Trouble's What You're In

by Danielle Allen

  “Ordering delivery! I guess the storm scared people off.” She flashed me a huge smile. “So, you have us all to yourself.”

  I was going to get a takeout order. But I decided to eat in the restaurant. Since I needed time to process and figure out what to do, I opted to put off going home for a while.

  I can’t deal with crossing the line with Jay and finding out I’m being set up for arson at the same time.

  I needed to be alone with my thoughts and the quiet restaurant seemed as good of a place as any.

  I chose a table near the front window. After ordering a lemonade and a small pizza, I stared out the window. The rain was coming down in heavy sheets. It was impossible to see beyond the parking lot. The stormy weather, the grey sky, the inability to see a way forward combined was a perfect depiction of how I felt.

  “Brooklyn? Brooklyn?”

  It took me a second to realize that someone was calling my name. Turning my head, I jumped slightly as soon as my eyes landed on him.

  Aiden Black.

  “Hey,” he said somberly. “Can I sit?”

  “Okay.”

  I stared at him as he pulled the chair out from under the table and sat across from me. I knew I was numb inside because the way his slightly damp t-shirt was clinging to his muscular body didn’t faze me.

  “I’ve been thinking about you a lot,” Aiden started gently. “I didn’t like how our last conversation ended. I didn’t like how things played out between us.”

  I didn’t like when you chose to protect yourself instead of simply telling the police the truth.

  “I know this isn’t a great time, but I need you,” he stated boldly.

  I continued looking at him blankly.

  He placed his forearms on the table and leaned forward. “Paparazzi and press have been trying to link me to what happened to Carter.”

  Hearing her name snapped me out of my trance. “What?”

  He shook his head. “They are looking for a story. They know I was there and because of what happened when the police came, they are trying to make it into something else. They are angling for a story.”

  Yeah, a story that’s a complete lie and absolves you and your friends of any responsibility, I thought irritably.

  I knew I couldn’t say that because it would expose that I knew more than I was supposed to know, and I needed every advantage that I could get.

  I kept my voice even and void of all emotion. “What happened when the police were there?” I questioned.

  “They wanted to come in, but Trevor didn’t want them to. He told them that his boat was on fire and they ran to the back. Later when they asked to come in again, Trevor called his dad and because they didn’t have a warrant, they couldn’t enter.”

  Was Carter still in the house?

  I shifted in my seat. “Why didn’t he want them to come in?”

  “They have weed, coke, and ecstasy all throughout that place.”

  I quirked an eyebrow and pursed my lips. “That’s how you PROs get down?”

  “That’s how they get down. I can’t afford to be high on anything. Especially not when people earn a living looking for dirt on me and my family. I can’t be involved in anything like that.”

  “And yet…” I sat back in my chair, studying his face. “Here you are.”

  “Here’s your pizza and your breadsticks,” the waitress said as she placed a delicious looking pie in front of me. She turned to Aiden and her eyes widened. “Your order will be ready in a couple of minutes. Would you like me to plate your to-go order, Mr. Black?”

  “No, thank you. But I will add her food to my bill, please,” he responded.

  “And I’ll take a to-go box, please,” I added, no longer in the mood to remain in the restaurant.

  The waitress nodded and then sauntered away.

  “Brooklyn, I don’t know what happened last weekend, but I know where we were and what we were doing. And since we didn’t have anything to do with anything that happened, we shouldn’t go down for it.”

  I gave him a look. “That’s what I told you on Friday.”

  “I know. I get that now. Reporters are asking my mom if I’m connected to a dead girl. I know the PROs lawyered up, but I told them I had my own lawyer and I can take care of myself. I haven’t heard from them since. I don’t know what they’re saying but someone said enough to have a reporter ask my mom that when she landed in New York. She’s pissed because she’s supposed to be getting ready for Fashion Week and my dad is shooting a movie abroad so I can’t be tied to this at all.”

  I looked at him in stunned silence.

