WALKING INTO THE PUB in Newton is like stepping into one of my happy places. It’s been our hangout for years, starting when we were in training, spending every night we could pounding down pints after a hard day. Years later, we’ve officially become regulars.
It’s oddly the same after a decade. The dark woods, rich hops smell, and the dim mood lighting set up a level of comfort and sophistication. Their level of snotty didn’t always like our brand of celebration, but the ladies liked our energy over their stuck-up dates.
As we sit at the bar, I notice they’ve updated the menus in the last few weeks. The items look the same, with a few new dishes. It’s always been great, which is one reason why we come so often.
“Thanks for coming, man,” Cameron says as he signals to Mike, the bartender. “Coke and a Sam Adams.”
I turn and stare at him. “You said beer. Do you think I’m going to turn that down?”
He lets out a chuckle and shakes his head. “Nah, but it’s different since I’m waiting for Ev.”
It’s been about ten years since I last saw Cam’s little sister, Everly. The last time I saw her, she was a teenager and the definition of geek: glasses, braces, messy ponytail, and clothes that were unflattering to her flat body. She used to follow us around, as much as she was allowed to anyway. I always thought it was funny, but Cameron, not so much. Kind of hard to make it to first base with your kid sister in tow.
“Red Sox are playing tonight,” I say as I look up at the screen. The game, the second one of the season, is just starting.
“Why do you think I suggested here?” Cam asks. “Besides, it looks like we’ll be waiting awhile. Her plane’s delayed.”
“Doesn’t surprise me from what I hear about that airport.”
“It’s unbelievable, especially with all the construction. Then again, what airport isn’t a nightmare?”
I shrug. “You fly more than me.” The last time I took a plane was to visit my mom’s family in Greece when I was sixteen. “I can’t believe your sister has been in California for so long.”
“Good thing technology is on our side.”
“Facetime?”
He nods. “I don’t think I’d even know Everly anymore if it wasn’t for that.”
“You have stayed weirdly close,” I note before taking a sip of my beer.
“She’s the only sister I have. Plus, once I became an official adult, she wasn’t that annoying.”
I tilt my head back in laughter. “You mean once you were off to college and away from her.”
Cam’s brow scrunches before he rolls his eyes and lets out a sigh. “Yeah. That. But then I did want to, you know, have a friendship with her.”
“Guess I never really realized how close you were since she’s not around.”
“Don’t act like I never talk about her,” Cam says.
“Not saying that, because you do. Just, it’s not a relationship I can understand.”
He nods. “Charlie is like a brother.”
“Same last name, different situation,” I say. It’s been weeks since I even talked to my cousin. He got a girl about a year ago and disappeared, only to be seen at family functions or when he’s not all curled around her.
“How about this; when Everly gets here, she can be your honorary little sister.”
I purse my lips and take another sip of my beer. I’ll look after Everly because she is Cam’s sister and Everly means a lot to him, so I suppose that works. Besides, how much trouble can she be?
The familiar sounds of Twenty One Pilots “Heavydirtysoul” blares from Cam’s phone sitting on the bar in front of him. “Hayes,” he says into the receiver. A small nod, quick, “Okay,” and then he’s hanging up, hissing, “Shit.”
By Cam’s tone, I know what the call was.
“That was fast.”
He throws back the rest of his Coke. “I was hoping if it did happen, it could at least wait until Everly arrived.”
I shake my head. “Fire waits for no man.”
Cam stands and pulls on his jacket. “Are you cool with waiting for her?”
I nod. “No problem.”
Cam pulls out his keys and unclips a single key ring with two keys on it. He holds them out and drops them into my palm. “Do me a solid, okay?”
“What?”
“Don’t try and pick up my sister.”
I roll my eyes and let out a very unflattering snort. “Seriously, man? We’re talking about your little sister.”
“Seriously. Ev’s not the same girl she used to be.”
“Dude, I’m not that big of a manwhore.”
I watch as Cam purses his lips. “Yeah, I don’t believe that for a second.”
“Well, I wouldn’t call myself a manwhore exactly, but, come on, man, you know me better than that.”
“I do. You forget I’ve been with you when you have met many of your ‘dates.’ Not only that, but if you’re not a manwhore, then what does that make me?”
I laugh at his statement, taking a swig of my beer before raising it toward Cam in salute.
“Touché, brother, but you, my friend, have nothing to worry about here. You know that out of anyone, you can trust me, and we’re talking about your little sister. I would never go there,” I say and look him directly in the eyes so he knows I mean what I say.
Cam isn’t just my best friend; he’s like my brother, which I guess already makes Everly my little sister.
“Besides, I’ve got my eyes on a few exciting prospects for tonight,” I say as I eye the redhead that’s sitting across the bar from us. She’s been eye fucking me since I walked through the door. I’m not usually into gingers, but she’s got a rocking body that I bet won’t quit.
Cam stares at me a moment, looks over at the redhead, and then throws some money down on the bar while shaking his head. He smiles at me before holding his fist out.
“I know I can trust you; I just needed to say it. She’s my sister, and she’s been away from home a long time. She’s . . .” he trails off when he sees my smirk, and then he turns and starts to make his way out, throwing me a look that says, “Just stay out of trouble for one night while I’m gone, would ya.” Asshole. “Later, Niko. I’ll see you at the firehouse tomorrow.”
