Eden

 

I nodded, surprised. I couldn’t figure out why Dylan was even at this party and why he wasn’t already dancing with someone like Jessilyn.

Dylan smiled and with my hand still in his began to make his way to the center of the dancing bodies. Eyes followed us curiously.

I pulled on Dylan’s hand. Why was he dragging me to the center of the room? He glanced at me over his shoulder and grinned but didn’t stop his progress. When Dylan finally stopped there was barely room to breathe let alone dance, but the crowd around us accommodated and soon we were swaying to the music.

The beat was heady, and Dylan’s cologne assaulted my senses. He spun me around, so my back was to his chest and wrapped one arm around my waist while gripping my hip with the other. I’d never danced like this before and the proximity of Dylan’s body all along the back of my body had my breath quickening.

Dylan’s head dipped, and he spoke into my ear. “Relax.”

Easier said than done. In all the years I’d known Dylan, it’s never been like this. Dylan’s arms and hands held me close as he moved behind me, his body slow and sensuous. Instead of pulling his head away, he stayed close, his breath hot on my ear.

My knees weakened.

He held me closer.

Our bodies moved in sync. Soon the music took over and I lost myself in the beat and the feel of him at my back. Dylan reached for my hand and brought it up to wrap around his neck. I’d heard that Dylan was a player. He had a reputation. None of the girls he dated hated him in the end, though, they just hated that he let them go. Yeah, Dylan was a god with the ladies and a legend among the guys.

I was beginning to see why.

One song ended, and another began but Dylan never missed a beat, guiding our bodies into a flawless and perfect rhythm. I wanted it to never end.

What?

No.

This was Dylan. My sworn enemy.

My brother’s best friend and the guy who was three years older than me and leaving for basic training before Homecoming.

There were many, many perks to hating Dylan Coulter. And the most important- avoiding a broken heart.

At least, that’s what I was telling myself as the hard muscles of his stomach moved against my back and his lips grazed my hair above my ear.

Then, just like that, reality came crashing down. In the form of Marshall.

My date.

Right.

“Hey, man.” Marshall was blitzed. Completely and utterly wasted. His glassy eyes assessed Dylan’s hands on my hips and my arm around his neck and even in his extremely drunk state, his eyes narrowed dangerously.

Behind me, Dylan stilled. His hands remained on my hips, but I allowed mine to fall to my side as I fought to catch my breath. What had just happened? Shaking my head to clear it, I stepped away from Dylan.

Marshall took hold of my elbow and pulled me into his side, wrapping his arm possessively around my shoulder.

Dylan’s jaw twitched as his gaze bounced from me to Marshall then back to me.

“Why don’t you let me give Eden a ride home, man.” It wasn’t a request.

Marshall’s arm tightened around my shoulder. “We’re good, aren’t we?”

Marshall’s hazy eyes peered down at me. The words were said lightly but I knew I’d be risking my budding relationship with him if I let Dylan take me home now. As much as I kinda wanted him to.

“I’m fine, Dylan.” I really hoped I was telling him the truth.

“He’s drunk, Ed.” Dylan’s eyes bore into mine while he spoke as if Marshall wasn’t even there.

“We have a ride worked out. It’s okay.” I put my arm around Marshall’s waist.

“Dude. Coulter. Don’t you have anything better to do than babysit your friend’s little sister. At a high school party.” Marshall laughed with all the unrestrained confidence of the inebriated.

Dylan’s eyes narrowed as his fists clenched. “Eden?”

“I promise I’m okay. Don’t worry about me. We have a ride. I came here with Marshall and I’m not ready to go home.” Lie. I was so ready to go home. Marshall smelled like the inside of someone’s sour stomach and I desperately missed the scent of Dylan’s cologne and the warmth of his body as we danced. But with Marshall I had a chance at something I would never have with Dylan.

Dylan studied me for a long moment before nodding. He started to turn away but paused, taking a deep breath.

