Entice

by S. E. Hall

  “Ahhhh,” Bennett gushes. “That was a perfect answer, Sawyer.”

  “I can buy that.” Tate nods. “Good for you, man.”

  Dane hedges around the corner and into the kitchen as usual. Swear to God, I’m gonna strap a bell around his sneaky freakin’ neck. “If ya’ll are done with the slap and tickle, Laney needs you in your room, Sawyer.”

  “And now it’s official,” Tate chuckles, “the world is ending. Sawyer’s prophetic and Dane’s telling another man to go in a bedroom with Laney. Drink up, kids, we’re in the midst of the apocalypse.”

  “Tate’s just pumped you’re all sappy now so he gets to be the one slinging out the smart ass comments. And I’m going with you, of course.” Dane slings an arm around my shoulder. “Come on, Romeo.”

  Laney’s waiting in my room wearing a cat that ate the canary smile. “Here ya go!” She hands me a pink bag with all kinds of shit sticking out the top. Even if I didn’t know what was in it, I would know. The essence of Emmett hints from the bag, treating my nose to all I’ve missed for too many days.

  “Thank you, Gidge,” I kiss her cheek, “you’re the best.”

  “Give it to her alone, at the perfect time,” she advises.

  “Which is?”

  “You’ll know.” She winks. “You’re probably better at this than you think.”

  I stand there holding the bag like a goon long after they walk out. If I rip into it and spray my pillow, do I have to turn in my balls at a counter somewhere? The door creaks behind me and I turn, dropping the bag like I stole it.

  “She’s here,” Laney whispers. “Remember, aloof but flirtatious.”

  I nod, wiping my palms on my jeans and following her out. Emmett’s atop a stool at the kitchen bar laughing with Tate and Bennett. Her short, little legs look glorious, bared by the gray dress thing she’s wearing. Her dark hair is down around her shoulders and I immediately notice the red tips are gone, about two inches have been trimmed off. All heads turn to me as I enter, but her eyes divert quickly, instead choosing to focus on Laney.

  “Emmett!” Laney exclaims. “I’m so glad you came.”

  “Thanks for having me, Laney. Hi, Sawyer,” she says quietly, not looking at me.

  Rushing to her and wrapping my arms around her probably isn’t aloof, so I force my feet to remain planted. “Hey, Emmett, how are ya?”

  “Fine.” Now she tilts her head and sneaks a peek at me from under her dark locks.

  “Hey, hey, hey,” Zach booms in, “what’s good?”

  Not your timing, for damn sure.

  Noticing Emmett sitting in the room, Zach makes his way over and opens his arms. “Hey, Emmett, nice to see you again.”

  She stands and accepts his hug. “Hey.”

  Well, aren’t we all friendly motherfuckers?

  I turn at the sound of a chuckle behind me and see that Evan and Whitley have joined us. Evan smiles at me and shakes his head. “It was only a hug, killer, calm down,” he says. “Don’t let her hear you growl like that, either. Might scare her.”

  The room gets way too crowded for me, so I head into the living room and plop down on the couch like a redheaded stepchild, feeling miserably out of place in my own home with my own crew. Truth is, it’s only really about her. Being this close with so much in between us, shit I don’t even understand… I’ve never felt more alone in my life.

  Dane grabs a seat beside me, too close for male comfort, handing me a cold beer. “Stop pouting, Nancy, you’re not going to attract a straight girl by acting like one.”

  “Worked on you, though, huh? How’s about you scoot the fuck over, fag?”

  He throws back his head and gut laughs, moving away from me. “Nice one. Welcome back.” He raises his voice above the ruckus to be heard. “So Emmett, how are you liking The K?”

  As I’m sure he’d planned, she walks over and joins us, taking the chair. “I love it, thank you again, so much.”

  “And this guy?” He tilts his head at me. “He hasn’t scared ya off yet?”

  Her green eyes find mine and hold as she answers him. “I would never be scared of Sawyer. He’s been wonderful. I owe him so much.”

  “You don’t owe me anything,” I answer, making the conversation my own.

  “Oh, Lord—incoming,” Dane mumbles beside us seconds before Laney starts clapping her hands for our attention.

  “Okay, Pictionary time! Team up!”

  All the couples pair off, leaving me, Emmett and Zach sitting around like the lone idiots. “The three of us can be a team,” Zach suggests.

