by T. R. Cupak
“Let me take you to the range. You don’t have to shoot if you don’t want to, but I’d like you to at least watch as my sister puts rounds through her cardboard perp.” My brother is trying to persuade Syd, and just when I think she’s going to lay into him for pushing the issue, she agrees to go to the range with us.
“Really?” I ask, staring in disbelief at my best friend who hates guns.
“Yeah. But you have to be there.”
“That’s a given,” I reassure her.
“Excuse me,” Kade interrupts as he gets up from the table. As he walks away, he says something to Finn, and he nods. Kade disappears down the hallway leading toward the restrooms. A few minutes later, Finn returns to our table with another round of drinks. My brother was much nicer to Finn this time around and apologized for being ill-mannered earlier.
I glance over my shoulder in the direction of the bar and notice Destiny isn’t there. My stomach turns, knowing damn well she followed Kade down the hall. If I get up and go to the restroom, Deacon will assume I’m meeting with Kade, so I sit silently.
After some time passes, I take my chance and head to the bathroom, leaving Sydnee and my brother. When I turn the corner, I walk into the chiseled frame that is Kade. Looking up at him, my hands move up his chest until I hear a door slam, which takes my attention away from Kade’s face and directs it around his body. That’s when I see Destiny straightening out her clothes and fussing with her hair.
“Brit, it’s—”
“Stop. It’s none of my business.” Stepping away, I move past him and continue to the women’s bathroom. I stay in the restroom long enough to take a few calming breaths before exiting. I get my hurt feelings in check and compose myself before reaching the table.
Sitting down, I take both my and Sydnee’s Jameson shots without the pickleback. Grabbing my beer, I chug until it’s half empty.
“Are you okay?” Sydnee asks.
“Let’s go shoot some pool,” I respond without answering her question.
“Not like that, you’re not,” Kade barks out.
“Excuse me?” I snap back.
“You heard me.”
“Bro, what the fuck?” Deacon chimes in.
“Look at her top, D. She leans over, and her bare tits will be on display for the whole bar,” he responds in defense of his remark. My brother looks in my direction and down at my top and then back up to meet my eyes.
“Sorry, sis. You are not playing pool in that top.”
“Un-fucking-believable. You two have a good night. Syd, let’s go somewhere else.” Pushing back from the table, I grab my jacket.
“Al—” Sydnee begins to answer before Deacon interrupts her.
“No can do, sister. We just told you there’s cartel one city over and you want to go somewhere else? Hard no. If you want to go somewhere else, then we’ll go with you. Get used to it, little sis. Our days off are going to be with you two.”
“Fine, we’ll go home. Thanks for ruining our night out.” I make eye contact with both Deacon and Kade, making sure they know I’m mad. Before I turn to leave, I grab my beer and down the last bit of it.
Both men stand and insist on walking us out. Since I did most of the drinking, Sydnee offers to drive us home. She slides into the driver’s seat while I do the same on the passenger side. She pushes the start/stop button, and my Shelby GT 500 roars to life. It’s not long before we’re back at home, in our pajamas, with snifters filled with Blanton’s bourbon.
“Are you sure you’re okay with going to the gun range? Don’t let Deacon bully you into going.”
“I’m sure. Besides, if D decides to press me into taking one of his Glocks, I think it would be wise to know the basics of handling and shooting a gun.”
“More importantly, the safety aspects,” I add.
“That’s a given, Brit.”
We turn on the television and agree to watch Food Network. It’s not long after we start watching Diner, Drive-Ins, and Dives when someone knocks on the front door. I glance at the clock above the fireplace to see that it’s almost nine o’clock. How pathetic are we? It’s a Friday night, and we’re already home and ready for bed.
The only person who would show up here this time of night is my brother. I cross the family room, making my way to the front door when there’s another knock.
“I’m coming, D. Calm down.” Before opening the door, I check the peephole, and to my surprise, it’s not my brother.
Why is Kade at my house?
