Fast and Reckless: The Fraternity Brothers Series Book Two Read online

  “Dude, you need another beer?” Lennon calls from the cooler where he’s getting a mini bottle of wine for Kelly and a beer for himself.

  I hold up my half-full bottle. “Nah, still workin’ on this one.”

  The two of them make their way over to sit next to the fire. The sound of the waves lapping on the beach behind us is mesmerizing as we all stare into the flames.

  We sit in silence listening to the crackling fire until someone cranks some music. The atmosphere changes from serene to headbanging, and suddenly, I wish I had stayed home. The calm of nature isn’t usually my thing, but, in the light of Layna’s absence, it was soothing my bruised soul.

  “Hey, this seat taken?” a sultry voice says from over my left shoulder. I look up at a blonde bombshell dressed in a bikini top and long sarong. A total surfer type if I ever saw one. Any other night I’d have been mentally high-fiving myself for scoring such a hot chick so effortlessly. But, tonight I want Layna or nothing at all.

  I’m not one to be rude, though, so I shrug and gesture to the sand-level lawn chair next to me. “Not yet, knock yourself out.”

  Her eyebrows pop up in surprise as if she’s not used to being treated with indifference. That doesn’t keep her from sitting down, though, and before I know it, we’re chatting about everything from board wax to the president.

  Her name is Sparkle, she’s from L.A., and she lives to surf. She’s cool, and I’d probably be interested if my mind weren’t counting the minutes until Layna arrives.

  “So, what’s the fastest you’ve ever driven in a race?” she asks drawing a picture of a crab in the sand with a stick between our chairs.

  “I went two hundred and thirty miles per hour a couple of times. It depends on the race, the track, and what kind of car I’m driving.”

  “Wow, that’s nuts. I went one hundred and ten with my ex-boyfriend once on the interstate, but he got stopped by a state trooper.”

  Five points for slipping in that she’s single—too bad I don’t care. What’s wrong with me? I have a tan, sexy-ass beach bum who’s totally into me hanging on my every word. I could take her home and bang her all night long right now if I wanted to. Hell, if Layna doesn’t show up, I still might.

  No, no I won’t.

  I have to stop whoring around. I’m a grown-ass man, a college graduate, a talented driver, and an entrepreneur. It’s about time I start acting like an adult, and I want to do that with Layna Love. But, where the hell is she?

  “I bet that was one hell of a ticket.”

  “Yeah.” She giggles and finishes her beer. “You want another beer?” she asks looking at my now empty bottle.

  “You don’t have to get it, I’ll go. Do you need something, too?” I ask.

  She smiles and reaches out to touch my hand. “Yeah, sure.”

  “Same?” I ask nodding at her empty beer.

  “No, surprise me,” she says, her voice thick with seduction.

  Shit, she thinks I’m into her too, that’s just great. I’ll make like I’m going to the keg and split. It doesn’t look like Layna’s coming anyway, and she’s the reason I’m here.

  My phone pings, and I look down at the glowing screen and read a text message from my pal Max.

  Max: Kennedy announced his retirement, there’s hope for you, man!

  “Yesss…” I hiss to myself, but Sparkle is watching me and leans her head in close to mine to read the screen.

  “Good news?” she says so close that her sweet, warm breath makes my pulse quicken.

  “Uh, yeah,” I say jerking away from her tempting, warm body. She smiles a knowing smile that says she knows she’s weakening my resolve.

  I stand up. “I’ll go get our drinks.”

  She reaches up and takes my hand placing my palm against her cheek. Looking up at me with her big saucer-blue eyes she croons, “I can’t wait.”

  I want to snatch my hand away, but I don’t want to look like a dick, so I slowly remove it from her grasp. I glance up at the parking lot where more people are getting out of their cars to join the party. It’s impossible to see their faces in the dark, but one silhouette freezes at the edge of the lot.

  Fiona hops up from a blanket and yells, “Layna! Over here, girl!” She waves her arms at the hesitating form. Layna. Fuck, she probably thinks I’m with Flicker, Shimmer, Sparkle, or whatever the fuck her name is.

