Evan's Addiction (44 page)

     He smirked. “If she showed an interest in jumping my bone I would
have a hard time turning her down, because hey…she’s pretty hot.” He was asking
for a kick in the balls. “But I would try my best because it would put too much
drama in the middle of Carrie’s life since all we would have is a brief
relationship because, and I hate to admit this, her temperament is a little
more than I can handle.”

     Knowing he was
mostly
trying to pull my chain, I grunted
rinsing the soap from my body. “You’re damn right she’s more than you can
handle.” That woman was exceptional; very few men would have what it took to
match her. She kept me on my fucking toes. Shutting the shower off I opened the
glass panel and grabbed a towel. “So what’s the point of your revelation?” 

     Blake leaned back against the sink in his boxers, crossing his
arms. The dude was slightly taller and beefier than me and if we weren’t
friends I would have thought he was trying to intimidate me. Even if he hadn’t
been my friend it wouldn’t have worked.

     “Even though Shaw is prickly and tries to be an island, she’s
worked her way into my good graces. She adores Carrie and would do anything for
her and that has only increased my respect for her. I don’t want to see her
hurt.”

     I secured the towel around my waist with an irritation. I was
already anxious about hurting Shaw; I didn’t need everyone else breathing down
my neck like it was inevitable as well.

     “What the hell; I don’t remember all you guys warning Nic to be
careful of hurting Carrie, and he was a man-whore treating women like
disposable tissues. I at least had relationships, if brief, with the women I’ve
been with.”

     Blake frowned. “Oh, I talked to Nic about what would happen to him
if he ever hurt Carrie, and if I’d been in her life when they met I would have
pounded him for going near her. However, they’d already been going out for a
while when Carrie and I reunited so I didn’t have much say, and it wasn’t difficult
to distinguish he was tied in knots over her.”

     Little did Blake know I was feeling similar knots concerning Shaw,
but I wasn’t feeling the need to share that as I stepped over to the sink while
Blake continued. 

     “And weird as it is, Nic being a man-whore who changed instantly
when he met my cousin kind of says something about how he feels about her. You
however are known for your short-term affairs. Have you warned her about that?”

     Grabbing my shaving crème I squirted some into my palm. “She knows,
and while it’s great that you’re worried about Shaw, she’s not related to you,
Blake. I also find it two-faced that you would say you would bone her in a
second if she wasn’t friends with Carrie but you’re cautioning me to be
careful.”

     I was having a hard time controlling my anger at his attitude.
However, Blake was a friend and I wasn’t going to punch him in the face just
for the fact that he was showing concern for Shaw’s welfare.

     “That was in an alternate universe where she wasn’t friends with
Carrie and we hadn’t become friendly, but she is, and we did, so that makes
everything different.”

     Blake was watching me steadily and I could see that he wasn’t
missing my simmering irritation and was trying to diffuse it with some humor.
It wasn’t working though. I slapped the shaving crème on my face glaring at him
in the mirror.

     He sighed, his expression turning apologetic. “Look, I can see
that what’s going on with Shaw is dissimilar than your other women, but I had
to say my peace on it. I like the hob-goblin and don’t want to see her hurt.”

     My lip finally twitched, and I made an effort at relaxing my
muscles. “I appreciate you noticing that things are different with Shaw, and
the last thing I want to do is hurt her. It’s why I’m trying to take things
slow with her.”

     Blake’s brows rose. “Really? So, sleeping on the beach wasn’t a
euphemism?”

     I dragged the razor down my jaw avoiding his gaze. “I’m not a
eunuch, but I’m trying my best to pretend I am. Shaw’s an amazing person who’s
had the worst luck in life; she deserves someone thinking about her first
instead of themselves. I’m trying to do that for her.”

     Blake shook his head as he headed towards the shower. “Like I said
last night; there must be something about that house.”

     I contemplated that and how Noah, Nic, Seth, and Landon had all
fallen hard for their girlfriends. Was Shaw my Achilles? Shaking off that
disturbing thought I smirked. “Worried you’re going to be next, are you?”

