Never Ever (3 page)

Chapter Seven:

Livi

Dinner was delicious. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had cooked for me. Patrick was always working late, wait, scratch that. Patrick was always out late screwing his assistant. We all sat together at this long dining table and ate, drank and laughed until we couldn’t move. I was for sure buzzed. Kate and Baily were flat out wasted. They were dancing on their chairs and singing at the top of their lungs. Salt-N-Peppa always brought out their crazy. Allie and I were standing at the bar making a round of shots. Allie was an expert mixed drink maker, but when it came to pouring up bomb cups I was the go to girl. I had a steady hand.

Cole came over and leaned on the bar across from us. Eyebrows raised in question. “Shots?” His grin was infectious.

“Shots.” I answered with a smile.

Cole turned, watching Baily and Kate dance for a few moments. “You think those two need any more alcohol?”

Allie snorted, “Oh son, this isn’t our first rodeo. Those two get the super special shot glasses. Where the vodka is actually water.”

I handed two bomb cups to Cole, “These are for them. Please.” I laughed as I watched him mosey up to the table to deliver the drinks. Baily took one and handed Kate hers and then they pulled Cole up on the table with them and instructed him to dance. He shook his head, but complied. These guys were good sports. Allie handed one to me and passed one to Tay. We all toasted “So Hard!” and took the bomb.

Cole spoke up above the music, “So what’s the deal with the ‘so hard’ toasts?”

Baily pointed at me across the room and then beckoned me to the table. “Come on Livi Lou, let’s explain ‘so hard’ to these boys.”

I let out an irritated breath and but did as I was told. If I didn’t she would just end up coming down and dragging me back with her. It was always easiest to just do what Baily asked the first time. I climbed up as Cole and Kate climbed down, apparently giving Baily and me the stage. With her curvy figure and long dark hair she was born to be in charge, to command a room. She put her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek loudly. “Once upon a time we were down at the coast. It was only our second girl’s trip and we were all dragging. We had plans to go out that night, but two days of drinking had made us all so very weak.” She made a pouty face before continuing, “Livi managed to rally first, which let me tell you, was rare. She was dancing around, loading up the shot ski, jumping on beds…doing everything in her power to get us going again. Finally, she got me up and dressed and she and I were dancing in the kitchen. She looked at me with this oddly serious look on her face and she said, ‘I’m going to dance on you so hard tonight.’ And I couldn’t stop laughing. None of us could. It was the phrase of the night and we’ve toasted to that rally ever since.” Baily had the remote to the speaker in her hand and after she was done with her tale she turned the music back up. She giggled, “Livi, will you please dance on me? So hard?”

And I did. I danced on her embarrassingly hard. It was fun. It was out of control, but it was fun. When the song ended Taylor held his hand up to help me down. “I like to watch you with your friends. You look so care free. They make you happy don’t they?”

He hadn’t let go of my hand. “They make me obscenely happy.” I shrugged, “I don’t know what I would do without them.” I squeezed his hand and then pulled mine away.

Taylor put his hands in his pockets, “Then why don’t you tell them what’s going on?”

I gave him a sad smile, “Because this whole weekend would turn into a pity party. They’d be worried about how I was feeling or how I was doing nonstop. And they’d watch me like a hawk all weekend.”

Taylor cocked his head, wicked grin on his face. “Yeah…on second thought, don’t tell them yet. I would hate to have an audience for what I plan on doing to you.”

I sighed, “Smooth. Tell me again how many sad divorcés have you’ve charmed into bed?”

“None. Yet.”

I snorted, “Liar.”

“Why would I lie? I have never slept with a client. And you are the farthest thing from a sad divorcé I have ever seen. What are you like twenty- seven, twenty eight? You’re gorgeous and vibrant. I’m smitten.”

My eyes got big, “You’re
smitten
?”

Taylor looked down and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, sorry, I have no idea where that came from.”

“And I’m thirty. How old are you?”

“Twenty-eight.”

I let out a little laugh, “Wait you’re twenty-eight and just now graduating? Too much partying?”

“No. I played baseball my first four years at school, I took cake classes just so I could keep my grades up. After I was done playing ball, I started taking classes for my major.”

I shrugged, “Either way, I’m older and wiser. Trust me when I say you’re wasting your time trying to get me naked.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Oh Sugar, there is nothing about you that could ever be a waste of my time. And I’m not going to stop. You need me and I want you. We’re the perfect combination.”

“I’m thirty Tay, not twenty. This isn’t spring break ’05. I’m not going to hop into bed with a guy just because he’s hot and he flirts with me.”

“So you were easy in college?” He patted my shoulder, like he was comforting me. “It’s okay, I was too.”

I shook my head, “Wait. Crap. That’s not what I meant.”

He laughed again, I was starting to really love his laugh. It was so…uninhibited. “I’m kidding, Sugar. Look, I hear what you’re saying. But just try and have some fun with me, okay? When it stops being fun, just tell me and I’ll back off. Deal?”

