Drake

I’ve never denied that I can be a controlling asshole. I believe it’s one of my strongest assets as a Marine. I do, however, know how to treat a lady so I can’t figure out for the life of me why I brought up Tiana’s situation in New York like that.

The nickname came out of nowhere, but it fits what little I know of her so far. She is fiery and feisty and sassy, three things that I find incredibly attractive.

So why won’t she admit it? Is she really the calm cool-headed woman she claims to be? Could it be that I bring out another side of her that she’s not comfortable with? Maybe.

I curse under my breath while I gather the empty bags and flats off the lawn. She’s going to own the nickname Firecracker if it’s the last thing I do.

“What the hell did you do to my sister, man?” I straighten up and find Jayden standing at the top of the porch steps with his hands on his hips like a mother hen.

Fuck, I don’t need this right now, my face still aches from his right hook last night and I’ve been working outside for hours. I’m spent and ready for a beer and some peace and quiet now that little ‘Miss Calm and Collected’ has ditched me with clean-up duty.

“Nothing, she took something I said wrong, that’s all. And before you fly off the handle, I wasn’t propositioning her. I’ve been helping her out here all day in your place because you can’t handle your liquor.”

He clomps down the stairs and across the lawn red-faced and breathing hard. He stops directly in front of me -- chest to chest, he asks again, “What did you do to my sister?” He puffs out his chest and I lean forward challenging him to a fight with my posture.

If he wants to go rounds over his sister, he can be my guest, but I’m not holding back this time. I can beat his ass into the ground and he knows it.

“I told you, it was a misunderstanding. Are we going to end our friendship over this shit, Jayden? Because every time I turn around lately you’re challenging me, threatening to punch me or actually raising your fist to me and I’m starting to take it personally.”

“She just came storming into the house slamming doors and she won’t talk to me. I see you out here in the yard when I told you she was off limits and you say it was a misunderstanding? I’m gonna need more of an explanation than that.”

“Well, that’s all your getting so if you want to throw the first punch go ahead because I won’t.”

Now he’s perplexed, I can see it in his eyes. This guy needs to get over his obsession with protecting his sister’s virtue. I get that he feels the need to look out for her but he’s taking it too far. She’s twenty-five years old for fuck’s sake. He must know after seeing the videos of her online that she’s not pure as the driven snow. Maybe that’s it? Maybe he’s so overwrought about having his vision of her ruined that he feels the need to valiantly protect her.

“Look, Jay, I know you’re upset about what happened with Tiana in New York but…” He raises his fist to hit me but I’m ready for him this time. I block it with one hand pushing him away with a force that takes him by surprise.

“Like I was saying, I know you’re upset but if you want to help her you need to back off and let her live her life. Be her friend, her brother, and stop acting like she’s still twelve years old. It seems to me that she could use a shoulder to lean on instead of fists flying to protect her honor.”

He steps back and lowers his fist. He’s still wound up tight but I reached him.

“You think she needs to talk?”

“I don’t know her very well, Jayden, but it seems like she’s scared and confused.”

He’s looking at the ground between us considering what I’ve said.

“You weren’t out here earning brownie points so you can get into her pants today?”

I raise my eyebrows and shrug. I’m not going to lie to him, the thought has occurred to me even if I swore not to touch her.

“Drake, swear to me that you won’t touch her. I’ll try to back off and give her some room to breathe but falling into bed with you isn’t going to solve anything.”

I want to tell him it might, but I’ve pushed far enough for one day and there’s a chance Tiana won’t want to fall into bed with me for a while after I insulted her today.

I don’t really believe that. She feels the electricity in the air between us. She might be angry now, but she will forgive me when I apologize, I’m sure of it.

“I won’t make any advances on your sister, Jayden, I promise. Now go inside and see if she wants to talk.”

I’m surprised he didn’t notice that I didn’t say I would refuse her if she makes an advance on me. I’ll be sure to bring that up when she does.

He turns and trudges back toward the porch stopping for a moment to look at what Tiana and I accomplished today.

“Nice work,” he says more out of obligation than anything.

“She did most of it by herself. I only helped spread the wood chips and place the bricks.”

“Thanks,” he mumbles.

“No problem.”

The screen door squeaks and he disappears inside the house. I’m glad he valued our friendship enough to see things my way. In my experience, my way is the best way.

Now I must make Tiana believe that too, and she will.