Pregame(18)

"Please, for my sanity, and for the safety of our waiter, put this on."





I didn't argue, grabbing the shirt and slipping it through my arms. The  restaurant was air-conditioned and Wes's shirt kept me warm. I could  smell his cologne mixed with his natural manly scent on the fabric and  decided I might not give it back to him.





The waiter returned to drop off our drinks and take our orders, only  glancing at me briefly. He kept his gaze mostly trained on Wes, which  seemed to satisfy him. Wes ordered the steak and eggs with a side of  hash browns and toast and I got the short stack of chocolate chip banana  pancakes with hash browns on the side.





I wasn't oblivious to the few gawking females at surrounding tables. Wes  was easily the most attractive guy in the diner and his laidback  demeanor only made him more irresistible.





"What are you thinking about?" Wes asked, suddenly.





"You." I replied honestly.





"Oh yeah? What about me?" he revealed a crooked grin, and I couldn't  help but admire his straight white teeth. His orthodontist was a  talented man.





"About wanting you to kiss me." The alcohol had worn off about an hour ago and I was surprised by my own brazenness.





His smile faded and he sighed. "Brookelyn … "





"I know. You won't do it." I muttered.





"No, I won't. Not yet, that is." It was my turn to sigh.                       
       
           



       





The waiter took that moment to arrive with our food. We ate silently for  a couple of minutes and I decided that breakfast at midnight was  genius. The pancakes and hash browns filled my stomach and absorbed any  leftover vodka. Wes seemed to be enjoying his food as well, half of  which he had already thrown back. I was always amazed at how fast guys  could eat.





My phone chirped signaling a new message and I opened it to see that Elle had finally responded.





Elle: staying at Colin's 2night. Enjoy ur date ;)





Me: not a date.





Elle: liar.





Me: slutty athlete.





Elle: take it back!





I giggled at my best friend and Wes looked up at me questioningly.

I waved my hand in the air, dismissively. "Just Elle."

"Ah, I see." He said and I nodded. I mentally kicked myself for making the conversation awkward by bringing up kissing him.

"You've got chocolate all over your face." Wes pointed out, amused.

"Where?" I wiped all around my mouth with a napkin trying to use my phone as a mirror but was unsuccessful.

"Here," Wes reached out and brushed his thumb over my top lip, enticing  goose bumps to spread across my skin. He pulled his hand back and  brought his thumb to his mouth, his eyes never leaving mine as he licked  the chocolate off of his finger. It was the hottest thing I had ever  witnessed.

I sat frozen, staring at his tongue as it darted out of his mouth and  swiped at the chocolate before retreating and licked his lips together.  The corner of his mouth tilted up as he watched me, opened mouth, in a  daze.

He leaned forward and his face was so close to mine that there was only a few inches between our lips.

"Ready to share those demons, yet?" Wes whispered, taunting and playful, but I could see the desire in his blue eyes.

I snapped back to attention and moved further away from him, narrowing my eyes.

"You don't fight fair." I stated, crossing my arms over my chest.

He leaned back in his booth and smirked, "Not at all."

The waiter cleared our plates and placed the check on the table. I  reached for it to see what I owed but Wes grabbed it first and slid his  credit card into the slot and gave it back to the waiter.

"How very date-like of you," I stated, raising an eyebrow.

"This is a date, isn't it?" Wes replied giving me a pointed look.

The waiter came back with the check and Wes signed, grabbing my hand and leading me towards the exit.

I flashed the hostess a harsh glare as we passed by her, which she  mirrored back at me. I pressed closer to Wes and gave her a smirk, aware  of my own immaturity.

There were more cabs waiting outside of the diner and Wes headed over to  one, opening the back door for me to slide into. He leaned into the  open passenger side window and recited my address to the driver, handing  him a few bills. An excitement passed through me thinking that Wes was  coming back to the apartment with me. I had started formulating plans to  get him to kiss him when he leaned into the open back door, bending  down so that he face was close to mine.

"You know, most dates end with a kiss." I stated matter-of-factly and  started to scoot back to make room for him to get in. He grabbed my arm  gently, not yet getting into the cab. I gave him a confused look.





"Not this one," He whispered, a smile playing on his perfect lips. "Goodnight, Brookelyn."





I sat, stunned, as he backed away from the cab and shut the door, making  his way to the empty cab behind this one. My driver started to pull  away so I rolled down my window and stuck my head out.





"Two can play this game, Walker!"





ELEVEN





The next night Colin was taking Elle out to dinner and movie and I  hadn't seen Savanna since the club. I had messaged her asking when she'd  be back but she said she wasn't sure. Every time I thought about what  had happened with Cam I got a sick feeling in my stomach and wished that  she wasn't alone with him at his place. I tried to ration that I  misread him and that I was overreacting but there was something about  him that didn't feel right.





Jade was on her way to pick me up and we were going to grab something to  eat with Luke and Wes before we all headed over to Dusty's. Saturday  was always an especially busy night at the bar but I figured most people  were still recovering from last night's Halloween shenanigans.





I picked out my outfit carefully, thinking about how Wes had teased me last night. It was my turn.





I curled my hair so that it flowed down my back in loose curls and kept  my make up light. I threw on my tightest low-rise skinny jeans and  paired it with a tight red t-shirt that I showed a section of midriff  and was low cut. The way the shirt dipped in a V made my breasts appear  larger and draw attention. I would normally wear the shirt under a  sweater or with a jacket but I knew that tonight it was my best bet at  getting Wes to kiss me. If last night had been any indication then I  knew he wouldn't like the attention I'd be getting from other guys. Jade  sent me text that she was outside as I finished sliding on pair of  Savanna's black pumps that she let me borrow. I wasn't the best in heels  but I decided to sacrifice my own well being for the sake of a kiss  from Wes.                       
       
           



       





I peered outside and it was slightly windy so I went back and grabbed Savanna's cropped leather jacket.





"You look … exposed." Jade scrutinized me as I got into the car. I laughed and buckled my seat belt.





"Does this have to do with our little Wesley by any chance?" She asked.





"It might," I said mysteriously, although we both knew that it did.





A few minutes later we pulled into the driveway of Wes and Luke's  apartment and along with Wes's truck there was an old, beat up, buggy  that I'd never seen before. I looked to Jade for an answer but she was  looking in the same direction, clearly unsure of whom the car belonged  to as well.

"Maybe the other tenant finally got a car. He's been riding a bike everywhere." She guessed.

As we got closer to the apartment door we could here laughter and  excited shouting from inside. Jade pushed the door open and walked  inside with me following behind her.

Luke was seated on the recliner with a huge grin, leaning forward with  his elbows on his knees as he listened to a story from a male voice I  didn't recognize. Wes sat opposite him with his back to me and I could  see his body shake with laughter. Beside him sat an older, rougher  version of himself, talking candidly, his hands flying around as he  spoke.

"Hey! Jade, baby, come and meet Wes's brother, Reese!" Luke bellowed  over when he saw us stroll in. Wes and Reese turned, realizing we had  entered.





"Brookelyn! C'mere!" I had never seen or heard Wes so excited before. He  was clearly happy to have his brother home, and he had mentioned that  he'd be out soon, but I found it odd that Wes hadn't brought it up last  night.





Jade walked over and sat on Luke's lap on the recliner and Wes motioned  at the seat beside him on the couch for me to take. He sensed the  confusion of Jade and my face.





"Reese just got out this afternoon. Wasn't supposed to be for a couple  more weeks but they let him loose a little early." He explained.