7
KADE
After sitting in my car for what felt like hours, I made up my mind that I needed to see Britney and explain what she thinks she saw. Yes, I can see how bad it looked, but it wasn’t me in the storage room with Destiny. Britney walked off before one of the pub’s regulars exited the room after Destiny.
The longer Britney sat across from while we were at the pub, the harder it was to keep from reaching out to touch her. No, not just touch her; I wanted to feel her body next to mine or sitting on my lap. I wanted every asshole in the place to think she’s mine; that is until my best friend decks me for touching his sister. So, I had to put some distance between Britney and me.
That single kiss has me craving more of her, so here I stand at her front door, hoping she’ll at least let me tell her I wasn’t the one with Destiny. Even if I can’t have Britney, I can’t have her mad at me for something I didn’t do.
“Why are you here?” she questions.
“Booty call,” Sydnee yells from the family room, followed by a laugh.
“I wasn’t talking to you,” Britney turns her head and snaps back. “Well?” Her head whips around as her focus is back on me.
“That scene back at the pub, it wasn’t you think,” I begin to explain.
“I already told you, it’s none of my business. So, why don’t you turn around and go back to the pub to finish what you started.”
The hurt I’ve caused is written all over Britney’s face, and it’s gutting me.
“Destiny was in that room with some random guy. I was in the bathroom. I needed space.” Brit’s features soften as she processes what I’ve said to her. She won’t question if I’m telling her a lie, because she knows I have no reason to lie to her.
“Why did you need space?” she counters.
“Because I wanted to finish what I started—with you.”
Britney’s eyes grow wide with disbelief. Coming here might be a huge mistake, but I need her to know that she’s not just some random female. She’s so much more, and I can’t do dick about it because of her brother.
“Brit,” I continue. “I—”
“Why is it every time I turn around, you’re with my sister?” Deacon’s voice comes out of nowhere.
Well, hell. I don’t have an excuse for Deacon other than the truth. My mind is drawing a blank.
“Calm down, grumpy. Kade was simply returning my jacket.” Britney’s eyes glance at me before returning to her brother.
“Now that’s a flat out lie, Brit. Even though you were pissed, you still grabbed your jacket before you left the bar. So, I’m going to ask again, why in the fuck are you here, Kade?” Deacon’s temper is approaching nuclear mode, and this night is going to end with one or both of us in the hospital.
“You know what, big brother? He doesn’t need to answer you. Hell, I don’t need to answer you. We’re adults, and we’re friends. If Kade wants to stop by, he can.” Britney’s brave, but she also knows her brother would never hurt her in any way. It’s not often she stands up to him, but she is doing so right now. And I’m standing here like a mute dumbfuck.
“Bro, I just wanted to make sure they got home safe.”
“I almost believe you,” Deacon comments. “But I know that’s a lie too.”
“Get your ass inside,” Britney barks as she moves to the side, giving him space to enter her house. Deacon does as his sister commands.
Once he clears the doorway, Britney steps outside, closing the door
behind her. We both hear Sydnee yell at Deacon to sit the fuck down. Waiting a beat or two to see if he’s going to storm out of the house, we remain inches apart. When Britney feels that it’s safe to continue our conversation, she urges me to finish what I was going to say. With Deacon on the other side of the door, I puss out.
“Nothing. I simply wanted you to know that I wasn’t the one with Destiny.” As I begin to walk away, she grabs my wrist, pulling me back toward her.
“No. You don’t get to walk away. What were you going to say before my brother rudely interrupted, as always?”
“Brit, it doesn’t matter. We both know your brother will lose his shit. I don’t have siblings. He’s the only brother I have. Forget what happened.” Glancing down, I notice a tear trickling down Britney’s cheek. Bringing my hand to her face, I cup her cheek to wipe away the droplet with my thumb. She leans into the intimate touch. That’s when I drop my hand, turn, and stalk away. There’s nothing more to be said, so there’s no reason to stay. I don’t even dare to turn around to see if she goes inside, but I didn’t need to. The loud slam of her front door gives me that answer.
