Page 11 of End Game

LAYLA

“Come in.” I watch the doorway to see who is on the other side. My heart starts to race as I hope it might be Branch coming in for round three.

Round one, on the patio, was the most voyeuristic sexcapade I’ve ever had.

Round two, almost an hour later, was a quickie with my hands against the refrigerator door.

It was an impromptu bang session that resulted from him coming down in a pair of boxers and me bent over picking up a piece of ice off the floor.

Although my body aches, and my neck apparently kinked at some point and is beginning to scream in discomfort much the same way I was screaming his name just a little while ago, I would totally, absolutely, with no hesitation say yes to round three. And four. And five.

The thought of Branch’s hands touching my skin makes me shiver as I await the opening of the door. I love the way they feel rough, almost like a fine sandpaper, against me and the way his stubble scratches along my skin.

Poppy trounces in, a wide, jovial smile parting her pinked cheeks, ruining my daydream.

“There you are!” she says, almost skipping to the side of the bed where I sit. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“Did you guys just get back?” I ask, glancing at the clock. “You were gone forever.”

“I didn’t think you’d mind. Besides, you can get lost on backroads, you know.”

Even if she wasn’t my best friend, I’d know that look in her eye. “Don’t even tell me. He’s my brother,” I gag.

“Who else am I supposed to talk about it with? You’re my bestie.”

“You’re out of luck on this one. There’s not a detail in the world I want to know about Finn,” I flinch. “Just the thought makes me ill.”

“If he weren’t your brother, the things I’d?—”

“But. He. Is.”

She giggles, her happiness contagious, as she sits on the bed beside me. “Tell me what you were doing while we were off back-roading.”

“I got some work done. Made a few calls . . .”

“Got in a fight with a cat and it clawed the top of your boobs . . .”

“What?” I look down to see red marks from Branch’s fingers and lips marking my chest. “Shit.”

“And, just like that, the Illinois Legends lose a wide receiver at the hands of a very tight end.”

“Shut up,” I laugh. “I’ll just put on another shirt. Finn will never know.”

“He will never know what, exactly?” she asks, tapping her chin with a fingernail.

“That Branch just made me come five times in the span of less than two hours while telling me how beautiful I am and how much he loves my body and . . .” My face heats and I look away. “Best afternoon of my life, pun intended.”

In a very un-Poppy-like way, she says nothing. After a long pause, I turn to look at her. She’s watching me agape.

“What?” I ask.

“Five times? Are you fucking serious?”

“Oh, the fucking was serious all right, and yes, five times. I mean, a couple of them sort of ran together so that’s not a scientific number or anything.”

“But five times . Damn.”

“I was hoping you were him,” I sigh.

“I have never been happier that I let you talk me into something I didn’t want to do before. Coming up here was the best decision we ever made.”

Our laughter blends together as I stand and change out my shirt.

“So, you and Branch are actively fucking now?” she asks.

“No. I don’t think so. I mean . . . No. We’re not.”

She wrinkles her nose.

“Maybe for the weekend, but that’s it,” I say, dropping back on the bed. “He’s this crazy confusion of dangerous and wonderful. I’ve never laughed so much with a man, Pop. He’s terribly funny and has the stupidest sense of humor. And buried under all that brawn is a nice guy, I think.”

Remembering back to his stories about his Grandma and the way he gives me room to breathe when he senses I’m a little overwhelmed, a softness eases through me.

“He can be sweet. Then he’s so filthy I get whiplash.” Wrapping my hand around the back of my neck, I work it back and forth. “Literally.”

“So? This seems like a good thing.”

“It’s not,” I sigh. “I tried to trust my gut with this one, but now I’m thinking maybe it was more my vagina than my stomach. It’s tricky.”

“Seems pretty cut and dried to me. You came five times. What’s there to overthink?”

“That it’s me, not you, Pop. I don’t keep doing the same thing over and over and over again.”

“I do if it’s worth it,” she laughs.

Standing, I walk to the desk my dad bought at a flea market when I was twelve.

It’s inexpensive and we painted it white one summer and left it in the sun to dry.

It ended up raining that night and the paint was technically ruined, but I loved the splatter marks, the little indentions in the surface and begged them to let me keep it as-is. They did.

Running my finger over the bumps, I listen to Finn and Branch’s voices trickling up from downstairs.

“It’s not worth it to me,” I admit. “I think the sex was so good because we both know where we stand. This is a weekend fluke, a romp in the final days of summer before we go back to reality and assume our real lives.”

