by L. M. Heidle
I probably should have woken her, but there was absolutely no part of me that wanted to. Instead, I walked over to my dresser grabbing a pair of black sweats and Longhorn t-shirt.
I slid her heels off one by one, then started to pull the sweats up her legs. When I got to the hem of her dress I frowned. I was so irritated earlier I hadn’t noticed her dress. It was way too short and tight for her. The thought of anyone seeing her in it had me itching to go punch anyone who saw her. Which was completely ridiculous because just about every woman I’d ever been with wore something similar. It was just wrong on her. She was too beautiful to show this much skin.
Once I had the sweats on I put the t-shirt over her head and as careful as possible I slid her arms through the sleeves. Her eyelids briefly fluttered open as I gently lifted her to pull the t-shirt down and unzip her dress. I smiled when I got the dress off. She was definitely a hard sleeper. I stood with her dress in my hand contemplating if I should toss it. I had no doubt it would piss her off, but some fights were worthy of the disagreement. She didn’t need to wear something this revealing again, so I wadded it into a ball and threw it in the trash.
I took my shirt and pants off, crawling into bed behind her. I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her to me. I kissed her lightly on the shoulder before falling into a deep sleep.
ALEX
It was warm, so damn warm. I must have forgotten to turn my fan on last night. I went to throw back the covers for relief but froze when I realized I had an arm draped around my waist. My eyes flew open as my mind worked overtime to figure out what was going on. The only thought running through my head was please let Kassandra have lost her boobs when she grew dark arm hair.
I tried taking a deep breath to see if that would help clear the sleepiness from my brain. When I inhaled I instantly knew who it was, I’d know that woodsy and pure male scent anywhere. Trayton was behind me.
Last night came rushing back in full color. The last thing I remembered was him running to the bathroom with a bloody nose. I squeezed my eyes shut tight as my heart rate accelerated. We didn’t, did we? I’d remember that, right? I know I was inexperienced but pretty sure I’d remember my first time.
He startled me when he spoke, “I can hear you thinking, and the answer is no we didn’t.”
“So why are we spooning?”
“You fell asleep, but now that you’re awake can you get off my arm? It’s numb, and I need coffee.”
“Such a gentleman,” I grumbled as I sat up. When he stood, my tongue nearly fell out of my mouth. Holy hell on a stick.
“Like what you see?” I could hear the smirk in his voice, but he really had every right to be cocky.
It had taken a minute before I was coherent enough to look up, which wasn’t much better considering his baby blues were sparkling. “Ah, no, actually. I was going to tell you to put a shirt on.”
“Right,” he sarcastically replied. “I’m going out for coffee. You coming?”
I was too mesmerized by abs again to respond. In fact, I couldn’t answer until he put a shirt on. “Ah no, I’m good. I’m going to head home. I need to change.” I ran my hands down my dress as I stood to make sure everything was covered, only what I felt wasn’t my dress. I looked down to see a t-shirt and sweats. “Umm, where’s my dress?”
“In the trash.” My head swung to the trashcan and yep, there it was. I took a step toward it, but he stepped in front of it. “Where it’s going to stay.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. You’re not wearing that again.”
He broadened his stance and crossed his arms, displaying his authority. I stepped up next to him, giving him a shove which moved him all of no inches. “Dammit, Trayton, give me my dress!”
“Nope.”
I tried faking to the left then going right, but that was an epic fail. You’d think since basketball was a staple in my family that I’d be able to play, but I was epically bad. My dad and brother used to give me eighteen points when we played twenty-one, but I still rarely won.
“Fine,” I huffed. “Looks like I’m going shopping.” I’d rather get a root canal especially if Kass was involved, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Not if you’re buying another dress like that.”
I crossed my arms, tapping my toe. “What is your problem?”
“My problem is you walking around dressed like.” He paused, but there’s no way he wasn’t going to finish that statement.
“Dressed like what, Trayton?”
He ran his hand through his hair. “It doesn’t matter.”
“The hell it doesn’t.”
