“Uh-huh,” Jon scoffed.
“You don’t believe me?” He was using his hand to hide his mouth, and it pissed me off. “What?”
“I know you two are just friends, but you want her here because you like her.”
“No shit. I like her. She’s one of my good friends now. She’s smart as hell, loves all the same shit I do, and likes to eat. She’s practically a dude.” Even as I said it, I knew the last part wasn’t true.
Jon did, too, but he didn’t acknowledge it. “Sure, dude. Let’s go monitor the party and flirt with the freshmen.”
Normally, I enjoyed flirting and scoping out all the new meat to see who would be easy. It just didn’t have the same effect when every one of them smiled too much and tried too hard. Apparently, Jenna’s unique sarcasm was getting to me.
* * * *
I woke up Saturday still in a shitty mood from talking with my dad the night before. He and my brother thought it would be a good idea to drop in and chat about my summer internship, and they fucking filled out the paperwork without my permission. I needed a distraction as soon as fucking possible.
My prayers were answered by my phone going off.
Jenna: I’m here. I brought breakfast burritos.
Aiden: You the real MVP. Code’s 12548.
Jenna: Ah, the presidential suite. Put clothes on. I’m coming up.
I threw on a shirt and deodorant just as the door opened. I was starting to grow up. My dad should be proud, but we really didn’t have that sort of relationship.
She barged into the room carrying coffees and burritos. Suddenly my mood lifted. “Hey, pretty boy. I’m going to need to talk about the plan for today.” She eyed me.
She took in the state of my room: clothes everywhere, wrappers, empty bottles. “Dude, what’s going on? Your room looks like shit.”
“My dad.”
“Sure explains the little frowny lines you have on your face. Wanna talk about it or eat this wonderful breakfast burrito?”
I knew her well enough to know she was giving me an out, and I was going to take it. “Feed me, woman.”
“Ten points.”
I laughed. I’d told her to wear a swimsuit, but I saw her jean shorts and white shirt with her godforsaken Yankees hat. My plan was to have her by my side the whole time to send a message of being unavailable, but I had no idea how much it was going to backfire on me.
“I didn’t know how much my life needed these burritos.” I meant every word.
“You never do. They just get you like nothing else. They’re the best ever.” She moaned into her breakfast.
“Let’s chow down and head out. Zeke’s getting the games set up.”
“I’ve never been to one of these game days. I’m really competitive. Is it going to be a problem?”
“Not at all.” I ate one whole burrito in one bite and sighed. I loved this moment.
“I mean, really competitive. You saw me during beer pong.” She nibbled her lip in uncertainty, and all thoughts of friendship flew out the window. I wanted her lips on me. Sucking me.
I must’ve looked at her too long, because she threw a wrapper at me. “Aiden. What the hell?”
“Wh-what?” I shook my head, thinking about Mike and old women. I needed to calm the hell down.
“I asked you what my role is, and you just stared at me. Are you drunk already?”
“No. Sober as hell. I should probably change that right now.” I stood up and grabbed two beers from my fridge. “Bottoms up, shorty?”
“Cheers.” She grabbed the can, and we cheered before slamming them back.
* * * *
“Okay, first game: slip-and-slide flippy cup. Form teams of five, people. Get in a line on this side of the tarp. You must slide down, then hop up and flip the cup. Team one and two are up first. Let’s go, people!” Zeke shouted across the yard.
It was my idea to charge five dollars a person for the Olympics, and it was all going toward our charity of the month. It was Jon’s turn to pick.
Jenna stood by my side and looked on hopefully.
“What, you wanna play?” I asked.
“Yeah, this looks fun as hell,” she responded with a grin.
“Okay. We need three more people.”
“You’re going to make me do it.” She looked around and waved one down. I couldn’t see who, but I heard her say, “Jon, you on a team?”
“No, I’m on patrol.” He sulked.
“Now you’re on a team. It’s just one round.”
“Why not? I think Kam was looking for a team. And Cheyenne.”
“I don’t know her, but we got five!” Jenna cheered.
