Brush Strokes Read online

  Pushing off the bed, I stumbled my way through the hall to the bathroom, relieved to see that it wasn’t a complete disaster. When I walked out into the living room, Rannon was already there cleaning up. He was the only guy I knew who had to clean the second he got up after partying. He couldn’t stand a mess. That, or he just had enough respect for my mom not to leave it for her. I think he honestly didn’t want her knowing what we did most nights she was gone, and made sure there was nothing left as evidence.

  “Morning,” I croaked, walking over to the kitchen to start the coffee maker. It was the only cure for a hangover. The both of us also happened to be caffeine addicts. As soon as I heard it brewing, that aroma filling the air with it’s delicious, dark bean scent, I breathed in deeply and already felt marginally better.

  “So?”

  I looked over at Rannon standing by the sofa, one hand on his hip, the other holding a broom. I would have laughed if my head wasn’t pounding.

  “So what?” I asked.

  “So what?” he repeated, giving me a disbelieving look. “So, Olivia fucking Banks was over here last night looking like she just stepped out of my wet dreams, and you haven’t said a word about it.”

  “Please don’t ever talk about your wet dreams to me again,” I said, turning to see how much coffee was brewed. I needed it, like now.

  “Do you not care then? Is that it? Because if you don’t like that girl anymore, please tell me I can have her.”

  I looked over my shoulder at him.

  “I’m begging, dude. I’ll take good care of her, I promise.”

  “You touch her and I’ll break your hands,” I said, more serious than I’d ever been.

  A triumphant smile lit up his face. “I knew it! Dude, you have it so bad! You should have seen your face last night,” he said pointing and laughing at me. I rolled my eyes and grabbed an empty mug from the cupboard. “You couldn’t take your eyes off her,” he continued – much to my annoyance. “It was like you were struck dumb. Colt Morgan was rendered speechless by a girl.” Now he was howling like it was the funniest thing ever. I needed new friends.

  What was sad was that I had been speechless at first. When I saw her standing there, even though all I could see was her back, I knew right away who it was and my whole body had felt like it was electrically charged. It had taken every ounce of willpower to keep some distance between our bodies when I’d stood behind her. All I’d wanted to do was press her against me and wrap my hands around her curvy hips.

  “What are you two laughing so loudly about?” Reagan said as she walked into the living room, her makeup all smudged.

  “Arrggghh!” Rannon cried out, biting his fist. “Where the hell did you just come from?”

  She walked over to me, her hips moving in a way I knew she thought was sexy, but really just looked ridiculous. Wrapping her hands around my waist, she pressed closer as I lifted my arms away from her. Rannon gave me a disgusted look over her shoulder.

  “I was in Colt’s bedroom,” she answered. Rannon’s mouth dropped as he looked at me. “So what were you two laughing about?” She stepped back and grabbed a mug, filling it with coffee. Rannon narrowed his eyes on her. I knew what he was thinking. We didn’t like having girls stay past their welcome. These mornings were supposed to be stress free, and nothing was ever stress free with a girl like Reagan around. We also didn’t like sharing our coffee.

  “Nothing,” I answered giving Rannon a pointed look so he’d behave.

  “Yeah, nothing,” Rannon grumbled. He leaned the broom against the wall and stormed into the kitchen, grabbing a mug and slamming it on the counter.

  “Easy tiger,” I said, taking a slow slip. The delicious liquid slid down my throat like my own personal ambrosia.

  “What’s his problem?” Reagan said as Rannon walked out through the garage, slamming the door behind him.

  “He’s not a morning person.”

  She leaned over to me, her hand grabbing me through my shorts. “What about you, Colt? Are you a morning person?” she whispered in my ear, her tongue snaking out to lick the tip of my earlobe. I leaned away from her.

  “My mom’s upstairs.”

  “So?” She smiled. “We can be quick.”

  I gently pushed her back, giving myself some much needed space. “I don’t think so,” I said. “I don’t mess around when she’s home, and I got a lot to do today so you should probably be on your way.”

