by Pamela Ann
It throbbed so badly the immediate impact of cold against my skin made me hiss. “Careful. Be careful. Don’t press too hard please.” Tonight surely wasn’t my night. Whenever Drew was involved, some mishap tended to happen.
I was about to spout out a thank you when I caught him intensely looking at my leg. I was so caught up I hadn’t taken into account that I was wearing a skirt yet again. Although it wasn’t as short as the last one, it was a pink and white plaid that reminded me of the movie Clueless. It was one of the things I had that wasn’t black or white. Clothes shopping should be on top of my list since I needed more variety in my closet.
Pondering my wardrobe came to a screeching halt when I felt him begin to massage my ankle before kneading where the ankle and foot connected, the sensitive part where, if you pinched it a little, you would scream like a little bitch in the manger because it was so excruciating it was foul.
“You look on the verge of tears,” he mused before grinning.
Before I had the chance to argue with him, he easily shut me up by using that blasted hand of his and proceeding to massage my calves in such a slow, unhurried manner that it was borderline sexual.
His ministrations infused my cheeks with pink as he carried on upward in that same hypnotic manner that almost short-circuited my brain. When those damn fingers reached the inside part of my thigh, I had to bite my bottom lip as hard as I could to refrain from moaning his name. Was I overreacting, or was I sexually frustrated? It was getting ridiculous to the point of being overbearing.
“How’s the toe?” he asked, unlatching his fingers from my inner thigh before gradually removing the icepack.
“It’s feeling much—” I was in the middle of my speech when he robbed me of words. I was thunderstruck from witnessing the tip of his tongue emerge from those lips, licking the tip of my toe, and then he began sucking it. “Drew …” I breathlessly moaned his name while I dug my nails into the couch.
“Does it feel better?” He looked up from his bent head while he playfully teased the pad of my toe with his tongue. Never had anything so odd and nasty looked inconceivably sexy in my eyes.
I shifted uncomfortably, aroused beyond comprehension. “Yes …”
Was it so bad that I wanted him to keep going? The very image of him gazing upon me with those lascivious eyes almost undid me. “Please stop.” I begged, though my body thought otherwise.
He paused as those piercing eyes caught me once again. He gently kissed the tip of my toe and sent me a lazy, devil-may-care smile. “I’m sorry. I got caught up. That vision of you aroused … It used to keep me up at night.”
He used to think about me at night? Even if it were sexual, it somehow gave me a glimpse of where his thoughts resided when it came to me.
“You just said you’re not the man for me, yet you pull something like this?”
“Even a strong man can have a few weaknesses. You’re one of them.” He stated it in a way that could only be perceived as though he despised the very idea.
All that high my body had received from his ministrations immediately vanished as I gazed upon his chiseled face. “You don’t like that you want me against your better judgment.”
“How could any man withstand it? Your body is made to stir up a saint.”
“Is that why you took my virginity? I mean, I threw myself at you so many times I lost count, but that night … That night, you gave in.”
“It’s hard to control it when I’m drunk.”
He had been drunk. Great. How convenient an excuse.
“Well, control no more. I’m not that naive virgin anymore, and I can guarantee you that I won’t beg you for anything. Not now, not ever. You’re the last man I’d sleep with, so help me God.”
“Seeing how you let Spencer’s hands all over you, there’s no denying how much you’ve changed when it comes to men.” His snarky retort merely egged me on.
My chest heaved as I carefully stood up.
I’d had enough of these confrontations. The more I had them with him, the more I realized how wretched he was.
“Thank you for clearing up everything, Drew. You can keep your sorry cupcakes along with your sorry dick.”
He instantly stood up, stopping me with his hand. “Chloe—”
My eyes lasered in on his fingers wrapped around my arm. His confessions did nothing but damage my confidence. Clearly, I could do without any of it.
“If you’re not careful, I might think you’re drunk enough to fuck me again, Drew.”
He released me so fast it was laughable. “I’ll be out if you need anything. Are you sure you don’t need me to help you get to your room?”
“I’ll manage fine.” I couldn’t get away from him fast enough, limping my way into my comfort zone.
He was such a confusing puzzle that I wanted to scream at him for royally mind-fucking me so well I wasn’t sure which was which. He was sexually attracted to me, but loathed the very idea of it. So what did that entail? Should I delve deep into his psyche and analyze his polarized mentality? It would be a waste of effort. Maybe it was due to the fact that I wasn’t his type. It was pretty common for people to be sexually attracted to the opposite sex without finding them particularly attractive. Supposedly, that was my case, and if so, then there was nothing I could do about it.
Besides, we were better off not being friends. We were civilized when the situation called for it, but apart from that, it was better this way.
If every night ended like this, I wouldn’t fucking survive. There was no way in hell a person could withstand feeling as though they were getting stomped on by a thousand people on a nightly basis and come out mentally stable.
Truly, I’d had enough of this draining energy.
Chapter 42
The next morning, I woke up with a mild headache, and my toe didn’t feel any better. The throbbing pulse in my foot made me solely focus on the pain, which irritated me to no end.
Much to my surprise, there was another note on the side table, situated right next to the untouched cupcakes from the day prior.
