500 Days

by Jessica Miller

  “Don’t,” I snapped.

  “I don’t get why you’re so upset? You knew nothing could ever happen with us.” His hand grazed my arm and I flinched. He walked around in front of me. “I like you Alex I do, but you’re Jasper’s sister. It just wouldn’t work.”

  “You think that’s why I’m pissed? Because I caught you making out with some girl?” He nodded. “You’re just all kinds of stupid, aren’t you?”

  He narrowed his eyes at me not appreciating my comment. “Real mature Alex. That’s another prime example.”

  “So now I’m immature?” He didn’t respond. He didn’t have to. It was written all over his face. “I’ll admit I was a little jealous to see you making out with someone else, but then when I saw it was her of all people. You got a lot of nerve.”

  “Alex, you’re overreacting,” he reached for me but I slapped his hand away.

  “You have no respect for me or my family.”

  “I’ll tell you what. How about you give me a call when you grow up?”

  I smacked him across the face. “Fuck you.” He rubbed his cheek before he turned around and left. I felt my walls tumbling down. I bent down and wrapped my arms around my knees and tucked my head in tight. “I will not cry”, I repeated over and over again in my head.

  “Miss, excuse me, Miss?” I looked up to see a very handsome young man standing in front of me. He had big brown eyes and light brown hair that was cut short into a cropped style. He was wearing the typical preppy college boy clothes – jeans and a polo shirt. “Are you okay?”

  I wiped away the few tears that I’d shed and stood up. “I’m fine.” I straightened out my dress and turned my head.

  “You don’t look like you’re fine. You need me to get someone for you?”

  I shook my head no, hoping he would go away but he stayed put. “Really, I’m fine. You can go inside.” I waved him away.

  “Well, what kind of person would that make me if I left a pretty girl crying outside by herself?” he smiled sweetly. “Why don’t you come inside and I’ll buy you a drink?”

  I laughed. “Look, save the pickup lines for the sluts inside.”

  He rubbed his jaw, clearly uncomfortable. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to offend you. I was just trying to help.” His face was sincere and his eyes were kind which made me think he was just trying to be nice.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled.

  “No need to apologize to me. After all, I am the creepy guy hitting on the beautiful girl crying outside the bar.” I smiled at his teasing. “Well now, at least I got you to smile.”

  “Do you always lurk outside bars looking for women in distress?”

  “Nah, usually I just hang around the women’s bathroom.” He gave me a teasing grin and I couldn’t help but smile back. He was cute. “I’m Reece by the way.” He extended a hand.

  I slowly uncrossed my arms and shook it. “Alex.”

  “Alex,” he repeated. “Tough name for a tough girl.”

  Before I could respond, Casper came out of the club looking for me. “There you are. I was looking all over for you. Are you okay?”

  “That’s my cue to leave. It was nice meeting you, Alex,” he gave a shy wave and headed inside.

  “Who was that?” Casper asked a little defensively.

  I shrugged. “Just some guy seeing if I was alright. What do you want, Casper?”

  “You looked kind of spooked in there and you took off. I was worried.”

  “You were worried about me?” I raised my brows, teasingly.

  He wiped a fresh tear off my cheek with his thumb. “I was just making sure I didn’t do something I would have to make up for later,” he winked.

  I laughed. “No, this was all me. I’m a glutton for punishment.”

  He frowned. “It’s not about that Colby guy, is it?” I looked at him a little surprised. “It’s obvious there’s something going on there.”

  “Was…but it’s not important any way. Lesson learned. Come on, let’s go get a drink.” I took a step to walk back into the club when Casper put a soft hand on my shoulder. Despite the chill in the air I felt nothing but heat underneath his touch. I closed my eyes for a second, trying to control my breathing.

  “Alex, for what it’s worth, he wasn’t good enough for you.” My shoulders sagged and he dropped his hand. The spot he touched was still burning.

  I looked at him over my shoulder. “Thanks Casper.”

  He smiled softly and pulled me back into the club where we rejoined Declan and everyone at the bar.

