4. Rocky
four
Rocky
Walking behind the girls, I know I have no right to be mad, but damn, do I want her bad. I knew she was a head turner. Fuck.
She’s with my sister, and I don’t think I have ever seen Autumn in anything so revealing. As her brother, I want to cover her up, but I’m also so proud of her. She is coming out of her shell, and I love this for her. I see the way Talon and those other guys are eyeing the two up.
I want to make Monti mine, but I need to play the long game. I see the shadows her eyes and I want to be the one that drives them away.
I want to get to know her more. I know I need to slow down because I don’t know her from someone else on the street. But she calls to me like a siren. Her eyes, her voice, the way she smiles. Her sassy attitude and her take no shit demeanor is electrifying.
I saw her checking me out. I also saw how she didn’t want to give me the time of day because Addison is always around. She doesn't know that Addison and I are only friends. I guess I need to make that clear.
When Montana showed up today, it felt like she sucker-punched me in the gut. She’s naturally beautiful, and her freckles are on full display. She’s not wearing any makeup other than some lip gloss that makes her plump lips look delicious enough to devour. I don’t know how I will do that when all these fuckers keep staring.
“Dude, you’re going to break your teeth if you clench your jaw any harder.” Talon laughs.
“Talon, you heard what the bet was. I don’t want her lips anywhere near them. Or I swear to god, I will beat the shit out of that fucker.”
“Just watch. She won’t lose. I’ll let you in on a little secret—one thing about my cousin, if she makes a bet with you, don’t take it,” he says with a chuckle.
I look over at Montana and Autumn and they are standing by tweedle-dee and tweedle-dumb. Her sultry laugh is a sweet song I don't ever want to get out of my head, but I can already tell her smile is reserved, and it's not the one she gives me. And that alone makes me want to beat my chest like a caveman. I could stare at Montana all day and I would never get tired of it. She put her shorts on over her bottoms before we walked over but they still aren’t hiding anything. Her bikini top covers her tits, and I want to be the necklaces that lay between them. I notice she has a sternum tattoo and I want to know about all of her tattoos.
Taylor Swift starts to play, and the girls start to sing along. Damn, Monti has an amazing voice.
I’m broken out of my Montana trance when Addison walks up.
“Rocky, here you are. Want to go back and swim? It’s hot.”
Just then, Montana's head turns towards us, and she looks at me as Autumn says something to her, and she shakes her head and turns her back to me.
Hmm, interesting.
“Nah, I want to see this.” I cross my arms, and I’m pretty sure I hear Talon and Xander chuckle next to me.
She rolls her eyes and stands next to me. Her friends come over and grab her, then she ends up going back over to Xander’s house.
She’s a great friend. Xander always gives me shit about Addison, but she’s a nice person once you get to know her. We met freshman year when I was the backup quarterback, and I was her football player for the season. What I mean by that is the cheerleaders and the football players are linked, and the cheerleaders make gift baskets for the players at the beginning of the season. It’s a tradition that started at SBU back when Romeo Taylor was playing here. His girlfriend Talia started it and it took off.
They are setting up to play the beer pong game now, and my girl looks in her element. My girl . She and Autumn are talking, and my sister looks nervous. Montana is trying to calm her down and tell her not to worry. Shit, I’m worried. I don’t want her to kiss anyone else—I want her to kiss me. Soon.
When the game starts, they do eye to eye to see who goes first. Montana sinks her first cup. She looks over to Talon and smiles. He is grinning from ear to ear.
“Is that your man?” one of the guys’ asks. .
“No, that’s my cousin, Talon.”
His smile gets brighter, straight white teeth on full display at my statement and his ball lands in the middle cup.
“Drink up, gorgeous.”
She drains her cup. Autumn goes and bounces the ball and sinks it. Blondie has to drink two cups. She smiles so wide. I love this side of her. She's free.
Montana is up next. She tosses the ball right into the cup and she makes an island with the cups. I feel like she’s a mastermind because she sinks it into the cup she called, and they both need to drink, and take a shot. I’m beginning to understand why Montana took that bet. She’s really good.
“How in the world is she so good?”