I sighed, thinking about Cheyenne and how she’d be. We didn’t part on the best terms, but she didn’t want to commit social suicide by completely ignoring me. Also, in this case, I didn’t fuck it up with Cheyenne. It was all her.
Jenna lined up by the tarp, Jon and Kam laughing at something she said.
I headed their way, but Cheyenne stopped me. “My, you look better each time I see you. How do you do it?”
“Good to see you out today, Cheyenne. Having a good time?”
“Could be better. It’ll be better when you lose your shirt. So we’re on a team now?”
“Yeah, Jon’s doing, not mine.”
“Who’s the little tomboy? She’s adorable,” she purred, which freaked me out.
She started rubbing lines up and down my arm. It irked me. Yes, I slept with her more than once, but now she was creeping me out.
I moved out of her grasp and kept walking, but she continued. “Seriously, you’re sleeping with her now? Give us another chance, Aiden. We were dynamite. You loved how I used my mouth on you.”
I let out a breath of frustration. But before I could say anything, Jenna strutted up in nothing but a black bikini. It felt like a punch to the stomach. Holy. Shit.
She smiled at me and jumped full force into my chest, wrapping her legs around me. “Baby boy, come on. Stop your flirting and come play.”
I was unable to form words at this point because my hands were now cupping her ass to hold her in place, and I could feel her boobs pressing into me. I was instantly hard. “I’m coming, shorty. Glad to know you missed me.”
I continued to carry her toward the tarp and saw Cheyenne stalk off. The plan worked.
“Nicely done, shorty. Nicely done.”
“Mission Cock Block was a success,” she joked. She saw Jon and Kam giving her an odd look, so she put one of her hands on her hip and stated clearly, “All acting, fellas. Trust me. This body is not riding that train.”
They both laughed, but I pretended to be offended. “You referred to me as a train? How insulting. But to be fair, you do know I can go all night.”
“Arrogant, cocky, good-looking, stuck-up…” she rambled on at me.
I put my hands on her cheeks and forced her to look up at me. “You better knock it off. People are going to think you hate me, and then the act is up. If she comes back here, you can jump on me again. I liked it.”
“We’ll see. Now let’s get this started!”
Ten rounds in, we were undefeated and won the tournament. Instead of Cheyenne, though, we used one of Jon’s playthings—as I liked to call them, despite his disapproval. Jenna was kicking ass, and I didn’t think I could handle watching her jump around in a swimsuit anymore. It was taking all my self-control not to say fuck it.
I had to go talk shit with the other house presidents for a good hour to fulfill my duty. I was getting bored and couldn’t seem to stop watching Jenna. She was at the keg, refilling her cup, when she made eye contact with me across the yard. She winked while talking with Kam.
“This is for real,” a soft voice from behind me said.
I turned to see Ann, our sister sorority’s president, whom I liked. “Hey. What’s for real?”
“The downfall of Aiden. The girl, Jenna. Everyone’s talking
about her.”
“People are talking about her? She’s not going to like that. Shit. What are they saying?” I didn’t want her name getting dragged around with whatever bullshit people said.
“Ah, you’re concerned. See what I mean. Normally, you wouldn’t give a shit. You’d laugh it off or something.”
I shrugged. “I suddenly realize I’ve been a dick.”
“No, you just never had feelings for anyone like you do with her.” She smiled.
“I wouldn’t go as far as feelings, but I do care about her a lot.”
“Then what was the incident with Cheyenne, hmm? I saw your face.” She gave me a knowing glance, and I gave her a sheepish smile.
“That was…Uh, shit. Do you see Kam hitting on her? It’s sad.” I turned to watch them.
“No, I’d say it’s more jealousy right now. He’s a nice, handsome guy.”
“You’re right. I need to stop it. I gotta go. We’ll catch up with coffee soon, plan out the nursing-home shindig.”
“Okay, lover boy. Your secret’s safe with me.” She winked.
I brushed off her comment and headed over toward Jenna and Kam chumming it up. But before I could reach them, another former flame stopped me.
