Chapter Eight
Brayden
I can’t stop thinking about last night.
So much so, Coach Long gave me detention for “daydreaming.”
Totally worth it.
Now that I am finally released from his boring detention prison, I make my way to Casey’s work to surprise her. We still haven’t exchanged numbers. I suppose you don’t really need to when you live next door to each other.
The physical therapy place is busy as hell, cars everywhere, and I almost decide not to go inside. She’s probably busy as hell and doesn’t need me distracting her.
Or it might be the thing to brighten her day.
Plus, I got her an iced coffee.
I can’t waste that.
“Come on,” I mutter under my breath. “Don’t be a pussy. Go see your girl.”
Is she my girl? After last night, I hope that’s true.
I climb out of the car and grab the coffee from the cupholder. Once inside the building, I have a flash of anxiety from all the people waiting everywhere. A frazzled young woman working the front desk doesn’t even spare me a look.
Quickly, I scan the space, looking for Casey. I see her in a corner area working on someone. As I approach, I notice the guy is about my age, but clearly an athlete based on his muscle tone. She has her hand on the back of his thigh, rubbing deeply with her fingers.
It’s just her job.
Why is there a flare of jealousy spiking inside of me?
I feel like a stupid kid for even feeling that way.
“Take a picture if you want something to look at later,” the guy says, eyes meeting mine. “Thigh porn.”
Casey sighs, shaking her head in exasperation, before turning to see who he’s talking to. I stand rooted in place with her cup in my hand, flashing hot with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
Her smile falls when she sees me and confusion crinkles up her features.
This was a mistake.
The guy on the table moans in pain, but I can’t help feeling like it’s sexual. My chest starts to ache like someone just fucking stabbed it.
“What are you doing here?” Casey demands, voice sharp.
I thrust out the cup, feeling like a total idiot. The guy on the table watches me with interest, like I’m his entertainment for the day. Casey never ceases her rubbing on his thigh.
It’s all too much.
“I’m sorry,” I blurt out. “I’ll set this up front for you to get later. I shouldn’t have come here.”
“Later, loser,” the guy says with a laugh that echoes across the whole damn place. “Next time make an appointment.”
Casey calls out to me, but I’m already practically fucking running to the front desk. I slam the cup down with a little too much force, flinging condensation droplets all over the sign in sheet.
“For Casey,” I hiss out, and then rush out the door.
What the hell just happened?
I climb into my car and peel out of the parking lot. I’m desperate to put as much space between me and that awkward fucking moment as possible.
This is her workplace.
I just showed up unannounced and had the audacity to get jealous of her doing her job.
I’m so frustrated and upset with myself, I totally run a yellow light that turns red midway through. It’s no surprise when a cop pulls out behind me after I sail through the intersection.
“Fuck!”
I pull over and slam the car into park. I’m overwhelmed by messy emotions. I don’t like them. I don’t like how out of control I feel now that I’ve been pursuing Casey.
One minute I know she likes me. A lot.
The next, I think I misunderstood everything and it’s a stupid fantasy I want to come to life.
Now I’m getting a damn ticket.
I mash the button down for the window and await my fate. A man saunters over to me and laughs.
Wait, laughs?
I whip my head over to see Cole leaning in, smirking at me. In his cop getup, he’s kind of intimidating. But there’s amusement in his eyes, so maybe that’s a good sign.
“Dude, I’m so sorry,” I mutter. “I fucked up. Just give me my ticket.”
“Your dad’s one of my best friends, kid. I’m not about to fuck that up by giving his baby boy a ticket. I’m here to warn you to slow the hell down and pay attention.”
“Warning taken.” I run a shaking hand over the back of my neck. “Sorry, Cole.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yes.” I grimace. “No. But you’re a cop, not a therapist.”
“I’m a neighbor and a friend, too. My shift is ending. Let’s meet at the diner and have a chat.”
“Did Savvy tell you?”
“That you’re head over heels in love with Casey? Yup. Also, I saw you fly out of the parking lot where she works. Something happened. Let’s talk about it. Follow me.”
With those words, he leaves, assuming I’ll follow. I don’t want to, but I feel trapped now, and go with him to the diner. Once inside, sitting opposite at a booth and our order placed, Cole affixes me with a firm stare.
“Tell me, kid.”
“I’m not a kid,” I grumble. “Same age as the girl you’re sharing with your best friend.”
Okay, that was mean.
Cole arches an eyebrow. “You really are upset. I’ve never once known you to be an asshole. Spill it or I’ll interrogate the shit out of you.”
“Sorry,” I mutter again. “I’m just confused and, yeah, fucking upset.”
Because I need to confide in someone, I spill everything to Cole.
I tell him about my birthday party, all my interactions with Casey, including the stolen cat, her double date with Clara and the douchebags, our romantic date, and then what transpired this afternoon.
I leave out all the personal details Casey told me, but I imply that we’ve had deep conversations.
By the time I finish with my word vomit, the waitress brings my chocolate milkshake and Cole’s black coffee along with a basket of fried mozzarella sticks.
“How many girls have you dated, Bray?”
