Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Hayes
Lounging back on the couch, I kick my feet up on the coffee table.
The cold beer in my hand does nothing to calm my edginess from earlier.
The girls escaped to their bathroom to get ready for dinner tonight and we haven't seen them since. I’m itching to drag Charlie out of there just to be near here, but I know that would be counterintuitive. Distance is better, safer.
Drew plops himself down in the armchair across from me, taking up more space than I thought possible. He's not that much bigger than I am—a few inches in height—but sitting in that chair makes him look like a giant trying to fit into a toddler’s chair.
"You comfortable? Looks like your big ass is going to break that chair."
He chuckles back. "I'll just tell mom it was you when it snaps."
Everett sits off to the side at the kitchen counter, snacking on food from the large birthday basket my mom ordered. "Happy to go along with that story!"
"The fuck? It's my birthday. Where's the love?"
"Speaking of love. What was with Odessa's 'lovebird' comment down at the pool?" Drew throws out the question like he's genuinely confused.
Guilt hits me as I nervously glance between him and a laughing Everett who says. "Don't act like you don't know!"
"Know what?" Drew looks at me, eyebrows raised.
"Shit. You naive SOB. Hayes has been in love with Char since what? Our senior year?"
"Fuck off, Everett." I grumble out. I don't want to see the hurt on Drew's face right now so I grab some mints and pop them into my mouth. Drew and I have been best friends since we were babies and we’ve always told each other everything.
He's ranted for hours about any guy Charlie has ever talked to and how they aren't good enough for her. I’m not the exception here, I’m the rule.
He hasn't just seen the worst of me; he's been there right alongside me through it all.
He knows how fucked my head is because his is the same.
There's no way he'll be okay with me having feelings for her.
"You love Charlie? Does she know?" I finally look up and see his shocked expression. At least he's not yelling at me or throwing a punch. Yet.
"She doesn't know."
"No fucking way, man. You pussy! Why haven't you told her?" Not at all the reaction I was expecting, but a small flicker of relief lights through my chest.
Everett's grinning like a cheshire cat from his stool. "He was too afraid you'd kick his ass."
I reach for the throw pillow and lob it at his head. He catches it and cackles his signature Everett cackle.
"She's young and she's your sister. She's always been off-limits."
Drew shakes his head and looks at me like I'm crazy. "You're the best guy I know. Why wouldn't I want my sister to be with you? There's no one in the world more loyal and protective than you. I just can't believe I didn't see it before! It all makes sense, though. You talk to her more than I do."
"After all the shit we've seen and done?
We're still in it! We could be leaving soon, again.
You want your sister wrapped up in that?
Like our mom's were." I scoff, knowing I hit a sensitive subject.
Our dad's met during the first phase of hell week and became best friends.
They didn't get out of the Navy until Drew and I were in elementary school.
Our mom's were saints, raising us alone while our dad's were always deployed or training.
"That's not for either of us to decide. Charlie is strong enough to make that decision by herself."
"She's too good for me." I shake my head; he's still not getting it. Even with his blessing, I won't drag her down into my darkness.
"She's too good for anyone! But there isn't a man out there that would treat her better than you would."
"I might." Everett shrugs and winks at me. I know he's fucking with me, trying to ease the tension but I still want to throttle him for the insinuation.
"See? You gonna let this clown who doesn't even get his hands dirty take your girl?" Everett flys Apaches into enemy territory and fires missiles without even breaking a sweat, but that doesn’t mean we don’t like to give him shit for going Army.
Everett's loud guffaw has me chuckling along with Drew. I know the point he's trying to prove, but I've put up too many barriers in my mind to fully accept what he's saying.
"What's so funny out here?" Odessa asks as she walks out of the hall.
Charlie follows behind, the sight of her nearly taking my breath away.
She curled her hair and left it loose, hanging behind her shoulders.
The emerald dress she has on fits her like a glove and matches her eyes.
The wedges she has on don't make her as tall as Odessa, but within an inch or two.
She's a knockout and I'm the dumbass who is letting her slip through my fingers.
"Talking about Everett being a chump compared to us." Drew smirks.
I roll my eyes dramatically and shake my head at Odessa. She laughs and walks into the kitchen. "Anyone need a road beer? We should get going."
Drew and Everett both stand up and walk into the kitchen but Charlie remains awkwardly in the hall, not saying anything. She looks anywhere but at me, a fake smile plastered on her face.
"Sunshine." Her gaze snaps to mine and I raise my eyebrows. "You good?"
