Enemies

by Tijan

He was raking me in, and whatever he saw had that jaw clenching. His hand tightened on my arm. He demanded roughly, “What do you need right now? I can’t carry you out of here. I just can’t. Too much attention, so what can I do to help you so you can walk out of here by yourself?” I touched his face, and I closed my eyes. Leaning in, my head to his chest, I stood there. Slowly, almost hesitantly, his arms came around me. He held me. And only then did the knot that had a paralyzing hold on me start to unlock itself. My body began to ease, calming down. My temperature returned to normal. I felt my lungs expand.

They were hard, almost dead-like, but he asked, “You done being a bitch?” Siobhan gasped behind him. I hadn’t realized she was still with us. I nodded, a small up and down, but it was true. He knew what I’d been doing. I said, but it came out as a whisper, “I’m sorry.” “I get it. What you’re going through, I’m shocked you’re not a bigger bitch.”

“I’m sorry.” He glanced over, frowning. “For what?” “You had to come in there because of me.” “I didn’t have to do shit. I chose to go in there to get you. I could’ve sent someone else, you know. I didn’t. Maybe think on that, huh?” I—I didn’t know what that meant. Seeing my look, he started laughing and shaking his head. “All I’m saying, maybe we’re not the enemies you like to think we are.” “We were.” He grimaced. “Not quite. I was a prick. You were a nice girl. You got resentful, and I wised up to how much of a dumbass I was. I think that’s the best summary for all this shit, don’t you?”

“What happened with my dad and your mom?” I had to know. Stone didn’t reply, though. He kept quiet, and I saw he was taking me to my house.

“You’re not going to tell me?” He shoved his hands in his pockets, making his shoulders hunch over. “You said you didn’t want to risk hating your dad. I won’t do that to you.” I gulped. A lump sat in my throat. “So it’s something I’ll hate him for.”

He stopped, turning to look at me. His eyes were kind, and that threw me. Stone was never kind. He was gruff. He could be sweet. He was fierce. He was dead-like, but he was never kind. He might talk kind, but his eyes never matched the emotion. It was just how he was.

“I highly doubt that.” “Did they have an affair?” That was the worst I could imagine. It would make sense how he was fired. Stone hesitated. “Stone.” I grabbed his arm. “Tell me.” “There was no affair.” My shoulders relaxed. That was good, but… “What, then?” “...

“Tell me.” I just needed to know everything because I was sick of ‘processing’ goddamn everything. He cursed again, another hand raking over his head. “There was an incident one night. That’s all.” “What incident? And why are you evading this question? You don’t evade anything.” A half-gargled laugh came from him, one that I had never heard. That really sent my eyebrows up. His eyes closed. His head hung down, and his shoulders lowered. “My mom drove drunk one night.” “What?” “Yeah,” he bit out. “Not a great defining moment for our family, but I’m starting to learn that that pales compared to what my dad did. But yeah, she drove drunk from wine night with her friends. She was fucking trashed. Your dad was driving home, found her on the side of the road.” “Oh no.” “She was naked. Car was in the ditch. She was barely able to stand.” “Oh no.” A whole different connotation to my voice. “He got her home safely. Went back with my dad and they both got the car out of the ditch, too. Then the next morning my mom said that your dad made a pass at her.” “What?! He didn’t, did he?”

He shrugged, shaking his head. “I don’t know. I can’t see your dad ever doing that, and I can see my mom trying to make something up to cover up her own embarrassment. She made up that lie and hopefully that’s what my dad would cling to and get mad about, maybe her driving drunk would get overlooked. That was her plan, at least. I knew about the accident, about what my mom said. I didn’t know my dad fired yours. I swear, but now I’m wondering if that’s why your dad got fired. Because of my mom.”

He was ashamed of what his mother had done.

