7. Chapter 8
Chapter 8
CHRIS
I try not to check out Charlotte’s ass as she walks away, but in my defense, the short red dress she’s wearing makes it a little difficult, and I’m only human.
“Dude, not sure the way to get what you want is by antagonizing her,” Jace mutters.
I turn back to my roommate with a grin. “But it’s just so easy. God, I love it when she’s mad,” I say, my tone husky as I glance back at her in time to watch her accept a drink from the bartender, then head back this way, hips swaying with every step.
Damn, she’s hot.
Jace groans. “You’re hopeless.”
Beside me, Damon hovers by the booth, clapping me on the shoulder. “As much as I’d love to sit here with the ladies and watch you make an ass of yourself, I’m going to grab a drink and hit the dance floor.”
“I’m down,” Brandon says. “Ladies?” he asks, eyeing the girls across from me.
Both Samantha and Elizabeth slide from the booth and follow the boys, leaving me to wonder if there’s any potential there. Samantha’s pretty keen on that James dude, but as far as I know, Elizabeth is single. Still, I’m pretty sure Brandon’s hopelessly in love with his best friend, and Damon’s a bitter Betty.
“Why don’t you two join them?” I tip my head in their direction, flashing Jace and Brynn a shit-eating grin. “Let loose. Go have some fun.”
Brynn shoots a look of longing toward the dance floor before returning her violet gaze back to mine. “Charlotte will never let me hear the end of it if I leave her with you.”
“Also, I feel like someone needs to stay and ensure you two don’t kill each other,” Jace adds.
“And there’s that.” Brynn points at him.
I scoff. “Do you guys have that little faith in me?”
“Yes,” they answer in unison.
I scowl at them before Charlotte approaches, then I pat the empty space beside me and wink. “Slide on in. I don’t bite.”
She mutters some creative obscenities under her breath, then takes the seat beside me anyway, which just confirms my theory that she’s just as secretly attracted to me as I am to her; she’s just in denial.
“You know, you should be nice, or your father might decide he likes me better. In fact, I believe his words the other night were, You’re the son I never had .”
Jace chuckles under his breath, then covers it with a cough at Brynn’s glare.
“Just give him time,” Charlotte says, her tone deathly sweet. “He just hasn’t been around you enough.”
“Pshht. Everyone likes me. I’m a likable guy. It’s my best quality. I’m even best buds with Jace’s old crew, the boys from Riverside. Isn’t that right, Jace?”
“Not really.”
I scowl, letting him know I’m unhappy with his answer before turning back to Charlotte. “He’s just jealous because he’s afraid they’re starting to like me better than him. Brynn, back me up.”
“I mean, I loved Chris from the start,” she says with a shrug.
“Seriously, babe?” Jace frowns.
“Sorry, but look at this face.” She leans across the table and takes my face in her hand, squishing my cheeks together.
I don’t even care that I probably look like a chipmunk right now because physical touch is my love language, so I’m digging this shit. What can I say? I’m a man who likes to be appreciated.
“See?” I say between my squished cheeks.
After Brynn releases me, I duck away from Jace’s warning glare before turning back to Charlotte, and my stomach takes flight, because damn, she’s beautiful when she’s annoyed.
Dark eyes sparkle under the pendant light, her cheeks flushed with color from the booze.
“Look, we should talk,” I say, deciding to be mature about this, mostly because my heart is threatening to beat out of my chest.
The muscle in her jaw ticks. “Talking is overrated.”
“Are you suggesting other forms of communication, because if so, I’m down.” I grin.
Her cheeks hollow like she’s just sucked on a lemon while the rest of her flushes pink.
“You walked right into that one,” Brynn chimes in, and Charlotte huffs.
“I don’t have anything to say,” she says, rattling the ice in her drink before she takes a sip.
“Can’t we just be adults about this?”
“Adults?” she croaks out, meeting my gaze. “Are you really lecturing me about not acting like a child? The man who still uses children’s toothpaste to brush his teeth?”
I gasp, pointing a finger at Jace and Brynn who cower under the heat of my gaze.
Traitors!
“First of all,” I say, hitting all three of them with a glare, “there’s nothing wrong with that. Bubblegum-flavored toothpaste is fucking delicious. Why should kids get all the good shit? My mouth is a party, morning and night.”
