Wrecking Ball Read online

  “When you two ladies are done gossiping, throw me a beer,” our fraternity brother, Jake, grumbled from his towel on the ground. Jake had been extra irritable lately. The only serious girlfriend he’d ever had, Tiffany, had dumped him a week ago and last night we’d seen her out at a bar with her tongue down another guy’s throat. Ryan and I had to drag Jake out of there before he punched the guy in the face.

  “Aw, what’s wrong, Jake? Did someone get their period today?” Ryan made a pouty face at him as he reached in the cooler and grabbed a can. “Or are you still crying over Tiffany dumping your ass?” Ryan, our friend, the dick, had no reservations about giving Jake a hard time; Ryan didn’t believe in relationships.

  Jake made a snort. “Dude, you’re a dick.”

  “Alright, ladies. You two put the claws away. We’re here to have fun,” I scolded as I noticed the group of hotties Ryan had been staring at was staring at us. The big-chested girl in the string bikini was part of that group, too. It was going to be an excellent day and we we’re going to have a blast.

  And that’s exactly what we did. Four beers down, the group of girls Ryan honed in on when we arrived, came to join us at our spot and knock back a few with us. By the third hour, I was fighting a boner as the one in the tiny black bikini sat on my lap, wiggling her ass to tease me. I never had a hard time with the ladies. I’d dated a few girls seriously, but none where the big I love you bomb had ever been dropped. I was young and free. What did I need with a potential wife? I was always upfront with the girls I hooked up with. I never made promises I wouldn’t keep, and I never hooked up with them more than a few times.

  As what’s her name sat in my lap and whispered in my ear that she’d like to go somewhere more private, something smacked the back of my head.

  “What the…” My lap dog slid off me as I stood and spun around to see what hit me. And that’s when I laid eyes on the audacious Sophia Marie Campbell.

  “Oh, my God! I’m so sorry!” she groaned as she bent down and picked up the ball.

  I was speechless. She was a wet dream in a red bikini with long blonde hair and legs that went for miles. My eyes immediately fell to her chest when she stood back up, ball tucked under one slim, but toned arm.

  “Are you okay?” She gazed at me, concern in her eyes.

  Everything was stunning about her. Her eyes, her body, her boobs. Her boobs. “Uh, yeah. I—”

  “That hit to your head must’ve messed with your vision. My eyes are up here,” she interrupted me, bending down slightly trying to meet my gaze with hers.

  “Busted!” Ryan laughed from behind me.

  My gaze snapped to hers and I mumbled some sort of excuse, but was saved by Jake.

  “You’ve got quite the arm,” Jake noted as he approached us, and I could tell he was scanning her body from behind his sunglasses. My teeth clenched at the thought.

  “Yeah, just poor aim,” she laughed.

  “Sophia!” One of her friends called from the volleyball net and she turned.

  “Be right there,” she yelled back before returning her focus to me. “Seriously, I’m really sorry.”

  “No worries.” I rubbed the back of my head and shrugged. My mind fumbled for something witty and clever to say to make her laugh again, but her presence overwhelmed me. Most girls went into flirt mode when they were around me, batting eye lashes, biting their lower lips, twirling their hair. Not this girl. With that she gave a slight nod and spun around to head back towards her friends. I couldn’t let her go. I had to think of some way to speak with her. There were guys playing with her. Could one of them be her boyfriend? Did I care?

  “Aw, shit.” I shook my head and took off after her.

  “Where you going, Brandon?” Ryan shouted, but I didn’t answer. Every one of my bodily senses honed in on the beautiful bronzed blonde running away from me.

  “Hey,” I yelled catching her off guard as she spun around.

  “Yeah?” Her eyes were big and brown, almost exotic-looking when paired with her blonde hair.

  “Um, I was wondering if…” I hesitated. When I was chasing her, asking her out didn’t seem like a big deal, but facing her, staring into those beautiful eyes, I wasn’t ready to take the chance she’d say no. “Do you guys need another player?”

