Promises & Pen Names (The Riley Siblings #1)

4. Blake

Chapter Four

BLAKE

“ O h my god, that was so good. I’m totally rocking a food baby.”

I glance at Sid as I get off at my exit and grin while she rubs a hand over her stomach. “I’m glad you liked it.”

“I fucking loved it,” she groans, the sound causing my dick to twitch. “I haven’t eaten that much since I was pregnant with Holden.”

After she agreed to stay at my house, I took Sid to the restaurant I always planned to take her to after she got settled in at the hotel. Just because she won’t be staying in Orlando doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy what it has to offer, and there’s a great little Italian place a few minutes from where she was supposed to stay that also has a big selection of vegan pasta.

Sid loves Italian food, one of the many things we‘ve always had in common, and she flipped her shit over the menu before she ordered at least half of the things on it. And that was just more confirmation that what I’m feeling for her isn’t infatuation because of old feelings , but in fact the real deal. I fucking love when a woman doesn’t hold back, who’s comfortable enough to enjoy every aspect of whatever they’re doing, and Sid did not hold back. She talked my ear off, dropped a few of our old inside jokes and interests without batting an eye or worrying it would be weird, and she even tried my vegan eggplant parm, which was when the first of many dick-twitch inducing noises were made.

“Well, that’s surprising since most of your meal is in takeout containers on the back seat.”

Sid giggles, her head lolling in my direction. “I wanted to make sure I had something to pick at in the middle of the night. Plus, I’m pretty sure my stomach shrank thanks to that stupid diet that isn’t working.”

“Diet?” I frown. Sid does not need to diet, not at all. Her body is beautiful, her curves downright sinful. It would be a shame to change one single thing about how she looks and I’m going to make sure that doesn’t happen while she’s here.

“Been trying to get my body back since Holden quit breastfeeding.” She nods. “I thought I told you that?”

“You said you’ve been doing yoga, started jogging in the mornings, but never mentioned a diet.”

“A diet created by Satan himself.” Sid snorts. “It’s one of those juice cleanses with intermittent fasting things. Taylor suggested it when I was bitching about how hard it is to lose weight in your late thirties.”

“Taylor? Jordan’s fiancé?” Sidney explained how they get along, but I’m a little surprised she put any value in anything she has to say.

“Yeah,” she grunts rather adorably as Sid hoists her bag from the back seat. “She’s a nutritionist. Total health nut. Skinny, tall, muscular. Blonde with big boobs and a tiny waist.” Then she giggles again. “Although, her boobs probably aren’t as big as mine, they just look big because she’s so thin.”

Ignoring the urge to look at Sid’s boobs while flashing back to the first time I ever saw them, I clear my throat. “You don’t need to diet, Shortcake.”

“Yes, I do. It’s a proven fact.” She pulls out her rolling papers and a small, antique compact. “Three babies, two delivered via c-section means my body is overweight and so far from where it should be that I haven’t worn jeans in almost thirteen years. That is diet worthy.”

“Sid...” God I really fucking hate it when she talks down about herself.

Which she knows because she lifts her free hand and placates me. “I know, I know. No trash talk. Sorry.” Sid giggles again. “After the day I’ve had, it’s amazing I haven’t talked more shit than this.”

“Yeah well, give it a rest for the week, ok? And forget about your unnecessary diet while you’re here too. Business trip or not, you can still enjoy yourself. This is basically a vacation with just a hint of work.”

“Shit.” Sidney sighs in lieu of a response. “I didn’t even ask if I could smoke in here.”

I chuckle and nod, the smell of her weed filling my car. “It’s fine.” Then I hold out my hand. “You just have to share.”

“No problem, but you are not lighting a joint while you drive. I remember what happens when you do that.” I frown as she shifts around in her seat. “How close are we to your house?”

“Maybe ten minutes. Why—” Suddenly, Sid is almost in my face, her breath against the side of my neck, her previously mentioned big boobs smashed against my bicep. My eyes dart to hers briefly in surprise, then barely shift back to the road in time to make a left turn.

I have no idea how she moved so fast but somehow she managed to get her seatbelt off and all but straddle the center console in record time, and that shit sent my already struggling mind right into the gutter .

Images of her straddling my lap, the driver’s seat reclined, Sid topless while she rides my hips like a pro. It’s been years since I fucked a woman in my car—since Sidney, I believe—and goddamn, the idea of fucking her in the front seat of my Prius is so enticing I might actually suggest it.

“Open,” she says as she lifts her joint to my mouth.

I do as she asks without groaning—miraculously—but when I feel her fingers ghost over my lips, all the blood in my body rushes south.

“Now close your lips and suck.” Her lighter sparks in front of me and I follow her command.

