by Dawn Martens
“Yeah, my girl started college, need some help in here.”
“Cool, you got an application or something? I start college at the end of the summer, but need a job to help pay for it,” he says, handing me over his credit card for payment.
“That would be great, as long as you know your shit,” I tell him.
“Yeah, my brother, he does those X-games all the time, he taught me everything I know.”
“Good, because I need someone to keep this front area going. I’m trying to expand into my garage in the back, want to build custom motorbikes and cars. BMX is a dying breed, it’s not gonna keep food in my mouth if I don’t do something else.”
“Yeah, man, my brother was saying that too. Most BMX shops have closed down, only the online shops are really making anything.” He puts his card back in his wallet. “I’m actually taking some mechanics classes in college, and I’m a great painter, magic with the air brush. Once you get the rest of the business going, think maybe I could intern, train or something?”
His girl groans. “You’ve spent too much time around Zippo and Angel, seriously. You wanted to be an electrician, and now you want to be a mechanic?”
“You know the Angels Warriors?” I ask, now weary. If I find out my brother sent this kid to me, I’m gonna knock his teeth out.
“Yeah, lived in the same town, all my life. My sister and her friends pulled more pranks on them than I can count.” She giggles.
My eyes narrow. “What’s your name? Vinny, Zippo, is my little brother.”
Her eyes widen and she jumps up and down. “Oh my God! I didn’t recognize you, it’s me, Emma! Remember, we used to live down the street from you? My sister, Kristi, would follow you around like a puppy trailing its owner all the time.” Her smile falls and she mumbles, “Until our bitch mom left, and then Kristi was all ‘man hater.’”
I smile, thinking on her name and her sister. Shaking my head, I smile. “Haven’t seen either of you in a long-ass time.” It’s true, Kristi used to follow me around a lot. We were friends growing up, not close, considering I’m ten years older than her, but enough that when we got bored, and no one else was around we’d go to the park or something.
I also remember the change in Kristi after her mom left. I was an angry teenager myself, so I just put it off as her growing up and going through PMS.
“Shit,” Seth says looking at the time. “I’d love to stay and chat but I’m gonna be late.”
“We’ll have to catch up another time! Later, Bryce,” Emma calls out as Seth drags her from the store. I watch her standing on the sidewalk, and she looks back at me, almost in thought, and then she smiles. It’s the smile that kind of creeps me out.
Emma
I leave the store with Seth after coming along with him to buy new tires for his stupid bike. I swear, one of these days he’s gonna kill himself with some of the stunts he does.
That guy, Bryce though, he’s perfect for my mission. I just need to get to know him more first, but he also said he already has a girlfriend. How am I going to work that? I didn’t really know him all that well growing up, knew he was Vinny’s brother, but I never had anything to do with them, since I’m so much younger. Not only does he look like a Kristi type, he was her first crush. So this is so epic.
“What are you up to?” Seth asks me, narrowing his eyes.
I give him a sly smile. “Oh, nothing.”
“Right, nothing. You have something up your sleeve.”
“I don’t have sleeves today, I’m in a tank top,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“You know what I mean,” Seth says, exasperated. I just shrug. “He has a girlfriend, he won’t go for your so-called plan.”
“Never know, when money comes into the picture, he might sing a different tune.” Considering he wants to expand his business into something more, he needs the cash.
Seth turns around and pulls me into him, kissing my neck. “I love you, you crazy woman.”
Chapter 7
Kristi
My phone dings, letting me know that I have a text. Opening it up, I see the name Alana flash across the scene.
I groan. Sneaky little bitch must have put her number in my phone when I wasn’t looking. I don’t get her. I avoid her—all the damn time, but she always finds me and chats me up. I don’t need more friends. I have Ava. Trixie used to be part of our group, we were the best threesome in the world. But of course, Trixie ditched us first, getting caught up in a guy, never having time for her friends anymore. Then Ava left me, for her husband. Everyone leaves. Yeah, Ava and I still talk all the time, occasionally we are able to get together, but that’s it, we’re not as close as we once were. Friends leave. Just like my mother. Maybe I’m just cursed.
