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She averts her eyes and then raises them back to mine. Her expression is serious as she says, “If you are up to something, just don’t hurt her.”
I pinch the bottom of her chin so she looks at me. “Liv, honestly, my head’s a mess right now. I have no intention of getting into a relationship with Tori or anybody else.”
“Good!” She stands up. “Then have fun in T.J., and be careful. It’s not always safe down there.”
I chuckle. “Thanks for the advice, but I think I can handle it.”
Chapter 11
Tori
Brady and Liv show up promptly at three. When I hand Liv my keys, she’s looking at me with her patented “you are so going to spill later” look. When Brady sees Harrison, it’s apparent something is up with the two of them. Both of them stand taller, and their chests swell. Minus the feathers, they look like peacocks.
“Brady,” Harrison greets him flatly.
Brady scowls. “Harrison.”
Wow! Just pull them out and measure them already. A testosterone-charged stare-down is taking place right in front of my eyes. It’s quite noticeable these two don’t like each other, and the tension in the air cramps the room.
“Harrison, got a minute?” Ted’s rough voice calls from the back. Harrison finally ends the challenge and shoots me a quizzical glance. The tension follows him when he goes to see Ted.
“You ready to go?”
Brady turns to me, and I sigh. He’s too damn fine for his own good. The sleeves of his T-shirt stretch over the curve of his biceps. I remember what’s under his shirt, and stare at his chest. I even drool a little. Before I’m caught salivating, I look away.
“Yep, all set.” I’m about to walk to the back room and tell Harrison that I’ll see him tonight when Brady intertwines our fingers and pulls me toward the door. Talk about tingles. I have them all over my body, and they start right between my legs. Just friends, I remind myself.
“Later, sis,” Brady yells to Liv from the door.
“Bye, you two.” When I turn, she mouths, what’s up?
I roll my eyes and wave goodbye. I laugh silently, knowing her thoughts are going to drive her nuts all night.
Brady opens the passenger door to his truck, and I pull myself up and in. He slides in the driver’s side and starts up the engine. He repositions himself in the seat to get comfortable. As his hand grips the gearshift, I remember how his hands felt on my skin. I’m filled with anticipation about where he’s taking me, nervous with his close proximity, and being alone with him.
Before Brady pulls away, he turns his head to face me, his green eyes bright. “You have your license with you, right?”
“Yes, but why do I need it?”
He winks. “You’ll need it to get back across the border.”
Border? We’re going to Tijuana. “Why are we going to Tijuana?”
“You’ll see.” His eyebrows lift and his smile makes my insides warm. Just friends, I remind myself again.
As we make our way onto the 805 Freeway, it’s uncomfortably quiet. I gaze out the window, watching the cloudless sky pass by in an endless sea of bright blue peace.
Thinking back to what Liv said about Brady and his ex-girlfriend, curiosity gets the best of me, as it so often does, and I decide to broach the subject. “Liv told me you broke up with your girlfriend. I’m sorry, Brady.”
His shoulders sag slightly. Don’t I know curiosity killed the cat and I should keep my nosy trap shut? The faintest hint of a smile lifts the side of his lips. “Thanks. Vanessa was pretty great.” He’s calm but doesn’t look over.
I want him to offer more, but I should let it go. His response was sweetly candid, and the rest of it is none of my business. Liv’s nosy personality has obviously rubbed off on me like a bad rash, because I probe further. “What happened?”
Brady chews on the skin around his thumbnail, while keeping his eyes on the road. He places his hand back on the wheel, then sighs and, to my surprise, answers. “She’s gone, and it’s my fault.”
“But you miss her?” I blurt out brazenly, unable to stop myself.
He shoots me a warning look and then returns his eyes to the road. “Every goddamn day.”
