by Ali Parker
“Anything I can help with?” He rubbed back down to my shoulders.
“No. You helping me carry this stuff is a lifesaver. Be careful you don’t throw out your back.” I snorted as Aubrey chuckled beside me.
“Yeah, Providence would lose their hockey captain and their baseball captain. Talk about messing up the athletic department’s roster.” She smiled and picked up a few picture albums.
Jayce rolled his eyes and snagged one of the picture albums. “Am I in any of these?”
“Give me that.” I reached for it, hoping like hell it wasn’t one of the ones where I’d drawn hearts all around his face like a class-A ten-year-old stalker.
“Oh my God. I forgot about this Halloween.” He jerked away from me and turned the book, showing me a page of pictures of me, him, and Aubrey dressed up like the three blind mice.
I pressed my hands to my face. “The embarrassment.”
“You’re telling me. How did you guys talk me into this shit all the time?”
“You wanted to belong to a friend group, remember?” Aubrey walked back down the stairs. “Grab something and stop playing around.”
I snatched the album from him and tried to ignore the look on his handsome face. He wanted a family of his own eventually, but he sort of already had one. The three of us had built a life together. My heart ached as I tossed the album in a box and picked up the box. Aubrey was our third musketeer, our third blind mouse, our third stooge.
By the time I got to the kitchen, tears were streaming down my face. I set the box down and wiped at my face.
“Layla, what’s going on?” He wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
Without thinking, I turned to face him and buried my face against his chest. “I’m going to miss her so fucking much.”
“Me too.” He tightened his hold on me and pressed his cheek against the top of my head. “Me too.”
Chapter 7
Jayce
I finished getting the rest of Layla’s stuff out of the U-Haul and left the girls to unpack it. I knew exactly how my pretty blonde roommate felt. Losing Aubrey felt wrong, and yet it was time to move on. Layla and I only had five months left before we’d be saying goodbye too.
The thought made me feel more sick than I cared to analyze.
I walked up to the indoor track with far too much on my mind. My sister’s situation was just the cherry on the shit sundae of my life. I had a few too many things to concern myself with to let losing Aubrey take over my thoughts. I wasn’t losing her. She was getting married and starting her life. She was my twin sister. I’d see her at holidays and big family events.
“And that’s it,” I grumbled and walked toward Thomas Hammond and Micah.
“Hey, buddy. How are ya?” Thomas extended his hand to me and smiled. We’d been playing baseball together since junior high. The rail-thin catcher with a mop of brown hair and a huge smile had quickly become one of my favorite people. He was open, friendly, and would give the shirt off his back.
“I’m good, man. A lot going on, but what else is new?” I shook his hand.
“You know Micah Sanders? He’s—”
“Oh yeah. We know each other.” Micah smiled and extended his hand to me. “How’s it going, man? Lucas still in town?”
“No, he headed back, but I think he’s going to be running the road back and forth for the next little bit. My sister is trying to wrap everything up and move up there with him, I guess.”
“Oh shit. Aubrey’s leaving Providence?” Thomas lifted his eyebrows.
“Let’s jog and talk guys. I gotta be on the courts tonight for a three on three.” Micah nodded toward the track.
“Yeah, sure.” I tucked my phone into my pocket and started to jog at a comfortable pace. Micah forced us to go a little fast, but it was for the better. My aching muscles protested a little, but there was no way in hell I was going to let anyone know it.
“Did Lucas propose? Jacob was talking about it a few days ago.”
“Yeah, he proposed over Christmas.” I shrugged and tried to keep my expression relaxed. “It’s just part of the next phase of life, right?”
“Absolutely. At least for you old fuckers.” Thomas chuckled. “I still can’t believe you’re graduating this semester.”
“I hope I am. I can’t seem to pass Chemistry to save my life. I’m having to beg Layla into helping me with it.”
“How is Layla?” Micah’s tone changed just a little. “Jacob’s been pretty worried about her.”
“She’s all right. With Aubrey moving out, she moved in with me today. I’ve known her most of my life.” I glanced over at Thomas. “Well, you knew that.”
He smiled. “Oh boy, do I know.”
“All right. What am I missing here?” Micah glanced my way as we continued to jog. “Something happening between you and Layla?”
“Nah. We’re just really old friends.” I knew Thomas wasn’t going to let me live down all the years of talking about this girl, but one could hope.
“Just old friends?” Thomas snorted. “Dude, Jayce has had a hard-on for this girl since he was six.”
“Now that’s just gross.” I popped him in the arm. “But she’s definitely my dream girl.”
“And she’s moving into your place with you?” Micah shook his head. “Lucky bastard.”
“You have no room to talk.” Thomas turned his head a little to face Micah. “You scored a beautiful girl with an attitude problem that has to make things in the bedroom quite interesting.”
“Watch it,” Micah barked.
“Anyway, Layla moved in this morning. It’ll be good for both of us, I think. She’s going to miss my sister, and I am too. This will really be the first time in my life that Aubrey hasn’t been a part of almost every day.”
“That’s hard.” Thomas wiped his face with a small towel and offered it to me.
