Bentley (Hawthorne Brothers Book One)(21)

I pulled out of the spot before driving a little down the road and seeing somebody else taking it in my rearview mirror. It seemed to bring me luck tonight, so hopefully it brought that guy some as well.

We took a more scenic route home, as the main roads were a little backed up because of the holiday. That was okay, though, because Anna held my hand the entire time, never letting it go.

We pulled into my driveway, the lights still on inside, before I put her into park and got out before helping Anna out of her side.

“Thank you,” she said as I grabbed her hand.

“Of course,” I said, closing the door behind her.

We walked up to the house and I unlocked the door before we walked inside and kicked off our shoes and took off our coats. I hung them on the old wooden coat rack my grandfather built when he was younger, and the two of us went into the kitchen, where we poured a small glass of wine, nothing too big, and went into the living room. I started a fire and draped a blanket over us.

“This is great,” she said, cuddled up next to me as I turned on the TV.

“Yeah, being here with you is pretty great,” I said.

Her hand on my chest, she leaned in and kissed me slowly, which I had to say was becoming my favorite type of kiss. I liked making out and getting hot and steamy as much as the next guy, but her slow, soft kisses gave me a different kind of feeling deep within my gut that made me nervous, excited, and guarded all at the same time. Maybe I was falling for her, I didn’t know, but I knew that I liked it—a lot.

We flipped through a few pages on Netflix before coming across a romantic comedy, which she said she really wanted to see. I wasn’t big on those, but I guess it was Valentine’s Day, and I think those are fair game on this day.

“Okay, but you owe me. You better not fall asleep,” I said.

“I make no promises,” she said.

I hit play and the movie started, the dainty girly music playing over a scene of a girl walking down a New York City street. I was almost waiting for her to bump into a perfect Mr. Right, the guy of her dreams. As if people have these chance encounters with the person of their dreams.

Half an hour, maybe forty-five minutes, must’ve passed before I looked down, Anna resting her head on a pillow in my lap, to see that she had indeed fallen asleep. The booze and food had hit her hard, and now I was left watching a romantic comedy alone. I thought about staying, mostly because she was so cute and I didn’t want to disturb her, but as I let out a hearty yawn and felt my eyes water up, I knew that it was time to turn it off and get her and myself up to bed.

“Babe,” I said, nudging her as I turned off the television.

“Hm?” she asked in a groggy voice, shifting a little but not getting up.

“You’re sleeping. We have to get up to bed before it gets too late,” I said.

“I don’t want to,” she said, her hand up to her face.

“Come on, beautiful. I’ll even carry you,” I said, moving her and grabbing onto her.

She didn’t struggle, instead wrapping her arms around my neck as I picked her up and walked sideways up the stairs with her so she wouldn’t hit her head. I set her down in my bed, pulling the covers up over her, as she seemed to knock herself back out and drift back into her blissful slumber.

I washed my face and brushed my teeth, being greeted by bloodshot eyes, before I turned off the light and walked to bed, where the cool sheets tickled my hairy legs and made me shiver for just a moment.

Looking over, I saw her in a little ball, as I opted not to disrupt her before turning off the light and closing my eyes. Things were perfect.





Chapter Eighteen



Anna



I was about to be kidnapped.

Well, not really, but Maggie and Nina made it very clear a few days after Valentine’s, after their horrible dates, that we needed a roommate/best friend night out with each other. Maggie made it very clear that no men were allowed, either.

Bentley was very cool about it all, telling me to go and that he wouldn’t text me or call me unless it was of the utmost urgency, but we both knew nothing would pop up. I promised him I wouldn’t talk to other guys, which he appreciated, but he said that he was very secure in our relationship and wasn’t afraid of a guy coming up and talking to me. Besides, as if I’d even do the tiniest thing to jeopardize this relationship. It was the best one I’d ever had.

I dressed up, but nothing too revealing or over the top, which Nina said was because I was in a relationship. I guess I didn’t have to display the goods anymore, even though I never really did all that often in the first place. She, however, had plunging cleavage and a dress that was far too short. I could almost see her ass cheeks hanging out. She might’ve said no guys, but I thought she was trying to pick one up tonight.