I scooted forward, taking his hand. “Hey.” He shot to his feet, starting to pace. “Don’t!” “Don’t what?” I sat back, not prepared for this. He barked out again, “Don’t make this okay? In the grand scheme of things, I still have my parents. You don’t. You can’t be okay with it.” I opened my mouth to speak. He pointed at me, his eyes flashing. “And don’t say some shit about how it’s nothing worse than what my dad did or what I did to you. I get it, okay? I come from a line of assholes. My grandpops was, too. He was rich and he controlled the fucking town, and he was abusive to my grandma. Everyone knew it. No one said a word. I was glad when he died. Everyone was glad when he died. My dad was an asshole. My mom’s an asshole. I am, too. Just like them.”

“Stone.” “I can tell that you aren’t mad about this, but I know you and I know it’s because you have so much shit in your head already, and here I am, putting more in there. Fine. You don’t have to be mad, but I am. I’m furious with what my mom did. And I’m furious that your dad got hurt by it, your mom got hurt, and you got hurt. And I can’t do anything to fix any of it.” “Wait.” My he...

“Jesus fucking Christ! Are you serious with this shit?” He exploded. Full-out. He completely exploded. “What kind of person do you think—” He stopped short. “Wait. Don’t answer that. I started because of your mom. Okay? Yes. Me coming and telling you about your dad and Gail, that was me being a fucking decent person. I know you. Who else could tell you? After hearing what my family did to yours, that made me see red. I flew up there. I wanted answers.” “What?” “You were in a coma. Doctors wouldn’t let me anywhere near you for a full twenty-four hours. So after I left you in the hospital, I flew home, missed practice to find out what the fuck was going on. And I handled shit.” “Handled shit?” “Handled. And yeah, there’s bruises on my dad’s face and I don’t give a fuck how long they’re there for. I’d do it all over again. Him paying for your stuff, them both helping with funeral costs and everything—that was a debt massively owed to yours. I am sorry on behalf of whose blood I share. Then me helping you after that, that was because you had been my best friend until I realized what my dick was for and decided I was too good for the likes of a tomboy a grade younger than me. I am so...

“So this was all because my mom was nice to you?” His hands dropped down. “You fucking on something for that concussion still? That’s what you got from all of that?” I jumped to my feet. “That’s what you said! It was about my mom.” “It started out about your mom. I mean, it started about more than your mom, but yeah. It began because of your mom, but also you. And it became about you—” He cut off, his head moving left to right in a brisk motion. “No. I’m not doing this right now.

“What do you think? You want to come? Support me?” A faint tug at his lips. He was teasing. That floored me. And I was grinning back. “I had a full meltdown going into my college’s library. You expect me to handle a full stadium of fifty-thousand people?” He shrugged. “That’s two days away. I was thinking I could offer my services for you to ‘digest shit.’” And that grin was back, but it was both a smirk and half sensual at the same time. The fucker.

I laughed. “Sex, huh?” “Now that we’re all good, right? I can offer my dick’s services. Happily.” He was smiling, and the sight did me in. He was so handsome and attractive and fucking hot all at the same time. My blood heated.

I was doing something I’d never done before. I grated out, “I can’t handle a relationship.” My hands went to my shirt, pausing, too. His grin turned cocky. “Who the fuck said anything about that?” “Just sex.” He raised an eyebrow. “You’re speaking my language.” I still paused, my mind racing. Was this a good idea? Probably not. I reached for his jeans, and a second later, his mouth was on mine.

“Dusty!” Another bang on the door. “She probably doesn’t know who you are, moron. She will seriously not answer if she doesn’t,” came a voice from behind him before a door slammed shut. “Bitch,” the guy muttered before raising his voice. “It’s Dent, by the way. And I’m in love with your pizza.” He laughed to himself. “I could be in love with you, too. You know that, right? Remember the bar? Remember when you ditched me? I know you were thinking I was trying to get back at Lisa, but I swear I wasn’t. I was into you—” Stone unlocked the door and swung it open in that second. A full scowl on his face.