  Her lip stuck out in a pout. “But Colt,” she whined. “We didn’t even get to spend time together.”

  “Another time, Reagan. I’ve got too much to do.”

  She smiled and said she’d call me later. I’d be sure not to answer that one. I walked her out and watched her until she was in her car and driving away. When I turned to go inside, I realized Rannon stood against the fence talking to someone on the other side. My heart sped up until I saw blonde hair. I looked around to see if Olivia was there too but I couldn’t see her.

  Walking over, I stood beside Rannon smiling down at Ella. “Morning,” I said.

  “Oh, hey, Colt,” she said, her mouth turned down. Her eyes glanced over my shoulder where Reagan had just driven off. “I hope you’re planning on getting tested after that.”

  I laughed. “Jealous, Ella Page?”

  “Only of whatever drugs you’ll be getting to clear that up,” she replied with a smirk.

  Rannon laughed, slapping me on the back. “Isn’t she great?”

  Her eyes looked to him, a blush creeping across her cheeks.

  “Ella here was just telling me how she and Olivia were planning on laying out in the sun for a while. I was offering my sun lotion services.”

  “I bet you were,” I murmured. “Where’s Olivia?” Shit. Did that sound too eager?

  “Getting her bikini on,” she replied, nodding toward the house.

  Olivia. In a bikini. There was no way I was missing this. I told them I was going to take a shower and hurried inside to get ready. This day had just increased in potential.

  As the water streamed over me, I closed my eyes, the picture of Olivia from last night vivid in my mind’s eye. How was it possible that one girl could be that beautiful? I opened to stare at the white tiles in front of me. A heavy weight settled in my stomach. Someone like Olivia Banks would never go for a guy like me. She was the kind of girl that found some clean-cut jock with straight A’s. Not some tattooed, pierced guy who could barely pass in school, and had a seriously hazy future. I dropped my forehead against the wall. I needed to find a way to impress her enough that she’d see past all that and realize that I’d worship her more than any other guy possibly could.

  When I walked back into the living room, Rannon was sitting at the table with my mom. She looked beat. I walked over and gave her a quick kiss on the head.

  “How was work?” I asked.

  “Long,” she said with a sigh. “Can you boys do me a favour? The air conditioner is making that funny noise again. Can you two take a look and see if you can fix it?”

  “Why don’t you just call a repairman?” I suggested.

  “Because repairmen cost money, and I don’t have any to spare. Plus, I have two strapping young men at home, who I’m sure can handle a little AC unit.”

  “Of course we can, Ms. M,” Rannon said. “We’ll go fix it now.”

  I glared at him while my mom wasn’t looking. Now? But I wanted to go outside. Leave it to Rannon to ruin the morning with his eager beaver shit. I swear, if I didn’t know better I’d think he had a crush on my mom. Except I did know better, and I knew that he just felt bad that she had to raise a kid like me all on her own. Truthfully, I kind of felt bad for her too. I’d put her through a lot over the past few years, although I was trying to level myself out and actually pass my last year of school this year. It pissed me off that she worked so hard and couldn’t even afford to have someone come look at our air conditioner when it was acting up.

  “I appreciate that,” she was saying. “Today�
��s going to be a hot one. It would suck if that thing crapped out on us again.”

  We both muttered our agreements.

  “I’m heading to bed. See you around supper time.”

  “Night mom,” I said. “Or morning…you know what I mean.”

  She laughed, heading toward the stairs.

  “Sleep tight, Ms. M!”

  “Thank you, Rannon!”

  I waited until she was upstairs before turning on him. “You’re such a brownnoser! Why would you say we’re going to fix that thing now? What happened to our previous plan?”

  “Bro, chill. We’ll get this thing done quick times, and then we’ll go join the ladies. I promise you they’ll still be there when we’re done.”

  “They better be, or I’m going to kick your ass.”

