CHAPTER 21 BENNETT
BENNETT
“Oh my fucking God, she dry-humped my dick last night,” I say as I sit down next to Graydon and OC.
OC is midsip of some water when he tears the bottle away and does a spit take, spraying Graydon in the arm.
“What the actual fuck,” Graydon says, his eyes burning with flames.
OC is wiping the water off his chin, completely unaware of his impending death as he says, “Who did? Bower? The sister’s friend? Please, for the love of fuck, let it be Bower.”
I nod. “It was Bower.”
Graydon grabs OC by the collar and brings his face almost nose to nose with his. “Get me a towel, now.”
“But—”
“Now,” he growls.
“Right.” He shakes off Graydon and holds up his finger. “One second. Don’t start without me. I want to hear everything.”
OC takes off toward the bathroom while Graydon turns to me. “Tell me everything while he’s gone.”
“Brutal,” I say on a laugh.
“The fuck sprayed me with water. He deserves to miss out.”
Graydon is on a whole other level of grumpy today.
Today we’re signing our pictures we took at the zoo for an off-site fundraiser. Everyone who comes gets a picture, but we’re waiting on Gretchen to bring them and she forgot Sharpies as well, so we have a little bit of time in between, something apparently Graydon is not pleased about.
“I got the towels,” OC yells as he runs toward us, holding them in the air before he plops down in his seat and starts dabbing at Graydon.
Graydon rips the towels from OC’s hand and says, “Don’t fucking touch me.”
“Jesus fuck,” OC says, backing his chair away. “It was just water.”
“That was in your goddamn mouth.”
“For less than a second. Talk about sensitive.” OC thumbs toward Graydon and rolls his eyes.
“I’d be careful, dude,” I say to OC as Graydon keeps his eyes on OC the entire time.
OC glances toward Graydon and I see the bob in his throat before he brings his attention back to me. Funny thing is I’ve seen OC play hockey, I’ve watched clips, and he’s a goddamn beast on the ice—brutal, actually—a goddamn menace, but for some reason Graydon has a hold on him.
“Hurry up and tell us what happened before Gretchen gets back. You know she won’t let us fucking talk about it. She’s all business.”
Not able to contain myself, I say, “We went to a dinner party last night where we had to pretend we were a couple. I got to touch her, and she sat on my lap. Fuck, it was amazing. Of course we drank a lot and when we got back to the apartment building, I walked her to her apartment.”
“To dry-hump?” OC asks.
“No. She bought cupcakes as a thank-you for helping her out.”
“Were there actual cupcakes or was it her cupcake she was offering up?”
“Clearly it was actual cupcakes, you nitwit,” Graydon says.
“You don’t know that. She could have easily—”
“It was actual cupcakes,” I say.
“Huh, imagine that,” OC says contemplatively.
“Anyway, we were sort of playfully wrestling over the last bite of hers and we wound up on the floor, her on top of me, and fuck, the minute I felt her ass on my lap, I got hard.”
“Ahhh, to get hard. What’s that like?” OC asks wistfully as he stares up at the ceiling.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Graydon asks.
“Grace broke my dick, that’s what’s wrong with me. But this isn’t about me.” OC signals me to continue.
“Anyway, she started moving over my lap. I guided her with my hands and then she started going faster and faster until…well, you know.”
“You came in your pants,” OC finishes.
“Christ.” Graydon rolls his eyes and leans back in his chair.
“Yes, to state the obvious.”
“Please tell me she came as well,” OC says in a panic.
“Yeah, solid question,” Graydon surprisingly offers.
“Thanks, my man.” OC offers a fist bump, but Graydon just pushes his hand down.
“Of course she came. She was the one who got off first.”
“Hot.” OC nods. “Also, dry-humping, ridiculously hot. Do you and Maple do that?” he asks Graydon.
“Ask about my girlfriend’s sex life one more time, see where it gets you.”
OC winces and then turns back to me. “So what does this mean? Are you two an item now? Have all your fantasies come true? Do you think you’re going to propose soon?”
“Jesus,” Graydon mutters as I shake my head.
“That’s the thing, after it happened, I just got up and left.”
