“I know, but I was stupid and felt trapped,” I say in defense.
“Trapped?” Hayley asks.
“Ugh, if you only knew my mom and dad.” I finger quote, “Marry the right family,” and shudder. “Mom doesn’t care about whether or not her daughter is happy. And Dad … it might be hard to please him. You know, Daddy’s girl and all.”
Lauren practically yells, “I can see why your dad is that way. Hell, most dads are that way. But your mom—that’s wrong. Totally wrong.”
“Tell me. I can’t talk to my mom about it. She thinks I’m crazy.”
Berkeley announces, “Here’s what you do. Show him you can have a great time.”
“Him?” I ask.
Berkeley uses her thumb to point over her shoulder.
“Oh. Brandon.” The alcohol is making me dense.
“Yep. We’re going to dance and show him what he’s missing by not being with you. By the time the night’s over, his cock is going to be weeping for you. And that redhead? She’s going to look like his grandma. Trust me.”
“His grandma? Then what am I? His mom?”
“Pfft. You’re his soon-to-be super sexy girlfriend. And you are the life of the party. So your ass better get ready to have some fun.”
I try, I swear, not to stare at him, but it’s the hardest thing in the world. The man is an idol. Every movement, from the way he stands to the way he carries a drink to his mouth, makes me want him more. His muscles flex and relax, and the tension it creates within me is disturbing. My lust-filled body would love nothing more than to pull him into some dark corner and molest him. But that won’t happen. Not tonight anyway.
We dance as a group and I think he sees me, but he doesn’t approach.
Berkeley pinches me.
“Ouch.”
“Act like you’re having fun. If you pouted any more, your lower lip would be mopping the floor.” Then she pulls my arm and spins me around, and soon we’re doing an old-timey disco style dance. She makes me laugh so hard, I have to run to the bathroom so I don’t pee in my pants.
When I come out, he’s there waiting for me.
“Jenna.”
The way he says my name makes me catch my breath.
“Brandon.”
“You look great,” he says.
“So do you.”
“New friends?”
Laughing, I say, “No, I know them through Sam. And,” I lean in close, adding, “they’re crazy.” Then I giggle.
“How much have you had to drink?”
“A lot,” I slur, not caring. “We had so many shots, I’m sure my head will fall off tomorrow.”
He chuckles. “I hardly think your head will fall off, but it might feel like it’s going to explode.”
I scowl. “Yeah. I probably shouldn’t have had all those shots, huh?”
“Probably not.”
“Hey, want to come back to my table with me? You know, meet my friends. Hang out.” When he doesn’t answer right away, I say, “Oh, you have a date, don’t you?”
“It’s not a date. We came as a group. But I’d better not. The month, remember?”
I give him a thumbs-up and say, “Gotcha. Better be getting back.” I fist bump his shoulder and walk back to the girls on the dance floor, where I yell out a big woohoo and shake my bootie like there’s no tomorrow. What I’d rather do is run back to Brandon, but I don’t.
Berkeley leans in and says, “Good job.”
“You saw?”
“Hell yeah, I saw. You did great. Part one of the plan accomplished. He is eyeing you like he’s a man dying of thirst and you’re a gallon of water. Now, all we need to do is make him feel like he’s starving and you’re his next meal.”
I glance up and catch a movement on the other side of the room, and it’s Brandon, standing there staring at me. All I can think of is I hope Berkeley is right and that he hasn’t eaten in a long, long time.
Twenty-Three
Brandon
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Lexa chides.
“I’m going to have to agree with her,” Jeff says.
Lexa has a way about her, and she’s cast a spell on my boy and opened him up like a talking book. I scowl at him.
“I’m telling you, Brandon, if you want her to respect you, you’re going to have to grow some balls. She’s got you panting like a dog. Next thing, she’ll want to put a collar and leash on you.”
Hadn’t I been thinking that very thing? Only I can’t help myself. She looks so goddamn good and too damn happy to be without me.
