Chapter Ten
Brayden
Casey: OMG. Thank you! The fruit is such a hit here at work. You’re such a sweetheart.
I grin at her text. It’s been a few days since she gave me the blowjob of my lifetime and I can’t stop thinking about her. Every second of every day is Casey. Sexy, sassy, perfect Casey.
And, as much as I wanted to hop into bed with her like we were planning to before getting interrupted by Maggie, I’ve kept my distance.
If I come on too strong, she might think I’m too much.
I wasn’t lying when I told her I wanted to get to know her.
So, I’ve kept my distance, physically, but have started texting with her.
Don’t tell Dad I broke into his phone and grabbed her number from him.
The break we’ve had has also come out of necessity.
She works during the day, and I go to school.
The past few nights, though, I’ve been working my ass off with Dad on Gordon’s old unit.
He wants to get it ready to rent out as soon as possible.
If he knew I’ve been slacking off so I can play grab-ass with my girlfriend, he might get pissed.
Me: It took a long time to cut the cantaloupe into star shapes.
Casey: Wait. You made the fruit bouquet?! I thought it was from that one place that delivers. Your talents never fail to impress me.
That one place that delivers was going to charge over a hundred dollars. I knew I could make the damn thing for less than thirty.
Me: The delivery was tricky, but I got Savvy to run it in for me on our way to school this morning. I was hoping you didn’t notice that.
Casey: I was too busy. Wow. You’re an incredibly thoughtful man.
Me: Can I take you out tonight?
Casey: I was hoping you would. I miss you. Gordon’s place must be almost finished by now.
Me: It’s getting there. I’ll be at your place after work.
Casey: Should I dress practical or sexy?
Me: You’re always sexy no matter what you wear.
Casey: Ugh, my client just walked in. Talk soon.
“Are we interrupting social hour, Mr. Foss?” Coach Long asks, deep voice booming in the quiet classroom. “There’s a detention slot with your name on it after school if you can’t part with your phone for the rest of class.”
I stuff my phone into my pocket, face burning hot with humiliation. A few other students snigger at my expense. Detention for chatting with Casey would be worth it though. But, since I have a date with her later, I can’t jeopardize my time with her by spending it here at school.
Later, at lunch, I plop down next to Savvy who’s already scarfing down her sandwich.
“Did she like the fruit bouquet?” she asks around a mouthful of food.
I give her a sheepish grin. “Yeah, especially when she found out I made it.”
“It was badass,” Savvy agrees after she swallows. “They’re doing a baby shower for Vale at work later this month. Maybe I could get you to make one for that. I could totally pay you.”
I’m not looking to have a side gig making fruit bouquets, but Savvy is my best and only friend at school, so I’d do whatever she asked me to.
“Of course.” I take a bite of my burger, grimacing at the generic taste. Dad makes way better burgers. These are borderline poison. “Can I ask for advice?”
“Always.”
“Me and Casey have done some things,” I say slowly, heat creeping up my neck, “but not that.”
Savvy snorts out a laugh. “What’s that?”
“Sex,” I grumble. “Why do you have to be annoying? You know what I was talking about.”
“It’s fun watching you get all embarrassed.” She grins wickedly at me. “Go on, lover boy.”
“Anyway,” I say dryly, “I want to make the night special for her without being creepy. I’ve cooked for her some, but I think I should take her out someplace nice like a real man would.”
“First of all,” she says firmly, “you’re a real man. You fingerbanged Casey Monroe and she gave you a blowjob. Own that, big man.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I already regret giving her the dirty details on the way to school this morning.
“Second of all, wherever you take her, she’ll be happy. But…”
“But?”
“You should take her to Smoke & Sugar tonight. I’ll be on shift. I could see you in action.”
I chuff out a laugh. “My action is awkward as fuck Sav. I don’t need an audience for that.”
“She obviously thinks the awkwardness is hot.” She bats her dark lashes at me. “I’m kidding about watching you, though. For real. You need to take her there. We have the best desserts.”
“She’s on a diet.”
She gapes at me as if I have three heads. “Boy, no. Wrong answer.”
“But—”
“I said no. When it’s the two of you, cook her the healthy crap.
But, when you take her out, the diet stuff flies out the window.
Treat the woman. Let her make the decision to abstain or not.
Otherwise, it totally comes off as douchey for you to keep her from the super yummy treats at Smoke & Sugar. ”
“I didn’t mean—”
“I know you meant well,” Savvy says with a patient sigh. “You’re adorably inexperienced with everything, including boyfriend/girlfriend stuff. Do you even know how to fuck your woman? Should we have the birds and the bees talk?”
Thankfully the bell for the end of lunch period puts a halt to that conversation.
“Bye, Savvy.”
“Bye, boner boy!”
I’m going to kill my best friend.
Why am I nervous?
This isn’t our first date.
And yet, I’m anxiously pacing my living room, waiting until the time I told her I’d pick her up. I’ve already peeked out the window and know she’s home, most likely getting ready to go out with me.
“Everything okay?”
I nearly jump out of my skin when Dad walks into the room. Did he prowl down the stairs like a creep so he could come up behind me?
“Dad,” I bark out, whirling around to face him. “What the hell?”
Amusement makes the corners of his lips twist. Dad isn’t a super smiley guy, so it’s rare to see it. Normally, I’d think that was cool, but since it’s at my expense, I’m not loving the humor.
