Classic (Adrenaline Book 1) (13 page)

“That's everywhere,” Nadie argues for me. “Don't try to limit that to college students. And she's going away to college.” When he grunts she sighs, “At least she wants to go to school and isn't staying behind for some guy she met.”

As much as I like Merrick and I like him a lot, a little too much because I feel that L word creeping, I wouldn't give up my chance at Art School for the chance of love. That's just crazy. Besides, real love wouldn't stop you from following your dreams right? It would help you. It would find you. Real love finds a way to work in even the worst situations.

“Why would you even put that out there?” Dad snaps. “Are you considering that? Is there something you need to tell me?”

Noticing the panic on his face, I shake my head not even in the mood to be a smart ass on the off chance he starts prying into my life harder. “Just the usual. School. Work. And Hayli.”

“That girl,” he mumbles. “If I didn't know her parents...”

“She would be even worse than she is,” I reply looking at him. “Speaking of, we're going out tomorrow night, so I won't be home just in case you come home and wonder where I am.”

“Where are you going?”

“Out with Hayli.”

“Out where?”

“Out wherever,” I try to answer without much emotion.

Can you imagine explaining to the doctor in the hospital I gave him a stroke when I told him, not only that I have a boyfriend but his source of fun is the very thing you try to prevent from happening all the time? Jail time for attempted murder is no joke.

When he goes to fight Nadie intrudes, “Let it go Nick. She's an adult. Just be grateful she even mentioned going out and thankful over the fact she's not barefoot and pregnant asking you for handouts.”

“Why barefoot?” I question.

“Old expression,” she hums picking her tablet back up.

“Fine,” Dad agrees. “Just do your old man the courtesy of avoiding getting that way.”

“I will do my best,” my vow makes him smile brightly before reaching for the remote. He turns, starts to flip through the channels. “Classes alright?”

Gushing, the words fly out of me, “Really good actually.”

“Really good huh? Why?”

“Just...” I pause realizing if I give too much detail about my art project the level of explanation will be the start of a disaster. “Interesting classes. You know how much I like art classes.”

“Just like your mother,” he sighs and glances at Nadie. His eyes fall back to his glass. “You know, I have some of her old art work from when she was in college if you wanna take a couple pieces with you when you move.”

My heart drops into my stomach.

He's really trying. It's clearly killing him to try to let me go. I'm gonna miss him too, but I'm definitely ready for a change of life. If these last few weeks with Merrick have taught me anything, it's that life has to be lived.

“I'd like that.”

Dad offers me a brief smile before taking a long drink to finish the contents. “I'm gonna get another drink.”

Dismissing himself from the room my eyes travel over to Nadie who has a sad smile to herself.

It's gonna hurt just as much to say goodbye to her as it is to him. Goodbyes always hurt don't they? What am I doing adding Merrick to the mix? One more person's heart to break when I drive off down the highway for my future? God, this sucks...I know he thinks he'll follow me, but what if he doesn't? What if I leave him here in pieces like my dad and Nadie? Will that make me a bad person to leave one more person sad for me following my dreams? Ugh. Why isn't life flawless like one of these damn pieces of artwork I spend hours staring at?

Merrick

I've changed this fucking shirt four times and my jeans twice. I'm turning into a fucking chick and know it. This is fucking ridiculous. They're just clothes.

“Those jeans make your ass look fat,” Knoxie sneers from my doorway.

“Fuck, really?” I look over at her away from my full length mirror.

Why didn't you say something sooner!

Immediately she starts laughing sinsterly and it hits me she's fucking with me.

I give her the finger and adjust my black t-shirt one more time, not sure it's still in the right place.

“Wow,” she whispers out. “You wanna tell me about her?”

“What makes you think there's anything to tell?”

Knoxie folds her arms across her chest. “Bullshit your big brother all you want, but try that with me and I'll feed you your balls for breakfast.” With a chuckle I look at her again. “Now, tell me or I'll claw it out of you.”

“She's perfect.”

“Caught that by the way you've tucked that shirt in and out three times since I've been standing here. By the way, untuck it. When you tuck in just the front part you look like a douche.”

“Ben does it.”

Her face doesn't move. “Like I said.”

