by Taylor Wade
“Wes can you go get me a glass of water?” she asked him and I tensed.
“Go get your own water, Ari.”
I didn’t want to be alone with Ariana since she clearly had something she wanted to say to me without Wes around, but I knew that if I wanted to be with Wes I needed his sister to accept me. I nudged him, “Go, it’s okay.”
Wes looked unsure and glanced between his sister and me before standing up and leveling his sister with a look. She rolled her eyes and laughed lightly. When he was out of the room she uncrossed her legs and leaned her elbows onto her knees.
“Do you love my brother?” she asked me, scrutinizing me with his gaze.
“Yes,” I replied uneasily. “I do.”
“Good. You better not hurt him.” She told me, still penetrating me with her stare. I would expect this speech from his mother but all things considered, Ariana was clearly taking over the motherly role.
“I would never hurt Wes.” I said softly, “That’s the last thing I would ever want to do.”
Ariana was quiet for a moment but then visibly relaxed. She sighed and smiled at me softly. “I like you, Brookelyn. Wes has had it rough since mom passed away but I’ve seen a change in him since he meant you. He’s happier. I just don’t want to see him in that dark place again.”
I smiled at her, “I understand. I don’t want that either.”
Ariana returned my smile just as Wes returned with a glass of water and a mug of coffee for me made just the way I like it. He set the cups on the table in front of us, placing coasters underneath them.
“Have a nice chat while I was gone?” he asked, studying my face. I smiled reassuringly and Ariana rolled her eyes.
“Relax Wes, I didn’t scare her away.” She told him and I laughed.
Wes sat back down and placed his arm around me once again. We spent the next half hour chatting easily about everything and anything. Wes asked all about what Ariana has been up to and we told her what to expect at college next year. The conversation was light and Roy even joined us at one point. I was pleased to see that he was concerned about Wes and questioned him about grades and everything, much like a father would do. When it was time for us to head back to campus everyone exchanged hugs and told me that I was welcome back anytime. The twins were sad that we didn’t get to play princesses but I promised I’d come back soon and play with them. Roy pulled Wes aside and spoke to him for a few minutes while Ariana and I exchanged phone numbers. She wanted to come visit the campus sometime and I promised her I’d give her a tour since we both knew that Wes would spend the entire time threatening any guys that looked at his baby sister.
When we got inside Wes’s truck he had an odd expression on his face. I placed my hand on his cheek and he turned to me. “What is it?”
Wes sighed and furrowed his eyebrows. “Roy wants to cover the rest of my tuition for next semester and senior year.”
“That’s great isn’t it?” I asked, confused by his strange reaction.
“Yeah, I guess, it’s just weird, you know? I feel weird taking something like that from him.” He told me as he shifted the car into drive and pulled away from the curb of the house.
“Wes, he’s your father. He might have left you but he’s still your dad. If he has the money to pay for your education than he should. Honestly, it’s the least he could do.”
“I know,” he replied, “I’m just used to doing things on my own.”
“How are you paying for school now?” I questioned him, curious.
“I have a few scholarships but after my mother died I had to take out a few loans to cover the rest of the cost.”
“Wes! Let your father help you. You don’t want to be stuck in debt for the next fifty years.” I scolded him.
“Well I don’t really have a choice,” Wes laughed lightly. “Roy already called the school and paid for everything, including paying off my student loans. He knew I’d be uncomfortable taking his money so he just went ahead and took care of it.”
I couldn’t help but smile, glad to know that Wes had someone taking care of him. Roy might not have been the best father but he was clearly trying to make up for it.
“You shouldn’t have to do everything alone anymore, Wes.” I told him softly. “Let your dad help you.”
Wes glanced over at me from the road and grinned his boyish grin, “I love you, Princess Broken.”
I laughed and swatted his arm.
TWENTY-TWO
“I’m so excited for all of us to go out tonight!” Elle exclaimed, skipping into the kitchen of our apartment with a clay mask on her face. Wes and I had gotten back to campus a few hours earlier and he dropped me off so that I could do some work before we went out.
“Elle, stop being so dramatic, it hasn’t been that long since we’ve gone out together,” I smiled and rolled my eyes at my best friend.
“Yeah, but we never get to do girly things together anymore,” Savanna said walking in behind Elle and taking a seat beside me on the kitchen stool. “You’re always with Wes or doing homework…like now.”
“You know what they say about all work and no play,” Elle teased, wagging her finger in my face.
“I would hardly consider being with Wes ‘work,’” I told them, smacking Elle’s finger away from me.
“Well we,” Elle motioned her hand between her and Savanna, “know that it sure as hell isn’t play.”