“Come on. Let’s dance. You got to let her know you’ll be fine without her,” Lexa encourages.
“What if I won’t?”
It’s an honest question, maybe more for myself as I stand digging in my heels, not wanting to move from my current spot.
“It’s all about appearances,” she says.
“I don’t want to play games.”
“Life is a game. And if you continue to act like your world is over, she has no incentive to be with you. She’ll think you’ll always be waiting for her.”
Jeff nods. And damn, if I don’t see her logic. I down my drink and follow her on the dance floor, far from Jenna. Jeff follows and takes position behind Lexa with me at her front. Dancing isn’t my thing. I’m more of a watcher from the wall like Jon Snow from the Game of Thrones. Lexa, however, won’t let me just stand there. The antics between Jeff and Lexa make me laugh as Jeff dry humps her and she bends forward, holding me at the waist. It’s all in good fun. And I remember why I wanted to come out in the first place.
A few songs fly by, and the band takes a break. But before they do, they make an announcement.
“I hear we have a birthday girl in the house tonight.”
Lexa bounces on her toes with her arms in the air like she’s trying to be the one the teacher picks for the answer. She’s had plenty to drink.
“Happy Birthday, Lexa,” the guy singsongs.
The crowd erupts in cheers and claps. I go to kiss her cheek, but she turns and our lips connect. It’s brief because Jeff spins her toward him and gives her the full-on deal. I’m about to rub at my mouth when I see Jenna. My hand drops. I shove away the guilt. I didn’t do anything wrong. It had been an accident. Even Lexa hadn’t meant to. Her eyes had shot to her hairline when it happened. It was a total mistake.
“I think we should get this party girl home,” Jeff suggests, practically holding her up.
I agree, and we move through the crowd. I don’t look for Jenna. Seeing her would only make me want to explain. So, I keep walking to the door helping to support Lexa.
Jeff gets his keys because he’s the designated driver. He’s only had one beer that I saw, so we’re good.
“Drop me off first,” I say, giving Lexa an out.
If she doesn’t want Jeff, she’ll balk. When she doesn’t, he winks at me. From what I’ve learned in the short time of knowing her, she can handle herself. Jeff is a pretty good guy. I trust him not to take advantage of her.
What I don’t expect when I walk in my front door is to find my brother screwing Kym on my couch. But that’s exactly what greets me.
My brother shows no shame. He doesn’t stop, only gives me a sheepish grin. His girl hasn’t noticed me, seeing that her eyes are closed with her head thrown back as she rides him naked as the day she was born. I glance away and head for my room.
Visions of Jenna and the way she moved tonight fill my head, pun intended. I haven’t seen action in far too long. And getting laid has never been easy for me. Cursed as I am by the gods of nature, I’m not even sure Jenna will let me fuck her if we ever get to that point. I’ve been left holding my dick so to speak on more than one occasion after a woman caught sight of the size of my cock. That’s why I’d easily slipped into a fucking relationship with Dana. She’s always been up for the challenge. Not many women are.
With my door locked, I free the beast and fist it with two hands, trying to calm the fuck
down. But then I remember Jenna in those jeans. They were so tight, they cupped her ass and showed off her curves. I imagine what it would feel like spinning her around and taking her mouth. That wide and sassy mouth of hers has captivated me from day one of meeting her. Slowly, I begin to stroke myself. I picture picking her up and finding the nearest wall, pressing her there for tempting me the way she does. Nothing between us will be gentle in that moment. It will be primal and raw. And she’ll take all of me, screaming my name and begging for more. It isn’t long before cum spurts in jets. The fucked-up thing is the need to be inside Jenna still consumes me. There is no way I can wait a month. She has to see reason.
The next morning I’m in the kitchen making coffee when Braedon walks in.
“Sorry for the biology demonstration last night.” But the look he gives me says he’s not truly sorry at all. “Kym needed me,” he says cheekily. “Plus, I didn’t think you’d be home so early.”
“It was past midnight.” But there isn’t heat behind my words.