“Aiden Chad! Do you not know how to use a phone? You promised you’d call.” Her voice shrieked, and it made me shiver inside. God, I needed to stop sleeping around.
“Steph, calm down. You’re making a scene. Not cool. And for the record, I never make promises I can’t keep. I never promised to call you. It was a one-time deal, baby doll. I’m sorry you didn’t understand.”
She frowned, and I thought she was going to cry. God, not what I needed right now.
“Baby! Aiden! Help, quick!” Jenna yelled.
I didn’t even think before bolting in the direction of her voice. I saw her standing with a half-smile on her face and her Yankees hat backward. “You all right? What’s wrong?” I ran my hands down her arms and checked her face for signs of something.
“I’m fine, Aiden. I saw a chick hounding you, so I thought I’d intervene. It’s why I’m here today, remember?”
“Nothing’s hurt?” I double-checked her body with my eyes.
“Just your dignity. Boom.”
“Good one.” I couldn’t hold back my smile or relief she was okay. “You’re tipsy.”
“It was all those damn flippy cups. They will be the death of me. I’m exhausted. How much longer do I have to protect you?” She closed her eyes with an echo of a smile.
“Protect me? I don’t think so. You’re more like a pussy bodyguard.” I laughed at my own wording.
“Pussy bodyguard. I’ll take it. PBG. You’re lucky I’m such a good friend.” She opened her eyes again, the green shining with happiness.
“Yes. I am lucky. Now quick, here comes a past flame. You ready for action?”
“You know it, baby.” She licked her bottom lip before winking at me.
Jenna jumped onto my back so her legs were now wrapped around me. I could feel her heat, and I could barely focus on the person in front of me.
“Aiden. I was hoping I’d get a chance to talk to you.” The soft, malicious voice made us turn around.
“Hi, Charlotte. Good to see you. What’s up?” I asked firmly.
“Um, I was hoping to talk to you alone. It’s personal.” She stuck out her bottom lip to be cute, but it made me cringe inside. What was wrong with me? Why did I have so many regrets?
“I don’t have too much time. Sorry to sound rude. So it’ll have to be another time if you can’t say it in front of Jenna.”
“Is this the new girl people are talking about? The one who got you?”
Jenna’s body stiffened, but she didn’t break cover. She began running her fingers through my hair and whispered into my ear, “Pretend I said something sexy. Do your little kitty purr thing you do.”
That caused me to laugh, but I looked back at Charlotte. “It’s not your business what Jenna is to me. If you have to talk about something to do with the frat, I’m all ears, but if not, I have to go. Excuse us.”
I walked back into the house with Jenna on my back and set her down on a couch. “I’m sorry about that. I heard your name’s getting thrown around because of me. These girls are going to talk shit. And for the record, I don’t fucking purr.”
“I can handle your stage-five clingers. Don’t you worry. But yes, when you think something is kind of funny, you do this little laugh. It sounds like a purr.” She closed her eyes and rested her head on the pillow. I did what any decent guy would do. I picked her up and brought her to my room so she could sleep, knowing she already worked twenty hours that week. She needed the nap.
I was walking out of my room and heading downstairs when I passed Jon. “Dude. Kam asked her out. She said yes.”
“What the fuck? When?” Unwanted anger consumed my body.
“Today. I just found out. Sorry, bro. You should talk to her.”
Rage poured through my body, and I wanted to go in there and demand answers. But I didn’t. I did what any socially immature frat guy would do.
I planned to get drunk and hook up with a girl who wasn’t the one I really wanted.
Chapter 15
Feelings Are Just Pandora’s Box-Jenna
“J. You cannot go to a baby shower with an unwrapped present. At least put it in a bag or something.”
“I’m being forced to go against my will. I don’t have to wrap it,” I complained.
But Kennedy was not dealing with my shit. “No. Give me that. I think I have tissue paper or something. Stop being a bitch. Cyn is like a fairy godmother to you. She’s done a lot for you, and if you can’t handle two hours cooing over her belly, then you’re an asshole.”
I sighed and handed her the gift, a two hundred-dollar gift card to a couple’s spa day with a free babysitting coupon. Was it cheesy? For me, absolutely. “I hate it when you’re right, Kennedy.”
