Unsocial

by Dykes, Nicole

  “You’re more than welcome, Mr. Monroe. I hope you consider getting her a therapy dog. It looks to me like she’s crazy about them.”

  “Please, call me Dylan. And yes, I see a dog in the very near future. In fact, Brooke is taking us Saturday to a lady that has one.” I look over at Brooke, and she’s staring at me. I can see the desire on her beautiful face, and I know I’m getting her closer to giving in. I just need to figure out what that final push is going to be. Then Brooke and I will have our chance, a night of scorching sex, and we’ll be all good again. I’m past ready to give up this bullshit back-and-forth we’ve got going on.

  I lean down and rescue the dog from Gabby. “Hey, we have to give Boomer back to Paige. But how about Saturday we go with Brooke and pick out your very own puppy?” She looks like she wants to argue, but I know she won’t. She nods hesitantly and briefly tightens her hold. Brooke squats down beside me and reaches for Boomer. With a final kiss on his head, Gabby gives him up with a wistful smile.

  Brooke reaches in with one hand and smoothes Gabby’s head. “I’m so happy Dylan’s going to get you a puppy, but you’re going to have to help take care of him, can you do that?”

  Gabby’s smile grows, and she nods her head harder. I have a feeling that once again my social worker is going to be right. It’s like she always knows best, except for one area. I know it's best she gives into this thing between us before this whole situation gets ugly.

  I haven’t gone this long without sex since I was a teenager, and I don’t like it one fucking bit. I need to fuck her before I lose my goddamn mind. And I need to get back to the old Dylan. I realize my old lifestyle is gone because I’m now responsible for four kids, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to live like a fucking monk. I’ve firmly decided this shit is crazy. I’m young, in excellent physical shape, and have a healthy appetite for sex. I’ve liked sex since the first time I had it. I also like my freedom. I’ve got four kids taking care of curbing that, so I don’t need a relationship to finish it off. I need to go back to randomly satisfying my sexual needs. But before I hit that scene again, I’m going to be hitting Brooke Porter. Right now random doesn’t sound as exciting as sleeping with Brooke, so I need to get her on board. Dylan Monroe needs a comeback in the worst possible way.

  For now, I need to take a step back from Brooke and get these moronic thoughts out of my head. She’s no different than any other chick I’ve fucked. And I don’t know why I’m letting myself get hung up over her, well other than she smells like heaven and taste like my favorite dessert. There’s also her body made for sin and looks like a walking wet dream. Nope, still not enough to be hung up over her. So, why are you? Shit, this is all just making me a little psycho.

  I take Gabby’s hand and head for the door, just needing to escape. Really what I want to do is grab Brooke and kiss her some more. Maybe invite her to dinner, take her to bed for a damn long time, and fuck ourselves stupid. When I look back at her, I notice a confused look on her face. Yeah, I would be confused too. One minute I’m kissing her and the next I’m running out the door with no more than an abrupt goodbye. Until I sort shit out in my mind, I need a good arm’s length from this situation. I’m beginning to think Jackson’s recent advice to fuck her out of my system may not be such a good idea after all.

  Saturday an excited Gabby and I pick Brooke up outside her apartment building. Other than a short text last night confirming our time for today, I’ve avoided all things, Brooke Porter. She called once and sent a couple of texts which I ignored and deleted without reading. I’ve come to the conclusion, I think, that this crazy attraction to Brooke stems from her stepping up and helping with everything for the last few months. Add in the fact that she’s fucking gorgeous, and I have come up with this uncharacteristic obsession to fuck my social worker, and I’m still on the line whether it would be a good thing or bad thing.

  Watching her walk to my car in skinny jeans and a NASCAR t-shirt that does amazing things for her already perfect tits and ass, I’m thinking obsession be damned, I’m going to fuck Brooke Porter and just deal with the fallout later. My obsession has become singular; one whole night with Brooke Porter. That should do nicely.

  Brooke hops in the passenger seat of my car with that beautiful smile that gets me hard every single time. “Hey, guys.” Then she turns to Gabby, “Are you ready to see your puppy?”

