Always You (Best Friend Series Book 1)

by C. M. Steele

  So he was one of the masses when it came to Calista. She had a following that I was going to have to monitor. There wasn’t anyone that was going to stop me in two years, but until then she could meet someone her own age. "How many more are there?"

  He laughed at me. "At least two. You've got a lot of competition." He slung his arm around my shoulders, still chuckling. I pushed it off and we walked to my car. I didn’t drive a flashy sports car because I wasn’t that kind of guy.

  He thought this was funny, but I sure as fuck didn't. Two years was a long time, but one day she'd be mine.

  After we got back from the game, she still wasn't back. I waited up, bullshitting about the game with Rob and his dad. It was an hour later when I was told that she was spending the night. I drank a beer, then went to bed really fucking pissed off.

  ~~~~~

  When I woke up in the morning she still wasn't home, but then again it was only seven. Needing to clear my head, I went for a run. I didn't give a shit that the skies opened up and unleashed a torrential pour on me. I ran and ran, hoping the burning in my lungs would stop the thoughts of her being in the same house with another man. I wondered if they had a secret relationship.

  By the time I got back to Rob's, she was back. I wanted to tear her a new one for not coming back last night but I had no right. And, damn it, she looked great this morning.

  "Oh my gosh! You're soaked. What the hell were you doing running in the monsoon out there?"

  "Trying to clear my head. Excuse me."

  I walked past her, jealous and angry.

  I had to take a hot shower so I didn’t catch a damn cold, when I really needed a cold one. That run only served to make me more possessive. I wanted to set some ground rules for the next two years, but I didn’t have any damn right.

  I stepped out of the bathroom barefooted with a pair of gym shorts and tee shirt, towel drying my hair. Needing to pass her room to get to mine, I noticed her door was closed, but I could hear sounds coming from it.

  Rob took his mom grocery shopping and her dad was at work. It was just me and her in the house alone. It wasn’t a smart move on their part, and I wasn’t sure I could handle being alone with her. The smart thing would be to run to my room and lock myself in until they came back. I wasn’t smart, it seemed.

  She let out a loud cry and I could have sworn I heard my name. I rushed into the room thinking something happened. There she was laying on her bed, her eyes wide with her hand between her thighs. She was looking at me in full embarrassment. Her face was flush. Was it because she got caught or was that the way she looked when she came, chanting my name?

  “Sorry. Fucking shit.” I walked the fuck out of the room before she could freak out.

  “I…I…” I heard her stutter.

  I got to my room as fast as I could, breathing harshly. My dick was about to fucking explode. She was fucking playing with her pussy while thinking of me. I pulled down my shorts, my cock stiff and thick. I was about to cum just thinking about her sweet little mound hidden under her tee shirt. I took my length in hand, giving it a few strokes. It wasn’t long before I came hard. Shame filled me up, and I refused to speak to her the rest of the day.

  ~~~~~

  “Alex, can we talk about yesterday?” she asked meekly the next morning.

  “I’d rather not.” My tone was harsh, but I didn’t want to talk about how beautiful she was when she came to visions of me.

  “It’s just…”

  I made her feel bad and I didn’t want that. It wasn’t her fault that I was too old for her. “Listen, I shouldn’t have rushed in there like that. We all do that. There’s nothing wrong with it,” I offered.

  “So why are you avoiding me?” That was a good question.

  “I thought you were feeling embarrassed about it. I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable,” I lied. I was trying not to sneak into her room and commit a crime.

  “Can we pretend you didn’t see me?”

  “Definitely.” I answered too quickly and she took my meaning the wrong way. It was better that way, though, but I didn’t like the sad look in her eyes.

  “Are you two ready to watch the Mavs play the Heat?” Rob asked interrupting us, something about it told me he didn’t like me talking to her alone. This would be the last private conversation I would have with her during my stay.

  The rest of my time at her house only made me fall deeper into her spell. My heart was like a fly teased and taunted into her spider's web. I knew by the end of the week I was in love and thoroughly fucked.

