“You were at the club where Nicole and Stacey were at?”
Confused, Chad looks over at Nicole. “Did you see him?”
“Yep,” she says as she takes a bite.
Wes’s eyes snap to mine, and I give a quick shake, letting him know she didn’t see our moment on the dance floor. This doesn’t seem to relax him.
“What girl?” Chad asks while Wes clenches his jaw and looks down at his plate.
“Whitney.”
“I thought you couldn’t stand that girl.”
Wes pauses as he eyes Chad with a scowl that he quickly changes, almost like a thought suddenly came to him. He glances my way and then back to Chad as a small smile graces his face. “With a rack like hers, I can learn to get along with her.”
I drop my fork, and the loud clatter it makes draws everyone’s attention my way.
“So why’d you block his game?” Chad asks me.
I lift a shoulder. “Consider it payback for all the times he did it to me in high school.”
Chad lets out a deep bellow of laughter because he knows exactly the kind of pranks the two played on me back in the day. This starts him on a tirade of telling Nicole all about them.
While he talks, I listen.
While I listen, Wes stares.
At me.
When dinner is over, I offer to clean up since Nicole cooked and Chad helped her. As the two sneak off to his room, I carry plates into the kitchen. To my surprise, Wes carries a large bowl and a plate in as well and places them on the counter.
I turn on the sink water and start to wash. Wes continues to bring me more dishes and glasses. I’m cleaning up, the suds filling up the tub of the sink as I do so.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Wes walking back and forth from the table to the counter. He even cleans it down with Pledge after using a rag to make sure it’s free of food.
I’m rinsing out the pot when he steps directly behind me, almost engulfing me with his warmth. He’s so close, and yet I feel like his mind is a thousand miles away. I can’t get a read on him, especially not now with the way the heat of his body is pressed against mine and the intoxicating scent of soap and heady male is arousing my scenes.
He grabs my arm, pulling me closer to him but also like he’s making sure I can’t leave. I turn my head over my shoulder to see his eyes stare into mine. I can’t tell if he’s going to kiss me or scold me. My breathing picks up, and I can tell his does to.
“Why did you say my name?” he growls.
I pause, almost unsure if I heard his breathy voice correctly over the running water.
“You heard me?” I ask, looking forward again, washing dishes to hide the nervousness currently flooding my body.
He moves in, his lips a whisper from my ear. “You knew I was watching. You didn’t even flinch at the sight of me. You saw me, and instead of stopping like a good little girl, you continued. Why did you put on that show for me?”
My chest tightens as I close my eyes and try to concentrate on the water running over my fingers. It’s no use, trying to ignore the sensation of having him so close to me. Memories of coming so hard that I couldn’t breathe last night come rushing through me. That reaction was because of him.
I dip my head and turn slightly toward him. “I think the question is, why did you watch?”
He stays quiet. I’m not looking at him, but I can feel him—feel his heart pounding against my shoulder. Feel his hand accidentally graze my backside and retreat. Feel his hurried breath against my skin.
I grin at his reaction.
“You watched because you liked it,” I say. He doesn’t answer, so I meet his gaze. “You liked seeing me ride that thing like I would a real man. You imagined it was you.”
His eyes widen, and turn dark.
“When did you get so brazen? Last I remember, you were Squid, and now—”
“Now what?” I challenge as I turn to face him.
His eyes search through mine, as if looking for the answer to the end of his statement. As he finds it, his smile widens into a Cheshire cat grin. “You act tough, but you know when my name fell from those pretty little lips last night, it freaked you out.”
“Why would it freak me out?”
“Because it damn near petrified me.”
He leaves the kitchen, and I stand there with a racing heart, wondering which one of us is playing the game on who.
Chapter Nine
Wes has gone to extra lengths to avoid me. When he’s home, he stays in his room. A good portion of the day, he’s out. When I ask where, no one ever seems to know. Nor do they seem to care why I’m asking.
