When I made the decision to become a doctor, I knew that medical school was going to kick my ass. What I didn’t expect, was to have it drilled into my head on the very first day of class exactly how many of us weren’t going to make it all the way through. At orientation, they told us to look to our right, and then to our left. The person giving us the grim outlook then informed us that at least one of the people on our side wouldn’t make it past the first year of school. She then said that the other wouldn’t make it past year two. A one in three chance doesn’t seem that bad, but when you’re me, and you’ve been waiting your whole life to become a doctor so that you could save lives, those odds were staggering. I had walked out of orientation in a daze. I was terrified that I wasn’t going to make the cut and was trying to figure out what things that I was going to need to change in my life in order to make things work.
That’s how I ended up here, living with Wyatt, by the way.
Since I’d been so stuck inside of my head, I hadn’t been paying attention to where I was walking, and I ended up walking right in BJ. He’d grabbed me right before I fell on my ass, and as I had looked up into his eyes, a sense of peace washed over me.
He’d smiled down at me, with his kind, huge green eyes, and suddenly, everything in the world felt alright again. He’s been the calm to my storm ever since. I’m high strung, whereas, he is laid back. I’m anxious about every fucking thing imaginable; BJ takes it all in stride. He’s been my best friend, my sounding board, my study partner, and my lover. Up until a week ago, I could have never imagined myself with anyone else, and even now, even after experiencing Jude Masters, I still can’t.
Jude is a wild card. Sure, he’s got a heart of gold, but he’s also got a traveling dick. He’s the kind of guy that breaks your heart, not the kind who holds it in their hands like a fragile work of art. The man may be insanely gorgeous, but he’s sinful as hell. There is no universe in which we could ever work out.
BJ, on the other hand, is the epitome of all things good in the world. We have way more in common than Jude and I ever could. He has a passion for medicine, the same way that I do. Maybe not as strongly as I do, but even still, he wants to help people.
He comes from a rock solid family, who I have come to adore just as much as I do him. My family is such a mess, that spending time with BJ’s honestly gives me the family that I’m lacking. He’s my sounding board when I need to talk things out. He’s my rock when I’m feeling weak, and he’s is my future. I have no doubt about that.
Or at least, I don’t have very many doubts about that.
“Ok.” He pulls me into him, and as his arms wrap around me, the storm inside of me calms. “We’ll do things your way. But if we’re waiting for our wedding night, then we are going to have a very short engagement, Willow. You pick a date anywhere between tomorrow and three months from now. That’s as long as I can wait for you, baby. Otherwise, I’ll explode.”
17
Jude
“Three months?” Jesus H Christ. The woman just can’t wait to rid herself of me, can she?
“Yeah.” Wyatt’s irritation radiates through the phone. “She set the date for right smack dab in the middle of preseason, man. I wish she would have taken that into consideration. I’m going to need a miracle to be able to make it work. A wintertime wedding would have worked out so much better.”
I can’t say I agree with that. Obviously, Willow is hellbent on walking down the aisle ASAP. I hope that Wyatt didn’t mention a winter wedding to her, since it’s technically still winter. The last thing that I need is for her to get married next week.
I’m still struggling to wrap my head around it, and I’m going to need some time to accept it. A year or ten would have been nice, but I’m going to have to make three months work. In a few weeks, I’ll be in Florida, working my ass off at spring training. Once she’s out of sight, she’ll be out of mind.
Yeah right, asshole. You could go to the moon and you’d still be thinking about her.
“Anyways, the reason I called is because I’m throwing Willow an engagement party this weekend. Can you make it?”
My hand grips the phone so hard that I worry it might break. The last fucking thing that I want to do is go and celebrate Willow getting married. Especially since less than three days ago, I was buried inside of her body, certain that I’d finally found Heaven. The idea of going to pop some champagne in celebration of another guys dick forever staking claim on her does not sit well with me.
In fact, it makes me want to puke.
“I don’t know, man.” I start, trying to stall until I can come up with a solid excuse. “Willow isn’t my biggest fan. I doubt she’d want me at her party.”
