by C. A. Harms
"No, but I hear you have," it's his coping vice, and I've always hated it, "a lot, actually. You do know that the problem you're running from will still be there tomorrow and even next week. Things don't magically fix themselves."
“Oh, wise one," he chuckles, and I wish more than anything that I was near him so that I could thump him on the back of the head.
"You told her she was a mistake, Ben," I choose to ignore his cockiness and say what I need to say while I have the chance. "Don't you see how she looks at you? How she's always looked at you? I wish more than anything that you'd stop running from the chance to be happy."
"My happiness isn't something you should worry about."
"Maybe not, but Lexi's is, she adores you, Bennett, she always has. I don't know when things shifted, when things became so complicated and confusing but what I do know, is that you have feelings for her too. I think somewhere along the way, people started assuming you and I would end up more than friends. But I've seen you with Lexi. I've noticed it far longer than I think the two of you have. What I don't understand is why you refuse to admit that you have feelings for her and why right now she's out with some asshole that makes her feel like she's less than amazing. He doesn't deserve her, we both know that, but you do."
"Sweet speech," my chest feels heavy, and I fight the urge to cry.
"I love you, Bennett; you've always been and always will be an important part of my life. You can hate me, you can refuse to admit that you and I are better friends than we ever would have been as a couple, but I know you know that. I know that your pride won't let you admit it, so there's that too. But please, will you step back and think this through, stop running from a good thing and take what you deserve."
He says nothing, and neither do I after that. Then I hear the line go dead, and my first tear falls.
Chapter Forty-Four
Brantley
* * *
I glance up at the sound of tires crunching against the gravel drive. Instantly a smile tugs at my lips when I see the familiar Toyota slow to a stop, and the driver’s door opens. I’m working solo today, wrapping up the job at Sutton’s parent’s house.
Climbing out of the driver’s side, my girl flashes me her gorgeous smile that never ceases to make me feel like the wind is knocked from my lungs. “I shoulda brought a lounge chair hours ago and enjoyed the show.” Playfully she shuffles her brows and saunters her way toward me.
Standing tall, I hook her waist and pull her body to mine, offering her a chaste kiss while watching the back door to ensure her dad doesn’t come out. That man may be somewhat immobile, but he’s still intimidating. I know it’s more because getting on his good side makes life better for me.
“I brought you lunch,” her words are muffled by my lips as I continue to kiss her.
“And here I thought you brought dessert.”
“Just ’cause I’m on crutches, boy, doesn’t mean I can’t put my boot up your ass.” My body stiffens, and Sutton laughs. I never thought to look behind me.
“Oh, Daddy,” she laughs, and I release her looking back at her dad, who is now only a few feet away. “Stop hassling him.”
“I’m not paying him to check your tonsils,” hanging my head, I wonder how many strikes that is now. He hated me before he knew me, and this isn’t helping matters any. “No father wants to see his daughter being violated.”
“Sir,” I start to apologize, and Sutton steps around me for a face-off with her dad.
“And no daughter wants to find her parents going at it like two horny teenagers in a barn or on the kitchen table, but that ain’t stopped you two.” She cocks her hip and places her hand on one as she stares at him. He doesn’t crack, and it’s then I see the resemblance between the two of them. “Oh, and there was the time on the living room couch after Sunday school when I got dropped off early. That is an image that I will never forget.”
I’m trapped in some father-daughter battle, and I’m sure I should run and ignore it all and get back to work.
“I’m married; that’s different.” Her dad finally adds, and I hurry to turn around and get back to fitting the siding before tacking it in place.
“Well, I’m not running off to get married, and besides, it’s just a kiss.”
And the talk of me enjoying his daughter for dessert, that will remain our secret.
My shoulders are tense, my jaw set, and my hands busy at work. I don’t look at either of them, because honestly, I have no clue what to say or how to act.
“After you’re done there, boy, we need to have ourselves a little talk,” my hands pause, one holding a nail, the other a hammer. “It appears you pulled your head out of your ass and stopped playing head games with my girl. So now we need to set some ground rules.”
“Rules,” Sutton sasses, “I’m not sixteen.”
“Maybe not, but you are my daughter, and any man who decides he’s good enough for my daughter to date needs a good talking to.”
“Never said I was good enough sir,” I look back, and both he and Sutton watch me. “I’m just lucky enough that she decided I was worth the chance.”
He holds my stare, and part of me wonders if I didn’t just make things worse. That is until he offers me a satisfied nod and uses the bottom of his crutch to nudge Sutton’s leg. “Just wait until I’m outta sight before you two start swapping spit again. Otherwise, I’ll be forced to get out one of my shotguns and have that manly talk with you, boy.”
He chuckles as he walks away, and Sutton steps up closer, placing her hand on my forearm. “He’s harmless; he just enjoys being a smartass far too much.”
She lifts on her tiptoes and presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “Cooler has dessert too, but if ya wanna save it for later, maybe you can eat it off me instead.” And then she’s off, pausing at the back door and flashing a mischievous smile that makes my heart race.
