Ten Year Crush (3 page)

"You’re welcome, Thum
—
" Oomph. 
That was a fist to the stomach
.

"I figured I would live up to my name." She smirks. 

Such a smartass
. I throw my hands up in surrender. I love teasing her. She’s so feisty.

“About fucking time.” Josh pulls me and Gabby out of our stare down.

Tiffany comes down the stairs and Josh's eyes roam her body.

She is a very pretty girl, but not my type. She’s a Blake Lively
—
tall, blonde, and super skinny with baby blues. Not a short brunette with wavy hair and green eyes that will bring a man to his knees.

“Shut up, you were early, fuck-face. It is six fifty-eight, so if you want to get technical, I was ready on time!” Tiffany has such a way with words.

“Fuck-face? Keep it up and your ass will stay here. Or you can ride in the back of my truck. Now shut your yapper and get your ass going,” Josh says, heading for the door and opening it. That gets everyone in motion. The girls grab their bags and we’re out the door.

Chapter Two

*Gabby*

I cannot believe Cam got me a Kindle. It’s no secret that I love reading, but these aren’t cheap, and he paid attention those times I said I wanted one. 
Why does he have to do sweet things like this?

“Josh, put on “Cruise Remix”! I’m going to see Florida Georgia Line, baby!” Concert tickets and the newest Kindle, best birthday ever. Now I just hope it stays that way.

The music starts pouring out of the speakers and Tiff and I start singing along while dancing in our seats. Josh and Cam are in the front of the truck shaking their heads, laughing.

***

We stopped for a quick dinner at my favorite steakhouse and a few pre-dancing drinks. Tiff and I were already buzzing by the time we pulled up to the club. Tiff grabs my arm and stops me, “Um did you forget something?”

I look at her puzzled, “No. I don’t think…” My words stop when she pulls out the birthday sash.
Shit!
 I thought I could get by with the whole I-forgot-it-at-home excuse. I hate drawing attention to myself. I’m more of the blend into the crowd and enjoy myself type.

“I checked before we left. You’re forgetting I know you.” She cocks her head to the side, with a hand on her hip, holding the sash out.

The sash now in place, we pay our cover charge and head inside. It’s still a little early for a big line.

“You all go find a table. Cam and I will get drinks.” Josh waves us off.

I grab Tiffany’s hand and head for a table on the right, in between the dance floor and the bar. Hopefully here we won’t have to fight the crowd too much. The club is dark with blue lights shining in all different places. The dance floor is in the middle surrounded by tables and chairs. The tables are those high ones that short girls like me have to do a little hop to get on the stools around them.

A DJ booth sits in the back left corner and what I’m assuming are the bathrooms in the back right corner.

“Here you go.” Cam sets a pink drink in front of me.

“Thanks. What is it?” 

“No clue. I told the bartender to give me two of their best fruity drinks.” Josh shrugs and sets a glass in front of Tiff.

“A toast. To my best friend.” Tiff raises her glass. “May we fuck whom we please, and please whom we fuck." She winks at Josh and grins. His jaw drops.

I shake my head.

She tips her glass. "Happy birthday, biotch. I love you."

“I love you too, hooker.”

There’s a chorus of “happy birthday”, we clink glasses, and everyone drinks.

Oh, I don’t know what this pink, fruity drink is, but it’s good. 

“Royals” by Lorde starts playing and I look at Tiff, she has the same idea and she drains her glass. Mine’s gone a few seconds later.

Jumping off the stools, we bounce to the floor. People started coming in right after we showed up so there is a small crowd already dancing. Tiffany pulls me to the middle. I throw my hands in the air, head back, eyes closed, and lose myself to the music
—
swaying my hips and singing along. I love the release and feelings music and dancing gives me. It’s just me, the beat, and my body. Everything else just drifts away.

We dance a few songs and head back to the table, drinks are already waiting for us. I drain my glass fast.

