Breaking Shaun (20 page)

“I made a new friend,” I told him as I poured myself a cup of coffee.

“Oh, yeah? What kind of friend?” He put the last dish away and dried his hands with a dish towel.

“The kind you fuck.” I looked him in the eyes and took a sip from my coffee mug.

Nick’s face lit up with a mischievous grin before he tossed the towel onto the counter. “Ah, to be single again.” He sighed dreamily.

“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”

He raised his eyebrows as he scrutinized my face. “What’s this? Is Natalie getting the relationship bug?”

I smiled and shook my head before moving to the breakfast nook. I sat down at the small table. “I didn’t say that. It would just be nice to find a guy who actually knew what he was doing in bed. I mean, I’d love to have a guy actually make me come for once.”

“Hold on. You had a one-night stand and didn’t even get off?” Nick asked like it was the most unfathomable thing he’d ever heard.

“No. I got off, but only because I’d made it happen. I swear, guys are either too fucking selfish to care if they make women come, or they think they know what they’re doing because some delusional woman told them once they were good in bed. Honestly, most of the guys I’ve been with don’t even know where my clit is, let alone know what to do with it.”

Nick chuckled as he came to sit next to me with his cup of coffee. “Poor thing. Just another reason I’m happy to be gay.”

I peered up at him before taking another sip from my mug. “You’re not helping.”

“Okay, okay. Sorry. Well, I need to get ready for work. You’re coming to Shaun’s birthday party tonight, right?” he asked as he stood to leave.

When I hesitated, he paused to give me a pointed look.

“Right?” he asked again, shifting his weight and cocking his hip.

“Yes, Nick. I’m going,” I drawled, giving him a rebellious glare.

“Give up the act already. You know you wanna fuck him. Just admit it.”

I scoffed. He was definitely right, but I was in no way ready to admit it.

“He’s hot,” I muttered, shrugging. “Anyone with eyes can see that. But he’s also full of himself and probably fits into the category of selfish-bastard-who-doesn’t-care-if-I-get-off.”

“Hmm…isn’t it funny then—how women keep going back to him for more?” Nick asked sarcastically.

He was clearly getting sassy.

“Well, Nick…” I paused to rest my elbows on the table. “Most women are willing to settle for a man who makes them feel wanted. If that man is unattainable, then it just becomes more of a challenge. If they think they have the power to change him, then they feel special, and that’s what all women want.”

Nick shifted his weight again before crossing his arms over his chest. He was never one to admit defeat. “And you’re immune to all of that, I guess?”

“No, I’m just smart enough to know that I wouldn’t be anything more to him than an easy fuck, and I’m okay with that.”

“Is that so?” he challenged.

“Yep.”

“Does this mean you’re rethinking the boycott on Shaun’s shlong?”

I gave Nick an exaggerated smile before taking another sip of my coffee, and he chuckled.

“You know, Asia mentioned something about Shaun needing a woman with commitment issues and an incredible sex drive. Sound like anyone you know?”

I narrowed my eyes at him.

He smirked and began making his way toward his room. “Fine. Don’t tell me. You’ll spill eventually. They always do,” he called out.

After taking a shower and going to get a haircut, I headed over to Dank’s apartment. He had called me over there, claiming to have some kind of emergency.

“I don’t know what the fuck is going on, dude,” Dank grumbled as he let me in his front door.

“What?” I made my way to his beat-up couch.

Empty beer cans were all over his coffee table, and his two-foot bong was sitting on the floor next to my feet. He had wet towels hanging off his furniture, and sand was all over the floors. It made me feel a lot better about the state of my apartment.

Dank paused for a second and stared at me. “What the fuck happened to your hair?”

I rubbed the top of my head with my hand. I’d had the barber cut the sides and back short while leaving a few inches of hair on the top. I knew women liked to have something to hold on to, and honestly, I had been a little apprehensive about cutting it all off. It looked good, but I figured it would take everyone some time to get used to.

“I got it cut. What do you think happened?”

Dank studied me for a few more seconds. It was like his brain needed time to comprehend that it was still me. He shook his head and got back to the subject at hand.

“I need this shit to stay between us.” He scratched the back of his head and looked around the room.

“Okay,” I drawled, worried about what he might say.

“My shit has been itching like fucking crazy, dude.”

Dank started scratching around his pubic area, and I instinctively leaned away from him.

“And I was the first person you thought to call?”

“It’s from that fuckin’ chick I met at the shop! What if she gave me fuckin’ herpes?”

“Did you wear a condom, dipshit?”

“Yes, I wore a fuckin’ condom! But according to the Internet, you can still get herpes from skin-to-skin contact!” he shouted, throwing his hands up.

“Maybe it’s crabs,” I said with a shrug.

“You think so? That’s not as bad as herpes, right? How do you know if it’s crabs?”

“I don’t fuckin’ know. And don’t you dare ask me to look at that shit.”

Dank pulled his shorts away from his waist and peered down at his junk before letting his waistband snap back. “Come on, man. All those women you’ve been with, and you’ve never had crabs or anything?”

I shook my head. “Nope.”

