About the time Dylan finished his sentence, the group of guys who Hannah spoke with at the bar came walking by.
“Hey, Lorna Ray Mason’s daughter, I thought you had a boyfriend?”
Brett and Dylan glared at him immediately.
“I’m him. Now walk away,” Brett angrily ordered as his arms wrapped tightly around Hannah’s waist.
“Wow, she’s such a bitch that I didn’t believe anyone would really have her,” the guy said, laughing and looking around at his buddies.
Before Brett could even release Hannah, the guy hit the floor from the force of the front blow to his face from Dylan’s fist. Blood instantly gushed from the man’s nose as he lay in the floor. Hannah was stunned as she stared down at the man on the floor.
“Let’s go,” Dylan said.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Hannah and Brett found their friends and went out the exit. She saw Dylan pacing near their cars.
Cody grabbed his shoulder.
“What the hell happened, Dylan? Hannah said you punched some guy.”
“The asshole called her a bitch.”
Brett stopped as they reached the vehicles and handed Hannah the keys to the Land Rover.
“Can all of you wait inside the cars? I need to speak to Dylan alone,” he said.
Hannah felt sick to her stomach after hearing the anger in Brett’s voice. She climbed into the vehicle, turned it on and cracked the window. She didn’t know if Brett was mad at Dylan or mad at her for not telling him when he got there that something had happened between her and the guy. She watched their friends pile into their cars and roll down their windows.
***
Dylan felt as if his blood was boiling through his veins from hearing the man verbally attack Hannah. He sensed Brett was waiting to tear into him but wasn’t entirely sure why.
“What the hell was that, Dylan?”
“What do you think? He called Hannah a bitch, and I snapped. You should be grateful.
“She’d probably be pissed at you if you punched him, especially when she’s trying to gauge if you’re going to act like a jealous boyfriend every time she goes out.”
“I guess I didn’t need to since you were acting like one for me. I know you have a thing for Hannah, and I want you to admit it!”
Dylan paced again before he took off his ball cap and threw it on the ground below him.
“Dammit!” He knew the truth and knew he had to tell it. He wasn’t a liar. He walked right up to Brett and stared at him for several seconds.
“I’m not gonna lie to you ... I have feelings for her.”
“Fuck—I knew it.”
Dylan heard all of their friends curse. He glanced to Hannah’s vehicle and saw her slide down in her seat.
“Shit, I can’t believe this is happening. Look, I danced right up against her and talked with her here that night you went ape shit, and now that I know how great she is in every other way, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her, but I’m trying to get over it.
“You’re a good friend, and I’d never do anything to screw that up. I don’t know why you feel threatened, anyway. I’ve never seen two people so in love in all my life. It’s sickening.”
Brett stuck his finger in Dylan’s face. “I don’t feel threatened. I just hate the fucking thoughts I know you’re having about her.”
“Brett, I have too much respect for the both of you. The fact that I was honest about this should show you I have no intentions of interfering with you and Hannah. Do you want to know why I said I wanted to live vicariously through the two of you? It’s because I’m ready to stop screwing around and find what you two have, and I sure as hell know it isn’t going to be with her. You two were made for each other.”
Brett ran his hands down his face.
“Alright, fine, but you better find a different girl to be attracted to fast or else,” he said, pointing to Dylan.
Dylan was pissed Brett was threatening him.
“This isn’t even about me to begin with. You’re pissed over that guy because something obviously happened when you weren’t here to protect her.
“I’ve watched you control everything around you for the last three years, and ever since you met Hannah you’ve acted like a lunatic because you can’t control how other people are with her or how you feel about her. You need to get a grip. I’m out of here.” Dylan got into Cody’s car.
***
“I swear if Brett doesn’t kill Dylan, I might just have to,” Matt said as he drove.
“I can’t believe he confessed that,” Austin said.
Matt glanced over at Morgan. “So, did guys hit on you?”
“They always do,” she said nonchalantly.
Fucking assholes. I feel the need to punch something.
“It’s because you’re gorgeous. I don’t like that guys were hitting on you, and I don’t like that it bugs me.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Morgan asked.
He could tell he upset her.
“Are you pissed you like me?” she asked in a sharp tone.
Matt took a deep breath and blew it out. He took hold of Morgan’s hand.
“No, I’m not angry I like you. I just don’t like feeling jealous.”
He hated the way it felt. He looked at it as her having control over him, and he didn’t like it one bit.
“Well, I think it’s sweet you’re jealous,” Morgan said, smiling.
He didn’t say anything else. He wanted her in his bed, and he knew if he said another word, he was going to make her mad. He was pissed at Brett for bringing so much drama into his life, and he was angry at Dylan for jeopardizing all of their friendships.
He didn’t have any other way that night to relieve his frustration other than with sex, and he was determined to have it. He liked feeling in control of Morgan. He didn’t want it the other way around.
***
“You should’ve lied, man,” Cody said after dropping Jasmine off.
“No. He already knew, and when he gets past this, he’ll respect me more for telling him the truth.”
