“Come on. Flannery tells us that you met this girl—”
“Miriam,” I interrupted.
“Whatever.” I could feel the roll of her eyes even though I couldn’t see it. She was really in the mood to piss me off. “Just a few weeks ago you were still the same guy we met.” She meant her and Flannery. “The guy that does what he wants yet never seems to have a girl hanging off him. And now, bam, you have this girl—”
“Miriam.”
“And you’re calling her your girlfriend. This isn’t you. I came to save my friend.”
“From what?”
“The mistake you’re apparently hell bent on making with this girl.”
“Swear to god, Kendra, if you call her this girl one more time…Her name is Miriam. Use it.” I glanced at her just before I got out of the car back at my place. “And I don’t need to be saved.”
“The hell you don’t.”
“Stop. Talking.”
She sighed like I was wearing on her nerves. I just wanted to get through my front door and shut myself in my bedroom until Adam came to retrieve his woman. I don’t know how the guy does it. Day in and day out with Kendra and he fucking chooses it. I love her. She’s my family but sometimes you want to put your fist through family’s face.
“Sam—”
“No. I’m serious. Stop talking until Adam gets here and can deal with you.”
“Deal with me?” Her face burned with anger. “I don’t need to be dealt with.”
She kept talking while I went to grab a pillow and blanket for her. Yeah, I had a spare room with a bed and everything. She was sleeping on the couch because this was very, very temporary and I wanted to make sure she fucking knew that.
“Seriously, Kendra. Stop. Fucking. Talking.” I tossed the pillow and blanket right at her. She caught it. Barely.
I’m not sure anyone other than Adam had ever rendered Kendra Roberts speechless but in that moment, I did. Someone should’ve given me a fucking medal.
Chapter Ten
Loud knocking woke me up, though I was surprised I’d fallen asleep at all. The clock read four o’clock in the morning so it had to be Adam. If there was a god or any other being in charge of the universe, it was Adam on the other side of the door. I didn’t bother grabbing a shirt. They’d just have to deal with seeing my awesomeness, half naked.
What I wanted to say was already on the tip of my tongue but damn when I opened the door, Adam was leaning on the jamb like it was the only thing holding him up. Dude was exhausted and Kendra’s antics weren’t his fault. Cain standing behind him surprised me the most and he had to prop up a sleeping Flannery.
“What are you doing here?” I asked Cain while he tried to get Flannery through the door.
“When this one—” Cain gave Flannery a little nudge. “Heard what was going on she insisted on coming. And what the hell? If you’re all getting together, I’m not missing that.”
Cain dropped the bag he had slung over his left shoulder so he could lift Flannery completely off the floor. Without a word he took her into the spare room then came back out a minute later. Since my brothers were tired I told them we’d deal with everything the next day. I had to work so it would be later.
Both looked so relieved and about to collapse so I went back to bed.
They were all still asleep when I came out dressed and ready for work. I didn’t have time for a regular breakfast, so I grabbed a cup of coffee and a couple of granola bars. The way Adam had wrapped himself around Kendra on the couch made me a little less angry with her but not much. They’d gone through a lot the past summer, fought tooth and nail to stay together. Maybe that had something to do with her little temper tantrum. I had no idea.
“Morning, stranger.” Flannery came out of the hall.
“I figured you’d sleep the weekend away with how you looked last night.”
“Yeah, I don’t think I even remember landing. Good thing I have Cain.” True for so many reasons.
“What bug crawled up Kendra’s ass?”
She looked over her shoulder at her best friend.
“I don’t know. I love that girl but sometimes…” She shook her head making her light brown hair brush across her shoulders. “Anyway, how’s Miriam?” Her smile said so much.
“Hopefully still talking to me.”
Flannery’s eyes bugged almost out of her head.
“Calm down. I’m kidding. She rolls with the punches better than anyone I’ve ever met. She’s good.” I glanced at the clock. “But I’ve got to go. I get home around six.”
