Breaking Even (The Sterling Shore Series #5)

by C. M. Owens

  “Should we sit or something?” I ask the guy who is busy drooling over every other girl here.

  “Sure,” he says, sighing as though he’s bored out of his mind.

  This is going to be a long night.

  Chapter 8

  RYE

  I’ve started to go talk to Brin numerous times. It feels wrong staying away from her. We’re friends. Only friends. And I happen to love being her friend, even though I’ve only known her for a short period of time.

  So why do I feel like I can’t just walk over and talk to her?

  “Do you know that girl or something?” Leah asks.

  She doesn’t sound annoyed or intimidated, and that sort of bothers me. Brin looks amazing tonight, so Leah should feel insulted by my inability to stop looking. Brin pulls off the innocent thing, even though I know she’s not at all innocent.

  “Yeah. I do. She’s my neighbor and my friend.”

  She shrugs as she asks a passing server for another Corona. Leah drinks my favorite beer, likes the things I do, and she’s a knockout, but I can’t seem to make myself interested.

  Fuck. This is her fault—Brin. I can’t keep thinking about her like this, but every time she forces a brittle smile for the guy she’s with, I want to go rescue her and spend the night watching gory movies and talking about nothing. And then I want to do something to torment her.

  “You smell like a carburetor,” Leah says, grinning.

  Not sure how I smell like a carburetor, but okay...

  “I showered at the garage before Tag swung by to tell me about the party.”

  She giggles as she steps closer. “I wasn’t complaining. I happen to love it.”

  I’m fairly sure this girl would fuck me in the work area of my garage, and usually that would have me squealing tires to get us over there, but I keep looking over at Brin instead. The guy she’s with doesn’t seem the least bit interested.

  “Excuse me,” I say to Leah, and I make my way toward Ash as Leah says something back.

  Ash looks up from her glass of water and frowns at me. “What’s that look for?” she asks.

  “Who’s the guy acting like he can’t wait to get out of here?” I retort, glaring at her.

  How could she do this to Brin?

  She grumbles and groans under her breath, and finally she releases a few choice words.

  “An accountant I just met.”

  “And you set him up with Brin without knowing him? Why would you do that?”

  She hesitates for a minute. Then she finally curses again before dropping her shoulders in defeat.

  “Fine. You and Brin weren’t supposed to come. And if you did come, you were supposed to come together. But apparently the two of you don’t give a flying shit about each other the way I presumed—the way we all thought you did. That guy is the only guy I could get over here at the last minute. But I honestly thought the two of you were into each other, and I never thought you—being the alpha jerk you are—would let her show up with another guy. It was a push. A tiny little push, and the two of you shoved back. This was not supposed to backfire.”

  I’m going to strangle Tag. Now I look like a dick. “So Brin had no intentions of going out with that guy tonight, did she? Tag came and told me she was already coming and that she’d accepted the date offer.”

  Ash guiltily pouts as she looks toward the very depressed and bored Brin.

  “No. That was to force you to face your feelings for her. She told me she had plans when I asked. I was so excited, and then she sent a text later saying that she’d come. I thought you liked her. I wouldn’t have tried pushing you two if I had known you would go out with Leah. Tag said if you turned down a girl like Leah, then you were more than likely hard-up for Brin. His words.”

  I turn and glower at the fool talking to Dane Sterling, but he doesn’t notice. I should kick his ass for this. Brin came to my house thinking she was going to cook, and I fucking offered to let her ride with me and my date. She thinks I’m the one who didn’t cancel. I should throttle the both of them for doing this to us.

  “We’re not guinea pigs, Ash,” I growl.

  “I know,” she says apologetically. “It’s just... Rye, you smile when you’re with her. You laugh. You joke. And you look so damn happy. I’ve never seen any of that with you until you met her. And it happens every time she’s around. I just wanted you to see what’s right in front of you. Jealously is a good motivation. Tag and I messed around and wasted so much time. I didn’t want you two to do the same thing.”

