by Emily Bowie
“Danger.” Her small voice shakes, and I instantly know this is my fault. “I don’t think I can go back up.” Her volume is low, but each word is like a punch to the gut.
Her hands collide with the pebbled dark shingles, then her knees, as she slides to the edge. The roof isn’t flat but grows steeper right after the bell. Not once does she cry for help, and my heart splinters.
“Crash, lift me up,” I call out.
He doesn’t waste a second, kneeling down so I can sit on his shoulders. “Epic, be ready to brace us.”
“What about me?” Frankie calls out a little too loudly. There is no hiding how scared she’s feeling.
“Look out for parents.”
“Haven, can you climb back up?” I ask her. She doesn’t answer but violently shakes her head. “Let your legs drop over the edge. I’ll be able to reach them.”
Slowly, as her whole body shakes, she does as I say. I reach up, trying to grasp onto her feet. They’re still too high for me to touch them. “Let go. I have you.” I mean it in every fiber of my being. I won’t let her drop to the ground without me.
I know before it happens it will hurt like hell. I’m willing to take all of the blunt force for her. Her small frame lets go of the hot roof, and she falls into my arms with an oomph. I hold on to her as tightly as I can, cradling her to the best of my abilities. No matter how strong Epic and Crash are, we all fall. I land flat on my back, the wind stolen right from my lungs, with Haven securely on my chest.
No one says a word. I couldn’t even if I tried.
Haven lifts her head and looks at me. Without hesitation, she kisses me right on the lips. I may have told the guys I’ve kissed a lot of girls. But in truth, Haven is my first one. Her lips are softer than I imagined they would be, and it makes my whole body tingle like it could float.
I can hear my cousins laughing at me and starting to heckle us, embarrassing me more than I’d like to admit. “Nice unicorn panties.” I smirk to Haven, covering up how I feel.
Her face goes beet-red and her lip snarls upward. “Danger, you are the meanest boy around,” she says, hitting my chest before she and Frankie run away from us.
Watching HAVEN BEING thrown off the bull has my heart back in my throat. I watch in slow motion as her head hits the saddle, but I’m a few seconds too late to make her safe. Standing over her, I watch as her eyes flutter while closed.
“Haven, you okay?”
She slowly opens her eyes, looking confused. “Did I make eight seconds?”
Relief instantly hits me. I go to pick her up, holding her arms to keep her steady. She didn’t make the eight seconds, but I don’t feel bad for lying to her. “You sure did.” Impulsively asking her to move in with me is both the best and worst decision I’ve made to date. Having the one girl who gets me and is fun as hell in my house, all while knowing she is way too good for me. This is the same girl I’ve been fantasizing about since I was thirteen years old, but have never been able to keep because of my reputation.
She opens her mouth to say something, but instead of words spilling out, everything she’s drank comes right back up, hitting my pants and the ground, making one hell of a mess.
Three
Haven
Groaning, I can feel my stomach tighten and my head throb. “I’m never drinking again,” I mutter to myself, pushing my red hair out of my face. I can’t even bring myself to open my eyes yet. I should have never allowed Frankie to talk me into going out and drinking. I feel guilty and hate how tired I feel.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, roomie.”
My body pauses, and all I can do is smell his crisp, woodsy, naturally masculine scent that my body has memorized to associate with him. As I open my eyes, Danger’s room slowly comes into focus with him staring at me. My eyes widen, and I push more of my crazy hair out of my way, hoping this is a nightmare.
“Damn, you look good in that shirt.” He winks while passing me a water bottle.
Hesitantly, I sit up, accepting the bottle. “Please tell me why I’m in your shirt.” My voice is an octave higher than normal, my heart tripping over itself. I promised myself four years ago that I wouldn’t find myself in his bed again.
“You upchucked all over me and yourself. You owe me a car wash in only a bikini because I was such a great best friend.” He smiles at me sweetly, but he’s serious. There is no teasing in his tone.