I studied him before I answered. His eyes were bright and full of mischief, yet again. His smile was sexy. The way his chest looked in his t-shirt was sinful. Yes I was an adult…But I wasn’t dead. “Deal.”

Chapter Eight:

Taylor

I had won a small battle with Livi earlier tonight. And I rode the high from it all the way into my next fight. Everyone had decided to call it a night, Livi was inside the house in the bathroom getting ready for bed. I was
in
her bed, praying that she wouldn’t kick me out. I was under the covers, wearing only my boxers. Presumptuous? Maybe. But I made sure my chiseled tan chest was exposed, you know, to lure her in. I was wearing my reading glasses, thick black rims. I figured she’s a writer, she probably digs a guy in hipster glasses. I wasn’t a poser though, I really did need them to read. I heard the screen door squeak open and I braced myself for her reaction.

She stopped short when he saw me, her eyes darting around the room. Almost like she was afraid someone was listening. “Taylor. What are you doing?”

“Studying.” I looked down at the flash card in my hand, ignoring her and reading to prove my point.

She took a few steps closer to me, “Why are you in my bed?”

“I like to think of it as
our
bed, Sugar.” I glanced up and gave her my most charming smile. The same smile that helped me get not one, not two, but
three
Kappa Sig’s in the hot tub after home coming junior year. I told you, I was a fucking legend.

She crossed her arms over her chest. Making her breasts look amazing in the relaxed gray tank top she was wearing. “Tay, this bed is the size of a postage stamp. There isn’t enough room for both of us in here.” Her words were saying no, but her bare legs were bringing her closer.

“Still not hearing that you don’t
want
me in your bed, Sugar. Look, just come hang out with me for a little while and then I’ll leave.” I held the covers up for her.

She stood there for a few moments. Chewing her lip and apparently over thinking her next move. In the end, she rolled her eyes, but climbed in. Ha Ha, another victory. She laid on her side facing me picking up the papers on my lap. My dick jumped at how close her hand was to it. “What are these?”

I shifted in bed, trying to keep a tenting situation from arising. Get it?
Arising
? “Flash cards. It’s the only way I’ve ever been able to study.” I handed her a few, “Here, quiz me.”

“Tay, its 2 am, I don’t wanna study.”

I fanned her face with my cards, making her hair blow back slightly. “Please, it’ll really help me out.”

“Fine.” She took the glasses off my face and put them on, holy hell she looked like every teacher fantasy I had ever had. The tenting was inevitable. “Which concept seeks a consensus of opinion, or group conformity, by taking a narrow view of the issue?”

“Groupthink.”

Livi turned the card over, “Very good.” She pulled another one from my pile. “Which group has the lowest intermarriage rates in the United States?”

“African American and White.”

“Right again.” She handed me back my glasses signaling she was done. Livi closed her eyes and snuggled against my side, her forehead touching the side of my stomach. Just her forehead touching was turning me on. She sighed, “You smell good.”

I smiled as I looked down at her pretty face, “Thank you, Sugar.” I stroked a finger across her cheek as lightly as I could. “So…you wanna make out?”

She grinned without opening her eyes, “Sure. But turn off the lamp and turn on the fan.”

Holy shit. She said yes! I totally thought she was going to turn me down. I scrambled out of bed tripping over my discarded pants and did as I was told. When I climbed back in beside her I laid down on my side, putting my face right next to hers. “I’m going to kiss you now.”

She opened her eyes, they were so green, so beautiful. “Well, okay.”

I closed the inches of space between us and lightly touched my lips to hers. Her lips were so soft. I did it again, this time gently running my tongue along her bottom lip. I kept my kisses light and sweet, not knowing exactly what she wanted from me. Afraid to go for too much and risk scaring her away. When I pulled back, her eyes were open once again and she was sporting a very amused expression. “Taylor, I’m not breakable.”

“Thank God.” I grabbed the back of her head and fused my mouth to hers. This time I didn’t ask for permission, I just stuck my tongue in her mouth. She moaned. She tasted like mint and perfection. She matched me stroke for stroke. I moved my hand from her head to her hip, pulling her pelvis towards mine. I was impossibly hard for her and I wanted her to know it. Her free hand fisted in my hair, pulling slightly. We stayed like this, making out like teenagers, grinding our bodies together, our hands roaming all over each other. She let me round first base, which was amazing. She had fake tits, but not like hard stone fake. Like awesome fake. But when I tried to loosen the draw string on her shorts she stopped me. “Taylor, I meant what I said earlier. I’m not going to have sex with someone I just met. It’s irresponsible and slutty. And I think once you hit thirty, slutty is just sad.”

I let out a deep breath, blue balls it was then. “Can I stay? Can we just…spoon?”

