Chapter 5 - Johnny - Short and Stout
Istay behind at Connor’s place after everyone else leaves to help clean up and to give Becca some extra time to get home. I’m not entirely sure why she wanted to wait until she left to give me her address, but if I had to guess, I’d say it’s because she didn’t want Alex and Connor to know about us yet.
Not that I’ve been acting very cool about it. I know for a fact that the guys suspect something. You’d think they’d all be more worried about their own love lives, but that’s not really how it works with us. We’re a family, and we’re always getting up in each other’s business.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I take that as my cue to leave, guessing that it’s Becca’s address coming through in a text.
“Alright guys, I’m going to head out. I’ve got a date after this and I don’t want to be late.”
“Oh? In love again?” Connor asks, following me to the door.
“I’m taking it a little slower this time. But I’m pretty sure she’s the one.”
He laughs. “You know you say that every time, right? I think maybe you want it too bad to think properly when you meet someone new.”
He’s not wrong. I do want it badly. I want what my parents have. They’ve been together for almost forty years and they seem more in love every day. They got married at nineteen years old, so I’m already way behind. Regardless of when I get my family started, I already know that it’s probably too late to have as many kids as my parents. I’m not sure I’d want that many, anyway.
Seven kids are a lot.
Especially when five of them are girls.
“Yeah, I know,” I tell Connor when we reach the door. “But I can’t help it. I’m a romantic at heart. My true love is out there somewhere.”And I’m almost positive she’s who I’m going to see tonight,I add in my head. “But you need to stop worrying about me and start worrying about Alex. Get in there and make sure she knows you’re serious. Don’t let her slip away again.” I grab Connor’s shoulder, letting him know I’m rooting for him. “I’ll see you later, man. Have fun. Be safe.”
“Later, Johnny,” Connor says, closing the door behind. I hear the lock click before I walk out to my car.
Another buzz in my pocket reminds me that I haven’t looked at Becca’s address yet. I get in my car and start it up, pulling my phone out to check my messages. One is the address from Becca, like I thought, but the other is from Hunter.
Hunter- Got a client needing to book in with you. When are you available?
Hunter owns Ink Revival Tattoo. We apprenticed together under the same artist when we were young. He runs the business with his other artists, and when I’m home, I donate my time to help out. He’s also Ryder’s brother, but I didn’t find that out until years after the band got big. Ryder was pretty surprised to see me there, consulting with an older woman, when he went in to visit with Hunter.
Me- Anytime other than tonight works for me. I already have plans.
Hunter - I’ll book you in and let you know.
Me - *thumbs up emoji*
Becca’s address is near downtown, which I was expecting since I know she lives near the gym Connor goes to. The gym that we all just found out Alex’s grandfather owns. How Connor and Alex haven’t ever run into each other before now is a mystery for the ages. They’ve been in close proximity so many times over the years that they really should have. And if they had, maybe I would have met Becca sooner. I can’t worry about lost time, though. All I can do is move forward and make sure Becca becomes mine.
After a quick stop to pick up some of my favourite craft beer, a delicious, locally brewed coffee stout, I’m on my way to Becca’s place. Mom always taught me a guest should never arrive empty-handed, and despite what I led Becca to believe, I’m only going to be a regular guest this evening. Not an overnight guest with special benefits.
I mean, do I want to get my hands all over her, eventually? Obviously, the answer is yes. My hands are dying to squeeze her ass. But if she really is the one for me, then I need to take my time and get to know her better first. Plus, the situation with Connor and Alex complicates things further, and I need to be sure of what I’m doing before I mess anything up. I hate to say that Travis is right, but… Travis is right. I need to tread carefully, no matter what my heart is telling me.
I find a spot on the street not far from Becca’s building and I send her a text letting her know I’m here before getting out of the car. My hand shakes a little as I run it through my hair, but other than that, I don’t think I’m too nervous for a man walking to his destiny.
Becca is waiting for me at the entrance to the building. She’s changed into comfortable looking shorts with a matching shirt and an unzipped, well-worn, hoodie over top. Tattoos cover her right leg all the way to the tips of her purple painted toenails, with a large Freddy Krueger dominating nearly all the space on her thigh. Surprisingly, her left leg only has one large piece on her thigh.
My mind races with thoughts of what I could put there. The thought of my art marking her leg makes my heart race. I’m tattooing something on her as soon as possible. I just need to decide what.
The tattoos on both of her legs extend into the bottom of her shorts, so I’m no closer to figuring out where they end than I was before. Do they continue down from the ones on her arms? Or do they end somewhere under her shirt and start up again, lower down?
“Hey,” she says, pushing the door open for me. “Come on up. I kicked the rock out of the door when I got home and the buzzer has been on the fritz lately. So you get a door-to-door escort.”
I follow her up the stairs, her ass swinging in front of my face, and I’m barely able to stop myself from grabbing it. Her legs are the perfect mix of shapely and strong, her muscles flexing under the softest looking skin. I wonder what it would feel like to run my hands up the backs of them and just bury my face in her pussy from behind?
Plenty of time for that later. I’m here to get to know her better. Not get into her pants.
“Here we are,” Becca says, opening a door at the end of the hallway. “I’m sure it’s less than you’re used to but it’s treated me well for a long time.”
