I kissed her as I hooked her legs into my arms and raised them higher, giving me the ability to thrust harder and deeper into her cunt.
Hayley cried out and begged me for more.
She had to be close. I wasn’t familiar with Hayley and her orgasms yet—it was the only mystery between us. Her ample tits bounced as I rocked into her over and over again. “Fuck, Hayley, you feel amazing.”
Her hands wrapped around my forearms and she tried to find leverage to thrust harder against me. But she was at my mercy and I liked her there, mewling and moaning, begging and whimpering for more. I’m sure she would turn the tables on me soon enough.
“Matthew!” she screamed just before I felt her cunt clench in rapid pulses around my cock. I pounded into her harder, enjoying her tight cunt gripping me and trying to wring my own release out of me. I followed her over the edge a moment later, spilling into her.
I let her legs drop and covered her body with my own, still buried inside her. I thrust a few more times, lazily, enjoying the feel of her pussy. I panted in her ear, completely shocked at what happened between us. But then again, I couldn’t figure out what the hell took us so long.
I grabbed a blanket at the end of the bed and threw it over us. Hayley stared at the ceiling and pulled the blanket up around herself. I rolled over and wrapped my arm around her, kissing her. Silence drifted in around us.
“You should know I’m on the pill,” she said quietly.
“Oh, shit. I didn’t even…think.”
“Yeah, I didn’t either. That was pretty stupid of us.”
I was always so careful, what the hell? I couldn’t believe I’d been so careless with Hayley’s body. “I’m clean. I haven’t been with anyone for a while. I was checked six months ago, and everything was good.”
“I’m clean too.”
“I’m sorry.”
She rolled over and met my gaze. “No big deal.” She cupped my face and studied me for a while. “I’ve always been completely trusting of you. I guess this situation is no different.”
“What changed your mind?”
“About what?”
“About giving us a shot?”
She rolled onto her back. “I don’t know if that’s what I’m doing. Matthew, I don’t think this was a mistake. This is something we clearly both needed. But let’s not put more worth on it right now. We’re both in weird places in our lives and we shouldn’t be making giant decisions.”
When did Hayley become the so-called practical one and when did I become the impulsive one? I didn’t like how much distance she was putting on our situation. But maybe she was right. Sleeping on it would at least make things appear clearer but I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to change my mind. Not after that.
The pull of sleep was strong.
“Can we talk about this more in the morning?” I asked, ending with a yawn.
She kissed me and then rolled over, reaching for the light. Once we were cloaked in darkness, I pulled her to me until I was wrapped around her like the big spoon. And for the first time since I was sixteen, my world felt complete.
I shouldn’t have been surprised to wake up alone, but I was definitely disappointed. She never let me take her to the airport. She hated goodbyes. I should’ve asked her to stay longer last night. I should’ve done a lot of things.
I got up and headed to the coffeepot first. I needed water, coffee, and something to eat.
My cell phone chirped from the other room. Once coffee was brewing, I headed into the living room and swiped my phone from the coffee table. It was my mother.
“Hello?”
“Matthew, love, how are you holding up?”
“Hi, Mom.” It was relief and annoyance that flooded me. “I’m fine. Just getting started in my day.” I wished I wasn’t hungover just then or overthinking everything with Hayley.
“I’ve been thinking. Why don’t you come home for a little while? It’s almost Thanksgiving anyway. I don’t like the thought of you being alone out there.”
“I’ve got a lot to do,” I lied. I’d already taken off the rest of the year. It was the nice thing about being the boss. I hardly vacationed and the most I was ever gone was a long weekend for family birthdays or holidays. Plus, there wasn’t much for me to do between November and January.
I knew my mother was worried about me. I could tell by the way she kept eyeing me at the funeral. “Matthew, you’ve hardly spoken to anyone. We’re all worried about you,” she said. “Come home. Even if it’s for the weekend.”
“Mom, I promise, as soon as I’m available, I’ll come home. I just have to figure some stuff out.”
She was quiet for a moment. “All right. But please know we’re all here for you. Your dad and I are sick over Derrick. He was too young. And Holly and Summer looked so distraught. You tell them if they need somewhere to stay, they can come live with us.”
“Mom, they’re not homeless or strays. Summer’s doing okay. It’s a little hard for her and she doesn’t understand everything. She keeps asking for him.”
“Oh, God.” I could picture my mother perfectly, her hand pressed to her chest, her lower lip quavering as she held back her tears.
“She’s going to be okay,” I said. Though, I could only imagine how it would affect her for the rest of her life.
“I’m sure she will be. It’s just awful,” she sniffled.
“I’ll be home for Thanksgiving, Mom. It’s only a week.”
“I know, but you already missed your father’s birthday in October. We haven’t seen you since Alicia’s birthday in August.”
“Damn, Mom, can you lay off the guilt trips? I’m always there. And I will be there when I say I’ll be there. But for once, I’m not going to be the dutiful son or brother.”
Another moment of silence. “All right, Matthew. Call me when it’s a better time.”