  Chapter 2

  I was back again. Almost every weekend since Rob and I graduated, I visited him at his parent's house. I worked at Richmond Holdings in Dallas, just an hour away from Cali, but it was still too close. I was a glutton for punishment. Her body, smile, and laugh had me at the balls. Her brain and her tastes in everything had my soul. I was hers, but she still couldn't be mine.

  All summer long she tormented me with her short shorts and super fucking tight tops. Part of me knew that she liked the attention I gave her, but she was young and at that age when attention was something girls craved. One afternoon, she was tapping her leg and it was getting irritating because it made me focus on her bared legs, so I grabbed her thigh and asked her to stop. It was a big mistake. Our eyes met and the pleasure from touching rushed to my nuts. I left ten minutes later and refused to go back for a couple of weeks. It felt like the longest two weeks of my life, but I needed the distance.

  One day after work, I had a heart to heart with my father. “So son, are you and Rob like a thing?”

  “A thing? What?” I wanted to laugh at his question, but except for the few that knew that I was there for Cali, they all assumed the same.

  “You know. I’m trying not to judge, but you visit him every weekend.”

  “No…God no. It’s definitely not like that. Besides, I don’t go there every weekend, but I have to admit I do go there for a reason. A reason that could get me into a world of trouble, but I can’t stop myself.”

  “Not drugs, please.”

  I shook my head. “Oh, she is a drug alright, but not the way you’re thinking. I’m obsessed with Calista Delaney, Rob’s younger sister.” I felt relief, letting it off my chest.

  “Does Rob think you’re not good for her?” My dad didn’t know how young she was, and seemed pissed. I was everything a father or brother would want in a boyfriend for their girl.

  “It’s not that. She’s too young. Dad, she’s sixteen.” I watched the expression changed from anger to worry.

  “Don’t freak out. I know she’s not old enough to be with me. I’ve decided to wait for her to reach eighteen, then the gloves are off.”

  “It’s that bad?”

  “It’s like breathing is getting harder to do without her nearby. When I get there and she’s out, I’m irrationally jealous. It is…I never thought I would lose my mind over a woman, let alone one who is too young to even consider for anything more than a conversation.”

  “Falling in love happens to the best of us.”

  “Yeah, but why couldn’t I have fallen in love with her two years from now.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe you needed to enter her life at this time.”

  “You’re sounding wise, old man.” I laughed.

  “Yes, that’s me. You must call me Jedi Master Xander.” We loved Star Wars and watched them annually as a family.

  “I don’t want to know what Mom calls you in private.” He just cracked up laughing. Then my mother walked by. I felt awkward because I thought she was out shopping.

  She poked her head into the room, and said with a straight face, “Actually, he makes me just call him Master.” I almost threw up in my mouth, while she sauntered away from the room.

  “That’s what I get.”

  “Yes, but I think I have a solution to your little miss issue.” I didn’t like the look he was sporting.

  “Yeah, like you can speed up time?” I joked, wi
shing it was possible.

  “No, but I can keep you out of trouble. You can take the job in Milan.”

  “The one managing the building and set up of the hotel?”

  “Exactly”

  “I don’t know. That’s a big decision. Can I handle being far away from her? How long will the project take?”

  “If everything goes as planned, less than two years.”

  “Damn. I’m going to talk to Rob about protecting her better before I give you an answer.”

  “It may be the best thing, Alex. Just consider it.” He was right. Being around her or waiting to see her was becoming harder and harder to do.

  “Okay. Thanks, Dad.”