  Walking briskly over to Fiona, I try to think of a way to explain to Layna that what she just saw isn’t what it looked like.

  Layna begins to slowly make her way down the sand. I have to talk fast. “Fi, I think she just saw that girl flirting with me by the fire. Help me. I swear to God I wasn’t, it was all her. I’ve been waiting for Layna, and I only came here tonight to be with Layna.”

  Fiona looks at me with a mixture of concern and shock. “Damn, son, you got it bad for this good girl, huh?”

  “Yes, please… I’ll do anything if you have my back right now. Anything,” I hiss.

  “Okay, okay, no need to beg. Desperation doesn’t look so hot on you, dude. Chill.”

  “Thank you,” I say and tussle her hair like she’s my kid sister because she sort of is.

  “Hey, I’m glad you made it. I was starting to think you were gonna blow us off,” Fiona says as Layna and her best friend, Mimi, approach.

  Layna is dressed in a short, flowing white sundress and adorable pink Converse with a macramé bag slung over her shoulder holding a bottle of wine. Her black pixie hair is wild and messy, yet it looks like she just stepped off the front of Vogue magazine. She has a way of looking stylish and put together even when technically she’s not. Mimi is dressed more casually in a pair of cut-offs and a Rolling Stone t-shirt. She’s a rock chick where Layna is Sweet Valley High meets Hollywood.

  “I’d never do that,” Layna says enveloping Fiona in a hug. “This is my best friend, Mimi. Mimi, this is Fiona, and you know Damian.”

  When she says ‘you know Damian,’ her voice changes from perky to blah, and my body stiffens. She did see the exchange between Shimmer, Shine, fuck, what’s that girl’s name again and me?

  “Hey, Damian. Nice to meet you, Fiona,” Mimi says.

  “You, too. Help yourself to the bar if you’re thirsty. The food should be ready soon.”

  “Don’t mind if I do. I hope you have the stuff to make a cosmopolitan,” Mimi says heading off toward the alcohol.

  Fiona hitches her thumb over her shoulder at Mimi. “I think I like her.”

  “She’s great,” Layna says without enthusiasm.

  “You don’t sound too convinced,” Fiona says.

  “Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, it’s been a long day.” Layna yawns.

  “I’m kidding, no need to apologize. I’m not used to Damian having a nice girlfriend. All his exes were flaky bitches. You’re the best thing that ever happened to him.” Fiona beams at me puffing out her chest.

  I lean forward and boldly kiss Layna on the cheek. “She’s right, you know. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

  She raises her eyebrows. “Really? I thought maybe she was the best thing that ever happened to you,” she says cocking her head in Fizzle’s direction.

  Fiona laughs, and my stomach seizes up. She thinks I’m with her. Great, just great.

  “Her? No way, she’s a surfer groupie, totally not D’s type. She flirts shamelessly, but if you don’t live on the water, she’ll never let you inside her bikini, believe me, I’ve tried,” Fiona scoffs glancing at the tanned beauty wistfully.

  Layna’s eyes go wide, thrown by Fiona’s bisexuality. I guess I never mentioned that swings both ways before. Thank you, Fi, for that little bit of shock value.

  “Oh… I uh…” Layna stammers.

  Fiona snaps her eyes away from Sparkle and shrugs. “I don’t discriminate,” she says, smiling. “How about a drink?”

  “Thanks, Fi, I got her.” I take Layna’s hand and lead her away a few steps before she tugs on my hand.

&nbs
p; “Nothing for me, thanks. I’m good.” A forced smile cracks her face as she removes her hand from mine.

  “Are you sure? We have a little bit of everything.”

  “No thanks.” She looks at me and quickly shifts her gaze to the sand at her feet.

  “Layna, seriously, I wasn’t messing with that girl. I came here to see you tonight, only you.” I hook her chin with one finger and guide her gaze back to mine. She blinks once, and her eyes fill with tears. “Hey, hey, what’s wrong? I didn’t mean to upset you. Come here.” I pull her against me and breathe in her signature scent of champagne, pears, and clove—so unique, so different, so special—like her.

