by C. Shell
I redirect my attention to the people around us, watching as a young girl no older than five climbs into a teacup that spins around. “It's not so bad anymore,” I admit. “I don’t think I want to ride anything again, but I wouldn’t mind playing some games. It’s wrong to leave a carnival without winning an ugly stuffed animal.”
I stand from the bench, my neck sore from the awkward angle it was bent in while I rested.
“What do you want to try your hand at first?”
“You don’t have to babysit me.”
Nate sighs. “I wasn’t trying to. Everyone wanted to do the swing ride, and I bowed out. I hate how fast it goes in a circle. I was missing that smart mouth of yours and thought it would be a good time to check on you.”
“Okay,” I concede and point to a booth with a big rainbow-colored elephant hanging from the side of it. “I want to win that first.”
“You want to do the balloon and darts game?”
“Sure,” I say with a shrug. I never actually looked at the game involved with winning the colorful elephant, but he doesn’t need to know that.
I follow him down the dirt walkway to the booth in question where I hand over a few dollars to a man with dirty hair and big eyes. He hands me four darts and proceeds to tell me the rules as if it’s a hard game to figure out.
I only have to hit three balloons to win.
“Do you need help?” Nate’s question rubs me the wrong way. I know he’s just trying to be nice, but I can do this on my own.
I want to do this on my own.
“I got it,” I tell him with pure confidence.
Standing with my feet apart and my shoulders square, I search out the balloons I intend to hit. As with most of the games here, it looks easy, but with the way they strategically place the small balloons far apart, it is anything but. My first two arrows hit the mark, the third bounces off the board and hit the ground, leaving the fate of my pretty elephant to my last dart.
My confidence falters. “What if I don’t make it?” I really want to win that elephant.
Nate surprises me with a boisterous laugh. “Will you please let me help you?” I arch a single brow at him. “If I lose then I promise to keep going until I win you that crazy looking stuffed animal.”
Even I can’t argue with those terms. Bowing with a flourish, I hand over my last dart to Nate. Then I slap him on the ass. “Go get’em, Tiger.”
Nate grins in return. “You’re ridiculous.” He can call me whatever name he wants as long as he does it while winning me my prize. Standing sideways, he makes a show of stretching out his arms and loosening up his muscles. As he takes aim, I hold my breath and cross my fingers in anticipation. With a quick throw, Nate releases the dart. I watch in suspense as the balloon meets its ultimate foe and with a quick pop, dies a quick death.
“You did it!” My heart does a happy dance as I jump up and down in glee. The carny shakes his head in bewilderment, looking at us as if we are nuts. When he hands over my prize, I hug it close to my heart and continue dancing around.
When I look at Nate, something flickers across his face that I can’t name. There is a heaviness in the air that makes it hard to think straight. It reminds me of that one moment we had not long ago when I helped him with his laundry. I kind of want to kiss him right now, which is all kinds of wrong. If we both just lean in a fraction, we would be lined up perfectly for a kiss. We stare at each other, neither of us daring to look away until an arm drapes over my shoulder and I practically jump out of my skin.
“What do you have there, Jelly Bean?”
I glance over at Dex, praying that my eyes don’t hold an ounce of the guilt I feel. Jerking away, I let his hand fall from my shoulder and clear my throat. “Nate won me an elephant.”
His eyes turn hard. “Did he now?” Dex takes a good look at my colorful prize and scoffs. “That is cute but let me win you something larger.” He glances around and points to a tall giraffe by the soda toss. “That looks like something you would like.”
An annoyed sigh punches through Nate’s hard lips. “This isn’t a pissing contest, Dex. It’s just a stupid stuffed animal.”
I feel my cheeks go hot. Cammy and Jimmie stroll up hand in hand just as Dex’s voice rose. “You’re right, Nate. It is stupid, which is why I need to win her a better prize. Like that damn tall giraffe over there. That is something she can be proud to carry around.”