  Gabby nods, ecstatic. Seriously it’s like she can’t contain her excitement, and it is so good to see her like this. Brooke buckles her seatbelt, and we head to the address about 20 minutes away. When we get there, Gabby is the first one out of the car and runs right up to the door. We follow behind her, and Brooke is smiling ear to ear. Beautiful. And I need to man the fuck up.

  We’re greeted by Denise, the owner of the shelter. She’s the one who rescues and trains the dogs for therapy as well as just to adopt. We walk around the shelter, and Gabby excitedly pets each animal she comes in contact. I hope I get out of here with just one dog and not a whole houseful. Finally, Gabby stops when she gets to a golden retriever puppy. She reaches out to pet him, and he goes crazy for her. She giggles happily before turning to me and nodding. It’s like she knows that he’s the one. She’s greeted a dozen dogs before this one, and other than a smile after doing so, she moved on.

  Denise walks over and smiles, “Looks like she’s made her choice. He’s actually the one that I thought would be perfect for her given the information Brooke gave me over the phone. I’ve had him for two months, and he’s just five months old. Parents buy these animals for their kids and then can’t handle the responsibility, so we get them.”

  Gabby points excitedly at the dog and Brooke laughs, “So what do you think, Dylan? Looks like Gabby has decided, but you have the final say.”

  I nod, “Yeah, let’s take him home.”

  Gabby is bobbing up and down with excitement and grabs my leg hugging it tight while I fill out the paperwork and pay an adoption fee. We settle the pup and Gabby in the backseat, and he immediately settles next to her with his head in her lap. We both look at each other when she starts that soft singing to him. I’m hoping he doesn’t piss in my car, but at this point, I don’t think I would care.

  When Brooke gets settled, I turn to her and speak before thinking. “So you gonna come back with us and play with the new puppy for a bit?”

  “Of course. I can’t wait to play with him. But first we need to go to a pet store and get some supplies.”

  “Shit, I didn’t even think about that. I know there’s one a mile or so from the house. I hope you know everything we need.”

  “Food, toys, bed, collar, leash…..”

  I stop her rambling. “Okay, okay. Now you’re scaring me. You know the basics, for the rest we’ll ask someone who works there.”

  After spending an hour and 200 bucks on the essentials for Gabby’s puppy, I’m ready to head home. Obviously, my lack of enthusiasm for shopping extends to pets as well. Of course with Brooke and Gabby weighing pros and cons on every collar, leash, sweater (yes sweater), food bowls, bed, and toys then I’m pretty much done. When we get home, Gabby wastes no time in getting her puppy in the house to show the rest of the kids. Brooke and I start grabbing bags of supplies.

  “Are you happy about this, Dylan?” Brooke asks me tentatively.

  “Yeah, I am. I think this is going to be good for her. Why do you ask?”

  “Well, you haven’t said a lot. I’m just hoping I didn’t push you into this. I know I got really excited because of Gabby’s reaction.”

  “No, it’s fine. I’m totally on board with the puppy.”

  In the living room, all four are on the floor with the dog. Cassie gets grossed out when he licks her face, but giggles. Luke is playing it cool with pats and scratches whenever the puppy runs to him for attention, but I can tell he’s excited too. Michael and Gabby are rolling on the floor with him when he attacks them. It’s been too long since they’ve had this much happiness. One more thing I have to be thankful
to Brooke about. She’s right, every fucking time.

  Brooke drops her bags and joins them on the floor for her chance to play too. I have a fleeting thought of a fucking Hallmark commercial right now, the perfect family.

  I look over at Luke, “We’ll have to build him a doghouse for outside.”

  “Yeah, that would be cool.”

  Gabby looks worried and holds him tighter. I have a feeling that this is going to be mostly an indoor dog. That’s okay, thank God for the maid that comes every week nowadays. I reassure her, “Just for when he wants to play outside, Gabby. Dogs like this one love to run and play outside. But he can sleep in your room every night if you want him to.” She grins and nods her head.

  Jax walks in thirty minutes later and greets the new pup. He notices Brooke is here but doesn’t say a word, and I notice Brooke stiffen and withdraw. I’m sick of his issue with Brooke, and he knows it. I’m also wondering about Brooke’s reaction to his presence. He focuses on the puppy and the kids. After a while, I get up to unload bags, and Brooke follows to help. We put away his food and set up his bowls in the kitchen. After finishing, I notice it’s getting close to starting dinner and make the decision to invite Brooke to stay. Maybe she’ll even help. Cooking with Brooke. I smile at that thought.