  I understood exactly what prompted his change of heart and I hated that it hurt my feelings. I hated that I’d believed Aiden was different than the PROs and he turned out to be just as selfish as the rest of them.

  He licked his lips. “I was going to call you and see if we could talk about how to move forward and—”

  “Ohhhhhh,” I interrupted dramatically. “So now that people are trying to tie you to it, you want to move forward and be each other’s alibi.”

  Even though I needed him to alibi me just as much as he apparently needed me to alibi him, I was annoyed that he only decided to do so when it was his name, his reputation, his future, and his family on the line.

  I thought we had a real connection. I thought he liked me.

  “It’s not like that, Brooklyn. Come on,” he sighed. “I just needed to talk to my parents and our lawyer to make sure nothing was going to come back on the projects we have in the works. I’ve read the stuff you’ve written about your parents in class. You would’ve done the same thing.”

  “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt my parents, but I also wouldn’t let someone I knew was innocent get railroaded,” I snapped.

  “Here’s your box,” the waitress announced as she walked up, handing it to me. She turned to Aiden and grinned. “And here’s your food. And your check.”

  After looking over the order for a second, he gave her a couple of twenties. “Keep the change.”

  “I could’ve paid for my own food but thank you,” I stated as soon as the waitress was out of earshot. I started boxing my meal so I could leave.

  “Wanting to make sure this didn’t blow back on my folks doesn’t mean I didn’t care what happened to you. Everything I said last weekend, I meant. I like you. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. And the stuff I have in the works is important, but I wasn’t going to let you get railroaded.”

  I closed my box and pushed down the sadness I felt.

  “I thought you were different,” I told him quietly. “But I guess all PROs are the same.”

  His eyebrows furrowed and his forehead creased. “Listen, I’m not like them.”

  “Privileged kids banning together and refusing to cooperate with the police unless it benefits them? Relying on Mommy and Daddy to get you out of trouble?” The sarcasm from my words seemed to get under his skin. “Sounds like it’s right out of the PROs playbook.”

  “You have no idea what it’s like for me,” he uttered angrily.

  “And you have no idea what it’s like for me,” I spat back, shaking my head. “You’re worried about bad press and I’m worried about my future. If it weren’t for my best friend, I’d be living in my car on top of all of this. Don’t you dare try to play the sympathy card.”

  His expression softened and he chewed on his bottom lip. “I’m sorry. I know how it sounds and I know it looks like I’m only doing this for me.”

  “I need you to go to the police and tell the truth because it’s the right thing to do. But I hate that you only came around and decided to do it once you were being implicated. When they were implicating me, you were ready to sit back and watch.” I stood, gathering my boxes. I held his gaze for a beat before I added, “I didn’t think you were like that.”

  “Like what?” he called out as I walked away from the table.

  “Like them.”

  “Brooklyn!”

&n
bsp; I didn’t turn back around.

  He didn’t follow me or try to stop me. I didn’t want him to, but I noticed when he didn’t.

  …

  Chapter Ten

  I walked into the poorly lit apartment and froze. Outside of the dim light the gloomy sky cast in through the window, the place was dark. I figured Jay wasn’t back from wherever he’d been all day yet, so I didn’t call out. I took my shoes off at the door because they were soaked. I flipped the switch to turn on the light, but nothing happened.

  “Great,” I muttered as I placed the pizza and breadsticks on the table.

  A rumble of thunder accented the sound of the rain hitting the windowpane. Lightening flashed, lighting up the living room and kitchen area.

  Candles!

  If the power was out, I needed to find candles. I knew I had at least two in a crate. I headed down the hallway.

  Maybe Jay is napping.

  The rain started coming down harder and the thunder roared even louder than before. I quickly stripped out of my wet clothes and put on a pink satin camisole with the matching shorts. I headed to the bathroom where my robe was hanging. The minute I approached the closed bathroom door, it swung open.

  I screamed.

  “Shit, Brooklyn!” Jay yelled, water droplets hitting me as he reeled.

