Page 35 of Bump and Run
“I never said that.Yousaid thatNoahwas a jerk,” Ollie reminded me.
Travis scoffed. “Noah Underwood is a jerk, Ollie. He let you give him a blowjob... What? Why are you making that motion across your neck?”
“Blowjob? You said you kissed him!” I exclaimed, just as Ollie shoved me off his lap to get to his brother. I let out a high-pitched scream when they started all-out wrestling one another and nearly slid off the bed and landed on the floor.
“That was private!” Ollie roared at his brother, but I heard the laughter in his voice as he pinned Travis downin some weird move I couldn’t recreate. Not only was I too small, but they both seriously outweighed me.
Travis tried to push him away. “You didn’t tell me I couldn’t say anything. I figured you told Jones already, with him being gay and everything. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. You both like dick.”
“You’re embarrassing me.” Ollie’s entire face was red as he flicked his eyes over at me.
I laughed as I shook my head. “You shouldn’t be. It’s not like I haven’t done that.”
“Jones Matthews, you dirty dog!” Travis exclaimed as he managed to flip Ollie over onto his back. “I’m proud of you finally breaking out of your shell and losing your virginity.”
I grew warm. “I didn’t... I mean, I haven’t done that, but yeah, I’ve done a few things.” I didn’t want to talk about what I had done yet. It wasn’t that I was ashamed, because I liked doing those things with Charlie. I just didn’t want to kiss and tell.
“Crap!” Travis shouted when Ollie pushed him off the bed and onto the floor with a loud thud. “Man, I think you broke me, you big lug!”
Ollie roared with laughter. “Maybe next time you’ll think twice before you tell Jones about my sex life.” He held out his hand to help his brother stand up. “So, you and I are no longer blowjob virgins.” He grinned at me.
“I guess not.” I blushed right up to the roots of my hair. “Maybe we can go now and not talk about sex. It makes me feel awkward.”
Travis hollered with laughter. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
***
The arcade was packed when Travis pushed the door open, and we stepped inside. The scent of the beach and suntan lotion filled the air as we pushed our way inside, but what stopped me dead was when I saw Charlie leaning against a pinball machine talking to a blonde-haired girl with big blue eyes and the smallest bikini top I had ever seen. My feet felt like they were glued to the floor, my heart cracked in two, and yet, I couldn’t look away.
Charlie wasn’t smiling at her, but he was listening to what she was saying, her small frame almost pressed against his big one, and I hated it. I wanted to run over and pull her away from him, but that was impossible because I couldn’t really put a claim on him, could I?
Why shouldn’t Charlie be talking to her? She was beautiful. Her blonde hair fell in waves across her shoulders, her hips were covered in barely there shorts, and the way she gazed up at him made me realize they would make a perfect couple. They wouldn’t have to hide from their parents. They could go out in public, hold hands, and everyone would think it was fine.
“I will murder him,” Ollie growled next to me.
Travis grunted from my left. “Not if I get to him first.”
“Leave him be.” I held out my arms to stop them, not that I could.
I was honored that my friends wanted to defend me, even though it felt like a punch to the gut to stand there and continue to watch Charlie talk to this girl. He wasn’t flirting,but she was, and if he was truly mine like he said he was, shouldn’t he be stopping her? Tell her that he was taken? Tell her to take a few steps back?
Ollie huffed loudly just as Charlie looked over and saw me. His eyes grew wide, his mouth opened slightly, and his chin dipped toward his chest. He finally moved away from the girl. She looked more than a little upset, and when she tried to grab his arm, Charlie shook his head, heading straight for me.
“Jonesy.” His gaze ping-ponged between Ollie and Travis, my two protective bodyguards. “Are... It’s not what you think.”
“Isn’t it?” Ollie puffed out his chest. “Please explain.”
I smacked his arm. “Who is she, Charlie? Another Beverly?”
“Mm, or a new girl maybe? Does Daddy know?” Travis seethed as he leaned into me. I had explained to him the entire situation on the way over to the arcade, and I’m glad that I did.
Charlie dragged a hand through his hair. “You told them?” His eyes looked sad, which only made me feel a little better about the situation.
“They’re my best friends. I tell them everything. Answer the question.” I felt my chin start to quiver.Don’t cry, Jones. Not here in front of people who know you. You knew how this was going to turn out.
Charlie stepped closer. “She’s just a girl, Bashful. I don’t even know her name. She’s no one. She’s not you. She came up to me, and we started talking. Can I please speak to you outside, alone?”
“No.” Ollie shook his head. “You can’t.”