  She bounced on her feet for a moment and spun the volleyball between her hands, running her eyes up and down my body as if sizing me up. “You sure you can hang with us?” she challenged with one eyebrow quirked.

  “Yeah. I’m pretty good,” I lied. What the hell am I saying? I suck at volleyball! Truth was, I’d maybe played five times my entire life, but those games went pretty well so I convinced myself I could easily play with a bunch of girls and a few guys.

  “Okay.” She grinned, a playfulness lurking in her eyes. “Let’s see what you got.” When we reached the sandpit where everyone was waiting for her to return with the ball she motioned to me. “Guys, this is…” Her last word trailed off and she turned to me, biting her lip. “I’m so rude. I didn’t even ask your name and I hit you in the head with a ball.”

  “Brandon.”

  “Everyone this is Brandon,” she yelled and ran across the pit to her spot, kicking up sand. “Can you play setter?”

  “Uh, sure.” I shrugged and took the only empty spot I saw, hoping it was where I needed to be. I was glad asking to play didn’t backfire and she included me, but I was disappointed when we weren’t beside each other.

  The game pressed on and the other side immediately gained five points on us. No one on our team outright blamed me, but I could tell the general consensus was—it was my fault. I had a hard time staying in the game because I was too busy trying to catch glimpses of her. I finally snapped to as the ball was flying over the net, and I lunged towards it only to collide head on with Sophia. We both crashed to the ground, mingled with one another, the ball landing right beside us.

  “Game!” one of the girls from the other side squealed and everyone on our side groaned.

  “Are you okay? I’m so sorry,” I apologized frantically. Nice move dumbass, you just physically crushed the girl you have the hots for.

  Rubbing her head where it hit mine, she asked, “So, you don’t really play, do you?” She laughed as she pushed up with her hands. Sand coated most of her, like sugar against her tan skin, and it looked sexy as hell.

  “That obvious?” I questioned shaking my head, humiliation surging through me.

  “I’m Sophia, by the way.” She grinned as she hopped up and reached a hand down for me.

  “That’s a pretty name.” I took her hand and let her help me up.

  “We should go rinse off.” She held on to my hand and pulled me towards the water with her. “I guess now were even, huh?”

  “Even?” I questioned unsure of what she was talking about.

  “Yeah. I hit you with a ball and you nailed me to the ground. We’re even.”

  The douchebag in me wanted to say something like, do you like to be nailed to the ground, but I refrained. This girl was different. I had no idea what it was about her I found so alluring, but I was hooked.

  “Yeah, I guess so.” We waded into the freezing cold lake, until we were waist deep when we both started splashing water, rinsing our skin. My mind wondered to devious places as I imagined her naked and wet, moaning my name as I thrust inside her. I sank into the water planting my ass to the mushy bottom, to hide the hard on I was getting.

  “I think your girlfriend is waiting on you.” She nodded to the shoreline where what’s her name stood with one of her friends, trying not to look obvious as she casually glanced our way while they spoke.

  “That’s not my girlfriend,” I clarified a little too enthusiastically.

  “Oh. Guess you just let anybody sit on your lap, huh?” She smirked at me and I cursed to myself. Of course she would think I was just some player after seeing me with a random girl on my lap.

  I had to change the subject and fast. “Do you go to Alabama?”<
br />
  “Yeah. Business. It’s my last year. You?” She pulled a hair tie off her wrist and began pulling her hair up, extending her torso which only exemplified her tiny defined body. Damn, I was a goner.

  “Biology. It’s my last year, too. I’ll go for my masters after this.”

  “Oh, wow. You’re smart.” Her eyebrows rose as if she was surprised. She wasn’t the first person I ever told my major to that seemed shocked. I didn’t exactly fit the nerdy scientist bill.

  “Not what you expected?” I smirked.

  “You don’t quite strike me as a biologist, but what do I know?” She shrugged and began wading out of the water toward the shore. Panic flooded me. I had to keep her here. Here, we were away from everyone and I could speak with her, but up there she would surely go her way and I’d be forced to go mine. This could be my only chance to ask her out.