Come out for lunch with me tomorrow. – A
I shake my head. She’s not giving up at all, is she? She keeps talking to me about some boyfriend she has, but part of me thinks maybe she’s a secret lesbian because she’s all up in my shit all the time.
Fine –K
I send it off.
“Who was that?” Emma asks, looking up from her phone, probably texting Seth.
“Just a friend, I’m going out for a bit. Any idea of when you’re going back home?” Not that I don’t love having my sister here, I do, I just want my space back. I hate having to go to the library to do my work, because I can’t get anything done with Emma around, since she never shuts up.
“In a few days. You wanna help me shop for my prom dress before I leave?”
“Ugh,” I groan. “Isn’t that in like, two weeks? Why haven’t you gotten your dress already?” That’s something I see people shopping for in the fall, not two damn weeks before prom.
She rolls her eyes at me. “Because I couldn’t find anything I liked back home and I didn’t want to order off the Internet.”
I throw my hands up. “You could have done this when you came to visit me.”
“I didn’t want to then. And I don’t need anything like super huge or blinged out. Just something simple, but sexy, of course.”
“Fine, we’ll go tomorrow.” I shut my door before she talks anymore. I love my sister, but gah, she talks way too damn much.
**
I spot Alana as I enter Dairy Queen. “Ordered without me, huh?” I ask her, scooting into her booth, and see that she already has an order number on the table.
“I didn’t want to waste your lunch hour by rushing you to eat after ordering. We have class this afternoon, and I noticed that you were always in class way before me, and that’s saying something, since I’m always about twenty minutes early myself.”
I shake my head. “So, what’s up? Why did you want to have lunch?”
Her brow furrows as her shoulders go up in defence mode and she looks upset. “You’re my friend, I wanted to have lunch with you.”
I throw my hands up in surrender. “Sorry, gee, I’m not used to the friend thing. This took me by surprise is all.”
Her face softens and she relaxes, giving me a sad smile. “I hate that you think that way.”
I shrug her comment off as food is delivered to our table. I didn’t even think to ask what she ordered, but it looks amazing.
“I got a basket of poutine and a few wraps. I wasn’t exactly sure what you liked,” Alana says, putting the food in between us.
“This works, I hate Dairy Queen burgers.” I shudder. I grab a fork and hesitate before putting it into heaven in a basket. “You okay if I put ketchup on this?”
“Thank God. Yes, please,” she says chuckling. “Most people think I’ve lost my damn mind when I put ketchup on it.”
“Best way to eat it.” I grab the bottle of ketchup and load it onto our food.
“So, tell me about Kristi,” Alana says through a mouthful of food.
“Not much to tell, really. My best friend is married to a douchebag, my mother left when I was a kid. My sister is boy crazy, and my dad is strict.” That sums it up. “What about you?”
She smiles, shoving more food into her mouth, yeah, she’s not who I thought she was. “I’m normal, really. Yeah, I grew up with a rich family, but they are just like anyone else. My daddy always drilled into my head, ‘Never judge someone on their looks or bank account, it’s what’s inside that counts,’ and yeah, that’s how I am. I tend to stay away from rich snobs, because I just don’t fit in with that group. I have an older brother, so that’s another reason I stay away from most people, they usually try and be my friend because they want to be bedded by him.” She shudders, which makes me want to laugh. “I’ve been with my boyfriend for a few years now, and he currently owns his own BMX shop, but he has always wanted to open up a custom car and bike shop. He’s thinking if he can get the money, he’ll keep the BMX storefront, because he still earns a good amount from that, but he has this huge warehouse space in the back, it’s where he wants to do the custom stuff.”
I gave her like a two second speech, and she basically detailed her entire life story, but whatever, her talking without taking a break meant I didn’t really have to reply or anything. “That’s cool.”