Savanna giggled and cried out, “Just sleep with him already! The poor guy must be in so much pain.”
“You know what they say about minding your own business,” I teased, wagging my finger in Elle’s face, mocking her.
She stuck her tongue out at me as I walked past them to my bedroom. We were off to a late start at getting ready. Wes and Colin were picking us up in an hour and I hadn’t even decided what to wear on my first night out since before thanksgiving break. I wanted to look good for Wes. Wes had been around enough to see me in sweats without any makeup on during the last two weeks so I figured I should put in a decent amount of effort tonight to remind him that I wasn’t always so frumpy. I decided on my little black dress that had quarter length sleeves and showed the top of my cleavage modestly. The dress dipped low in the back, showing off a lot of skin, the fabric resting at the small of my back. I did a smoky eye but kept the rest of my makeup light, and piled my hair into a high ponytail, leaving wispy tendrils to frame around my face. I slipped on a pair of hot pink pump to complete the look and appraised myself in the mirror, proud of myself.
When I walked out to the living room Savanna was already dressed to go, her outfit similar to mine. She donned a navy blue jersey dress with nude heels, her makeup exaggerated, and her pale blonde hair streaming down her back. Elle walked in behind me and started making catcalls.
“I see you ladies are dressed to impress tonight!” she exclaimed as she sauntered into the room. Elle was dressed in flattering black skinny jeans and a tight yellow t-shirt that displayed her cleavage, a black silk scarf tied around her neck. She didn’t appear to have much makeup on except for mascara, blush, and lip gloss, and she also had her hair styled into a high ponytail, except her dark brown locks were completely swept from her face.
Before Savanna or I could respond and complement her looks there was a knock on the door before it was pushed open and Colin strolled in with Wes close behind him. Both men were dressed casually in nice jeans and t-shirts. I sucked in a breath when I saw Wes. I still wasn’t used to how attractive he is. He had on a fitted black t-shirt with a white ball cap placed backwards on his head, his blue eyes sparkling.
“Wow, Brookelyn…you look amazing,” Wes told me as he made his way over to me, a crooked smile playing on his lips. He grabbed both sides of my face and pulled me in a long, deep kiss.
“Get a room!” Savanna shouted from beside us. Wes pulled away and chuckled.
“Sorry, Savanna.” I rolled my eyes.
“Will Reese be joining us tonight?” Savanna asked obviously.
&nb
sp; “He might show up for a bit after work.” Wes replied with a smirk.
“Not happening Sav! I will cock-block the shit out of that. You need a nice momma’s boy!” Elle exclaimed and we laughed at her statement.
“Whatever, let’s go. I need a drink…or four.” Savanna stated as she headed for the door.
Elle and Colin followed her out and Wes took a hold of my hand as we walked. We got to Colin’s car and Wes pulled the back door open for me as I slid in, Elle hopping into the front beside Colin.
“Whoa!” I looked over my shoulder at Wes as he climbed in beside me, Savanna on my other side. “Brooke, where’s the rest of your dress?!”
“You don’t like it?” I stuck out my bottom lip and he leaned over to kiss it.
“Of course I like it. You look amazing. But unfortunately I won’t be the only one thinking so.” He told me in a whisper.
“You’re the only one I want to think so,” I whispered back and smiled up at him.
“Ugh! I’m going to vomit. Please drive faster Colin,” Savanna whined and Wes and I chuckled. I snuggled closer to Wes and sighed contentedly.
“Don’t worry, Savanna. We’ll find you a good boy.”
~~~~
Jade, Elle and I were standing in the kitchen sipping on some red fruity concoction that the fraternity had made and poured into numerous punch bowls throughout the house. I couldn’t tell what was in it but it was delicious. Despite not being able to taste any alcohol I knew that it had to be strong so I tried to pace myself. The boys were in the other room helping set up tables and cups for beruit and flip cup. Savanna was seated at the kitchen table deep in conversation with Ollie. He was a good guy despite his predilection to marijuana and I would rather Savanna get back with him over a guy like Cam any day.
I was chatting and giggling with the girls when I looked over to the living room to find that Jackie chick talking to Wes. She was dressed in barely anything, as usual, and was pressing herself up against him as she spoke. I narrowed my eyes at the scene, and the fact that Wes wasn’t pushing her away from him, but rather laughing at whatever she was saying. Elle and Jade followed my gaze.
“She’s such a skank,” Elle huffed out while Jade just rolled her eyes.
“Whatever,” I mumbled and chugged the rest of my drink before walking back over to the punch bowl and filling it to the brim. I brought the cup back up to my mouth and drank half of it.
“Slow down, chickie!” Elle teased, playfully nudging me with her hip.