I continue to peruse the evening’s prospects, noting the lack of options. Then again, it’s a Tuesday.
The redhead from across the bar is a bust seeing as I watch a male companion join her only minutes after Cam leaves. Can’t trust some women. I shake off the thought and order some food and another beer.
A meal later, and the Red Sox are down by two runs. Two hours have passed, and still no sign of Everly. I text Cam to see if he’s heard anything but get no response, which means they’re out on a call.
I weigh my options, which are slim to none, the bar filled with regulars and game watchers.
It’s after nine and it doesn’t look like Cam’s little sister is coming or that I’m going to take home some dessert, so I pull out my wallet to pay. With a nod to the bartender, I let him know I’m ready to cash out, and he holds up a finger. I guess I should tell Cam that his sister hasn’t shown and that I’m heading home.
Just as I’m typing the message and hit send, the sexiest fucking woman I’ve ever laid eyes on takes the seat next to me.
Brunette waves frame her face, which is full of large hazel eyes and full pink lips. Tits that could fill my hands, slender waist flaring out to hips leading to long legs capped with four-inch heeled boots. Sun-kissed skin that I can’t tell whether or not that is her natural skin tone, but she looks like she’s spent some time on the beach. The thought of her in a string bikini floods my mind and has my cock instantly standing at attention.
There is no fucking way this girl is single; she’s fucking gorgeous.
I turn and put my wallet back in my pocket, deciding then that I’m not ready to call it a night after all when the bartender decides to come and close me out. I wave him off, but the hot-as-fuck brunette next to me stops him before he walks away and orders a drink.
“Can I have something fruity?” she asks the bartender.
“Sex on the Beach or a daiquiri?” he asks her back.
“Sex on the Beach sounds good. Reminds me of the night I turned twenty-one,” she says, and before I can stop myself, I let out a groan. Sure, it’s one of those drinks most girls ordered back in the day, but the thought of sex and the beach coming from those lips of hers just did something to me.
I take a moment to compose myself and try not to make it evident that I’m staring, but I can’t help it, and my eyes roam, looking her up and down. This woman has fucking legs for days.
Another vision of those legs wrapped around my shoulders hits me, and I almost groan out loud again. I’m tired tonight after working a double shift, but I want this girl. I know I can work this to my favor, that being she warms the other side of my bed in the morning.
She clears her throat, pulling me from my visual assault and one hell of a fantasy. Busted! Of course I’d get caught. She smirks at me, and I know she knows that I just adjusted myself under the bar. Smooth, Callahan, real smooth. Bikinis, sex on the beach. I’m fucking done.
“Um . . . Hi, how are you?” Um hi, how are you? What the fuck am I, sixteen? If Cam were here, I’d never hear the end of this.
“Fine. Surprised to see you alone.”
Wait, what? Is she serious? Is she pulling my lines on me?
“Well . . . I’m not alone anymore, now, am I?” And he’s back!
I don’t know what happened to me for a few minutes, but the shock of her seems to have settled down.
“I guess. If you call me company,” she says as she looks around the bar before her eyes land back on me and I watch her mouth turn up into a half smirk. Oh, this girl is good, but I know I’m better.
“I’d like to call you a lot more than some company.” What I’d like to call her is mine, for the night anyway.
Fuck, is she hot. Actually, for her, I’d reconsider my one-night rule. This chick is so sexy that I can see myself letting her knock on my door twice. Hell, the thought of taking her back to my place alone is enormous. I honestly can’t think of anything to say right now, and for me, that’s rare. What she says next has me completely struck stupid.
“Going to scream my name?” Right then the bartender brings her drink over and she immediately takes a sip while watching me, and I swear I can see the fire in those gorgeous hazel eyes of hers. They almost look like liquid gold.
Oh yeah. Trouble. This woman is trouble with a capital T. I almost get lost in those eyes, but then I find myself before I have a chance to make more of an ass out of myself and blow this.
Did I just say blow? Shit, now that’s a visual I’d love to see become a reality. If I don’t stop all these fantasies going through my head right now, I’m going to embarrass myself like a teenager about to bone his first chick ever.
“Baby, you tell me your name, and I’ll scream it all night and pray to it all day.”
She stirs the drink sitting in front of her, and I see her suck her bottom lip into her teeth, and all I can think is how great those full lips would look wrapped around my cock.
I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and decide it’s the perfect time to adjust myself under the bar again while reaching for my phone. I don’t care at this point if she sees what she’s doing to me, but I’m not too keen on Cam’s sister showing up while I’m sporting major wood. I pull my phone out and see the message from Cam in reply to my earlier one to him about his sister not being here yet.
Cam: Dude, just head home. I’ll text Ev to meet me at the station.
I type out a quick reply letting him know I’m heading out and I’ll see him tomorrow, then look up at the sexy-as-fuck chick next to me who is staring at me.
That’s right, baby. I’m game if you are.
For a second there I’d say she is surprised or shocked, but there is no way she’s not used to guys zoning in on her. Not looking like she does. She’s more than my type. I usually go for straight tens, but she’s surpassed my female rating by twice that.
It looks like my night just got interesting. I smile and then wait for her next move while contemplating my own.