Bump and Run (Wide Open #6)

Chapter Fifteen

Jones

I stared up at the ceiling of Ollie’s bedroom as he combed his fingers through my hair. Travis was currently at work, so it was just us. I didn’t mind. I knew Ollie wouldn’t break my heart. He was my best friend, and after he listened to what I told him about Charlie, and I sobbed like a child, he simply held me until I stopped. Maybe I should try to date him instead. Only that would be awkward. I didn’t think of Ollie like that. He was more like a brother to me. I didn’t have feelings for him like I did for Charlie, and sure, Ollie was handsome, but he wasn’t who I truly wanted.

“I’m sorry, Jones,” Ollie murmured. “I know you really like him.” He continued to drag his fingers through my curls. “It’s hard not to. He’s nice. Cute. Funny.”

I turned to look up at him. “Ollie, can I ask you a question?”

“I’m bisexual, Jones, just don’t tell anyone.” He winked at me as a smile curled over his lips. “What? Don’t look so shocked. I kissed Noah Underwood once.”

I gasped. “You did? Why didn’t you tell me!?”

“Because he claimed it was an accident.” Ollie blushed, but I saw the hurt in his green eyes .

I blew a raspberry. “Did he trip and fall on your mouth or something? He’s a jerk, Ollie. You deserve someone who’s going to treat you like a king. You’re too nice for Noah.”

“I know.” He sighed softly. “I’m really sorry about Charlie. What if we ended up like two old dudes all alone, Jones? I mean, Travis is probably going to marry Maya, because she just won’t leave him alone, and she’s pretty enough. They would make some nice-looking kids. They’ll settle down, we’ll be the queer uncles. Hey, maybe we can get married.”

My stomach curled. “Ollie.” I didn’t want to hurt his feelings after what Charlie had told me. “That would be a little weird.”

“Yeah, you’re right, that would be weird.” He ducked his chin so I couldn’t see his face. “Forget I said that, all right?”

I smiled at him. “Said what?”

Ollie chuckled softly. “That’s why you’re my best friend, Jones.” He grinned at me as he continued to thread his fingers through my curls.

“Whoa, am I interrupting something?” Travis teased when he walked into the room.

I rolled my eyes. “No.” But I caught the blush that flamed Ollie’s cheeks and instantly missed his hand when he dropped it from my hair. “We’re just talking. Where’s Maya?”

“Oh, no you don’t. You’re not changing the subject.” Travis dropped onto the bed next to us, trying to wrap his brother in a headlock. “Why aren’t you with Charlie?” He wiggled his brows at me, but when I didn’t answer, he released Ollie to nudge my shoulder. “I thought everything was great between the two of you. He brought you flowers, Jones. That’s serious.”

I shrugged. “We had a fight.” I wasn’t about to tell him about Beverly or how Charlie was supposed to marry her. I knew Ollie might when I was gone, but I couldn’t bear the thought of talking about it again. It hurt too much.

“I’m sorry.” Travis sounded sincere. “We could go out. Hang at the arcade or something fun like that. Maybe have a bonfire on the beach tonight.”

I chewed on my lip as I thought about it. “That might be fun.”

“Or we could go see your boyfriend,” Ollie suggested, even though I knew that must be eating him up inside. I dragged my gaze up to his. “Just casually drop by his house and see if he wants to come with us.”

I felt a smile start to spread over my face. “No, I don’t think we should.” I sat up. I wanted to make Charlie suffer a little more, even though it was killing me. “You would do that for me, even though you think he’s being a bit of a jerk?”

“I never said that. You said that Noah was a jerk,” Ollie reminded me.

Travis scoffed. “Noah Underwood is a jerk, Ollie. He let you give him a blowjob... What? Why are you making that motion across your neck?”

“Blowjob? You said you kissed him!” I exclaimed, just as Ollie shoved me off his lap to get to his brother. I let out a high-pitched scream when they started all-out wrestling one another and nearly slid off the bed and landed on the floor.

“That was private!” Ollie roared at his brother, but I heard the laughter in his voice as he pinned Travis down in some weird move I couldn’t recreate. Not only was I too small, but they both seriously outweighed me.

Travis tried to push him away. “You didn’t tell me I couldn’t say anything. I figured you told Jones already, with him being gay and everything. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. You both like dick.”

“You’re embarrassing me.” Ollie’s entire face was red as he flicked his eyes over at me.

I laughed as I shook my head. “You shouldn’t be. It’s not like I haven’t done that.”

“Jones Matthews, you dirty dog!” Travis exclaimed as he managed to flip Ollie over onto his back. “I’m proud of you finally breaking out of your shell and losing your virginity.”

I grew warm. “I didn’t... I mean, I haven’t done that, but yeah, I’ve done a few things.” I didn’t want to talk about what I had done yet. It wasn’t that I was ashamed, because I liked doing those things with Charlie. I just didn’t want to kiss and tell.

“Crap!” Travis shouted when Ollie pushed him off the bed and onto the floor with a loud thud. “Man, I think you broke me, you big lug!”