Charlotte snorts. “Regardless, whatever you have to say, I don’t wanna hear it. I’ve already made it clear how I feel about it. There’s no point in rehashing the whole thing.” She lifts her drink and makes a move to slide from the booth. “And now, I’m out.”
I clamp a hand over her arm, stopping her. “For once in your life will you stop being such a . . .” My words trail off as I acknowledge the fire licking the palm of my hand where our skin touches, before I brush it off. If Lettie wants to pretend like the chemistry between us is nonexistent then so can I.
Her gaze shifts to the place where my fingers curl around her soft skin, and her upper lip curls into a snarl as she yanks her arm away. Any minute, her head will start spinning like Linda Blair from The Exorcist and black shit will ooze from her mouth.
“Stop being a what ?” she asks, eyes narrowed, tone venomous.
I swallow, unsure if I want to finish that sentence, though it’s obvious what I was going to say. Still, I kind of value my man parts. They’re pretty damn nice if I do say so myself.
“A bitch,” I bark out. “There. I said it.” I wince, barely stopping myself from cowering when her dark eyes flash with anger.
Please don’t hurt me.
“ No, ” she drawls.
That’s it? No sharp retort or threat about cutting my balls off. Just, no?
“No? So, you admit you’re being a?”
“Look,” she says, her tone impatient. “I know this is hard for you to understand because you want this for your mother, and I don’t know what it was like for her. It sounds like she’s an incredible woman, it really does, but my father is not the man you want her to marry.”
“She knows what she’s getting into.”
“Does she?” Charlotte crosses her arms over her chest, which carries the particular advantage of pushing her cleavage up.
I curse under my breath, trying not to stare, but I can’t help it as my gaze dips south and stays there for longer than I’d like to admit. Is she trying to distract me from my purpose? Because if she is, it’s working. It takes me whole minutes to recover my train of thought.
Licking my lips, I meet her eyes again, noting the vicious gleam brightening the espresso to ocher. “Listen, my mom is a smart woman. She wouldn’t fall for him if he weren’t a good guy.”
“He left my mother at a time when she needed him most, and she still hasn’t recovered. He abandoned her, and left me, a teenager, to pick up the pieces. Maybe you don’t know who he really is.”
“And maybe you don’t, either. Have you ever considered your perception might be a little skewed since you were stuck in the middle of it?”
Her eyes round. “Even if I’m wrong, do you know what the divorce rate is for second marriages?”
I stare at her blankly.
“Sixty to sixty-seven percent.”
How the hell does she know this shit? Did she Google it before coming back over here? Is she storing marriage facts away just to prove me wrong?
“What’s more concerning is how you randomly know that. You know what?” I say, raising a finger. “I’m fact-checking that because, if you ask me, it sounds a little high.”
I slide out my phone and open a new browser, then start typing only to see she’s right.
Damn.
When I return my gaze to hers, she smiles, her expression smug.
“Technically, my mother had a successful first marriage,” I say, on the defensive. “She’s a widower, not divorced, so that stat should be cut in half, at least.”
“Whatever. It’s a moot point, anyway, because if they want to get married, fine. They can do whatever they want. But I won’t be a part of it. In fact, I refuse.”
“If not for your father, would you do it for me? For my mother?”
Her jaw drops before laughter splutters from her lips. “I hardly know your mother.”
“So get to know her.” She sighs, shaking her head. “Please.” I place a hand on her bare thigh, feeling the heat of her skin beneath my palm.
Her eyes widen, but she makes no effort to remove my limb, so I take that as a good sign and tighten my grip, shifting another inch higher.
My heart skips in my chest, doing fucking cartwheels. I’m a kid at Christmas, a heat-seeking missile intent on its purpose, and that purpose is the warmth between Charlotte’s thighs as she licks her lips and angles herself toward me. Her pupils dilate until her eyes go from brown to onyx. Her lips part. It’s a subtle invitation, but it’s there.
I’ve suspected my attraction toward her wasn’t one-sided, but in my mind, this confirms it. Maybe I have some pull with her after all?
The flesh on my hand burns, begging me to inch my way north before she shakes her head. “This is ridiculous. Nothing you say or do is going to convince me this is a good idea.”