“Are you kidding me?” A bark of laughter ricochets through the phone. “You’ve got to be there. Didn’t she tell you? She landed that residency, all thanks to you, brother. She and I both owe you one. You’ve got to come because I also want to celebrate you and everything that you’ve done for my baby sister.”
If he only fucking knew.
To anyone else, my entrance to Willow’s party would be comical. I mean, here I am, the guy that she recently fucked, showing up to celebrate her sudden engagement to the guy that I thought she was done with. Not only is that part funny, but the fact that I rolled in with twenty elderly women by my side is pretty fucking funny, too.
But Wyatt had insisted that I bring the ladies, because Willow hasn’t been able to stop talking about them. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to do that, given the last shitstorm that they caused, but I figured at this point, what the hell. At least having them here will take my mind off of the fact that Willow is most definitely getting married - to a guy who isn’t me.
I don’t even know why I’m so bent out of shape over it. I’m not a marriage type of guy, and I never will be. I’m not the guy that ends up with a white picket fence, a couple of cute kids, and the same vagina in my bed every night. Most guys can’t recognize what they really are, but I definitely know who I am. And I am not the guy who could ever give Willow what she wants.
She wants the fairy tale. A happily ever after, the kind that you see in the movies and every once in a while, in real life. I can give her great sex, and witty conversation, but that’s about it. She deserves a hell of a lot more than that. Which is what she’s getting, so I should be ready to celebrate it for her, right?
Dead fucking wrong. I don’t know why I feel so fucking bitter about this, but I do. And I really hate myself for it.
“Wow.” Gigi, who has her arm linked into mine murmurs, as we step into the ballroom at one of the oldest, and most grand, hotels in downtown Minneapolis. “This place is amazing. Dr. Willow must be marrying into some money, huh?”
I have no idea. All that I know is that Willow’s man is also a doctor like she is. I doubt that he’s even remotely close to my financial level. Not that it matters. What he can give to Willow, money sure as hell can’t buy.
“I think that Wyatt is footing the bill for this party, Gigi.” I squeeze her arm. “He’s the one throwing it, and there is no cost too high when it comes to his little sister. She’s his entire world.”
Which makes me feel like a dick for crossing the line like I did. Wyatt trusted me with his most prized possession, and that is Willow herself. He asked me to keep her safe, and to protect her. As it turns out, the only person that she needed protection from was me.
“I just can’t believe that Dr. Willow is getting married,” Martha pipes in, looking at me curiously. “I know that I’ve got a bit of the dementia setting in, but I could have sworn she had a crush on you, Juju. That girl looked at you like you hung to moon. I guess she was just real grateful to you, huh? For hooking her up with us?”
“That’s probably it.” I shove everything else that she said to the back of my brain, not caring to acknowledge that at one time, Willow may have had a real thing going on for me. I start to inform Martha that Willow is making the right choice by marrying a guy like BJ (even t
hough his name sucks), but then, my eyes land on her. And as they do, all of my words die right on my lips.
Good fucking God, the sight of her knocks all of the air out of my lungs. My hands get clammy, and my knees get weak. As if reading my mind, Gigi glances up at me with a knowing look. I can feel her eyes burning into the side of my head, but even still, I can’t pull mine away from Willow.
She has on a short, light pink dress, one that hugs all of her curves tightly, showcasing her sexy as sin body. Her hair is twisted back at the nape of her neck, but a few daring strands have fallen out, framing her beautiful face, one hanging low on her neck, the same neck that my tongue traveled right before I worked my way down to the only place that could give Heaven a run for its money.
My eyes travel her body, starting at her face until they finally land on the soft skin of her legs, which are made to look even longer than they are, in her sky high heels. I don’t even realize that I gasp, but unfortunately, Gigi hears me loud and clear. She just tsks her tongue in response and shakes her head.
“Well, shit, Juju. This isn’t good.”
