Chapter 7

Gage

I couldn’t get over how amazing Lauren looked, and even though I knew I was taking advantage of the whole “lifelong-friends” thing to hold her hand and kiss her cheek, the moment I’d stepped away from her, my friendship with her brother was back front and center. Especially when he sent me a text telling me to keep my filthy hands to myself. I had thought about those words all the way to get the pizza and then on the long drive home.

Lauren had always been so special to me, like a sister, yes, but she was always around when I was with the Patrick family, and it made me feel like a part of a big family.

I had spent a lot of time with her and the boys at their camp down by the creek, and she’d tagged along whether we wanted her to or not. I usually didn’t mind and thought it was neat to have a little sister, but Noah, who had come around eventually, hadn’t wanted her to tag along when we were doing things she could get hurt trying. Not to mention, she’d tell their mother if the two of us were into something we shouldn’t be. He used to get so mad at her back then. But then once she got older, he didn’t want her around for a whole other reason: too many of his friends liked her. I was the only one who he could trust, and that only went so far. Lucky for him, she’d found her own group of friends and didn’t want to hang around with us by then, either.

But then in high school, it all changed. When she was a freshman, he kept a much closer eye on her, and her on me. What a fool I’d been back then not to care. I’d known better, I supposed.

I pulled up at home and was greeted by Helen who met me at the door. “I’m so glad you’re here. She’s strewn all of her toys all over the house, and she’s even turned the cushions over. I can handle a lot, Gage, but I will not tolerate this deliberate rebellion. Your daughter needs a strap taken to her.” She put her hands on her hips and walked away, and when she did, I saw the mess behind her.

It was like a bomb had exploded in our living room. Just as Helen had said, all of the cushions were off the couch, and every toy she had, along with all of her clothes, were scattered from the top of the stairs to the downstairs across the floor.

“Olivia!” I walked into the room, and after placing the pizza on the table, I headed straight for the stairs. “Olivia, you get out here right now!” She’d done it out of spite for me not bringing her pizza sooner, and I knew if I let this kind of behavior go, it would get out of hand. She wouldn’t have pulled a stunt like this for Edna.

When I got to the top of the stairs and walked down the hall to her room, her door slammed, and I heard her scamper across the floor. I opened the door and found the room empty, save for anything too heavy for her to remove, which meant she could only be hiding in one of two places. Since her closet door was standing wide open with a few empty hangers dangling freely, that could only mean she was hiding under the bed. I went to stand in the center of her room and leaned over so I could see her. “Young lady, I’m very upset with you.”

She was lying on her stomach with her hands propped up under her chin.

“Olivia. Come out of there right now.” She shook her head and kept her lips pulled into a tight line.

“Fine. But you will clean up that mess, and you will apologize to Ms. Helen. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior in my house from anyone. I’m very disappointed in you.”

I went downstairs and grabbed a hot slice of the pizza and carried the rest to the kitchen. I was determined she’d go to bed without it.

“Daddy, I’m hungry.” I turned and found Olivia at the door with her nightgown and fuzzy bunny slippers.

I sat at the kitchen table with my slice of pizza. “You can pick up this house and then go to bed.” I wasn’t going to let that “Daddy” stuff break me.

“But you promised.” Tears filled her eyes, and I looked away from her and let out a long breath.

“Do you know what an emergency is?” I kept my voice firm.

“Yes, it’s when someone goes to the hospital.”

“Well, this isn’t that kind of an emergency, but a friend of mine had her car break down on her, and she was trapped out in the snow. So, while I wanted to bring you pizza as promised, I had to go help my friend. This was a very bad and mean thing you did to me.”

“Is she your girlfriend?” She gave me a smile, but I wasn’t about to fall for her cuteness.

“No, she’s my best friend’s little sister, and I’ve known her since she was a little bit older than you.”

“Were you little too, Daddy?”

“Yes, I was.” She climbed up into my lap and smiled then glanced over at the pizza box. I was just about to tell her no when her little tummy let out a growl. “This house has to be cleaned up before you go to bed Olivia. If it’s not, it will be here in the morning for you, but you will pick it up. All by yourself. And I want you to apologize.”

“I’m sorry, Daddy.” She covered her face and then peeked through her fingers.

“Are you?” I met her eyes directly, and she teared up.

“Yes, Daddy. Do I have to tell Ms. Helen I’m sorry?”

