get free makeup every time I come in when I’m not scheduled. And I like free makeup! Don’t judge me.”
You heard her. Don’t judge her.
We giggle while she loads her plate into the dishwasher. My attention turns to Luke. “And what about you? What are you doing today?”
“Golf,” he grunts refilling his cup.
Erin grabs her keys from the bar part of the island. “You hate golf.”
“I do hate golf.” His grumble is followed with a long sip of coffee. “But it’s either golf or being locked up in my room again on my day off. Besides, I may hate golfing, but some of the caddies are to die for.”
The jingle of Erin’s keys is interrupted by the sound of heavy steps hitting the stairs. I suck in a deep breath.
It’s sink or swim time. If I play the game I can get a little of what I want and the power back in my life, or I can not play and keep being the toy he only wants to play with when he’s bored. What do you say? You behind me for turning the tables on him? Yeah. Thought so.
“I thought you were off today?” Logan asks Erin, tying the string to his basketball shorts that are riding right at his hips letting the world know he is indeed going commando.
That V of his is fucking perfect.
“I was,” she emphasizes again. “But…I like free makeup.”
And with that she bounces out of the front door, the sound of her heels like a war cry to the world that she’s coming and she means business. Logan’s eyes fall on me as I pry them off of his white tank top covered chest. They’re nothing like they were last night when I didn’t see anything but a cold wall. In fact, he looks relaxed, and back to the sweet yet simple look I’m accustomed too.
God that look could more than mend a bruised heart. In fact, it’s that look that I’ve spent so many nights of my life lying next to, dreaming about, nurturing… There’s trust in this look. More importantly, love. I don’t wanna loose that again, even if it means doing things his way for a bit. Ugh! Damn it! I want Logan Kellar and I’m gonna get him, even if it is in pieces. Please just bear with me.
“Bite?” I hold my fork out with a slice of pancake on it.
Cautiously he walks over, places both of his large hands on the table, which causes my breath to jump, and lowers his jaw so that his mouth is open for receiving.
Son of a bitch. If I didn’t know any better I’d say he’s fucking with me. Testing me.
I slide the fork into his mouth with a wide smile that shows I’m unaffected. He looks slightly relieved.
Makes me wonder if Luke’s prediction of the situation is gonna be the latter.
His tongue swipes away the syrup, re-instilling the thoughts of just how soft yet forceful it was last night, before he turns to face Luke and gives him a nod. “You got home late last night.”
Deflecting the attention he snaps, “And you were loud late last night.”
“What can I say? There was a rumble in my jungle.”
“Not even clever,” Luke scolds as I stand up to clear my plate.
It really wasn’t.
Luke hums out, “Don’t worry. We sent the orangutan twins on their merry way.”
“Please don’t insult the orangutans by having them associated with bananas for brains.” I dump the few pieces of food that were left on my plate in the garbage. Turning to look at Logan, I snap, “How the hell do they not just fall over?”
“Or float away,” Luke snickers as Logan props himself up against the counter right beside the dishwasher and sink. Right where I’m going to be doing the remainder of the dishes. Right in my space.
Obviously he’s better at this game than I am.
“Anyway, I’m going to change.” Luke says.
Gripping the counter so that his muscles flex in my face, like some sort of test from the Muscle Gods that I swear I am going to fail, he calls out, “Where are you headed?”
“Golf.”
“But you hate golf.”
“But I like caddies,” Luke calls to him as he shoots up the stairs and into his room leaving just me, Logan, and the three plates I have to put in the dishwasher.
“And what about you Maximus? Our usual?”
Shutting the dishwasher closed, I position myself right in front of him, giving him a chance to look down my tank top. He takes it.
Point. Me.
I slide my hands on the back part of my hips and smirk. “Tonight. We can do pizza and a movie then. I have a date this afternoon.”
“Oh. Right.” The lack of emotion on his face is an act. Based on the fact that he gripped the counter tighter and his shoulders are tensing, I’d say the idea of me not being all his when he’d hoped bothers him. “With Tony?”
“Yup.” I nod slowly. “But don’t worry. I promise I’ll be home this evening and we can do movies and pizza. I’m sure Luke and Erin won’t be in the mood to cook, so it should be perfect for everyone.”
