by Unknown
“Sheesh, I said I was sorry.”
He lets out a sigh, “It’s fine. What’s up?”
From my position under the bed, I can see Sam’s bare feet get closer, “You didn’t say much about me leaving.”
“You’re eighteen. I don’t have much of a say.”
“You’ve never had a say,” she reminds him, “but you’re my brother, and I value your opinion.”
The bed squeaks and I can see Sam’s feet only a few inches from me.
“Do you want to go?”
Sam’s voice sounds lost, “I don’t know.”
“What are you unsure about?”
“Mostly you, Hannah, and the boys. I’d miss you all so much.”
“We’d miss you too.” There’s no mistaking the sincerity in his tone.
“Hannah won’t be around much longer though.” The sadness in Sam’s voice breaks my heart.
There’s a long moment of silence and I wish I could see Danny’s face right now.
“It’s such bullshit,” he sneers.
“I know,” she sighs, “but she won’t go against them.”
There’s another long pause.
“What’s for me here?” Sam asks.
“Good question.”
“No offense, but I don’t want to do your bookkeeping for the rest of my life.”
“No offense, but I don’t want you to either. You kind of suck at it. I have to go back and fix everything you do.”
Sam laughs, “Then why do you let me do it?”
“Because I know you won’t just take money from me. It’s a trait we have in common.”
“You’re like the papa bear to us all,” Sam teases with love in her voice.
“Naw, I just care about you and want the best for everyone.”
“We’re lucky to have you.” I hear the bed squeak as Sam’s feet get closer and I’m pretty sure I hear the familiar sound of a hug. “Thanks.”
“I didn’t help you any.”
“Yeah, but it’s nice to know you have my back either way.”
“Always. You’re my sister; there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
“Right back at you.”
Dan walks her to the door, “You don’t have to decide anything yet. Think on it. Give yourself time to figure out what you really want.”
Sam pauses just outside, “What are you doing in here by yourself?”
“Crossword puzzles. Now get out.”
She steps back in, “What are you hiding? You’re being weird.”
“Leave,” he demands.
“Okay, okay.” The door clicks shut behind her.
Dan comes over to help me out, “Shit baby, are you all right?” He has genuine concern as he inspects me, and all I can do is laugh. The whole thing is hilarious to me.
Once Danny sees that there are no injuries from my fall he laughs with me.
“I’ve never seen anyone move so fast,” he says between laughter, tears in both our eyes from laughing so hard. “You just flew under that bed like some kind of ninja.” And because we can’t keep our hands off each other, we go from laughing hysterically to kissing each other like mad.
Dan lifts me in to his bed, where he explores me with his mouth and it’s every bit as amazing as I thought it would be.
He tries to stop me from returning the favor but I won’t let him; it only takes one lick of my tongue to shut him up about me stopping.
I don’t know what I enjoy more: Dan’s mouth between my legs, or mine between his.
Afterwards, he holds me tight to him. “I hope these summer nights never end,” he murmurs in my ear before passing out.
That night I pray harder than I ever have for what Dan said to somehow come true.
Chapter 12
“Dinner’s ready,” I tell the boys.
Another week has passed. Another week of bliss from being in Danny’s arms every night, our bodies sharing everything but the one thing I’m beginning to crave more than my time spent at this house.
After my announcement for dinner the boys all scramble to the kitchen. They patiently wait for Sam and I to make a plate, always insisting we go first. As soon as I’m done, I move to the side so I don’t get trampled as they all pile their plates with meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans, mumbling, “this looks good,” “I’m starving,” “Marry me.” The usual when I cook for them on Fridays.
I try and do this as much as I can. Most of them have gone their whole lives without home cooked meals (unless you count boxed or microwavable ones), so it warms my heart to see them eating a healthy meal. Nobody even complains that the meal has made the house even hotter. That’s how much they love when I cook.
“So who’s this girl you’ve been hiding from us?” Maddox nudges Dan as he plops a glob of mashed potatoes on his plate and proceeds to smother it in gravy.
From my place on the couch I go still.
“Yeah man,” Tripp probes further while reaching over the counter for a roll, “Who’s the chick?”
“It’s nothing guys, leave it alone,” Dan demands, briefly peeking over at me.
Price pulls out drinks for everyone and starts opening them, “If it’s nothing, then when was the last time you fucked a girl at our parties?”
I feel foolish because for these past six weeks I haven’t given the other girls a thought. Dan could have been with them and me at the same time, except I’m not sure when he would have had the chance since I’ve been the one in his bed most nights. And truthfully? I don’t believe he would do that to me.
“You got yourself a girlfriend?” Jerry seems pleased that somebody besides himself knows how to make a commitment.
“Please, my brother doesn’t do girlfriends,” is Sam’s rebuttal.
Dan ignores the conversation and keeps making his plate.
“Holy shit.” Sam’s mouth drops open in shock, “You have a girlfriend?”
Dan still doesn’t answer and I’m frozen in place, terrified yet secretly hoping he will let them all know what we’ve been hiding.
