CHAPTER 4 BENNETT
BENNETT
“Did you see that? The giraffe took the lettuce from my hand with its tongue. Simply magnificent,” OC says as he marvels at the giraffes in front of him, putting on a show for the camera.
“Cut, that’s great. Thank you,” the director says. “That should be good for today.”
“You don’t want to do that one scene I suggested?” OC asks, hope in his eyes.
“Um, that’s okay.” The director nods at OC. “Maybe next time.”
OC winks at the director. “I’m holding you to that.” Then he walks over to me and sighs. “Damn it.”
“What was the scene you wanted to do?”
OC turns to me and says, “I had a vision. It was supposed to be with me and Graydon, but since he bounced early from these PR promos, I was going to suggest you.”
“Yeah, and what did you suggest?” I ask, knowing damn well whatever he’s about to say, Graydon never would have participated.
This trio of ours, I’d describe it as eclectic.
We have the grumpy, broody asshole football player who’s struggling with his feelings for a certain flamingo zookeeper.
OC, who plays the fool, can be intensely annoying but also has a huge heart.
And then me, who is smack dab in the middle of those two personalities.
I can be grumpy, but not like Graydon, who snorts steam when he’s angry.
And I can get on board with OC’s antics, but not to the extent where I’m poking the bear—that is Graydon—that should never be poked.
“My thought was we reenact the scene from Ghost with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze, where he holds her from behind and teaches her how to work the clay, but instead of clay, it’s me helping you feed the giraffes while whispering into your ear.”
Given the joy in his expression as he tells me his idea, I almost feel bad telling him he’s an idiot, but that doesn’t stop me.
“You’re an idiot.”
His expression falls. “You know, I’d expect that kind of response from Graydon, but not from you.”
“I think you should expect that response from anyone you tell that idea to.” My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out, seeing two messages, which I must have missed while I was watching OC “delicately” feed a giraffe.
The first one’s from Nolan.
Nolan: By the gate when you’re ready.
I quickly shoot him a text back, letting him know I’ll be right out. I had to take my car in for some new tires today and Nolan said he’d help me out.
The next text is from Bower, which of course makes me smile because I’m a fucking fool and can’t help it.
Bower: Okay, don’t get mad, but I might have spilled some juice on your carpet.
I have spent a lot of time trying to make it seem like it didn’t happen.
But this V8 juice you got has some powerful staining capabilities and you can still see a faint outline of it.
I’m headed to the store to get more products to clean it, but just in case you get home and see it, I didn’t want you to think I’d been stabbed and stolen.
It was just me being clumsy. Also, I’m sorry and I promise I’ll get it out.
Hell, is it too pathetic of me to want her to keep the stain, because then it will remind me of her every time I walk past it?
Probably.
Bennett: Don’t worry if you can’t get it out. It’s fine. No biggie.
“Who are you cheating on me with?” OC asks, arms folded, looking irritated.
“What?” I ask, pocketing my phone and waving to the crew as I take off and head toward the back gate exit.
“I can tell you’re cheating on me with someone you’re texting.”
“Can you not say I’m cheating on you? Jesus, man.”
“Is it Graydon? Do you guys have a secret text thread that I’m not included in? Because that would just about kill me. You know I’m already struggling with the trade, this new PR situation, and not being able to fix things with my ex. I’m delicate.”
“Trust me, I know. Delicate and…needy.”
He follows me toward the gate. “You know, each and every day, you’re starting to sound more and more like Graydon.”
Knowing he is going through a tough time, I turn to him and say, “I’m not cheating on you, trust me. I can’t possibly take on another friend like you.”
He places his hand against his chest, relief spilling through his muscles as he relaxes. “Thank Jesus. You know I’ve been struggling, especially with Grace not answering my messages. I thought she might want to get back together, but I just…I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
I pat him on the shoulder. “Maybe that’s the best thing for both of you.”
He shakes his head and then grows serious. “I can’t get her out of my head.”
Fuck if I know that feeling all too well.
“And this trade to the Rogue has made the situation harder.”
“I get it, man. Maybe give it a day or two and reach out again.”
“Yeah, maybe,” he says and then sighs. “You headed to the stadium?”
“Yup. Game tonight.”
“Well, good luck. Hit me a home run.”
My brow pinches together. “Yeah, don’t see that happening.”
“You fucking wound me,” he says as I move past the gate and spot Nolan in his light blue Porsche Macan.
I open the door and take a seat, buckling up as he speeds off out of the parking lot.