I turn to walk away when an idea hits me. It’s like Erin is there poking me in the back with one of her stiletto heels.
By the way. That shirt hurts.
My body twists around. “Oh yeah, and Logan?”
“Hm?”
Smoothly I slide my boobs against his chest, reach up on my tip toes, and hear his breath stop. “I won’t be wearing any underwear today either.” I let my tongue slip out of my mouth and lightly touch his earlobe.
Before he can respond, I pull away, and sharply turn heading for my room leaving no time for a response.
I’m going to play this game. You know, I’ve spent years reading about how to seduce guys in romance novels and have a catalog of shit I’ve always wanted to try. It’s probably the only time that being a book nerd like me is an advantage in this kind of warfare. Long Live Book Nerds!
Chapter 12
Logan
What the fuck just happened?
I spent all morning convincing myself to act as cool as possible when she ripped me a new one and then she does the complete opposite. She fucking licks my ear.
You saw that right! She fucking licked. My. Ear.
Her tongue on my body caused my cock to rise in my shorts immediately, which pisses me the fuck off. After last night, and its refusal to stay hard when I needed it most, it makes me wanna chop it for being a backstabbing bastard. Betraying me last night in a threesome because I couldn’t get Maxx off my brain. Declining perfectly acceptable pussy because he couldn’t be balls deep in her. Not like it’s my fault! I mean I guess it’s my fault. I could’ve had Maxx on the spot last night but where would that have led us? Even farther down this yellow brick road of fucked up?
And don’t start with me this morning. It’s early. Not to mention I’m fucking cranky after the titanic failure of sex episodes.
Growling I adjust my dick needing it to will itself down. I don’t know what happened to me last night. I figured it was because I was so wound up from the night before that I just needed to get my dick wet, but then seeing Maxx, I couldn’t stop myself for another minute.
Ugh. And she looked so damn sexy in that fucking dress last night. Did you see it? I’m gonna have to yell at Erin for dressing her like that. It’s slowly killing me.
I rush up the stairs and open the door to Luke’s room where he is buckling his belt. Without waiting for an invitation I walk in, shut the door behind me, and flop down onto the floor beside his bed.
Luke’s always been particular about his bedroom, but his bed specifically. It is only to be touched by him. Others are not invited. Not just family, but boyfriend’s either. I know for a fact he’s never had sex with a boyfriend in his own bed before. How fucking weird is that?
He prepares to put on a pink golf shirt when I veto. “Pink? Really?”
“Yeah,” he replies. My head tilts. “Fine.” Luke puts the shirt back on his wooden hanger, the only kind he keeps, and reaches for an orange polo. “Better?”
“Much.”
“What are you doing in my room?”
“Sitting.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t feel like standing.”
Luke growls, “Did you need something Kellar?”
“Nah…”
“Alright. Fine. What are you doing today?”
“Yeah, I don’t know. Probably video games until Maxx gets back from her date.”
Once the shirt is on and he begins tucking it in, he says, “Right. Her date with Tony.”
I fight the urge to snarl, like some sort of rabid mutt. “What do you think about him?”
Adjusting his collar he shrugs. “I like him. Seems like a nice guy. Maxx really likes him.”
She doesn’t really like him. If she really liked him, she wouldn’t have kissed me back last night. She would’ve stopped me. But she didn’t. She didn’t even try a little. He’s a filler. Like salad.
I really hate salad.
I change the subject. “You seem to really like the new guy.” Luke stumbles over the shoes in the closet after my comment.
Quickly he rebounds, golf shoes in hand. “Why would you say that?”
“Maybe because you couldn’t complete a sentence when he was around.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
“Am I? Luke I am?”
He pauses for a minute a very obvious red color creeping onto his cheeks.
Motherfucker. I didn’t know he could blush.
“Shut it Kellar.”
“Is that why you were home later than normal? Trying to get into his pants?”
“Not all of us only having screwing on the forefront of our mind. Some of us are actually interested in things like relationships. Taking it slow. Taking our time.” His jab is followed by him ceasing all movements like this isn’t about him at all.
The last thing I need right now is someone else beating me the fuck up. Am I not already doing a really good job of that myself?
“Dude you move so slow I know grandpas in nursing homes who see more play than you.” My comment makes him scowl and me smile.