She disconnected before I could say anything.
I knew I should call her back and apologize. But I didn’t want to. Since Derrick had died, I hadn’t felt like myself. And I felt everyone expected me to be myself. My reality was skewed by the absence of Derrick and the lies he told me. Why had all the important people in his life known the truth except me and Summer? I wasn’t some child who wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Instead, I shut my phone off. I knew it was only a matter of time before someone else called me and told me I was a real douche to Mom.
I found myself in front of my computer searching through airfare and dates and times, all in the future. My email chimed like a video game. My brothers and sisters had figured out my phone was turned off.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Hey…turn your phone on, asshole.
Detective Broderick Wright
Precinct 23
Denver, CO
Direct Line:303-555-1515
Cell Phone: 303-555-9685
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Matt! What’s going on? Rachel invoked the phone tree. She said she’s been trying to get ahold of you. You okay? You buggin’ about your friend? What’s going on? Talk to us!
Hate you!
Bex
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Matt-
What’s going on? I’m still in California. Do you want some company?
Neil
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Hi Matt,
I know you’re really busy, but would you please call me at your earliest convenience?
Thank you,
Rachel
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Yo, dude, Liling and Chuck have both asked if I’ve heard from you. Your phone is off. Did you lose it? What’s going on? Check in with someone.
Jonah
I put up an �
��out of office” message on my email and closed out of it, not wanting to deal with the dozen others.
I pulled up my personal email though. Only one person had the address.
I had a new email.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Hi Matthew,
I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye. You know I hate them. And after last night, I wasn’t sure I could leave. Maybe I shouldn’t have left. I don’t know. I’m here if you ever need anything. I’m sorry about Derrick.
Always,
Hayles
She used to write “Sincerely.” Which then evolved into “Your friend always.” And then it was just “Always.” And she adopted the nickname I gave her when I first met her.
Derrick’s voice echoed in my head. “Stop and smell the roses. That’s what’s going on. Go and have an adventure. Go and find Hayley and make love to her on the beach, get sand in places you’d never dreamed of, and enjoy your fucking life. Otherwise, what’s the point?”
Hayley was a constant in my life. Though nothing had been romantic between us, I’d thought about her a time or two, naked in my bed or even marrying her. After last night, I couldn’t stop thinking about her naked in my bed. I’d hoped to wake up for another round before breakfast and the dreaded trip to the airport. But she’d left. She hated goodbyes and this certainly wasn’t the first time she’d escaped in the morning before I woke up so she wouldn’t have to say goodbye. But I knew this time, it had everything to do with our night together.
One night with me, had she decided to go back to the man who proposed to her? Had she decided she loved him after all? Had I driven her back to him? Or was it something else? Was the night we spent together only special to me? One thing for sure, I wasn’t going to regret my decision to make a move. Derrick’s words were constantly on a turntable in my head, going around and around. Being with Hayley always felt right and good and last night was no exception.
“…enjoy your fucking life. Otherwise, what’s the point?”
What was the point? I’d put everything into my career. Derrick had won the World Series for the Angels, but I knew Summer meant more to him than some title. She was his legacy. Not being in the Baseball Hall of Fame. What would I leave behind now if I died? A sports agency with a good name and reputation. A bunch of siblings who looked up to me. But my condo was empty. My heart was empty now, too.
Maybe Hayley was the answer to all my problems right now.
I could use some sunshine and maybe a friendly face who wouldn’t chase after me, asking me about my feelings or demanding I answer her. Hayley was always the coolest chick I’d ever met. She was laid back and fun. And while we had gone through some difficult patches like any good friendship does, she’d always been there for me and I’d always been there for her.
Maybe I needed sunshine and Hayley Martin, but I knew she’d run from me.
I wasn’t going to give up so easily.
I pulled up the internet window with flights and changed my destination to Mexico.
The next afternoon, I was sitting on a plane. Out of habit more than anything, I checked my emails again. Even with my “out of office” on, my family was unrelenting. Everyone needed something. It wasn’t even that they wanted to get ahold of me because they were worried. They all had other dilemmas they needed advice on.
Before I closed out of the email app, I wondered if I should give Hayley a heads up I was coming. It was rude to show up uninvited. Especially since she’d just run away from me. But if she told me not to come, I didn’t know what I would do. She’d always said I had an open invitation. Not to mention, she showed up uninvited on my doorstep. She’d be happy to see me.
I needed to get away. I needed to do something else. I didn’t know why I designated Hayley as my sanctuary but everywhere else I felt my family would find me and track me down. They knew everyone at Wright Sports Management and there weren’t many other places I could hide.
Zane would keep me secret, but he lived in Aspen. It would only be a matter of time before everyone tracked me down to my brother’s bar.
The plane prepared for takeoff. If Hayley didn’t want company or for some reason wasn’t available, I would enjoy hanging out at the beach until she was.