  “So, what are your plans for the rest of the day?”

  She shrugs, “Nothing.”

  “How about dinner then, I’m thinking of grilling tonight, you in?”

  “I would love to, but I can’t tonight. I told Trevor I would go to dinner with him tonight. Alex is working late and has a yoga class afterward. He thought it would be a good chance for us to catch up.”

  It irritates the fuck out of me that he’s staying there, and I can’t keep the irritation out of my voice when I ask her, “So he’s still there?”

  She laughs and shakes her head. “Yeah, it’s only been a few days, and he’s already invading my space.” She tries to make light of it, but it drives me crazy. Seriously I have lost hours of sleep since I found out that he’s going to be staying with her, well, and his sister, but that doesn’t make me feel any better because he wants Brooke, and Alex doesn’t seem to mind it at all. Jax telling me that he is into her drives me crazy, but the thought of them under the same roof night after night just pisses me off.

  “You know he’s into you right?”

  Brooke laughs, “No he’s not. We’re just friends, and he’s like a brother to me.”

  “Who you’ve fucked.”

  She scrunches her nose, “That unfortunate incident was a very long time ago and should never have happened. Fortunately, we were able to move past the awkwardness and go back to being friends, which was easy enough since he was away at college and then starting his music career.”

  She can’t be this naïve. Is she just saying this for my benefit or does she believe this shit? It’s been a good day, and I don’t want to ruin it, so I just smirk over at her and say, “Whatever you say, Brooke. Come on and I’ll drive you home.”

  On the ride to her apartment, we talk a little about Gabby and how well we both think she’s going to do with having the puppy. Otherwise, we both seem lost in thought. A few times I catch her looking over at me with a smile. When we pull up, she reaches for the door. “I guess I’ll see you on Tuesday?” She looks like she’s waiting for something more from me than an affirmative response to her question. So I give it to her.

  Before she can open the door, I lean across and slide my hand through her long hair. I do it so she’ll think of me tonight while she’s having dinner with her houseguest from hell. I kiss her, and just like every time I give into this craziness of having my lips on hers, we go all in. But this time, I add a little more. I possess her lips. I control the kiss. I stake my fucking claim. When we finally pull away I’ve never been more pleased with myself in knowing that I put the hazy look in her eyes and the swollen lips on her face, and then she smiles, “I’ll see ya, Tuesday.”

  “Will, you stay for dinner?”

  “I can do that. I’ll help Michael with his spelling bee while you cook for me,” she says teasingly.

  “Then prepare to be amazed.”

  “Okay.” She hops out and walks up to her apartment, and I watch her take every step. I laugh to myself because there’s no way Trevor can miss the messy hair and thoroughly kissed lips she’s wearing.

  I’ll see that motherfucker tomorrow.

  I drive back home, and when I walk in the kids and Jax are still hanging out in the living room with the new puppy. “You guys got a name for him yet?” I greet them. I know Gabby should be the one naming him, but without her speaking, I don’t know how she’ll tell us what she decides. Cassie looks up at me and hands me a drawing. It’s a picture of Gabby and a puppy with the letters T.O.B.Y.

  I look over at Gabby, “You want to name him Toby?” She smiles and nods at me before giving Toby a hug. I guess it’s better than referring to him as, puppy. “Okay, I’m starting dinner. Cassie, why don’t you and Gabby take Toby to the backyard and let him get acquainted with a tree before he starts going in the house.”

  Jax walks into the kitchen with me. “So, you ready for tomorrow?”

  I look over at him after I pull fish sticks and French fries out of the freezer. I’ll save the hamburgers for another night. “You bet. Luke is too. You thinking of tail gaiting?”

  “Abso-fucking-lutely.”

  “Good, I’ll do hot wings, you do the beer. And don’t forget Coke for Luke.”

  “On it, man.”

  “You staying for dinner, its fish sticks?”

  He screws his face up, “Uh, that’s a hell no. I’m out, but I’ll be here about nine. Then we can pick up Trevor.” Oh, fucking joy.

