Page 6 of Theirs

Chapter 3

My brother is unbelievable.

On the other hand, I get it, the auction raised a ton of money for the cancer kids because I volunteered. However, I hate that I have to free up my Friday’s for the rest of this month to go on dates with these men that probably have a line of women crawling behind them. Especially, Dr. B.D. I looked him up, and sure enough, there’s a lot of gossip sites about him. He’s basically a celebrity in Chicago, with a long list of women who can vouch for his well endowed member.

There’s rumor that it’s between eight to ten inches, but he can work miracles with that tongue of his.

The only guy that I’m relatively excited for is my date with Colin. He’s already told me he’s taking me to see the Blackhawks at their next practice.

Tonight, however, I have to go out with B.D. and I’m not looking forward to that at all. I’d rather have a root canal than have to look him in the eye after I walked in on him going down on that bimbo in the bathroom. Okay, bimbo is a strong word. It’s 2022, us women should stand together, but honestly, I was kind of jealous. No man has ever made me cum. Yet, there she was, standing up with a leg wrapped around that gorgeous man while he ate her out like he enjoyed it.

I jump at the sound of my buzzer going off in my apartment. He’s here. Mr. Snuffy, my cat, darts off the bed to hide under it, hating any loud noise. Poor guy has heard way too many gunshots around here.

My phone rings in my purse, and I see that Kane is calling me... again. I’ve ignored his last ten calls, and I shut my phone off to ignore this one. I’m furious with him. Letting his old frat brothers buy me? He’s my big brother, he was supposed to protect me like I asked him to.

I head down the stairs in my JCPenney’s black bodysuit and skinny jeans, and silver flats, no designer labels, and meet Benjamin outside my apartment. He startles and surprises me when he hands me over a bouquet of eucalyptus, white roses, and lavender.

“My mom always told me to never show up to a woman’s place empty handed,” he says with a smile. His bright white teeth, perfectly straight.

“And if I don’t like flowers?” I ask.

He pulls a box from behind him. “Chocolates imported from Germany?”

I take those too and hug them to my chest. “Only because I’m PMS’ing.”

Benjamin laughs and ushers me to the awaiting town car. “I love how blunt you are. It’s so refreshing, Lavender.”

“You can call me Teagan,” I say as I slide into the town car with my goodies.

He slides in on the other side and closes the door behind him while the driver gets in the front. “I prefer Lavender, it suits you.”

“What if I change my hair color to pink?” I say, jutting out my chin defiantly.

He catches it, and I try to ignore the electric current that goes through my body when I feel his skin on mine. I haven’t been touched by a man in so long. “Then I’ll call you Rose.”

I roll my eyes, and turn my head to look out the window as we head into the heart of the city, but I can’t help but smile. Maybe this date with Benjamin isn’t going to be so bad.

***

“How’d you know Southern Rebirth was my favorite band?” I yell into Benjamin’s ear over the roaring crowd. He somehow got us backstage passes to their sold-out show at House of Blues; this show has been sold out for months due to the headliner, Saxo Grammaticus. Not that I was planning on buying tickets; fun expenses aren’t in my budget right now, and might never be. Yet, here’s Dr. Benjamin, taking his alt-girl date to a rock concert, with a backstage pass around her neck. We get to privately meet the band after this, and I think I might pee my pants from excitement.

He shrugs. “Did a little research on you. Might have also asked your brother what sort of stuff you’re into.”

I smile at him and shake my head. The band takes the stage, and I jump up and down, clapping my hands and cheering along with the crowd. Southern Rebirth launches into their set, and I’m mesmerized. I grin from ear to ear, wondering what’s going through Benjamin’s head right now. I’m sure he didn’t expect the harsh vocals of the lead singer, the hard pounding drums, or the insane guitar solos that have the guitarist thrashing on the floor.

The band pauses in their set to hydrate, and they start playing the softest song they’ve written. Before I can stop myself, I lean back against Benjamin’s chest. I must surprise him because I feel him freeze for a moment, and then his arms snake around my waist, and he begins swaying with me to the rhythm of the music. He lifts a hand up to move some of my long, curled hair that’s coated in sweat from my neck over to my other shoulder, and I shiver when he leans close to my ear to speak to me.

“This is the coolest date I’ve ever been on, Lavender,” he says.

I grin and turn, lifting my head to speak back to him. “You chose this date, I hope you enjoy it, Dr. B.D.”

He rolls his eyes when I call him by his nickname. What the heck? I’ve met this guy twice and we’re already calling each other by nicknames.

I lean back into him, and pull his arms tighter around me. Finally feeling something other than annoyance at the world for the first time in a long time.

***

Benjamin and I are sitting in the green room backstage, waiting for the band to come meet us, and I can’t stop bouncing my legs. Not only did I get to watch my favorite band perform to a sold-out show, but now I’m going to meet them. Holy crap, dreams do come true!

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