Enough Isn't Everything (Everything Trilogy)

by Shandwick, K. L.

  He looked over in my direction, and I covered my face with my hands, signalling that I had seen and heard too much already. He made a wicked ‘muwahaha’ noise at me, ran over, and planted a kiss on my forehead. Grinning, I swatted him away, before he disappeared back into the bedroom again.

  I was mortified, and it was really awkward getting ready for college together. I had blushed each time we made eye contact. We didn’t mention it all day during our rehearsal time, but as we were driving back, he obviously got a pang of guilt about it.

  We had been travelling along in silence until he mumbled, “Sorry about last night.” I decided to tease him to get my own back, like I would have done with my best friend Jack.

  “Huh? Oh… you mean the loud grunting and fucking, or not including me in it?”

  Will’s mouth dropped open, his jaw hanging. I wanted to squeal at his reaction, it was so funny. His head snapped around to look at me.“Wh… what?”

  I kept my face straight, determined not to laugh. “Well, I heard everything, but it was like being invited to a party and being told not to eat, drink, or dance.” Will was dumbstruck, and I could see that he was freaking out, but trying to act cool at the same time.

  It was too funny, but I struggled and kept my face passive, and Will cleared his throat. “Um Lily, Saffy’s your best friend,” he said awkwardly and almost inaudibly. I pinched myself to stop from bursting out laughing, it was hysterical.

  “Yeah, and your point being?”

  He was really struggling now, and I looked intense, but deadpan at him, saying, “You know Will, we do usually share everything.”

  His head swung around again. “You do?” His eyes went wide, and he was openly freaking out now.

  His eyes ticked over my face. “Watch the road Will,” I prompted, and his head snapped back to face the front.

  “You know Lily, I’ve never had a, a… ménage a trois. I don’t think…” I burst out laughing. Will’s jaw dropped. “You were shitting me? Lily! Oh, thank God!” His hand shot up to his chest and slapped his sternum. “I hate you… so fucking mean, girl.” He chuckled.

  He slapped his hand to his chest again. “God, you were so serious.” I giggled hysterically at how gullible he’d been. “I truly shit myself there about how to deal with you.”

  Will swiped his hand at me, but I think he could have backhanded me hard, and it wouldn’t have registered. I was too busy curling up on the seat, screaming with laughter.

  “I get it Lily. I’ll get you back one day. Just because you don’t get involved with anyone, doesn’t mean I can’t get my own back one day.” If only he knew. We were both still chuckling as we passed a poster advertising our gig.

  A bald guy in flip-flops and baggy shorts was wearing a sandwich board, which said, ‘Live Music’ at the corner of an intersection. It had the bar we were going to play at and our names on it.

  I noticed another hobo-type guy on another corner of the same intersection with a billboard advertising the name of the bar with a gigantic yellow arrow pointing in the direction of the venue.

  We both looked at each other and screamed, “That’s us!” We screamed, and I stamped my feet on the car floor with excitement.

  By the time we arrived at Will’s we were both feeling relaxed after laughing so much. We spent an hour together on the arrangement for one of the pieces we were doing tonight. Afterwards I went home to get ready for the performance.

  As soon as I got home, I filled the bathtub with bubbles and laid back. I pulled the bubbles through my fingers, watching them disperse with the movements.

  My mind drifted again to how much better things were going for me and hoped that wouldn’t change now that Alfie had reappeared on the scene.

  Seeing him today unnerved me. I didn’t outwardly react to him at all in front of Will, but the feelings I thought I had dealt with involving him still came rushing back.

  The sight of him had taken my breath, and I had wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around his neck, and pull his mouth down to mine. Saffy interrupted my thoughts by knocking on my bathroom door, asking softly. “Hey Lily, are you decent?”

  “I’m in the bath come in.”

  Saffy hesitated, “Um… do you have bubbles in there?”

  I giggled. “Why? You’re not thinking of joining me are you?” She chuckled at the other side of the door.

  “Well, what I want to know is… are your naked bits on show? I mean you’re not going to show anything you wouldn’t want your dad to see are you?” I was laughing heartily now.