“Have you always lived here?”
“Nope, I’m actually from Airdrie, town not too far from here, actually. I just moved here because I wanted the big city life, and to not waste gas on driving back and forth.”
“That name sounds familiar, I feel like I’ve heard about it before.”
I shrug. “You probably drove by the sign when coming to Calgary.” I almost want to roll my eyes, but I don’t.
“Oh, probably. Anyway, I was born and raised in Edmonton. I’ve always lived the big city life, but I would love to someday settle down in a small town.”
We finish our meal, and she still doesn’t shut up, even insisting on driving together to our afternoon class. Doesn’t look like I’ll ever be able to shake this chick, oh well, having a friend besides Ava is kind of nice.
Chapter 8
Bryce
“Seth!” I shout from my office.
“Yo, Boss, what’s up?” he says, coming in. I hired Seth a week ago, after he and his girlfriend Emma, came into my store. Seth is going to be going to the local college and needed some work. After talking with him about bikes, I offered him the job.
“I need you to finish painting the frame for Mike’s bike that’s out in the paint shop. After that you can get on home.”
“Sure thing, boss man.”
A few hours later, Alana comes in, looking tired, carrying her books from class.
“Hey, babe, how were classes today?” I ask her, taking the books out of her arms and setting them on the desk.
Yawning, she replies, “Good, I have a feeling I’m gonna ace all of my classes. They are all easier than I ever thought they would be.”
“Then why so tired?” I rub her shoulders and she groans. It’s seductive. The sound she makes when we make love.
“Because it’s a long day, and you know I’m used to afternoon naps,” she says, smiling tiredly over her shoulder.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Well, get used to it, with school those naps are gone, and once you open your clothing shop, again, no naps.”
“Boo,” she says, sticking out her tongue. “Need any help closing up? I need to get back to our place so I can finish my paper that’s due on Monday, and then I just want to go to bed.”
“Head on home, I’ll grab some burgers on my way.” She looks so sleepy.
She shakes her head no. “I’m not leaving until we can both leave, so let’s hurry this up. That way I’m not already asleep when you bring home food.”
“Fine, you close out the books, I’ll go let Seth know he can head on home.” I grin at her and she bites her bottom lip, making me think just maybe I will have her for dessert.
She walks behind the desk and takes out the cash register and end of day sales and starts looking them over. I walk into the backroom and see Seth finishing the paint job. “Hey, man, you can head on out now. Alana and I are closing out the day.”
“Cool. Catch ya later, boss man.” He tosses me the empty paint can and grabs his bag and jacket, taking off out the front.
I go back out to Alana and notice she’s done with the register. “Why don’t you start some homework, while I finish up the online stuff and do stock take?”
“Sounds good to me,” she says as she scoots her chair over and flips over the books. I’m just settling into my chair beside her when the bell over the door goes off. Shit, I forgot to lock it.
The woman walking in is Emma, the girl that came in with Seth when he applied for the job. “Seth just left,” I call out to her as she walks forward.
She gives me a wink. “I know, I watched him leave.”
I narrow my eyes at her and shake my head. What is she up to?
Chapter 9
Emma
I watch Seth leave work and go into the bike shop. I don’t know how Bryce will take this, but he seems perfect for my sister.
Opening the door, the bell overhead rings. I see Bryce sitting at the front desk, his girlfriend, Alana, beside him doing homework. I know of Alana, she’s the girl that keeps trying to latch herself to Kristi, wanting to be friends.
“Hi, guys,” I say, walking toward them.
“Hey, Emma. How are you?” Alana says, smiling at me. I’ve met her a few times since she became friends with Kristi, and of course, here at the shop when I’d stop in to see Seth working. Seeing these two together reminds me of Seth and me. But we’re different, Bryce and Alana are way more than one-hundred-percent opposite of each other and from conversations I’ve heard, they don’t even like the same anything. It’s weird. Opposites attract and all, but you gotta have something in common at least.
