Chapter 14 | the friendship games

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Bryant Penn is a simple guy.

Someone I'd known from my geography 101 course freshmen year. He'd always hit on me, finding different excuses to lean in close or brush out hands together when we'd been assigned to the same group project. But it wasn't until I'd felt so torn up over Wyatt that I finally agreed to go out with him.

We'd been friends for nearly three years, but he never stopped hinting at wanting more. So, when I saw him while we were all out last week, and he flirted, I flirted back in an effort to heal my bruised ego.

I couldn't tell what bothered me about Wyatt the most.

That I am still attracted to him, despite not having seen him for a month.

That he didn't check-in within me after two weeks like he said he would.

Or that I even actually believed he would follow through on that promise. I mean, I've known the guy my whole life. I should have known he wouldn't text or call after getting me naked and spreading me wide on his couch.

And so, even though I had a date tonight, I couldn't help the anger and simultaneous desire I feel when I saw Wyatt enter the kitchen from our backyard. It took everything I had in me not to slap him right there on the spot, but then he smirked at me, laughed at me, teased me. And pressed his body against mine. And I felt everything from my birthday over again.

Now, we've agreed to be friends yet again, but this time not to keep out distance. So, in the spirit of friendship, I'd joined Wyatt and the guys to help them finish their blunt. This is what leads me to be sitting in front of Bryant now, still a bit high, and unfortunately unable to keep Wyatt off my mind.

It's disappointing too because Bryant is nice.

He brought me flowers, picked me up, and took me to my favorite Thai restaurant in Boulder. But all I can think about is how Wyatt loves Thai food and about how excited he was for boba tea when we got dinner after that shrooms trip.

"So, basically," Bryant's voice interrupts my thoughts then. "That's why I want to get my MBA. I feel like I could really do something in business, especially in the world of green companies."

"Oh," I nod, embarrassed that I'd completely missed that entire explanation and now have to pretend otherwise. "Green companies are definitely the future. That's so cool."

"Thanks," he laughs humbly. "I don't know, I just, it's my passion, you know?"

"Hmm mm." I nod, taking a long sip of water trying to quench my cotton mouth as he slurps down some noodles from his Pad Thai.

"So, what's your passion?" He asks me and I pause, knowing the basic answer but unsure of the more complex, purpose-in-the-universe kind-of answer.

"Well," I hesitate, taking a bite of my curry. "I want to go to law school, preferably I'll end up in criminal justice but who knows where my path might lead. My mom always reminds me that she went to law school for corporate law and came out a divorce lawyer."

"Oh, divorce lawyer?" Bryant asks and I nod. "That's depressing."

"I guess," I laugh, though I'm not sure my mom would look at it that way.

"I just mean," he corrects as he shovels another fork-full of noodles into his mouth. "That doesn't sound like the most pleasant job, in terms of people to work with, I mean you probably spend the majority of your time around angry couples who hate each other."

"That's partially true," I concede. "But my mom loves her work. I doubt she'll ever retire honestly, she's too good at it and it makes too much money."

"She's too good at helping people split up?" He questions instantly and I frown.

"Well, no—" I start but he cuts me off with a snort.

"I guess I better watch myself with you," he chuckles. "Wouldn't want to end up in court with your mom representing you."

"You think we're going to end up married," I deadpan. "And eventually divorced?"

"Not right now obviously," he laughs again, nearly choking on a noodle.

Just then I feel my phone buzz and I glance to my lap, fighting the urge to roll my eyes when I see the message and who it's from. Wyatt's name flashing on the screen.

How's your date going?

Still think he's nicer than me?

I sit upright then, with renewed determination to enjoy this date with Bryant Penn and ignore Wyatt's cry for attention. Just friends my ass. He couldn't even last the few hours since we'd last seen each other without poking at me.

"I don't think I want to get married actually," I muse. "Since you brought it up."

"You don't?" Bryant stops mid-chew, blinking at me.

"Don't know really, but it doesn't feel like me," I say honestly. "At least not in the way that everyone expects people to be married."

"I guess that saves me a lot of effort then," he laughs loudly then, wheezing a bit. "Don't gotta worry about courting you and all that."

I make a face, starting to feel more confused because the Bryant sitting across from me right now is nothing like the dude I'd gotten to know in class. Gone is the kindness and shy demeanor. Maybe he's just nervous.

"Anyways," I sigh, taking another bite of food even though I'm definitely starting to lose my appetite at this point. "Are you traveling at all this summer?"

My changing the topic then significantly improves our conversation and, by extension, our night as he tells me about his plans to travel to Maine for a bit with his family in August. Soon enough we're getting the check, and he carries my leftovers for me as we exit the restaurant. I would have been pretty satisfied if the date ended there too, but he tells me he wants to take me somewhere special, which ends up being an overlook in the foothills below the flat irons.

It's here he parks his pickup truck, revealing the spread of blankets and pillows he'd arranged for us to sit on while the sun sest over the mountains behind us. He'd brought a bottle of wine too, with a couple plastic cups which he fills halfway for me.