My next breath comes out shaky, and I have no idea why he’s looking at me in that way. Like he likes what he’s seeing. He should be disgusted with me. As if in slow motion, the last part of the night comes dancing back in, reminding me of everything.
Rolling my eyes, I groan, before responding, “You’re not my best friend.” The back of my head bumps into his headboard, and my mind forces me to remember how shitty my life is right now.
He’s intently assessing me, making my shallow breaths much harder, and I have no clue why. I wait for him to say something, the air becoming heavy. I never know how he’s going to react, and I hate it. With the amount of time we spend together, how can I not read him better?
His stance is broad, arms crossed over his chest. I allow a slight smirk of a challenge to be seen, hoping to rile him up. It’s the only thing I can do to distract myself from the fact that I’m in his bed, in his shirt, and right now, he’s looking sexier than hell. While I’m all bedhead, hungover, and wishing I could crawl deep under these covers.
“Do you want my bedroom or the spare?”
I have a feeling if I said his master bedroom, he wouldn’t be moving out of it. My heart starts to accelerate, realizing this is it. I’m officially moving in, and this wasn’t some drunk thing he’s going to forget about.
“I won’t put you out. I’ll take the spare room.”
“Trust me, you wouldn’t be putting me out either way.” He’s standing relaxed with a sense of ease to him.
The sound of the front door opening and shutting rings through our stare-down, but neither one of us backs down. He’s expecting me to jump up, because I’m in his bed and in his shirt, making it look like something happened here last night. When nothing did. I refuse to let him win. I won’t be backing down. I can easily explain this situation. His head tilts with a slight nod, and my heart does a little twist, feeling his unspoken pride.
“Danger baby” is being purred through the house, causing me to cock a brow.
This is one of the reasons I never let Danger’s flirting go to my head. He has girls at his beck and call all the time. I won’t compete with that.
A beautiful, tall woman saunters into the room while simultaneously flinging open her long trench coat, exposing herself to the two of us. My mouth drops, trying to divert my eyes, but it’s too late. She should be a nude model. She looks to have zero blemishes and not an ounce of fat in the wrong spots.
I can hear Danger cluck his tongue, and he stands frozen. This does not look good, and I can’t remember why I’m being so stubborn. I turn red in embarrassment, having expected to see one of our friends, not one of his lovers. He clears his throat, the silence eating at me, making it uncomfortable. I hope he feels awkward and fixes this. But he doesn’t, and I’m forced to look back at the girl who has now covered herself up. The playfulness he and I shared is long gone, and I’m mad that he can’t man up and handle this. After all, I am living here now.
Looking back to Danger, I scold him without thinking, “Maybe if you went to church more, people wouldn’t show up unannounced on Sundays.”
Danger stopped coming to church once he felt he became too old for Sunday school. But he would still show up for that ice cream until he was about seventeen years old.
Standing, I extend my hand to the poor girl who seems to have found herself under Danger. Pun very much intended. “Haven, the roommate.” I can’t fully look her in the eye after seeing all of her.
“Oh, yeah,” she stutters, taking my hand.
I continue past her, trying to make the situation less weird than i
t already is. I get a few feet out of the room, and I can’t help myself. “Church starts in one hour. I know my daddy’s going to be expectin’ you there now.”
I can hear Danger choke on his tongue, and it pleases me. Maybe next time, he’ll lock his damn door. I’ll take this as Haven 1, Danger 0. And we both know there will be no bikini car wash now.
“Haven, YOU’RE GLOWING. What the hell happened with you and Danger?” Frankie teases me as we stand on the lawn of the church before going in.
She chuckles while I give her my evil eye. She looks at me like there’s a story I haven’t told her yet and won’t give up until she thinks she’s uncovered whatever she’s looking for.
“One of your brother’s conquests showed up naked this morning.” Her eyes grow large, while giving a disapproving head shake. “I think I scared her away then told Danger he better come to church.”
“You didn’t.”
