by KyAnn Waters
“What?” The footrest slammed back under the chair. Casey covered her mouth and started to laugh.
“It's not funny. It's depressing. Who would've thought Johnny would be the best sex of my life.”
“Really? Hmm. Probably should've known that. They say you can tell a lot about performance by the way a guy dances.”
“It's true then, because Johnny's great at both. And I mean amazing great. If he sucked in bed, the relationship would've worked out perfectly.” She rolled to her side and pillowed her hands under her head. “I wasn't supposed to love him.”
“You're full of shit. You've always loved Johnny.”
“Like a friend.”
Casey snorted. “Your friendship is better than most marriages.” Casey walked to the couch and sat on the edge of the cushion beside her. “What's the real problem, Kris?”
She rolled her eyes, but tears filled them anyway. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. “It all happened so fast. I thought we'd bone a couple of times, share a laugh, and go back to the way things were.” She sat making room for Casey. “Have you ever laughed during sex?”
“During foreplay or in the heat of the action?”
“You just answered my question. Johnny makes me laugh. He gives me this incredible feeling, right here.” She put her hand on her chest. “And then I start wondering how it's going to feel when he finally leaves. Either I'll push him away or he'll get tired of me. Isn't keeping the friendship more important than risking everything for a relationship that might not last?”
Casey's brows furrowed and her lips pursed. “Hell no.”
“So what should I do? He won't return my phone calls. He leaves messages when I'm not home.”
“You'll see him tomorrow. He won't miss Stu's on a Friday night.”
Casey was right. How could she forget? Krissy smiled. She didn't rationalize or explain the tingle of anticipation rushing through her.
Johnny sniffed the armpit of a shirt. Looked clean, wasn't badly wrinkled, and passed the odor test. What the hell? It was only class and whom did he have to impress? The one woman in the world he wanted, didn't care. Fuck, he hated whiners. Throw him some cheese. He smiled thinking of his dad's comeback from childhood. “You want some cheese to go with that whine?”
He climbed into his truck and headed across town. They lived in a college town with plenty of pizza joints and coffee shops, but more than that, it offered a great place to raise a family. Fourth of July in the park, Christmas parades with Santa, rodeos, demolition derbies, he planned to plant roots here. Someday he'd buy a house. He'd work for a firm for a few years, then he could open a practice of his own. His passion lay with corporate law, tax law, not personal injury or divorce. Johnny understood numbers. He didn't want to involve himself with airing someone's dirty laundry or debilitating injury.
Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, he hiked across the campus to his first class. Only a few weeks left in the summer semester and then he had to think about what he wanted to do.
He wondered if he should just carry on as if Krissy hadn't altered the course. Could he continue to pretend to be friends after all they'd shared? He'd been pretending for years, but he didn't have the memory of her breathy pants as she neared orgasm. He knew when to hold off gratification, driving her crazy, because of his intense awareness of her.
Spotting a vacant chair in the back of the classroom, he thought of Krissy. Not that he'd be slipping out early today as he had in the last few weeks. Finishing the semester was his only priority. He wouldn't be hurrying to her house today for a quickie. Regret churned in his gut.
Never straying too far from his thoughts, he replayed all that had happened in the last few weeks between them. He missed her, which was exactly the problem. He couldn't concentrate on his studies. He imagined she must think he'd deserted her.
He hadn't.
He just wasn't ready to see her.
When class was over, Johnny slipped out the side entrance ahead of the crowd.
“Hi, John.”
Johnny turned toward the soft voice beside him. He couldn't remember the girl's name, but he'd seen her around campus. She might even be in one of his classes.
“Gina,” she said, shifting her knapsack to her other shoulder.
They did have a class together, the one he'd just left in fact. He tilted his head indicating she should join him on the walk.
“Do you have another class?” Standing a few inches taller than Krissy, she looked him in the eyes. “I wondered if I could talk to you.”
He smiled. “Sure. Do you want to grab a coffee?”
“I'd love to.”
