“Hey son, you alright?” I ask as I watch his best friend’s naked ass walkinto the living room. God, I’m going to hell.“Daaaaaaaaad,” he slurs. “Where the hell are youuuu? I’ve called youlike four times. I even called Raegan, who also did not answer! What is wrong with this family? I’m drunk and I’m the one worried about you all. Where are you?”“I’m out, Son. What’s up?”“Out!? At three in the morning? Oh...ohhhhhh. Dad! You got a girlfriend? Shit, am I cramping your style by being here so you felt you couldn’t have a sleepover? My bad. I can go stay with one of my buddies. But Dad, I’m twenty-one, I don’t care if you want to have your girlfriend over.” He laughs.“No, Lucas, of course not.”“Of course not, to which? Do you have a girlfriend? You should have a girlfriend, Dad. I don’t want you to be lonely, especially with me being in New York and Raegan moving in with her old ass boyfriend.”“He’s my age, Lucas,” I snap.I’m not thrilled about how much older he is than Raegan but
My eyes follow Theo out of the restaurant and I wish I was going withhim. I wish I could hold his hand and tell him to breathe and that everything will be fine. I wish I could sit on his lap and kiss him and rub the stress off of him.But if I’m being honest, I’m not sure if it will be or if I’m even the right person to help for that matter. I don’t know if his agitation is about Raegan potentially being engaged to someone he barely knows or the fact that he’s twice her age, thereby making his feelings a little more complicated and maybe even a touch hypocritical given that he spent last night sleeping with his son’s best friend who happens to be half his age. It’s probably a little of both which is likely why he wanted to get away from me.“Damn,” Lucas shakes his head. “You want to go sit at the bar?”I nod, knowing that under any circumstance other than what happened last night, my only concern would be Lucas and talking it out with him with shots of tequila and fried foods. We fi
Dinner was exactly what I expected. A lot of my parents gushing over howproud they are of me. All the stories about me as a child and how they knew I was destined for greatness and my uncles asking me to help guide my teenage cousins in the right direction. That’s the downside of being the oldest cousin; I have to help all the younger ones, even the ones that don’t want to be helped.“Lucas, I think I’m going to call it a night,” I tell him as I point toward my house.My parents decided to go do karaoke with my aunts and uncles leaving me with a very empty house that I would love to invite Theo over to. That is, if it weren’t for the guy in front of me who would find that extremely odd.“You sure? You okay?” he asks, reaching out to touch my cheek.“Yeah, I think just all the drinking we did today and having a glass of champagne when we toasted and then wine at dinner is all getting to me.“Okay. Well, I’ll see you tomorrow.”“Of course, hey!” I call out to him as he walks away. “We
She’s back in her seat and I’m glad I had the foresight to bring another shirtthat I hand to her. She pats herself dry as best she can before holding the shirt to her chest. “I’ll take this home to wash it, but...don’t expect it back.” She smirks and I smile at her, my inner caveman wanting to beat his chest with pride at the thought of her wearing my clothes. She slides on her bra and her dress and I pull up my sweatpants, my dick happy but also disappointed that this tryst is over.I just came five minutes ago and it wasn’t enough.I still want more.Ten minutes later, I watch as Avery makes her way into her house. Idon’t see a lot of lights on, so it seems like her family may still be out. She turns and waves before she heads in and I find myself irritated all over again that I’m in this situation with her. If she were any other woman on the planet, short of my ex-wife, I could walk her into my house right now without any questions or prying from Lucas. I make my way inside and h
I showered and changed into a short off the shoulder black gingham printdress that’s both casual and sexy and I’m hoping Theo has hung around long enough to see me in it. I’m moving down the stairs when I hear my mom call for me and I see her in the kitchen pulling a cake out of the oven wearing an Avery’s Café t-shirt and shorts underneath an apron. Her dark curly hair is pulled back into a tight bun like she always does when she’s cooking if she’s not wearing the cute chef’s hat my dad got her.“Taste this,” she says, holding a spoon with light green icing.“Mint?” I ask her, because she’s always trying to revamp how she prepares mint chocolate desserts.“Mmmhm, I swear this batch tastes like toothpaste.” I lick the spoon and scrunch my nose.“Definitely Colgate-y.” I giggle. “That batch you made over Thanksgiving break last year was perfection.” Truly, I’ve had dreams about how good those mint chocolate brownies tasted.“Your father has not stopped talking about that damn batch an
We’re in my room after we’ve finished cleaning up the kitchen. I also setthe alarm in case Lucas comes back before I expect him and it gives us at least a little bit of time for Avery and any of her discarded clothes to be moved out of sight in case Lucas wants to pop his head inside to say good night. My heart fucking stopped earlier hearing Rory’s question, but Avery handled it well. Effortlessly cool and not at all like she was also panicking. I’m sitting on the edge of my bed with Avery in my lap straddling me as she moves around far too much.I brought the bottle of whiskey upstairs with us and we each had another drink and now Avery is practically attached to me. “I’m horny,” she moans in my ear before biting down gently on it.“Good,” I tell her. “So am I. It’ll make the game more fun.”“Touch me, please,” she says, reaching between us for my belt when I grab her hand.“Get on the bed,” I command and she does, getting into a kneeling position with her legs slightly spread. I t
