Chapter 14 - Thayer
THAYER
We were all sprawled out on the sofas, eating pizza by the fireplace that night.
“Then, Jesse totally wiped out, and the footage was flipping all around with him,” Kason explained.
Jesse tossed a throw pillow at Kason’s head. “You cut me off, asshole.”
“Cut you off my ass,” Kason shot back.
Giselle laughed, and it felt so damn good to see her laughing with all of us.
Kason had been right about inviting her.
I thought it was too soon, and after the first night, I was sure it had been.
But seeing her laughing tonight—not to mention her cocky attitude on the mountain—proved it was a good idea for her to come away with us and not stay home by herself, dwelling on the past.
I slipped my phone from my pocket and sent her a text.
Me
U wanna join me in my room for a game?
Her phone vibrated, and she lifted it off her lap, stifling a smile as she read my text. Her eyes shot up, meeting mine. She cocked her head to the side as Kason continued with his story.
I typed another text.
Me
How about a movie?
Again, she bit back a smile when she read my words.
I was loving watching her reactions, so I typed another one.
Me
Maybe a pillow fight?
“Do you agree, Thayer?” Kason’s voice broke through, and I realized I’d been completely tuning him out—an amazing feat given how loud he could get.
“What?” I asked.
“Stop texting Masie and agree with me,” he said.
“I wasn’t texting with Masie,” I said, placing my phone face down on the sofa beside me.
“Yeah, okay,” Kason said before continuing with his story.
I glanced to Giselle, who no longer looked my way. I couldn’t tell if her distant eyes meant she was upset that Kason had assumed it was Masie, or if she was sad that my texting had ended.
A short time later, my phone pinged. I scooped it up, hoping it was her responding to me, but it wasn’t. It was a text from an unknown number. My heartbeat kicked into high gear as I stared down at the words on my screen. “This has gotta be a joke,” I said, not meaning to say it aloud.
“What?” Kason asked, all eyes moving to me.
“It’s from Kincaid,” I explained.
“Kincaid?” Kason and Jesse asked at the same time.
I looked directly at Jesse. “Did you send them that footage?”
“Yeah,” he said. “This morning.”
“They liked it,” I explained. “They wanna meet about a sponsorship opportunity.”
Before I could even brace myself, Kason lunged forward, jumping on top of me and pinning me down on the sofa. Jesse howled, running over and jumping on top of both of us.
I could hear Shay and Giselle laughing as the three of us rolled around like little kids.
When they finally peeled themselves off me, I sat on the edge of the sofa staring at the text. “I can’t believe it.”
“Well, believe it,” Kason said. “You deserve it.”
“When do they want to meet?” Jesse asked.
“Next week.”
“Do you want this?” Kason asked.
I looked to him, my brows knitted above my nose. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t want you doing something that me and Jesse roped you into. I want you to do it because you still love it.”
Did I still love it? Pulling tricks was a rush like no other. And I hadn’t felt such a high since before losing my mom. “I’m gonna hear them out.”
“Fair enough,” Kason said.
“Bro, opportunities like this don’t just happen,” Jesse said. “Especially, with your best friend representing them too.”
“Yeah. I know.”
And, I did know. I wasn’t trying to pass up an opportunity like this. I just needed to be sure I was doing it for the right reason.
Giselle
Watching Thayer try to stifle his smile for the next half an hour was adorable.
I was so happy for him. Despite him playing it off like he might not take Kincaid up on their offer—whatever it might’ve been—it was going to happen.
I’d seen him on the mountain. I’d witnessed firsthand his love for being on a board, landing tricks, and living.
Since losing his mom, he’d lost a piece of what made him Thayer. And slowly, I was witnessing it return.
Boom!
The sudden sound had terror racing through me as I shielded my head.
“My bad,” Jesse said, picking up a decorative statue he’d knocked off the end table.
With my heartbeat a jackhammer in my chest, I quickly righted myself and looked around the room at everyone else, all unfazed by the loud noise. Thankfully, it didn’t seem as though any of them noticed my reaction.
Why hadn’t it startled them, too?
Was this my life now?
Would I forever be the person who jumped at loud noises? Unexpected taps on my shoulder? The dark?
“I’m gonna head to bed,” I said as I climbed off the sofa.
“Are you serious?” Kason asked. “I thought you could hang.”
“Guess not,” I said, my racing heartbeat slowing down some.
“Dude, she slayed on the mountain today,” Thayer said. “She’s gotta be tired.”
“Good night,” I said as I made my way upstairs.
“’Night,” they called.
After washing up and brushing my teeth, my heartbeat had returned to normal.
I pulled on my pajamas and climbed into bed.
I will not have another nightmare. I will not.
