Embracing Series Box Set #1-6

by Delisa Lynn

  Chapter Two

  Tatum

  “Thayer, it’s only for one night. Why is it that you always assume the worst? You know that I’m with you and only you,” I say into the receiver of my phone. He’s so insecure. If I hang out with anyone other than him, then, in his eyes, I’m cheating.

  “Well, I don’t think you should be hanging out with that crowd. It’s your senior year. You need to focus on your grades,” he says, his voice more harsh than usual.

  “Since when did you become my father? You’re my boyfriend, not my father.” I gotta hang up. He’s pissing me off more and more. “Look, I gotta go.”

  “Come on, baby. I just worry about you. Since your brother went off to college, I have to protect you, and you know as well as I do that Audrey is nothing but trouble. Look who her boyfriend is. Just come hang out with me.” He sighs. “Come on, Ta. I miss you.”

  “I think I’ll just stay in tonight. Mom needs my help with some stuff anyway, so I’ll talk to you later.” I hang up before he can say anything. I toss my phone on the foot of my bed.

  Thayer and I have been seeing each other for almost a year. He’s getting very clingy and overprotective. It’s starting to creep me out. My best friend, Audrey, started noticing it before I did. I thought she was overreacting because she and Thayer hate each other, but clearly she was right.

  There’s no way I’m going to let him ruin my night. I jump to my feet, grab my phone, and shoot a quick text to my best friend.

  I plug in my straightener, then I pin half my hair up as I fiddle for a few more bobby pins. Although I have a million, and I buy them every time I go to the store, I can never find one when I need it.

  After applying some light makeup, I head to my closet. I know exactly what I want to wear. I grab my holey skinny jeans and my cream cardigan. I look at my pile of shoes and my eyes dart straight to my pink cowboy boots. Yep, I’m wearing them. After I get dressed, I slide my boots on. I have to say, they’re the best part of my outfit. I grab my phone and my purse and skip down the stairs.

  “And just where are you off to?” Momma asks as she kisses my cheek.

  I smile. “Oh, just out with Audrey. Please, if Thayer calls,” I say as my eyes dip to my feet, “tell him I’m in bed.”

  She lifts my chin. “Baby girl, are you lying to that boy?”

  “He’s starting to get really clingy, Mom.” I sit on a stool next to the kitchen counter. “I like him, I really do, but this is my senior year. I want to live, ya know?”

  “I don’t like him much anyway.” She pats my leg. “Now, you be careful tonight. Please be home before two in the morning.”

  “Thanks, Ma. You’re the best.” I kiss her. “Can I take your car?”

  “Of course you can.”

  ***

  I’m meeting Audrey at Daisy’s. The three of us will ride to the party together. When I pull up in front of Audrey’s house, I honk the horn. Audrey skips out with her hair bouncing. She’s beautiful. My dumbass brother sure is going to hate it when she marries another man. They have been going back and forth with this ‘hate competition’ for as long as I can remember. Daisy is right behind her, shaking her head. She and Audrey argue more than they agree.

  Audrey slides in the backseat. “What’s up, hookerface? Did you lie to your loser boyfriend?” In a singsong voice, she says, “Daisy May can sit up front.”

  “I told you, my name isn’t Daisy May,” Daisy argues, closing the door.

  I laugh. “Y’all need to stop. May isn’t your middle name. It’s Jane, right?” I snort.

  “Yes, and this heifer always calls me Daisy May,” she whines. “Reminds me of someone from those old shows my grandma watches.”

  “This par-tay is going to be great. I’m so glad that Ian and I broke up. He was creeping me out. Tonight, I’ll be kissing Kyler!” Audrey chimes in from the backseat. “Have you seen that boy’s eyes? He’s almost as hot as Zander.”

  “Yuck, let’s not say Zander and hot in the same sentence. You remember, he is my brother!”

  “Poor you, because he is hot as fuck,” Daisy says, fanning herself.

  “Back up Daisy May, whorey pants. Zander is mine.”