I lightly laugh and untuck my shirt before grabbing my black baseball cap to put on my head backwards, my signature style.

Jeans, kicks, a t-shirt, and a hat. Not red carpet, but I look good. Come on. Admit it.

“Merrick, of all the girls you could fall in love with you, you fall for the commissioner's daughter. Now is that because you can't help but get yourself into trouble or because you like to see the veins in Madden's neck knot up? Personally, I'm hoping it's the neck thing.”

Did you tell her?

“How―”

“Oh come on Merrick, I'm not a fucking moron, unlike the rest of the McCoys in this apartment. I saw the look on your face when Madden tore into you. It was too late. You were already gone.”

“So far gone Knoxie...”

“And you're just...you're a different pain in the ass since you've met her. I've noticed. I just wanna know if it's worth it. Does she feel as strongly about you as you do her, Merrick? Because if she doesn't you're gonna need to cut her loose.” She raises her eyebrows. “For your safety as much as hers.”

Grabbing my keys off my bed I approach her slowly. “She does Knox.”

“You're sure?”

“As I live and breathe.” The comment makes me smile faintly. “I'd give it all up for her Knoxie.
All
of it.”

“It's like that?”

“It's like that,” I echo.

“Be careful with love like that, Merrick.  That shit's more dangerous than any race you could find yourself in,” she warns. “Trust me.”

Not possible. Love can't kill you.

“I hear you. Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a date.”

Knoxie scoots to the side, so I can close my freshly straightened bedroom. “A date? I thought you were going to the races.”

“I am.”

With an eye roll she says, “You're taking her to the races? Does stupidity have to run so strongly in all of your genetics?”

Unsure of how to respond I open my mouth and close it. Better prepared I say,” She's not gonna turn us in.”

“Well no shit,” she snaps. “I'm talking about the flock of females you've fucked that fly around waiting to be fucked again. No girl deserves to be subjected to that any more than she should have to listen to one nightstands scream their heads off to the one man you can't ever call your own.”

Was that a confession? Did you just hear that shit too?

“Knoxie―”

She sternly points at me. “You didn't hear a fucking thing.” 

“But―”

“You want me to rat you out?”

“I heard nothing,” I cave.

“Good.” She pushes her light brown hair behind her ear. “We'll see you later at Olympus?”

“Probably.” Our conversation ends as Madden walks through the front door with a to-go bag of food.

“You headed out?” He tosses his head my direction, eyes briefly soaking in Knoxie's choice of lounge wear of stretch shorts and one of his old shirts from high school.

She's been around a very long time. Every now and again I swear she's got more McCoy blood in her than the rest of us. Well. Other than Madden.

“Yup. Time to see that beauty bloom now that she has plates and papers.”

Madden grunts in disapproval.

He hates when I take The Devil's cars out to play. Hates us having any extra interaction with him.

“I brought you a burger,” he says to Knoxie.

“Trying to bloat me up before I squeeze into a pair of leather shorts? That's rude.”

“Maybe you shouldn't wear the leather shorts.” Madden drops the bag on the table. “Maybe half the club shouldn't see your ass hanging out.”

“I have a nice ass.”

“I didn't say you didn't.”

“That's because you know it would be a fucking lie if you did.”

“Look,” his voice deepens. “All I'm saying is maybe you shouldn't wear something so revealing.”

“Maybe half the club shouldn't see the hard on you pop from watching the trash in the cages, but they do anyway,” her response is definitely my cue to leave.

In a low whisper I remark, “Enjoy your night...”

Over his shoulder Madden demands, “Keep you and Ben's asses off the radar. Got it?”

“Always,” I assure and shut the door with me on the other side of it.

Downstairs I hop in the white Lotus and back out of the garage to where Ben is parked close by waiting to follow me to pick up the girls. The two of us obey most of the traffic laws on our journey to pick up Jovi and Hayli from Hayli's apartment.

Like a gentleman, I get out of the car, head up the stairs and knock to let them know we've arrived. There's a sound of shuffling around in the apartment before Hayli opens the door wearing the appropriate attire for where we're headed. A black mini skirt and matching white see through halter top.

It's not that Hayli's not hot. She's just not hot enough. She's not hot for me. She's not dipped in mocha and curves like a Hershey kiss waiting to melt on my fucking tongue.