“Jesus,” I say, gripping on to the handle, my back flying against the seat.
He chuckles. “Got to love the acceleration capabilities of an electric vehicle. Will blast your dick right off.”
“I’d prefer to keep my dick intact.”
“Yeah, but what’s life without a little wind in your…frenulum.”
“Jesus.” I cringe. “What is wrong with you?”
“Grew up on a nudist compound.”
“Really?” I ask, glancing at him and the fresh burst fade he must have gotten this morning.
“No.” He laughs. “But fucking imagine growing up and walking around with your parents fucking nude as the day they were born.” He shivers. “That shit is not for me.”
“Yeah, me either.” I stare out the front window as we come to a stoplight. “Hey, so you know that girl that gave you the blow job the other night, the phenomenal one?”
“Do I know her? She made me see fucking Zeus, dude. I touched pointer fingers with him just as I came down her throat.”
Why do I feel like Nolan and OC would be best friends?
“Yeah, well, are you dating her?”
He glances at me, a smile tugging on his lips. “Why? You want to experience the power of Zeus yourself?”
“What? No.” I shake my head. “No, that’s not…”
He chuckles. “Dude, your face is red.”
Yeah, I can feel my cheeks heating.
“That’s not why I was asking.”
“Why were you asking? Looking for a sister or a best friend with the same technique? I’d ask her but don’t have her number. She was a random hookup, but I can tell you where I met her, maybe we can scout out the bar and ask her questions about her blow job techniques.”
I did not enter into this topic of conversation correctly, I can see that now.
“No, I was just wondering if you were dating anyone.”
“Oh…why? You interested?”
I drag my hand down my face, exasperated with this conversation. “Not for me. I have a friend that was interested in you, but I told her that you were dating someone.”
“Interested in me?” He glances at me. “I could see that. I’m fucking hot and women love the crop top. What’s her name? I can tell her you were misinformed and take her out tonight after the game.”
Over my dead fucking body.
Also, I do think women like the crop top, as it shows off his stupid abs. The number of signs I see for him in the stands every day is fucking stupid. Then again, there are a lot for me as well and I’m not wearing crop tops…
But back to the matter at hand.
“She’s not up for grabs.”
“Oh?” he asks, glancing over at me. “Wait, is this the girl that makes you come in your pants when she texts you?”
“I do not come in my pants.” But my dick might get excited, that’s for damn sure. “And yes, it’s her.”
“The girl you have had a massive crush on, she likes me?” Nolan smirks, mirth all over his face.
“It’s not fucking funny,” I say.
“I don’t know, feels comical to me.”
“You’re a dick.”
“Come on, it’s not like I’d make a move on her or anything, especially knowing your reaction to her whenever she texts you. My question to you is: Why are you telling me this?”
Annoyed, I say, “Because she asked if you were single and I told her that you were seeing someone, and I was thinking about asking her to meet me at Maritime after the game for a few drinks and since I know you frequent there, I didn’t want it to be…well, awkward.”
“Because you want all of the attention on you.”
“Pretty much.”
He slowly nods. “Let me ask you this, are you going to make a move on her?”
“I don’t know,” I say, pushing my hand through my thick hair, feeling weird that I’m not wearing a baseball cap. “I mean, I want to, and I feel like the stars are aligned for that to happen.”
“So what’s the hesitation?”
“For one, she’s my sister’s best friend. She’s known me since I was sixteen, she’s eight years older than me, and I think she still sees me as a gangly teenager.”
“Eight years older?” Nolan asks, a raise to his brow. “Dude, that’s hot. What I wouldn’t give for an older woman.” He grips the steering wheel tighter. “If it doesn’t work out for you, do you think I can give it a go?”
“No,” I say through clenched teeth, causing him to laugh.
“I’m just kidding. I won’t hit on her. Instead, I’ll be your wingman, talk you up, help her see that you’re a mature man now, no longer a teenager.”
“I don’t need you to do that.”
He pats my leg. “Trust me, from the way your cheeks redden when you talk about her, you do. Listen, tonight, we’ll tag team, watch me work my magic. You’ll be going home with her tonight, and not for her to sleep on the couch, but to sleep in your bed.”
“Are you sweating?” Nolan asks.
“What? No.”
“You’re glistening.”
“Where?” I ask, panic filling me. Bower will be here any second and the last thing I want is for her to walk up to me while I’m a sweaty mess.
“Nose,” Nolan says and hands me a napkin.
I quickly wipe at my nose. “That better?”
“No, you need another swipe.”