Cougar

by M. A. Foster

  Zach pauses inside the door to take in Jay’s office. His expression is curious as he scans the room, a mixture of blues and grays with silver accents, in keeping with most of the colors in the house. It’s feminine and sleek. His attention is snagged by the painting over the sofa. It’s a black-and-white of Jay’s eyes, fringed in long, thick, black eyelashes. The only color is her blue-green irises.

  “Marcus painted that,” I tell him. He was a talented artist. “Every painting or picture in this house is sentimental.”

  He points to a rug in the middle of the room? “Is that made from real zebra skin?”

  I snort a laugh. “God, no. Jay would flip out.”

  The sound of her piano drifts from the adjoining room and I gesture to the hallway. “That’s her music room.”

  Zach makes his way down the short hall leading to the music room but stops to skim over the framed photographs. He takes a few more steps until his attention falls on the sheet of paper that started it all.

  I lightly brush my fingers over the little gold plate with “Jaybird’s First Song” inscribed in the center. “She was barely six years old when she wrote this,” I tell him, smiling like a proud mom. “You should ask her about it sometime. It’s a cute story.” I shoot him a wink.

  Zach stops at the edge of the hall and scans the music room. It’s much bigger than her office but keeps the same color scheme. The walls are lined with framed gold and platinum records, more photos and framed album covers. On the right is a door with “Studio” written in silver letters across the top. There’s a light above the door and a long two-way mirror strategically placed to the right.

  To the left is Jay, sitting at her white grand piano centered in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

  Her eyes remain closed as her fingers glide over the keys, lost in the melody of “Nobody Knows.” My heart twists painfully in my chest. Music is Jayla’s way of expressing herself. I know this song very well. It’s one of my all-time favorites, but it’s also about suffering in silence. Letting others see what they want to see on the surface and not the suffering buried deep below. I make a mental note to put a call in to Dr. Ramos and have her check on Jay.

  “She’s amazing, isn’t she?” I say as I stare at her in awe before turning to Zach. “I’m sure you’ve been warned, but now I’m warning you. She puts on a hell of a front, which is what she’s been taught to do by me. But she’s fragile. She’s my baby girl, and she’s all I have left. She cares for you. She always has. I’m asking you nicely to be careful with her heart, Zach.”

  “I will,” he promises, and I believe he’ll try. I can’t help but worry because as her mother, it’s my job. Zach has no idea what Jay is capable of putting herself through when she’s in a dark place. But it’s not my place to tell him. I don’t know what happened between last night and this morning, but I really hope whatever it is, they can work it out and find a way to be happy together. I won’t push her, but I hope she’ll trust me enough to tell me. She asked me to trust her and I will, until she gives me a reason not to.

  “Thank you.” I pat Zach lightly on the arm. “Treat my daughter with respect and make her happy, and you’ll always have my support and protection from that big motherfucker out there waiting for you to screw up.” I turn and head back down the hall. “Good luck,” I call out, leaving him to grovel.

  Bass is standing in the main hallway outside Jay’s office with his arms crossed over his chest and a pout on his face.

  “What?”

  “I changed my mind. I don’t like him.”

  I snort. “Yes you do.”

  “He’s going to break her heart.”

  “How do you know? She might break his.”

  “Oh she will, no doubt.” He sighs. “They have a long bumpy road ahead of them.”

  I nod. “She’s a King. She can handle it.”

  “But can he?”

  I shrug. “I guess we’ll find out.”

  Cam

  It’s been a few weeks since Emerson and I have hung out, but we talk every night, and she keeps me updated on all the Zach and Jayla drama. She still hasn’t given me an answer on taking her out, but tonight I’m not giving her a choice. I dial her number and she answers.

  “Hi!” she chirps.

  “Be ready at seven,” I tell her.

  “For what?”

  “I’m taking you out.”

  “Cam—”

  “I’ve waited long enough. We’re going out.”