“You look good,” I compliment her. “You're gonna ride with my cousin Ben since my car's a two seater.”

“No it's not.” She drops a hand on her hip. “You drive a Camaro. There's a little one.”

“Not tonight. Tonight I'm driving what I plan to race and it's a two door.” Hayli raises her eyebrows and I promise, “It'll be fine. Ben's cool and if he gives you any trouble I give you full permission to kick him in the nuts before I beat the shit out of him. Deal?”

Accepting she says, “Deal.”

Anxious that I haven't see my girlfriend yet I ask, “Jovi ready?”

“She is,” Hayli hums. “But fair warning. If you break it, you buy it, and it ain't cheap...”

Such a strange thing to say.

Before I have another chance to comment, she scoots out of the way and I see Jovi exiting a bedroom in the short tight orange dress that barely leaves room for her curves that are being caressed. With a swollen tongue, my jaw drops grasping for a chance to make room for it.

“I thought since you liked it so much the first time you saw me in it, you might wanna show me off in it.” She giggles strutting over to me. Gently pushing me out of the way so Hayli can lock the door, she drops her voice to a sultry level. “Was I wrong?”

My eyes do their best to absorb every angle, every arch, as she pushes her body against mine bringing the perfectly painted picture to life. Unconsciously my hands snake around her hips while our lips mesh together, sucking the air between us out of the equation.

This brings an entirely new depth to speechless.

With aggressive pushes of my tongue, I pour out every praise for an outfit well done that my brain couldn't seem to pop out. Jovi whimpers and withers in my grip, clutching the bottom of my shirt for leverage in an attempt to withstand what I’m demanding her to succumb to.

“Don't we have somewhere to be?” Hayli's whining pulls my mouth off Jovi's abruptly. “Aren't there cars to be raced and crimes to be committed?”

Glancing around Jovi I give her a smirk. “Excited?”

“To stop watching you two swap spit and meet someone I can do the same thing with? Uh...yes.” The response causes me to shake my head before folding my fingers with Jovi's. “Now...can we go? Is your cousin cute?”

“You don't want him. Trust me.”

“Ugo?” Hayli nods like she understands.

“Not at all.” I point dead ahead at the end of the stairs where Ben is lightly leaned against the hood of his car. Her jaw cracks open and I add, “He's just more of a hit it and quit it kind of guy.”

“Good,” she answers. “Because I'm not looking for forever...”

“Match made in heaven,” Jovi sarcastically says following behind Hayli who has taken off down the steps. With my girlfriend pulling me I'm given a perfect shot of her open back dress that stops right above her ass hinting me in on all sort of secrets that have my dick stirring.

Stopping her half way down the steps with a gentle tug, I lean over her shoulder and whisper in her ear, “No bra?”

Slowly she shakes her head and turns around to whisper in return, “No panties.”

Fucking....A....how am I supposed to race like this?

“So underneath it all...you're...” The word gets caught in my esophagus.

“Naked,” Jovi states slowly, each letter feeling like a stroke of my dick. My mouth bobs and she follows it up with, “Have to keep your attention somehow.”

“Baby, you always have my attention,” I say in a serious tone. “Never worry about that.”

“Good.” She smiles and starts down the stairs again. “Now come on...”

I wet my lips at the sight of my girlfriend rocking a dress in what I'm going to declare is her signature color, completely commando, and in heels.

She looks like fucking art and if I get a chance to see that canvas stripped later I will be the happiest fucking man alive.

Approaching, Ben whistles out, “Goddamn you ladies look fine.”

“Keep your eyes off my girlfriend or lose them,” I threaten opening Jovi's door.

Jovi adds, “Keep your hands off my best friend or lose them.”

“Isn't it a little early to be threatening the removal of body parts?” Ben playfully says opening Hayli's door. “That usually comes after a few shots and at least one good drink.”

“We're gonna get along just fine,” Hayli insists sliding in the seat.

Ben cocks a smirk like he's got her in the bag.

We've both met Hayli. You know damn well that girl isn't as easy as she looks.

Jovi follows her best friend's action and I shut the door before sliding into the driver seat. She buckles at the same time she comments, “This car is beautiful.”