“Alex, that dress showed way too much skin.”
I gave a humorless laugh. He was unbelievable. “Being a bit hypocritical, aren’t we? From the rumors floating around, you aren’t known for your wholesome choices.”
“We aren’t talking about me right now.”
I threw my hands up, stomping over to his dresser grabbing my clutch and phone. “This is ridiculous. I’m not standing around listening to this crap. I don’t know you, and you sure in hell don’t know me well enough to have an opinion about anything in my life. Do me a favor and go screw yourself!” I shoulder checked, or well, shoulder to ab checked as I walked by. Guys made that seem so easy, but damn it hurt. I fought rubbing it as I slammed his door and stomped down the steps. The nerve of that man!
I got to the bottom of the steps and realized I’d forgotten my heels. I could have sucked up my pride and went to go get them, but yeah that wasn’t happening. Instead, I walked back to my apartment shoeless, and in clothes that were way too big for me. I’d made it less than a mile before I had to roll the sweats at the waist three times and knot the back of the t-shirt to make it smaller.
I stewed the whole way home, and every rock I stepped on I cussed Trayton a little more. Where the hell does he get off thinking he can tell me what to wear? I barely knew him, and even if I did, there is no way I’d put up with that.
Kass was pacing and chewing her thumbnail when I walked into the apartment. Her disheveled hair and haggard appearance were a big sign she was upset. Her head snapped to the door as it clicked shut. Her distraught attitude quickly turned to anger. “Where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling your phone for hours!”
“Sorry, I guess it died.”
“Sorry?” she shouted. “You’re sorry! Do you realize how worried I’ve been?” She grabbed me for a bone-crushing hug and talked into my hair. “I’ve already called the police twice and every hospital in Austin. I tried your uncle, but he didn’t pick up.” My brain instantly started making up excuses as to why I was out all night because there was no way I’d let my uncle think I spent the night with a guy. Wonder if I could convince him I fell asleep in the library? “Don’t worry, I didn’t leave a message.”
“Kass.” My tone filled with regret because I knew if the roles had been reversed I would have been terrified.
“I’ve been going crazy. Forgetting to call is not like you. In fact, staying out all night isn’t either.” She put her hands on my shoulders and lightly pushed me back, brow furrowed as she studied me. “Where were you? Whose clothes are those?”
I stepped out of her embrace and started slowly backing down the hall. “I don’t want to talk about it.” I turned toward my room, but her hand on my arm stopped me.
“Ah no. I deserve details for what you put me through.” She dragged me by the arm to the couch, shoving me down. “Spill,” she demanded.
I didn’t want to talk about him. I wanted to take a shower and try to convince myself I wasn’t attracted to him. I knew Kass, though, and she wouldn’t let this go. Plus, I did feel bad for worrying her, so I’d breeze through the highlights. Hopefully, it’d be enough to appease her. “I’m only going to tell you if you don’t freak out.”
She bounced up and down in her seat, rubbing her hands together. “I promise, I promise.”
I stared at my folded hands as I whispered
, “Trayton.” When she didn’t say anything, I looked up to see her eyes bulging and mouth hanging open.
After a minute or two, she choked out. “Trayton Russo.” I simply nodded in answer. “You spent the night with Trayton Russo?”
I worried my bottom lip with my teeth. “Uh huh.”
She screeched so loud I had to cover my ears. “Oh my freaking gosh!” She grabbed my hand in a death grip and lowered her voice. “Did you?”
My face instantly turned red. “No.”
“Oh okay,” she said with confusion. Probably because I doubt many—if any— women stayed the night with him without sex being involved. “What were you doing?”
“We started watching a movie.”
“I’m confused. Started?”