As they walked across campus, he snuck a glanced at Gina. He didn't want to be caught staring because he was unfairly comparing. Gina was attractive but she wasn't Krissy. Guilt burned at his conscience like acid. He swallowed the lump in his throat and ordered.
After they purchased coffees, they sat on a bench near the clock tower in the center of the campus. Ducks cut through rippling dark waters of the pond stretching to the south parking lot.
It wasn't cheating. Why did it feel that way? Gina smiled, batted lashes made long and thick with mascara, and bumped his shoulder when she laughed.
She represented the perfect antitheses to Krissy. The thought of spending Friday night at Stu's gave him chills. Krissy would be there. With their relationship irrevocably altered, the adjustment would take some time. What he needed was a distraction. And maybe to show Krissy what she was giving up.
He turned to Gina. “Would you like to go out tonight?”
Johnny really was an ass. Gina, sitting next to him in the cab of the truck, had dressed to impress. Drew would call her hot. She had full kissable lips and a decent figure, but she wasn't Krissy. But then Krissy was the only one he wanted sitting next to him. Gina's perfume drifted to his nose without stirring a niggle of interest. His cock didn't even twitch with her trim thigh aligned with his.
“We're meeting my friends. I hope that's all right with you.”
It didn't serve his purpose if Krissy didn't see him moving on. There it was again, the guilt. Not a problem, as long as he didn't lead Gina on. He'd keep it casual.
“Great.”
Johnny parked and then stepped out of the truck. Gina followed him out the driver's side door. Her skirt hiked up high on her thigh. She shimmied, smoothing it down. Flipping her hair, she tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. “Okay, ready.”
Her smile slammed into his gut. Ah, hell, he had to stop this before it went too far. He could stop it after Krissy saw him with a date. She'd better show up.
Every few minutes Krissy glanced at the door.
“Another round,” Drew said to the waitress and held up three fingers.
“Are you trying to get drunk?” Krissy narrowed her eyes but kept the smile on her lips. Tonight she wished she could. All eyes focused on her as she sipped the cola drink in front of her. She hadn't told them it was soda. Let them make assumptions. She'd taken the test. Her stomach somersaulted. Then a smile spread across her mouth. She licked her lips and focused on the door again.
She couldn't wait to see Johnny. She took a deep breath, hoping for the fortitude to face him. One part of her wanted to run into his arms and profess to love him forever. But the saner, or maybe just the more stubborn side of her personality wouldn't shut up. The little devil on her shoulder wanted to come out and play.
Casey's words had the desired effect. Krissy did want Johnny, forever. The idea of becoming a sappy lovesick couple made her shudder. She wanted fun, teasing, best friend Johnny for a boyfriend.
And her boyfriend just walked in the damn door with a growth attached to his arm.
Well, Krissy was just the person to remove it. Who in the hell was she? How dare Johnny pick up a babe to bring to the bar? Theirs was a closed club. A six- pack. Only Drew brought along dates because he had temporary involvements. Some rules couldn't be broken. Johnny bringing a date was one
of them!
“Oh, oh, where you going?” Drew grabbed her arm and pulled her back. Three shots of tequila sat in a row on the table. Casey and Shelby were ready with the salt and the lime.
Krissy glared at Johnny as he escorted the woman across the room. When they approached the table, she pasted a spurious smile on her face.
“We're doing body shots.” They weren't, but he didn't need to know that. She scrunched her brows. “I lost my partner. I think he went to play darts.” She stood on her tiptoes and looked around the room. “Oh, there he is.” She was purposely vague because she didn't need Johnny rushing over and popping someone in the face like he had Eddie in the fourth grade.
The table grew quiet.
“You haven't been doing shots,” Drew said.
“Oh, shut up.” Okay, so she just outted herself. Big deal. She planned to eventually.
“She's not, but I am.” Casey licked her hand and sprinkled salt. Krissy met Casey's eyes with a silent thank you and then glanced at Johnny.
