He was leaning against the wall, his hands squeezing at his temple, and his eyes screwed shut. Hearing the door open, he lifted his eyes to look at her, tilting his head in an apology. Lucy couldn’t help but notice he was topless once more.
“Sorry to bother you, but I have one hell of a headache. I was wondering if you have any aspirin.”
He looked pathetic, so much so Lucy opened the door wider and gestured for him to walk in.
“Yeah, I think I do. Go and sit down while I check my bag.” Watching him slowly shuffle into her room and sink onto the edge of the bed made her pity him.
“Thanks. It felt like I was going to pass out in the hallway for a moment there.”
As she looked through her bag, the words she was thinking streamed out of her mouth before she could stop them.
“It’s a shame you don’t have a girlfriend. You know what the best cure for a headache is, right?”
Jenson stared at her blankly, before understanding dawned in his blue eyes. His eyebrows slowly rose.
“Well, I don’t have a girlfriend around here, and you don’t have a boyfriend around either. I’m up for it if you are, doc.”
“Oh, come on. I was joking. I’m not that kind of girl.”
“That’s a shame. I’ve got a headache that only really good sex can cure, and no takers.”
“As if! Just because you can usually flash your abs and get any girl you want into bed doesn’t mean it’ll work with me. Besides, they probably praise you to your face and laugh behind your back.” She turned her back on him, not seeing him stand and walk toward her. What she did notice was the intense heat at her back caused by his body being in close proximity. His voice rasped across her skin, inches from the nape of her neck.
“Are you asking for proof of my abilities?”
Lucy spun around, her heart leaping into her throat. Jenson’s face was close and serious, yet his ocean blue eyes darkened, his voice like velvet.
“Because, if you are. I can show you.” As he leaned closer, she took a step back, stumbling into the wall. He followed her easily, reaching up to tuck a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear before resting his forearm on the wall to the side of her, and leaned in. Lucy’s eyes widened as she stared into his, his lips turning up slightly. “Would you like me to?”
Breathing was becoming hard for her, as Jenson towered over her, pinning her in place.
“How would you like it? Do you want me from behind, on your hands and knees? Do you like it hard and fast?” His words should have been ridiculous to her, but they weren’t. “Or maybe you’d like to be on top. Watching my face as I pound into you from below.” His words shouldn’t have affected her the way they did. They shouldn’t have been so intoxicating. “Maybe you’d like to be face-to-face? Feel every inch of me as we move together? I can be slow and gentle. I promise I can have you aching and begging and I’ll… I’ll give you everything you want.”
His eyes were impossibly dark with want as he searched Lucy’s face before training his gaze on her lips; he leaned down to kiss her. Abruptly, Lucy spun and tripped her way away from Jenson. In her panic, she managed to jab him in the ribs with her elbow and he inhaled with a sharp gasp.
“I’m so sor-” She spun around yet again, slamming her elbow into the dresser, knocking over the phone and sending it flying with a loud crash. “Shit, my elbow.”
Jenson grabbed at his head, doubling over at the noise she’d just made, reminding her of his headache.
“Let me get those pain meds. Go and sit down.” She rushed away, feeling both guilty and relieved at the chance to escape him. Her toiletry bag was in the bathroom and she started digging around in it. “How long have you had the headache?”
“A few hours, but it’s getting worse.”
“You should have told me sooner.”
“I didn’t want to bother you. I thought I could handle it.”
Finding the bottle of Motrin, Lucy stood up triumphantly. She fished out two pills, poured a glass of water, and made her way to Jenson’s side. He took the pills and water from her carefully. She watched as he swallowed down the pills and water, her eyes attracted to his bobbing Adam’s apple. Instead of leaving her room, he remained seated on her bed, his eyes tightly closed and breathing deeply.
She felt bad he’d suffered in silence for so long, just so they could make good time on their journey. Jenson cupped at his head, grimacing, as if trying to will the pain away, and Lucy considered offering to massage his neck, but decided against it. After the ‘moment’ they’d just had, it wouldn’t have been a good idea for her to touch him.