“You don’t think you’ll see him once this weekend is over?”

I look at her. “I don’t want to see him once this weekend is over.

” Dropping my hand from the desk, I shrug.

“I want to get serious about things. I’ve done enough gambling with my happiness over the last few years to know I don’t win.

Dating athletes is the biggest blackjack hand ever and the House doesn’t lose. ”

“I can’t handle all this philosophy stuff,” she says, scrambling to her feet. “Subject change: Peck said to tell you he’s happy to get even but you have to show up.”

Poppy leads me downstairs, telling me about how much she loved Machlan and Crave and the backroads of Linton County.

I listen to her stories, even admire the way she seems to have taken up with my friends, but in reality, I’m tuning her out. Searching for the sound of Branch’s voice is almost impossible over the roar of white noise through my ears coupled with her rambling.

My hand trembles as it glides down the banister as we descend the staircase.

I haven’t seen him since he pinned me to the refrigerator and fucked me so hard it knocked the little basket off the top my mom keeps receipts in and I’m nervous to see him now with Poppy and Finn around.

It reminds me of being a teenager and having a major crush on a boy and having to interact with him in front of your friends.

You know one little slip can make you the laughingstock of the school.

As we round the corner and my sight lands on him sitting at the island, his easy smile melts away any apprehension I had.

“I got burgers to go from Crave,” Finn says as the microwave blares behind him. “I had to heat them up.”

“Really? From what I heard, the entire car was pretty hot on the way home,” I say, trying not to smile.

Branch, however, doesn’t bother stifling his as he stops the microwave and takes out a burger. “Poppy, you little rascal.”

“You—” she starts, then realizes her misstep and stops. With a quick glance at me, she starts again. “ You are an asshole.”

Branch hands me a burger, his fingers brushing mine as I accept the sandwich. We sit at the table, on opposite ends, and start to eat before I realize my brother and Poppy aren’t.

“Aren’t you guys eating?” I ask.

“I already ate,” Finn smirks. “No, really, Machlan is having a party at the lake tonight. He invited us to come out.”

Not wanting to be the first to respond, I look at Branch over my burger. He searches my eyes before turning his attention to Finn.

“You two wanting to go?”

“Yes,” Poppy giggles. “Those people are crazy. Seriously, who knew rednecks could be so much fun?”

“I love the Gibson boys,” I say, ignoring a strange look from Branch.

“But I don’t really feel like one of their parties tonight.

It gets loud and the last time we were there, Peck let out the neighbor’s cows and we spent all night trying to herd them back into the pen without the owner knowing it. ”

“I’ll stay with her,” Branch says, his offer sounding amazingly innocent. Still, Finn raises his brow. “My agent sent me some contracts for endorsements that I’ve had for a couple of days. I’m happy to stay and get that shit done.”

“That’s all you’re getting done, right?” Finn asks.

“I don’t know what you’re referring to.” Branch winks, tossing his paper plate in the trash, and carries his burger with him as he disappears out of the kitchen.

Poppy follows him. “I’m going to grab a sweatshirt in case it gets chilly tonight. Be right back.”

I almost feel guilty that Branch wasn’t warned that Poppy’s behind him. She’s not going for a sweatshirt. She’s going up there to interrogate him in a way only she can.

Maybe it’ll be good for him. There’s no doubt no one has ever put him in his place like Poppy Quinn is about to.

I’m chuckling under my breath when I look at Finn. “What?” I ask, taking in his puzzled face.

“Heard from Callum?”

“No. Why? Should I have?”

He shrugs. “Not really. You just seem really chipper this afternoon.”

“Can’t a girl just be happy?”

“Sure. Just wondering why.”

“Because my big brother is such a respectful, loving guy that stays out of my business,” I say, standing up and walking around the island. I kiss him on the cheek. “Now go play with Poppy and be happy yourself.”

He stills, his eyes turning a deep shade of emerald like our father’s. “I’m not kidding, Lay. Don’t fuck with Branch.”

“He’s nice.”

“Yeah. He’s nice. But his people skills aren’t what I’m worried about.”

“Finn, seriously, stop it.”

“I work with these guys. I’m Branch’s friend. I see things you don’t see, know things you don’t know. I’m sick and tired of watching you hook up with guys like this and then get your heart broken.”

“My heart is not broken, thank you very much,” I glower, placing my hands on my hips. “My heart was a little tender for a minute because that’s a normal thing in a break up with anyone except heartless assholes that just jump from one bed to another.”