Page 44 of Stevie
* * *
“Again!” Greyson calls, and I step into my jab before throwing a cross and finishing with a roundhouse kick to his side. Greyson grabs my foot and pulls me off balance before sending me to the floor and locking me into an arm bar. Cursing, I smack his thigh, signaling I’m tapping out. He releases me and helps me back to my feet.
“You’re getting flabby there, birthday boy,” Greyson taunts as he throws me a water bottle. “Too many of your workouts on your back recently?” He suggests with a smirk. I glare at him before sitting on the mat in the dojo we frequent.
“Shut up,” I grumble, pouring the water over my head. “I can still whip your sorry ass.”
Greyson snorts, “Right, that will remain your delusion.” He winks as I flip him off. “Seriously, what’s up with you? Usually, you last longer than thirty seconds.” His phone dings, and I roll my eyes at the name.Leah.
“I’m not talking to you until you stop fucking my little sister,” I mutter, and Greyson shakes his head.
“Trust me, if your sister were offering, I wouldn’t be here with you. What is with this ‘talking’ thing? She just asked how I was doing. I’m horny, that’s how I am. But if I say that, it’s wrong.” He whines as if he’s insulted or creeped out by it.
“Well gee, I guess Pip is just a nice person, damn her. Now, lose her number.”
“I would,” he sighs dramatically. “But you know–”
“Careful,” I warn, chucking my bottle at him. “So Stevie told me she loves me,” I admit, staring at my hands resting between my knees.
“Look at you! Only took forty years to get a woman to fall for you.” He marvels, and I drive my fist into his thigh.
“You know what? Why do I even talk to you?” Greyson shrugs.
“Apparently, I just have one of those faces that make people want to talk to me.” He mutters, looking at his phone again and curling his lip. “She sent me a picture of her holding a puppy? Why?”
I snatch his phone, look at the photo of Pip with the puppy, and roll my eyes before sending her a selfie of me scowling in response. “There, now she’ll leave you alone,” I say, tossing the phone at him.
“Dude, that was the worst cock block–”
“It’s. My. Little. Sister.”
“She’s in her thirties, hardly a baby. Hell, she has a baby.” I raise a warning brow, but Greyson shakes his head. “I would never down a woman for having a child. I’m just saying, you act like I’m going after a teenager.”
“No, you’re going after my emotionally shredded little sister, whose husband was a piece of shit, and left her alone and pregnant. She had to pick everything up and come all the way back home. She is not looking to get her heart broken again.”
“Brooks!” Greyson laughs nervously. “Bud, I’m not into Pip that way, I promise. Listen, if it’s really bothering you that much, I’ll stop talking to her, alright? Trust me, I’m not looking for all that. I just like her ass.”
“Get back on the mat,” I growl. “I’m beating your ass.”
* * *
“What the fuck,” I mutter to myself while pulling into my driveway. At least, I think it’s my driveway. Getting out of my Jeep, I stare at all the streamers, balloons, and the massive yard sign with a… rubber fucking duck on it.
“A fucking rubber duck. What the actual fuck, Peaches.” I mutter as I walk into my house.
“Happy Birthday!” is the loud chorus that rings through and I shake my head.
“Why are you all wearing rubber duck shirts?” I ask before my eyes land on Derek. “Oh, not you, too?”
“Look, I’m just as disgusted with myself, but she made me.” he states, gesturing to Indy, who looks like a kid in a candy shop.
“And who looks the absolute handsomest?” She squeezes Derek’s cheeks, and he groans in annoyance.
Walking to the kitchen, I spot my mom, Tyler, and Stevie. All three are working with Nika and Zora to prep the food and make last-minute touches on my cake. My yellow rubber fucking duck birthday cake. When will it end?
“You got jokes, Peaches. I’ll give you that.” I chuckle, walking up to kiss her but stopping myself. She and I haven’t kissed in public. Hell, my side of the family was told a lie about our dating, and her friends don’t even know.
“You kiss Stefa or just stare at her like she food?” Nika scolds, causing heat to flood my cheeks as I stare at Stevie.
