by Renee, Holly
“Work.” He shrugged his shoulders like it was no big deal.
“And what exactly do you do for work?”
“What do you think I do?” He angled his body toward me and his perfect lips formed a grin.
“Well, my first thought would be a male escort from all the sounds I hear coming from your apartment, but I think I’m going to go with a personal trainer.”
He lifted up his shirt and ran his hand over his abs. “I can see why you would think that, but you would be wrong on both accounts. You do know that I have a roommate right? How do you know it’s only me making all that noise?”
Because I listen to your moans and fantasize that I’m the woman you’re pounding into the wall.
That statement would never come out of my mouth so I came up with the next best thing. “Liam seems a lot more wholesome than you.”
He busted out laughing and bent over clutching his stomach.
“You’re fucking with me, right?” he asked through his laughter.
“No. He seems like a sweet guy.”
“The next time you go on a date you should let me meet them first. You are a bad judge of character.” He was still laughing, but he didn’t realize how accurate his statement was.
“Don’t worry. I have no plans to start dating anytime soon.” I downed a quarter of my beer and leaned my head against the couch.
“Why not?” He arched one of his eyebrows at me and draped his arm over the back of the couch. It wasn’t until that moment that I realized how close we were sitting. His leg was only a few inches away from my toes.
“I’m just not interested in dating any douchebags right now, and you were right, it’s what I seem to attract.”
He laughed and stared down at me. His eyes trailed from mine and paused on my lips. I took a deep breath to stop me from throwing myself at him, and that one breath seemed to snap him back to his senses.
He looked back up at me and smiled that damn dimpled smile of his. “So what movie are we watching?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s up to you.” I didn’t have it in me to try to choose a movie I knew he would like. I was too tired after today.
“Are you sure you trust me?” he asked with laughter in his eyes.
Not one damn bit.
…
Warmth was wrapped around my body as I bounced slightly. I had no clue what the hell was going on, but I didn’t want to open my eyes either. They were so heavy.
I felt a hand adjust under my knees and my tired eyes popped open.
“What…”
“Shhh,” his deep voice whispered right next to my ear.
I turned my head to look up at him, but I could barely make him out in the dark.
“You fell asleep on the couch. I’m taking you to bed.”
“I can walk,” I argued.
“I got you.”
“Put me down. I’m too heavy,” I whined.
“Are you kidding me? You are not too heavy. Don’t ever say that again.” He sounded like he was actually mad about my comment. His hand tightened around me as if I was about to jump. I wasn’t going to though. It felt too damn good to be in his arms.
The night had been great. We binge watched Game of Thrones instead of watching a movie, and we talked about which characters we loved and which ones we wished would get killed off. We ordered pizza, drank beer, and laughed. A lot. It was kind of scary that it was one of the best days I had in a very long time.
Even after it started out as shit. Tucker managed to turn the whole day around, and as he laid me down in my bed and whispered good night into my ear, I couldn’t stop the smile that seemed to be permanently on my face since I walked in my apartment and saw him.
11
Chocolate Chip Waffles
“Leave me alone, Brooke.” I pulled my blanket higher above my head and buried myself in the fluffy heaven.
“Get up, sleepy head,” a voice that was way too deep and far too sexy said above me right before the blanket was jerked from my body.
“What are you doing?” I screeched as I grabbed for the blanket to cover myself back up, but Tucker held it in his hand far enough away from me that there was no way I was going to reach it.
I crossed my arms to hide my breasts that bounced freely since I was only wearing a black tank top and a pair of pajama shorts.
“You promised last night that you would go out on my morning jog with me.” He smiled.
“I did no such thing.” I don’t think I did at least, but I also drank four beers last night and lightweight wasn’t a strong enough term to describe what I was.
“Yes. You did. You told me that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with you because and I quote,” he made little quotation marks with his fingers, “you are the bomb dot com.”
I groaned and threw my arm up over my face to hide my embarrassment.
“Let’s go.” He tugged on the bottom of my foot. “I’m ready to be blown away.”
He was teasing me, and although, I was about to embarrass myself, there was absolutely no way that I was going to back out now. I was too damn competitive.
“Well, get out of my room so I can get dressed.”
“Why?” he asked. “After the bonding we did last night, we’re practically besties. We should be able to dress in front of each other by now.”
He sat down on the edge of my bed and raised his eyebrow in challenge. I knew he was just trying to get a reaction out of me, but something about him thinking that I wouldn’t rise to the challenge pissed me off.
I stood up from my bed and stretched my arms above my head. His eyes immediately dropped to my breasts, and I smiled to myself.
There was a little extra sway in my step as I made my way to my dresser. With my back turned to him, I took a deep breath to force down my nerves and whipped my tank top off. A deep hiss sounded from behind me, and I almost did a little happy dance. I pulled my bra from the top drawer of my dresser and put it on with my back still turned to him.