“Would you like some tea? Something with lemon might make you feel better.” Her voice sounded too loud, too bright, in the quiet room. Jenson hissed, taking in a deep breath.
“No, thank you. Just give me a second, and I’ll be out of your hair.”
“Stay as long as you need.”
She sat on the other side of the bed to watch him. She felt helpless as he closed his eyes and gritted his teeth against the pain. Slowly, minutes ticked by, and eventually, Lucy saw the strain in Jenson’s face begin to ease a little.
“That’s a little better. Sorry for the intrusion.”
Lucy noticed that was the only thing he was apologizing for, but she was the one who brought up the subject of sex.
“Don’t worry about it. Honestly, I’m surprised at how not tired I am.” Someone stumbling through a motel door after midnight wakes a girl up.
“Thank you.” Jenson’s voice was strengthening slightly.
“For?”
“This.” His blue eyes, now free from the lust that was evident ten minutes earlier, closed once more and his body relaxed more. Quietly, Lucy couldn’t help but look at him, her eyes following the exquisite lines of his face. Strong eyebrows, beautifully sculpted cheeks, a slightly crooked nose, a proud jawline, and those lips. She couldn’t help but remember those lips, both wonderfully and terribly seared into her memory.
Her gaze wandered, following over the lines of his body. Over muscled arms to the scar on his right shoulder. It had to be at least four inches long. His left hand slowly reached up to cover the scar, hiding it from her view, as she realized his eyes were now open and watching her.
“Sorry. I don’t remember you having this. It looks pretty fresh.”
“It’s okay.”
“Does it still hurt?” She couldn’t stop the question tumbling out of her mouth.
“Nah, not really.”
“How did it happen?” Again, the words were out of her mouth before she realized.
Jenson went quiet for a moment. He sighed before smiling ruefully, looking up at the ceiling.
“Let’s see… It was the end of fall semester my junior year. We were on the road in Colorado, and it was raining. I remember calling the play, lining up on the field, calling for the snap of the ball, and that’s about it. The next thing I remember is waking up in a dark hospital room. My arm was in some kind of traction device, and I had tubes coming out of everywhere.” He paused and sighed. It was obviously painful for him to talk about. “That was the last time I played football. I lost my scholarship and had to start over. I’d torn the ligament in my shoulder and this is the result of the surgery to repair it. As you can probably tell, it wasn’t successful.”
It was awful. For as long as Lucy could remember, football was Jenson’s passion, his identity. He invested so much time and effort into training and games. Travelled state to state to play and missed out on things. It had also made him self-centered and arrogant while they were in high school.
“How did you manage? Having something ripped away from you like that?”
Jenson tilted his head, looking at her as if her question surprised him. “It was easier for me than it was for my dad, let’s put it that way.”
“You were his pride and joy…”
“Personal failures are hard to live with and overcome, but it’s so much worse when you see them every time y
our old man looks at you.”
Lucy understood that more than he realized. That was the look she got from her mom every time she asked if she had any prospective buyers. The heavy expectation… and the flowing disappointment.
Both of them sat quietly for several minutes, lost in their own thoughts. When Jenson shifted his position, Lucy looked over at him as he looked at her nightstand.
“I saw you pull your iPod out earlier in the car. What are you listening to?” Jenson asked.
“Nothing you’d be interested in.”
“Try me.”
“The Princess Bride audiobook.”
“A fairy tale?”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing. I like fairy tales.”
“Oh yeah? What’s your favorite?”
Jenson smiled as he considered his answer. “Hmmm… I would have to say, Beauty and the Beast.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it’s relatable.”
“Why, because you’re the beauty?” Both of them smiled at her choice of words.
“The opposite actually.” Jenson stood, picked up his empty glass, and placed it on the dresser. “Thanks for everything. I feel much better.” Reaching the door of Lucy’s room, he opened it and turned around one last time to look at her. “See you in the morning, Lucy.”