“Who is she?” Sam asks sternly. “Please don’t tell me it’s that blond girl with the gap in her teeth. She’s way too desperate.”
I know exactly who Sam’s talking about. She’s probably the only girl anybody regularly saw Dan hang out with at parties and bring to his room. She’s beautiful and extremely sexy. I hate her.
“It’s not her,” Danny dismisses.
The room gets quiet for a long pause.
Maddox speaks up first, “Did you just fucking admit you have a girlfriend?”
Dan shrugs and my insides fire up.
“That must be some damn good pussy.”
Dan’s demonic glare at Maddox has him stepping back. “Don’t ever talk about her that way.”
The room goes quiet again as they stare at Dan in disbelief.
“Oh. My. God,” Sam breathes out. “My brother has a chick he’s defending. How serious is this, and why am I just now learning about it?” She looks to me in utter astonishment, “Can you believe this?”
I shake my head no, because I can’t. Daniel Shepard considers me his girlfriend. How is this my life right now?
Dan shoves past them with his plate of food.
“When do we get to meet this chick?” Price wonders as he passes out our drinks.
“Never.”
“Where did you meet her?” Maddox challenges, like he’s trying to catch Dan in a lie.
Dan smirks, “The ice cream shop.”
I try to hide a smile of my own.
“The ice cream shop?” Maddox asks like it’s some made up place. “What are you, twelve?”
Pretty close, I silently think. Back then, anyway.
All the boys start hounding him for information and Dan cuts them off, “Drop it. I’m done talking about this.”
They all look like kids who were denied a toy at the store, but instead of throwing a tantrum they take their seats and begin shoveling in their food like they
haven’t eaten in days.
Sam and I finish first, but only because the boys will keep going until there isn’t a scrap of food left. We go to her room.
She collapses onto her bed, “I knew something was going on with him. He’s been acting so weird lately.”
I try and act casual, “How so?”
“I don’t know, too smiley and happy.”
She makes a fair point; those weren’t words one would usually use to describe her brother.
I made him that way. Me. Hannah Malone.
I purse my lips to prevent them from breaking into an earsplitting smile.
“It’s kind of weird. I’ve never seen my brother take a girl seriously. I’m not sure what to think of it.”
“Don’t,” I suggest.
“Yeah, you’re probably right. I’m sure it will be over before we know it.”
Curiosity gets the best of me and I can’t help but ask, “Why do you think that?”
“I don’t know,” she shrugs, pondering for a moment before giving a better answer. “I would have thought the same about Tag, but look at him, he’s a lovesick fool,” she says with pride. Just mentioning his name is all it takes to change her direction of thought. Seeing my best friend in love brings me almost as much happiness as being with Danny, and I listen to her gush about the sweet things Tag says and does.
We stay in her room longer than usual, getting wrapped up in talking, and when we finally emerge the house is packed with people. Usually you can move around, but tonight everywhere you turn there is a body. Without a doubt it has to be one of their biggest parties. I blame it being the middle of summer and the boredom that comes along with it.
I see a girl talking with Dan and jealousy burns through me. I see why Sam couldn’t keep her mouth shut around Rylee when she was obviously trying to get Tag. If I had it in me I’d go over and be a bitch to this girl, or at the very least stake my claim.
There’s a decent amount of space between them, and when she steps closer Dan moves two steps back, saying something to her that has her looking confused. She gives him that doe-eyed look I despise so much and moves in again.
I have this sudden urge to defend my turf, and before I can stop it from happening my feet are moving. The only thing that stops me is Dan as his voice carries over.
“I’m with somebody.”
“Who?” She challenges, not believing him.
“That doesn’t concern you.”
“Must not be that important then.” She reaches out for him, but he’s quick to flick her hand away.
“More than you could comprehend.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, seriously,” Dan mocks, moving so he can turn around only to find me right behind him. A smile spreads across his face, and if anybody he knew saw it they wouldn’t have to wonder who his new girl was.
My heart swells in my chest and I smile back just as big.
He takes my hand, tugging me behind him, “Come on.”
I glance around but nobody who would care is around to see.
The very moment his door is shut behind us Dan’s pulling me to him, his lips devouring mine as we tumble to his bed, our bodies weaving together.
“So I’m your girlfriend, huh?” I smile against his lips, unable to stop myself.
He lifts his head, brushing the hair from my face, “You’re more than that.”
I swallow, not knowing how to respond, “I liked hearing them say it.”
“Yeah?” He smiles – the one that always makes me feel weak in the knees. “Well, I kind of liked them knowing.”
Dan removes his top from my body, “Do you have any idea what a turn on it is that you always wear my tanks?”
“Probably not as much as it is wearing them.”
This earns me a growl deep in his chest as his lips come crashing down on mine. He’s quick to remove my bra, taking hold of my breasts in both hands. They fit so perfectly it’s like they were made to be there.
His lips travel further and further down and he shimmies off the bottoms I’m wearing. He kisses up my leg, nipping the sensitive skin between my thighs and making me moan. When his tongue finds its way to its goal, one of my hands reaches for his hair. I groan as he uses his tongue and hand. My body rises as I reach the end, the ecstasy rendering me unable to keep it down.