     The shower door closed and I heard the water turn on. “Shit yeah,
that’s a fucking alarming contemplation. I’m all for finding love, but I don’t
want to be tied down in forever at the ripe young age of twenty-one.”

     That
was
an alarming notion. I always thought that the guys
were settling down with what they believed were their ever-after girls too
soon. But if you found that one forever person were you really going to pass on
it because the timing didn’t seem right? The guys all seemed happy and content
in their relationships and I knew they weren’t lamenting their bachelorhood.
Hell, Landon was married with a kid and was happier than I’d ever seen him.

     If I’d speculated I would have said that Landon would have been
the last person to fall in love. He and Nic had both been the worst man-sluts,
but unlike Nic who had at least been cordial with his lays, Landon had been a
complete asshole. He’d treated women like shit, but it hadn’t stopped them from
spreading their legs for him because all they cared about was that he was
loaded. That was the catalyst for him treating them like shit, and it was hard
to hold his attitude against him if women allowed themselves to be treated that
way.

     Nic was another one I thought would have a hard time finding love.
Neither of his parents had shown him any so I wouldn’t think he would
distinguish the emotion when he came across it. But the first time he’d seen
Carrie he’d recognized something different about her. He’d almost missed out on
it, but he’d been given another chance and he hadn’t let it pass by him that
second time. 

     And then there was me. I’d had the unconditional love of a mother,
and I loved her unreservedly, but I wasn’t certain I had it in me to
fall in
love
another person. It could be my genius IQ or something else inside
me making me think that, but I’d always been a restless soul; getting bored
quickly and moving on to my next fix. Racing and business have been my only
constant interests in life.

     I mean, I loved the guys like brothers, and their girls like
sisters, but to love one woman for life, spend forever with her…I don’t think I
had it in me. I wouldn’t want to lead a woman on believing I could either,
that’s why I warned them of my short-attention span. I’d always been careful
about the type if woman I entered into a relationship with. They had all
assured me that all they’d wanted was a good time.  

     It was becoming my worst fear that I was putting Shaw in a
situation where she could develop feelings for me that I might not be able to
return. If I had the strength of will I would have stayed away from her, but I
didn’t. She’d burrowed inside me and I had been finding it difficult to
function logically because of my desire for her.

     How was I supposed to live like that? I might have eventually had
some kind of breakdown or postal meltdown. No one wanted that.

     So I had to see this thing through knowing there was a risk for
heartache, but I was starting to comprehend that if I hurt her it would destroy
me as much as it might her. And it appeared I’d be looking forward to a few
beat downs from my friends as well.

     Knowing all this I still rushed to get dressed so I could meet
back up with Shaw as quickly as I could. Before leaving the room I did take the
time to spread toothpaste on his deodorant, squirt some of my shaving crème
into Blake’s toothpaste tube, and grabbed both our bags on the way out.

     Walking next door I knocked on Shaw’s door. “You ready yet?”

     “No,” came her reply from inside. “Samantha and I are doing girl
stuff which takes longer.”

     My groin tightened imagining her naked rubbing on lotion…in some
really interesting areas. “Can I come in and watch?”

     “It’s a menstruation meeting so you would have to leave your penis
at the door, unless you’re a duderus?”

     I coughed out a laugh. “What the hell is a duderus?”

     “A dude with a uterus, dummy.”

     I could hear both her and Samantha giggling on the other side, but
all I cared about was hers. “You’re the dummy, dummy.” With kids in the house I
had to be careful on what came out of my mouth this weekend.

     Their laughter increased and felt like beating my chest hearing
her happiness. “You must be delirious with hunger because that is the lamest
comeback I’ve ever heard from you.” She ribbed.

     “I am, so hurry that little backside of yours up so we can go
eat.”

     “I’m going to be at least another ten minutes so I will meet you
down there, you nut head.” Shaw had been watching her words as well this
weekend.

     “Fine, I’ll try my best to save you some whole grain cardboard and
vegemite.” I turned away with a snicker.

