******
I’m sitting at the pub, taking a swig of my beer when I see Crystal a few tables away with some friends. The woman is wild in bed and I could definitely go for another taste. Nikki is avoiding me and I’ve had enough. I’m too young to be sitting about waiting for a girl who doesn’t appear to be willing to fight for me. After a smile and a crook of my finger, Crystal comes over and is of course interested in coming home with me. We all jump in my car, Crystal gets in the back with Layla and Chase.
“What’s so funny, Chase?” I hear Layla ask him in a miffed tone.
“You are, baby,” I hear Chase reply smoothly. “You’re acting like a spoilt child.”
I look in my rearview mirror and notice Layla is, indeed, pouting. “What’s wrong, princess?”
“Nothing,” she grumbles, looking out the window.
Chase bursts out laughing, but I really have no idea what could be so funny. Chase must have done something.
James turns around in his seat and demands Layla tell him what’s wrong.
“Fine, you all asked for it! What happened to bros before hoes? I wanted us all to go out and have a good night together, but no, you had to go off flirting with anything with a vagina and ignoring me,” she says, visibly upset.
“You wanted it to be a family dinner?” I ask. I suddenly feel like shit. I did pretty much ignore all of them, giving all my attention to Crystal instead, thinking about what plans I had for her tonight.
“Yes!” she huffs. I give her a grin, trying not to laugh.
“Next time, princess, just the family, okay?” I assure her.
She nods, looking pleased. I hear Chase laugh, and Layla scoff.
Just when I think the crisis is averted Crystal has to go and open her big mouth.
“So Chase, do you remember me?” I hear her purr. Oh, f**k.
“Crystal. Not a word,” I bark out at her, hoping she takes the hint. She doesn’t.
“But I thought since you were taking me home, we were all going to have a little fun?” she says, the insinuation obvious. I hear Layla gasp.
I slam on the breaks. Fuck, no. She isn’t going to start shit with Chase and Layla. James hops out, reading my mind, opening Crystal’s door for her to get out.
“You aren’t serious?” she splutters.
“Get the f**k out of my car. Now!” I yell, losing my temper. I glance at Layla, and the look on her face. Well, f**k, we 're all gonna get it now.
After Crystal gets out, Layla exits the car too, storming off in a dramatic fashion. Chase jumps out straight away and follows her. James and I quickly follow.
“What are you doing, Layla?” Chase asks, his tone concerned.
“I’m walking home,” Layla tells him infuriatingly.
“The f**k you are!” Chase growls, now getting pissed.
“Get in the car, Layla,” James says softly.
Layla glares at the three of us. “I don’t deserve this shit!” Shit. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this mad. Guilt is not an emotion I’m too familiar with. This must be a sign.
“If you guys don’t respect me enough to avoid bringing whores you have all slept with, sitting them in the car right next to me, you can all go to hell!” She starts to take off again, but Chase runs after her. Then he picks her up and throws her over his shoulder. She squirms around, the hellcat.
“Put her in the middle, so she can’t try anything,” I say, biting back my grin. Come on, it’s kinda funny.
They both jump in the back with her, doing just that.
Layla gives us the silent treatment the whole way home, only scowling or shooting us daggers every time we try to talk to her. Pink’s ‘You and Your Hand’ comes on the radio. I groan. Apt, very apt.
As soon as Layla storms into the house, and into her room, Chase throws a punch at me and it hits me in the mouth.
“Fuck!” I curse. I know he didn’t hit his hardest, but it still f**king hurts. I pull my hand away, and see a few specs of blood.
“You better fix this, Kade, now!” Chase hisses.
He is so whipped, I think to myself as I sigh out loud. I shouldn’t have brought Crystal in the car with me. But hell, she was hot and I wanted to get laid. I didn’t even think twice or consider the fact that Layla would get upset. Nikki's been avoiding me, and it's messing with my head. I just wanted one night to forget, to have some fun. A distraction. I f**ked up. I care about Layla’s feelings, and I don’t want her upset. Chase is right, I need to fix this. Chase narrows his eyes on me.
“Let’s go get her some flowers,” he suggests.
Good idea, women like that shit. We head to the flower shop down the road and Chase picks out Layla’s favorite flowers which happen to be sunflowers. That is just like her; different, bright, and happy. James and I go with white roses. I can’t remember what they mean, but they're pure just like her. We knock on her door with apologetic expressions pasted on our faces. Let’s just hope she forgives us or my big brother might kill me.
Chapter Six
NIKKI
Tonight we are all heading to Layla’s and my favorite karaoke bar. Layla is riding with Chase on his bike, so I’m in the Hummer with Kade and James. I ignore Kade the whole way- childish, but whatever. As we pull into the bar’s car park I see Layla and Chase already there, making out. Those two need to get a room. Permanently. We walk into the bar together and order a first round of shots. After I do two, I’m ready for my turn on the mic. I choose ‘Single’ by Natasha Bedingfield. I can’t help it when my eyes find Kade’s, and the words come out of my mouth.