by Nyora René
Ruby nodded. “So, what are you going to do?”
“When are you going to tell him how you feel?” Amethyst asked.
Jade got right to the meat of the discussion. “When are you all going to smash?”
Crystal nervously smoothed her sweaty hands down her thighs. “That’s what I need your help with—well not the smashing part,” she said, laughing.
Ruby nodded and closed her eyes. Amethyst stared off, not saying anything, and Jade drummed her fingers on her chin. Silence reigned for a solid two minutes before Ruby’s eyes popped open and she stood up, pacing.
“Okay, I’ve got an idea. It may sound a bit far-fetched, but I think it could work.” She walked up and down the length of Crystal’s living room.
Crystal, Amethyst, and Jade all straightened, but none of them said anything. Ruby stopped pacing and turned to face Amethyst and Crystal as if she were in a courtroom and they were the jury.
“Your problem has always been that you were unsure that he would be receptive to your overtures, but based on those entries in his journal that you took pictures of without his consent, we know that he would be more than receptive to taking your friendship to new levels.”
Jade’s long-suffering sigh echoed through the speaker. “Girl, we’re not in the courtroom, just spit out what you’re trying to say, and sit down so I can see you.”
Ruby placed her hands on her hips. “You want to hear my idea or not? You don’t need to see me, just hear me.”
“Can you two not be combative? I need advice from you, not snipes and gripes,” Crystal told them, glaring at Jade first and then Ruby.
“Fine, continue, Counselor,” Jade grumbled, placing her hands in the air when Crystal turned her glare back on to her.
“As I was saying, we now know he’s insanely attracted to you. The new problem is how to tell him without outright letting him know you read his deeply personal thoughts. How about you try to set him up on a blind date—”
“Why in the hell would she do that?!” Jade exclaimed.
Ruby growled. “Let. Me. Finish.”
“I gotta say, I’m with Jade on this,” Amethyst said, holding up her hands.
Crystal nodded but didn’t say anything, willing to give Ruby a chance.
Ruby growled louder and stormed around so that she could see Jade on the phone. Even though the video was on the TV, it was recording from Crystal’s phone.
“For once, can you shut up! Damn! Like I was trying to say, get him to go on a blind date, but instead of some woman he doesn’t know, you show up as the date,” Ruby finished.
Crystal hummed, tuning out Jade and Ruby who were back to arguing over the merits of Ruby’s idea. Brendon wasn’t currently dating anyone, so she didn’t have to worry about another female. This “blind date” would allow her to dress up and reveal her feelings for him as a woman. They rarely ever went somewhere where they were required to wear formal or cocktail attire, so this couldn’t be construed as one of their regular dinner dates. This idea of Ruby’s would take them out of their usual element. It could work.
“CRYSTAL JASMINE HARRIS! I KNOW YOU HEAR ME CALLING YOUR NAME!” screeched Jade through the video.
Crystal winced and clapped her hands over her ears at the high-pitched scream. “What? Why are you yelling like a lunatic?!”
Jade, Amethyst, and Ruby looked at her, puzzled. “Uh, we’ve all been calling your name for the last few minutes,” Amethyst said, arching an eyebrow.
Ruby stood with her arms crossed. “Yeah, I even clapped my hands to get your attention. The uncouth one on the monitor decided bursting everyone’s eardrums was an acceptable way to get your attention.”
“Look, I—”
“Ladies, let’s dial it down a notch, hmm? Crystal, what do you think about Ruby’s idea? Jade, Ruby, and I all think it could work,” Amethyst said.
Crystal was grateful that Amethyst intercepted Jade because she really didn’t feel like having to play peacemaker between her two eldest sisters.
“I think it could work. I was just thinking about how I could go about setting the date up. You know Brendon doesn’t really like most of my friends. He says they’re superficial, so the trick will be getting him to agree,” she mused.
Ruby sighed and rolled her eyes. “Girl, it’s Brendon. When has he ever told you no? He may put you off, but eventually he’ll say yes, like usual.”
