Mack nodded in agreement.
“Why were you so nervous? We had the frat boys there.” I could tell she still wasn’t getting it. Again, Brad looked at her like she was crazy. “They were drunk frat boys watching my Izzy play.”
‘My’? Did he just say ‘my?’ Did no one else hear that? I looked around the room and nope, it was glossed over as he continued the story.
“So anyway, Izzy plays and of course wins. The mafia guys…”
Izzy snorted and interrupted him, “They were not mafia guys; they were just some big guys!”
“Big and they brought in more friends. Izzy and the guy shake hands and he starts grabbing her ass.”
Izzy interrupted him again, “They were hugging me!”
“What the hell kind of hugs do you give that the guy’s hand squeezes your ass when you hug?”
Izzy shrugged, laughing at Brad’s theatrics. “So he got a little grabby.”
“A little grabby?” Brad gave this look like she was absolutely insane. “I thought the fucker was going to throw you onto the table.” He looked over at me and Flynn, “Seriously guys, are you with me?”
Flynn and I nodded while Izzy looked over at me shrugging and rolling her eyes. “It wasn’t that bad. Brad’s making it sound like the guy was about to nail me.” I cringed hearing her say that. “He wasn’t,” she stated emphatically, noticing my reaction.
“Like fuck he wasn’t! So I grabbed the guy’s arm and try to pull him. He starts asking me what my problem was and I’m trying to tell him that he got too grabby. Meanwhile, innocent Izzy over here starts to give the other guys hugs!”
She shrugged again and started giggling. “I was making sure we could walk out of there with our money.”
“What? By letting them all cop a feel?”
“No! I was just making sure we left on good terms.”
Mack laughed. “Yeah, really good terms. Because then the frat boys all wanted their ‘hugs’ too!” He used air quotes for hugs.
“Do you know what fifteen drunk frat boys have on their brain?” Brad asked Izzy, incredulously.
Izzy rolled her eyes. “Yes, I know. I didn’t hug them.” Like that made it any better. I was not envying Brad and Mack’s job that night. I can’t imagine trying to have to get Izzy out of that place.
“Seriously, Izzy, you were the only girl near the pool tables. They were all drunk. You were bending and shit all night.”
“You make it seem like I was doing all sexy moves or something! I was playing pool!” she stressed.
Brad shook his head. “Anyway, we started to finally leave.” He stressed ‘finally’ while looking right at Izzy, making it seem like she took her time getting out of there. “And about half the frat boys walked out with us.”
“They were making sure the other guys weren’t following us,” Izzy stressed. She had a smirk on her face, so I think she really knew the truth.
“How naïve are you?” He turned to me and Flynn. “She had two guys wrap their arms around her as they walked.”
Izzy interrupted, “I told you they were both in my psych class and I knew them.”
“Yeah well, they wanted to get to know you a lot better,” Brad stressed as he took a drink from his beer.
“They would have been fine; you got all weird and over protective,” Izzy said pulling her eyebrows together and then she rolled her eyes.
Mack jumped in laughing. “Who Brad? Overprotective?” he asked, clearly being facetious.
“They were all over her,” Brad said emphatically.
I couldn’t resist finding out what happened next. By then I was totally with Brad on this one. Although I wasn’t sure if it was because he was protective or jealous, like I would have been. Hell, just hearing the story I was jealous. “So what happened next?”
Izzy walked over and put her hand on Brad’s shoulder. “Brad here decided to make sure the frat boys stayed away. He grabbed me and threw me over his shoulder and stalked over in the other direction toward home.”
Mack started laughing. “You should have seen the guy’s faces, it was as if you took away their candy for the night.”
“Yeah, their eye candy. They were headed back to the frat house and Izzy was walking with them.”
“There was a party going on over there. I wouldn’t have been the only girl there!”
I shook my head. “Man, I do not envy Brad’s job back in college, Izzy.”
Brad looked at me silently saying ‘thanks’ and Izzy asked, “Why? What do you mean?”
