“You gotta get ‘Brian’…” he insisted, grinning, his eyes low. “So there’s no question.”
“But what if I get the ‘B’ right here?” She grabbed his hand and placed it just above her right breast, watching his lips curl into his signature half-grin. “Or here?” She slid his hand between her breasts, down to her abdomen.
She felt him shift beneath her, his arousal obvious.
“I want you to get it right here,” he countered, reaching up and swiping his finger across her forehead. “Like Mike Tyson.”
She laughed. “His tattoo is on his cheek, dork,” she corrected, still giggling as she swatted at his chest.
He chuckled, tickling her ribs and she fell forward, catching herself, but just barely. He pecked her lips before she sat upright again. She continued tracing his chest with her fingertips, her expressing turning thoughtful.
“Did you talk to Lexi yet?”
He nodded. “Early this morning. I need to call and check on her again though.”
A hint of worry clouded his eyes and she frowned, wishing Alexis would get her shit together and stop stressing her brother out. His love for Alexis, the way he constantly looked out for her and took care of her, even from far away, was one of the things that she loved most about him, but also the thing she hated the most because it stressed him out.
“Bad hangover?” she asked. From the way Alexis was sounding last night, the question didn’t really even need to be asked.
He nodded, frowning slightly. “Actually, I’m thinking of going out there for Labor Day weekend. I need to go see what’s going on in person.”
Her face immediately fell. She’d planned on having a get together for Labor Day and wanted Brian to be there. That and grill the meat because his barbecue was the best, hands down.
“I need to talk to her face to face and see what’s really up with her,” he further explained, noting her expression.
She nodded, chewing on her bottom lip now, trying to hide her disappointment.
“I was gonna have something at my place,” she needlessly informed him. “I just wanted you to be here too. Dorian and Nathan and Jason and Lina are all coming.” She sighed, feeling selfish. “But I get it. You do need to go see Lexi.”
“Jason?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.
She nodded absently, still absorbed in her own thoughts. It definitely wouldn’t be the same without Brian there. Maybe Dorian would grill. He was a really a good cook but the last time he used the grill he burnt the chicken, and the hot dogs ended up looking like fried sticks.
“This is the same Jason you used to work with, right?” Brian asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.
She finally met his eyes, knowing her disappointment was still apparent on her features because she sucked at hiding what she was feeling, as annoying as that was.
“Yeah, the one who referred me to this job. He just broke up with his girlfriend after like five years or something,” she finally answered him. “He usually goes home to her family in Boston or wherever she’s from, so I just invited him too.”
Brian scratched his chin, shifting his body a little under her weight.
“Well, I wanted you to come with me.”
She frowned at him, thrown off guard. She hadn’t planned on going back to Phoenix until Thanksgiving and even that was up in the air.
“I can’t really afford a ticket, Brian.” She was barely making enough to pay her rent, school loans, and electricity all in the same month. Thank God Brian was good at fixing cars. He rigged her tired Corolla up at least once a month, but she still knew that the car was close to giving up the ghost, and she’d soon end up having a car payment.
“I’ll get your ticket,” he said easily, still studying her.
Her frown deepened and her fingers paused on his chest.
“That’s expensive, Brian,” she said, eyeing him. “And you’re talking about buying two?”
“Yes.”
“But…”
“If I get your ticket will you come?” he asked, interrupting her.
She was still frowning, looking at him hesitantly.
“You know your mom and Chrissy want to see you. And Clara and Lex for that matter,” he pressed.
“I mean, yeah,” she said, releasing a breath. “But that’s just a lot to spend. And plus, with you sending money to Clara and Alfred every month and paying rent here…”
“I want you with me,” he said simply, pulling his hands from beneath his head to run his hands down her ribcage to her hips.
“Brian…” she started, still hesitating.
“Please?” he said, his voice low.
She released a breath, and stared at him, her body warming at his tone. He ran his hands up her sides. His thumbs traced the underside of her breasts and her pulse immediately quickened, her body automatically softened.
“I want you with me,” he said again, meeting her eyes.
He knew she couldn’t tell him anything but “yes” when he used that voice on her. Not that she really wanted to say “no” anyway. Being away from him wasn’t something she ever looked forward to, even if it did halt her get-together plans.