After I’m done crying out his name, Dan slides up my body, a pleased grin firmly planted on his face, “Nothing is more satisfying than being the one to make you do that.”
“Want to bet?” I smirk as I forcefully flip us.
He grunts from the impact and I remove his clothes.
Having Dan’s naked body under me is not something I think will ever get old, and I take advantage of having him this way. I take note of where he makes noises or his breathing gets heavier. I want to learn how every part of him ticks, every part of him that goes crazy with desire when I gently place my lips at certain places. The minutes pass as I explore, occasionally stopping to play with his massively hard erection and moving on when I feel he may be close.
“Hannah,” Dan breathes in what sounds like a beg, my name heavy on his lips as he lifts his head to look down at me.
I smile as I finally give him what I know his body needs, and when he erupts inside my mouth the noise he makes has me understanding what he means, because it’s more satisfying than my own release.
He drapes an arm over his eyes, covering part of his face. “Jesus.”
I lay myself across his body, snuggling in close. He wraps an arm around me and I put my face to his chest, my new favorite place to be.
The arm over his face drops to hold me closer to him and he kisses the top of my head, “This is the good stuff. Right here, right now. When it’s just you and me.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Chapter 13
Sam searches around my church as we stand for the end of the service, “Which guy is he?” She takes hold of my arm, giving it a squeeze. “No wait, don’t tell me. I think I know. Five o’clock. Dude with the perfectly groomed hair and stellar eyes.”
I don’t even have to look to know she’s right. Josh does have amazing eyes. They are blue, surrounded with thick, dark lashes that even from a distance you can tell are naturally curled.
“How’d you know?” I whisper under my breath as we follow behind my parents.
“He keeps looking over here,” she shrugs. “Plus he stands tall, obviously irons his clothes, smiles politely at everyone; basically he’s your sisters’ husbands.”
I try not to cringe. She’s right, my dad has a type he expects for his daughters. At least I know my dad will only find me the best (or at least what he considers the best).
Everyone files into the reception area where coffee and cookies await. Children scamper over, sneaking cookies into their pockets while the adults gather in groups to talk before we all head our separate ways.
Sam and I stand off to the side.
“He’s kind of cute.”
“Yeah, but when he’s forced upon you it’s kind of hard to tell.” I hate to admit it but she’s right, he isn’t unfortunate looking.
“Well, I’m telling you, he’s cute. Like, I may have a lady boner for him.”
“I’ll be sure to tell Tag.”
“Whatever. I’m sure he still checks out other girls. It’s the not flirting or touching part that counts.”
I’ve always admired how easy-breezy Sam treats life. I wish I had an ounce of her ability to be so carefree.
My parents call us over, the Nelson’s joining them. Sam is giddy next to me, excited to meet the man who is destroying my life, the man I’ll call Husband one day.
Josh extends his hand out to my best friend, “You must be Samantha. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Sam daintily takes his hand and I want to laugh, knowing she’s mocking them, “How kind of you.”
“The Nelsons invited us out to brunch,” my dad announces.
I smile, “Wonderful.
”
“Would you like to join us, Samantha?” Josh invites, both our parents looking horrified. They may accept Sam at our church because that’s what Jesus would do, and they may allow their daughter to sleep at her house once a week to teach her the word of God, but socializing with such riff-raff? Never.
Sam seems as taken back as the rest of us, “Sure, thank you. I just have to leave a message with my mom so she doesn’t worry.” A.K.A call Danny and let him know not to pick her up around the corner. She moves to the side and pulls out her cell, mumbling into it so no one can hear.
“You look lovely today,” Josh acknowledges with a shy smile.
My cheeks redden. “Thank you,” I offer quietly
My mother beams, I’m sure picturing us on our wedding day.
Sam joins us and we get in my parents’ car.
I must admit it’s a relief to have Sam with me. I feel stronger just from her presence.
We have to wait outside of the café that is already packed with people. The parents converse to the side and I know it’s to allow Josh and I time to “privately” get to know each other.
Josh steps closer (but not too close), and talks low, “Don’t you think it’s a little silly that they have to monitor us?”
“Yes,” I immediately agree.
He grins at me and I hate how cute he is when he does.
“So, Samantha,” Josh engages her with genuine interest in his expression and tone. I hate that he does that as well. Not ignoring Sam like everybody else makes me warm to him, but I don’t want to warm to him. “Tell me about yourself.”
Sam looks to me, just as shocked to actually be spoken to, but she quickly bounces back, “I work a lot so I don’t have much time for anything else.” By working a lot she means dancing, not that she could ever say that out loud with this bunch.
“Oh yeah? What do you do?” Josh seems genuinely interested. Dammit. I don’t want to like this guy.
Sam is quick with her answer, “Bookkeeping.” This is mostly true; she handles invoices for Danny and processes paychecks for the boys and whatever “office” type stuff Dan needs help with. “What about you?”
“I’m a dentist. I just started working in my father’s office.” Basically, he’s training to take over someday. Sam already knew this.