  “Yeah, yeah tough guy,” he said, waving me off. “Save your threats for someone who cares. I’ve known you too long to know that there’s no way you’d fight me over some girl.”

  Then he didn’t know me as well as he thought. Or he just didn’t realize how different this particular girl was from all the others.

  Five

  Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known – Oscar Wilde

  Olivia

  How in the world did I let Ella convince me this was a good idea?

  “Olive! We have to do it. Can you imagine the looks on their faces when they come out and see us lying there in our bikinis?”

  ‘Not really’ was my answer, which she instantly dismissed and told me to change before she started stripping me herself. With any other person I would have laughed, but with her…I wouldn’t put it past Ella to do just that. Could she imagine my face if Colt and Rannon came out and saw us? Because I could, and it was not pretty.

  I yanked a t-shirt over my red bikini and slipped on my flip-flops. “Stupid idea,” I muttered under my breath.

  “Are you talking to yourself, dear?” my mom asked, poking her head into my room.

  “No,” I answered, falling back onto my bed. I threw my arm over my eyes wishing I could just hide there for the rest of the day.

  “Then who are you talking to?”

  Ugh. “Yes. Yes, I was talking to myself.”

  She stepped into the room. “You probably shouldn’t do that, Ollie. People might think you’re weird.”

  Too late. “What’s up mom?” I asked, turning to look at her.

  “Your father has a dentist appointment. I’m going to go with him and keep the old man company. You okay here alone?”

  My parents had me late in life. I don’t know if they’d tried for years and just never conceived until little ole me, or if they’d just decided late in life to have one. In any case, they were a lot older than most parents. One would think they’d be more over-protective than other parents, but they’re actually pretty cool. I mean, they did let me go away at fourteen to live and go to school across the country. A place I wished I still was. But unfortunately dad’s pension just wasn’t covering all the bills, and my dream of staying away from this small town hellhole had ended. I hadn’t told Ella why I’d come back yet, and I was kind of embarrassed to admit my parents couldn’t afford it anymore.

  “I’ll be fine, Mom. Ella is still here.”

  “You two girls going to hang?”

  I lifted both eyebrows. “Hang, Mom?”

  She laughed that little giggle that was so her, it warmed my heart. “I’m just trying to be hip,” she said with a cute shrug.

  “Don’t try to be hip, Mom. You’re perfect the way you are.”

  She laughed again, turning to leave. “Okay, Ollie. Catch ya later.” Her laughter echoed down the hall as she went. Catch ya later? What was she watching these days, Dazed and Confused?

  “What is taking you so long?” Ella asked as she burst into the room.

  “What if I was still getting changed?”

  “You’re not. You’re lying on your bed.”

  “Yeah, but what if?”

  “Then I’d get a free show. Now get up! We have sunrays to catch.” She pulled and yanked at me until I finally got to my feet.

  “I don’t want to go out there and lie in the grass like some piece of meat just waiting for him to eat me,” I complained.

  “Oh yes you do. Olive, last night was the first step in the right direction, for both of us. The two hottest guys talked to us for the first time since we’ve all known each other. It was a monumental occasion. And now we must build on it until we’re both happily married, and barefoot and pregnant.”

  “Oh my God. That’s the life you have planned for us?” I asked, slightly horrified.

  “Abso-friggin-lutely. Now hop to it,” she said, slapping my butt on the way out.

  “Were you some football player in another life? Quit smacking my ass,” I said, walking down the stairs.

  The air was so hot it was suffocating. I hated days like this. It hurt to take a deep breath against the muggy heat. Ella already had two towels, bottles of water, suntan lotion, and a small radio set up in the front yard. My eyes looked over at the house next door of their own accord. No one was outside – thank God.

  I lay down, pulling my sunglasses off my head and slipping them over my eyes.

  “Take off your t-shirt,” Ella said from beside me. I huffed before sitting up and removing said article of clothing. I folded it into a pillow and lay back down.

