Break Me

by Ashley Christin

  “Dad’s right, Jamie, you’ve had enough.” My voice comes out deep and even, but I don’t feel in control. My anger is simmering right under the surface.

  “Oh. Dad’s right? That’s funny. I guess he was right when I overheard him tell Parker about how close he is to taking your record.” My gaze shoots to Parker’s now frozen face.

  What the fuck is she talking about?

  “Nice try.”

  “It’s true. Isn’t it daddy dearest?” Jamie stands, leaning over the table.

  “If you don’t get your shit together, it will be. That last performance was a joke, and you know it. You won by the skin of your teeth.” He sips from his whiskey glass, the clinking of the ice the only sound in this tension-filled room.

  He’s right. I had too many things on my mind to focus. It won’t be an issue any longer, though.

  “What is so bad about me doing well? Is it that bad of a thing?” The roar of Parker’s voice brings me back from my tunnel vision. I understand why he is upset with the both of us; we should give him more credit.

  Brealynn still has her hand on my leg as she rubs small circles to calm me. I glance over at her and pray she will be by my side at the end of the night.

  “Of course not, honey. Your father is just overreacting,” my aunt tries to reason.

  “There is nothing wrong with it. I want you to do well, but I have a reputation to uphold.” I mean that. Parker has always been more on the business side of TBX than I ever have, and we will both need his head in the game when we finally take the company from our father.

  “Well, that’s not what I expected. Peace out, bitches. I’m going to bed.” Jamie stumbles out of the dining room and hopefully to her room.

  Silence falls over the table.

  “Everyone, eat up. There’s apple pie for dessert,” my aunt encourages while her fork clanks against the china, effectively ignoring all the fucked-up shit of this dinner party.

  Brealynn

  Once we finish an awkward dessert and an even more awkward farewell, we all go our separate ways. The drive back to Colt’s house is quiet. Most rides with him are—must be a guy thing. Parker isn’t home when we reach the house, so I take advantage of it.

  “What are you doing?” There is a warning in Colt’s voice as I perch myself on the arm of the sofa, slowly sliding my hands up my thighs, lifting my sundress up and threatening to expose one of the areas he loves.

  “I remember not that long ago you making a threat you didn’t follow through with.”

  “Are you sure you still want me to after what you saw tonight?” Colt’s voice is thick as he stares into my soul, trying to find a reason to run or push me away.

  “You can’t scare me that easily. Now, get over here and show me how much you love me.”

  Honestly, all families have issues; most just don’t air their dirty laundry with guests over. One second flat and his fingers press lightly into the skin on my thighs, our eyes locked, as his lips meet mine slowly, sensually. My fingers find the nape of his neck as my legs wrap around his waist to pull him closer to me, allowing his love to consume me.

  Colt

  I can’t complain about the dark places I was once in because it led me to her. After everything she witnessed tonight, she doesn’t want to talk about it. No, my girl wants to make love downstairs while Parker is out of sight. Two fingers glide softly over her silky panties as I hold her close, earning me a soft, eager moan.

  “I will always choose you,” I whisper the promise into her ear as a finger slides into her. Chills break out across her skin in reaction to my breath.

  “Forever,” she breathes. Her fingers work my zipper until my pants are around my ankles, and her arms wrap around my waist to pull my shirt up. Taking a hold of the fabric, I yank it over my head and encase her in my arms again. Her eyes catch my gaze and all I see is clear blue skies, for days.

  Reaching between us, I tear the cotton of her panties away and line myself up with her core. I have been in hell all night; it’s time to be in heaven. Sinking into her, she moans my name and our kisses become more frantic. I know I won’t last long. The night has been filled with too much tension. My need to release is great.

  Her fingers intertwine with my hair as she gently tugs and pulls. Her moans urge me on as I push in and out of her. Our breaths are heavy and our kisses are full of passion. She breathes my name as she comes undone underneath me.

  Brealynn

  “Move in with me.” That command causes me to freeze as I slide my dress back over my head.

  Damn, that’s moving fast.

  Turning to face Colt as he zips his pants, I can’t help but want to say yes. It’s crazy, right? Yeah, it is, but it’s hard to care. I love this man.

  “Colt. – I – I don’t know.” It’s going to be hard to deny him.

  Grabbing my hand, he pulls me back into his embrace. “What are you questioning?”

  “I can’t.” Looking down, I remove my hand and pull at my dress, but his fingers lace back into mine almost immediately.

  “Move in with me.” This time is more of a plea than a command, which softens me.

  “I can’t leave Kelsey.”

  “She can move in, too. We have a spare room.” His gaze is so hopeful.

  “Seriously? You want me and her to move in?”

  “Mmm, as long as I get you, I do,” he mumbles, snuggling my neck and wrapping his arms around me.

  “Okay, let me talk to Kelsey.” We made the pact to go to college together, and I can’t leave her high and dry because I fell in love. Either she comes with me or I stay in the dorms. Although, waking up with Colt every morning sounds amazing.

  “One more thing.”

  Oh goodness, what else?

  I raise a brow up at him encouraging him to go on.