  “Stop, I can’t breathe.” I’m laughing so hard. “I’m going to stop and get some orange juice, for the vodka.”

  I pull into the parking lot of the small gas station. I walk in and grab a gallon of orange juice and a few packs of gum.

  “Damn, Ta, you plan on drinking a lot tonight?” Daisy winks.

  “Yep,” I retort.

  “I’m so glad you came out with us. I hate Thayer.”

  “I’m glad I came too, and I know you do,” I reply. I stop myself from saying anything more, afraid to admit that I’m starting to hate him too.

  Chapter Three

  Evan

  Fuck, damn alarm. I’m not ready to get up for class. I’m sure Brody is still going to clown on me today. I’ll pay his ass back. I know he’ll have someone over soon.

  I head to class, hoping I won’t run into Alyssa. If I avoid her, she’ll eventually take the hint. I have an interview at a law firm next week and I don’t want any distractions. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Harrington and Bissell. Plus, it’s close to the loft and campus.

  I crammed as many classes into my schedule as I could, forgetting that I would need to make time for work and an internship. I received scholarships to help pay for college. My parents don’t have a lot of money since they both work as needed at Valca Middle school. Mom is a counselor and Dad is an English teacher. I was actually awarded a full-ride football scholarship to the University of Alabama, which thrilled my parents and grandparents. I love spending my summers in Alabama, but I don’t want to live there. I knew I wanted more than to be stuck there.

  I worked my ass off to get into NYU with an honors scholarship, and my grandparents helped by paying the rest of my tuition. My grandparents have money. Because of my grandfather’s farm, they’ll be set for the rest of their lives. At one time, I thought about working on the farm for the rest of my life, but that just isn’t me. I want to meet new people and explore the world. If I stayed on the farm in Birmingham that would never happen.

  ***

  While walking down Park Avenue, I bump into a beautiful blonde with a gorgeous smile. “Ma’am, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”

  She looks up into my eyes and says, “It’s okay, and please don’t call me ma’am.”

  I smile back at her and give her an apologetic wink. “Evan Martin, and you are?”

  She hesitates for a moment. Then she takes my hand and replies, “Malory.”

  “Well, it was very nice meeting you, Malory. I’m running late. I hope to run into you again,” I say as we part.

  As I walk into the law firm for my interview, I can’t stop thinking about Malory. I should have asked for her number, but she seemed like she was in as much of a hurry as I was. I check in with the receptionist and she gives me paperwork to fill out. I sit there for what seems like forever before an older woman approaches me and takes me back into a large conference room. She interviews me and tells me that she’ll be contacting me in a week or two.

  ***

  Three weeks have passed since my interview with Harrington and Bissell. Classes are going really well. I’ve tried to avoid Alyssa as much as possible, but she won’t go away. She’s asked me to meet her for dinner, and I think it will be the perfect time to tell her I just want to be friends and nothing more. I’ve never been annoyed or stalked by a girl before, but Alyssa is doing both.

  I’m on my way to her place to let her down easy. I’ve given her hint after hint. Apparently, hints aren’t enough. I’m hoping she isn’t home alone. As I lift my hand to knock on the door, she swings it open. I can see she’s practically naked. She invites me in. Hesitantly, I enter.

  “Hey, handsome. You ready to have a good time?” she asks.

  I need to let her know the truth. “Look, Alyssa, I ca
me to tell you that I’m not interested in you at all. I think that we should just stop seeing each other for good,” I say, making my voice as gentle as possible so she knows I’m not trying to hurt her feelings. I just don’t want anything to do with this girl.

  “Come on, Evan. We’re good together. I know no one can make you feel the way I do. No one can make you come the way I can.” She winks.

  Damn her, I’m not fucking her. I know that’s what she wants. “No, Alyssa, I’m done. And, to be honest, I’m not attracted to you at all. I’m sorry if I hurt you in any way.”

  She stops rubbing my chest and pushes me up against the wall. Then she starts unzipping my jeans. I throw my head against the wall. Fuck, I can’t do this with her. “No, you can’t do this!”