“Sure did.”
“Think he’ll actually show up?”
I shrug. “Either way, I plan to tell him the preacher says hi. I know he’s scared to death of him anyway.”
“You are pure evil. Maybe invite your dad over after church, and the three of you can have sweet tea.” The thought of my dad and him in one room scares me. Danger is a little shy from religion, and my dad is not a fan of the rodeo.
“Come on.” I loop my arm around hers, and we walk into church, along with most of Oakport Beach.
Frankie and I stand in the third row, singing along with the rest of the congregation. One of my favorite parts about church is the singing. Once the songs end, we all take a seat at the same time the church doors swing open. Everyone’s heads swivel to see who dares come to church late. I honestly would rather miss than be late.
Danger walks in with dark denim and a dress shirt on. He nods to my dad, the preacher, before waving to me and Frankie.
“Told ya I would come, Haven,” he calls me out in front of the whole town, mortifying me. His rich, masculine voice bounces off all the walls and colorful glass in the small area as we all watch him slip into the last row. I can already hear the whispers running around the room before my dad starts talking about who knows what. I can’t listen to him, as all I can think about is Danger being at church because of me.
He just tied up our match. I just might have to wash his car after all.
Four
Danger
Each morning when I wake up, it smells like an orchard of peaches has taken over my house. I pretend to grumble about it, but it’s actually really refreshing. “Haven, you have to stop spraying this shit around,” I call out, trying to find out where she is.
I pause—silence.
My house is one level; no one can go missing in here. Her phone starts ringing on the kitchen counter, and I can’t resist when I see the words Mama Bear light up the screen.
“Why, Mrs. Rose, I was just thinking about your beautiful singing voice. That voice will have me coming to church more often,” I butter her up with my charm. I love Haven’s mother. She has always been kind to me. Her dad, on the other hand, honestly scares me. I know he’s a pastor, but it wouldn’t shock me if he had a shovel and a skeleton in his closet.
I walk to where I think I hear Haven and see her reflection in the mirror first. She’s in my bathroom, brushing her teeth, her red hair wild and free as she scrubs her teeth like they’re being punished.
She’s wearing the tiniest sleeping shorts that give a hint of creamy skin before it attempts to meet her tank top. Her top is thin, with the thinnest of straps. There is no way she’s wearing a bra. I’m stopped speechless, expecting her to wear a little more coverage. This is the same girl who has always worn a one-piece bathing suit. My Adam’s apple bobs as I swallow down my saliva. Haven is without a doubt stunning. I have always known this, but this view right now gives my dick a gentle reminder of what I’ve been missing out on.
“Danger, remind me to make you some of my special church pie next week,” her mother says, but I’m having a hard time listening. My heart’s double pound takes over from her mom’s voice, and I realize Haven is all grown up. I’ve known this but haven’t comprehended just how womanly she is now. Long gone is her young, impressionable eighteen-year-old self, and in her place is an attractive, confident twenty-three-year-old woman who wouldn’t even consider giving me a kiss on the lips anymore.
My eyes trace her body, admiring every curve she has. I can’t help stopping at her full breasts and wonder if she still has her one nipple pierced. I can’t see her nipple bar through her thin spaghetti strap shirt, making me wonder if she took it out.
“Is Haven around?”
I’m still entranced with Haven, wanting to know about that damn piercing. “Her mouth is full right now. Let me tap her on her head to get her for you.”
Her mother laughs like I knew she would, not getting the sexual meaning behind my words, as Haven’s eyes go wide and she spits the toothpaste from her mouth. She doesn’t even remove the tiny bit around her lips as she pulls the phone away from me.
Danger, 20 years old
Haven, 18 years old
Crash AND I wander through the streets of Oakport Beach. It’s midsummer, and every store closes by 5:00 p.m. in our small town. The only thing to do here is walk the streets, head to the beach, or make a bonfire. Haven and my sister are in front of us, but they haven’t caught on that we’re behind them yet. Haven is dressed up in a cute little sundress, while Frankie is boring, wearing cut-off jeans and a tank top.
