Page 17 of A Simple Love
Turning to greet him, I reluctantly release Mike’s hand, plaster a smile on my face, and play the part.
“Hi, Ben. How are you?”
His eyes move back and forth between Mike and me standing next to each other, his narrow gaze penetrating Mike’s in a silent standoff, confirming my fear that today might not go off as easy as Hayley believes it would.
Softening his face, he turns back to me before reaching for my hand and planting a kiss on the back of it, looking right in my eyes as he does it.
“Much better now that I’ve seen you again.” He shoots a death glare over at Mike before shifting his attention back to me. “When are we going out again? Are you free this weekend?”
“No, she has plans,” Mike declares curtly. “Her mom’s birthday is this weekend and her family always does something to celebrate.”
I clear my throat as I watch the two men stare at each other, the tension so thick you could swim through the waves and get taken underneath.
“He’s right. It is my mom’s birthday. But hey, I’ll text you sometime this week to make arrangements, okay?” I reach out to pat his shoulder, trying to put him at ease a bit.
“Okaaaaay!” Pauline interrupts the cold war declared in the kitchen. “Boys, today is not the day to mark your territory, alright? There will be no peeing on legs or furniture, especially in my house----so chill out and make your way outside before I knock your heads together.” Her outburst makes me chuckle uncomfortably as I turn away from both men and stumble deeper behind the island. Leave it to Pauline to provide comedic relief in a tense situation.
Ben follows Mike outside, the two strong bodies mirroring each other in their intense swagger, leaving me to deal with the wreckage smattered in the kitchen. The long exhale I let out does not fall on deaf ears and Hayley rushes over to keep me from falling.
“Holy shit, Vic,” she whispers as she guides me to sit. “Those boys looked like they were seriously about to throw down over you. I can’t believe this is happening!”
“You and me both, Hales,” I reply on another exhale, my hand covering my stomach as my breakfast has lodged itself in my throat now.
“Vic, I’m so sorry. If I would have known how territorial they would get, I never would have invited Ben. But hey, at least you know they’re both serious about you.” Pauline comes behind me and wraps her arms around my shoulders.
“But are they? Are they serious about me, or will this just be about winning now?” I think back on the looks on their faces as they stared each other down. “You said it yourself, they were becoming territorial. Am I now just someone to claim, a prize for the one who comes out on top? How do I know whose intentions are pure and whose are purely out of the competition now?”
“Oh, it’s like on the Bachelorette, when everyone claims that one bad guy isn’t there ‘for the right reasons!’” Hayley exclaims, throwing up air quotes around the famous catchphrase.
“Oh, brother! Will you let the Bachelorette thing go, Hales? Please? This is our friend we’re talking about, not a produced show that is nothing like real life.” Pauline is irritated with our friend, but frankly, I am a little too. “Vic, Hayley and I could always help with that…. You know, making sure these boys truly want what’s best for you and they understand how serious this is to you.”
I find her hand with mine, thanking her for her support. “I appreciate that, Pauline, but I don’t think that’s necessary, at least not yet. Let me just see how this whole thing plays out before I call in the big guns.” I wink at her and she nods, accepting my answer.
“Okay, well that’s enough drama for today. Let’s go outside and join the fun before the volleyball game starts,” Hayley encourages as we make our way outside and find seats around the tables with our friends. Dean mans the grill, Tyler and Mike play a round of horseshoes, while Ben plays Nathan, a new mechanic at Mic’s Garage, in a round of beer pong. Everyone (Ben and Mike I mean) keeps to themselves while we wait for food and then feast. Only when the volleyball game begins does more drama unfold.
Chapter 12
Mike
Smack! My eyes follow the volleyball as it hits the ground just on the other side of the net with a volatile force, creating a crater in the long blades of stark green grass.
“Fuck yeah!” I throw my fist in the air, beyond stoked that I just spiked the ball right in front of Ben on the other side and he couldn’t save it in time. Take that fucker!
Ever since he walked into my brother’s house, I’ve been so pumped with rage, I was grateful for the impending volleyball game to let it out in a semi-productive way, instead of on his face like I truly wanted to. Ben has never been an issue for me, until now. Seeing him kiss the back of Vic’s hand made my head spin. It was all I could do to not deck him right then and there. I’m pretty sure my whole face and chest must have turned flaming red from the anger I felt watching him touch her in such an intimate way. But I had to remind myself that I knew this could be a possibility in the situation I found myself in, having to observe the two of them together. It was easier just pondering their interactions in my imagination, rather than actually witnessing it though.
“That’s right, bro!” Dean jogs over to me, slapping me on the back to support my move that just put us in the lead, sweat glistening on his forehead and bare chest. Dean and I teamed up against Tyler and Ben for the game. I’ve played alongside my brother in pretty much any sport we’ve attempted, so it was only natural we worked together for this. Playing sports was actually one of the few things we did without fighting each other.
I watch as Ben lifts himself off the grass, green stains covering his kneecaps, his eyes narrowing, and his lips pressed tightly together in frustration while he strides back to his position on the court to serve.That’s right pretty boy, you’ve met your match.I’m not going to let you win this game or Victoria’s heart.
Ben’s palm hoists the ball in the air just as his other makes contact and sends it soaring over the net, aiming right for Dean. Dean lands a strong hit sending it back over, and the game continues like that endlessly. Just when I think we’re about to win, Tyler spikes the ball down right in front of my brother who dives to save it but misses.
“Damn right!” Tyler shouts, high-fiving Ben on his path back to the center of the court. Ben turns to look at me with a smug smile on his face. I swear, if Vic wasn’t here right now, I’d light his ass up. And I’m sure my brother would help. Dean’s never been a huge fan of Ben, even back in school. He always felt Ben had a thing for Pauline, but now that she’s having his kid and they’re engaged, I’m pretty sure he has nothing left to worry about.
The game is tied and we’re playing to twenty-one, so the next point seals the deal. Turning toward the deck on the back of the house, I take a moment to seek out Victoria sitting under the linen umbrella at the patio table next to Hayley and Pauline. The three of them have been on the edge of their seats watching the match unfold, point for point.
Her hazel eyes are already locked on me, which makes my chest swell with pride as I realize she was watching me and not Ben at that moment. I shoot her a tilted grin which only makes her chuckle behind her hand and lean over to whisper something to Hayley, before turning my attention back to the game, where I’m met with a sharp regard from Ben. I guess our moment wasn’t private, because the look on Ben’s face confirms he saw our interaction.
“Hey, Vic. This one’s for you!” He shouts over at her, causing her head to turn and her face to fall in apprehension, her attention now solely on dick face. Yeah, dick face. That’s Ben’s new name I’ve decided on, just right now.