  “He’s not outside the door is he?”

  “Just answer me!” she snapped.

  I gasped for breath, still laughing, “Okay, I’ll bite… my boobs are covered in bubbles is that good enough for you?” The door cracked open and her head popped around before she pushed the door wide and Max, Saffy’s twin brother, was standing in the doorway.

  “Surprise. Hey baby girl, pity about the bubbles, they ought to be illegal.” He grinned.

  The sight of Max, my crush for about three years when I was a teenager, shocked the hell out of me, and I dove under the bubbles. He closed the door again, and I re-emerged, with a silent scream on my face, and my mind running at ninety miles per hour.

  I had butterflies and felt an excitement that equaled first dates and lots of other firsts. I quickly finished my bath and began to get dressed, suddenly desperate to check that he was really here.

  I dressed in a purple mid-thigh length tube dress. It clung to my slender frame, accentuating my curves. The low cut scoop of the neckline made my breasts seem fuller and gave me the perfect cleavage.

  I liked the way this dress seemed to make me curvier all over. I put on a few long beaded necklaces as well as the platinum and diamond tennis bangle my parents had given me when I turned twenty-one.

  I reached up into my closet and pulled down a black box. I smiled when I saw my favorite red stilettos and matching purse. I let my hair hang in curls down my back, preferring a wilder look for my public appearance tonight.

  I checked my appearance in the mirror. The girl I was the last time Max saw me and the woman I was now were very different. I wondered what he would think looking at me now.

  Spraying on some Coco Chanel as I straightened my dress, I headed for the sitting room.

  Max’s reaction took me back a little. His jaw dropped, and he was speechless. He shook his head, recovering from the initial impact I appeared to have had on him. “Wow,” he whispered, staring at me in disbelief. “Oh. My. God, Angel you look perfect.”

  He closed the distance between us and took hold of my hand, stepping back. His eyes trailed from my head to my toes. “Look at you,” he cooed. His eyes darkened with each second that passed. I felt very self-conscious as he scrutinized me.

  His head dipped toward my face, as his lips brushed featherlight against my cheek. His hot lips softly paused on my skin. He inhaled deeply before he pulled my body flush with the side of his hip.

  Saffy wasn’t paying attention when he did this, as she was running around, getting her stuff ready to go out. His lips brushed my ear, and he whispered gruffly, “You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, Lily.” Saffy was sitting on the far side of the room and had turned just in time to see me blush with the effect he was having on me.

  “What did he say to you Lily? Don’t be mean, Max,” she scolded.

  “I wasn’t mean, and if I’d wanted you to hear what I said, I would have said it out loud,” he told her as he led me over to a chair. I sat down and he stood in front of me, still looking at me. He began shaking his head.

  “What?” Saffy asked. “You haven’t seen a hot woman before Max?”

  Max’s mouth slowly curled into a smile. “Y’all know that I’ve watched my lil’ Lily grow over the years, and dang if she hasn’t gone and blossomed on me.” Saffy laughed and Max chuckled at his own comment. I blushed again as my heart fluttered with his appreciation.

  Luckily for me, H
olly arrived home and the attention steered toward her while I gathered my thoughts. Max’s gaze kept landing on me until he was outright staring at me.

  His stare was full of intent, his pupils dilated. I’ve seen that look in Alfie’s eyes, and Max kept me close from the moment we left the apartment until we arrived at the venue where we were playing.

  Will was already there, setting up. When he saw us he grabbed me excitedly, hugging me tightly to him. I noticed Max puffed out his chest and smirked. Turning to Will, I pointed at Max. “This is Saffy’s twin brother, Max

  “Max… this is Will, the other half of my duo,” Saffy chipped in. “I’m seeing Will, Max.” He puffed his chest out again, as if to say, “don’t-you-dare-fuck-my-sister.”

  Will looked uncomfortable, but tried to act naturally, offering his hand for Max to shake. He did this reluctantly with a primal stare that spoke volumes in terms of treating Saffy right.

