East Down South

by Eliza Freer

  Dad stops the car on the street across from the house. “Okay, heathen. Have fun tonight, be safe, call me if you need anything and I love you.”

  I kiss my dad on the cheek. “Got it. Love you too. You’re just as the stadium, right?”

  “Yep. Now get out of my car.”

  I laugh and hop out. I throw him a backwards wave as I run across the street and up to Wilder’s front door. I ring the doorbell and the door is opened by one of the most handsome men I’ve ever seen, looking dangerously sexy. “Well, hello there handsome.”

  Wilder waves to my dad as he pulls away and then grabs me by the waist and drags me inside. He shuts the door and backs me up against it. He lands a series of hot, searing, mind in the bedroom kisses before I pull back to take a deep breath. “Hello to you too, gorgeous.”

  I toss my purse next to his couch quickly. I turn back to him and run my fingers down his cheek before grabbing the back of his neck and bringing his mouth back down to mine. The intensity of our kisses only increase and our tongues tangle with each other. He grabs my thighs and I circle my legs around his waist. Next thing I know he’s walking me up a set of stairs, only breaking our kiss to be sure he won’t fall over. I take the opportunity to kiss down his neck and feel his breathing increase. He shoves open his bedroom door and locks it behind him. When he pushes me back up against that door as well, I push back from his chest and regulate my breathing.

  “Now, Wy, while I’m not complaining because this is super sexy, I think if we don’t take a breather we’re either going to be two very sexually frustrated people, or our first time together will be a frenzied sex storm before your house party.” I drop my mouth to land right at his ear. “I don’t know about you, but that’s not exactly what I had in mind when I think of your and me and a bed.”

  Wilder’s breath catches and he lowers me to the ground. He takes a deep shuddering breath. “I have had many things in mind when I think of you and me and a bed, but you’re not wrong. Not exactly how I’d like our first time together to happen either.” He spins me around and pushes me against the bed. “However, there are other things I can think of that could ease some of that frustration.”

  I squeal as I fall onto the bed. “Well then. Please share you thoughts.” Wilder bends down and kisses me deeply. I let out a long sigh and then Wilder shows me exactly what he had in mind.

  Chapter 22

  After our own version of a workout, Wilder and I make our way downstairs some forty-five minutes later. Even though I’d checked myself out in the mirror before heading downstairs, I keep patting my hair into submission when we run into Kyle on the landing.

  “East!” Kyle leans in and kisses my cheek. “When did you get here? I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “Uh. Like an hour ago? Wilder was basically stalking his front door until I showed up. Opened it in a very dramatic fashion.”

  Kyle laughs and folds his arms across his chest. “Oh, really? And you’ve been…touring our house for an hour?”

  Wilder circles his arms around my waist and puts his chin on my head. “Yep. Really thorough tour of the upstairs. One room in particular.”

  I elbow Wilder in the ribs and smile when he grunts with displeasure. I blush and look up to Kyle who is laughing. He grabs me by the shoulders and pulls me into a long hug.

  “Don’t blame him, East. We’re all Neanderthals at heart.” Kyle rubs my arms and chuckles some more.

  I roll my eyes and push back from him. “How about you two dummies show me to the alcohol? I think I’m going to need some if this moment was any indication.”

  Wilder laughs and pulls me by the shoulders into his kitchen. He grabs a cold bottle of Shiner Bock out of his fridge and hands it over. “This is the good stuff. You, me, and Kyle get it. The other normals here…don’t. So, enjoy.”

  I pop the top off and glance at my watch. I have about an hour and a half before the guys show up. “I’ve gotta pace myself. I’ve still got Tony’s party tonight.”

  Wilder pops open his own bottle of Shiner. “Oh, yeah. Where are you guys headed, anyway?”

  “Monroe’s Tavern.” I take another pull from my beer. “Why you gonna try and crash?”

  Wilder laughs and Kyle pauses before his next drink. He seems to be wondering the same thing. “No, kitten, I’ll have my own house of people to handle. Also, I don’t know that I’m ready to meet the entire football team tonight.”