I know he comes home because the protein powder he uses in his shakes is getting lower in the glass cylinder he keeps on the kitchen counter. And the bathroom has the lingering smell of his cologne, like a ghost who vanishes when the living appear.
On the rare sighting I do have at home, he’s always on his way out to the gym. Chad mentioned he’s turned into a machine with their season just a few months away. He thinks Wes’s new schedule is motivated by baseball. I call bullshit.
I keep telling myself that it could be worse. He could be getting drunk in the apartment and making off-color remarks about my behavior, embarrassing me. Or worse, he could be bringing random girls back to our place and flaunting them in front of me. My first thought is relief. My next is annoyance. I shouldn’t care if he brings girls back here. He’s not mine.
Then, I think about how everyone calls him a man-whore, but I haven’t seen it. I’ve lived here for almost two months now, and I have yet to see him with another girl. Not at the frat house, club, or on campus. I’ve seen him talking to other girls, and the guy knows how to lay on the charm. Maybe he’s going back to their place? My stomach churns at the thought.
With my head all jumbled, I go to the one location that helps me think.
The pool.
Berkeley has a gorgeous lap pool that has open hours for fitness. The feeling of my palms pushing through the water has always been like therapy to me. It’s like I’m swiping away the negative energy of the day and letting go of all of my frustrations with the single glide.
My dad has called me a mermaid since I was little, which I love. Unlike the nickname Squid, which still makes me squirm.
I kick off the wall and do my laps, getting a fierce workout in while also allowing myself to fall into a state of Zen. I desperately need the calm and find my workout coming to a close sooner than I’d like. After changing in the locker room, I’m pulling my hair into a bun when my phone rings.
Retrieving it from my gym bag, I see Mom’s smiling face on the screen. She’s wearing the ugliest Christmas sweater I’ve ever seen in the photo, and I smile at the memory of how proud she was of that stupid top.
“Hey, Mom,” I answer with my AirPod in my ear.
“Hi, sweetheart. How’s your day going?”
“I’m good. Just finished a swim.”
“I’m glad you’re back in the water. I was worried they weren’t going to let you use it since you’re not on the team,” she says. “Lord knows you’d never pay for a gym.”
I laugh. “Why would I when there’s a perfectly good one here that’s free? Well, not free. We pay a huge sum for tuition, as you know.”
I can practically hear her shaking her head as she probably looks up at the ceiling. “My sweet, wonderful girl. How you became so … you is beyond me.”
I stifle a laugh as I secure the hair tie around my bun. “I’m gonna take that as a compliment. How’s Dad doing?”
“Good. Really good actually. They’re finalizing the contract to make his role in this series permanent.”
“That’s great!” I celebrate, as I know my parents have struggled with him doing guest spots on TV series instead of having a recurring role.
My mom changes the subject, like she tends to do. They don’t like us thinking about their money issues, but I know deep down, she’s praying he signs the deal.
> “I just spoke to your brother. He seems quite smitten with this Nicole. What do you think of her? I can’t get a read on her from Chad. He’s so obscure.”
“She’s fantastic. I like her a lot. They complement each other really well. I think this one might be a keeper,” I say and can hear the gasp in her voice.
“You think? Oh my. My baby boy is falling in love. Maybe I should ask her home for Thanksgiving. Or Christmas. What do you think? Would she come?”
As I toss my brush in my bag, I think about it. “Ask Chad what he thinks first. Going home for the holidays is a super-serious gesture.”
She sounds like she’s tapping her finger to her mouth. “True. Well, I can’t wait to meet her. And what about Wesley?”
“He’s good. Same ol’ Wes.”
“No, I mean, should I ask him to come home for the holidays?”
I nearly stumble on the bench as I climb over it. “Um, no. I don’t think he’d come.”
Mom grumbles, “That’s a shame. He hasn’t been here in years, and I miss his jokes. Is he still bugging you? You know, I figured he had a thing for you.”