Despite all of the alcohol I consumed last night, I’m not terribly hungover,though I am very fucking sore, in the best possible way. I’ve been replaying last night, also known as the hottest night and the best sex of my life, on a loop since I woke up this morning. My mom leaves for the café at five in the morning, but I won’t be getting there until closer to nine every morning, so I have time for a cup of coffee before I get ready.Around eight-thirty, just before I get in the car to head over there, I get a text from Theo and I immediately smile.TG: Good morning, just thought I’d let you know my sheets smell like you. Had to put them in the washer this morning.Me: Shame. I smell good.TG: Yes you do, but it’s also very noticeable if anyone were to go into my room.Me: Ah, fair. How are you feeling this morning?TG: Tired as shit, and a headache but I’ll manage. You? Me: Fine, but I’m 21.TG: Ha—Ha. Well, have a great first day. I’ll text you when I plan to come by. I totally for
TG: Heard you got roped into this shitshow tonight.Me: Not how I expected to spend my Friday night hahaTG: I’m sorry.Me: It’s okay. Lucas asked me to.TG: I’m sorry if I can’t be as attentive as I want to be with you tonight.Me: Theo, it’s fine. I get it.TG: I don’t.Me: What do you mean?TG: Nothing, I’ll see you soon. Do you want to ride with me and Lucas?Me: No, that’s okay. I’m going to drive myself. It will also keep me sober in case I have to drive any of you homeTG: As much as Rebecca makes me want to drink, I need to keep that in check. The last thing I need is to have one too many and spend the night staring at you like I want to fuck you.Me: Yes, keep your eyes in check, Theo.TG: I’ll try my best. See you at eightAfter a few moments of staring at our conversation, I text him again.Me: HeyTG: Yes?Me: Tell me something good.He doesn’t respond right away and I read over the conversation again, wondering what he meant by I don’t. What’s there not to get? I contempl
Ten Months Later“Mrs. Graham,” I wrap my arms around my wife—as of twenty minutesago—and press a kiss to her neck.She turns around and rubs her hands up my chest before she reaches upon her toes to kiss me. “Mr. Graham.” She scrunches her nose. “You know? I think I’m just going to call you husband instead. Mr. Graham makes me feel like I’m thirteen again.” She giggles.“I don’t care what you call me as long as you’ve got this ring on your finger.” I rub the wedding band I’d just slid on her finger that joined the four-carat oval-cut engagement ring. We’d snuck off to the bridal suite for a moment before we have to join everyone at the reception and I am hoping that I can entice her to let me see what’s under her dress again. “You look so beautiful,” I tell her as I help her take her veil off. “I am the luckiest man in the world.” I cup her face and press my lips to hers.“Theo...we really can’t.” She giggles. “It’s bad enough we started the ceremony twenty minutes late because som
That night, the three of us and Raegan and Wes are at Theo’s house for dinner when Lucas speaks up. “So, how’d Camille and Shawn take it?” Lucas says as he takes a bite of the steak Theo had prepared.Theo and I exchange a glance. “Well...”Lucas’ eyes widen. “Holy shit, they don’t know?” “My mom does!” I say and Lucas’ mouth drops open.“Oh, shiiiiit. Please. You both owe me. Just let me be there when you tell Shawn.” He puts his hands together like he’s praying.Raegan giggles and shoots me a look. “You do kind of owe him.” “You’re absolutely not helping,” Theo interjects as he glares at her. “I’ve helped a lot, thank you very much,” she says with a snap of herfingers. “Besides, this is not why we’re here. We’re here to talk about wedding things.” She points back and forth between her and Wes. “This is the whole reason you’re home,” she says to Lucas as she smacks his arm. “Tuxedos. Tomorrow. All three of you. Ten a.m.”“Yes, I know,” Theo says like he’s heard this a hundred times
A few days later, I’m at the café at the crack of dawn to help my momwhen Lucas walks in and my mouth drops open. He casually waves and I immediately run around the counter. I’m hoping that his being here means he’s forgiven me or at the very least wants to talk, and that’s something.“Lucas.” I stop myself before I hug him in case he isn’t ready for that yet.“Hey, Ave.”“You look good.” I nod at him because he does. I haven’t seen him in almost three weeks and he looks like he’s lost a bit of weight but somehow also gained some muscle. He’s typically clean-shaven but he’s got more of a beard coming in and it’s startling how much more he looks like Theo now.“Been at the gym and running.” I nod. “I heard you moved.”“I did. You should come by and see it.” I hate how awkward things are between us when they’ve never been this way. Is this the new normal between us? “You want some coffee or breakfast?”“Sure.” He smiles. “Whatever. You know I like everything.” I move around the counter