  My father gave me an opportunity to prove myself to the world as a brilliant business man and not just a rich boy riding my father's coattails. It was a decision that would take me away from her. I didn't know if I could do it, but after what happened I knew it was necessary for both of us. After having a talk with Rob, my decision was set in stone. I was going to miss the fuck out of her, but it was for the best.

  ~~~~~

  It’s been a magnificent summer so far. Alex spent his summer after his graduation visiting us as often as his work would allow. He worked for his father up in Dallas, but he came to Irving most weekends. I was starting to think he came for me, but one day he made it clear I wasn’t the one he’d come to see.

  I was just about to enter the room when I heard him tell my brother Rob, “Man, what’s up with your sister? She doesn’t dress like her age. She does know that invites unwanted attention, right?”

  “I know. I’ve told her about that shit several times already, but it goes in one ear and out the other.”

  “Well, I find it…gross.” I felt my heart falling to pieces onto the floor, the sound was deafening. I closed my eyes to stop the tears I felt caress the rim of my eyelids. Fuck him. I was gross. Was it because I wasn’t a size zero like the girls Rob brings around? My curves caught men’s attention, so I knew I wasn’t disgusting. I thought we had something going on. He seemed like he was at least a friend.

  I did an about face, then practically ran to my bedroom. I let the tears fall that I hadn’t shed before while I stripped the stupid outfit off. Time to shake Alex off my body. My crush was over. Once I got myself together, I walked downstairs dressed in joggers and a tee shirt and a towel in my hair. There was no point in looking good in front of him anymore. All that effort and skimpy shit was a waste of time.

  “Hey guys, where’s mom and dad?” I asked my brother, avoiding making eye contact with Alex.

  “They went out on a date. You’re stuck with us tonight,” Rob said with a shrug.

  “Actually, I’m not feeling company, so I’m going to my room.” I returned his shrug with one of my own.

  “I’m leaving for Italy tomorrow,” Alex piped up, jumping from his seat on the sofa.

  “Good for you. Have fun,” I said with a steady voice I didn’t know I had.

  “It’ll be for business for two years,” he added, like us not seeing each other was supposed to mean something.

  “Good for you. Make money.”

  “What’s wrong with you?” Rob asked me.

  “Nothing’s wrong with me. I think I’m just fine. I can’t wait for you to leave. I wouldn’t want you getting grossed out by me anymore.”

  “Cali,” he called out to me. I hated hearing him say my name. It was tainted now.

  “Don’t Cali me. Only friends call me that, and you sure as hell aren’t one.” I pressed my finger into his chest angrily. “Have a safe trip, Mr. Richmond.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “You’re not sorry. You’re just sorry I heard. Goodbye.” It was my last words to him for the next two years.

  Chapter 3

  “Alex is getting engaged.” I think my heart stopped when Rob announced the news to the family. I wanted to cry on the spot. I didn’t know what I expected. It had been two years since we last saw each other, and he was in a place with beautiful Italian women. Over the years he did ask about me and Rob told me about his time in Italy, but not once did he tell me that he was dating someone. I knew it wasn’t my business, but after two years my crush hadn’t gone away. I thought about him all the time. I couldn’t even date because of him. I tried, but it failed during the first few days.

  “Wow,” I muttered. My parents and brother looked at each other then back at me like they were gaging my reaction. I thought my feelings for him were well disguised, but apparently I was wrong.

  “It’s fine. Congrats to him and whoever he’s marrying.” I tried to feel nothing, but I couldn’t. My heart hurt. My birthday was tomorrow, and Rob told me he was coming back in two weeks. “If you’ll excuse me, I don’t feel like going out tonight.”

  “That’s fine, sweetheart. It’ll work itself out,” my mother said, giving me a big hug.

  “Thanks, Mom,” I hugged her tight before my brother pulled me into his arms, then my dad did, too.

  “I’m okay, everyone. I may have had a school girl crush, but it’s nothing I can’t get over.” I was about to walk upstairs when I changed my mind. “You know what? I’m going to go out with you.”

  Rob wrapped his arm around my shoulders and told me to stay home. “No, stay and take it easy. We’ll bring you something back tonight.”

  “Okay.” I wasn’t hungry anyway.

  I woke up at midnight when my doorbell rang and my world collapsed.

  ~~~~~~

  I had just landed in Dallas and was on my way to Irving to surprise Calista. I missed her so much that I didn’t care that I had wait until tomorrow for her birthday. She was mine, and I needed her to know that. I called Rob to see what was going on.