  Fuck. Can’t we just be friends? It’s like I’m speaking a foreign language that no one can understand.

  “Thanks to you, Brin thinks I bailed on her to go out with Leah, and now she’s over there with Captain Jerk who keeps staring at your ass every time you walk by. Think about that the next time you want to play the manipulation game.”

  I start to walk over to Brin, but Ash starts crying, and I groan. Fucking pregnancy hormones.

  “Shit, Ash. I’m sorry.”

  “No. You’re right,” she sniffles. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I just want... you... two... to be... happy,” she says through harsh, labored, tearful breaths.

  Motherfucker. I’m going to hang myself right now.

  “You had good intentions,” I say while pulling her to me and hugging her. “I’ll go talk to Brin and save her from the reject she’s with. But it’s because we’re friends, Ash. I like Brin too much to date her. Do you understand that? I don’t date long, but I keep friends for life.”

  She pauses her sniffling as she looks up, frowning. “Fine. Go be her friend.”

  Once I’m sure she’s not going to break into a sobbing fit, I start to walk toward Brin, but her date is almost at the bar, so I go toward him instead. “Two Coronas,” I say to the bartender as he mixes a fruity drink.

  Brin’s not too crazy about fruity stuff.

  “You friends with Ash?” I ask while turning back toward the party.

  “Sort of,” he says, shrugging as his eyes land on Leah.

  The redhead waves at me, and I wave back, suddenly feeling like the biggest jerk of the night. Brin... She had to have thought I was the worst person ever earlier. I’m going to kill Tag.

  “Damn,” he drawls, watching Leah with too much interest. “You with her?”

  He’s got a gem but he wants a stone. Dumbass.

  “For tonight. Tag set us up.”

  He scowls at that comment. “You’re lucky. All these hot girls are walking around everywhere, but Ash set me up with a girl I could get on my own. I just assumed that I was coming to meet her, but then she explained it was a friend. Didn’t know Ash was married, but she’s hot, so that means hot friends. Then I get in here, and every girl is banging hot except for mine. Don’t get me wrong, she’s cute and fuckable, but definitely not someone I’d pick out of this crowd.”

  I’m pulling my fist down before I even realize I’ve just knocked him on his ass, and the whole party goes quiet as the wailing grows louder. The cocksucker is on his back, crying as he curls up into the fetal position while his nose pours blood.

  Dick.

  Tag’s mouth is open, but I still see the smile in his eyes. I’ll deal with him later. He’ll suffer the wrath for him and Ash, because I’m not making her cry again.

  “What?” I bark at everyone, and they all turn away quickly, returning to what they were doing with forced casualness.

  Brin is missing from the table, and I curse while running my hand through my hair. She’s probably even more pissed at me now.

  “Where’d she go?” I ask Ash, glaring at her.

  When her lip trembles, I soften my look immediately, and she points toward the house.

  Leah starts to speak as I pass by, but I completely ignore her as I take quick, determined steps to the house. Going through the patio entrance, I end up in the kitchen first, and there she is, sitting on the countertop while drinking her beer.

  “Hey,” she murmurs quietly
while looking through the window in front of her, not staring at anything in particular.

  “Sorry, Brin. I shouldn’t have punched out your date, but he—”

  “Spare me the details,” she interrupts on a long sigh, her eyes moving down to her beer. “I have a pretty good idea what he probably said. I don’t need the exact words. Thanks for punching him. I’m just waiting on a cab.”

  I’ve never felt so sick and pissed.

  ***

  BRIN

  This can’t get any more embarrassing. I was fine until he went and told Rye all the things he’d silently said to me with just his actions. This is mortifying.

  I know Ash didn’t put me through this on purpose. Guys put on their best performance around her, so she couldn’t have known what a douche he is. But it’s the last time I accept her date offer. She should stick to her day job because she’s a terrible matchmaker.

  “You don’t need a cab. I have a driver, so I can take you home.”