“Hell no. Nasty.” I swatted his hand away and smiled at him.
“My sister missed me when I left for Providence, and Mom and them live thirty minutes from the school.” Thomas tucked the towel back in his shorts.
“What’s your sister’s name again?” Micah asked.
“Abigail. She’s actually on the softball team with Layla. I’m surprised she didn’t mention her.” Thomas lifted his hand and stopped jogging. “Gotta pinch in my side.”
“How old is she?” Micah turned and walked around Thomas as I stood still, lifting my arms toward the cloudless sky.
“Eighteen, right, Tom? She’s a freshman this year. Hell of a softball player and quite fearless.”
“She’s been… playing tennis too.” He panted and bent over, pressing his hands to his knees.
“You all right man? Need me to get your mommy?” I smiled and walked toward him.
“Keep it up, Moore. I’ll happily tell your sister about all the times we snuck into her room to check on her and Layla when we were younger.”
“Oh shit.” Micah stopped jogging and laughed. “You aren’t the pretty boy you pretend to be? Tell me it isn’t true.”
“Oh, I’m pretty. I’m just not the good boy I seem like all the time.” I rolled my shoulders. “There’s only one woman that makes me break the rules.”
“And now she’s living with you.” Thomas stood up. “Anyone else but me see a problem with this?”
“Maybe it will help relieve some of the pressure on me.” I shrugged. “Layla has a calming personality when she’s not bossing everyone around. She’s a lot like my sister in that way.”
“I’m not sure how calming it’s going to be when she brings a man home to your place.” Micah put his hands on his hips. “There’s no way I could deal with that shit whether she knew how I felt or didn’t.”
“True.” I nodded and bounced on the balls of my feet. “I’ll just have to deal with that when I get there.”
“Is it true that you’re leading both the hockey and the baseball teams this spring?” Thomas twisted and nodded toward the track before startin
g to jog again.
Micah and I caught up to him easily.
“Yeah, it’s true. I need to figure out which I’m staying with. I can’t do both.”
Thomas lifted his hand. “I’ll take over the baseball team.”
“I wish it were that easy.” I gave him a look. He was a great player but would fold under pressure of any kind. I was a pretty steady guy and I was teetering on breaking in half. There was no way in hell I would put that kind of pressure on a friend. Especially a weak one.
Micah added his two cents. “Well, you need to do something. School has to be first if you’re not trying to get into the pros. If that’s falling apart, then pull back from one of your sports and focus on what matters.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m just trying to decide what that is. I’ll figure it out.” I smiled over at them, tired of company. “I’m going to sprint. Catch you guys later.”
My body protested as I pushed off and forced myself around the track a few more times. I was a little lightheaded by the time I walked back toward the apartment.
I’d gotten busy and had forgotten to eat breakfast. Typical.
The door to the apartment was unlocked when I got back, but it was completely quiet when I walked in.
“Layla?” I called and walked into the kitchen to get a bottle of water. The sound of soft snoring caught my attention. Was she asleep?
I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and walked into the living room to find her stretched out on the couch. She was on her stomach, leaving her perfect ass on full display.
“So fine,” I whispered and moved around the couch to get a better view of her. How many times had I watched this woman sleep in my life? Enough to be President of creepers anonymous.
I sat down on the chair beside her and leaned back, closing my eyes and listening to her. I wanted so badly to just tell her but now wasn’t the time. Hell, it had never been the right time. She needed a friend, a brother to help her get past Aubrey leaving, and I needed her too. My needs just weren’t as innocent.
When was the last time I’d taken a woman to bed and enjoyed myself with her? I opened my eyes, realizing that it had been two years.
“Two years?” I spoke my thoughts and realized how loud I was as she rolled over and sat up.
“Jayce?” She glanced around toward me. “Shit. You scared me.”
Her long blonde hair was a hot mess and her face was lined with light red marks where she’d lain on the couch wrong.
“Sorry. I just got back.” I smiled. “You get a good nap?”
“Yeah. I think so.” She lay back down and turned on her side, curling up and tilting her chin up a little to see me. The position caused her breasts to press together, creating sexy cleavage that caused my cock to twitch. God, she is fine.
“Aubrey leave?” I took another drink of my water and got up to walk back into the kitchen. I adjusted myself and tried hard to think of anything but the way she looked like a sex kitten when she woke up. It wasn’t anything new with her. She’d been able to pull that shit off our whole life.
“Yeah. She said that there wasn’t anything in the refrigerator. I was going to lay down for a few minutes and then go to the grocery store. A few minutes turned into an hour.” She walked into the kitchen, yawning. “You want to go with me?”
“Yeah. Let me shower and change into something clean.” I finished my drink and walked past her. “You get your stuff unpacked?”
“Hell no.” She followed me, stopping at the bathroom door. “I’ll do it soon, and hey, listen. If there are any rules you want to lay down, do it now. I don’t want this to be anything but a good experience between us. I know Aubrey is seriously picky on drinking out of the—”
“Milk jug. I know.” I turned on the water and glanced back at her as I pulled my jacket off and worked on my T-shirt next.
