Chapter 12

Bryn

He's a work of art and I can’t stop staring at his chest. Who knew sweat could be so hot!

No! This is Sawyer, I can’t think about how hot he is right now! I’m supposed to be holding a grudge against him for years and guilt him forever, but it’s so tiring to be mad for so long. He also is making a good argument for me to forgive him. My hands twitch with the urge to reach out and run my hands all over him.

I really need to get laid or I’ll do something I’ll regret.

Is it just me or did he get closer?

My heart is running so hard that I can hear it in my head. When Sawyer’s hand slides down my arm I shiver at the touch. His hand stops to grab mine and lift it setting it on his chest. I can feel his slick skin and taught muscles perfectly and my whole-body heats up. Without thinking I lift my other hand to join, and I run them along his chest letting myself feel all of him. He makes a sound that’s between a groan and a hiss. Why is he not stopping me?

Isn’t he worried that this could ruin our second chance to be friends? I should stop but I can’t seem to get my body on the same page as my brain.

“Bryn…” Sawyer’s voice is low and sultry now.

My eyes lift from where my hands are touching him, and his half-lidded eyes meet mine. As I look at him, I start to wonder why he’s letting me touch him. When we were friends, we never crossed any lines to suggest we liked each other in this way. I always loved Sawyer but knew he was going to be a big deal one day and would want his own life. He would meet a nice woman and get married, and I would have to accept that and try to do the same.

How long has it been since he slept with a girl? Is he letting me touch him so that he can scratch the itch to get off?

That thought is like a bucket of cold water. I snap out of my urge to push the boundaries between us and drop my hands taking a step back as well. Sawyers face morphs into confusion.

“Bryn? What’s wrong?” He asks taking a step closer.

I take another step back to put distance between us. He stops.

“I stepped over the line. I’m sorry it won’t happen again.” I say before moving past him toward my room.

“Bryn wait!” He calls out and I stop but I don’t turn to look at him.

“I’m not here to become one of your random hookups. I can’t if I want us to be friends again.” I say before walking into my room and closing the door behind me.

I lean against it and try to catch my breath. That could have been a huge mistake if I had let it get too far. We could have messed everything up before we even fixed it. No, I need to go to that party tonight and find someone to help me forget what I almost did. Now I need to figure out what to wear which will be the hardest part of all. Let’s just say parties and I have never met. What does one wear to a college party? I know one person who will know, my should have been roommate Tabitha.

We talked a few times after we learned we’d be living together and worked up a sort of early friendship, but we’re more like acquaintances for now. Still, she’s been super sweet, and I know she’ll jump at the chance to get me dolled up. She has that spirit about her that says such a thing would excite her and I’m in desperate need of help. I need to get the guys around here interested if I’m going to stop imagining Sawyers chest and how good it felt to touch him.

Dammit! Stop thinking about it!

I pull up Tabitha’s number and she answers on the first ring. “Hey Miss Bryn, how can I be of service?”

I can’t help but smile at her bright voice. “I’m in need of a makeover. This party is a first for me and I want to impress. Can you help me?”

“Oh my gosh! Yes of course! Ill be over in twenty!” I hear her call something out to her boyfriend before the call ends.

There is a sense of relief knowing I won’t have to handle this on my own. Not that I’m inept at doing makeup and dressing nice but this isn’t a small backyard gathering with family. This is a college party with athletes who get drunk and flirt, girls in tiny dresses trying to get their attention, alcohol, and all inhibitions left outside. This is going to get crazy!

As promised Tabitha is at our door with bags in hand and a bottle of wine. “It isn’t fun to get ready for a party without wine! That way we’ll be loose and ready to have fun!”

I’ll take her word for it. She follows me to my room, and I shut the door behind us and turn to see her pulling all sorts of stuff out of one of the bags.

“Okay these are the dresses I had that will suit your skin tone which is gorgeous by the way! Which one calls to you?” She’s laid out four dresses in different styles.

One is a short black dress with one thin strap on one side for my shoulder. The next one is a silver sequenced dress with a square neck and small sleeves, and the next is a blue dress with cut outs on both sides where my ribs will be. The last one is a cute midi dress with a soft flower pattern on it. It’s feminine and sweet with a little bit of bad because of the length. With some white strappy heals it will look really nice.

“I think I’ll choose that one.” I point at the white dress with the flowers and Tabitha claps excitedly.

“Yay! I thought it would be perfect for you, but I wanted to give you options. Do you have shoes you would like to wear, or I brought a few options.”

I walk over to my closet and pull out a pair of white strapped wedged heels.

“Oh my gosh! That’s perfect! Now let’s move on to hair and make-up.”

Sawyer

Shit. What happened out there?

I thought Bryn and I were having a moment and then she pulled away from me and ran off. What changed her mind because with the way she was looking at me I know I’m not the only one who felt the urge to move closer. When she looked up at me her lips were slightly parted, and her eyes were dilated with lust. I could have kissed her and pulled her against me, but then it was like a switch went off.

She couldn’t get away fast enough, and then she said all that shit about it ruining our friendship. The comment about being another hook-up for me was a slap in the face. How could she think I would treat her like some random chic I bring home after a night out? She’s the girl I loved first even if it was a platonic love at first, she was my person.

Being near her has me wanting something more than friendship. I want to pull her in and kiss her so good that she moans and melts against me before I worship every part of her. That is what I want but now I’m not sure I will ever have that chance with her if she keeps running off. How do I prove to her that she isn’t just any girl?

She said she’s going to a party tonight and a quick text to Daniel, Tabitha’s boyfriend and I’ll know exactly which one.

Daniel doesn’t need any convincing to give me the party location. It seems he’s a romantic at heart and thinks I’m crashing the party to profess my love to Bryn tonight. I let him think that because I needed the information but that isn’t the plan. First, Bryn would laugh in my face if I did that. After all these years of not speaking and only two days of being together again, she would not believe it for a second if I said I loved her.

My plan is to keep an eye on her and make sure no one touches her, that’s all. Because if someone does touch her then I’m going to get kicked out of this school too because I will kick their asses. I throw on a random t-shirt my black jeans and my leather jacket. Most of my teammates will probably being wearing their jerseys but I don’t do that.

I lock up the house and jump into my new truck.

I’m coming Bryn and you better be prepared because no one touches my girl.