The Storm Series, page 3
Luckily, we had the same taste in music, so it wasn’t anything worth tossing him out of the car for. However, it’d still be nice of him to let the artists that could sing actually sing.
Roark reached for the radio, lowering the music, back to wanting to talk to me, and I honestly wanted to just tell the kid to read a book or something. “So, do you think that it’ll be super weird to have them both at the cabin?” he asked, and I was close enough with my brother to know exactly what he was talking about.
“She said she was fine, didn’t she?” I reminded him.
“Okay, maybe it’s not her. Maybe it’s me,” he finally admitted. “I feel like I was cheated out of my best friend duties by not kicking his ass when I should have.”
While I didn’t know the details, I knew enough to know that Junie’s ex-boyfriend, Paul, had cheated on her last year, and that they’d broken up rather civilly, her moving out and never contacting him again. Now, while I understood Roark’s need to avenge his best friend, it wouldn’t do good for him to lose focus this weekend. If Junie said that she was okay with it, then he needed to respect that. I had no doubt that Roark was more than capable of kicking Paul Hopper’s ass, but I didn’t need any violence popping off when the whole point of me being there was to ensure that nothing bad happened.
“She’s chosen to take the highroad, Roark,” I replied. “You have to respect that or else you’re going to have a very pissed off female on your hands, and we both know that’s not what you want.”
“True,” he muttered as he leaned back in his seat.
Five years ago, right after I’d won my first serious championship, Roark had introduced me to his best friend, Junie Becker. They’d met their sophomore year at Clint University and had hit it off enough that they’d become inseparable. For over a year, I’d heard nothing but stories of his remarkable best friend and how it sucked that he wasn’t attracted to her because she’d be the perfect girlfriend.
Busy with getting my start in snowboarding, I hadn’t peppered him with too many questions about her because I really hadn’t been all that interested. Between me hustling and Roark busy with school, our conversations had been limited, and I had wanted to spend those conversations listening to what he’d been up to, not about a girl that I hadn’t even met.
So, when our schedules had finally met up, and we’d both been home for the weekend, I hadn’t been surprised to see that Roark had brought her along as a guest. However, I had been surprised at my reaction to finally meeting the only girl that was perfect in my brother’s eyes.
I’d known the basics about her life, but that’d been it. Her father and mother were in commercial real estate and owned their business together. She had no siblings, Roark was her best friend, and she was from McLaurin, Colorado and had been going to CU to get her business management degree.
However, knowing all that hadn’t prepared me for first meeting Junie Becker. On paper, she wouldn’t sound exceptional if you described her to someone, but the girl was anything but ordinary. When Roark had introduced us, and she had shaken my hand, chills had trickled down my spine in a way that they’d never had before.
Smiling up at me, telling me how happy she was to finally meet me, had been a girl so beautiful that I hadn’t even known what to say to her. All rational thought had fled and stringing along a simple greeting had escaped my capabilities. There I’d been, an up-and-coming snowboarding pro, and I’d been rendered tongue-tied by a petite brunette an entire foot shorter than me.
Junie Becker had turned me stupid with her shoulder-length brown hair that looked auburn in the light, her deep, big, Bambi brown eyes, arched brows that had one higher than the other, her rosy cheeks that stood out from her light complexion, her pert, feminine nose, and a pair of lips that I had jerked off to more times than I could possibly count. They were pink, plump, and looked like they could slurp the chrome off a bumper.
She also had a tight little body that was just perfect for fucking. While I had never resented it before, my parents had a pool in their backyard, and the weekend that I’d met Junie, she and Roark had made use of the pool a few times. Unfortunately, I’d gotten a good look at Junie Becker in a bathing suit, and it’d been the stuff of horny teenage boys everywhere.
Junie was only about five-foot-three, and her body had been carved in absolute proportioned perfection. She wasn’t built like a cartoon caricature. She didn’t have huge tits or a wide ass, though that look was sexy as hell for someone that could pull it off. However, Junie’s body boasted of tits that were a perfect handful, a tiny waist, and hips wide enough to give her the curves that she needed while still being able to take a good hard dicking. Her ass was nice and round, her legs short but slim and toned. I had even noticed the goddamn color of her toe polish that weekend, and that’s when I’d known that I was fucked.
Completely aware that I’d been borderline rude, I had done my best to stay away from them during that weekend, and it hadn’t been until Roark had called me a couple of days later to call me on my bullshit that I had confessed the issue behind my rudeness.
The second that I’d admitted my interest in Junie, Roark’s caveman had come out swinging his club like nobody’s business. He’d ranted that I could have any pussy on the planet that I wanted, so that I’d better stay away from Junie; she wasn’t just some piece of ass to stroke my ego. He’d ranted that she was a good person, and that he wasn’t going to lose his best friend because I couldn’t control my dick. Roark had been pissed, insulting, and just really…crazy. While I’d had no desire to turn Junie into a sexual conquest, Roark had been upset enough that I’d known there’d be no talking to him about it. Choosing not to fight with my brother over a girl that I didn’t even know, I had respected his wishes to stay away from Junie, and I’d been respecting them ever since.