  “Sounds good, we’ll be ready.”

  After dinner and more play time with Toby, I finally tuck Gabby in with her new friend. She hasn’t stopped smiling since we’ve been home. Everyone was in a good mood tonight.

  The next morning Luke and I are up and ready for football. Jax arrives, and we pack up his truck with a grill and the chicken wings I marinated overnight. I discovered the recipe in the cookbook Brooke bought me. After picking up Trevor from Brooke’s apartment, we head to Arrowhead Stadium. Excitement is high, and conversation is flowing about everything football. So far not one mention of Brooke from fuck face, which is unfair of me to think because he’s been nothing but cool. But since it’s football day in America, and the Chiefs are playing the Lions, I’m not going to kick his face in today.

  After pulling in we set up the grill first thing so I can get the wings on. Luke is passing out beer, and I do have to stop him from popping the top off of one for himself. Girls are in abundance, and all of us are eating up the attention. Hey, we’re four good looking guys, it’s going to happen. They even come with phone numbers. I slip mine to Trevor, which I notice he happily accepts. I smile, I guess he didn’t get what he wanted from Brooke last night.

  While we’re feasting on wings and drinking beer, the topic of Brooke finally comes up, and wouldn’t you know it’s from my brother. “Hey, Dylan, check out that chick over there. She looks just like Brooke.” Of course my head swivels around so fast I think I pull off a stunt straight from The Exorcist. Way to be subtle, man.

  “Nah, that’s not her,” Trevor informs us. “Brooke’s ass looks way better than that.”

  Now my head snaps back the other way so I can glare him down. “Watch what the fuck you say about her.” Then I jerk my head toward Luke. I’m hoping they think I’m acting like an asshole because I don’t want him talking about her like that in front of Luke, you know, because she’s his social worker.

  “Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. But I know it can’t be her because she’s going to watch the game at a friend’s house that we ran into last night when we went out to dinner.” I grit my teeth when he reminds me he was with her last night.

  I don’t miss the look Jax shoots me. I start gathering up trash and empties to toss so we can head into t
he stadium. With any luck, this conversation is over. After everything is secured, we check for tickets and head inside. Jax goes for beer, and the rest of us find our seats, and we are not disappointed in location. Jax finds us, and we settle in for a Sunday of football. The day ends on a sweet note when Kansas City beats Detroit in a high scoring game. Afterward, we head to the nearest Hooters for food before dropping Trevor off and going home.

  As much as I would love to hate Brooke’s temporary houseguest, it’s hard. I can see why Jax has been hanging around him. He’s funny as hell and a lot of fun. He also fit right in with us.

  All his good traits and his history with Brooke give me a moment of worry, but I’m not stopping my game plan. I’m still going to get Brooke for a night, maybe two, and good-ole-boy Trevor needs to step the fuck aside.

  And I need to step up my own game.

  Chapter 18

  Brooke

  I ring the doorbell again and wait for someone to answer. I can hear the kids in the backyard playing with the new puppy, and I’m debating whether just to walk around and let someone know I’m here. I’m just deciding to do that when I hear Dylan’s car pull in the drive. I watch him walk toward the house, and I swear I stop breathing. Every time I see him, my body reacts in ways that have never happened to me before.

  Of course, I’ve felt attraction to my previous boyfriends, but neither one caused me to lose my breath or caused the rest of the world to disappear. I’ve never spent hours of my day wondering what they may be doing or if they’re having a good day. I’ve never hoped before that they may be thinking about me as much as I’m thinking about them. I’ve never had to fight the urge to call just to hear their voice. Only thoughts of Dylan and the way he kisses me or touches me can arouse me to the point of seeking him out to experience more.

  I want Dylan Monroe more than I’ve wanted any man I’ve ever seen, and he’s completely off limits. My thoughts are torture. Seeing him is torture. But I must be a masochist because I can’t stop. I don’t want to stop. Every single day it’s getting harder not to call, stay away, or simply give in to what I crave, to what we both so obviously crave. So here I am with clothes in hand ready to spend the evening with the Monroes just like one big happy family, but in this case, it’s wrong, forbidden, unethical, and unprofessional. It’s heartbreaking.