  I smirk. “Good choice. Oh, but, Simon and Paul, the two junior captains are coming with Riley and Blake tonight to grab me. They’ve insinuated they’re going to come and try and intimidate you, so prepare yourself.”

  Wilder draws his eyebrows together. “Why? What’d I do?”

  “Nothing, but they’re preparing themselves to become my new Riley and Blake. If you could do me a favor and look a little frightened that’d be a big help.”

  Kyle laughs outright. “Why?”

  “Well. They’re not scary. But they have good intentions. I just don’t want them to feel bad about themselves.”

  Wilder and Kyle laugh loudly together. Wilder kisses my forehead. “Only you, kitten, would ask your boyfriend to pretend to be afraid of men coming into his house to literally scare him stupid. Instead of asking your friends to not try and intimidate your boyfriend, you ask me to play along.”

  I hold up a finger. “Actually, I did ask them to not do so, but once they get a masculine thought in their heads, it’s hard to talk them out of it.”

  Wilder pulls me into him and I wrap my arms around his stomach. He puts his beer on the counter and rubs his hands up and down my spine. “Okay, love, whatever you say.”

  The three of us make our way over to their snack table and chow down on chips and baby carrots talking about everything and nothing. Kyle stands up and turns on their TV, which is what they stream their music through. He and I choose the “party time” playlist to start off the night.

  “Kyle. If this populates songs based on what you’ve previously listened to, I have to applaud your early 2000s sensibilities.”

  Kyle nods dramatically. “God, you kidding me? I love this stuff. My older brother used to play me nothing but Counting Crows, Rage Against The Machine, Jay-Z and Blur.”

  I wrinkle my nose. “I hate Blur. They have this like fifteen minute song that I feel like a serial killer plays as he’s preparing his murder station, while his victim is duct taped to the dining room table.”

  Kyle leans back and takes a good look at me. His appraising gaze looks deep into my eyes. “I can’t ever decide if I should be concerned with where your brain goes, or just recognize you’re probably a lot smarter than me, and have a very active imagination.”

  I wink at him. “I’d say the latter will help you sleep better at night.” I hand him my empty bottle. “Toss this for me? And, where’s your bathroom?”

  Kyle points me down the hall and I head back happy to beat the traffic that will happen once the house fills up. Granted, I don’t know how many people they invited, but it seems a universal party truth that bathrooms are always busy at house parties. After I finish and double check that my make-up and hair are still in place I head back towards the kitchen. Wilder sees me coming and crosses towards me only to wrap me up in his arms.

  I smile “Hi.”

  Wilder leans down and brushes his lips against mine. “Hi.” Then he gives me another amazing kiss that reminds me how we ended up in his bedroom as soon as I got to his house this evening.

  I pull back after I’ve run out of breath and need to reload my lungs. I take a deep breath and cup his cheek with my hand. I run my fingers along his jaw and bite my bottom lip wishing we had more alone time together. “Ya know. There’s no reason I couldn’t come back here after Tony’s party. Who’s to say I stay the whole time the guys stay, right?”

  Wilder’s mouth pulls into a very mischievous smirk. “I think that sounds like a great idea.” He brushes a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “Are you really considering that?”


  I rise up and grab him by the back of the neck and kiss him deeply. When he tries to deepen the kiss even further I pull back. “I’m just remembering that tour of your upstairs and thinking I might need to be shown around again.”

  Wilder chuckles and weaves his hands through my hair. He licks my bottom lip and sears me with a knee-weakening kiss, yet again. “Deal.”

  We hear someone clearing their throat behind us. I twist my head to the side and see Kyle grinning from ear to ear. “Wy, people are getting here. East, if you want another beer come grab it before people find our secret stash.”

  I give Wilder another quick kiss and we walk towards the kitchen hand in hand so he can greet guests and I can grab another drink. I glance at my watch realizing I’ve only got about thirty minutes before the guys arrive. I frown and show Wilder the time. “I have to go soon.”

  Wilder tucks me into his side and we walk towards the living room. He sits down on the arm of one of his recliners and sits me on his lap. “Yes, but we’ve still got a little time.” He nuzzles my neck and I close my eyes and tuck my head into his shoulder smelling him.

