Bump and Run (Wide Open #6)

Chapter Seventeen

Charlie

A couple of days later, I let Jones borrow my Jeep so he could drive it down to Charlotte for his meeting with Henry Richardson. I had offered to drive him there, but he thought it wouldn’t look professional enough, and he was probably right. The night before, I took him out to buy a suit, which he was hesitant about letting me do, but after assuring him he could pay me back one day, Jones relaxed and let me spoil him a bit. With the suit, a fresh haircut, and my Jeep, he looked sexy as fucking hell. Not to mention like a million bucks. My Jones was going to come back to me this afternoon with a contract to drive for Henry Richardson. I could feel it in my bones.

Jones had started sleeping at my house every night. He got away with it by telling his mother he was with Ollie and Travis, who were also hanging out with us. It was a good cover, and my insecurities over Ollie had subsided now that I thought he was seeing someone. Besides, if they were Jones’s best friends, I needed to make sure we all got along. That they trusted me.

“So...” Ollie tapped his fingers on the table as we sat around the kitchen. “What should we do while we wait?”

Travis snorted. “Is this your way of saying you want to go see your boyfriend? ”

“He’s not my... Don’t be a jerk, Travis.”

Ollie turned about a hundred shades of red, then lunged across the table at his brother, and I swore the thing was going to collapse under his weight. I watched as they tried to wrestle one another, hands and arms flying in the air, wondering how long I should let them beat the crap out of one another. Would they cause bodily harm, or was this just something they did? It seemed normal, but then again, Jonesy was usually here to break them up and keep them in line.

I clapped my hands together. “What do you two like to do for fun?” They both stopped to stare at me. “Other than beat the shit out of one another.”

“Uh, we watch Jones race. Go to the arcade. Oh, the carnival.” Travis nodded.

I wasn’t going there with them. I was planning on taking my boyfriend out on a real date to the carnival. Get him up in the Ferris wheel so I could kiss him under the stars.

“I could go back to the arcade.”

It wasn’t far from here, and if Jonesy texted and said he was on his way home, we could easily get back here in time. Not that I think he would need our support. I had a feeling we would be celebrating. I wanted to get my hands on him. My fingers, my lips, my tongue. I wanted to spread his fucking ass wide and just go to town...

I realized Ollie and Travis were staring at me. “Sorry, what?”

“You look a little parched.” Ollie grinned at me. “You need some water to cool off? Want to take a dip in the pool?”

Travis snickered. “Thinking about Jones? ”

“I wasn’t... You know what?” I flipped them both off, which caused them to laugh. “Now you’re ganging up on me?”

Ollie suddenly grew serious, the normal smile on his face disappearing. “Don’t hurt him, okay? I know you think I’m in love with Jones, but it isn’t like that. It’s a crush that I’m working on getting rid of. But if you hurt him, if you break even a little hair on his head or anything, I’ll break your freaking nose.”

“Wow, Ollie, you don’t have to be so violent with the guy.” Travis tried to laugh it off, but he looked nervous. “Charlie’s a good man, right? He’s not going to hurt Jones.”

I nodded. “Right.”

Although I had this little voice inside my head that reminded me that I wasn’t. That as much as I tried to tell Jones that I wasn’t going anywhere and that I wanted him, I knew that wasn’t the truth. The phone call with my father this morning was a grave reminder of that. Of what my future held.

“Promise.” Ollie held out his giant hand. “Right now. Charlie, promise me. Give me your word that you won’t break Jones’s heart or hurt him.”

I stared at his hand before I clasped mine around it. “Promise.” I lied right through my teeth, hoping that the ground wouldn’t open up and swallow me whole. Satan would have a field day with me.

** *

“No way!” Travis shouted as I beat him, again, at Skee-Ball. “How are you so darn good at this game?” He popped a brow as he stared at me. “Did you like major in it in high school or something? Is that even a thing?”

I smirked. “Nah, I just played a lot with my friends.”

“You sure? Was there like a Skee-Ball team up there at your fancy school?” Ollie chuckled at me when I smacked at his shoulder playfully. I could see why he and Jones were so close. They were both easygoing, happy, and kind. A lot like Jones.

I pulled out the tickets that the machine spat out. “I was on the football team.”

“No!” Ollie exclaimed. “Me, too!” Why was that not a surprise? The man was huge, with broad shoulders and arms as thick as tree trunks. “Linebacker.” He pointed to himself like I couldn’t have figured that out.

I fisted the tickets in my hand. “Quarterback.” I only played football because there wasn’t much else to do in high school. Baseball wasn’t my thing. I wasn’t tall enough for basketball, and hockey? Forget it. I couldn’t skate to save my life, even though I’d tried numerous times. I was lucky I hadn’t broken an ankle or my neck.

“Ah, yes. I can see it.” Ollie grinned when I gasped in mock surprise. “Heartbreaker.”

Travis elbowed his brother, and I thought for sure they were going to start wrestling in the middle of the arcade. “He doesn’t mean that.”