“Her uncle. He’s only ten years older than her. He taught her at a young age. He said he didn't want, and I quote ‘someone’s dusty ass son trying to impress her with a game of beer pong.’ Went over real well with her dad.” He laughs.
“She won't have to kiss them?”
“Not unless she wants to and throws the game.” He smirks.
Yeah, my dentist is going to be on call with this woman. She will be my undoing. I’ll get gray hair earlier than usual because of her. I chuckle to myself.
The guys have one cup left and Autumn is up. The girls have three cups left. Autumn tosses the ball, and it swirls the cup, and they finger it out. Fuck .
The guys make a shot, and it lands inside the cup. Now the girls are down to two cups, and Montana is up next. She’s acting like she’s about to toss the ball in and then she looks at me in my eyes and tosses the ball. She makes the shot, and everyone is hollering cheers because they won. Xander and Talon go over to them and hug them. I follow behind and hug Autumn first, then I hug Montana. She feels so good in my arms. Breathing her in, she smells like her sunblock but also like cotton candy.
The other guys walk over, and I reluctantly let her go.
“Damn, Monti, you’re really good. Autumn, you are too. I, for sure, thought this was going to be an easy win. No offense.”
Monti scoffs, but smiles. “Well, boys, I’ll let you in on my secret. My uncle has been playing with me since I was ten. He’s ten years older than me and is more like an older brother than my uncle.” She smirks.
They groan, and throw their heads back. Looks like you ain’t getting that kiss now, boys. I want to stick my tongue out at them like a fucking child.
“Alright, you win. A bet’s a bet. What kind of alcohol do y’all want?”
“Do you have Malibu Rum? If so, we’ll take that one.”
The guys walk away and grab the brand-new bottle and hand it to them.
“So, I know we lost, but do you think I can still get that kiss?” Ty asks.
“Nah, playboy, you lost,” Talon speaks up first.
Thank god he said something, because if they thought they were going to get a kiss from my girl they have another thing coming.
Monti smiles and starts to walk away.
“Monti, can I at least get your number?” Chase asks.
She looks at me, and then to Chase and she politely tells him no.
Thank you, sweet baby Jesus.
She had every right to give him her number, but thank fuck, she didn’t.
No hands by Waka Flocka Flame is blasting through the boombox. My eyes always seems to find Montana and I can see her singing the song and dancing to it and my sister is dancing right along and laughing. I love how free Montana is, she is like a breath of fresh air, and I love how she’s rubbing off on my little sister. After swimming, all the food we cooked and ate, most of it Xander’s mom prepared for us. Everything turned out phenomenal. Xander’s dad is Creole from New Orleans, and his mom was born here in Minnesota—so we had a mixture of food.
It’s a little cooler out now that the sun was starting to set. Sending a thank you to Mother Nature because if another man looks at Montana like they want to devour her, I will lose my ever-loving mind. She’s sitting around the fire with Autumn, wearing my sweatshirt that I offered when she was cold. She looks damn good in my clothes. She’s sitting there laughing and talking to my sister like they have known each other their whole lives. I’m walking back to the girls with their drinks—a Dr. Pepper for Montana, and water for my sister.
When she spots me walking towards them, the smile she gives me could light up a stadium. I take a seat next to her on the ground around the fire. Most girls I know would complain the whole time if they had to sit on the ground, but she is so down to earth, she doesn’t mind.
As the sun sets even more, I glance down at Montana as the golden hour sun makes her look even more beautiful and I didn’t think that was possible. Come on pretty girl, look at me. And if it was an answer from the Gods above, she graces me with her gorgeous eyes and the corner of her mouth lifts.
“Like what you see Savage?” She smirks.
“Abso-fucking-lutely.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls.” She rolls her eyes playfully.
“Nah Killer, just you.”
She looks down bashfully and looks back at me. We face off for what seems to be forever until Autumn takes her attention away from me, and just like that I miss those hazel eyes.
I hear some commotion to the right of me, and I see Xander arguing with a pretty petite redhead girl. If looks could kill, Xander would be twelve feet under. The fire burning in her emerald eyes show that she does not like him. At all.