  She looks at me with hurt and anger in her eyes.

  “Evan, please let me do this one last time. Then you can leave and I won’t contact you again.”

  Fuck, why did she have to look at me like that? “Fine, this will be the last time,” I say as she pulls my pants down.

  As she tries to get me aroused, all I can think about is Malory’s smile. I wish I knew how to find her. I thought about asking around campus, but I didn’t.

  Oh damn, Alyssa does have one thing going for her. She’s awesome when it comes to oral.

  “Fuck me, Evan. Please, just this last time.”

  She pulls her panties down and backs her ass up against me. Goddamn, I don’t want to fuck her, but she has me so worked up. Once she pushes that ass into me, all I want is to be buried in her.

  I grab a condom out of my wallet, slide it on, and give it to her nice and hard, just as she asks. I grab her hips and thrust in and out. Just as I’m about to come, I imagine fucking Malory. Fuck, why am I thinking about her like this?

  “Evan, that was the best,” Alyssa says. Only if she knew I wasn’t thinking about her when I was buried deep inside of her.

  I kiss her cheek and say, “Goodbye, Alyssa.”

  I leave, hoping this is the last I’ll see of her.

  Chapter Four

  Evan

  It’s been a week and I haven’t seen or spoken to Alyssa. I’ve been focusing on my classes and working at the law firm. I got hired a few days ago.

  It’s Friday night, and Zander, Brody, and I are going to a new bar I heard about. I need to dance and have a few drinks. When we get there, I see it’s a karaoke bar.

  I know Brody is going to ask if I want to sing. I love to sing and play guitar. I order a beer and down it. Then I order another. Brody laughs and says, “You going to sing, dude?”

  I laugh and wink at him. “Yes, I think I will.”

  I rise to my feet and look through the song book. My finger hovers over a few songs until I find a song I know most of the lyrics to. It’s “The Trouble With Girls” by Scotty McCreery.

  As soon as I start singing on stage, I see a beautiful silhouette standing in front of me with the deepest brown eyes and blonde hair. I know that smile. I would remember it anywhere. I’m lost in the lyrics and her eyes…until I’m smacked by reality and see Alyssa.

  Why the hell is Malory with Alyssa? I have to talk to her. I can’t let her walk away tonight.

  When I finish the song, she’s nowhere in sight. Where the hell could she have gone that fast? I glance at the bar and see her. She’s wearing a deep purple dress. Her hair is lying in beautiful blonde curls down her back.

  “Hey, um…Malory, is it?” I ask. I know damn well what her name is.

  She looks at me with that beautiful smile and says, “Yes, how did you remember? Evan, right?”

  I smile, take her hand, and kiss the top of it. “Yes, my name is Evan. Dance with me.” I reach for her hand again.

  She has a puzzled look on her face. “Aren’t you with Alyssa?”

  Why the hell would she think that? Alyssa and I called it quits a week ago. We were never really together to begin with.

  “No, Alyssa and I are just friends, Mal.”

  Her smile fades a little, but then there’s a twinkle in her eye. She takes my hand and we head to the dance floor. The off key lyrics of “Hot in Herre” by Nelly is being fed through the speakers when we step out on the floor. I hope someone will sing a slow song so I can get even closer to this woman. She has her back against me and is dancing and grinding on me.

  I need to step back a little. The bulge in my pants is ready to bust my fucking zipper. Her aroma is breathtaking. She smells like vanilla. I put my hands on her hips, pull her closer to me, and nuzzle my chin in her neck. She lets out a little moan.

  Then the music changes to “Chasing Pavements” by Adele. I spin her around to look into her eyes. Damn, she’s beautiful.

  “Evan, you sure can dance. I thought I would never see you again. Then, when I did, Alyssa said you were her man.”

  “I thought I would never see you again. I’ve been waiting to see you, but I had no way of knowing where to find you. How do you know Alyssa?”

