Bump and Run (Wide Open #6)

Chapter Thirty

Jones

My stomach was twisted into knots. I felt like I was going to pass out at any moment. Ollie was going to freak out when I told him the plans Charlie and I had made. He would try to convince me not to get married and tell me that it was a terrible idea. That I was too young, that Charlie was going to hurt me again. I knew in the depths of my soul that Charlie and I were meant to be. Why else would he have come back into my life? Now I just had to convince my best friend.

It wouldn’t be easy.

I currently stood outside Ollie’s front door. I hadn’t told him I was coming. I had driven here after breakfast and a shower with Charlie. My ears burned at the filthy things he’d said to me while he washed my body. Charlie was going to go to run a few errands, reach out to Beverly, and then meet me back at the house. I was terrified that his daddy would somehow change his mind. Convince him to marry Beverly.

What if I never had the chance to kiss him again or feel him inside of me? What if I had to race with him every week and see him there with his wife? I really thought Beverly and I could be friends, but not if she was married to the man I loved .

“Jones?” Ollie opened the door before I had the chance to ring the bell. He poked his head outside and glanced around before his eyes landed back on me. “Are you all right? Where’s Charlie?”

When I didn’t say anything, my best friend quickly ushered me into the house. He sat me down on the couch, wrapped me in a hug, and held me without saying a word. Once I had managed to gather myself together, I blushed and pulled away, brushing the wetness from my face. I hadn’t even realized I was crying.

I found Kit Atkins glaring at me from the loveseat across from us. He had his tattooed arms folded over his chest; his blue eyes narrowed into angry slits. It didn’t escape me that he was wearing one of Ollie’s shirts, my number and car splattered across the front. It hung from his shoulder, exposing more ink-covered skin.

“I’m...Yeah, I should just go...” I started to climb to my feet, but Ollie stopped me by gently pressing a hand onto my shoulder.

He shook his head. “Stay.” He looked over at Kit. “Behave yourself.”

“You were touching him,” Kit grunted. “I don’t like it.”

Ollie sighed. “Kitten—”

“No, don’t fucking call me that.” Kit grunted, and his ears burned pink.

Ollie met my gaze again. “What happened? Did Charlie leave again, or did you have a fight? Do I have to go find him and kick his butt for you? I can bring Kit for backup.”

“No, I...” I glanced at Kit again, who simply bared his teeth at me. “His daddy knows about the two of you, and he’s going to tell everyone if Charlie doesn’t stay away from me.” It all came out in one long breath. It should have felt better to tell them instead of carrying around all that guilt, but I only felt worse.

Kit jumped to his feet. “What!” He wasn’t much taller than I was, but the furious look on his face was terrifying. His hands balled into fists, his jaw popped, and I found myself shrinking closer to Ollie.

“Relax.” My best friend’s voice was calm as he got up to comfort his boyfriend. Wait, is that what they were? He cupped Kit’s head in his big hands dragging his thumbs over his cheeks. “No one is going to tell anyone about us. You and I are good.”

Kit shoved at his chest. “Oh, fuck off, Ollie.”

“Don’t.” I shook my head.

Kit huffed. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, Matthews. If this guy tells people about me, that I’m...” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I can’t be here right now.” He pushed Ollie out of the way and hurried from the room. Ollie rushed after him, begging him to stay.

Maybe this was a terrible idea. Just because my relationship seemed to be moving in the right direction, I didn’t have to ruin everyone else’s.

“Please, don’t go, Kitten,” Ollie whispered, the sound of his voice echoing down the hall and into the living room.

Kit sighed. “You know this isn’t going to work, right? You and me? It doesn’t matter how you make me feel. What you do for me. We’re going to go down in burning flames.”

“Why not? Don’t I make you happy? I love—”

“Don’t,” Kit cut him off. “You deserve someone who’s going to love you the way you deserve. That’s not going to be me, Ols. I can’t do that.”

My heart broke for my best friend. I’m not exactly sure when this thing with Kit started, but Ollie loved him. He hadn’t even looked at another person since he began to see Kit. He didn’t care if Kit hit him or belittled him because Ollie’s heart belonged to him. I knew that feeling all too well.

“I don’t care about that. I have enough love for the both of us,” Ollie assured him. “Please, just stay. I thought we were going to spend this whole week together.”