“So where exactly are we going jogging?” I asked as I clasped the back of my bra.
No response.
“Tucker,” I called out his name to get his attention and looked over my shoulder when he still didn’t answer.
He was still sitting on my bed looking like a god in his cut off T-shirt and a pair of black sweats. His eyes though, they were on me. He was taking in the back of my body as if he was hungry to get a taste.
“Tucker?” I called out again.
“Yeah.” His eyes were on my ass and didn’t move when he answered.
“Where are we going?” I giggled softly.
He looked up to my face at this point, right as I pulled a T-shirt over my head.
“I usually go to the trail at the park.”
“Okay,” I replied before pulling my pajama shorts down my legs and trading them for a pair of yoga pants.
I bent down and grabbed a pair of socks out of my drawer before sitting on the bed beside him and putting on my socks and shoes. Tucker was still staring at me, and he looked like he may have seen a ghost.
“What?”
“I can’t believe you just changed in front of me.”
“You said we were besties now,” I pointed out. I tried to calm the pounding of my heart. There was something about the way he was watching me that I couldn’t shake. There was something about it that made me feel alive.
“Yeah, but I didn’t think you would actually fall for that.”
I didn’t think I would either.
I stood from the bed and stretched my arms once more.
“Well let’s go, bestie. It’s time for me to smoke your ass.”
He stood from my bed and smiled at me. “After you.”
…
“I think my legs are going to fall off,” I huffed.
“What’s wrong? Can’t keep up?”
He was in front of me running backward like a show-off.
“I really didn’t want to show you up on our firs
t jog. I know how sensitive a man’s ego can be.” My words were choppy as I tried to breathe.
“Does that mean you’re going to go on more jogs with me?” He brushed his hair off his sweaty forehead.
“Maybe.”
“What if I sweeten the deal a little?” He had such a playful look on his face, and it was impossible not to smile with him.
“And how are you going to do that?” I asked.
“There is an awesome little waffle place right over there.” He hiked his thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll take you there for breakfast. My treat.”
“Doesn’t that kind of cancel out the workout we just did?”
“Nope. It’s the reason for the workout we just did.” He winked before turning around and leading me to breakfast.
“What do you get here?” I asked as we sat down in a booth right beside the window. My thighs were shaking from trying to keep up with him through the jog. I knew he had taken it easy for me, and I appreciated it. I would have probably been laying somewhere on the side of the trail by now if he hadn’t.
“Chocolate chip waffles,” he said as if there was no other option in the world.
I laughed. “Of course, you do.”
“You don’t like chocolate chip waffles?” he asked, dumbfounded.
“Not really. I think I’m going to get this one with fresh strawberries.” I pointed down to the menu.
“Well, when my waffles come, don’t even think about asking for a bite.”
“What if I want one?” I tightened my ponytail on top of my head.
“Do you want one?”
I wasn’t sure if he was talking about him or the waffle. Either way, my answer was the same.
“Maybe.”
12
Approval
I knew the moment I walked into the country club that I shouldn’t have come.
My mother was sitting with Jessica and her mother, Mrs. Russell, and they all fit together so perfectly. They fit in with everyone else in the room. Everyone except me.
I adjusted my glasses on my face as I made my way to their table.
“Hey, Kennedy.” Jessica grinned at me before pressing her wine glass to her lips.
Our mothers turned toward me at the sound of my name. Both of their eyes calculating. Judging.
“Hey.” I pulled out the chair next to my mother and took a seat.
“It’s about time you got here. I was about to give up your seat,” my mother said it quietly, but I knew Jessica and her mother could hear her.
“I’m ten minutes early.” I looked around the room that was practically still empty.
My mother rolled her eyes as if my answer was ridiculous, but then planted her fake smile back on her face.
It was the annual mother daughter luncheon, and I had been forced to come for as long as I could remember. There were very few faces in the room that I didn’t recognize, but very few that I actually knew. Very few that I would consider my friend.
“So, Kennedy.” Mrs. Russell’s pale pink lips pulled into a tight smile. “Are you seeing anyone?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m not really looking for a relationship right now.”
“That’s good. That gives you plenty of time to think about your career.”
My mother grinned at her friend, and I rolled my eyes.
“I have a career, Mrs. Russell.” I took a sip of the water that sat in front of me in a crystal glass.
“I know, dear,” she said sarcastically. “But you have time to consider your options and think about what you really want to do.”
I nodded my head because there was no use arguing.
“Jessica just graduated, and she’s so excited.” She smiled over at her daughter with pride in her eyes. “Tell her, Jessica.”
“It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.” Jessica tucked her perfectly curled hair behind her ear. “I can always talk to the Dean for you if you’re interested.”
“That’s sweet, Jessica.” There wasn’t an ounce of that girl that had ever been sweet. “I’ll let you know if I change my mind.”
