The Rockstar's bodyguard { A Bethanny Mcnarie novel }

Chapter 35: The Birthday Party { Bethanny POV }

It was the day before my eighteenth birthday.

As stupid as it was, I only really wanted two things. Number one was a bright red Camaro so I could drive to Berkeley in style. My dad was probably going to buy me that, which probably made me spoiled. But at least I knew it was an over the top gift. Number two on my list was a phone call from Aaron Andrews. Sure, I was closer to forgetting my feelings. Aaron and I hadn't spoke since our emails in February. It was May now. He'd almost died and just sent my calls to voicemail. Now, my desire was strictly concern for a friend. Or so I told myself.

Why would I still pine over Aaron? I had a hot, sweet, amazing boyfriend. The scavenger hunt birthday date he'd planned the weekend before led me to a romantic picnic. He was always doing romantic crap like that, which led to lots of making out. I liked Noah so much. Of course I held back because he was going to Georgetown and I was going to Berkeley. We didn't have a future. But boy, it was going to be an amazing ride while it lasted.

But still, some part of me held back because of Aaron. He was my big what if, and in the back of my mind, I knew he was in LA. Why he didn't contact me blew my mind. For all I knew, he was married and working at chip and dale's. Maybe Aaron was a drug dealer. Who knew? I didn't. He wouldn't answer my damn phone call.

"Ok," Jason said, sitting down at the lunch table. "I've got the best birthday plans ever. Beth, prepare to be blown away."

Emily sat down next to Jason, kissing his cheek. I was already comfortable resting under Noah's arm. He always smelled like cinnamon somehow, so snuggling was like heaven.

"Really," I said. "Does it involve strippers?"

"No," Emily said. "I helped him plan it. It's totally fun, but not insane."

"Ok," I said, giving Noah a nervous look.

"I never do this much for girls I'm not banging," Jason said. "You should feel honored, bestie."

"Like you have to work hard for sex," Emily snorted. "I practically beg you for it."

"Hey," Noah said. "I'm your brother, and I'm right here."

I nodded, feeling unsettled.

"Whatever," Emily said. "You guys need t o be more open about sex. How do you ever expect to finally hook up if you can't even joke about sex."

"Did you tell her were not..." Noah whispered to me with a blush.

"No," Emily laughed. "I can tell. You two make out, I've walked in on the dry humping so many times it's unbelievable. Then Bethanny goes home and Noah takes these long showers. I mean god, the longest showers ever. I can tell he's not getting laid. When He dated that gymnast girl he was getting some, always walking around with a grin."

"I think you send too much time focusing on your brother's sex life," I added.

"She has boundary issues," Noah said. "And what Beth and I do or don't do is private. I respect her and our privacy. So butt out, Emily."

"Well I don't respect her privacy," Jason said. "Bethanny, when was the last time you got laid? I mean, I know you're a chick, but doesn't it get old. Don't you want to just like, forgive my bluntness here, bang someone's brains out? "

"Jason, you're a sex addict, " I said.

"Uh huh," Jason said. "So when was it?"

"Freshman year," I said. "Not that it's anyone's business, except for maybe Noah's. But he didn't ask, so..."