Chapter 1~1988

I leaned back on the gray sofa and willed myself not to roll my eyes at Brittany. I couldn’t handle her screeching if she caught me.

She waved her hands in the air and paced my living room floor as she chattered on about Janet, our high school cheerleading co-captain. Those two were always at each other’s throats and competed over everything, including me. But I had no interest in their arguments. Brittany and I had dated for three years, and we were graduating soon. I wanted this time together to be about us, since she was leaving Arkansas for college in the fall. I hadn’t decided what I was going to do yet.

If her drama dial weren’t turned all the way up at the moment, the sunlight glinting off her long brown hair would have almost made her appear angelic. But I knew better.

“She’s such a bitch, and you can’t believe anything she says. Like who does shit like that? Walker? Walker! Are you listening to me?” she asked, snapping her fingers in front of my face.

“Sorry, I heard you. Who cares what she’s saying?” I said, tugging on her hip and pulling her into my lap.

Her mouth formed a perfect pout as she straddled me.

“Besides, thought we were going to have some fun tonight.” I leaned forward and nipped at her bottom lip, as I grabbed her hand and played with the engagement ring I’d slid on her finger a week ago.

I wrapped my arms around her waist as she peered at me through her long, dark eyelashes and unbuttoned the top button of her shirt, exposing the lace of her pink bra. Her deep brown eyes sparkled as she smiled at me. I could only imagine what was going on inside that head of hers, but I knew what was going on in mine.

“We are,” she purred. “And later, I have a surprise for you.”

“We have Brandon’s party tonight,” I said as my eyes fell to the swell of her breasts. I slipped the thin lace away from her porcelain skin, her pink buds hardening.

“We do.” She gasped as my tongue grazed her. She rocked her hips against me and tilted her head back. I fisted her hair and gave it a firm tug as my mouth teased her nipple. “Mm, baby,” she moaned.

I released her hair as she unbuttoned and freed me from my jeans. I ached with need, and she grinned as she lowered herself to her knees between my legs and ran her tongue along the length of me. It took all my strength not to stand her up, flip that little mini skirt over her hips, and take her right there. But part of the fun was the anticipation.

She stroked my erection and slowly slid me into her mouth. I moaned and moved my hips with the rhythm of her motions.

“That good, baby?” she asked.

“Jesus, you know how to drive me fucking crazy,” I muttered as my breaths grew unsteady. I leaned my head back as she brought me to the edge then stopped.

“Not yet.” She glanced up at me and swirled her tongue around the tip of me. “Slow and steady.”

She tightened her hold as I throbbed in her hand. I brushed her hair away from her face so I could have a better view.

“Mmmm,” she said as she licked the drop of come from my dick. She held my gaze as my fingers dug into the arm of the sofa.

I lifted my hips up, and she took in every inch of me. “Dammit, I can’t hold on. Stop, Britt.” I grabbed her shoulder and attempted to pull her away, but she just buried her nails into my legs and continued. “Shit.” My eyelids fluttered closed, and I focused on how damned good she felt.

“You know what I want,” she whispered before she guided me to the back of her throat.

I knew exactly what she wanted. I opened my eyes and watched her red lips wrap around my shaft as my body shuddered, and she drained me dry.

She put her tits back in her bra, then she stood to kiss me. She wrapped her hands around my dick as her eyes cut to the left and she smiled from ear to ear.

“Hi, Garrett, did you enjoy the show?” she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“What?” I pushed her off me and adjusted myself back in my jeans. My head snapped around to see my thirteen-year-old brother standing in the doorway.

He frowned and brushed his sandy-brown bangs off his forehead.

“What the fuck, Garrett? How long have you been watching, you little perv?” I asked, my voice filling the room.

“Baby, calm down, I don’t think he saw much. Besides, we have better things to do than yell at your stupid brother who can’t get his own piece of ass,” she said.

