by Renea Porter
His lips land on my forehead, and then his arms wrap around me as he guides us to his room. “It’s okay. I got you.” Flipping his sheets down, I get in while he gets in the other side and pulls me into him.
“This is so stupid.”
“What’s wrong, baby girl?” he breathes into my ear. His breath sends a shiver down my spine.
“I felt like I was about to have a panic attack once I laid down to sleep.”
“It’s okay. You are going through a lot of changes and it might be a lot at once. But you have me, and I got you. It’ll be okay. Just breathe.”
Thankfully, the tears don’t come streaming down. I take several deep breaths before settling in his arms, where I stay for the rest of the night.
***
I wake up, disoriented. I’m not in my room. I’m in Jace’s manly room, and his bed. He’s still asleep as I shift to my other side and look at his innocent face. His lips are full and luscious. His dark hair is barely messed up. I love the stubble that grazes his jaw line and chin.
Last night, I wanted to do more than have him hold me. But I didn’t want some fleeting moment to ruin the many years of friendship we had. Somehow, I’m going to have to find a way to suppress these feelings I’ve been having. Surely, he doesn’t feel the same way, because he doesn’t know the first thing about becoming boyfriend material.
With my finger, I flick his nose and laugh.
His eyes flip open. “Ow.” He rubs his nose.
“Come on; we need to get a move on it.” Standing, I yank the sheets down.
“I’m glad someone is bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning.”
“Come over and get coffee. I’m going to get dressed.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
PRESENT: JACE
When Simone disappears, I hop in the shower to get ready for our little road trip. The memory from last night is fresh in my mind. So fresh that I remember wanting to kiss all her fears away. I don’t even know if I’d be a good boyfriend, but for her, I’d try. I’d try my best not to lose her. Maybe I’ll get the nerve to tell her that.
After showering, the towel wrapped around my waist, I shave and put on some aftershave. In the bedroom, I grab a graphic tee and pull it on, followed by a pair of cargo shorts. Once I’m ready to leave, I put my luggage in the back of the truck and make my way over to Simone’s.
Even before entering, I can smell the coffee as it seeps through the place. I swear she loves coffee as much as I do. Or maybe that is just my excuse to see her every morning. Our daily ritual. She’s leaning against the counter, sipping on a mug already. With her other hand, she holds a mug out to me. I take it with a smile.
“You okay?”
She nods. “Mmm hmmm,” is all I get.
Apparently, she doesn’t want to talk about it, and I totally get it. Her ex is getting married this weekend, and that is probably what tipped her over last night. Everything at once became too much for her…and I was more than happy to comfort her and to hold her tight in my arms.
We sip our coffee in silence, her eyes on me and my eyes on her. She smiles, and I just want to grab hold of her and kiss her fiercely. But I’m too much of a chicken shit. No. I’m a pussy. I can’t even make a move on the girl I want more than anything. My best fucking friend. The one that gets me and my craziness. She has no clue how crazy I am. Is this what being in love feels like?
I set the empty mug in her sink. “I’ll get your luggage and meet you outside.”
“Okay.”
Moments later, she meets me in the truck. She looks sexy as hell in her short shorts that expose a lot of legs and a tank top. I can’t help but stare at her. She doesn’t notice while she fumbles with her purse and phone. Her blonde hair is hanging down in loose waves like she’s been at the beach all day, and my fingers itch to bury them deep in her strands.
“What?” Simone asks, catching my eyes roaming her body.
I shake my head from the daze. “Nothing. You all set?” She’s going to make it hard for me to concentrate.
“Yes. You good?”
I nod. “Yep. I’m all good.”
Along the journey, we don’t bother stopping to eat, because traffic will be a bitch getting out of the city and into The Hamptons.
Simone tosses me a granola bar, and then opens one for her. “So I don’t get hangry.” Hangry is her version of being so hungry she gets angry until she is fed. I think it’s cute in a Simone kind of way. “Hey. I went to see your brother yesterday at his office,” she mentions.