Anger licks at my insides over how stupid Dex is being. “What’s going on?” Jimmie asks. I don’t miss the accusatory look he shoots me. This is not my fault. I had every intention of winning the elephant all on my own until my nerves got the best of me. Who would have thought one silly carnival prize could cause so much trouble?
“I’m going to go win your sister,” Dex shouts. I start to correct him and tell him that he’s not actually winning me, but he’s already on the move. I think I could say that I’m Mother Teresa right now and he wouldn’t hear me. He’s a man on a mission, and I’m just along for the ride. With his hand wrapped around my arm like a steel band, we move over to the soda toss where Dex plays five games and spends more money than the giraffe is worth before finally walking away a winner.
“Now you have something new and badass to sleep with at night,” Dex says, pride evident in his tone.
“I have two new things,” I correct. “And for the record, the next time you two want to compare dick sizes, I suggest you find someone else to do it with. I won’t be fought over like a piece of cheap meat. We came here to have fun and you two assholes are ruining it for me.”
When Nate’s eyes swing to Dex, I see an argument brewing between the two of them. Cammy must have seen the same thing because she is quick to grab everyone’s attention. “The last ride of the night,” she calls out. “I think we should all go on the Ferris Wheel.”
I speak up, liking her idea. Anything to stop the boys from fighting. “I second that.”
“Lead the way, sweetheart,” Jimmie says, taking her hand in his.
As we walk through the thinning crowds, I take in the music in the air followed by the occasional happy scream and smile to myself. Kids run around with sticky hands and messy faces smeared with ice cream and chocolate, and I can’t help wanting to join in their happiness. Tonight is perfect in every way. Our feet shuffle through the short line and by the time we reach the front, we’ve totally forgotten about the earlier argument.
That is until the attendant asks us to climb into the passenger car. Jimmie and Cammy are obviously sitting together which leaves me squished between Dex and Nate with both of my stuffed animals held to my chest. Talk about awkward.
As the ride begins a rush of adrenaline kicks in. I lean forward watching the ground get further and further away, and a bubble of laughter bursts out of my mouth. No matter how old I get, I will never get used to the feeling of being weightless. Looking up, I find two sets of eyes locked on my face.
“What?” Confusion draws my brows together.
Nearing the top of our climb, a breeze blows in from the ocean catching my hair and making it dance all about. I push strands out of my eyes and turn my head, surprised by the heavy-lidded and heated gaze both guys are bestowing upon me. My pulse quickens, and my mind scrambles. I don’t know which one to look at, or how to process the dampness coating my panties.
What’s worse, is that Nate and Dex don’t seem to know what to make of the situation either. I feel each of them looking over at me, but I keep my eyes locked on the world around us.
Why am I so nervous?
The silence stretches between us until I think it will explode. Then as if a decision has been made, they move as one, Nate draping an arm securely around my shoulders while Dex claps a hand possessively on my thigh.
I can’t breathe.
My heart takes off at a fast pace as my imagination goes wild.
Having both their hands on me is like heaven and hell wrapped up in one sexy man taco. There is no fighting or teasing among them. It’s a
lmost as if they are both content, which makes absolutely no sense. I’m still upset with Dex, but if Nate can put his issues to the side for a little while, then so can I.
What this all means I don’t know, but I plan on enjoying it for as long as it lasts.
Chapter Seven
I should’ve known Cammy would throw a wrench in my plans for the night. It’s a typical Cam thing to do. When everyone wants to go right, she always wants to go left. I figured that after the fairgrounds, we could go hang out at Nate’s house, watch a movie, and goof off. Sneaky Cam had something up her sleeve, something she knew I would balk at.
No reason to disappoint. I’m throwing a shit fit.
“No. Party,” I say again for what feels like the hundredth time, enunciating each word to get my point across.
“Please,” she whines. “I promise it won’t be like last time. Plus, it’s at Libby Tillson’s house. You like Libby,” she adds, heaping sugary sweetness into her voice.
I’m putting my foot down. Literally. “I don’t want to go.”