  “How do you even know if they’re home?” I asked, closing my eyes.

  “Because his car is still in the driveway.”

  “His car is always in the driveway,” I pointed out. “I don’t think it works properly.”

  “I just know, okay? Stop asking questions and relax.”

  I turned my head so I could look at her, raising my sunglasses. “What’s going on? Why are you so fidgety?”

  “I’m not fidgety,” she said. “I’m just excited. I’ve gone to school with Rannon this whole time, and never once had a real conversation with him. This is just as new for me as it is for you.”

  “How do you know Rannon is over there? He probably left last night.”

  “He’s there. His bike is leaning up against the side of the house.”

  I turned to look and sure enough, there was a bike. “How do you know it’s his?”

  “Geez, Olive. I just know. What’s with the twenty questions?”

  “You’re such a stalker,” I said, lowering my glasses back down and getting comfy.

  “I also might have already seen and spoke to him this morning while you were getting ready,” she added.

  My head rolled to the side again so I could see her face. She looked guilty. “What did you do?”

  “Nothing! I swear.” Her eyes darted everywhere but at me so I knew she was lying. I waited. My silence always got to her in times like these. “Okay! I might have told him that we were planning on tanning out here…you know, since he asked what we were up to today and all.”

  “Wow. That’s great, Ella. So you basically offered us up like sacrificial sheep for the slaughter. Now I really feel like a piece of meat on display.”

  “It’s not that bad. I didn’t say we were doing it for them.”

  “Really? I’m surprised you managed to keep that one to yourself.”

  “Shut up,” she said, hitting my arm. “I was actually very calm and cool about it. I didn’t give anything away. If they want to come out here and check us out that’s their choice. We’re simply enjoying a beautiful summer day.”

  “Uh huh. And what did Rannon have to say about our plans?” I asked.

  She giggled. “He offered to rub sunscreen on me.”

  Good lord. I didn’t even want to reply to that. Ella always thought she wasn’t obvious, but she so was. I was sure both boys knew exactly what we were up to, and it was completely and utterly embarrassing. I was afraid to ask if Colt had been out too.

  Ella ended up putting on the radio and I pushed my supreme mortification to the back of my mind to at least try
and enjoy the day. I was never one for sun tanning. There’s just something about baking out in the sun that screams ‘this is probably not good for you!’ That being said, I could also understand why people found it relaxing. Eyes closed, the slight breeze running across my face, I simply enjoyed hearing the sounds around me. The kids down the street playing ball hockey. The couple two houses down who were arguing over their garden. Old man Kerri across the street sitting on his porch, the squeak of his rocking chair a familiar melody.

  I don’t know how long we baked ourselves, but at one point I looked over at Ella’s reddening skin and knew it was time to go in. The boys never came out. I wasn’t sure if I should be happy or sad about that. I’ll admit, a part of me was disappointed. Not that Colt didn’t get to see me splayed out on the front grass, but because I just wanted to see him again. Now that we had, sort of, talked, I was hoping it would be easier to do so again. Or I could make a complete fool of myself in front of him like I’d been doing for years now, and suddenly turn mute. Yeah that was the more plausible outcome.

  I finally convinced Ella to pack up, even though she pouted and complained the entire time. She went home to shower, promising to call me later, while I went back into the house, letting the cool air refresh me. Sitting on my sofa, I flipped through the channels, still in my bikini. Nothing seemed interesting. I huffed a sigh, letting my head fall back. Oh my God, was I sulking? I sat up straight. I was! I was sitting here sulking over a boy. What was wrong with me? I needed to shake off this bad vibe and do something productive.

  As I sat down in front of my blank canvas, the need to get all my feelings out through my art pulsed through me. I must have sat there for hours before the house phone brought me back to reality. I wiped my hands on my apron, stepping back to admire my latest work before picking up the receiver in my bedroom.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Olive,” Ella greeted. “Get ready. We’re going out for ice cream.”