Page 5 of Trusting You

“Enough,” I grinned as the bartender handed me another. “I gotta ride,” I rolled my eyes.

“And who would that be?” he glanced around before looking back at me.

“You,” I snickered as I lifted the bottle to my lips and chugged.

“I’m not driving your ass back to your apartment,” he scoffed as the bartender came over. He ordered a beer before turning back to me. “You never come home in the middle of the week, man. What’s going on?”

“So now you want to be my friend?” I mumbled as I shifted on my stool. Brock and I had a love/ hate relationship. My cousin pined over him for years when we were kids. She thought she was sly about it, but anyone with eyes saw it. Brock was a senior when I was a freshman. He was the star of the football team. Being one of the assistant coach’s kids, I got to do a lot with the team. Brock was kinda like a big brother to me. When he came back to town two years ago and started working with my dad, we became closer. We’re more like friends now, but family comes first. When he started dating Emma, I distanced myself. I didn’t want to have to beat his ass for hurting her. Now that they’re getting married, he’s more of a best friend. I’m convinced if I get on Brock’s good side, he’ll take me to see Mel. I know, I’m so pathetic, but I need to get this feeling out of my system that I get when I think about her. She’s just a girl, at least that’s what I keep telling myself, but my body seems to crave her and I can’t quench it.

“We’ve always been friends,” Brock sighed as he sipped his beer. He’s seen me like this before. He knows I’m drunk and that my mouth tends to spew things out when I’m intoxicated.

“Most of the time,” I grumbled. “I need a favor,” I swallowed.

“You’re not staying over,” he glared at me. “After the last time…” he shook his head at me.

“What? You thought she was hot,” I slammed my beer down on the bar, causing part of it to slosh out of the top.

“She was jailbait,” he narrowed his eyes at me. “Besides,” he snickered, “I’ve never needed help getting women.”

“You’re engaged to my cousin. You better watch it,” I leaned in closer. “I don’t want to have to kick your ass.”

“Like you could,” he shoved my shoulder, causing me to lose my balance and almost topple off the stool. “I love her. I’d never do anything to ruin that.”

“I know. Geez,” I rolled my eyes. “Just trying to get a rise out of you.”

“Fine,” he huffed. “What is it that you need from me,” he stressed the word ‘need’ before finishing his beer and turning to face me fully.

“Em says you’re going to visit her for the holiday weekend coming up.”

“I am,” he nodded.

“I’d like to bum a ride from you,” I smirked as the wheels in his head turned.

“Why,” he cocked his head to the side.

“I want to see my cousin,” I smiled a dubious smile, hoping he’d buy into it.

“No, you don’t. I’ve gone to visit numerous times and you’ve never asked to come with me. Why now?”

“That’s it,” I shrugged.

“Em and I want some quiet time. We don’t want you there when we’re making up for lost time, if you know what I mean,” he rubbed his chin.

“I don’t want to be there for that either,” I made a gagging motion. “I can keep her roommate company when you’re doing that.”

“That would be difficult since she goes home every weekend,” Brock smirked. “Wait!” he slapped the bar. “That’s what this is about. You like her,” his grin widened.

“I do not,” I scoffed.

“Oh, you really like her,” he snickered.

“No,” I growled, “I don’t.”

“So the one woman that Aaron Sutter wants, doesn’t want him in return. Oh my god!” he broke out into laughter. “This is classic.”

“Shut the fuck up,” I shoved his arm.

“Fuck yeah, you can come,” he slapped the bar again as he chuckled. “I won’t even charge you gas money. I would pay to see this,” he waved down the bartender to order another round. “Wait til I tell Em.”

---