“I wasn’t a saint, but I wasn’t a heartbreaker either,” I admitted, which caused both of them to stop and stare at me. “I dated a few girls. Cheerleaders, and a few others who were popular. I never wanted to settle down or get serious with anyone until now.”

Because I wanted to fucking husband up Jones now that I thought about it. I was nineteen years old. We had been together for a week. That was impossible, right?

Ollie wrinkled his nose as he thought about what I said. “So, you were straight until you met Jones? Is this a gay-for-you thing?”

“No, I figured out I was bi when I was fourteen, but I wasn’t into any of the guys I went to school with. I mean, I knew Lennon Barkley since we were five years old. Sure, he was hot as sin, but he used to eat paste and fling his boogers at everyone. What part of that is sexy, and it had been hard to kiss him when that was all I could think about. He was a good kisser, though.” I winked.

Travis snorted. “I like you, Charlie. You’re all right.”

“Yeah, sure, you’re cool.” But Ollie didn’t sound too convinced.

Either he was actually in love with Jones, or he still didn’t trust me. Or both. My bet was on both. But I didn’t want to argue with the man. It had to be hard to suffer in silence like that.

I plastered a smile on my face. “Listen, I have like a million of these tickets. Do you think you could help me pick out something that Jones might like?” I held them out for Ollie and Travis to see. “You know him much better than I do.”

“You want to get him something?” Ollie murmured. His green eyes softened. “That’s really nice, Charlie. ”

Travis nodded. “Yeah, really nice.” He echoed his brother’s response. “Come on. Let’s go check out the prizes and see what they have.”

I followed behind them as they pushed and shoved one another like a couple of children. Once we arrived at the display case full of prizes, they argued over what was the better gift. Ollie thought Jones would like a stuffed teddy bear, which I sort of agreed on, while Travis thought he would like the whoopie cushion. Hard pass. The three of us examined every single item they had before I finally came across the perfect item. It might seem a little soon, but if it would get Travis to shut up about the childish whoopie cushion and Ollie to stop doubting my feelings for Jones, then I had to have it.

It was a silicon ring that I prayed would be the right size. It was a pumpkin color with little gray cars etched into it. Most likely made for a child, but it was absolutely perfect. It took every ticket I won, and it made my heart beat wildly inside my chest. The kid behind the counter boxed it up with white tissue paper, and I quickly grabbed it before Ollie or Travis could take it.

“What?” I asked as they both stared at me with wide eyes.

“It’s a ring,” Ollie said, like I didn’t know.

I nodded. “It is.”

“You’re going to give that to Jones.” Travis tilted his head.

Fuck, I was this crazy? I wasn’t going to propose to him. I just... I wanted Jones to know I was serious. That no matter what, I was always going to be his .

“Yes, yes, I am.”

“Charlie, I mean... You’re really into him, huh?” Ollie’s brows furrowed as he looked at Travis. “Does this mean we should plan a bachelor party?”

I barked out a laugh. “No, no, think of it more like a promise ring. You know I’ll be going back to Boston. I want Jones to know he’s mine, and I’m his. No matter what happens. I’m never going to belong to anyone else.” Ever. No matter what.

“That is seriously so sweet I might throw up.” Travis made a gagging noise, which seemed to break the tension.

I felt my phone buzz in my pocket, and when I pulled it out, I saw a message from Jones. I hoped to hell he had something good to tell me.

Jonesy: I signed with Richardson Motorsports. See you in three hours.

I glanced up to find Travis and Ollie staring at me. “Yeah, so, he’s on his way back.”

“Spill! I will murder you!” Ollie exclaimed.

“Are you kidding me?” Travis gasped.

I threw my head back, laughing, as they both spoke at the same time. “He signed. He’s going big time. Quick, let’s get out of here and plan a big celebration.” I started toward the door, only for the brothers to grab me. “What?”

“Don’t you, I don’t know, what to celebrate with him alone, just the two of you?” Ollie asked. “We’re all for a party or whatever you want to do, but this is a big deal. You’re going to give him a ring. Travis and I can do something with him later. You’re the boyfriend. We appreciate you wanting to include us. ”

Damn, now I really had to like the guy. “You’re sure?”

When they both nodded, a smile broke out over my face.

“Fine, but I still want the two of you to help me get the house ready.”

“Wait, are you going to, like, romance him? Woo him or whatever? Sex stuff? I don’t think I’m comfortable helping you buy rubbers and lube, Charlie.” Ollie’s cheeks burned pink.

Travis elbowed his side. “Dude, not cool. That’s private.”

“Hate to break it to you, Ollie, but I don’t need help with those things. I mean, flowers or whatever. Maybe something nice for dinner. I always make frozen pizzas. You know what Jonesy likes to eat. I can get takeout from his favorite place.” I clapped him on the back when relief flooded his face.

“We can do that,” Travis answered, and Ollie nodded in agreement.

I let out a big sigh of relief. “Great, then let’s go. I want to get this all done before Jones gets home.”