Stone’s eyes caught me, and he raked me up and down. A faint grin tugged on his lips.

Before I knew what was happening, he’d said something to the guy. He came over, and just like that, no one else was allowed in our group of two. I went to the cupboard and started pulling everything out I needed. He set his drink on the counter, his back to the rest of the room, and his one hand rested on my back. “Tell me what to do.” “What?” I pulled out the flour. “You’re going to help me?” “Why not?” His grin was wicked. “Old memories, you know.” Old memories. I almost laughed at that, but saw he was serious. “Really?” “I’m here to spend time with you, not them. Not going to lie. I’m looking forward to the pizza, too, but as soon as they’re done and cut, we’re going to my place.” He leaned in, saying into my ear, “I thought maybe I might’ve missed out on the college parties. I didn’t.” His hand moved up my back, rubbing between my shoulders. He gestured to the rolling pin I’d pulled out. “Tell me what to do.”

“Never seen you like this. It’s cute.”

I turned in his arms, leaning back so I could see him face to face. He smirked. “You have a crush on my teammates?” “No!” I laughed. This was mortifying. “But I just wasn’t expecting the quarterback and lead cornerback from the Texas Kings to walk into your kitchen. That’s all.” “I’m the lead wide receiver for the team.” “I know, but you’re you. You’re Stone.” I smacked his chest with the back of my hand. “I don’t look at you like that. You’re you. They’re…them.” Lame. So lame, but true. My face was warming up again. “They’re superstars.”

He straightened, some of the amusement leaving him. “Colby was a third-round pick. Jake was second round. I was second overall draft pick.” He was back in my space, pushing me back, crowding me. “You know what that means, right? I was a first-round pick. One other guy got picked before me, and he was the Heisman winner. You understanding where I’m going here?” I placed my palms on his chest, but he was like cement. He wasn’t moving. His heart just picked up pace and I got what he was saying. Still didn’t matter. I shrugged. “What do you want me to say? I grew up with skinned knees and you teaching me the most efficient way to pick your nose. No. You’re not a big mega-athlete star to me.”

“Fuck.” He abruptly pulled back, sneaking an apple from behind me in a bowl. “This between us.” He motioned from my vagina to his dick. “It ain’t normal. You know that, right?” He moved farther back, leaning against a counter opposite me. “I had a girlfriend in college. A full year. I never felt this shit for her that I feel for you.”

“What are you saying?” He shrugged, but I still saw his jaw clenching again. “Just if you want to fuck someone else, talk to me first. If I’m fucking someone more than once, I don’t fuck another girl. No place for that drama in my life. So I’m telling you, I’m not planning on stepping between anyone else’s legs. I’d like the same appreciation.”

The same appreciation? Was he serious? Did he not realize how broken I was? I swallowed over a knot, my hands suddenly clammy. “The fact that I’m standing upright as a functioning member of society is remarkable. Yeah. You and me, I get it’s not normal, but it’s helping me somehow. The idea of even thinking about someone else like that… I’m just standing. That’s my main focus right now.”

“Good. I like you standing.” His eyes flashed, growing molten. “I like you in other ways, too, but I want you fighting the most. I need you to fight again.”

All things considered, it was a fucking great Sunday.

But that was because Stone was there. If I was thinking far ahead, I’d be concerned. I couldn’t depend on him. This thing with us wasn’t romantic. I was guessing the friendship was there again. I mean, we slept together the last two nights, Saturday afternoon until my housemates came home, and the other full night before I bailed. So, yes. To say we weren’t friends again would be moronic, but romantic…that was different.

I was surviving. He was helping me survive. I couldn’t afford to look a gift horse in the mouth, at least not yet.

My phone beeped. I lifted it. Stone: How’s the first day back? Miserable. Me: Totally fine. It’s nice to be back.

Lots of emotions firing inside of me.

