Chicks, Man

by J. D. Hollyfield

  When we pull into my garage, I throw my car into my reserved spot. We walk in silence up to my condo. The moment the door shuts behind us, I’m on her.

  Without question, she kisses me back with the same fervor, until we’re forced to come up for air. Her eyes are fogged over, and I love that I do that to her. “What happened back there?” she asks, her voice soft, yet laced with concern.

  “Let’s just say I had a little run-in with Braydon, and it didn’t end well.”

  “Oh my god, what happened? Please tell me it doesn’t have anything to do with your bruised hand.”

  I take a step back, my hands running down my face. “It’s not a big deal. Nothing for you to worry about. Come on. Let’s pour a drink, then we can talk.” She’s compliant and doesn’t push, following me into the kitchen. A heavy pour of whiskey for me and a beer for her, and we’re seated on my couch, facing one another. With a big pull of my drink, I start. “I think it’s time we tell everyone about us.”

  She chokes on her beer. “What? Why?”

  “Why not? Do you not want people to know?” My question comes out angrier than I mean it to.

  Hannah shakes her head. “No, I do. It’s just…I thought we had a plan. What happens if they don’t approve?”

  I’ve put so much thought into this, I’m ready to accept the consequences. “Our plan was to see where this goes. And it’s developed into more than what I could have ever imagined. I like you, Hannah. Shit, I may…” I shake my head, afraid to admit how deep my feelings for her go. “The thing is, we chose to hide it in case it didn’t work out. But now? I can’t imagine you not being mine. I’m ready to take the next move. Together.”

  I watch her lower lip quiver. Shit. What if she doesn’t want this? “I…I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say you want this as much as I do. And we’ll deal with the repercussions together.”

  Her eyes swell with tears. “What about Kip? He may hate you. My dad. What if he fires you? Maybe I can leave, then there won’t be any—”

  “No. You’re staying. If Jim fires me, then I’ll take it as my sign and branch off on my own. After all the shit I’ve seen in the sports industry, I’ve always thought about opening my own firm for sports players who’ve been taken advantage of by the league.”

  “But you’ve always wanted to work at my dad’s firm.”

  “You’ve always wanted to work there. And that won’t change. That place deserves you.”

  She’s staring at me, unsure. She doesn’t feel the same way. She doesn’t want to risk—

  “Okay. Let’s do it.”

  “For real?”

  Her shoulders raise as her smile broadens. “Why not? How can I say no to a man who’s willing to risk his life and career for me?”

  I reach for her, not caring that her drink spills, and take her mouth with mine. I kiss her hard. With meaning. With promise. This won’t be easy, for either of us, but I’m willing to risk it all for her. My tongue parts her lips, and I deepen our kiss. I pull her to me until she’s in my lap, straddling my legs. I quickly get rid of our drinks, because I need both hands for what I have planned for her. There’s no need for her shirt, so I tug it up and over her head. Her breasts, perfect and inviting, call to me. I place my mouth around her nipple and suck through her lace bra, loving the way she melts in my arms. “I want everyone to know you’re mine.” My teeth graze her flesh, biting down, my cock hardening with a fierceness as she squirms on top of me. “You’re done with Braydon. I want him nowhere near you. Hear me?”

  Her lips barely part, her heavy breathing a sign she’s hardly listening to a thing I say. I bite down, and her rasped whimper is music to my ears. My hands become greedy, coddling her ass, hauling her closer, my aching cock brushing between her thighs. “If your dad doesn’t kill me on the spot, I’m going to insist he throws him out.”

  Her small hand slips between us, grabbing at me, and begins to stroke me over my slacks. I throw my hips up, filling her hand, the friction of her movement driving me crazy. “Fuck, that feels good. You’re gonna make me call your dad right now just so we don’t have to sneak around doing this.” Another thrust into her hand.

  “Why? Do you plan on us doing this in public with him around?” She squeals when I take my open palm and smack her ass.

  “No one gets to see you like this but me.” I take her mouth and swallow her giggle, kissing her rough, never hating clothes more than I do in this moment. Not that it will matter since I’m about to tear out of my pants I’m so hard. She’s so pliable as I caress her mouth with my tongue. My hands wander, squeezing her ass, rubbing her covered pussy. Her little moans are my driving force.