"M'lady," he jokes, handing me the cup as I sit back in the blankets and I smile, taking the cup gratefully before taking a long sip. Then, with his own partially filled up, he sits back with me, sliding his arm around my shoulders to bring me closer.

It's awkwardly silent then, both of us sipping our wine while I wait for him to do something. Bring up a topic of conversation, comment on the view, anything but it stays silent for way longer than I'm comfortable with. He finishes his wine quickly, and I make the mistake of glancing up at him just as he glances down and leans in to kiss me.

I don't return the kiss at first, feeling a bit strange but eventually I kiss him back, following the motions and feeling nothing. I try not to, I really try, but I can't deny the voice in the back of my head which prods at me. Telling me that this kiss pales significantly in comparison with the first kiss Wyatt and I shared.

Out of spite, I increase the pressure between us, determined to enjoy the evening. Bryant responds instantly, pulling me down into the blankets and hauling himself over me. We make-out for about five minutes before his hand is fumbling under my top and he's roughly grabbing at my right breast. Once that happens it isn't long before he's rubbing against my left leg and groaning in my ear.

I wince, pulling away when I feel his tongue licking a long, wet stripe up my neck and shut my eyes tightly again as his breathing increases, another moan coming from him. And, just when I'm about to call it a night, the universe handles it for me as he thrusts forward against my thigh groaning and mumbling something about my body.

Then he's still, breathing hard as he rolls off me and looks up at the darkening sky.

"Shit," he laughs. "I didn't expect that to happen."

I resist the urge to say 'me neither' as I duck my head to the side, stifling a laugh with a cough instead.

"It's okay," I manage. "Just got caught up in the moment, I did too."

"You came too?" he asks, rolling over and gazing down at me. I can't believe he just asked me that. He thinks that my laying rigidly under him was me finishing?

"Yep." I reply and he grins, leaning down to press a sloppy kiss to my lips. It tastes like Thai food and regret. Luckily, he then remarks about how he has work early tomorrow morning, otherwise he'd continue what we started. I tell him it's okay, and I don't mind going home.

When we're in the car driving back towards my house, I pull out my phone, opening the message from Wyatt and typing a sour reply.

Yep.

Just had the best orgasm of my life.

It's a bold-faced lie but if Wyatt wants to play games, then so be it. Almost immediately, he replies, and I swallow hard at the one word staring back at me.

Liar.

Bryant drops me off, walking me up to the front door and planting another excessive kiss on my mouth before I wave 'goodbye'. He tells me he'd like to take me out again and that he'll text me to set something up, but I already know I might not reply.

Maybe that makes me an asshole, but honestly, after that display in his truck bed I don't feel too bad. Part of me wonders about his joke at the restaurant, and if he really had stopping putting in as much effort the second he realized I wasn't his definition of 'hard work'.

I unlock my front door then, having never left home without my key since that night at Wyatt's apartment. I step into my living room prepared to go on a tirade about how that might have just been the most mediocre date of my life but stop short when I spot a familiar face smirking at me from the couch in front of the TV.

Wyatt, Dallas, and Lukas are sprawled across the living room, It's Always Sunny playing on the TV, the room smells heavily of weed and a glance to the bong on the coffee table confirms my suspicions.

"That sure looked romantic." Wyatt comments the second I make eye contact with him. I narrow my eyes, shutting the door and locking it.

"Why are you still here?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest and Lukas chuckles.

"Sheesh," he mutters. "That's not very nice Rory."

"Yeah," Wyatt pretends to pout. "I thought we were friends."

"I—well," I pause, realizing all three of them are giving me confused looks and deciding I wasn't in the mood anymore. "Sorry, I'm just tired. Think I'm going to call it a night, get home safe Wyatt."

Then I start up the stairs without a second glance, taking them two at a time. The door to River's room is wide open, and I peek in, seeing her fast asleep on her bed with her laptop playing some Youtube video in the background.

I smile, making a note to tell her about my date in the morning as I move to shut her laptop and switch her light off. Then I close her door, walking the rest of the way down the hall to my room. Maddie is at Nick's house tonight, which worked out so they could both be part of the morning debrief together.

Once in my room, I close the door, letting it swing shut against the frame though it's not fully closed. Then I grab a large t-shirt and sleep shorts from my dresser before shuffling into the bathroom off my room to brush my teeth.

I pull off my top and bra once I'm back in my room, tossing them into my hamper in the closet before I pull jeans off too, itching to wash them tomorrow morning after what happened earlier. I've just finished tugging on my sleep shorts when there's a light tap at the door and Wyatt sticks his head in.

"Oh my god," I gasp, grabbing my t-shirt and holding it up to cover my chest.

"Whoops," he grins. "Sorry, should I go?"

"Yes," I hiss. "Why don't you go back to that nice ass apartment you have all to yourself already?"

"It's lonely," he teases, sliding into my room despite my protests and shutting the door with a soft click.

"You're doing a bad job at this whole 'friends' thing," I scold, still clinging to my t-shirt, even though I can't deny that part of me does want him in my room. After tonight's fiasco, I am craving the kind-of attention I know he can provide.

"I know," he mutters, shaking his head and running a hand over the back of his neck ruefully. "Damn, I just—" he gestures with his hands, like he can't find the right words. "I don't know what I'm doing honestly."