The truth of the matter was, I didn’t want to be alone. I just didn’t want to hang out with my family, who would all look at me with those stupid sad eyes and tilted heads. I needed to be by myself and figure some stuff out and Hayley wouldn’t pester me. She would distract me and allow me to process. Maybe I could figure out how she really felt about me. If we were truly just friends, I would accept that, but I didn’t believe that was all there was between us.
I thought about Derrick asking me if I’d hooked up with her. It wasn’t that I hadn’t thought about hooking up with Hayley, but it never seemed like a good idea. I valued our friendship too much. She loved the ocean and sea critters. She lived in paradise and swam with sharks regularly. Los Angeles didn’t have anything to offer her. And Mexico didn’t really have professional sports teams. I loved working with athletes. Our lives were disconnected.
Did I have anything to offer her aside from myself? Could I prove to her there was something more to fight for than just friendship? I hoped I hadn’t hurt her or made her lose faith in me. I’d pushed for something to happen between us. I wanted to know the answer.
6
Hayley
The shop was quiet when I arrived as Bryssa set up for the day. I placed a breakfast burrito on the counter along with a coffee. “I brought you breakfast, as promised,” I said.
Bryssa glanced up at me. “You’re supposed to be in Los Angeles. What happened? Did someone propose to you there, too?”
I glowered. “You think you know me so well.”
She turned to face me. Her big brown eyes glanced over my disheveled appearance. Bryssa muttered something in Spanish. “He proposed, didn’t he? That’s why you ran away to see your friend.”
I blinked at her. “How do you do that?”
“I’ve known you for nine years, chiquita.” She picked up her coffee. “And you have that look that you had to break another heart.”
If only she knew. I broke two in less than a week. That was a record even for me. “I didn’t break his heart. He was not in love with me. I saved him. He should be grateful I’m not a gold-digging whore.”
Bryssa sighed. “You cannot tell another person how they feel. Just as they cannot tell you how you feel. If you were smart, you would stop dating such imbeciles.”
I frowned. “They don’t start out as imbeciles.”
She waggled her finger at me like a disapproving mother. Another string of Spanish rolled over her tongue. “Yes, they do. You’re so afraid to get hurt that you play it safe with these men who will take you nowhere you want to go. My question to you, chiquita, is why are you going down these roads? If you do not want to be committed, then do not commit. But then stop finding these men who are desperate for commitment.”
“Desperate for commitment? Men are never desperate for commitment.” Matt’s face flashed in my mind and I wondered if I was talking about him. There was no way he wanted more than sex. He was sad and wanted to find peace from all the sorrow. It was merely comfort, wasn’t it?
Bryssa chuckled. “Women are raised to think of themselves as property. They have no worth until they are branded by a man who isn’t their father. Do you think it is women who decided such an archaic notion? Maybe out of survival, but not desire.”
“Wow, Brys, I had no idea you were so jaded.”
“I’m not jaded. I am smart.” She tapped the side of her head. “I learned a long time ago that most men and a great deal of women would never respect me if I did not marry. They don’t have an identity outside of marriage. Me, I’m a sailor, a businesswoman, and a mother. And soon, a grandmother. A man did not give me a thing but his seed to create Amelia. God and I have an understanding. We both know Eve is
not responsible for all accusations in Eden and that I am a good woman. Just because I did not marry a man when I was a child and had my own baby, does not mean I am not worthy of Heaven. That is not to say I would kick my Hector out of my house or my heart, because he is a good man. He likes me to have my freedoms and I like him to be out doing his own thing too. There are good men out there. Stop going out with imbeciles. There are men who would enjoy your sexy time and be as happy to leave your bed as you would be to have them leave. Find one of them. Or do yourself a favor and make a family. I know you want it, chiquita. I see how you look at Amelia and her pregnant belly.”
Stunned, I opened and closed my mouth like a fish out of water. Bryssa had been in my life a long time and she was as frank as they came. But she hadn’t been so blunt before. This was the fourth engagement she’d heard me say “no” to.
I put my hands on my hips. “Why now, Brys?”
“Because the sadness in your eyes hurts me. I wish for you to be happy. You have a good life, chiquita. Make it what you want it to be.” She put her hands on her hips. “Now, the shop is open, and it is time to go to work.”
I blinked a couple of times. I wanted to argue with her. I wanted to tell her she was so wrong. But the thing was…she was absolutely right. And it scared me. Matt was what I’d always wanted but there was no way it could ever work for so many reasons, and probably plenty of reasons I didn’t even understand.
I jogged my chin at her. “How about you work, and I’ll go eat some tacos?”
Bryssa shook her head. “No different than any other day, huh, chiquita?”
I chuckled. “Do we have any tours scheduled today?”
“A one o’clock with honeymooners,” she replied.
And just like that, the day went on.
Around ten o’clock, I was ready for another burrito. I ducked behind the counter and opened the small fridge we kept under it. As I was about to take a giant bite out of the tortilla full of egg and chorizo, the bell rang. I sighed and put the burrito back.
Seducing My Best Friend (The Wrights Book 2) Page 4
