Chapter 002
1357 Words
BRAYDON’S POV
“Asshole!” I shout, the words ripping from my throat as some guy cuts me off. I slam my hand against the steering wheel, throwing a glare in the rearview mirror, even though I know he can’t see me. Perfect. Just perfect.
I’m particularly in a bad mood today. Hell, I’ve been in a bad mood all week. Nothing seems to go right, and every little thing is just… another straw on the camel’s back.
And it’s all because my old man’s ultimatum keeps gnawing at me.
“Pass all your courses, or forget about hockey.” His voice drills into my skull. Simple, right? Like I could just flip a switch and make it happen.
I can rock Cs in most of my courses, well, except in Marketing Management and Business Ethics. If I fail those, there’s no graduation, no hockey, and worse, Bryan gets his hands on my mom’s company.
That’s exactly what he and his mother have been scheming for, and I’ll be damned if I let them take what my mom built with her own sweat and blood. The thought gnaws at me, making me want to punch something, and I can’t hold in the audible groan that escapes my throat.
I pull into my apartment lot and kill the engine. For a moment, I sit there, gripping the wheel and staring at myself in the rearview mirror.
“You got this,” I tell myself. I can do it.
Lucky for me, Justin’s kid sister, Katy, is a genius. All I need is a few sessions with her, I’ll keep my grades, and hockey stays mine. That’s the plan, the smart plan. But right now, I need something to distract me before I lose it. I nod, shove the door open, and head for my building.
I slow as I near my door, spotting someone leaning against the frame. Her head lifts, eyes locking with mine, and a smirk curls her lips.
Stacy. Exactly the distraction I ordered. I’d shot her a text twenty minutes ago, but didn’t think she’d make it so quickly. Guess not.
She’s in nothing but a jacket and lacy tights. And when a girl waits at your door dressed like that, you know damn well there’s nothing underneath.
“Took you long enough.” She shoots me a sexy smile that says I’m about to forget all about my bad day.
My gaze drags over her as I slip the key into the lock. “Is that all for me?”
Her eyes glitter. “Sure, big guy.”
I’ve barely stepped inside before her manicured fingers trail across my chest.
“How long has it been?” she purrs.
“A long time,” I answer.
Her smile widens as she shrugs out of her jacket, letting it pool on the floor. She gets on her knees and crooks a finger at me. "Come here.”
I waste no time closing the distance between us. The world outside the door, the frustrations of the day, my father's ultimatum, my grades, all fade into a distant hum.
She takes the waistband of my jeans, her fingers teasing the button open before tugging at my zipper. A second later, my c**k springs free, a release I've been craving all day, and lands in her waiting hand. The feel of her fingers wrapping around me pulls a low groan from my throat.
“Go on, suck it,” I rumble.
On my command, she opens her mouth and wraps her lips around my length.
**************
Two hours later, Stacy is snuggled up beside me, her head resting on my chest. She traces meaningless lines across my skin, a gesture of intimacy, but I don’t like the cuddly stuff. It makes me feel trapped. I slowly shift, dislodging her head, and search for my shorts on the floor.
“You..”
“I missed you,” she blurts, cutting me off.
I spin, caught off guard for half a second before I reel it back in. The first thought that comes to mind is: Did she forget the rules?
We first hooked up three months ago, and I was crystal clear about my boundaries.Things were easy because she was fine with a no-strings-attached arrangement. But now, I'm not so sure. It seems she's going to be like all the others, the ones who start wanting more after a few times.
“I’ve been busy,” I mutter, dragging on my shorts. I can’t say I missed her, too, because that’ll only mess things up and lead her on. But the truth that she hadn't crossed my mind once since we last hooked up is too cold to say aloud. “I’m exhausted. Got morning practice.” I rub the back of my neck, hoping she takes the hint and leaves.
But that’s far from what she has in my mind.
“Are you really kicking me out minutes after we just—” her voice sharpens, “after we just had s*x?”
“Stacy, listen…”
“Seriously, is this it? Is this all I am to you? We just hook up and that’s all?” She looks visibly upset now.
“I thought we were clear about this," I reply, my voice firm. "From the very beginning, I told you I'm not looking for anything serious. No strings attached, just this.”
Her fingers tremble as she snatches her jacket off the floor. "Well, I don't want to be your whenever-you-want girl anymore. I want to be your girlfriend."
“You know that’s not happening.” I respond flatly.
“But why?” She demands.
"I don't have to explain myself and don’t act like I tricked you. You knew the deal from day one,” I tilt my head at the door. “If casual wasn’t your thing, you shouldn’t have agreed. Now do us both a favor and leave.”
Her expression immediately softens, her eyes filling with a plea as she realizes I'm serious. "Big guy..." she croaks, her voice breaking. "I just… I just really like you. Can't you—"
She lifts a hand to touch me, and I take a sharp step back. Her hand is left hanging in the air, and her eyes turn cold instantly again. The vulnerability is gone, replaced by a cutting anger.
"Why exactly can't I be your girlfriend?" she asks, her voice hard. "What is it? Do you have a checklist I don’t measure up to?”
I don't answer. I turn and stride out of the bedroom. She follows, her shoes thudding on the hardwood floor, but I ignore her. I pass the dining table, head straight for the fridge, and crack open a beer.
She stops short, the anger in her body suddenly replaced with bewildered hurt. "So that's it? You're just going to grab a beer? You don't even care, do you?"
I take a slow sip, not looking at her. "I thought we were clear. I don't."
"I can be a good girlfriend!" she pleads, her voice rising. "I'm a great girlfriend. Just give me a chance."
I shake my head. "I don't need a girlfriend."
The words hang in the air for a moment before something in her breaks. She lets out a frustrated cry and yells, "Screw you!"
She lunges for the front door, yanking it open. She dashes out and almost collides with a girl coming down the hall, a stack of books in her arms. The girl sidesteps to avoid being hit. It's Katy. Her tired gaze lands on Stacy, then drifts to me, her expression unreadable.
Stacy gives her a slow once-over, then whips back to me with a sneer. “Really? I thought you had standards!”
My mouth opens, ready to shut her down, but Katy beats me to it.
“Relax. I’m not here to hook up with him. Unlike you, I actually have a purpose.”
Both of us freeze. My brows lift, caught off guard. Stacy’s smirk falters, and for a split second, she looks like she’s been slapped.
- Writer