  “I have a competition coming up to be on the cover of Ride or Run magazine and I want you there. Will you be there?” He is inches from my face, looking at me with pleading eyes. How could he think there was any way that I wouldn’t be there?

  “I won’t miss another competition, Colt. Of course, I will be there cheering you on.”

  His face softens and his grip tightens on my back before his lips brush across mine. “B, I fuckin’ love you.”

  A smile breaks across my face.

  “What?” Coffee flies out of Kelsey’s mouth. I hand her a few napkins as we sit at Cougar Beans; I figured a public place would be best to broach the subject. Maybe she won’t make a scene.

  “Colt asked me to move in with him.”

  She dabs the napkin over her chin collecting the coffee that she spit out moments ago. Her facial expressions range from angry to hurt and I can’t make her suffer any longer.

  “Actually, he asked me and you to move in.”

  “Is this some kind of kinky three-way thing? I’ve seen you naked, and although you look hot, lesbehonest, I only like penis.”

  “No!” I can barely contain my laughter. “They have a spare room.”

  Kelsey’s face seems to sober up rather quickly. “Does Parker know?”

  “I’m not sure. It doesn’t matter. Would you consider it? I won’t move without you.” The eagerness in my voice is clear.

  “I don’t know. My own room instead of sharing a tiny-ass dorm room? Decisions, decisions.”

  I want to reach out and grab the finger she is tapping to her chin.

  Just make up your mind!

  “Under one condition.”

  “Name it,” I utter too quickly.

  “Let’s not tell Parker. It’s more fun that way.”

  I can’t contain my excitement. I jump up squealing and leap into her arms. Wait for it, I hug her!

  “Get the fuck off me, you lesbian. I already said yes!”

  “Oh, shut up!” Our laughter is occupying most of the sound in the coffee shop so I jump down on one knee and hold her hand up in the air with a scream.

  “She said yes!”

  “I can honestl
y say this doesn’t surprise me one bit.” Tim’s Southern accent is full of humor. I look up from my spot on the ground, Tim looks taller than his normal six-foot. The dirty blond hair that hangs around his face is longer than usual, along with his facial hair.

  “Will you be my flower girl?” Kelsey’s question throws me into a fit of giggles.

  “Oh-em-gee, yes!” Tim puts his hands to his face, mimicking excitement.

  “I want you to wear a pink tutu and throw glitter.”

  “Done,” he says in seriousness.

  “You two are crazy!”

  Everything is falling into place. My friends are all together and soon my best friend and I will reside at the Taylor residence.

  Brealynn

  “This is going to be big. Here it is, for the bragging rights to be one of the best of the best, in about thirty seconds Colt Taylor could take the title of Ride or Run.” The announcer’s deep voice booms with anticipation right before the music begins to play and Colt descends down the ramp for his talent run.

  This is the first time I’m actually seeing him ride professionally. He looks sexy with his pant leg rolled up and an orange TBX shirt over his perfect chest. The announcer calls out his tricks with names I don’t yet understand. The crowd is going wild. Parker finished his run right before Colt, so now he is standing next to Kelsey, Tim, and me as we look to the ramps.

  “He’s killin’ it,” Parker yells down at me with a proud grin on his face. This is the only time I ever see this much happiness on either of the Taylor boys’ faces. BMX brings out the best in them.

  “He looks amazing!” My smile is so large that it causes my cheeks to ache. Cupping my hand around my mouth, I holler encouraging words toward the ramps, cheering on my man.

  “Colt owns it again, ladies and gents! You’re looking at your Ride or Run king 2015 for the third straight year!” The crowd erupts in cheers and hollers. The excitement buzzing through the area as Colt drops his bike in the center of the ramp and takes off in my direction. He is out of breath when he embraces me in his arms.

  “You were amazing! You won!” I gush.

  Colt spins me around as he places a deep kiss on my lips. Well, the rider groupies should know now that he is mine.

  “I’m claiming you as my trophy.”

  I giggle at his comment. “Brealynn Sutton, number one fan.”

  His eyes tense for a second before he relaxes and sighs happily. “Yeah, love. “ The slow smile that breaks across his face pulls at my heart. I love this man more than anything.

  Colt

  Having Brealynn at the competition today was icing on the most perfect fuckin’ cake. I may not have my mom cheering me on here on Earth, but I firmly believe she had a hand in sending Brealynn my way.

  My number one fan.

  “Congrats, brother,” Parker beams with Kelsey beside him, Tim, and Brealynn. Jamie isn’t here. I figured with it being local she would have shown up, but she didn’t. Parker placed third this go around, but as long as he keeps practicing, he could really move up the ranks. He has been steadily improving over the last year.

  “Thanks. You did great, too. Keep that shit up and you will be on the cover next year.”

  “We’ll see.”

  I gaze out over the crowd as I hook my arm around Brealynn’s shoulders, and see my dad and aunt approaching us. I’m happy to see my aunt, as always, but my dad, I never know how he will approach me.

  “That’s what I am talking about!” my dad yells over the crowd with pride.

  “Great job! I’m so proud of you, honey. I know your mom is looking down, full of happiness,” my aunt adds.

  Brealynn looks up at me, almost as if she can sense my mood change.

