Harassenger: Backseat Admirer ✔️

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four

I sat cuddled next to a good romance book, folding a fragile piece to mark my spot. The pages were worn with age, and I was afraid to flip too quickly. I took a sip of my glass of wine, wishing it was a diet coke or a chocolate milk, to be honest, but wine was the only thing that gave me a buzz.

I heard the bolt of the door, my trio of friends coming in from a day at the beach. I wiped my eyes, where dark circles were likely forming from keeping my eyes buried in a book.

"Hey, guys." I greeted, a smile tugging on my mouth. I felt bad for Mick who had been suckered into hanging out with Holt, but it was also funny to see his displeasure.

Mick took a seat next to me, his arm and thigh brushing against me as he strips off his sandals. His hair, groomed to perfection regardless of the windy day, looked like satin I wanted to run my hands through.

"Hey, babe." He called back. I'll never get used to his nicknames in front of everyone.

I set my book aside as Trixie took a spot on the chair behind the coffee table, Holt taking the other available chair, and Della examining her complexion in the mirrored panels on the wall.

"Did you all have fun today?" I asked the group.

"As good as any day on the beach. Holt and I fished and rented some surfboards. It was a real bonding experience. It's safe to say we're bros now, right Holt, buddy?" A sense of mockery was hinted in the voice of the man next to me, and the face held a fictitious smile of sorts.

Mick's hand rested against my thigh, inching upwards as he stared at Holt. I held in the gasp that threatened to escape the depths of my soul.

Remember, he warned me there would be a lot of indecent touching in front of my friends, and I agreed to it.

It was easier said when he wasn't caressing me in places I hadn't been touched before. His hand melted against my needy body, horizontally rubbing like it was the most casual act, and not like the crime he was really committing.

I tried to reach for his hand to stop his massage to ease my penetrating heart, but he took it as a sign I wanted him to hold my hand instead. He held my hand loosely against my thigh, his leg intertwining like vines with mine. He smelled of cinnamon and cologne, and yet the concoction still didn't compete with the overpowering smell of Holt. It was pleasant and soothing, and I wanted to bathe in it. Or bathe with him. Whichever came first.

I had almost forgotten there were people in the room.

"Yes, friends." Both boys played nice, although Holt was forcing himself more than usual.

"Yupp." I looked at Mick while spoke, watching his pale pink lips move and his muscular arms gesturing his hands as he spoke. I was oblivious to the actual conversation, only tuning in when I heard my name.

"What did you do today, Natt?" Holt asked me.

Mick knew what I was doing today but refrained from asking me in front of everyone. Everyone in this room knew about my grandmother, with the exception of Della, so our meeting wasn't something I had to keep secret.

Mick's hand left mine and rested against my shoulder, much like every tall person does to their short friend.

"Well, I saw my grandmother today. It wasn't my ideal day, but as most of you know, I hadn't seen her in years. I made amends with her, deciding I didn't want to hold a grudge, not for her benefit, but for my own."

"Did you at least knock her in the mouth for what she did?" Halt wasn't usually a surly man, but the way he violently talked about my grandmother, I might have to change my opinion.

"Thank you, something we can agree on!" Mick clicked the tip of his tongue.

"Guys, no I didn't knock my grandmother in the mouth!"

"After what's she's done to you, you should have." Trixie said, everyone in the room ganging up on me but Della, who was still busy with her face in the mirror. She was my favorite person in the room right now.

"But, it's good that you made amends, honestly. You don't deserve any bad memories on your vacation, and I suppose punching your grandma might be something awful to remember."

"Yes, thank you, Mick. I told her I wanted things to go back to the way they were, which means getting a call every other month that I may or may not answer." I said.

"You sure you're okay about it?" Mick grabbed my hand again, and this time, I closed my hand around his.

"I am better than ever." And I was.

"What are you guys talking about? Ya'll are boring me to death." And just like that, Della becomes my least favorite in the room again.

"We're talking to Natt about something important. Do you have to be so insensitive?" Holt had snapped at Dell, his eyes piercing through her reflection in the mirror.

Lately, we've been hearing more of their bickering, but never did they argue in the same room as everyone.

"Forgive me for talking!" She stormed out of the room, arms flailing in the air.

"Della, come on. Della, wait." Holton followed her out, sounds of their bickering heard through the thin walls of the beach house.

Trixie grabbed a bag of chips from her beach bag, taking them with her and told us she was going to listen in on the unhappy couple, leaving Mick and me alone in the living room.

"Did they fight the entire time on the beach?"

Mick cocked his head in thought, adorably crinkling his long nose.

"There was a time when Holt got up for drinks. Alcohol calmed them down for a bit." He said.

"Wow, sounds bad. I'm glad I dodged a bullet by skipping out on the beach today." I pretended to wipe the sweat of my forehead, relieved.

"Good for you. I had to hear it all." He grunted.

"Sorry."

"Well, baby, it's okay. You had more important things to attend to." Did he just call me baby with no one around? Catching himself as fast as he finished talking, he squirmed in his seat.

"Sorry, I don't know why I said that. I guess subconsciously I thought they were still in here." He continued, flustered. Calling me 'baby' had caused both of us to awkwardly stare at one another, my chest flushing with every glance from his beautiful, blue orbs.

"It's fine." I hadn't realized his leg was still locked against mine until now. I accidentally pushed myself closer, moving my knee against his, and he didn't budge. In fact, it felt all too natural for the both of us.

"Natalie, I've had a good time being here...with you, and getting to know you, but I have a question."

"What?" Ask me anything. Better yet, ask me to kiss you.

"After your vacation ends and the real world is back, we'll still be friends right?" Friends, of course. I'm always the friend.

I smiled despite my disappointment.

"I don't usually make out with a man and let him call me baby then become friends with him afterward, but for you, I'll make an exception."

"Good, because I'm not ready to let you go."