  I suck in her bottom lip, grazing my teeth against her soft flesh. “Bedroom. Now.” She doesn’t need further explanation and wraps her arms around my neck as I pop up, cradling her legs around me and carrying her down the hall to my room. When we hit the bed, I almost trip, throwing us onto the mattress. My weight doesn’t bother her. She only succumbs to me more, her entire body as jittery as mine.

  I’ve never felt this urge before. This need for someone. An emptiness when she’s not with me, and a fullness when I have her wrapped in my arms. I never saw my life taking this turn. Not with Hannah Matthews, but fuck, my heart beats only for her. I rip her pants down, doing the same with my own clothes. I’m back laying over her, throbbing and ready to plunge into her and stay there forever.

  My eyes find hers, and I’m a goner. Her expression, the way she offers herself to me fully, her trust in me…I want to give her the world. I drop my lips to hers, the buzz around us electric. I can’t wait another second and drive myself home.

  Waking up to her little sounds is like heaven. Sleeping with her naked little body cuddled next to mine is my utopia. She’s still asleep, her mouth parted slightly, tiny moans telling me she’s deep in a dream. I tug her closer to me, my morning wood pressing against her ass cheeks. I’m tempted to thrust inside and give her a wake-up surprise, but I have another idea.

  Shifting her onto her back, I work my way down her stomach, spreading kisses to her skin, my tongue circling around her belly button. She squirms in her sleep but doesn’t fully wake. My mouth dips in between her thighs, and I can’t help but swipe my tongue between her folds. This gets her moving. When I begin to suck at her opening, her hands work themselves into my hair. I could wake up like this forever—tasting my girl, pleasuring her. Her hips slowly ride my mouth as I lick and suck. One finger enters her, and she hums.

  “Levi.” My name from her lips is a gift. I work my mouth harder, taking her faster, inserting a second finger. God, she drives me absolutely mad. I can’t imagine my life before her, missing out on the sweetness of her cunt.

  “Morning, beautiful,” I hum into her warmth.

  “Morning, boss—”

  “Levi! Where you at, man?” What the fuck? I freeze. My grip tightens around Hannah’s thigh, needing to confirm I didn’t hear what I just thought I heard.

  “Oh my word, Levi was that my—?”

  “Shhh!”

  “I know you’re in here. Your car’s in the garage! You with a girl in there?”

  Holy fuck.

  Hannah starts to vibrate under me. “Levi, we said let’s tell them, but this is not what I had in mind,” she freaks out. Shit, me either. I pop out from under the covers, placing my finger over my mouth. Her eyes are smoldering with panic.

  “Don’t say anything. I’ll get rid of him.” I jump off the bed, throwing on a pair of shorts, and exit my room, shutting the door quickly behind me.

  I’m barely two steps away from my bedroom door when Kip comes around the corner. “Well, well… I was banging on the door, but you weren’t answering. Good thing I still have your key. Go get dressed. We’re going golfing.”

  He keeps walking toward me, and the closer he gets to my room, the more I begin to sweat. I meant it when I said it was time we came forward, but finding his sister naked in my bed is not how I need thi
s to go down. “Dude, not in the mood. Another time.” I walk forward, getting him to change routes and head back to the living room.

  “Why not? You love golf. Let me borrow a polo. Stacey bought me this, and I didn’t have the heart to tell her I hate it—”

  “NO.” I throw my hand out, stopping him from getting any closer.

  “Seriously?” He surveys me with a quirky, confused grin. “Let me just borrow a shirt. I’m not Chase. I won’t get the drink cart girls’ lipstick all over it and ruin it.” He laughs, making another attempt to push past me.

  His eyes meet mine, but then they peer mischievously at my bedroom door. Those damn wheels begin to spin, and a bead of sweat starts to form above my brow. “Why are you acting weird?” His vision is going back and forth from me to over my shoulder. Shit. “Wait a minute…” Please no. “You got a girl in there?” He smiles as if he’s caught me. “Hello in there!” He takes a step closer. I would never lay a hand on my best friend, but right now, it’s the only thing stopping him from murdering me. I throw my hand to his chest and shove him.

