Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 104766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
“What else?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. You called me, so why am I the one havin’ to make conversation? I’m shaving.”
“What’s the plan for later?”
“Don’t know. Drinkin’, barhoppin’, the honky-tonk.”
“Ugh, the honky-tonk!” Drake whines. “I wanna come. Why didn’t anyone invite me?”
“Because you wouldn’t have come.”
He nods. “That’s true. I wouldn’t have. But I still like bein’ invited.”
My brother loves telling people no.
He’s such a dick.
“Go back to the Tess Donahue stuff.”
“What more do you want to know?”
He gives me a look that says, ‘are you fucking kidding me right now? What do you think I want to know, idiot.’
“Is she into you?” Drake pauses. “Better yet, are you into her?”
I sigh again. “Fine. If you really must know, yeah. I think so.”
He pulls a face. “Uh. Which is it?”
“Both?” Actually, “I don’t know.”
“Dude, this is why you’re single.”
“No, I’m single because you’re dating my girlfriend.” I laugh, bringing up the fact that he hand-selected a girl for me and then fell in love with her. But I don’t like bringing up the past, and I didn’t actually know about Daisy when he was courting her and just like to give him shit about it ’cause that’s what brothers do.
“Ouch. That hurt me, kind of.”
He loooves saying that.
“I don’t know if Tess is into me or not.” I go back to the original subject. “Does it count that she poked me in the ass crack with a golf club?”
Drake considers this information, slowly nodding. “Like, how far up the crack did it go?”
I think for a second. “Eh, between the legs, I would say.”
He nods. “She was definitely flirting. Did she say anything?”
“Yeah, I asked her what she did that for and she said, ‘I’m teasing to see how unflappable you are.’”
“What does unflappable mean?” my twin asks.
“That’s exactly what I said!”
“So what does it mean?”
I stop shaving my neck to respond to him. “She said it means I’m cool. Then she winked at me.”
“Winked at you?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm. That’s a tough one. She can still tease you and not be into you.”
That’s true.
“Has she flirted with you any other time?”
“Not really? I don’t think.”
Drake watches me through the phone. “Actually, that was a stupid question for me to ask because you wouldn’t know a chick was flirtin’ with you if she poked you up the butt with a golf putter.”
He’s not wrong.
“Dude, this is not helping.”
He shrugs. “Well are you tryin to make a move on her or what?”
Make a move on Tess ?
“That’s not a good idea,” I tell him.
“Why?”
“’Cause she’s Grady’s sister.”
Drake snorts, real loud and obnoxious like. “First of all, fuck Grady. Second, he’s not even around, you said so yourself. If he gave a shit, he wouldn’t be stickin’ you with her, would he?”
I can’t help but nod along.
“Third, it’s a free fucking country. If you’re into a girl, you’re allowed to be into her. You of all people? Please, you’re the last person to bag and tag.”
Bag and tag?
What the hell is he talking about?
He rolls his eyes so hard at me. “I mean sleep with someone and not call them back. Catch and release. One-night stand.” He’s clearly disgusted with my lack of awareness. “Dude. Come on.”
He’s right of course, one-night stands aren’t my style but neither is breaking bro code. Normally reserved for ex-girlfriends of your buddies, or women your buddies have banged, moms, or anyone your friend is crushing on or trying to bone.
I’ve added Tess to this list, out of respect.
“Grady has no respect for you, dude. If he did, he’d be hanging out with you. He knows your time is valuable, and you get no time off, so where the fuck is he?”
I couldn’t care less about that.
I needed a break anyway.
I needed to get away from school, the girls next door, my brother, our teammates, the endless rotation of the same shit, day after day after day. So who cares if my friend isn’t around. He’s keeping me occupied, isn’t he?
“So Tess isn’t your type?”
“No…she is.”
My type: low maintenance, kind, funny, great personality. I love brunettes and long hair. I’m a leg man and a boob guy. Love someone who’s outgoing but not loud and obnoxious.
“Then tell me what the problem is.”
“The problem is she’s giving me mixed signals.”
Now it’s Drake that’s sighing heavily. “And you’re too chickenshit to make a move?”
I guess. “I’m not going to see her after this weekend, so what would be the point?”
My brother grins. “That’s exactly the point.”
CHAPTER 14
DREW
SINGLE FOR SO LONG I FORGOT HOW TO SPELL RELATESINGLESHIP.
If I was confused earlier, I’m more fucking confused now.
The honky-tonk is loud and crowded, but there is no mistaking Tess when she appears with a large group of young women. The scene they cause when they walk through the doors is enough to draw all the eyes in the room despite the music blasting from the speakers.