OC’s mouth falls open and I can see from the disagreement in Graydon’s expression that he doesn’t necessarily condone that decision.
“Why the fuck would you leave?” OC asks. “Dude, that was your in. After you dry-hump, you’re supposed to take your clothes off and then do the real thing, not fucking leave.”
“I was giving her space,” I say, even though I know it probably wasn’t the right decision in normal circumstances, but things with Bower are not normal. There is nothing normal about it, hence why I’ve taken my time.
“Space to go spend time with Gator?”
“Who the hell is Gator?” I ask.
“Fuck, what’s his name?”
“Cougar,” Graydon helps.
“Right.” OC pats Graydon’s shoulder. “I knew his name was some sort of animal. Anyway, are you going to push her toward Cougar?”
“No, why the hell would I do that?”
“I don’t know. Why the hell would you get her off and then just leave? You seem to be making stupid decisions.”
“He’s right on that,” Graydon says, shifting in his seat.
“Wow, you actually agreed with me.”
“Make a big deal about it and I won’t do it again,” Graydon says, holding his annoyance at bay, at least for now.
“I’m taking this slow and being deliberate about how I handle this.
I know she’s freaking out right now and I’m trying to keep her calm.
I think pushing her any further than what we did last night wouldn’t have been good.
I already saw the panic in her eyes after all was said and done.
So I’m taking this one step at a time. I texted her this morning and asked her to hang out with me tomorrow. ”
“What did she say?” OC asks.
“She said yes.”
“Well, then…that’s fucking great, right?”
“I think so. Like I said, I have to take this step by step. Keep letting her know that I’m interested, and then when the time is right, strike.”
“Seems like a good plan,” Graydon says.
“Really?” I ask. His approval means something, because he doesn’t fuck around like OC.
“Yeah.” He rubs the side of his jaw. “I could see this working out for you.”
“And when it does”—OC swirls his finger in the middle of us—“the Gladdy Daddies will be groomsmen.”
“I seriously hate you,” Graydon says on a groan, just as Gretchen walks in with Sharpies.
“No, you don’t. You love me.”
“He doesn’t,” Gretchen says, placing markers in front of all of us. “It’s hard to find someone who actually likes you.”
“Jesus Christ, woman,” OC says, absolutely offended. “You weren’t part of the conversation.”
“Don’t need to be a part of it to know the facts.” She plops a stack of pictures in front of each of us. “Now get signing.”
Bennett: Think you can record a video with me tomorrow for Gretchen?
Bower: Yeah, I can.
Bennett: Are you okay with being in it?
Bower: Does Gretchen want me in it?
Bennett: I think so. I can ask.
Bower: I doubt she wants me in it. But either way, I can help.
Bennett: What if I want you in it?
Bower: Sometimes we don’t always get what we want, Bennett.
Bennett: I don’t know. Seems like I’m getting the things I want lately.
Bower: Did you send me cupcakes?
Bennett: I did. Felt bad that I wrestled for yours.
Bower: There is half a dozen here.
Bennett: Yeah, heard there’s a cupcake thief in the building. Wanted to make sure you had enough in case they strike.
Bower: LOL. I’ll be sure to safeguard them.
Bennett: Probably best.
Bower: Aren’t you about to play a game?
Bennett: Yes, but you texted.
Bower: That’s flattering.
Bennett: It’s the truth.
Bennett: Please tell me you ate at least three cupcakes tonight.
Bower: If I said four, would you judge me?
Bennett: No, I’d be impressed.
Bower: Good. I was eating my feelings.
Bennett: Everything okay?
Bower: Everything is fine. Great game, by the way.
Bennett: Don’t skip over the eating-the-feelings part. Do you want me to come to your apartment?
Bower: No. I’m good. Don’t worry about me.
Bennett: Bower, seriously.
Bower: Seriously, Bennett. Don’t come over here, okay?
Bennett: I don’t like that.
Bower: I know, but sometimes you have to deal with things you don’t like.
Bennett: Would you tell me if I could help?
Bower: I would.
Bennett: Then I guess I have to live with that. Are we still on for tomorrow?
Bower: We are.
Bennett: Okay, I’ll come to you. Have a good night, Bower.
Bower: You too.
Bennett: Sweet dreams.