12. Storm

12

STORM

I wouldn't usually have described myself as a diabolical person.

Sure, I liked messing around. I liked having fun. And I had no shame about anything, even though I typically avoided straight-up awkward situations.

But tonight I couldn't resist taking a chance to hang out with Emmett and his best friend. Especially right after being caught in the act—after the act, really—and seeing how flustered Emmett had gotten. He seemed embarrassed, but he didn't seem upset , and that was what made me decide to stay.

I'd seen Emmett upset. Many times.

But I could tell there was some small part of him that liked this. Under the blushing, there was some small sense of pride. He hadn't been with another guy in a long time, and just maybe , he may have liked the fact that instead of being alone and sad when his bestie came over, he'd been naked with another guy.

Or maybe I was just crazy and delirious after how turned on I'd been earlier tonight.

That was definitely possible, too.

"I'd like to take a quick rinse in the shower, if you two don't mind terribly?" Emmett asked us. "Because I was doing yard work before. You know."

"Right. Yard work," I said.

And letting me come all over your chest .

"Go ahead," Landry said. "I'll try not to talk Storm's ear off."

"I'll be back in ten," Emmett said, heading off upstairs.

Landry and I were sitting at the breakfast bar now. Emmett's kitchen island was made of marble, and the bar stools were plush leather. He had a sleek, sculptural-looking gold pumpkin decoration at the center of the island, fancier looking than any fall decor I'd ever seen in a store. It may have even been real gold.

The moment Emmett had left the room, Landry's expression changed. He suddenly looked at me with a much more serious, pointed stare.

"Do not hurt him," Landry said. "I know I just met you, but I don't care who you are. Emmett has been through enough in the last few years, and he doesn't need to be hurt more."

I held his gaze, not backing down, but also not wanting to bite back at him. Landry really did look like he could be Emmett's brother, though they weren't related. I could see why they got along so well.

"You're clearly a good friend," I said. "Emmett told me a little bit about what happened to him. I have no intention of hurting him."

His eyes were like fire. "I don't want him to get unintentionally hurt, either. Aren't you straight?"

That's the true fucking question of the hour, isn't it?

"Emmett's a grown man. He can make his own decisions," I said. "We're just having fun together."

Landry nodded. "I've said my piece."

"Hear you. Loud and clear."

There was a prolonged silence. I looked around more at the fall decor Emmett had around—past the kitchen windows, I could see a string garland of gold and red fall leaves that he'd strung around the railing of his back deck.

"Big fan, by the way," Landry finally said.

I raised my eyebrows. "No shit?"

Landry nodded once. "Emmett knows a little about football, but I've been a much bigger fan for my whole life. Watched you get better every year when you were playing for Texas. Was a fan before anybody believed in you. That game against Ohio last year was like nothing I've ever seen before."

I smiled. "One of the best games of my life," I said. "We got absolutely shit on for the first half, then we came back like a goddamn force of nature in the second half."

"It was all you," Landry said. "That game was when I finally knew you were one of the best players in the whole league, without a doubt."

"Thank you," I said.

The sound of Emmett padding down the steps came through the air and he appeared a moment later, hair damp-dry and tousled. He was wearing casual clothes now, but still managed to look like his normal self. His outfit looked like black sweatpants and a short-sleeve shirt, but I was pretty sure both of them were made out of some sort of silk. Because of course his house clothes were fancy, too.

"Let's head out back," Emmett said, going into all-business mode. "Got some filet mignon steaks fresh last night. I'll fire up the grill."

"Never going to say no to a steak," I said.

"Pepper," Emmett called out, and his dog came running. "Want to go outside?"

Pepper started to hop back and forth near the big glass back doors. As soon as Emmett went over and slid them open, Pepper took off in a sprint, heading toward the fence of my yard.

"Oh, no," I said. "I think I know what that means."

I headed outside and nodded in recognition. Oreo was sticking her little fluffy head through a new hole she'd dug beneath the fence, and as she saw Pepper, she dug fast and hard until she popped through the hole.

"Hey, li'l girl," I said. "That's very bad , but very cute."

Oreo was a tornado of wags and licks and then the two dogs ran around in circles together on Emmett's lawn. When Emmett came out with the steaks, I shrugged.

"Renovations start next week on the house. Hopefully the new fence will go in soon."

"Excuse me , Oreo," Emmett said, looking down at her as she wagged so hard she looked like she may take flight. "Who said you could come over for steaks, miss? Go ahead, play with Chili Pep."

"You call Pepper Chili Pep?" I asked. "I love that. I call Oreo Cookie sometimes."