“Are you serious? Did you not just hear the same story I heard? Every guy wanted to fucking bend you over that table and Brad and Mack had to get you out of there? Come on, you’re not that naïve!” I was floored that she didn’t think the same way.
“I knew half the frat guys; the mafia guys were all appeased with a hug.” Brad snorted at the hug part as Izzy looked back at him and shrugged. “So I let them cop a feel. It was to make sure we were all on good terms.”
Brad came over and hugged her, “I know. It just wasn’t the right time to let all of them get a feel when they were already so damn horny from watching you play.”
They looked like they were a little too close for my comfort, so I stood up just as Brad’s phone rang. I walked over to her and hugged her tightly, giving her a kiss on her forehead. “You seriously can’t see how that would have been a scary situation for Brad and Mack?”
She shrugged and giggled. “I guess I can see it now. I was just trying to make sure I got my $1,000.”
Then we overheard Brad fighting with his wife. She was clearly jealous of Izzy and we could hear her yelling through the phone. Brad was looking over at Mack just as his phone rang out too. I gave a sigh of relief knowing they were leaving soon. I could feel Izzy tense up whenever she heard the words ‘bitch’ and ‘slut’ through the phone. Clearly she had heard that before.
“Have they always hated you and Mel?” I whispered into her ear. She nodded and frowned. I guess I could kind of understand their dislike for Izzy, especially if he hugged her like that all the time and his eyes gazed at her like they did. I also felt sorry for Izzy because I could see how close these two really were. I really wondered if they were ever romantically involved. I’d have to ask that later when my jealousy was more in control so I wouldn’t sound so accusatory.
We heard Brad hang up, and shortly after, Mack did too. They looked over at us. “Well, we need to get going. It was fun going over old times. We’ll have to do it again sometime,” Brad said clapping his hands together.
“Well, maybe we can all get together for dinner some night and they can come too.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen. You know that.”
“It’s been several years, Brad. And I have a boyfriend now. She shouldn’t still feel threatened. We could try. I really miss seeing you guys.” She pouted and I could tell she really did mean that. Brad looked like he was going to bend down and kiss her; he was staring at her and thinking. He shook his head quickly and then turned to Mack.
“Ready?” Mack nodded his head and everyone started giving each other hugs and handshakes.
When it was Izzy and Brad’s turn to hug, I watched closely as he held her tightly and I swear he sniffed her hair again, not to mention I watched her nuzzle into his neck. I was trying really hard to contain my jealousy. He was on his way out the door, so it was almost over, right? He pulled back and I watched his face as he started to lean down and they both did this weird thing where they looked like they were about to kiss, but missed and he kissed her cheek instead. I saw a flash of disappointment in Izzy’s eyes. Yep. That sealed it for me. From now on, these two were never to be in a room alone together. No wonder why his wife hated Izzy so much. It was pretty clear to me these two had something before.
Brad and Mack finally left and we all headed to Flynn’s place. Izzy was in a great mood, well, a little sad that they left, but still in a happy mood. Izzy and Mel were discussing trying to have them
over for dinner with their wives so they could see Brad and Mack again. I was just glad it was something that would probably always be an issue. I wanted to ask her real feelings for Brad but knew that would probably ruin our evening and start a fight, so I refrained.
Of course, that wasn’t the end of my jealousy. I knew I’d always have it, but I kept trying to contain it, especially on her runs. Since that was just about the only time we were apart from each other, that’s when my mind usually tended to wander about her possibly being unfaithful to me.
I followed her several different times on her runs just to see if she was meeting Mark and if they were going to kiss. I tried to trust Izzy, but after all the fucked up shit I’ve been through with my exes, I had a hard time not feeling like she would cheat on me. But through it all, Izzy was patient with me and my twenty questions after her runs. I think she even knew I watched her a couple times.