  “What do you do besides school?” I blurted. Lame question, I know, but I was desperate.

  Sophia stopped and turned slowly, facing me, squinting as if she were trying to determine something about me. With a sly grin, she said, “Go on then. Do it.” She gave me a pointed look and crossed her arms.

  “Do what?” I stammered wondering if I had been that obvious. Did she know I wanted to ask her out?

  “You’re going to ask me out, right? Or at least you want to.”

  Yep, she knows. Dear God this woman is a ball buster. All of the blood drained from my face. There was no more pretending. This girl didn’t waste any time. My heart pounded in my chest. What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I acting like such a pussy?

  Before I could come up with some coherent response she said, “I tell you what. You seem to be a little…” She paused and looked to the sky as if waiting for her next word to fall from it. “Confused.” She finished as she put her hands on her hips. “Maybe that ball hit you a little harder on your head than I thought. When you think of what you want to say, I bartend over at Bradley’s just outside of campus. Maybe I’ll see you in there sometime.” With that she rushed out of the water and back to her friends.

  With a heavy sigh I made my way back to shore. I knew deep down I acted like an idiot in front of her and she probably thought I was an ass, but I knew one thing for sure. Sophia would be mine.

  “Well, that was…” Jake let his last word trail off.

  “Pathetic.” Ryan finished for him, laughing.

  “What?” I shrugged as if I had no idea what they were talking about.

  “First, you practically latched on to her leg and started dry humping her,” Ryan noted before chugging the remainder of his beer.

  “You looked like a jackass out there playing volleyball. They must all play for the school or something. They were good,” Jake added and I rolled my eyes.

  “I wasn’t that bad,” I grimaced.

  “Brandon.” Ryan said my name as he stared at me blankly. “You sucked dick man. It was bad. You fucking head-bunted her.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut. “Shit,” I breathed. It was bad.

  “So, did you ask her out?” Ryan flipped up the lid of the cooler and tossed me a beer.

  “Not exactly.” I groaned as I turned and spotted Sophia folding up her towel as she and her friends prepared to leave. She caught me looking at her and her mouth curved slightly as she pulled her gaze away.

  “She’s hot. If you don’t go for it, I just might.” Ryan moved to walk towards her, and I punched him in the nuts. “You mother fucker!” He groaned as he keeled over. I immediately backed away before he retaliated.

  “She’s off limits,” I laughed enjoying Ryan’s misery even though I knew it would come back to me tenfold.

  Jake laughed hysterically. “Nailed him!” Then Ryan struck an arm out lightning quick, nailing Jake right in the nuts. Jake fell to his knees with a groan, cupping his crotch. “You asshole!” he moaned. Everyone was staring at them as they cupped their balls, lurched over on their knees.

  “That’s for laughing.” Ryan managed to force himself up. “Jesus, Brandon. Are you pussytized or something?”

  “What?”

  “You know, it’s like being hypnotized, but by the pussy.”

  “Where do you come up with this shit, Ryan?” I shook my head and popped open my beer.

  “I dunno.” He shrugged, staring at Sophia and her friends as they headed to their cars.

  “Stop staring at her, Ryan,” I growled.

  “Wow. You are officially pathetic. And I’m going to get you back for hitting me in the nuts.” That was a definite.

  Just then, what’s her name, slid an arm around my waist and I jerked away. “I gotta go,” I murmured and bee-lined for my car. Sophia had left already, it’s not like she would’ve seen me with another girl, but once you see a girl like Soph, all others fail in comparison.

  “Don’t worry, you sexy little thing.” Ryan swooped in on her and I could hear her giggles before I reached the parking lot.

  THREE

  Brandon

  “What’s wrong, Daddy?” Ferrah asks as she curls up on my lap while I read an email from Sophia.

  Brandon,

  Tia just got back into town and we’ve decided to travel a little bit this summer. Apparently it’s a surprise where we’re going. You know my sister—Ms. Spontaneity. Anyway, I’ve asked Arlene next door to check our mail and ship it to you weekly. She also agreed to water the plants out front, too.