"Yep." Her tone sounds light, almost cheerful, but I know she's lying.
In three large steps, I've cleared the distance between us. I lightly touch her arm and watch as her shoulders fall slightly. "We either talk about it now or when we get back."
"Come on, y'all! We don't want to be late!" Odessa hollers from the doorway and for the third time today, I've detested her timing.
The steakhouse Everett found is anything but traditional, looking more like a speakeasy than a classic steakhouse.
The jazz music playing softly in the background and the glowing chandeliers create a warm and intimate atmosphere.
It’d be the perfect place for a first date with Charlie, but instead we have third-fourth-and-fifth wheels.
The hostess guides us through the restaurant to our table, and I follow behind Charlie as closely as I can.
She has me shooting daggers at any man that dares give her a second glance as she walks by.
Most of them sheepishly look away when they notice me, but the few that dare hold my glare have me feeling murderous.
We all sit down at a circular booth and I make sure to plant myself right next to Charlie, sitting so close that our thighs touch.
I'm heading down a dangerous road, but the way she's avoiding me has me on edge.
The conversation I had with the guys early weighs heavily on my mind.
Drew was right. I may not be good enough for her, but I can't think of anyone that is. She's the dream girl.
Odessa snaps me out of my thoughts. "What do you think, birthday boy? Club or gambling after this?"
I shrug noncommittally. "Who's sayin' that we can't do both? It's Vegas. The night is young, the drinks are going down easy, and the company is top-notch."
I wink at Charlie and the grin she blesses me with has me feeling at ease again.
"Is that?" Charlie gasps as she looks over my shoulder. I look just in time to see Heather, Drew's ex-girlfriend, walking toward our table.
"Yep." I reach down and lace my fingers through Charlies.
She squeezes once, reassuringly. Heather and I have always butt heads.
Never in front of Drew, but we've both made it clear that we aren't going to be friends.
Since high school, the two of them have been a revolving door of breaking up and getting back together.
Drew hasn't noticed yet, laughing at something Everett said. I kick him under the table and nod toward the she-devil approaching our table.
His eyes widen slightly before he shakes his head and smiles. He slides out of the booth to greet her. "Hey! What are you doing here?"
Maleficent grins mischievously, her eyes flickering around the table while she hugs him. "I'm in town for Laura's bachelorette party!" She gestures toward the table of scantily clad girls wearing sashes. They all look like they should be on a pole rather than having a nice dinner.
Charlie squeezes my hand a little harder and I resist the urge to chuckle. She's always had similar feelings about Heather as I have. Never outright hatred, but we both agree Heather cares about herself and only herself. And maybe her plastic surgeon.
"Chad finally proposed? Good for him."
"What has all of you in Vegas?" She doesn't glance at us again. I guarantee she'll only be focused on sinking those red talons back into Drew.
I hear Odessa's humorless laugh and look over to see her roll her eyes. Everett tries to scold her under his breath but it only spurs Dess on further. "What? They've been on-and-off for years and she doesn't even know it's his best friend's birthday."
My teeth hurt from clenching them so hard and trying not to chuckle. Odessa, the wildcard, has no filter, and I love her for it. She calls it like she sees it. Am I offended that Heather doesn't remember my birthday? Not in the slightest, but I appreciate Odessa's protectiveness.
Heather's smile falters just a touch but she recovers quickly. "Oh my god! I completely forgot. Happy birthday, Hayes! Where are y'all going after this? I'll buy you a shot."
I nod and offer a tight smile but don't respond. There's no way I'm revealing that information. If Drew wants her there, he can invite her.
"We were just talking about that. I'll text you when we set plans." His grin widens as he hugs her again. "It's really good to see you."
Charlie's nails dig into my hand and I shake my head. That man only thinks with his dick when it comes to Heather and as much as I hate it, it's not our place to call him on it.
Thankfully, Heather walks away, her blonde ponytail swinging dramatically as she left. The mood of the table shifts to slightly uncomfortable. None of us know how to handle the Heather situation or our distaste for her.
Leave it to Everett to break the ice by starting to sing. "What do tigers dream of when they take a little tiger snooze?"
Odessa curses under her breath but grins. "Honestly surprised you last this long before making a 'Hangover' reference."
Charlie tries to pull her hand away but I keep it locked in mine until our food arrives. Apparently, Drew's approval changed everything. All I can think about is convincing Charlie to be mine. No better birthday gift than getting the girl of my dreams.