Dating Delaney (7 page)

Delaney

The weekend seemed to fly by, which was good. I was anxious
to see Jake again. Outside of Friday night’s texts we hadn't had any contact.
Of course, I wanted to text him all day Saturday but had refrained, not wanting
to seem desperate. Sunday was a whirlwind day. Claire and I had two cookouts to
attend, both really fun groups of people, but by the time we got home it was
late and I was beat. My bed had never been so tempting. I fell into it gladly
and slept soundly.

“Mommy!” I crack one eye open to Claire’s hovering face
staring right into mine.

“It’s creepy when you do that Claire,” I say.

She shrugs at me.

“There’s a guy sleeping on the couch,” she says plainly.

“Uh huh...that’s good... wait...WHAT?!” I jackknife up and
grab her.

“Ummm there’s a guy asleep on the couch?” she repeats.

“Stay here!” I demand as I pull on a tank top and head to
the living room.

I peer over the back of the couch and sigh. Gavin. I lean
over the back of the couch and poke him with one finger.

One eye opens and he smiles when he sees me. His arm shoots
out and snakes around my back as he drags me over the back of the couch on top
of him, making me squeal.

“Morning, Princess.” His voice is rough with sleep still.

“What are you doing here, Gavin?” I ask playfully.

“Surprise?” he says.

“Ha...ha...” I say dryly.

He chuckles and squeezes me to his bare chest. I relax into
him. This position isn't strange for us. Gavin’s been one of my best friends
for as long as I can remember. All through high school people thought we dated
but we never did. Sure, we held hands, my mom called him her future son-in-law
and we spooned and shared a bed to sleep in many times, but Gavin and I were
the opposite of friends with benefits. We were the couple
without
benefits...all the glory of boyfriend/girlfriend with none of the mess that
came with any of the “benefits.”

We’d never even kissed outside the cheek. Plus, Gavin was a
serious player. Always juggling women and I wanted to no part in that game so
it was always just friends for us. In college I’d had an inkling that maybe he
wanted more but he never pushed and I never offered it up. Eventually he’d
married his college sweetheart and moved to California. He barely ever came
home and over the last seven years I’d missed him. He barely knew Claire at
all. I pushed up on his chest to look at him.

“Really, great surprise, but why are you here and how’d you
get in?!”

“Darcy kicked me out. She left me.” He sounds nonchalant
about the whole thing.

“What did you do?” I accuse.

“Why does it have to be me?” he counters.

“Because she’s a saint,” I explain, and she is. He huffs at
me but pulls me back down to his chest. “Look at the bright side, beautiful,
now we can fulfill our pact.” He waggles his eyebrows at me.

In high school, Gavin and I joked about marrying each other
if we both weren't married by forty or after we both got divorced just so we
wouldn't have to be alone. But, that was just a stupid joke and we were
children then. He couldn't be serious. He’s just being playful like always. Not
a serious committed bone in that man’s body.

“Very funny, Gav.” I sit up, causing me to straddle him. His
hands come to my waist.

“Still as hot as ever, Laney,” he says and waggles his brows
at me again. I smack his hands away and get up.

“How’d you get in?” I ask.

“I’ve been telling you practically your entire life to lock
the doors, Laney.”

Oh. Crap. I forgot. Big surprise.

“Yeah, bad habit,” I admit.

“I’m aware,” he says while stretching. Gavin’s a very good-looking
man. He was hot in high school but he developed into an even more hot man. I
reach down and tug his hand.

“Come on. Coffee?” I offer.

He beams at me with true Gavin charm.

“You know it, Princess.”

I show Gavin where the coffee is and task him with setting
it to brew while I get Claire ready for camp. She woke me up early so we
actually have plenty of time this morning for once.

“What are you looking for?” I ask as he aimlessly pokes
around the fridge.

“Creamer,” he states.

“I have milk...it’s on the door.”

I pull out two mugs and he splashes milk in both while I
grab the coffee pot and start pouring. One might think it’s strange that he
knows how I take my coffee but we’ve been close our whole lives. He might be
the most successful relationship with a man I’ve ever had. Unfortunately that’s
because we’re friends and there’s no physical side to us.

Jake

I walk around the barn and drop my tools on the deck before
walking in the sliding door to the living room. I’ve been dying to see Laney
all weekend but I didn't want to overwhelm her by being too in her face. I
decided if she contacted me, I’d respond, but I wouldn't reach out to her. I
hate games, but I don't want to seem pathetic or needy.