“Me either,” Dex chimes in. I bite my tongue to keep from saying something I might regret. Or maybe I wouldn’t. Either way, I’m determined to take the high road, which means not throwing his past indiscretions in his face.
A shadow flickers through Cam’s eyes We are at a standoff, neither of us willing to move an inch. She taps her chin thoughtfully before a smile curves her painted lips. “I have a compromise,” she says in a sing-song voice.
I lean back against Dex’s truck, arms crossed over my chest. This should be good. “I’m listening.”
“Jimmie, Nate, and I can go to the party while Dex takes you home since he's also a party-pooper. It’s a win-win for all involved.”
Except that it's not.
I feel like I’m being pushed together with Dex at every turn. Ex’s aren’t supposed to spend this much time together. It’s against break-up rules. Tonight was weird enough without me being trapped with him in a confined space for the long ride home.
I’m not doing this.
I’m preparing to tell Cammy where she can shove her compromise when Nate speaks up. “I’m kind of tired. Cam and Jimmie can go to the party alone, and I’ll catch a ride back with Dex and Addison.”
Well, shit. I don’t know if that makes everything better or worse.
When we got off the Ferris wheel earlier, everyone went back to doing their own thing as if the whole handsy moment never happened. I know I wasn’t imaging it because my body is still wired and ready to go. Thank goodness I wore a padded bra tonight, or my nipples would be showing everyone how patriotic they are with a full salute.
I’m cool. I can handle this.
“Fine, whatever.” I nudge Jimmie in the arm and give him my serious-take-no-prisoners look. “No drinking and driving. If you get, shit faced call me or get an Uber to take you home.”
Jimmie rolls his eyes and hooks an arm around Cammy’s waist. I don’t miss the way she melts. “Yes, Mom. I promise to be a good boy. Cam and I will be fine.”
I will never get used to seeing them together. Whipping around, I steal Dex’s keys that are dangling from his hand and march around to the passenger side where I let myself in. I’m halfway across the bench seat when I freeze. And then I panic. Out of habit, I climbed into the middle seat without even thinking. Nate is already scooting in behind me, so there is no way to backtrack and fix my mistake. Hairy ballsack! I’m sitting between the two of them. Again.
The drive home is uncomfortable. Dex seems overly concerned with the road, his hands clenched on the wheel like he’s trying to strangle it, and his heavy breathing is a little worrisome. Nate is the complete opposite, talking non-stop about anything and everything, not a care in the world that no one is joining in. I do my best to answer when it’s appropriate, but my mind is still stuck back on that Farris wheel relieving every moment and touch that occurred.
When we arrive at my house, I start pushing Nate to move out of the way before he can even get the door open. “Addy, where’s the damn fire?” he asks, sounding vexed. “Give me a minute, and I’ll let you out.”
I wasn’t thinking, only wanting out of that damn truck when I reply, “It’s an emergency. I’ve got to go to the bathroom.”
The guys go deathly quiet, and then they laugh. Not a little chuckle either, but a full-on belly laugh with snorts and watery eyes. “If you needed to take a shit, Addy, all you had to do was say so.”
“I don’t,” I say, my face heating to a nuclear level. “Forget it.” When Nate refuses to move, I pull my leg back and kick his hip. “Move it, old man.”
Surprise shows on his face, followed by another round of laughter. At least this time he’s getting out of the truck. I start scooting out again behind him but stop when Dex touches my hand. Stomach dropping, I turn and meet his gaze. “Yeah?”
“I had fun tonight.”
I smirk. “Me too.”
He stares at me for a long moment, then jerks his chin toward my house. “Sweet dreams, Jelly Bean.”
“You too, Dex. And thanks for the ride” I say, then continue out of the truck and up my drive.
Stopping at the edge of my porch, I glance over my shoulder and give them a little wave. What a strange night. I wouldn’t know where to begin to dissect what any of it means, but I do know that for the first time in over a month my heart doesn’t hurt so much.
It’s a small concession, but one I’ll happily take.