  Max seemed fine with Will touching me from that point onward, knowing that he had no designs on me. Will, on the other hand, had been watching Max.

  He was still staring at me, and Will picked up on it. “Oh, maybe I’ll come and sleep on your couch tonight. Looks like you’ll be having noisy, monkey sex if Max has his way. The poor guy’s been eye fucking you since you arrived.” My jaw dropped open at Will’s comment.

  Everyone settled in the seats, and when we started to play people were chatting as if we didn’t exist. We were only a few bars into the song when people seemed to stop and listen. The first song we played was Walk on the Wild Side by Lou Reed, and the arrangement for it was a little different.

  We were nervous to switch it up, because it was a classic, but it went down well, and we held the audience’s attention after that. Will smirked and winked at me, and we started to relax after that. I was more than happy, because I had sung, and it sounded okay.

  The rest of the set went down just as well. I performed and sang one piece of my own, an acoustic version of Heaven by Eric Clapton. Will performed Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street, and all I could hear in the room was the haunting sound of his beautiful saxophone tones in the air.

  We finished the set with some duets again. The reaction from people in the bar was excellent. We were on a high. A few people wanted to chat with us, and there were more contacts asking for our diary dates.

  Saffy told me that Max was sleeping in her bed tonight, and she was going to Will’s with Mandy and Neil. I was a bit fed-up that she couldn’t take the time to see her brother. Holly had disappeared halfway thought the set, and I wondered if she’d taken Brett to our place as well.

  When I asked Saffy if she knew where Holly was she just shrugged. I checked my cell to see if she had left a message for me. I had three texts that had come in when I’d been performing.

  SEXPERT: Missed you baby. Oh! That dress, those legs! I need to stroke them desperately.

  I looked around. I didn’t know Alfie was here tonight. He had a cheek really, I hadn’t heard from him for five weeks.

  Then again, I supposed that he didn’t need me when he was off touring as there would be plenty of groupies. I was definitely struggling with the concept of the no-strings thing we had going on.

  Pink Lady: Swat! Need you to keep your hands to yourself I’m working.

  SEXPERT: Can’t you’re too irresistible and it’s been weeks.

  Pink Lady: So… you should be over your withdrawal by now.

  SEXPERT: Meet me at mine?

  Pink Lady: Nope, I have company tonight.

  SEXPERT: Bring your company, she can have a spare room. Need to see you.

  Pink Lady: Sorry, HE wouldn’t go for that.

  SEXPERT: HE???

  Pink Lady: Yeah, it’s a boy, and we’re almost ready to leave for my place.

  SEXPERT: PITY: I guess I’ll just have to entertain myself some other way.

  Pink Lady: You’ve managed this long without me, I’m sure you’re resourceful.

  Alfie didn’t reply after that and I checked the other two texts.

  Holly: gone to Brett’s, mwah!

  Unknown: This is Max. Saffy punched your number in my phone in case we all got lost. Do you want to get a late dinner? Max.

  I smiled and text back: Please, I’m starving, give me ten minutes.

  I packed up and said my goodbyes. Max and I took a cab back to the condo. “I’m starving, do you know somewhere to eat or do you want to order in?”

  I nodded. “There’s a place near here that’s open late. We can walk to it,” I said while searching in my purse for the keys to my apartment to make sure I had them.

  Max and I chatted about old times and our years apart melted away. He stared at me a few times, and there were a couple of intense moments where I was the one to look away, but after a while we were completely comfortable with each other.

  When Max was talking about our past, a stray lock of hair fell across his forehead. I instantly leaned over and brushed it away. Max caught my hand, drew a breath, and smiled. He held my gaze with his, let my hand go, and looked away.

  CHAPTER 18: OLD FLAMES

  As we sat drinking wine, feeling mellow, Max’s questions became more personal. “Are you seeing anyone Lily?” Alfie doesn’t count.

  “No.”

  He smirked and raised an eyebrow. “Are you kidding me, why not?” he asked surprised

  There was no way I could tell him about Alfie so I said, “There was someone briefly, but it didn’t come to anything.” I wanted to shift the spotlight from me. “What about you Max, I bet the ladies are falling over you.”

