His Adam’s apple bobbed as he licked his lips. “Oh, you loved it, admit it.”
I did love seeing the funny side of Kasper, which was why I didn’t disagree with his claim. I let go of his hair and he turned slightly so we could see each other better. His eyes dropped to my chest, and just when I was about to say something about being a pervert, he surprised me. “Nice shirt.”
I knew he would like it. My shirt of choice had the Schrodinger’s equation written on it. Most people didn’t get it, but I figured a fellow teacher would find it funny. I was right.
“Thank you. Somehow I knew you would appreciate it.”
He rubbed his hand up and down my leg, “Oh, I can appreciate a great many things.”
The sound of footsteps alerted me seconds before I saw a body tumble over the side of the couch. Dean fell, and only by quick maneuvering by Kasper did he avoid landing on both me and Kasper. I guessed that meant Dean was sitting beside me. Oddly enough, when I looked around the room to try to find Duchess, to see how she was handling all this. I found that she hadn’t moved from her spot at Damon’s feet. It spoke volumes to me that my dog liked Damon, though I doubted he would see how she gave him away. Damon Timbers was a softie.
When the microwave went off, Dean ran to the kitchen and quickly made his way back to the living room with four bags of popcorn. Settling close beside me, I felt his breath near my neck. “You comfortable? Want a blanket or pillow?”
I shook my head. “No, I’m good. So, what is tonight’s entertainment?”
Kasper smiled. “You mean besides Damon meeting Duchess?”
Dean laughed. “Yeah, I don’t think you could top that.”
Damon, who I thought had had enough of them poking fun at him, replied, “We’re watching Deadpool. You watched your chick flick, now we’re going to watch our movie.”
Holding up my hands in surrender, I smiled at the boys, “Hey, fair’s fair. I am totally for Deadpool. Ryan Reynolds is hot.”
Damon squinted at me. “Said who?”
Pulling a Damon, I rolled my eyes. “Uh, every female between the ages of sixteen and ninety-nine.”
Beside me, Dean puffed out a breath. “He’s not that hot.”
Realizing what he’d said, Dean’s cheeks started to turn red. “What? I’m just saying I’ve seen hotter.” I continued to stare because things were getting interesting, so I waited.
“I mean, it’s was not like I go looking or anything. You just notice when other guys look good or not.” Switching his gaze between Damon and Kasper, his face turned to them pleading. “Guys, c’mon help me out. You look at other guys, right?”
Kasper shook his head. “Nope not touching it.”
Dean turned to Damon as his last saving grace. “Brother don’t leave me hanging.”
Damon appeared to think it over. “Yeah, don’t think I’ve ever just checked out a bunch of different dudes, sorry.”
Turning back to me, Dean gave me his best imitation of puppy dog eyes. Gently bringing my hand up, I ran it through his hair. “Dean, don’t be ashamed of checking out hot guys, I do it all the time. We can do it together.”
At a loss for words, Dean sputtered.” But… I. you. He… no.” Taking a deep breath, he wrapped his arms around me and said, “Fine. I’ll check out hot guys with you, just don’t forget about the hot guys around you.”
What Dean didn’t realize was that I knew I couldn’t forget about them. They were all I thought about.
Which could have been a problem for me.
Sixteen
Kelly
1. Damon was a dog whisperer.
2. I forgot how hot Ryan Reynolds was.
3. I loved having a dog, especially around Damon.
The light. The light.
I rolled over and cursed every ray of light that was meeting my body. How could morning people be so chipper? Maybe if I had a coffee IV bag stuck in me, I’d be chipper, too. Staying up, watching Deadpool with the guys then having a spontaneous popcorn fight with them had left me tired. Well I should say popcorn fight between Dean and Kasper. Damon sat with Duchess, grumbling about how he couldn’t hear the TV. That guy really liked Deadpool. So here I was trying to sleep in, but I had told myself today I was going to try new things. New thing for today? Gardening. I’d never done it. Who didn’t garden? Apparently, me, but I never really thought hey, let’s dig in the dirt. People enjoyed it. Pictures were everywhere of seemingly happy people knee deep in the dirt. So I figured why not.