Kit murmured something I couldn’t hear, and then they both walked back into the living room, holding hands. Kit untangled his fingers from my best friend and sat down on the love seat again. He stared at me with storms in his blue eyes. He didn’t protest when Ollie joined him, his thick thigh pushed against Kit’s. They made an interesting couple. Ollie was all broad shoulders and thick, corded muscles, while Kit was smaller, almost feminine-looking, with baby blues, a lean frame, and a permanent scowl etched into his face.

“Talk,” Kit growled at me.

I shrank back against the couch. “Charlie’s dad... uh, is kind of a big deal. Has a lot of money and knows people, you know? Like important people. He’s the governor, and I think he wants to run for president one day.” I dragged my palms over my thighs. “He’s also married to my mama. ”

“Jesus Christ,” Kit hissed and turned to look at Ollie before he glared at me again. “Charlie Callahan, right? The new driver? You’re fucking him?”

I flinched at his crudeness. “We’re in love, and we’re going to get married.” I hated everything about this conversation.

“Right, love, sure... but you’re fucking, right? He’s your stepbrother. Damn, Matthews, I didn’t know you had it in you. That’s so dirty.” Kit smirked and then rolled his eyes when Ollie gently elbowed his side.

Ollie was staring at me with huge green eyes. “Married? Since when?”

“That’s what you got out of that?” Kit’s scowl darkened.

I twisted the ring on my finger. “He asked, and I said yes. I wanted you to be there when we do it. It’s not going to be fancy. Just something at the town hall, but you’re my best friend, and I thought it would be perfect if you could stand up for me.”

Ollie sighed. “You can’t marry him. I knew he was going to be trouble the first time you met him. The moment he was all you could talk about and see, that was the problem. He broke your heart; now he’s back, and he’s going to do it all over again, Jones.”

“Someone needs to back up and tell me the entire story.” Kit dropped his hand on Ollie’s thigh, palm up, and I tried not to stare when Ollie laced their fingers together. “Stop gawking, asshole.” He growled, but when he tried to pull away, my best friend only gripped his hand tighter. I thought I saw Kit’s glare soften just a little, but I wasn’t sure .

I worried my lip between my teeth before I started to talk. I told Kit all about Charlie and how we met. I left out some of it, like how he took my virginity, then ghosted me and disappeared out of my life for the past couple of years. But I made sure he knew exactly who Charlie’s father was, what a piece of poop he was, and everything he had done to make sure that Charlie and I weren’t together.

I stared at my best friend and his boyfriend as they watched me. They were still holding hands, but Kit’s nostrils flared angrily with every breath. “Someone, say something.”

“Fuck that guy!” Kit barked. “He’s a piece of shit. You should dump Charlie and find someone better. Besides, marriage is for fools.”

Ollie shook his head. “It’s not that easy, Kitten, you know that. When you love someone, you’ll do anything to keep them. Even marry them.”

“You...” Kit glared at him, then surprised me and climbed up into Ollie’s lap. He kissed him like his life depended on it, and I turned away to give them some privacy. I heard the soft whispers as they spoke to one another before a cough brought my attention back to them. Kit’s lips were swollen and wet, his eyes hooded. “Don’t say a fucking word.”

I couldn’t stop the smile that spread over my face. “I would never.” Then my eyes landed on Ollie’s busted lip and blackened eye. “You have to stop hurting him, Kit. It’s not right.”

“Jones, don’t,” Ollie hissed, but it was already too late.

Kit climbed to his feet, walked over, and bent down so that he was in my face. “Or what, Matthews? You going to stop me?” He poked me in the chest with his finger. When I just continued to stare at him, he smirked. “That’s what I thought.”

“Kit!” Ollie exclaimed. “Leave him alone.”

Kit’s eyes flashed with anger and jealousy before he spun around. “I’m out.”

“What? Why?” Ollie gasped.

Kit didn’t answer, just stomped from the room. Then I heard the front door slam. Ollie’s chin trembled as he stared after him. “He does love me, Jones. He just doesn’t know how to say the words. He’ll be back. He always comes back.”

“He’s a jerk, Ollie. He treats you terribly. Love shouldn’t include hurting someone.”

“You’re one to talk. Charlie broke you into a million pieces. And now you’re going to marry him. Pot. Kettle. Black.”

Ouch . “Charlie didn’t hit me.”