  “Oh my God, I’m sorry! I didn’t know you were in there.” I put my hand to my chest. “You scared me!”

  “I scared you? You scared the shit out of me!” He held his white towel in place as he passed me. “Why would you scream like that? Who else would be here?”

  I threw up my hands and I followed him. “I don’t know. It’s dark and I thought I was alone.” I took a breath. “I’m sorry. I need to talk to you though.”

  He turned around as he was about to shut the door, but I was on his heels. “Hold on.”

  The door was cracked, but I couldn’t see him. I waited outside the room as I heard a drawer open and then close. Seconds later, he pulled the door open.

  “What’s up?” he asked, standing in front of me with just a pair of basketball shorts hanging low on his hips.

  The hallway was dark, but in the dusky light of the bedroom, I could see him well. My eyes swept up his body and I really took him in.

  I licked my lips. “Um”—I averted my gaze, hoping he didn’t notice I was checking him out— “I need to talk to you.”

  As he took a seat on the edge of his bed, I couldn’t decide if I was going to start with what happened with Kim or what happened with Aiden.

  “Yeah, I knew it was coming.” He nodded as I stepped into the room. “Our sleeping arrangement…” He looked like was he struggling to find the words to complete his thought.

  I opened my mouth to ask him if he wanted me to start sleeping in the other room. The words were right there. But what spilled out of my mouth was something else entirely. “You don’t want to sleep with me anymore?”

  His eyebrows flew up. I didn’t even realize what I’d said for a few seconds.

  “Oh!” I shook my head. “I meant, do you want to sleep in the same bed with me or do you want me to sleep on the futon?” I stammered and stumbled over my words so fast that he couldn’t help to let out a little chuckle.

  “I can only imagine what you were just thinking,” I giggled nervously.

  His tongue ran from one side of his mouth to the other as he scanned my body. When he met my gaze, I felt my insides twist uncomfortably.

  “Last night…” He exhaled audibly.

  I became still. Wait, what?

  My stomach did somersaults, and I instantly felt flushed. I must’ve looked as panicked as I felt because Jay’s eyebrows rose.

  “We crossed the line last night,” I blurted out. “There’s been a lot going on and we crossed the line.”

  His eyes pinged over my face. I watched the information processing behind his eyes. “If you say so.”

  I shifted from one foot to the other. “What do you mean?”

  “Come on, Brook… there’s something going on here. Things have been different between us.”

  Taking a deep breath, I lifted my arms and let them fall. “Okay, fine. Fuck it. I don’t know what’s going on. I’ve always thought you were attractive. But I guess, lately…”—I cleared my throat— “I have found myself… attracted to you or something.”

  “Or something?” His eyebrows furrowed. “Either you’re attracted to me or you’re not.”

  I folded my arms over my chest, realizing I wasn’t wearing a bra. “I’m attracted to you.”

  He cocked his head to the side. “That’s it? That’s all it is?”

  “Of course,” I said, hoping he didn’t hear my voice falter.

  It was easier for me to admit that there was a physical connection between us, than to acknowledge any deeper feelings between us.

  He stared at me like he was reading my thoughts. “Well, for me, it’s more than that,” he clarified. “And I think it’s more than that for you, too.”

  The knot in my belly grew. “We’re best friends.”

  “Yeah. We are. But last night—”

  “Last night was us getting caught up in the moment,” I interrupted. “There’s been a lot going on and we’ve been sleeping in the same bed, cuddling every night. We just lost Carter. Our emotions are everywhere with that. And I can’t speak for you, but I’m in a hypersexual space.” I paused, letting my arms fall at my sides. “I’m horny as hell. And with the way you kept looking at me and touching me and how supportive and caring you are, it warped my view of you. So instead of just looking at you as James Williams, best friend. I’ve been seeing you as…” My sentence trailed off as I took in his handsome face and sexy body. I gestured wildly to him. “This! I’ve been seeing you as this and it caused a reaction.”