That surprises me, and my eyebrows arch up. “Oh yeah. About the contract?”
“Yeah. I actually thought it would be more awkward than it was. But, he looked it over and gave me the rundown in terms I understood. Said he’d have no problem with me signing it. Prior to that, I talked to Leah and Jared, and they are both on board. So after I saw James, I signed the contract.”
“Simone, that’s great.” I reach over and squeeze her hand. “I’m really happy for you.” And I really am.
“Really? You are?”
“Yes.” I chuckle. “It’s a good move for you. The next step, you know. So if James approves then I’m really happy for you.”
“Thanks so much.” Her hand no longer in mine, she leans over and kisses my cheek. “I told them I couldn’t start until after the holiday. Tuesday or Wednesday. And I’m a third owner of Sous Catering Industries.”
“See. Seeing James wasn’t so bad, huh?”
“No. Actually, it was nice. Like catching up with an old friend. But he was professional, and we’ll leave it at that. Now I won’t be so nervous seeing him this weekend.
“Good. I’m glad it all worked out.”
When I turn my head to her for a second, she smiles and nods, then starts to bob her head to the country music on the radio. I make a decision right then and there to tell her how I feel this weekend, because I can no longer keep this inside. Even if she doesn’t feel the same, at least we can remain friends.
Surprisingly, traffic is smoother than I anticipate. It only takes a couple of hours to arrive at my parents’ place. By The Hamptons’ standards, the house is considered small. To me, it’s a perfect size beach house. The back leads right out into the sand and ocean.
Simone’s eyes are wide. “This place is gorgeous.”
I lead us to the door with my hand on the small of her back. I think she actually shivers even though it’s nearly ninety degrees out. Mom spots us through the glass of the door. “Family does not have to knock,” Mom says, pulling Simone into a hug. “It’s been too long, girl.”
“I know. I’m sorry,” Simone says.
Letting Simone go, Mom embraces me. “Hey, Mom. Where’s Dad?” I ask, looking around.
“Oh. He’s coming later on tonight. He had some last minute stuff to take care of. You know your father. He never stops working. Come on and eat. Jane and the family just got here a little bit ago. And I’m going to assume you’re hungry.”
We follow Mom into the massive kitchen stainless steel appliances and white washed cupboards with a light wood countertops. It’s very beach themed.
“There’s the lovebirds,” Jane teases, standing from the table. We all exchange hugs and hellos. Mom tells us to sit and eat. There’s a spread of sandwiches, Mom’s famous macaroni salad, spears of pickles enough for an army. Simone and I sit and dig into the food.
“How was your drive up?” Mom asks.
“It was good. We must have left at the perfect time, because traffic wasn’t that bad,” I tell her with an arm across the back of Simone’s chair.
She plants a hand on my thigh while listening to Mom talk. I don’t know if she’s playing the part, or just being plain cruel. I’m afraid of what might happen if her hand goes any higher. She’s definitely playing the part.
“So what’s on the agenda today?” I ask, trying to focus my attention on something other than her hand on my thigh.
“Y’all can do what you want today. Hang out on
the beach, or whatever. Tomorrow is the bachelor and bachelorette parties, then Saturday we have rehearsal dinner, Sunday is the wedding and then Monday is the holiday.”
I nod. “Sounds good. I’m going to go get our luggage, show you around, and then we can get our swimsuits on,” I tell Simone.
Half a day on the beach sounds like exactly what I need. And the thought of Simone in a bikini just made my day.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
SIMONE- Age 16
Jace was the first to get a car. It was a red Mustang convertible. I know. How cliché. But I was envious because I only had my learner’s permit.
He dangled the keys in front of my face. “Do you want to go for a ride?”
“Of course I do.” I skipped off the porch and headed to the convertible. I was already in when Jace jogged toward the driver’s side.
He turned to me. “Top up or down?”
“Down.” It was an automatic answer. I was no priss, worried about my hair like most girls would be.
He flashed a devilish grin and pressed the button for the top to go down.