  “Okay, okay, let’s let Mister Celeb Status go celebrate with his girl. I’m sick of the lovey dovey looks between the two of them.” You can always count on Tim to tell it how it is.

  “Sounds good. I have packing to do anyways.” Kelsey throws her comment out, and I freeze for a second.

  “Packing? You moving?” Parker looks confused.

  Shit.

  “That’s what packing means, dumbass.”

  Parker mumbles something incoherent to Kelsey’s comment. I know he is going to flip the fuck out when he finds out where she has moved to, but I also think it’s going to be funny as hell.

  “That’s everything.” Rubbing my hands down my worn jeans, I stare into Brealynn’s empty dorm room.

  “I can’t believe my duo is grown up and moving out on their own.” Tim runs a finger down his cheek to mimic a tear.

  “You had your chance.” I don’t know how many times I’ve told him to move in with us.

  “It’s true, but if I’d taken it, I would have never met these two crazies. Now I have to find new friends.”

  “You’re not allowed to have any other friends. Only us. Sorry, you’re screwed,” Kelsey adds.

  “I couldn’t replace you two if I tried. Now get out of here, you’re cock blocking.”

  “The place is empty. Everyone has left for summer break.”

  Tim doesn’t like Brealynn’s statement, according to his face.

  “What the hell!” Savannah’s scream startles our group as we turn to see her and Hannah running down the hall. “You guys are moving? What the hell!”

  “We will be living where the parties are. I don’t see the downside,” Kelsey announces, looking around for someone to prove her wrong. Hannah is right behind Savannah with a look of panic as well.

  “I will miss you two!” she says lunging to hug Brealynn, oh shit. Brealynn stands stock-still until Savannah moves on to hug Kelsey.

  “You will see us again! Now come on, it’s time to go. I need to paint my room pink or some shit, I don’t know.”

  “You can’t paint the walls.” I laugh.

  “What the fuck. What are you, my landlord?” Brealynn and I look at one another with humor in our gaze.

  “Uh, yeah.”

  “Shit. Fine, let’s go.” The girls all hug and say their goodbyes as Tim and I load up the last of their bags.

  “It doesn’t seem like that long ago that I was tossing you my bag to bring in,” Brealynn reminisces to Tim.

  “Yeah, I’m owed brownie points if I remember correctly.”

  “I’ll be the only one cashing those in,” I tell him with a smile.

  “Just transfer all my points to Colt. I’m sure he can cash them in when he needs them.”

  “Like tonight?” My body aches with the need to touch her, love her.

  “Let’s just get home. Then we can talk about that.”

  When she calls my home, home, it causes a smile to spread across my face.

  As a promise to Brealynn, I didn’t discuss her and Kelsey moving in with Parker. Was that wrong of me? Most likely. The fact of the matter is that I know Parker and Kelsey have something going on, and maybe with her under the same roof, they can figure it out.

  Brealynn

  Our whole dorm room is packed into the bed of Colt’s truck. When we pull into the driveway, butterflies swarm in my stomach. I can’t believe I’m actually about to live with the man I love. I know it may seem fast, but when you feel it, you know it’s just right.

  Colt opens the door and Kelsey and I pile out of the truck, each grabbing a bag. I don’t see Parker’s truck so hopefully he isn’t home. I know Kelsey loves the element of surprise, but I have a feeling Parker will flip his shit. All three of us make our way up the stairs and Colt stops at the first door to the right of the stairs.

  “This is your room.” Colt opens the door to the spare bedroom. There is a giant window that overlooks the front yard and what seems like a good sized closet. She will love it. Kelsey walks in with amazement on her face as she sets the bag she brought in on the ground.

  “I love it. Thanks for including me.” Wait for it, yup, Kelsey is showing her appreciation. I walk up to my best friend and throw my arms around her neck.

  “I will never leave you
out. You’re my sister.”

  “Get off me,” I hear Kelsey’s muffled voice say into my arm. Colt is standing in the doorway watching the two of us with a smile on his face. “What, Colty?” Kelsey questions.

  “Nothing.”

  I move over to Colt as our fingers intertwine.

  “Where’s the restroom up here?” Kelsey glances around the room.

  “There is a Jack and Jill bathroom between this room and the next. So, that door right there.” Colt points to the door next to the closet.

  “Whose room is it connected to?” Her eyes have narrowed on Colt into thin slits.

  “Parker’s.”

  Colt

  Brealynn and Kelsey’s things are all unpacked. Since Brealynn will share my bed and the spare room already had one, there wasn’t a whole lot to move. However, between the two girls, they have plenty of clothes to unpack.

  Parker sent me a text a few hours ago letting me know he would be home by dinner. I assume he has been out practicing, ready to take my record.

  Over my dead body.

  I worked too hard for my scores. If anyone were to surpass me, I would hope it to be Parker, but I’m not ready to pass that over just yet.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” I confess.

  “I’ll always be here,” she says placing a kiss to my lips. I hear the front door slam shut and hard steps making their way up the stairs.

  Parker.

  Brealynn and I both stare at each other holding our breath with smiles on our faces.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  When Parker reaches the top of the stairs, I hear his steps as he walks to his room.