Emmett smiled wide, and in the glowing lights of his patio deck, I swore he looked actually relaxed for the first time all night.

Hell, I'd barely been able to see Emmett look actually relaxed for the entire time I'd known him. He was always revved up around me, probably wishing I'd fuck off and get out of his life entirely.

But right now he looked… happy.

And it made my heart warm in a way I'd never have expected.

"He has way too many nicknames for Pepper," Landry said from over near Emmett's expensive grill, firing it up. "Salty Pepper, for when she's feeling annoyed. Dr. Pepper. Peppy Girl, Wild Pepper, or Pep Talk when she's in a particularly howly mood."

"And Bullet Train," Emmett said, squinting out at his lawn, "which sounds nothing like her name, but is exactly what she's up to right now."

Pepper was zooming around on the lawn as fast as she could, speeding like a fast train. Oreo ran around in a little circle nearby, hoping to catch Pepper but failing each time she ran by.

The next hour was a blur of beer, steak, and some of the best french fries I'd ever had. Emmett knew his way around a grill, and the filet steaks were perfectly cooked and utterly delicious. After eating, the three of us sat around the table on Emmett's back deck, watching the dogs romp around in the yard.

"Thank you guys for letting me stay," I said. "I know it wasn't planned."

Emmett pulled in a breath, looking up at the sky. God, he looked good. Like royalty, in his silk clothes, as if the modern mini-mansion behind him was his castle.

Since when did I hang out with people like Emmett?

How had I gotten here , when I'd grown up in dusty trailer parks and apartments where the drywall was crumbling in every room?

When Emmett spoke, I felt like I was in a trance. "Dad always used to say: we have to let go of the life we had planned to accept the one that's waiting for us."

"Another good Dad quote," Landry said, nodding his head.

The saying hit me right in the chest. I wanted to lightly roast Emmett like I usually did. I wanted to poke fun at his constant Dad quotes or make a joke. But I was starting to think the quotes were working on me.

Let go of the life we had planned to accept the one that's waiting for us.

I'd certainly never planned on being rich. On kissing a silver-spoon wealthy guy who drives a damn Porsche. I'd never planned on sucking his dick and loving every moment of it.

And I'd never planned on ending up here, sitting outside with him and his best friend, feeling like I actually might fit in for once.

Emotion welled up inside me, coming out of nowhere.

"Speaking of unplanned things," Emmett said, frowning as he looked above the line of trees. "I think a thunderstorm is about to hit."

I pulled in a breath, trying to collect myself and act normal, even though I felt like I was at risk of reaching out, hugging the guys, and singing Kumbaya as I welled up with tears.

"It was blue skies all day," I said, doubtful. "I doubt we'll see rain."

Just then, as if on cue, a low, rumbling thunder sounded through the air. The pine trees shook, swaying in a small gust of wind. Pepper and Oreo both froze on the lawn, looking up at the sky.

Emmett gave me an I told you so look. "I can tell when thunderclouds are rolling through the mountains."

"Let's clean this stuff up," Landry said. "I need to get back home anyway and finish some of those financials for Cutmore."

Emmett rolled his eyes. "More of the Rodgett busywork?"

Landry pressed his lips into a thin line as he stood up, picking up our plates. "Yep. I swear Cutmore would lick the Rodgett family's feet if it meant staying on their good side."

"You guys aren't talking about Frank Rodgett, are you?" I asked, furrowing my brow.

They both looked up at me. "Yes, actually," Emmett said. "You know him?"

"He and his whole family came to the meet and greet before the last football game," I said. "He donates to some sports charities, but that man is evil."

"I don't know if he's evil ," Landry chimed in, "but he is absolutely a crook."

"Evil," I said pointedly. "He was bragging to us— bragging —about how his new cheap-ass clothing company found loopholes around major environmental toxicity laws last year."

More thunder rumbled through the air, louder this time.

Emmett grimaced. "I have heard that the Rodgett clothing factories are particularly bad."

"Worse than bad," I told him. "Frank Rodgett was saying he literally saw entire flocks of birds outside one of his factories that were dying to the fumes, and he laughed. I almost punched him in the face instantly. Would have, if the game hadn't been about to begin a half hour later."

"Our boss is obsessed with that man," Landry said as he continued cleaning up. All three of us started taking stuff back into the kitchen. "Cutmore seems like he wants the new Rodgett clothes company to be one of our main marketing clients."

I cut Emmett a glance. "This is the guy who's homophobic, too? Your boss sounds like a real winner."

"It's awful."

As we kept cleaning up, Landry and Emmett talked more about their work and their boss, and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. After we'd loaded the dishwasher and cleaned up the patio, I stood by the open back doors of the deck in disbelief.