Here’s some kinesiology tape. It could help alleviate some of the pain along with some pain reliever. YouTube should provide a tutorial if you need thorough instructions.
Please take care.
There was a roll of black bandage-like tape with a bottle of Aleve next to it. The gesture was beyond thoughtful, but after last night’s humiliating situation, the last thing I felt was warmth. This man went in and out of my bedroom as he pleased, which made me feel self-conscious because he did it while I was asleep. Top that with the thought of me drooling like a dumb idiot, and I couldn’t help feeling genuinely mortified. Oh, the thrills of sharing an apartment with a man you once fantasized about.
With less than an hour until my Economics class, I took a quick shower and brushed my teeth while I scanned YouTube so someone could show me how to use that special tape. I continued watching the tutorials while I got dressed then took some pain reliever before I went to sit on the edge of my bed and get to business.
The kinesiology tape was a longer version of a Band-Aid, but without the middle gauze padding. I admitted the pressure made it manageable to walk without having to limp. I supposed I should thank him for this when I saw him next. Even if he was unbearable sometimes, he was thoughtful when needed most.
But Drew hadn’t been back as far as I could tell. I even went to such a length as to leave my door open just in case I heard him enter. That moment never came. His absence cemented how he was very much avoiding me and sleeping at someone else’s home.
I admitted I was the least bit reasonable as of late, but he was far from being saintly, either. He had been hot and cold just as I had. If he spat fire, I didn’t back down. If he was being kind, I became less tense and guarded toward him. The extremeness of our reactions with each other took a toll on me. It proved how we were at odds, and I hardly believed there was a noncomplex solution for it. Therefore, I supposed his absence should be welco
med as a quiet reprieve from all the madness that ensued with each other.
That first day with my injured tiny limb was bearable as I went from class to class, but as the second day dragged, it was becoming apparent walking aggravated it more, so much so that the excruciating pain from moving alone made me cry out in agony. In between classes, I had to find somewhere to sit, take more pills, and wait for about ten minutes or so until the pain began to temporarily ebb away before I could function again.
The kinesiology tape had helped the day prior, but on the second day, the effect had lessened. It wasn’t the product’s fault but mine since I was giving it quite a work out, or maybe I had applied it wrong. For such a little piece of my anatomy, I hadn’t realized its importance until it was hurt.
“You look like you’re about to faint.” Jackson greeted me as he came out of his room while I flung myself on the nearest couch, exhausted beyond wonder.
My stomach was growling in protest, but I couldn’t seem to gather enough strength to limp my way into the kitchen and scour for food.
“I hurt my toe the other night, and it’s been giving me hell since.”
“Sheesh, Chloe, you seriously need to be careful.” Jacks came to join me in the living room, taking the opposing sofa facing me with a worried look on his face. “We’re leaving for Miami tomorrow. It’s a day earlier than planned, but what the heck? We might as well. The first week of classes weren’t that important, anyway. If you need me to stay, though, I will. I don’t mind either way since we haven’t really hung out since you got here.”
That was thoughtful of him to offer, but I didn’t need for him to halt his life to take care of me. He made it sound as if I were dying when, good grief, it was just an injured toe. An excruciating dilemma, but something I could very well tackle all by myself.
“Go and party for the both of us, Jacks. I don’t need a babysitter. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m all grown up. Thank but no thanks.”
He sent me a thoughtful smile. “I know you’re all grown and stuff, but you’re still my baby sister. Nothing will ever change that, little booger.”
Jackson was being sentimental, and I couldn’t help feeling this overwhelming over-protectiveness kick in out of nowhere. “Jacks, I know it’s none of my business, but aren’t you spending quite a lot of time with Yvonne and partying instead of school?”
“I know, but I just need to sort some stuff out.” He let out a tired sigh before leaning back against the cushion and shutting his eyes. “Yvonne’s great, but I’m not in love with her if that’s what you’re trying to get at. I’m just in a limbo, working on it.”
My brother sounded so lost. I wanted to reach out to him and give him a reassuring hug.
“I was told you go to Columbia; is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Care to tell me why?” It was a plea as much as it was a question.
“Drew had his future already mapped out. He had it all figured out. I thought, if I went to the same school, it would follow through for me, but it didn’t, Chlo. Each time I think about our life in Newport Beach, I always imagine that my life would be like theirs, and I don’t want that meaningless life, but I don’t know how to get where I need to be.”
He had never shared anything like this with me. It was bewildering to see him in such a state and feeling so helpless, and I couldn’t help him fix the root of his problem. He alone had to figure this out. It was up to him to see it through and never give up on his dreams, whatever they might be. Still, I had to know what was going on, and maybe talking about it would help him figure things out a bit.
“Is there something that’s holding you back?” I asked softly, hoping he would let me pick his brain a while until he shut himself off again.
“Have you ever hated someone so much you didn’t realize that, underneath all that hate, there’s love?”
I suddenly felt alarmed. Was he talking about me … or him? Then I realized he was speaking for himself after I saw his baffled expression.