I felt like I got to the point where I knew she wasn’t cheating on me; anyone who would make an advance toward her, she pushed away. I know this because Mark leaned in for a kiss once–I was pretty close to running across the street and beating the fucking shit out of him again. I still might kick his ass just for fun.
Since I knew exactly which place she ran from, I parked my bike in a nearby space and leaned on it just waiting for her to return from her run. I watched her slow down from her jog and walked with Mark. My blood boiled watching them so close together, but I tried to remain calm. For Izzy. She was saying goodbye to him and he leaned in; she backed up and shook her head and said something to him. Then she turned to walk away shaking her head. She seemed pissed. She looked up and I watched her eyes light up when our eyes met and a smile to match it. My heart leapt out of my chest. Just that loving, sweet look she had for me was more than I could take. I smiled back as she came bounding up to me and practically tackled me. She jumped into my arms wrapping her legs around me. Fuck. It was all I could do not to take her on my bike.
She smiled and kissed me fiercely. “What are you doing here? I thought you were at the gym punching Daryl,” she teased.
I kissed her roughly. I didn’t look, but I was hoping Mark was watching me claim her. She was mine and only mine.
“I wanted to see you, that’s all,” I stated.
She smirked. “But you just saw me earlier this morning, silly!” She knew, I’m sure of it, that I was really just checking up on her.
“I decided we should get away for the night.” I didn’t really have a place in mind; I just thought I needed a reason to be here at the park waiting for her. She smiled so bright and it reached her gorgeous eyes. “Really? Where to now? You’re spoiling me and I love it,” she said laughing and hugged me tight.
I turned to get on my bike and she hopped on the back. She wrapped her arms, like always, tight across my stomach. That was one of the best feelings in the world to me. Her head laying against my back and I could feel her smile. I started up my bike and we headed to the townhouse. We got in and she told me she was going to shower quickly and pack a few things for the night. She said that and winked. I assumed that meant she would pack a cute little outfit that wouldn’t last long on her gorgeous little body. I appreciate the lingerie, but it just winds up on the floor after a few minutes.
I waited for her at the island downstairs while she got ready. Flynn was drinking his coffee; Mel and Clark were still asleep. “Hey,” I said as I grabbed a cup of coffee.
“What are you two up to today?” Flynn asked.
I laughed. “Umm, we’re headed out of town.”
“Oh yeah? Where to?”
“I have no fucking clue. Got any ideas?” I asked while I rubbed my eyes.
He laughed. “Spur of the moment thing, huh?”
“Yeah, you could say that. I was having a jealous moment this morning and needed a reason I was watching her.” Flynn laughed. He got it. I’m pretty sure he popped into Mel’s work often enough to make sure she wasn’t fucking her new boss.
“Hey, what about that nice inn over by the ocean our parents used to take us?” Oh yeah. Our parents used to take family vacations together and that was one of the places we’d go during our summer. It was fall now, so it wouldn’t be as packed. Perfect romantic getaway.
“Nice one Flynn. Thanks. That’s a great idea.”
“You’re welcome, buddy. I have some good ideas once in a while,” He joked.
We chatted for a bit while waiting on Izzy. Finally, she came bouncing down the stairs. Just as always, she looked fantastic. Maybe I’d finally tell her tonight that I love her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Izzy
AS WE DROVE to my surprise location for the night, I stared out the window thinking of the past few weeks. Z was so jealous and I could understand why, but I started to wonder if I would ever get used to it. When Brad and Mack came to visit, I was glad Z was able to contain his jealousy over Brad because I wasn’t sure if I was able to hide the love I still felt for him.
Seeing Brad and talking about the things we used to do brought back so many memories. Just seeing him made me want to be in his arms, his familiar strong arms. I never told Mel about the nights that Brad and I used to spend just holding each other. Not to mention the nights in our foster home when I would have nightmares; he would hear me crying and come into my room. He never made any type of sexual advance, just always held me. I guess he always did just see me as a sister type.