That Friday was the longest day of work I’d had since I moved to California. Mercifully, the day ended, and I’m pretty sure I broke a few traffic laws to get home in half the time. Only to find the four of them in my living room like nothing had happened. Until I let the door shut harder than I needed to. Then they all jumped to their feet. At the very least Kendra had the decency to look ashamed.
“Kendra.” Adam only said the one word. Just her name got her to take a step toward me. I kept my jaw clamped shut as tightly as I could.
“I’m sorry, Sam.”
“For?” Adam gave her a little nudge.
“God damn it, Adam. I know.”
He smirked back at her, probably because she knew he was right. She needed to do this. Something I deserved. Something Miriam deserved only she wasn’t here to hear it.
“I’m sorry for treating you and Miriam the way I did when I got here yesterday. According to the trio of psych experts, I’m afraid of being abandoned.” She sighed. “You’re my family, and I don’t want to lose you.”
“And how would you do that?”
Cain spoke for her. “If you, the guy who doesn’t do relationships has a girlfriend that’s less time you’ll have for Kendra, even though your time with us is already limited. Plus we thought you were going to move home before you met Miriam. You know Kendra needs lots of attention.”
“Fuck you, Cain.” She had no venom behind her words. The stable Kendra returned.
“I accept your apology because I already know you’re bat shit crazy.”
She started to protest then thought better of it.
“But you owe Miriam one, too.”
“I know.” Kendra rolled her eyes.
“We were thinking the six of us could have dinner here tonight,” Flannery offered.
“I can ask.” I shrugged unsure if that’s what I really wanted.
“I already did,” Flannery said with a smile. Her and Miriam being friends was something I wasn’t sure I liked. Not that I had a say in it. “She’ll be here soon.”
I nodded so she’d know I heard her. “When are you all leaving?” I’d started to unbutton my dress shirt.
“Sorry, bro,” Cain said with a laugh. “We fly out Sunday. You’ll have to wait to get laid until then.”
“Fuck that. This is my apartment.”
“Really?” Adam narrowed his eyes at me. “Pretty sure you don’t want to be doing that with these two—” He pointed at the girls. “Standing right outside the door.”
“With glasses pressed against the wall to hear better,” Cain popped in.
“Especially for the first time,” Flannery said with the smile far too innocent than what she was.
“Fuck you all and get out of my apartment,” I said as I made my way down the hall to the bedroom to change as they roared with laughter.
In jeans, I was just about to pull a shirt over my head when someone lightly tapped on my bedroom door. I called out for whoever to come in and yet was still surprised when Miriam popped in from the other side.
“Hey,” she said with a smile coming right for me after she softly shut the door.
“Hey.” I wrapped my hands around her cheeks. I had wanted to ask if she’d seen Kendra but once she was close enough to touch, those lips looking so damn kissable, I had to do it.
Her coconut flavor filled my mouth making my tongue tingle with anticipation until it finally found hers
. I sucked her bottom lip into my mouth. She moaned and I caught that, too. God I didn’t want to let her go.
I was moving without realizing it until the backs of my legs hit my bed forcing me to sit. Miriam didn’t miss a beat when she climbed onto my lap straddling me so we didn’t break the moment. At least until we had to breathe. Even then her hands skimmed my shoulders, down my arms then back softly, the feel of her skin on mine like heaven. Thank all things holy in the world that I hadn’t gotten my damn shirt on.
“Did you see Kendra out there?”
She shook her head slightly. She didn’t realize it but I could admire the amazing flush staining her cheeks all day. I wanted to see her like this all the time because it meant I affected her. Because she sure as fuck affected me.
“She was in the restroom. Flannery told me where you were. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Mind?” I chuckled. “The only thing I mind right now is that my house is full of four extra idiots.”
I told her the truth. Having my friends here made not being back home easier. This just wasn’t an optimal time. I wanted to get my girl alone and naked. That wouldn’t happen with those fools on the other side of the door.
