19. You Make Him Sound Like Sasquatch
You Make Him Sound Like Sasquatch
Bree
I didn’t get a lot of sleep yesterday. I fell asleep in the truck on the way home, but by the time I climbed into my own bed, it was almost six thirty am, and the sun was coming up.
I tried to get some shut-eye, but it was no good once I heard my cell vibrate on my nightstand.
Unknown : What did I tell you, Breanne? Don’t push me!
Once I read those words, sleep was off the cards. I sat, hunched underneath my bedroom window, with my knees pulled into my chest, watching for any movement outside. I should have called Arlo. That’s why he’s here after all, but I didn’t. I’m not ready to admit even to myself that I have accepted this insane plan.
I feel like I got hit by a truck; the sleep app on my watch looks like it’s malfunctioning when in fact, it’s just saying damn girl, take a pill. I’m so tired that I spent the hours pulled back and forth between wondering where Nolan is and thinking about the morning I spent with Arlo, before I knew that none of it was real.
Before I knew it, I’d been lying flat on my back, staring at the ceiling for hours, remembering how it felt to ride out there with him, enjoying his company. He was sweet, comforting. At the time, I thought he was just being nice, but now, knowing that he knew why I was crying and why I was tired, I know that his comfort came from a place of concern, but still, he holds himself away from me.
The ride back to Forest Falls was smooth and uneventful. I hate to admit, even to myself, that I loved being on the back of a motorcycle again after so long. I loved being on his motorcycle after so long, and the urge to push my hands up under his shirt to flatten my hands against his heated skin the way I used to was strong.
Then our date. I feel so stupid, so embarrassed for getting excited and dressed up to go out with him, feeling like there was still a connection again when it was all an act. The man deserves an Oscar because the way he looked at me had me convinced. If he hadn’t messed up and called me princess, would he have kissed me? Would he have fucked me? How far would he have gone to convince me this was real?
Now, it’s Sunday morning, and I’m hosting brunch with my girls at my place. It was Arlo’s idea. He suggested it when he called around yesterday afternoon to check on me after everything. He wants Nolan to see me having fun and enjoying myself, and I always enjoy myself with my girls.
I’ve dragged my ass in and out of the shower, managed to pull on some shorts and a tank, and opened up all of the windows to let the air flow through the house and blow out the negative energy I’m putting down, and now I’m just waiting for…
‘The party has arrived,’ Missy calls out as she comes around the house to find me on the back porch. Zoe and Cara follow her with the babies in their strollers. My heart kicks up at the sight of them.
‘Gimme those babies.’ I stand, my love for them and need to have them close, pushing away my fear and exhaustion as I rush to my niece and nephew. ‘Oh my god, they’re so beautiful.’ I sigh happily.
Who could be stressed out with not one, but two gorgeous newborns to snuggle?
‘T his is nice,’ Cara says thoughtfully, stretching out her legs into the sunlight, the top half of her body in the shade of the porch roof as she nurses little Lottie.
‘It is,’ Missy admits, ‘but if we don’t start talking about the BDE next door soon, I’m going to lose it.’
‘Oh my god,’ I groan as Zoe laughs. I’m not ready for this. Not ready to lie to them.
‘She’s right, twinnie. Arlo is swinging some real big dick energy around, so you’re going to have to start blabbing, honey. Tell us about your date.’
Here we go. ‘It was nice.’ And it was—until it wasn’t.
‘Nice?’ Cara questions. ‘The pair of you almost started a fire at the bar with the sparks that were flying.’
‘And Merv said y’all were making goo-goo eyes at each other at the diner.’
Fuckin’ Merv. ‘We were not,’ I whine the huff out in a dramatic breath. ‘But fine, it was good, he’s…’ I inhale deeply, considering my words when Missy, helpfully , fills in the gap.
‘Hung?’
‘Jesus, Miss.’ I can’t help but laugh.
‘What? He’s like eight foot tall, it would be weird if he didn’t have a huge dick.’
‘Do I need to call your man to come get you?’
‘ No , god, he is exhausted. Let the man rest.’ She grins, and the rest of us laugh.
‘Well, I’m invested now,’ Cara prompts, and my mouth falls open as Zoe steals the words right out of my mouth.
‘Cara Marie, you’ve come a long way, girl.’
I laugh. It’s true. The sweet girl who arrived here a couple of years ago and hadn’t ever had an orgasm and had never even considered masturbation is now asking about the size of my fake boyfriend’s dick.
‘First off, you make him sound like Sasquatch. He’s like six-four at most.’ I glare at Missy who presses her lips together in a troublemaking smirk.
‘And you are?’
‘You know damn well I’m five-three.’
‘Hot,’ my best friend fans herself, ‘he can just carry you around like a little sex doll.’
‘Marissa, I swear to god.’
‘Okay, okay,’ she swats at me with her hand, ‘but tell us, did you put out? I know y’all only had one date, but he’s fine as hell, Bree.’
