Chapter Two
Brayden
S ometimes Dad tries a little too hard to make up for Mom’s neglectful tendencies. This whole birthday party he’s throwing me is kind of embarrassing. There’s no better way to broadcast what a lonesome loser you are than to have your dad invite all your neighbors in lieu of actual friends.
The one real friend I have here was an arranged friendship that Dad organized for me.
Seriously, why am I so fucking awkward when it comes to people?
My phone buzzes and I snatch it from my pocket, eager to do something with my hands. Standing around waiting for people to arrive is too much for my nerves. I don’t like being on display. I like to observe rather than be the one being watched.
Savvy: I’m so sorry I’m going to miss your party. Got called into work. I’m still new, so I don’t want to make Aiden or Vale mad.
I deflate now that even my arranged friend can’t make it.
What if the only person to show up is Dad?
Can we just go to dinner at my favorite diner instead like I originally wanted to do?
“Someone looking for a keg?”
The deep voice belongs to one of the beer bros. I smirk because Kevin and his brother Tyler are the kings of beer. While they’re older than me and way more social, I do like them. I’m even more grateful at least someone other than my dad will be here.
“Wow, a keg?” I smirk at Kevin. “You seriously overestimate my ability to draw a crowd.”
Kevin saunters in, flip flops smacking the linoleum, dragging a keg on a dolly behind him.
He’s wearing a pink shirt that says, “I’m a Barbie girl,” that’s a few sizes too small.
My guess is one of the chicks he parties with left it at his house on the floor and he put it on, far too lazy to hunt for something in his own closet.
It amazes me how the beer bros have a steady stream of women.
Still working out that mystery in my head.
Dad abandons the food table where he’s been obsessively fanning out cheese slices to greet Kevin. “Thanks, man. I owe you one.”
“Remember that when rent is late again.” Kevin flashes his most charming grin.
Dad must be nervous because he nods in agreement before stalking back over to the food table.
I love my dad. He’s a great parent, but he’s more than that. When Mom left to pursue having a new family, he filled in the void, sometimes going overboard with attention and interaction with me. As a result, I think of him as my best friend. Which, in turn, makes me feel like a loser. Again.
Maybe I should take Kevin and Tyler up on their numerous offers and actually go to one of their parties. I could connect with people on my own, without needing Dad to facilitate for me.
Tyler drags in a few minutes later. I’m pretty sure he has vomit on his shirt and probably didn’t shower. I think the beer bros are enrolled in college, but no one really knows for sure if they actually attend or not.
Cole and Travis show up next. Travis still wears his electrician uniform, having not changed after work, and grins when he sees me.
Cole, a serious cop and my dad’s best friend— who he’s not related to—is stoic as he follows.
The two of them are dating Savvy. At the same time.
If I knew her better, I would ask more questions about their relationship dynamics.
It’s intriguing, but if I’m being honest, would seem overwhelming if you were in it.
I can barely make friends, much less satisfy two people at the same time.
Do they have sex together all at once?
Cole extends his hand, and I shake it, face burning hot. He’s used to seeing right through people’s crap because of his job. I wonder if he knows what I was just thinking about.
Think about anything else, man.
Anything else.
“Happy birthday, kid,” Cole says, expression giving nothing away. “Savvy felt horrible she couldn’t come. She said she’ll take you to lunch one day soon to make up for it.”
“No problem,” I assure him.
Is my face still red as a tomato?
As people arrive, I’m forced to mingle and talk. Since most of the guests are tenants at Moonlit Gables, I know these people. At least talking about Gordon’s death and the updates needed for his unit keep me from thinking about sex positions that Cole and Travis partake in.
People have brought presents which makes me uncomfortable. I don’t need or want anything. Do I open them in front of them or do I take them home to look at later? What’s the protocol?
I’m fidgeting, wondering about the gift situation, when two women arrive. I immediately recognize them. Clara and Casey. Clara, our neighborhood gossip, flits around like a butterfly to each group, hugging and laughing with people. Casey hangs back.
Casey is my next-door neighbor.
I feel guilty that I was glad to learn Derek moved out. Their fighting got worse and worse as time went on, penetrating through their walls and into my room. It was maddening to listen to.
But now they’ve split, and Casey is… lost .
She bites on her glossy bottom lip, shifting from foot to foot.
Lately, I’ve only seen her outside wearing a T-shirt and leggings.
Today, she looks great in a pair of fitted jeans and a mauve-colored off-the-shoulder top that accentuates her nice breasts.
Her blond hair has been curled in loose waves and pulled over one shoulder.
Derek really lost out on a beautiful woman.
I have the overwhelming urge to go talk to her—like maybe I could make her smile. It’s strange when my legs start moving on their own accord. My heart hammers in my chest as I worry about looking like a damn fool in front of this woman.
What if she laughs at me for striking up a conversation?
I stop when I’m close enough to reach out and touch her. I don’t. Instead, I inhale her sweet, perfumed scent. It’s a lovely smell—like the tiger lilies that grow all around the complex ponds.
