Drew & Courtney Duet

Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

DREW

ONE WEEK BEFORE THE WEDDING

Between the argument with Mia and that hot s*x dream of my best friend, I’ve successfully avoided Courtney like the plague for a week. I can’t look at her without feeling guilty. Every time I even think about her, all I envision is her perfect, luscious body pressed against mine and it’s freaking me the f**k out.

I’ve never thought of Courtney like that before. Sure, she’s pretty, funny, and smart, but she’s always just been one of the guys I hang with, minus the being a guy part. Once Viola and she became friends, she just started being one of mine. There was never anything more to us, and I’m not sure how or why Mia thinks otherwise. Now, for whatever reason, Courtney is haunting my dreams. Every night this week before going to bed, I’ve tried thinking of something else—anything else—but nothing’s worked. Courtney n***d on top of me. Courtney n***d under me. Courtney n***d in the shower.

Fuck.

However, last night I woke up to a text message from Mia that solidified our relationship. I hadn’t told her what she wanted to hear, so she made the decision for us.

Randomly throughout the day, I’ve opened my phone and read it.

Mia: I can’t do this, Drew. When Courtney’s gone, we can start over again.

Being given an ultimatum really pisses me off and I think it’s the most upset I’ve been with Mia in years. I let her get away with so much, but this has crossed the line. I don’t want Courtney to move out. For Christ's sake, she’s one of my best friends who also happens to pay her rent early and doesn’t annoy me much. She’s a better roommate than Travis because she’s OCD about the same things, like our cabinets and refrigerator.

Instead of Mia giving me the chance to figure this s**t storm out, she breaks up with me as if she didn’t trust me. I’ve been nothing but faithful to her regardless of how much mud she’s dragged me through over the years. Honestly, I’m tired of the back and forth. I love her. I really do, but little by little she’s chipping away at my patience.

I haven’t told Viola about our breakup.

I actually haven’t told anyone but Travis.

Though I don’t want to ask, I’m sure she’s not going to accompany me to the wedding, which hurts. It isn’t the worst thing in the world to happen, but I imagined this week would play out differently and by the weekend we’d be back to the norm again—well what’s normal for us.

The day is halfway over, and it’s been uneventful. Sometimes work is like that, though. But the saying no news is good news stands when you’re an officer.

Logan and I sit in the patrol car on the corner of Broadway and Freeport listening to dispatch. Once we’re hungry, we grab food then drive around the city. After a few traffic stops and an arrest for domestic violence, we head back to the station. My mind has been in a different place all day, and Logan is the type of partner who doesn’t pry. He listens and offers advice when asked. He’s the older brother I never had.

“I’m thinking of applying to become a detective, too,” I tell Logan, and he turns his head and looks at me as I turn off the squad car. He’s been on the force for a few years longer than I have, and while I have no intentions of leaving my partner, Logan has voiced wanting to train for a detective promotion. Maybe we’d still be paired together if I pursued it as well.

“The training will kick your a*s, Fisher. But if that’s what you want to do, I’ll support it. You’ll be on standby for critical situations. It’s a fuckload of long hours—working during holidays and weekends. Investigating scenes that will make your stomach turn. Sure your woman will like all that?”

I give him that look that tells him we aren’t together anymore—again.

“Damn. Sorry, man. How many times is this now? Five? Six?”

“You sound like Travis,” I groan. “I’ve lost count.”

“You should move on. There are millions of fish in the sea. I was going to make some joke about seaman but lost it. Anyway, there are plenty of women that’d make you a happy man, just have to give them a chance.”

“This time is going to be different,” I say with a small smile.

“Oh yeah?” Logan lifts an eyebrow at me.

“For once, I’m not going to run after Mia like a little, lost puppy with his d**k tucked between his legs.”

“Well if you need a partner for drinks, let me know.” Logan opens the door, and I follow him inside. I grab my gym bag from my office and drive to 24-Hour Fit to work out before heading home for the night. I have a lot of pent up frustration inside me, and if I’m serious about applying for a promotion in the future, I’ll need to make sure I stay in great shape.

I put my earbuds in, crank my music, and start running on the treadmill, barely breaking a sweat when I get a text from Courtney.

Courtney: I’m baking chicken and asparagus with a side of cookies if you’re hungry.

I can’t help but smile. I have to eventually stop avoiding her, I guess.