‘It’s not only one date,’ I admit, and they all turn to look at me. ‘He took me out on a ride, too.’
‘Wait, what? Where?’ Zoe’s eyes meet mine, and she looks so excited. It hurts to know I’m lying to her.
‘He took me on his bike to this river spot for a breakfast picnic.’
‘Are you fuckin’ kidding me?’ Missy reaches out for my hand. ‘Oh my god, Breanne, that is so sweet.’
‘Yeah, it was nice.’
‘ Sooo , back to the…’
‘My god.’ I roll my eyes, but my reasons for this gathering flash through my mind. He’s watching, maybe listening, and I need to push him. ‘Yes, okay , yes. Your suspicions are very much correct.’
‘I knew it.’ Missy picks up a croissant while Zoe and Cara look fit to burst, and then my attention is drawn to the beautiful rottweiler running towards us.
‘Beans, oh my god.’ I stand to make sure he doesn’t run up onto the porch and cause chaos, but he’s clearly just looking for me as he drops, lays down, and rolls over onto his back as I reach him and crouch to kneel beside him. ‘Did you run over here just for belly rubs?’ I ask the big baby as I pet him.
‘ Beans , Jesus.’ The dog jumps up to attention, sitting beside me as I look up to find Arlo storming around the partition between our backyards. I forgot there was a section of fencing missing. It came down in a storm, and I keep forgetting to ask Doug to replace it for me. ‘I’m sorry,’ he says as he gets closer, and I gaze up at him from my position on my knees.
He’s not wearing a shirt.
He’s wearing sweatpants and no shirt, and I’m on my knees, looking up at him as memories and attraction come at me all at once. He lied to me, none of this is real, but I can’t deny that he’s sexy as hell, and I can’t forget the past.
‘ Goddam ,’ I hear Missy say, not as under her breath as it should have been, and Arlo clears his throat, then turns his attention up to the girls.
‘Sorry for the interruption, ladies.’ He holds out a hand for me, and I take it so he can help me up. Beans sits obediently, gazing up at Arlo like he hung the moon, and honestly, same, buddy, same.
‘Oh, it’s no bother,’ Cara replies, somewhat breathlessly, and I snap my gaze to her, my eyebrows high. She just shrugs and carries on rubbing Lottie’s back.
‘I was grabbing a drink, and he must have heard your voice or something.’ I turn back to Arlo to see his hand come to Beans’ big head. ‘I think he’s got a little thing for you, sugar.’ He winks, and I swallow.
‘It’s okay. I have a little thing for him, too.’
We’re both talking about the dog, but my eyes are fixed on Arlo’s, and those sparks Cara mentioned hang in the air. Who knew he was so good at faking it?
‘Um, now that I’m here, I was wondering if you have plans tonight?’
‘What did you have in mind?’
‘Nothin’ fancy. Beans and I were just going to grill some steaks on the porch and listen to some music. You feel like joining us?’
‘Well, that depends, who’s doing the grillin’, you or Beans?’
‘It’s going to have to be me. He can’t hold the tongs.’
Grinning, I nod, yes. ‘Well, I guess that’ll be okay.’ He smiles wide now and steps back.
‘Good, head on over whenever you’re ready.’ He looks up to the puddles of drool on my porch and smiles that panty-melting smile. ‘Ladies, again, I apologize for the interruption. We’ll leave y’all to enjoy the rest of your,’ he shrugs, ‘whatever this is.’
The girls all giggle, and I turn to gaze at them, stunned. My girls do not giggle.
‘Bye, Arlo.’ Zoe waves, followed by Missy and Cara, and then, with a click of his tongue, Arlo, followed by Beans, walks away.
‘Good lord in heaven, please protect my sister because that enormous, beautiful man is going to break her tiny little body.’ I head back to the porch and roll my eyes at my twin. Her eyes are closed, her hands together in prayer. ‘I mean, she is going to love every single second of it because I know that man knows how to treat a woman, but damn, you’re going to need to send some healing to her coochie on the regular.’
‘Fuck me,’ I groan as Missy cackles at my twin.
‘How did we get so fuckin’ lucky?’ she asks, and I hold her gaze. ‘Doug,’ she points at Cara, ‘fine as hell, knows how to fuck.’ Cara nods, agreeing, and Missy points at Zoe. ‘Leo, fine as hell, knows how to fuck.’
‘Amen,’ says my twin.
‘Nick.’ Missy grins as she mentions her man. ‘Fine as hell . Knows. How. To. Fuck .’ Her eyes close as she clearly thinks about him doing just that. ‘And now Arlo, fine as hell, definitely knows how to use that monster dick of his.’
‘Oh my god.’ I groan but laugh, and it feels so good. My girls may be filthy little sex demons, they might hold interventions and call out my bullshit, but they’re the reason I feel so lucky, and they are the light relief I so need.
For now, at this very moment, at least, I feel good. I feel happy, and my worries couldn’t be further from my mind.