Cheap shot, but I needed something to make me feel a little less shitty about him being right. Because let’s face it, we both know he is.
***
The thing that eats at me the most about being in the house when everyone’s gone is that it reminds me of the house I spent so much time running away from. It constantly feels like the walls are closing in on me, even though this house could eat the one I was raised in for a snack. I hate being here alone. Makes me feel like I’m just waiting for the old man to swing open the front door with a six pack in his hand ready to numb the pain of working too hard. Makes me feel as if at any minute there’s going to be a knee jammed into my ribs bruising them, or an elbow dropped on my spine, or a forearm to the back of my skull. Being alone makes me feel like the Grim Reaper is watching me through the window because my time is near.
I never feel safe alone. But please don’t tell anyone that. Especially not Maxx.
Crawling into Maxx’s bed I pull her cover over me as I roll onto my side, the faint smell of chocolate is lingering on her pillow. This is where I hide. My safety. It’s not just her, but in everything that is her.
You wanna hear me say it? Fine. She makes me whole in ways that don’t make any goddamn sense to me. Maxx is one of the only things that stops me from taking a full beating in the ring as an attempted suicide. She’s one of the reasons I make myself open my goddamn eyes in the morning when the stress of the past feels like it’s suffocating me. I love her. It’s a fact. And one that’s just between us. Don’t you fucking breathe a word to anyone.
My body curls into one of her pillows and I let my eyes close.
***
“Sleepy head,” a soft voice sings sweetly in my ear as I feel warm fingers stroke my face.
A bit drowsy, I manage to pull my eyes open to see a gorgeous face squatted down beside me.
Fuck, she looks like an angel.
“Maximus…”
“Yup.” Her response doesn’t stop her hand that’s touching me. “Hungry? Pizza just got here.”
I stare at her face that looks even more perfect without all that makeup shit caked on it. I can see the three moles that form a half circle right next to the side of her glasses. Her soft face, the creaminess of her perfectly shaded brown skin, the scar so faint by the top of her hairline, if I hadn’t known it existed I wouldn’t know to look. All this perfection wrapped up in a curvy 5’3 package.
And you wanna know what I love the most about her? It’s when she looks at me with those big gorgeous light brown eyes, she sees everything. The runaway, the thief, the fighter, the scared little boy I’m sure I’ll always be, the t
een who once contemplated suicide to bail on a miserable existence, the wrecked human being who contributes back so little to the life that’s he’s given it’s pathetic. I love that she sees me. And I fucking hate it. I really fucking hate it.
“Did you order—”
“Of course I ordered hot wings. Plus I made sure to order the pizza with all the vegetables on it so we won’t have to listen to Luke bitch. You know how he feels about eating non-lean meats this month.”
We laugh together and I toss the blanket off my body, thankful that my rise and shine wood has had a moment to fade. I look her over and notice she’s already in a pair of white yoga shorts, ones that have to be new because I don’t recognize them, and a baggy ‘Book Nerds Unite’ t-shirt that still manages to paint a vivid shape of her boobs.
Perfect all natural Ds.
“You didn’t wear that on your date did you?”
“This?” She opens the door as I follow behind her stealing a glimpse of her perfect ass.
Damn. See through white shorts. Commando.
“Of course not. I changed when I got home. It’s a good thing you’re a heavy sleeper.”
She was naked in the room? Believe it or not I’ve never seen Maxx in anything less than her usual, Ring Side Girl outfits aside. Even when we go to the pool she wears a tank top over her swimwear embarrassed by her own curves. Erin always tries to talk her out of it and I’m glad it doesn’t work.
Even if I can’t be Mr. Right, I don’t want her parading around like Mrs. Slut. I’m a selfish bastard I know.
The two of us grab plates of food and park ourselves at the table with Erin and Luke. We munch until everything is gone and start up the first movie in the marathon. Since the ones on T.V. this weekend are such a disappointment we decide we’ll do a comedy set, all featuring the same actor. Jamie Foxx. The first one is Due Date during which Erin makes herself comfortable stretched out on the other side of the coffee table closest to the television with a pillow and her comforter while Luke has rotated the recliner to face the T.V. with an old knitted blanket covering just his feet. Maxx and I, of course, always share the couch. She is stretched out with her feet in my lap, my fingers softly stroking them.