“Pop, how can I not act differently around them now?”
“You are going to have to. There is no other option. If I didn’t think you could handle this, I wouldn’t have told you.”
I don’t know how I can do that, but whatever Pop needs me to do, I will. I blow out a breath. “Okay, Pop. Whatever you need.”
When he stands up, I see this is physically taking a toll on him. “Get back to work, and keep your eyes open.”
I stand and walk up to him, wrapping my arms around his waist, laying my head on his chest. “Pop, I know this is horrible, but you need to take care of yourself. Are you eating? Are you sleeping?”
He pats my back and grasps my arms, pushing me away slightly to look into my eyes. “Yes, J-bird. I am eating some and trying to sleep. I’m good. You don’t have to worry about the old man.”
Looking into his tired eyes, I do worry. He’s all I have. “You know I worry, Pop. That is never going to change.”
“I love you, J-bird.” He smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
“I love you, too.”
With those words, Pop heads back to his desk and sits, picking up his cell phone. I watch him dial a number and sit back. I am almost completely through the door when he calls to me.
“Hey, J,” he says, holding his cell phone away from his mouth. “Cancel family dinner for tonight.”
I nod at him as I walk out the door. What the hell excuse am I supposed to come up with to cancel dinner tonight?
I head straight for Nan’s desk, waiting for her to meet my eyes. When she finally looks up, she looks as tired as Pop. “We need to cancel tonight’s dinner, but I have no idea what to tell everybody as to why.”
She nods. “I’ll handle it. I’ll make sure the guys all know before they leave for the day.”
“Thanks, Nan. I am going to finish this brake job, then I’m out of here. This day has turned to shit.”
“I hear that,” she mumbles as she types away on her computer.
I can’t wait to get out of here. There is so much running through my head right now, I can’t see straight. I am almost glad I have Sarah’s party tomorrow... Almost.
Chapter Nine
J
“Will you please stop fidgeting? You look amazing.” I pull on the hem of the little black dress Jules forced me to wear. “Will you just go look?” She points to the full-length mirror on the wall. I don’t usually dress up for any reason, but Sarah’s bachelorette party is tonight. When I told her she could do whatever she wanted to make me pretty, Jules was like a kid on Christmas. After seeing the short length of this dress, I am starting to reconsider those words.
I walk over to the mirror and look at what she has created. I don’t even recognize the person looking back at me. My hair falls in waves down my back. My makeup looks amazing. She gave me the smoky eyes I always hear her talk about. Just the right amount of cleavage shows, but not so much that I look like I’m trash. I turn to the side and look at how the little black dress hugs every one of my curves. Curves I am pretty damn proud of, but which are usually never on display. My black heels make it look like my legs go on for days.
I bring my eyes back up to meet Jules’ as she stands over my shoulder, biting her lip. I smile.
“You love it, don’t you?”
“Well, I do look pretty fucking hot.”
“Yes, you do, babe. Here is to a great night.” She hands me a shot. “To finding sexy men, dancing our asses off, and not remembering any of it.” We both giggle as we throw back the clear liquid.
The music blasting outside my apartment lets us know the party bus is pulling up. I open the building door to see Sarah, Olivia, Beth, and Trina all stand in the open doorway of the bus. “Bitches!” they yell in unison. “Let’s get this party started!”
Laughing, Jules and I climb onto the bus, P!nk blasting from the stereo system. Sarah sports the typical “I’m the bride” sash and has a shot glass necklace hanging around her neck, a penis set every couple inches. I crack up as I walk to a seat. The women all turn their heads and watch me, mouths open.
“Holy fuck, J. You look amazing!” Olivia yells.
My friends have never seen this side of me. Hell, I don’t remember ever showing this side to anybody. “It was all her,” I say, pointing to Jules.
Jules stands up, holding a bottle. “It’s party time!”
I silently thank her for taking the spotlight off me. I am so out of my element, wondering what the boys would think if they saw me like this. Maybe I should snap a few photos.
*
When the bus parks and we walk into the club, I am pretty sure none of us feel any pain. Our little group has now expanded to about twenty. This is the fourth and final stop. We have danced, laughed, and drank…a lot. The girls go get a table while I head to the bathroom.
Once I’m done, I open the door, head down as I adjust my dress, running right into something solid. I stumble to the side, strong arms wrapping around me to keep me from falling to the floor. My hair covers my face as I try to collect my bearings. When I feel I can stand without a wobble, I look up at my knight in shining armor. Oh god. Of all fucking people to run into, why was it him?
“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
“I’m…” The words die on my lips. I clear my throat. “I’m fine. Thanks.”
“Are you sure?”
I look down, trying not to make eye contact, realizing his hands are still on my waist.
The door from the bathroom hallway to the bar opens. “J, what are you doing? Livy is doing body shots off some… Oh. Hey, Cole.”