  “We went out a few weeks ago,” she states.

  “No, you went out with your friends. I came to make sure you were having fun and took you home so Bass could go home with Lisa. We didn’t go out together.”

  “Okay,” she says with a laugh. “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a bar called Private Affair. They cater to people like me.”

  “What does that even mean?”

  “It means I pay for privacy. I get to eat, drink, dance, and have a conversation with my friends without interruptions or having it posted online.”

  “Ah. Don’t they have one in Hollywood? I swear Marcus and I went there before.”

  “Yep.”

  “Well okay then. Good choice.” I can practically hear her smile through the phone. “I’ll see you at seven.”

  Like an excited teenager going on his first date, I toss my phone on the bed and jump in the shower to jerk off. Then I pull on a pair of joggers over my boxer briefs and head to the kitchen.

  I stop short and slap a hand over my heart when I find Liam sitting on my couch with a beer in one hand and the remote in the other. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

  “Good to see you, too, bro.” He raises his beer. “Did you forget we have a game tomorrow?”

  How in the hell did I forget the Tornadoes are playing the Heat tomorrow? “No,” I lie. “Usually you call me when you’re here. I wasn’t expecting to see you sitting in my living room.”

  “I did call. You didn’t answer, obviously. I saw your truck in the driveway, so I used my key. You were in the shower for a long time. Happy ending?” He smirks.

  I flip him off as I head for the fridge to grab a beer.

  “So what’s our plan tonight?” he asks.

  “I made reservations at Private Affair.” Luckily I reserved the large booth in case Emerson wanted to invite Bass and Lisa along. At least there would be room for Liam, too.

  “Nice.” He backhands me in the stomach. “Make sure you ask Jules to invite some of her hot dancer friends along. I haven’t had sex in months.”

  I nearly choke on my beer before looking over at him, shocked.

  “What?” He chuckles.

  “Why?”

  He shrugs. “I don’t know. I’m just not into it.”

  “Into sex?”

  “Randoms.”

  “What happened with the doctor?”

  “Dude, I told you we’re just friends. We actually hang out a lot, but I’m not into her like that. I banged her that one time after the foundation dinner, and afterward I felt like shit. I shouldn’t have pursued her like that. She’s a smart, beautiful, educated woman who deserves more than to be fucked over by a punk like me.”

  “Are you saying she’s too good for you?”

  He huffs out a laugh. “Yeah. I think she’s meant to be in my life, but just as a friend and nothing more.”

  “Wow, man. That’s deep. It looks like someone’s found his conscience.”

  “Shut up.” He turns his attention to the television.

  “As your best friend, I’m gonna to have to disagree. She’s not too good for you. However, you are definitely a punk.”

  Liam just shakes his head before taking a swig of his beer.

  “Why do you do this?” I ask.

  He looks over at me. “Do what?”

  “Act like you’re not good enough or that you don’t deserve to be happy. It’s because of Vanessa.”

  “I know.” He rakes his fingers through his
hair. “I miss her a lot. She was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I fucked it up. I tried to see Coach while I was in town. I think he still hates me.”

  “Coach doesn’t hate you. He’s a little pissed at you, but he’s actually rooting for you.”

  “You saw him?”

  I shrug. “We had lunch last month.”

  “Did he say anything about Vanessa? How she’s doing? Where she’s living?”

  I lean my head back against the couch and blow out a breath. “All he said was that she’s happy.” I cut my eyes over to watch his reaction.

  He lowers his head and picks at the label of his beer. “Is she with someone?”

  “Yes.”

  Liam nods. “Of course she is. She’s beautiful. Only an idiot like me would let someone like Vanessa go.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, Coach thinks he’s a prick.”

  Liam exhales a puff of air out his nose. “Not really. She should be with a good guy, not a prick.”

  I nod. “True, but you know Coach. He thinks everyone’s a prick.” I poke him in the arm. “Including you.”

