Levitate (8 page)

AT FIRST, WHEN Bright started pacing the floor checking his phone every ten seconds, I chalked it up to him being smitten with Nicole. After twenty more minutes of pacing, I started to get concerned as well. Two beautiful girls alone at night, my mind started racing with what could have happened to them. I’m not used to worrying about anyone other than Brighton. This is yet another first for me. The look of relief that crossed Bright’s face when I grabbed my keys and told him to get in the truck had my adrenaline pumping. He was genuinely worried. Apparently, over the last three months, any time Nicole said she would call or text, she did. Brighton insisted that this was not normal for her and he was worried about his girl. He said that. “Max, I’m worried about my girl.”

We pulled in just as they were climbing out of the car. Bright was out of the truck and had Nicole in his arms before the truck stopped. I was right behind him. I had worked up a million different scenarios as to what could have happened and I was relieved to find them both okay. I stalked around to the passenger side and pulled Kensington against me. I wasn’t thinking about getting her into bed, or how good her tight little body felt against mine. The only thing I felt was relief that we found them safe.

Emotions that I’m not used to are stirring and I don’t understand the sudden change. I’ve worked my ass off the last few months. Every spare minute was devoted to the bar and the remodel. I finally see light at the end of the tunnel and try to get back into a normal routine and my world tips on its axis. It’s all too much to handle. I say a quick goodbye to Kensington and walk away. This entire weekend has been weird as fuck. I needed to walk away.

I climb into the truck and wait for Bright to say goodbye. I pull out my phone and program Kensington’s number into my contacts. I can see she went inside already.

Me:
Glad you’re okay.

Kensington:
Maxton?

Me:
Who else would it be?

Kensington:
Thanks!

She ignored my question. I want to ask her who else would be texting her from a strange number¸ but I don’t. First of all, I don’t have the right, and second, that’s not me. I don’t care what else she has going on.

Brighton climbs into the truck and leans his head back against the seat. “Fuck!” he roars. I sit there behind the wheel, just waiting to see what his next move will be. “What are we waiting for?” he asks me.

I raise my eyebrows at him, but don’t comment. Instead, I start the truck and pull out of the complex.

“I can’t even… Shit! I just… fuck, that girl she’s got me,” he says.

I know what he’s trying to say. This is new for him; this is not what happens to us. Not what we ever said we wanted. I keep my mouth shut and just drive.

When we pull into the drive, I see Bright place his phone up to his ear. “Hey, babe, we just got home.” He listens to what she’s saying and the corner of his mouth lifts at whatever it is. “Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow.” He ends the call and climbs out of the truck.

Once in the house, he walks straight to the fridge and pulls out two beers. He slides one across the counter to me, then screws off the top of his and tips it back. He doesn’t stop until the bottle is empty.

“She wanted to make sure we were home. She wanted to say thank you for being worried and coming to check on them.” He laughs. “Fuck, man, I was about to lose my fucking mind worrying about her. I don’t even want to think about what could have happened to them.” He reaches in the fridge and grabs another beer. He doesn’t kill this one all at once. Setting his bottle down, he braces his hands on the counter and hangs his head. I stand and wait. If he wants to talk, he will. If he wants to scream and yell, well, he’ll do that too. I let him work it out on his own. I wouldn’t know what to say even if I wanted to. My mind is fucked up with my reaction to Kensington. This entire weekend is fucked… for both of us.

Bright raises his head and looks at me. “Did I see you hugging Kens?” he asks.

What the hell? This is not what I expected to come out of his mouth. “Uh, yeah. I just thought it was the right thing to do. You know, since you were making sure Nicole was okay. That’s what chicks want, right? To feel important?” I try to blow it off. I can tell by the look on his face that he’s not buying it. Damn it. He wasn’t supposed to be paying attention, not when he had his girl in his arms.

“Listen, man, Kensington is beautiful, I get that. From what Nicole has told me, she’s been through a lot. I don’t want to cock block you, but as your friend and as the guy who I’m pretty fucking sure is falling in love with her best friend, can you please not fuck with her? Don’t break her heart. It would make things really awkward.” His voice is pleading.

I shouldn’t be surprised by his words, but I am. “You love her?” I ask him.

“I’m falling hard, man. I’ve gotten to know her the past three months, actually talking and getting to know her, and the past two days of being with her… I think about her all the time. Fuck, look at tonight. How many times have I worried about if a date made it home? None, never, zero, zilch!”

“She’s home safe,” I tell him. I can see he’s getting worked up again.