MY PHONE ALERTS me that the gate to my driveway is opening. Looking over at my phone, I see it’s two-thirty in the morning. Only a handful of people know the code to get in if I don’t buzz them in, so I grab my phone and pull up my front camera only to see bright as fuck headlights approach my house.
At first, I think it’s Deacon coming to chew me out for earlier, but the lights are too close to the ground for them to be his truck. When the car stops and the headlights go off, I realize it’s Britney’s Shelby GT 500. What in the hell is she doing here at this time?
Groggily, I get out of bed and head to my bathroom. After splashing water on my face, I hear the doorbell. Quickly grabbing my toothbrush, I do a quick cleanse of my mouth. The doorbell rings again, followed by a loud knock.
“Kade, it’s Brit. Don’t shoot me.” The heavy wood door muffles her voice. The doorbell begins ringing non-stop.
“I’m coming!” I yell over the sound of my doorbell as I approach the door. Swinging open the door, I see Britney leaning against the doorbell with her eyes closed. “Please tell me you didn’t drive over here drunk.”
Her eyes flutter open, and that’s when I can tell she drove here drunk.
“Are you fucking stupid, Brit? Of all people, you know better,” I growl out. In return, I get a laugh from her. Picking her up and cradling her to my chest, I walk over to my couch to lay her down. How in the hell did she make it here?
When I’m sure she’s not going to roll off the sofa, I head back toward the front door, grab my flashlight out of its charging cradle on the console table at the entry to my house, and go outside. Thoroughly checking her car for any damage, relief washes over me when I see nothing wrong with the vehicle. Opening the driver’s side door, I reach over to the passenger side and grab her purse. The weight is surprising, but then I remember she’s got her concealed carry license, so I’m betting her gun is in the bag. So stupid, Brit.
Returning to the house, I place the flashlight back on its charger and set her purse on the table next to it. Looking over to the couch, I see Britney is sitting up, but she is leaning over with her elbows on her knees as she holds her head up with her hands. I go to the kitchen and grab a glass of water.
“Here,” I tell Britney as I hold out the glass. She takes the water and chugs it down within seconds.
“May I have another?” she asks. Without saying a word, I go back to the kitchen and replenish her water. “Thank you.” Her voice is low and raspy. The only time Britney’s voice gets raspy is when she goes to a concert or sporting event, or if she’s been crying. Knowing perfectly well that the first two aren’t the reason leads me to believe she was crying.
“Brit, what in the hell are you doing here, and why in the fuck did you drive here drunk?” Her seemingly fragile state does nothing to curb my temper, which is currently through the roof. I’m yelling at her like she’s a child.
“I didn’t drive here drunk.”
“Do you think I’m that gullible to believe that? You are the only one who was in your car, B.” She has the audacity to try to lie to me. If she weren’t Deacon’s sister, I would drag her ass to jail and let her sleep it off.
“Please, go put sweats and a shirt on.” Her simple request makes me fully aware that I’m standing in front of her, wearing only boxer briefs.
“I’ll be right back.”
Now that I have clothes on, I return to the living room to find Britney standing by the slider, gazing out into the darkness. As I walk toward her, she spins around, halting my advance.
“Kade, I wasn’t lying. I went to the store to pick up vodka and 7-UP. On my way home, I detoured and found myself just outside your gate. I wanted to finish our conversation but felt the need for liquid courage. So, I got drunk in my car, sitting outside your gate. May I use your bathroom? I was out there for quite a while, and honestly, the only reason I drove up here is my bladder couldn’t take the pressure, and I knew I couldn’t drive home like this.”
Nodding my head toward the hallway, Britney walks around me, making her way to the hall bathroom. My mind is spinning in so many directions that I don’t know what to say or do next. Do I get her an Uber and follow her home in her car? Do I just take her home, leaving her vehicle here? The only thing I’m sure of, she cannot stay here because I won’t be able to keep my hands off her.