Casey wrapped her arm around Krissy's waist. “If the boys want to see their girls get a little wasted, let's not disappoint.” She picked up a shot glass and slammed the drink. She chewed the lime ignoring the laughs going around the table.
She handed a shot glass to Krissy. “Your turn.”
“I can't.” Krissy nearly choked. “I'm a Bud Light girl.” She glanced down at her soda and cringed. “Except tonight.”
Johnny laughed and she glared at him. He had his hand on the wrong hip. It should be hers.
“Drew, do you want to dance with me?”
Drew turned to Johnny. Like it mattered if it bothered Johnny, Krissy might have limited options at the moment, but she could make Johnny jealous.
Evidently it worked.
His jaw clenched. He looked at the table and then lifted his head. Their eyes locked. Krissy cocked one brow. “Hi,” she said to his date.
“Gina is just a friend.” He introduced the woman around the table.
Just a friend. Nice try, Johnny, but it won't work. Pleasure snaked up her spine. Drew had a twinkle of interest glinting in his eye when he looked at Gina. Krissy would exploit that twinkle when needed. No one ever claimed she didn't go after what she wanted. It had only been a week. She'd have thought Johnny would pine for more than a moment. This was war. Love and war.
“It's nice to meet you,” the woman said.
Gina clung to Johnny. Hmm, Krissy couldn't tell if Johnny liked it. Who was she kidding? The girl was drop- dead gorgeous. Krissy scrutinized the blonde. Something about the girl looked familiar. Dropping dead would come in handy about now. Only who did she want to drop? Johnny didn't look all that comfortable. A bead of perspiration trickled down his temple. He focused on everyone except Krissy.
Gina slid onto the stool next to Ryan. Johnny stood behind her. “Can I get you a drink? Beer?”
She nodded. Krissy's chest ached. For the first time ever, Johnny didn't offer to get her something from the bar. She blinked back tears.
“So how do you know Johnny,” Casey asked.
“From school.”
That's why she looked familiar. Krissy remembered seeing her when she'd met Johnny for coffee. The tramp wanted him then.
“We have class together.”
“You're going to be a lawyer?”
Shut up, Ryan. No need to highlight the finer points of the woman. They needed to look for faults. Krissy tried to appear casual when she leaned to the side and checked Gina out from the crown of her perfectly coiffed hair to her expensive- looking, strappy sandals that probably came from an expensive department store like the Victoria Secret bra supporting her perky breasts. She didn't even have fat ankles.
“John told me about you all.” Gina smiled, glancing over her shoulder. Johnny had two beers in his hand.
Ryan and Shelby looked at each other. Casey just nodded. Were they all afraid to ask what they really wanted to know? What the hell was going on? Krissy didn't need to ask. More games. The girl buzzed with sexual energy.
She made a smacking noise with her lips and nodded her head. She met Johnny's stare. “He told you all about us? Huh?” She glanced at Gina. “Did he tell you I'm having his baby?”
Turning away, she stomped off to the back of the bar.
The blood drained from Johnny's head and continued down his body. His throat dried, tongue swelled. He labored for breath and his ribs cracked under the pressure of guilt. His knees locked to keep him standing. Beer sloshed onto his shaking fingers.
Drew took the tall glasses from his hands. He set one in front of Gina and guzzled some of the other.
“I need to go after her.” He looked at the back of Gina's head. “Shit.”
“Why don't you let me take care of Gina? You aren't very good at juggling, my friend.”
Johnny slapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks,” he whispered. “Gina, I've got to— ”
“It's fine, John.” She smiled at Drew. “Are you going to keep me company?”
“So Gina, do you like hot tubs?”
Johnny didn't know how Drew did it. And right now, he didn't care. Bringing Gina to the bar hadn't been his most brilliant moment. The last few weeks encompassed a series of bad decisions. He'd always considered himself a smart man. Who knew he could make such monumental mistakes?
He wound his way around the perimeter of the bar. When he didn't see her on the dance floor in the rear room of the bar, he made his way back to the table. “I can't find her.”