  She sniffs against my shirt, and I rub her back up and down. “Tell me, what’s got you so emotional?” I ask.

  “Can we go somewhere and talk?”

  “We can sit by the fire if you want.”

  “No, this isn’t something I want to say in front of anyone else.”

  Shit.

  4

  Layna

  I hadn’t intended on breaking the news to Damian tonight. I wanted to come to this barbeque and see him again, feel him out, decide if he’s still interested. After the way he just looked into my eyes, I know that he is.

  But how interested? Enough to spend the rest of his life with me? Enough to raise a baby with me, or at the very least, step up and support it? I don’t need money, but I think every child needs and deserves to have their father present in his or her life. Mimi’s right, he deserves to know no matter what happens between us.

  With his arm around my shoulder, we walk down the beach away from the bonfire and music to a quiet nook in the rocks. “How about here?” he asks in a soft tone pointing at a flat spot on a big rock.

  “Sure.” I sit, and he sits next to me with his hip and leg pressed against mine wrapping his arm around me. We sit together staring out at the dark water rolling up onto the shore until I feel warm and safe and protected.

  “Do you want to tell me what that was all about back there?”

  I rest my head on his shoulder and lean into him. “I’ve missed you.”

  “You have?” he asks, his voice sounding genuinely surprised and a little hurt.

  “Yes. I’m so sorry. I should’ve explained how I get when I’m facing a deadline. It wasn’t fair of me to shut you out like that.”

  “I have to admit, I was kinda pissed. I figured you just decided you weren’t into me after all.”

  “Not at all. When I’m in the home stretch of a novel and the pressure is on, that’s when I do my best writing. It’s also when I do my worst communicating. And bathing. And eating. It had nothing to do with you. Ask Mimi, she’s used to me going MIA for weeks at a time.”

  “I believe you. Next time give me a heads-up, though. Okay?”

  I place my hand over his heart. “I will, I promise.”

  “Is that what the tears were all about?”

  I wish. “No. I’m sorry, it’s just that I don’t know how to say this.” A shiver runs up my spine.

  “Layna, you’re making me nervous. You’re not sick, are you?”

  “No, well, not really.”

  “Not really, what does that mean? You can tell me. Whatever it is, it’ll be okay.”

  I draw a big breath and blurt, “I… I’m pregnant.”

  He stares at me for a moment before closing his eyes tight. I watch as his world turns upside down and then right-side up again.

  “What?”

  “I don’t know what happened. I’m so careful. We always used a condom, and I got my birth control shot on time.”

  “Are… are you sure?”

  “Yes. Four home pregnancy tests sure.” I wilt from within. This is not how I wanted this to go, not at all.

  5

  Damian

  “Sometimes those are wrong, though, aren’t they?” My mind is scrambling for ways out, reasons a pregnancy test might be falsely positive, but I can’t come up with anything. This can’t be happening. We always used protection, and she was on birth control. If there is anything in this world, I’m always careful about protection during sex. I don’t want to have kids. I have never wanted kids, never wanted to pass on my fucked-up genes to another generation.

  “I went to the doctor today, and they did a blood test. I’m six weeks along. That’s where I was coming from when I bumped into you at the medical plaza.”

  I stand up suddenly and begin to pace in the sand scrubbing my face with one hand. I’m sure this isn’t the reaction she was hoping for, but I can’t help myself. We only dated for two months before she went into her writing cave and shut me out. Not nearly enough time to talk about serious things like the future or kids. If we had, I’d have made sure she knew going in that I’m never having children… or wasn’t going to have children. Now it seems I might not have a choice unless I can convince Layna otherwise.

  “Damian? Say something… please.”

  I drop my hand and look at her fear-stricken face in the dark. She’s crying again, dammit. I hate knowing the pain on her face is my fault. I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s in my blood to cause pain to those I care about. That’s why I don’t allow myself to get close to women. I’m a player, a womanizer, and a manwhore as my friends affectionately call me. Even though that terminology hurts, I’d never admit it because it’s true.