I smirk, my confidence rising the longer she leaves my hand on her skin. “Nothing?”
I lean forward, scanning her face and focusing on that pout I’ve fantasized about more times than I can count. “Because I can be really persuasive when I want to be,” I murmur.
Her lips quirk, those chocolate eyes dropping to my mouth. “Is that so? And how exactly would you”?she licks her glossy lips and my loins stir?“persuade me?”
“I have a few tricks up my sleeve.”
She hums, leaning even closer, so close I can see the snakeskin pattern in the darks of her eyes. Her fruity breath fans over my skin like a piece of fucking candy I want to devour when her lips meet the shell of my ear and she whispers against the sensitive skin, “Too bad I’m immune to your charms.”
I shiver as her words sink in, and she rises from the booth, too affected to do a damn thing to stop her as she walks away and heads to the dance floor with her friends.
Stunned, I stare after her like a kid who’s just had their favorite dessert taken away?starving and desperate for more.
Looks like she still has the upper hand.
Charlotte one, Chris zero.
“How’d that go for you?” a familiar voice interrupts my longing.
I turn back to Jace, his face split in two as he struggles to hold in his laughter, and I flip him the bird.
#
My fist slams against Jace’s bedroom door with a bang, sending it flying inward before I barge inside. “Guys, I have a new plan.”
“What the hell, man?” Jace says, pulling and wrapping the blankets on his bed around Brynn’s body until she resembles a human burrito. Only her eyes and mouth are visible as he adds, “What if we were doing shit in here? Don’t you know how to fucking knock?”
“In my defense, it wasn’t locked,” I say motioning to the door.
“He has a point,” Brynn mumbles beneath the blanket fortress.
“Also, to be fair”?I cock my head and grin?“I heard you guys finish twenty minutes ago.”
“You were fucking listening?” Jace seethes.
I shrug. “It’s kinda hard not to. You’re not exactly quiet.”
The human burrito shakes with laughter as Jace glares holes through my face.
“I mean, if you don’t want anyone to hear, you really need to be a little more discreet because it sounds like a pack of banshees were unleashed in here.”
“Get out!” Jace points toward the door, vibrating with anger while I laugh.
“Damn. You’re so uptight, Taggart. I was joking . Mostly,” I add as I step closer to the bed and nudge Brynn with my knuckles. “Move over.”
“I can’t move.” She wiggles her head further out of the blankets like a caterpillar emerging from its cocoon. “Need a little help here.”
I reach for her, but the glare Jace sends my way is nothing short of terrifying, so I slowly back off, hands raised where he can see them, lest he think I might touch his girlfriend.
Turning, I sit on the edge of the bed furthest from Jace just to be safe and clear my throat. “Anyway, as I was saying, I’ve been thinking and have come to the conclusion I need to switch tactics with Charlotte. The other night at Bradd’s just proved to me she’s never going to see reason.”
“Ya don’t say.” Jace rolls his eyes and props himself against the headboard while Brynn does the same, somehow keeping most of the blankets intact.
“Shocking, I know, considering I’m the king of persuasion.”
“So you have a plan?” Jace asks.
“Of course I do.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask, but here we go. What’s this brilliant plan of yours?”
“Well, it seems to me that Charlotte has a chip on her shoulder about relationships. And she’s clearly jaded. So, I got to thinking about my Grinch comment the other day. How did the Whos make the Grinch’s heart grow?”
“Are we seriously basing your plan off a Dr. Seuss story?”
“Ooh, oh!” Brynn pokes an arm out of her cocoon. “I know! They softened the Grinch’s heart by showing the Grinch Christmas spirit was about more than material things and that it was about love and kindness.”
“Love!” I snap my fingers. “Yes! Ultimately, his heart softened because of love, and isn’t love at the heart of the human condition? In the end, everything comes down to love.”
“So, what are you saying?” Jace asks with a sigh.
“I need to make her fall in love. Plain and simple.” I lift a shoulder. “People who are deliriously happy and in love want other people to be deliriously happy and in love. It’s contagious.”
“I’m deliriously happy and in love, and I could give two shits less whether you are or not,” Jace points out.
“Jace!” Brynn smacks his arm, then turns her violet eyes on me. “We want you happy, too, Chris.”