He peers across the counter at me. “They both are. Something is different with you when you’re with her. Tread lightly, brother.” He picks up his beer and empties the bottle. Throwing both empties in the trash, he mumbles a goodnight and heads off to bed.

ROLLING OVER, I look at my alarm clock, ten o’clock. I’m usually up and moving by now, but it took me forever to fall asleep last night. My cell beeps from its place on my nightstand. I unplug the charger and adjust my eyes to look at the screen.

I slide my finger across the screen and wait for the app to load before clicking confirm. Nicole comes into my room and bounces on the bed, phone in hand. “So, Bright invited us to the movies today. It’s supposed to rain.”

“Why don’t the two of you go?” I know she’s just being nice by including me, but honestly, I’m good with staying in. This weekend has been filled with enough social interactions for me. “I have laundry to catch up on and we need to go to the grocery,” I tell her.

She sticks her lip out as if she’s pouting. “Come on, Kens, he was going to ask Maxton to go as well.”

Hell no! I need a break from sexy Maxton and his multiple personalities. One minute he’s being cocky Max, trying to get me into bed, and then he’s sweet and comforting Max, and let’s not forget flirty, friendly, fun Max. “Really, I have a ton of laundry to do and I just want to chill.”

“Fine! I get it. I got you out two nights in a row. I guess I shouldn’t push my luck.” She stands to leave. “You know, Maxton is probably going to be sad that you decided to stay home.” She turns and quickly walks away.

I chuck a pillow at the door and hear her laugh all the way down the hall. I’m sure Maxton couldn’t care less if I went or not.

An hour later, I’m showered and dressed for the day. I have on yoga pants and a racer back tank top. As I finish blow drying my hair and pulling it into a ponytail, my stomach growls.

I’m in the kitchen toasting a bagel when Nicole walks in. “Brighton just called; he should be here any minute,” she says as she transfers her debit card, Chap Stick, and cell phone into her small wristlet.

“Have a good time. Tell Brighton I said hello.”

There’s a knock on the door. Nicole skips over stops, takes a deep breath, and then opens it. “Hey, babe,” he says as he grabs her by the waist, pulls her close, and kisses her cheek.

I can see her blush from here. Standing to his full height, he looks over her shoulder. “Hey, Kens, you sure you don’t want to join us?” he asks.

I briefly think about spending the day with the two of them and Maxton. I definitely need a break. “No, but thank you. I really do have a ton of laundry I need to catch up on. Besides that, my Kindle is calling my name.”

“Next time then,” he replies. “You ready?” he asks Nicole. She’s looking up at his over six-foot frame and I’m suddenly afraid her face might crack if her smile grows any bigger. Her happiness is infectious and I find myself smiling as they walk out the door.

Deciding I need to tackle my mountain of laundry and get it over with, I head to my room and start sorting out piles. I know Brighton probably thinks laundry is an excuse; I should have shown him my room first.

After my first load is in, I grab my cell, Kindle, and a bottle of water and settle down on the couch. I pull the throw off the back and cover my legs to keep the chill of the air away. Just as I open my Kindle case, my cell beeps with a message alert.

Maxton:
Laundry? Really? That’s all you could come up with?

He thinks I’m making up excuses. I didn’t make it up; however, I didn’t necessarily have to do it today either. My closet is still busting with clean clothes. I decide to keep my answer short and sweet.

Me:
True story!

He immediately replies.

Maxton:
If you say so.

Me:
I do. If you could see the piles, you would understand.

I wait for his reply and it never comes. After ten minutes of staring at my phone, I set it down beside me and pick my Kindle back up. As I’m scrolling through my list of books, trying to decide on my next book boyfriend, there is a knock on the door.

Not expecting company, but there are a lot of college kids who live in this building who often need to borrow things, like a cup of sugar. Seriously, that actually happened. We’ve also had a late–night knocker who was drunk off his ass asking if we had any condoms. Nicole felt sorry for him and gave him one. She’s always the Girl Scout, always prepared. She doesn’t sleep around, but says it helps to be ready in case the moment’s right.

I look through the peephole and gasp at what I see. Maxton is standing outside my apartment door. What the hell is he doing here? I quickly scan my body. I’m in my yoga pants and tank, and my hair is in a knot on top of my head. No make-up. I start to panic having him see me like this. He knocks again.

“Kensington,” he says through the door.

Shit! Maybe this is a good thing. I don’t need to add to the chemistry or whatever in the hell it is that sparks between us. Maybe this look will turn him off and get him off my back. Taking a deep breath and slowly releasing it, I open the door.