Page 13 of Reckless Roses
My stomach lifts like I just took the drop off a roller coaster.
He hands me the flowers, so bright and fragrant. Normally, I’d prefer something less commercialized and less…red, but they’re from him, and that’s all that really matters.
“They’re beautiful,” I say, clutching the bouquet to my chest.
“That’s not all,” he chuckles, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a small purple bag. Zach opens it, revealing a silver chain necklace with a small green gem at its center.
A mixture between a gasp and a squeal leaves my mouth as I clamp a hand over it. Zach holds the necklace up. “Peridot,” he says, motioning for me to stand and turn so he can put it on. “It’s your birthstone.”
He spreads his legs as I spin and step between them, lifting my hair from my neck as he brings the chain around my throat, fingers warm where they graze my skin as he fastens it at my nape.
I turn to face him, brushing my hand over the gem. “It’s stunning. I can’t believe you remembered.”
His hands come to my hips, inching beneath the hem of my T-shirt to caress my bare skin. My flesh lights on fire at the touch. “I even went to that crystal shop you love downtown. Told the lady working there it was for you, when your birthday is. She helped me pick it out.” He smiles. “Oh, and”—reaching into his front pocket this time, he pulls out a small, folded piece of paper—“it came with this little card.” Unfolding it, he reads aloud: “Known as the stone of compassion, peridot is believed to bring good health, restful sleep, and peace to relationships by balancing emotions and mind. This friendly, bright green stone has the uncanny ability to inspire eloquence and creativity; it also brings delight and good cheer.”
“Hmm.” I laugh. “Sleep, emotional balance, and delight are things I’m lacking.”
He shakes his head, chuckling as his lips whisper against my neck, “You’re pretty damn close to perfect, actually.”
He tosses the card onto my bedside table, his hand resuming its place on my hip as my fingers rake through his hair. “It’s perfect, and so are the flowers.” I lower my mouth to his. “And so are you.”
He groans, grabbing me swiftly and tossing me onto my back as he crawls over me. He peppers kisses along my jaw, and those butterflies flutter out of my throat in the form of giggles as my heart pounds to a rhythm that could level buildings.
“I wish I had all day with you,” he rasps against my throat.
“Me too,” I whisper.
When he pulls back to look at me, his gaze is full of adoration and desire and something I want to call love, though I’m not sure I can, since he has never said the words.
“Let’s make sure we get some time alone tonight, okay?” he asks breathlessly.
“Yes.” I nod furiously, because it’s impossible to want anything other than his feverish touch and his blazing eyes that look like love.
AUGUST
“Happy Birthday to my first and second favorite set of twins!” My brother raises his plastic cup, nodding toward Elena’s chest before tossing her a wink.
Everett promptly throws a can of beer at Zach while Leo cups a hand around his mouth and yells, “Boooo.”
Elena’s blushing, glancing down at her chest, which admittedly does look fucking phenomenal beneath her low-cuttank. Everyone around is laughing, and I don’t understand why. That joke wasn’t funny. It wasn’t witty or charming or even original. It’s like Zach can do no wrong, and it drives me nuts.
Someone starts the music back up—“The Spins” suddenly blasting all throughout my house. I stumble through the wafting smoke and shouting teens, stepping out into my parents’ backyard.
By pure coincidence, my mother was invited to some fundraiser in Los Angeles, so my parents decided to make a weekend of it. Zach took it as the perfect excuse to throw Elena and Everett a birthday party—except I know Elena would much prefer a quiet day with bookstores and brunch over an alcohol-infused sweat fest like this.
I also know Elena would hate having her body objectified in front of a large group of people, but somehow, if it’s my fucking brother, she welcomes it.
I sigh, taking a sip of some concoction Leo mixed up that tastes like vodka, strawberries, and ass. I toss the drink in the grass and recycle my cup before sitting on the porch steps and stretching out my legs.
I thought Elena was done with Zach after he stood her up at prom—the same night she looked at me like she might want to choose me instead, and I fucked up by stating she was mybest friend. She almost looked disappointed when I said that, like she was hoping I’d tell her she’s so much more.
And I should have. I clammed up, and the words wouldn’t come. After the moment passed, I hoped I’d get the chance to tell her how I really felt, but as soon as my brother showed up at her house the next day, begging for forgiveness, she was putty in his hands again.
And I’ve been fucked ever since.
Now, I sit outside alone while the girl of my dreams is inside my house, sitting on my brother's lap,hishands on her waist,hisface in her neck,hisname she whispers.
My throat burns, my stomach sinks, and my jaw clenches. The envy so deep inside my bones, it’s like they’re breaking beneath the pressure of it, concaving and cracking and fucking killing me.