Heat burns at my cheeks. “They weren’t exactly beating down my door to date me.”
“Well,” Cole explains, “you’re seeing a woman now. That means you need to act like a man.”
I scowl at him. I was all man when I had my finger inside of her last night. This bit of information I keep to myself.
“I’m not saying you’re being immature,” he rushes out, “but I do think you need to talk to her later with a cool head. Being jealous over one of her patients was seriously bratty teenager behavior. A real man, who cares about and trusts his woman, doesn’t act that way.”
“That’s why I left,” I grumble. “It was all just stupid. I realize that now.”
“It wasn’t stupid.” He sips his coffee and seems to mull over what he’s going to say next. “Honestly, it was a nice thing a boyfriend would do. But are you her boyfriend?”
Again, I had my fucking finger inside her last night.
I clench my teeth together and focus on poking my straw in my milkshake, not interested in it at all. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know because you haven’t talked about these things.”
“I thought it was implied.”
“That’s another kid game, man. Implying your wishes or hinting isn’t going to accomplish anything.”
“I don’t want to screw this up,” I admit, voice hoarse. “I really, really like her. She’s so damn gorgeous, funny, sweet, vulnerable. I just want to make her happy.”
“From what you’ve told me thus far, you are making her happy. But, if you want to continue to make her happy, you need to have direct conversations with her about what you two plan to get out of this relationship.”
“What if she just wants to have a good time and nothing more?” My heart sinks at that prospect. “How do I keep from falling in love with her?”
“These are questions for her, Brayden. I’m sure you two will figure it out.”
When Casey gets home from work, I’m sitting on her front porch on the top step. Her expression is unreadable when she exits the car.
I rise to my feet and stride over to her. She’s tense as I approach, eyes watching me warily.
I really did mess it all up, didn’t I?
“I’m sorry,” I say first and foremost. “I just wanted to do something nice for you.”
Her body relaxes and her gaze softens. “The coffee was a sweet gesture. Thank you.”
I inch closer, inhaling her perfume I’m addicted to. “I should have warned you I was coming. That was out of line, huh?”
She takes my hand in hers and squeezes. “Nope. I was surprised, but again that was sweet.”
“But…”
“That whole part where you had a look of disgust on your face while I was with my patient, that was the part that was out of line.” She frowns. “Storming out of my workplace was out of line. It was embarrassing to be honest.”
Her words make me want to shrivel up.
“I talked to Cole,” I admit. “He pulled me over. I was upset and he helped me.”
“Upset because you were jealous of Riko?”
Riko.
My chest burns at the name on her tongue.
“Maybe a little,” I mutter.
“For the record, Riko is a little shit who drives me bonkers. He isn’t a threat to you.” She steps closer, tilting her head up. “Throwing a tantrum at my workplace is a threat to you, though. I won’t tolerate that.”
There’s a fiery glimmer in her eyes I’ve never seen before. With Derek she was always so demure and complacent. I like how she’s coming into her own lately.
“It won’t happen again,” I vow, imploring her with my eyes. “Do you believe me?”
Her sexy lips curl into a grin. “I believe you.”
“Forgive me?”
“Of course.” She stands on her toes and gives me a filthy kiss that makes me dizzy. “Want to come inside and hang with Mo?”
I guess Mo didn’t leave last night.
That’s two of us obsessed with this woman.
Luckily, for him, I don’t mind sharing her. But only with him.
We head inside her place, and I give Mo the attention he demands while she takes a quick shower. Twenty minutes later, she arrives downstairs smelling sweet like her shampoo, and wearing skimpy, thin sleepwear.
“Are you trying to torture me?” I ask, unable to look away from her nipples poking through her shirt. “Seriously, what the hell, babe?”
She makes her way over to me and lets me pull her into my arms. I slide my palms to her juicy ass, giving it a possessive squeeze.
“I like you, Brayden, a lot. And I know we’re both dealing with our own insecurities. I get that. I’m sorry too for how I behaved. I was abrupt and rude at seeing you.”
I dip my mouth down to hers, kissing her plump lips. “Can we just be over that whole situation?”
“I think we can.”
“And is it okay if I surprise my girlfriend at her place of work if I don’t act like a dick?”
She smiles against my mouth. “Your girlfriend, huh?”
“I just need to make that official.”
“Consider us an official item. But don’t make bringing me coffee a regular thing. I’m trying to lose weight, and those things are full of sugar.”
“Deal. I’m going to make up for all that sugar by cooking something healthy for you tonight.”
“You’re going to cook for me again?”
“Hopefully every night if you’ll let me.”
I know we’re moving at lightning speed, but I can’t help it. She’s a shooting star and I have to keep up with her.
“Tell me what I can do to help, boyfriend .” There’s a teasing lilt in her voice that makes me want to kiss her until it’s gone. “Put me to work.”
“You’re going to sit on the counter, looking hot as fuck, while I chop vegetables.”
“Hot as fuck, huh?”
“I don’t lie, babe.” I give her ass a playful smack. “Now, hop up. I’m going to take care of you.”
It’s such a loaded statement, but I mean every word.