  I thought it sounded like a reasonable solution. Laney? Not so much.

  “No, that won’t work, then it’s three against two. Hmm…” She glances around as though if she looks hard enough, another person will appear.

  “Laney,” I start in but am abruptly cut off by the most competitive person in the world.

  “No way, okay, so we can—”

  “Baby,” Dane’s voice of reason comes in, “it’s not the Hunger Games; we’re just friends playing Pictionary. One team of three is fine.”

  “But—” she starts, her pout hysterical to everyone but her.

  “But nothing, you competitive thing,” he holds out a hand, “come here.”

  We all watch in amazement as he literally hypnotizes her. She chews on her bottom lip, looking to each of us to take her side, rubbing a hole in the carpet with her toe. Then she looks back up at Dane slowly and he nods, wiggling the fingers of his outstretched hand…and a calmness comes over her face as she accepts it, making her way to him and into his lap.

  I chance a glimpse at Emmett and yes, she felt it too…that “connection” two people have, a push and a pull ‘til they meet in the middle. That’s what I’d been dealing with for months, the force of the relationships all around me. I want it too, and I want it with Emmett. She’s staring right back at me, an understanding in her eyes. Yes, Shorty, we have the makings to be that great. “I’m sorry,” I mouth to her.

  “Me too,” her shiny pink lips mouth back.

  Pictionary—an age old game where everyone laughs and has a great time with friends and family.

  HA! You need to flip the box over and read the other description…the directions for when the Crew plays it. Evan and Whitley, Mr. and Mrs. Can’t Stand Any Controversy, already left. Tate and Dane are now a team, and out for blood, since they pissed their women off and Laney declared a switch. Basically, Team Trio is kicking serious ass and it’s causing meltdowns amongst the others. And Laney is funny as fuck when she’s losing; she gets so damn flustered she can’t even speak in full, rational sentences.

  The great thing? Emmett hasn’t quit laughing all night, excusing herself to the “ladies room” at least four times. I love watching her face light up and hearing the sweet sounds of her amusement. Or my favorite, when her eyes bulge out at some of the crude comments flying around. It gives me an even bigger sense of comfort, some rightness, knowing she’ll fit in with the Crew like she’s always been there.

  Zach lumbers slowly up from the floor. “As much fun as you guys have failed miserably to provide, I gotta be up early. Try not to kill each other,” he jokes, grabbing his helmet and heading for the door.

  And then there were six…

  “All right!” Laney practically screams, all that adrenaline coursing through her turning her more into Crazy Game Laney. “Now that the teams are even, we’re starting over on the score.”

  “No, ma’am,” Dane stands, “I’m done. Let’s clean up and go to bed, baby.”

  “I’ll clean up,” Emmett offers, using my thigh to help push herself up. “You guys hosted; it’s the least I can do.”

  I’m right behind her, my chin resting on top of her head and hands on her shoulders. I’ve been yearning for contact of any kind all night and I know she won’t chastise me in front of them. Probably a dirty move, but I have no fucks left to give. I need to feel her. “I’ll help her. Ya’ll go to bed.”

  �
��Thank you both.” Dane reaches out and snags Laney around the waist. “Bed, woman. Now.”

  Bennett and Tate call out a goodbye as the door shuts and Laney and Dane obviously “make up” the whole way down the hall to her room. Emmett and I are alone now and neither of us has moved a muscle, both standing statuesque and silent. I speak first, the words that have been dying to come out all night spilling from my mouth.

  “I’ve missed you.”

  “Me too,” she chokes out. “You’re kinda, I don’t know, my best friend.”

  I spin her around to face me. “I’m your best friend?”

  Through building tears, she nods. “You’re my only friend, really. But that’s not why— you’d still be the best one even if I had a million. You’re just that cool,” she mocks, pushing on my chest.

  “Ah, Em.” I squeeze her to me, firing off kisses into her hair like a starved man. “I’m so sorry I yelled at you and pushed you for too much. Let’s start over, okay?” I lean back and catch her sweet eyes, inviting her with mine to let me back in.

  “K,” she agrees, sniffling.

  “Come on,” I pull her to the couch and sit her down. “Wait right here. Don’t move.” I hustle to my room, swiping up the gift bag and hurrying back to her with it behind my back. “I got you something.”

