by Mia Kayla
“And guess what?”
“What?”
She let out another light squeal. “I’m going to be in NYC for a month for training.” She paused, and then added, “They’re putting me up in a hotel in Manhattan.” Her voice lowered, which was a large contrast to her mood just a second ago. “I told them you live in New York, but I insisted I stay in a hotel. I just don’t want it to be weird, you know . . . with him there.”
I was beginning to wonder when things between her and Trey would go back to normal, or at least be somewhat civil. Like, when would she be able to say his name out loud, instead of calling him ‘your roommate’ or ‘your friend’?
“Katelynn, don’t worry about that. Everything will work out.”
Trey seemed to be focused on the TV, but a part of me believed he was eavesdropping. I was certain he could hear Katelynn squealing over the phone.
“Just let me know, okay? Whatever you’re comfortable with.” My stare flickered in Trey’s direction. “Anyways, sounds great, sis. I’m so proud of you. Was there any doubt?”
“I don’t know. You can never be so sure, but once I know the details, I’ll tell you,” she said excitedly.
Trey’s eyes were trained on a gym shoe commercial, the remote too tightly gripped in his hands.
“Sure thing,” I replied.
“Love you, Bry. I’m so, so, so happy.”
“I’m happy for you, too. You deserve it. Tell Mom and Dad I said hi.” I hung up the phone and resisted the urge to probe Trey with questions.
His eyes flickered to mine and back to the TV. “So . . . how’s Katelynn?” His voice shook as he uttered her name as though it pained him to say it out loud. His shoulders tensed like it was taking every ounce of energy to ask me that one question.
“She’s good,” I answered. All of me wondered what had happened years ago. One minute, they had been happy and in love, and the next minute, they were broken up. “She got a job at NOD, that huge organization for the deaf.”
“That’s good. I’m happy for her.” He let out a jagged breath. “I’m happy that she’s happy. Is she . . . How is she doing with Kyle?”
Awkwardness leaked into the air. I didn’t want to talk about the douche, who wasn’t anywhere near good enough for my baby sis, to the guy who I thought was. It wasn’t my decision to make. I’d already told her how I felt.
“I don’t ask about him when we talk.”
Pain filtered through his eyes as he guzzled back his beer. “That’s good,” he said, somewhat sadly.
“She’s going to be in New York in a month,” I said, gauging his reaction.
He straightened, his eyes flying to mine. “She is?” His voice hitched up a notch, but in the next second, he reclined against the couch as though faking it was no big deal and shrugged. “I mean, that’s good,” he said. “That’s good.”
He’d said it twice, like he needed to convince himself.
This was getting awkward.
“Don’t worry; she’s staying at a hotel. She didn’t want it to be weird between you guys.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, his cool and calm facade fading. “Does she hate me that much?” He stood and stomped sulkily over to the garbage. “I’m fine with her here. It’s ridiculous that she’s staying at a hotel, when you hardly see each other as it is.” The skin around his eyes bunched in a pained stare. “I’m fine. She’s the one—” He cleared his throat. “—the one who left me.”
Even though I knew he wouldn’t divulge any information, I felt the need to ask again. “What happened between you guys? I thought you were it for each other.”
He looked at me with a wounded gaze. “I thought so too, but . . . shit happens.” He chugged his beer back, tossed it in the trash, and walked out of the room. “Have fun, whatever you do tonight.”
I watched his retreat, knowing full well my sister would not give me any more info, either. She couldn’t even mention his name.
For the thousandth time, I decided to let it go. I had to keep my head in the game. Literally.
I grabbed my keys from the counter and headed out to meet Kendy. I needed a good laugh tonight. I was going to be a fake boyfriend, and I needed to make sure I was a damn good one.
***
KENDY
I tugged my black silk fitted halter dress just a little lower. It’d been a while since I’d worn it, and it was shorter than I remembered. Maybe because I was in my four-inch eff-me heels. I usually wore my three-inch gold ones.