I shrug. “It’s good. I’m moving up here officially in a few weeks, just scoping the place out.”
“What can we do for you?” Bryce asks.
“Well, if you could lock your front door, I will tell you all about it,” I tell them cryptically.
“Take a seat,” Alana says, sounding worried when Bryce comes back from locking the door and switching his sign to closed.
“You told me about how you are looking for some more cash, to expand on the shop, have the garage be for custom builds for bikes and cars, get a website going, and all that,” I say, swinging my hand out toward Alana and she nods.
Bryce frowns. “Uh, yeah.”
I smile. Big. “I can help you.”
“How can you help with that?” he asks confused.
“I will give you the money, in exchange you have to pretend to date someone for me,” I say bluntly.
“No way. I have a girlfriend,” he says, shaking his head.
“Hear me out. You date her for the rest of the year. That’s six months. Then, you piss her off one too many times, so she won’t put up with it, and breaks up with you. I’ll give you half upfront, half when it’s over.”
Alana sits quietly, taking it all in.
“Also, she designs websites, so if you dated her, she’d do yours for free,” I add in that as a bonus.
“I’m not doing it. Sorry, but no.”
“We’re talking about fully expanding here, Bryce. I looked it up, to start, you need at least seventy-eight thousand. Another forty for parts, and I will throw in another twenty to hire staff to hold you over until you rake in the income. That will more than help your shop,” I tell him, almost pleading. I had saved up some money from working at the coffee shop since I was sixteen, plus I have the money from my grandparents. When they died, they split everything between Kristi and me. We got one million each. Since my dad has zero say in that money, nor does he have any idea how much is still left in the account, I know that no one will find out about this. Plus, I’ll still have lots of money in there for myself.
“You should do it,” Alana speaks up quietly, looking down at her hands.
Bryce whips his head around to look at her. “No, I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“But this money will
help you out, big time. Date her, cuddle, hand-holding, kisses, just no sex,” she says, looking up to him.
Bryce sits down in his chair. Shoulders slumped. “If you don’t do this, Bryce, the shop will close, you need that money,” she tells him, moving out of her chair to sit on his lap.
“Here, I’ll leave you with her picture, you can think it over, and when I get back in a few weeks, you can tell me your answer,” I say, digging through my purse, fishing out the picture of Kristi I took last week.
“Isn’t that?” Alana speaks up. “She’s my new friend, that’s Kristi.”
Bryce’s face pales, and his expression is something I can’t read. “That’s Kristi?” He quickly shakes his head, and his face goes blank.
“I don’t know now, I actually really like her. She comes off as tough and mean, but underneath, I can tell something is eating at her. She’s super sweet,” Alana says.
I smile. “Just think about it. That money will be yours.”
I walk out of the shop with a huge smile on my face. The game has been set. I don’t think he’ll turn down the offer.
Bryce
Looking at the picture, I don’t pay attention to Emma leaving the shop. This is the girl I’ve been seeing everywhere. The girl that makes my dick hard by just looking at her. I scrub my face with my left hand and sigh, placing the photo on my desk. The girl that I grew up with. Fuck.
“I won’t do it,” I tell Alana.
“I don’t want you to do it either, but this is a lot of money, Bryce. It will help you out so much,” she says quietly, moving off my lap to sit back in her chair. “Kristi is also really nice. I talk to her in class, and even convinced her to go to lunch with me yesterday. If she finds out the truth, this will hurt her. That’s my only concern. I don’t want her hurt.”
“Alana, you don’t get it. This is Kristi! I grew up with her, she crushed on me when we were kids. I sure as shit didn’t recognize her because she looks nothing like she did. This can go bad in so many ways. My brother would probably kill me for hurting her. Fuck, he loves Kristi like a sister.” Mostly, I don’t want to hurt Alana. I haven’t even done anything with Kristi yet, and I already feel as if I’ve been cheating on Alana. If I have to be up close and personal, my urges to have Kristi will ruin everything.