  “You did?” First surprise flits across her face, then wonder, and finally the smile that lights me up. “What? Why?”

  “Just a little something. I actually enjoy it as much as you do, I think.” I bring the bag around and offer it to her.

  She looks to the fancy bag, then me, then back to the gift. “Can I open it now?”

  “Well, yeah,” I laugh. She’s so fucking adorable.

  Her tiny hands can’t get in it fast enough and when she’s made it through all the puff, she gasps. “Red,” she breathes, popping open the cap and spraying one wrist then rubbing it against the other.

  I clear my throat and sit down beside her. “Were you out?”

  Her head turns, beautiful green eyes rimmed with unshed tears, and she nods.

  “I thought so. I missed it too.” I lift her wrist gently, bringing it to my nose and inhaling deeply. “There’s my Emmett.”

  “Sawyer, I, you’re so—”

  “Shh,” I give her a wink, “no big deal, Shorty. Now come ‘ere.” I manhandle her, pulling her to me and situating her on my lap. “Catch me up, what’s been going on with you?”

  “Ugh.” She puts her gift down and drops her shoulders. “You don’t want to know. They condemned my apartment building today and we can’t go back in until he fixes the air, and the heat, and the locks, and about twenty other things.”

  I feign surprise. “Where are you staying?”

  “I have no idea. Everything just happened this afternoon. I was thinking of asking your girlfriend,” she teases me with a sarcastic grin.

  “And who might that be?”

  “Mariah,” she counters defiantly.

  “Girlfriend,” I scoff, “very funny. Why don’t you stay here? Laney won’t mind at all.”

  She scoots out of my lap backwards, mouth agape. “Sawyer, I can’t move in with you, don’t be ridiculous!”

  “Okay,” I unapologetically grab her and situate her back in my lap, securing one arm around her waist, “but you can crash here until we find you somewhere else to rent. You don’t need to go back to that apartment, even if he fixes everything. Let’s find you something nicer.”

  “You wear me out,” she drops her head on my shoulder, sighing loudly, “but I secretly love knowing I have you. How selfish is that?”

  “It’s not selfish at all, Shorty. You’re not taking. I’m giving, freely.”

  “Can I,” she whispers, tilting her head up to peer at me, “sleep in your bed tonight, with you?”

  If I wasn’t sitting down, that one sentence would have dropped me to my damn knees. “God, yes,” I moan, standing and lifting her in my arms.

  “Just sleeping, Sawyer,” she mumbles into my shirt, where her small, cherubic face is nuzzled.

  “It’ll be the first time in four nights I get any. Trust me, I’m all for sleeping.”

  Chapter 11

  A Talk to Remember

  —Emmett—

  “Where are you taking me?” I ask with a giggle.

  Sawyer is behind me, his hands over my eyes, walking me forward less than gracefully. “Almost there, keep going,” he whispers in my ear. One hand slides over to block both my eyes as his other does something that causes a rattling noise I can’t quite place. “Open.” He drops his hand to let me see.

  I look around at the empty room, a tad confused. “What am I looking at?”

  “Your new place.” He bends and kisses my cheek. “Dane owns this duplex too, since it’s by Laney and he’s insane and all—don’t ask. Anyway, this side is yours for the same $450 you were paying.”

  I spin around and narrow my eyes at him. The little sneak. “There’s no way this place rents for that, Sawyer. What have you done? I told you—”

  He cuts me off in a placating tone. “Shorty…simmer down and just enjoy, please. And, you’re only two doors down, so if you need anything…” He shrugs, not making this feel casual at all.

  “I told you.” I shake my head. “I warned you, Sawyer, don’t give me your heart.”

  He lifts my chin gently, captivating me with the struggle in his eyes. “I know you did, and I’m not pressuring you, but some things you can’t call the shots on. I’m not sure if I gave you my heart or if you stole it, but either way, I don’t want it back.”

  His lips crash into mine before I can stop him, his tongue seeking entry. I try, Lord knows I try, to fight it, but mortals aren't made with that kind of strength. My mouth opens to him at the same time as my heart and I stand on my tiptoes to wrap my arms almost around his neck. Large hands scoop up my butt, lifting me as though I weigh nothing and I wrap my legs around his waist shamelessly. I don’t care, I don’t think, all I can do in this moment is try to keep breathing.