  And the humiliation just keeps coming in the form of his pity. Great. I’m not going to work tomorrow. I’m going to stay in bed all day and pray for good dreams.

  “I don’t want you to do that. The cab will be here in about ten minutes. Go back out to your date. She seems... I think she seems perfect for you. I heard her talking about cars earlier. She seems to know her stuff. That’s cool. And she’s really very pretty. I see why you wanted to cancel our stay-in night so badly. I don’t blame you at all.”

  It’s hard not to choke on envy or cry. I’ve never been the girl that hates another girl for being sexy, but right now, I’d love to see Leah fall off a cliff.

  He blows out a breath while dropping his head back. “Ash and Tag set this all up to try and push us together—you and me. Ash didn’t know the guy was going to be a total tool. The only reason I even came here with Leah was because Tag told me you had already accepted a date. I guess he thought I’d storm over to your house and do something.”

  Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse...

  This was all an elaborate setup meant for manipulation. All because they thought the same thing I thought earlier today. I guess Rye proved them wrong.

  “Ah,” I say with a bitter laugh. “Well, I’ll make sure to kick her ass when she’s not pregnant. I bet they feel like idiots right now. At least you got to meet someone that wasn’t a total tool.”

  I aim for joking, but I sound so resentful. In an effort to help, they only made things impossible.

  “I wouldn’t have canceled on tonight to go out on a date with a girl I didn’t know if Tag hadn’t told me you were going on a date. I swear. I just don’t want you to be mad at me.”

  It’s sweet, but it’s also making me feel pathetic. I’m his friend. I’m always the friend.

  “It’s fine, Rye. I’m not mad. At all. I honestly didn’t expect anything any different. And I’m sorry Ash and Tag thought you had a thing for me. I know that must be—”

  I’m cut off and shocked when Rye’s lips are suddenly on mine, his tongue sweeping in when I try to gasp. His hands roughly push my legs apart, making room for his body, and he grabs my waist and jerks me to him. It’s hard to not to moan when he devours me harder than I’ve ever fantasized about.

  I thrust my fingers in his hair and pull him even closer, relishing the taste of his mouth as my tongue goes to meet his. Oh dear God he can kiss.

  When his hands slide down my waist and start pushing my dress up, I don’t even think about stopping him. When his hands start sliding up the bare skin of my thighs, I pray he hurries. And when he brings our centers even closer, I wrap my legs around his waist to make us touch, and the friction becomes divine.

  He groans and breaks off the kiss while pushing his forehead against mine, his body trembling slightly as he pants for the same breath I can’t catch. I’m frozen, stunned, and doing all I can to slow down my erratic heartbeat as my legs drop from his waist.

  “You’re driving me fucking crazy,” he says in hushed tone before turning and walking away, leaving me feeling bereft and confused.

  With unsteady legs, I leap off the counter and follow him out, unsure about what I’m going to say or do, but he’s gone. He just... left. What the hell just happened?

  ***

  BRIN

  “So he punches your date and then kisses you?” Maggie asks, looking just as confused as I feel.

  “And then tells me I’m driving him fucking crazy. Don’t forget about that part.”

  I drop my high heels to the floor of my bedroom and try not to think of the delicious smell he’s left behind on me.

  My lips are still a little swollen from the breath-stealing kiss, and I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever think about anything else ever again. Why’d he have to go and kiss me?

  “Any insight would be great,” I mumble when Maggie stays quiet.

  “I’m as confused as you are. It’s times like these that I’m grateful I’m into women. Men are too fucking weird.”

  I laugh humorlessly while scrubbing my face with my hands.

  “Well, maybe... Hell, I don’t know,” she says, still at a loss.

  What now?

  Chapter 9

  RYE

  “Motherfucker!” I roar as piss splashes all around, and I’m forced to painfully cut it off mid-stream.

  Some stupid fucking piece of clear plastic shit is on my toilet, blocking anything from getting in. I knew she did something! Damn it!

  Peeling away the disgusting plastic wrap, I finish my morning piss, cursing the entire time. Why didn’t I think of that?