  “Damian?”

  “Sorry, I uh, I don’t know what to say. What are you going to do?”

  Her mouth snaps shut, and her head jerks back in surprise. “What am I going to do? As in, am I keeping the baby?” Her voice is cold, her tone irritated.

  I nod, too much of a coward to say yes out loud. I want to ask if she’s sure it’s mine, but I don’t think she would put herself through this unless she was sure. Besides, she’s not the type to sleep around—that’s what drew me to her in the first place. She’s sweet and kind and giving and pure. Nothing like the girls I usually bring into my bed. Not like them at all.

  “Yes, Damian, I am, and I had hoped you might want to be involved, but after seeing how you’re reacting, I think I have my answer.”

  I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. The urge to run, to leave this conversation and forget it ever happened is so strong I have to push my feet into the sand to keep from doing it.

  “Hey, guys, the food’s ready if you’re hungry,” Lennon says walking up with a plate piled high with the barbequed chicken that smelled good moments ago before I found out I’m going to be a father. Now the smoky, tangy scent turns my stomach.

  Lennon stops when he sees Layna’s tear-stained face and looks to me. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. Is everything okay?” he asks, his gaze returning to Layna.

  “No, man, nothing’s okay. In fact, nothing will ever be okay again.” The hurtful words spew from my mouth before I can stop them. I can’t hold back, and I turn to run toward my car. Lennon yells my name, and it sounds like he’s talking into a tin can from miles away. That’s where I want to be, miles away from here. This news, this barbeque, this reality doesn’t feel one bit real at all.

  I jump into my car and slam my foot on the gas whipping out of my spot. I yank the steering wheel and switch my foot to the break causing a piercing screech of my tires before peeling out of the parking lot. In a trance and without thinking, I drive myself to a private track owned by one of my racing buddies. Blake lives on an enormous plot of land his parents left him when they retired and moved to Europe. He uses the track to improve his times, and I use it for therapy. Speed is the only therapy that’s ever helped me. It’s saved my life more times than I can count and once it almost took it.

  Racing helps me escape my past and all the horrible things in it. When I’m moving at speeds of 180 mph, all my cares fall away, and it’s just me, my car, and the track. Ten laps later in the semi-darkness, I’m finally in the zone, but I still haven’t outrun the fact that I’m going to be a father.

  Blake keeps the lights on around the airplane hangar
that’s situated to one side of the track just in case. He knows I come out here from time to time, and he says he would rather pay the power bill than scrape me off the asphalt. He’s a good friend.

  I work at putting tonight out of my mind and think about waking up this morning in my bed alone, having breakfast on my patio, and taking Hunter to the doctor. The doctor. The medical plaza. Layna going to the obstetrician to confirm that she’s pregnant with my baby.

  Fuck.

  My foot presses harder on the accelerator until I’m flying. The lights around the hangar flash on and off twice snapping me from my thoughts, letting me know that Blake is here, and he’s warning me to slow down.

  I ease up on the straightaway and slow it down for a few laps before pulling into the pits. Blake is leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest shaking his head. He knows something’s wrong. He’s been known to take out his frustrations on the asphalt once in a while too.

  I sit gripping the steering wheel for a few minutes trying to relax. It doesn’t work. I get out and slam the door of my Porsche keeping my back to him. I don’t know if I’m ready to talk about this shit to anyone yet, and I know he’s going to have questions.

  “Whenever you’re ready, man. Must be something bad to get you out here going speeds like that in the dark.”

  I continue to face the inside of the track with my back to him as I speak. “My life got flipped upside down an hour ago. I needed to blow off some steam.”

  “Well, I’d say you did that. Anything you wanna talk about?”

  “No. Yes. I don’t fuckin’ know.” I turn and rest my arms on the top of my car clasping my hands together.

  “How about we go with yes since holding shit inside never does anybody any good?”

  I blow out a deep breath. “That woman I told you about, Layna, the one I said might be the one who changes me forever.”