  “Have Chase go.”

  “Damn, calm down, bro.” He throws his hands up in surrender. “And no on Chase. He always gets us kicked out for being too aggressive with the cart girls. Stacey won’t let me golf with him anymore. Plus, my pops sent me to scoop you up. So, let’s go. Tell your lady friend it’s time to go.”

  Sure, why don’t I tell your sister I have to go golfing with you and her dad. Maybe then I can mention I’m having wild sex with his little girl and watch myself get pummeled by his nine iron.

  “Dude, hello? Go get dressed. Want me to keep her company?”

  “No!” I snap too quickly.

  His eyes light up with more curiosity, which doesn’t bode well. Shit. “Man, why so jumpy? Wait…don’t tell me that’s Rebecca in there?” Christ, please don’t let Hannah hear that. She’ll have my balls. “I’d rather saw my dick off, I told you. Fine, let’s just go.”

  “Sweet.”

  I push him down the hall, away from my door, and stop at my laundry room to grab a clean pair of shorts and a polo.

  “Aren’t you gonna say goodbye to your date? And what about my shirt?” he asks as I snag a pair of golf shoes and my clubs from my front closet.

  “No, she’ll get a clue and leave on her own. And salmon looks really pretty on you.”

  Kip laughs, then slaps me on the back. “You dawg, you. Nice to see you finally playing the field.”

  I push him out of my front door, wishing he’s this cheerful when I break the news my field is all things his little sister.

  Hannah

  I jump out of the shower, my mood light and ah-mazing. I dance around my room, re-enacting the intro scene to Adventures in Babysitting, singing “Then He Kissed Me” into my brush.

  Making it home without being stopped and questioned was pure luck. My dad was on the golf course, and Mom was out, already buying out all the baby stores.

  On my Uber ride home, I got a text from Stacey inviting me to lunch this afternoon and to do some baby registry shopping. If I wanted a buffer between my brother and I, she’s it. Kipley and I never fought as kids, but I have a feeling this may be our first. To be honest, I’m not sure how he’ll react. If I was a one-night stand to Levi, it wouldn’t go over so well. But we’re more than that. And with Stacey’s help, if I can get him to listen long enough to understand, then I feel hopeful he won’t kill Levi. He may even rally with us when telling Dad.

  But first, I have to tell Stacey. I accept her lunch invitation, knowing this will be the perfect time to confess.

  I haven’t heard from Levi outside of a quick I’m sorry text, which is okay. It at least tells me he’s still alive. It also reminds me to ask him who else has a key, because that could have ended badly. And that’s not how I want us to start off. Everyone upset at us. Our intentions aren’t to hurt anyone or be deceiving. Keeping us a secret was for the best. But what’s best now is honesty.

  Slipping on a cute tunic with leggings, I head downtown to the quant French bistro Stacey recommended. I wonder what their baby will look like. If they’ll have a boy or girl. How broke I’m going to be spoiling him or her rotten. That’s if Mom doesn’t buy out everything first. My mind wanders, and I start to think about what our baby would look like if Levi and I had one.

  “Oh…geez. Stop while you’re ahead, Hannah.” We just decided we would officially date and tell the world. Let’s ease up on marriage and babies. Not that I don’t already have a binder from when I was thirteen planning out our entire wedding. I wonder if he would think it was creepy to learn just how deep my childhood obsession ran? Maybe he’ll think it’s cute. Good luck with that, crazy.

  With the weather still hot for the middle of summer, the city is crazy. Finding parking is a pain. By the time I locate a spot, I’m almost ten minutes late.

  “Hannah!” Stacey calls my name, and I find her seated at a table by the back. She stands as I approach. “Glad you could make it. How was traffic?”

  I lean in for a hug. “It was fine. This place is super cute. The smells. I may have to order a ton of food.” I take a seat and grab for the menu. Missing out on the breakfast Levi promised me, I’m actually starving.

  “You’re feeling better then?”

  I lift my head. “Huh?”

  “You’re feeling better? After you left last night…?”

  The lie. Us leaving abruptly. “Oh, yeah! Fine. Must have been something I ate.” I lift the menu over my face. Don’t lie. This is your chance to come clean. I inhale deeply and drop the menu. “Okay. I wasn’t really sick.”