  I sat all alone at the tables while everyone else danced and had a good time. Not wanting to let stupid boys get to me, I poured myself another shot and then another. Just as I was about to pour one more someone capped the bottle. I turned to glare at the person who dared to ruin my fun. Of course, it was Casper. “You know, alcohol poisoning is not a fun way to celebrate your birthday.”

  “Look, I already have four dads, I don’t need another,” I snapped. He raised a brow at me and I tilted my head to where my brothers were standing.

  I tried to pull the bottle back but in my current condition he was stronger and managed to get it away from me. “One more won’t hurt.” I crossed my arms tightly over my chest.

  “Alex, I want you to have fun, but not at the expense of some douchebag.” I looked at him funny. “Clearly that guy over there has upset you.” I wanted to say that wasn’t true, but I couldn’t deny it.

  “He’s not a douchebag,” I said softly. “And he’s just a friend.”

  “Oh yeah, then why are you so upset?”

  “I’m not, see.” I gave him my best exaggerated smile.

  He chuckled softly. “Let’s dance.” He held out a hand for me.

  “With you? No thank you.”

  “It’s just a dance. What’s the worst that could happen?”

  “I could freak out again because I thought you were some mystery stranger I hooked up with six months ago,” I said to myself. Casper stood there expectantly. I hesitantly slipped my hand into his as he led me out to the dance floor. Declan cheered as we joined her, Colton, and Jaxson. I decided to let myself go and just have fun. We spent the next hour on the dance floor. We all had sweat dripping down our faces but I didn’t care. I was having a blast. I was dancing with Declan when someone bumped into me and knocked me back into Casper. “It’s okay, I got you.” He had no idea how true that statement was. When I didn’t move, he allowed his hands to slip around my waist. My whole body started to heat up. I began to sway my hips back and forth to the music, enjoying being wrapped up in his strong arms. I ran my hands across his, closed my eyes, and let my body move with his to the music. I could feel his grip start to slip and all I wanted was for him to hold me tighter. I slipped my hands behind me, gripped his waist and pulled him so close he had no choice but to grind up against me. I heard a small grunt as I rubbed my behind up and down his thighs.

  “You need to stop that or I might get the wrong idea,” he whispered into my ear. His warm breath brushed across my skin. I thought I was going to lose it. I turned around to face him. Ours lips were only an inch apart. I stared into his lovely blue-gray eyes and I nearly lost myself. My head was clouded with so many emotions. Casper brushed a thumb across my cheek making my knees wobble.

  “You okay?”

  “All this dancing is starting to take a toll on my feet,” I said, pointing to my heels.

  “Why don’t we take a break then,” he smiled, helping me back to the table.

  We ended up closing the bar. Colton and Jacob were the only two who weren’t drunk. Jaxson had passed out on the bar twenty minutes ago leaving himself as free game. When he woke up in the morning he was going to learn never to be the first one to pass out. We all took turns drawing on his face. I gave him a moustache and mini goatee while Jasper – the artist – drew a very detailed penis on his cheek in the direction of his mouth. Jacob drew sperm on his lip and chin while Declan wrote Jackass across his forehead. We were laug
hing so hard I was surprised he didn’t wake up. We took several pictures to send Jack. Despite the few bumps throughout the night everything ended on a good note.

  I was ready to call it a night. It was close to three in the morning and I knew if I consumed any more liquor I would look like Jaxson. “You ready Alex?” Declan asked.

  I nodded. “I just have to tinkle first.”

  “I’ll come with you.” She hopped off her stool and linked her arm in mine. She checked her makeup in the mirror while I did my business. “Did you have fun tonight?”

  I opened the door of my stall and walked out to wash my hands. “I had a great time. Thank you. Did I ever tell you how much I love you and that you’re the bestest cousin ever?”

  She was sitting on the edge of the sink. “Yes, but don’t thank me, thank Casper.” I looked at her confused. “He was the one who planned the party and set everything up. He was the one who got us reservations at Echo and made it so that everything was taken care of.”