  He just nods, still messing with the label.

  “Have you tried calling her?”

  “Every day.”

  I raise my brows. “You call Vanessa every day?”

  “Sometimes I text.”

  “How long have you been doing that?”

  “Since the day she left.”

  Jesus. “Has she ever answered or replied?”

  “Never.”

  “Even when you were seeing—”

  “Even then.”

  “I’m sorry, bro. I know how much you loved Vanessa and how torn up you were when she left. I guess I thought you’d moved on.”

  “I have.”

  I snort. “Sleeping with other women doesn’t mean you’ve moved on. If you’re still calling her every day, clearly you haven’t.”

  “I need her to forgive me.”

  “So this is about you clearing your conscience.”

  “I guess in a way it is. I hurt her, and it eats at me every day. So much that I feel sick. I need to apologize to her and have her tell me she’s okay. That she’s moved on and she’s happy. Then I’ll let her go.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Yeah.” He sighs. “That’s it.”

  “Well, I have some news.” He turns his face to me, eyes questioning. “I’m not seeing Jules anymore, so there will be no dancer friends to break you of your dry spell.”

  “What happened with Jules?”

  “We’re still the best of friends, but I had to cut her loose. She deserves to be with someone who’s willing to give her everything, and I am not that someone.”

  “Damn.”

  “And your sister is coming out with us tonight.”

  Liam scowls. “Why?”

  “Because she has no friends here. Jay is dating Zach, so she’s always out. Bass is even dating now. Emerson sits home in that big house alone and does nothing but read or watch TV. She’s bored, and I thought it would be nice to get her out of the house.” I just hadn’t planned on him tagging along, but maybe it’s better this way.

  “You’re right. My sister deserves to have some fun.”

  Emerson

  “If we win, you have to carry me bridal-style through the bar at Mac’s tomorrow,” Liam challenges.

  “And what if we win?” Cam shoots back.

  “I’ll carry you?” Liam jokes.

  Cam shakes his head. “Nope. You have to buy my drinks all night—”

  “I can do that.”

  Cam holds up his hand. “—wearing my jersey.”

  “Dude,” Tyge drawls. “That’s going too far.”

  “Deal.” Liam holds out his hand and Cam shakes it. He looks over at the bar. “Now if you’ll excuse me, there is a hot brunette at the bar who’s been staring at me for the last half hour. It would be rude of me not to go over and introduce myself.”

  I roll my eyes. “As if she doesn’t know who you are, dork.”

  Liam leans over and kisses me on the temple. “Come on, Tyge. She’s got a friend who looks young enough for you.”

  “Dude, fuck off with that shit. I’m not a pervert.”

  “Oh.” Liam raises a brow. “So you don’t ask me almost every day if my niece is eighteen yet?” he adds nonchalantly as he slides from the booth and makes his way over to the brunette sitting at the bar with her blonde friend.

  I’ve known Tyge Reynolds since he was a kid. His father, Jack, is the entertainment lawyer for Royal Mayhem and King Records. Jack and Marcus were very good friends.

  “She’s way too young for you, Tyge.” I narrow my eyes at him as he slides from the booth. “Marcus would’ve kicked your ass if he heard you talking like that about his little girl.”

  “And she has a boyfriend,” Cam adds firmly.

  Tyge holds up his hands in defense. “I swear I was only fucking with Liam. You know how crazy he is over her.” He jerks a thumb over his shoulder. “I’m gonna go over there.”

  I wave him off before swallowing back the rest of my dirty martini. I decided to change it up tonight from the usual glass of wine after the horrible hangover I had a few weeks ago. Wine hangovers are the absolute worst.

  “Are you bored?” Cam asks.

  I shake my head as I suck an olive into my mouth. “I’m actually having a great time.” I smile. “Thanks for insisting we go out. I really like this place.” I turn my attention to the bar.

  “Is it me, or does Liam seem a little sad tonight?” I ask.