Still, that was another reason why I hated going on this trip. For three years, I’d had to sit by and watch her be in love with someone else, and each year it had become more and more suffocating, because I’d been certain that their relationship was going to lead to marriage, ruining any chance with Junie that I might ever have. Granted, I would never make a move without talking to Roark first, but a chance was still a chance.
I had also felt like shit when Roark had told me about what’d had happened between her and Paul, and I had felt happy about it. It was a crappy thing to admit, but I had been. There was a reason for the saying that love was blind, but anyone with two eyes could see that Paul Hopper was all about his ego more than anything else. The guy really wanted to be someone, and the way Junie had doted on him had fed that need in him. From what I could see on those weekends at the cabin, Junie had adored Paul. For him to leave her for someone else still seemed insane to me.
I slid my brother a look because that got me to thinking. “You don’t think she’s lying about being over him, do you?” I asked. “I mean, you do know her best.”
Roark was looking out at the scenery that was flying by us. “No,” he answered thoughtfully. “I know Junie, and I’m sure she’s over him.” He shrugged as he looked over my way. “I mean, how hard is it to get over a jackass who cheated on you anyway?”
“That’s valid,” I agreed as I looked back at the road in front of us.
“I’m just…worried, I guess.”
“About what?”
“I don’t know.” He waited a few seconds before adding, “Paul’s a bit…egotistical. He always has been. He’s not obnoxious with it, but the trait is still very noticeable. I just don’t want him thinking that Junie’s still hung up on him and try to…I don’t know. I just don’t want him trying to apologize or have him bringing it up and making things more awkward than they’re already bound to be.”
“You’ve always told me what a tough cookie Junie is,” I reminded him. “I’m sure she’ll be able to handle him just fine if he tries to bring it up.”
Roark didn’t comment until a couple of miles had passed, and that should have warned me some, but I’d been in my own lost thoughts. “What about you?” he finally asked.
I glanced over at him really quickly. “What about me?”
“Are you still interested in her?”
My eyes back on the road, I asked, “What difference does it make? I’ve already given you my word to stay away from her, and I’ve kept it.”
“You’re right,” he sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I quickly replied. “My relationship with you is more important to me than anything else, Roark. Never forget that.”
Instead of continuing this depressing conversation, Roark turned up the music again, then started butchering one of my favorite songs. Roark didn’t want to admit that his interference had led her to dating Paul Hopper, and I didn’t want to admit that my cowardness had led her to dating Paul Hopper, either.
What a fucking pair we were.
Chapter 5
Junie~
Luckily, for this trip, my father had let me borrow his Toyota Land Cruiser. My Chevrolet Sonic was not equipped to tackle the rugged terrain of the Colorado mountains. The mountains were tricky enough that everyone that flew in for our trip made sure to get rentals that could make the drive through the mountains.
As I hit the base of the mountain that led to the cabin, I pulled over, then shot a text off to Roark. When he texted back that they were still about a half an hour away, the cowardly part of me wanted to wait on the side of the road for them. Roark and Ripley had driven up together, and for all that I was good at convincing everyone that I was fine, I didn’t want to be caught alone at the cabin with Paul if I didn’t have to. I wanted buffers with us until the awkwardness subsided.
When my phone chimed with a notification from our group text, I quickly opened it to find that Sheridan was already at the cabin. Closing my eyes, I dropped my head back against the seat, then let out a deep breath.
Thank God.
I sent a quick text back, letting her know that I was at the bottom of the mountain, then headed on up. It was common knowledge that Ripley always came up here the weekend before our little trip to get everything in order, and he always left an extra key to the cabin in a faux block that lined the walkway from the driveway. Knowing Sheridan, she was already unpacking, having picked her usual room.
Ripley’s cabin was more like a rustic mansion than it was a cabin. It had one master bedroom and sitting room that took up the entire second floor, four regular bedrooms, two bathrooms apart from the master bath, a sitting room, a living room, a game room, den with a fireplace, a state-of-the-art kitchen, and it had roof access that led to anything but a common roof.
Nope.
The back end of the cabin had a split-level balcony that I had used many times to look at the stars at night. Since we always came up during the summer, the weather was always nice enough to hang out on the roof. The view was breathtaking, but because Paul was uncomfortable with heights, it’d always been me up there, or me and Roark.
The cabin was also half wood and half glass. The entire back of the house was solid wood, and every door had a padlock on it. There were windows, but they were weather resistant with dual panes and reinforced with mesh in the center. The mesh patterns were beautiful, and you wouldn’t know that they were for safety more than for décor.
The front of the cabin was all glass, same dual pane but without the mesh. If you were in the sitting room or game room, you could see right outside, and it always reminded me of those horror movies that always took place in the woods. Though absolutely stunning, it could get a little creepy at night.
As I got to thinking about the cabin in all its splendor, I was immensely grateful that I was going to be the second one to arrive. This would be the first year that Paul and I didn’t share a room, and I wanted to pick mine before he got here. I was determined to minimize any uncomfortableness, and picking our rooms at the same time would definitely feel awkward.