Her giggle made my statement even truer. But the chaste kiss she dropped to my lips indicated the ship had sailed.
“We should go out there,” she said not moving off me. If my dick had its way right then she wouldn’t ever move.
“Yeah.”
“Maybe you should put a shirt on first.”
I raised an eyebrow. I’d told her about Flannery and Kendra and how there had never been anything remotely sexual there so she couldn’t be jealous. That wasn’t what was behind the request.
“To make it easier on me,” she added.
My body shook with laughter.
Her hands slid off my shoulders, down my chest and stomach, stopping right before the waist of my jeans. My low hanging jeans at that moment. Which effectively cut off anything playful.
After pulling a T-shirt over my head, I grabbed her hand, leading her out to the living room. I was still pulling my shirt the rest of the way when we got there.
“That was quick,” Cain smirked over at me.
“Fuck you.”
“That seems to be your favorite response today.”
“Keeping it short and sweet so you can understand.”
It sounded like our normal but the laughter died down and all of us looked to Kendra. Everybody knew what we were waiting for but that blonde had a fiery disposition, and she wasn’t about to give an inch. At least until I cocked my head to the side and raised my eyebrows. See, Kendra never learned how to apologize because I’m pretty sure she never had until this past summer with Adam.
She sighed and rolled her eyes unwilling to give. Until Adam cleared his throat.
“Ok, ok.” Her gaze dropped solely to Miriam beside me. “Miriam, I want to apologize for my behavior earlier. It’s hard to explain but Sam is my family and this is a weird situation for him.” Adam made that sound in his throat again. “Ok, for me. It’s a weird situation for me. I hope you understand.”
Miriam acted like she was considering what Kendra said. “Apology accepted. But Kendra, just so you know, you only get the one chance. I know Krav Maga and I’m not afraid to use it.”
“What the hell is Krav Maga?” Kendra looked as confused as a person could possible look.
“Israeli street fighting. It’s a defense technique,” I said with a smile so I could watch Adam and Cain taking my girl in to see if I was joking.
“Seriously?” Cain asked.
I nodded.
“That’s pretty badass. Can you take him out right now?” Adam seemed a little too excited about the idea as he pointed directly at me.
“I could,” Miriam said.
“Ok, this I have to see.” Cain leaned against the back of my couch and waited with his arms across his chest.
“I’m not going to do that.” Miriam shook her head with a smile. I’d gotten the feeling that she was hell bent on proving herself so I wanted to let her.
“Come on. They won’t leave you alone until you do it,” I said with a sigh.
And honestly, I’d kind of wanted to see her in action myself. I didn’t love the idea of it being me she used to spar with but I fucking hated the idea of it being Cain or Adam. So that’s how I got myself into this situation.
“All right.” She shrugged. “Do your best to stop me.”
I nodded not really thinking it’d be necessary.
But one minute I was standing there and the next I laid flat on my back on the floor with her sitting on top of me and a dull ache spreading across my lower back, up through my ribs.
“You didn’t even try,” she said with a frown.
“Hand to god, Miriam, I didn’t see you coming.” So, my girl could kick my ass. It was true. One minute I was waiting for her to make a move, the next I stared at the ceiling.
“Baby,” she said under her breath, mocking me before extending a hand to help me up.
Cain and Adam held it in but I could see them holding in a laugh.
At least they kept it together until we were in the kitchen making dinner. As far as I knew none of the girls could cook much, though I couldn’t be sure about Miriam.
We ate then the six of us found comfy places around my living room. Cain fell into one corner of the couch pulling Flannery onto his lap. Adam and Kendra took the oversize chair off to the right. They could fit in that thing side by side, though it was snug. Pretty sure neither of them minded. I took the corner opposite Cain, and Miriam curled into my side without thinking twice. She pulled her knees up and rested them on my thigh. The couch was big enough that there was plenty of room, and she wasn’t touching him.