Kicking the covers off like it was their fault I had to get up at first light, I rummaged in my drawers for the rattiest pair of shorts I could find and a shirt that had seen better days. Pulling my hair up into the messiest bun that could never be defined as a hot mess bun, I slid my shoes on and headed out.
Sweat. Dirt. More Sweat. Even more dirt. Yeah, I found out that I wasn’t a fan. It was like going to the gym, but with dirt added. Gardening worked your muscles, and I was already feeling the burn. Though as I looked around and saw the butterfly bushes around the steps and the pink lantanas that sat in the planters hanging from the windows, I felt good.
Bending to stand up, I dusted my knees off and knocked my shoes to get the dirt that refused to fall off. I made my way up the three steps to my porch, where I’d had a new porch swing installed. Just for an occasion like this. Literally dropping down to the swing, I grabbed my water from the porch rail and started guzzling it. Duchess romped across the yard toward the oak tree in pursuit of a squirrel. With a gentle breeze cooling me, off I realized something. I realized that I was content. I also realized that I hadn’t been content in a very long time. I was always rushed, or worried, or catering to Trevor. Never doing what I wanted but what was expected. Now sitting here with dirt and grass on my clothes and listening to my dog bark up a tree, I thought I was slowly finding me.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! I came out of my musing and grabbed my Deadpool phone. Yes, Damon had tossed it at me as I was leaving from movie night. I took that as I could keep it. Holding up the phone I saw it was a text from the guys. Sliding my finger across the screen, the name Mr. Winchester popped up.
Hi, princess, what are you doing this week?
Mentally I went through my schedule in my head and typed
Let’s see.
Today gardening. Lazy day tomorrow. Cleaning Monday-Tuesday. Wednesday kickboxing. Thursday grocery shopping. Friday movie night with you guys, and Saturday don’t know.
Why?
Not wanting to sit around and wait on the boys’ reply, I stood up from the swing, grabbing my water and phone. Making my way back into the house carefully as to not drop anymore dirt on the floor, I made my way to my bathroom. The bathroom in itself was nothing special. In fact, the older couple I was renting from probably hadn’t had it renovated since the 80s, think lots of gold. Still, the water was warm, the tub was big, and you had the choice of either shower or tub. Adjusting the temperature in the shower, I undressed quickly and hopped in.
Not staying in for too long, I quickly washed my hair (twice), soaped, and did the minimal shaving. Once done, I turned the water off and grabbed the terry cloth robe I kept beside the shower and slipped it on. My phone sat on the counter, and I caught myself wondering if one of the boys had texted me back yet. I reached my arm out to grab it, but catching myself, I stopped. Instead, I turned and made my way to my room and finished getting ready. I braided my hair to keep the wet strands from running down my back. Since I knew it would be wet for a while and I didn’t feel like blow drying it. Once done I finally decided to go to the bathroom to go get my phone. Without looking I swiped across the screen, and I was bombarded by text after text.
Dean
Kickboxing? You want to kickbox?
Kasper
She clearly said she did. Butterscotch, where are you taking lessons?
Dean
Obviously in town.
Kasper
But there’s only one kickboxing teacher in town.
&nbs
p; Dean
Princess, have you met the teacher by any chance?
Kasper
Clearly, she hasn’t, or this wouldn’t be a conversation.
Damon
Or she has met the teacher.
Reading over the text, so I could all answer them all in one swoop, I started to type.
Yes, I did say kickboxing, yes, it is in town, and no I haven’t met the teacher, but Benjamin sounded very nice on the phone.
