My Crush’s Brother (Grand Lake Colorado #1)

9. Pearl

NINE

Pearl

I stand at the edge of the dance floor, my body feeling empty the moment he pulled away. I see him pull his phone from his pocket and answer it before heading outside. I want to follow him but I turn back around and head towards the bar.

“Am I seeing things or did you and Blake Winthrop just have a moment?” Jade is standing beside me with her hand on her chest in mock shock.

“What? No, he’s just...I don’t know. I kind of thought I felt something but then he walked off like it was nothing.”

“There was some serious heat there, you did not imagine that.” She fans herself, “This whole place is about to be pregnant.”

I slap her arm, “Stop it! You’re embarrassing me. And I told you that I had the tiniest crush on him in confidence, it doesn’t mean anything. He’s attractive, the entire town knows and admits that, I’m just a late bloomer on the matter.”

“Well if anything ever happens between you two, I want details. Moment by moment, play by play details.” She claps through the statement for emphasis.

I glance outside and see a slight silhouette of Blake. His arms are propped on the top of the fence and he looks like he’s off the phone. Now’s my chance to go tell him that I have decided to move on from Trevor. I don’t know what I expect him to say about the matter but it’s my attempt to let him know where I stand.

“I’m going to get some fresh air, I’ll be back in a few.” I make a beeline before Jade can offer to come with me.

“Hey,” I walk up next to him and place my hand on the top of the fence. “You okay? You seemed like you got a little spooked or something.”

“Hmm?” He turns and gives me a brief look, “Yeah, it was nothing. Just needed some fresh air. That place is packed.” He nods toward the barn.

We both stare up at the night sky, the stars twinkling like diamonds against an inky canvas. That’s something you don’t get in the city, the vast expanse of night sky. I don’t know what comes over me but I decide to try and get to know Blake.

“So what’s your story?” He seems a bit confused.

“My story? You know, you practically grew up in my house.”

“Well, I saw you around a lot sure, but...what happened with the football thing?” I can see his jaw tense, normally that would have scared me away but I feel like I’m slowly breaking down his barriers.

His rubs at the ever present scruff on his chin, as if he was thinking through what he wants to say.

“Not much to say I ‘spose. I had a full ride to Florida but end up getting an injury my junior year that shot it all to hell.” He absentmindedly rubs his shoulder.

“Is that where you were injured?”

“Yup. Kind of a career ending injury when you’re the center and the quarterback relies on your to snap the ball to him.”

I don’t say anything else, it feels like he has more to say so I just sit in silence until he feels comfortable.

“I couldn’t afford to stay in school after the accident and my parents couldn’t help out, at least not enough to cover my surgery and rehab and pay for school. So I had to drop out, came back here and the rest is history.”

“I’m sorry.” I know it’s not my fault but I’m not sure what else to say in the situation. I can tell he’s still angry at what happened. Who knows where he’d be if he hadn’t been injured. He’d probably be living the good life playing in the NFL. The silence hangs heavy between us.

“You want to hear something funny?” He looks over at me as he comes off his elbows and stands up.

“Sure.”

“So, when I was little and I’d come over to your house to hang out with Trevor you always scared me.” I can’t help but grin and I can a small one forming on his lips too.

“Is that right?”

“Oh yeah. You were his older, cool brother who always had a different girl over like every week.”

“Ha!” He throws his head back with a loud bark, “It wasn’t a different girl every week woman, come on now!” I can’t help but giggle.

“Yes it was! I can distinctly remember this one time that you had Marsha Greggs, Felicity Troutwater and Mel Preston over all within a month!” He just shakes his head and lets out a soft laugh to himself. “I remember because you would always go in the hot tub with them, and after some time you’d get out and run to grab your guitar and serenade them.”

It’s dark out but I swear I can see a blush start to form on his cheeks. “I—I’m sorry I had no idea you were watching me.”

“Oh I watched alright. That’s the first time I saw a girl’s boobs that weren’t my own and how I learned what french kissing is.”

“Lord have mercy,” he says against his hands as he rubs them over his face.

“It’s all good, it taught me valuable life lessons.” I say playfully elbowing him.

He looks over at me and neither of us say anything. The moonlight bounces between us and I swear I can see a spark of something. Like he wants to tell me something or kiss me. I drop my eyes from his down to his lips and he notices.

He stands up stiffly and shoves his hands in his pockets, “You ready to get back in there? I’m sure there’s a few guys that are dying to get a chance to dance with you.”

He starts to walk away but I reach out and grab the hook of his elbow, “Hey wait. I actually came out here to tell you something.”

He turns back around to face me, “Yeah?”

I take in a long inhale before letting it slowly, “Okay so this is going to sound crazy...A few weeks ago I came up with this crazy, hairbrained plan to get Trevor to notice me or want me or something.” I can see his back instantly tense and his mouth set in a firm line.

“Just hear me out. I was thinking that if he thought I was seeing someone else that he’d get jealous and it would propel him into action or something. Like he’d finally see that he’s been in love with me?—”

“Are you fucking kidding me Pearl?” Before I can finish what I’m saying he interrupts me harshly.

“No, wait let me ex-” before I can say anything else I can see rage settle over his face.

“No you wait. This stupid childhood crush has gone on long enough. It’s pathetic at this point! He’s in love with someone else Pearl, why can’t you accept that? He is trying to make it work with this woman and you need to back off and learn some goddamn boundaries. If you really love him and care about him like you say then you just need to accept the fact that he doesn’t want you Pearl. He doesn’t love you!”

I stand there in pure shock as his words echo around me. I’ve never seen him this angry. Tears spring to my eyes as I try to register my emotions. I want to yell at him and tell him that I know all that already but instead I stand there motionless.

“Grow up Pearl.” He shakes his head before turning and marching back toward the barn.

I don’t know how long I stood there before tears begin streaming down my cheeks. It’s not the words or the truth of them that hurts, it was the way he looked at me...like he was disgusted. I don’t know how the conversation got so convoluted, I had wanted to tell him that I didn’t feel that way anymore about Trevor. That I had realized all those things he just yelled at me on my own.

It’s only a matter of moments before my tears of sadness turn to tears of anger. How dare he, what gives him the right to parent me or tell me how to live my life? If he wasn’t such a rude prick he would have heard what I have to say before cutting me off.

I wipe away the tears before marching back inside. I glance around but don’t see him anywhere.

“Hey you okay?” Jade grabs my arm, alarmed I’m sure by my smeared mascara and tear stained face.

“Yeah I’m good. Have you seen Blake?” I ask still looking around the room for him.

“I think he left? He walked through a little bit ago and went out the front door. What happened between you two? Do I need to say something to him?”

I nod my head and give her a soft smile, “No, it’s nothing. I’m going to take off. Not feeling that great but I’ll call you tomorrow.” I give her hand a quick squeeze before heading out the door and jumping in my bug.

I make the quick drive up the mountains, as I pull in to the cabin parking lot I see Blake’s truck. I put my car in park, slam the door and march my way to his cabin. It’s time Blake Winthrop gets a piece of my mind. I bang loudly until I hear his footsteps heading toward me and he opens the door in nothing but a towel, dripping water all over the floor. A look of pure shock on his face and mine.