“Um … no. And why am I learning of this now?” I admonish.
“It was silly really. I guess I noticed the way he was so protective of you, and there was something about the way he would look at you. I felt it, you know? You two have probably laughed off all the high school stuff by now.”
Laugh off the past? Sure. Just by arguing, teasing, and ill-intentioned flirting.
She sighs. “Maybe it’s just me and my wishful thinking. He was such a fun boy to have around. Great personality, and he was always making us laugh. I just thought …” She pauses in a sad way. “I just thought he’d get over what happened with his parents.”
Memories of his dad arriving to practice and how it affected even Chad flash through my mind. “What are you talking about? How come I never saw or heard of his parents?”
“Oh, never mind. It was a long time ago. I don’t know why I’m digging up the past. It must be all those Netflix shows I’ve been watching. Your father and I are so lonely with you gone. We’ve watched so much TV this fall. Actually, I watch TV as your dad falls asleep after a long day of shooting. I must have gained ten pounds from sitting on the couch.”
I inhale, wanting to ask more questions but I know she’s just going to say it’s not our business to talk about, so I move on as well. “Maybe you’re the one who should be in the pool. Water aerobics is great for women your age.”
“‘I’m not that old, Stacey Marie,” she states firmly, and I bark out a laugh.
“Stop acting like someone who is by being all nostalgic and wistful. I’m surprised you haven’t asked me if I’m wearing my rape whistle yet.”
“You are, aren’t you?”
With a chuckle, I answer, “No, but it’s in my gym bag.”
She hums on the other end of the line. “Don’t be sassy. So, tell me what else is new with you. Are you going out? Meeting knew people?”
“I made a new friend, Amanda, and Nicole has been showing me around. Other than that, I’m just focusing on my schoolwork. I have a packed schedule.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re fitting in.”
She fills me in on the goings-on in the neighborhood and my father’s latest projects around the house that are driving her wild. Hearing her voice makes me realize just how much I miss her. It’s not that I’m a mommy’s girl, but the two of us have always had a close bond. Maybe that’s why I’ve been focused so much on Wes lately. It’s keeping me distracted from being homesick.
Even as I think this, I know it’s a lie.
Wes distracted me before I even graduated high school.
We talk for so long that I’m already back at the apartment when I finally say good-bye. When I walk in, I see Chad and Nicole are in the kitchen, making dinner.
“I talked to Mom today,” I say as I put my gym bag on the chair.
“Yeah? What have they been up to?” Chad reaches in the cupboard, not even looking my way.
“She said she’s bored without us there and is excited to see us for the holidays.” I steal a grape from Chad’s plate and stick it in my mouth.
“You should come home for Thanksgiving and meet them,” Chad says to Nicole without me even mentioning Mom’s invitation.
When Nicole’s face lights up, I know we’ll be adding one more place setting to our family table for a long time to come. There’s just something about these two. The way he plays sous chef while she cooks or how she laughs at his corny jokes. They’re so perfect for each other. I admit, I’m a little envious.
They finally break apart from their lovefest taking place and turn to me.
“Come out with us tonight?” Nicole urges from Chad’s arms.
“Where are you going?”
“The frat house. They’re having another party. It’ll be even better than last time.”
I groan. “I don’t know. I am pretty tired from my swim. Plus, I didn’t have the best time at the last one.”
Nicole places a hand on her hip. “What do you mean? I was there. And I’ll be there again.”
I laugh. “Yeah, with this fool. I should remind you that you snuck off, which you have every right to.”
She does a shimmy and then adds, “Amanda will be there. And I’m not hanging around with this one all night. It’s a girls’ night tonight even if the guys will be there.”
Chad holds his hands up. “I promised I wouldn’t occupy all her time. Apparently, her roommate is getting jealous of how much time we spend together.”
“See!” Nicole walks out of the kitchen and grabs my hand. “The three of us can cause all kinds of mischief!”