“Just remember what I told you, Ed. All you have to do is call me.” And then he melted into the sea of dancing bodies.

“Jeez, Eden. Are you trying to get me beat up? What was that all about?” Marshall’s words were slightly slurred, and he didn’t look angry just slightly confused.

“Nothing. Let’s dance.” Marshall was easy to distract. I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head against his chest. His sour breath assaulted my senses and I dug in my pocket for a breath mint and popped it in his mouth before he could protest.

He accepted it with a sly grin. “All you had to do was ask, babe.” And his lips were on mine. We didn’t come up for air for the next hour. Marshall maneuvered us off the dance floor and onto a sofa on the edge of the room. My feelings of self-consciousness melted away as I realized not only was no one paying attention to us, but we weren’t the only couple engaging in some PDA. In fact, we were tame compared to what was happening around us.

At one point, I glanced up to catch sight of Dylan dancing with Jessilyn. The girl looked like she’d just been handed the moon. Her hips ground into Dylan’s unashamedly but he hardly paid her any mind. Instead, his eyes were on me. Me and Marshall. Marshall who was wrapped around me like an octopus. Marshall’s lips moved on my neck and Dylan’s eyes darkened, his brows drawn together in a deep vee.

“Let’s go.”

Marshall lifted his head from my shoulder. “What? Why?”

“It’s late and I’m kinda done with this party.” And done with Dylan and his disapproving looks.

“Yeah, okay. Let’s go.” Marshall stood up from the sofa.

Clint drove us to my house. Marshall kissed me as I backed out of the car. “See you later, babe.”

“Bye. Thanks, Clint.”

Clint acknowledged me with barely a nod and sped away from the curb almost before I even got the door closed behind me. Down the street, Dylan’s truck pulled into his parent’s driveway and I knew he was playing big brother again. He’d only stayed at the party to keep an eye on me. Typical freaking Dylan.

 

Dylan

 

Suddenly, it became my life goal to convince Eden what a piece of crap Marshall Simpkins was. And if she wouldn’t listen then I would just have to keep her from spending so much time with him. Which was my excuse for standing on her front porch on Saturday morning ringing the doorbell.

“Dylan! Why did you ring the bell, honey? You know you are welcome anytime.” Mrs. Crenshaw opened the door with a smile. She was a pretty woman with black hair and exotic features. Eden looked like her mini- me. I’d often wondered how a nerd like Mr. Crenshaw had landed such a gorgeous wife. Don’t get me wrong Mr. Crenshaw was a great guy, but he was just- a nerd. With thick-rimmed glasses and a perpetually absent-minded stare, he reminded me of the Nutty Professor.

“It’s just so weird that Josh isn’t here,” I told her in all honesty.

Her smile turned a little sad. “I know. It’s going to be even more weird when you take off for basic. How much longer do you have?”

“About a month,” I answered, kicking my sneakers off on the rug in the entryway. “Hey, is Eden around?”

“She’s up in her room, I think. She stayed out at Allie’s too late last night.” Mrs. Crenshaw shook her head with an indulgent smile. “Those girls. I thought Eden would just stay the night, but she said she wanted to sleep in and Allie had to go to practice this morning.”

Ha! The little liar. I’d wondered what she told her parents. There was no way the Crenshaw’s would approve of Eden being at JJ’s party last night. They were very protective of their baby girl.

“Well, I was thinking of seeing if she wanted to go to the gym with me. Josh and I were talking about teaching her some self-defense this summer, but we never got around to it.” Plus, she needed to know how to handle a jerk like Marshall when I wasn’t around.

“Aw, what a good idea!” Mrs. Crenshaw beamed at me. “You can go on up there, Dylan, and see if she wants to go. You might have to wait a while, though, for her to get ready. You know how she is.”

Did I ever. “No problem. I don’t have anything going on today.” I headed toward the stairs.

“Hey, thanks for giving Eden a ride to school this month. We really appreciate your help and I know Eden’s glad to not have to ride the bus.” She wrinkled her nose as though the thought of riding the bus was just as offensive to her as it was to Eden.