I wanted to get noticed this time around. I wasn’t going home without a second glance. No way, Jose. That was not happening tonight. I was dressed to impress, and tonight, less meant more. Especially in this dress.
I checked my makeup one last time and touched the draping, shimmery, gold triangular necklace that hung directly in my cleavage. It was as if the necklace was directing traffic to one of my best assets.
I wasn’t expecting Sarah tonight. Brian and I had a plan, part one being I wouldn’t be sharing a cab home with him, because I’d be leaving with Dr. Hot Pants. When my phone rang, I dug into my purse for it and saw Brian’s name. My heart rate increased as I picked up on the first ring.
“Hey, I’m coming right down.” I checked myself one more time in my floor-length mirror, pursing then smacking my lips together before I jetted out the door. I was hoping, wishing, and praying that tonight would not be another waste of time.
***
BRIAN
I rested against the brick, checking out the group in front of me. Saturday nights were bumping in Kendy’s area. The amount of people out and about, all dressed up and ready go out, seemed electrified tonight. It would be tough to get a cab.
I was debating trying to get one while I waited, when saw a drop-dead bombshell stroll out the door. She was so damn gorgeous I had to do a double take. My eyes raked in all of her ensemble. Her black skintight dress accentuated every curve, and she must’ve been five-eight in her heels, which made her look like a runway model. Her hair was half up, blonde curls draping down her back.
Holy shit. Kendy had transformed from short and cute small town girl to bombshell babe.
I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Every guy’s head slowly turned, their eyes following her as she made her way toward me.
“Hey,” she said, going up on her tiptoes to give me a half hug.
As I hugged her back, I took in the intoxicating smell of her shampoo and breathed in deeper, hoping she didn’t notice. She released me too quickly, and I took a slight step back to admire the view once again.
“You look great,” I said, embarrassingly breathless.
“I know, don’t I?” She fluttered her eyelashes in an exaggerated way. “Just kidding. But seriously, we gotta go.” She reached for my hand, lacing our fingers, and led us through the crowd.
I flexed my fingers and rewrapped them, tightening my hand around hers as I pulled us in the other direction. There was no way we were going to catch a cab in this herd of people.
“This way,” I commanded.
She complied and smiled as we walked half a block and stopped in front of an apartment building, where another couple was waiting for a cab.
I couldn’t stop staring. She was strikingly beautiful, her makeup not overdone, but perfect. Her pouty lip shined with whatever lipstick she had on, almost tempting me to bite it.
She fidgeted in her dress, tapping her heels against the sidewalk. “I’m so glad you picked me up.”
“Of course.” I smirked. “Good boy and all,” I said, pulling at my shirt. “Would you expect any less?”
“Of course not.” Her laughter floated toward me.
When a cab pulled up, I opened the door to let her in and scooted in beside her, our knees touching. I leaned in as an overwhelming need to be even closer took over, like a magnet, forcing me toward her.
“The Bartlett,” I called out to the driver.
She looked my way, her turn to take in my ensemble. She cast an appr
eciative glance, her focus moving from my button down shirt, then to my dark jeans. “I never commented on how good you look.”
“I know, don’t I?” I repeated the line she’d thrown my way, and we both laughed.
“Brian, you start hanging out with me and you’ll turn funny.”
Was I not already?
I was about to give her a comeback for that when the cab swerved left and she fell into me. I caught her with both arms, our eyes locking. A dizzying current raced through me, a tingling sensation traveling up my arm.
She peered up at me, glanced down at my lips, and then her eyes flickered back to mine. Her breathing slowed as my fingers caressed her skin.
She shifted from my hold and released a nervous laugh. “Getting frisky already? We haven’t even hit the club.”
Car horns blaring outside redirected our focus to the back-to-back traffic ahead of us, and she angled her knees away from me. “I just wanted to go over our game plan one more time.” She clasped her hands together as her eyes danced with excitement.
