Chapter Seven

 

Zoey

 

Now how was a girl supposed to respond to that? Aside from his words making my panties so damp that I thought I might’ve needed to change them?

Heat flooded my body burning my skin, what I hoped was a lovely shade of pink instead of the red hot it felt like. If my heart beat any faster it just might’ve popped out of my chest.

“Your brother is going to be back any minute,” Wyatt said like he knew what I was thinking. He set those dark eyes on me.

Everything about his stance made me want to jump on him and push my lady bits into him like a dog in heat. I decided against doing that, it would’ve been a bad idea but it didn’t hamper the desire at all.

“You know he asked me to help take care of you,” Wyatt finally said, his smirked told me what kind of taking care he was thinking about and it was the exact opposite of what my brother had meant.

As much as I tried not to, my mind fell back to the scene that had played out four years ago. A simple kiss, I’d told herself. The kiss that turned into so much more until I basically begged him to have sex with me. Maybe not begged exactly but I’d made things extremely clear. Instead of taking me up on my offer, giving me exactly what I’d wanted, Wyatt backed away and left. Just left me there without a shirt on and then left town the next day. He would’ve been my first. I’d told him that, too. Maybe that was what turned him off.

Plus I’d only gotten humiliation in return for putting herself out there like that. Rejected by the one person I’d wanted to share that moment with above all others including the first guy I’d actually slept with. Suddenly, everything clicked into place.

“Wait. Is that why you stopped?”

His eyebrows quirked up in a silent question. He couldn’t know what I’d been thinking so obviously had no idea what I was talking about.

“I told you I was a virgin that night,” I explained. “Is that why you stopped?” Anger bubbled up, threatening to take over depending on his answer which I saw in his eyes before he could utter a word. “You didn’t think I’d be good enough?”

“Zoey—”

“No.” I cut him off. “Do yourself a favor and keep your fucking hands off me.”

Thankfully the downstairs buzzer alerted the both of us to Riley’s return. That way I wouldn’t have to be alone with Wyatt another second because I didn’t know if I’d be able to control myself. My tears or my anger. What a mistake it’d been to think there could ever have been something between us. To reject a girl because she didn’t have the experience that he did made Wyatt an asshole as far as I was concerned.

Luckily, I wouldn’t have to deal with him much longer. Soon he’d leave for the night and the limited time left would include my brother. Gave me a prize to keep my eyes on. Him no longer being in my new apartment.

The guys left once they finished off the pizza which left me to unpack the rest of the boxes. Fine by me. I preferred it that way. There’d be no pretending that he hadn’t humiliated me a second time or keeping up the act for my brother too much longer than I already had. I’d let him touch her in the garage and he’d wanted it as much as I had. Apparently, now that I’d been with a couple of other guys I rated high enough for Wyatt to give me the time of day? Fuck that. My virginity or lack thereof shouldn’t have been an issue.

I’d just go to bed and not think about Wyatt McCann.

The next morning, I woke early to get ready for a day out with my best friend from college. Harper Sorensen lived just under an hour away and had gotten her dream job when we’d graduated last year, so we hadn’t gotten to hang out as much. With her off being an adult and me just getting a start on that, we probably wouldn’t get to see each other for a while. Being an adult sort of sucked. We’d have to squeeze every drop of fun out the day that we could and I’d continue to not think about Wyatt.

We spent the day shopping and trying on the most ridiculous outfits until we were both so hungry our stomachs were louder than the music in my car. For lunch we settled on Dub’s, a local bar and grill with excellent wings. We’d hung out in places like that in college, more than either would care to admit but we loved it. It was like being with our people.

“So,” Harper started as soon as our asses hit the seats, “We’ve pretty much talked about nothing all day. What’s going on?”

“Not much. I signed my employment papers, found an apartment.” The thing about Harper was that no matter what I couldn’t lie to my best friend. And lie meant even those of omission. I glanced around the room pretending to look for something interesting so I wouldn’t have to look Harper in the eye. That would be my downfall.

“Spill.” She took a large drink from the glass of iced tea the waitress had dropped off.

Thankfully I got a reprieve when the waitress asked if we were ready to order. I took my time so I wouldn’t have to answer right away.

“There’s nothing to tell. It really hasn’t been that exciting.” I squirmed under Harper’s intense gaze. Harper may not have looked like it but she could be a ballbuster when she needed to be. The red hair and bright blue eyes gave her an intense look. That intensity didn’t come out very much but when it did… watch out. “Stop looking at me like that.”