Taking my phone, I headed toward the kitchen where I proceeded to make me a cup of coffee, pouring it into my doughnut with sprinkles coffee mug. Sitting down at my new bubble gum pink table I heard more rapid buzzes come from my phone.
Dean
Sounded nice, how nice?
Kasper
Nice enough for her to want to go kickboxing.
Dean
Do you want one of us to go with you, princess? We wouldn’t mind at all really
I blew out a breath. What was it about this guy Benjamin that had them all out of sorts? And it had to be the guy, because I didn’t see them having an issue with the kickboxing. This made me want to stop by early just to have a little peek at Benjamin. Tapping on the screen, I typed my reply.
I think I can go by myself to a kickboxing class. Don’t you?
As soon as I pushed send Dean had already started texting back. Calm down mustacho.
Dean
Of course, you can. We just want to make sure you’ve got everything you need.
Kasper
Right, we want you to be comfortable, this is a guy you don’t know so we’re just thinking of you.
Damon
I’m going.
Seventeen
Kelly
1. Not a fan of gardening. If there was no dirt we’d be good.
2. I was curious about Benjamin.
3. I liked my private time, in and out of the bedroom.
The rest of the week flew by, and before I knew it, my kickboxing class was here. Prancing around the house, I fed Duchess and tried to figure out what one wore to kickboxing. I had gym gear, but it was more of a good intentions kind of buy. Like I was going to wear this one-day kind of but, secretly you pushed it in the back of the closet. At the same time, you never got rid of it because you kept saying one day I’d wear that.
My one day had apparently come. Throwing open all my drawers, bras and panties started to fly. It was like a magical rainbow of colors. Finally, in the back recess of the drawer I spotted my black sports bra and workout leggings. Okay, first, women who looked good in this stuff, I was one hundred percent sure you didn’t look pretty trying to get in it. I felt like a contortionist stretching and pulling to get it on the places that it was supposed to go. After my mini workout and getting my breathing back to normal, I caught myself in the mirror and promptly turned to get a tank top.
Once again, now semi-satisfied this time, I pulled up my hair and went hunting for matching socks that were part of the magical rainbow I had made earlier. After finding a pair, I grabbed my shoes to put them on, when I heard the doorbell. Duchess barked up a storm. Run-sliding to the front door in socks, I coasted to a stop and opened the door. What to my wandering eyes appeared, but three giant men that wouldn’t say no.
Leaning against the door jamb, I went for intimidating, “What are you all doing here? I thought I told all of you I had this covered.”
Kasper, Dean and Damon wore three very different expressions looking at me, guilt, embarrassment, and irritation. Guess which ones had which.
Kasper raised the metaphorical white flag, as if to placate me. “We heard you, and Dean just thought you wouldn’t want to leave Duchess by herself again. So, we’re volunteering our time, that is if you wanted it.”
Narrowing my eyes back and forth between the two, I asked, “What about the garage, you can’t just close?”
Dean rubbed the back of his neck like a little boy whose hand had got caught in the cookie jar. “Ya see, uh, the guys and I got everything done early, and we were able to close today because all the work was done.”
I nodded my head though I didn’t believe he was being entirely truthful because the pieces were starting to come together. “And did y’all get done early before or after the text messages on Saturday?”
The looks on all three men’s faces was all the answer I needed.
“Guys, I appreciate you wanting to watch Duchess, but you should have said something sooner. What if I had already made plans?”
Kasper stepped forward, he knew I was on the verge of forgiving him. “We’re both really sorry, Kelly, we’ll ask next time, right, Dean?
Dean, who hadn’t taken his eyes off of me, didn’t answer. But he did grimace when Damon shoved an elbow in his gut.
Jerking over clutching his stomach, he turned his now red face to Damon. “What’d you do that for?”
Damon gestured to Kasper. “He said from now on you guys would ask instead of assume. Apparently you were supposed to nod your head yes.”
