I widen my eyes and drain my glass of wine.
Help me!
“Good God, Meredith,” my mother cries. “Stop talking about that. It’s offensive.”
“No, it’s just natural,” Meredith replies innocently. “You should really try it. It’s very good for your stress levels. We can take you to the sex shop, if you like. We go there after the beach sometimes. They even have fake pussies with hair on them.”
Brock glares at Meredith and points to the door.
She narrows her eyes. “You’re not in the wolf pack, you know.”
He points again but doesn’t say a word, not needing to, and Meredith turns to walk through the door, turning back at the last moment. “This wolf pack meeting sucked.”
Brock points the door again and she finally disappears out into the hallway, the door closing behind her.
Brock turns to me and puts his arm around my shoulders. I know it’s a power play to annoy my mother. “Would you like a glass of wine, Robyn?” he asks sweetly.
She glares at him. “I wouldn’t get too comfortable around here if I were you.”
He smiles calmly. “If you say so.”
“Will you two stop it!” I snap. My head begins to spin from the litre of wine I have sunk in record speed. “Brock is my new friend, Mum, and we are having fun together. I can make my own decisions. I am not getting back with Simon. You need to get that into your head.”
Brock rolls his lips as he listens.
“If I wanted to be with Simon, Mum, I would be with Simon.” I throw my arms up in the air. “And quite frankly, I’m annoyed that he calls you like a baby to whine about me.”
“He wasn’t whining.”
“He called you, didn’t he?”
She exhales heavily and folds her arms over her chest. “You’re just confused.” She mutters under her breath.
“No. I’m. Not,” I cry out.
“Tully.” Brock tries to calm me, and I pull out of his arms.
“Now if you both don’t mind, I’ve had a really shitty day. I’m going to bed. You two let yourselves out.” I storm to my bedroom and slam the door shut behind me.
Fuckers.
“So, then what happened?” Rourke frowns as he looks into the microscope, deep in concentration.
“I don’t know. I went to sleep with the shits. When I woke up, they were both gone, so I’m assuming they left soon after I stormed off.” I shrug. “They probably had a fight on the way out. Both of them are strong characters, and Brock was definitely not putting up with her interfering crap.”
“Jesus.” He picks up another slide and puts it under the microscope. “Why is Simon calling your mother now?”
“Because my parents love him, and his mother and father have become best friends with my mother and stepfather.”
Rourke scowls. “It’s just weird.”
“I know.” I blow out a deep breath. “And fucking annoying.”
“Did you call Brock this morning?”
“No.” I drop into my seat. “And I’m not going to. I’m not getting railroaded by him, either.” I turn on my computer and wait for it to boot up.
“Hey.” I hear a familiar voice over my shoulder, and I smile. “How’s my favourite sister?”
I smile as Peter walks into the lab. “Hello.”
He turns his attention to Rourke. “Hey, Rourke.” He smiles at everyone around us and waves.
“Got time for a coffee?” he asks.
“I can’t. I just had a break.” An idea comes to me and I narrow my eyes. “Has Mum sent you in here to talk to me?”
He smirks. “She may have called me at six in the morning to tell me you’ve lost your mind and that I need to speak to you urgently.”
I groan out loud. “Oh, for God’s sake.” I slam the folder across to the other side of my desk. “She’s a damn busy body, and she needs to mind her own business.”
Pete chuckles.
“What did you say to her?” I snap.
He holds his hands up in front of him, sensing my frustration. “Just that I would check on you.”
“Checked.” I roll my eyes. “Now, I’m very busy and I have to get back to work. You should go.”
He leans onto my desk with his behind. “Who’s this guy that you’re seeing?”
“Oh God, not you, too?” I begin to hit the keys on my computer with force. Why is everyone so fucking annoying?
“What?” He smiles innocently.
“I’d be careful if I were you,” Rourke mutters as he studies his specimen. “She’s in full bitch mode today.”
I glare at Rourke and he withers, wisely choosing to go back to his microscope.
“I’m just seeing someone casually. It’s nothing serious. It’s just a guy I met at the gym.”
“Okay.” He stands and smirks at Rourke. “My job here is done. Information will be reported.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re as bad as Simon, running to Mum all the time.”
He chuckles. “Nobody’s as bad as Simon.” He shakes his head as he walks out of the office. “He’s got her on speed dial.”
I walk to the bus stop, deep in thought. I haven’t heard from Brock today and it makes me wonder what my mother said to him last night. The poor bastard. He didn’t ask to be brought into all this shit with my ex and his little fan club. I’ll call him when I get home. I lean on the side of the shelter, take my phone out and scroll through it. A message pops up from Brock. I smile and click it open.
BROCK: You look gorgeous today.
Pink is your colour.
I smile and frown. How does he know I’m wearing pink? I glance up and there, across the road, he’s standing, leaning against his parked car. He’s wearing blue jeans, a white T-shirt, and his dark, messed up hair and sexy smile make my heart flutter in my chest. My phone beeps again.
BROCK: Need a ride?
I smile and make my way over.
“Hi,” I breathe.
“Hi.” His playful eyes hold mine. He has that look about him, the one that talks to my lady parts. No, actually, it doesn’t talk. It conquers them and drags them back to his cave, neanderthal style.
I smile as the energy swirls between us. It feels like I haven’t seen him in forever. “You didn’t call me today.
“You seemed like you needed some space.”
“Not from you.”
He takes my hand in his and pulls me close, wrapping his big arms around me. I close my eyes as he holds me tight. I don’t think there is a better feeling than being in his arms.
“Do you want to go and get something to eat?”
I smile up at him. “Actually, I would like to fuck, but we can eat first, I suppose.”
He chuckles and throws me a sexy wink. “Good plan.” He opens the car door for me and I climb in, smiling to myself. I turn into a different person when I’m with him. I would never have said something that suggestive to Simon.
Brock starts the car, and ten minutes later we are sitting in a Mexican restaurant. Mariachi music is being piped throughout the garden courtyard, and there are beautiful fairy lights strung out overhead to create a magical feel.
It’s a warm summer night, and for the first time in two days, I feel relaxed
“What will it be?” the cute waiter asks us, armed with his notepad and pen.
Brock gestures to me and I frown as I peruse the menu. “Can I have a salted margarita in a martini glass, and the nachos, please?”
“Sure thing.” He turns his attention to Brock.
“I’ll have a Corona and the nachos.” He folds his menu in half and passes it over before his eyes come up to mine. “Blow out.”
I smirk. “What does that mean?’
“It means I don’t eat crap and drink on a week night. I’m usually at the gym right now. You’re a bad influence, Pocket.”
My mouth falls open. “Me?” I gasp. “You’re the only bad influence around here.”
He slides his hand up my leg under the table and licks his lips as his naughty eyes hold mine. There it is-that electricity I get from his every touch.
“Thank you.” I sigh.
A frown crosses his face. “For?”
“For not being demanding and obnoxious yesterday.”
Our drinks arrive. “Here you go. I have a salted margarita and a Corona.”
“Thank you.” We both smile as we take them from him.
Brock sips his beer and frowns. “Do you think I’m demanding and obnoxious all the time?”
“No.” I sip my drink. “God, this is good.” I gesture to my glass. “But sometimes you can be,” I add.
“Like when?”
“Like when you demanded I call Simon in front of you.”
His eyes hold mine for a moment.
“What?” I ask.
He shrugs. “It’s hard for me to deal with an ex on the scene when I’ve never-”
“When you’ve never had one?” I cut in.
“Yeah. I guess.” He drinks his beer and then places it back on the table. “I just don’t know if you’ll go back to him one day.”