“That’s early, man, or have you forgotten?”
Ignoring his jab, as I do best, I ask, “Are you coming in with me today to work on cars or what?”
“Or what?” he replies.
I ruffle his hair and smile. My little brother is living the dream.
“She’s still here, isn’t she?”
When he nods, I can only shake my head. “I’ll be in later. I swear,” he protests.
I don’t bank on it. Sometimes I envy him.
“It’s your call. I’m only trying to help you. Doing your own oil changes can save you down the road,” I say over my shoulder before heading out the door.
“But I’ll always have you.”
Closing the door, I hope he’s right. Besides, what I really want is for him to finish college, not be a mechanic like me.
Saturdays are always busy at the shop. They are also the days when I get the least amount done, as I’m stuck at the front because Dana refuses the job and it’s not Jeff’s thing. Dana complains that women come in wanting me to handle them personally, so why should she waste time doing that job? I have to admit, more than half of my customers are women. Business is business, I think. The color of money doesn’t change because a woman is the one paying. Just when I think I can leave the office, Mom walks in.
“Brandon, honey.”
She carries a bag she sets on the counter before me. “Is your brother here? I brought you guys lunch.” Her eyes scour the area for my baby brother.
“He’s not here.”
Disappointment is evident on her face, and I try not to be hurt by it. Since Braedon moved out after graduating high school, he doesn’t go visit her that often and avoids her calls. So, of course, she wants to see him, I tell myself. I don’t mention to her that he might be by later. He won’t thank me if I do.
I eye the bag. Despite all her faults, she’s a pretty good cook.
“Make sure to save some for him. I’m not sure what you boys eat these days.”
“I do cook.” I learned it from you.
She waves me off as Dana walks in.
“Do I smell food?”
Mom frowns. “Yes, I made lunch for my boys.”
There is emphasis on the last part, making it clear Dana isn’t invited to have any.
“By the way, have you found someone yet?” Mom asks her, inviting trouble. She doesn’t like Dana. But it’s too late to stop it as Mom continues. “You’re not a bad looking girl. I’m sure some boy will look past all the tattoos you have.”
Dana grins like a cat that’s spotted a mouse. She moves to stand right next to me, placing a possessive hand on my shoulder. It’s like watching a tidal wave come onto shore.
“Brandon doesn’t mind them.” Dana gives her a toothy smile.
Mom immediately goes into an attack dog mode. “No man will turn away free milk from a cow.”
“Okay,” I say, throwing my hands up. “Dana, go back to work. And, Mom, just stop.”
Dana’s glare in Mom’s direction is all teeth. When the door closes, Mom says, “I never did like that girl. You should be careful. You’re using condoms, right?”
I rake my fingernails through my hair. “Mom, don’t go there. I don’t say anything to you about who you choose to spend time with.”
“Brock thinks the world of you,” she cuts in. “He says he’s going to pay you back for our trip, which was lovely by the way, even though you didn’t ask.”
First I think, the guy always makes promises about paying me back and I’ve yet to see a dime. I also want to tell her she hasn’t given me a moment to speak, so I couldn’t ask her about the trip. But I bite my tongue. I’d always promised myself to be better than my dad and treat her the way she should be.
Sucking it up, I ask, “How was your trip?”
Pleased, she launches into a story about what they did that wraps up with, “It was really good, actually. I got a little sunburned, but nothing time won’t fix. And how is your brother doing in school? He barely talks to me these days.”
She gives me her sad eyes that translates to it being my fault for not getting my brother to pay more attention to her.
“He’s good, just busy,” I say, making excuses for him and giving me an out. “I’m sure he’ll walk out of that school with a 4.0.” A perfect score, I think. And I’m good, too, Mom. Thanks for asking.
“Okay, I’ve got a spa appointment. Make sure your brother eats. He’s a growing boy.”
