by JJ Ross
I wrapped my naked legs around him as he kissed me harder, pulling me closer.
“I don’t think we should keep going. Let’s just stop here tonight. We have plenty of other opportunities ahead of us…”
“No, Drew. This is the perfect time! How about, let me do something for you. Show me.”
“Trust me, I will be fine. Hearing you moan like that was enough for me…”
I blushed, “sorry,” I whispered.
“Don’t be sorry. It was sexy.” He smirked as he kissed my neck.
I blushed even more. I was so glad it was just dark enough that he couldn’t see the red in my face.
“Come here,” he whispered as he pulled me into him, “let me hold you.” He lightly kissed the back of my neck as he nestled into me, “Goodnight Sonny.”
I was still tingling as I felt sleep settle in. I knew from that tingle what I had been missing and that I wanted more. I willed my racing heart to slow down as I reluctantly closed my eyes and gave in to sleep.
The next day, we decided it was time for me to go home. Drew promised he would call me and see me when he could. Everything was different with us. I don’t know what was in my future, but I did know that it was all about Drew.
I was reluctant, but I headed back home. I wanted to stay with him and just be with him. I wanted to lay my head on his chest and just let him hold me. It was the most perfect place to be. With Drew.
Luckily I had a long ride home to think about everything.
I pulled into the driveway only to find that my parents weren’t home. I had called my mom and assured her I would be home by dinner. Due to my early departure from Drew, I was home a couple of hours early. The house was empty, which was a little depressing with my elated mood. At the least, they could have been home. I guess they figured I was in good hands. I sighed as I headed up the stairs to my room.
What made them trust Drew so much? Was it that they believed that, him being the older brother, we would never be more than just friends?
I was pulling off the sweatshirt I had on and I stopped halfway to inhale deeply. Drew’s sweet cologne was on the sweater and it engulfed me as I pulled it over my head. I gently dropped it on my bed and walked to my dresser to find some fresh clothes. I stood there in his sweatpants and my tank top contemplating what to wear.
“You’re home,” I heard from behind me as he shut the window.
I spun around to see him standing there. I don’t know why I expected him to look different, but he didn’t. He was handsome as ever, but I couldn’t even look into his eyes. He would never look the same to me again, I imagine. I could feel him giving me the once over and then stopping on the small Greek letters on the hip of the sweatpants.
“What?” I demanded as I crossed my arms across my chest and looked at him, waiting for an answer.
“Are those Drew’s pants?”
“You haven’t seen or talked to me, you slept with my best friend, and all you want to know is if these are your brother’s pants?! Well, you know what? They are!”
“Why do you have on my brother’s pants?”
“Why did you sleep with Maggie?”
“Did you sleep with Drew?”
“I asked you a question.”
“So did I.”
“Well, Drew and I are none of your business, but if you must know, the answer is no.”
“Drew and I? What is that? A status?”
I blushed slightly, “It’s none of your business, that’s what. What about you and Maggie? Are you two together now? What is going on with you? You are acting like every other guy in high school, Chance! You were supposed to be different.”
“So, now it’s us high school guys,” he said disgusted, “Sonny, I went to Maggie’s house when I left here to tell her it was a mistake and she was not the girl for me. You are. I know I keep screwing up, but, through everything, I have realized that I am only right, when I am with you. You are made for me. Please let me prove that I can be good to you.”
“It’s not that simple Chance.”
“Because of Drew?”
“It’s not about him; it’s about you and how you treated me. We just don’t click anymore.”
“Sonny, please. I am so sorry. I need you in my life.”
“And I need someone that cares about me.”
“I do care about you. Just let me be with you. I love you. Being away from you is torture.”
“Well,” I contemplated, “You should have thought of that, but maybe we can just work on being friends for now.”
“No, Sonny. I love you, I want to be with you. I want to marry you one day.”
I stood there looking at him in disbelief, trying to let what he had just said sink in. I took a deep breath and turned my back to him to dig through my dresser for clothes.
“Sonny, please say something. Anything. Please?”
“Chance, I told you that you and I were through. I meant that. I am offering you my friendship. That is all I have for you right now. I refuse to put myself in a position to be hurt again.”
“Okay. Fine. So what happens now?”
“We stay friends and that’s it.”
Chapter 14
The next two weeks were awkward. Apparently the spring break trip was a huge success and Chance and Maggie’s little rendezvous was the topic of gossip. Everyone knew. People that I didn’t even know were asking me if I was okay. It was so weird.
Then, it had been over a month since I had gone to see Drew. He rarely called or emailed. He was always too busy with frat stuff or sports, and class work. I understood he was a guy and he got busy, but I missed him. I was getting depressed.
I had had enough, so one Friday night, I decided to go to the tennis courts and hit some balls to let out my aggression. I was getting mad at everyone for being in my business and I was getting mad at myself for putting my heart out there. Most of all I was upset because I hadn’t talked to Drew. I had talked to him the day after I got back, but barely since then.
What was he doing? Was he reconsidering? Did he regret anything we did?
