Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
LUKE
I kept my eye on Deidre as soon as Alana showed up to rehearsal. I’ve seen the way they interact hundreds of times when I hung out with Mike at their house since we were six.
Alana appeared to be a sweet, doting mother when the general public was around, but as soon as the doors were closed, she was not a pleasant person.
If Randy, Deidre’s dad, was around, Alana’s true side never showed.
Deidre learned pretty quickly how to take the brunt of her mother’s criticisms and comments.
In the beginning, Dei enjoyed being a gymnast. I remember tagging along a few times to see her competitions Mike when Mike and I had a sleepover.
I’m not sure how early Deidre started as a gymnast, but at some point, she started to hate it despite how good she was.
Dei was getting attention and interest for her to be in the Olympics.
When she was nine, she pitched enough of a fit that her father interjected, allowing Dei to take a short break during the summer.
Deidre loved her coach and teammates from what I remember, but it was her mother pushing her that made Dei crack.
By the time she was twelve, Dei went as far as jumping out of a tree on purpose.
She fractured her right foot and sprained her wrist, ruining her chances as a gymnast.
I stay in the main entrance way to the restaurant to intercede should anything else happen. Dei and Mandy leave the bathroom after about ten more minutes, not noticing that I’m watching. Once I see that their safe in the car, I make my way back to the family.
“She okay?” Mr. Lawrence asks with pain in his eyes.
“She will be.”
“Thanks,” Mr. Lawrence says, looking down.
“She knows you wanted to see her,” I share, putting my hand on his shoulder. “Mandy explained.”
“Good,” Mr. Lawrence sighs. “You’re a good man. Thanks again, Luke.”
“You’re welcome.”
I watch everyone closely as I return to my seat. In less than five minutes, Mike has me pulled to the side to talk.
“What the fuck, man?” he asks heatedly.
“What?” I quip lowly.
“Did you seriously have to do that?”
“Would you have preferred that your mother and Dei continued?”
“No,” Mike replies.
“It wasn’t good, man,” I comment. “Alana was provoking her.”
He takes a controlled breath. “How do you know?”
“Seriously, Mike?”
He rubs the back of his neck. “I know. I know.”
“You knew that there was a good chance of something happening.”
He grimaces and says, “I was hoping it wouldn’t.”
“Make sure you text Dei sometime tonight.”
Mike gives me a questioning glance.
“Dude, it’s that bad. Mandy told her you didn’t even bother to come after her.”
“Okay. Okay. I will. Do you think she won’t come tomorrow?”
I shrug and say, “Don’t know. But if you really want Dei to be there, then you need to talk to her.”
“I’ve got to talk to Mom first,” Mike claims.
“I think that’s a bad idea, man.”
“Why?”
I raise my brow. “I think talking to your dad and explaining stuff to Claire is the best option so this shit doesn’t happen again.”
“Fuck,” Mike huffs. “I should have made you best man.”
I take hold of his shoulder. “I’ll be able to keep an eye on Dei since we’re paired.”
“I’ll talk to Claire, but not until we get home.”
“Sounds good,” I reply. “I’ll talk to your dad.”
For the rest of the night, I keep a close eye on Alana. I check my phone every twenty minutes, hoping that Dei will call or text. My fingers itch to text her, but I know I need to wait until I at least get home.
By eleven, I lie awake in bed, thinking about Dei and the taste of her lips.
My mind drifts to different memories of us together when we were kids, and the nagging thought pops into my head about what she said earlier and the night of the bachelor party.
What did she mean that I was her first kiss, but not her first kiss ?
A kiss, or should I say kisses, that Mike has yet to find out about and never will.
My dick hardens as I recount my lips on hers tonight.
I get up and take a cold shower, but that does little to no good.
The memory of her breasts pressed up against me and the way she kissed me back replay over and over, forcing me to jerk off to what it would be like inside her.
There’s probably some bro-code hell I’m going to for fantasizing about Dei, but it’s worth it if it’ll allow me to get some rest.
By midnight, I still can’t sleep, so I get the gumption to text her. It takes me a few minutes to decide what to say. My fingers type and delete random phrases until my thumb accidentally sends the last one.
Hey, Tyson. You asleep?
Nothing comes in for at least a minute, so I double-check to make sure my sounds are on and then keep looking at the screen every few seconds. Suddenly, my phone chimes and lights up.
Yeah
How you feeling?
K
Dei
What?
You know you can talk to me…just like old times, right?
I’m good. Thanks.
Did Mike call?
Yeah
You two good?
Yep
Fuck — what am I supposed to say to keep her talking?
Shouldn’t you be taking care of your girlfriend?
She’s talking back. That’s a good sign.
Don’t have one, remember?
Oh, yeah LOL
Do you want to be?
Be what?
My girlfriend?
I told you I don’t do boyfriends. Why, you hoping to get laid?
No. Just teasing. Making sure you’re still you.
Still me
Good
Thanks
For what?
You know.
No, I don’t.
For helping.
Anytime, Tyson. You know I’m always in your corner.
You better look sexy for me tomorrow.
What?!
We’ll be together most of the day. I got to know you’re bringing your A game just like me.
You’re bringing your A game?
Yeah. Why?
Who are you trying to impress?
I cringe the second my thumb slips and sends my next message. I don’t want to be this forward, but maybe she’ll think I’m just trying to cheer her up.
You
Only in your dreams.
Goodnight, Luke.
Goodnight, Tyson.