  He chuckles. “Hey!” I glance up at his face and watch his smile broaden as he greets one of his friends. I start to stand so he can go to the door and he holds me down by the hips to keep me in place. I look up to the friend he was welcoming and my face freezes.

  “East, this is my friend Amayra. Amayra this is my girlfriend, Easton.”

  My jaw drops open, and I think I let out of a half choke half snort sound which causes Wilder to look towards me with scrunched eyebrows. I glance at him questioningly, and back at Amayra with renewed determination.

  “Amayra, is it. I’d say nice to meet you, or maybe nice to see you again, but both of those statements would be a lie.”

  The girl in front of me spears me with an icy glare. Once she notices Wilder looking at her she immediately softens her face. “I’m sorry, Easton, do we know each other? You might have me confused with someone else.”

  I scoff and stand from Wilder’s lap. “Oh, no, sugar I’m not mistaken. However, I guess it’s possible you could be. The last time we saw each other at a party I was playing the role of Blake Wilson’s girlfriend.”

  Wilder stands and looks back and forth between us. “East, what’s going on?”

  I pull my hands into the prayer formation right in front of my mouth. I click my tongue, turn towards Wilder and sigh. “Well, honey, your friend here, is the crazy redheaded stalker from that party we were all at a couple weeks ago. The one that wouldn’t leave my boys alone and is super hung up on Blake. Then I pretended to be with Blake to get her to go away, and then remarkably, right afterwards rumors started circulating about how I’m fucking anything with a football jersey.” I spin to face Amayra. “Crazy coincidence, huh?”

  Amayra’s gaze darkens and she takes a step towards me. I see Kyle walk towards us, feeling the confrontation coming. “I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about. I do know some of the football players. Blake’s a friend of mine.”

  I laugh loudly. “Sweetie, he thinks your name is Marie. They all do. They call you redheaded stalker chick.” I take a deep breath and take a step back trying to rein in my temper. I turn towards Wilder and notice his discomfort. Kyle now stands beside Wilder and they’re both looking at me for an explanation. People have started to filter into the party and we’re definitely being noticed.

  I breath in deeply. I wag my finger between Wilder and Kyle. “You two know what I’ve been dealing with these past couple weeks. This…girl…she’s ground zero. She’s obsessed with the team, and the guys all avoid her like gonorrhea, but she always turns up like an ugly penny.”

  She scoffs. “The term is bad penny.” Under her breath she whispers. “Idiot.”

  I turn my gaze back at her letting it sweep down her body. “No, I had it right the first time.” I fully face Wilder and Kyle knowing I will need their support in this situation. “So, crazy here sees Blake acting all cozy with me at that last party and starts all those super shitty rumors about all the guys I’m sleeping with. You two know, you’ve been with me when people have tried to start with me. You intervened, actually.”

  At this I look at Amayra who looks upset that her friends would stop someone trying to slander me in public. This gets my ire back up and I know I have a very, very small lid on my famous temper.

  Wilder steps into the space beside me and lowers his voice. “East, look, I know you’ve been dealing with some stupid rumors lately, but I don’t think it was Amayra. She’s not the crazy stalker bitch you’re painting her to be.” He lays his hand on my arm. “I think you’re being a little dramatic and overreacting.”

  I hear someone sucking in a deep breath and see Kyle looking at the floor, shaking his head. “Dude. Wy.”

  Wilder turns to look at him but doesn’t understand Kyle’s warning. “I want my friends to get to know you. You’re being kinda…catty.”

  I choke on the breath I intake. I glance at Kyle again whose face drops. He’s much more attuned to when something’s about to go down than Wilder is. “Kyle? Do you share in your friend’s opinions?”

  Kyle shakes his head. “East, please. Don’t.”

  I glare at him. “Don’t what? Don’t be so…overdramatic? So…reactionary? So…catty?”

  Kyle steps towards me. “No, I didn’t say that. Just, please don’t bring me into this. That’s all. Just…” Kyle puts his hand on my shoulder, and looks into my eyes begging me to drop this.