It was nice. It was normal. I knew it couldn’t last.
Chapter Eleven
“This is weird.”
Not a damn one of us was surprised when Kendra said that. Of course it’d be her even if she’d been on her best behavior since I got home from work.
“Kendra. It’s not weird,” Flannery spoke so I didn’t have to right then.
“No, this is a little weird,” Kendra said again. “We’ve never been three couples before. It’s kind of awesome.” Anyone who knew her knew she was putting in the effort even if she didn’t totally feel it yet. The chip on her shoulder still sat there on it’s pretty perch.
But she also happened to be right. In the years we’d known each other I’d never once brought a girl to hang out. Even one of the friends with benefits people in college. We were friends but we didn’t hang out during couple’s time. I’d always been the fifth wheel. Now I wasn’t.
“Why don’t we go shopping tomorrow?” Flannery asked.
Everyone minus Miriam stopped to stare at Flannery. She hated shopping. In the years I’d known her, she never once suggested a shopping trip. Sure, she’d been on many courtesy of Kendra but always went begrudgingly.
“What?” Flannery asked. “It seems like a girl thing to do, right?”
“I know some cute shops near the beach,” Miriam offered up.
“Yeah, you can stay here tonight with us, and we’ll head out in the morning.”
What Flannery was up to, I had no idea but I wasn’t about to argue about it with Miriam spending the night even if sex remained off the table. I wanted her close. Needed her close.
“I really don’t want to shop tomorrow.” Adam let his head fall back against the top of the chair.
“I have to work so I get a pass,” I said with a big grin.
He flipped me a middle finger without lifting his head.
At the very least Flannery would be there if Kendra went into bitch mode again.
“Really?” Kendra sounded surprised.
“Yes, Kendra, not everyone takes a day off work because someone has a meltdown.”
That effectively shut her face. The girls made plans while us guys tried talking about anything else. Someone started te
lling stories from college, which I didn’t love, and when it was acceptable to do, I said I had to go to bed. Work in the morning.
The thing is I didn’t really ask Miriam if she was tired. When I stood, I grabbed her hand and pulled her with me to my bedroom before I remembered that she didn’t actually say she wanted to stay.
Kendra and Flannery said goodnight like they were in on some joke the rest of us didn’t understand. Whatever.
“You’re shopping with them tomorrow?” I asked while I went for pajama pants. “Wait, are you staying?”
“Yes to both but I don’t have anything to wear to bed.” She flashed me an innocent smiled fluttering her eyelashes.
I tossed a t-shirt right at her. It hit her face, which I didn’t intend.
“Nice.” She laughed.
Instead of changing in front of me, she slid into the bathroom attached to my bedroom. Whether because she needed to use it or because she didn’t want me to see her naked yet, I wasn’t sure. Either way, I’d be seeing it all soon enough.
Fuck. That thought did some weird shit to my chest and stomach. My chest clenched and my stomach knotted. Maybe it was nervousness, but I didn’t get nervous when it came to sex. Course I also hadn’t been intimate with someone I really liked, let alone cared for, in a ridiculously long time. It took a minute before I realized the weight on my chest was panic. I didn’t know what the fuck was happening to me.
When Miriam came out, clicking the light in the bathroom off, all I saw were legs. She wasn’t particularly tall but my shirt only came to her mid-thigh so all I could see were legs. Then she crawled into my bed like she owned the damn thing and waited for me.
I almost ran.
Right out the door, maybe out of the apartment. Seeing her waiting for me freaked me the fuck out. I turned into a pussy somewhere along the way. There was no other way to describe myself in the moment. This girl making me feel like a fifteen year old virgin…Fuck that. I’m Sam. I’ve done just about everything I had any interest in doing, a fair amount of which I wouldn’t want to do to her, if I’m being honest. Our situation wasn’t going to affect me this way.
“Are you coming to bed or are you going to stand there and stare at me?”
Up for Everything (Up for Grabs #3) Page 9