“He’s not himself when it comes to her. You’ll be lucky if he’s ever cool with you again.”
“He can’t blame anyone for having feelings for Hannah. She’s amazing. He knows it, and that’s why he’s been such a jackass. He’s afraid he’s going to lose her. God, I hope they stay together because I can’t even begin to imagine what it’d be like living with him if they didn’t,” Dylan said.
***
Brett got into Hannah’s car.
“Brett, I’m sorry. If I’d known he felt that way, I wouldn’t have joked around with him so much. I don’t want to ruin your friendship with him.”
“You did nothing wrong, Hannah. I caused this.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Dylan was right about everything he said. I’ve known all along that he liked you. I hadn’t told you, but we got into an argument here that night when you and I first kissed. He wanted a shot with you, so I threatened him and told him it wasn’t going to happen. It killed me just watching you dance with him.
“I wasn’t about to let him have you, and I shouldn’t have called him out on it now. It doesn’t change anything. I know he wouldn’t make a move on you, and I can’t fault him for liking you since he thought he might’ve had a chance with you.
“At least he was honest about it. I don’t like it, but he hasn’t done anything wrong other than he flirts too much. I was jealous because he protected you instead of me.”
“He didn’t protect me. I was safe in your arms. All he did was react.” They both sat quiet for a few seconds before Hannah looked over at him.
“I can’t believe you told Dylan to stay away from me that first night we were here. That makes me happy.”
“I’ve told you, Hannah. I knew I cared about you then. I just didn’t know what to do about it.”
“I want you to know that even if you hadn’t intervened
that night with Dylan, nothing would have happened between us. I already wanted to be with you,” she said as she reached up to run her fingers through his hair.
He looked over at her. “I know that. What happened tonight before I got here, Hannah?”
“That asshole asked me to dance. I told him no and that I had a boyfriend. He didn’t like it, called me a bitch, and I insulted him back.
“I’m sure he was pissed at me for embarrassing him in front of his friends. I didn’t tell you because I handled it, and I had no way to know he was going to show his face again.”
“This shit is going to keep happening if you go out without me.”
“I know. That’s why this was called a trial run. It’s going to be hard enough for it to work if we’re together.
“It should ease your mind to know I don’t want to go without you again. Would you have punched him if Dylan hadn’t?”
“That’s a given.”
“You can’t do that unless someone puts their hands on me. There’ll always be another drunk guy who makes a wise ass comment because of who I am. That guys words meant nothing to me.”
“You’re upset with me. Do you want to drop me off at the house? I understand if you do,” Brett said.
“No, I’m not upset with you, but are you not a man of your word?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It sounds to me like you’re trying to renege on the pleasure I was promised,” she said alluringly.
Hannah watched Brett raise his eyebrows in surprise before the hunger resurfaced in his eyes.
“Baby, you amaze me more every second. You get double the pleasure now,” he said with a boyish grin.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Matt, Austin, Chelsea and Morgan were sitting in the family room watching TV when Dylan walked out of his room the next morning.
“Sit,” Matt said, looking at Dylan and pointing to a chair.
Dylan sat down.
“You’re a dumb ass. You better do whatever it takes to make this right. You’re not going to screw up everyone’s friendships around here, so fix it,” Matt said.
“He said it was fine, so it will be.”
Austin pointed to Dylan.
“Make sure. I can’t believe you told him the truth. He’s going to watch every move you make with her now.”
“Please, he watches me around her already. He watches anyone who’s near Hannah.”
Brett opened the front door and saw the surprised look on his friends’ faces. “Wow, I guess I don’t have to guess what all of you are discussing. I need to speak to Dylan alone,” he said with a serious tone.
They all swiftly cleared the room as Brett sat down.
“Brett, I’m sorry for punching the guy, and I’m sorry about Hannah. I swear I’ll keep my distance.”
“Everything’s cool, Dylan. All I ask is that you don’t flirt with her. I don’t care if you joke around, but there’s a difference between the two. You have to go over to Hannah’s tonight. She’ll be hurt if everyone doesn’t come.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I know she heard us, dude, and I don’t want it to be awkward.”
“You should know she’s too sweet to let that happen. You better go, or I’ll be pissed.”
After they were finished talking, Dylan went to his room, and Austin, Matt, Chelsea and Morgan came back out.
Matt and Morgan kissed.
“Bye, I’ll talk to you later,” he said.
“Won’t I see you tonight?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Well … OK. Bye,” Morgan said.
Brett saw the disappointment and confusion on her face.
“Come on, I’ll take you home,” Austin said to Chelsea and Morgan before they went out the door.
“What the hell was that about?” Brett asked Matt.
“I’m staying home tonight.”
“Oh hell no. After what happened last night, I promised Hannah I’d make sure all of you came. What’s your problem? I know you like Morgan.” Brett stared at Matt, waiting for a response, but he didn’t answer.
“Are you just planning on sleeping with Morgan and having nothing to do with her outside of the bedroom?”
