The Scheme

“Sure,” he called back before strolling to his room.

“I’m going to snooze off for a bit. Wake me up when you’re done with your hair.”

***

KENDY

“No, that girl was a skank, a wa

After who knew how many rounds of drinks, we’d tried to look for Brian’s type. Trey and I had been arguing playfully for hours, not even letting Brian get a word in.

One thing we agreed on was that Brian needed to pick himself a keeper. We both knew he was ready to settle down.

“Kendall, you just don’t know your women like I do,” Trey joked, a heavy, drunken smile on his face.

I gave him my own drunken smile. “Trust me, I’m the queen of manipulation, and that girl was a skank to the tenth degree.” I flipped my golden locks over one shoulder. “And you say you know women, pfft. I know how women work because I’m from the species.”

“How about that girl?” I pointed to a beautiful ta

Trey tipped his beer in the blonde’s direction. “That girl?”

“Yes, that girl.” I nodded. “Seriously, I’d date her. Look at her.”

“You’d date her because she looks like you.” He threw back his head as he laughed, which made me flush pink.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Brian said, getting in between us. “Don’t I get a say in who I’m going to end up with?”

“No!” Trey and I said in unison, making us all crack up.

Trey ran one hand through his dark hair and looked at me pointedly. “You were picking out all the uptight, gra

“Well, you’re choosing the half-naked ones, with their titties hanging out. Seriously, that’s not settling down material.” I threw Trey a face.

Brian had been quiet most of the night. He had this lazy, drunk look all over his face, and he was take-me-to-bed adorable.

I patted his chest, letting my hand linger there as warmth spread up my arm. “Brian, tell your best friend that I’m right. You liked Chloe from Midtown, the beautiful blonde with the cutest outfit.”

Trey’s eyebrows shot to the dark night sky. “Um, that woman had jacked up teeth. Dude, messed up teeth is a deal breaker.” Trey pointed to the bar in front of us, where Chloe stood with her group of friends. “You want to get with Kendall’s girl with the jacked up teeth?”

I peered up at Brian, looking at him expectantly. “Oh, so you wa

He just shook his head at the both of us as the begi

I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest. “Whatever. You know I’m right. How about the bartender, the girl with the bouncy curls and a sweet smile?”

A slow secret smile crept up Trey’s face as he glanced back at the bartender tending to her patrons. “Kendy, have you noticed you’re only approving of the women for my boy over here,” he slapped Brian’s chest, “who look just like you.”

An awkward silence filled the air as Brian turned to me, and the tips of my ears heated as I glanced from the tall ta

Shit! Trey was right, and I hadn’t even realized it.

I rolled my eyes. “The only thing we have in common is that we’re all hot. Don’t you think your boy deserves an attractive girl?” I played it off as a nervous chuckle left my lips.

Here I was trying to keep my distance and the friendship lines intact by setting Brian up with a woman who was worthy of him. But as I took in his beautiful face, a face that I’d been seeing on a weekly basis, I wondered where my place would be when this girl became a part of his life. I’d grown fond of hanging out with him, and the selfish part of me didn’t want to let that go.

TWELVE

BRIAN

As we waited for the cab, Trey and Kendy argued back and forth about my future wife. She would lean into him and slap his shoulder, and huff and puff at him. I didn’t know why, but that familiar jealousy boiled up inside me again. I fisted my hands as I fought a strong desire to yank her away from Trey, take her home, and claim her.

Trey laughed at whatever Kendy had just said, and it made my face steam. I’d never been mad at my best friend over a girl. Probably because he’d been dating my sister for a huge chunk of our time in high school.

I knew he didn’t want Kendy, but I couldn’t help it. This jealousy was an animal all its own.

When he reached out and grabbed her forearm, I stiffened. The next moment, I laughed awkwardly and possessively pulled her closer to me. It was a smooth move, and one I didn’t think she noticed as her giggles continued. But Trey did. I saw his smile falter as he stared at me questioningly.

Trey had never been a cock blocker. That was one of the things I’d never have to worry about him. One quality that oozed out of Trey was loyalty, but still . . . there was something about tonight, or maybe it was just Kendy who brought out this jealous bastard in me.

A moment later, he stepped away from her. Just when a cab pulled in front of us, Trey scratched the top of his head. “Hey, I’m go

Well, shit. I hadn’t meant to make him feel bad. But I didn’t say anything to stop him either.

Kendy released me and tugged on his shirt. “No, come on. You said drinks at your apartment. It’ll be fun. Let’s go.”

I clenched my jaw and shot him a look, silently telling him to beat it. I’d have to apologize for my caveman behavior later.

“You’re such a party pooper,” she sassed, grabbing my hand and pulling us toward the cab. “Brian and I are about to get crazy wasted. We’re going to play drinking games, right?” She winked back at me before ducking her head to get in the cab.

I glanced back at Trey, who mouthed, “Have fun.” He wiggled his eyebrows as he motioned between Kendy and me. He put his two fingers together in a kissy motion, and then in a more vulgar move, circling his thumb with his index finger.

I gave him the finger before I shut the door behind me, sliding thigh to thigh beside Kendy. In the next second, I recited my address to the cab driver and pulled Kendy into my lap. Both of my hands moved to the bareness of her lower back, shoving her against me, and I kissed her. Hard.

I heard her sharp intake of breath right before her mouth opened to let me in. I needed to tame the beast inside of me, the jealous one that needed to calm the hell down, and I knew the only cure was her.

***

KENDY

Four beers later, I felt pretty damn good. I was sitting cross-legged on the couch, dressed in only Brian’s t-shirt. As soon as we’d stepped into his apartment, Brian had carried me into his room. There was a fierce possessiveness in the way we had sex tonight, but never once had I felt threatened.

It had always been hot and heavy with Brian, but tonight was a notch higher. I didn’t want to read too much into our sexcapade, but it was as though he was claiming me with his body.

Brian was on the living room floor, shirtless and only in his boxers. His chestnut coffee table sat between us. As I rested against the couch in his oversized t-shirt, my body warmed all over from the liquor coursing through me. I swallowed back another swig of Miller Lite as my eyes flickered to his well-defined six-pack. I had to appreciate a guy who took care of his body, and Brian did that well.