Ollie roared with laughter. “Maybe next time you’ll think twice before you tell Jones about my sex life.” He held out his hand to help his brother stand up. “So, you and I are no longer blowjob virgins.” He grinned at me.

“I guess not.” I blushed right up to the roots of my hair. “Maybe we can go now and not talk about sex. It makes me feel awkward.”

Travis hollered with laughter. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

** *

The arcade was packed when Travis pushed the door open, and we stepped inside. The scent of the beach and suntan lotion filled the air as we pushed our way inside, but what stopped me dead was when I saw Charlie leaning against a pinball machine talking to a blonde-haired girl with big blue eyes and the smallest bikini top I had ever seen. My feet felt like they were glued to the floor, my heart cracked in two, and yet, I couldn’t look away.

Charlie wasn’t smiling at her, but he was listening to what she was saying, her small frame almost pressed against his big one, and I hated it. I wanted to run over and pull her away from him, but that was impossible because I couldn’t really put a claim on him, could I?

Why shouldn’t Charlie be talking to her? She was beautiful. Her blonde hair fell in waves across her shoulders, her hips were covered in barely there shorts, and the way she gazed up at him made me realize they would make a perfect couple. They wouldn’t have to hide from their parents. They could go out in public, hold hands, and everyone would think it was fine.

“I will murder him,” Ollie growled next to me.

Travis grunted from my left. “Not if I get to him first.”

“Leave him be.” I held out my arms to stop them, not that I could.

I was honored that my friends wanted to defend me, even though it felt like a punch to the gut to stand there and continue to watch Charlie talk to this girl. He wasn’t flirting, but she was, and if he was truly mine like he said he was, shouldn’t he be stopping her? Tell her that he was taken? Tell her to take a few steps back?

Ollie huffed loudly just as Charlie looked over and saw me. His eyes grew wide, his mouth opened slightly, and his chin dipped toward his chest. He finally moved away from the girl. She looked more than a little upset, and when she tried to grab his arm, Charlie shook his head, heading straight for me.

“Jonesy.” His gaze ping-ponged between Ollie and Travis, my two protective bodyguards. “Are... It’s not what you think.”

“Isn’t it?” Ollie puffed out his chest. “Please explain.”

I smacked his arm. “Who is she, Charlie? Another Beverly?”

“Mm, or a new girl maybe? Does Daddy know?” Travis seethed as he leaned into me. I had explained to him the entire situation on the way over to the arcade, and I’m glad that I did.

Charlie dragged a hand through his hair. “You told them?” His eyes looked sad, which only made me feel a little better about the situation.

“They’re my best friends. I tell them everything. Answer the question.” I felt my chin start to quiver. Don’t cry, Jones. Not here in front of people who know you. You knew how this was going to turn out.

Charlie stepped closer. “She’s just a girl, Bashful. I don’t even know her name. She’s no one. She’s not you. She came up to me, and we started talking. Can I please speak to you outside, alone? ”

“No.” Ollie shook his head. “You can’t.”

Charlie bared his teeth. “This has nothing to do with you. You’d love nothing more than for me to be out of the picture, wouldn’t you? So you can have your turn.”

“Watch it,” Travis warned.

I held up my hands. “Stop it. All of you.” I didn’t want my boyfriend— if he was even my boyfriend anymore—and my best friends to fight. “Yes, we can talk.” I spun around to point a finger at my friends. “Not a word.”

I followed Charlie outside, but when he tried to take my hand, I pushed him away. “Say what you want to say.” I folded my arms across my chest once we were outside in the scorching sun, the sounds of the beach and happy kids roaring in our ears.

“I tried to call you, Jones, but you didn’t answer, so I thought you didn’t want to talk to me. I didn’t want to go to your place if your mother was home, and I figured you might be with your friends. I’m so fucking sorry.” He dropped his chin. “I came here to try to blow off some steam. I wasn’t trying to pick up any girls, I swear. She just started talking to me.”

I slid my phone from my pocket, only to find it was dead. “Shoot, Charlie, my phone died. I wasn’t ignoring you.” He glanced up at me. “I just... I don’t know how to handle this.” I waved a hand in the air. “I’ve never dated anyone before, and I find you with a girl. It doesn’t look good. I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to be with her. She’s pretty.”

“I don’t!” He smacked himself in the chest with the palm of his hand. “I want you, Jonesy. Don’t you get it? Only you.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “Why? ”

“Why do I want you?” I nodded at Charlie’s question. “Because you’re special. You’re beautiful, funny, smart, and talented. You make me happy. When you’re near me, this thing just pulls at my chest. I can’t breathe. I can’t even think. I want to touch you everywhere. Please let me fucking touch you, Jones. It’s killing me,” Charlie begged.

When he reached for me, I didn’t stop him. He tangled our fingers together and closed his eyes. “You’re like the oxygen in my lungs.”

I yanked my hands away from him, then lunged forward and hugged him. “Charlie,” I murmured when he wrapped his arms around me.