The more I thought about everything, the madder I became. I started hitting the balls harder as they came out of the machine. I imagined him running into that stunning girl, Krissa and how they would be a perfect couple. I imagined the way she giggled at him and how she looked at him, hoping there was a chance.
I began to hit the balls even harder, as the sweat rolled off my brow.
Finally, the machine was just making a clicking noise because it was empty. I threw my racquet in anger as I listened to the machine. Stomping over to it, I flipped the switch to silence it.
When I reached down to turn it off, I realized how sore my arm was and there were balls all over the court. I felt like that ball court just then. Everything was a complete mess. I huffed as I used the ball hopper and began to walk around the court picking up balls.
“You want some help?”
I quickly spun around and dropped the ball hopper. He was leaning against the open gate casually. The balls escaped from the ball hopper and bounced all over the court, as I ran into his arms.
“Drew!” I wrapped my arms around him, letting a few tears spill onto his shirt where I had buried my face into his chest.
“Hey beautiful,” he whispered softly, squeezing me tighter to him.
“I missed you so much!” I sighed.
“Sorry I haven’t called. I have been busy trying to finish up classes and stuff. Hey, don’t think for a minute you haven’t been on my mind every second of everyday,” he said as he looked down at me, lifting my chin to look into my eyes.
I instantly forgave him for everything and grinned up at him, “So, why are you home?”
“We have a teacher work day on Monday and it seemed like a great weekend to spend time with you. How have you been?”
“Fine I guess.”
“Really? You didn’t look fine just then.”
“How long have you been standing there.”<
br />
He chuckled slightly, “long enough to feel sorry for those balls. You look kind of frustrated out there.”
“I was just thinking.”
“Oh yeah?” he asked as he began to walk across the court to my tennis bag, “How about I help you clean up these balls, and then you quit playing a machine and you play me?”
“I would like that,” I said as I pulled out an extra racquet and handed it to him, “Is this one fine?”
“Sure. I mean, it doesn’t matter about the racquet. I could beat you with a vintage kid’s racquet from the 1800s,” he teased as he took the racquet from me.
I playfully punched him, “Yeah right, Dewy!”
He laughed harder, “Dewy!? Wow. You haven’t called me that since we were little. I mean, it’s been ages! I like it. I think I’ll have it put on my jersey.”
I was laughing hard. I hadn’t laughed in a while and it felt good to laugh like that, especially with him. I sighed as I watching him spin the racquet and bounce a ball.
“Ready?” he asked, about to serve the ball.
“Yes.”
The next day, Chance and Drew were in the backyard at their house, tossing a football back and forth and talking. I watched them from my window, trying to think of different reasons I could go down there and talk to Chance or Drew.
Honestly, I just wanted any excuse to be around Drew.
After realizing there was not one thing I could go to them for that wouldn’t make it obvious about me and Drew, I gave up. I finally just made my way to the back patio and sat in one of the patio chairs, letting the sun warm me as I propped my legs up on another chair.
I listened to them talk in the distance as I put on my sunglasses and then my earbuds. It was classical music. I closed my eyes and let the music take me into a state of relaxation.
Suddenly, I felt someone kick my feet off of the chair they were propped on. I quickly pulled off my ear buds and yanked off my sunglasses.
“What the crap!?”
“Didn’t your mother teach you to keep your feet off of the furniture?”
I peered up at them looking down at me. I smirked at Drew and quickly looked at Chance, “No, besides, I do what I want.”
“Oh yeah?” he asked. I began to raise my legs to reposition them again, but he grabbed the chair before I could lift my feet and sat down.
“Drew and I are going to go bowling later, you know, just to get out of the house. Did you want to come with us?”
“Who all is going?”
“Well, me and Drew and some of the guys that graduated with him, maybe some kids from school, and Chris and Ashley.”
“I don’t know, Chance,” I started, knowing that it was the makings of an awkward situation. After the whole Chris incident, I had avoided both of them like the plague and ever since Chance I had broken up, I had pretty much avoided everyone from school.
“Come on Sonny, quit being a homebody. Chance told me that you barely leave the house anymore. What’s that all about?”
I looked up at Drew and caught him wink, “Well, I guess I could get out. What time?”
“Eight. I’m driving my truck,” said Drew, “Everyone else is meeting us there.”
“Fine. I will be ready and meet you two out front.”
We walked into the bowling alley and headed straight over to a group of people. There were all guys, some I knew and some I didn’t, and Ashley. She was sitting in Chris’ lap watching someone roll the ball. I caught her eye and quickly looked away. I don’t know how she felt about me, but I didn’t want to chance a confrontation.
“What’s up Drew?” Shayne said as he handed him a beer. Drew glanced at me and winked. I shook my head in fake disapproval, but smiled. Drew noted my face and turned to Chance.
“Here Chance, it looks like you’ll be driving home,” Drew held his truck keys out to his brother.
Chance took the keys and slipped them into his pocket, “Okay, Drew, but not too much. Mom would be pissed.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I hear you nagging just like her,” he joked.
“Drew, seriously, you know how she feels about you drinking.”
“Whatever. I’m 21. It’s not illegal anymore,” he laughed.