“See you.”
* * *
Jenson’s car ate the miles and dust of the country highway and it was four p.m. when they made a stop. A server welcomed Lucy to the small diner when she walked in as Jenson filled the car with gas. The server looked out of the window across the road where Jenson was visible.
“I’m guessing you guys aren’t from around here,” she commented as she plucked two menus from a holder at the hostess station and guided Lucy to a booth.
“We’re from California.”
The server, Kelly as her name tag stated, gushed about a trip she’d taken to Malibu a few years previously. Lucy didn’t pay much attention.
“So, where are you and that hot piece across the road headed to?” Her forwardness made Lucy splutter.
“Jenson?”
“Well, I ain’t talking about old Geoff at the gas station, honey. I’m not gonna lie and tell you I ain’t jealous of you right now.” Lucy debated correcting her, but after they ate and rested, they’d leave and never see the diner, or Kelly, again.
“We’re heading to Boston.” Lucy expected Kelly to gush some more, but the woman surprised her by sliding into the seat opposite, resting her elbows on the table and leaning forward.
“I hope you’re not in a rush. It’s a fair distance, which means a lot of nights in hotels and it can get cold round these parts. It’s nice to have someone to cuddle up with, if you know what I mean.” At her wink, Lucy could feel the blush creeping up her neck and into her cheeks. “Why you blushing? If that were my guy, those arms and that tush would be toned for a reason. Aw, look. He’s making googly eyes at you.”
Following Kelly’s line of vision, Lucy found Jenson standing at the pump staring right through the window at her. Unable to take it, she dropped her warm face into her hands.
“He’s not mine. We’re only driving together,” she admitted, not sure exactly why she was.
“Really, he’s single? Damn.” Openly ogling Jenson through the window, the look on Kelly’s face made Lucy feel uncomfortable. She decided to change the subject.
“Uhm… what kind of cheese do you use on your sandwiches?”
“Wisconsin cheddar.” Kelly didn’t remove her gaze from Jenson. “So, what’s the story? If you ain’t a couple, why are you drivin’ all the way from Cali to Boston?”
Sighing, Lucy answered the question. “My best friend is getting married. That ‘hot piece’, as you called him, is her brother.”
“Well, this story just gets juicier.” Kelly actually cackled which aggravated Lucy.
“No, it’s not like that. I have a boyfriend.”
“Holy shit. And he let you drive thousands of miles with that hot hunk of a man?”
“He trusts me.”
“Well, honey. Trust only takes you so far-”
Getting irritated, Lucy slapped the menu onto the table in front of her. “Can we have two coffees please? With cream.”
Getting the message loud and clear, and narrowing her eyes at Lucy, Kelly pulled herself out of the booth to her feet. “Anything else?” Her voice had lost all the warmth from moments before.
“No, thank you. That’s all.”
The server spun around, eager to get away from Lucy and her sudden change in mood. As she walked away, Lucy felt guilty for offending the woman. Trust Jenson to stir up the gossip in a small town without actually doing anything. Thinking of him drew Lucy’s eyes back to the window and across the road. He was still at the pump, but now had a phone held against his ear, yet his eyes were still locked on Lucy. He waved at her, and the small motion sent gooseflesh over her skin, and a flash of thrill flowing throughout her body.
I haven’t felt this way since junior year. I’m being ridiculous, and I need to stop thinking about him this way. The last time was a mistake, and this is too. She admonished herself for the way her body reacted to him and such an innocent gesture.
Music filled the Phillips’ lounge, along with the voices and laughter of Lucy’s classmates. When she and Megan had entered the house after Megan’s dance rehearsal, they were surprised to see that Jenson had come back from college early. Mrs. Phillips was ecstatic to see him, less so when she found out he had a busted ankle and had been benched.
Megan was pleased to see him and got excited he’d be able to make it to opening night of her performance in a few days. Lucy just wished she’d stayed at home.