  “I didn’t think you were. Want to tell me why you lied?”

  It’s now or never. The faster I tell the truth and get this out in the open, the faster we can all move on. I love Stacey. I trust she’ll listen and help me. Not pass judgement before understanding. It’s why she’s so perfect for my brother. Once she hears how much we mean to one another, she’ll be on my side. “I lied because—”

  “Shit, can traffic be any more intolerable!” My confession is interrupted as Rebecca nears our table. Of course she would pick the one place we’re eating to show up at. Hopefully they say quick hellos so I can get back to confessing. “Oh, how lovely. You’re eating with us. Clearly you’re not allowed to pick out any baby clothes.” She points to my outfit. “Do I need to say any more?”

  My eyes shift to Stacey. She offers an apologetic expression, but stands to give Rebecca a hug. “Glad you could make it.” Make it? As in she was invited to this? My mood plummets, shaking the ground beneath us. “Sit, we were just chatting about dinner last night. I was about to tell Hannah what a good meal she missed.”

  Rebecca rolls her eyes at me and takes a seat, throwing her purse and knocking over my glass of water into my lap. I jump, but not before it soaks my pants. “Oh, gosh. I’m such a klutz,” Rebecca says, though her laughter is anything but apologetic. Thankfully, a waiter walks by, offering me a pile of napkins.

  “Come on, let’s have a nice lunch, okay?” Stacey says, trying to mediate. She should have known from the start this was going to be a bad idea.

  “Whatevs. Speaking of dinner last night, what was your problem? Did you finally get your period or something? Had to drag Levi away from me?”

  That gets my attention. “Excuse me?”

  Her laugh is mocking. “What, you get jealous we were about to hook up and fake sick so he would take you home? Seems to happen that way a lot.”

  My body shifts, giving her my full attention. There’s no hiding the mounting anger in my voice. “I’m not sure what you’re getting at, but you better watch it.”

  “Hannah,” Stacey warns.

  “Yeah, Hannah. It’s obvious you have a crush on Levi. But come on, you don’t think he would ever go for you, do you?” She laughs even louder. “Just before you played sick, Levi and I were about to get to know each other better in the restaurant bathroom. I couldn’t believe he wanted to
be so careless. But who was I to say no to Levi Dent?”

  She’s lying.

  He would never.

  Not with her.

  “Rebecca, enough. Hannah has no interest in Levi. They’ve known each other since they were kids. They’re like brother and sister. Right, Hannah?” She waits for me to confirm what she just stated, and all I want to do is lash out and prove Rebecca wrong. Throw it in her face that someone like me can actually get someone like Levi Dent, and I already have. There would be nothing sweeter than putting her in her place.

  But this is not how I want Stacey to find out. The words taste sour leaving my mouth. “Right. Friends.” Her satisfactory smile makes my stomach churn. I excuse myself to go to the bathroom, and the moment the stall door closes behind me, the tears begin to fall.

  I’m upset for allowing Rebecca to get to me, but her words hold some truth. Levi is too good for me. He may see an us now, but what about all the pressure we’ll face once we come forward? How many other Rebecca’s are out there, ready and waiting to tell Levi he can do better? Convince him he’s too good for me? How long until the pressure of people’s opinions weigh so heavy on us, he starts to agree? I can’t wipe my tears away fast enough. They’re out of control, flowing like waves of sadness down my cheeks.

  I send a text to Stacey saying I must have not been feeling as good as I thought and sneak out the back exit of the bistro.

  I’m a total chicken.

  I spent the rest of the weekend in hiding. From everyone. Even Levi. I didn’t want to let the doubts win over, but they were—in a fierce way. Why wasn’t I just talking this out with Levi? Telling him my insecurities? Allowing him the chance to ease my worries, especially about the story Rebecca tried to feed me.

  Please refer to my main statement.

  I’m a total chicken.

  Now, it’s Monday morning, and I’m walking into the office unsure of what I’m going to say or how to act with Levi. Do I tell him it’s off and save him the future headache and myself the future heartache? Not that the damage isn’t already done for me.