Chapter 5
5
Sam
Halfway through the movie, Josie’s eyelids begin to droop. My arm is still strategically placed on the back of the couch behind her. A few minutes later, as I hoped, she snuggles against my side, eyes closed. I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pull her closer, and move the blanket to drape over us. Damn she feels good in my arms. She fits against my side perfectly. I’m even more determined now to get her to be mine.
I was blown away when I got here and she was watching The One. It’s an older movie and one of my favorites. I damn near dropped to me knee and begged her to marry me when she put on Die Hard. My cock has been hard since she opened the door, and I saw her irritation quickly dissolve at seeing me. Her choice in movies has certainly not helped the situation.
I hear her softly snore and nuzzle her hair with my nose. She smells incredible. Like oranges and vanilla. I gently kiss her hair wishing I can kiss more. Not yet. Soon. I need to figure out the Laura complication first.
I know Laura’s reputation. She’s a serial dater and that’s not my style. I rarely date. It’s hard to find a girl interested in me for the right reasons. If they aren’t interested in me for my father’s money, they’re interested in my potential as a professional baseball player.
I’ve had my share of hookups. I’m at a different stage now. I’m a senior, much to the chagrin of my father. He wanted me to enter the draft end of last school year when I was eligible. He wants me to fulfill his dream of being a professional baseball player, which ended after an injury in college.
We compromised. I’ll finish my degree then join the draft, and he won’t cut off my brothers. They’ll both get access to trust funds if they graduate. That was my father’s requirement of them. Graduate and you get your money.
For me, it was get drafted and you get yours. It’s why I work a lot during the off-season – to save for when I stop obeying his demands. I will obey for now, but only so long as absolutely necessary to ensure my brothers get their trust funds. I want a degree for afterwards. He can take his trust fund for me and shove it up his ass.
But my brothers need theirs. Maybe not Seb as he has his own thing going on, but I can’t stomach either of them losing their trusts because of me. So, I play baseball. I enjoy it, but I don’t want to make a career out of it.
I prefer something quieter. With numbers. Like financial advising. I’ve re-invested much of Mr. Westerly’s savings, and he can now retire comfortably anytime. But the old man likes keeping the grocery store around for something to do though.
The movie finishes, but I don’t want to get up. There is something special between me and Josie. She believes we can’t be more than friends because of Laura. I don’t get it. Laura and I never dated. I thought I made it clear I was not interested in her.
But Laura isn’t getting the message. She texted me earlier to ask if I wanted to pick her up and go get a drink. I declined and told her I have plans. It wasn’t a lie. I planned to bring Josie soup.
“Hey sweetie. Let’s get you to bed.” I nudge Josie. She hums. I lift her in to my arms bridal style and carry her to her room. She feels good in my arms. I have to tell my cock she needs rest and we are just friends for now. Emphasis on the for now .
I know which room is hers because of the Ice Cats wreath on the door. I didn’t even know they made those. This. Woman. Her room is softly lit by a lava lamp on a desk in the corner. I place her in the center of her bed and cover her with blankets. Fuck, I want to climb in with her and snuggle all night.
Not yet. I have to work to do. Have to convince her how good we are for each other first and fix the Laura situation. I reluctantly leave her room. I twist the doorknob lock on the front door as I leave the house to make sure it’s locked. My phone pings as I get into my truck.
Laura: Whatcha doing Saturday night? Wanna hit up the Kappa Kappa party?
Me: That’s not my scene.
Laura. Oh come on. It’ll be fun. You’ll get to hang out with me.
Me: I have plans already.
Laura: You’re missing out. I got a new dress for the party. I’ll have to model it for you soon.
How many times will I have to turn Laura down before she gets a hint? She’s tenacious. Need to call in reinforcements. Thankfully, I have a brother with some experience in dealing with persistent women. Girls like future rockstars as much as they like future professional ball players. Hopefully, he can help before I lose my mind waiting to be with my girl.
My girl. I like the sound of that.
I walk into my house and said brother, Seb, is sitting on the couch devouring a pizza. Which he won’t clean up. Which I will have to clean up. Lucky me.