  “Hey, man. Are you home?”

  “Yeah, but we’re all going out to dinner tonight. When are you coming back?”

  “I just landed in Dallas. I’m waiting for my luggage then I’m on my way to Irving. You did tell your parents about my feelings for Calista, right?”

  “I didn’t need to. You called me all the time to talk about her. Everyone but Calista knows. She thinks you still don’t like her.”

  “I plan on fixing that tonight. I need to see her. It’s been too long. I’ve been missing her like crazy. How about I meet you all after dinner?”

  “No, I’ll get her to stay here, and you two can talk in private. Just don’t knock her up until her birthday.” He teased me.

  “Don’t worry. I waited this long, another day won’t kill me.”

  “Cool, well I’ve got to get ready to go out.”

  “See you soon, bro.”

  “Love her.” I took his warning seriously because I loved her with everything in me, and it was finally time to claim her as mine.

  “Always,” I promised.

  I was pissed because the drive wasn’t supposed to be long, but there was a storm going on right now, and my luggage hadn’t arrived yet. I couldn’t leave it, but I needed to see her. I was tempted to call, but I waited. This morning, my dad had dropped a car off for me to use to drive to Irving with.

  It was ten at night when I finally got out on the road. It was dark and wet. There was an accident on the road so I needed to go slow. I kept trying to call Rob, but he wasn’t answering. Damn, did they go to bed early? I just kept driving on. It took twice as long to get there. When I finally pulled up to the house, their car wasn’t in the driveway. That was strange. Maybe they were at the movies.

  Just as I got to the door, there was a squad car pulling up. Fear bubbled in my gut; something was wrong. Two cops approached with blank expressions.

  “Officers, what’s going on?” I asked them, trying not to freak out.

  “We’re here to speak to any residents of this house. Do you live here?” The female officer asked me.

  “No, I came to see my best friend and my fiancée.”

  “Sir, yours, your friend, and your fiancée’s names, please.”

  “I’m Alexander Richmon
d. Rob Delaney is my friend and his sister Calista is my fiancée.”

  “I’m sorry sir, but Mr. Delaney and his parents were involved in a serious accident.” What the fuck?! I couldn’t believe it. They were all safe drivers.

  “What hospital are they at?” I asked, ready to run to the hospital once I had Cali in tow.

  “Sir, they’re gone. I’m sorry.” I grabbed my chest. I was too healthy for a heart attack, but my heart felt broken when I looked the house.

  “Does Calista know?”

  “No, sir. We came to notify her.”

  With tears in my eyes, I turned back to the officers and said, “I’m going to tell her. It should come from me. It needs to come from me.”

  “We’ll stay just in case we’re needed.” I nodded. I couldn’t understand. How? Why?

  I rang the doorbell, and it opened a minute later.

  She looked shocked to see me, but then she saw the police behind me.

  “Can we come in?” She let us in. I didn’t get to greet her liked I planned, but then again, Rob and his parents didn’t plan this either. My tears fell from my face when I told her, “Cali, babe. I need to talk to you.”

  “What? Why are you here? The cops?” She had a catch in her throat.

  “Calista, please.” I pulled her into my arms and carried her to the sofa. “Cali, there was an accident tonight. Damn it, they’re not coming home. Rob, your mom, and dad all died tonight.”

  “No!” She screamed and jumped out of my hold. “No, this can’t be.” She paced the floor, crying and pulling on her hair. Shaking her head. “No, this can’t be. It can’t. It just can’t. They told me they were coming home. No.” Cali collapsed to the floor. I rushed to her, holding her close.

  “Do you want us to get her some water?” the female officer asked.

  “Please.” I pointed to the kitchen area.

  The officers walked to the kitchen while I sat her in my lap. “Cali, I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say or do. I know I can’t make this better, but we will get through this.”

  “They’re really gone?” She looked into my eyes so lost that I wanted to lie, but there was no going back.