“I know, Pookie.” I wink at her, and I can practically feel the steam coming out of Jace’s ears.
“Call her Pookie again and I’ll cut your balls off.” Jace eyes my groin, and I squeeze my thighs together.
“Noted.”
God, he’s easy to rile.
“Moving on,” I say, holding a hand over my junk because Jace is still glaring. “Think of any romance movie you’ve ever seen starring a grump as one of the main characters. The hero or heroine swoops in, gets them to lower their guard and fall in love, and they magically transform into the version of themselves they were always meant to be, the one before they became bitter and miserable.”
Brynn scrunches her nose. “So, you’re going to make Charlotte fall in love?”
I nod, smugly crossing my arms over my chest.
“By finding her a boyfriend,” she confirms.
“Something like that.” I grin.
“I don’t know . . .” Brynn hedges, chewing her lower lip. “From what I’ve seen over the last year, Charlotte wants casual, like super casual. I’ve seen her mess around with a couple guys since school started at parties and stuff, but she never calls them after. Never pursues anything more. She has zero interest in dating anyone seriously and seems like a one-and-done type of girl.”
“Oh, ye of little faith. That was before Chris Collins.” I wiggle my brows.
Jace barks out a laugh. “Wait a minute. Please tell me you’re not planning on trying to get her to fall in love with you. ”
“That’s exactly what I’m going to do,” I say, feeling my defenses rise.
Brynn winces while Jace continues to laugh like it’s the funniest fucking thing in the world. “Dude, she hates your guts.”
“Hate is a strong word,” I say objectively.
“Brynn, tell him.” Jace turns to her, waiting.
“I mean, these are her words not mine, but she finds you ‘annoying as fuck.’” She makes air quotes with her hands.
I snap my fingers. “And that’s the kind of passion I can work with.”
“You’re delusional,” Jace says.
“No. I’m an optimist. And optimists always win. We get back all of the positive energy we put out into the world. And ambivalence is far worse than loathing. Better for her to feel something for me than nothing at all.”
“Pretty sure the words annoying as fuck is a little stronger than ambivalence, but what do I know?” he says.
Brynn smashes her mouth together, and I’m no expert, but I think she’s stifling a laugh.
“So, how exactly do you plan on wooing the cynical Charlotte Baker?” he asks.
“That’s where I need help,” I say, sliding my phone from the pocket of my joggers. “I already texted the guys in the group chat to get their input.”
“By boys, you mean, my boys?”
“Yes, the boys of Riverside, your sacred little clique,” I say with a roll of the eyes. “They’re the perfect ones to ask because somehow you all have bagged hot chicks. You’re whipped as fuck, but that’s beside the point.”
Jace grumbles something under his breath about not being whipped before he reaches for his phone off the nightstand and says, “Oh, this should be fun.”
“Hey, no fair!” Brynn peers over Jace’s shoulder to get a look at his phone. “Why am I not in the Riverside group chat?”
“Girls can’t be in the group chat, babe,” Jace says like it should be obvious.
“Why not? You’re my boyfriend, and one of those guys is my brother!” She points to the phone. “I think that automatically qualifies me for group-chat status.”
“Babe, if we let you join the group chat, then Mackenzie will want to join. And then we’d have to allow Skylar and Lane in, too. We can’t have a bunch of chicks taking over the chat.”
Jace has point. Mackenzie is Atlas’ girlfriend while Skylar is dating Graham, and Teagan and Lane got together last year. They’re a close-knit group, and if one of the girls gets in on the group chat, all of them will insist on joining.
“I’m with Jace on this one,” I chime in, wincing at the answering scowl directed my way.
Jace reaches out and smoothes a hand down her hair. “Brynn, you know how much I love you, but these are the boys. Just like you need girl time, we need somewhere to talk guy talk without being judged.”
Brynn’s expression softens. “Fine. But I wanna see what they say about this.” She pokes him in the ribs for emphasis.
“Of course. I have zero plans of excluding you from this shit show,” Jace says as he scoots closer to her, and holds his phone out for her to see.
“ SOS ,” Brynn reads my text to the group chat out loud. “ I need your help. I have to make someone fall in love with me, and they’re a tough shell to crack .” She snorts.
