Chapter 2
Ford
“Hey limp dick, still recovering?” Damon’s voice cracks through my moment of indecision.
I was just about to press Holly for details because she’s not her normal perky self.
And no, I’m not talking about her tits. I mean, those too…
but…fuck it. She’s hot. And she’s obviously not for me.
Hence why Damon thinks I’m recovering from a six-month injury.
But about six months ago Damon changed. Even though I can’t put my finger on it, the timing worked out well.
I don’t want to be around him anymore because of how he’s been acting, and I can’t be around his girlfriend at all because of how hot and bothered she makes me.
“Yup. Still recovering.” Still recovering from being obsessed with your girlfriend.
And no, inhaling her heavenly scent while practically cradling her in my arms did not help.
And no, her answering the door in a super hot pink bikini and jean cut offs did not help.
And ya, I almost sank to my knees reeling from pain when I looked up to find tear rimmed eyes.
“You’re early,” he says to me while dropping a bag on the island and distractedly mentioning to Holly that it’s for her. I’m tracking her movements out of my peripheral vision as much as possible, but it’s hard to watch when I see her face fall as she pulls out a wrapped bouquet of orange flowers.
Dude can’t even get apology flowers right.
Even I know her favourite color. Why am I still friends with this guy?
That’s right. I’m trying not to be. So why did I even come here tonight?
It’s not like I really want to hear him go on about my family’s construction company all night asking about getting some free work done.
If I’m being real, I came over hoping to get a glimpse of her.
Does that make me pathetic? Yes. Is it curable? No.
“Nah, man. You’re late.”
He just laughs it off. “Hey, about that drywall in the basement, do you think—”
“Damon,” Holly stops him, giving me a sheepish look, “maybe now’s not the time.”
He just shrugs lamely and asks, “Ready to watch that new horror movie?”
“I thought we were watching the Calgary Outlaws baseball game tonight? Tate’s pitching.” Why the hell would I want to be a third wheel on a movie night?
“No game tonight. Gotta make the wifey happy. You in?” Holly’s back is turned as she’s hunting for a vase for the flowers, so I can’t make out her expressions.
“Is that what you want?”
“Yeah, man. Why else would I ask?” Damon claps his hand on my shoulder, shaking his head and makes his way through the open concept space and into the living room.
Holly finally turns around and is pouring water into the vase.
I lower my voice and redirect it to her. “I meant, is that what you want?”
But she doesn’t meet my eyes. Just shrugs.
I move toward the couch. “I’m gonna head home, man.”
“You’re leaving?” Holly’s voice is right beside me and I can’t help reading disappointment in her question. But I’m an idiot. She obviously doesn’t care what I do.
“Holls, which movie do you want?” Damon doesn’t look over his shoulder as he asks, and he’s already hovering over the one he clearly wants.
“You know me. I don’t really like horror movies—”
Damon’s still not meeting her eyes as he clicks on the film he wants. “Don’t worry. I’ll cuddle you all night.”
“You will?” There’s the real hopeful tone.
“I’m gonna go—”
“Sit down,” Damon interrupts, but that’s not the voice that I hear the loudest. It’s actually Holly’s softer tone that resounds in my ears.
“You should stay.” And maybe it’s not her words so much as the look she gives me, but I can’t read it properly. I know that because what I think I’m reading is something almost demure. And that is the last word I’d use to describe Holly.
So ya…that’s how I found myself sitting next to Damon and Holly watching a horror film on a Friday night.
And when I say Damon and Holly, I mean, three minutes into the movie—after Holly grabbed a T-Shirt—Damon pulled her onto his lap and it was super awkward because Holly made a little protest on my behalf about being respectful and not rubbing it in my face, but Damon just ignored her.
So I’ve been sitting here paying more attention to every one of Holly’s toe curls followed by a wince and a hand over the eyes. Damon has just chuckled.
We’re half way into this awkwardness from hell when Damon’s phone rings.
As he shuffles to grab his phone, he glances at the screen and practically tosses Holly off his lap and nearly into mine, mumbling, “I gotta take this.”
She’s not facing the screen anymore. Her elbow is on my thigh and her head is down, looking directly at my chest. And I only hope to God that she doesn’t register how heavy my breathing has turned.
“You okay?”
“Yup. I’m good.” She’s trying to shuffle off my chest when a scream pierces the room.
“Don’t look,” I rush to say and just as quickly, without thinking, I pull her into my chest. I’m so fucked. I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. Fuck. Fuck. I have to let her go. Act cool. Nothing happened. “It’s over,” I mumble incoherently, but apparently it’s coherent enough.
She pushes away from me, as she should.
“Uh…let me check on Damon.” As if he’s a child who needs checking on.
I fly off the couch and catch Damon in the hallway whispering on the phone. The second he sees me, he mumbles something, ends the call, and shoves his phone in his pocket.
“I gotta go.”
“What? Right now?”
“Ya man. Have at ‘er.”
“What the fuck?”
“I’m kidding, man. I know you want her. But she’s still mine.” He’s such an ass. I’m done with this guy.
“Fuck you, Damon.”
He just laughs and shoulders past me. “Babe,” he calls out, “I got called into work. I’ll see you tomorrow. Ford, you should stay the night!” I don’t know what he means by that last part, but all I’m seeing is red.
And I don’t know if I can’t hear their conversation anymore or if the rage is roaring so loudly between my ears, but either way something has cut off all surrounding sound.
After Damon grabs his coat and leaves, I’m in some state of shock when I reenter the living room. She’s huddled on the couch. Blanket over her knees now. The movie’s been paused, and she’s just staring at the screen. She looks shellshocked from the movie and possibly from Damon bailing.
I have to get out of here because I cannot be trusted alone with her. But there’s only one thing I know. I can’t leave her like this.