“Oh, my fuck. You’re Colby Doubard. I’m Jared.” “I know. Hi. Nice to meet you.” He nodded to me. “Your sister can cook.” He said to me, “I’d give you a hug, but I think Reeves would rip my arm off.”

Then I felt a hand sliding around my waist and I was being pulled into a sweaty and smelly chest, but damn, it was a delicious sweaty and smelly chest. Stone bent down, burying his face into my neck. “Fuck. You feel good.”

I pulled back, giving him a glazed-over look. I was trying to smile, but I wasn’t sure if it was coming out the right way. “You were amazing.” He looked at me, his eyes darkening. He bent down, saying to my ear, “Can’t wait till we get back to the house.”

He groaned again. “Fucking hell. What are you doing to me?”

“You are killing me.” He hissed in a breath, a low, guttural moan tumbling out as I touched my teeth to his shaft.

“This can’t be a regular thing.”

I was so stupid. I was already missing his dick. He looked up from the counter. His plate was empty. He had a second cup of coffee in front of him, along with a glass of green juice and his phone. His eyes narrowed at me. “Come again?” He smirked.

Yeah. I deserved that, but I was staying firm. “You and me. What we’re doing up there, we both agreed no relationship.” “We both agreed not to fuck someone else if we’re fucking each other. I like fucking you. Why stop that?” “Because.” Stellar defense here, Dusty. Freaking stellar. He cocked an eyebrow up, picking up his coffee. “Because?” “B...

A conflicted emotion passed over his face, tightening the lines around his mouth before smoothing back out. He put his coffee back down. “Better how?” “I’m dealing. I’m not having meltdowns.” “You had one four day...

His eyes narrowed again, and he cocked his head sideways. “Why change that? Because you’re worried you might start feeling something?” He shrugged, grabbing his coffee once more. “Let’s end this when that happens.” “It’s happening.” His eyes lifted back to mine. I added, “Last night. This morning.” I t...

Looking, he was walking away. His coffee, his green juice, was left behind.

He came back into the room, not looking at me, but turned halfway to me. His head was down. He was holding his phone, and he asked, “You need a ride back and forth from campus?” See. My chest squeezed. He was making sure I was okay even after he was kicking me out. “No. The house is a few blocks from campus. I can walk or get a ride with one of my housemates.” He looked up, his entire face guarded. Nothing shone through. “Get a ride.” He left again. “Okay.” God. That hurt to say. My throat was burning.

I was waiting. He would open the door in two seconds. He didn’t, and then he spoke, “I get why you’re stopping this. I know you’re doing it for you in the long-run, but I also know you’re half doing it for me.” A pause. I didn’t look back. I remained standing on the other side of that counter, my back now turned to him. “Thank you.”

I was lying to myself.

My people. My tribe.

I looked up, glaring. “Are you serious? Cammie deserves more than th—” I messed up. Bad. Terribly. The second I looked up, recognition flared over his face and he took a step backwards. “Holy fuck! Dusty?” He was looking me up and down, taking in my blue hair. Shock was soon replaced with concern. His eyebrows pulled together, and his face softened. “You’ve lost weight.” Shit. Shit. Shit!

Shiiiiit, Colby. “Don’t say anything.” His eyes flashed, and he shook his head, already backing away. “Colby!” I started after him. He held his hand up, his phone in it. “You know I can’t keep quiet about this.” He frowned, taking me in again, and regret flaring a second. “I’m sorry, but I’d want to know if it was my girl.” With that, he was gone. And I was so fucked.

Cammie: Dude! Colby Doubard is at the Quail! Oh. Are you coming? Joe’s pissed. We told him you were walking, but he doesn’t believe us. Cammie: OMG! Colby Doubard just asked for my number. Cammie: OMG OMG OMG! Colby Doubard just asked me out!!! He left already, but he asked me out!!! Cammie: Shit. Double shitter let’s all take a dump together shitter. Kyle will be so pissed.