Looking back and forth between Kasper and Damon and finally me, realization came to his face and if possible, it turned redder. “Yeah, from now on he will ask and not assume that you need help. I’ll probably forget to do this though. Just putting that out there.”
“That’s all I need Dean, to just ask me first.”
I brought my attention to Damon. “And are you staying here too? Duchess would be very happy, I think she has taken a liking to you.”
Shaking his head, he stepped back into the light and let me see him better. Dressed in typical Damon fashion. White shirt, tight jeans, combat boots and put all together with his leather jacket. He was a swoon worthy James Dean with blond hair. “No, I’m going with you.”
This man. “Were you not here for our conversation we just had? You ask! You don’t assume.”
Folding his arms, which makes his biceps seem to strain inside the leather jacket he wore, he nodded his head. “Oh, I heard ya, darling, but I wasn’t them. I’m me, and I do what I want when I want. And I’m going to your kickboxing class.”
Not thinking clearly, I stomped past Kasper and Dean and got so close to Damon I could feel the heat from his body. Using my index finger, I poked his chest, “Listen here, Pooh Bear, you are gonna stay here with your brother and Kasper and that’s just that’s it!”
Smirking. He smirked like he enjoyed arguing with me. “I’m going. And did you just call me Pooh Bear?”
“Aghhh!!” Before I did something I regretted like kicking him, I stepped back, walking past the boys to grab my purse. Hugging Duchess, I gave the other two a kiss on the cheek. Not acknowledging Damon, I yelled, “Well I am taking my own damn car!!”
Hearing the revving of a motorcycle, I turned in time to see Damon had straighten out his motorcycle. He pulled up quickly beside my car and yelled over the sound of his loud annoying bike. “I wouldn’t dream of you riding with me, princess, see you there.” And with that lasting comment, he pulled out of the driveway and shot forward. Rolling down the window, I waved to the guys. I decided to go in the opposite direction of Damon. Which might have taken me longer in the end, but I refused to follow Mr. Bossy Timbers.
I pulled up slightly late to a recently built red brick building, finding Damon already there. Parking, I got out of the car, walking past Damon, without acknowledging him. The bell on the top of the door jingled as I pushed it open. Seconds later the bell jingled again. One guess on who it was. Ignoring Damon, I glanced about the room. For some reason the room was not what I expected. On one side of the studio was a large glass mirror, where I could see my whole body clearly. What woman didn’t want that.
Twisting away from my own reflection, I took in the other side of the room. Punching bags lined the wall with kicking gear and more set up in the corner. The floor was covered with some type of blue mat which now had a barefooted giant of a man. Too busy with looking around, I guess he had come out of the door marked office on the side. I was guessing that this was Benjamin. Standi
ng taller than any of my guys, Ben was a sight to behold. With coco skin, dark green eyes, and rippling muscles, this man was eye catching. This was who the boys were worried about. With a bright smile and a jaw that could cut glass, I could see how the boys might have been worried.
I liked him already. Walking up to him, I held out my hand. His hand engulfed mine. “Hi, I’m Kelly and you must be Benjamin.”
After shaking my hand, he laughed. “I am, but you can call me Ben.”
I nodded my head at the giant man before me. “Well, nice to meet you, Ben.”
Ben looked over my shoulder at the bear behind me. Nodding his head, he said, “Damon, nice to see again.”
Damon nodded back. “Hi, ya asshole, been a while.”
Surprised, I said quickly, “Damon!”
Putting a hand on my shoulder, Ben laughed and turned me back to him. “It’s fine, if you know Damon, then you know it’s normal Damon.”
“So how long have y’all known each other?”
Ben rubbed his thumb against his forehead like it would bring forth the answer. “Since ninth grade, so what like fifteen years give or take?” He looked to Damon for confirmation.
Damon nodded. “Yeah, but you were an ass than.”
Laughing, Ben crossed his arms and countered, “Yeah, I was, but I remember you weren’t much better.”
Road To Me Page 12
