Reckless: A Bad Boy Sport Romance (22 page)

“Come'ere...”

I slid my hands and grabbed her ass cheeks, pulling her close to me. Gazing up at her, I bit down on the thin waistband of her panties and slowly pulled it down. Her eyes flickered shut, and her pretty mouth was trembling, wanting more. She placed one leg against my crotch and rubbed it up and down my cock, warming me up for her.

Once her panties dropped to her ankles, I swooped in with one hand, palming her hot cunt whole. She was so wet, some of her juices were leaking through the gaps of my fingers. As I rubbed her up and down, pushing against her clit, she yanked off my jeans and pulled me out with both hands.

She was handling me so hard, she was cutting off the blood circulation in my cock a little. But shit, I could feel how much Brooklyn wanted me, and it was so fucking hot. She got back on top of me and squeezed her tight cunt over my dick. I barely had my first groan out, but off she went. She bounced up and down, her tits slapping me in the face and her juices staining my jeans.

And I just lay back and gripped onto her waist, watching this beautiful fucking creature get herself off...

Chapter Eight:
Brooklyn

2016

My thighs were still feeling a little wobbly, but after going at it with Ace twice in a row, I had the best night's sleep in weeks. I couldn't get that hour out of my mind. Technically speaking, after years, we didn't even have the same bodies anymore. But once I felt his lips on mine, the connection we shared was instantaneous. The way we kissed, the way he touched me – his hands knew exactly just how to navigate my body, what parts of me to touch to make my legs tremble... Just this morning, I had to turn on the massager on my shower head to cool myself off.

All the hot sex aside, the difference in my spirits today was staggering. Ace and I were meeting up again later this week so we could start working on how to clear his name. And though we made no official mention of getting back together – I wasn't sure if I wanted that myself – it was on the table, and that possibility was all we needed. The only thing that mattered now was that we were there for each other, just like we always said we would be...

“Hey, Ms. C!” Maria called out from behind me. “We're all heading over to my place – my grandma made a ton of enchiladas. You wanna come with?”

“I'd love to, but I've got a report I gotta finish up for work.” I tightened the bow on my sneakers and got up, smiling ruefully. “You guys have fun.”

“O-kay, but you're missing out.” Maria shrugged, waving at me as she joined the others at the studio door. “See you Friday.”

When I saw Thumper heading out the door, I jogged up to him.

“Thumper!” I flagged him down. “Wait up.”

“What's up, Ms. C?” Thumper halted at the doorway. He stuck his thumbs in his hoodie pocket, grinning.

“Have you seen Aiden around? Any idea why he's not here today?”

“Aiden?” Thumper tensed up immediately, wagging his head furiously. “I don't know where he's at – I don't even talk to the guy – how would I know?”

“Uh-huh...” I crossed my arms, squinching my eyes at the restless teenager in front of me. “I thought I saw you 2 walking up my apartment walkway the other day, but I mean, I guess I must have mistaken you for someone else –”

“Oh, yeah, that was me,” said Thumper hurriedly. “I, uh, ran into him outside a GameStop. Thought I'd be friendly and reach out to him, no biggie. Anyway, they're waiting for me, so I'm gonna bounce.”

“Okay. Thanks, anyway.”

“Payce.”

That was weird.

I watched as Thumper darted down the steps and caught up with his friends. He peeked over his shoulder nervously, and when we made eye contact, his eyes bugged out once more. He flashed me another peace sign before disappearing around the corner with his friends.

Yup, that was definitely weird.

As usual, I was the last to leave the studio. I grabbed the rest of my things and headed out the door. But as I was locking up, a familiar voice behind me brought a smirk to my lips.

“Nice pants. Do you prefer 'fashion victim', or 'ensembly challenged'?”

“Ugh, as if!” I spun around, answering with another one of my favorite
Clueless
quotes.

Tabitha was leaning against a lamppost on the curb. There was a brown bag from Charmaine's Bakery tucked underneath her folded arms. But as overjoyed as I was to see my best friend again, I walked over to her slowly, playing it cool.

“I'm a little behind on my laundry, and these were the only things I could find.” I skewed my body sideways, flaunting the “JUICY” printed across my butt. “And might I remind you, you gave these to me in junior year.”

“Oh, yeah. I did, didn't I?” Tabitha smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “And that's where they belong – 2004.”

“Yeah? Well, I'll be rocking these till I'm 90 just to spite you.”

Tabitha laughed, but she swiftly caught herself.

“Listen, Brooks, I may have overreacted.” She flattened her back against the lamppost, rubbing her knuckles.

“May have?”

“Yeah, okay, sorry, I did – I overreacted. It's probably from being onstage for so long – things have been a little dull lately, so I don't know, maybe I was looking for a little drama to fill that void. Whatever it was, I was being a bitch and I took it out on you. I'm sorry.”

I stared at Tabitha. I wanted to stay mad at her a little longer, but seeing the humbled look in her eyes and hearing the self-awareness in her remorseful tone, whatever anger I'd harbored flushed out of me. How could you stay mad at family?

“Whatever, I'm over it.”

“Good. I've got some time to kill if you do.” Tabitha jerked her chin to the side. “Got half a dozen of these red velvet donuts – they were the last ones they had at the shop. But I don't think I could finish these on my own. So, you want in on this, or what?”

“Sure. Why not. Who doesn't have the time for anything red velvet?”

“Thought so.” Tabitha's smile was back. “Come on. Let's roll.”

Chapter Nine:
Brooklyn

2002

There was a full moon out tonight, but it was still chillingly dark out, especially in this part of town. Only about 3 of the 12 lampposts on the block were working – sort of. Other than 1 or 2 cars turning a corner every 5 minutes or so, the streets were eerily quiet.