I look up to see him look over my shoulder, then down at me, confusion in his eyes. “J?”
“Hey, Cole.”
He pulls his hands away and shoves them into his pockets. “I didn’t know that was you. You look…” He looks me up and down. “You look…” His eyes shoot back to mine.
“Yeah. It’s girls’ night out. Thanks for the save.” I turn and walk toward Jules.
Even with the music blaring, I swear I hear him mutter, “Damn.”
Smiling when I reach Jules, she links her arm through mine as we walk out the door. “Wanna tell me what the fuck that smile is about?”
“Nothing. I ran into him, literally, and he saved me from falling. You walked through the door and called my name. End of story.”
“Not end of story. He had no idea it was you.”
“No, he didn’t. Come on. I am suddenly in the mood to get plastered,” I say, walking to the bar. I can feel Jules staring at the side of my face. “What? It’s a party, right?”
“Is there something more between the two of you?”
“Who? Me and Cole?”
“Yes, bitch, you and Cole.”
“Nope. There’s absolutely nothing between us. I told you we agreed to just talk to each other at work. Nothing more.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” she laughs, getting the bartender’s attention.
After ordering drinks, I see Cole walk out of the hall and head to a table where two other men are sitting. Wonder who they are?
What the fuck am I doing? One touch of his hands, feeling his body against mine, and I suddenly can’t forget the feel of his lips. It happened more than a week ago, but I can still feel him. I shake myself and pull my fingers from my lips. Nope, not him. Not tonight.
I jump when Jules hits my arm. “Where the hell were you? I said your name five times.”
“Just watching the dance floor, thinking we need to go shake our asses.”
“Yes!” she yells as she grabs my hand and drags me out into the throngs of people moving to the music. I have no idea what song is playing because I normally don’t listen to R&B. I am all about rock. But this shit really does make you want to move. I close my eyes and let the rhythm take me.
Before I realize, it has been at least an hour and a dozen songs. I’m a sweaty mess, and my thighs are screaming from dancing in these heels. Yes, they make my as
s look amazing, but damn. These fuckers hurt. We finally head back to our table.
“You may say it’s nothing, but he hasn’t taken his eyes off you all night,” Jules says with a smirk.
“Who?” I say, taking a seat.
“Who? Really, J? Being coy doesn’t suit you. I’m taking about Cole.”
As much as I want to turn and look at him to see if she is telling me the truth, I don’t. I can’t. I refuse to put myself in that position again. I need to get my shit together before I even think about men. Yes, I can look, really wanting to touch, but I need to keep this shit in check.
“Jules, please. Just leave it alone.”
“All right, but I still say there is more to be explored.”
I turn to Sarah, who is way past her limit and will feel every bit of this tomorrow. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t celebrate in the best way possible? I stand up. “One more round of shots, bitches. Who’s got the balls?”
I hear yelling and whistling behind me as I head to the bar. When I order twenty-five Cum in Your Panties shots, the bartender looks at me with a raised eyebrow.
“Can you make them?” I ask.
“I’m not an idiot.”
I turn and point. “See those girls over there? It’s for them.”
He looks, then narrows his eyes. “Do you ladies have a designated driver tonight, or will I need to start calling cabs at closing?”
“We have a party bus outside, but I appreciate your worry.” I wink at him.
Mr. Cutie Bartender winks back. “Go back to your table. I’ll bring these over. It’s going to take me a few minutes to get them all made. I don’t want you to spill or drop the tray.”
I nod. He’s right. I may have sweat out a lot of the alcohol while dancing, I don’t feel the effects as much as I did before, but I am still new to walking in these slutty heels.
Once Mr. Cutie drops off the shots, I gather all the girls for a toast to Sarah and her marriage. “All right. Everyone grab a Cum in Your Panties.” That sends the girls into hysterics. “To Sarah… May your love be a thousand miles long, but come in eight-inch installments. May you come more than you go, and may you always go to bed smiling. Congratulations! We love you. Drink up, bitches!”
After the hoots and hollers finally stop, all the girls who can still stand head to the dance floor. I start matching purses and people, hoping we didn’t lose one along the way. Last call should be soon, and I don’t want to leave anything behind. As I look under the table, I see a pair of legs come walking up. I stand to see Cole a few inches from me, hands jammed into his pockets, just staring. I cock my head, trying to figure out what his game is.
He moves in, closing the distance. He leans toward my ear. When he starts to speak, his lips graze it, sending shockwaves throughout my body.
“J, you look beautiful tonight. I didn’t get to tell you that earlier. I know we agreed to ignore this thing between us. Believe me, I am trying, I fucking swear I am, but it’s taking everything I have to keep my hands jammed into these pockets because…” He takes a deep breath, releasing it against my ear and neck, making me tremble with want. “Because if I take them out, I am going to touch you and I’m not going to stop until you are quaking underneath me. That’s not what you want. So I am just going to say goodnight, J. Sleep well.” His lips press against that spot right beneath my ear, melting me where I stand.