  Our lips wrestle, his large and domineering, mine swollen and grateful. The deep groan he releases in my mouth drives me crazy and I grab his head with both hands, grinding my crotch into whatever part of his hard body it’s currently lined up to. “I can’t help it,” I grunt, then kiss him again, “you’re so damn sexy, and wonderful, and—”

  “Fucking kiss me, woman.” He silences me, completely consuming my mouth with his own.

  I don’t know how long we go at it for, both of us oblivious to anything but the taste of each other, him holding me up the entire time. But when we break to catch our breath, reality hits me. I have to tell him. I can’t fight it off anymore, the pull to him, nor can I “go” for him in good conscience. “Let’s go for a drive,” I suggest.

  The tormented look on his face is almost comical, poor guy, he so thought we were about to screw like animals right here on the ground. Which I would love nothing more than to do, after I tell him…when it will no longer be an option he affords me.

  “If you wanna go for a drive, we’ll go for a drive.” He sets me on my feet and links our fingers together. “Your show, Shorty, lead the way.”

  —Sawyer—

  “Sawyer, this is my Gramma, Katherine Louise Young. Gramma, this is Sawyer.”

  I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say to a headstone. “Nice to meet you” doesn’t seem quite right, so I remain silent, looking at my sweet angel with what I hope isn’t blatant pity.

  “Sit down.” She takes my hand and guides me to the flat stone bench right behind her grandmother’s grave. “My gramma was all I had in the whole world. My sperm donor remains a mystery and my mother took off pretty much the minute I popped out of her.” She fakes a laugh and rolls her eyes. “She was the ultimate hair band groupie. Sadly, she never got the memo that the members of Twisted Sister and the likes are now twisted grandparents, and that no one thinks men who use Aqua Net are cool, so I’m sure she’s off living her dream of hote
l rooms and reunion tour buses.” She pops her shoulders. “Who knows? Not important, really. So, when she died a few years ago,” she nods her head back to her grandma’s headstone, “I was alone.”

  “Em—”

  “No,” she stops me with a stiff hand to my chest, “let me say it all at once or I never will.”

  I nod, scooting back an inch. She takes a deep breath before she continues.

  “So when I found out I was pregnant, I decided to look at it as a blessing and make it work. I’ll have someone to give every ounce of my love to and they’ll love me back, right? Neither of us will ever be alone.”

  There are certain moments in life where you’ll never forget where you were when you heard. What you were wearing, how she wore her hair, if it was cold or hot out…I know this is one of those moments for me.

  The girl I might quite possibly be falling in love with, a fall that started the first time I looked at her, is pregnant. And not with my baby.

  “You’re pregnant?” I choke out, my tone as level and calming as I can keep it, hoping my face is pulling it off as well. “I saw you in a bikini—you didn’t look pregnant.”

  She rolls her eyes, letting out a small, exasperated laugh. “I’m about fifteen weeks, as far as I can figure. It’ll be a while, I guess, before I really show.”

  My face must have failed at stoic, showing exactly how confused I feel, ‘cause she gives me an opening.

  “Ask me anything you want, Sawyer.”

  “Who’s the father?” I blurt out. “Do you love him?”

  “And then there’s that part.” She runs a hand through her hair and turns to look at her gramma’s headstone over her shoulder. “You might as well hear it too, Gramma. You’re both gonna freak, so let me start with,” another long exhale, “I’m fine. I’ve come to terms with it and made my decision, so please don’t think I’m crazy or try to talk me out of it.”

  An eerie feeling rolls over me and I know I’m not gonna like what she’s about to say.

  “I don’t know who the father is. Calm down, Gramma.” Her forced giggle is clearly false bravado and tugs at my heart; I want to hold her and make it go away. I want to kiss her silent so I don’t hear what I suspect will be some guy’s death wish. But rather, I force myself to remain still and listen, letting her get it out to both me and her grandmother; a cleansing of sorts. “I was a virgin, far from a whore,” she continues, turning back to me now. “I went to a party one night and drank way too much. I admit it and I own it—it was stupid. The last thing I remember is watching a girl in a shiny green top do a keg stand, then I woke up on the floor of a dorm room with about ten other people. I was devastated when I realized exactly how stupid I’d been, and so humiliated…” Tears are gushing down her cheeks and she’s actually snorting in an attempt to breathe, but still, I don’t move to touch her.