Harper’s stare had the ability to make me uncomfortable since freshman year. With Harper’s dad being a police detective, she’d grown up trying to figure out what everyone was hiding. At least that’s what she’d told me. And Harper always got to the bottom of everything.

“So… who is he? Who is this man that you might trust your vagina to?” Harper leaned in like she was about to hear the biggest secret in the world.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Of course, she’d think it was about a guy, which, yeah, it was but still annoying that Harper was always right.

“I wouldn’t jump right to trust.”

“Hold on.” She sat up straighter and pulled her chair in even closer. “So, there’s a guy then? As your best friend, I am on a need to know basis and I need to know, Zoey. You like him? Love him? Want to use his body in sinful ways but don’t trust him?”

Now I snorted. While I wanted to avoid having to answer any one of those question but knew that was pointless. Harper had her ways and would get the information. Me and some other friends used to tell her she needed to work for the CIA.

“Come on…” Harper prodded.

“Fine. It’s my brother’s best friend, Wyatt.”

“The Marine?”

I nodded.

“The one you almost gave your V-card to?” she asked.

Again I nodded.

“Well, then.” She dropped back into her seat and cross her arms as if she was thinking something over.

Harper at a loss for words wasn’t something that happened very often so I wanted to sit back and enjoy it. Until I saw two large masses come through the door that was only about ten feet away from us. I didn’t need to see them clearly. Even with the backlight of the sun, I knew exactly who they were and hoped they wouldn’t see us sitting there. When the waitress came to deliver our order, effectively blocking the guys’ views, I relaxed a little but not enough that Harper didn’t notice my reaction.

“Why do you look like someone farted?” Harper spun in her chair to look in the same direction I had been. “Who are they?”

I took a deep breath but didn’t have a chance to answer before the guys approached our tables.

“Hey, Zoey,” Riley said with smile as soon as he got to our table.

I smiled back but didn’t feel the smile across my entire face. “Harper, this is my brother, Riley and his friend, Wyatt.”

Harper raised an eyebrow at me. Please don’t say anything. Please don’t say anything, I silently begged her.

“Wyatt?” A smirk broke across Harper’s face. “I’ve heard so much about you.” This time Wyatt looked to me and gave me a cocky grin. “Both of you actually,” she added.

“This is my ex-best friend, Harper,” I said to the guys.

 “Yes,” Harper said with a laugh while shaking their hands. “Best friend. Keeper of secrets, holder of hair.”

“And how many times did you have to hold her hair for her?” Riley asked her but gave me a stern glance.

“Well, if I told you that, I wouldn’t be a very good keeper of secrets, would I?”

“Guess not,” he chuckled. It was even a genuine laugh which I hadn’t seen from him since I moved home. His usual serious nature remained dominant for the last year. He even ran his hand through his slightly darker blond hair in that way guys did when talking to a hot girl. And yeah, Harper was hot but again, he didn’t let the façade slip. Usually. “Well, we’re hungry. We’ll see you two later.”

After the guys walked away, Harper looked far too excited for me to feel comfortable with.

“That’s the Wyatt?” she asked with excitement. I sighed in answer. “He’s delicious. I can see the attraction. I know what you have to do.”

“And what is that?” My grabbed my drink to give me something to do.

“You need to make him yours,” she said with a shrug as if I should’ve already known.

The drink I’d just take slid down my throat the wrong way and I choked the sputtered. Not the answer I’d been expecting.

“You’re crazy,” I said once I got myself back under control. “I told you he walked away because I was a virgin. That makes him a douchebag. Plus things have been so hot and cold since he’s been back. I’ve done the dramatic relationship we all should avoid. I’m not about to try to force another.”

Harper absently pushed a few errant red strands back behind her ear. It was the most beautiful red I’d ever seen. It was all natural so it complimented her pale skin and bright blue eyes. The eyes were the only physical trait the two of us had in common. “I get that, Zo, but come on… that was a really long time ago. Look at the man. Or better yet, look at you looking at the man. It’s fate. Kismet. Clearly, you’re a match made in Heaven.”

“You mean a match made in the insane asylum. It’s not going to work out. I’m over it.”

“Riiiiiight.” Harper rolled her eyes. “Just think about it. And, you know, as your friend if you need me to distract your brother, I can make that happen. I’m sure it’d be worth the drive.”

The smile Harper broke out told me exactly how my brother would be distracted and several puns bounced around my head about the drive or driving. Then I wanted to gag. That was my brother after all.

“I think I just threw up in my mouth.”