“Alright. Whatever, your funeral,” Chance joked as he settled down on the chair next to me and draped his arm across the back of my chair. I glanced at him uncomfortably but stayed in my seat. Drew looked over at him and then finished his drink in a big gulp as he turned his attention back to the guys at the table.
Ashley walked over to me and stood in front of me.
“Can we talk?” she asked. I looked at Chance and he nodded, got up, and walked over to Chris and had a seat.
“Have a seat,” I motioned to the empty seat that was now next to me. She sat and clasped her hands in her lap as she watched Chris and Chance start to bowl.
“I just want to say that I am happy for you and Chance. I know it has been rough, but you two are really good together. I know it’s crazy, but when Chance and Chris got into that fight, it brought us close and I saw a side to him that I love. I know he seems like a jerk, but he has this whole other part to him that’s super sweet. It is really crappy how it all got started, but look at us now. We both got the guy we wanted,” she smiled warmly at me.
“Ashley, I’m sure you’re right. Only thing is, Chance and I are not together anymore.”
“Oh, come on Sonny, you don’t have to hide it anymore.”
“No, really,” I turned to her, “Chance slept with my best friend. We are done.”
She cleared her throat uncomfortably, “I...I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Are you okay?”
“Actually,” I glanced over to Drew, who was watching my every move, “I will be fine. Chance and I are still friends. We have come a long way, but somehow managed to salvage a lifelong friendship.” I smiled reassuringly.
“Wow. That is really great...good for you.”
“For what it’s worth, Ashley, I am happy for you.”
“Thank you and like I said, it all worked out,” she looked to Chris adoringly, “I actually feel like I got the better end of the deal.”
I laughed lightly, “I guess you did.”
With that we both got up and took our turns on the lanes. Ashley had a point. It all had kind of worked out. Though, my happy ending wasn’t one I could share with the world, just yet.
Through the night, I carefully paid attention to Drew and noted that he had the one beer the entire evening. I was impressed. By the end of our fourth game I knew it was getting too late for me to be out. I glanced at the clock on my cell phone. It was getting to be just after 11 p.m. Tonight my curfew was at midnight, probably because I was with both Mitchell brothers, so my parents felt it was okay.
I walked to Drew at the table where they were drinking and joking, and lightly touched him on the shoulder.
“Drew, I really have to get home soon.”
He looked up at me and then over at his brother, “Are you almost ready to go, Chance?” he asked him.
Chance tossed Drew the keys to the truck.
“Actually, I am headed to a party with Chris and Ashley. You want to go?”
Drew looked to me and then back to Chance, “No thanks. I gotta get Sonny back before midnight. You sure you got a ride?”
“Yeah. If things get crazy, I will just stay at Chris’ house.” He said nodding in Chris’ direction.
“Okay. I guess we are going to head out then,” said Drew as he stood up and pushed his chair in, “Thanks for coming out guys,” he said to the table and then turned to me, “You ready?”
“Come on Drew, come to the party. It will be like old times,” pleaded one of the guys at the table. Drew shook his head and draped his arm loosely across my shoulders.
“Not this time. I gotta take Sonny home before she turns into a pumpkin.” Everyone laughed including me. With that, he steered me out of the bowling alley and into the parking lot towards his truck. He opened the door fo
r me and waited for me to jump in before he slammed it shut.
I slid across the bench seat and unlocked his door before he made it around the truck. After he had gotten in and turned the keys in the ignition, he sat for a minute without moving.
“What?” I asked concerned.
He snapped his head to me and smiled, “Nothing. Just thinking about you.” He grabbed my hand and kissed it before he sucked on the end of my index finger, “and the things I would love to do to you, right about now…”
I grinned as I leaned in to kiss him. He gently cupped my face with both hands and kissed me tenderly. After a minute or so, he pulled back slowly and looked at the clock on the dash.
“I really do have to get you home, though.”
I sighed in frustration, “yeah, about that, technically, yes. I mean, I am almost 18 and I am with you. It shouldn’t matter what I am doing. I just, I don’t care. I want to be rebellious! I want to blow off my curfew for once!”
“I don’t think that is such a good idea, Sonny. Your parents trust me.”
“I know but don’t I get a break too?” I exaggerated with my hands.
He smiled as he gently put my hands in my lap, squeezing them lightly in reassurance, and then put the truck in reverse.
“”Yes, you do, but not tonight.”
“I don’t think I like this new Drew. Why can’t I get the fun, bad Drew for one night?”
I saw him smirk out of the corner of my eye, and then he reached over and took my hand to hold it. I began to stroke his thigh and watched his reaction. He raised his eyebrow, but kept his eyes focused on the road.
“Why can’t I get the Drew that doesn’t care about curfews?” I continued to rub on his thigh, a bit higher this time, as I kissed his neck. I may not be experienced, but I knew how to turn a guy on.
I continued to kiss his neck and nibbled his ear as I undid his pants. I gently eased his pants down enough to get my hand in to touch him.
“Sonny, maybe this isn’t the best time for…ummm…..” he hesitated without stopping me and kept both his hands on the steering wheel. He took his hand closest to me off of the steering wheel and began to rub my back.