“Gah!” he shouted as he started pacing his living room.

“I think Slim had crabs once, but don’t tell him I told you.” I leaned back on his couch and propped my feet up on his table.

Dank got his cell phone and called Slim with the same message he’d given me. “Dude, come over now. It’s an emergency.”

After Slim came by and confirmed that Dank did indeed have crabs, we convinced Dank to smoke a few bowls with us first before going to the pharmacy. It was my birthday, so we had to celebrate.

A few hours later, I was on my way to Marcus and Asia’s for my party. I knew they would make a big deal out of my hair since I hadn’t had it this short since I was a kid.

I was wearing my favorite jeans, a plain black T-shirt, and my new black Supras. This was my version of dressing up, and I had to say I was looking fresh. When I pulled into the driveway, it was seven. I saw my dad’s truck and a few other cars I recognized. I smiled when I saw the same beat-up Mustang Natalie had driven that morning we bought doughnuts. She’d said she would be at my party, and I was happy to see she’d kept her word.

I got out of my car after checking my hair one more time in my rearview mirror. I couldn’t have it looking all jacked-up the first time everyone saw it.

I could hear music playing inside as I made my way toward the front door.

When I pushed it open, I was greeted with everyone shouting, “Happy birthday!”

The cheers all fell short when everyone saw my haircut.

“Holy shit! You cut your hair?” Asia yelled as she came toward me, her eyes fixed to my head.

Marcus followed and came to smack me on the back. “Happy birthday, bro.”

“Thanks.”

Asia was still staring at me with wide eyes when I smiled down at her.

“So, you like it or what?” I asked, rubbing my hand against my newly cut hair.

“I love it actually. You look so much more…more…”

“Grown-up,” Hailey chimed in, finishing Asia’s thought.

Hailey stood there, smiling with her husband, John, right behind her. They both wished me a happy birthday, and Hailey joined Asia as she stood to my side blatantly staring at me. I’d think I’d had plastic surgery or something.

“Hey! Guess who’s here!” I heard someone shout from the front door.

I turned to look and saw my brother, Rob, and his wife, Alexis, walking in.

“Hell yeah!” I shouted as I walked toward them and gave my big brother a hug.

“Where’s Serena?” I asked. “You didn’t leave my niece in Richmond, did you?”

Alexis laughed as she reached in to give me a hug. “No, she’s with my parents tonight. We’ll bring her by Dad’s later, so you can see her.”

“Damn straight you will,” my dad said as he walked up to us with Samantha on his arm.

Rob gave me a look as soon as he saw her arm linked with our dad’s, and I widened my eyes to let Rob know I was just as shocked as he was.

“Rob, Alexis, this is my girlfriend, Samantha,” Dad said.

Rob and Alexis both smiled and shook her hand.

My dad finally remarked on my haircut. “It’s about damn time you cut that shit off. Looks good, son.”

I lifted my chin before muttering, “Thanks.”

No matter how old I got, my dad still had a way of making me feel like an adolescent.

“I need a drink.”

“Well, you’re in luck,” Asia said as she moved in closer to my side. “In the kitchen,” she whispered next to my ear.

I jerked my head back and studied her face, waiting for her to elaborate, but she just smiled up at me like a fucking lunatic.

She must have started drinking early.

“Okay,” I drawled as I pulled away from her.

I left the group of people standing around me, and I made my way toward the kitchen, stopping every now and then to say hi to someone or to answer questions about my haircut. By the time I got there, I decided I wanted a shot or two to start things off.

When I turned the corner, I saw Natalie leaning against the island in the middle of the kitchen, and I stopped in my tracks. She was in a little black dress that showed every one of her curves and sexy black heels. Her long hair was curled and hanging down her back, and she was laughing at something Nick had said. That combination was like a kick to my gut. I had a hard time making myself move, especially when her eyes met mine. Then, they moved to my hair and flicked back. Her casual smile had turned into something entirely different. It was seductive.

After a few seconds of staring at one another, Natalie spoke first, “Happy birthday.” She smiled before taking a sip from her beer.

I watched her painted lips wrap around the mouth of the bottle, and I could feel my dick getting hard.

Shit.

Baseball. Baseball. Baseball.

That was my anti-boner chant. It usually worked, but Natalie’s dress was making it hard to concentrate on anything but how I wanted to get it off of her.

I finally snapped out of it after realizing I was acting like a douche bag. “Thanks.”

I took a few more steps into the kitchen. Now, I could smell her.

Baseball. Baseball, damn it!

I had no problem with letting her know that she turned me on, but there was a fine line between admitting attraction and admitting defeat.

Nick cleared his throat and grinned at Natalie. “Well, I’d better go see if Asia needs any help.” He turned his back on us and walked out.

I saw his departure as my opportunity, and I took it. Moving to stand in front of Natalie, I pressed my hands on the counter behind her and leaned in, careful not to touch her. I looked into her eyes, and I could see her chest moving faster with her accelerating breaths. She was trying to hide it by meeting my stare, but I knew she felt the energy between us. I knew she wanted me just as much as I wanted her.