She wore a look of disbelief. Couldn’t blame her, I was having a hard time believing the words coming out of my mouth at the moment too. “Just spoon, you aren’t going to like jump on me the second I fall asleep are you?”

“Tempting, but no. Just spoon. Promise.”

She stared at me for a long time before she answered, “Fine. But you have to be gone as soon as the sun comes up.”

I wanted to clap my hands at my third victory, but instead I remained calm and just nodded, “I will be. Now roll over, I want to be the big spoon.” She did what I asked. Truth be told, I’d never been the big spoon before. I was always the one rolling away from whichever girl I was with. I’d let them spoon me until I was sure they were asleep and then I’d leave. I never brought girls to my house, too risky for them to know where I lived. But here I was, wrapped around Livi like she was a damn life preserver. She felt so good in my arms, her little body fit against me like a glove. I buried my nose in her hair and fell asleep.

Chapter Nine:

Livi

Thump, thump.

Thud.

Creak.

My eyes flew open at the sound of the screen door opening.

“Livi? Are you still asleep?”

Allie was standing next to my bed, hands on her hips. I sat up and looked down next to me. No Taylor, thank God. “Uh, no. I’m awake. Just, uh, being lazy.” When had he left? Had she seen anything? My eyes widened when I spotted Taylor’s pants on the floor behind Allie. Holy shit. Please don’t turn around, please don’t turn around.

“Baily made bloody marys, and Kate made breakfast tacos. Come eat.” I guess Allie was watching my eyes because she made a funny face and then started to turn around and follow my gaze.

I yelled my words to get her attention, “Can I have a michelada instead?!” I reached out and grabbed her hand and clasped it in mine. Like a was begging her to make me a drink. “Please please please.”

Allie looked at me like I’d lost my mind, “Why are you yelling?”

“I, uh, I just really want a michelada. Please, Allie Cat?”

She rolled her eyes, but smile. “Ugh. Fine. Spoiled brat.”

I climbed out of bed, making sure to hold her gaze until we reached the door. “Love you.”

“Yeah yeah, get dressed.” She paused with her hand on the door knob, “You never sleep the latest, you feeling okay?”

No, I was up all night making out with a very hot boy whose pants you literally just stood on. “Never better.” I waited until I heard the screen door close before I collapsed back onto the bed and peered over the side next to the wall. Yep, there was Taylor. I giggled. “Quick thinking, kid. I thought you promised to be gone by the time the sun came up? Allie stepped allover your pants.”

He put his hands behind his head, appearing relaxed, which was impressive considering the tiny space his body was shoved into. “I did. But you felt so damn good all cuddled up next to me. I couldn’t make myself leave.”

“Such the smooth talker, even at 8 am.” I rested my cheek on the pillow he used, it still smelled like him. I had to fight the urge to take a deep breath.

“Why were you screaming at her?”

“She was about to turn around and see your pants. I needed to distract her.” I rolled over and got out of bed, tossing his pants behind me. “I’m going to go to the kitchen and distract, you get up and leave through the side door.” When I turned around to make sure he was being compliant, he was already gone.

I threw my hair into a messy bum on top of my head and headed inside. Taylor walked in through the kitchen door at the same time I walked into the living room. He caught my eye from across the room and winked. I automatically smiled. Cole followed my smile back to Taylor and gave him the stink eye. “Tay man, where were you?”

Taylor didn’t miss a beat, “I was just out looking at the lake. It’s like glass out there today, so calm. I haven’t used it since I was a kid, but one of these hiking trails will take us to this awesome beachy area on the other side of the lake.” He popped an olive in his mouth. “You girls game for some hiking?”

Baily pulled a map out of a drawer in the kitchen and spread it open on the table. “I’m game, come show me which trail.”

Taylor chuckled, “We don’t need a map, silly girl. I told you, I’ve been there before.”

Kate gave him a weary look, “You said you hadn’t been since you were a kid. Do you honestly still remember how to get there?”

“Of course I do.” He tapped the side of his head, “Steel trap.”

Allie snorted, “Famous last words.” She leaned over the bar and handed me my drink. “Taylor, do you want a bloody mary?”

He shook his head, “Is there stuff left for another michelada? I can make it myself.”

I closed my eyes. Please don’t let Allie realize what he’d just let slip. Please. I cracked one eye to see Allie looking confused. “How did you know we had stuff for micheladas?”

Taylor’s eyes got big, he pursed his lips. “I, uh, can clearly…see the ingredients for micheladas on the counter. You girls are just so silly in the morning.”

Allie looked down at the tomato juice, lime and beer can in front of her, “Oh, okay.”

Taylor got busy making himself a drink and I got busy drinking mine. I loved Allie, she was smart and successful and had the world’s best husband. But sometimes, she was naïve as hell. When we were in college she dated a drug dealer who was constantly getting into his own stash, for like three months. To this day she swears he was just independently wealthy and had ADHD.