"We can't do this again." I repeat, my voice feeling monotone, and he nods. "We can't be alone together, this morning in the kitchen made that evident."

"I'm sorry," he says, sounding a bit resigned, all mischief from before gone. "I'm gonna go, sorry."

He turns, reaching for my door handle and before he opens the door I speak again, only this time the words coming from my mouth aren't what I planned. It's as if my brain goes on autopilot, kicking all sense and logic out the window.

"Wait," I stop him, and he glances over his shoulder at me. "Don't."

"Aurora," his voice is strained as I step towards him and he moves towards me, soon we're inches from each other, standing close to the foot of my bed.

"My date was terrible," I mumble, and he laughs softly.

"Shame," he responds, reaching up to tuck my hair behind one ear. "He should've known how lucky he was to be out with you."

"I couldn't stop thinking about you." I whisper, raising my gaze to his and he stares back, mixed emotions swimming between us as we both try to determine what the hell is happening. Then I raise my hands, letting the shirt fall to the floor as I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. The fire I'd missed when Bryant kissed me blazes instantly to life, a rush of warmth and attraction flooding my body straight down to my toes.

He inhales, surprised, but wastes no time in wrapping his large, warm hands around my back, fingertips scratching at my skin, and I gasp into his mouth as he deepens the kiss, a low groan echoing from his chest. It's like no time has passed, our lips still familiar, our bodies still so sensitive to the other.

The kiss turns from sweet and innocent to fevered and desperate fast, his lips moving to my neck as he caresses every inch of me with his mouth. Hands sliding from my back to my sides as they move up and his thumbs graze the underside of my chest.

"What are we doing," I sigh as his lips find my breasts, my head tilting back as he massages them with his hands too, and desire begins to gather between my legs.

"Fucking beautiful," he mutters.

Then he's lifting me, moving his lips back to mine as I wrap my legs around his waist. We crash onto my bed, me on top of him while he sinks into my pillows, our lips never leaving each other's as our movements become laced with need. It's not until I grind down against him, feeling him beneath his shorts again and eliciting a moan from both of us that I realize we're seconds from not turning back. From doing something permanent. With all the strength I can manage, I break off the kiss, sitting up and pressing my palms against his chest.

"I know," he grinds out, voice husky and rough. "I know, we need to stop."

"I'm sorry," I murmur, knowing that I'm the one who crossed the line this time. "I—I shouldn't have kissed you like that."

"No," he shakes his head, hands guiding me off him gently as I scramble off the bed in search of my t-shirt. "No, I shouldn't have followed you up here."

He runs a hand over his face as he sits up in bed, and once I've pulled on my shirt I sit next to him, running my fingertips over my swollen lips. I glance to him then, unable to help the appreciation I feel for his features and for him. Maybe being friends was going to be a lot harder than either of us thought.

"Are you still high?" I ask slowly and he shrugs, looking to me now, allowing our gazes to meet and lock-in together.

"Kind of." He shrugs. "I'll be fine, I can wait a bit before I get on my bike."

"You rode your motorcycle here?" I ask and he nods.

"Stay here." I insist then, not comfortable with him riding that thing while he's still coming down from baking himself into a cake all day with Dallas and Lukas. "Please, I don't want you on the road."

"I'll be fine." He insists, but he still doesn't get up from my bed.

"Maybe," I say. "But you don't have to drive right now, so why would you?"

"You're sure?" he asks, and I nod.

"Come on," I smile gently. "We can have a sleep over."

"And make waffles in the morning?" he jokes, making a reference to Shrek and I laugh.

"Sure." I agree, relief flooding me when he cracks a smile too, shrugging his jacket off.

"Alright," he nods. "But you can't take advantage of me."

"Shut up." I scoff, rolling my eyes as he laughs and I stand, moving to the other side of my bed as I pull the covers down and slide beneath them. He moves to my bathroom then as I direct him to a spare toothbrush. Once he's finished, he switches the light off before he comes back to the bed where I've already snuggled in, scrolling on Instagram as he pulls his shirt over his head.

I can't help but peak over my phone as he does so, watching him slide his shorts off too and admiring the way his muscles flex before climbing beneath my covers.

"If you take a picture, it'll last longer." He jokes and I roll my eyes.

"You wish." I retort, shutting my phone off and rolling over to set it on my nightstand. I turn back towards him, smiling when I catch him staring at me, like he's trying to memorize every inch of my face.

"Goodnight," I whisper, and he nods. One hand lifting to my face to cup my cheek gently as he sits up and leans forward. I lean in too, allowing him to press a chaste kiss to my lips. It's feather light, gentle, unlike our kiss moments before which was burning hotter than the sun. He breaths deeply, pausing almost as though to savor the feeling of our lips together, and then he breaks away, laying back down slowly.

"Goodnight Aurora." He murmurs, letting his hand fall, a small smile on his face.

Then we both drift off to sleep, knowing this is complicating things. But also knowing that it's complicated either way now. We can't pretend we're not attracted to one another, and we also can't pretend there isn't a glimmer of something more. 

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