A woman stepped up to the podium at that moment saving me from further conversation about my future, and I sighed in relief. She started talking about how much money they had all raised for charity, about the events they had planned for the rest of the year, and how excited they were to see all the daughters.
After about fifteen minutes of her droning on and on, I excused myself to the bathroom.
I searched my eyes before I removed my glasses and splashed water on my face. My lungs filled with air as I took a deep breath for the first time since walking through the front door. I let the silence surround me, and I reminded myself that I would be home soon. I would be away from these people.
The bathroom door opened and I glanced up in the mirror just as Jessica walked through it. I patted my face with a paper towel before pushing my glasses back onto my face.
Jessica leaned against the counter next to me and watched me closely. She stared at me the way she had since the moment I met her.
“You know they aren’t going to stop, right?” She crossed one heeled foot over the other.
“I’m aware.” I looked in the mirror and straightened out my already straight hair.
“Why don’t you just drop this whole photography gig and go to school? You’ll have everything handed to you on a silver platter if you do.”
“I don’t need everything handed to me on a silver platter, Jessica. I’m doing fine on my own.”
“Really?” She laughed and my spine straightened. “Look at you. You’re a mess.”
I recoiled as if she had hit me. Every cruel thing she had ever said to me came rushing back.
“No wonder you don’t have a boyfriend, Kennedy.” She turned toward the mirror and pulled her lipstick out of her purse.
I watched her as she rimmed her lips as if she had done it a million times.
“You’ve lost some weight, but that isn’t everything.” She glanced at me through the mirror with a saccharine smile on her face. “You’re going to have to try harder if you want to end up with someone who’s worth a damn. Someone who your parents will approve of.”
Tucker flashed in to my mind at that moment, but I wouldn’t let him stay there. I wouldn’t let myself consider what my parents would ever think of him.
“I don’t care if my parents approve of me and my choices.” At least that was what I told myself.
“Don’t you?” She cocked her head. “If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t be here right now.”
I narrowed my eyes at her.
“You’ve just never managed to measure up. Not in high school. Not now. Maybe you have the right idea. Just stop trying.”
My stomach flipped with the anger that ran through me, the anger that was always there when I was around her.
“You’re right.” I smiled as her as she faced me again. “I will never be you, Jessica. I will never be the woman my mother approves of.”
She looked so smug and I wanted nothing more than to wipe that look straight from her face.
“And I couldn’t be prouder.”
She stared at me as I walked past her, but I didn’t spare her a glance.
13
The Beast
Tucker and I fell into a routine over the next week. The first couple days, he came, pulled my ass out of bed, then we went jogging. After that, I managed to pull myself out of my comfy cloud of blankets and get ready by the time he showed up at my door.
The jogging was getting easier with each day that passed and so was spending time with Tucker. I seemed to crave it. Every morning when I woke up, I had a smile on my face knowing that he would be there shortly. It was pathetic, but I couldn’t help it.
We were on our last lap and somehow I didn’t feel like I was going to die.
“Look at you,” Tucker said beside me. “You’re doing so much better already.”
“I know,” I said dramatically. “I was che
cking out my ass in the mirror last night, and I think I need to go out for a night on the town.”
I laughed. He didn’t.
“Your ass looked amazing even before you started jogging with me. If a guy didn’t realize that then he doesn’t deserve you.”
“Awww. Thanks, Tuck.” I played off his comment as if his words weren’t affecting me.
“You’re not going to quit calling me Tuck are you?”
“Nope. You’re my bestie, and besties need nicknames for each other. You call me Firecracker.”
“That’s true, but that name is awesome. Couldn’t you call me something like Thor or Beast?”
I stopped mid stride because I couldn’t help bending over in laughter.
“Beast?” I snorted.
“Did you just snort?” He looked offended.
“Did you just call yourself beast?” I was still laughing, and my words were muddled.
“Yes. I am a beast.” His arms were flexed in a super hero pose, and I almost fell to the ground in laughter.
“Is that funny?”
“Yes.” I wiped at my eyes.
“If you saw other parts of my body, you would call me beast too.”
“Only men with small penises brag about their penis being a beast.” I pointed down at his crotch.
The laughter was knocked out of me in the next moment when Tucker threw his shoulder into my stomach and lifted me from the ground.
“What the hell are you doing?” I squealed.
People who were walking by us were all staring. I was laughing like a maniac, and Tucker was strolling through the park like I wasn’t hanging over his shoulder like a rag doll.
He smacked my ass. “That’s what you get for offending my best friend.”
I snorted again. “I thought I was your bestie?” I teased.
“You are the newest addition. He is my oldest. Tried and true.”
A pang went through my chest thinking about how tried his penis was, but I pushed it away.
“I hope you’ve had your tried and true tested.”