Jade laid down, snuggling into her pillows. “I hate to agree with Ruby two times in one night, but she’s right. Brendon never could turn you down.”
Ruby grinned from ear to ear. “Can you say that first part again, Jade?”
Jade flipped Ruby off as Crystal and Amethyst laughed. “Hell no, I’m not repeating that. Don’t get used to me saying those words either. Anywho, I’d love to stay on and continue to argue with Ruby, but I have a photoshoot in another five hours, and I need to get some more sleep. Crystal, keep me posted on your progress with lover boy. Love you ladies.”
They all returned her love and Crystal ended the video. Ruby sat down and the three of them slumped against the back of the couch. Crystal stared at her ceiling, trying to formulate a plan to get Brendon to agree to the blind date.
“You really think this will work?” she asked, biting her bottom lip.
Amethyst grabbed her hand. “You’ve been mooning over him for the last ten years. Now that you know he returns those feelings, why are you second-guessing yourself?”
Crystal shrugged, not wanting to tell them how she really felt. When Ruby nudged her shoulder and patted her leg for comfort, Crystal relaxed.
“In those journal entries, he never said he loved me. He only talked about my body and what he would do to it. What if he only feels lust?” Crystal asked in a small voice.
Amethyst scoffed. “Girl, why would he write down what everyone with eyes can see? You already know he loves you. He’s told you before that he loves you.”
“Yeah, as his friend, though. What I’m contemplating doing will move us firmly out of the friendship arena and into a possible relationship,” Crystal said, turning her head to look at Amethyst.
Amethyst pursed her lips. “Sis, Brendon has been your best friend for ten years. You know him better than anyone and vice versa. Do you really think he would throw away ten years of friendship for lust? My guess is that he’s just as scared to tell you how he feels because he doesn’t want to mess up your friendship with him. Stop letting your doubts get in the way, and go for that man.”
“I agree. You’ve never been scared of anything. You go toe to toe with me whenever I pry into your business. Hell, you will curse me out if you feel like I’m overstepping,” Ruby said, wrapping an arm around Crystal’s shoulders and squeezing. “You stood up to all three of us when we told you that you weren’t quitting college to be some insta-groupie selling dietary supplements. And even though your rebelliousness got you into so much trouble when Mom and Dad were alive, you never let that stop you from following your own course. Don’t punk out now when you’re so close to getting what you’ve wanted for the last ten years.”
Crystal nodded. “You’re right. I’m going to go through with the plan. Our friendship will never be the same anyway, so I may as well piss or get off the pot.”
The three sisters cracked up laughing. Piss or get off the pot had been one of their dad’s favorite sayings.
Ruby wiped the tears of mirth from her eyes and stood. “I need to go, I have court in the morning, but if you need some more help, let me know.”
“Yeah, I’m going to call it a night as well. You owe me a raincheck on our sister movie date,” Amethyst told Crystal as they all moved towards the front door.
Ruby and Amethyst gathered their jackets out of the front entry closet as Crystal unlocked and opened the door. They hugged each other goodbye and Crystal watched from her doorway as her sisters climbed in their cars and drove off.
Shutting and locking the door, Crystal returned to the living room to collect the gl
asses. After cleaning them and returning them to the cupboard, she straightened up the throw pillows on the couch, turned off the lights downstairs, and walked into her bedroom.
She changed into an oversized Victoria’s Secret Pink night shirt and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face. Done, she plugged her phone into the charger beside her bed and slid beneath the soft down comforter, reaching out to turn off the bedside lamp.
She smiled, hugging herself tight, kicking her legs in the cover. Brendon wanted her! Tomorrow she would start Operation Blind Date. Tonight she would dream of what could be.
7
“Hey, stranger,” Brendon called out to Crystal as she entered their workout room in his gym.
Today she was wearing an all-black outfit of biker shorts and a racerback shirt. Her peach was sitting nice and high and Brendon swore if he stared hard enough he could make out the outline of her thong before it disappeared into her ass.