Casey pointed across the room. Krissy laughed and flirted with a group of men playing darts. “Don't get pissed. She came here tonight to work it out and you showed up with a date.”
Speaking of dates... “Where'd Gina and Drew disappear to?”
Shelby giggled.
Ryan snorted. “You left her with Drew.”
“Hot tub.” Shelby wrinkled her nose. “Remind me to ask him if he's had it fumigated before we go over,” she said to Ryan.
“Gross,” Casey said. Then she turned to Johnny. “Don't go over there. She doesn't want to talk to you right now.”
“I can't believe I never guessed you were Mr. Perfect.” Shelby shook her head. “We should've guessed,” she said to everyone at the table.
“I can't believe you knocked her up! I suppose that if you have to saddle yourself with a woman and kid for the rest of your life, it works best if it's someone you like.”
Johnny looked away from Krissy and glanced at Ryan. “I love her.” He turned to Casey. “But I want more than to be her baby's daddy.”
“She isn't going to want to hear declarations of love tonight. Dumbass, you brought a date.”
“You're right. I'm an asshole. I have to go over. It only gets worse for Krissy and I if we don't talk.” He'd gone all week without talking to her. And look how great they were doing. Regret squeezed his chest.
Johnny stared across the room. The beat of his heart pounded in his head. Pregnant. With his baby. He hadn't known how he'd feel when it finally happened. He still didn't know how he felt besides being numb. He stepped away from the table. She might not want to talk, but he had to.
He crossed the room. “Can we talk?”
Krissy's hand shook as she held the dart. Johnny's eyes burned her skin, made her heart trip, missing a beat. Did he believe her? It wasn't the way she wanted to tell him. She imagined a slow dance, hip to hip, and whispers in his ear. She'd say something like, “Hold me close while you can...about four more months.” He'd robbed her of the experience by bringing a date.
“Krissy, we need to talk.” He stood to the side with his hands in his front pockets.
“After my game.” She narrowed her eyes, pitched her arm back, and sent the dart in an arc to the board.
“Is it true?”
She gave the man with the darts a smile and took a couple steps toward Johnny. Her palms were damp. She combed her hair off her forehead with her fingers and tilted her head to scrutinize the man she loved. She licked
her dry lips as she considered the words and the order in which to give them. Baby first or profess her love? Risk her heart or once again lock it away?
“Not here.” She didn't want to make the most important decision of her life in the bar. Wasn't it enough they might've conceived here?
A wave of nostalgia flowed over her. She took a good look around. It wasn't the last time she'd ever come to the club, but never again as a part of the six- pack. She and Johnny were making it seven.
Maybe they could stay the same. Or maybe it could be better. She'd never know if she didn't try to move past this fear of losing him. She needed to think about how much more she could have in a real relationship with him. Shelby and Ryan's relationship headed in the same direction as she and Johnny. Drew needed a miracle to settle down, and Casey kept her life too organized to make the mammoth mistakes Krissy did.
Only, her baby wasn't an accident. Johnny told her in the beginning that he wanted a baby, their baby.
“We should go.” She lifted her gaze to him and swallowed the lump in her throat. He nodded. On shaking knees, she crossed the bar to the table where Shelby, Casey, and Ryan watched in wide- eyed fascination. Like her, they probably wondered if Johnny would find himself removed from the bar for disorderly conduct. “We're going.”
“You okay?” Shelby came around the table. “Is it true?” she whispered.
Krissy grabbed her cell phone and keys from the table. “I can't talk about it now. I'll call you later.”
Casey leaned in. “Don't worry about calling us. Fix this thing you have with Johnny, or you're going to regret it. Listen to Mother.” She smiled. Krissy chuckled. Casey was drunk. It didn't happen often.
“I hope you're taking her home,” Krissy said to Ryan.
Shelby wrapped her arm around Krissy's shoulder. “Of course he is. We take care of each other.”
“I know.”
Krissy snuck a quick glance at Johnny. He'd always taken care of her. Her stomach churned. And tonight she was about to let him do so again.