Spa appointment? Somehow I’ll be paying for it, and it doesn’t bother me all that much. Mom’s had a hard life even before we came into the picture. She doesn’t balk at working. She just has had the worst luck when it comes to jobs. If I can give back for all the sacrifices she made in life for us, so be it.
She leaves, and thankfully, no more customers show up. I work hard the rest of the day trying to exorcise Mom’s ghost from my thoughts. I’m closing up shop when I get a call.
“Lexa,” I say into the phone.
“Brandon. I’m calling because I’m heading out of town tomorrow, and I thought we could have brunch at my hotel. I’ve gotten the contract from the lawyer and figured we could go over it.”
“Does Jeff know?”
It’s my subtle way of asking if anything happened between the two and if she’s okay with it.
“He knows. He’s coming to see me tonight, which is why I can’t have dinner with you and why I suggested brunch.” She giggles. “I think I’ll be getting up late tomorrow.”
I laugh. “Sounds good. I’ll see you around eleven?”
“Make it noon.”
I hang up, laughing.
“Brandon.”
Frowning, I turn toward my office. “Dana, I thought you had left. I’m about to lock up.”
“Can you come back here? There’s something I need to show you.”
Sighing, I have a feeling what’s coming next. But I remember the food I’d left in the fridge and need to get it anyway.
As soon as I step inside the cramped office, Dana shuts the door. Her shirt comes off, and she stands in a bra that cups her small breasts.
“Dana,” I warn, picking her shirt up off the floor and holding it out to her.
“Brandon, you and I both know you have an itch. I see it in your eyes. I know you better than anyone.”
“I told you I’m not interested anymore.” I’m pissed, and I’m trying to remain calm.
“And I would have let it go if I didn’t know you need this. So stop thinking.”
She rises on her toes and kisses me. I don’t kiss her back. Her next move is to take a vise hold on my dick through the work jumpsuit I haven’t taken off yet.
“You’re thinking about this too much. You’re single and horny and so am I. Let’s just do this.”
Twenty-Four
Jenna
After seeing Brandon the other night makes me regret that month-long dating hiatus more than I can say. All I can do is think of him, and when I saw h
im give that redhead a quick birthday kiss, my jealousy flared to the point that Berkeley had to clamp her hand on my arm. When I finally calmed down, she dragged me out of there and put me in an Uber, saying, “You need to call that dude before it’s too late.”
Her words keep ringing through my head, and all I can see are his thighs stuffed in those jeans, with his bulge showing. My palms constantly flex with the itch to touch him. It’s safe to say I’m driving myself batshit crazy.
Pushing those thoughts aside, because they only get me upset with myself, I get dressed and head to my parents’ house for the couple of hours of Sunday-dinner-torture. Well, I do get to eat Betty’s food, too.
Not wanting any more grief from my parents, because I’m already number one on their shit list, I decide to get there early. Prancing in, expecting their worst, I’m surprised to see Mom in a great mood.
“Hello, darling. You’re looking beautiful today.”
Me? Beautiful? When I broke it off with her favorite son-in-law-to-be?
“Er, thanks, Mom. You’re looking pretty darn good yourself.” I lean in to give her a peck on the cheek. “Where’s Dad?”
“He’s out back, doing some man thing, I believe.”
“Man thing?” What the hell does that mean?
She waves me off and pats the seat next to her. Now this is weird. She never does this.
“So, Jenna dear, tell me about your week.”
“Uh, it was the usual. Work and stuff.” She never wants to know about my week. Has she been nipping out of the moonshine jug that Betty keeps in the kitchen for special occasions? Yeah, I discovered that by accident when I was in high school.
“Do you like working for that boat thing?” I finally caved about a year ago and gave up my job at Charleston Spaces due to the overwhelming pressure I was getting from Kenneth and my mom. Neither of them wanted me to work, but I insisted on doing something.
“Mother, it’s not a boat thing. It’s the Charleston Tour of Yachts, and it’s a huge event. You are aware because you’ve actually been to it.”
One Wrong Choice (A Cruel and Beautiful Book Book 3) Page 16