“It’s not a problem. I’m happy to help,” I called over my shoulder as I made my way up the rest of the stairs.

Eden’s room was at the end of the hall on the left across from Josh’s. Between their rooms was a shared bathroom. I stopped outside her door and wondered what I was really doing there. I tried to convince myself I was just looking out for my friend’s kid sister, but the truth was I couldn’t get that dance out of my head. It had been an impulse last night. One of several, actually. First, going to the game. I’d been feeling sorry for myself and lonely. All my friends were gone, and I was stuck at home for another month.

Then, I’d seen Eden, dressed to kill or get knocked up, I wasn’t sure which yet. When she’d told me, she was going to that party with that jerk, I just couldn’t get my mind off the idea. So, like an idiot I’d hopped in my truck and headed to JJ’s. JJ was cool, and we were friends. I knew he wouldn’t mind an old guy like me crashing his party. And then I’d seen her. Dancing with Marshall. His hands all over her. It was like a punch in the gut.

I’ve determined that it would suck for me no matter what. Seeing Eden with any guy was a blow. But I was also determined to be the better man. She deserved to have her fun in high school. Heaven only knew I’d had mine. I just wish she could have picked a nice guy. Anyone but Marshall or any of the guys he was friends with. I hated the way they treated the girls they dated or hooked up with. Whatever you wanted to call it. Eden could do so much better than that.

And then, when Marshall went off with that guy, Matt, to drink some more, I saw my chance to talk to her. Maybe convince her to let me give her a ride home. But then, I lost sight of her for a while. Just when I was beginning to panic, wondering where she was, I spotted her again. Looking lost and alone on the edge of the dancefloor.

I don’t know what possessed me to dance with her the way I did. Okay, that’s a lie. I saw the opportunity and I took it. It was selfish and probably wrong on so many levels, but man did it feel good. Eden fit in my arms like she was made specifically for me. Thoughts filled my mind. Thoughts of holding her. Kissing her.

Shaking my head, I tried to dislodge that train of thought. What happened last night couldn’t happen again. I’d been so close to losing my restraint. To letting her know just how much I felt for her. And that was a bad idea.

Taking a breath, I knocked on her door.

“Hmm.”

A growl that sounded like a hibernating bear came from behind the door.

“Ed! You up?” I didn’t remember seeing her drink anything last night. When would she have had the time between dancing with me and sucking face with Marshall? Anyway, I didn’t think she was hungover.

“Go away,” the bear called out. Her voice was muffled like it might be coming from underneath her pillow.

“I’m coming in,” I announced about five seconds before opening the door.

Eden was a curled-up lump under the covers. Only a few locks of her black hair were visible from beneath the blankets and pillows.

“Let’s go, sleepyhead. Wake up.” I sat on the edge of her bed and bounced a few times.

“Why are you in my room?” One arm snaked out from under the cover and held the pillow more firmly to her head.

I reached out to tug on it.

“Oh, my eyes,” she cried as I pulled the pillow off her face.

“I didn’t think you had anything to drink last night, Ed.”

“Would you be quiet!” she whisper shouted. “I didn’t have anything to drink last night. Not that it’s any of your business.” Her face scrunched into an angry scowl, but she still hadn’t opened her eyes.

“Come on. I want to take you to the gym.”

“Ugh. Why?” One eye cracked open.

“So, you can punch me in the face. You know you want to.”

“Of course, I do. But why are you offering to let me?” Both eyes were open now and watching me curiously.

“I’m bored, and all my friends are gone, and I thought maybe you’d like to punch my face in. What more do you need? Get up and get ready. I’ll meet you downstairs.” And just to be sure she actually got out of bed, I yanked her covers, sheets and all, off her and the bed, tossing them on the floor. “Up and at ‘em, Crenshaw!”

“I hate you, Dylan!” she shouted as I closed the door behind me.