Jesus fuck, this should not be as erotic as it is.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t had sex in... shit . I haven’t had sex in just over two years, haven’t even dated since I started talking to Sidney again. And that just supports my second thought, the one that overrules the idea of this situation being erotic just because I haven’t gotten laid in forever in favor of it being erotic because it’s Sidney . The only reason this scenario is even remotely sexy or sensual is because Sidney Porter is an active player in it.

I’ll analyze that shit later though because she’s still waiting for me to inhale, and I don’t want to be an asshole while she torches her joint because I lost the ability to function properly. Which is why I hit the joint harder than intended, cough really fucking hard and almost choke on the smoke, in turn making me look like this was the first time I’ve ever smoked weed.

Fucking smooth.

“Shoulda warned you.” Sid giggles without moving. “I still only smoke the good shit.”

“I can tell.” A few more coughs. “Light it again.”

“You got it, big guy.”

And she does. Sidney puts her joint back between my lips, her fingers pressed against them while she cracks her lighter and I inhale much more acceptably just as I pull into my driveway.

I throw my car in park, exhale, turn to Sidney who still hasn’t returned to her seat and watch as she hits her joint like a pro. And then, because all of my rational thoughts—as well as the blood in my brain—are below the waist, I reach out, grip the back of her neck and grunt, “Shotgun.”

Her eyes flare, she blinks and hesitates, but only for a second as Sidney allows me to pull her a mere few centimeters from my lips before she does shotgun her smoke into my mouth. And right when I’m about to do either the smartest or stupidest thing I could do in this moment—kiss the hell out of my writing partner-muse-girl of my dreams-ex-girlfriend—her phone starts screaming, asshole calling! at a deafening volume.

“Shit.” Sidney sighs then bites her lip before I release her. She grumbles to herself, something about a different kind of cock-block as she swipes her screen and barks, “What?”

Taking a minute to get my dick under control, I rub my palms over my thighs and frown as Sidney gets out and starts pacing the cement with a scowl on her pretty face, her free hand flapping animatedly while she talks to Jordan, I’m assuming.

Cock-block indeed.

It wasn’t part of my plan to move on Sid so fast and I may be a little rusty, but she’s been giving me subtle signals all night, flirty responses peppered throughout our conversations and walking memory lane without actually talking about it. Maybe I’m wrong, but I have a feeling this thing between us, this more than infatuation, goes both ways and I definitely wanted to test the waters by kissing her just now.

Unfortunately, the moment has passed and I have bigger things to worry about. Like why Sidney is cussing a blue streak at her ex in my driveway .

“This isn’t any of your goddamn business, Jordan, not anymore,” she whisper-shouts into the phone as I get out of the car. “I let Sloane know my plans changed, made sure she knew I’d FaceTime later, and I sent her Blake’s info in case she was worried. What I do and who I do it with isn’t your concern, something you should be well aware of after what I walked in on over three years ago.”

Huh .

Maybe things aren’t as good as Sid says they are.

The resentment in her tone, the anger she can’t even hide, that shit definitely indicates a bigger issue that caused their split and is still a bit of a sore spot for her on some level.

“No! Oh my god, you’re such an ass. I can’t believe you’d even say something like that to me. Just because I’m the mother of your children, it does not give you the right to police my every move. I’m a grown woman perfectly capable of making good, educated, decisions and if I decide to stay at Blake’s house while I’m in Florida then there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it!” Sidney fists her hair then tips her head back. “That’s grand coming from you, Jord. Real fucking grand. Jealousy does not look good on you and I’m sure your fiancé would agree.”

I probably shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but I’m worried about Sid, and I don’t know if I should leave her alone to hash this out or step in so she can end the call. And that’s why I opt to retrieve her backpack and our doggie bag from the backseat as slowly as possible and walk toward my front door at a snail’s pace.

“Oh, I did. There’s no other explanation for your sudden concern over what I do in my free time and it’s not different just because I’m in another state. Blake is a good fucking man, an even better friend, and I want to spend time with him. Not to mention we’re co-writing a goddamn book so, yeah, maybe I am mixing business with pleasure, but that’s none of your fucking concern. And I told you he was the one guy I dated before you so you’d stop freaking out over this, not so you could make wild accusations. I’ve never said a word over all the girls you dated before Taylor, never made a peep when you decided to move her into your house. I never even brought up how fucking hypocritical it is of you to criticize anything about my dating life or lack thereof when you’re the one that started dating while we were still fucking married! I’ve kept my mouth shut over all of it, but I won’t anymore, not when you’re being such a raging cocksucker about the fact that I’m staying with my super-hot ex-boyfriend now best friend for a week!”

I smile as I stick my key in the lock and wait to open the door.

Sidney thinks I’m hot.

And yeah, she may have called me her ex and her best friend in the same breath but she said really nice things about me while reiterating her desire to spend time with me, too. And the best, most solid relationships start from a foundation of friendship, right? Especially when there’s a shit ton of unresolved business out there too? I wasn’t friend zoned; Sidney just isn’t going to refer to me as more than her friend until I make it clear that’s what I want from her.