I step into the kitchen doorway and find Laney standing in a
tank top with no bra and pajama pants hanging low on her hips sipping coffee
next to a man wearing only drawstring pajama pants, also drinking coffee.
Jealousy flares irrationally through me and I clench my fists at my sides. Who
the hell is this guy and why the hell is he half dressed in her kitchen?

“Oh! Hey, Jake!” Laney says when she notices me.

“I didn't mean to interrupt. I'll head upstairs,” I bite
out. She looks to the guy then back to me and jumps a little.

“You’re
not
interrupting anything. Gavin’s one of my
best friends. He flew in last night late from California and crashed here,” she
explains.

It sure doesn't look like it. Gavin’s watching her like a
hawk, when his gaze comes to me, he smirks.

“Gavin, this is Jake…Jake…Gavin,” she introduces us.

“Nice to meet you, Jack,” he says.

“It’s Jake. Nice to meet you, too,” I all but bark.

“Uh...” Laney analyzes me, “Coffee, Jake?”

I try to relax my body to put her at ease.

“Sure,” I say through gritted teeth. Gavin moves around the
kitchen to stand next to her.

“This one have a nickname yet?” he says just loud enough
that he’ll know I heard.

“Gavin!” she scolds.

“What?” He feigns innocence.

“Jake’s building out the dormers upstairs. Be nice.” She
looks to me. “Sorry, Jake, Gavin here,” she jerks her thumb at him, “has a bad
habit of openly disliking anyone I’ve ever dated.”

“Not everyone. I liked John,” he states. Pain flashes across
Laney’s face for a moment before she stares down at the floor.

“Gee, thanks for that Gav, you know how well
that
ended,” she says icily. I watch him wrap an arm around her and pull her close.
Seeing his arm around her makes my stomach clench.

“Sorry. I shouldn't have brought him up,” he whispers while
holding her tightly against his bare chest. She shakes him off and sets her mug
down.

“I’ll be right back...I need to run Claire to camp.
Behave,
Gavin,” she demands.

When she pulls out the driveway and I turn around, coffee in
hand, to get to work. Gavin looks me up and down while scratching his chest. He
stands there like he owns the place, like he owns Laney.

“Hi,” I say.

“You want in, don't you?” he says.

“Huh?”

“In...Laney’s pants. I saw the way you look at her,” he
sneers.

“Not your business,” I clip.

“Fair warning, give up now. She’ll never let you in. Not all
the way, anyways. Not after John.” He’s so flippant I’m not sure where to go
with his comment.

“Sorry, man, I don't know what you’re talking about and I
have work to do.”

He continues anyways. “John was her soul mate. We were
friends and I set them up one summer. I’ve never seen Laney so in love…or John,
for that matter. They were a perfect fit. I actually almost believed Laney when
she told me she thought they were somehow fated. Anyways...they dated for a
while and then one day out of the blue he calls her and dumps her. Laney said
he didn't even give a reason, just something about having to make a tough
choice. It destroyed her. She fell apart so hard none of us thought we’d be
able to put her back together. She cried nonstop for months, barely ate and barely
slept. It was at least year before she went on a date again…but every one she’s
been with since she was
twenty
, since
John
, has been wrong. She’s
got one foot out the door from the start. You can actually see it in her eyes.
She holds a part of her heart back. I don't think she’ll ever give it all to
anyone again after the hurt John caused. Especially not you,” he finishes.

I stood frozen in place staring at this psycho who was
babbling on and on about Laney’s heart getting trampled. He must think I was
stupid. The way he eyed her was like she was his possession. He wanted her and
was fairly obvious about it. What did he expect me to say to him? “Thanks for
the insight, but we’ve been on one date, I think you’re jumping the gun a
little,” is what ends up coming out of my mouth.

He shrugs. “Maybe. Maybe not.” Is he trying to piss me off?
I wonder if he even really knows her. Loves her.

“Have you read any of her books?” I question.

“That fluff? No,” he chides.

“That
fluff
is her career, and I have. She’s smart to
hold out for the right guy. When she meets the right one I’m sure she’ll be
able to give it all up.”

“Wow. She already has you drowning, doesn't she? My Laney
never has had any trouble hooking them…it’s just the staying part you all seem
to mess up.”