“Will everybody be ready in ten?” Maggie yelled from downstairs.

“I’m ready, just waiting on Nina,” I said, walking down the stairs.

“I’ll be down in a minute,” Nina yelled from the bathroom upstairs.

“So, your date was really that bad?” I asked.

“Yeah, the dude was a total dud. He wanted me to pay half of the meal, even though he was expecting me to go home with him. Now, I’m not saying I’m a whore, or that I’m cheap and easy, but you can’t make me pay for my half and then expect me to go back to your place and suck your dick. That’s just not happening—especially on Valentine’s Day and especially on our first date. Guys in this town are stupid,” she said.

“Not all guys,” I said with a smile as she gave me the stink eye.

“If only the rest of us peasants could be so lucky, my Queen,” she said sarcastically.

“So, what do you think?” Nina asked as she came down the stairs.

“I think you better not fart tonight or it’ll blow a hole through that dress. Jesus, Nina, is that thing tight enough?” Maggie asked.

Maggie was never one to hold back her feelings or thoughts, that was for sure.

“Hey, it’s not that tight! Besides, it’s girls’ night and we’re going out. I thought I would look nice for it and who knows, maybe I’ll even get a number,” Nina said.

“Yeah, well, you’re not allowed to get one unless I get one as well,” Maggie said.

“And what happens if I get one and you don’t? Then what?” Nina asked.

“Then I rip up yours and we’re even,” Maggie said.

“That’s not even fair! Anna, tell her that’s not even fair!” Nina said.

“Yeah, I’m not getting involved,” I said, slipping on my shoes.

“You’re such a bitch, you know that?” Nina said to Maggie.

“Oh, I’m the bitch? You’d just leave me behind?” Maggie said.

“Now I would after what you said,” Nina said.

“Okay, shut up, the both of you. I’m not sure what’s even going on, but nobody’s getting a number tonight. You both wanted a girls’ night with no guys, and part of that involves not having any interaction with them unless it’s a bartender or server,” I said.

They both shut up as I played the role of mother once again and put them in their corners for time-out. They didn’t talk as they put on their shoes and coats, the two of them huffing and puffing out the door as we walked to my car, leaving me to shake my head in disbelief all the way there.

“If you don’t hear from me tonight, it’s because I killed Nina and Maggie,” I texted Bentley, with a tongue-out emoji, before getting into the car.

The weather had gotten a bit chillier than the other night, plunging to about twenty degrees, so the girls used blankets to try to keep themselves warm.

“So, where are we going?” I asked.

“Skinny Pete’s,” Nina said.

Skinny Pete’s was kind of an institution around here. It was a bar, not too divey, but definitely a place for college kids most of the time, though a few older people from town always seemed to slip in and try to become friends with the college kids. It wasn’t really my scene, but girls’ night only came around once in a while, so I figured I could just suck it up and deal with it. Anything was better than one of those frat parties they made me go to. I suppose I did meet Bentley that night, though, so maybe they weren’t as bad as I was making them out to be in my head. Still, I’d be fine if I never went to another one for the rest of my life.

The parking lot was full, Thirsty Thursday in effect. I caught a space just as a car was pulling out. Steam came out of my mouth as I stepped out of the warm car, and we walked up to the front door, where there was a five-dollar cover per person.

“You didn’t tell me about this,” Maggie said begrudgingly as she fished out a five from her wallet.

“I didn’t know, Maggie,” Nina said with attitude.

“Enough, you two. We’re going to have a nice time together,” I said, smiling and handing my five to the bouncer.

House music blasted through the large, open room as we shuffled through the crowds of people, all of them joyous and drunk beyond recognition, as we made our way to the bar, which was of course packed. We waited for about ten minutes before getting to order margaritas, which were only two dollars. Upon tasting it, I realized there was definitely a reason it was only two dollars. I guess it was great if you wanted to get drunk, but not so much if you actually just wanted a decent drink. It was like drinking jet fuel.