Part 3 (1/2)
”Seriously?” I'm not sure why I even ask the question because he looks dead serious. ”You're Nic Rayne. You're the guy every girl on the f.u.c.king planet wants.”
”But the only girl I care about is Harper. She's the one who has to want me. Or it's all over, Dude. The day Harper doesn't want me anymore I might as well be dead.”
”Is that why you've been pressuring her into getting hitched?”
”I haven't been pressuring her.” He swallows. ”Have I?”
”You're worse than a chick with all the bulls.h.i.+t about getting married.” I look down at his crotch to make my point. ”Did you suddenly grow a vag or something?”
Rayne normally doesn't take s.h.i.+t from anyone, even me and Xander, so I'm not surprised when he gives me a cold stare and changes the subject. ”Just be careful, okay? I think you'll be playing with fire if things heat up with Brooke.”
Before I can respond Raven and Xander stroll in together, once again hand in hand. I can't help but feel a twinge of jealously that they've left me out for a second time. But maybe it's all good. I've already made up my mind. I'm going to do whatever it takes to get Brooke.
After nearly working us to death Rayne finally decides that maybe we all need a break. No s.h.i.+t, Sherlock. I know I don't have as much going on upstairs as Rayne, or even Xander for that matter, but even I could figure that one out.
I decide to see if I can find Brooke.
Rayne's estate is ma.s.sive. Not only is his house the size of a small hotel, he's got enough land for his own national park. Even his guest house is bigger than the s.h.i.+t box that we grew up in. Rayne practically lived with us after his mom died. His dad was on the road too much to take care of him. Not that my mom was any prize. The three of us raised ourselves.
Walking through the gardens makes me feel like I'm in one of those British movies that put everyone to sleep, but still win all the awards.
I catch sight of Brooke sitting on a bench next to a huge cactus. She's reading a book. After I take the seat next to her, and she glares at me, I realize a little too late that I probably should have asked before I just plopped down next to her.
”What are you reading?” I ask. Not that I give a s.h.i.+t about books. I just need something to start a conversation.
She holds it up. The t.i.tle says something about mindfulness meditation, whatever the h.e.l.l that means. ”It is good?”
She narrows her gaze at me. ”You don't read, do you?”
I swear the girl can see right through me. ”You caught me.”
She closes the book and places it on her lap. And when my attention is drawn to the short, tight skirt she's wearing all I can think about it hiking it up, bending her over the bench, and slipping my d.i.c.k inside of her.
”What do you want, Leo?” She sounds weary.
Since I can't just come right out and tell her I've been dying to f.u.c.k her I opt for, ”Do you want to go for a walk?”
Her eyes narrow. ”You really want to take me for a walk?”
I nod.
”Is this like a date or something?” She stares at me expectantly.
I shrug because I'm not sure what to say.
”Have you ever taken a girl on a date before?”
”Nope,” I say before I wonder if it's a bad thing.
When she laughs my heart skips a few beats. I'm starting to understand what Rayne said about being scared s.h.i.+tless. She's already doing it to me. If I make one wrong move she could completely reject me.
”I'm not surprised. You can get any girl to spread her legs for you. It sure as h.e.l.l doesn't require dinner and a movie first.”
That's when it hits me. What I need to do to get this girl. Dinners, movies, flowers...everything that normal guys do when they're trying to score. It's something she'll never expect from a guy like me.
”Come on,” I say as I stand and hold out my hand. ”Walk with me.”
When she bites her bottom lip I want to bite it for her. But I can see the hesitation in her eyes, so I say instead, ”I promise I'll be a good boy.”
”Okay,” she finally agrees and hops from the bench. ”As long as you promise to be good.”
I place my hand on my chest. ”I swear.”
As we look into each other's eyes I wonder how long I'll actually be able to keep that promise. My d.i.c.k is straining against my jeans screaming to be let free.
”Where to?”
I glance around. ”Want to walk over to the orchard?”
”Why not? Maybe we can grab a few oranges while we're there.”
When I extend my hand again I hold my breath wondering if she'll take it this time. I think maybe I've got a fifty-fifty shot, which isn't very good odds when you're used to having sure things.
After a few seconds of staring at the thing like it's some creepy-as-s.h.i.+t monster hand she finally takes it.
I lace our fingers together like I've seen other couples do and I notice her mouth upturn ever so slightly. I've never been a hand-holding kind of guy, but holding this girl's hand feels right.
”I've tried the Twelve Step thing before,” I tell her as we make our way over to a line of orange trees heavy with fruit.
”I heard,” she admits. ”I guess it didn't work out so well.”
I shrug. ”Twelve is a lot of steps. Maybe if it was like a Five Step program I could have made it.”
”Ever been through rehab?” she asks.
”I've never had time for that s.h.i.+t. We're usually on the road or in the studio. I can't take thirty days off.”
She laughs. ”It's not like a vacation. Believe me, it's work.”
”Booze is a big part of the rock life,” I tell her. ”It's not easy giving it up.”
Shaking her head she says, ”It's not easy for anyone.”
We're both quiet for a while as we pick out the oranges we want. It feels so weird being with a girl and not being in bed. Or at the very least trying to find someplace secluded enough for me to stick my d.i.c.k inside of her.
”You should have this one.” She hands me a freaky looking orange that looks like a mad scientist's experiment gone horribly wrong.