“Didn’t mean to freak you out.” He crosses his arms over his solid chest and comes to stand beside me. “Are you going out? You’re dressed up. I didn’t even know you owned a nice shirt.”
“I have a date,” I grumble. “Shirt is new. Trying to impress my girl.”
Great.
Now I’ve piqued his interest.
He looks out the open window as if he can see the girl I have my boxers tied in knots over. All he needs to do is look next door.
“Who is she?” Dad asks. “One of Savvy’s friends?”
I’m surprised Cole didn’t tell him. Since he didn’t, that earns points for Cole in my book. Everyone in this complex is nosey and talks, so I figured it was a given.
“No. The neighbor.”
I glance over at him as he frowns, clearly thinking about which neighbor it might be.
“Who?”
He really is clueless.
Fuck.
“Casey.” I stiffen, waiting for whatever negative thing he as to say.
“Derek’s Casey?”
“She’s not his anymore,” I growl, facing off with my father. “Don’t ever say that shit again.”
His eyes widen, clearly taken aback by my outburst. I’m protective over her. I certainly don’t like having her ex still claim her despite having left her.
She’s mine now.
Dad rubs at his temple as if this isn’t computing in his brain. “But she’s so much older.”
“So?”
“You’re in fucking high school, Brayden. You’re just a kid.”
Why does everyone say this to me? It’s the most annoying shit ever. When I’m with Casey, I don’t feel like a damn kid.
“Are you done?” I ask, voice cool. “Because I’m done hearing it.”
“I’ll walk back that statement,” Dad says, voice gruff, “but don’t be an asshole. It’s not like you. That’s more your mother’s speed.”
He’s not wrong.
“Sorry. I just really like her and I’m tired of getting told she’s too old for me. I’m not an idiot. I can handle my dating life just fine.”
“Have you, uh, you know…”
For fuck’s sake, not him too.
“None of your business, but no.”
“Promise me you’ll wrap it up, Bray,” Dad says in his most dad tone ever. “I’m too young to be a grandpa.”
As soon as he makes that statement, the vision forms in my head. Casey in a pretty sundress, bare feet in the grass, holding her belly that’s swollen with my child. I would take such good care of both of them.
“Dammit.” Dad sighs heavily and drops into his recliner. “I was kidding about that last part, but clearly, you’re not. You’re lovesick, my boy.”
Lovesick doesn’t sound like a bad thing to me.
“So?”
“Lovesick can be a toxic thing,” he says gently. “I was that way with your mother. Fell way too hard, way too fast. We had you, which was great, but we weren’t meant to be for the long run. I’m just worried she’s going to break your heart.”
Casey isn’t Mom.
Casey is good and loving and kind.
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take.” I lift my chin, hoping to show him how serious I am about this. “Casey is an incredible woman. There are so many layers to her, and I love uncovering each one. Plus, she’s so fucking beautiful.”
Dad grunts but doesn’t argue with me.
How can he?
This isn’t an infatuation or a fling.
I have feelings for her that get deeper with each passing second. It’s maddening but also the best thing to ever go through.
“Does Derek know?”
“It’s not his business.” I grit my teeth together. “You’re not going to tell him either.”
He holds up both palms in defense. “Not my place, but he is my friend. If he asks, I can’t lie.”
“Then don’t. It’s not like he has any right to have an opinion about it either way. He gave that up when he walked out on her.”
“Promise me you’ll be careful,” he says, voice pleading. “Slow things down if you can. There’s no rush. Sex isn’t everything in a relationship.”
No, it’s not.
Casey is everything, though.
I’ll take her in whatever capacity she’ll give me.
“I know, Dad.”
“If things get messy, as things often do, just know you can’t escape this. She lives next door. I’m her landlord. I really hope you’re being smart about this.”
Nothing kills the buzz of a hot date like your dad lecturing you.
“I have to go,” I say gruffly. “I told her I’d pick her up now.”
Without another word, I leave our unit and stride over to the one next door. Mo is waiting by the door, swishing his tail angrily. He wants in.
“You and me both,” I mutter to him.
I ring the doorbell and a few seconds later, Casey answers.
She’s in a brown skirt that swishes when she walks and hits her mid-thigh, showing off every inch of her silky skin.
The creme-colored camisole barely contains her bouncy breasts and the orange sweater she has over it just begs to be ripped off the second she gets too warm.
She’s wearing a pair of sexy tan wedges that accentuates her calf muscles, showing off all her hard work from daily walks.
With her blonde hair in loose waves over one shoulder and smelling so fucking sweet, I’m too dazzled to do anything but stare.
“I take it you like this outfit,” she says, beaming at me. “I love how I can read your emotions. They’re not hidden behind a wall of stoicism.”
My face flashes hot, revealing how I feel about her words. “You’re a damn knockout, Casey. A dream come true.”
Mo meows from inside her house, having slipped inside while we were distracted. We both laugh as she closes the door behind her.
“Ready for my date, boyfriend,” she says, holding out her hand so I’ll take it.
I pull it to my lips, inhale her sweet scent, and then kiss the top of it. “Staring at you all night, unable to touch you like I want, while being surrounded by other people will be torture.”
“Who says you can’t touch.” She smirks at me. “I give you permission. Touch as much as you’d like.”
I don’t hesitate and kiss the hell out of her.