     “And I’ll try not to smash it in your face like the pies we were
discussing earlier.” She yelled.

     I was laughing as I made my way down the stairs and when I heard
Blake’s roar I laughed harder.

     “Evan, I’m going to kick your ass.”

     “Watch your language, potty mouth; there are children in the
house.”

     He appeared at the top of the stairs in a towel, frustration and
retribution all over his face. “Where are my clothes, Dick…Tracy?”

     I held up his bag. “Right here, Ass…shtin Martin. I was just
trying to do you a favor and bring your bag down for you, because I’m that kind
of guy.” I waved it, daring him to come get.

     He marched down the stairs. “If you run don’t think I won’t come
after you and tackle you naked.” One of his brows rose and he sneered. “I bet
that’s what you were hoping for anyway, weren’t you? You want me all over you
naked, don’t you?” He shimmied his hips.

     I gagged and backed up towards the front door. “No one wants you
naked all over them, dude.”

     He lunged at the same time I opened the door and lobbed his bag
out, and while Blake was slightly bigger than me I’d had a plan, so when he
lunged I gave him an extra shove sending him out the door with his bag. I saw
his towel slip and a flash of his naked ass before I shut the door behind him
and locked it.

     Banging ensued. “Open the door, you Shit…ake mushroom! When I get
my hands on you I’m going to take your lacrosse shaft and break it in half.”

     I was laughing, but I couldn’t stop my slight wince at that
threat. This was going to bring about weeks of pranking. Hopefully we didn’t
end up losing any skin or breaking any bones.

     “I’m sorry, Sweet Cheeks, but I just can’t give you what you need.
My lacrosse shaft belongs to someone else.”

     “Don’t worry, woman hands, I’ll donate mine for her to use.”

     Both those remarks offended me greatly, and just when I was
thinking about letting him in.

     “What’s going on?”

     I looked behind me to see Shaw and Samantha tripping down stairs
wearing curiously amused expressions. They were both in shorts and tanks, and
Shaw had her red hair in a long braid that curved off to the side and over her
shoulder, teasing her breast. Her eye make-up was just enough that it made her
eyes look bigger, greener and brighter.

     Damn, she seemed to get more beautiful every time I saw her.

     I stepped away from the door to meet them at the bottom with a
smile. “Blake needed some air and I was helping him out.”

     “I can hear you, Wanker Smalls. Whosever there, open the door and
you can watch me give Evan a candy gram.” Blake hollered.

     Shaw’s lush mouth spread into a wide grin that had my dick nodding
in approval. “Ohhh, what does a candy gram involve?”

     Blake growled through the door. “It involves me tying him up,
dipping his nuts in sugar, and placing him on top of an ant hill.”

     Her mouth pursed and I could tell she was holding back laughter.
“Well, it’s a no wonder I’ve never heard of those. I can’t see
that
being very popular.”

     I nodded sagely, wrapping my arm around her waist. “So we’re on
the same page then, right; leave the loiter on the door step?”

     She looked up at me and shrugged, her delightfully freckled cheeks
turning rosy. “I never answer the door at other people’s houses.”

     “Right now my retribution is set at one person, but it can climb
higher.” Blake threatened.

     I pulled Shaw with me and looked back at Samantha who was watching
us with what seemed to be exceedingly probing eyes. Wonder what that was about?

     “If you feel the need to let your brother in I won’t hold it
against you.”

     She shrugged looking unconcerned for him, but her eyes on me still
remained concentrated. “He’s a big boy, and it’s not like it’s the only door
in.”

     “Not scared of his retribution?” I asked.

     Samantha’s lips curved wickedly. “He knows better then to start
something with me. I know everything about him and what really gets under his
skin.”

     “Do tell.” I pressed.

     She shook her head. “I don’t give away tactical advantages.”

     I narrowed my eyes on her but nodded. “Smart.”

     A got a smirk back at that.

     The three of us walked into the kitchen to find that half the
house was up and making a huge dent in the food. Everyone was scattered around
the kitchen in the process of filling their plates and mouths. We joined them
and talk of last night became the main topic.