I should tell her that she’s crazy, and that it’s just Willow’s beauty that has me all spun out. But even I can’t tell a lie that good. And as Willow approaches us, all that I can do is pray to God that for once, Gigi keeps her mouth shut and doesn’t rat me out. As it turns out, God must be listening, because when Willow leans down and envelopes her in a huge hug, Gigi just smiles and tells her congratulations.
I’m so fucking thankful for answered prayers.
“I’m so happy that you all could make it on such short notice. It means a lot to me.”
The women chorus behind me that they wouldn’t miss it for the world. Personally, I’d rather be anywhere else than here right now, but that’s just me.
“I owe all of you a huge thank you.” The way that she beams makes my heart expand so big in my chest that I worry it might burst. “I haven’t had a chance to swing by and let you know, so forgive the delay, but I was accepted for the residency. Thanks to all of you.”
“Congratulations, Dr. Willow.” Gigi beams at her. “But the thanks goes to Juju. It was his idea, after all. We just happened to be free.”
“Thanks, Juju.” For the first time in the history of that horrendous nickname, I actually like the way that it sounds. But I think that I would like anything regarding me, leaving Willow’s lips. Even the way that she called me a fucking asshole and stormed out of my office turned me on. Instead of being a doctor, she should have really considered being a phone sex operator. Her voice is that fucking amazing.
But the erection forming in my pants over Willow is quickly dashed when her fiancé approaches her, planting a kiss on her cheek right before wrapping an arm around her. I do my best to keep my emotions in check, even though the sight of it pisses me right off.
“So, you’re the lucky guy.” Martha extends her hand to his, and I frown as he brings it to his mouth and plants a kiss on it. What a try hard.
“I am, indeed. Even luckier now.” He winks at her, which makes Martha blush. I’m nearly trampled as the other eighteen women standing behind me try to move in to greet Willow’s fiancé. I quickly step out of the way.
This is going to be one hell of a night, one that requires massive amounts of booze to tolerate. I spot the bar almost immediately and make my way there. The bartender is a gorgeous blond with huge tits and a tight dress. I smirk to myself, knowing Wyatt likely hired her for that exact reason.
“Well, hello, handsome.” She beams at me. “What can I get you?”
Since it would be a party foul to ask for an entire bottle, instead, I order two shots and a drink. I slam both shots almost immediately, feeling a bit of the tightness in my chest fade away as the alcohol burns down my throat. It’s only once I’m halfway through my actual drink that I’m able to turn around and study Willow and BJ from afar.
I have to admit that they are a gorgeous couple, although, Willow could make an ogre look good as long as he was standing next to her. I’ve got to give BJ some credit, though, because he seems to dote on her. He keeps his arm around her as they walk around the room and greet their guests. I spot Wyatt, but he’s busy doing much of the same, with his mom on his arm, who looks like she’s daringly close to falling over.
I’ve only met Wyatt and Willow’s parents a handful of times, but I can honestly say that once would have been more than enough. Their mom is usually sloppy, drunk, and crude, and their dad just spends all of his time bashing his ex-wife. The dynamic of their family is almost painful to watch, which is pretty sad for me to recognize, since my family was so much worse.
But I had my grandma, who gave me a childhood that was loving and normal. My parents were shitty, but I had her. Wyatt and Willow only had each other growing up.
This knowledge only reinforces what I already know. This is why Willow wants a normal life and a loving husband. She wants to create the family that she never had, and BJ is just the guy to give it to her. So even though letting her go breaks my heart, I know that it’s the right thing to do. In fact, it’s one of the easiest decisions that I’ve ever made.
“Are you friends of the bride, or the groom?” The smoking hot bartender pulls my attention from the party as she hands me another shot.
“Neither.” I take the shot and down it in one gulp. “I’m friends with the bride’s brother.”
“Right.” She nods her head in Wyatt’s direction. “Of course, you are. You’re Jude Masters, aren’t you? You play for the Saints with Wyatt.”
I just nod.