  I’ll call as soon as I know where we’re going. I’ll have my cell so if there’s an emergency or the girls just want to say hi, call me. I hope you’re having a good time with your parents. Give them my best. Please kiss Chloe and Ferrah for me.

  -Sophia

  She didn’t write ‘love’ Sophia. That can’t be good. Shit! Who knows what Tia has planned for them. Probably nude beaches in Spain or some shit like that.

  I can just imagine Tia’s having a field day with news of my wrongdoing. Ten loyal years to her sister and still every time I see her, she threatens to castrate me if I hurt Sophia.

  “Daddy?”

  Ferrah says my name snapping my attention back to her.

  “Yes, I’m fine baby. I was just reading an email from Mommy. She’s going on a trip with Aunt Tia.” I kiss the top of her head.

  “Where are they going?” Her big brown eyes stare up at me, making my heart squeeze because they remind me of Sophia. Ferrah favors Sophia more with brown eyes and blonde hair, but Chloe looks just like me with chestnut brown hair. They’re beautiful girls.

  “Aunt Tia’s surprising her. Isn’t that exciting?”

  “I miss her.”

  Sophia and I never let on there were any issues between us where the girls were concerned. As far as they know, everything is dandy. Spending the summer with their grandparents was something that had been planned for a while, but me being here with them was not. We made up an excuse saying Sophia had to help a friend remodel their house. Luckily the girls are so young they didn’t question it.

  “I’ll let her know, princess. Go out and play with your sister.”

  Taking a deep breath I read her email again wondering if I should email her back. What could I say?

  Sophia,

  Be safe.

  Brandon

  I hit send and try to swallow back the dread I feel inside. Call me a selfish asshole, but knowing she won’t be home, but instead traveling with her sister makes me nervous. At home, I’d hoped she would realize she was miserable without me.

  Scratching my head, I close my laptop and head to the kitchen for a beer. I need something to calm my nerves. My wife is going to spend the summer practically single and roaming the world while I’m here miserable praying she’ll forgive me and ask me to come home.

  Sophia used to be so forward. I never had any doubt about what she was thinking because she never held back. Her indecisiveness now makes me antsy.

  ***

  When I went to Bradley’s the first night, she was off. So I went back every night for three nights straig
ht dragging Ryan and Jake with me.

  On the third night, she was behind the bar with a short stalky guy who looked like he choked down steroids every day. She didn’t notice me at first, but I stared at her, following her every move. She was charismatic, graceful in a way only an athlete could be.

  My attention moved away from her momentarily when I noticed shorty behind the bar with her, checking out her ass every time she bent down or reached for something. I bit down my jealousy, realizing I had no right to be jealous—yet, and pushed aside the urge to punt his little ass across the bar like a football. This girl would be mine and then I could act like a jealous dick all I wanted to.

  When Sophia finally noticed me, it took a second glance for her to register she recognized me. With a coy smirk, she meandered over and leaned on the bar in front of me. “What’s your poison?” she asked casually.

  “Yeungling,” I croaked, my mouth going dry as my eyes focused on her perfect pink lips, soft and plump.

  Without another word she turned and grabbed a pint glass out of the cooler in front of the drafts and started filling it. When she slid my beer to me, she leaned on one elbow. “You here by yourself?”

  “Nah, my two buddies are with me, but they found some people they know.” I shrugged and sipped the lager.

  “How’s your head? That ball hit you pretty hard.” Her tone was teasing and to play along I rubbed the back of my head.

  “Still pretty sore,” I grumbled.

  “Mmm,” she mumbled, her lips pressed together as is fighting a bigger smile she didn’t want me to see.

  “Do you play volleyball for the university” I asked when an awkward moment of silence slipped between us and I grabbed at anything to say to keep her near me.

  “I played in high school. I broke my ankle skiing my senior year and I can only do limited activity on it. I had a scholarship for track that I lost. Running was my real sport.”