“Sorry it took me so long to get here, Luce. The drive took longer than expected.” Matthew’s voice distracted her from thinking about Jenson. He’d been staying with his grandparents just outside of town.
“Hey, it’s fine. How are your grandparents?”
“They’re great. We went golfing at Grandpa’s club. He had a new driver that he wanted to show off and…” As he spoke, Megan sat on the seat on the other side of him, making silent and exaggerated gagging motions behind Matthew’s back.
Although the three of them had been friends for years, Megan had always found him to be boring and stuffy. ‘Old before his time’ she’d described him as more than once, and her opinions of him hadn’t changed, even though he and Lucy were now officially dating.
Watching Matthew, nodding and agreeing in all the right places, Lucy couldn’t help but glance over towards the loudest area of the lounge. Jenson was holding center court, surrounded by his old high school friends. They were flocking around him, excited by the return of their golden boy. Despite being surrounded by his friends, Jenson stared intently in their direction to where Lucy, Matthew, and Megan were sitting, particularly at Lucy who looked away from him sharply. She closed her eyes, feeling suddenly light-headed.
She couldn’t understand; he hadn’t bothered to speak to her since she last saw him five months previously, so why would he be staring at her so much? It wasn’t even the first time since she’d walked into the house. She’d resigned herself a long time ago that the evening at the lake was a one-time thing. Jenson got what he wanted from her and had moved on. She’d moved on too, with Matthew, yet she hadn’t ever been able to shift the sadness deep within her whenever she thought about him.
“Are you okay, Lucy?” Matthew asked her.
“Sorry. I zoned out for a moment. I’m okay.”
“It’s fine. I understand that golfing isn’t the flashiest sport out there, but I think you’d enjoy it. Maybe next time I drive down, you should come with me. I could teach you to play, and then it won’t be so boring when I next speak about it.” When he finished speaking, Matthew turned to face Megan, his eyes narrowed at her.
“What? I didn’t say anything this time.” She had a wide grin on her face. Megan had always loved teas
ing Matthew over his ‘old man’ hobbies and interests.
“You thought it though.”
Playfully, the two of them bickered with one another, giving Lucy the chance to look over at Jenson again. As she looked over at him, she saw Jenson in the process of turning away from her. Relief flooded through her; she was worried Megan would see him looking at her and work out something had happened between them.
As she watched him, Jenson disengaged from the crowd surrounding him and turned to shout at his friends.
“We’re out of soda. I’m heading to get some more.”
Lucy saw her opportunity to try to speak with him in private, to make sure they were okay and double check he wouldn’t tell anyone about what had happened, even though it was him who asked her not to tell anyone. Before she tried to stand, a steady, warm grip wrapped around her wrist, before trailing down to take hold of her hand.
“Shall we go out to the back porch? We could get away from all this noise.” Matthew looked hopeful as he spoke. “It’ll be easier to catch up.”
Lucy looked down at their joined hands, watching as he rubbed his thumb over her knuckles, drawing small circles on the back of her hand with a blunt nail. She glanced over at Megan, who was deep in conversation with a cute guy from their biology class.
Unsure what to do, Lucy nibbled at her bottom lip. She may not get another chance to talk to Jenson, but she also hadn’t seen Matthew for a few days while he was away…
“I’m going to stay here for a while. Is that okay?”
Megan overheard their conversation and turned to face Lucy. “Go outside, make kissy faces at one another. It’s fine.” Using her large, brown eyes, she tried to telepathically tell Lucy that she wanted to be alone with the cute guy.
“Maybe we can go out later. I’ll get us all some drinks.” Matthew was clearly as telepathic as Lucy – not at all.
“My brother just announced that he was going to get some more soda from the garage. Maybe you could give him a hand.”
“I’ll do that. Be back in a bit.”
Lucy and Megan watched as Matthew walked into the hallway after Jenson.
Her Best Friend’s Brother Page 8