“Don’t let it get to you, Brooke. She’s been after him since freshman year,” Jade told me, finishing her own drink and refilling it.
My body was starting to feel lighter and my cheeks were in the early stages of numbness as I downed the rest of my drink, joining Jade at the punch bowl.
“He’s not even moving away. He’s just letting her rub her tits all over him and laughing. What the fuck!” I exclaimed as Jade and I reclaimed our spots beside Elle. She had her eyes fixed on Jackie and Wes, her gaze narrowed and her protective best friend instincts surfacing.
“He’s about to be on my shit list,” she said, turning to Jade. “Has he ever had sex with her?”
Jade pursed her lips but didn’t say anything. It was all the answer that Elle and I needed. Elle huffed, disgusted, and I was too angry to form words. I knew I couldn’t control whom Wes had slept with before we were together but he shouldn’t be allowing one of his former conquests to rub up on him. I looked back over to where Wes stood, Jackie no longer touching him but still too close for comfort. Luke said something from beside them and Jackie clapped excitedly, grabbing Wes by the arm and dragging him to the edge of the long Ping-Pong table. He was grinning as Colin and Luke took the other side and tossed one of the balls over to Wes. Wes and Luke held up their arms, each holding a beer in their other hand, and tossed the balls towards their cups at the same time. Luke missed but Wes made his shot, causing Jackie to clap some more like a freaking seal. She said something to Wes and he threw his head back with a laugh as the two of them began the game of beruit against Colin and Luke.
“Fuck it,” I declared. “Let’s get drunk.”
“Hell yes, sister!” Savanna appeared in front of the three of us and held her red cup up to cheers with ours. Jade was apprehensive but just shrugged and tapped her plastic cup against all of ours and brought the cup up to her lips. We all finished the drinks like they were shots rather than full sized cups, and Savanna hurried over to the cabinet to pull out actual shot glasses.
“I am fully prepared to die tonight,” Elle stated, watching Savanna fill up four shot glasses with Kettle One Vodka.
“Good! That may happen,” Savanna giggled, handing us each a full glass.
“Alright, I wasn’t really planning on getting sloshed tonight but YOLO, baby!” Jade told me, her words already slightly slurring from her three cups of the jungle juice. I was sure I didn’t sound much better. We all hooted a cheer and threw back the shots with a laugh.
I lost track of the amount of alcohol that I had consumed and I was feeling fuzzy when Wes and Jackie began a third game, taking on two new opponents since they had one the previous two games. It had been less than one hour since we had gone our separate ways but he hadn’t even tried to find me. He was too busy with her.
“I need to get fresh air,” Elle slurred and stumbled, causing Jade to break out into a fit of giggles.
“Fresh air would be nice,” I told them, slipping off my heels rather clumsily and grabbing onto Jade for support. “We can go outside, and Wes can stay in here with the seal.”
“What seal? Where’s the seal?” Savanna asked, shocked, and started looking around frantically, bumping her hip against the kitchen table in the process. “Ow!”
Jade giggled some more which made me start to laugh as well. We were all extremely drunk and Jade was turning out to be a giggler.
“Jackie claps like…a lot,” I explained, pointing over at the ping-pong table. “Like a seal, ya know?”
Savanna nodded vigorously in understanding, “we should throw her a beach ball.”
“Ohmigod! That would be so funny!” Elle exclaimed, smacking her hand against her leg as she laughed.
We managed to control ourselves for a few minutes as we stumbled through the house to the sliding glass doors that led to the backyard. Elle and Savanna both ditched their heels back in the kitchen as well, and Jade was luckily wearing ballet flats.
“Ah! The grass feels so nice!” Elle exclaimed, flopping down on her back. “Lie with me, B!”
I plopped down beside her ungracefully and relished the feel of the cold grass on my back and the harsh breeze on my hot skin. It had snowed lightly a week earlier so the ground was solid beneath us. The harsh winter weather was upon us but according to weather reports it wouldn’t snow again until after Christmas. I blamed global warming for our late winter.
“There’s a beach ball in the pool!” Jade cried out, pointing towards the water. Savanna whipped her head in the direction Jade was pointing and made a run for it. Elle and I sat up and watched, amused, as Savanna and Jade found the long rod with the net at the end to clean the pool. Together they held the rod and fumbled as they tried to pull the beach ball to the edge.
“So close! Keep pulling, Jade!” Savanna grunted as the two of them continued to swipe the pool cleaner at the ball.
“Aha!” Jade yelled in triumph when the ball reached the edge. Savanna carefully got to her knees and pulled the ball out of the water, using Jade’s leg to keep her unsteady balance from forcing her into the pool.