  “Well! Yeah they are.” He chuckled truthfully. “But I’m too picky, I guess, and I got bored of one-night stands.”

  Max was completely comfortable talking about this. “Tell me about your, didn’t-come-to-anything-guy.” He smiled.

  “There’s nothing to tell really, other than he doesn’t do serious relationships.

  Max bunched his brows. “Is the guy nuts?”

  I shrugged not wanting to get into it again. “Anyway, he moved on, and I got my shit together with Will. We’ve had no real time for socializing since, until tonight.”

  We started talking about our common love of music, and it was like the last four years melted away. We had a long history as friends. While he was talking I drew my fingers up my wine glass. I dipped my middle finger briefly in my wine and circled it around the rim of the glass, making a tune.

  Max reached over and took my hand in his, lacing his fingers through mine. “Sorry honey, you can’t do that with your finger, it’s turning me on.” I giggled at him, thinking that he was just being funny. When I met his gaze, though, his eyes were darker in color, and his sensual stare made me see he was completely serious.

  He gestured at our hands. “Remember when we used to do this when we talked at night in the camper van?”

  I smiled, I did. “Yeah, I do, Max.”

  He went on, “I can tell you now, I thought I’d never felt hands so soft and delicate, and that you were my little angel.”

  I smiled wrinkling my nose at him. “Aww.”

  He lifted my hand and kissed it gently. I felt a small thrill ran throughout my body. I looked at Max and sighed. “We should head home. I need my bed.”

  Max muttered what I thought was, “Me too.”

  However, when I looked at him, he smiled like he hadn’t said anything out of place, and I thought I’d misheard him. Max looked gorgeous in his red shirt and easy fit jeans. The red color suited his skin tone, his dark tan and blond hair made him look striking.

  He caught me looking at him and smiled slowly, signaling to our waiter for the check. He glanced at it, and threw some folded bills into the wallet. We walked along the dark road, heading back toward the lights of the condo building.

  Max leaned in and automatically threw his arm around me. I tensed initially, but he smiled and started rubbing my arm as he chatted. I lifted my hand to meet his and we clasped our fingers together again. “We used to do
this too.” He grinned gesturing at our hands. He was still smiling as he tilted his head toward the sky and inhaled deeply.

  Neither Max, nor I changed our position as we entered the building and walked over to the elevator. He felt safe to me, but I had butterflies at the same time. This was everything I’d ever dreamed of as a young teenager with him. When the elevator car arrived I was nervous at what might happen now though.

  On the way up, I began to talk about the beach, but Max puts a finger up to my mouth. “Shush.” I stared at him. “I want to kiss you.” He smiled crookedly. Bringing his hand up, he took my chin between his index finger and thumb, tilting my face up to him. Our eyes met and I smiled back.

  “You used to kiss me all the time, Max.”

  He gazed into my eyes and his voice became huskier. “Hell, I used to kiss you like a brother. This kiss will definitely not be like that.” I swallowed hard, and I wet my lips subconsciously, but became conscious I was doing it, and felt myself blush.

  I wanted this too. I had always wanted Max to kiss me properly not just a peck on the cheek. My mind was in conflict, though, because of my slutty behavior with Sam and Alfie. The timing sucked, but I knew I may never get the chance to experience a kiss with Max again if I rejected him.

  My eyes searched his. “Okay, if it feels weird we could stop… no awkwardness… deal?” I wrinkled my nose, and he smiled broadly.

  He licked his lips and came toward me. He moved his lips back and forth on mine before pressing them to my mouth with more pressure.

  Max’s hands slid around the small of my back, and moved up to my ribs, before he stroked downwards, toward my belly. He pushed me against the wall. I kissed him back, and he murmured, “Oh God.” An intense heat grew between us, and I was moist between my legs.

  His hands traveled up to the sides of my face, caressing my chin on both sides. He put his hand on the back of my head, pulling me into him as his tongue probed deeper into my mouth. Our breathing was ragged and hurried now. It left me breathless.