But Tabitha needed me, so I needed to keep going.

The weird thing was, Tabitha never said anything, but I knew something wasn't right. This morning, I waited for Tabitha at the MacArthur fountain so we could walk to class together like we did everyday, but she never showed up. Eventually, the bell rang, and I legged it. On my way to AP Lit, I saw her through the window of her English class. She was slumped over her desk with her head down, her shoulders shaking violently. I rushed off to find Tabitha as soon as the lunch bell rang, but Whitney told me she'd excused herself to go to the nurse's office halfway through English class, and was sent home.

Tabitha had been upset all week with Jason Greene. She'd shown up to school with her eyes all pink and puffy the last couple of days, mumbling about some stupid fight she had with Jason the night before. They'd only been dating for 2 months, but Tabitha was obsessed with him. When she fell for someone, she fell hard. So when Tabitha called me last night at 2 in the morning, telling me that Jason had dumped her for Mia Porter, I knew it was coming. I didn't know what it was, exactly, but I knew it wasn't good.

I decided to take a shortcut. I zipped up my jacket and ran across the playground. My nightie was flapping around my knees. I was running so fast I nearly ran into some homeless lady's cart. By the time I got to the small, 2-story house across the street, I had to hold on to the post on the front porch. I bent over, wheezing and shaking off the sweat on my face.

Catching my breath, I groped around the garden for the spare key, and let myself into the house.

I set the key down on the console table by the front door. The house was as still as it was on the streets. The only light on the first floor were the small beams of moonlight coming in through the gaps of the curtains. Tabitha's aunt was working a double-shift at the hospital tonight and wouldn't be home for at least another couple of hours, but I decided to tread lightly, anyway.

I snuck up the stairs and crept all the way down to the last door on the hallway. Tabitha was lucky her aunt let her paint her bedroom door black. There were all sorts of glittery “Keep Out” stickers in black and red, posters and magazine cutouts of Avril Lavigne, and a name sign that read “Tabitha” nailed to her door. I took a step backwards. Blinking lights and the soft sounds of the TV drifted out from under the door.

“Tabitha?”

I knocked 3 times, but there was no answer.

“Tabitha?”

I knocked again, but this time, I pressed my ear against the door.

“Tabitha? I'm coming in.”

I twisted the doorknob, but when I opened that door, I felt a sharp stab in my chest.

Tabitha's blankets and pillows were messed up, but her bed was empty. And there she sat, balled up in the corner, holding a razor blade shakily over her wrist. The lights from the TV flashed on her, lighting up only half of her in the dark room. Tears were gushing down her cheeks, but she wasn't making a sound.

I closed the door behind me and knelt down beside her. Still saying nothing, I took the razor from her hand gently, and laid it on her nightstand. She didn't fight me.

Seeing her at this state, I wanted to crumble and cry, too, but I didn't. I couldn't. I choked down my tears and dipped my hands underneath her arms, helping her up to her bed.

Tabitha sniffled, gasping for air noisily as she pulled her covers over herself. I wasn't going to say anything until she did – not that I knew what to say. She turned away from me, rolling over to her side. Sighing, I grabbed some tissue from her nightstand and blotted her cheeks with it.

“I don't get it, Brooks.” Tabitha's squeaky voice reminded me of a little girl's. “Why doesn't anyone want me?”

“Don't be ridiculous, Tabitha.” I swung my legs onto her bed and laid them out in front of me. “What's –”

“Just answer me!”

“Like I said, you're being ridiculous.” I nudged her with my toes. “I want you, don't I?”

“You know what I mean,” said Tabitha huffily, rolling onto her back. She folded her fingers over her stomach and blew her hair out of her face. “Easy for you to say. You've got perfect skin, perfect teeth, never had a bad hair day. Everywhere we go, guys just can't stop looking at you. They act like I'm not even there.”

“Well, I –”

“I'm never gonna find love, am I?”

“Tab, we're 14,” I pointed out bluntly. But when I saw the unchanging look of defeat on her face, I softened. “We've got our whole lives ahead of us –”

“Yeah, but I wanted Jason,” Tabitha sunk deeper into her pillow, clutching her covers. “I thought he was gonna be my whole life – and I thought he felt the same way, too. And it was all my fault –”

“No, it wasn't, Tabitha –”

“I should've seen the signs.” Tabitha's voice cracked. “Jason's been so annoyed with me because I wouldn't have sex with him. I mean, he touches my boobs all the time, and I think my hand brushed over his thing once, but that's as far as I'll go. I just wasn't ready, you know? I mean, the only reason he's with Mia is 'cause of all those rumors going around about how easy she is, that slut –”

“You did the right thing.” I placed a firm hand on her shoulder, squeezing. “If Jason was pressuring you like that, he doesn't care about you, and he doesn't deserve you. He's nothing but a – as TLC would put it – a scrub.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Tabitha pouted. “I hate it when you're right. Stop looking so smug – acting like you know everything.”

“Can't help it.” I hopped off her bed, grinning at her. “Okay, I may not know
everything
, but I do know one thing that's gonna cheer you up.”

I poked around the clutter under Tabitha's TV, put the only DVD that was still in its box inside the player, and climbed under the covers next to her.

But as “Clueless” in purple bubble letters appeared on the screen, the bed started shaking again. I wrapped an arm around Tabitha and held her close to me. Her tears began seeping into the shoulder of my jacket. I made no comments. I just kept untangling the knots in her hair, my eyes directed at the TV.

Not even 10 minutes into the movie, Tabitha was snoring on my shoulder.

Chapter Ten:
Brooklyn

2016

“I'm gonna head upstairs now.” I gave Tabitha a quick hug and made my way to the front door of my apartment building. “Text me when you land.”