I focused on all the good things in the world.
My family…ice cream…snow covered mountains…
beautiful sunsets…tropical beaches…margaritas… koala bears…clown fish…
At some point in the middle of the night, I heard my bedroom door open and close, then the lock clicked. Was Kason checking on me again?
My bed dipped, and strong arms snaked around me from behind. That familiar crisp scent wrapped itself around me.
“Did I cry out?” I whispered.
“No,” Thayer admitted.
“No?” I whispered.
“I saw you jump when Jesse dropped that thing.”
“You saw that?” I’d hoped no one noticed.
“I just wanted to be sure you were okay. I can go,” he offered.
Did I want him to go? Everything about him being there was wrong. I had a boyfriend. He was my brother’s best friend.
Knowing I was incapable of making him leave, I exhaled a long breath. No matter the reason, I wanted him there with me. “No,” I admitted.
He didn’t respond, but I could feel him sigh behind me.
“Congrats on Kincaid.”
“Nothing’s happened yet,” he said.
“But it will.”
“You sound sure,” he said.
“You deserve the opportunity to shine. Don’t pass it up. Your mom wouldn’t want that.”
His body tensed behind me.
“She would’ve been so proud of you and encouraged you to go after what you’ve always wanted.”
He was silent for a while, and I wondered if I overstepped by bringing her up. Finally, he responded. “You’re right.”
“Could you repeat that?”
He chuckled.
“So you know what you need to do then?” I asked.
“I do,” he agreed, his arms tightening around me. “I need to go after what I’ve always wanted.”
Wait.
He buried his face in my hair and inhaled.
Goosebumps raced up my arms. I closed my eyes on a sigh, knowing this push and pull between us was getting more difficult to maneuver each day.
I don’t know what came over me, but I couldn’t resist shifting my ass against him.
Just like last night, I could feel his erection through his sweatpants, and tingles fluttered between my legs.
“G,” he warned.
“I’m not drunk tonight,” I said.
“I can see that,” he said low and gravelly.
The seconds passed. I don’t know who was waiting who out more.
“Why’d you try to kiss me last year?” I asked him.
“You know why.”
Did I? I thought he was reeling after the loss of his mom. But as time passed and I couldn’t get the almost-kiss out of my mind, I wondered if I’d been wrong. Now, I needed to hear him say it. “Do I?”
“You’ve known for a long time,” he said.
“Maybe I wasn’t ready then,” I whispered, having no clue why I’d admitted that. I hadn’t even admitted it to myself.
“Does that mean you are now?” he asked, his voice low and raw.
My heartbeat stuttered. Was I? Shit. “Maybe.”
“I’m gonna need more confirmation than that,” he said, shifting his hips so he purposely pressed himself against my ass.
“Yes,” I breathed out, suddenly wanting to feel his body on top of mine.
He leaned against my ear. I expected him to whisper something, but instead he sucked on my earlobe.
I pulled in a sharp breath, unprepared for the sensations swirling low in my belly.
His mouth trailed slowly down my ear to the sweet spot beneath it.
My eyes nearly rolled into the back of my head as my thighs clenched together.
“Thayer,” I breathed.
“G?”
“Do that again,” I whispered.
“You sure?”
“I’m so sure,” I practically panted.
He pressed open-mouthed kisses along my neck, nibbling his way along the same path. Goosebumps scattered up my arms. This was happening. This was freaking happening with Thayer.
I pressed my ass back, and he groaned.
Heat pulsed in my cheeks and between my thighs.
“Tell me to leave,” Thayer whispered in between kisses.
“Why would I do that?”
“Because we shouldn’t be doing this,” he said.
“Don’t you dare go getting self-righteous on me now,” I said, pretty damn sure I would hold him down—or at least try to—if he tried to leave my room.
“Are you gonna ghost me again for another year?” he asked, having a very legitimate reason for asking.
“I wasn’t the only one ghosting,” I argued.
“Agree to disagree,” he said.
“You know the whole situation’s complicated.”
“Well, let me uncomplicate it—” It happened so fast that I had no time to prepare. Thayer rolled me onto my back and covered me with his body. He was strong and hard in all the right places. “I want you, G. I always have.”
My belly dipped, both excited yet terrified as I gazed up into his gorgeous green eyes as his body pressed me to the bed.
“But you already know that,” he said with a shy smile.
“Thayer,” I implored.
“I don’t wanna hear that you have a boyfriend. If you really wanted to be with him, you would’ve moved to Florida to be with him.”
“My family’s not there…”
“Right,” he said, calling my bluff.
“My boutique’s not there,” I tried again.
“Uh huh.”
I huffed my resignation. “You’re not there.”