“I didn’t see anything, asshole. But be glad Mom didn’t catch you two in the living room.”

“Go to hell, douchebag,” I said as I took Brittany’s hand and led her to my bedroom.

I closed the door behind us and glared at her.

“What is wrong with you?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” she asked, her eyes widening with an innocence that suckered me every damn time. “He wasn’t there long.”

“How the hell do you know? Your eyes were shut half the time.”

“Fine, I don’t know how long he was standing there, but maybe he’s learning something,” she said as she palmed me through my jeans. I ran my hand through my dark hair as she stuck out her bottom lip. “Don’t be mad at me. I promise I’ll make it up to you tonight.”

“You keep saying that,” I said as I rubbed her arms, my way of letting her know I wasn’t pissed at her anymore. I never stayed angry at her for long.

“It might be Brandon’s party, but I’ll make it all about you.”

I grinned, leaned down, and kissed her.

“Nicole mentioned Brandon has some really good weed in case you wanna play tonight?”

“Really? Yeah, I might be up for that,” I said, pulling her to me. “Sometimes I think you’re a bad influence, little girl.”

“Maybe, but who the hell wants to be good?” she asked.

*  *   *

“How the hell are ya, man?” Brandon asked as Brittany and I walked through the door.

He and I smacked each other on the back and smiled. The party was already in full swing as Brittany let my hand go, blew me a kiss, and squealed as she located Nicole and Breann in the living room.

“Dude, did you invite every senior tonight?” I asked.

“Hell yeah,” he yelled over the music. “Let’s get a drink, come on.”

I followed him through the crowd and into the kitchen.

“It’s a little quieter in here. What’s your poison?” he asked, his hazel eyes slightly glassy already.

“I’m good with a beer for now. Britt mentioned you might have a party favor?” I asked, my eyebrow arching.

“Man, your girl can’t keep her fucking mouth shut about anything, can she?” Brandon said, shaking his head.

“I know exactly how to keep her mouth shut.” I laughed. “So what’s up?”

Brandon leaned over the kitchen counter toward me, an impish grin spreading across his face. “Man, I haven’t told anyone yet, but I enlisted in the military.”

My eyes widened. “Wow, no shit? When do you leave? I hear boot camp is a bitch.”

“Even the biggest pussy can make it through boot camp, man. Anyone who tells you different is full of shit. Yeah, they work you hard, but I’m going to be a Marine!” he hollered as his fists banged against his chest.

Brandon was one of the toughest guys I knew. He’d been the star running back all through high school, and he was tough as shit, but he expected everyone else to be too.

“I’ll leave this fall. You’re stuck with me for nine more months, so don’t get too excited.” He scanned the alcohol bottles until he located what he wanted, picked it up, and poured a shot. “Here,” he said, handing me a red plastic cup with clear liquid inside.

“What is it?” I asked before I sniffed it.

Brandon snickered as he patted me on the back. “Just drink it. It’ll get you all relaxed in no time. You should join the military too and get out of this hellhole.”

“What?” I tossed the cup back and swallowed. “Shit!” I howled as my eyes watered. I coughed and wiped the tears with the back of my hand.

Brandon laughed as I shook my head and blinked a few times. The alcohol burned a trail down my esophagus and into my stomach. I cleared my throat and glanced at him.

“What the hell was that, man?” My voice cracked as if I was thirteen again.

“Shit, you should have seen your face, Farren! That was fucking hilarious.”

I cleared my throat again, waiting for his answer, and then it hit me. My entire body tingled and relaxed. I’d never had alcohol affect me so fast.

“Hang on, and you’ll settle down. It’s Everclear 190 proof. It’ll burn the hair off your nuts.”

“Yeah, I got that,” I said, shaking my head. “You bastard.”

“James!” Brandon yelled and moved past me.

I turned to see James and Brandon punch each other in the arm and grin like the idiots they were.