“I’ve read quite a bit about you.” As she leans forward, her boobs nearly topple out of her top. I fucking hate that I feel next to nothing over the sight. “I’d love to find out if the rumors are true.”
She slides me her number, and even though I doubt that I’ll call her, I still take it. Who knows, maybe a bottle of whiskey will change my dick’s opinion on sleeping with someone else. I honestly hope so.
“Hitting on the bartender at my engagement party.” The sound of her voice sends chills down my spine. “How very Jude of you.”
As I spin around to face her, her perfume washes over me, intoxicating all of my senses and wreaking havoc on my soul.
“How very Willow of you to notice.”
“I notice everything,” she tells me, her eyes boring into mine. “But apparently, you don’t. In case you were looking for your lady friends, they’re on the dance floor. And they are the cutest women in the world, by the way. They’ve been calling out for you for about twenty minutes. They want to see you shake your money maker.”
I immediately cringe, but even I can’t hide my smile.
“Is that a direct quote?”
“Damn right it is.” A smile explodes on her face, and I melt from the sight. I hope BJ feels the same way about her smile and makes it his personal mission in life to make sure that it’s always present on her face. The world deserves that smile. I swear, it could bring world peace.
“I’d go dance with them, but I’m afraid they’d show me up.”
“I’m not worried about that. No one can show me up on the dance floor, doll face. Shall we? Or will your soon to be husband get mad?”
She glances towards BJ, who is knee deep in a conversation with Wyatt and his soon to be mother in law. I watch her nibble on her lip nervously, loving the way that her cheeks flush. They do the same thing right before she has an orgasm. It’s both sexy and adorable, two words that basically sum up all that is Willow Anderson.
“You know that I don’t dance, Jude.” She leans in, speaking quietly to me so that the bartender who is very much in our business can’t hear. “I’ll look like a fool.”
“You could never look like a fool, Willow, and anyhow, just follow Gigi’s lead. Look at her out there,” I can’t even stop myself from chuckling as Gigi shakes her ass all over the dance floor. “She’s killing it.”
After just a moment of hesitation, determination takes
over Willow’s face.
“Fine. But the second you laugh at me, Masters, I’m getting the hell off of the dance floor.”
“No one is going to laugh at you, Willow.”
At least, not and survive.
The rest of the night ends up not being as bad as I originally thought that it would. It seems as though things are mostly back to normal between Willow and I, which is refreshing. She’s back to putting me in my place every chance that she can, and I’m right back to admiring her from not so afar.
We’ve laughed, we’ve danced, and I’ve watched Willow come out of her shell right before my eyes. The women on the dance floor have kept the mood light, spending almost the entire two hours that we’ve been here shaking their booties. I love seeing them this happy, and finally have some good, clean fun.
And by that, I mean that they haven’t propositioned any of my teammates who have also been dancing with them. At least, not to my knowledge, so that’s what I’m sticking with.
Willow’s cheeks are flushed by the time that she steps off the dance floor and heads back into her fiancé’s arms. I hate to see her go, but I know that she has to. It’s just the way that it has to be.
The second that she walks off the floor, I too decide to hang up my dancing shoes. My ladies, however, aren’t stopping any time soon. They cat call me as I walk away, which just makes my smile widen.
I’m having a way better time than I ever imagined I could have, at the girl who stole my heart’s engagement party. What a sick and twisted world this is.
“Dude.” Wyatt pulls me into a one armed hug, looking relieved. “Thank you for getting this party started. I was worried that it was going to be super lame. You know how Willow is.”
For someone as protective as Wyatt is of Willow, it’s amazing to me how little he actually knows her. She may not ever be the life of the party, but she will always be the classiest one in attendance. She’s not the kind of woman that you find in a bar, dressed with her intentions clearly noted in her outfit; she’s the sexy librarian that you meet by coincidence. She’s funny as hell once you get to know her and has the kindest soul that I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Sure, she’s not going to be taking a turn doing a keg stand, but she’ll make you laugh while you wait for your turn.
No Touch Zone (Saints of Love Book 2) Page 12