I sway my head in contemplation. It would be nice to hang with the girls again. No, it would be great to hang with the girls tonight. “Sure. Why not? Let me get changed.”
I spend the thirty minutes blowing out my hair and then walk into my room and survey my closet. There’s fog rolling outside my window, so I pull on skinny jeans, tall boots, and an oversize sweater with a tank top underneath. I go dramatic on my eye makeup because a girls’ night calls for feeling a little glamorous even if I’m heading to the party with my brother as the chauffeur.
Thankfully, we pick up Amanda, so I don’t feel quite as neat, especially when she comes crashing into the backseat, wearing a denim miniskirt and holding three road sodas.
“Red Bull and vodka!” she declares as she hands one to me and another to Nicole.
Chad smiles as he watches Nicole chug half of hers from the passenger seat.
“This might be a girls’ night, but you girls are gonna need this guy to carry your drunk asses out at the end of the night.” Chad laughs as he pulls away from the curb.
After we arrive, I search around the frat house, telling myself that I’m not looking for Wes but even I don’t believe it. I just need to know what’s going on. I’m a practical person. Everything is lined up, made sense of, and categorized in my head where it belongs. This not knowing why he watched me or why it petrified him when I said his name is killing me.
Chad heads off in the direction of the baseball guys out back. Amanda, Nicole, and I follow him out as well, talking and laughing, but we go to the far end of the deck.
“Oh my God. See that guy over there?” Amanda points to someone. “I made out with him last year, and he was the best kisser in the world. It was so good; I was beyond turned on from just his lips.”
Nicole leans over to check him out. “You should try to get with him again.”
“Never. His mouth might have been magical, but his penis was …” Amanda curves a finger down in the limp position.
I laugh even though it feels wrong. Poor guy.
“Chad is a great kisser. And he does not have a problem with, you know.” Nicole giggles, and I close my eyes in mock disgust. Being friends with my brother’s girlfriend has its perks, but hearing about their sex life is a definite con. “What about you, Stacey
? Who is the best guy you’ve ever kissed?”
My chest swells for a moment, and I have to run my hand over my forehead with how dizzy I just got for a second. No one’s ever asked me that before, and still, the answer is on the tip of my tongue.
“Junior year of high school. I was at a graduation party, and this guy kissed me. It was unexpected and yet …” I halt, remembering the way his lips felt on mine and how they clung to me with the perfect amount of suction and gentleness. It was the kind of kiss that made a seventeen-year-old think she was in love. And then he broke my heart. In a split second, I went from high on life to shattered. “It was a good kiss but a one-time thing. Typical high school.”
I haven’t allowed myself to remember that night in such detail in years. In an instant, the memory is vivid, and I have to push it away again.
Nathan makes his way toward us, wearing an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt and khakis.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he says as he swings his arm around me. “Whatcha been up to?”
Amanda laughs into her cup while Nicole holds out a hand. “Hi, Nathan. Good to see you too.”
He must be pretty inebriated because he continues to ignore them and talks directly to me, “I like your sweater.”
“Thanks. I like your shirt. The flamingos are a good look,” I kid, but he just nods because, clearly, he thinks his flamingo-themed Hawaiian shirt is amazing. “What have you been up to?”
“Oh, me? I’ve been in the gym a lot. Wes has been kicking my ass. We’ve always worked out together, but lately, he’s turned it up a notch. I’m sore as hell but it’s all worth it. I’m still shocked I convinced him to take the night off and drag his ass here.”
My breathing quickens at the mention of Wes being here. “Oh, yeah? I’ve been wondering where he’s been.” I try to play it off on the outside, but on the inside, my pulse is racing.
Nathan tightens his hold around me. “Yep. And I’m glad we came out. Seeing you here tonight is the icing on the cake. Do you want another drink?”
I glance down at my cup and then back to him when something catches my eye.
Rebel Roommate: A Brother's Best Friend Romance Page 8