I’m not taking any more of this guy’s bullshit. He is a
grade “A” jerk and I’m stunned that Laney sees anything redeeming in him. I
take my coffee and head upstairs without another word.

Delaney

I shudder. John. God why did Gavin bring him up? He knew
better. It had taken thirteen years of no contact to finally rid him of my
daily thoughts. It had been a fairytale whirlwind romance. I fell so fast and
hard for him and I
thought
he had too, but out of nowhere he called to
break up with me.
On the phone.
I’m not sure I’ll ever really lay it to
rest. There was no reason that he gave. No closure at all. He was the one who
got away. At nineteen I met the man I was supposed to spend my life with and at
twenty he obliterated my heart when he left me. Fuck you, John! I pull the key
from the ignition and shake the thought of John from my brain as I head inside
to make sure the boys are still playing nice.

“Did you behave?” I ask Gavin, whose made himself right at
home watching TV on the couch. Jake’s nowhere to be found.

“Of course.” He smiles up at me. I don't believe him,
though.

“You’re a terrible liar, you know that?” He laughs at me and
tries to pull me onto his lap. I stay upright and shake my head at him while I
narrow my eyes at him. “How much damage control is in order?” I clip.

“None. Everything’s fine, Laney, stop worrying,” he coos. I
turn on my heel and head upstairs just to make sure.

“Hey,” Jake greets me.

“Well hello handsome,” I call to him. He’s up on some scaffolding
shirtless and it’s a sight to see. I bring my hand to my mouth to check for
drool. I think I have a problem. The man has the most gorgeous torso in
history. Perfectly defined biceps, serious pecs, eight glorious ridges that
span the length of his torso, and the lady killer V-cut leading straight to
his...

“Like what you see?” he winks, interrupting my thoughts.

“You could be an underwear model,” I blurt. Wait? What? I
totally just word-vomited at the hottest man I’d ever seen. His perfect
eight-pack contracts seductively as he laughs at me.

“See? Adorable,” he chuckles.

“Yeah, totally adorable,” I repeat, hating myself for being
such a dork. He jumps down from his perch and comes to me.

“We still on for Thursday?” His voice is low and gravelly. I
lick my lips unconsciously and I swear I hear him growl.

“Yeah.” Why do I sound so breathy? Get a grip, Laney, he’s
just a guy!

“Good,” he says and flashes his killer dimples. We linger
too close together without touching for a moment before I manage to take a step
backward.

“If you need anything call, okay?” I say.

“Where are you off to?” he inquires.

“Gavin and I are going out for the day.”

“Oh joy,” he says flatly.

“Not you too!” I throw my hands up in frustration. “Everyone
I’ve ever dated has hated Gavin. He’s been one of my best friends forever and
we’ve never ever dated or been together! What is the issue?”

“Maybe it’s the way he looks at you, Laney? Like he owns
you,” he spits.

“Oh please, he does not.” But suddenly I’m not so sure. I
always thought my boyfriends hated him because we were close and flirted and
he’s always been the better looking guy…but Jake seriously out-hots Gavin on
all fronts.

“Laney,” he growls at me, “the way he looks at you is why
the term ‘eye fucking’ exists.”

My breath hitches and I don't know whether to feel extreme
irritation or feel worshipped.

“Laney, let’s go!” Gavin calls from the bottom of the
stairs.

“Ah, okay well, I guess I have to go. So…you’ll call if you
need anything right?”

Jake looks a little stunned at how I’m leaving this but I
don't know what else to do.

“Yeah,” he grunts.

* * * * *

Becca’s text catches me off guard. How on earth does
everyone know everything so quickly!?

Gavin’s in town?

Jesus, word travels fast. He got in last night.

Sleep at your place?

Yeah?

What’s MR Attractive think of that?

I huff at her reply and quickly respond to it.

Why would he think anything?

You’re dating!

Correction we’ve been on one date.

Whatever. Gavin screws all your relationships make him
stay with his mom.

Untrue. The guys I pick screw the relationships.

You’re gonna make him stay at his moms right?

I’m really put out by her persistence but like the sap I am
I take the bait.

Since when do you care.

Since MR Attractive showed up

Fine. I’ll tell him to stay at his moms. Why are you on Mr
Attractive’s side

anyways?

Good girl. Because he’s the first viable MAN you’ve ever
dated.

‘Whatever.’ I respond and toss my phone down.