“We’ve been through your ‘game plan’ five times already.” Little did she know I had a plan of my own, which included exposing this guy for the loser he truly was.
Her laughter was marvelous, catching. “Well, I just want to make sure you know what you’re doing.” When she pulled down her skirt, my gaze traveled down the length of her legs. Hell, she looked so edible.
With a painted fingernail, she lifted my chin to meet her eyes, blatantly catching me gawking. Now it was my turn to laugh.
“Up here, lover boy,” she commanded good-naturedly. “We’re going to walk in separately. First you, and then five minutes later, I’m going to stroll in and you’re going to hit on me. You’re going to come on to me so strong. Everyone in the whole entire bar will know you only want me. It’ll be dark, so we’ll need an over exaggeration of normal body language, okay?”
“Don’t worry. I got this.” My voice was totally calm, but I sensed a little nervousness in her as she wrung her hands together in her lap. A strong urge to calm her came over me. “Don’t worry,” I repeated, placing one hand on top of hers to keep her fidgeting to a minimum.
When her stiff posture didn’t let up, I scooted over and threw one hand to her other side, by the window, caging her in.
Her breath caught in her throat, and I whispered, “What’s your name, beautiful?” I meant it as a joke, to break her from her mood, but my pulse was spiking from being so close to her.
Her lips parted as her eyes flickered to my mouth again. Her scent was making my head spin.
“Your name?” I commanded, my tone husky.
Goose bumps spread on her neck. “Kendall.” Her voice was barely audible as her breathing turned shallow, her hands falling to my waist.
She bit down on her lower lip seductively, and I had an undeniable urge to claim her, to crash my mouth against hers. The air between us was charged, a gravitational pull tugging me closer, so strong that I couldn’t resist as I dropped my arms and aligned my lips with hers.
“What’re you drinking?” I asked, playing the part. I knew what I wanted to drink—her . . . all of her, take her mouth and suckle the tender part of her bottom lip.
She tilted her head back, the light from the moon catching the blue in her irises. As her eyes turned lustful, giving me permission, I closed the gap between us, about to quench the desire inside of me.
Then the car jerked to a stop, and I flew backward against the seat, which broke the tension between us. Moment gone.
I blinked a couple of times like I’d been shocked by the impact. She let out a nervous laugh.
“Is that enough body language for you?” I rubbed my neck and took a huge breath and blew it out slowly.
She nodded as she averted her eyes and stared out her window. “Perfect.”
“We’re here,” I said, observing our surroundings.
I paid our cab driver, stepped out, and extended my hand to assist her.
When she placed her hand in mine, heat spread through my fingers, but she pulled away and glanced at her watch, the round gold dial spanning her whole wrist.
“He’ll be there now. I just hope to God this isn’t another waste of a Saturday night.”
I felt a sudden sourness in the back of my throat as I remembered our arrangement.
She extended her fist and gave me the cutest smile ever. “We got this, right?”
“Yeah, we got this.” My fist connected with hers in some sort of pact.
It was funny, because I had no idea how I’d gotten pulled into this, when I really wasn’t getting anything in return. I could get my own women just fine. But I sensed Kendy always had a way of getting people to agree with her plans. This girl entertained me, for sure. Before I knew it, I was saying yes to her crazy ideas.
The next second, she surprised me again by reaching for my hand. Her eyes danced with excitement as she squeezed it. “I’m so excited. I just have this feeling, like tonight is my night.”
I smiled at her, all the while thinking, This guy—this Stiff—better not be a dick.
***
The thunderous music played on the speakers as the bass pounded in my ears. I walked straight past Stiff and his friends and sat down right where we’d be seen. After I ordered a beer, my eyes focused on the group of guys in front of me laughing. Stiff already had a blonde practically sitting on his lap. She was wearing a black fitted tee with ‘The Bartlett’ across her chest. My jaw tightened at the sight. Immediately, I wanted to rush outside and intercept Kendy before she saw this scene, to protect her in some way.
