“Was I a dick?” The idea of being a jerk to her didn’t sit well with me. Hell, she didn’t deserve that.
“I wouldn’t say you were a dick, though you did ask if anyone wanted to see yours.” My mouth fell open and my stomach began to roll with an uneasy feeling. “I’m joking, man, but after you got out of the water and walked to shore, let’s just say you didn’t have to show anyone. Apparently alcohol also affects your ability to remain calm, so to speak.”
The story just got better and better. Not.
“You may want to consider having someone stitch the flap shut before you ever decide to go swimming in your boxers again.”
“Are you seriously telling me, right now, that my dick was hanging out of my underwear?”
“Well, not the whole thing.” Again, I hung my head, but this time it was to keep myself from shouting out a great big annoyed Fuck! to the entire locker room and our coaches. “AJ helped though.”
“I’m afraid to ask, but how exactly did AJ help me?”
“She tucked it back in.” He shrugged, and I groaned, silently promising myself that I would never get drunk again. “Dude, you look like you’re gonna puke. I’m teasing. She just stood in front of you with her back facing you and quietly directed you over her shoulder.”
“You’re an asshole.” I stood and yanked my shirt over my head before shoving my arms through. Terrance might be my best friend, but the guy could be a dill-weed sometimes too. I grabbed my things and quickly walked toward the exit with him trailing closely behind.
“Come on, man, I was just playing.” I could hear the humor in his voice. “I bet no one even noticed.”
The faster I walked the faster he trailed behind. I reached my truck with every intention of taking off before I had to listen to any more of his shit but froze the moment I rounded the front. There leaning against the side was AJ, her hair all bundled up in a high ponytail or bun, whatever the girls call that shit. Only there were half a dozen tendrils hanging down and around her face. There was this thing about AJ—she was beautiful without even trying.
When she saw me, she stood tall and turned to face me, a blush covering her cheeks. “Hi.” She barely whispered the word, and I could hear the nervousness lacing her voice. “I was just waiting around so that I could return this to you.” She held up the braided bracelet I’d worn for close to three years.
I immediately moved my hand, going to the place the bracelet usually set, feeling for it almost instinctually. How I didn’t notice it was missing until now was puzzling.
I reached out and she handed it to me, our fingers grazing during the exchange.
Harley had given me this bracelet; it was one that matched her own.
“You’re welcome.” Our eyes met once more, and she smiled sweetly. “Well, I’ll see ya around.”
As she stepped away, I suddenly found that I didn’t want her to go yet.
“AJ,” she turned and paused, gripping the strap of her purse tightly, “so after the other night, I feel like I owe you dinner at least.”
I was surprised to find the offer to take her out didn’t make me feel as uneasy as I thought. I was sure it was related to the idea that I didn’t have anyone standing around breathing down my neck. Once Terrance saw AJ waiting for me, he shifted his path and veered off toward his own vehicle, giving us a little alone time.
“You don’t owe me anything, Rhett,” she started to back away, “I was just being a friend.”
I wasn’t sure if I had just been friend-zoned, but it sure as shit felt like it. So, what did I do when she started walking away again?
I did nothing.
***
My cousin Mikey came home that day. We are family, not by blood but by the decision of our mothers alone; they were crazy like that. Two best friends who referred to one another as sisters had bonded us all together for life.
Today was a big celebration, considering he enlisted in the Army shortly after completing a couple of years of college. He said he wanted to see the world. After completing two tours, he’d decided not to reenlist but to come back home to Brooklet to work with his father, Gavin. That was until he finished his medical degree and became a doctor.
Mikey was a great guy who had one hell of a kick start to life. He lost both his biological parents, much like I lost my father. One horrific accident and you wake up with an entirely different life. The difference was I never knew my father, and he lived with both of his parents for twelve years prior to their deaths. After that, he spent some time in a boys’ home until Gavin and Maria ran across him and decided they couldn’t let him stay there. Not that it was a bad place or anything, but they wanted to give him a real home, give him the life he’d been robbed of.
We’d stayed in touch during his time away, and I was excited to have him return. I remember growing up with him around was like having an older brother. He’d taught me things I was sure I shouldn’t know long before I should’ve known them. He was the guy I turned to whenever I had a question I was too scared to ask my father.
My big crazy family had gathered at my grandparents’ farm because that always seemed to be the place we organized any type of family function. We were all waiting for his arrival, constantly checking our watches and