And fuck, I want it all.

“You know what, Jordan? I’m done. Don’t call me again unless it’s about our babies and even then, it better be a fucking emergency. I can communicate with them just fine through Sloane and I don’t need you to middleman anything.” Sidney laughs, a super sarcastic empty laugh. “Yeah, I’m done. I don’t need to listen to you say things like that about me when we both know how untrue they are. Don’t call me again unless it’s life or death and in the meantime, go fuck yourself.” Then she hangs up.

Fighting the urge to go to her, I push open the door and wait for Sidney to get on the porch before I do or say anything but when she steps next to me, tears clouding those clear blue eyes, my heart drops.

“Sid—”

“Can I use your bathroom?” She won’t look at me, just wraps her arms around her waist protectively. “I just need a minute.”

I nod, usher her inside and point toward the hall. “Second door on the left.”

Once she disappears to probably cry in private, I stomp over to the crate where my Frenchie’s are doing the pee-pee dance, let them out into the backyard then stomp my way to the kitchen.

It’s taking everything in me to not lose my shit over this. My instincts are screaming at me, pulling me in two different directions in order to care for the woman I definitely consider mine.

Part of me wants to march down the hall, throw open the bathroom door and hold Sid while she cries, to comfort her and make her feel better then carry her to my bed and spoon her until she falls asleep. The rest of me, the bigger part that has me slamming cupboard doors and stomping around my house like an elephant, wants to go back to Orlando International, hop on a plane to Georgia and drive myself to Atlanta so I can beat the ever-loving shit out of Jordan Kinison for whatever he said to my Shortcake.

I won’t though.

Not now.

I’ll save that for another day, one that I can imagine will come sooner than later if this is the norm for them and I definitely won’t do anything in front of her daughter and sons when it does happen.

Timing is everything after all.

For now, I’ll console my girl, maybe convince her to smoke another joint and watch a movie, maybe even cuddle on my couch while we do it, then grill her on that conversation tomorrow after she’s gotten some much needed rest. Yeah, that sounds like a better plan.

A few minutes later I hear the bathroom door open followed by, “I have a problem.”

I spin from the counter, vinegar spray poised for attack because yes, I’m angry cleaning my kitchen, then frown when Sidney laughs. “What? What’s wrong?”

“Are you going to shoot?” She giggles, raising her hands in surrender. “I’m unarmed.”

With a small chuckle, I set down the rag and bottle, then start washing my hands. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

“So, what’s the problem, Shortcake?” Other than a nasty conversation with her asshat ex-husband.

Sid chews her lip a little, out of habit because she does it a lot to play with the studs in her lower lip, but it’s something I’m really starting to adore. “So, I have a change of clothes for tomorrow, but I don’t have anything to sleep in.”

And now my dick is hard again.

Awesome .

“I know I said I didn’t want to impose but I think I’m going to have to. Do you have anything I can borrow until I go shopping?”

Not only do I love the idea of Sidney sleeping in my clothes but I’m kind of amazed over the way she bounces back from shit that upsets her. She did it at the airport when I picked her up, again at the hotel and just now she was clearly crying because of that fucking conversation but you wouldn’t know it by the gorgeous smile on her beautiful face.

I bet it’s a mom thing.

God, I bet Sidney has had to hide so much in order to stay strong for her kids, never let them see the way her divorce or life in general stresses her out. I bet she’s only ever been real about that with me and even then, it’s brief because Sidney has reprogrammed herself to put up a wall of stability and strength at every fucking turn. This woman might just be the fiercest, bravest, strongest person I have ever met.

And fuck all if I don’t make her mine because of it.

Again, saving that for another night though.

“I got you, Shortcake.” In a bold move, I reach out and grab her hand, thread our fingers and lead her to my bedroom. I don’t let go until we’re both standing in front of my dresser but even then, I still keep her close. “Will this work?”

Sid looks over the t-shirt and basketball shorts and smirks when she sees baby Yoda. “Absolutely. Anything is better than trying to sleep in a bra with fucking underwire.”

Shit.

My dick enjoyed that comment, too.

Dude needs to forget about the past and go back to living like a monk because I haven’t had this particular issue since we were nineteen.

“You want to pick a movie or something when you’re done?” My voice sounds a little too strained but oh well. “Maybe smoke again and just veg for a bit before we call it a night?”

“That sounds perfect.” Sidney beams up at me. “Thanks, Blake.”

I just nod, try to return her smile then close the door as I walk back into the hall where I proceed to scold my dick and get him under control again.

No doubt about it, Sidney is definitely my girl and now I just need to make sure she knows it before she leaves.

Fuck, I already don’t want her to leave.