  I climb inside the shower and flip it on. I’m in desperate need of a good shower now, thanks to the fucking piss bath she set me up for. I use the keypad on the side, turning on all the showerheads at the same time, but instead of a clean shower, I’m met by the damn sticky rainbow from hell.

  Purple, orange, red, green, pink... all the colors collide like Lucky Charms just threw up, and I growl as I leap out, covered in the syrupy, grainy shit. What the fucking hell? Is that Kool-Aid?

  When did she do this? How did she do this? I locked the window.

  I’ve been trying to forget her, but right now she’s making that pretty impossible. After a few more seconds, the fruity rainbow ceases and clear water rushes out in its place. Fucking finally.

  My shower takes longer since I have to wash off all the damn Kool-Aid, but I finish up and head straight for the coffee. I refuse to go to the living room until I have to because I know I’ll look across the street. She should be gone to work by now, and I can map out my payback plan.

  The very thought strikes an uneasy chord in me. Did I ruin it all with that kiss? Can we just forget it happened?

  The coffee finishes, and I add the sugar, stirring it absently as I think back to being between her legs, feeling her wanting me just as much as I wanted her. I’m forced to grip the edge of the counter and forget the coffee for a minute.

  I’ve been in that same position numerous times, and I’ve never walked away. But until last night, I’ve never wanted anything that badly. And it’s freaking me the hell out.

  I need liquor instead of coffee, but it’ll have to do—since I have work. I chug the cup, but I’m spewing, spitting, and gagging in the very next second. Son of a bitch!

  I dump out the foul cup of coffee and grab the sugar. She did not just use the oldest trick in the book.

  She did. A small taste confirms it; she swapped the sugar for salt.

  Unbelievable.

  My reflexes have me stalking toward the front door despite the fact that I’m just wearing my towel, but the second I open the door, I remember I can’t just show up over there and pretend nothing happened. What have I done?

  Then I see her car still parked, looking untouched. She doesn’t have work today?

  ***

  RYE

  Why’d I have to go and kiss her? And why can’t I stop thinking about it? I could have said anything in this world and confused he
r less. Fuck, now I’m confused, too.

  I feel... I feel stupid.

  “You look like shit,” Tag says as he walks into my office.

  “You look like a betraying bastard,” I retort, glaring at him as he sighs and drops to the chair.

  He studies me for a minute, and then he finally leans up.

  “When I met Ash, I wanted her. But in less than a day, I felt more for her than I had felt for any other girl. Insta-love? No. But I was definitely spellbound. I was a dick that didn’t want to feel that. By the time I was ready, I had already pushed her away. A lot of people judge her for her decision to hide our first pregnancy from me, but they shouldn’t.”

  He stands and walks over to my mini-fridge to pull out a bottle of water, and I wait on this drama-fest to end. It’s not the same. It’s not even close, but he doesn’t know the sordid details of my hidden truths because I’ve never told him. The only friends of mine who know are Ethan Noles and Wren Prize.

  Tag continues, and I let him, because I can’t tell him how different we are. “I had chances. I could have gone to her at any time. I knew where she was, had her number, and even wanted to see her, but I was too stubborn to admit it. We’re creatures of habit, and I think we both know what my habits involved at that time. One woman barely seemed sufficient. But when I finally gave in, I realized that what I thought I wanted was empty. Ash filled a void in my life that I didn’t know was there. I was just trying to do for you what no one—including Wren—did when I was in the same position. Guess I was wrong.”

  Everyone stood by and watched the two of them fight each other. It wasn’t just him, and it wasn’t just her. But that’s not what’s going on here.

  “I kissed her,” I blurt out, completely shocking us both because I have no fucking clue why I just admitted that. Tag’s eyes widen before he laughs.

  “Then I guess it wasn’t a total waste,” he murmurs more to himself than to me.

  “But I left. Brin isn’t the type you let into your bed for a little while. She’s a lifetime commitment, and I’m not a lifetime guy.”