James hadn’t changed much since the third grade when we’d met. His light brown hair was cut close to his head, and he could eat every five minutes and never gain a pound. He hated being so skinny, but no one could beat him in cross country track. He had held the state title for three years in a row. I wasn’t sure how his mom paid the grocery bill, though.

I nodded at James as I leaned against the kitchen counter and tried to regain my composure after the shot of Everclear. If I waited a minute, I might get to see him go through the same crap I had. I folded my arms in front of me and grinned.

“What’s up?” James asked as an ornery glint filled his gray eyes.

I attempted to hide the grin pulling at the corner of my mouth. “Hey, Brandon, why don’t we get James settled in and get him something to drink?” I shot Brandon a look.

“Comin’ right up,” Brandon said as he poured the alcohol then handed James a cup.

James sniffed it and tossed it back. His cheeks flamed red as he bowed over and smacked his hand on the kitchen counter. “Woooooo! What the hell, man?”

I tried to contain my laugh, but I figured I’d looked just as ridiculous to Brandon as James had to us. And the screwed-up part, we both trusted Brandon and hadn’t questioned him much before we slammed the drink back. The three of us had known each other since we were eight, and after years of going through puberty, family shit, school drama, and girlfriends, we were more than friends. We were brothers. When it came down to it, our word was worth everything. I trusted these guys with my life.

Brandon and James caught up about boot camp while I scanned the living room for Brittany. She was in the middle of the floor, dancing with Breann and Nicole. She winked at me as she took another drink from her red cup, spun around, and almost toppled over as her heel snagged the carpet. Breann grabbed her arm, and they burst into giggles. I shook my head. I didn’t know why Britt insisted on heels that high, but as my eyes traveled up her legs, I got hard thinking about what was waiting for me underneath her dress. Heels and short skirts were her thing, but as long as I was the only one enjoying her, then I secretly laughed as she gave all the other guys blue balls.

Chapter 2

“Hi, baby,” Brittany said as she sauntered up to me. “I see you and the boys are catching up.”

I squeezed her waist and brought her to me. “Feel that?” I whispered in her ear as I pressed my hips against her. I’d been drinking and watching her dance all night, and I was ready to take her upstairs, close the door, and show her how much I loved her.

She giggled as she set down her cup and licked her lips. She stepped back and glanced around, acknowledging everyone else in the room. “Hi, Brandon.”

I recognized that expression. She was warming him up for whatever she was about to ask for.

“Hey there. Walker being good to you? ‘Cause if not, I’ve got something for ya.” He laughed and cupped his crotch.

“Maybe I’ll let you watch?” she said sweetly.

“Jesus, Britt,” I said. “Seriously?”

“Loosen up, Walker. I’m just playin’,” she said as she ran her fingernails down my chest.

I shot Brandon a look in case he didn’t understand that no matter how drunk or sober she was, she was mine. Brandon grinned and nodded.

“Dance with me?” she asked as a slow song boomed through the stereo speakers.

“Sure,” I said.

I glanced at James and Brandon as Britt took my hand and led me through the crowd into the living room. We settled into the rhythm of the music as she rested her head on my chest. I tried to push her comment out of my mind. There was no way she’d meant what she had said to Brandon. The way she’d teetered earlier told me she was already drunk. It didn’t surprise me. We both loved to party, but sometimes I wasn’t sure if I did it for Brittany or because I liked it. Life with her was never dull. She could go from sucking my dick to screaming at me in thirty seconds or less. After the first few times, I learned to just lean back and let her go. Nothing I said could calm her down until she was ready, and the make-up sex was insane.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” she said as she looked up at me.

“Nothing. You having a good time?” I asked.

“Yeah, but I’m ready to play,” she said as a slow, playful smile spread across her full lips.

I slid my hand down her waist and underneath her short skirt. My fingers moved across the thin material of her panties. “Shit, you’re already wet.”

“You have no idea.” She stopped dancing, took my hand, and led me back into the kitchen. “Brandon? We’re ready if you are.”