It hurt that his wife hated me so much. If she could just get past that, maybe we could all get together for dinner or something? I think I was able to contain the love I felt for him. I must have been able to since Z never asked about him again. Although, during the night I saw his jaw clench more than a few times. I think once he heard all our stories and how Brad was more of my brotherly protector he felt better. I hope so at least. Maybe I could see him again soon.
We continued driving and my mind wandered to earlier in the day when I went running. Of course, Mark found me at the end of my run. It seems like he does that on purpose every time. I had hoped since it was Sunday, I wouldn’t run into him. Every time I see Mark, he insists he just wants to be friends again, but I know he’s just hoping to get a rise out of Z if he saw Mark with me. I told him this morning, especially after he tried to kiss me, that I was done with him and didn’t want to talk to him anymore. Ugh, it made my skin crawl just thinking about it. I hope Z hadn’t seen him try to do that. He must not have or I’m sure he would have sprinted down the hill and clocked him!
Z reached for my hand and squeezed it tightly. “What are you thinking about?” He asked looking concerned. I wasn’t sure what my face looked like as I thought about Mark, maybe anger? No wonder why he was questioning what was going through my mind.
“Just the past couple weeks. Our highs and lows.” I saw the troubled look on his face and squeezed his hand, “More highs than lows, baby.” I gave him a reassuring smile. He nodded and then looked back to the road. I could tell he needed more reassurance so I leaned over the truck console and hugged his arm tightly. I heard him sigh deeply.
“I’m sorry I get so jealous. I’ll try to work on it more.” His voice seemed troubled as if it’s been weighing on his mind a lot.
“I understand you’ve been cheated on before but…”
“Just about every girlfriend I’ve had has cheated on me at one point or another,” he interrupted me with a gruff voice. Sadness for him shot through me and I looked up at him as he continued. “If they haven’t cheated on me, they’ve broken up with me.” He shrugged, “I guess I really do suck at relationships like the Fucking Whore said, huh?”
My heart broke for him and I wanted to take his pain away. “You don’t suck at relationships. You just have a lot of jealousy running through you.” I looked up at him. “I can only do so much to make you understand I’ll never cheat. Sometimes you just have to let go and believe it will all be okay. I’ll never cheat on you Z. I’ve told you that over and over again.” He kissed my forehead.
“I believe you. I’m sorry. I’ll try to do much better.” He gave me a sheepish smile.
“I know you will. Although since we work together every day, I would think that should help. Or doesn’t it?”
He shrugged. “It wouldn’t matter one way or another. It’s like I said, something I just need to work on.” He became quiet, so I went back to looking out the window still hugging and laying on his arm.
We drove down to a beautiful inn down by the ocean and we checked into our room. The décor was…interesting. It made me giggle actually. I guess the place was trying to look upscale, but it failed miserably with the turquoise bedding and 80’s type pictures on the wall. Our room did have a gorgeous balcony that overlooked the ocean. It was a clear, cool day so I opened the balcony door as quick as I could. There was a small table and two chairs with generous room to move about. I leaned on the balcony feeling the salty cool air and took a deep breath. Strong arms wrapped around my waist and sweet, gentle lips kissed my neck. I wanted time to stand still.
“What are you thinking,” he whispered.
“Mmm.” I breathed it all in. “I’m thinking this is perfect.” I turned around to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. He bent down to kiss me softly.
“Good. I was hoping you liked the ocean but wasn’t sure.”
“I love it. The Smiths used to bring Brad and me. I remembered the first time we came to the ocean. It was incredible.”
“You hadn’t been to the ocean before going to the Smiths?” Z asked with his brows pulled together, frowning.
“Nope. When they learned I had never been, we went that weekend,” I said, smiling remembering how surprised Renee, Mrs. Smith, was. The second Benny, Mr. Smith, came home, she told him and we made plans for leaving the next day.
He looked out and nodded his head toward the ocean. “How about a nice long walk?”
I smiled thinking that this day was just going to keep getting better. “Absolutely.” I hugged him tightly.
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