nod and press my lips together. Deven doesn’t seem like she’s all that troubled. She seems to mostly have a good head on her shoulders. However, using a fake ID to get into a bar doesn’t exactly scream responsible. Neither does going outside with a guy you don’t know for a quick fuck.
It’s hard for me to believe that their family ended up the way it did. I always pictured them as any normal family. Brad’s dad worked hard at a local farm. Mrs. Olsen stayed home with the kids until they were in school, then she got a job as a cook at the grade school. She volunteered for all the school events and donated her time and baked goods. She was the head of the PTA, for crying out loud. And Brad, he was always at the top of our class. I guess all this answers my first question about why he’s back here covered in tattoos instead of running some big corporate business.
“I’m sorry to hear all this, man. Sounds like things have been rocky for your family since you left here.”
He nods. “It has. Things totally went to shit. But that’s also the reason I decided to come back. I have good memories here. Memories of my dad, our family when everything was good, us and all the trouble we used to cause.” He laughs out.
I nod along with him. “Yeah, we did have some good times.” I finish off my beer and stand. “Well, I guess I’m going to get going. I’ll pack all my things and head back over tomorrow with my half of the rent.”
He stands and walks me over to the door. “Sounds good, man. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He holds out his hand and we shake before I leave the apartment.
As I head down the stairs, I can’t help but think about everything Brad told me about Deven. When I look at her, I don’t see some troublemaking kid. She seems grown and mature, but I’m sure that’s because she’s been taking care of herself since she was a kid. More than anything, I can’t help but imagine the time we spent together. Her plump lips tease me. One look from those dark eyes causes goosebumps to race up my spine. And those long-as-fuck legs felt good wrapped around my hips. Why couldn’t she have been anyone else? All the women in this town, and I have to go and fall for her, my best friend’s little sister?
Being in the military and traveling the world, I’ve been with my fair share of women. But none of them had the lasting effects that Deven has had on me. Just thinking about sliding into her causes my pulse to spike. Just from seeing her again, there’s a yearning in my gut that’s pushing me to reach out and touch her, take her, make her mine.
I’ve never had to fight with myself over anything. I either wanted it and took it, or I didn’t want it and I had no problem leaving it alone. But now, now I want something I can’t have. My brain is fighting between right and wrong, taking what I want or doing the right thing and leaving her be. I have no idea which side will win out, but I know one thing for sure. This won’t be easy for me, but I’m ready to fight my hardest if it means doing the right thing and keeping my distance.
I pull back into Drake’s driveway and find him in the barn with a power saw going. I park the truck and climb out, heading inside. When the door opens, he looks up and shuts off the saw.
“Hey, what are you working on so late out here?” I ask, leaning against the work bench.
He sets the saw down and removes his safety glasses. “Oh, just fixing up the loft. What have you been up to?”
“I found me a place to live.”
“Oh yeah? That was fast.” He takes off his gloves and grabs a beer out of the cooler.
“Yeah, I ran into one of my old buddies from high school. He’s looking for a roommate. He actually works at the brewery. Brad Olsen?”
“Oh yeah, right. He’s a good worker. I didn’t know you two used to be friends. It was my understanding that he moved here from Denver.”
I nod. “Before he and his family moved to Denver, they lived here. He just came back.”