“Especially Ms. Helen.”

“She’s so mean, she doesn’t like me, and she doesn’t want me to live here.”

“Why do you think that?” I wondered if she’d overheard that and if it had triggered all of the problems we’d been having with her.

“She told Mr. Henry that things were better around here when you didn’t have a daughter.” She reached over and opened the box. She pulled out a slice as big as her head and bit into the skinny end.

“Have you heard her say anything else?”

“Just that you’re a grown child and that you should have had more discipline.” Great, the little one didn’t miss a beat.

She picked off a piece of pepperoni and nibbled it. I let her finish the slice, and before she was done, she was yawning.

“Making that mess made you really tired didn’t it?”

She turned and gave me a shrug. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I was mad.”

“I’m mad, too, now. And I meant what I said. I want you to clean it up in the morning. Wash your hands. I’ll get your bedding, but only because I don’t want you tripping on the stairs.” I wasn’t sure how she’d managed to drag the heavy covers all the way down the stairs. I walked into the living room and found her daisy comforter buried beneath a pile of toys, and I realized she’d used the blanket to drag a bunch down at once. She was a smart little girl, but I needed her to stop being destructive.

I met her upstairs, and she had brushed her teeth and washed her hands. “Will you read me a story, Daddy?”

“No, not tonight, and I’m sure you know why.” My phone rang as I tucked her in, and then I pulled the door closed and answered, seeing it was Noah.

“I was a perfect gentleman, I swear.”

“I know, she told me, and lucky for you. But that’s not what I’m calling about. Did she tell you anything?”

“No, but she seemed okay. She wasn’t sad or anything. Of course, she was excited to see me. I caught her looking me over.”

“I’m sure she was only trying to figure you out. You’re not at all her type, man. It’s why I trusted you with her.”

“So, what’s her type? I’ll make sure I try to be that the next time I see her. I’m sure she’d be down to try something new.”

“I didn’t call so you could piss me off, my friend. I just wanted to thank you and remind you how much she means to me and that you’re supposed to be finding out if someone broke her heart.”

“I could do that much easier if you’d let me ask her out on a date.” I went into my room and pulled back the covers. Climbing into bed, I grabbed my remote and put the TV on Sports Center.

“I said you could take her out to dinner.”

“But if I feel her out on boyfriends, that would be a lot faster. Besides, let’s just cut the bull. You know you’ve always wanted me for a brother.”

“I have. That’s true. But the answer is still no.”

“Goodnight, Noah.” I hung up the phone and turned my attention to the TV for a moment, but then I let it drift back to Lauren. She’d been so beautiful. Her hair had darkened a lot, and I remembered how much red she used to have in it, how the sun would reflect off of it to create her own sunset. Her eyes had always had that inquisitive look, like she was constantly pondering the secrets of the universe.

She’d really filled out, too, and in all the right places. I licked my lips thinking about her and wondered if I could ever go against Noah’s wishes and see her on an intimate level. My cock hardened thinking about the swell of her breast against that tiny waistline, how her legs would look wrapped around me, and what her voice would sound like screaming my name. The ache that shot up my balls told me it wasn’t going away anytime soon, and I gripped my shaft and gave it a squeeze, knowing I shouldn’t be doing this and thinking of Lauren. Actually, with Noah involved, it might be the only way I could have her.

I let out a deep breath and then took another cleansing one as I began to stroke and think about her. She’d be a goddess on her knees, working me over with those pouty lips, her eyes staying focused on mine as she trailed her tongue up and down my veiny shaft.

I’d lift her up and put her on her back so I could play with those ample, perky breasts and pinch those tight nipples. My imagination ran wild, knowing I’d never seen her bare breasts, and I could only dream that they were even more impressive naked, with her pinching her nipples as she panted out my name.

I’d drive deep inside that sopping wet pussy, and she’d moan so good. I’d take her, flesh to flesh. The silky, hot skin would feel so good caressing my cock, and then I’d fill her sweet pussy with a big load and pound it deep.

I imagined myself pouring into her, over and over, filling her up, and when I pulled free, she’d get on her knees and suck me until I was hard and ready again.

God, I wanted her so much more than I was willing to admit, and as I came, my cock spraying my load all over my chest, I knew that it would be best for my relationship with Noah if I just let it be. It wasn’t worth losing my best friend over.