“I’m going to get another drink. Anybody else need one?”

“Me.” Tiffany says holding her glass up, a little over half gone. 

Josh and Cam both shake their heads.

Walking up to the bar, I notice the hot bartender. I’ve never been one for piercings before, but this guy makes them look good. He has a lip ring on the right side of his mouth and those gage things in his ears. His light brown hair is cut short on the sides and back leaving the top longer. It’s spiked up in, 
oh, what do they call those?
 Not a Mohawk, but it looks like one. A fauxhawk, that’s it.

He stops in front of me and as he leans his arms on the bar, I see a tattoo peeking out from under the sleeve of his t-shirt. Yeah, he makes piercings look good. “What can I get ya?” 

“My brother ordered my drink earlier, so I’m not sure what it was. Your best fruity drink?”

“That would be a Panty Dropper,” he says with a grin.

“I need two. Please.” I fight back the blush that wants to take over my cheeks. 
Where do they come up with the names for these drinks?
 I have no clue, but they’re good.

A tall, dirty-blond haired guy comes up next to me and leans on the bar. He looks familiar, but I can’t quite place him.

He orders a beer, and then turns to me. “I think we have a class together. Are you in Professor Clark's Finance and Marketing class?”

“Yes. I thought you looked familiar.” Sticking my hand out, “I’m Gabriella, but my friends call me Gabby.” 

“Nice to officially meet you, Gabby. I’m Brandon.” His hand is soft and smooth and swallows mine as we shake.

“I see it’s your birthday.” Pointing to the sash, “Has it been good so far?”

“It has. I’m out with my brother and a couple of friends,” I say with a smile and nod.

“Hey, after you get your drink, do you wanna dance?”

Brandon’s cute in a surfer boy way with long shaggy hair that covers his ears. I can’t really tell the color of his eyes because it’s dark. I can tell he’s built, but not like Cam.
Stop it, Gabby, not going there tonight.

“Maybe in a bit,” I say apologetically. “I actually just came from the dance floor.”

“Okay. Come find me when you’re ready.” His smile shows his perfectly straight white teeth.

I go to pull my money out, but before I can, Brandon pays for my drinks. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to, it’s your birthday. You’re supposed to have drinks bought for you.” Brandon grins and winks.

It feels really nice to have a guy flirting with me and showing interest. “Thank you for the drinks. It was nice meeting you, Brandon.” Grabbing our drinks, I head back to the table.

Cam and Josh are talking about some pre-season game that comes on tomorrow. I sit Tiff’s drink in front of her just as she finishes the one in her hand.

“Perfect timing.”

We all sit around to chat and laugh while watching couples bump and grind on the dance floor. Some of them look just minutes away from ripping clothes off and going at it right then and there. I glance over at Cam. He and Josh are deep in conversation about a house they are working on. I take him in, his thick arms hugged tight in a grey t-shirt. His strong jaw and deep, blue eyes that look almost black in the bar lighting. I’m relieved that there isn’t a girl hanging off him tonight. Normally, at least three girls would have asked him to dance or something else to get him off alone. Jealousy rages, why can’t it ever be me?

After another round, nature calls. “Tiff. Bathroom break?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Once we’re at the sinks and freshening up, Tiff starts in on me, “Are you really having fun?”

“Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?” I focus on reapplying my lip-gloss in the mirror.

“Because I keep catching you checking out Cam when he’s not looking.” She gives me her knowing smirk.

Busted.

“Maybe you should see if he wants to dance when we go back. Make a move, he may be afraid to make the first one. It’s your birthday, go get your man!”

Could she be right?
“We’ll see. If I said something and he turned me down... it could mess everything up. I’m just going to forget it all and enjoy tonight.”

“Alright, whatever you say.” I can hear it in her voice; she thinks I need to go for it.

Coming out of the bathroom, my breath leaves me as jealousy takes over my body. There’s a blonde leaning against our table talking to Cam. She has her hand on his arm and he’s smiling and laughing at something she said. I ball my hands up, fighting back the urge to scream and rip her off him.