“What’s got your panties in a twist?” He says around a mouthful of pizza as I flop down on the couch and frown at him.
“A woman.”
“Well fuck me with a potato masher.”
“Which side? The handle or the masher?”
“Now that’s a fascinating conundrum.” He replies. I raise my eyebrow. Leave it to Seb to think that’s a difficult problem to solve. I do not want to know what he’s been doing in his spare time other than making messes and not cleaning them up.
“You never have trouble getting a girl. What’s the problem? She not putting out?” He takes another bite of pizza. I punch him in the shoulder. He grins around a mouthful.
“Her best friend.”
“Uh. I’m going to need some more info here.”
“Short version. Met her best friend first. Her best friend wants me. I don’t want the best friend. Girl friend-zoned me because of the best friend.”
“So what’s wrong with the best friend? She ugly?”
“No. Nothing is wrong with her except she plays the field a lot. You know that’s not my type. She also hates sports but lied about it.”
“Most girls do.”
“Not my girl. She’s an Ice Cats fan.”
“Marry her.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“Right. You gotta get rid of the best friend complication first.”
“Yeah. But how?”
“Easy. Get her interested in someone else. Is she hot?”
“She’s your type. She asked me to the Kappa Kappa party tomorrow night.” I cringe.
“Perfect. I’ll take one for the team so you can get your girl.”
“Listen to you and all your sports references.”
“You owe me some of your fancy number juju when I sell my first single.”
“Deal.” I would have done that anyway. Seb has been blowing off classes to finish his demo. Our father doesn’t know and assumes he’s still on track for the business degree he is demanding Seb obtain. But Seb is a genius songwriter and a hell of a guitarist. It shouldn’t be long before he can get out from under our father.
The rest of the week goes by at a snail’s pace, and I haven’t seen Josie. It’s making me grumpy. We’ve been texting, but I’m dying to see her. Work and training have kept me busy the last few days. I’ll need to stop working at the end of the month for the season, so I’m trying to fit in extra hours.
Seb and I plan for him to “meet” Laura on Friday, since Laura and I both close. It’s almost closing when Seb sends me a text that he’s here. I’ve been in the office processing paperwork but step out to meet Seb at Laura’s register as we planned.
“Hey bro. Whatcha up to tonight?” Laura looks over at me, to my brother, then back to me. We look alike despite having different mothers. I’m more muscular being an athlete. Seb’s hair is the same dark brown but long and shaggy like the future rockstar he is.
“You two know each other?” She asks.
“Oh, yeah. This is my brother, Sebastian. Seb, this is my coworker, Laura.” Seb winks at her.
“Nice to meet you gorgeous. Sam didn’t tell me he worked with such a pretty lady.” He grabs her hand and brings it to his mouth for a kiss. He’s laying it on thick. I fight the temptation to roll my eyes. She smiles and blushes, not taking her eyes of him.
“Nice to meet you too, Seb.”
“Whatcha doing tomorrow night, sweetheart?”
“Nothing yet.”
“Come with me to the Kappa Kappa party. It’s going to be hot. Suppose to have a rockin’ DJ.”
“Oh, uh.” Laura glances at me.
“Seb’s a good guy. He’ll treat you right.” I hold my breath waiting for her response.
“Sure. Yes. That sounds great.”
“Laura, if you need a ride home, I’m not going to be able to get out of here for a while. Gotta finish up some paperwork.”
“Oh, I do. I can wait.”
“I can give her a ride home.” Seb states, another part of our plan. I do have paperwork to finish, but it won’t take me more than 5 minutes. Laura doesn’t need to know that.
“You’re okay with that?”
“Of course beautiful. Gives me more time to spend with you.” Seb winks at her again. Smooth. He’s a bit of a player. Okay. He’s a lot of a player, but I’m desperate for Laura to move on from her obsession with me so I can date Josie.
“Thank you.” The two stare at each other.
“Okay. I gotta get back to work. See you two later.” I turn and head back to the office with a smile. Now’s time for the next phase of my plan. My not-a-date with Josie is tomorrow.