“Stranger?” Crystal asked, eyebrow arched as she walked up to him, giving him a full-on hug, plastering her curves against his body as she draped her arms around his neck.
He stiffened for a second in her embrace, before relaxing and wrapping his arms loosely around her waist. Pulling back, he smiled, and took a discreet step back, putting much needed space in between her and his overheated body. Every time he was around Crystal, he felt like a prepubescent teen discovering girls for the first time.
“Yeah, we normally talk to each other every night before bed, but you didn’t call last night,” he said. The only time they didn’t call each other goodnight was when they were in a relationship with someone. Was Crystal seeing someone? he wondered, frowning.
Crystal pulled back and swatted him with the workout towel she had around her neck. “Aww, you poor baby, you missed me, huh?” she teased, squealing and dodging his hands as he tried to tickle her.
“Strangely enough I did miss your call last night. I’ve gotten used to your voice being the last thing I hear before I fall asleep,” he said, slowing his words at the end. There was an awkward silence as they stared at each other, neither of them speaking.
Shit, why did I say that? Striving for nonchalance, Brendon shrugged. “Ready to work out?”
Crystal didn’t say anything, just looked at him, with her brow furrowed and head tilted to the side. One hand was cradling her chin and the other was wrapped around her trim waist. He hoped like hell she wouldn’t comment on him saying he missed her.
“I want to ask you for a favor,” she said, surprising him.
Brendon shoulders lowered and his heartbeat went back to normal, relieved she changed the subject. “What’s up?”
“Let’s talk while we stretch. I know you have clients today, and I don’t want to waste your time,” she said.
Brendon frowned but didn’t say another word. He led her through the stretches, his mind, for once, not on how well she filled out her outfit, but instead curious about this favor she wanted to ask of him.
“So, I have this friend…who…umm…thinks you’re cute. I think you two would get along well. She’s an influencer like me, but she’s super cool and down to earth. I think you would like her.” The words rushed out in an oddly not-Crystal way.
Brendon paused mid bend as he went to do a toe touch stretch. His back snapped upright, and he glared at Crystal. Was she really trying to hook him up with someone?
“Crystal, no offense, but your friends tend to be shallow and all about their looks. That’s cool if a guy is only interested in the outer appearance, but you know I’m not that type of guy. I’ll pass.”
Crystal sat down, pressing her legs together and bending over them to touch her toes. “Come on, she’s really cool. I’ll set the date up and everything. In fact, I’ll text you fifteen minutes into the date, and if it’s going horribly, type ‘X’ and I’ll call with an emergency. What could go wrong?” she asked.
Brendon rubbed his hand down his face, scratching his beard. “A lot could go wrong. If she’s a friend of yours, if things don’t work out, this could affect our—you and me—relationship, so…not interested.”
Crystal sat up and stretched one arm across her chest, holding it still with her other arm. “Get real, she may be a friend, but you’re my best friend, and no one can come between our friendship. You don’t have to give me an answer today, but I’m going to ask again during our next workout session in two days. Just think about it.”
“What’s this friend’s name?” he asked. He could probably look ole girl up on social media and see what she was about.
“No, nope. I know you, you’ll go look her up, and reject her without giving her a chance. Just sleep on it for a couple of days. Promise to really think about agreeing to this date. Please? For me?” She reached over to place a hand on his arm and batted her long curly eyelashes at him.
Brendon groaned. He never could tell her no. “Alright, I’ll think about going on a blind date with your homegirl, but just know you will owe me big time, no matter the outcome of the date…if I choose to go out with your friend.”
Crystal squealed and tackled him where he sat. He wrapped his arms around her, anchoring her lush curves against his body, praying that said body would have some act right and not embarrass him.
“Thank you, B!” Crystal said, squeezing him around the neck.