Montana stands and starts to walk towards the feisty girl, who looks like she could give Montana a run for her money. The redhead looks pissed off and ready to take Xander’s head off. She is talking adamantly with her hands and all of a sudden, she flips Xander off with her short black manicured finger. Man, I wonder what the hell is going on. Xander is one of the nicest people I know. How could anyone hate him?
“Who’s that?” I ask no one in particular.
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen her before,” Autumn says.
“Damn, Montana, I didn’t know you were slumming it with the All-American Rejects.” The redhead smirks.
“Awe, boo!” Montana pouts her bottom lip and says, “You know I'll always make time for my favorite redheaded reject.” She runs to her, and they hug. “Oh my gosh, I’m so happy to see you! It’s been too long. I’ve missed you. Thank you again for reaching out when my parents passed.” They do that girly squeal girls do.
“Autumn, come here. Come meet my friend from high school,” she insists.
She gets up and walks over to them hesitantly, but the smiles on their faces tell me that they are happy to welcome her into their duo and make it a trio. I am so glad she is including Autumn and introducing her to her friend.
“Marley, this is Autumn. Autumn, this is Marley.”
I’m not purposely eavesdropping, but my ears do perk up at the conversation they are having.
“Monti, I’m glad to see you dumped that loser, Dylan. And you know I loved your parents. Your dad would always bring your cars to us, and your mom would always bring us her bomb Puerto Rican food. It means more to me than you’ll ever know.” She gives a small smile.
“My dad trusted your dad. He wouldn't bring them to just anyone. My mom loved you; she was always saying how amazing you are. But when Dylan did what he did to me, it kind of leaves you no other options.” She shrugs.
She scrunches her nose. “Eww, and with Holly. I never liked her. She so badly wanted to be you. I was honestly scared for your life,” she says, dramatic as fuck with her eyes going wide and her hand flying to her chest.
They laugh, talking a bit more about anything and everything. Xander walks over to where we are, and he sits down next to Talon and I, frustrated with the whole situation.
“Bro, who is that and who is she to you?”
“That is the bane of my existence. Her name is Marley Battle. I hate her, she is nothing to me,” he scoffs as he shakes his head.
With that, he doesn’t say anything else, and I drop it. When he wants to talk about it then he’ll come to me.
The girls walk back, sitting next to us by the fire, but they are whispering amongst themselves.
Chismosas .
I turn to them and they both smile.
“What?”
“Nothing,” they both say together.
Well, this just got interesting. I know they know something. I guess we’ll find out in time. They have their s’mores stick loaded with marshmallows, and I swear Montana and Autumn are like night and day. Montana doesn’t like her marshmallow burnt, while Autumn does. Autumn likes extra chocolate on hers, while Montana doesn’t have any on hers.
Just when I want to talk to Montana, the fireworks start, and she looked up in awe. She looks like a child seeing them for the first time.
“I love fireworks, they’re my favorite. I used to watch them with my parents all the time. It was something we loved doing. If they were still alive, I know my dad would have found the best in the state to take me,” she says with a sad smile.
What I wouldn’t give to bring back her normal happy smile. I want to see that all the time. What this girl does to me, I want to give her the best fireworks in the state too.
“If we walk over towards the lake more, we can see different sets of fireworks lighting up the whole lake. Walk with me?”
“Okay.”
We’re watching them together and she’s standing close to me. If I move just a centimeter, our hands would be touching.
I move my hand and our pinkies link. I look down at her and she’s looking up with wide eyes and I want to kiss her so bad. I lean in, and her breath hitches. I don’t think she will stop me from kissing her. Suddenly, she puts her freshly manicured hand on my chest.
While still looking up at me, she starts saying the words I never want to hear.
“Look, Rocky, you seem like a nice guy, but I’m not one to go for players. I saw you with the blonde girl, and it looks like she’s into you. I’m not here for drama. I just got out of a shitty relationship where I was cheated on. I don’t want to be one of many, I want to be the only one.”
I stand there stunned, and ask myself what the fuck just happened? Oh no, this won’t do. I need to show her she has it all wrong. It’s okay, I'm a patient man.