Page 12 of Someone Like You

Not go on a date with Brody.

“Try and get more work? I don’t know, I feel like I might have to sell it at this point. But I can’t not have a fucking car. We’re in the middle of nowhere, it’s not like there’s a bus system. And forget getting a bike,” I said when he opened his mouth again. “I can barely walk on two legs without falling down.”

He snickered. “Truth. Hey, maybe I can ask my parents for some money? How much would you need?”

“No,” I said. “You guys are struggling enough as it is. But thank you, Jordan.” I exhaled a long breath and started for the stairs.

“Wait, how did you get home if you don’t have your car?”

Jordan’s question stopped me, and I hesitated. Debated lying, but told the truth. “Brody gave me a ride.”

“Whaaat?” He screeched. He ran to the door and threw it open, as if he’d find Brody just sitting in his truck outside my house. But he was long gone, and Jordan glared at the street for a second before turning back to me. “Why would you get in a car with that guy? You should’ve called me, hon.”

“Dude, you don’tdrive.”

“Yeah but I know people whodo. Josh drives. Cameron drives. You could’ve called them.”

Josh and Cameron were our other two roommates, but we were more like passing acquaintances than friends. I wouldn’t have felt very comfortable calling them for a ride. It was hard enough for me to admit I needed help, let alone accept it from others.

I threw my hands in the air. “I’m already home! It wasn’t a big deal. Look, I gotta go study. I have a paper due soon and I haven’t even started it.”

Jordan pointed his spoon at me. “If you need a ride again, you call me. I’m not gonna have you prancing around with that bastard and having another episode, you hear me?”

A laugh sputtered out of my mouth and I shook my head. “Yeah. Whatever.” When he glared at me, I said, “I’ll call you, Jordan. Happy?”

“No, I’m not happy, but it’ll do for now.”

I rolled my eyes and climbed the stairs, trying to push everything that happened today out of my mind.

I wasn’t very successful.

4

ISAAC

Three days later I got a call from an unknown number. I never answered calls from unknown numbers, so I ignored it, let it go to voicemail, and read through the edits on myEnglish 303paper. When it was all printed and ready to be turned in, I looked at my phone again. Saw the voicemail icon and clicked on it.

As soon as that deep, soft, husky voice came on the line, my body tensed up, a lazy heat prickled along every inch of my skin, and my mouth went dry. Warmth gathered in my groin, and I was appalled when my cock began filling, hardening in my boxers and throbbing with a disturbing discomfort.

“Isaac, it’s Brody. Your car’s all set with a new catalytic converter. Feel free to pick it up whenever. And, if you…if you need a ride to the shop, just let me know. I can come get you.”

I’d never been more disappointed in my life that a voicemail had been so short. Before I could think about it too much, I clicked on the unknown number in my call logs. A vicious swell of anticipation burst through me when it began to ring, and when Brody picked up, I almost ended the call. “Hello?”

Oh, that voice. Like chocolate melting in the hot summer sun. Like the climaxing notes of an epic song. Like?—

“Isaac? You there?”

Fuck. “Hey, Brody,” I choked out. “I, uh, got your message. About my car. Being ready.”

“Yeah, she’s all good to go. You comin’ by today? Or did you…need a ride?”

And of all the times for something to sound like a sexual innuendo, of course it was now. “I could use alift. In yourtruck. If that’s okay,” I said.

“Um…” Brody sounded slightly confused, and I didn’t blame him. “Yeah, I can do that. What time?”

And then, instead of just giving him a time, I gave him my life story. “Well I’ve got two more papers to write after just finishing a bitch of an essay that I need to get at least an A- on because otherwise it’s going to bring down my entire GPA which has never not once in the history of my life been lower than a 4.0, so if you could come get me now, I’d really appreciate it.”

He laughed. “Sure. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”