  I had forgotten that Declan had told me all this in the beginning of the night. I leaned my hip up against the sink. “You’re kidding, why would he do all that? He can’t stand me.”

  Declan rolled her eyes. “You two don’t know how perfect you are for each other.”

  “Huh?” I asked.

  She hopped off the sink. “He claims he did all of that to make up for the fact that he was an asshole to you and for giving you a black eye.”

  I sunk down pressing my palms on the cool, pink tile. “He really did all that because he felt bad?” She nodded. I wasn’t sure what to say or how I should take it.

  She slipped an arm behind my back. “Let’s go home.” I smiled and followed her out the door. When we got back to the bar, Gus was mopping something foul off the floor and my brothers were missing.

  “Where’s Jax, Jas and Jake?”

  Gus leaned on the long wooden pole. “Jaxson finally woke up. I suggested they take him home.” When I looked down at the floor again I understood why.

  “Oh Gus, I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll just dock a few bucks from your pay to make up for it,” he said as he went back to pushing the mop back and forth. Jaxson so owed me.

  “How am I going to get home now? Jacob was my ride.”

  “I can drop you off. I didn’t drink tonight,” Colton offered.

  “You don’t want to go home now. The party just started,” Casper said, grabbing a six pack to go.

  “Cas, I’m sure she wants to go home.” Colton gave Casper a suspicious look.

  “But she can’t,” he blurted out.

  “Why not?” I asked.

  “Because I haven’t given you your present yet. So you can’t go home because it’s at our place.”

  “I’m sure she can get it tomorrow,” Declan protested.

  “No,” Colton and Casper both said with a little desperation in their voices.

  Curious I said, “What the hell? I’m not tired. You mind?” Of course Declan wouldn’t mind because that meant she got to spend more time with Colton. All four of us piled into Colton’s truck.

  Chapter 11

  Casper

  On the way back to our place, Alex had sat in the back with me and it took everything I had not to pull her against my side. From the moment I saw her tonight I knew Declan and Colton were right. I liked this girl and I liked her a lot. She looked absolutely stunning in that red dress and heels and all night I kept imagining taking it off her. I knew she was only dancing with me to make that Colby guy jealous, but I didn’t care. I got to touch her, hold her, and just be with her. At first it didn’t bother me that she was thinking of someone else, but when I found her outside and I knew she was crying – I hated it. I wanted to run back inside and beat the shit out of the schmuck who made her cry. Instead I kept my cool, because Alex was finally warming up to me and I didn’t want to do something to screw that up again.

  I somehow found a way for her to come back to my house voluntarily. Now was my chance to show her I cared. I knew the only reason Colton agreed to bring her back was because he was ready to get rid of that cat. Apparently he’s allergic.

  When we arrived, I opened the door for Alex, and helped her out. She gave me the sweetest smile and linked her arm through mine while she rested her head on my shoulder. I had a feeling she drank more than what she was letting on. If she only knew what this was doing to me. I helped her take off her shoes before we went up the steps. I was afraid if she fell I wouldn’t be steady enough to catch her. I convinced Colton and Declan to have a beer with us before they retreated to Colton’s room. I was scared I wouldn’t be able to control myself if I was left alone with Alex.

  Alex suggested we play cards. We played until we finished the six pack. Declan and Colton were more than ready for bed and so was Alex and I was running out of ideas to keep them here. “Oh hey, where’s my present?” Alex asked, suddenly remembering through her drunken stupor.

  “It’s in my room.”

  Declan gave me a nasty look and was about to open her mouth, but Colton put a hand on her knee to stop her. “It’s not what you think. Come on.” Colton tried to pull Declan to bed but she was too concerned about Alex.

  “I’m tired,” Alex slurred, resting her head on her hand.

  “How about after I give you your present you can sleep in my bed and I’ll crash on the couch?”

  Her hand dropped. “Fine, but you have to change the sheets first. I’m not sleeping in other peoples’ bodily fluids.”

  “Alex, I’m the only one who sleeps in that bed.”