Chapter Eight
I’m having the best dream…or at least I was. My phone going off wakes me with a start. Rolling over I reach for the offending device, and growl when it slips from my fingers and lands with a thud on top of my cheek.
“Ouch.” I pull the phone from my face and go to answer it, but the darn thing stops ringing. I should be concerned, but I’m too tired to care, and that dream I was having is calling me back.
My eyes close as I snuggle further into my pillow. I’m almost asleep when the ringing starts up again. This time I pop up and answer without giving a rat’s ass who’s on the other end. If someone is this persistent than something must be wrong.
“Hello?” I say, bleary-eyed and disoriented.
“About damn time you answered.” Cam’s anger startles me. Before I can respond, she starts crying. Cam is not much of a crier so hearing her sobbing through the line sobers me right up.
“What happened?”
“Your stupid brother got wasted and started a fight with Jerald from the football team.”
I start moving on auto-pilot, searching the floor for some clothes to wear. I put the phone on speaker as I pull on jeans and shirt, not giving either a second glance to see if they’re clean or matching. “Why would he do that? Jerald is like the twice the size of Jimmie. Fighting him without back-up is a death wish.”
“He though Jerald was hitting on me, but he wasn’t. Some girl spilled beer all over my shirt and Jerald was just trying to help me get it cleaned up. It was completely innocent.”
I rub my head trying to sort out her story. “And Jimmie wouldn’t listen?”
“Nope,” she says, her voice heavy with sadness. “He was too drunk to listen to reason. He yelled at me and called me a cheap slut, then attacked Jerald. It took three guys to get him to stop. Jerald has a swollen eye, but he got in few good shots, and Jimmie isn’t walking away the winner this time.”
“Fucking hell,” I say on a heavy sigh. “Where are you? I’m coming to get you.” I grab my keys off the dresser along with my purse and start down the stairs. “And where the hell is my dipshit brother?”
“We’re still at Libby’s house. The party is over, and I’m hanging out back by the pool. Libby’s brother is tending to Jimmie inside. He’s got a busted lip, a cut around his eye—which is swollen shut—and a few bruised ribs, I think. He wouldn’t let me near him to get a good look.”
My anger rises, but it is all channeled at Jimmie. I knew that party was a bad idea, but no one ever fucking list
ens to me. Jumping into my car, I start it up and haul ass out of my drive-way. “Cammy, I’m on my way. I need you to call the guys and have them meet me there. Can you do that?”
“Yes.” Her hiccupping sobs are tearing me apart.
“Okay. I’ll be there soon.” I hang up and take a few deep breathes to calm myself. Driving recklessly isn’t going to help anyone, so I concentrate on staying below the speed limit with my eyes on the road. Libby doesn’t live far from our neighborhood, and with barely any cars on the road, the standard fifteen-minute drive is cut down to a mere eleven.
Parking in the driveway, I yank off my seatbelt and run to the front of the house. Libby lives in a lavish, two-story, seaside home with a large porch and big palm trees lining the walkway. Her dad comes from old money, and her house reflects it. The door is wide open which I take full advantage of. I don’t take time to admire the grandeur of the place, and instead focus on following the loud voices that lead me into an occupied kitchen.
Jimmie sits at the breakfast table with an ice pack against his puffy eye. He’s talking with Libby’s older brother, and the first thing I notice is how slurred his speech is. He looks like shit with his shirt torn, dirt on his skin, and his hair plastered to his head with sweat. Not his best look.
“Hey, brother,” I call out, catching his attention.
Jimmie’s lifts his head, and he watches me through glassy red-rimmed eyes. “And my sister has come to save the day,” he slurs.
“Someone needs to save your drunk ass,” I seethe. “You’re a mess.”
“I’m just going to let you two talk,” Libby’s brother drawls, getting up and sprinting from the room. I sigh and cross my arms over my chest as the tension in the room builds.
“This coming from the perfect and beloved, Addy Bear. The good twin who can do no wrong. I should’ve known she would call you.”