Drew: Perfect. I’ll be home soon.

It’s hard to not think about her since that dream, but I try and force myself to run harder. By the time I’m finished, an hour has passed, and I’m soaked with sweat, but instead of showering at the gym, I drive home. As soon as I walk in, I smell sugar. The music is cranked loud, and I can hear cabinets opening and closing followed by the oven.

I walk past the kitchen and glance over and see Courtney in a sports b*a and yoga pants. Oh, f*****g hell.

When she turns around, she’s eating raw cookie dough from a spoon and smiles. I swallow hard because I’ve avoided her for a week, and this is the first time I’ve made an effort.

“I’m making fat-free, sugar-free low calorie chocolate chip cookies.” She’s basically screaming over the music and then laughs as she finishes off the raw dough. She places the spoon in the sink once she’s finished. Her blonde hair is wild on top of her head as she sets the timer then begins dancing around the kitchen.

“You’re not supposed to eat raw cookie dough; you know that, right?” I say.

She smirks. “I’ve been doing it since I was five. I think I’ll live.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Her blue eyes search my face, and there’s a slightly awkward moment.

“Honestly, the statistics of eating raw cookie dough goes down whenever you use pasteurized eggs. See?” She opens the fridge, shows the liquid eggs, then closes it. “I’m well aware of my chances, and I understand that one out of twenty-thousand eggs will be contaminated. And don’t get me started on the statistics of consuming raw flour.”

“Are you sure you’re not the one that’s really related to Viola?” I laugh.

“Oh, God. Did I just transform into optimus nerd?”

I nod. “And you tried to make a transformer joke. Cute, Court.”

She playfully rolls her eyes at me, and I take that as my cue to take a shower.

I have a feeling it’s going to be a long one.

My mama always said my mouth could talk itself out of a hostage situation or into a fight, not that it’s necessarily a bad thing. There are times when Viola’s personality leaks out of me. I like to think it’s because we’re both too smart for our own good.

I hear the water come on in the shower, and I lean my back against the kitchen counter and take a deep breath before I make our plates. The sound of the oven timer beeping brings me back to reality. It’s obvious he’s been avoiding me and tonight when we first saw each other, I felt a strange electricity stream between us, but then again, I always feel that when he looks at me. That nervousness I had before I officially moved in is back in full force, and I can’t help but laugh thinking about the day we first met.

Viola didn’t give me an option and demanded we visit her brother’s house so she could grab a few books she had left earlier in the week. We’ve been friends since freshman orientation, which was only a few months ago. When she pulled out notecards and made a joke about forgetting her pocket protector, I knew we’d be best friends for life.

Viola stormed into the house trying to grab everything before Travis came home since they hated each other. I followed behind her, but as soon as I turned my head, her brother Drew, who I had only heard stories of at that point, walked out of the kitchen wearing his cop uniform. It fit him in all the right places, and I swallowed hard as I nearly ran smack into a support beam in the living room.

“Are you all right?” he asked, concerned. His voice sounded like velvet, and I couldn’t believe he was Viola’s brother. He practically stole my voice, and I couldn’t find words as I blinked at him, completely stunned by his biceps and the tattoos peeking under his sleeves. He stepped toward me with a small smile on his face, and I hurried and spoke before he got any closer. Men didn’t usually make me nervous, but being around him, my palms instantly began to sweat, and my cheeks flushed. And it didn’t help one bit that I was imagining him n***d.

“Fine,” I finally said. “Just wasn’t looking where I was going.”

…because I was too busy looking at you, but I wasn’t about to admit that.

He nodded and flashed a big grin at me, showing all his perfectly straight, white teeth. He ran his hands through his dark shaggy hair, and I couldn’t help but notice the color of his eyes—hazel. When we made eye contact, a strange bolt of electricity soared through me. No one had ever made my heart drop after a few words and a smile.

How in the hell was this Viola’s brother? She had never mentioned he was hot as hell or that he was a cop. She didn’t mention he’d be home when we arrived either. I felt like I should’ve been given some sort of warning or something.

Viola returned with a few books tucked into her arms and Drew gave me another smile then walked away. As soon as he was out of listening distance, I let out a sigh, and she glared at me. “Stop looking at my brother like you want to rip off his clothes!” she said with a groan.