“He tried to kiss me, and I head-butted him.” I jerked my eyes to hers as the mortification of what happened sunk in. “I gave him a bloody nose. I gave him a freaking bloody nose!” Images from last night started assaulting me left and right. What the hell was wrong with me? He’s a normal guy, and it was an accident, so why I am pacing around my apartment like a mad woman? Because you haven’t been that close to a guy in a long time, like ever. “He’s never going to talk to me again.” I ran fingers through my hair pulling at the roots. “Wait! I don’t want him to talk to me. He’s an egotistical prick. A really attractive one, but still a prick. What gives him the right to tell me what to do? I couldn’t care less what he thinks about my dress. I mean really. Who the hell does he think he is?”
I was so lost in my head I didn’t notice Kass was in front of me until she started shaking the crap outta me. “What the hell is going on? I just hollered your name five times, and you didn’t even blink.” The haze I was in slowly started to recede. “Alex.” She snapped her fingers in front of my face, making me jump. “What were you saying? All I got was a kiss, bloody nose, and prick.”
I plopped down on the couch as I stumbled through an explanation of what happened, dying from embarrassment as the scenes played out in front of me. “Yeah so that’s what happened. Then I rushed out of his room and here we are.”
“Umm.” There are times I’d pay good money for Kass to be quiet for five minutes, this is not one of those times. I didn’t have a mom, and she was the closest thing possible to a sister, so she had to help me. “Those were my heels.”
“Seriously? That’s all you have to say? No Alex it’ll be okay it happens all the time, or It’s better this way you don’t need him in your life?”
“Sorry, but those were my favorite heels.” I laid my head on the back of the couch, closing my eyes and groaned. I’m doomed. “Not to mention the rarity of you liking a guy is throwing me.”
“I didn’t say I liked him.”
She shrugged as she leaned back and wrapped her arm around me, her head on my shoulder. “You didn’t have to. The mini-meltdown said it all. It could have been worse, though.”
“I could have puked on him?”
She rolled her eyes. “Quit being a drama queen.”
“Then how could it possibly be worse? I gave the man a bloody nose!”
“Easy, it could have been my dress.” I stared at her in shock for a second before busting out with laughter. Only Kass could make me laugh at a time like this. It’s one of the many reasons why I loved her.
TRAYTON
“This is a collect call from Sing Sing Correctional Facility, will you accept the charges?” The man wouldn’t give up. That’s the third call I’d denied today. I’m sure he wanted me to help figure out who ordered the hit, but I couldn’t even if I wanted to. My uncle promised my step-mom to keep me out of the family business until I graduated, and our word is our bond.
When my phone vibrated again, I groaned. I cursed my uncle for pulling strings to keep my father and Anthony at Sing Sing because he got too many perks. I know Vivian, my step-mom, appreciated it because she could visit every week. I, on the other hand, would be happier if he was somewhere the name Russo didn’t hold as much power.
I pushed my father from my mind as I walked into Physics. I hated this damn class, but it fulfilled my Science requirement. The professor was from New York and knew of my family, so he didn’t hassle me when I slept in class. Unfortunately, that wasn’t happening today because I couldn’t get Alex out of my head. I tried screwing her out, but both times I sent the girls packing. All I could think about was her curled up in my bed.
After class, I’d made it two steps out the door before a hand on my chest shoved me against the wall. An arm that belonged to a seething Eddie. I tried knocking him off me, but he only shoved harder. A group started to form around us as we stood there facing off, threatening the anonymity I’d tried to keep over the years. “Get your hand off me,” I hissed out.
Stepping closer, hyping the atmosphere around us. I heard the distinct sound of pictures being taken. Probably a few videos too. “Stay away from her.”
“Tsk, tsk, Eddie. You should know by now you can’t tell a Russo what to do.”
“I’m sure a prison guard or two would disagree with that.”
My shoulders tightened from tension as I scanned the crowd, making sure no one was within earshot. “Watch it.”
“What? Don’t want everyone knowing your dirty little secrets? How crooked your family is? Who you really are?”
“Enough,” I snapped. I grabbed his wrist and twisted it backward, making him grunt. I stepped toward him tightening the pressure. “This is how it’s going to work. You don’t tell me who I can and can’t talk to. You will keep your mouth shut, or I might have to make a special trip home to visit some old friends. How’s your sister these days? It’s been years since I’ve seen her.” His jaw started ticking, but he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut. I’d never hurt Annie, but he needed to know he’d crossed a line. I squeezed his wrist one more time before stepping back. “Good talking to you.” I slapped him on the back as nonchalantly as possible.