  My face heated as the silence settled around us. I’d always told Jay everything. I wasn’t going to let a brief moment of flirting and making out diminish our bond. Whatever romantic and sexual feelings I felt, I knew I needed to push them down and get over them. Squaring my shoulders, I held his gaze.

  He remained silent.

  I narrowed my eyes at him and frowned. “You asked me a question and I answered you and now you’re just gawking at me. Say something!” I threw my hands in the air. “Please!”

  “I want to make sure I understand what you’re saying before I respond.” Jay ran his tongue across his bottom lip. “You’re telling me that what happened last night was just a reaction?”

  I forced myself to nod. “Yes.”

  He stood up, rising to his full height. Something tightened deep in my belly and I hated myself for it.

  “You kissed me. You made the first move. You’ve made every move,” Jay pointed out. “And you want me to believe that it was just a reaction from this week?”

  I nodded, my stomach fluttering with nerves.

  “I don’t believe you,” he uttered, taking a step toward me. “But if you’re sure it was nothing and we’re both just wired from this week, let me test your theory.”

  “Okay,” I breathed, unsure what he was going to do.

  “I’m going to kiss you.” He reached out, stroking my cheek with his thumb lightly.

  My body flooded with desire the moment his fingertip touched my skin and I took a shuddering breath. Feeling my resolve weakening, I dropped my eyes to his sexy mouth.

  “And then what?” I whispered.

  “And if you don’t feel anything, we’ll drop it. Chalk it up to the craziness of the week.”

  We were so close that I was inhaling the woodsy scent of his soap. His nearly naked body was so close that I could feel his body heat through the thin fabric of my camisole. He was intoxicating.

  “Are you up for it?” he asked softly.

  I tilted my head upward, meeting his gaze. “Sure, we can try,” I responded nonchalantly.

  I wanted him to kiss me so bad that my lips trembled.

  His big hands wrapped around my neck and his
thumbs cradled my face. The pads of his fingers stroked my nape, causing a chill to ripple down my spine. He leaned down so that our foreheads touched. His nose grazed my nose, moving up and down the bridge, seducing me with the jolts of pleasure his contact conjured up.

  Seconds passed, the suspense built, and then Jay’s lips met mine.

  Even though my body reacted immediately, it took my mind a second to fully register what was happening.

  Unlike the night before, it wasn’t a kiss that was fueled by late night admissions and lust. It was passionate. It was powerful. It was possessive.

  It was everything I was scared it would be.

  My hands slid across his muscles as I got caught up in the moment. The knot in my belly unraveled, moving slow and thick through me like fiery lava inflaming the lower half of my body. My heart fluttered with excitement and before my mind could talk me out of it, I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck.

  Taking the fact that I’d pulled him closer as confirmation that I wanted the kiss to happen, Jay swiped his tongue against mine, causing me to moan my approval. He was hard and I moved my body against his erection as the kiss deepened. I felt a vibration ricochet throughout my entire body. It was unlike anything I’d ever felt before.

  His hands ran down my neck, over my shoulders and down my sides. When he got to the hemline of my satin top, his hands slipped underneath, and he rubbed my back. Having his hands against my bare skin did something to both of us and the kiss deepened. He held me close and I melded into him. My soft body pressed against his hard one and my hands danced over him. The feeling was electric.

  He started moving backward, keeping me against him. When we stopped moving, he slowly pulled out of the kiss. I felt warm and heady. My heart was racing. My lips were swollen. And my body felt enflamed.

  He sat down on the bed. With his hands on my hips, his fingers flexed against my ass as he stared up at me. “Now look me in my eyes and tell me you don’t feel anything,” he challenged me.

  “I can’t,” I admitted.

  He pulled me into his lap, moving my legs until I was straddling him. “You can’t because you feel something real,” he uttered against my lips. Leaving kisses across my cheek on the way to my ear, he bit down on my earlobe. “And I don’t just mean this dick.”