When the blonde stood, he slapped her ass. “I want your fine self back here when you’re done with your shift,” Stiff yelled at her as she threw him a flirty smile before turning to walk away.
His friends gawked at a group of ladies next to them. Then Stiff, the bravest of them all, strolled over and chatted up his next victim, the most attractive of the three. Tonight, he was in blue jeans and a fitted, striped button down. It looked multi-colored under the dim lights of the club.
Whatever he said to the woman was working as she placed her hand in his, most likely introducing herself. My insides heated with irritation. Last weekend, he’d been with another woman, and tonight, here he was. Again.
Screw. This.
This shithead.
There must be some sort of appeal with the unattainable. I could see Kendy always being up for a challenge. He was nowhere near settling down material. I had no clue why she thought he was.
The redhead stood and followed him to the bar, and I fisted my hands at my sides. I was about to walk outside and snap some sense into Kendy, but she strolled through the double doors.
Kendy stood tall, her head high with an air of confidence that everyone took note of. All of Stiff’s friends turned to check her out as she sashayed across the room and sat two stools away from me.
Even though tonight I was playing a part, if she were a stranger to me, I’d be checking her out as soon as she stepped into this bar.
She crossed her legs, which hitched up her skirt, revealing more of her perfect thigh. When her eyes caught mine, she threw me a flirty smile, one she was used to throwing. But then I watched her eyes skitter across the room in search of Stiff. I knew when she found him, because her smile faltered. She blinked a couple times, unable to hide her disappointment.
I got up and charged her way. I no longer gave a shit that I was supposed to wait five minutes. I needed to see that smile again. “Hey, gorgeous. Someone sitting here?” Those had been the exact words we’d practiced at the park.
It was comical, because we’d had to rehearse it multiple times until she stopped laughing. I had used every accent I knew just to hear her crack up.
Kendy’s laughter was like an epidemic. It could spread across a room, or over a crowd like wildfire. It was high-pitched, cute, and irresistible. Kind of like a child giggling. And whenever she got into her fits, she looked younger, lighter, and I
let her energy wash over me.
“Hey, gorgeous,” I repeated when she didn’t respond.
Her eyes were still on Stiff.
My chest tightened at the look in her eyes. Her smile was fake, forced, but I didn’t even give her a chance to respond as I plopped down next to her. “You’re the hottest girl in here, and I’d like to buy you a drink.”
“Sure. I’ll just have a gin and tonic.” Her voice was resigned, sad even.
I got the bartender’s attention and ordered her beverage when her eyes flickered back to Stiff, watching as he sweet-talked the redhead, who was obviously taking the bait.
I placed my hand on Kendy’s forearm, trying to break her from her trance.
“Hey, so let’s cut to the chase. Do you want to go to my place, or would you rather go to yours?” I joked, winking at her.
I was rewarded with a small smile, which kept me going. “Or we can just go to the back, the bathroom maybe? You’re just so damn hot I might not be able to make it home.”
“You’re too funny,” she droned, her small smile widening just a tad.
The bartender set her drink on the counter, and I threw my money on the bar and a couple dollars for the tip.
I handed her the glass and angled toward her. “Don’t let Stiff ruin your night. We’re still going to have fun.”
I wished I hadn’t mentioned his nickname, because her eyes flipped back to him. Now, he was making his way back to his group of friends with the redhead.
They were closer to us, but Stiff’s eyes didn’t make it our way, because he was preoccupied with the woman I was sure he was trying to bed.
“Hey, is your dad a terrorist?” I teased, pumping out my cheesy one-liners.
Her eyebrows pulled in. “What?” She finally gave me her attention.
“Because he made the bomb.” I tried to maintain composure and keep my voice level.
A flash of humor crossed her face, making this man desperate for another dose. “Is that a space dress?” I paused for dramatic effect. “Because your body is out of this world.”