“I know what I asked, thank you.” I huff. “No need to read it back to me,” I say as I glance down at my screen and see the responses starting to roll in.
The first message is from Atlas, Riverside’s resident bad boy, turned lovesick fool.
ATLAS :
For clarification purposes, is the nut a dude or a chick?
TEAGAN :
Valid question. We’re not judging, and we’re here for you man, either way.
I scoff at Teagan’s response. He’s Brynn’s twin and the softie of the group, which is funny considering how feisty his sister is.
GRAHAM :
His silence is telling. Must be a dude.
TEAGAN :
Man, why didn’t you just say so?
ATLAS :
This explains a lot.
Hahaha. They think they’re so fucking funny.
With a chuckle, Jace starts to type.
JACE :
Actually, it’s his sister.
My head whips in his direction. “Dude . . .”
“What?” He raises his hands, laughing. “I had to. Besides, it’s the truth.”
“Stepsister, you dick,” I say as I glance back at my phone, preparing myself for the onslaught of texts.
GRAHAM :
Say what now?
TEAGAN :
That’s a little fucked up, even for you.
ME
: Future stepsister. Not my actual sister. There is ZERO blood relation. For clarification, we just found out our parents are engaged.
ATLAS :
Damn. I thought I finally had a reason to block you.
JACE :
I think it complicates things.
GRAHAM :
I mean, it might . . .
“Ooh, ooh. Tell them she hates his guts,” Brynn says, nudging Jace.
“Again, she doesn’t hate my guts,” I protest.
Brynn shrugs. “Hate is subjective.”
JACE :
She hates his guts.
I hit Jace with a withering glare, but all he does is grin while Brynn smiles in approval.
ME :
I annoy her. There’s a difference.
ATLAS :
Shocker.
TEAGAN :
So, let me get this straight. She’s your soon to be stepsister and you annoy the shit out of her. Anything else we should know?
ME :
She can be kind of moody.
GRAHAM :
Are you sure there isn’t anyone else you’d rather seduce?
ME:
Positive. But my charm is lost on her, so I need a play by play of everything you did to make your ladies fall in love with you. And don’t give me some shit about how it just happened. I know what a shit show it was for each of you. Jace told me.
“Damn, bro. That was in confidence, you dick,” Jace hisses.
“It’s okay, baby.” Brynn pats him on the arm, placating him before he turns his attention back to his phone.
GRAHAM :
Love isn’t a math equation. You can’t just replicate a formula for love.
TEAGAN :
Agreed. It wasn’t just one thing, and it kind of varies from person to person. Lane was a single mom when I met her. That changed everything and affected my whole approach.
ME :
Bullshit. I agree some aspects of love are situational, but there are definitely universal fantasies, things chicks dig that get them every time. So spill. This isn’t top secret shit, here. I can’t make a Love Playbook on my own if I’ve never been in love.
“Love playbook?” Jace arches a brow, glancing over at me.
“I may or may not have a blank playbook in my room, waiting for me to fill it with the wisdom of your friends.”
“Wow. You’re even more pathetic than I thought.” He smiles, then starts texting.
JACE :
Just so you know, I had nothing to do with this.
ATLAS :
Wait. You’re making an actual love playbook?
ME :
A book containing the best of the boys of Riverside love strategies and plays? Yes, yes, I am.
TEAGAN :
I have a hate-hate relationship with playbooks. Just so you know.
ME :
I’ll keep that in mind in case you get triggered.
ATLAS :
Are we seriously doing this?
JACE :
He’ll never leave us alone if we don’t.
GRAHAM :
Yup. We’re doing it.
ME :
I knew you’d come around. Now, give me all the pivotal moments, ideas, and things that worked for you. Hit me with your wisdom, oh wise ones.
Jace glances down at Brynn, his aquamarine eyes softening as he asks, “Babe, what’s one thing that really did it for you other than my large co?”
She presses a finger to his lips, silencing him. “You’re so romantic.” She snickers, then softens as she says, “When I got sick and you took care of me. That was a total turn-on, really sealed the deal.”
Jace’s eyes brighten. “It was right after that we . . .” He glances over at me, and I roll my eyes.
“Just share it with the group.”
“Even though I’m sitting right here?” he asks.
“I need it all documented so I can then record it in the playbook.”