“Hey,” I say, voice sounding gritty and hardly audible from lack of use. I clear my throat and try again. “Hey.”
She snaps her head up and meets my gaze. Her blue eyes, though clouded with pain, are brilliant and bright. I find myself marveling at how they glitter with the reflecting lights.
“Hey,” she says, voice soft. “Happy birthday.”
Her cheeks turn red, and she cuts her eyes away from me. I reach up and awkwardly rub at the back of my neck. This seemed easier in my head. Now that I’m here, I don’t know what to say to her.
“Thanks for coming,” I blurt out, lamely.
“Of course.”
Okay, this sucks. I’m the worst conversationalist. She probably wants me to go the fuck away.
And yet…I can’t move.
“You look beautiful.”
You look beautiful?
Am I just blurting out random thoughts now?
What the actual fuck?
Her head jerks back up and she frowns at me. “What?”
She’s going to make me say it again.
Fuck.
“I, uh, said you look beautiful.” My skin is hot, and I feel like a moron. “Is that okay for me to say that?”
She crosses her arms over her chest and all it does is make her breasts smash together, highlighting the cleavage. Like an idiot, I lick my lips. And thank God for baggy jeans because I’m pretty sure my cock is filling with blood right now, growing uncomfortably hard.
“Yeah,” she murmurs. “I just, thought maybe I misunderstood.”
Not sure how she can get confused. Surely, she sees herself in the mirror each morning. Probably has people tell her all damn day.
“How was work?” Again, I really, really suck at talking. Kill me now. “Any good cases?”
Thankfully, she brightens at my question. “It’s great. I love helping people. Physical therapy is a great way to hear people’s stories. It’s very intimate, you know?”
All I can do is focus on how her pretty lips move and words come out. How do men survive when she’s their physical therapist? The idea of her dainty hands rubbing all over me is enough to have me stifling a groan.
“Cool,” I mutter.
Cool?
If only my legs would move, and I could run far away from my stupid mouth.
“Yeah.” She tucks a blonde strand of hair behind her ear and looks at me from beneath her thick lashes. “How’s painting going?”
At least she’s throwing me a bone. Literally. I clasp my hands over my crotch, so she doesn’t notice.
“It’s going to need a few coats,” I tell her as I think about Gordon’s old place. “It reeks of smoke. I’m going to have to rip up all the carpet too.”
Is she bored to tears yet?
Why is she lingering when I’m so fucking bad at carrying on a normal conversation?
“Sounds intense.”
I nod because this chat with her is intense . Being so close to her I can smell her scent is intense . Staring down at her sexy cleavage is intense .
“Want a drink?” I ask, voice gritty again. “Kevin brought a keg. Can’t promise it’ll taste good.”
“You’re still a baby,” she says, lips curling into a teasing smile. “And there are police here. You sure you can drink?”
Her teasing puts me at ease. Playfully, I scratch at my jaw with my middle finger. This makes her giggle which makes me grin.
Okay, man, this is better.
Relax.
I motion for her to follow me, and my legs begin working again. Once at the keg, I fill a red solo cup with the warm beer and hand it to her. Her fingers brush against mine sending jolts of electricity through me.
With heat burning my face, I hide my reaction to our touch to fill up my own cup. It’s a long enough distraction to hide my obvious attraction to her.
Casey Monroe is way out of my league.
Flirting with her is just cruel to my heart.
Is that what we’re doing? Flirting?
Poor Savvy. Little does she know, I’m about to unload this entire evening on her later because I need advice. I don’t date girls because they’re not interested in the quiet, awkward guy with no life. I certainly don’t date women.
Casey is all woman.
When she’s been with a good looking, muscular guy like Derek, it’d be stupid to think she’d downgrade to someone like me.
“So,” she says and then sips her beer.
“So,” I mimic. “I’m sorry. If you want to go talk to someone normal, go ahead.”
She giggles again. The sound is sweet and genuine. I want to hear it a lot more. It’s better than the crying I sometimes hear coming from her place.
“You’re funny.” She glances over at Clara who’s flirting heavily with Travis, but he’s clearly not interested. “I’d rather be talking to you. Clara is making it her mission for me to get over Derek.” Her shoulders tense up. “Sorry. I know you don’t want to talk about that.”
“I want to talk about whatever you want to talk about,” I say too quickly. God, I sound so desperate. “I mean, or whatever.”
She flashes me a grateful smile. “You’re sweet.”
Funny. Sweet. Datable?
“Now that you’re officially an adult,” Savvy says, “what are your big plans? You graduate soon. College? Trade school?”
The hope I had flaring inside of me is dashed by her questions.
I have no big plans.
I’m not going to college like she did.
I’ll still be doing the same thing I’m doing, but without school, I can do it full time.
“My cat is missing,” Maggie announces from the doorway as she enters. “Brayden, I need your help.”
I’ve never been so grateful for that old woman in my entire life.
For once, her interruption is welcomed.