Sutton never ceases to bring me to my knees. She is so gorgeous and devious all at once.
I notice the way she attempts to remain still and not allow the tickle of my kisses along my spine to affect her. But it, mixed with the glide of the tongue and the nip of my teeth, it’s nearly impossible for her to remain still.
“Nothing tastes better than you,” I whisper the words against her skin and immediately notice goosebumps cover her back and shoulders. The anticipation of what’s building is exciting. I’m so turned on I can barely control myself as I lower my body over hers.
With one arm resting on either side of her, I lean in and lightly bite her earlobe. “I don’t even wanna go to this cookout,” she whispers. My hardness pressing against her from behind, she arches and parts her legs further. The truth is I crave Sutton; she makes me feel so many things all at once that I’ve never felt a high like she gives me. “I’d rather just stay right here in this bed with you,” she adds.
“That sounds perfect,” I push forward, and she gasp as I slowly push inside of her. A deep groan falls from my lips.
“You are perfect,” it’s nothing more than a whisper, but I’m falling apart slowly feeling her wrapped around me and the softness of her body. Without another thought I start to move, and all other thoughts are lost.
Chapter Forty-Five
Sutton
* * *
A good day can go to shit in an instant. All it takes is alcohol and two testosterone-filled brothers that think they have something to prove.
"What's up with that?" Kendall sits down next to me at the picnic table, and I glance at her to see what she is referring to. She is staring off toward the side of the barn where the guys have all gathered. They were all participating in a challenging tournament of horseshoes and cold beers.
I wonder now if I should have even come, feeling a little out of place with all of Brantley and Bennett’s family gathered around. Most knew me as Bennett's friend, and some mistakenly categorized us as a couple in the past. Yet here I am being introduced as Brantley's girlfriend, which only adds a lot of awkwardness t
o the day. So, when I practically forced Kendall to go with me because the rest of the girls had backed out, I figured I'd at least have one person to help me occupy my thoughts.
“Hmm." I ask, knowing she is far too observant to fall for my avoidance tactic.
"Bennett is glaring at you, and Brantley's acting like you're a stranger." I don't look in the direction of the O'Shay brothers. I don't need to; I've already made that mistake once.
"I called Bennett and gave him a lecture about Lexi and didn't tell Brantley about it."
"So," she shrugs, "What, now you have to clear it through big brother before you talk to an old friend?"
"It wasn't so much that I called but more of how he found out," Bennett used my words as a way to cope with whatever is going on in his head. "Somehow, hearing Bennett announce in front of his entire family that I called him to tell him that I loved him was like a match to dry leaves. Then he added that I'd told him he needed to stop running from a good thing and take what he deserved, didn't help matters much."
"Okay, I can see how that may have set the big guy off, but knowing you, I also know that you meant that as a friendly pep talk and not a hey baby, come get me offer."
"Bennett's being an ass, and I know it's because he's not dealing with shit in his head. So today, I'm just the one he's decided to target. I made it easy for him."
I glance toward the barn and notice Brantley staring in our direction. Due to the low brim of his hat, I can't see his eyes, but I know without a doubt in my mind, he is focused on me. His lips set in a line, I assume I'm the subject of his annoyance.
"Maybe you should drag him off somewhere private and remind him that you're with him." I look away and back at Kendall to find her wagging her brows suggestively.
"I think I may just take off."
"The tops off the Jeep, and the sun is bright." She shrugs and stands. "I'm game for an escape if you are."
I can always count on my girls to help me when I'm down.
"I need to say a quick goodbye to Anita," it isn't her fault her sons are jerks. "I'll meet you out front," Kendall agrees, and I take off in search of Brant's mom.
I find her gathered with a large group of women on the front porch and when she sees me coming, she stands. A big smile stretches out over her lips. "Sutton," she immediately takes my hand in hers and pulls me in close for a hug. "I'm so glad you came today."
"Thank you for inviting me," though I feel like a ball of nerves wound so tight I may just snap. "I think I'm gonna take off now, and I wanted to say goodbye before I left."
"So soon?" I've been here for over three hours. I've forced myself to eat and socialize even though I could feel Bennett glaring at me, and I've only shared a handful of words with Brant.
"My friend's my ride, and I think she has plans later." I feel like an ass for lying to her.
"Well, I'm sure one of the boys can take you home." Anita looks around like she is searching for one of her sons, and my stomach tenses. "In fact—,"
"Oh no, that's okay," I interrupt her and force a smile. "It's not a big deal at all. They're having fun with family, and there's no need for them to drive to Montgomery when Kendall's heading that way."
Anita glances over my shoulder, and I don't even have to look to know that she and I are no longer alone. I can feel him, even before his hand presses to the center of my back. "Thought you were staying at my place tonight," my cheeks heat when I look up to find his mom watching us with a knowing smile.
Nervously I twist my hands in front of me.
"Were you planning on telling me you were skipping out?"
Again, I look at Anita, and it's all the indication she needs. "I'll let you two work this out." She backs away, and I wait until she is far enough away before I turn to face her son.