The girls pause, and so do Crash and I. The flickering light that says Tattoo and Piercing catches everyone’s attention. This place is new. The town has been in an uproar over it. They’ve been saying this place will bring the wrong people into town, and they’re furious it’s only open once everything else is closed. Haven has just turned eighteen, and she eyes the place longer than Frankie does. One of her feet twists one way then the other while her toe stays on the hot pavement.
She looks nervous. Then her eyes dart around, catching us behind her.
“Frankie, I suggest a big tattoo on your forehead,” I tease my sister. “I’ll pay you to be my sponsor,” I add, referring to my bull riding sponsors. I have to go out of town tomorrow and will be gone a month in the circuit doing shows each weekend.
“They don’t have the guts to get anything,” Crash continues with our teasing.
Haven doesn’t even have her ears pierced. I’m not sure if it’s a parent thing or if it’s because there had been no opportunity in this town.
“I suggest cute little studs in your ears. If you’re feeling really brave, you can do the top of your ear. That will get the old ladies going at church.”
She rolls her eyes at me and straightens her back, walking in. The door doesn’t have enough time to close before I’m following in right behind them. We don’t know this guy; he could be a creep. I plan to stay and escort the girls out like the proper gentleman I am.
Crash and I take a seat on the two-seater couch. The girls look around the shop. My eyes never leave Haven, and it doesn’t go unnoticed that she has stopped at the belly button and nipple rings.
Standing up, I head toward the girls just as a guy with a lip piercing and a man who looks like he just started an outline of a sleeve comes out from a booth.
“Haven, your earrings are over here,” I tell her, smiling at the glare she gives me.
Her lips purse, making them slightly darker than when she’s smiling. They almost look like she’s puckering up for a kiss, but I know better. Don’t want to make that mistake again. My balls hurt for a week after she kneed me.
Her glare grows, and I can’t stop my lips from stretching over my face as I think about her soft ones on mine.
Turning from me, she looks at the guy behind the counter and points to the nipple rings. “I want that.” Her voice is strong and determined, making me chuckle.
I step into her space, my hand resting on her lower back as I lean into her so only she
can hear me. “You don’t have the guts.”
The man plucks the tray from behind the glass. Once Haven pays, he begins walking in the direction he came from. “This way.”
I follow behind Haven, refusing to let her out of my sight. “You’re not coming in,” she tries to tell me, stopping just in front of the small room’s doorway.
“Like hell. We don’t know this guy, and I promised your mama I would always watch out for you.”
I’m dead serious. I keep all my promises, and I didn’t make her mother this one lightly. We both glare at each other, our arms crossed.
“I don’t have all night,” the guy says from inside the room, sounding annoyed.
Haven must see that I refuse to back down. A heavy breath leaves her. “Fine,” she grumbles as she stomps into the room.
When the man tells Haven to lower her dress and sit up straight, I have to hold onto the padded seat she’s sitting on in order to not jump over it to get at the guy.
“It’s a nipple piercing. My dress is going to have to come down.” Her hand brushes over mine, reminding me this isn’t the place. She moves her straps down her shoulders and then pulls the fabric down painfully slow until her bare chest is on display. Holy fuck, my hard-on is instant, and I hate that someone other than me is seeing her like this.
Trying to act like a gentleman, I force my eyes up and stare at the piercer, whose hand is marking her nipple with a blue felt-tip pen. I have to bite the inside of my cheek until I taste metallic. I hate everything about this.
“If you back out, I won’t hold it over your head,” I tell her softly, not wanting her to do this to only prove a point to me.
“I’m not doing this because of you, Danger,” she scolds me.
I watch as her perfect pink nipple gets clamped.
“Let’s do this.” Her voice is cheery and excited. Swallowing hard, I remind myself she’s eighteen, and can do whatever she wants now.