“Did you give Tonya a ride yet?” I asked about his current flavor of the week.
“No. We broke up last night. Besides, you will always be my number one.”
“Pinkie Promise?”
“I pinkie promise.”
I smiled wide, and didn’t ask for more details on the breakup because the car roared as we headed down the road. I didn’t care that my long hair tangled in the wind, because in that moment, I felt free.
Raising my arms up above my head, the wind whipped through my hair and it was the best feeling. Something changed that day between Jace and me. It was like I was seeing him in a different light. My stomach did funny flip flops whenever I was near him. Maybe it was the hormones kicking in I couldn’t pinpoint what it was exactly. Or maybe I was noticing the man Jace was becoming. And I wondered if our friendship would last forever.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
PRESENT: SIMONE
“I’ll go change in the bathroom, and you can change in here,” I tell Jace after he brings in the luggage and gives me a quick tour of the house.
Luckily we got one of the three rooms that has its own bathroom in the suite. Grabbing my two-piece, I head to the bathroom to change. My bikini is black with cut-outs strategically placed. When I come out of the bathroom, it looks like Jace’s jaw hits the floor.
“You call that a bathing suit?”
I look down then back up. “What? You don’t like it?”
“No. I mean, you look great. I’m sure all the guys will be checking you out,” he mutters.
As we start to walk, I link my arm with his. “But, I’m your woman, remember? You have nothing to worry about. Oh, and nice trunks,” I smirk.
“What’s wrong with my trunks?”
I laugh. “Nothing. They are just so Hawaiian.”
Jace shakes his head at me as he grabs a few beach towels from the hall closet. He takes my hand as we meet the others out back. Umbrellas are already set up, along with loungers. I grab one by Jane, and Jace is on the other side of me. But Jane’s husband comes over and takes Jace to play volleyball. I can’t help but watch in a trance as his muscles constrict when he moves to hit the ball over the net.
“I think someone is starting to like Jace for real,” Jane says, interjecting my thoughts.
“What? I have no idea what you are talking about. I was simply admiring the male specimen.”
Jane pulls her sunglasses on. “And I’m the queen of England. Who do you think you are kidding?”
Her comment makes me smile. “Okay. I do feel something more than I normally feel. And I’m trying to figure it out.”
Jane sits up straighter while I look over to Jace again. “You’re in love with Jace. I don’t even know why you two are pretending, because he’s crazy about you. And we both know Jace is a catch. He rarely drinks, doesn’t go out to party, he loves his family, and his favorite sport is fucking with James.”
I giggle. “I think his favorite sport is fucking, period.”
We both break out in a fit of giggles. The sun feels amazing on my skin, and I start to lather lotion on my arms and legs.
“I’m surprised he let you out of the house in that bikini,” Jane tells me.
“I’d say by his reaction, he thought about locking me in the room. But I had to sweetly remind him he had nothing to worry about since we are a ‘couple’.”
Jace rushes into the house, and comes back out with a bottle of water. He’s dripping with sweat, and I’ve never seen anything sexier. “Did ya win?” I ask about the volleyball match.
He grins his devilish grin. “Don’t I always?” I shake my head at his cockiness. Jane takes the kids toward the water, leaving Jace and I alone, and Jace sits in the lounge chair next to me. “This is nice, huh? All of us like this, just a day at the beach.”
“Yeah. It’s nice. I’m already enjoying it. I may never want to leave,” I joke.
The rest of the day proves to be uneventful. Janice, Jace’s mom calls us in for dinner, and we play a round of games with margaritas in hand.
***
Saturday comes, and I start to smell breakfast cooking when Jace gently shakes my shoulder. “Hey. I think Mom is making breakfast.”
I don’t respond, except to sit up and swing my legs over the bed, my head hanging down as I try to wake up.
“Too many margaritas with Jane last night,” Jace teases. I rub my temples. “Come on. Mom has a cure for that,” he says, helping me up.
“There they are,” Jace’s dad, Jacob, bellows. He got in late last night and he said it was about time that Jace and I got together.