I hate the way my body reacts to him. He's all broody and dark, with his face hidden mostly behind his hat that sits low. I notice his jaw muscle-flexing, and I fist my hand to keep from gliding my fingers over the same space.
"Didn't think you'd notice if I were gone," I bite on the inside of my lip. "Figured I'd save us both the awkwardness later of deciding that our plans have now changed."
When he says nothing, I step around him and start toward the driveway, where I know Kendall will be waiting.
"Were you gonna tell me about you and Bennett's heart to heart?" I stop walking and turn around to find Brantley followed me. We're hidden by the garage and can only be seen by those standing out front, which aren't many. Mostly younger kids who are playing and utterly oblivious to the adults glaring at each other.
"I could stand here and tell you that the conversation with your brother was nothing close to a heart-to-heart. It was more of me trying to convince him to pull his head out of his ass and admit that he cares for Lexi. I could tell you that I did tell him I love him, and I do, but nothing more than a friend. It has never been more, but honestly, I don't think you deserve an explanation after today. You immediately went to that place where I admitted some undying love for Bennett, and that's on you. That's your problem, not mine because I've told you from the start that he and I are friends, or we were."
Brantley stands, his legs spaced wide, his arms crossed over his chest, and it pisses me off that I can't see his eyes.
I take a step toward him and reach up to tug his hat off his head. "If you're gonna stand here and glare at me, at least have the decency to take off your damn hat." I shove it into his chest, and when he doesn't take it, I release it and allow it to fall at his feet. "Is this the way things are gonna be between us? You always assume the worst and I'm left to feel like somehow I've crossed some imaginary line?"
"I think you should stay so we can talk."
"And I think I should go so that I don't say something I'll regret later."
"What would that be?" He's challenging me, and the stubborn side of myself wants to walk away and leave him to wonder. But the girl dying inside from fear that this is the start to an end wins out.
"You're an asshole," my nostrils flare as I fight to hold on to my emotions. "You have something you need to work out, it's your problem, your insecurities."
"So, now I'm insecure?"
"I think you're trying to sabotage your happiness to fix the fucked-up relationship you have with your brother."
"You got it all figured out, don't ya?"
I stare at him, baffled by the current situation. He sounds like Bennett.
"Apparently, I don't," I shake my head in disbelief and laugh to hide the need to cry. Then, when I have nothing left to say and realize that no matter what I attempt isn't going to do either one of us any good, I turn around and walk toward Kendall's Jeep idling in the driveway.
Grabbing the handle, I heave myself up inside, and she offers me a sad smile. "Ready?" I only nod because honestly, what else is there to say?
Chapter Forty-Six
Brantley
* * *
"That was stupid," I look away from the dust trail that the Jeep left behind to find Bennett leaning against the side of the garage. "Sutton's not someone you should doubt. She normally doesn't say anything she doesn't mean."
I look away from him and toward the direction that she's gone saying nothing in response. The asshole has been running his mouth all day, and he chooses now to be the fucking hero.
"You really gonna let her leave like that and not go after her."
"Fuck off, Bennett," he's the one that placed the doubt in my head, to begin with. Picking the not-so-perfect time to announce their conversation and insinuating that it was so much more.
"Maybe she is with the wrong brother," before I can stop myself, I turn around and grip his shirt, pinning him against the side of the garage. The irritation building within me to an uncontrollable point. "There ya go," he chuckles, "there's the fight I'm looking for."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" I shove and release him, watching him straighten his shirt with a smile.
"She needs a guy who'll fight for her
, and for a second, I thought maybe you lost your edge." Something passes over his face, a realization maybe. He stares at his beer, a blank look in his eyes. Then he holds out his beer and turns it sideways, watching the remaining contents pool on the ground beside him. "I think she might be right about both of us."
He glances back at me.
"I think I've focused all my attention on the wrong girl, and I've been missing out on the real thing. Maybe it's time I stop being an idiot and start going after my happiness." He shakes his head, pushing off the garage and taking a step toward me. "She's right about you trying to sabotage your happiness to fix you and me." He pauses, shaking his head as if the last several weeks have been ridiculous. Honestly, they have in more ways than one. "There's nothing here to fix, Brant. We're good, now wake the fuck up and stop worrying about what's going on in my head. That shit is my problem. Let me handle it. Focus on loving her man and stop holding back for me. I'm a big boy; I don't need you to handle me with care Brant. Stop allowing me to get to you; you're making things too easy. Keep doing that shit, and you'll fuck up a good thing."
"Good at giving out advice, but you suck at taking it."
"Yeah," he nods in agreement and offers my shoulder a shove. "We're both screwed up in our own ways."
The idea of Sutton and Bennett is something I need to get over. It didn't help when I had him showing up at my place telling me all about the times they had together and how much she means to him. Adding that to him announcing to all our family that she called to tell him she loves him when she and I have never shared those words adds salt to an open wound.
"She's getting away," Bennett adds, and without another thought, my feet are moving. I'm jogging across the drive and climbing up into my truck without a second thought. Then, spinning out in the grass, I push the gas to the floor and hear the rev of my engine.
