I didn’t say anything because I didn’t have an answer for her. All I could think to do was hold her against me while she cried. Be there for her. While all this was happening, I also couldn't stop thinking about the night we had sex ... the feel of her warm skin, so soft, pressed against my own ...
“Jesus.” I have to pull away from Renee to keep from losing my mind, and she stares at me with sad, remorseful eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“I couldn’t be around you without wanting you, Ren. All of you.”
She sighed and nodded, wiping the remainder of the tears away with the back of her hand. I wanted to keep my distance. I felt I had to, but I couldn’t follow through. Instead, I leaned into her and gently kissed her forehead, resting my lips on the softness of her skin. Renee closed her eyes and took a deep breath, but she respected the space between us and stayed there. I wanted to keep it that way until she decided what to do or who she wanted, but I couldn't. Instead, I pull her closer, and Renee melts into my arms, softly crying again.
We stayed like that for an eternity, an eternity I never wanted to end, until Jami woke up and came down the stairs, spotting us sitting at the kitchen table.
“Hi, Aaron,” she said, and her eyes darted from me to Renee, a slight brow furrow crossing her features. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything is good,” Renee said, and I released her, even though I didn't want to.
“Yeah,” I murmured. “Everything is great.”
Everything wasnotgreat, of course, but I was not going to pile it on. Renee was clearly a mess, but she was not the only one.
“I was just leaving, anyway,” I said quickly, standing up to offer Jami my seat. “I just wanted to check and see how things were.”
“Thank you, Aaron,” Renee said, lifting the Styrofoam cup to tilt it in my direction. “I was delighted you stopped by. Seriously.”
“Of course.” I smiled as Renee stood and hugged me briefly. Her eyes were red, cheeks tear-stained, but she was still gorgeous, and it took whatever self-control I had left not to bid her goodbye with a throbbing hard-on.
As I shut the front door behind me and walk back to our house with my hands deep in the pockets of my jacket, I realize that every time I think I could get over Renee Lyon and leave Jake and Matt to fight over her, I see the girl’s face and we’re back to square one.
Chapter 31
Jake
“Keep your focus onthat ball, Denny! Focus, focus!”
Coach’s voice rings heavy through the air, grinding into my head but not quite making contact with my brain. My hands fumbled, and the ball hit the ground, bouncing right into another team member’s fingers.
“Shit,” I muttered, and Coach reiterated my thoughts.