“You just needed a not-so-friendly reminder to suck it up. I feel bad Maya and I can’t go. Your grandpa’s going, right?”
“Yeah, I’m meeting him there. At least it’s a coed shower so I can ogle Gage a little bit. The way he cherishes Cyn gives me hope for humanity.”
“I know. He’s so dreamy.” Kennedy paused and looked off into the distance. “Make sure she knows the babysitting coupon is from all three of us. That way she’ll know there will be three of us watching her baby.”
“Will do. I’ll catch you guys later.”
I threw on a light jacket because it was the end of October; it was getting a little chillier than normal. I felt my phone go off, but I was driving so I waited until I arrived at the bar—because where else would Cynthia have her shower but at her second home?
Aiden: We have our quiz tomorrow, right?
Jenna: Yeah, over chapter 20.
Aiden: Want me to come over so we can study?
Jenna: No, I’m busy all afternoon and night. I’ll be at the bar.
Aiden: Damn. Okay. I’ll study alone.
Jenna: Don’t hurt yourself thinking too hard.
Aiden: Asshole points.
Jenna: ;)
It had been two weeks since the beer Olympics, and things had finally gotten back to our normal semi-flirtatious friendship.
After I woke up in Aiden’s bed, for the second time, I walked out to find him making out with some blonde. He didn’t know I saw, but it was like a bucket of ice was thrown on me. I still didn’t want to be another girl who slept with him. I actually liked him as a friend and didn’t want to screw it up. I was lying to myself, though, if I didn’t admit a part of me was beginning to fall for him. Maybe. Just a little, though.
“Jenna! Good to see you, chica. Come give me a hug!” Gage was hopping off his Harley and pulled me into a bear hug. I only stole one feel and took one big sniff.
“Good to see you, too, Gage. I haven’t seen you around the bar as much.”
“I know. I’m getting the damn house as baby ready as I can. I’m freaking out. Cyn’s been keeping me in line, I tell ya.”
“Not surprising at all. She’s still kicking ass managing the bar. I want to be her when I grow up.”
He chuckled, and we walked through the door to see the bar covered in green and yellow balloons. Everywhere.
“Holy Balloontown.”
“Yeah, Cyn let her mother loose.”
“I hate it,” I admitted, which caused him to laugh. “I’ll catch up with you later. I’m going to see if she needs any help.”
Cyn was in her element, setting up drinks for everyone, when she caught my eye. “Hey, girl.”
“How you doing? This all looks crazy. I love the not knowing the gender thing. Mad respect.” I squeezed her shoulder as a greeting.
“All we want is a healthy baby, and that’s what we have. I feel so blessed and scared. If Gage wasn’t being so manic about it, I’d probably fall apart.”
I was shocked to see her show weakness. “Cyn. You’re holding your shit together so much, so knock it off. You can do anything. You built this place up, took in a bunch of strays needing a home. You roped in Gage, and he loves you more than anything in the world. And you have tons of people who would do anything to help you and the baby.”
Tears pooled in her eyes, and I began to panic. She grabbed me into a hug. It was awkward as hell because of her belly, but I hugged her back. Hard.
“Will you be the godmother? Gage wanted to ask you, too, but I just can’t keep my emotions in check.”
“Holy shit. Me?” I put my hand over my heart, the uncomfortable feelings inside going haywire.
“Yes, you, Jenna. You’ve been part of our family for years. You helped me and Gage get together, and you don’t know it yet, but I’m going to sign over part of the bar to you so you can be part owner.”
I stood there, heart racing, and felt like I was having a heart attack. “I don’t even know what to say. Oh my God.” My legs felt like Jell-O. My head hurt. My hands shook.
“You say, Thank you, Cyn. Of course I’ll be godmother and help with the bar, even though I work here more than I attend school.”
“Thank you, Cyn. This means more than you know.” My voice shook, which was not normal for me. I needed to run outside or something before I let the emotions take hold of me. “I’m going to take out the trash or something.”
Let Life Happen Page 10