"If you hate him so much, why do you stand for his shit?" I asked Emmett.

"Cutmore?" he asked as he brought Pepper and Oreo back inside. "He's the boss. I'd rather he wasn't, but he's been at Lux Marketing for decades. Can't really do anything about that."

I lifted an eyebrow. "You could."

Emmett shook his head. "Nope. Not unless I become a partner at the firm." In the low light of the deck, I could see the first few drops of rain fall down and darken his silk shirt.

"You can always do something," I said. "Call him out, let him know you don't stand for his crap, tell him you refuse to work for assholes like Rodgett."

"Pretty sure if I didn't get fired, I'd immediately get demoted to a low administrative position," Emmett said, meeting my gaze.

"So you're saying you're scared."

"That isn't what I said at all," he replied. "Making very purposeful, strategic career moves is not the same as being scared."

I set my jaw, anger rising up inside me. "So it is just about money for you. As usual."

Rain was coming down harder now, and the top of Emmett's shirt and his hair were damp.

"Can I get inside, please?" Emmett said, and I realized I was blocking the door from the deck.

Landry was inside, near the breakfast bar, holding up his hands as if to play at being neutral. "I see your point, Storm. Both of us hate working for Cutmore. But if Emmett doesn't get promoted to partner, we know exactly who will, and it won't be pretty. We have to play the game of company politics in order to get what we want."

So you eat shit from homophobic, heartless fucks for now, all while they bankroll your lifestyle.

I didn't say it out loud, because I didn't know Landry like that yet, and he seemed like a nice guy.

But with Emmett, I had no reason to hold back.

"Keep deluding yourself that you have to live life the way you've always lived it," I told Emmett after he came inside, soaked in rain. A lightning bolt flashed bright outside, thunder clapping loudly through the air right before he managed to shut the door.

"I live life the way I always have," Emmett said.

"With a silver spoon in your mouth and in your hand," I said. Really not holding back.

His eyes flashed up to mine with more anger in them than I'd ever seen.

"Fuck you," he said.

"Whoa, whoa," Landry said, trying to calm things down again.

"It's not just about money, and you know it isn't," Emmett said, his gaze like fire. I knew he was thinking about his dad, and I was more sympathetic to that than anything.

But I couldn't stand the idea that Emmett was working for a homophobe. Couldn't stand the idea of just taking that kind of shit.

He deserved better.

I wanted better, for him.

"Just think about it, okay?" I said, trying to make my voice sound calm and even again, but failing.

But Emmett's expression turned to stone. "It's just executive corporate politics, Storm. It's how it is."

He may as well have spit in my face.

He wasn't even going to consider that I might have a point, no matter what I said, and it pissed me off in a way that ran deep . Years of emotion flashed through me all at once, and suddenly I had the funny feeling that I'd been dead wrong earlier tonight on the patio.

I didn't belong here at all. Didn't belong with these types of people. Landry and Emmett both came from old, long lines of money, and they were exactly the kind of people that I'd never fit in with.

I'd been pretty stupid to think, just for a second, that I could.

I reached down and picked up Oreo, cradling her close to my chest.

"All right. I'm heading out."

My chest felt tight. I gave Landry a curt nod, but I couldn't look Emmett in the eye again. I had felt so close with him earlier tonight—closer than I'd ever felt with another man, to be honest. But that felt like it had all disappeared in an instant.

I shoved the front door open and trudged through a heavy rain back over to my house, holding Oreo close against my chest and protecting her from the rain. I got inside my house, looking around at everything I couldn't wait to fix up and renovate.

I'd vowed long ago never to let anyone tell me I didn't matter.

Emmett hadn't said it, but beneath his words, it was all I could hear. It's just executive corporate politics, Storm. As if I could never comprehend his world. As if I was just some meathead football player with a penchant for fighting, not meant to understand the finer air of the lives of rich folk.

When I stripped off my clothes to shower off, I noticed a tiny mark at the base of my neck, just above my collarbone.

Emmett had gently sucked on my skin there just a few hours ago, leaving the mark.

My heart lurched.

It had been so good, when we were together.

What business did I have making out with him and coming all over his chest? I still felt like it was an equation that didn't add up, a puzzle where I could barely make any pieces fit.

I hated him, but I really liked him, too. He felt so good, and then I hated him all over again. I couldn't remember the last time I'd been as turned on as I was earlier, and every second we spent with our clothes off felt so right.

So much right , and so much wrong .

All wrapped up in the same person.

I hopped in the shower, attempting to blast heat over my body and erase it all from my mind.