“You bet. I’ll meet you upstairs in my bedroom in a few minutes.”

Brandon walked off, and I followed Brittany up the stairs and into his room. She sat on his bed then lay back.

“You ready?” she asked, giggling. “We have the most amazing sex when we’re high, Walker. Don’t you want that more often?”

“Hell yes, bitch,” Nicole said as she walked in, accompanied by Brandon.

He shut and locked the door. Brittany sat up and patted the bed next to her. Nicole bit her bottom lip and toyed with a piece of her blonde hair as she sat down. They gave each other a look and giggled. The girls had something planned, and I had a feeling I was the only one who wasn’t aware of what it was.

“Have a seat,” Brandon said as he rolled his desk chair toward me.

I sat down and looked around his room. Brandon opened his dresser drawer and pulled out a baggie with a few pre-rolled joints.

“Me first,” Brittany said as she jumped off the bed and joined Brandon. Britt took the joint, lit it, took a drag, and exhaled slowly.

I leaned over, cracked the window open, and then reached into my wallet. I tossed some bills on the dresser for Brandon before I settled back into the chair.

“Your money is no good here,” Brandon said, handing it back.

“Use it to pay for next time.”

“All right. If you insist.” He opened his drawer and put the bills in a money clip.

“Come on, Walker. Your turn,” Britt said, coughing and handing it to me.

I took a hit and passed it to Nicole. “Thanks, man,” I said to Brandon. “Shit, this seems stronger than usual,” I said to no one in particular.

Britt giggled, straddled my lap, and bent down to kiss me. My dick was hard in seconds. I slid my hands up her skirt and grabbed her ass cheeks. A moan escaped her as we kissed. She leaned back as I watched her hips grind against me.

She fumbled with my jeans and unbuttoned them. My eyes widened as she unzipped them and slipped her hand inside. Her fingers wrapped around me as she bit her lip and grinned.

“Don’t go anywhere,” she whispered before she released me and stood.

Brandon sat down in another chair as Nicole walked up to Britt and smoothed Britt’s hair away from her face. Nicole was about an inch taller than Brittany and had the biggest tits in the entire high school. My mouth hung open as Nicole unzipped her dress and let it drop to the floor. She stood in front of my girlfriend with no bra, blue panties, and black high heels. Brittany giggled as her own dress dropped, and she ran her hand up Nicole’s thigh.

“You ready for a show, boys?” Brittany crooned before she kissed Nicole.

My breath hitched in my throat, and I stayed rooted to my seat.

“Holy fucking hell,” Brandon said as he watched. “Did you know about this, Farren? Your girl gettin’ some love on the side?”

“Shut the hell up,” I said, my eyes glued to them. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t stop looking.

Nicole lay back on the bed as she and Brittany continued to make out. Most guys dreamed about this every night, and it was hot as hell, but that was my fiancée mostly naked with someone else. Not to mention in front of my best friend.

“Brandon,” Brittany purred and motioned to him with her finger. “I’m sure Walker won’t mind, would you baby?”

I was too fucking high to say no, and before I realized what I was doing, I was on the bed with everyone else.

I wasn’t sure how long we were there, but Nicole and Brittany finished together as we all collapsed, exhausted. My eyes burned as I blinked and tried to clear my vision. I swore as I tossed arms and legs off me and stood. I held onto the dresser as I struggled to regain some kind of mental and physical balance. I located my clothes, stepped into my jeans, pulled on my shirt, and left the room.

I staggered down the hall, into the bathroom, and closed the door. I turned on the cold water and washed my face, then I peered into the mirror. My blue eyes were bloodshot, and I stared at the hollow image reflecting back at me. I didn’t recognize him, but he wasn’t the only one I no longer recognized.

I held onto the wall and opened the bathroom door. I glanced toward Brandon’s bedroom then left my fiancée with her friends. She’d made it clear where she wanted to be.