As a result, my body was covered in various ink and I had no intention of stopping anytime soon.
With thirty minutes left to get ready, I walked over to my dresser and yanked out a pair of black briefs and jeans. I pulled open the top drawer and froze, my eyes spotting my thin gold chain, threaded withthepromise ring, nestled between my folded black hoodies.
I wore it every day like a pathetic lovesick fool. I didn’t know how to be without it.
Fastening it around my neck, I breathed better once it settled between my inked pecs.
Without a knock, my door twisted open and Josh sauntered inside like he owned the place. My pet peeve was people entering without my permission and Josh had no concept of personal space. He parked his ass on the edge of my unmade bed like a lazy king lounging before his subject. “Hey.”
“Hey,” I returned, throwing on my black hoodie.
When I faced him, he was frowning, his eyes locked near my right rib. I ground my jaw. He sawthatparticular tattoo and chose not to comment on it.
Clearing his throat, he asked, “Where are you going?”
“Out. I’m meeting Shaun and some of the boys from the team.” I didn’t tell him about Initiation Night because he’d know I was only going for Ella. The last thing I wanted was pity from my family. “What about you?”
Josh cleared his throat again. A trait that emphasized his nervousness. “Layla is coming over tonight, but…nobody knows.”
One thing about us Remington men?
We loved hard and forever.
If Ella was my obsession, then Layla was my brother’s. For all intents and purposes, she was his best friend, but he had it bad for her with a capital B. One night, we stole a bottle of whiskeyfrom Uncle Vance’s stash, got drunk on the mansion’s rooftop, and Josh finally confessed he was in love with Layla.
“I want to marry her,” he’d slurred, halfway drunk. “I want to give her a big home and lots of babies.”
I’d laughed and taken a swig of the whiskey. “Does she know all of this?”
Josh had stared at the moon with awe, his mouth hanging half-open like an idiot. “N-No. But I’ll tell her one day.” He’d rubbed the left side of his chest like he was soothing his heart. “T-There’s only one thing I want in this whole world and…that’s to be her husband.”
I hoped Josh got his wish and that Layla too realized she was head over heels for him. Preferably in this decade.
“Good luck getting her past Julia and Vance.” I smirked, snapping on my watch and donning my silver rings. “If they catch you both, you’re getting the birds and the bees monologue.”
Uncle Vance actually gave me the talk when I started dating Ella. He also said there would be hell to pay if I made him a grandfather before I graduated university.
Josh scowled. “Yeah, no, thank you. I’d rather stab myself with a knife than hear Mom and Dad talk to me about sex and contraceptives.”
“If you need to sneak her in, do it using the east garden doors. No one will see you.”
To be frank, Layla often came over during the day so she and Josh could study and play videogames. Aunt Julia and Uncle Vance really liked her but assumed she was just their son’s ‘friend.’ If they found out Josh and Layla actuallylikedeach other, Aunt Julia would throw a tea party and Uncle Vance would throw a box of condoms at Josh. Both equally embarrassing scenarios for the two.
“I shouldn’t have a problem sneaking her in.” Josh combedhis fingers through his hair and joined his hands at the nape of his neck, glancing ceilingward as he exhaled slowly. “I hate to admit this, but I’m feeling nervous.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Why?”
“We’ve kissed before, but I don’t know if she’ll want to go all the way tonight.”
“Well, if she does, make sure you give her plenty of foreplay. Girls like that.”
“I’ve also never done it,” Josh admitted then groaned. “What if I screw up this entire thing?”
I crossed my arms over my chest and perched against my dresser. “You won’t, Josh. Sex isn’t a competition. It’s about communication and doing what feels right for both of you. Make sure you ask her how she’s feeling with everything you do, and don’t forget to tell her what you like as well. The rest will come naturally.”
“You’re right.” He cracked his knuckles and stood up. “Thanks for this.”
“Anytime, man.”