“Hey.” Her voice comes from behind me. Turning around, I see her eyes are puffy and swollen from crying, and all I want to do is wrap her in my arms and tell her I want her—but I don’t—I can’t. “I’ll take an Uber home.” Britney’s words answer the silent questions I was asking myself moments before.
“Brit,” I begin.
“Kade, don’t. You are right. That kiss should never have happened.” Sadness mars her beautiful face, and it’s killing me. Taking two significant steps in Brit’s direction puts me in her personal space. Without hesitation, I secure her in my arms. It takes a few seconds before her arms wrap around my waist, and I would be lying if I said it didn’t feel right having her body against mine.
“Britney, out of respect for you and your brother, you have to go.” My words blow painfully past my lips; my actions contradicting what I just said. I tell her to go but squeeze her tighter, not wanting to let her go. She drops her arms, releasing me from her hold, but before I free her from my arms, I bring both hands up, cupping her face and lean down, and brush my lips across hers.
“I gotta go.” Britney pulls away and darts for the front door. She grabs her bag off the table and runs out of the house, slamming the door behind her. I want to go after her, but I can’t trust myself to let her leave if I do. Instead, I sit on my couch and watch her from my camera while she waits for her Uber.
Using her sleeve, she wipes away what I can only assume are tears. Just as I stand up to go outside, I see headlights at my gate, and Britney walking toward the vehicle. Stopping, I watch as she slides into the back seat, followed by retreating lights.
Me: Text when you’re home.
B: OK.
It isn’t too long before she texts me that she’s home.
Why did I have to fuck this all up?
8
DEACON
Before punching in Kade’s gate code on the keypad, I notice a car in his driveway. He never brings chicks home, but when I look closer and see the custom license plate “WINO4LF”, that’s when I realize it’s my sister’s car. Gripping the steering wheel until I’m white-knuckled, I throw my truck in reverse and peel away from Kade’s place. If I go through those gates, I’ll beat the shit out of my friend. He fucking knows he’s not supposed to fuck around with my sister, yet here they are, once again, alone.
As I speed down the street toward my family’s winery, I pass Sydnee heading in the opposite direction I’m going. So, I turn around and follow her back the other way. My CarPlay alerts a text from Britney, so I
click on it to play through my speakers.
Britney: It’s not what you think.
Me: Enlighten me.
Britney: Meet me at the winery.
Me: Not a chance.
When we reach Kade’s, I tailgate Sydnee up to the house. Slamming my truck into park, I jump down and march over to the passenger door, yanking it open.
“Hey, watch it! This is my car, not yours, dickhead.” Sydnee’s outburst is warranted, but I pay no attention. My focus is on Britney and why her car is here.
“You need to calm the fuck down and stop acting like a lunatic,” Britney snaps the second she has the opportunity.
“Why’s your car here, Brit?” It’s not her I should be hostile toward, but she’s the one in front of me, so she’s the one who’s going to get the verbal lashing.
“You know what, Deacon? She’s your sister, not your fucking property. If she wants to fuck your best friend, I say let her.” Looking over the roof of Sydnee’s car, I see she has exit the vehicle. If looks could kill, the heat behind her death stare would be enough to kill me. Fuck. She’s pissed, I’m pissed, Brit’s pissed. This morning couldn’t get any worse.
“What the fuck is going on out here?” Kade’s voice booms in the morning air.
“Captain Asshat here thinks you and Brit hooked up,” Sydnee answers for all of us.
“Why else would her car be here after I left your place last night, Syd?”
“Both of you shut up. I can speak for myself.” My sister shoves me away from the car so she can get out. With her heels on, she’s pretty close to being eye to eye with me. “Brother, I love you, but you have to stop this overbearing insanity. There is nothing but friendship between Kade and me. You made damn sure of that. So, unless you want me to start hating you, you’ll back the fuck off. I’m an adult, and you will not dictate who to spend time with, got it?” Britney’s not messing around, and I guess she does have a point.
“You’re right.”