“Whatever,” he mumbles and begins to type.
JACE :
I took care of Brynn when she was sick. She loved it.
I frown, my wheels turning as I contemplate how I can apply this to my current situation. “That really worked for you, the whole sick thing?” I ask.
“Totally. I was miserable, but he drove me to the doctor, then made me soup and brought me tea and medicine. He rubbed my back.” Her gaze flickers back to Jace, and they lock eyes. “It was the sweetest thing,” she whispers, then presses a soft kiss to his lips.
“There’s no time for that, guys. Focus,” I say, snapping my fingers. “So, what if Charlotte’s not sick? Do I make her sick?”
“You could trip her on the way to class and hope she sprains an ankle,” Jace suggests, before Brynn pinches him in the side. “ Ow! ”
“Now, there’s an idea,” I point. “Then I can be the knight in shining armor that comes to her rescue. I can carry her everywhere for weeks?to class, the dining hall. She might even need help in the shower. Maybe I can give her a sponge bath.” A devious grin spreads my lips as I picture a nude Charlotte slick with soap, when the sharp sting of a hand slapping my face brings me back to the present.
My eyes focus to find Brynn glaring. “I deserved that.”
“Do not injure her on purpose, Chris Collins,” she says, her tone sharp.
“Fine,” I grumble. “I’ll just have to hope and pray she gets sick.” I roll my eyes. “Lame.”
Jace snickers as our phones chime, and we glance down at the next text.
ATLAS :
Don’t lie.
Jace guffaws, and I realize there must be something I’m missing. I know Atlas had a love triangle thing going with Graham, who is also his cousin, and a shit ton of drama with his junkie father and uncle, but that’s about it.
ME :
Gee, thanks. Didn’t think of that.
ATLAS :
Hey, you never know. Being completely truthful isn’t always as easy as it seems, especially when the truth might hurt her.
GRAHAM :
Don’t friend zone yourself.
TEAGAN :
I disagree. That worked for me.
ME :
You guys suck at this. I’m starting to rethink your words of wisdom.
GRAHAM :
Fine. Scratch that. Find out what she’s into and show an interest. Skylar loved art and drawing. I think the fact I told her how amazing that was and listened to her talk about it meant a lot to her.
ME :
Is it too much to hope she’s into bondage?
“Chris!” Brynn kicks me, and I laugh.
ME :
I digress.
TEAGAN :
Definitely cook for her or bring her food. Chicks love that. I made mac and cheese for Lane and Sophie when we were first talking, and you would’ve thought I handed her a brick of gold. Also, coffee. Buying her coffee never fails.
ME :
Feed her and caffeinate her. Got it.
“This falling in love shit is easy,” I mutter to myself.
ATLAS :
Be the protector. And be possessive. Chicks act like they don’t want a possessive dude, but they dig it, as long as you’re not an asshole and go overboard.
“Got one!” Jace announces, making me jump. Heart racing, I glare at him while he furiously punches out a text.
JACE :
Watch her favorite movie with her, then quote it back to her.
“Really?” I ask, glancing at him for confirmation. “That shit works?”
“Totally made her forgive me for being a dumbass.”
“What movie?” I ask, eyeing Brynn.
“ Bridget Jones’s Diary .” She smiles.
“Shit. I love that movie.”
“Of course you do,” Jace says dryly.
“And that’s why we’re besties.” Brynn beams while Jace’s expression sours.
ATLAS :
Listen to her. If she’s going through something hard, be there for her and help her through it without trying to solve the problem for her.
ME :
This is some good shit. Keep it coming, boys.
“Hang on,” Jace says, setting his phone down on the bed to face me. “Dude, I think you need to think this through.”
“Thinking is overrated,” I say, blowing him off.
“What happens when it ends in disaster? Think long-term. If your parents do get married, then you’re tied to this girl forever. Not to mention, if it blows up in your face prior to them getting married, then she’ll hate your guts even more than she already does, making her even more jaded. Then she’ll really be against your parents getting married.”
“He has a point.” Brynn grimaces.
“Not gonna happen.”
Jace crosses his arms over his chest. “And you know this, how?”
“Because I’m Chris fucking Collins, and I’ll have the Love Playbook,” I say, waving my phone out in front of him. “How could I possibly fail?”