  “Yeah okay, next you’re going to tell me you being a ladies’ man is just an act because you’re really gay.” Declan snorted at Alex’s comment making Alex giggle.

  I stifled my groan. “I’m telling the truth. That’s my personal space. I don’t bring girls back here.”

  Alex blinked slowly, her heavy eyes searching an answer from Declan. “It’s true. He doesn’t.”

  “Alright,” she conceded. I did a little victory cheer in my head. “But no funny business. I’m still healing from the last time.” She pointed and almost poked herself in the eye. Too out of it to even keep her head up, she laid it down on her arms.

  “I’m telling you right now, if you try anything I will castrate you,” Declan warned. “She is too drunk to make any logical decisions.”

  “I promise Declan. You have my word. I wouldn’t do that to her.” And that was the truth.

  “You know I can hear you,” Alex mumbled through her arms.

  Colton chuckled and pulled a reluctant Declan to his room. I nudged Alex softly. “Alex…Alex…” She peeked up at me. “Come on.”

  She moaned. “I don’t want to get up.” Okay, maybe the few extras beers weren’t such a great idea. I brought her up into a sitting position, keeping a gentle hold on her while I pulled out her chair. Slipping an arm under her legs and one around her back, I picked her up and carried her to my room. This was more of a challenge then I thought it would be. I tried my best not to stumble or drop her. A small struggle with the doorknob and I got the door open and laid her down on the bed.

  “Alex,” I whispered, pushing her hair out of her face. She blinked a few times before she opened her eyes. She smiled and dear god didn’t that smile take my breath away. “Do you want your present now or tomorrow when you wake up?”

  She pushed herself up into a sitting position. “No, now.” She held out her hands. I smiled and went into the bathroom to retrieve the kitty and instantly groaned when I saw it had destroyed the toilet paper again. I should have known better. I scooped him up and walked back out into the bedroom.

  “Close your eyes,” I told her.

  “Just as long as you promise when I open them I’m not going to find you in your boxers.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “I promise.”

  “Okay then.” She squeezed her eyes tight.

  I spotted her trying to open one eye. “No peeking,” I warned.
>
  “Did I ever tell you surprises kind of freak me out?”

  “I’m pretty sure you’ll like this one.”

  “That doesn’t sound too convincing.”

  Standing in front of her, I asked her to open her eyes. At first her expression was unreadable and I wasn’t quite sure if I should maybe make a run for my protective cup or not. “You, got me…a kitten?” I handed it to her and she held him gently in her lap. “What’s wrong with his eye?”

  “He just has a small infection. You have to put a few drops in his eye for a few days and then he’ll be fine.”

  She stroked his soft fur while she cooed at him. She was smiling so I took it as a good sign. “He looks so familiar.”

  I reached up to pet his head. “Declan told me you guys found the little guy on Old Miller’s Run and she said you were so heartbroken that you couldn’t help him. So Colton and I went back that night to find him and I took him to the vet and got him checked out.”

  Her eyes went wide. “This is the little guy from the trail.” She covered her mouth and laughed. “You actually went back and got him?” She was smiling ear to ear.

  “You like it?”

  “Like it I love it!” she squealed. “I can’t believe you did that…why?”

  “I just wanted to get you something special for your birthday. Alex, I have a confession.” I was going to tell her the truth. I was going to tell her I had feelings for her.

  “Declan told me what you did.” She was scratching the kitten’s chin. “She told me about the restaurant and how you planned the party.” She pulled her hair over her shoulder. There was so much bare skin that I was just aching to taste. When she tilted her head just enough so her green eyes met mine, I thought I would lose all my will power. “I want to thank you. No one has ever gone out of their way like that just to get me to forgive them for giving me a black eye,” she winked.

  I chuckled softly. “What can I say? I’m an over achiever.” She smiled and placed the kitten on the floor. He trotted over to the little bed I bought him and curled up into a ball. She shifted so her knees were touching mine and god damn if my dick didn’t react from that small touch. She took her thumb and smoothed it over my brow, pushing away the crazy pieces of hair that always fell by the end of the night.