I couldn’t find the strength to take my eyes off him as he walked down the hall to his bedroom. “I want to do a lot more than that…” I smile. “And those handcuffs—”

“All right, I get it,” she said, cutting me off as fast as she could. “You want to go all Fifty Shades on his ass.”

Just thinking about him and all the dirty things I’d do, I laughed. “Hot cop fantasy.”

Viola gave me another pointed look, and I shrugged unapologetically. The rest of the day, I couldn’t help but think about him. It was strange. We’d only exchanged a few words, but there was some sort of unspoken connection that I couldn’t explain.

He clears his throat as he stands in the doorway and I swallow hard as water drips from the tips of his long hair. A small part of me is grateful he’s avoided me for a week. It’s allowed me time to get my mind straight and accept his choices. It’s easier that way. Regardless if he’s dating someone who’s hateful, I have to respect that. I cannot allow my opinions to change our relationship.

I give him a smile and pile asparagus and chicken on two plates.

“This looks awesome,” he says as I hand a plateful of food to him. All I can do is smile.

I pull the cookies out of the oven and place them on the stovetop as they cool, then turn down the music and join him at the table. We eat in silence for awhile before I try to find the words to say to him, but I don’t want to push him. I make small talk instead about the wedding and weather. He doesn’t look at me, and it’s starting to bother me.

“Are you going to stop acting weird around me or what?”

Finally, he makes eye contact and gives me a small smile. “Sorry. There’s been a lot on my mind lately.”

“I get it. But you’re avoiding me. I don’t like that.”

“I’m not,” he says, taking a bite of chicken.

“You’re a terrible liar. I know you as well as I know your sister,” I remind him.

“Mia and I broke up. That’s all it is.”

My face falls, and I reach my hand over to his and squeeze. He tenses at first, but then relaxes and grips my hand in return.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. If you want to talk about it…” My words are sincere, and I mean it with my full heart. I can’t help but think that this has something to do with me, which would explain why he’s being strange.

“I don’t. Thanks, Court.”

He’s being short, but I understand. Every time they break up he’s standoffish. It’s a part of the cycle.

I suck in a deep breath, and all I can smell is sugar and chocolate chips.

“You should have a cookie. Even if it’s just one.”

“I might.”

“They will make you feel better,” I add.

A smile creeps up on his lips, and that makes me happy to know my best friend is still in there, even though he’s hurting. Once we’re done eating, I pick up our plates and put them in the sink. Drew follows me into the kitchen with his wet hair slicked back, shirtless, with only basketball shorts on and when I glance over I think I stop breathing. The tattoos that cover his body are so damn sexy that I have to push those thoughts I’ve worked so hard to bury away. I see he has a napkin in his hand with three cookies piled high. Before he starts chewing, I warn him.

“They’re actually really bad for you and full of sugar and butter.”

“You little s**t,” he teases. “I should’ve known there was no such thing.”

He puts them down, breaks a corner off one and moans as he swallows the little bitty piece down.

My eyes widen, and I tuck my lips into my mouth.

He narrows his eyes at me. “What? You have a look on your face.”

I try not to burst out laughing and shake my head until I completely lose it. “It’s better than s*x, huh?”

Drew swallows down what’s in his mouth then glares at me and turns his head quickly. Just like clockwork, it gets all awkward again. Before I say something incriminating, I wash the dishes in the sink and decide to go to bed. It’s even a believable excuse because I’ve been yawning like a grandma for the past twenty minutes.

“Bedtime already?” Drew asks as I turn off the dining room light.

“I’m going to eat five cookies in bed with a big glass of milk and watch Big Brother reruns,” I say walking back into the kitchen.

“You’re kidding, right?”

I turn and look back at him.

“You’re not kidding.” He shakes his head.

“Not one bit,” I say between bites as I’m piling them high on my plate. I pour a big glass of milk and walk to my room and turn on the TV. As I’m lying in bed eating, I text Viola to fill her in before it gets too late.

Courtney: Mia and Drew broke up.

Viola: I kind of figured they would before the wedding. I just had a feeling.

Courtney: I feel really bad for him. He seems pretty upset this time.

Viola: Only one way to make him feel better.

Courtney: Best friend & roommate status ruined all that.

Viola: I’m still holding out hope.

I place the empty plate on my nightstand and pull the blanket up to my waist. Silently I hope he’s going to be okay this time and he doesn’t push the world and me away like usual.