Page 67 of Bump and Run
I currently stood outside Ollie’s front door. I hadn’t told him I was coming. I had driven here after breakfast and a shower with Charlie. My ears burned at the filthy things he’d said to me while he washed my body. Charlie was going to go to run a few errands, reach out to Beverly, and then meet me back at the house. I was terrified that his daddy would somehow change his mind. Convince him to marry Beverly.
What if I never had the chance to kiss him again or feel him inside of me? What if I had to race with him every week and see him there with his wife? I really thought Beverly and I could be friends, but not if she was married to the man I loved.
“Jones?” Ollie opened the door before I had the chance to ring the bell. He poked his head outside and glanced around before his eyes landed back on me. “Are you all right? Where’s Charlie?”
When I didn’t say anything, my best friend quickly ushered me into the house. He sat me down on the couch, wrapped me in a hug, and held me without saying a word. Once I had managed to gather myself together, I blushed and pulled away, brushing the wetness from my face. I hadn’t even realized I was crying.
I found Kit Atkins glaring at me from the loveseat across from us. He had his tattooed arms folded over his chest; his blue eyes narrowed into angry slits. It didn’t escape me that he was wearing one of Ollie’s shirts, my number and car splattered across the front. It hung from his shoulder, exposing more ink-covered skin.
“I’m...Yeah, I should just go...” I started to climb to my feet, but Ollie stopped me by gently pressing a hand onto my shoulder.
He shook his head. “Stay.” He looked over at Kit. “Behave yourself.”
“You were touching him,” Kit grunted. “I don’t like it.”
Ollie sighed. “Kitten—”
“No, don’t fucking call me that.” Kit grunted, and his ears burned pink.
Ollie met my gaze again. “What happened? Did Charlie leave again, or did you have a fight? Do I have to go find him and kick his butt for you? I can bring Kit for backup.”
“No, I...” I glanced at Kit again, who simply bared his teeth at me. “His daddy knows about the two of you, and he’sgoing to tell everyone if Charlie doesn’t stay away from me.” It all came out in one long breath. It should have felt better to tell them instead of carrying around all that guilt, but I only felt worse.
Kit jumped to his feet. “What!” He wasn’t much taller than I was, but the furious look on his face was terrifying. His hands balled into fists, his jaw popped, and I found myself shrinking closer to Ollie.
“Relax.” My best friend’s voice was calm as he got up to comfort his boyfriend. Wait, is that what they were? He cupped Kit’s head in his big hands dragging his thumbs over his cheeks. “No one is going to tell anyone about us. You and I are good.”
Kit shoved at his chest. “Oh, fuck off, Ollie.”
“Don’t.” I shook my head.
Kit huffed. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, Matthews. If this guy tells people about me, that I’m...” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I can’t be here right now.” He pushed Ollie out of the way and hurried from the room. Ollie rushed after him, begging him to stay.
Maybe this was a terrible idea. Just because my relationship seemed to be moving in the right direction, I didn’t have to ruin everyone else’s.
“Please, don’t go, Kitten,” Ollie whispered, the sound of his voice echoing down the hall and into the living room.
Kit sighed. “You know this isn’t going to work, right? You and me? It doesn’t matter how you make me feel. What you do for me. We’re going to go down in burning flames.”
“Why not? Don’t I make you happy? Ilove—”
“Don’t,” Kit cut him off. “You deserve someone who’s going to love you the way you deserve. That’s not going to be me, Ols. I can’t do that.”
My heart broke for my best friend. I’m not exactly sure when this thing with Kit started, but Ollie loved him. He hadn’t even looked at another person since he began to see Kit. He didn’t care if Kit hit him or belittled him because Ollie’s heart belonged to him. I knew that feeling all too well.
“I don’t care about that. I have enough love for the both of us,” Ollie assured him. “Please, just stay. I thought we were going to spend this whole week together.”
Kit murmured something I couldn’t hear, and then they both walked back into the living room, holding hands. Kit untangled his fingers from my best friend and sat down on the love seat again. He stared at me with storms in his blue eyes. He didn’t protest when Ollie joined him, his thick thigh pushed against Kit’s. They made an interesting couple. Ollie was all broad shoulders and thick, corded muscles, while Kit was smaller, almost feminine-looking, with baby blues, a lean frame, and a permanent scowl etched into his face.
“Talk,” Kit growled at me.
I shrank back against the couch. “Charlie’s dad... uh, is kind of a big deal. Has a lot of money and knows people, you know? Like important people. He’s the governor, and I think he wants to run for president one day.” I dragged my palms over my thighs. “He’s also married to my mama.”
“Jesus Christ,” Kit hissed and turned to look at Ollie before he glared at me again. “Charlie Callahan, right? The new driver? You’re fucking him?”
I flinched at his crudeness. “We’re in love, and we’re going to get married.” I hated everything about this conversation.
“Right, love, sure... but you’re fucking, right? He’s your stepbrother. Damn, Matthews, I didn’t know you had it in you. That’s so dirty.” Kit smirked and then rolled his eyes when Ollie gently elbowed his side.