“Here.” Jace’s mom hands me a drink. “I already made Jane one earlier.” I take it, and it looks like a Bloody Mary. But trusting Janice’s judgement, I drink it. It’s not bad, and it’s definitely not a Bloody Mary.
Jace has been attentive since I woke up, and I offer him a weak smile to assure him I’m okay. He runs his hand up and down my back, and I find it comforting. After eating my stomach finally settles.
“Why don’t you go up and shower? You might feel better,” Jace suggests.
“I think I will.”
Upstairs, I grab my yellow two-piece bikini, a tank, and a pair of shorts and hit the shower. Once I’m done in the shower, I put in some leave-in conditioner in my hair and pull my clothes on. Opening the door so I can enter the bedroom, I am greeted by Jace’s bare, white as hell, ass.
“Oh my god,” I stutter and shut the door.
What a perfect ass that was.
“Okay. I’m decent,” Jace calls out, and obviously notices me blushing when I open the door. “Did you see something you like?”
I don’t answer him. Instead, I ask, “What are we doing today?”
Jace adjusts his shirt. “First of all, how are you feeling?”
“I feel better than I did,” I tell him while I twist my hair up in a bun.
“Good. We are just going to lie on the beach, enjoy the weather, until James comes to pull me away for the bachelor party. So it’s just you and me, kid.”
“That sounds like the most perfect day to me. Well, besides the bachelor parties. I think I’ll just skip the bachelorette since I don’t know the bride, and I don’t care to know her right now.”
Downstairs, we head out the back door, and my toes dig into the sand as we make it over to the lounge chairs. With my sunglasses on, I watch as people frolic in the water. The salty breeze of the ocean washes over me as I lie on my stomach. Then I realize Jace grabs the lotion and starts smoothing it over my back.
I look over my shoulder. “Where’s Jane?” I try to focus on anything other than the fact that Jace’s hands are on my bare skin.
“She and Roger took the kids to the aquarium.”
“Oh.”
He finishes my back, and holds the bottle to me. “Can you do mine?” Of course he has a devilish grin on his face.
Smiling back, I take the bottle while he, too, lies face down. I gently rub the lotion on his back, making sure to rub it in from the side so I’m not straddling his back.
After twenty minutes lying in the sun, Jace pulls on my hand and I can hardly keep up as we splash into the water. He quickly grabs hold of my waist and brings me close to him while I try to see through the droplets of water in my eyes. Jace’s face is inches from mine, and his face is serious, but I pull out of his grip and playfully splash him with water.
The day gets away from us when he declares he has to go get ready.
“Just don’t bring any hookers home,” I tell him.
“Very funny. What are you going to do while I’m gone?”
I shrug. “I dunno. Maybe I’ll read a book and check my messages.”
“Okay. Call me if you need me.” He kisses the top of my head like it’s a regular thing.
Minutes later, Jane meets me out on the beach. “Hey. You sure you don’t want to come and be my wing-man or shall I say wing-woman?”
I smile sweetly at her. “I really don’t think that is a good idea. I think it’s best that I stay here and not get into any trouble.”
“Okay then. Mom is watching the kids for us. I’ll see you later,” she says with a wave.
I wave, and continue watching people frolic in the ocean.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
PRESENT: SIMONE
Jace comes home around two a.m. When he flips the bathroom light on, I pry my eyes open from sleep to look over at him. He’s leaning forward, looking into the mirror. Whipping the blanket off me, I rush over to him. “My god, Jace. What the hell happened?”
“It’s nothing,” he says digging around in the drawer.
“What happened? That eye is not nothing It’s going to be black by morning. So you better tell me before I find out from someone else. Get ready for bed while I grab some ice first.”
I grab a wash cloth and pour some ice cubes in it and close it while I carry it upstairs. I find Jace shirtless and in a pair of basketball shorts and hand him the ice. “Here. Put this on your eye. It should lessen the swelling. Tell me what happened.”