Her eyes widened a little as she held up her hands. “Whoa, mister. Wait until I get out of here to put on the show.”
“Put on the show?” I pulled my shirt off and smiled at her. “Is that a request, Layla?”
She didn’t speak for a few seconds as I kicked off my tennis shoes and reached down to take off my socks.
“All right. I’ll be out here when you’re done. Take your time.” She started to pull the door to a close.
“And if I need someone to wash my back?” I was being a little more flirty than usual, but I loved the look on her face when I pushed her boundaries a little. She almost seemed like she wanted to play into my teasing, but she simply wouldn’t let herself.
Because she’s not interested. Idiot.
“I put a back scrubber in the shower when I got here. Feel free to use it.” She winked and turned, walking out and closing the door.
“I’d much rather use you, sweet girl.” I pulled my shorts off, letting my cock spring from my shorts. I stroked it once before getting in the shower. There was no hope for anything happening between us until I got over my incessant need to protect myself from her rejection, or maybe it was more about protecting her from my need to consume her.
We would be okay unless she gave into my subtle advances.
Even just a little, and we were both in trouble.
Chapter 8
Layla
“Shit,” I mumbled and walked down the hall as chill bumps covered my skin. If I had only stayed a few more minutes, he would have been stripped down naked. Bare. Jayce Moore, completely nude for me to drool over.
I’d tried multiple times over the years to catch a glimpse of him here or to accidentally walk in on him there, but he was quick. The best I ever got was a good view of his ass when we were seventeen.
My stomach contracted tightly as I walked into the living room and dropped down on the couch. I felt like a teenager again.
“Grow up,” I grumbled. I’d had sex more times than I could count with both Seth and other guys in my past, but never with Jayce. He was the fantasy. I pressed my hands to my face and leaned back, recounting once again how stupid it was for me to move in with him.
Being around him all the time would only cause my desire for him to grow and it was already at unacceptable levels. He was just teasing me, but I wasn’t playing games. I wanted him. Wanted him so badly that it hurt at times.
I tried hard not to think of all the ways I wanted to tease him while we were living together, but they moved through my mind’s eye at breakneck speed. My breathing was off kilter, my body wet and ready for something I wouldn’t be getting anytime soon.
“Hey, you okay?” His voice brought me from the belly of my depravity.
I jerked up. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“I’m gonna throw on some clothes and we can go.” He turned and walked back down the hall as I watched him like a hawk.
Please let the towel fall. Please let it fall. Just an accident? Please?
He walked into his bedroom and closed the door as I pressed my hand to my chest and walked toward the door. I grabbed my phone out of my purse and texted Aubrey, giving her an earful about how I was going to freaking kill her for talking me into this.
“Did she really?” I asked myself. “Did she really have to push that much? No.”
“You talking to yourself?” Jayce walked back out in wind pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt.
“Heck yeah. Keeps things interesting.” I put my purse on my shoulder. “You sure you want to drive the Mustang to the store?”
“Nah. Let’s drive your Jeep.” He extended his hand.
“You’re not driving my truck. Are you out of your mind?” I laughed and opened the door. “It’s the only thing my parents gave me without me having to explicitly earn it.”
We walked out into the hall and he stuck his hand out again.
“Come on, Lay. You know I hate riding in a car. Let me drive.” He pushed out his bottom lip and I was done for.
“Ugh. I hate it when you do that.” I pulled the keys from my purse and handed them to him. “And stop walking around in a towel. You have
a female roommate now. Hello?”
“You didn’t like the show?”
I gave him a look and didn’t respond. “My boyfriend wouldn’t at all like the show.”
“What boyfriend?” I couldn’t help but notice how quickly his demeanor changed at the mention of me dating someone. Was it the big brother protective thing or something more like him wanting to be my lover?
“If I had one.” I crossed my arms over my chest as we walked toward the stairs.
“Oh.” He smiled. “I was getting confused. I thought you and Seth broke up a while back.”
“We did.” I pushed the door to the outside of the building.
“Do you miss him?” He held the door open for me.
“No. We’re really different people.” I jogged down the stairs, letting my hand hover over the railing. “He wants someone to fight with, and I hate fighting.”
“Why the hell would he want someone to fight with? Isn’t that the opposite of a good relationship?” Jayce walked around to the driver’s side of the truck and got in. I pulled myself up into the passenger’s seat, pausing to realize how weird it felt not to be driving my own truck. Jayce was the only guy I’d let drive my baby.
“Some people think fighting is love. Seth’s parents were always screaming and yelling at each other when we went over there. I think to him, that is love? I don’t know.” I pulled down the mirror above my head and checked my teeth. “My parents have started to act that way recently.”
“Since your dad changed jobs?” He reached up and pushed the mirror back up. “You look incredible. Stop fidgeting. It’s just me.”
Right. Just the guy I’d give anything in the universe to belong to. Just him.
“I guess we didn’t really realize what kind of pressure was going to come with him having to counsel some of the kids at the school. It’s crazy to think such young kids could have such heinous things facing them. My dad feels responsible for them, I guess.” I put on my seatbelt and reached up to adjust the music. Then the volume. Then the heat.