“Is this about a woman? Is it Yvonne? Or someone else perhaps? Is it someone I know?” My unending string of queries most likely pressured him more, but I did it out of love … and curiosity. Who was the woman who affected him so much it had made him lose his way? It was damaging him, and if this kept on, what if it became too late to fix anything?
“It’s all bullshit. I don’t feel like talking about all of that.” He stood up and softly placed a kiss on my forehead. “I’ve gotta pack. I love you, Chlo. I know I don’t seem it, but I’m happy you’re here.”
“I love you, too, Jacks,” I murmured, watching him stroll back to his bedroom.
That last bit—that small exchange—made me somewhat tearful. Jackson was obviously going through an upheaval, and it was something huge. Call it growing pains or what of it, but it was affecting him more than he cared to admit. Worried would be an understatement.
It was beyond aggravating to see someone you love going through something life-altering when there was nothing to be done other than simply being there for them and praying the hurdle would soon pass.
Obviously, whomever this unknown person was, it surely wasn’t Yvonne. So who was it? Apart from her, I hadn’t seen him hang out with a female counterpart. I would have known if the woman tormenting him were from back home, so it had to have happened here. Whomever that woman might be, if I ever found out her identity, I would definitely give her a piece of my mind, and it sure as heck wouldn’t be black or white; it would be oh so colorful she would be blinded by it.
With a dejected sigh, I began to gather my bearings and move toward the kitchen. Since Jackson was preoccupied with tomorrow’s trip and packing his things, I didn’t want to intrude by asking him if he wanted dinner. He seemed as though he needed space to breathe.
I rummaged in the fridge for something light to stave off hunger. Quite honestly, after the long day, all I wanted was a long bath and some deep sleep.
Not willing to prolong my agony and with little selection to choose from, it wasn’t a hardship to pluck a small bottle of chocolate milk before I limped back toward my room to unwind, reflect, and reassess today’s events.
There was quite a lot to ponder.
With Jackson gone over the weekend and with Drew avoiding coming home, it looked like I would be spending it all by myself. This was a predicament I hadn’t expected. My current situation hadn’t ignited any new and promising friendships in the two days I had attended classes, so I supposed I would just go through Netflix until boredom settled in.
Chapter 43
Boarding now. Told Drew to check on you, so don’t get annoyed. Try not to party too hard while I’m away. Be safe. Love you, booger.
Jackson’s text made me sigh while I was in the middle of class. I appreciated that he had contacted Drew, even though they weren’t in such a good place with their friendship. They had always been that way—if they had a row, they always put their differences aside if there was something more important to be dealt with. Hopefully, they would find a way to mend things before this dragged on and the problem became too big, the gap too wide to bridge.
It was past six when I emerged from school. Like any normal student, I immediately delved straight into my phone, scrolling through text messages from Mom, Courtney, and one from Spencer.
Ignoring the rest, I began to write my best friend back since she had updated me about her new life in San Diego. She and I had been stuck like glue for as long as I could remember and were experiencing college differently.
In the middle of typing my reply about her taking time off to visit me, some random guy ran past me, bulldozing his way as he fiercely pushed me to the side, making me lose my balance and land on the side of the pavement. I didn’t even get the chance to huff in air before I felt my ankle twist completely, making me stumble and unceremoniously collapse on my ass.
“Sweetie, are you okay?” A frail, old black woman came to my rescue, frowning down at me with a concerned look on h
er face.
“I—” I dragged my eyes away from her before gazing down at my unfortunate situation. The agonizing pain in my foot had skyrocketed to new heights. Add in the shock, and I was a breath away from a panic attack. “My foot … it’s … I don’t think I can move it,” I choked out.
The woman didn’t even bat an eyelash before taking charge and calling 911 while the rest of the traffic carried on without barely glancing at me. Everyone was in a rush because most believed that time was money and being a good Samaritan would seriously cost too much time, effort, and maybe a little heart, which was a foreign word here, it seemed. I wondered, if I had worn a skirt, would it have been different. I wouldn’t ponder anymore because this wouldn’t happen again, not if I could help it. If this did ever happen again and some random guy shoved me to the side because he had to get somewhere in a heartbeat, I would chase him until he apologize like a true gentleman. A stretch to some, but hell, where were the fucking manners?
“They’re on their way,” the kind woman informed me with soulful eyes. “Can I assist you to sit on the pavement until they get here? My back isn’t in the best of conditions, but my determination will get us there.”
“Oh, no. No, you’ve done enough for me by calling for help. Thank you, but hurting you while you help me wouldn’t either of us any good.” I gave the best smile I could muster. I was holding on by a very loose thread. “But could you do me one favor? Do you mind picking up my phone? It’s a few steps behind you.” My eyes landed on the cracked screen, and I felt my heart falter.
She immediately went to pick it up and then handed it to me. She introduced herself as Evelyn. She had been on her way to Bingo night when she had seen me being pushed like garbage to the side. She stayed with me until the paramedics arrived, inspected me, and placed me on the stretcher. But before they carted me away, I made sure to get her number and address because I had to thank her somehow. Had it not been for her, God knew I would have crawled, pushing on my elbows to simply fetch my phone to call for help.