  That puzzled look comes on her face again, like she’s surprised I asked that question.

  “We’re roommates, Evan. You don’t remember seeing me at her place? The day I ran into you—well, when you ran into me on Park Avenue—I was surprised you didn’t recognize me then.”

  I can’t believe I hadn’t recognized her. I met her at a party that Alyssa’s group of friends were having a few months ago. Damn, that means she knows about Alyssa and me.

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart. There were so many people there that night. What do you say we get out of here and go for a walk?”

  I take her hand and we walk out into the midnight air.

  ***

  Classes have been going really well. I’ve been hanging out with Malory here and there. She seems like a really nice chick, but there’s something off about her. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with us. Brody isn’t feeling Malory’s friends, so I try to keep them away from the loft when he’s home.

  At eight, I pick Malory up and we head to dinner. I made reservations at a fancy Italian bistro by campus. Malory has more curves than any girl I’ve ever seen.

  I wink at her. “You look great tonight, Mal.” I prefer calling her Mal. It’s better than her full name.

  “Thanks. I hope dinner goes well. I have a surprise for you.”

  “Oh, is that right?” I chuckle. “I like surprises.”

  Forty minutes later, dinner is over. It was great. A classmate told me this was the best bistro around. Well, the food sure impressed me.

  “So, when will I get to see this surprise you have in store for me, Mal?”

  She turns to me and puts her hand on my knee.

  “Evan, take me back to your place. I would like to spend the night with you, if that’s okay with you?”

  Hell yeah it’s okay with me! I’ve wanted to be alone with her for weeks.

  “Of course it is, babe. Do you need anything from your place?”

  “Nope, got everything I need,” she says, patting her purse. Well, that explains why she brought a larger purse.

  As I pull into the parking lot of my loft, I see that Brody and Zander are there. I bet they’re going to show off as soon as I walk in with her.

  Alyssa, Kara, and Heather are sitting on the couch, giggling and talking. They stop and stare when we walk in. Zander started seeing Heather a few weeks back, but I’m surprised Kara and Alyssa are here. Alyssa said several things about me to Mal to try to get her to stay away from me. Thank God Mal didn’t listen.

  The girls spark up a conversation with Mal and pull her to the couch with them. Damn them, this was my time with her.

  “Hey, bro, let’s step out on the patio and have a beer,” Zan says. I need a cold one, so I head out. Brody follows with a smile plastered on his face.

  That smile always means one thing—he’s going to fuck with me about Alyssa’s annoying ass voice. Although I haven’t been with her in weeks, he still talks about her seal sounds.

  “So, have you fucked any seals la
tely, Evan?” he says as he throws his head back, laughing. Zander and I laugh as well.

  “What the fuck are y’all talking about?” Zan asks. I look at Brody, wondering if I should tell Zan.

  “Fuck you both,” I reply.

  I try to explain the joke to Zan, but all I can do is laugh. I think he finally got it, because he points in the loft toward Alyssa. I just shake my head.

  Chapter Five

  Tatum

  Things with Thayer are still rocky. It’s been a little over a year, and now that I am in college, it’s getting worse. He just doesn’t get that I have a life. He doesn’t want me hanging with my friends, or family, for that matter. He was pissed when he saw me at the mall with my mom. He was fuming so hard I thought for sure his head was going to pop off. Today is going to be a fresh start. I’m finally going to end things with him.

  My brother and his friend Evan will be here, and that will give me the perfect opportunity to stay away from Thayer. Once I break it off, I’ll have the two of them here for back up. As I approach Thayer’s house, I feel queasy. When I park my car in front of the house he shares with two friends, I see that only his car is there. Pushing all my bad feelings to the side, I make the dreaded few steps to the porch. I start to knock, but Thayer is right there in my face before I can do so.

  “Hey, baby. Come in, I was just thinking about you,” he says, pulling me by my arm.

  “Look,” I say, pulling away from his grasp. “I came here to tell you that it’s over. I can’t see you anymore. It’s just not working.”