Tonight is my night! I will not let him get to me!

“I’m going to go get another drink. Want me to grab you one, or are you good?”

“I’ll come with you.” I can hear the sympathy in her voice.

At the bar, I order our drinks and wait. “You ready to dance, yet?” Someone says from behind me.

I turn quickly and smack into Brandon’s chest. I’m met with hard muscle. Yeah, he is definitely built. Man, he really is hot. He may not make butterflies swarm like Cam, but Cam’s been in my life for ten years. So, of course it’s going to be different. I’m going to grab life by the horns and start living; stop holding on to the hope and love that will never be returned. The plus side is that he’s the total opposite of Cam. Brandon may just be what I need to mend my heart and help me forget about Cam. Even if it is for just one night.

“As a matter of fact, I am.” Turning back to Tiffany, “can you grab our drinks? I’m going to go dance. I’ll come back to the table when I’m done.”

A grin spread across her face and she nods, mouthing the words, “Go get ‘em, tiger.”

“I didn’t think I was ever going to get that dance,” Brandon says with a wink.

I don’t reply. I just grab his hand and lead him to the crowd in the middle. The song changes to “Talk Dirty” by Jason Derulo.
Perfect. 
Thank god for liquid courage. As soon as we hit the crowd, I spin around and pull Brandon to me. Throwing my hands up, I start swaying my hips. 

Brandon puts his hands on my hips and pulls me even closer, moving his leg between mine. He moves with my every sway. His hard body rubs against mine with perfect rhythm. I’m not sure if it’s the intoxicating scent of his musky cologne, the alcohol, or just me trying to get over Cam, but I could dance with Brandon all night. Damn, he can move.

Spinning in his arms, I press my back and ass into his front and feel what our swaying has done to him. Heat rushes through me and tightens in my core. 
I did this to him
. And I can't help the grin that forms on my face. I’ve never before felt as sexy and powerful as I do right now.

*Cam*

Gabby walks by the table toting some surfer boy behind her. Anger ignites in my blood and I grind my molars to keep me from doing something stupid, and then grab my beer and take a deep pull.

Cool it, dude. That’s Josh’s baby sister. And it’s her birthday.

Then that damn song comes on. I sit back and watch them out of the corner of my eye. When Gabby pulls him closer, I grip my bottle tighter, my muscles tense.

Mother. Fucker.
Now she’s grinding on his leg. And Josh and Tiffany are bickering with each other. I can’t deal with any of this shit. I drain my beer and head to the bar for another one without a word.

“Motivation” by Kelly Rowland starts playing. Do they have to play every fuck-me song out there?

I lean back against the bar and chug my beer. Three drinks and it’s gone. I order another and head back to the table.

Gabby has her back to the asshat now and she’s doing this thing with her hips, moving lower and lower. If I wasn’t seeing red, I’d be rearranging myself. 

Damn, she can move those hips.

Isn’t Josh going to do anything about this dude dry-fucking his sister on the dance floor?

Turning again, she’s back to fucking his leg. His hands move to her ass and that’s it, white-hot fury overtakes me. I slam my bottle down on the table making Tiffany jump. Josh gives me a what-the-fuck-is-your-problem look.

I storm onto the dance floor and grab Gabby by the arm. “Get your fucking hands off her,” I grit out, pulling her away from surfer boy. Both shout at me at the same time.

“What the hell is your problem, Cam?”

“Who the fuck are you?”

I ignore Gabby, pulling her behind me. I get in douchebag’s face. “I’m your worst fucking nightmare if you don’t keep your damn hands off her.” My blood is pumping through my body. I’m ready to knock this guy in the fucking mouth. I drag Gabby to the table. Tiffany and Josh are both standing and staring at me like I’m a lunatic. “We’re going,” I grit out between clenched teeth.