After a very long forty-five minutes—trying to wrangle two intoxicated girls alone is no easy feat—I’m back at my house with Avery. As soon as we’re in my room, she’s already pulling off her clothes.“Avery,” I tell her just as she pulls her dress over her head. “Do you want to shower with me?”“I think...maybe we shouldn’t...”“Oh,” she scoffs, “we definitely should.”“I just don’t want things to get more complicated between us. I mean things are still unsettled with Lucas and—” I shake my head. “This puts us right back where we were two weeks ago. Sneaking around.”She stomps her foot. “You came to get me!” “Because you are drunk.” “And? This is not new! I know how to get myself home when I’ve been drinking, Theo. You wanted to fuck me and now you’re having second thoughts while I’m naked in your bedroom? You sure picked a fine time to stop thinking with your dick!” She unsnaps her bra and as her perfect tits spring free, I instantly crave the taste of them.“Avery.” I groan. “You’
The bar is so loud and it’s been a while since I’ve been in a place like this.It’s also huge and I have no idea where they are. I’ve watched that video she sent me at least ten times on my way over here and each time I get angrier for torturing myself by watching it. I should just delete it.Don’t you fucking dare.The way she gasps my name the second she goes over the edge and shoots the sexiest wink to the camera, almost has me coming in my pants every time. There are two large bars both positioned in the center of the room and I walk around one and then the other before I see her in that sexy gold dress. I get closer and fuck she looks gorgeous, like she’s been out in the sun since the week I’ve seen her making her even more bronzed than usual. Her lips are painted red and quirked up in a smile towards some fucking asshole standing next to her.Fuck that.He leans down to whisper something in her ear, his hand resting at the small of her back, and I instantly feel the aggression r
I should have known Rory coming down to help me move wouldn’t come without a hundred questions and tequila shots.“I still can’t believe I didn’t realize it. Like...it was a shame that nobody had hooked up with Daddy Graham after all this time. What is the actual point of having a friend with a hot dad?” She sucks the lime into her mouth. We’d spent the last two days moving and had actually put a decent dent in my apartment. I have a couch, my bed is set up, and I have WiFi so everything else can wait as far as I’m concerned. My mom left about an hour ago after neurotically organizing my kitchen, and we’d opened a bottle of wine and then switched to tequila right after.I’m lying flat on my back on my couch with my eyes closed, with an eye mask resting beneath my eyes in hopes it will get rid of the dark circles brought on by staying up all night packing and crying all week. “How pissed is he?”Rory, who’s sitting on the floor in front of me, takes a bite of the sausage pizza we order
It’s been a little over a week since Raegan’s engagement party and I’vebeen fucking miserable. It’s not bad enough to have gone through the worst breakup of my life, but the man still lives next door. I’m supposed to move out next week, so I’m grateful I’ll eventually have a reprieve from staring out my bedroom window in hopes I get just the smallest glimpse of him. I haven’t talked to Lucas, but I did talk to Raegan after she showed up at my house and forced me to talk to her since I’d been avoiding her calls. I wasn’t sure how she felt about it and I’ll be honest, she scares me a little bit. She told me to give it time and that she still wanted me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding.I’m not sure if that’s only because she still actually wants me to be in it or if it’s also to punish me a little bit by forcing me into a room with Theo and Lucas.Fuck me.While I’m definitely upset and wallowing in the misery of not seeing the man I’d quickly fallen for over the past month, a part of
I make it back to the party and it seems like nothing is out of the ordinary. It’s nearing midnight so the festivities are winding down but people are sitting around talking and a few people feeling their drinks are still on the dance floor. I am grateful that I don’t see Avery’s parents so that’s two less people I have to deal with right now. I don’t see Raegan or Lucas either for that matter, so I’m sure they are somewhere together. I go out onto the patio where I see Bryan and Wes each holding a drink while my brother smokes a cigar. I make my way over to them and Bryan gives me a look.“You got caught?”“Lucas came down and...he’s with Rae,” Wes adds as he gives me a sad look that isn’t judgmental or with any hint of I told you this would happen.“I’m sorry this happened tonight. We were trying to wait until after the wedding to tell anyone,” I tell him because I’m sure this is not what Wes wants to be dealing with on the night of their engagement party.“Clearly, you weren’t tryi
My knee is bouncing nonstop as I chew on my thumbnail nervously when Ihear a knock on the door. I rush to it, not knowing who it is when I fling it open without looking. I breathe a sigh of relief when it’s Theo and he pushes his way inside. “Hey, what happened?” I ask immediately as I take in his defeated expression. He drops to the bed and his head falls into his hands and I immediately fear the worst. Though I’m not exactly sure what the worst-case scenario is here. He shakes his head and looks up at me with sad eyes and I already know what he’s going to say. “I’ll talk to him.”He shakes his head. “Come here, baby.”“No,” I tell him as I turn towards the door, prepared to find Lucas and make him understand my side of this as well. I feel Theo’s hand on my elbow and he pulls me towards his chest. He wraps his arms around me as I succumb to the tears I’d been avoiding every time I thought about this outcome.He lifts my chin to meet his eyes. “Please don’t cry. I hate seeing you up