He returned her squeeze and then released her. Once he was on his feet, he helped her to hers and then smacked her on the ass, appreciating the way her flesh jiggled. He trained women of all body types, and they all wanted firm asses, but he loved the way no matter how much working out Crystal did, her ass refused to give up the jiggle.
“Ow!” she said, rubbing the spot he slapped and glaring at him.
He smiled and pointed to the corner where the weighted ropes were. “Enough talking, let’s get to work!”
Crystal turned and walked off, rubbing her ass and grumbling about him being a brute. When she was out of earshot, he chuckled to himself, but his laughter was cut short when he thought about the favor she asked of him. He really didn’t want to go on a date with anyone, except her.
“I either need to get over this crush on Crystal or act on it and let her know how I feel,” he murmured as he watched her drag the ropes to the center of the hardwood floor. He walked over to help her set up and resolved to come up with a plan to let Crystal know how he felt. Maybe he could use this blind date to show her that him dating anyone else was a waste of time…if he agreed to it.
Crystal dragged herself into the house, body aching. She dropped her gym bag at the door to the garage and trudged her way down the hallway into her room. Brendon worked the hell out of her today and her whole body ached, even her hair. She went straight into her bathroom, placed her phone on the vanity, and ran a hot bath, throwing in some lavender-scented Epsom salt and a lavender chamomile bath bomb.
She winced as she raised her arms to take off her shirt, then quickly stripped off her bike shorts and thong. She’d just raised one foot to put into the tub when Brendon’s ringtone blared through the bathroom. She contemplated letting the call go to voicemail, but groaned and walked back to get it. Brendon would either call again or show up in the middle of her bath.
“I’m not talking to you,” she answered the phone.
His hearty chuckle sent goosebumps down her arms. “I’m your best friend, you have no choice but to talk to me. The workout wasn’t that hard,” he said once he stopped laughing at her.
“Boy bye, I’m sore…I can’t even imagine how I’ll feel tomorrow.”
“You said you wanted a harder workout, that your body was getting used to our usual routine. I simply gave you what you wanted,” he said, and Crystal still heard the merriment in his voice.
“Harder, not diabolically harder. Brendon, it hurts to move,” she whined, getting into the tub. When her body finally adjusted to the temperature, she sighed as the warmth seeped into her bones. She leaned her head back against the bath pillow and closed her ey
es, letting the hot water do its magic and relax her tight, overworked muscles.
“What are you doing?” Brendon’s gruff voice asked.
“Trying to soak in this tub since you worked me over real good today,” she sighed, stretching her legs and feet.
There were several seconds of silence, then Brendon cleared his throat. “Did you remember to put Epsom salt in the water to relieve soreness?”
She rolled her eyes behind her closed eyelids. “Yes, daddy. Anything else?” she purred, feeling in the mood to tease him.
When his breath caught, she smiled, sinking further into the water.
“You need a massage?” he asked in a low voice.
“You volunteering?” she asked in a husky tone. If he was volunteering, they might not need a blind date. Hell, he could work all of this stiffness out of her, and she could relieve his stiffness too.
“I can…have someone come over to give you a massage if you want,” he said, his voice hardening her nipples.
“You not volunteering for the job?” she asked, opening her eyes and looking up at the ceiling.
“Do you want me to?” he quipped without missing a beat.
Did she want him to? Part of her said yes, but the part that wanted to go out on a real date with him and reveal her feelings for him then told her to wait. She sighed. “Not tonight, no point in you leaving work early to come over here…but for our next dinner and movie hangout night, I want one.”
Brendon cleared his throat. “I got you. I’m going to um…let you finish your bath, and knowing you, you’re probably going to go to sleep. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, k?”
“Hmm…okay, B. Tomorrow.” She hung up the phone, placing it on the wide ledge of the tub and letting the silence envelop her.
She imagined Brendon in the tub behind her, stroking his hands over her, kneading the aches until a different type of ache suffused her limbs. She imagined him gliding his hands in between her folds, stroking her, teasing her initially, letting her orgasm build until he plunged his fingers inside, sending her on a screaming orgasm.