I wanted to chase after Kit, grab him the by shoulders, and shake him. Scream in his face that he was being ridiculous. Ollie was an amazing person, and he chose to love Kit. How could he not realize that?

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I just... It’s not right, Ollie.”

“I should go after him.” Ollie winced as he chewed on his lip. “He’s not really breaking up with me. He does this all the time. Things get to be too much, and he doesn’t know how to handle it. Feelings are not his thing. He lashes out.” That part was more than obvious with the bruises and cuts on Ollie’s face. He murmured something quietly that I couldn’t quiet hear. But it sounded like “It’s not Kit that’s hitting me.”

“Go after him,” I suggested. “You know where he lives, right?”

Ollie nodded. “Yeah, but he just needs to cool down.”

We both looked up at the sound of footsteps. “Ols?” Kit’s voice was soft as he called out to my best friend and then he appeared in the doorway.

“I thought you left.” Ollie stared at him like he thought Kit was a mirage or might disappear again.

Kit shrugged. “I thought about it, but then I changed my mind.” His blue eyes darted over to me. “You’re right. I should stop... I just...” He moved fast and climbed back into Ollie’s lap, burying his face against his neck.

“It’s okay, I’m right here, Kitten.” Ollie wrapped both arms around Kit, his eyes pleading with me to not say anything else.

Kit’s shoulders trembled. “I’m sorry, Ols. I don’t know why I do the stupid shit that I do. I don’t know how to stop it. And I appreciate everything you do for me.”

“I know, Kitten,” Ollie murmured, rubbing his big palms over his back.

Maybe Kit really cared for Ollie but didn’t know how to express those feelings. I wasn’t close to him. He kept to himself most of the time, but there were rumors about his bad boy party behavior. Ollie didn’t talk about that or their relationship, but it appeared that it was a lot different from what I thought.

“So, when is this wedding?” Kit sniffled as he twisted his small frame around to look at me.

“It’s Friday morning at eleven,” I answered .

Kit hummed. “And I’m invited, too, right? Since my sexuality is at stake with your boyfriend’s douchebag of a father.”

“Uh, if you want.” I wasn’t sure why Kit would want to be there. He didn’t seem to like me much, but then again, he was like that with everyone. The fans loved to hate him, and Kit played the villain very well.

Ollie smoothed his palms over Kit’s shoulders. “Kitten, be nice.”

“I’ll be plenty nice after I’m sure this dude doesn’t open his big mouth.” Kit smirked.

Ollie kissed the top of his head. “You want me to be your best man or whatever? Is that why you’re inviting me?”

“I need someone to stand up for me, but yeah, you would sort of be my best man, too.” I hoped Ollie wouldn’t deny me this.

He nodded. “Fine.”

“And then what happens?” Kit asked. “If you and Charlie get married, he’s no longer legally bound to the girl, right? Isn’t Daddy going to be fucking pissed as hell at the both of you?”

“We’re going to post about it after. All of our socials. If Remi tried anything, he’ll look like some sort of homophobic dirt bag.”

Ollie snorted. “I think you mean dick bag, Jones. Remi is a giant bag of dicks.”

I smiled. “You’re not wrong, but I can’t risk him hurting the two of you or my mother. What he does to me is one thing, but he can’t touch the people I care about it. If you’re there, then it looks even worse if he tries to break us up. ”

“And if this doesn’t work?” Ollie asked.

Kit snarled. “Then I’ll beat the shit out of him for you.”

“Kitten.” Ollie sighed. “Violence isn’t always the answer.”

“The fuck it’s not.” Kit turned to kiss him again, and I couldn’t help but smile. Maybe they would make it.

Ollie untangled himself from Kit’s mouth. “Are you hungry? We could go out and get something to eat.”

“Charlie and I were going to go to the carnival.” I gave them a shy smile. “Do you two want to come with us? It’ll be fun. Like a double date.”

Kit grunted. “Fuck, no. That sounds horrible. I’m going to have to pass.”

Ollie nuzzled his neck. “Kitten, it might be fun.

“I should go and let you two be alone.” I climbed to my feet only for Kit to stop me.

“You’re right.” He dropped his chin. “It might be fun to go on a double date or whatever.”

Ollie beamed happily from behind him, and his smile was contagious. Maybe everything was going to work out the way it was supposed to. For all of us.