  I laugh loudly. I know I’m making a terrible impression, but I don’t even care. I grab Wilder by the elbow. “For God’s sake can’t you just trust me? Look, I don’t know your history with her, maybe she was one of your many, but I’m your girlfriend. I’m telling you. I’m not overreacting, I’m not being dramatic, I’m telling you the truth.” I point at Amayra. “She is trying to make my life hell because she misunderstands what I have.”

  I take a step towards Amayra. “They’re my family. They’re my best friends. They’re not my fuck buddies or boyfriends or any of that lascivious trash you’re spewing. Your jealousy is bullshit.”

  Wilder takes a deep breath. “No, Amayra is not one of my many, which thanks for bringing that back up by the way. She and I became friends last year since we’re in the same program. Don’t misunderstand her and my relationship just because you’re so testy about your thing with the team.”

  And that’s where the lid pops off and temper is in full effect. “My THING? You mean my friendship? Goddamnit, Wilder. Why can’t you just trust me? Jesus Christ. I’m not some simpering, irrational woman needing some man to validate her feelings and what’s real or not real. Her mean girl idiocy is real. Her jealousy is real. I’m sorry you’re friends with a crazy person. Has to feel pretty awful to know you’ve been tight with a stalker, but them’s the breaks.”

  “EASTON! Stop! Where’s your proof? You are the one that sounds nuts here, not Amayra.”

  I see Kyle move away from Wilder and more towards me once Wilder moves more towards Amayra. I feel my brows scrunch in surprise at the movement, and I eye him curiously. It only takes a second for me to realize that Kyle is the guy that never wants you to feel alone, and in this moment, that’s exactly what I am. In this moment, my boyfriend should be defending me, believing me, supporting me, and he’s not. I feel like lines are being drawn, at least temporarily. This will only last until I have someone else on my side. It’ll last until my boys get here.

  “I’m not crazy! You can say a lot of things about me, but at least I’m always this person. Yeah, I’m a little closed off, bitchy, irrational sometimes, reactionary maybe, and yes I have temper. But you ask anyone who I am, and they’ll give you that same version of me. They’ll probably pepper in my good qualities too, hopefully, but I don’t pretend. I’m not fake. I’m not lying. I’m always me. I’ve got one version of Easton Collins, like it or not. Can you say the same for you or your friend here?”

 
Wilder’s face gets a little red and we have definitely gathered an audience. I can even see Amayra filming the battle taking place. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? Is that a shot at Amayra or me too?”

  “Both! If she doesn’t have a dissociative personality disorder then I’m an Amazon Warrior Princess. And you, you’re so desperate to be your own man without disappointing Daddy Dearest that you don’t even know yourself half the time.” I take a deep breath. I made that a little more personal than I should’ve, but he started it. Right?

  I hear footsteps on the porch outside. Awesome, more people are still entering the party. I’ve stopped watching the newcomers, since that all became unimportant about twenty minutes ago.

  Wilder shakes his head. “Wow, East. Well, I guess I’m glad at least one of us is their authentic self, since I’m such a bullshit person apparently. Thank God you’re so enlightened. I guess if we wanted to know how smart you are all we needed to do was ask you, right? Clearly, you’ve got all the answers and are so goddamn perfect. But, hey, if we’re pulling the Daddy Card, at least I know who my dad is.”

  The air is sucked from my lungs and I take a step back. I feel hands at my back assuming Kyle is standing behind me. I’m watching Wilder’s face and I can see as soon as he said it he wishes he could suck the words back in, but that’s not how life works. Everything seems to be moving in slow motion. I turn my head to the right and see a familiar face looking at me with so much concern.

  “East.” Riley strokes my cheek. “East, come on.” He pulls my face so my eyes are staring directly into his. I focus on him and time speeds back up again. “Hey, there you are. Are you okay? What’s going on here?”

  I look past Riley and notice Blake, Simon and Paul are also all standing in Wilder’s living room. They all look angry and ready to rip into someone. I wonder how much of this they’ve heard.

  “Give me that.” Simon grabs Amayra’s phone out of her hand, stopping her from filming the exchange any further. He taps the screen a couple times before handing it off to Paul. “I don’t know technology crap. Delete that, will you?”