Fifteen minutes later I was still fuming. That SOB was pushing his luck. I was tempted to track him down, away from cell phones, and do a hell of a lot more than squeezing his wrist. The only thing stopping me was knowing that’s what he wanted.
Chances were we’d eventually come to blows, but it for damn sure wouldn’t be on his timeline. The one thing I couldn’t understand was why now. We’d avoided each other for years, and now he was in my face. It made no sense. I know he’s friends with Alex, but this had to be about more than her.
ALEX
I swung the racket forward hitting the ball perfectly to send it flying over the net, out of Kass’ reach. “Point,” I yelled, waving the racket above my head. “Looks like you’re doing the dishes for the next week.” Kass and I tried to play at least once a week, and we always played for stakes. It was a habit we’d picked up when we played tennis in high school. The two of us flip-flopped between #1 and #2, so every time our positions changed whoever was on top got to choose what the other would do. It was normally dumb stuff like go talk to a certain boy or wear a certain outfit.
Once she had me dress like Sandy at the end of Grease to a football game. That one actually worked out pretty well for me in the guy department, until my brother saw me. He turned red with anger as he grabbed my arm and dragged me to the car kicking and screaming. I’d never been so embarrassed in my life. He not only lectured me the entire way home, but he got Dad involved when we made it home. It was a nightmare, to say the least. After that, we tended to stay away from clothing bets. When we started college, the bets turned less fun-loving and more practical, usually chores because we both hated them.
“Best two out of three?”
“Not a chance. Half our dishes are missing, which means they’re in your room and probably growing mold by now.”
“I’m not that bad.” I lightly tapped the racket on the court as I watched her try to keep a straight face. Kass was a slob as much as she was prissy, and she was seriously prissy. “It’s not mold, it’s protective coating.”
> My nose scrunched up in disgust as she started giggling. “That is disturbing on so many different levels.” Her giggles soon turned to hysterical laughter, which set me off. I’m sure everyone thought we were lunatics as they walked by. We were standing on the court laughing so hard we had to use the other to stay upright. I swiped at my eyes wiping away a few tears. “I have no idea why we’re friends.”
“Because you’d be lost without me. Besides you’d be a boring old lady with twenty cats if it wasn’t for me.”
“How exactly do you figure that considering I’m not old, and I hate cats?”
She dramatically rolled her eyes, patting my cheek. “Always so literal.” Then she skipped to our bags, grabbing her water and throwing mine to me. She was so weird, but I wouldn’t want her any other way.
After a quick shower, I made my way to the library to study for my Algebra test. I wasn’t horrible at math, but I wasn’t going to be winning any awards anytime soon. I sat down in my favorite corner all the way in the back, kicking my shoes off and crisscrossing my legs. I was humming along to Sam Hunt when someone sat down next to me, pulling an ear bud out.
“What are you listening to? Please tell me it isn’t some girly crap like One Direction.” I sat there in complete shock as Trayton put my bud in his ear. Normally I would’ve been completely repulsed because there are some things you should never share and ear buds was on that list. In this case, it was barely a passing thought as the air around us thinned, and I got lightheaded. He was just so attractive in his faded jeans, a simple t-shirt, and a black beanie. “Well, it’s not horrible, but definitely not great.”
“I’m sorry, did you just say that Sam Hunt isn’t great? If so, then you’re deranged and should be admitted to the closest psych hospital pronto.”
“Uh huh,” he mumbled as he continued to skip through my playlist. “Hinder and Shinedown are good. Twilight soundtrack? Didn’t see that one coming.” He continued commenting on my music choices until he got to one he liked. When You Give Love a Bad Name started playing he started tapping the beat out on his knee. “Now this is classic. I’m impressed your music is eclectic, and for the most part pretty decent.”