  And by sad, I mean quiet. Liam only gets quiet when there’s something weighing on his mind.

  “He was a little upset earlier because he misses Vanessa but it looks like he’s bounced back.” Cam chuckles.

  “I’ve never seen Liam in action before. It’s quite entertaining.”

  “He doesn’t really have to try. He’s good-looking and an athlete. A pretty little package all wrapped up with a bow.”

  I laugh. “Don’t you guys worry one of these women will try to trap you?”

  He shakes his head. “Liam is a smart guy, and I don’t pick up random women in clubs or bars.”

  I purse my lips and give him a look that says he’s full of shit.

  “I don’t,” he repeats. “I haven’t in a very long time.”

  Because he has “friends” he can call over. Can’t really blame the guy for playing it safe.

  “Yo, I’m taking off,” Liam says as he walks up to the table.

  “Where? You talked to her for all of ten minutes.”

  “Damn, I need to step up my game. It’s usually only takes five.” He winks and I roll my eyes.

  “Don’t you have a curfew?”

  Liam shrugs. “I’ve got time, and Coach knows I like to spend time with my family while I’m in town.” He smirks. “I’ve never missed a game or shown up late. He has no reason not to trust me. You drunk?” He grins.

  I shrug. “It’s your fault for buying me all those martinis.”

  “Live a little, big sis. Love you.” He leans over and kisses the top of my head, then smacks Cam on the back. “Take care of my sister.”

  Cam

  I pull my truck into the circular driveway and shut it off before unbuckling my seat belt. “You don’t have to get out. I can get myself inside.”

  “Let me at least get you through the front door,” I insist.

  She snorts a laugh. “Okay.”

  Shoving the driver door open, I hop out, slamming it shut before jogging around to Emerson’s side and helping her out. She’s unsteady on her feet as I help her to the front door.

  She pulls out her keys, unlocks the door and turns to me. “Thank—ah, what are you doing?” She laughs as I scoop her into my arms bridal-style.

  “I’m putting you to bed.” I kick the front door shut and carry her down the hall to her room with her giggling the whole way.

  I lay her on the bed and begin unbuckl
ing the strap of her sexy as fuck high-heel. “I can take off my own shoes.”

  “I got it.”

  She sits up, grabbing the bottom of her top, and I suck in a breath when she pulls it over her head—revealing her gorgeous breasts covered in a lacy black bra—and tosses it to the floor before reaching for the button of her black skinny jeans. She rolls the zipper down and works them over her hips. Thankfully she’s wearing panties, because I only have so much restraint left. I’ve dreamed of moments like this—

  “Pull, Cam.”

  And this moment just went from sexy to comical.

  I bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from laughing. Grabbing the bottom of her jeans, I tug them down to her ankles, and she takes over by kicking them off and onto the floor. She moves up to the head of the bed and slides down under the covers, then holds out her hand.

  “Come here.”

  Hesitantly, I move to sit on the edge of the bed. “Not like that.” She grabs my arm and pulls me until half my upper body is on top of hers. She cups my face and stares into my eyes. My heart is nearly thumping out of my chest. Is this really happening?

  “What are you doing, Em?” I whisper.

  She presses a finger against my lips. “Shhh.” She moves her hand to the back of my head and guides me down to her. “Just let me.”

  I close my eyes just as our mouths connect, and an electric force zips through my veins. Her tongue slips between my slightly parted lips, and that small thread of restraint snaps.

  Moving so I’m lying completely on top of her, I take control of the kiss, thankful for the thick covers between us, because as much as I’d love to sink into her, she’s been drinking.

  I want to be her next love, not her biggest regret.

  She breaks our kiss and runs her tongue over her bottom lip. “Lisa was right,” she breathes before she closes her eyes and passes out.

  I don’t know what she means by that, but what I do know is that I’m completely fucked.

  Emerson

  “You ready to go?” Bass asks from the doorway.