Releasing a shaky breath, I watch him walk away.
“What the hell was that?” Jules asks when she walks up.
“I’m… I’m not really sure.” My voice trembles as the lights flash for last call.
Jules and I start herding all the girls to the bus. Luckily, they are all staying at Sarah’s since Chris is out of town for his bachelor party. I spend the ride home lost in my thoughts. Thankfully, Jules and I are getting dropped off at my place first. I look around the bus when Fred, the driver, pulls into the parking lot. Some girls are already passed out, a few are throwing up in garbage bags.
I cringe as I walk past Fred. “Thank you for tonight. We had fun…some a little more than others,” I say when I hear someone heave. “Get them home safely, Fred.” He nods as Jules and I exit the bus.
I may not have looked forward to tonight, but I needed it, except that shit with Cole. I did not need that.
Chapter Ten
Cole
When I walk out, I take big breaths of fresh air. Fuck, what the hell was that? I should have left hours ago. Now I’m going home, alone, with my dick hard enough to pound nails. Shaking my head, I see Asher leaning against his car.
He and I go back around seventeen or eighteen years. We met in high school. He was a grade ahead of me, but we were both on the football team. After all the lifting and running I did, I was pretty big for my age. At one of our first practices, he made a point of pounding me into the ground after I made a catch. I let him think he got one over on me…until the following practice when I laid his ass out. While he scowled at me from the ground, I asked if we were even or if we were going to be doing this the whole season. He gave me a smile and held up his hand for me to help him. We’ve been like brothers ever since.
“Seeing that you are out here alone, I guess she turned you down?”
“Fuck you, man. I didn’t even ask her anything. I just… Never mind.” The asshole actually laughs at me.
“Listen. Thanks for coming out with me tonight. That case is kicking my ass. I needed a fucking break.”
Asher Thompson is a police detective in the Narcotics division. I can always tell when he is on a big case because I won’t hear from him for weeks. When I finally do, all he wants to do is get drunk. He is a man of few words, but the ones he does say usually have a purpose. He doesn’t feel the need to have meaningless conversations. He says what he needs to, then he’s done.
He is one of the few people who know about my past and the hell I crawled out of. He’s never judged, never offered advice. He just listens. For that, I will always be grateful.
“No problem, man. After the shit week I’ve had, I needed this as much as you. I was happy to see Mick. He’s still an asshole, but it’s been too long.” Asher brought his brother-in-law, Mick, who is truly one of the funniest people I know and built like a brick shithouse. I believe he had a neck at some point in his life, but all the lifting has caused his head to just rest on top of his shoulders now.
Asher turns toward his car. “I almost forgot. Who was that hot little blonde who kept looking our way?”
“Jules.”
“What?”
“The hot little blonde… Her name is Jules. She’s J’s best friend.”
He nods. “Good to know.” With that, Asher gets into his car and gives me a wave as he pulls away from the sidewalk.
I turn to walk to my car when the club door bangs open and the girls start spilling out, heading toward the bus. I smile when I see J and Jules pulling and dragging other chicks up the bus steps. The things she does to me have my head spinning.
Knowing that the night is going to end with a cold shower and my hand is sad in so many ways. I shake my head and walk toward my car.
*
After a long night of tossing and turning, the gym seems to be the best way to work off some steam. I drop my bag off in the locker room and head for the gym floor. I look at the free weights. Thinking better of it, I head for the treadmill. I need to work through the shit in my head, and the best way for me to do that is to get lost in a few miles. Running has always been my escape.
I need to get J out of my head. I don’t know what it is about her. I wonder if it’s her “no bullshit” attitude, her stubbornness, her strength, or her ass. Jesus, that ass. The thoughts I’ve had about that ass. She’s sexy as hell, but doesn’t have a fucking clue. I’ve never seen anyone like her. The fact she’s a mechanic is sexy in itself. I never thought about a woman doing this job, but she does, and damn if she doesn’t do it fucking better than half the men I know. The way her fucking body fits p
erfectly against mine. The way she melted into that kiss at the hotel. Jesus, just thinking about it makes my dick hard.
I’m five miles in and haven’t worked through shit. There is something about her that just draws me in, but I know I’m no fucking good. Nobody wants a guy with the kind of baggage I have. I don’t have enough to offer her.
I need to forget about her. I’ve come this far without a woman. Yes, I’ve been with women, but I’ve never called one mine and am not about to fucking start now. I need to get laid. That has to be the problem. I don’t know why she has this hold over me, but maybe getting laid will get J off my fucking brain.
Trust in Us (Forbidden Love Book 1) Page 6