“I don’t know. All I know is I never said I wanted to spend my free time hanging out with a group of nineteen year old girls.”
“You like Morgan, and you’re just pissed about it because you haven’t been able to send her packing like the rest of them. You better rethink leaving her alone. She’s beautiful and does anything you ask her to, and she’s not a bitch like a lot of the women we meet.”
“I didn’t like her being at The Stables without me. I’ve never been jealous, and I don’t like how it felt. It made me see I’ve kept her around too long.”
“Hannah said she was seeing some guy when she met you and dumped him, so she’ll probably be back with him if you keep this shit up.”
“Fuck,” Matt said.
Brett saw the instant rage in his eyes.
“Fine, I’ll go.”
***
Hannah told the guys she’d order pizzas if they brought beer. She was looking forward to all of them hanging out together, but she was also nervous about talking to Dylan. When he arrived, she immediately asked him if she could talk to him alone. She saw his hesitation as he glanced at Brett who was distracted talking to Matt.
“Dylan, thank you for looking out for me, but like I told Brett, every time I go out there’s some drunk person who wants to get a jab in at me. I’ve heard it so much that it doesn’t really get to me, so you can’t let it get to you.
“I told him if someone puts their hands on me, that’s a different story, and then you guys can punch them all you want,” she said, laughing.
“I’m sorry, Hannah. I did it without even a thought.”
“I know, and I’m not mad. As far as the elephant in the room, I … I thought you were a good friend to be honest with Brett, and I know you’d never hit on me. You’re going to be a great boyfriend when you find the right girl, and I’m not saying that to make you feel better. I really mean it.”
“Then you need to find me a girl.”
“My friends said we’re fixing you up with Taylor. She’ll be in town real soon, so hang in there. You just need to show your true self once in a while instead of hiding behind that jokester front all the time. Now give me a hug, and let’s put this behind us.”
Hannah sensed his hesitation again when she reached out to hug him, but she didn’t give him a choice as she wrapped her arms around him tight.
“We need to play quarters,” Austin said after they were all finished eating.
“How do you play?” Hannah asked.
Austin looked around the game room. “Let’s put a tablecloth on the pool table, and we can play there.”
After getting everything set up, he gave instructions.
“Guys on one side of the table and girls on the other. This is how we’re playing. If you bounce the quarter into the shot glass, then you pick someone who has to take a drink.
“If you make three of them in a row, then you can make up a rule. If you miss, then you pass to the next player, and I’ll warn you, Cody is king of this game.”
“Damn right I am.” Cody grinned at Jasmine.
Austin, Morgan, Jasmine, Dylan and Hannah missed.
Brett made the first shot.
“Drink up, shortcake.”
“Oh, so it’s OK if I’m drunk at home. I see how it is,” Hannah said.
“You’re safe and sound with me, so drink up, and I’ll take advantage of you later,” Brett said, winking at her.
Matt made a shot. “Drink, Cody,” he ordered.
Cody made three in a row. “I told you. I’m the king. My rule is that if you get ordered to drink you also have to answer a question.”
Everyone groaned. He looked at Dylan.
“Drink up, buddy.”
Morgan made the next shot.
; “Austin drink, and did it bother you that Chelsea was out last night without you?”
“Wow, you’re going straight for the jugular. The answer is yes,” he said, smiling at Chelsea.
She grinned back at him.
Hannah made the next one.
“Babe, drink, and have you ever dated anyone over forty?”
“No, twenty years older is pushing it,” he said with a sly grin.
Hannah rolled her eyes. Everyone was getting drunk fast as they drank on their own in between. Matt sunk the next quarter.
“Morgan drink, and if any other dude’s ask you out, could you tell them to fuck off?” His friends looked over at him.
“Is that your romantic way of asking me to be your girlfriend, Matt?” Morgan asked, smiling.
“I’m the one that gets to ask the question here, but yeah, I guess that’s a yes,” Matt replied, smiling.
Morgan ran around the table and gave him a long kiss.
“You two were giving me shit last night because I was upset over Hannah being out without me, and now I see you didn’t like your girls being out any more than I did. I think you both should have to drink just for that,” Brett said, pointing to Matt and Austin.
Dylan was next to order someone to drink.
“Jasmine drink up, and have you ever kissed a girl?” he asked, winking.
Jasmine was wearing white shorts and a snug, orange tank top that complimented her dark skin. She grinned as she yanked on her booty shorts between her thighs, trying to pull them down some. “Yes, Hannah and I made out once the beginning of our freshman year at a party.”
Hannah immediately looked at Jasmine and giggled. She felt her face flush and was embarrassed to look at Brett.
“Are you screwing with me? I know Hannah made that other sex shit up?”
“It’s true, Dylan,” Hannah replied.
Jasmine’s silky hair that went almost to her waist swayed from side to side as she ran over to Hannah and grabbed both sides of her face, kissing her on the lips.
Brett and Hannah (Soul Mates 101 Series) Page 14