Ripley always got the master bedroom, which we all understood. Not only did the poor man not want to hang out with us, but it was his place after all. Roark and Bruce shared a room, and so did Sheridan and Leslie. Démon got her own room, but she always chose the smallest guest room. This time around, it made sense for me and Démon to share a room, and for Paul to take the small guest room.
When I finally pulled up to the cabin, I parked as far as I could to the right to make room for everyone else’s vehicles. From what I understood, not only were Roark and Ripley driving up together, but so were Leslie and Paul. Since their flights had come in together, it made sense for them to drive up together. So, that would leave only five cars to make room for, instead of seven.
As I parked and turned off my car, I shot Démon a quick text.
Me: How about u slum it n the lap of luxury with me this weekend?
Démon: I’m liking where this is going
Me: Paul can have the small room while we pillow fight in the bigger room
Démon: In r underwear?
I barked out a quick laugh. She was such a fruitcake. I knew for a fact that she liked penis only, because she’d been riding Bruce’s for a while now. They had some weird friends-with-benefits thing going on whenever they ran into each other. Seeing as how he lived in Georgia, and she lived in Oregon, it didn’t happen often, but everyone in our group was still single, so I could see them hooking up this weekend. In fact, maybe they should share a room, and then I could bunk with Roark.
Me: What would Bruce think?
Démon: R u kidding? He’d want 2 join
Me: LOL!! Say the word & I’ll bunk with Roark
Démon: I’m good. If things change, I’ll let u know
Me: Sounds good
Ending our conversation, I got out of the car, grabbed my bags, then headed into the cabin. As soon as I walked in, I spotted Sheridan in the kitchen, already into the alcohol.
“Oh, my God!” she squealed. “Junie!”
Years ago, she’d made the mistake of calling me Junie Bug, and Roark had lost his shit epically. I really felt sorry for whatever girl that he ended up falling in love with, because that boy was possessive as hell.
Because I had my hands full, I let Sheridan wrap her arms around me in a greeting hug. “Hey, Sheridan.”
“I’m so glad to see you,” she kept on. “I’ve missed everyone.”
“It’s good to see you, too,” I told her. “But my arms are going to fall off if I don’t unpack these bags soon.”
She grinned. “Oops.”
Grabbing my second bag with her free hand, she helped me carry my stuff to the third bedroom. My hope was that Démon got here before Paul and Leslie, so that the obvious could be stated without being said.
“I already have mine and Leslie’s room all situated,” she chattered about. “I thought you’d be bunking with Roark.”
Okay, a little awkward, but not fatal. “Démon is going to share the room with me. It makes sense. Paul can have the single guestroom.”
“Oh, I can see that,” she remarked before taking a sip of her…
“Vodka?” I asked, nodding towards her glass.
“You know it.” The sassy girl winked at me. “It’s still early enough to get some work in on our first night.”
I shook my head, laughing. “You won’t get any disagreements from me.”
“Well, I let you get to it,” she said. “I’ll be in the kitchen mixing some drinks for us.”
“Have you even eaten?” I called after her as she left the room.
“Does beef jerky count?” she hollered back.
I laughed, then went back to unpacking my stuff. A few minutes later, I heard the sounds of happiness clamoring throughout the cabin. My heart was beating a mile a minute, but it was from relief, not anxiousness.
Looking over at the doorway, Démon was walking into our room, her bags strapped to her body like a bellhop. “Heard you’ve been dying to sleep with me,” she smirked, and just like that, my nervousness evaporated into happiness.
“Heard you’re a firecracker in bed,” I shot back, throwing her a wink. “Why wouldn’t I want to?”
Démon walked over to her bed, unwrapped her bags from her body, then turned around and gave me the tightest hug ever. “I missed you,” she whispered.
“I missed you, too.”
“I know you hookers aren’t going to let me drink alone!” Sheridan yelled from the kitchen, and that sent us into another bout of laughter.
“Can I unpack my shit first?!” Démon yelled back, and that just made me laugh some more.
Everything was going to be okay.
Chapter 6
Ripley~
Pulling up to the cabin, I saw three cars, one of them being Junie’s father’s Toyota. It was amazing what I knew about the girl, considering that I’d been told to stay away from her. The other two cars I didn’t recognize, but Roark had been chatty enough to let me know that Sheridan and Démon were already here with Junie.
They’d been kind enough to leave enough room for me to drive my Land Rover Defender up the driveway, and I hit the garage door opener to store my car inside. The garage was big enough for two cars, but I had the second stall occupied by an ATV for emergencies. I liked coming up here during the winter when I was in between competitions and training, so I needed the ATV.
Getting our bags from the back, Roark was all smiles, happy to see his friends again. As much as I hated coming up here for this, I was glad that my little brother enjoyed it so much. It almost made the agony worth it. However, the upside to this year’s trip was that I wouldn’t have to see Junie all in love with Paul. Even if I couldn’t date her, it was still a win as far as I was concerned.
